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THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • JUNE 24, 2010 • A3
TOWN OF HUNTINGTON
Vowing To Keep Vic’s Vision Alive Hundreds show to pay their final respects to Cinema Arts Centre co-founder Half Hollow Hills photos/Sara-Megan Walsh
By Sara-Megan Walsh swalsh@longislandernews.com
Cinema Arts Centre co-founder Charlotte Sky, Vic Skolnick’s partner of nearly 60 years, receives a standing ovation with their son, Dylan Skolnick, after stating together they will continue with Vic’s vision and legacy of showing independent films. Photo by PJ Schlem Sherris
Hundreds gathered at Huntington’s Cinema Arts Centre to pay their respect to arts visionary Vic Skolnick and give testimony to his lasting legacy. The memorial tribute brought together filmmakers, actors, arts leaders, politicians and local residents on Saturday in memory of the Cinema Arts Centre (CAC)’s co-founder and co-director who died June 10. He was 81. “The first thing I thought when I walked into the theater is, it would have made Vic so happy to see a packed house,” said CAC co-founder Charlotte Sky, his partner of nearly 60 years. As she recounted his life and his quest to share knowledge and the history of the cinema in the eulogy, her words were simultaneously broadcast live across the CAC’s three theaters, the Sky Room and outside, where the overflow stood. “Vic didn’t realize how loved he was. One night I said to him, ‘Vic, do you really think we’re making a difference in people’s lives with all these films they’ve seen?’” Sky said, met by a thunderous round of applause. “There were so many people whose lives were made better because of Vic,” said Vic and Sky’s son, Dylan Skolnick, later explaining, “I think everything he did was an attempt to give others the experience he had of breaking free of the world, to expand their world view, to break free from tunnel vision.” Many recounted the CAC’s early days in a Huntington dance studio with films shown on bedsheets with a rented projector, and then a Huntington gymnasium before moving to its current location in 1977. “In the official history, there is much made of the original story of projecting films on a bed sheet. That hanging bed sheet was like raising a flag to me; the cinema was going to change the world
one person, one film at a importance of Vic’s work in time,” said Kevin Duggan, a showing independent films staff member from the beon Long Island and its imginning. pact on the industry. Duggan recalled how in“It is for people like Chardependent filmmakers lotte, Vic and now Dylan would flock to the CAC with that the cinema is what it a 16mm reel in hopes of getis… a place that protects, ting screened, including promotes and encourages now-famous Hal Hartley. filmmakers to expand and Hartley spoke of Vic and the find new frontiers,” Rossellicinema, providing his early ni said. education in film before he Jazz saxophonist Premik debuted his first film, “The Russell Tubbs, who perUnbelievable Truth,” there forms monthly at the CAC, Vic Skolnick in 1989. took the stage to play a spon“[Vic] took my hand, shaking his head taneous riff in honor of Vic, whom he and said, ‘My God, young man, what do called a newfound, now eternal, friend. you think you are doing?’ Now I can an- Charlotte Koons and Roger Senser each swer that, Vic. I was only doing what read brief poems in Vic’s memory before brave, creative and imaginative people a video montage tribute was played. had taught me: living to work rather than “I miss him so much. I wish he was still working to live. Vic was one of those peo- here. I know he would love that we’re ple,” Hartley said. honoring him by carrying on his vision,” Actress Isabella Rossellini spoke of the Dylan said as it was announced he would
Actress Isabella Rossellini praised Vic and Charlotte Sky for creating an outlet for independents, before sharing insight with Dylan about following in his father’s footsteps. be stepping into the roles of film curator, film historian and film educator. “Together we will continue to keep Vic’s dream alive,” Sky said. Several members of the CAC’s board of trustees spoke of Vic’s traditional pre-film speech about how memberships are the lifeline of the cinema, encouraging attendees to sign up for the membership drive ongoing through June 30. “We sit in Vic’s living, vital legacy,” said board member Marty Haas. “The future depends as much on you and I as it does Charlotte, Dylan, the volunteers and CAC staff members. It depends on a community effort, which is exactly the way Vic wanted it to be.” In lieu of flowers or gifts, the CAC has asked for contributions to the Vic Skolnick Memorial Fund, which will be used to help support future operations. Checks can be sent to: Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington, NY 11743.
MELVILLE
Suit: Doc Lied In Bankruptcy Claim Patients paid thousands before orthodontist Balaban failed to list them as creditors By Mike Koehler mkoehler@longislandernews.com
A band of patients filed a lawsuit earlier this month claiming their former Melville orthodontist illegally hid them as creditors. Dr. Stuart Balaban has been the target of scathing attacks on various Internet blogs and websites since late March for allegedly accepting lump sums of payment for work never performed. Attorney Michael Siegel, of Manhattan-based Siegel & Siegel, filed a lawsuit on behalf of 12 families on June 7. “He didn’t list any of his patients. You’re required to list them as a debt or list them as a contract that still has performance on them,” Siegel said. David Slavin, one of the 12, said he paid Balaban $6,600 for orthodontic work on his son and daughter. In exchange for the large payments, the dentist promised the Merrick man lifetime treatment for his children at no additional charge. Slavin said he works longer hours as a
chiropractor trying to come up with more money for his new orthodontist. The family has also made several cuts, including taking a car off the road. “My kids are undergoing treatment. I am paying monthly and that bothers me because I already paid for my kids’ orthodontics,” Slavin said. “At this point, we’re just sitting and waiting because they’re doing the law stuff.” He is just one of hundreds defrauded by Balaban, Siegel said. Just a dozen families are listed, with about 20 child patients affected, the attorney added, but more victims may join the suit. “People call us all the time,” Siegel said. “There’ll come a time when the client group has to be closed, but we haven’t reached that point yet.” According to the lawsuit, Balaban personally filed for bankruptcy relief on Dec. 11, 2009 through Melville-based attorney Peter Corey. The orthodontist listed 20 creditors and admitted to owing more than $412,000. He listed fewer than $50,000 in assets, including a 2004
BMW X3 and Citibank checking account containing $2,500, both exempt. His private corporation was also listed, but with no value. At the time, Corey said his client intended to care for patients on an ongoing basis before his relationship with another orthodontist fell through. “It’s unfortunate, because Dr. Balaban had a plan in place to treat all these patients. After the bankruptcy he was unable to treat the patients,” Corey said. Siegel said Balaban closed his Melville office and moved into Dr. Jacqueline Fulop-Goodling’s Woodbury office in November 2009. Through the winter, the attorney said, he continued to solicit new patients, claiming he had just lost his lease. It wasn’t until March 23 when his bankruptcy discharge was granted that he told them he was bankrupt, Siegel added. Balaban, of Dix Hills, did not return messages for comment. After news of the orthodontist’s bankruptcy came out, Fulop-Goodling issued a statement through a spokeswoman,
claiming she was also duped, never received a dime from Balaban, and would have to charge his patients again for continued treatment. A number of former patients speculated online that both orthodontists were involved, even alleging it was a scam concocted between them. Siegel said he would begin investigating both once he had Balaban’s bankruptcy discharge reversed. “I’m going to follow the money. If Dr. Jacquie got the money and has the obligation to treat the people, then she has the responsibility to give it back,” he said. Fulop-Goodling’s spokeswoman did not return requests for comment. According to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the adversary proceeding is waiting for Balaban to respond before it proceeds under Judge Dorothy Eisenberg in Central Islip. “Either he’s going to default because he doesn’t have the money or he’ll fight it,” Siegel said. “I served it two weeks ago; he has a month to respond.”