Letter: Moving Forward After Newtown

Anton Community Newspapers • 132 East 2nd Street • Mineola, NY 11501 • Phone: 516-747-8282 • FAX: 516-742-5867

Letter: Moving Forward After Newtown

Friday, 11 January 2013 00:00

The whole country continues to mourn the deaths of 20 children and six adults who died in last month’s school shooting in Newtown, CT. And while we wait for the motive to emerge and policy proposals to surface, we can speak out now on behalf of families who need greater access to mental health treatment and other social services that ultimately will prove more effective in protecting and strengthening all of us; children, adults and our communities.

As the head of a human services organization, I believe it is part of our mission to inform and educate the public on important issues facing today’s families in a balanced and professional manner. As the result of this tragic event, there will be a temptation to look for quick answers; overly simplistic, one-size-fits-all solutions.

Of course, we know that the real needs of children, teens and adults cannot be so easily pigeonholed. In reality, we need to advocate for more services to the one in four (or, according to some, one in six) individuals who are affected by a mental illness.

Unfortunately, public funding for these services has been on the decline in recent years. Perhaps one of the concrete outcomes of the focus on Newtown will be a renewed public dialogue that will lead to placing the emphasis where it belongs: early screening and identification and facilitated access to needed services.

What can parents do if they have a child with special needs who may pose a risk to themselves or their community? Most of us do not know the warning signs of potential violence. Many parents may not be sure what the difference is between “normal” teen brooding versus depression that may lead to violence; is my child ill or ill-mannered? How can we ensure that people in need can more easily get assistance? To help answer that question, FCA will publish information to assist parents with these issues and co-sponsor a public forum early this year to disseminate important information for all parents.

Now, more than ever, we need to work together for the well-being of all.

Philip M. Mickulas, LCSW

President and CEO of Family and Children’s Association

News

Alleged 'Johns' Made Public

Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00

Across Nassau County, residents are reacting with mixed emotions to the Nassau County District Attorney’s recent arrests of more than 100 men for soliciting prostitutes, including three from Hicksville, four from Levittown, eight from Wantagh and East Meadow, and one from Bethpage. The DA’s office not only arrested the men, but made public their names and photographs.

But for as shocking as these very public revelations may be, some local residents seem nonplussed by the whole incident.

Health benefits in more ways than one

West East All Natural Bistro and Wine Bar is a fresh and virginal startup that provides hope for change in a landscape that has become stagnant and saturated with the same, tired, fast food, assembly-line approach, and artificially hospitable corporate eateries.

A few years ago Raquel Jadeja and her husband, Jay were just regular customers of Danny Wu’s establishment. Wu is the original owner of The West East All Natural Bistro. The Jadejas many years of restaurant experience led them to become Wu’s unofficial consultants. Their friendship, which was a symbiotic progression, culminated when Jay became a co-owner and head chef in October of 2012.

Sports

Hicksville Runners Score In Belmont Run

Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00

Award winners Jill Loveland and Anne Broderick led a large contingent of runners from Hicksville who successfully completed the 2nd annual Belmont Stakes Blue Ribbon 5K Run for Prostate Cancer on June 2.

Loveland was the first woman in the 25-29 age group to cross the finish line with a time of 23 minutes, 19 seconds. Broderick scored in 26:15 to earn the first place award in the women’s 45-49 age group.