Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Holiday Safety Tips from Nassau County Police

County Executive Edward P. Mangano and Acting Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas C. Krumpter and the Police Department are taking affirmative steps to ensure the safety of the people of Nassau County during the upcoming holiday season. All of our regular marked and plainclothes patrols will be intensifying their coverage of shopping malls and commercial areas. The patrols will be augmented by patrol from our Mounted Unit and Bureau of Special Operations. Concurrently, dedicated patrols have been assigned to the major malls within the county, putting additional police officers at those locations during peak hours.

In addition to shopping safety, Nassau Police will also be on the outlook for drivers and occupants who are not complying with the Seat Belt Law. This includes children who are not in child safety seats or buckled in their seat. Police Officers will also be vigilant watching for drivers who are drinking and driving on all roads in Nassau. Handicapped parking violations will be strictly enforced. Parking in handicapped spaces are reserved for those with visible permits.

Before Leaving Home

Plan your shopping trip carefully. Know where you are going and what routes you will take to get there.

If possible, arrange for a friend to go shopping with you. There is safety in numbers.

Let someone know where you are going and what route you will be taking. Additionally, let them know when you expect to return.

Leave your home secure, engage alarms and give the appearance that your home is occupied by leaving the lights on in the most frequently used rooms.

Don’t leave valuable items out in the open. Secure them in closets, safes, etc.

When Parking

Always park in well-lit areas.

Note the location of your vehicle in the parking lot to conveniently return after shopping.

Always lock all your doors.

Remove all items, such as radar detectors, laptops or packages and hide them in the trunk, glove compartment, out of site.

Avoid parking near vans or other vehicles with covered cargo areas.

Avoid carrying large handbags. Carry only what is necessary.

Look around the parking lot for suspicious persons before you exit your vehicle.

Don’t get out of your vehicle until you are ready. If you don’t feel safe, stay in the car or drive away.

While Shopping

Keep your money and credit cards in your front pocket and try to limit the number of credit cards and cash you’re carrying while shopping.

To avoid being a victim of “Identity Theft”, be aware of exposing credit cards, debit cards and other identification at the cash register and ATM’s. Thieves will utilize cell phones to capture card information without your knowledge.

Be cognizant of any other type of “Distraction” type of crimes that typically occur during this time of the year.

When Returning To Your Car

Never leave the store with your arms full of packages. Use a courtesy cart.

Have your car key in hand, ready to unlock your door.

Check the parking lot for suspicious people and look around before you exit the store.

Do not return to your vehicle if you see people loitering nearby.

Carry a whistle or other audible device. If you feel threatened, use it. If you’re inside your vehicle, lock your doors and honk your horn to attract attention.

Check underneath, in front and in back of your car as you approach it.

Check the front and rear passenger seats inside your car before you enter it.

If you are planning on returning to the store, never leave your packages in plain view inside your vehicle. Lock them in the trunk or place them on the floor and cover them with a blanket or jacket.

ALWAYS BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS

The Nassau County Police Department wishes everyone a safe and Happy Holiday season.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Town Honors Outstanding Residents At 15th Annual 'Make A Difference' Awards Ceremony

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and the town board recognized 14 extraordinary community members for contributions to their local neighborhoods at the 15th Annual "Make A Difference" Awards ceremony. "The inspirational people being honored this evening are truly the unsung heroes of our communities," said Murray. "Their selfless acts of volunteerism and leadership are true symbols of Hempstead Town and make our township such a great place to live, work and raise a family."

The honorees have all dedicated themselves to enriching the lives of others. Hundreds of nominations were received for the prestigious award. Those selected, Murray noted, have quietly carried out acts of selfless generosity for many years.

Our own local Awardees:

An interest in history, a yearning for knowledge and a love of their hometown combined to inspire Franklin Square residents Kiera Grassi and Hannah Mutum to pen the story of Franklin Square from the 1600s through today. Last year in pursuit of their Girl Scout Gold Awards Kiera and Hannah volunteered to assist the Franklin Square Historical Society. The duo created a photographic survey to visually record present-day Franklin Square. The project was time consuming and all encompassing, but it provided the foundation for what became a 128-page book on the history of Franklin Square. Working closely with Paul van Wie, the president of the local historical society, the girls published a literary work that has become a great source of pride within the local community. Flip through the pages of our honorees' narrative and discover the facts of George Washington's 1790 visit to Franklin Square, the community's growth as a 19th century German speaking farm community or the creation of the first-ever credit card by the Franklin Square National Bank in the early 1950s.

Claudia Ledwith of Valley Stream takes her artistic talent and applies it as therapy for countless sick children and their families at North Shore University Hospital. In fact, she has devoted more than 1200 hours and donated numerous art supplies and toys over the past decade. As young patients sat listlessly with IVs attached to their arms, Claudia's art therapy helped them forget their troubles. In addition to drawing and sculpting, she plays games with the children and listens to their stories. During her time at North Shore, Claudia also took on a leadership position in which she coordinated the youth volunteer program and planned events. Claudia's art therapy brightens otherwise gloomy situations for children, which in turn, brings smiles to their faces and those of the concerned family members.

"Generous, helpful, kind, caring, loyal, and thoughtful, a true gentleman, these are the words used by a dozen neighbors in describing Valley Stream resident Salvatore Spinicchia. As one neighbor says, "Sal's entire adult life has been marked by service to others." For Sal, service began as a young adult, when he fought during World War II as a member of the U.S. Army and later, as a Marine, in the Korean War. Decades later, Sal still finds himself on the front lines, only this time he's helping fellow veterans, friends and neighbors in Valley Stream, New York. Sal regularly visits war veterans, particularly those who are unemployed, to educate them on the veterans programs and benefits for which they may be eligible. Sal also exemplifies the ideals of a "good neighbor." Last winter, when neighbors had a serious fire in their home, Sal - a member of the Valley Stream Fire Department - went over and fought the flames with a fire extinguisher until fire trucks arrived. Then, Sal invited the family to stay in his home until the insurance company could make arrangements for them. Sal's standard greeting to his neighbors and friends is "Let me know if I can help." And he's backed that phrase for decades, assisting veterans, friends, family, and neighbors with a helping hand.

"Our award recipients do not seek recognition, expect rewards or even look for a simple thank you. These special people just care. They care for their neighbors, their colleagues, their friends, their families and their communities," concluded Murray. "Tonight we are personally thanking them for making the world a better place."

Monday, November 14, 2011

Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus Twelve Apostles Council #5001 has a new website. It has information about the founding of the organization , a history of our Council , a calendar of upcoming events, a list of our officers and much more. Could you post it on the Franklin Square / Garden City South / West Hempstead , North Valley Stream and Elmont Community Blog? the Website is www.kofc5001.org .
Thank You in advance for your kind attention to this matter.


Sincerely,

Joe Camolli
Past Grand Knight
Twelve Apostles Council #5001

Monday, November 7, 2011

National Test of the Emergency Alert System

On Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.(EST),the federal government will be conducting the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The test will last up to three and a half minutes. During this period, regularly scheduled television, radio, cable, and satellite shows will be interrupted as the system is being tested.


This system test is the first of its kind designed to broadcast a nationwide message to the American public. In the history of the country, nothing like it has been conducted on such a level. As you may be aware, there have been tests in the past, but not of this magnitude encompassing all regions of the Nation simultaneously. The three (3) minute test will run concurrently on all radio and TV band stations exceeding the previous messages broadcast which were anywhere from a 30 second to 1 minute message.

The EAS is a national alert and warning system established to enable the President of the United States to address the American public during emergencies. NOAA's National Weather Service, governors and state and local emergency authorities also use parts of the system to issue more localized emergency alerts. A national test will help federal partners and EAS participants determine the reliability of the system, as well as its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential dangers both nationally and regionally. The test will also provide the FCC and FEMA a chance to identify improvements that need to be made to build a modernized and fully accessible Emergency Alert System.

Below are two websites that will provide more information regarding this test:

- http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm

- https://nationaldialogue-emergencyalertsystem.ideascale.com/

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

R.E.A.C.H.

Return Every Adult and Child Home (R.E.A.C.H.)


• What is R.E.A.C.H.?
R.E.A.C.H. is a database of children and adults with cognitive disorders that make them both more likely to become a missing person and that potentially limit their ability to communicate with the police and others.

• Why should I register my family member or ward with R.E.A.C.H.?
R.E.A.C.H. registration will assist the police with a swift response to missing person calls. Time is CRITICAL in these incidents. With R.E.A.C.H., a missing person alert with a recent photograph will quickly be available to police officers on patrol. Planning ahead for the worst case scenario ensures that the police have comprehensive and correct information on the missing person to utilize in a targeted search.

• Who can be registered in R.E.A.C.H.?
Examples of individuals who are good candidates for registration in the R.E.A.C.H. registry include those affected by Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, Down Syndrome, mental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, etc. There is no age restriction or minimum capacity requirement for registration.

• Do you need to be a Nassau County resident to register?
Registration is limited to persons with a nexus to Nassau County through either residence or caregiver location (e.g. school, day program, or frequented location).

• How do you register a person in R.E.A.C.H.?
Call Asset Forfeiture and Intelligence at (516) 573-5775, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., for an appointment.

• How much does registration cost?
Registration is free.

• What information is included in R.E.A.C.H.?
R.E.A.C.H. includes a photograph, biographical information, and other information pertinent for locating and dealing with registrants such as likely destinations and anything else we should know, e.g. does not like physical contact, non-verbal, likes trains, etc.

• Do I need a recent photograph for registration?
No. At registration, a police officer will take a picture of the registrant. This guarantees that the photograph we have is the most up-to-date image and is clear.

• Who has access to the information included in the R.E.A.C.H. database?
R.E.A.C.H. is a law enforcement-maintained and secure database that is accessible to the N.C.P.D. from both desktops and in-vehicle computers.

• What information is made public in the event a registrant is missing?
The photograph, along with a physical description, area missing from, and likely destinations will be released. Other personal information remains confidential.

• How is R.E.A.C.H. connected to the Silver Alert system?
R.E.A.C.H. is an expansion of the Silver Alert system that will assist the Police Department with a swift response to missing person calls.

• Does R.E.A.C.H. have a proactive policing component?
Yes. Through the R.E.A.C.H. database, police officers will be familiar with the locations where R.E.A.C.H. registrants reside in their area of patrol. This familiarization can assist with early recovery as police officers may observe registrants in unsafe areas or situations and safely return them even prior to any missing alarm being raised.
R.E.A.C.H. is a searchable database. If the police come into contact with a disoriented or nonverbal person, a physical description of the subject can be run in R.E.A.C.H. to obtain a picture match. If a match is found, contact information will be available to return the adult or child home.

• What should I do if a R.E.A.C.H. registrant goes missing?
Call 911 immediately and inform both the operator and the police officer who responds that the missing person is registered in the R.E.A.C.H. program.