LI Business News articles from January 2004

LI Business News archives from January 2004

Nassau Health Care Corp. lays off 213.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Claude Solnik The Nassau Health Care Corp., which operates Nassau University Medical Center and several other facilities, handed out 213 pink slips today, laying off staffers across the board, from housekeeping and administration...

Long Island Water gets new name, game plan.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Claude Solnik Long Island Water, Nassau County's largest drinking-water supplier, said it has changed its name to Long Island American Water to better reflect the identity of its parent company, American Water. The century-old...

Cablevision's Voom to carry movie channel STARZ HD.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ken Schachter Padding its lineup of high-definition programming, the Voom satellite service division of Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) has agreed to carry movie channel STARZ HD. The newly launched Voom service is...

Southampton Hospital's med staff names chief.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Claude Solnik Southampton Hospital's medical staff, which elects its own slate of officers, has chosen Dr. David M. Kirshy, an attending physician, as its president. Kirshy, who was vice president of medical staff, works out of...

Subway rolls out low-carb menu items.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Claude Solnik Milford, Conn.-based fast-food sandwich chain Subway has begun offering two low-carbohydrate products "endorsed" by Atkins Nutritionals Inc., the Ronkonkoma-based company that created and champions low-carbohydrate...

Hicks Nurseries collects food for Long Island Cares.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Long Island Cares, an organization dedicated to feeding the Island's hungry, collected 700 pounds of food from Hicks Nurseries Inc. The groceries gathered at Hicks locations will go directly to needy residents during...

Audiovox Electronics addresses nursing shortage.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Audiovox Electronics Corp. recently presented Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center with a $5,000 check to help fund the education of future nurses through the Nursing Education Scholarship Program. One of the...

NY State Public Service Commission gears up for hearings on Freeport rate.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Claude Solnik The New York State Public Service Commission said it's preparing to hold hearings on the Village of Freeport's proposal to hike electric rates by $4.5 million, or 19 percent, for three years starting on April 1. ...

Big Brothers Big Sisters receives clothing donation.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Business-advisory firm Margolin, Winer & Evens recently donated 2,962 pounds of clothing to the Long Island chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, a national volunteer organization dedicated to youth...

Best Buy, Fleet show support for United Way.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Long Island's Best Buy stores helped raise more than $65,000 for the United Way of Long Island. Of the money collected, $30,000 was given directly to needy children and families throughout the Island. In...

JPMorgan Chase Community Builders awards grant to LI Crisis Center.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick A $25,000 grant from the JPMorgan Chase Community Builders Program will help the Long Island Crisis Center implement an outreach campaign to aid children who bear witness to the abuse of a parent or guardian. ...

Liberty Moving & Storage announces staffing changes.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Liberty Moving & Storage announced the appointments of Anthony Federico to vice president of sales and Roberta Snair to assistant sales manager. Federico, a 20-year veteran of LMS, will work with outside sales...

Long Island realtors announce staffing changes: Jan. 2, 2004.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Jane L. Salamon has been named the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island president for 2004. MLS is a subsidiary of the Long Island Board of Realtors. Salamon, who is currently vice president of policy and...

Commentary: Museum fosters flights of fancy.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ken Cerini Like many young children growing up on Long Island, I dreamed of flight. Whether building model planes out of balsa wood in my basement or lying on my front lawn staring up into the sky, I fantasized about what it would...

Long Island American Water names new vice president.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick William Varley was named vice president and manager of Long Island American Water. His new responsibilities will include overseeing the production, treatment, distribution and maitenance of the drinking-water supply...

Long Island medical facilities announce staffing changes: January 2, 2004.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick William P. Reed has been appointed chairman of the committee of approvals for the Commission of Cancer, American College of Surgeons. Reed, who is currently chairman of the Winthrop University Hospital department...

Bankers Life of New York adds claims examiner to staff.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Andrew Longo has joined Bankers Life of New York as a claims examiner. Longo, a Huntington resident, previously worked as a launch operator at Centerport Boatworks. Earlier this year, he attainted his U.S....

Spector Group makes project designer an associate.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Thomas Stack, a project designer at Spector Group, an architectural firm based in North Hills, has been made an associate of the firm. Stack, who is a member of the American Institute of Architects, will take on...

C.W. Post campus of LI Univ. appoints exec. director of Continuing Education.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick The C.W. Post campus of Long Island University in Brookville has appointed Cheryl A. Baldwin as executive director of Continuing Education and Professional Studies. In her new position, Baldwin will be...

Environmental awards presented.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Sarah Meyland has been named Environmentalist of the Year for 2003 by the Long Island chapter of the Sierra Club. Meyland received the award based on her contributions to the club as a scientist, attorney, professor...

Commentary: Is Howard Dean another election loser?
January 2, 2004... Byline: Jerry Kremer As a lifelong Democrat, I have had my share of losers at the polls. I am sure you have heard of Adlai Stevenson, George McGovern, Michael Dukakis, Walter Mondale, and Hubert Humphrey. If you wanted more names of...

Holistic practices find strength in clusters.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Adina Genn They crop up in neighborhood clusters. Chiropractic groups partnering with licensed acupuncturists. Hypnotherapists sharing space with aromatherapists. They're practitioners of the wellness industry, and they're...

Huntington YMCA gains new exec director.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Edward F. Moffett has been appointed executive director of the Huntington YMCA, where he will be responsible for a $5 million annual budget and a staff of more than 100 employees at the Y's 10-acre campus in...

Symbol Technologies names new CEO.
January 2, 2004... Byline: LIBN Staff The investigation into accounting practices at Symbol Technologies has reached into the corner office as acting Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Richard Bravman resigns after 17 months in the top job. ...

Commentary: No more Long Island Power Authority?
January 2, 2004... Byline: LIBN Staff Welcome to 2004. In the local business world, it's a time of great change and great challenges. The economy is picking up, but the rate of new job creation isn't following at the same clip. There's a new county executive...

Suffolk County exec. picks stars for new Suffolk lineup.
January 2, 2004... Byline: John Kiernan The new Administration of Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy is off to a good and pragmatic start. Although Levy ran an aggressive campaign stressing the need for change and the importance of reforming the...

CPAs: Bad biz climate won't pick up soon.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ben Abelson The majority of accountants in the New York metropolitan area say current business conditions remain lousy and don't expect to see marked improvement for at least two to five years, according to a year-end survey. ...

Manchester Technologies announces change to board of directors.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ken Schachter In a roster move that's sure to cause a stir in Long Island's high-tech hot-stove league, Manchester Technologies Inc. has lost to free agency a brilliant, high-strung strategist who led the New York Mets to the World...

Don't bet on a pay raise this year.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Rosmaria Mancini Even though the economy is looking brighter, don't expect your paycheck to bring in the sunshine this year. The average mid-level, white-collar worker should expect a pay raise of 3 percent to 3.5 percent in...

Twinlab has new vice chairman.
January 2, 2004... Byline: LIBN Staff Twinlab may finally be getting an energy boost of its own. Anthony Robbins, a motivational speaker and vice chairman of Idea-Sphere, which bought Twinlab out of bankruptcy, is expected to bring his message of...

S&P may upgrade debt outlook for Comverse Tech.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ken Schachter Comverse Technology Inc. could be in line for a post-holiday gift courtesy of Standard & Poor's. If current trends continue, the company, whose current credit rating is BB-, could get a rating outlook revision...

EDO Corp. weighs LI role in Pentagon contract production.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ken Schachter Executives of EDO Corp., which faces a tight deadline on its up to $35 million Pentagon contract for "Warlock" electronic detonation devices, are debating whether to locate production on Long Island, officials said....

Long Island Ducks score early with opening day ticket sales.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Claude Solnik The Long Island Ducks ended last season with a heartbreaker, falling just one game short of their first play-off berth in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, but that shortcoming apparently hasn't dimmed the...

Barnstable Broadcasting snaps up WLIR voices.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Claude Solnik In what is shaping up to be a pitched battle between Long Island radio rivals, Barnstable Broadcasting has snapped up two key staffers from The Morey Organization's WLIR 92.7 FM and is making a play for the station's...

Ivy Equities to enter LI with Heatherwood portfolio.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Nick Anastasi Montvale, N.J.-based Ivy Equities is in contract to acquire Heatherwood Communities' 13-building collection of properties at Exit 57 of the Long Island Expressway for an estimated $44 million, according to local...

Thomas Stack named an associate at Spector Group, an architectural firm based in North Hills.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Long Island Business News Staff Thomas Stack, a project designer at Spector Group, an architectural firm based in North Hills, has been made an associate of the firm. Stack, who is a member of the American Institute of Architects,...

C.W. Post campus of Long Island University appoints Cheryl A. Baldwin as executive director.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Long Island Business News Staff The C.W. Post campus of Long Island University in Brookville has appointed Cheryl A. Baldwin as executive director of Continuing Education and Professional Studies. In her new position, Baldwin...

Long Islanders receive awards for their contributions to the environment.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Long Island Business News Staff Sarah Meyland has been named Environmentalist of the Year for 2003 by the Long Island chapter of the Sierra Club. Meyland received the award based on her contributions to the club as a scientist,...

William Varley named vice president and manager of Long Island American Water.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Long Island Business News Staff William Varley was named vice president and manager of Long Island American Water. His new responsibilities will include overseeing the production, treatment, distribution and maintenance of the...

Long Island medical facilities announce staffing changes: January 2, 2004.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Long Island Business News Staff William P. Reed has been appointed chairman of the committee of approvals for the Commission of Cancer, American College of Surgeons. Reed, who is currently chairman of the Winthrop University...

Andrew Longo joins Bankers Life of New York as a claims examiner.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Long Island Business News Staff Andrew Longo has joined Bankers Life of New York as a claims examiner. Longo, a Huntington resident, previously worked as a launch operator at Centerport Boatworks. Earlier this year, he...

Long Island real estate firms announce staffing changes: January 2, 2004.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Long Island Business News Staff Jane L. Salamon has been named the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island president for 2004. MLS is a subsidiary of the Long Island Board of Realtors. Salamon, who is currently vice president...

The A Lists.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Claude Solnik With more than 90 percent of its $10 million-plus annual operating budget coming from individual donors, the North Shore Animal League of America in Port Washington relies a great deal on its cache of contacts. In...

Bankrupt Boundless Corp. sells HQ.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Nick Anastasi Boundless Corp., the bankrupt manufacturer of build-to-order computer and desktop display products, has sold its headquarters at 100 Marcus Blvd. to a group of real estate investors known as 100 Marcus Boulevard LLC....

Globecomm Systems tapped for Iraqi calls.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Claude Solnik Globecomm Systems Inc. is working with the Iraqi Telephone and Post Company and global contracting giant Bechtel Corp. to route international calls from Iraq through a Long Island-based teleport. Globecomm, which...

Ivy Equities to enter LI with Heatherwood portfolio.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Nick Anastasi Montvale, N.J.-based Ivy Equities is in contract to acquire Heatherwood Communities' 13-building collection of properties at Exit 57 of the Long Island Expressway for an estimated $44 million, according to local...

Attorney returns home to Long Island to begin a career in elder law.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini Steven Stern never had an interest in elder law before college. Then he served as a staff member on the U.S. House Select Committee on Aging, where he was faced with issues such as elder abuse, long-term care and...

EDO weighs LI 'Warlock' role: Execs debate whether to shift work of $35M contract.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ken Schachter Executives of EDO Corp., which faces a tight deadline on its up to $35 million Pentagon contract for "Warlock" electronic detonation devices, are debating whether to locate production on Long Island, officials said....

S&P may upgrade debt outlook for Comverse Technology.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ken Schachter Comverse Technology Inc. could be in line for a post-holiday gift courtesy of Standard & Poor's. If current trends continue, the company, whose current credit rating is BB-, could get a rating outlook revision...

Free-agent dorm for Bay Shore?
January 2, 2004... Byline: Nick Anastasi If Carl Dworman gets his way, Long Island will be home to a first-of-its-kind dormitory - one that's off-campus and not affiliated with any one school. Dworman, a 59-year-old Rhode Island-based developer who is...

CPAs: Bad biz climate won't pick up soon.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ben Abelson The majority of accountants in the New York metropolitan area say current business conditions remain lousy and don't expect to see marked improvement for at least two to five years, according to a year-end survey. ...

Don't bet on a pay raise this year.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini Even though the economy is looking brighter, don't expect your paycheck to bring in the sunshine this year. The average mid-level, white-collar worker should expect a pay raise of 3 percent to 3.5 percent in...

Iraq-born Yacov Shamash pinch-hits for Bobby Valentine.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Ken Schachter In a roster move that's sure to cause a stir in Long Island's high-tech hot-stove league, Manchester Technologies Inc. has lost to free agency a brilliant, high-strung strategist who led the New York Mets to the World...

Who's Who in Long Island's hospitality industry.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Long Island Business News Staff The hospitality industry is cautiously optimistic about 2004 after hearing the Travel Industry Association of America's annual travel forecast. The report estimates overall traveler spending by...

Commentary: No more LIPA?
January 2, 2004... Byline: Long Island Business News Editorial Welcome to 2004. In the local business world, it's a time of great change and great challenges. The economy is picking up, but the rate of new job creation isn't following at the same clip....

Commentary: Two Long Island county execs face a tough 2004.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Desmond Ryan Long Island's two county executives have reason to approach the month of January with mixed emotions. For Suffolk's Steve Levy, it is the culmination of a dream. But in winning the race in a walk, the question for the...

Commentary: Levy picks stars for new Suffolk lineup.
January 2, 2004... Byline: John Kiernan The new Administration of Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy is off to a good and pragmatic start. Although Levy ran an aggressive campaign stressing the need for change and the importance of reforming the...

Commentary: Is Howard Dean another election loser?
January 2, 2004... Byline: Jerry Kremer As a lifelong Democrat, I have had my share of losers at the polls. I am sure you have heard of Adlai Stevenson, George McGovern, Michael Dukakis, Walter Mondale, and Hubert Humphrey. If you wanted more names of...

Holistic practices find strength in clusters.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Adina Genn They crop up in neighborhood clusters. Chiropractic groups partnering with licensed acupuncturists. Hypnotherapists sharing space with aromatherapists. They're practitioners of the wellness industry, and they're...

Long Island Non-Profit Briefs: January 2, 2004.
January 2, 2004... Byline: Long Island Business News Staff Business-advisory firm Margolin, Winer & Evens recently donated 2,962 pounds of clothing to the Long Island chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, a national volunteer organization dedicated...

UC4 Software names new COO.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Mark Loehr was named chief operating officer of UC4 Software Inc. in Plainview. Loehr, who was previously senior vice president of global services, will now be responsible for overseeing the company's day-to-day...

Standard Microsystems gets $2.7M arbitration award.
January 9, 2004... Byline: LIBN Staff Standard Microsystems Corp. announced that it has received an arbitration award of $2.7 million related to the sale of its majority stake in SMC Networks Inc. to Accton Technology Corp. in October 1997. Last...

South Nassau Communities Hospital wins gold medal from America's Blood Centers.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick South Nassau Communities Hospital was the recipient of the Gold Medal Award from America's Blood Centers for raising awareness of the need for blood donation and supporting community blood-drive programs. ...

Stony Brook University Hospital considering affiliation with Southampton Hospital.
January 9, 2004... Byline: LIBN Staff There's a new name among potential partners for Southampton Hospital: Stony Brook University Hospital. Financially strapped Southampton has long been weighing whether to increase its affiliation with or merge with...

Nassau University Medical Center pushes for county, state aid.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Claude Solnik Seeking to stem a tide of red ink and following its latest round of layoffs, Nassau Health Care Corp. is considering cutting back on services and is pushing for more support from Nassau County and the state. ...

Holtsville-based Symbol Technologies still struggling with legal ramifications of accounting scandal.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ken Schachter The big fish may have exited Symbol Technologies Inc., but their legal and contractual waves promise to ripple on. On Dec. 30, the company announced that Interim Chairman and Chief Executive Richard Bravman was...

Several U.S. companies begin aggressive marketing of offshore tax preparation services.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ben Abelson Offshore outsourcing, likely the biggest foreign concern to American industry since the "Japanese economic takeover" of the early 1980s, is advancing to fertile ground - regional accounting firms. Several U.S....

Coach Realtors appoints David Guanzini licensed sales associate.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Coach Realtors has appointed David Guanzini licensed sales associate. Guanzini's new undertakings will include assisting individuals in selling their houses by doing comparative market analyses and providing...

Paul Berk of Nassau World Wide Movers awarded United Van Lines' Masters Club Award.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Paul Berk was presented with United Van Lines' Masters Club Award at the worldwide transportation company's headquarters in St. Louis. He was also welcomed into the exclusive 2003 Masters Club Inner Circle. The...

Weight loss companies vie for business of 190 million overweight Americans.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick When Debbie Cohen opened Your Weigh to Success in 1998, it was with the goal of helping people travel the same road she had when she lost 80 pounds through Overeaters Anonymous some 20 years before. In just five...

Krauthamer joins the Center for Labor Management Relations & Dispute Resolution at Dowling College.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Michael Krauthamer has joined the Center for Labor Management Relations & Dispute Resolution at Dowling College as senior faculty administrator. Krauthamer will now be accountable for developing and heading workshops...

Long Island health care institutions announce staff changes: January 9, 2004.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick The Pederson-Krag Center announced today that Philip Caporusso has been named to its board of directors. Caporusso will help the board make critical financial decisions in the upcoming year. The Pederson-Krag...

Long Island non-profit agencies announce staff changes: January 9, 2004.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick The Suffolk County Boy Scouts have appointed Joe Gallagher scout executive. In that position, Gallagher will plan and oversee the day-to-day operations of the Suffolk Scouting movement, which includes more than...

South Nassau Communities Hospital's cancer center names Dr. Paul C. Liu medical director.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick South Nassau Communities Hospital's growing cancer center named Dr. Paul C. Liu medical director effective Jan. 1. Liu, who currently serves as chief of gynecologic oncology at South Nassau, replaces founding medical...

Martin A. Bieber named president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick After serving eight months as interim CEO of Mercy Medical Center, in Rockville Centre, Martin A. Bieber is now the official president and CEO of the hospital. In the new role, which Bieber started on Nov. 18, he...

Margolin, Winer & Evens announces the appointment of Alan P. Materazo as a partner.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Margolin, Winer & Evens announces the appointment of Alan P. Materazo as a partner. Throughout his career at MWE, Materazo has served in various practice groups. In his most recent role, as a senior manager, he...

NY governor's proposal to require background checks for health-care personnel gains support.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Claude Solnik Should background checks on nurses, pharmacists and respiratory therapists be as stringent as those required for doctors? According to a proposal by Gov. George Pataki, yes. The proposed legislation, which would...

Southampton Hospital hires Thomas Shepard as new vice president and chief operating officer.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick As the new vice president and chief operating officer of Southampton Hospital, Thomas M. Shepard has the task of improving the hospital's financial performance by, in part, introducing new clinical services. ...

Dr. Leonard Octavius Barrett joins Nassau Health Care Corp. as acting medical director.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick Dr. Leonard Octavius Barrett is acting medical director of the Nassau Health Care Corp., the public benefit corporation that runs the Nassau University Medical Center and A. Holly Patterson nursing center. Barrett...

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act creates logistical headaches and hassles.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Claude Solnik People have never been guaranteed good news when contacting hospitalized family members. But at least they knew their condition. Today, even getting in touch with loved ones can be a chore. Welcome to the brave...

Hospitals and medical professionals nationwide expand use of mobile technology.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Claude Solnik When residents at Long Island Jewish Medical Center go through the time-honored tradition of running their medical rounds, they don't rely on clipboards and paper. Instead, they turn to their trusty handheld...

New York City hospitals use new asthma technology to monitor children on Internet.
January 9, 2004... Byline: LIBN Staff Children in New York City may be able to breathe a little easier thanks to asthma-monitoring technology from American Medical Alert Corp. Using the company's "Health Buddy" devices, two hospitals run by the New York...

American Cancer Society honors Good Samaritan Breast Health Center.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Ryan McCormick The American Cancer Society honored the Good Samaritan Breast Health Center for its work with the Reach to Recovery Program. Eileen Roberto accepted the "Juliana G. Penny Award of Excellence" on behalf of Good...

Commentary: A resolutions list for the career woman in 2004.
January 9, 2004... Byline: Natalie Canavor When I asked a group of highly successful women I know to pinpoint the most important issues for today's working women, the usual suspects reared their heads: The glass ceiling. The old boys' network. The need to...