Long Beach Cinemas is finally reopening this weekend nearly three years after Sandy.
Long Beach has been without a movie theater since Superstorm Sandy flooded the aisles of the Long Beach Cinemas nearly three years ago, but moviegoers have some good news coming soon.
Last year a glimmer of hope appeared when a sign was posted outside the closed venue, advising the deprived moviegoers to “Look 4 Grand Reopening.” But they still had a very long wait in store. Showtime finally arrived Wednesday, meaning Long Beach officially got its cinemas back before the Fourth of July.
“I think we’re very much the symbol of what was destroyed when Sandy came,” said Seth Pilevsky, co-president of Philips International, which owns the cinemas. “We want to open strong and stay open.”
Not only will the cinema be re-opened, but it will be revitalized. New 3D and digital projectors, as well as larger leather cushion seats, will be added to the four-screen theater at the corner of East Park Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard.
The delays have been frustrating for the owners and moviegoers alike.
“It took over a year to get any money from the insurance company,” said Pilevsky. “We had to fight to get the money for the theater.”
But now, with the cinemas’ reopening, the City by the Sea can continue to move on from the devastation leftover by the 2012 superstorm.
Aside from symbolizing the city’s restoration, with the cinema’s return Long Beach natives will finally once again be able to save a lot of unnecessary travel time to movie theaters farther away.
“It’s another positive step in for our city’s recovery and yet another sign that Long Beach continues to move forward,” said City Councilman Anthony Eramo. “My wife and I are looking forward to taking our kids to the Long Beach theater for the first time since Sandy.”
His colleagues agreed.
“This has been a long time coming,” observed City Councilman Scott J. Mandel. “Having our movie theater back is a real boost to the community and a great symbol of Long Beach’s comeback.”
Long Beach moviegoers couldn’t agree more.
“I’m very excited about the theater coming back,” said Dan Bulger, a Long Beach native. “We won’t have to travel all the way to Rockville Center anymore and even have the option of walking there using the boardwalk again.”
The hottest crossover/SUV on the market has gotten even hotter.
Honda has made several improvements to its CR-V—2014’s highest-selling crossover/SUV—elevating the United States’ most popular hybrid and creating a whole new automotive driving wonder in the process.
Updated with a direct-injected 2.4-liter engine with CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission), innovative new safety features, improved occupant protection, new projector-beam headlights, daytime LED running lamps, brighter trim and upgraded electronics, among other additions, the jazzed-up 2015 Honda CR-V has been wowing both drivers and critics alike.
“It remains the finest jacked-up Civic hatchback you can buy,” gushes Car and Driver. “It’s just that modern car-based crossover SUVs like the Honda CR-V, with its elevated driving position; 70-plus cubic feet of cargo space (with the rear seats down); friendly fuel economy, ride, and handling; and available four-wheel drive, offer pretty much everything today’s buyer needs in such a vehicle.”
Head down to NY Auto Giant and get behind the wheel of your own 2015 Honda CR-V!
“Against the Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4 and others, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV of the decade and, for 2015, it has even more to like,” one writes. “There’s attractive new styling, appealing features and noteworthy technology, and the 2.4-liter direct-injection engine with continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) delivers more power, performance and fuel economy.
“The new CR-V is available in multiple trim levels and with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD),” the review continues. “Safety features are class-leading, there’s a new Touring upper trim level and, if that isn’t enough, the new CR-V represents an exceptional value for the money. No wonder owners love it.”
The 2015 CR-V has more power under the hood and boasts smoother, quieter, more responsive performance. Some say she sings like a bird! It also has better fuel economy than its predecessor, advanced safety features, and an overall enhanced appearance!
Don’t take our word for it, though—head in to NY Auto Giant’s Atlantic Honda, Millennium Honda or Advantage Honda, fall in love, and drive home one of your own today!
Long Island University undergrad Nicholas Dicostanzo is competing in the eSports video gaming component of the popular extreme sports X Games in Austin, Texas this weekend as a member of Team eLevate. (Photo Courtesy of Team eLevate)
With his team earning four bronze medals and $10,000 in cash prizes, Long Island’s top-skilled video gamer Nicholas Dicostanzo has returned home to Dix Hills after competing at the X Games in Austin, Texas, earlier this month.
For the second year in a row, the extreme sports contest featured eSports, an electronic gaming competition, but for the first time, it was broadcasted live on ESPN. Dicostanzo’s four-member Team eLevate suffered a disappointing 4-0 loss in their final game, but the eSports competitors have certainly gained a lot more than they lost by landing in third place.
“Obviously there were a lot of gameplay mistakes that I’m hashing over in my mind,” said Dicostanzo. “So I just keep playing and working on what I identify as my greatest weaknesses, building my intuition and reactions, and working on communication.”
Diconstanzo, who’s been playing video games since 2007, only began playing competitively last year, winning team prizes across the country. For the MLG Professional League Championship in Austin, they were virtually slaying opponents in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
Compared to extreme skateboarding or BMX racing, eSports certainly differs from typical physical sports, but they share more similarities than not.
“To be honest, it doesn’t matter to me if the world thinks of eSports as on the same level as athletic sports,” said Dicostanzo. “I know we put in a ton of time and practice like the athletes do, and we actually press to the physical limits similarly. But I don’t occupy myself with what others think about how eSports is situated.”
He said his interactions with the other athletes proved to be supportive and insightful, helping both gamers and X-Game regulars gain mutual respect.
“They were totally cool,” said Dicostanzo. “A lot of them play video games all the time, so they were interested in seeing how professional gamers play…Just like we were impressed by the stunts they could pull off, they were amazed to see the level of play we had.”
So what’s next for the 23-year-old Long Island native, besides getting his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting at the end of the year from Long Island University?
“I enjoy getting back home, but I am focused on season three,” said Dicostanzo. “We’re putting together our roster now and want to make sure it’s top-quality, so we’ll see how that develops. We have a couple of plans in the works.”
Alure Home Improvements Chief Operating Officer Doug Cornwell teaches viewers the best way how to replace cabinet knobs and pulls in a recent episode of Alure's "60-Second Fix."
Changing the hardware on cabinets is easier than you might think, as Doug Cornwell, the chief operating officer of Alure Home Improvements, demonstrates in the latest installment of “Alure’s 60 Second Fix: How To Replace Your Cabinet Hardware In 60 Seconds.”
He’ll show you how simple the task can be, but have you ever thought of where these knobs and drawer pulls came from? We’ll get into that, too.
First, let’s focus on replacing knobs and pulls.
As Cornwell points out, common cabinet hardware basically comes in two types. Knobs have single screw holes and pulls have two holes.
Replacing a knob on a cabinet door or a drawer just entails unscrewing the knob, and poking the screw back through the hole with your finger. Cornwell holds his other hand inside the drawer, ready to catch the screw in his open palm for convenience sake.
Once the unwanted knob is gone, you just repeat the procedure in reverse. Be sure to tighten up the knob so it doesn’t come loose because this knob will get a lot of use if it’s on a kitchen cabinet or a kitchen drawer.
Now, pulls are “a little more difficult” to replace, as Cornwell says. Because they come with two holes, you want to make sure that the replacement pull has its pair of holes the same distance apart as the ones on the original pull.
“You want it to match up,” says Cornwell.
So, he advises that you take the existing pull with you when you go to the hardware store, and make sure the new pull’s holes line up exactly before you make your purchase. It’s common sense. Why screw around when life is complicated enough!
Once you’re satisfied with your new hardware, just hold the pull on the outside of the cabinet door or the drawer, insert the screws from the inside pointing out, and tighten them up accordingly. Then you can move on to the next one. Or make yourself a drink and relax because your job is done.
In this example, Cornwell is talking about the fixtures most commonly found in kitchen cabinetry, but his advice could apply to cabinets and drawers anywhere in your house, such as bedroom dressers, bureaus or chiffoniers. Some homeowners have a profusion of cabinets with an array of interesting knobs and pulls on display. But people in some parts of the world, even today, have never had a cabinet in their lives.
Historians say that knobs evolved as furniture became more available to broader classes of people beyond the nobility and the aristocracy. Rugged durability was their requirement, especially if the furniture owners were on the move. According to Whitechapel Ltd., the knob became a more acceptable exposed fitting on fine furniture in the 19th century after well-known English cabinet makers, Thomas Chippendale, George Hepplewhite and Thomas Sheraton had introduced large decorated face brass knobs in the late 18th century. Then the technology had advanced to make them more ubiquitous and less expensive to produce. In keeping with their guiding principles of honesty, utility and simplicity in their craftsmanship, the Shakers used simple turned-wood knobs instead of imported brass drawer pulls as they constructed their own household furnishings at their experimental communes in America. As they put it, veneering and applied ornamentation were “deceitful” practices, according to a curator of American furniture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
So, as you find out by watching Doug Cornwell on “Alure’s 60 Second Fix,” replacing the knobs and pulls may be easy compared to deciding what new design you’ll want to replace the old ones with! Clearly, as interior decorators are quick to point out, these fixtures add style and flair to your cabinets, and that’s something to consider. Remember, these little things add up. Some kitchen designs today involve 50 or more cabinets and drawers! That’s enough to make your knees go wobbly and your hands weak.
The product of generations of master woodworkers and skilled artisans, knobs and pulls can be mass-manufactured or hand-crafted. They are commonly made of metal, glass, plastic or wood. Pulls come thick or thin, smooth or pitted, twisted like a rope or knotted like a sash. Some knobs have a subtle art-deco ring within a ring style while others may be braided like a button made out of a wicker basket. There are vintage glass knobs, and modern ones with satin nickel finish. Some have a minimalist base, others are decorated with a flourish along with graceful curves and bright finishes. You could pick fancy medium-fluted glass knobs. Or consider sleek steel-plated pulls artfully curved for your fingers to curl around. We’ve seen knobs emblazoned with starfish and pinecones cast in metal. One enterprising hardware provider offers red and yellow poppy knobs!
The décor decision is up to you. Doug Cornwell shows how easy it is to replace them. But you’ll have to decide how you want to handle them. Because remember, once they’re in place, they have to serve a function as well as provide an aesthetic touch.
Fraud and abuse continue to dog Medicare’s popular prescription drug program despite a bevy of initiatives launched to prevent them, according to two new reports by the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The reports issued Tuesday provide more insight into the extent of the fraud, as well as steps federal regulators should take to stop it. The first, which covers data from last year, found:
More than 1,400 pharmacies had questionable billing practices last year in the drug program. Some billed for extremely high numbers of prescriptions per patient and others billed for a high proportion of narcotic controlled substances. Collectively, they billed Part D $2.3 billion in 2014.
Prescriptions for commonly abused opioids continue to rise, despite warnings about inappropriate use. Between 2006 and 2014, Medicare’s spending on them grew to $3.9 billion from $1.5 billion, a 156 percent increase. By comparison, spending for all drugs in the program, including expensive specialty medications, grew by 136 percent during the same period. More than 40 percent of Medicare beneficiaries in Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Alaska filled at least one prescription for a narcotic in 2014, compared to 32 percent for the nation as a whole.
New York and Los Angeles remain hotbeds for questionable prescribing, with far higher use of expensive drugs associated with fraud than other parts of the country. The New York metropolitan area, for instance, accounted for half of all prescriptions for the expensive topical ointment Solaraze last year, a disproportional rate. The drug is used for lesions formed as a result of overexposure to the sun. New York and Los Angeles also stood out for prescribing of two omega-3 fatty acids, used to help reduce very high triglyceride levels. The two regions accounted for nearly half of all prescriptions for Vascepa and about a third of those for Lovaza.
The inspector general’s findings come two years after ProPublica reported on how weak oversight by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) allowed abusive prescribing and outright fraud to proliferate in Part D. Medicare promised a more aggressive approach to analyzing its own data.
People can use Prescriber Checkup, a tool created by ProPublica, to look up doctors and see how their prescribing patterns compare to their peers in the same specialty and state.
Medicare Part D provides drug coverage for 39 million seniors and disabled people, at a cost of $121 billion in 2014. It is the fastest-growing component of the Medicare program. Part D is administered by health insurers under contract with the federal government, but CMS is responsible for overseeing it.
For years, the inspector general, an internal watchdog that evaluates HHS programs and investigates wrongdoing, has dinged Medicare for its failure to keep a close enough eye on doctors, pharmacies, beneficiaries and even its fraud contractors. That’s beginning to change, officials say.
“CMS has made progress on a number of recommendations we’ve made, as well as on the initiatives that they’ve had,” said Jodi Nudelman, regional inspector general for evaluation and inspections in the New York office. “They’re starting to use data to drive their strategies.”
At the same time, she said, “There are still concerns. More needs to be done. We can’t stop here.”
Requiring health plans to report all potential fraud and abuse to CMS and its fraud-monitoring contractors. Right now, the agency encourages plans to voluntarily report suspicions of fraud but it doesn’t mandate it. Last year, the inspector general found that less than half of Part D insurers voluntarily reported data on potential fraud and abuse.
Expanding reviews for questionable drug prescribing beyond controlled substances to other commonly abused drugs, including antipsychotic medications, respiratory drugs and those for HIV.
Restricting patients suspected of doctor shopping—visiting multiple doctors in search of controlled substance prescriptions—to a limited number of doctors and pharmacies. CMS said it doesn’t have legal authority to do this, but the inspector general said it should seek the authority, which is commonly used by private insurance companies and state Medicaid programs for the poor.
During last week’s Medicare fraud takedown, 243 people total were charged, including 46 doctors, nurses and other licensed health professionals. Some 44 of the people arrested were charged with fraud related to Part D.
In Miami, for example, a number of pharmacy owners were charged with health care fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud. In one case, the government charged several people with paying Medicare beneficiaries for their personal identification numbers, which they used to file fraudulent claims for drugs that were never dispensed. They worked with a clinic owner, who forged and altered prescriptions and sold them to the pharmacies. This scheme alone defrauded Medicare of $21.2 million, the government alleged.
Last year, CMS announced that it was granting itself potent new authority to expel physicians from Medicare if they are found to prescribe drugs in abusive ways. The agency also said it would compel health providers to enroll in Medicare to order medications for patients covered by Part D. Currently, that isn’t required.
The changes were supposed to take effect on June 1, but have since been delayed twice, most recently until January 1, 2016.
CMS spokesman Aaron Albright said in a written statement that Medicare “works diligently with our law enforcement partners to prevent fraud in the first place and to recover payments for wasteful, abusive or fraudulent services.” In addition to requiring 400,000 prescribers to enroll in Medicare by next year to retain the ability to prescribe in Part D, Albright said, officials are helping health plans decrease overutilization of dangerous drugs and taking action against providers and pharmacies with potentially fraudulent billing practices.
In April, CMS launched a Web-based tool to allow CMS, law enforcement, and health plans to share information and coordinate actions against pharmacies deemed high risk. CMS also said it is monitoring potentially fraudulent activity in geographic hot spots like the ones identified by the inspector general.
Correction, June 23, 2015: This article originally stated that 243 people were arrested during Medicare’s fraud takedown. Two hundred forty-three people were charged. Not everyone charged was arrested.
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Tens of thousands of dead bunker fish have been washing up along the Peconic River and Flanders Bay due to low dissolved oxygen levels caused by overabundant nitrogen, which fuel brown and red tides. (Photo: Long Island Coastal Conservation Research Alliance Facebook Page)
Long Island’s water quality crisis was on display in a very public way throughout the month of June, when tens of thousands of fish began washing ashore from Port Washington on the North Shore of Nassau County to the Peconic Bay on the East End of Suffolk.
“Vast numbers of dead and dying fish were bobbing in the water and stretching to the opposite bank, like a silvery floating bridge,” as The New York Timesdescribed the carnage. “Carcasses were piled at the river’s edge and clumped in the marsh grass.”
An estimated 300,000 to 400,000 bunker fish have died since the fish kills started, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The grim scene was compounded by the hot summer weather, with observers saying that the fish were “throwing themselves up on the boat ramp of the Riverhead Yacht Club in a desperate bid to get oxygen.”
It was a gruesome display. But will it be enough to get policymakers to take serious action to protect LI’s waters?
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone’s recent pitch for federal assistance was a good start. Although the county’s planning priorities have been imperfect, the current administration is shrewd, proving very capable at getting funding for their initiatives. If those efforts can be put to work for additional wastewater infrastructure in the Peconic watershed area and its environs, the region would be better off as a whole. The economic impact of the Island’s tourism and fishing industries is too significant to let it go fallow, while recreational usage of the coast affects the residents’ quality of life.
To support Bellone’s pleas for funding, we need more effort from Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano as well as from state and local policymakers to collectively support improvements that will curb nitrogen contamination in the waters off LI and prevent future fish kills. While the proposed Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant outfall pipe is much needed in Nassau, Mangano should go further. According to the Long Island Press:
“The outfall pipe, which would redirect treated waste many miles into the Atlantic Ocean instead of being dumped in the vulnerable Western Bays, is needed in order for the new plant to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water regulatory standards. According to the governor’s office, the Bay Park plant currently treats about 50 million gallons of sewage a day, discharging the treated water into the back bay north of Long Beach.”
The lack of a Bay Park outfall pipe and Suffolk’s nitrogen woes are one in the same. LI needs fiscal help addressing its water quality crisis, and it’s time both Nassau and Suffolk pushed hard together for action.
In largely unsewered Suffolk, the front line of the war on nitrogen, policymakers must realize that pristine water quality cannot be won with sewers alone. Bellone would be wise to continue Suffolk’s widely praised historical efforts to preserve open space. In particular, the Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission, the entity tasked with ensuring the integrity of the 100,000-acre preserve, should seek to find a renewed life under Suffolk County’s stewardship. The Pine Barrens Commission has faced many challenges regarding development pressures in the area, and strong leadership and representation from the county is needed in order to maintain protected nature of the “compatible growth” areas.
Governmental actions such as the preservation of the Pine Barrens maximize the effectiveness of hard infrastructure solutions like sewers, and policymakers would be wise to put whatever funding is available towards both efforts. As the Pine Barrens act, which was passed in 1993 in order to protect the Island’s aquifer by preventing development in the pristine, geologically sensitive woodlands, ages, the institutional memory of its importance fades. The entire fragile preservation act hinges on the integrity of its zoning boundaries, and localities are not up to the task of continued preservation, despite their zoning powers. Suffolk must curb the towns’ addiction to variances and hold the line on the strict zoning that preserves the integrity of the region.
What it comes down to is dollars and sense: what is the true environmental benefit of sewering versus preserving pricey tracts of open space? Compared to a mile of sewer pipe, it might be more cost effective to purchase additional large open space parcels for aquifer recharge. And, just as important, whose answer should guide policymakers’ hands and what is more beneficial to the environment in the long run?
An important concern must also be addressed: Are the sewers purely for protecting the environment, or for promoting more growth? Philosophically, the sewer efforts should be focused on targeted areas where the environmental impact will be the greatest, not where additional development is desired but improper infrastructure in place is an obstacle. We must address our water quality issues, not create more of them.
The fish kills were a tangible example of what will continue to happen if Long Island as a whole fails to protect the sole source aquifer system, and the surface waters that surround our region.
Whether you live in Glen Cove or Mattituck, we all drink the same water. It’s time to start acting like it.
Rich Murdocco writes about Long Island’s land use and real estate development issues. He received his Master’s in Public Policy at Stony Brook University, where he studied regional planning under Dr. Lee Koppelman, Long Island’s veteran master planner. Murdocco is a regular contributor to the Long Island Press. More of his views can be found on www.TheFoggiestIdea.org or follow him on Twitter @TheFoggiestIdea.
Shania Twain will be serenading Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum this week!
Art Reception
Come celebrate the visionary creations of the many faculty and staff members of the Gold Coast Arts Center with an eye-opening, multi-dimensional inaugural reception that transcends mediums, styles and skills. Gold Coast Arts Center, 113 Middle Neck Rd., Great Neck. goldcoastarts.org Free. 6 p.m. June 25.
Art Benefit
An opening reception for the 14th Annual Benefit Art Show at the Fire Island Lighthouse, featuring local artists displaying their nautical artwork in the Fire Island Lighthouse Keepers Quarters. Exhibit runs through July 19. All artwork for sale. Robert Moses State Park, Robert Moses Causeway, east of Field 5, Fire Island. fireislandlighthouse.com Free. 6 p.m. June 25.
Jeff Ross
Fresh off his latest standup special, Jeff Ross Roasts Criminals: Live at Brazos County Jail, the Roastmaster General is back on the road and bringing his funny act to Long Island. The Newark-native is best known for his brutal Comedy Central roasts of celebrities including Justin Bieber, Charlie Sheen, Donald Trump and many more. Read our interview with “the meanest man in comedy” HERE. NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. venue.thetheatreatwestbury.com $52.50. 8 p.m. June 25.
This Life We Live
In 2009, four veterans of other groups met at a jam session in Long Island City and formed a metal band that has gone on to amass “fellow crows,” as they like to call their fans (no, not the Night’s Watch). Their latest EP Novena was released on iTunes in May. Warming up the crowd are Thorn Constellation and Thracian. Revolution Bar and Music Hall, 140 Merrick Rd., Amityville. revolutionli.com. $10. 8 p.m. June 25.
Mary Higgins Clark
This No. 1 New York Times bestselling author will speak about and sign her new novel The Melody Lingers On. The latest from the “Queen of Suspense” is a thrilling novel about missing billions, a disgraced financier and those determined to learn the truth at any cost. Book Revue, 313 New York Ave., Huntington. bookrevue.com. Price of Book, 7 p.m. June 25.
Andrew “Dice” Clay
The controversial comic from Brooklyn who was once banned from MTV because of his infamous “adult nursery rhymes” remains popular despite his critics. He claims to be the first comedian to sell out Madison Square Garden two nights in a row. Die-hard fans can still recall his stirring role in the cult classic film, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. New recruits to “The Dice Man” will know his recently released autobiography, The Filthy Truth. Come see why he unabashedly calls himself the “Undisputed Heavy Weight King of Comedy.” He has scheduled five back-to-back performances. Governor’s of Levittown, 90 Division Ave., Levittown. Govs.govs.com $55. Various times, June 25-27.
Huntington Summer Arts Festival Kickoff
Opening weekend of this summer-long festival includes the Huntington Men’s Choir on June 25, The Rad Trads jazz ensemble on June 26 and a special performance by The Chapin Family, including Harry’s daughter, Jen, his brothers Tom and Steve, and their daughters and son. Various events run through Aug. 9, including a special all-day celebration of John Coltrane’s jazz on July 5 featuring his son Ravi Coltrane in concert. The Chapin Rainbow Stage, Heckscher Park, Huntington. huntingtontonarts.org. Free. Various dates and times. Sandcastle Contests
Weekly sandcastle contests will be held every Thursday starting June 25 through Aug. 27. Sand sculptors may use sand, water, and any other natural materials native to the beach. Prizes in various categories awarded each week. Hither Hills State Park, Montauk Hwy., Montauk. nysparks.com Free. Registration 9:30-10:30 a.m. Every Thursday at Hither Hills State Park’s beach house.
Survey Says!
This six-member band from Blairstown, N.J., has performed pop/punk/ska for the past three years. With over 200 shows in North America under their belt, their latest album, Observations of the Human Condition, released last year, gives fans more energetic jams to follow. Opening the show are Lila Ignite, Lucidity, Listen Close, Wait For It and O.B.S. Amityville Music Hall, 198 Broadway, Amityville. clubloaded.com. $12, $14 DOS. 5 p.m. June 26.
H20
Their first song back in 1994 was just a side project. Six albums later, with a seventh to be released this year, the New York City-born hardcore punk band is still kicking. That may not last forever, though. Some fans speculate Was Here will be the band’s final album. With such an impressive record, bringing a key definition to the term “melodic hardcore,” H20 must be caught while they’re still touring. How can you pass them up? Supporting acts include Cruel Hand and Breakdown. Revolution Bar and Music Hall, 140 Merrick Rd., Amityville. revolutionli.com $25. 6 p.m. June 26.
Quarter Horse
Originating out of Stony Brook, the band simply identifies itself as “six guys who have been playing together for some time.” Over the years, the old friends have performed a combination of rock, folk, alternative, country, blues and jazz. With special guests Soundswell and Funkin’ A. 89 North Music Venue, 89 North Ocean Ave., Patchogue. 89northmusic.com. $10. 7:30 p.m. June 26.
Action Bronson
After suffering a leg injury in the kitchen, this chef-turned-rapper comically blended his love for food into his rhymes. The Queens-raised artist also touches on subjects such as sports and gambling. His second album, Mr. Wonderful, dropped in March earlier this year. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. paramountny.com. $35-$55. 8 p.m. June 26.
Merle Haggard
He may be 78 years old, but age won’t stop Merle Haggard from performing his legendary country songs on tour this summer! As his website biography says, “When a Merle Haggard song plays, it can make an innocent-as-apple-pie grandma understand the stark loneliness and self-loathing of a prisoner on death row.” In addition to his solo hits, Haggard has performed with other country music greats, such as Willie Nelson. Any fan of country music should catch this show, where Haggard will be playing many of his classics, including “Mama Tried,” “Fightin’ Side of Me” and “Workin’ Man Blues.” NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. venue.thetheatreatwestbury.com $59.50. 8 p.m. June 26.
Soul Asylum
Originating from Minneapolis, this Grammy-winning alternative rock band is bringing their “The Fly Over Tour” to Long Island. Soul Asylum has been topping the charts since 1990 with their hits “Runaway Train,” “Somebody to Shove,” “Black Gold,” “Misery” and many more. Will they play fan favorites “Without A Trace,” “99%” and “The Sun Maid” for Press music critic Zack Tirana? Only one way to find out, dear Grave Dancers. (See what happened there!?) Only one way to find out. With special guests The Meat Puppets. Suffolk Theater, 118 East Main St., Riverhead. sulfolktheater.com $49. 8 p.m. June 26.
Mase
Brought to fame by Sean “Diddy” Combs, Mase has been rapping with his slow-flow style since 1993. On top of being signed on “Diddy’s” Bad Boy records, the rapper/songwriter’s single, “Only You,” was No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Singles Sales chart. After two brief hiatuses, the rapper is back again, bringing his rhymes to LI. The Emporium, 9 Railroad Ave., Patchogue. theemporiumny.com. $20, $28 DOS. 10 p.m. June 26.
Jim Jefferies
This actor, writer and stand-up comedian is bringing us his darkest comedy. Jefferies, most recognized from his television show Legit, does not have any boundaries in his standup. His brutally honest approach on social issues is refreshing, whether you agree with him or not, and he certainly doesn’t run from the truth. The Freedumb Tour. The Space at Westbury, 250 Post Ave., Westbury. thespaceatwestbury.com. $39.50. 7:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m. June 26.
Beer, BBQ and Blues Fest
Musicians including Rob Europe, Joe Allegue, Kirsten Thien, Chuck Columbo and the Hiro Suzuki Band take the stage for this inaugural weekend-long festival of blues, barbeque and beer at one of Long Island’s pioneering craft breweries. Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., 234 Carpenter St., Greenport. greenportharborbrewing.com Free. 11 a.m. June 27-5 p.m. June 28.
Beerfields
More than 100 craft breweries—including many from Long Island—and three stages of musical performances all at one outdoor venue. Artists include reggae stars Collie Buddz and John Browns Body, Dumpstaphunk and some of the best local bands on LI, including Oogee Wawa, Groundswell,The Offshore Regulars, Soundswell and Shinobi Ninja. Pennysaver Amphitheatre at Bald Hill, 55 South Bicycle Path, Farmingville. beerfieldsny.com $60, $75 DOS. 4 p.m. June 27.
For Today
Christian metal core band, For Today, channel their religious beliefs through hardcore and metallic songs. Their fourth full-length album reached No. 15 on the Billboard Top 200, having sold 14,700 units in only one week. The band has performed alongside Devil Wears Prada, As I Lay Dying, August Burns Red and much more. Opening the show are Gideon, Silent Planet, More of Myself To Kill and Critical Era. Revolution Bar and Music Hall, 140 Merrick Rd., Amityville. revolutionli.com $16, $18 DOS. 4:30 p.m. June 27.
The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die
This Connecticut band’s style can only be defined by their self-described genre: “Independent rock, memo, not real, maximalism.” During their “We Are Only Going on Tour to Get Hot Dogs” tour, audiences will witness unforgettable performances while hearing some of the band’s greatest hits such as “Heartbeat in the Brain,” “Getting Sodas” and “Picture of a Tree That Doesn’t Look Okay.” Warming up the crowd are Spraynard, Soda Bomb and To Sail Beyond The Sun. Amityville Music Hall, 198 Broadway, Amityville. clubloaded.com $12, $15 DOS. 6 p.m. June 27.
Marc Maron
The American comic, podcast host, writer and director has interviewed comedians and celebrities from the late Robin Williams to President Barack Obama (who went viral when he said the N-word). Since 2013, Maron has been starring in his own self-titled television series. His stand-up routine has been described as self-revelation and cultural analysis, which includes his own relationships with his family, girlfriends, and various stand-up comedians he has befriended. Warming up the crowd is Mike Lawrence. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. paramountny.com. $19.50-$37.50. 8 p.m. June 27.
Happy Together Tour
Featuring a legendary lineup of iconic `60s bands, the show’s headlining act will be Flo and Eddie of The Turtles, known for their smash hit, “Happy Together.” The tour will also feature The Association, Mark Lindsay (former lead singer of Paul Revere & the Raiders), The Grass Roots, The Buckinghams and The Cowsills. NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. venue.thetheatreatwestbury.com $39.50- $69.50. 8 p.m. June 27.
Los Straightjackets
Los Straitjackets are most notably recognized for their unique live performances. As time has passed, their live shows have become more elaborate and tight with instrumentation. Each member dons a luchador wrestling mask, while a horn section compliments the band’s raw surfer style music. After numerous performances on Conan, the band has gained a cult following that continues to grow. YMCA Boulton Center for the Performing Arts, 37 West Main St., Bay Shore. boultoncenter.org $30-$35. 8 p.m. June 27.
The Pitchforks
Duke University’s own musical act, The Pitchforks, were founded in 1979, making them the oldest acapella group on campus. From opening up for Ben Folds to appearing at professional sports arenas, the group has accomplished much, on top of releasing 15 albums. No instruments required, as The Pitchforks provide everything needed for a great show by simply unleashing their vocal talents. Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, 76 Main St., Westhampton Beach. whbpac.org $5. 8 p.m. June 27.
‘Celebrate America’ Fireworks Show ***POSTPONED TO MONDAY, JUNE 29***
What better experience than to sit upon your favorite blanket amongst a vast group of onlookers, snacking on treats with your loved ones, sharing laughs, and staring up above into a sky painted with colorful fantastical explosions of light and sound that conjure images of Revolutionary War battles, a raging sea, true, original patriots? Not much, fellow dreamers and vision-believers. Not much. Wow. Come commemorate our nation’s independence with a fireworks show you will remember for a long, long time, and bask in the glory that is our hard-fought independence. Eisenhower Park, Hempstead Tpke., East Meadow. nassaucountyny.gov/parks Free. 9:30 p.m. June 27.
Summer Camp Cinema Film Festival
Although Halloween is months away, fans of horror, sci-fi and action movies will love this cinematic extravaganza, which kicks off with a double feature of The Mist and Creepshow. Based on the work of Stephen King, The Mist takes place in Maine after a storm. After a father and son head to the local grocery store, a thick fog rolls in, trapping those inside. Horrible creatures start to reveal themselves, but the real terror hasn’t even begun. Creepshow is for the horror movie aficionado, and features five short but terrifying films! Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington. Check out CinemaArtsCentre.org $9 members, $13 public. 10:30 p.m. June 27.
A River Between Us
Take a journey to the Klamath River, where 300 miles of polluted waterway have been fought over by communities and activists. Restoring the river has been one of the biggest restoration projects in American history. Following the screening will be a panel discussion featuring Christopher Gobler, professor of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at SUNY Stony Brook University, and Marshall Brown, founder of Save the Great South Bay, Inc. Read all about Gobler and other local environmentalists’ efforts to combat the harmful effects of brown and red tides HERE. Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington. Check out CinemaArtsCentre.org. $10 members, $15 public. 10 a.m. June 28.
Gary Hoey Since he was 16 years old, Gary Hoey has been progressing in his guitar playing by devoting his time to music. Whether that included cutting high school classes or teaching guitar lessons, it has certainly payed off. His blues-rock artistry has been included in feature films and even caught the attention of Ozzy Ozbourne. Hoey continues to expand with his latest release, Deja Blues, an album consisting of original blues songs. YMCA Boulton Center for the Performing Arts, 37 West Main St., Bay Shore. boultoncenter.org $35-$40. 7 p.m. June 28.
Mother (and Me)
This one-night-only performance stars the writer of the show, Melinda Buckley, whose story focuses on two women who are losing everything they’ve ever been—in very different ways—as they both lose each other. Bay Street Theater, 1 Bay St., Sag Harbor. baystreet.org $20. 8 p.m. June 29.
Emily Skinner: Broadway Her Way
This Grammy Award nominee takes the audience on a musical journey through the best of the Great White Way, leaving them breathless with laughter and moved by the potency of spectacular theater music. John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport. engemantheater.com $45. 7 p.m. June 30.
Brian Wilson with Rodriguez
To celebrate the release of his 11th studio album, legendary producer, songwriter and performer Brian Wilson is continuing his “No Pier Pressure” Tour on Long Island. As a multi-award-winning artist with The Beach Boys as well as through his solo career, Wilson is touring with folk singer Rodriguez, who is the opening act of the tour. Fellow Beach Boys members Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin will be joining him at the show, which will feature performances of songs from each decade of Wilson’s career, including “California Girls,” “In My Room” and “God Only Knows.” And former Beach Boys Al Jardine and Blindie Chaplin. Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, 1000 Ocean Pkwy, Wantagh. jonesbeach.com $22-$195.00. 7:30 p.m. June 30.
Dispatch
The Lexus Pop-Up Concert Series Powered by Pandora is hosting an intimate show with Dispatch before they rock Madison Square Garden in July as part of their summer tour. Chad Stokes, Brad Corrigan and Pete Francis have been performing together since 1996 and are sure to put on an epic show for this lucky audience. Most famous for their legendary 2004 concert in Boston, the band will be performing some of their classics, such as “The General,” “Mayday” and “Two Coins” in addition to more recent songs off of their 2010 and 2012 albums. This exclusive live performance is free to Pandora listeners. The Space at Westbury, 250 Post Ave., Westbury. thespaceatwestbury.com Free for Pandora listeners. 8 p.m. June 30.
Shania Twain
Record-breaking artist sensation Shania Twain is back! The country artist is known for her hits “Any Man Of Mine,” “You’re Still The One” and her most popular “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” Twain will be performing around the country as part of her Shania Rock This Country Tour. We;re thrilled to have her in our neck of the woods. Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Tpke., Uniondale. naussaucoliseum.com $74.50-$149.50. 7:30 p.m. July 1.
Compiled by Chuck Cannini, Kyla Stan, Nicholas Semelak, Kaitlin Gallagher, Timothy Bolger & Zachary B. Tirana III
Fresh off his latest standup special, Jeff Ross Roasts Criminals: Live at Brazos County Jail, the Roastmaster General is back on the road and bringing his funny act to Long Island this week. The Newark-native is best known for his brutal Comedy Central roasts of celebrities including Justin Bieber, Charlie Sheen, Donald Trump and many more. But he’s also got a lot more to say besides making fun of people. The Press spoke with “the meanest man in comedy,” who’s performing at NYCB Theater at Westbury at 8 p.m. June 25.
Long Island Press: How exactly did you get started and end up as the Roastmaster General at Comedy Central?
Jeff Ross: Man, I was doing stand-up for years and didn’t really have an interesting voice. Then one day, they asked me to be part of my first Friar’s Club roast … and I feel like I found my niche, my lane if you will.
LIP: What is your impression of Long Island so far?
JR: Oh man, well, I’m from New Jersey, but every hot Jewish girl I ever wanted to date was from Long Island, so maybe there’ll be some single women at the show. I definitely would love to speed-roast some Long Islanders at a certain point in my show on Thursday. I’ll invite anybody who wants to come up on stage and get speed-roasted.
LIP: What can we expect to see in this upcoming show?
JR: I’m talking a lot about the world at large now. People are curious about my jail experience, and I’m kind of fascinated by the darker subjects right now, so a lot of that will come out. Plus, my usual obsessions, food and sex, are a big part of the show. I wrote a couple of roast folk songs; I’m bringing my guitar, and then I’ll speed-roast some people on stage. It’s going to be a party!
LIP:Are there any common misperceptions regarding your act?
JR: You know what? People think I’m mean sometimes because they see me roast Justin Bieber and almost make him cry. But the truth is, it all comes from love. I say the things out loud that the people are afraid to say. I don’t like pranks, I like saying. If you’re going to do something, do it to their face.
LIP: Is there ever a joke you couldn’t say? A line that shouldn’t be crossed?
JR: In the right context, I think everything’s okay. People are so sensitive these days, but I think comedy is more important than ever. If comedians don’t cross the lines, then we’ll never know where the lines are.
LIP:In your recent work, Jeff Ross Roasts Criminals: Live at Brazos County Jail, you often talk about the first step to rehabilitation is laughing about yourself. Could you elaborate?
JR: I think that’s true not just for inmates but in our real lives. I love people who take their jobs seriously, but I don’t really respect people who take themselves too seriously. It’s humanizing to see somebody laugh at their own mistakes and their own faults.
LIP: I’ve recently seen you on Bill Maher and you’ve also performed at the Occupy Wall Street movement. Is politics something you’re looking to add to your performance?
JR: For me, it’s never about the politics; it’s about the people. I respected their complaints and was curious about why they were down there, so I went down there. For me as a comedian, it’s always a mission to try and bring laughs where there aren’t any. Where it’s depressing or sad. So more than any other reason I just sympathize with the fact that we were hot and sweaty and outside. I like to think of comedy as purposeful. Comedy is really important and potent and healing. I didn’t see that when I first started. I saw it was good for me, but I didn’t realize it could be good for other people.
LIP: You’ve directed your own film, Patriot Act: A Jeffrey Ross Home Movie in 2005. How was this experience?
JR: Oh man, it was an intense, lonely experience. I mean back then nobody really wanted to talk about Iraq in a funny, nonpolitical way and that was my goal. To try and show the human side of the soldiers and the comedians. It was a hot button political issue at the time, and I was making an unpolitical documentary so that wasn’t easy. And the same goes for the show I just did about criminals in a county jail. I wanted to show the human side. It’s not a political show, it’s about the people.
LIP: How was your experience on Dancing With The Stars?
JR: I really enjoyed that experience. Before me, comedians used to sing and dance. They were true entertainers. I tried to emulate that, but sadly I got voted off after the first commercial break. I got a scratched cornea on my last rehearsal and that basically knocked me out of the competition. Hey man, I’m one for one. I won a dance contest in summer camp when I was about 11. Fifty-50, baby!
LIP: You’ve done dramatic roles in television shows, such as CSI and Six Feet Under. Is this something you look to do more of?
JR: Every now and then, comedians get asked to do fun stuff. I really consider it a fun departure, kind of a hobby, but my true love is on stage, live in front of real people. And that’s why I’m working so hard on my act and getting people to come to my shows. I feel like it’s a great night out. I’m definitely going to try and top myself after the jail show. It’ll be provocative, dangerous and it’ll be funny. If you’re thinking of having a date on Thursday night, definitely do so. I talk about sex a lot, so you’re guaranteed to get some action afterward.
An elder law attorney from Great Neck has admitted to stealing $797,332 from her clients—five times the amount that authorities said she stole when she was arrested nearly two years ago.
Martha Brosius, 50, pleaded guilty Monday at Nassau County court to two counts of grand larceny and a charge of scheme to defraud. Queens prosecutors are handling the case due to the fact that Brosius’ husband works for the Nassau County District Attorney’s office, which requested a special prosecutor to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
“The defendant has admitted to breaching her fiduciary duty and unjustly enriching herself at the expense of her clients,” said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. “Under the terms of the guilty plea in which she admitted her guilt, the defendant will sign a confession of judgment to begin the process of making her victims financially whole and faces the prospect of serious prison time.”
Brosius was originally accused of stealing about $150,000 from four clients, but was later indicted on charges of stealing about $700,000 when more victims were uncovered, the Press has reported.
As part of Brosius’ plea deal, she admitted to stealing from two additional victims that were not part of her indictment. Investigators said a total of 12 clients were victimized in the case.
Prosecutors suggested that Brosius be sentenced to six-to-18 years in prison, but Judge Helene Gugerty recommended that she be sentenced to 4-12 years in addition to ordering her to pay restitution.
Brosius is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 12.
Her Garden City-based attorney, Marc Gann, previously told the Press that she had retired from practicing law.
