November 9, 2022 Deer Park

THEN NOW

TOMORROW ALWAYS

We are Good Samaritan University Hospital

Here, “University” means so much more. For more than 25 years, we’ve been educating the next generation of physicians in the latest, most innovative medicine, all while providing the most advanced capabilities along with the most compassionate care. Now, our name reflects that commitment to Long Islanders today — and for generations to come.

Learn more at goodsamaritanuniversity.org LONG LIVE LONG

Champions Of Change: Time For A Call To Action Of Veteran Problem Gambling

The New York Council on Problem Gambling is excited to announce its first ever conference specific to Veterans. Champions of Change: Time for a Call to Action on Veteran Problem Gambling will be held on Tuesday, November 15th from 9AM – 2PM with both an in–person option and a virtual option. The in-person event will be held at Syracuse University’s National Veterans’ Resource Center in Syracuse, NY.

Our event is timely as new research from the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) Conference on Gambling and Addiction revealed alarming statistics about the prevalence of gambling within the military. According to a study done by Shane W Kraus, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, UNLV (University of Nevada, Las Vegas), and Joshua Grubbs, Ph.D., Bowling Green State University it showed that:

The rate of problem gambling among activeduty military was 3.5 times higher than civilians

The rate of problem gambling among activeduty military was 68.6% compared with 18.7% among civilians

According to Dr. Kraus

“Our findings suggest that more comprehensive research is needed to fully understand how widespread the issue of problem gambling is among active-duty personnel. Current trends in the data suggest there could potentially be many service members with unmet treatment needs for problem gambling.”

We already know that Veterans are impacted by problem gambling and gambling disorder at a higher rate than their civilian counterparts. With the highest suicide rate among any other addiction, problem gambling is a priority issue that must be addressed in connection with Veteran wellness and suicide prevention. With this new research, it is imperative that we bring a greater awareness to this issue.

Champions of Change: Time for a Call to Action on Veteran Problem Gambling is an opportunity for Veterans, families, and Veteran-serving professionals & treatment providers to learn about the impact of problem gambling on the Veteran community. Experts in the field will share vital information as well as ways that everyone can

support Veteran health and wellness by increasing awareness, screening, and treatment options for problem gambling and gambling disorders.

Event Info: Champions of Change: Time for a Call to Action on Veteran Problem Gambling Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST

National Veterans Resource Center 101 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244

Cost: Free

Registration Information: In Person: https://bit. ly/3R0uVdX

Virtual: https://bit. ly/3csuz0v

The New York Council on Problem Gambling is a not-for-profit independent corporation dedicated to increasing public awareness about problem and disordered gambling and advocating for support services and treatment for persons adversely affected by problem gambling.

NYCPG maintains a neutral stance on gambling and is governed by a Board of Directors.

For more information contact Jonathan Crandall, Veteran Outreach Coordinator at JCrandall@ NYProblemGambling.org or 315.748.1163

Annual Thanksgiving & Christmas Holidays, Open House Seasonal Shows!

Come join CENTRAL OPERATINGLINES LTD. as they Kick-Off their “Annual Thanksgiving & Christmas Holidays, Open House Train Shows!”

Saturday & Sunday, November 19th & 20th, and December 3rd & 4th, from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Open to the general public and community.

Admission is free!

Raffled Prizes, 50/50, and more!

Come see the recent upgrades and ongoing changes to the layout!

There’s also a “LIONEL” INTERACTIVE ANIMATION layout for the children as well.

Contact Info: centraloperatinglines@

gmail.com or please call (631) 563-0173. Website: www.coltrains. com

Central Operating Lines Ltd. is located at 50-A Carlough Rd. in Bohemia, NY 11716

Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube.

ANSWERS:

Insurance Tips And Information

Shopping for Insurance

Are you old enough to remember the Sym’s slogan, “An educated consumer is our best customer?” Do you do your homework before you shop? Are you a coupon clipper? An Amazon addict?

Getting a good quote on your Auto insurance is not simply a matter of being accident free. ALL insurance companies have algorithms that rate some criteria higher than others. What is your credit score? How long do you remain with an insurer before leaving for a lower price? What amount of coverage do you currently maintain?

There are many, many things that tell insurers about you and help them predict whether you will be a good client. The insurers crunch

KEN MARCUS

numbers to gauge how much of a risk you’ll be. We all are aware of that. But they also predict how profitable you will be over a number of years. Want to learn what will make you an attractive customer? Speak to an agent. Be respectful of the agent’s knowledge. You’ll likely learn that the agent isn’t simply a salesman. They’re often impressive educators and fiscal watchdogs.

Article provided by Ken Marcus and Mitchell Barber

The Value Of Activity-Driven Fundraisers

Fundraising is vital to the survival of many nonprofit organizations. Charity watchdog groups like Charity Navigator suggest nonprofits should aspire to spend less than 10 percent of their budgets on fundraising. That can be a tall task and underscores the need for charities to find creative, cost-effective ways to raise funds.

Nonprofit organizations raise funds in various ways. Some organizations partner with local businesses and receive a portion of the proceeds participating establishments earn on certain days, while other organizations may cold call prospective donors during times of the year when giving to charity tends to increase, such as the holiday season. Activity-driven fundraisers are another popular way for nonprofit organizations to raise funds, and these endeavors can be highly effective. What are activity-driven

fundraisers?

Activity-driven fundraisers focus on an engaging activity that encourages supporters to actively participate in an effort to raise funds. The Ice Bucket Challenge is one of the more notable activity-driven fundraisers in recent years. Participants in the challenge would pour a bucket of ice water over their heads or the head of another person, and then challenge or nominate another person to follow suit. Participants also would urge donations to support research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, an incurable motor neuron disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Additional examples of activity-driven fundraisers are runs and walks in which participants solicit donations from supporters that increase with each mile they walk or run. The American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Awareness 5K walk and fun run is one popular activity-driven fundraiser

that annually attracts sizable numbers of participants and donors.

Are activity-driven fundraisers effective?

The sheer volume of activity-driven fundraisers makes it more difficult to gauge the success of these events. However, a recent study from researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that people are inclined to contribute more when the experience is painful and labor-intensive. That suggests that activitydriven fundraisers like charity runs can be highly effective and lucrative ways to raise money. Indeed, various estimates suggest the Ice Bucket Challenge raised more than $220 million worldwide.

Nonprofit organizations raise funds in myriad ways. Activity-driven fundraisers are among the more engaging, and often successful, ways to raise money for a good cause.

Deer Park Says “Thank You” To Board Of Education

The Deer Park School District celebrated School Board Recognition Week on Oct. 26, praising its dedicated board members for their dedication, caring and teamwork. Students from John Quincy Adams Primary School made a surprise appearance to perform a special “Thank You Song” with new lyrics referencing their gratitude for the board, accompanied by teacher Diana Cotrone on ukulele.

“Here at Deer Park, I would consider us to be about as fortunate as any community can be to have the board of ed that we have,” Superintendent James Cummings said. “They are really the most wonderful and supportive of boards I can speak for on Long Island. Anybody that has taught here, met them and met their families, realizes that they’re here for one thing, and that’s to make the community better

and to make our students successful. Every conversation that we have is centered around how do we make our students successful, and how do we do it in the most fiscally responsible way? From the bottom of my heart, on behalf of the school district, I want to thank the seven of you for what we do for us, what you do for the community, and most importantly what you do for the kids.”

DEER PARK SAYS “THANK YOU” TO BOE - The Deer Park School District celebrated School Board Recognition Week on Oct. 26 with a special “Thank You Song” performance by John Quincy Adams Primary School students accompanied by teacher Diana Cotrone on ukulele. Photo courtesy of Deer Park School District

Helping You Help Others

By Noelle Lambert

The Charity of the Month for November is Association for Mental Health and Wellness

www.mhaw.org

Since Veterans Day occurs in November, our Charity of the Month is one of Suffolk County’s foremost advocates for the interests of our veterans, the Ronkonkoma-based Association for Mental Health and Wellness (MHAW).

MHAW offers a wide range of support services to Suffolk County veterans by connecting them with affordable housing, medical and mental health assistance, case management, financial and legal referrals, employment assistance programs, and food pantries to help combat food insecurity.

This article in particular focuses on one important component of MHAW’s veteran services, the Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project. Named to honor the memory of an Iraq War hero and Army medic from Mt. Sinai who lost his battle with PTSD, the Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project is a peer-to-peer initiative offered in collaboration with the Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency.

The Dwyer Project serves veterans, service members, and their families with such post-service transitional issues as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury, although a formal diagnosis is not required for participation. They offer weekly peer groups both in person and virtual, and they also host monthly in-person community resource activities as well as a bi-monthly senior veteran group.

The Dwyer Project’s trained “Veteran Peer Mentors” have served in various branches of the Armed Forces and understand the reintegration needs of those who have been in the military, regardless of era or branch of service. This Project accepts all veterans, no matter their discharge status. All group sessions are confidential and anonymous in a safe, and trusting environment, free of judgment.

“Peer specialists are critical allies for our veterans,” says Colleen Merlo, CEO of the Association for Mental Health and Wellness. “They understand what other veterans are going through and can offer

support, advice, and suggestions to enhance recovery-oriented care.”

As described by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, peer support workers are “people who have been successful in the recovery process who help others experiencing similar situations. Through shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment, peer support workers help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse.”

It is a true power to have this type of communication,” said one a local veteran that is involved with The Dwyer Project.

“My facilitators are fantastic in organizing programs and ideas for how to help each other. The group is fundamental to what we need. When you get veterans together and get them talking, they can work out their issues. This is one of the most important programs for veterans I have ever seen.”

The Dwyer Project’s free, confidential, peer-to-peer approach has attracted support from both veterans and mental health professionals statewide. In fact, this year’s state budget includes funding for this Project in all 62 counties. Additionally, a national veteran peer initiative is pending in Congress, and it all started here in Suffolk County.

If you are a veteran interested in peer-to-peer support, or if you know a veteran in need, call (516) 807-4952 or email mcorinne@mhaw.org. Also, please visit www.dwyerproject.org for more information.

To every veteran this Veterans Day and always, thank you for your selfless service.

Deer Park Rallies For Fantastic Homecoming Celebration

The Deer Park community rallied on Oct. 15 for a fantastic homecoming celebration.

Proudly wearing maroon and white, the district’s students, staff and families joined the morning parade led by the Deer Park High

School Falcons Marching Band, that began at John F. Kennedy Intermediate School and ended at Al Centamore Football Field. Each high school grade level worked hard to create memorable TV showthemed floats for the parade,

ranging from “Slime Time Live” (freshmen) and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (sophomores) to “The Fairly OddParents” (juniors) and “SpongeBob SquarePants” (seniors).

Prior to the big afternoon game, Samuel Adolphe

and Theresa Tiernan were crowned as homecoming king and queen, and the senior class was announced as the winner of the float and Spirit Week contests.

Continuing the positive energy, the varsity Falcons football squad delivered

with a rousing 27-19 victory over Hauppauge, highlighted by stellar performances by the Lovinsky brothers, Hayden and Hunter. Hunter ran for 152 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown, threw a touchdown and racked

up two interceptions on defense, while Hayden ran for 102 yards, including touchdown runs of 25 and 60 yards. On defense, standout Alex Aiello notched 15 tackles.

“SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS” CREATION - Deer Park High School’s seniors won the homecoming parade float contest with their “SpongeBob SquarePants” creation.

Photos courtesy of Deer Park School District

DEER PARK HIGH SCHOOL FALCONS MARCHING BAND - The Deer Park High School Falcons Marching Band led the homecoming parade on Oct. 15.

CHEERLEADERS PERFORMED - Deer Park High School’s cheerleaders performed at the homecoming parade and football game on Oct. 15.

FALCONS DELIVERED AT HOMECOMING - Deer Park High School’s football Falcons delivered at homecoming on Oct. 15 with a rousing 27-19 victory over Hauppauge.