Envision Valley Stream

Exciting times at Envision Valley Stream!

The next general meeting of Envision Valley Stream will be on Tuesday, July 27 at 7:30PM in the Hendrickson Park Administration Building.

We will be discussing our campaign progress, organizing new volunteer opportunities and moving ahead with our very important community assessment survey.

The survey will be open until August 6th. If you or anyone you know has not filled it out (I know, hard to believe), it can be found here.

As always, we really appreciate your continued support.



Sincerely,
David Sabatino
Founder
Envision Valley Stream

Crime Stoppers

INCIDENT: Robbery (Attempt) DATE/TIME: July 19, 2010, 2325
LOCATION: Valley Stream ITEM: 01
The Fifth Squad reports the details of an attempted robbery that occurred in Valley Stream on Monday July 19, 2010 at 11:25pm.
According to detectives, a fifty six year old male was working at the 24/7 Food Mart located at 50 West Sunrise Highway when he was confronted by a male suspect armed with a black hand gun who demanded that he open the cash register. After two customers entered the store the suspect, who was described as a male black, in his forties, with a thin build, wearing jeans, black shoes, and an orange t-shirt with a white t-shirt over it ,fled on foot with no proceeds. There were no injuries.
Detectives ask anyone with information regarding this incident to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
Details by: Det. Angell/5th Squad 7/20/10/0740/6077

Town of Hempstead Extends Pool Hours and Opens Cooling Centers

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray in deference to a serious summer heat wave announced today that Hempstead will open cooling centers at thirteen (13) locations and extend hours of operation at thirteen (13) pools.

"Summer certainly has come roaring in," said Murray. "The type of heat we are now experiencing can pose serious health risks especially for seniors and very young children. By offering cooling centers we are protecting the health and the comfort of local residents who may be without air conditioning. By extending our pool hours, we are also making it convenient for our residents to cool off after a long, hot summer day."

The cooling centers will be open between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., with the exception of Merrick Senior Center, which will remain open until 6 p.m. The facilities are air-conditioned and there are even activities that will provide an opportunity for residents to interact and enjoy each other's company, all while avoiding the scorching temperatures, "very high" UV indexes, and the health risks that accompany them.

Cooling centers open to the public include:

Baldwin Senior Center, 1810 N. Grand Ave., Baldwin, (516) 546-7110
Bellmore Senior Center, 2000 Bellmore Ave., Bellmore, (516) 221-9696
Elmont Senior Center, 138 Elmont Rd., Elmont, (516) 354-4777
Franklin Square Senior Center, 1182 Martha Pl. Franklin Square, (516) 328-3010
Green Acres Senior Center, 400 Flower Rd., Valley Stream, (516) 872-8810
Levittown Senior Center, 555 N. Newbridge Rd., Levittown, (516) 433-5454
Merrick Senior Center, 2550 Clubhouse Road, Merrick, (516) 868-4777
Oceanside Senior Center, 2900 Rockaway Ave., Oceanside, (516) 766-8888
Rosa Parks Senior Center, 2 Babylon Tpke., Roosevelt (516) 867-1612
Salisbury Senior Center, 460 Salisbury Park Drive, Westbury, (516) 333-5440
Uniondale-Hempstead Senior Center, 840 Uniondale Ave., Uniondale (516) 292-1313
Uniondale-Merrick Senior Center, 750 Jerusalem Ave., Uniondale (516) 538-5050
Wantagh Senior Center, 1150 Seamans Neck Rd., Wantagh (516) 785-8505

Hours of operation will be extended one hour at the following pools:

Roosevelt Pool - Closing at 7 p.m.
Town Park at Sands Pool - Closing at 7 p.m.
Forest City Park Pool - Closing at 8 p.m.
Rath Pool (Franklin Sq. Park District) - Closing at 8 p.m.
Walker Memorial Pool - Closing at 8 p.m.
Acorn Lane Pool - Closing at 8 p.m.
Azaela Road Pool- Closing at 8 p.m.
Blue Grass Lane Pool- Closing at 8 p.m.
Carman Avenue Pool- Closing at 8 p.m.
Levittown Parkway Pool - Closing at 8 p.m.
Slate Lane Pool- Closing at 8 p.m.
West Village Green Pool- Closing at 8 p.m.
Wolcott Road Pool- Closing at 8 p.m.

"The dangers associated with this heat wave can hit our seniors and young residents especially hard," concluded Murray. "And, while we in Town government are doing all that we can to keep our residents safe and healthy, I encourage everyone to do their part and check in on elderly neighbors or family members who are at high risk for dehydration, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke, all of which can accompany hot weather. By offering cooling centers for those without air-conditioned homes and extending pool hours, we can beat the heat and enjoy the summer."

Census Count Still On

Hi
I have received a phone call on my answering machine on Sunday, July 4th from someone claiming to be from the U.S. Census Bureau. (On a nat'l holiday?) I googled it and it seems to be a fraud. I had completed and returned my forms months ago. I will not return their calls, but am worried about others. See something, say something...right?

The number they gave me is 866-851-2050.

Thanks for your help. I love the blog!

Theresa

Dear Theresa,

We had called the Census Bureau Garden City Office (559-7520) to ask if they are still collecting information. They are still calling and visiting homes to collect information and do quality checks. The phone number they have is 866 861 2010. If anyone else receives calls with the other number for a return call, please call the Garden City Census office and they will report it to the authorities.

A census taker is a person from your community who is hired by the Census Bureau to make sure that your neighborhood gets represented as accurately as possible. The census taker's primary responsibility is to collect census information from residences. Most of these residences have not sent back their 2010 Census form.

The Census Bureau provides the census taker with a binder containing all of the addresses that didn't send back a filled out census form.
The census taker then visits all of those addresses and records the answers to the questions on the form.

If no one answers at a particular residence, a census taker will visit a home up to three times and attempt to reach the household by phone three times. The census worker will leave a double-sided (English and Spanish) NOTICE of VISIT in the doorway that includes a phone number for the resident to schedule an appointment.
The census taker will ONLY ask the questions that appear on the census form.

The census taker who collects your information is sworn for life to protect your data under Federal Law Title 13. Those who violate the oath face criminal penalties: Under federal law, the penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.

The Census Bureau will never ask you your social security number.

Fraudulent Activity and Scams
The Census Bureau uses a workforce of trained federal employees to conduct a variety of household and business surveys by telephone, in-person interviews, through the mail. They understand your personal information is sensitive, and go to great lengths to protect the data they collect. Although they cannot stop or warn against all bogus or false collections of data -- here are some tips to help you recognize fraudulent activity or unofficial data collections.

If you are contacted for any of the following reasons -- Do Not Participate. It is NOT the U.S. Census Bureau.
Phishing:
'Phishing' is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, social security numbers, bank account or credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Phishing is typically carried out by email and it often directs users to enter sensitive information at a fake web site whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one.

Other Scams:The Census Bureau does NOT conduct the 2010 Census via the Internet

The Census Bureau does not send emails about participating in the 2010 Census

The Census Bureau never:
Asks for your full social security number
Asks for money or a donation
Sends requests on behalf of a political party
Requests PIN codes, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.

How to report scams and bogus Census web sites
If you believe you have been contacted as part of bogus or fraudulent activity falsely representing the Census Bureau:

In Person Scam
Check for a valid Census ID badge
Call your regional office to verify you are in a survey

Email Scams
If you think it is a bogus email, do not reply or click on any links within the email.
Do not open any attachments. Attachments may contain code that could infect your computer
Forward the email or web site URL to the Census Bureau at ITSO.Fraud.Reporting@census.gov.
After you forward the email to us, delete the message. You will not receive a confirmation email after forwarding the information to us. However, the Census Bureau will investigate the information and notify you of its findings.

Mail and Phone Scams
Contact the Federal trade Commission
Is your survey legitimate?
You may further verify if a collection activity is legitimate by calling your regional census office regarding mail surveys, and the National Processing Center for phone surveys.

U.S. Census Bureau.
National Processing Center
1201 East 10th Street
Jeffersonville, IN 47132

If you have not been contacted about a survey and are looking for general Census Bureau information, please call 301-763-INFO (4636) and they can better answer your questions.

If you:

want to verify that the person who called you is a Census Bureau employee,
have a question about a survey form you received, or
need to return a call about one of our surveys
please contact them at one of these numbers:

Hagerstown, MD: 1-800-392-6975
Jeffersonville, IN: 1-800-523-3205
Tucson, AZ: 1-800-642-0469
Additional language specialties may be available.

If you have questions about any of their telephone center operations, you can contact them via NPC.Call.Center.Info@census.gov.

Fingerprinting and NCPD Presentations

I’m on the Board of Directors of the Franklin Square Raiders Soccer Club, and we’d like to set up a day where the police would come to the field and do the fingerprinting of the kids. We have several hundred children in the organization and think it’d be a nice thing to offer the parents. We’d like to set it up for a Sunday in October, could you tell me who I’d need to contact about this?
Thank you,
Deanna Gisonda

Dear Ms. Gisonda,
It is wonderful of you to coordinate this effort. The Police Department does not provide this service however the Town of Hempstead does. Below is the information from the Town of Hempstead web site link. I know other youth groups in our community have had great success with this program.
Nassau County Police 5th Precinct P.O.P. Unit does provide Officers who do presentations on many topics with parents, senior citizens and/or children. Topics include: Bullying, Cyber Bullying, Drugs, Gangs, Crimes Against the Elderly, Staying Safe, Social Host Laws, Seat Belts- Cellphones- Leandra’s Law… The Nassau County Police Departments Fifth Precinct P.O.P. Unit can be reached at 573-6570 if you would like to schedule a presentation.
Nassau County Police Dept Community Affairs Division, Officer Dockswell also does presentations on Cyber Bullying, Bullying and Sexting that no parent or child should miss. His mission is to educate students and parents throughout the county on staying safe and using technology responsibly. Officer Dockswell challenges students to consider how someone who doesn’t stop another person from being bullied contributes to the problem. He provides the audience with “much food for thought” about using technology and respecting other’s feelings. A responsibility that everyone shares. Police Officer Dockswell can be reached at (516) 573-7360
As for fingerprinting, The Town of Hempstead wants to protect and safeguard our children. Accordingly, the Town Clerk's office administers a comprehensive Child Safety Identification Program.
This program is unique in that they actually take the child's fingerprints and photograph FREE of charge. In addition, there are no privacy violation concerns because there is no negative generated from the child's photo (Polaroid camera is used). They will also assist you in affixing strands of hair to this identification file. The completed kit is given to the child's family. By utilizing Mobile Town Hall, the Town Clerk's office can bring this service to schools, clubs, teams and organizations in our communities. To schedule the Town Clerk's Child Safety Program or for additional information, call (516) 489-5000, ext. 3219. This service is also available at Town Hall.
If you require any further assistance please contact the P.O.P. Unit at 573-6570
Sincerely,
P.O. John Miller
Problem Oriented Policing Unit

United States Attorney's Advisory Council

BUILDING A CULTURE OF INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY
MAINTAIN SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
• Know your surroundings. Every environment (neighborhood/business) has unique, routine patterns of activity and generally consistent patterns of behavior associated with the residents/occupants.
• The best Intelligence comes from observant citizens. Establish a mental baseline of routine activity and report unusual/anomalous behavior to law enforcement.
• You are in the best position to evaluate your environment, don’t rely strictly on “security” or law enforcement for your personal protection.
• Report loitering, unattended vehicles, suspicious packages, unusual photography or videotaping taking note of the time and description of suspicious person(s) or vehicle(s).
• Report attempts to solicit personal information about you or your business.
ESTABLISH A SECURITY MINDSET
• You do not need to be a law enforcement officer or trained security professional to assess threatening situations and report suspicious activity. At your place of business and in your community promote a culture of responsibility.
• Accept that YOU are part of the security equation.
• You are part of a layered approach to security. Law enforcement is only one layer in that system of security.
• Maintain a state of “relaxed awareness”, that is, a state where you are cognizant of dangers but not so alert that you are in a constant state of fear or readiness for something bad to happen. The latter state is known as hyper vigilance and can actually reduce your ability to respond appropriately.
• Promote security as everyone’s business.
AVOID COMPLACENCY or FATALISM or HYPERVIGILANCE
ALL three can be deadly.
• COMPLACENCY-“It can’t happen to me”, “Why would they attack us?”, “It won’t happen here.”
• FATALISM-“If it’s going to happen there is nothing I can do about it.”
• HYPERVIGILANCE-“The danger is everywhere-they’re going to kill all of us.”
Take care of yourself. Take care of your family. Take care of your community
RECOGNIZE THE ATTACK CYCLE
• An attack is almost always preceded by surveillance or “casing”.
• The intelligence operative actively probes for vulnerabilities in security while noting routines, possible attack/breaching points and establishing possible cover stories to gain access based on observations of routine activity.
• The intelligence operative may rent in a more transient neighborhood where people don’t ask questions.
• Intelligence Operatives and or Attack Operatives may dress as public utility workers, road workers, vendors, package couriers (UPS, FEDEX). Attack operatives overseas have dressed as police or military.
• The intelligence operative may ask unusual questions relative to the number of employees, hours of operation, safety or security plans etc.
• Intelligence operatives may videotape; appear to be ‘walking off’ or measuring distances, attempt to acquire blueprints etc.
• Operatives may use “cloned” or stolen official vehicles such as ambulances and official uniforms to attempt intrusion/penetration with little to no resistance under some guise of legitimacy/authority.
• Be aware of the insider threat-attackers may attempt to gain employment or place someone on the inside to learn your security practices and facilitate the attack. The insider is often a low wage employee with broad facility access such as a custodian or temporary maintenance worker. The insider may not be an actual employee but a delivery person granted access to the facility. The insider may pose as mentally challenged or feign having no knowledge of the language.
BE UNPREDICTABLE
• Vary daily routines; avoid predictable patterns of activity whenever possible.
• When driving use your rear and side view mirrors periodically to ascertain if you are being followed.
• At work; avoid marked parking spaces with the occupants name or title. Park in different spots
• Parking lots and garages should be maintained with gates locked at all times and be well lit. Do not park in public garages with inadequate security.
• If you have been the subject of threats-check around and under your vehicle
• Go with your gut-if you don’t feel right subconsciously you are noting behavior and you should not dismiss these feelings.
PERSONAL SECURITY WHILE AWAY
• Do not discuss your business or travel plans in public areas where they may be overheard. Discuss your travel plans and movements during your stay with as few people as possible.
• Be low key-Don’t call attention to yourself as a Westerner in a foreign country.
• Select a hotel room on the third to fifth floor generally will keep you out of reach of criminal activity from the street but still within reach of most fire truck ladders.
• Be alert to overly friendly locals who may have criminal intentions. They may offer to take you to a “special” restaurant.
• Place airplane tickets, credit cards, passport or other documents of personal identification in a hotel safe deposit box or room safe.
• Familiarize yourself with escape routes in case of fire or other catastrophe.
• Use the door chain or bolt lock whenever you are in your room.
• Use the door viewer (peephole) before opening the door to visitors.
• Do not discuss your room number while standing in the lobby or leave your room key on restaurant or bar tables.
• Keep your room neat so you will notice disturbed or missing items quickly.
CARJACKING
• When in your car, always keep the doors locked. Any time you drive through areas containing stoplights, stop signs-keep your windows up.
• Leave ample maneuvering space between your vehicle and the one in front of you. If you are approached by suspicious persons while you are stopped, do not roll down windows; drive away quickly.
• If you are being followed or harassed by another driver, try to find the nearest police station, fire station, or other public facility. Once you find a place of safety, don’t worry about using a legal parking space. Enter and walk quickly to the largest group of people.
• If you are being followed, never lead the person back to your home or stop and get out.
• If you are traveling alone and a car “bumps” into you, don’t stop to exchange accident information. Go to the nearest Police Station.
BUILDING SECURITY
• Check all entrances, including service doors, access to service elevators and gates. Are these areas monitored/guarded? Are locks sufficient? Are locks broken or disabled?
• Keep doors locked and limit entrance points.
• Assure only known persons properly identified and issued security ids/badges are granted access.
• Card keys and cameras are only useful if you do not circumvent, override or ignore these technologies. Do not allow others through doors (to piggy back) on your card.
• Challenge all visitors. Ask questions of visitors relative to their activities.
• Periodically walk the perimeter of your building taking note of overgrown shrubs, broken windows, broken door locks, unlocked gates, holes in fencing, and signs of attempted intrusion or vandalism.
• Get to know your neighbors. Develop a rapport with them.
• Never leave keys “hidden” outside your home or workplace.
• Note and report loitering by suspicious individuals or the sighting of suspicious vehicles, particularly if observed on multiple occasions.
• Note and report any instances of suspicious photography or videotaping.
BUILDING SECURITY AT NIGHT
• If you do not have an alarm systems at least consider motion detector flood lights on each corner of the building.
• Flood lights should “wash” the building with light (i.e. stream across windows making it more difficult to see in).
• Keep flashlights in several areas in the building. Check the batteries often.
SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES
A letter or parcel bomb might have some of the following indicators:
• Suspicious origin--especially if the postmark or name of sender is unusual, unknown, or no forwarding address is given.
• Excessive or inadequate postage.
• Off-balance or lopsided letter or package.
• Unusual weight for the size of the letter or package. Letters also may be unusually thick.
• Stiffness or springiness of contents. (When checking, do not bend excessively.)
• Protruding wires or components
• Strange smell, particularly almond or other suspicious odors.
• Handwriting of sender is not familiar or indicates a foreign style not normally received by recipient.
• Common words or names are misspelled.
• Addressed to a title only or a name with the incorrect title
• Rub on or tapped or pasted cut out block lettering.
• Restrictive markings such as “confidential”, “personal”, “to be opened by”
• Rattling inside the envelope or package--possibly loose components of a device.
• Excessive tape, string or other material to hold the envelope together.
If encountered always employ SIN (Secure, Isolate and Notify the police).
If you strongly suspect a bomb call 911 and request the bomb squad. If you suspect a chemical or biological agent isolate the package, place a trash can or other cover over the package, call 911 and specifically request HAZMAT, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water. If a suspicious powder is encountered call to disable the air handling system.
POTENTIAL INDICATORS of VEHICLE-BORNE IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES(VBIEDs)
• Theft or purchase—particularly cash purchases from private individuals—of large delivery vehicles, vans, cargo containers, trailers or related equipment.
• Individuals seeking commercial driver training who seem to lack industry knowledge or show interest in only certain aspects of the training.
• A vehicle “ridding low” as if carrying excessive weight.
• A vehicle illegally parked or left unattended in an unusual location.
• Occupant quickly exits the vehicle, looking around when exiting.
• Vehicle has tinted windows or window shades obstructing interior view.
• Blanket or tarp covering packages in the vehicle.
• License plate is not securely affixed to the vehicle.
• Out of state license plates-only one plate from state requiring two
• Government or other official plate on an older or mismatched vehicle.
• “Cloned” vehicle-marked as a courier, utility or emergency vehicle with unusual indicators such as incorrect number placements, color variation, slight variation in markings, misspelled words, roof racks, ladders, safety cones or other “props” that appear new and never used etc.
Source: United States Attorney’s Anti-terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC)

Heat Advisory

COMMISSIONER MULVEY AND NCPD EMERGENCY AMBULANCE BUREAU ISSUE SUMMER HEAT SAFETY TIPS

Summer is here and along with it comes hot and humid conditions. Rising temperatures, and upcoming heat waves can create a dangerous environment for the residents and visitors of Nassau County. In an effort to help prevent heat related medical conditions, we have put together some tips to keep Nassau residents aware of the signs and symptoms of heat related medical conditions such as dehydration, heatstroke, and heat exhaustion. In addition, we have also listed some tips on how to prevent heat stroke and dehydration and how to treat heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

“I would like to remind residents to dial 911 at the first sign of a medical emergency,” said Commissioner Mulvey. “In addition, I also ask that residents check on their family, friends and neighbors, especially if they are senior citizens.”

Signs & Symptoms:
Heat Exhaustion
· Severe thirst
· Fatigue
· Muscle cramps
· Aches
· Muscle weakness
· Nausea and/or vomiting
· Fast, shallow breathing
· Irritability
· Headache
· Increased sweating
· Cool, clammy skin
· Elevation of body temperature to 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher

Heat Stroke
· Severe throbbing headache
· Dizziness
· Disorientation, agitation or confusion
· Sluggishness or fatigue
· Seizure
· Hot, dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty
· A high body temperature
· Loss of consciousness
· Rapid heart beat
· Hallucinations

Dehydration
· Thirst
· Less-frequent urination
· Dry skin
· Fatigue
· Light-headedness
· Dizziness
· Confusion
· Dry mouth and mucous membranes
· Increased heart rate and breathing
In children, additional symptoms may include dry mouth and tongue; no tears when crying; no wet diapers for more than 3 hours; sunken abdomen, eyes or cheeks; high fever; listlessness; irritability; skin that does not flatten when pinched and released.

How Heatstroke Can Be Prevented·
Drink plenty of fluids during outdoor activities; water and sports drinks are preferred; tea, coffee, soda and alcohol should be avoided
· Wear lightweight, tightly woven, loose-fitting clothing in light colors
· Schedule vigorous activity and sports for cooler times of the day
· Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, sunglasses and using an umbrella
· Increase time spent outdoors gradually get your body used to the heat
· During outdoor activities, take frequent drink breaks and mist yourself with a spray bottle to avoid becoming overheated
· Try to spend as much time indoors as possible on very hot humid days
How dehydration Can Be Prevented
· Drink plenty of fluids, especially when working or playing in the sun
· Make sure you are taking in more fluid than you are losing
· Drink appropriate sports drinks to help maintain electrolyte balance
· Infants and children should be given Pedialyte to maintain their electrolyte balance

How to treat Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion
· Bring the person indoors, or into the shade immediately
· Remove their clothing, and gently apply cool water to the skin followed by fanning to stimulate sweating
· Apply ice packs to the groin and armpits
· Have the person lie down in a cool area with their feet slightly elevated