LI briefs
SOUTHAMPTON TOWN
Southampton Town transfer stations will accept Christmas trees through Jan. 31 at the Hampton Bays, North Sea and Westhampton facilities.
Those dropping off their trees are asked to make sure that all lights and decorations have been removed.
The transfer stations are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
No trees will be accepted at the Sag Harbor transfer station.
The Hampton Bays station is at 30 Jackson Ave., the North Sea facility is at 1370 Majors Path and the Westhampton station is at 66 Old Country Rd.
LISA IRIZARRY
BROOKHAVEN TOWN
The Town of Brookhaven has recognized a nonprofit group dedicated to helping families who have loved ones struggling with drug addiction.
Families in Support of Treatment, or F.I.S.T., recently held a drug awareness forum for the Eastport-South Manor Central School District, and Brookhaven thanked the group for its outreach.
“It’s time for everyone to recognize we have a real problem and we need tough solutions,” Town Councilman Dan Panico said in a phone interview. “Their only goal is to raise awareness and get education into people’s hands.”
The organization, founded in 2013, was established to address drug issues plaguing Long Islanders by lobbying for legislation that would improve access to drug treatment for those struggling with substance abuse.
The nonprofit has also partnered with various communities across Long Island and in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island aiming to empower families dealing with addiction, prevention and recovery.
For more information about F.I.S.T., visit familiesinsupportoftreatment.com.
DEON J. HAMPTON
BELLPORT
A Bellport nonprofit organization has donated holiday toys to more than 650 children across Brookhaven Town.
The Lighthouse Mission Outreach Inc. sponsored the toy drive last month, and each child received at least two toys.
Lighthouse Mission is a faith-based, nondenominational organization that provides food for more than 156,000 people in need on Long Island each year.
“The holidays are tough for so many families, but the volunteers and staff at the mission help make the season brighter,” Town Supervisor Edward P. Romaine said in a statement.
DEON J. HAMPTON
NORTH HEMPSTEAD
Residents throughout North Hempstead can submit nominations for the town’s Annual May W. Newburger Women’s Roll of Honor Breakfast.
The 23rd annual event, named for the town’s first female supervisor, is to take place March 16 at the Clubhouse at Harbor Links in Port Washington.
The breakfast starts at 8 a.m. and honors women who live in the town who have “made a contribution to their community, or have accomplished a significant achievement through public or private efforts in a volunteer capacity,” according to a description of the event posted by the town.
Nominations can be made through Feb. 9 by calling 311, or through the town’s website.
SCOTT EIDLER
NORTH HEMPSTEAD
The Town of North Hempstead is looking to help residents lower their taxes by offering a tax grievance workshop in February.
At this seminar, residents will learn how to independently file tax grievances, which must be filed by March 1. Though the town does not set property tax assessments, tax receiver Charles Berman will review the tax grievance process and discuss how residents can challenge property assessments in order to save money on property tax bills.
Correction of Property Tax Assessment applications will be available at the workshop.
The event will be held on Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ahavat Shalom Synagogue in Great Neck, at 130 Cutter Mill Rd. For more information, call the town’s 311 information line.
CHRISTINE CHUNG
AMITYVILLE
Amityville Village Hall will remain open until 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 and Jan. 28 to issue 2016 parking permits for the lots at the Long Island Rail Road station.
The permits, which are valid from Feb. 1 through Jan. 31, cost $30 for residents and $150 for nonresidents. Fees will drop to $15 and $75 after Aug. 1.
The nonresident annual fee was among the lowest in the area when trustees set it last year as part of an effort to attract more commuters to the village.
NICK SPANGLER
GLEN COVE
The Glen Cove Senior Center is seeking volunteers for a program that drives residents to doctor offices, physical therapy and other nonemergency medical appointments.
The Glen Cove Medical Transport Program now operates from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is coordinated by the senior center but open – and free – to Glen Cove residents of any age who need transportation to medical appointments, city spokeswoman Lisa Travatello said.
“They want to get more volunteers so they can expand the hours” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Travatello said.
The program has run for about 10 years, she said. North Coast Subaru donated a Subaru Outback for the program’s use and pays for its maintenance, she said. The city pays for the fuel and insurance.
Anyone who is either interested in volunteering or needs a ride to an appointment should call 516-759-9610. Volunteers must have a valid driver’s license.
DAVID OLSON
SUFFOLK COUNTY
Two training classes for the opioid-reversal medication Narcan — used to save someone’s life from a heroin overdose — will be offered to the public free of charge this month .
Held by the Suffolk County Department of Health, in conjunction with its state counterpart, the program will help those interested to learn how to use a Narcan syringe and become certified to carry and administer the medicine in the case of an emergency, said Bob Delagi, the county DOH’s director of emergency medical services and public health preparedness.
A session will be held in Centereach at the Middle County Public Library on Jan. 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. RSVPs should be made before Monday by calling state Assemb. Al Graf’s office at 631-585-0230 or emailing smithdm@assembly.state.ny.us.
In Port Jefferson, a session will be held Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. at the Hope House Ministries Human Services Center. Call 631-928-2377 to register for that event. Attendees must be 18 years of age or older.
These training classes are certified by the state as registered opioid overdose prevention programs, Delagi said. Participants will get a chance to practice using the nasal syringe kits, and will leave the class with two doses of the medicine, along with a Narcan authorization card that documents their formal training and allows them to possess Narcan and administer it in an emergency overdose situation, Delagi said.
About 50 people have attended each class in the past, where more than 5,000 trained overdose responder kits have been issued since the program’s inception in 2013, Delagi said.
“I think the community is responding very positively,” Delagi said. “There’s been a change in the perception here where a few years ago people were denying this was a problem in suburbia. Now they’re acknowledging that this is an issue that affects all places, all socioeconomic levels.”
SARAH ARMAGHAN
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