RONKONKOMA, NEW YORK — MBPS has announced that the New York Bankers Association (NYBA) Board of Directors unanimously approved the company as a Service Member. The service member designation will allow MBPS to bring a wide range of products and services to key decision-makers within the New York banking community.
Since 1894, NYBA’s primary mission is to be the state’s preeminent provider of legislative and regulatory services to a unified banking industry. Today, it represents community, regional and money center commercial banks and thrift institutions in New York State with 200,000 employees in New York State and more than $10 trillion in aggregate assets. Several years ago, NYBA merged with the Community Bankers Association of New York State, further strengthening the unified voice of New York’s banking industry.
“We are honored to become a part of this prestigious organization,” said Chad Horal, President, MBPS. “This will give our products and services greater exposure to the banking industry and the opportunity to fulfill needs that need to be addressed among financial institutions and their customers.”
For more information, call (800) 942-7970 or visit www.metrobps.com.
On February 14, Dr. Donald Boomgaarden, President, St. Joseph’s College, spoke about the challenges in higher education at the LIMBA (Long Island Metro Business Action) meeting, and how he is addressing them at the college. The meeting took place at the Courtyard by Marriott in Ronkonkoma.
Dr. Boomgaarden said the philosophical problem that today’s colleges and universities face is what he called “the globalization of superficiality.” With today’s technology, he said, more people are turning to the Internet to get their information. As a result, college-age students spend less time reading, thinking of or discerning real-world problems and learning about subjects. “The Internet creates an illusion of knowledge,” he said.
At St. Joseph’s, where he also teaches music, Dr. Boomgaarden challenges his students, who, he said, are looking for depth when it comes to learning a new subject and they “want to connect with something profound.” When the students are challenged, he said, they want to learn more. The most significant part of learning, he said, is “learning for its own sake.” People wish to learn more for the joy of it and that, he said, is very important to him.
Another issue facing higher education, according to Dr. Boomgaarden, is universality — that is, the colleges’ need to connect to the real world. He said colleges cannot be isolated from the local community; instead, they need to reach into the community, be a part of it and make the world a better place. This is done, he said, through experiential learning, in which businesses interact with local colleges to offer students internships, externships, paid and volunteer positions.
In addressing standardized testing, Dr. Boomgaarden said such tests as the Regents, while well-intentioned, are actually detrimental because they actually do not measure a student’s true academic performance and using a “one-size-fits-all” approach to the college admissions process will not work.
Dr. Boomgaarden also pointed out some of the more disturbing trends among college students, such as the inability to read and write. In his music class, he emphasizes writing as part of his curriculum, whether it is writing reports on musical artists and composers or reviews of concerts or albums. He added that more students are experiencing mental and emotional health issues such as anxiety and depression, and that the college has programs to help students overcome these problems. Lastly, fewer students attending New York State colleges are graduating. St. Joseph’s has a 70% graduation rate, which is twice the rate of New York’s, according to Dr. Boomgaarden, and its retention rate of first-year students is 90%.
The biggest problem students face after graduation is debt. In New York State, the average student debt in New York State is $38,000, according to Dr. Boomgaarden. Tuition for the Patchogue location is $14,000 a year and approximately $9,000 for the Brooklyn location (both prices mentioned are after receiving financial aid). He said these prices make St. Joseph’s the least expensive private college on Long Island.
In addition, St. Joseph’s offers online programs, from which students can earn degrees or special certificates. Some of those programs include business and healthcare administration. Dr. Boomgaarden emphasized that the online courses are hosted by the college’s own IT department, unlike other online colleges which use third-party providers. He also warned against for-profit colleges that advertise themselves on TV; he said they have poor educational quality and nearly half of the students are burdened with debt when they graduate. He said it is only right the for-profit colleges pay their fair share to alleviate student debt.
Dr. Boomgaarden is the college’s eighth president. He was previously Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Scranton. Prior to that, he was the Dean of the College of Music and Fine Arts and David P. Swanzy Distinguished Professor of Music at Loyola University.
For more information, or for a list of upcoming events, call (631) 757-1698 or visit www.limba.net.
Dr. Donald Boomgaarden (fourth from right), President, St. Joseph’s College, was the guest speaker at the LIMBA (Long Island Metro Business Action) meeting at the Courtyard by Marriott in Ronkonkoma on February 14. Also pictured (left to right): Dr. Alan G. Vitters, Assistant Professor, Department of Business Administration and Accounting, St. Joseph’s College, the event’s sponsor; Patrick Fife, Partner, Twomey Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin, & Quartararo, LLP; Robert W. Doyle, Jr., Partner, Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP; Ernie Fazio, Chairman, and Ken Nevor, Member, LIMBA; Kathleen Magistro, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, St. Joseph’s College; and Bill Miller, Treasurer, LIMBA. Twomey Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin, & Quartararo, LLP and Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP are the annual sponsors.
Top Three Teams Advance to World Championship in Detroit
Who: Representatives/volunteers from School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. (SBPLI) dba FIRST® Long Island
Syosset High School representatives
Students and their coaches/mentors from local FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge teams
Families of participating FIRST Long Island students
What: Twenty-four teams will head to Syosset High School to take part in the FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge Long Island Championship, presented by School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, dba FIRST Long Island. In this season’s challenge — dubbed SKYSTONESM Presented by Qualcomm — the object of the game is to obtain a higher score than the opposing alliance by overcoming obstacles that stand in the path to build a superstructure of the future, topping it off with a crown of achievement — a final capstone to symbolize their reach into the sky, and dreams of a hopeful future.
During the FIRST Tech Challenge events, students demonstrate their problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship and sense of community. Three teams from the FIRST Long Island Championship will go on to the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship in Detroit, Michigan on April 28-May 2, 2020.
This will be the fifth year that FIRST Tech Challenge has enabled students on Long Island to explore STEM through building and problem-solving.
When: Saturday, March 7
7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
[open to the public/media beginning at 11 a.m.]
Where: Syosset Senior High School
70 S Woods Road
Syosset, NY 11791
Directions: Long Island Expressway to Exit 44 (NY-135N). Merge onto NY-135N toward Syosset, continue to Exit 14E (NY-25 E). Merge onto NY-25E/Jericho Turnpike toward Woodbury. Continue for just over one-half mile, turn left onto S Woods Road. Continue for one mile, then turn left into Syosset Senior High School
Photo Ops: Representatives from School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. discussing the challenge and the importance of robotics and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in education. Teams presenting their robots for the first time. Teams working together to solve problems. Coaches guiding students throughout the Championship Tournament.
Four Join Plainview Office, One Joins Bronx Office
[Plainview, New York] — Five seasoned licensed Real Estate Professionals have joined Charles Rutenberg Realty, Inc., citing the company’s successful business model, excellent training and expert guidance as some of their reasons for choosing the firm.
Those joining the Agency’s Plainview Office are the following Licensed Real Estate Salespeople: Robert Mostacci of Levittown, formerly with Realty Connect in Hauppauge, Leslie Vasquez of Middletown, previously with Empire Home in Hauppauge; Kelly Gonzalez-Benavides of Brentwood, who came from Power Team Realty Corp. in Bay Shore; and Alice LaiYee Chan of Brooklyn, formerly with New Horizon Real Estate in El Cerrito, California.
Dionne Harris-Jackman of the Bronx, formerly with Keller Williams Realty in the Bronx, will join the Agency’s Bronx office.
Alice LaiYee ChanDionne Harris-JackmanKelly Gonzalez-BenavidesLeslie Vasquez
Event to Take Place at Syosset High School on Saturday, March 7
The FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge season — dubbed SKYSTONESM Presented by Qualcomm — will culminate with the SBPLI Long Island Championship tournament on March 7 at Syosset High School, located at 70 S. Woods Road in Syosset. Presented locally by School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. (SBPLI) dba FIRST Long Island, FIRST Tech Challenge inspires students ages 12 to 18 to pursue an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Working alongside adult mentors, approximately 78,000 students in more than 20 countries have spent the last several months designing, building, programming and operating robots to play a floor game in an alliance format on a 12-foot-by-12-foot field. The 24 participating teams in this championship tournament earned the opportunity to compete during one of five regional qualifying tournaments that took place at William Floyd High School, Richard S. Sherman Great Neck North Middle School and Long Island School for the Gifted throughout January and February. This season, the object of the game is to obtain a higher score than the opposing alliance by overcoming obstacles that stand in the path to build a superstructure of the future, topping it off with a crown of achievement — a final capstone to symbolize their reach into the sky, and dreams of a hopeful future.
During the FIRST Tech Challenge events, students demonstrate their problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship and sense of community. Three teams from the FIRST Long Island Championship will go on to the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship in Detroit, Michigan on April 28-May 2, 2020.
This will be the fifth year that FIRST Tech Challenge has enabled students on Long Island to explore STEM through building and problem-solving.
“Students from across Long Island have been hard at work over the past few months building their robots and preparing for their qualifier event,” says Robert Stephenson, Program Co-Director and SBPLI/FIRST Long Island Representative. “FIRST Tech Challenge has grown into a powerful program for students across Long Island in such a short time, and we are excited to see these students show off their STEM talent at the upcoming Championship.”
A list of participating teams are as follows:
For more information on SBPLI or FIRST Tech Challenge, please visit www.sbpli-lifirst.org.
Who: School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. (SBPLI) representatives/volunteers
Longwood High School representatives
Students and their coaches/mentors from 39 local FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO® League teams
Families of participating FIRST Long Island students
The general public and anyone who is interested in joining
What: Following a series of seven qualifiers, 39 FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO® League teams from across Nassau and Suffolk Counties are set to compete in this year’s CITY SHAPERSM challenge in the Long Island Championship at Longwood High School. During the event, presented by School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. (SBPLI) dba FIRST Long Island, students ages nine to 14 will present the LEGO MINDSTORMS® robots that they designed, built, programmed and tested.
These teams were among the more than 200 that worked hard this season to explore one of the most relevant topics facing the world today: sustainability. Students researched current solutions to the problem and will present them to a panel of judges at the event.
At the Championship, these teams will look to advance to the FIRST World Festival in Detroit on April 29-May 2.
When: Sunday, March 1
9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Where: Longwood High School
100 Longwood Road
Middle Island, NY 11953
Photo Ops: Representatives from School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. discussing the challenge and the importance of robotics and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in education. Teams presenting their LEGO MINDSTORMS® robots for the first time. Teams working together to solve problems and coaches guiding students throughout the Championship Tournament.
The following 39 teams have advanced to the SBPLI Long Island FIRST LEGO League Championship, which will take place on Sunday, March 1 at Longwood High School:
Event to Take Place at Longwood High School on Sunday, March 1
Following a series of qualifiers, 39 FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO® League teams from Nassau and Suffolk Counties are set to compete at the Long Island Championship at Longwood High School on Sunday, March 1. During the event, presented by School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. (SBPLI) dba FIRST Long Island, students ages nine to 14 will present their LEGO MINDSTORMS® robots to address the challenge set forth in this year’s theme — CITY SHAPERSM.
These teams were among the more than 200 that worked hard this season to research, design, build, program and test LEGO MINDSTORMS® robots to explore one of the most relevant topics facing the world today: sustainability. Students explored current solutions to the problem they identified, and developed an innovative solution which they presented to Judges.
Students presented their solutions during one of seven qualifier tournaments that were held at William Floyd High School, Mineola High School and Huntington High School in January and early February. At the Championship, these teams will look to advance to the FIRST World Festival in Detroit on April 29-May 2.
This will be the 16th year that FIRST LEGO League has enabled students on Long Island to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) through building and problem-solving.
“It’s wonderful to see so many students getting excited about the FIRST LEGO League challenge this year,” says Stephanie Stern, Program Co-Director and FIRST Long Island representative. “I was so impressed by each team’s performance during the qualifiers and enjoyed seeing how many skills they acquired by participating in the program—everything from teamwork to Gracious Professionalism® to STEM education. I can’t wait to see what the students bring to the championship. To see the teams in action, join us between 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — there is no admission fee.”
For more information on SBPLI and the FIRST Long Island continuum of programs, or to become a sponsor, please visit www.sbpli-lifirst.org.
The following 39 teams have advanced to the SBPLI Long Island FIRST LEGO League Championship, which will take place on Sunday, March 1 at Longwood High School:
MONTAUK, NEW YORK — Mark your calendars! Sam’s Star Island Yacht Club & Marina is kicking off the sport fishing season on Father’s Day Weekend with the 33rd Annual Shark Tournament, taking place from Thursday, June 18 to Saturday, June 20.
The full Shark Tournament schedule is as follows:
Captain’s Meeting & Beer Bust: Thursday, June 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Fishing: Friday, June 19 from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Fishing: Saturday, June 20 from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Awards with open buffet and live entertainment: Saturday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Sport fishermen constantly come back for this tournament, not because of the chance to bring in the biggest catch, but because Sam’s Star Island offers the largest payout in the northeastern United States. Participating anglers will compete for their share of $60,000 in cash prizes and trophies. The angler who brings in the heaviest shark will win $30,000. Cash prizes will also be awarded for Heaviest Shark of the Day, the top three Heaviest Makos, the top three Heaviest Blues, and the top three Heaviest Other Species.
The entry fee is $1,250.00 per boat. Those who register before April 15 will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a $500 gift certificate for Sam’s Star Island Ship’s Store.
As Sam’s Star Island and nearby marinas often fill up quickly for the holiday weekend, anglers are encouraged to reserve dockage early. Dockage for the tournament is a three-night minimum stay, and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Thousands of spectators flock to the Shark Tournament each year to check out the action. For those who wish to attend, it is strongly recommended that you make hotel reservations as soon as possible. These rooms will fill up fast!
For anglers who would like to get in on the competition but do not own a boat, Sam’s Star Island Yacht Club Charter Boat is home to Montauk’s finest and most accomplished Charter Captains. Each of Sam’s Star Island’s charter boats can accommodate up to six anglers for one or both days of the tournament.
All anglers can contribute to the study of the shark by tagging and releasing sharks that do not meet strict weight requirements. Last year, over 250 sharks were released back to the ocean.
For more information on Sam’s Star Island Yacht Club & Marina, or to register, call (631) 668-5052, or visit www.starislandyc.com.
Retail Establishment Provides Job Opportunities for Individuals
with Special Needs
WADING RIVER, NEW YORK — On February 12, Stacey Wohl, Owner, be(Cause) Lifestyle Boutique, was joined by local elected officials and local business and educations representatives for the grand opening of its new location in Wading River, located at 6278 Route 25A, Building A, #2. Those in attendance took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony and met with be(Cause) volunteers and staff during a tour of the establishment.
be(Cause) features a vast array of stylish clothing, jewelry from local artisans, soaps and assorted home goods, including the Nest line of fragrance candles, as well as coffee, baked goods and gift baskets filled with hand-crafted food items. Ms. Wohl came up with the idea for the store after she decided to revisit her roots in the fashion industry, where she worked as a showroom salesperson, fit model and designer after graduating college. In 2012, she began a wholesale coffee business, Our Coffee with a Cause, in which she trained her two children, Brittney and Logan — both of whom have special needs — and those with developmental disabilities in various aspects of the business.
In 2016, she opened Cause Café in Northport, a full-service restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, with half of its employees comprised of those with developmental disabilities. Two years later, Ms. Wohl opened be(Cause) Lifestyle Boutique, where she continues to offer job opportunities to special-needs individuals. In addition, she works with Developmental Disabilities Institute, which sends a handful of young people with special needs to the store each week in order to receive job training skills.
“We are proud to open be(Cause) Lifestyle Boutique at our new location in Wading River,” Ms. Wohl said. “Our store provides a unique line of clothing, home accessories and expertly made baked goods. In addition, we provide job opportunities to older children and young adults with autism and special needs. This allows them to not only become gainfully employed, but to lead productive lives.”
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/BeCauseLifestyleBoutique.
Stacey Wohl (center), Owner, be(Cause) Lifestyle Boutique, and Yvette Aguiar (third from right), Supervisor, Town of Riverhead, join in cutting the ribbon to celebrate be(Cause)’s grand opening at its new location in Wading River on February 12. Also pictured (left to right): Samantha Nagorski, President, Wading River-Shoreham Chamber of Commerce; Tina Amodeo and Jaclyn Visco, Volunteers, be(Cause) Lifestyle Boutique; Brittney Wohl, Ms. Wohl’s daughter; Tim Hubbard and Frank Beyrodt, Council Members, Town of Riverhead; and Steven Visco, Ms. Visco’s brother. Standing behind Ms. Visco: Tara Gosman (back row, left), President, Shoreham-Wading River Special Education Parent-Teacher Association, and Jodi Giglio (back row, right), Council Member, Town of Riverhead.Stacey Wohl (front row, third from right), Owner, be(Cause) Lifestyle Boutique, received proclamations from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Town of Riverhead in recognition of the store’s grand opening. Also pictured (front row, left to right): Jaclyn Visco and Tina Amodeo, Volunteers, be(Cause) Lifestyle Boutique; Yvette Aguiar, Supervisor, Town of Riverhead; Brittney Wohl, Ms. Wohl’s daughter; and Jodi Giglio, Council Member, Town of Riverhead. Back row (left to right): Frank Beyrodt and Tim Hubbard, Council Members, Town of Riverhead.
Who: Stacey Wohl, Owner, be(Cause) Lifestyle Boutique
Be(Cause) Lifestyle Boutique volunteers and staff
Local elected officials
Representatives of Long Island-based service providers for autistic young adults
What: Stacey Wohl, Owner, be(Cause) Lifestyle Boutique, will be joined by local elected officials and representatives of local autism organizations for the grand opening of its new location in Wading River.
be(Cause) features a vast array of stylish clothing, jewelry from local artisans, soaps and assorted home goods, including the Nest line of fragrance candles, as well as coffee, baked goods and gift baskets filled with hand-crafted food items. Ms. Wohl came up with the idea for the store after she decided to revisit her roots in the fashion industry, where she worked as a showroom salesperson, fit model and designer after graduating college. In 2012, she began a wholesale coffee business, Our Coffee with a Cause, in which she trained her two children, Brittney and Logan — both of whom have special needs — and those with developmental disabilities in various aspects of the business.
In 2016, she opened Cause Café in Northport, a full-service restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, with half of its employees comprised of those with developmental disabilities. Two years later, Ms. Wohl opened be(Cause) Lifestyle Boutique, where she continues to offer job opportunities to special-needs individuals. She also works with Developmental Disabilities Institute, which sends young adults with special needs to the store for job training.
When: Wednesday, February 12
2:00 p.m.
Where: be(Cause) Lifestyle Boutique
6278 Route 25A, Building A, #2
Wading River, NY
Directions: LIE to Exit 69 (Wading River Rd.) to Wading River. Make a left onto Wading River Road. The name of the street changes to Center Moriches Road, then to Schultz Road, then to Wading River Manor Road. Three-and-a-half miles after taking Wading River Manor Road, turn right onto Route 25A. Entrance is 459 feet on the right-hand side.
Photo Ops: Ms. Wohl joining elected officials and local autism organizations in the ribbon cutting ceremony. Invitees meeting with be(Cause) volunteers and staff and taking a tour of the store.
For more information about our services or to find out how we can help you attain your marketing goals, click here to email us, or call: Toll Free: 855-PRMG-123 .: Phone: 631-207-1057
