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Vol. l II No. LVI | www.StandardLI.com d d | News@standardli.com d dl | Ph.# h 516-341-0445 4 44
APRIL 27-MAY 3, 2012
YOUR FIVE TOWNS HOMETOWN PAPER
LIPA CUTTING RATES ON ELECTRICITY TO BELOW 2005 LEVELS
FREE EVERY FRIDAY
COUNTY EXEC ACCUSING LEGISLATURE DEMOCRATS OF “CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES”
By Scott P. Moore
By Jonathan Walter
Standard Staff Reporter
Standard Staff Reporter
Some good news for residents of The Five Towns – the Long Island Power Authority is anticipating lower rates throughout the year even as gas prices and other utilities’ prices continue to climb upwards. Since peaking to its highest monthly rates in January 2009, LIPA’s monthly electric rates have fallen off about seven percent this year. “The decline in rates since January 2009 is attributable to lower prices for natural gas,” said LIPA spokesperson Elizabeth Flagler. “LIPA has been working over many years to have access to generation facilities that could burn the cheaper natural gas, and to construct cables that could access cheaper electric generation in upstate New York, New England and the mid-Atlantic states.” The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has been able to cut to its lowest monthly rates since June 2005. The monthly average for a residential customer topped out between 2008 and 2009, averaging about $157 a month and peaking at $160.51 in January 2009, according to LIPA. In the last year however, LIPA has brought the costs down by about seven-and-a-half percent from those in 2005, averaging around $148.50. Power supply rates jumped in 2005, exploding from $58.66 for
County Executive Edward Mangano and County Attorney John Ciampoli accused the Democratic Minority of the Nassau County Legislature of engaging in criminal activity by refusing to vote for a bond issue that would help pay for the county’s property tax adjustment refunds unless the Republican Majority agrees to a non-partisan redistricting plan for next year’s elections, claiming it is a form of bribery and extortion. Minority support is needed on the bond issue because the bonding requires a supermajority for approval. The allegations were announced at a Thursday morning press conference.
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Salute to Israel This week Israel celebrated the 64th Anniversary of its independence. The local spirit of this is captured by Lawrence artist Brocha Teichman in this 11x14 oil on canvas board painting which is available at her Art Studio of The Five Towns on Frost Lane in Lawrence. You can also visit her website at Brochateichman.com.
By Scott P. Moore
Nassau County Police have arrested an Inwood man after he allegedly took part in forced sexual acts with a teenage worker at his business in January of this year. Daniel Miller, 44, of 207 West Broadway, Inwood, allegedly drugged a male employee, 17, on January 3rd, 2012, his first day working at Miller’s Inwood business, Botanica Inle Osain, a religious artifacts store at 80 Mott Street. According to Special Victims
Squad detectives, Miller allegedly gave the employee a cup containing a liquid mixed with Lorazepam, a drug used to relieve anxiety, and told to drink it, unaware of the mixed drug in the solution. The employee fell asleep soon after and Miller allegedly proceeded to have sexual relations with the employee inside of the store. The employee awoke at 4:00 a.m. and found himself inside of Miller’s Inwood home. Miller then proceeded to drive the employee home, where he notified police soon after. The Special Victim Squad detectives arrest Miller on April
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King David Deli Closes Doors After 27 Years in Community
Inwood Man Allededly Forced Sexual Relations with Teenager Standard Staff Reporter
“Their crime was an illegal quid pro quo where we have public officers, members of the Legislature, who offered to trade their vote for something of personal political value to them, which is a redistricting map that is of benefit to them,” Ciampoli said. “The bribery statute states that it doesn’t have to be money, that it could be something like this.” The County Legislature agreed to a four year plan last fall to wean itself off of bonding for property tax adjustment reform. The plan was approved by the Legislature and the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, which has assumed control of Nassau County’s finances. Without borrowing, the county will not have
By Scott P. Moore
Standard Staff Reporter
Dan Miller, 44, has been charged with a Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree.
Photo courtesy Foursquare. 19th, 2012 at his Inwood home. Police are charging him with a Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree. Miller was arraigned on Friday and his bail was set at $1,000,000. He remains in jail at this time.
King David Delicatessen, the kosher deli and restaurant located in the heart of Cedarhurst, closed its doors earlier this month after serving The Five Towns a wide ranging menu for over 27 years. King David, notable for its hot wings and corned beef, large restaurant space and variety on its menu, was a mainExterior of the now closed King david Deli on Central Avenue.
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Photo by Scott P. Moore
Woodmere Artist Creatively Combining Art and Therapy By Susan Varghese
Standard Associate Editor
When Woodmere resident, Allison Berman, had a stroke in 1990, she was a young mother in her mid thirties – on the search for answers. She found them in the one thing that has stayed with her through her life: art. “I went to Bali to paint and relax. I was looking for answers,” Berman said. “I was scared and frustrated that I was so young. I wondered if I’m going to have this problem again. My kids are so young, I thought, ‘what am I going to do?’ I started to look
Allison Berman in her studio.
Photo by Susan Varghese
for answers in my art. I’d paint one painting. I’d look at it and turn it another way, look at it. I was starting to understand; my painting was beginning to talk to me, but it wasn’t telling me everything. I had to paint another painting. Then I started to put them together, move them, change them, and find different combinations. It helped me start to relax and be happy. Puzzle art was born.” Puzzle art is a form of therapy and interactive art, created and painted by Berman. It contains different layers and textures, providing binocular and
perceptual therapy in a hands-on approach. While the initial idea came to her almost two decades ago, Puzzle Art Therapy was developed as a product four years ago by Berman and Dr. Susan Fisher. It’s now used in hospitals, clinics, schools, therapy offices and rehab centers in 14 different countries. It’s the first therapy that uses colorful, abstract art. “It’s my art, but it’s a printed version,” Berman said. “I joke and say it’s child’s play, but its really heavy duty therapy.” Her first puzzle art show was in 1992.
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C l a s s i f i e d s B 6 • E d i t o r i a l s A 8 • E v e n t s B 4 • M o v i e s B 4 • R e a l E s t a t e B 2 - B 3 • S p o r t s A 6 • We a t h e r A 4