Mental health hotline set up in Nassau County

Nassau County and the Long Island Crisis Center on Tuesday launched a new 24-hour Mental Health Substance Abuse Help Line, County Executive Edward Mangano announced.

Establishing the help line — 516-227-TALK — precedes National Red Ribbon Week, which runs Oct. 23-31 and promotes drug abuse awareness, Mangano said in a statement, adding that the help line will better serve residents who struggle with mental illness and substance abuse disorders.

The help line "assists residents with accessing community resources and provides referrals," Mangano said. "The help line is a simple way for callers to discuss their problems, pose questions, and receive guidance on how to deal with challenges related to mental health and substance concerns."

All calls are confidential.

Calls are answered weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by behavioral health professionals at the Nassau County Department of Human Services, Office of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency and Developmental Disabilities Services, and by the Long Island Crisis Center the rest of the time.
-- SID CASSESE

BROOKHAVEN TOWN
IDA ad campaign to draw new businesses

The Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency has started a 10-week advertising campaign to retain businesses in the town and attract new ones, officials announced.

The campaign started last month on Long Island cable television channels, radio stations and Internet sites and will run through early December, IDA chairman Frederick C. Braun III said in a news release.

The ads were funded by fees collected from companies that receive IDA benefits, the agency said, adding that no taxpayer money was used to fund the campaign. The IDA awards economic incentives such as tax breaks and payments in lieu of taxes to attract or retain businesses.

The IDA board in January approved $100,000 for the ad campaign, including $25,000 to produce the ads and $75,000 to buy media time, according to IDA meeting minutes.

The ads feature Michael Petrucelli, chief financial officer of Shirley-based Uncle Wally's and United Baking Co., and John J. Corrado, president of Suffolk Transportation Service. Both companies received IDA benefits in recent years.

"The economic development landscape has become extremely competitive with many regions outside of New York courting the businesses that are crucial to the economy of the town," Braun said in a statement. "These commercials are designed to let businesses in the region become aware that Brookhaven can help them remain and expand."

The ads, which were created by Ronkonkoma-based GVP Digital Media, also can be seen on the Town of Brookhaven website, brookhaven.org.
-- CARL MACGOWAN

KINGS PARK
Hearing to address state park upgrades

A public hearing on proposed improvements and upgrades for Sunken Meadow State Park is scheduled for Oct. 23 at Kings Park High School, the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced Tuesday.

The park is one of many statewide scheduled for revitalization under a five-year, $90 million plan announced by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in May 2013.

The hearing offers residents an opportunity "to participate in the planning efforts" for the park, according to a news release from the agency.

State parks staff members will make a brief presentation of the master plan for Sunken Meadow and take public comments.

The 7 p.m. meeting is in the high school's auditorium at 200 Route 25A, Kings Park.

Those who cannot attend can view a draft of the master plan at the agency's regional headquarters for Long Island at 625 Belmont Ave. in West Babylon; the Sunken Meadow State Park office, Route 25A and Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park; or at the Smithtown Public Library's Kings Park branch at 1 Church St. in Kings Park.

The plan also is available at nysparks.com/inside-our-agency/master-plans.aspx.

Written comments and suggestions should be mailed to M. Pamela Otis, Director of Environmental Management Bureau, Albany, NY 12238 or by email to Sunkenmeadow.plan@parks.ny.gov.

The deadline for submitting comments is Nov. 14.
-- GARY DYMSKI

HEMPSTEAD TOWN
Plan to curb town's feral cat population

The Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter has passed 7,000 spay/neuter surgeries for feral cats through its Trap, Neuter and Return program, Supervisor Kate Murray announced Tuesday.

The program, unveiled in January 2012 to help curb the town's feral cat population, has performed more than 200 spay/neuter surgeries per month, Murray said in a news release. The program is in partnership with town residents and Hilton Animal Hospital in Lynbrook. Residents have spent "countless hours" trapping stray cats and taking them to the shelter, she said.

The effort uses a specially designed cage to trap a feral cat. The cat is taken to the animal shelter or to the Lynbrook hospital to be spayed/neutered, and, after a recovery period, returned to the exact place where it was trapped, town officials said.

"By spaying-neutering stray cats, we are creating a long-term solution to the feral overpopulation in the Town of Hempstead," Animal Shelter Director Mike Pastore said in the release.

Cats brought to the shelter under the program also receive free rabies and distemper vaccinations, flea control and ear tipping, which lets residents know it has already been neutered.

For a $40 cash payment, residents can also have cats tested for feline AIDS/leukemia.

Residents who wish to participate in the program must make an appointment through the shelter by calling 516-785-5220 ext. 4630 or emailing sreichert@tohmail.org. Space is limited, and appointments will be scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The town animal shelter is at 3320 Beltagh Ave. in Wantagh. For more information, call 516-785-5220 or visit toh.li/animal-shelter.


SUFFOLK COUNTY
State schedules gun buyback event

The state will hold a gun buyback on Saturday in Hauppauge as part of an effort to get firearms off the street.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at the H. Lee Dennison Building, 100 Veterans Memorial Hwy. in Hauppauge. It will be the first held on Long Island by state Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, his office said.

Schneiderman, who is running for re-election next month, has held six other gun buybacks across the state since September 2013 and bought almost 750 guns, according to his office.

The state will pay $25 for antique and nonworking firearms, $50 for rifles and shotguns, $75 for handguns and $100 for assault weapons. Sellers, who can remain anonymous, will get a debit card.

Guns must be transported to the drop-off site unloaded and placed in a plastic or paper bag or box, Schneiderman's office said. Licensed gun dealers and active or retired law enforcement officers are not eligible for the program.

The event is a collaborative effort between the attorney general's office, the office of Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone and the Suffolk County Police Department.

Schneiderman said in a statement that the program will remove "dangerous and unwanted firearms from places where they can be stolen or misused."

Money for the program comes from asset forfeiture funds, a spokeswoman for Schneiderman's office said.
-- DAVID M. SCHWARTZ

AMITYVILLE
Study envisions space for artists

Amityville officials have developed a tentative itinerary for a Nov. 4-6 visit by the nonprofit developer interested in building an artists living and working space in the village.

The visit, part of what Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Artspace has described as a "feasibility study" of the village, will include a public meeting Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Amityville Memorial High School Auditorium.

"They will answer questions and we'll discuss how to go about doing things if Amityville were to be selected," Downtown Redevelopment Committee co-chairman Tom Howard said.

Village officials have said the development could be the most significant downtown revitalization effort in decades and could reshape its future as they try to attract visitors, drum up commerce and broaden the tax base.

The firm makes 15 to 20 site visits a year, of which two to four typically lead to projects, according to the Artspace website.

Village officials have also planned meetings with Suffolk County officials, civic leaders, arts organizations and local business representatives.

A campaign to pay for some of the $15,000 Artspace charges for its feasibility study has raised about $6,000, trustee Nick LaLota said.

"We want to make sure we're as prepared as possible for this visit," he said. "It's such a key to our future."
-- NICHOLAS SPANGLER