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Understanding Mental Health
Our military and veterans are afraid of being labeled with a mental health problem. This results in them also being afraid to seek medical help. Part of the reason for negative attitudes and behavior towards mental illness is a lack of knowledge and fear of the unknown. Anyone can experience mental illness—it's more common than we think. So it's important to try to gain a better understanding of it.
The Year That Has Now Passed
The year 2023 had a stormy ending in Suffolk County, a year of great storminess in which general violence in the world—war—colored life here and widely.
How Presidents Past and Present Managed Israeli/Palestinian Wars
Presidents dating back to Harry Truman fought to find a balance between sound foreign policy and the political minefield surrounding Israeli and Palestinian conflicts.
Remote Witnessing of Health Care Proxies
A: New York State now allows remote witnessing of health care proxies. This innovation is particularly vital for individuals who, due to medical reasons, are unable to safely execute a health care proxy in the direct presence of two witnesses. A health care proxy allows you to appoint an individual you trust to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to make such decisions for yourself. This can be a family member or a close friend who understands your wishes and values.
Military Suicide and Crisis Care: Warning Signs
U.S. military are four times more likely to die by suicide than in combat. The suicide rates among the United States public have been increasing for the past 20 years, but among active military personnel and veterans of the post-9/11 wars, the suicide rate is even higher, outpacing average Americans. Reports show 30,177 active –duty personnel and veterans of post 9/11 wars have died by suicide, significantly more than the 7,057 service members killed in post 9/11 war operations.
Decision on LIPA Becoming a Full Public Utility Nears
With the New York State Legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul to decide in coming months whether to accept the recommendations of the state's Legislative Commission on the Future of the Long Island Power Authority, it would be instructive to consider how LIPA began—and the work of two people instrumental in the creation of LIPA in 1986.
Farewell Letter
It is with much sadness that I inform you of the following: I will no longer be able to be a contributor to The South Shore Press… It was a pleasure to share my work!
Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts for Assisting Living
A: No, you cannot use the money in the irrevocable trust to pay for your mother's assisted living. In order for the irrevocable trust to be considered exempt for Medicaid purposes, it must provide that no principal distributions can be made to the grantor (your mother) or on the grantor's behalf. In other words, any distribution made from the irrevocable trust to your mother or directly to the assisted living would violate the terms of the trust. Since the house was transferred to the irrevocable trust over five years ago, the money in the trust is protected in the event your mother requires care in a nursing facility.
Electricity from the Wind, Will a Landing in Shirley Come Next?
"We celebrated 'First Power' today when the first wind turbine, 35 miles off the Montauk coast, was turned on and began transmitting electricity to the Cove Hollow substation," declared Judith Hope in an emailed message as the first turbine in the South Fork Wind Farm began producing electricity this month and feeding it into the Long Island Power Authority's Cove Hollow substation in East Hampton.
Inheritance Rights of a Surviving Spouse
A: Under New York law, a surviving spouse has a "Right of Election" to avoid against being disinherited by their deceased spouses. Whether the decedent spouse leaves nothing for their spouse in their Will or dies without a Will, the surviving spouse is entitled to a portion of the estate.
Attitudes
Attitudes are the mental positive filters through which we view and interpret the world. Positive attitudes produce positive emotions; negative attitudes don't.
Making Long Island
Lawrence R. Samuel has written a book about Long Island which, as the invitation to his presentation last month at the Hampton Bays Public Library said, "charts how the island evolved over the decades and largely detached itself from New York City to become a self-sustaining entity with its own challenges, exclusions and triumphs."
Holiday Parade Sets CMO Main Street Aglow
Main Street was aglow with holiday lights as the Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Moriches, made its way down Main Street on Saturday.
PBA Brightens Holidays for 227 Kids
It was a Winter Wonderland at the Premm-B.O.C.E.S. Learning Center in Oakdale as Santa delivered toys to 227 special needs students courtesy of the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association. St. Nick arrived in a special Emergency Services "sleigh" loaded with gifts and the officers spent the day helping make the holidays bright. "It was a fantastic day for everyone involved," said PBA President Lou Civello, who was joined by 1st Vice President John Hnat and many officers and staff at the annual give-away.
Irrevocable Trusts and the Grantor Trust Rules
A: For many clients the idea of creating and funding an Irrevocable Trust with an end goal of protecting assets should the need for long term care arise raises questions and concerns about the potential tax implications. Specifically, questions surrounding taxation of the assets that are transferred to the trust and concerns about losing property tax exemptions such as STAR and Enhanced STAR are common in our practice.
We All Get Heavier As We Age – Even Our Boats! Or "Physician, Heal Thyself"; Luke 4:23 *
As we (probably) all make New Year's resolutions to go on a diet, we keep getting reminded that we are getting heavier as we get older. No matter where we turn, someone is telling us that we are getting fat and need to be thinner!
You're Not Alone
If your life has been impacted by feelings of anxiety or fear you are not alone. Please consider the following:
How Your Home May Impact Long-Term Medicaid
A: Depending on the type of Medicaid one is applying for, under certain circumstances one's primary residence will be exempt for purposes of determining Medicaid eligibility. However, certain events can cause the home to lose its exempt status, and even if the home is disregarded for eligibility purposes Medicaid still may be able to place a lien on the property to recover the value of services provided.
Why We Argue and How to Stop
An argument is an effort by someone to convince you that you are wrong and they are right. It takes at least two to have an argument. So if you just walk away from it, it cannot take place. Arguments usually cause more problems than they solve. And if you're dealing with a highly emotional person, you probably won't win the argument anyway. So don't be afraid to leave the scene of an argument rather than engage in a debate that cannot be won. Dead-end arguments tend to increase stress and heighten anxiety, so you are better off avoiding them.
Report of Legislative Commission on the Future of LIPA
The Legislative Commission on the Future of the Long Island Power Authority, a bipartisan eight-member panel, has concluded that LIPA should be a full public utility and operate the electric system on Long Island itself, not contract out the work.
Daily Feed
Stony Brook students blend fitness and ecology in 3K EcoWalk
Stony Brook University students participated in the "Running Wild 3K EcoWalk," a new Earthstock event conducted on April 21 at the Ashley Schiff Preserve.
Call it a Comeback! You Can’t Kill Kilwin’s in Patchogue
Christine and Brian Viscount, owners of Port Jefferson Kilwins since 2017, stepped in to re-open the briefly out of commission Patchogue Main Street location this summer.
The Ducks Celebrate L.I. Jewish Heritage
The game brought thousands of fans out to celebrate Jewish pride, community, and solidarity with Israel, as well as their hometown Ducks.