Greenlawn comes to aid of its local video store

Thursday October 29, 2009 5:13 PM By Deborah S. Morris deborah.morris @newsday.com

Traffic into the Greenlawn Video store had dwindled.

By March, the troubled economy, coupled with the explosion of movie delivery services such as Netflix and On Demand cable services, had taken a toll.

Owner Junior Silverio had even started using money from his personal savings to keep the business afloat.

“I stayed, hoping it would get better,” said Silverio, 58, who lives in Kings Park. “But instead, it continued to get worse.”

Today, he has a lifeline — the community that came to his rescue.

“I’m so touched by everyone’s support,” Silverio said recently as he stood among the classics, Westerns and new releases in the tiny store that he bought 16 years ago. “The customers really care. It’s like family.”

When customers learned of his plight, they began a campaign to raise the community’s awareness, using fliers and alerting the media.

“We really didn’t want to see him leave,” said Frances Killelea, a longtime customer. “And he wanted to stay. So we wanted to see what we could do.”

Today, Silverio says, because of the community’s support, he has reconsidered and is going to tough it out for at least another six months. He said he raised $7,000 during a going-out-of-business sale to get him through the next couple of months.

“It was enough to pay October and November’s rent,” Silverio said of the earnings from his three-day sale after he announced his plans to close. “I realized that my movies are my savings — my investments.”

But a few weeks earlier, he was planning on closing the door for good.
He called his landlord in early October and told him he would be leaving. He ordered going-out-of-business signs and began selling his entire inventory of DVD and VHS movies for $3 apiece.

Silverio purchased the store in 1993 after he lost his job at a local grocery store that went out of business. One day, the owner of the nearby video shop — where Silverio was a regular customer — asked what he planned to do when his grocery store job ended.

Silverio told him he didn’t know. And the owner suggested he buy the store.
“I said, ‘You’re right,’ ” Silverio said. “Why not?”

The result worked out well for Silverio and for his customers. So when the going-out-of-business signs went up, his regulars started asking: Why? When?
After all, they had a valuable relationship with him and the shop: It was open 10 hours a day, 365 days a year, with Silverio behind the counter. Customers gave him a dry erase board where they could display their ratings of movies. Silverio would waive late fees. And customers came to trust his movie advice, especially for their children.

“It’s his personal touch,” Killelea said. “It’s wonderful to have the consistency of someone who knows you.”

She said the community is discussing marketing ideas and a coupon book for the shop, and they’ve entered Silverio’s name in the Best Mom and Pop store in the Best of Long Island poll sponsored by the Long Island Press.

“He wasn’t just somebody trying to make big bucks in the community and then fold,” Killelea said. “He had really given this community his all for so many years.”

Recently, a grateful resident dropped off a check for $200, but the generosity was too much for Silverio to accept.

“Their support is enough,” he said. “Their patronage, their cooperation. When my computer is down, they fix it for free. They help me in so many ways.”

He donated the check to the Greenlawn Civic Association.

“This way, it’s for all of us,” he said.

School of Rock students are playing Crohn's fundraiser

Thursday October 29, 2009 12:41 PM By Mary Beth Foley marybeth.foley@newsday.com

The first gig for Spare Change, a local boy band, will be for a good cause. They’ll perform next month at an Amityville fundraiser to benefit the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.

After studying and performing for several years with the Paul Green School of Rock Music in Melville, the five members of Spare Change, ages 9 to 12, decided to start their own rock band this summer.

“While the members of Spare Change are young in years, they are veterans on the stage,” said George Rogu, the father of two band members.

The band was invited to perform at the fundraiser, Rogu said, because of their talent and compassion for others.

“These kids can perform wherever they prefer, but helping out an important cause is very meaningful to them,” he said.

Rogu’s son Peter, a seventh grader at Candlewood Middle School in Dix Hills, is the band’s leader and guitarist. Younger brother Teddy, plays keyboard and provides vocals; he is a fourth grader at Otsego Elementary School in Dix Hills. Nico Marulli and Jordan Trichon are sixth graders at West Hollow Middle School in Melville. Nico is the lead vocalist and can also be found on drums and guitar. Jordan is the band’s drummer, vocalist and keyboardist. And Reese Alexander Ortenberg, who attends fourth grade at Old Bethpage Elementary School in Old Bethpage, plays guitar and bass.

At the event, the boys will perform mostly classic rock songs, such as “Jump” by Van Halen, “Cryin’” by Aerosmith, “Highway Star” by Deep Purple and “She’s So Cold” by The Rolling Stones.

“These children all seem to have the same musical influence. They play the music their parents and some grandparents listened to,” George Rogu said.

Rogu, a pediatrician and founder of the adoption consultation and medical service Web site adoptiondoctors.com, said, “The organizer of the event’s son has Crohn’s disease and his nephew and several relatives suffer from colitis. As a physician I treat many patients that have these diseases and I have a number of family and friends that suffer from one of these diseases as well.”

The fundraising event is Nov. 10, from 6:30-9:30 p.m., at Ollie’s Point, 140 Merrick Rd., Amityville. (The following day is Veteran’s Day and most kids are off from school.) Two other bands, DiStracted and Word of Day, also composed of talented Long Island youths, are scheduled to perform as well.

Tickets are $10 in advance; call 516-868-5117 or e-mail pgmboy@aol.com.

Police ask help on suspect in South Huntington credit card thefts

Thursday October 29, 2009 10:26 AM By Tim Healy thealy@newsday.com

Police are asking the public’s help in identifying a woman who took credit cards from pocket books in a South Huntington Hallmark.

Police say the woman, seen above in video surveillance photos, took the credit cards and other items at the store on Route 110 on Wednesday, June 17, at about 3 p.m. She is described as a white female, 30-40 years old, with long, dark hair. She was wearing jeans and sunglasses.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. Calls will be kept confidential and the caller will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

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4 candidates seek 2 seats on Huntington Town Council

Thursday October 29, 2009 9:50 AM By Deborah S. Morris deborah.morris @newsday.com

Huntington Town Council members have four-year terms and earn $76,841. They cast individual votes to adopt laws on issues ranging from zoning to recreational programs. They vote on the town budget, which determines the local tax rate, and set the level of services provided by the town.

Here are this year’s candidates:

STUART P. BESEN
Democratic
BACKGROUND: Besen, 45, of Northport, is also on the Independence and Working Families lines. Besen, who is running for his second term, is an attorney with a practice in Garden City.
ISSUES: Besen said he is proud of initiatives he has sponsored in his first term, including establishing a landmark computer-mapping program that enables police and public safety personnel to closely monitor sexual predators in established sensitive areas. Other workshops include teen driving, baby-sitting education and Internet safety training, as well as “green” initiatives, including the hybrid incentive program. “I’m very proud of the sound fiscal management of the town in tough economic times,” Besen said. “I will continue to work to keep taxes down, [and work] on environmental and ‘green’ initiatives and other quality-of-life issues that make Huntington a great place to live and work.”

EUGENE COOK
Republican
BACKGROUND: Cook, 47, of Greenlawn, also is on the Conservative Party line. He owns an asphalt and concrete company in Westbury. This is his first run for office.
ISSUES: Cook says he is discouraged by the voting records of the town board members, does not believe they are acting in the best interests of the people, and wants to see more effective management of taxpayer money. He said taxes are out of control, and there is too much patronage spending. He is in favor of council districts and term limits for the town board. “I’m very proud to be on a team with Mark Mayoka and Bill Dowler,” Cook said. “All of us are business people who own our businesses, and we are not professional politicians,” he says. “With their experience as CPAs and my knowledge of infrastructure, we can bring positive change to the town.”

MARK CUTHBERTSON
Democratic
BACKGROUND: Cuthbertson, 43, of Huntington, is running for his fourth term and is also endorsed by the Independence and Working Families parties. He is a lawyer with a practice that specializes in commercial real estate, municipal litigation and the representation of municipalities and school districts.
ISSUES: Cuthbertson touts his 11 years on the board advocating for quality-of-life issues and sound fiscal management. He has supported environmental legislation to protect the steeply sloped landscape of Huntington and sponsored the Open Space Bond Act, which allocated $30 million to fund park improvements, historic preservation and open space acquisition. As part of this effort, he said, funding specifically earmarked for the implementation of renewable energy projects has been developed for the town.

MARK L. MAYOKA
Republican
BACKGROUND: Mayoka, 45, of Cold Spring Harbor, also is on the Conservative Party line. He is a certified public accountant. This is his first run for office.
ISSUES: Mayoka said he is running for office to reduce spending and lower taxes. He said he was motivated to run after he wrote a book about financial crisis planning for small businesses: “I was researching small businesses in Huntington, and I was in shock at how the government wasn’t coming to aid and help guide them through the crisis. I said this is just not right.” The way to reduce spending and taxes, he said, is through streamlined government, consolidation of government services, and competitive bidding. “Huntington needs new leadership, and I am ready, willing and able to accept that challenge to make Huntington a better and more affordable place to live,” he said.

Northport Historical's antiques show

Thursday October 29, 2009 9:10 AM By Newsday Staff

The Northport Historical Society’s Antiques Show will feature “Among the trove of antique treasures, 18th and 19th century continental furnishings, Americana and Primitives, clocks, Majolica, Art Glass, Silver, Textiles and Linen, Estate and Vintage Costume Jewelry and much more,” according to the organizer’s Web site.

The event runs from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sunday at Laurel Avenue School, 158 Laurel Ave., Northport. Admission is $6 a person; call 516-868-2751 or visit  pekaleshows.com for more information.
 

Recent deaths in the community

Thursday October 29, 2009 9:06 AM By Newsday Staff

LANDEAU - Mary (nee Simas), of Mashpee, Massachusetts, formerly of
Asharoken, NY, died after a long illness on October 27, 2009. Born
October 25, 1921 in Brooklyn, NY, she was the wife of the late Wallace
Landeau and previously the late John P. Paone. Survived by her son,
John P. Paone, Jr. and his wife, Mary, of Mashpee. She was predeceased
by her son, Kenneth Paone. Grandmother of Jonathan Paone, of Chatham,
NJ, Adam Paone, of Canton, Massachusetts and Andrew Paone, of
Lexington, Massachusetts. Also survived by five great-grandchildren
and her brothers, Anthony Simas and his wife, Anne, of Albertson, NY
and Edward Simas and his wife, Maureen, of Eltingville, NY. Mass of
Christian Burial will be celebrated on October 30, 2009 at 1pm at St.
Anthony's Catholic Church, 167 East Falmouth Highway, East Falmouth,
Massachusetts, with burial at National Cemetery, Bourne,
Massachusetts. Please visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com.

MILLER - Florence T. "Sis" (nee Teiner), of Northport on October 27,
2009. Born in East Northport January 27, 1921 (Ret. secretary from
Jericho School District). Beloved wife of the late Jack Baker and the
late Gus Miller. Devoted mother of the late Jack Baker and his wife
Patty and Sherry Baker Adams and her late husband Timmy. Loving Gamma
of James (Cindy) Baker, Kathleen Baker, Timmy (Amy) Adams, Buffie
(Steven Krane) Adams, Kacey (Timmy) O'Brien and the late Jackie Baker.
Cherished by nine great-grand children. Reposing Nolan &
Taylor-Howe Funeral Home, 5 Laurel Ave, Northport, Thursday (today)
2pm to 5pm and 7pm to 9pm. Funeral Service Friday 1pm at funeral home
with the Rev. Dr. Timothy Hoyt Duncan officiating. In lieu of flowers,
donations to V.N.S. Hospice of Suffolk (Hospice House), 505 Main
Street, Northport 11768, in "Sis" memory, appreciated.

SCHEERER - Denise P., 67, of Huntington, on October 27, 2009.
Secretary for Helen Keller Services for the Blind in Huntington.
Beloved wife of the late Kenneth. Loving mother of Douglas (Kelli),
Diona and Derek. Adoring grandmother of Alexander Kenneth. Dear sister
of David Cannamela (Patricia). Visitation at M.A. Connell Funeral
Home, 934 New York Ave., Huntington Station on Friday 7-9pm and
Saturday 2 5pm and 7-9pm. A Service will be held at the Funeral Home
on Saturday evening. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her
memory to Helen Keller Services for the Blind Senior Center.

THOMPSON - Virginia Elizabeth, on October 26th, 2009, at 80 years.
Loving and devoted wife of Donald R. and dear mother of Richard F.,
David W. and Paul J. Thompson. She joins her parents Violet and George
Rasweiler and brother Frederick in Heaven. Loving grandmother to
Daniel, Weston, Chad, Shawnie, Deanna and Dylan, and extremely proud
great-grandmother to Miss Aubrey Thompson. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) at
158 Linwood Plaza, Suite 220, Fort Lee, NJ 07024 or to the Visiting
Nurse Service & Hospice House of Suffolk, Inc. at 505 Main St,,
Northport, NY 11768. A Memorial Service is planned at Old First
Presbyterian Church at 125 Main St., Huntington, NY 11743 on Saturday,
November 7th at 10:30am.

Whitman High School grad finishes Air Force basic training

Wednesday October 28, 2009 3:57 PM By U.S. Air Force

Air Force Airman Thomas M. Ratchford graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
    
Ratchford is a 2006 graduate of Walt Whitman High School, Huntington Station. He is the son of Robert Ratchford of Chichester Road, Huntington Station, and the brother of Lauri Adams of Nottingham Court, Nesconset.
 
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.  Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

The Air Force issued this announcement Wednesday.
 

Whitman teams play for the cure

Wednesday October 28, 2009 2:02 PM By Steve Bartholomew

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and through awareness, education, and empowerment, organizations throughout the world help with this month-long awareness campaign to bring focus to this deadly disease. Students and teachers in the South Huntington School District have held many and varied fund-raising programs to help in this universal cause.

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists. They work together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all, and energize science to find cures. Thanks to events throughout the district, and generous contributions from the South Huntington community and communities all over the world, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

Many of Walt Whitman’s athletic teams have worked together with their on-field rivals to help support this cause. Pictured above is the Whitman field hockey team at a recent game against Commack; the Whitman girls volleyball team, who played against Bay Shore, appears below. Both teams recently dedicated their athletic contests to the cause. Presently with a league record of 10 wins and 3 losses, the Whitman field hockey team, coached by Stephanie Bodenburg, is poised to enter the playoffs as a team to be reckoned with.

Steve Bartholomew handles public relations for the South Huntington school district.