Julie Fishbach Journalism

Medill School of Journalism Northwestern University 2018 New York & Chicago

[juliefishbach-blog]

A cappella group Treblemakers plans 10-day tour of Asia

Sam Garcia has dreamed of one day leading Northwestern’s only East Asian interest a capella group, the Treblemakers, on a tour of Asia since he joined the group as a freshman. Four years later, he is making that dream a reality.

“It was in the back of my mind that if I became the leader I’d want to do this, I’d want to bring this group to Asia,” said Garcia, the group’s general manager and a Weinberg and Bienen senior. “Seeing how excited the exec board is about how many donations are coming in and that it’s actually happening … it’s just incredibly exciting.”

For the first time since its founding in 2004, Treblemakers will travel abroad to Seoul, Beijing and Hong Kong. Garcia said the group attempted to plan a similar trip to Asia four years ago, but the plans fell through.

The group, which consists of 21 members from all over the world, including China, Korea, Canada, Singapore and the United States, has been fundraising for the past few weeks to send the majority of its members on a 10-day trip during the 2016 spring break.

“The reason (the trip) hasn’t happened before is because of funding, so that’s trying when you have 20 people and an international flight,” said McCormick sophomore SueSan Chen, the Treblemaker’s assistant musical director. 

“A lot of our students are on financial aid, but this year we had the opportunity to do a Catalyzer campaign, which is still going on, and we already raised $8,000.”

Catalyzer is an online fundraising platform similar to Kickstarter, and funds donated through the site count toward the University’s $3.75 billion “We Will” fundraising campaign. In addition to donations from alumni, family members and friends on Catalyzer, the group has fundraised through bake sales, a Blaze Pizza profit-share and the sale of Treblemaker albums, Chen said.

Fundraising will continue to further subsidize expenses, which were budgeted at about $2,000 per person, excluding personal expenses, Garcia said.

“Every member has a different financial need depending on their socioeconomic class and family situation, so we try to be very personal about it and make sure we can provide every single member of our group that is going on this tour with money that they need,” he said.

Treblemakers hopes to serve as a cultural exchange while abroad by introducing a cappella music to other parts of the world, and introducing Asian societies to American culture.

“As an East Asian a cappella group with a lot of members who grew up in the U.S. and who grew up in China, Korea, in that part of the world, we have a pretty unique ability to bridge the gap between these multiple cultures,” Garcia said.

While traveling, the group will perform at multiple high schools and colleges where they will introduce students to a cappella music — an uncommon type of music in Asia — and give workshops on the college experience and application process in the United States, said Bienen and Communication freshman Amanda Xiang.

Xiang, a Hong Kong native, said she’s looking forward to returning home with a whole new purpose.

“We have the opportunity to showcase our ability back home,” she said. “There are people from Korea, China and other places in the group so it’s really cool to tell your family and friends what you’ve been up to.”

Although Garcia said the trip has taken a lot of planning, he said the entire executive board has been very committed to working together to support each other in planning the tour.

“It’s not just that we love performing together, we love being together,” Garcia said. “To have a family away from home is very special because that’s really what the group is to me.”

[juliefishbach-blog]

Students respond positively to longer Wildcat Welcome

Published in The Daily Northwestern 

Before arriving on campus, Medill freshman Rob Schaefer said he was skeptical about Wildcat Welcome.

Although he was excited to finally go to school after seeing all his friends leave home, Schaefer said he had doubts about the 10-day orientation program. Looking back on it, however, Schaefer said he appreciates the opportunities Wildcat Welcome provided.

“I had questions about the 10-day orientation, but I thought rather than (Wildcat Welcome) getting stale, as I got more acclimated, I enjoyed the week more,” Schaefer said. “When it was over I felt ready to go to classes.”

New Student and Family Programs extended the orientation program from the usual seven or eight days for the Class of 2019 and transfer students due to Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah, which took place from sundown Sept. 13 to sundown Sept. 15, during Wildcat Welcome. No required activities could be held during this time until Tuesday evening, although optional programming was held beginning on Sunday night.

Communication junior Janie Dickerson, who served as a Peer Adviser this year and last year, said the two-day break in mandatory programing created a challenge to keep students engaged. If students did not observe the holiday but their PAs did, they were able to pair up with another group to participate in optional activities, she said.

“It was important to make sure they still have the support even though there was no programming,” Dickerson said.

Patricia Hilkert, director of NSFP, said the holiday offered a lot of free time for those not observing. Many PA groups went into Chicago, sat at the Lakefill and spent time in Evanston, she said.

There will be less free time next year because the program will return to its usual length, but Hilkert said it was an interesting twist for students to explore campus and spend time in Evanston. NSFP is hoping to leave the entire day prior to classes starting free for students to enjoy time on campus next year, she added.

Although Schaefer chose to attend some of the optional programming, he said there was sufficient time to relax due to the Rosh Hashanah break. “I enjoyed the programs, but it was nice to have a break and not feel pressured to always be doing something and to have more of a laid-back experience,” Schaefer said.

In the future, Schaefer said he recommends NSFP eliminate unnecessary activities to make all of Wildcat Welcome more like the two optional days. Schaefer said he would have valued being able to spend more time with people outside his PA group.

“You’re meeting a lot of people, but it wasn’t always in the most organic ways,” Schaefer said. “It’s nice that you get comfortable with a PA group, but I was looking forward to meeting people in dining halls, in my lounge or in class.”

Although Dickerson enjoyed the two days of optional activities and a break from a hectic schedule, she said the free time opened the door for more students to attend off-campus parties, both during the day and at night.

“Wildcat Welcome is structured in a way to keep students engaged so that they have excuses not to go to some of the off-campus parties that go on that week,” Dickerson said. “The parties and darties were definitely an issue. The schedule opened up more avenues for partying, which is always discouraged.”

The opportunities for students to attend parties during the day provided a big challenge — both during Wildcat Welcome and its aftermath — for administrators, Hilkert said. Administrators knew the free time would pose a problem but do not expect it to be an ongoing issue, she said.

Another big change to Wildcat Welcome this year included the removal of a trip to Millennium Park. For the past two years, Northwestern students went to Chicago for Purple Pride following March Through the Arch, where they learned about NU traditions and Chicago, and bonded with their PA groups for the first time. The event took place at Welsh-Ryan Arena this year because Millennium Park was unavailable.

Hilkert said it was refreshing to do Purple Pride on campus.

“It’s about school spirit and tradition so that made sense to us, and we thought it was a good change,” she said.

For the first time, students also had the opportunity to attend the Field Museum, which was rented out to NU for the evening.

Despite initial fears about how the program would play out, NSFP has received many positive survey results about Wildcat Welcome from students, Hilkert said.

“We’ve gotten so many compliments from parents and family members, more so than ever before,” she said. “We’re excited to see what the rest of the survey data shows.”

[juliefishbach-blog]

Fitzerland policies change in effort to attract more students

Published in The Daily Northwestern 

                                                           Photo Credit: Daily file photo by Susan Du

Students grill at Fitzerland, the student-only tailgate section, before a football game. Wild side, NU Athletics and University administrators amended the tailgate area to draw more students.

Wildside and University administrators have altered tailgating policies at Fitzerland after stricter university-sanctioned regulations decreased attendance during the 2014 football season.

Wildside and the Division of Student Affairs implemented new policies last season to provide a more structured and safe environment for the student-only tailgate section north of Ryan Field but in the process deterred some students from attending both tailgates and games.

The regulations required students to show their WildCARDs to access the area and to provide photo identification to bring alcohol. Students renting grills were required to provide a “tailgate monitor” who attended a training session the week of the game and supervised drinking guests. One sober monitor was required for every 20 students.

This year, student groups are no longer required to provide their own monitor, but instead “tailgate monitors” will be on site at each game. Monitors are expected to remain sober and help foster a safe environment. They will be responsible for seeking assistance when necessary and following the new Amnesty through Responsible Action policy, which excuses students from disciplinary action regarding alcohol and drug violations if they take action in providing assistance to intoxicated individuals when necessary. All other regulations from the 2014 season will remain in place.

Wildside co-president Evan Frost said the initial changes were largely led by the administration starting in 2013 after an intoxicated prospective student went to the hospital before a game. While the SESP junior said Fitzerland previously had a positive safety record, after the first tailgate last year, administration saw a need to monitor the event and how much alcohol is brought in more effectively.

“I think the new policies scared students away more than they promoted safety,” Frost said. “We definitely saw a dip in attendance. The rules themselves may have pushed people away and caused some confusion within student groups of who can drink or come.”

Wildside co-president Connor Smith said it was difficult to measure the success of creating a safer environment because far less students visited the tailgate area. The Weinberg senior said the new policies resulted in more students attending off-campus tailgates.

“There were a couple of times that attendance was definitely affected at the games,” Smith said. “When you have more students going to off-campus tailgates instead, it makes it harder to get there, and the type of supervision at those parties definitely makes those (unsafe).”

Weinberg senior Lauren Wang, who attended the Fitzerland tailgate both before and after the new regulations, said she appreciates the University providing an opportunity for students to tailgate so close to the game. However, her experience after the regulations were implemented during her junior year was vastly different from the year before, when attendance was not limited to only current NU students. Wang said she would not attend Fitzerland this year if the policies remained in place.

“It was dead my junior year, but sophomore year was really fun,” Wang said. “A lot of alumni came with their friends to tailgate.”

Frost said that Wildside, the Athletic Department and administrators have worked closely to create a community atmosphere before a football game and to boost student attendance. The Athletic Department did not respond to request for comment.

“We’ve been advocating to make it an experience that is enjoyable for everybody,” Smith said. “Our goal is to get everyone to games, and we want to create the environment that gets everyone excited to be there.”

[juliefishbach-blog]

Adult coloring books take bookstores by storm 

Produced at Inside Edition 

[juliefishbach-blog]

Mock Trial club to send two teams to Nationals

Published in The Daily Northwestern 

Northwestern’s Mock Trial program will be one of only five programs in the country to send two teams to Nationals in Cincinnati this month.

Although NU usually sends teams to Nationals each year, no teams made it last year. This is the first time since 2009 two out of the four NU teams — the A-team and the B-team — have made it to the American Mock Trial Association’s National Championship Tournament, which will take place April 17-19.

“The other programs sending two teams are historically very strong,” said Mock Trial President and Weinberg junior Christopher Erickson.

Along with NU, the programs sending two teams this year include University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Berkeley; Vanderbilt University and Rhodes College.

Although Erickson said there have been no major recent changes to the club, he said the teams’ hard work and experience had led to its success.

Brooke Troutman, one of the B-team’s co-captains, said this year’s competition varies from previous years because it is the first time the teams will get a new case just for Nationals. In the past, the SESP junior said the case was the same throughout the entire year.

“It is challenging to understand a whole new case as a captain, but I think it will be more helpful in the long run,” Troutman said. “It puts all teams at the same playing level and makes it more exciting and high stake.”

This case — which focuses on election fraud — is simpler than traditional cases because teams had only a couple of weeks to prepare, Erickson said. All 48 teams will present this new case for the first time later this month.

Troutman said she is particularly proud of sending two teams to Nationals after NU didn’t send any teams last year.

“It says a lot about the mock trial community as a whole,” she said. “Knowing we have two teams competing shows our ability to bounce back after last year.”

Weinberg freshman Hannah Givertz, a member of the B-team, had no prior mock trial experience before NU. She said the support of the captains and coaches has been really helpful in building her team’s chemistry.

“Having that small group of nine people who you’re working with is important,” she said. “We’re with each other a lot, like 12 hours a week, and now practice almost every day.”

[juliefishbach-blog]

Mindfulness, meditation, and yoga trends on the rise as research backs their benefits

Silence fell over the room as 30-plus students shuffled their feet flat against the floor, sat upright against their chairs, and closed their eyes, leaving the only sound in the room to be the quiet rhythm of deep inhales and exhales.

“Notice the flow of the breath. The air coming in, the air going out…As thoughts come to mind note them,” instructed David Shor, professor of Northwestern University’s Emotional Intelligence class and director of clinical services at Northwestern’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

 Northwestern has joined dozens of schools across the country in bringing relaxation and attention awareness activities such as mindfulness meditation, the practice of nonjudgmentally and intentionally paying attention to the present, into the classroom. More and more people, students included, are integrating ancient beliefs and practices of meditation, yoga, and other mindfulness techniques into their lives to improve their well-being and happiness in today’s technology and work-driven society.

The trend can be seen in a variety of fields including medicine and business as studies increasingly show the benefits of these practices in reducing stress, treating pain and depression, and alleviating medical conditions such as chronic gastrointestinal difficulties.

“This is an excellent opportunity to round out education and to be whole-person educated,” Shor said of bringing these practices into school curriculums.

According to Shor, the Emotional Intelligence class was developed by CAPS and the McCormick School of Engineering to introduce various emotional intelligence concepts to improve health, productivity and life satisfaction for students. During class students learn and practice mindful exercises and how to take the position of mindful breathing.

“ I’ve become more relaxed and have been able to fall asleep more peacefully with using the breathing techniques learned in class at night,” said Cecille Marshall, 19, a freshman in the School of Education and Social Policy.

Research shows that calming and attention-focusing activities can improve academic performance. A 2013 study conducted by researchers at George Mason University and the University of Illinois showed that students who received meditation instruction before a lecture earned better scores on a quiz covering material from the class immediately following the lecture than those who did not meditate. One part of the experiment found that meditation had such a strong influence on the quiz results that it could even predict if students would pass or fail.

In addition, evidence has demonstrated the effectiveness of treating anxiety and depression with yoga, meditation and mindfulness.

“ Often many problems that people have involve getting stuck in old habits of thinking. Mindfulness helps you get a new perspective and lets those old habits pass through,” said Dr. Judith Flaxman, a clinical psychologist in Evanston, Illinois, who incorporates mindfulness-based cognitive therapy into her treatments for patients suffering from depression, anxiety, stress, pain and insomnia.

 According to Flaxman mindfulness, “allows you to see who you are and move forward better from issues that used to be considered a big problem.”

A 2014 Johns Hopkins University study found meditation nearly as effective as antidepressant drugs in treating anxiety and depression. A five to 10 percent improvement in anxiety symptoms for those treated with meditation was shown compared to a placebo group, and a 10 to 20 percent improvement for depression.

Jodh Kaur, a social worker and owner of Urban Yoga Chicago began practicing meditation and yoga to manage the stress of crisis counseling. She currently teaches Kundalini yoga which combines meditation, mantra chanting and breathing techniques. According to Kaur, meditation can help in times of distress by, “teaching people how to either connect with breath and/or chant mantra to replace negative thoughts.”

Physical ailments such as digestive disorders are also being treated with mindfulness techniques.

 “ A lot of issues can come back to what environment we’re in,” said Dr. Jamine Blesoff, a Chicago-based naturopathic doctor who often recommends yoga and meditation for patients with chronic digestive issues. According to Blesoff, many digestive concerns relate to not chewing food enough and not paying attention to what is consumed. She teaches that learning to focus and being mindful leads to healthy eating and better digestion.

Shor believes that the growing research on these practices is contributing to their increasing popularity. “It helps western folks and intellectual people say ‘oh this is real, this actually does something.’ You can actually see the different parts of a brain light up in an MRI, it’s very compelling,” he stated.

[juliefishbach-blog]

New center for low income students holds open house to introduce services

Published in The Daily Northwestern 

                                       (Photo Credit: Luke Vogelzang/ The Daily Northwestern)

Kourtney Cockrell, director of the Center for Student Enrichment Services, speaks during the center’s open house. The new office was created in the fall to serve low-income and first-generations students. 

The Center for Student Enrichment Services held an open house Wednesday evening to introduce the office and its services.

“It really is a chance to come together as a Northwestern community that is committed to supporting low-income and first-generation students,” Kourtney Cockrell, director of SES, told The Daily.

The event, held in Scott Hall, provided an opportunity for students and faculty to learn about the newly opened SES, to meet the director and to share their ideas for programming. The center, housed within the Department of Campus Inclusion and Community, was created Fall Quarter with the goal of helping low-income and first-generation students access resources on campus and supporting them with issues including financial aid and leadership training.

“It’s incredibly important that this event is happening because news about resources for low-income and first-generation students doesn’t necessarily travel as fast as other news,” Communication junior Amanda Walsh, president of NU’s chapter of the Quest Scholars Network, said. 

“It’s important that people know what the office is about, where it’s located, what we’re doing with it and get to know Kourtney and network with other students.”

The office was created in response to the needs of NU students and the large demographic of low-income and first-generation students, Cockrell said. The number of students with this background is currently at 14 percent of the student population and is expected to continue increasing, according to Cockrell. Many members of Quest Scholars came together over the past couple years to work with the administration and ask for support from the University to ensure that they have a positive experience on campus and are prepared to succeed here and in the future, she said.

It was a long road,” said Kellogg student Daniel Flores, founder and former president of NU’s chapter of the Quest Scholars. “Much of the conversation focused on identity in terms of racial and ethnic issues. Educational history and socioeconomic history were left out of the picture.”

According to Flores (Communication ’14) many students struggle to feel safe on campus and there needed to be one centralized office to deal with this population. The issue of socioeconomic background had often been a taboo subject, but many people were passionate and excited to share their stories, Flores said.

Dozens of students attended the event, some of whom are receiving financial support through scholarships such as the Quest Scholars and the NU Ryan Scholars program.

Walsh commended the center’s efforts to gain the attention of students. “The fact that the center is being so public about its services makes it easier for students who are uncomfortable with their status to receive these resources,” she said.

[juliefishbach-blog]

Northwestern University students join the initiative to end sexual assault on college campuses

Gripping the twin XL mattress, Jazz Stephens hoisted the weight above her head and began the long trek down Evanston’s Sherman Avenue toward the opposite end of campus.

“ It was incredibly challenging. I definitely overestimated my strength,” said Stephens, 22, a senior in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences from Oakland, Illinois, and the organizer of Northwestern University’s Carry That Weight Day of Action.

 On Oct. 29, Northwestern University (NU) students joined others across the country in carrying mattresses and pillows around campus in support of sexual assault survivors.  The day was inspired by the activism of Columbia University student Emma Sulkowicz, who for as long has her alleged rapist attends the university has vowed to carry a mattress around campus as a symbol of the weight placed on victims of sexual assault.  

 “ An estimated one in five women has been sexually assaulted during her college years…Of those assaults, only 12 percent are reported,” President Barack Obama said Sept. 19 during his launch of the “It’s on Us” campaign to combat sexual assault on college campuses.  “It’s all of us taking responsibility,” Obama said of the campaign.

 Student leaders from more than 200 colleges and universities have joined the initiative to end sexual violence on campus. The campaign encourages students to not be bystanders, but to be part of the solution. The initiative also emphasizes the importance of engaging men and changing campus culture.

 “ Men are starting to feel invited to the table. It’s a men’s issue too. It’s a human rights issue,” stated NU School of Communication sophomore William Altabef, 20, of Dallas, and spokesman for the Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault Group on campus. The group, along with NU’s Associated Student Government (ASG), and nearly 30 other campus organizations has committed to spread awareness of the issue.

 U.S. college campuses have been criticized for their response to sexual assault cases. According to a Nov.18 article in The Huffington Post, over the past two years there have been a large number of reports of college officials making comments blaming the victims. The article states that when a student at the University of Connecticut reported a sexual assault a police officer responded saying, “ Women need to stop spreading their legs like peanut butter or rape is going to keep on happening ‘til the cows come home.”

 At NU, in both 2011 and 2012, three forcible sex offenses were reported, according to the University’s 2014 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. In 2013, the number rose to eight forcible sex offenses with 16 reports of stalking and three reports of domestic violence.

 According to NU Police Deputy Chief Daniel McAleer, sexual assault crimes are being reported more than in the past, but still are underreported. “A lot of people are driven not to report based on images that they have heard about or seen in the media where sexual assault survivors are unfairly targeted for drinking or for how they were dressed,” McAleer said.  

 On Sunday, Nov.16, ASG launched a website for the campaign featuring a video with members of various campus groups encouraging students to take the pledge to become part of the movement. The video launched just before the National Week of Action, a week promoted by the White House to focus on the campaign, according to ASG’s Director of Transportation and Campus Safety Haley Hinkle, 21, a Medill School of Journalism junior, of Warsaw, Indiana.

 “ Our main role is to facilitate other student groups on campus who are interested in this issue,” Hinkle said. “We are hoping to continue working with a lot of organizations to get them bystander intervention programs,” she said.  

 In October, Northwestern Athletics released a public service announcement (PSA) inspired by the White House’s “It’s on Us” sexual assault prevention PSA featuring celebrities such as Kerry Washington and Connie Britton. NU’s PSA featured 11 student-athletes. According to NU’s Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services and Student Development Maria Sanchez, the Big Ten is attempting to get all schools on board with the campaign. Sanchez stated that the athletic department’s campaign began with the Peers Urging Responsible Practices through Leadership and Education (PURPLE) mentors health and wellness program.

 “We want our programming to be student driven. We want to give our student leaders the opportunity to create programs and start initiatives. There is such a learning experience in that,” Sanchez said of the importance of the initiative being student-led.  According to Sanchez, the Campus Coalition on Sexual Violence and campus administrators are very supportive of the campaign.

 “I hope we will see some original and exciting student-led public awareness campaigns about sexual assault and the culture that leads to perpetration. I would like to see student events about bystander intervention, victim-blaming, and rape myths,” Joan Slavin, 48, of Evanston, NU’s director of sexual harassment prevention and Title IX coordinator stated via e-mail.

 According to Hinkle, some student groups already receive sexual assault training, but ASG seeks more involvement specifically with bystander intervention training. Ideally, she hopes that all fraternities and team clubs will be involved.

 “ As students we are in a unique position to speak out in a way that university leaders can not… I hope that as a community we can say that anyone who commits sexual assault is not welcome here,” Hinkle said.

[juliefishbach-blog]

Evanston Community Foundation holds annual fundraiser for community grants

Published in The Daily Northwestern 

The Evanston Community Foundation held its annual benefit Sunday evening to raise money to fund the organization’s community grants.

“The event builds community to have the people who support the foundation together,” said Sara Schastok, ECF’s president and CEO. “It makes for a very nice party of people who really care and are dedicated and appreciative of what Evanston residents can do together.”

More than 300 community members attended the Celebrate!Evanston benefit at the Michigan Shores Club, 911 Michigan Ave., in Wilmette. The event, titled the “Bounty of Evanston,” was moved to a larger venue this year after last year’s fundraiser at the Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave., reached its capacity. Tickets were sold for $150, and additional money was raised through donations.

The foundation supports groups that are primarily based in Evanston and serve its residents in a significant way, Schastok said. ECF aims to help community organizations grow in new initiatives.

“We like to give grants that support partnership,” Celebrate!Evanston co-chair Lisa Altenbernd said.

NBC5 reporter Christian Farr and ECF board member Kevin Mott emceed the evening.

During the event, attendees participated in a cake contest in which they voted for their favorite desserts prepared by Evanston bakeries and restaurants. They also watched a live performance and stage parody, “The Wizard of EvanstOz.” The performance included cameo appearances from State Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) and other leading Evanston residents.

Following a three-course dinner, prizes were auctioned off, including a San Francisco getaway and a suite for 12 at a Chicago Blackhawks game. ECF leaders spoke about their goals for the foundation to raise additional money. Celebrate!Evanston co-chair Mary Finnegan said the funds help the foundation provide grants to different community groups.

“The grants help make Evanston a stronger community,” she said. “They help make Evanston thrive.”

ECF has been Dance Marathon’s secondary beneficiary for 17 years and received more than $103,000 last year. Twenty members of the committee’s executive board volunteered at the event, assisting in selling bracelets and other activities.

Finnegan said this year’s benefit was the biggest year for sponsorship and attendees. ECF’s largest benefactors include Madison Dearborn Partners LLC, Hagerty Consulting Inc. and IRMCO.

Schastok said Evanston is at a disadvantage, being located just outside of Chicago, the philanthropic capital of Illinois. Although poverty has been increasing in the suburbs, fundraising has not.

“No one else is going to do it for us,” she said. “We like to say yes.”

[juliefishbach-blog]

Garden solace for Alzheimer’s patients

Published in The Williston Times, The New Hyde Park Herald Courier, The Roslyn Times, and TheIslandNow.com

                                                                                  (Photo Credit:Julie Fishbach)

For patients of the Herricks Community Center’s Alzheimer’s Day program, the outdoor Sensory Garden offers a form of therapeutic healing.

“Gardens can not only bring balance and harmony to a space, but also provide a therapeutic platform in the rehabilitation of specific populations - such as, providing a space for reminiscence and recreation for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other populations,” Mark Scaramucci said in a newsletter to clients of the Permascape Designs, a Port Washington-based landscape and kitchen design company that he owns. Scaramucci has financially backed the garden, which offers herbs, flowers and a small fountain.

The Alzheimer’s Day Program, also referred to as “Our Space,” was established in 1987 to provide an adult day-care facility for patients diagnosed with early to moderate onset dementia.

The program meets Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Herricks Community Center.

It was funded by the Nassau County Office for the Aging, which receives funding from the state Office for the Aging and the U.S. Administration on Aging; the Town of North Hempstead, the Herricks Community Fund and private donors.

Annamaria Testa, the program’s assistant coordinator, said the garden offers a tranquil atmosphere as well as an opportunity to enhance sensory skills often lost as a result of dementia-related illnesses.

“They are given an opportunity to smell and touch the different flowers and herbs,” Testa said. “They also come out here to garden.”

The garden opened in 2011 with funding from the Herricks Community Fund, a Green Tree grant, the Tommy Broll Foundation, the Herricks School District, the Manhasset Community Fund, landscaper Sean Curry and Ann Tountas, the Alzheimer’s Day program’s former director.

Patricia Foley, the program’s coordinator, said a mural has been painted along the outside of the garden honoring those who have financially supported the program,

Donations begin at $50, and in exchange a leaf bearing a loved one’s name would be added to the mural.

“We are trying to raise money for the maintenance and expand our program so we can have more horticultural programs that incorporate the garden for patients,” Foley said.  

[juliefishbach-blog]

Great Neck Peace Action to remember bombing victims

Published in The Great Neck Times and TheIsland Now.com

The Great Neck chapter of the pacifist non-profit organization Peace Action will hold a commemoration on Aug. 6 for the 69th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset.

The event, co-sponsored by the Long Island Alliance for Peace and the congregation’s social justice committee, will focus on the danger of nuclear annihilation and the potential dangers the world faces in the present day, officials said.

“The world was really shaken by the first nuclear explosion. It was so devastating. It took years for people to really understand it. The earth could really be devastated. The program is a time to remind people of that,” said Shirley Romaine, a board member of Peace Action’s Great Neck chapter and the founder of the Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives.

Peace Action was founded in 1957 as the Committee for a SANE Nuclear Policy in response to the stockpiling of nuclear weapons by the United States and former Soviet Union during the Cold War. Peace action formed in 1987 after SANE merged with another antiwar organization, the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign.

The commemoration, whose theme is “It is time to abolish nuclear weapons, climate change and war,” is dedicated in memory of Jonathan Schell, an anti-nuclear activist, teacher and writer who died in March.

“Schell wrote the seminal book [the Los Angeles Times Book Prize-winning “The Fate of the Earth”] about the effects of nuclear power,” Romaine said. “‘Fate of the Earth’ really made a major impression.”

A panel of state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck), Hofstra University history professor Michael D’Innocenzo, Mark Lukens, chairman of the Interfaith Alliance of Long Island; and Margaret Melkonian, the director of Long Island for Peace Alternatives, will hold a roundtable discussion about the potentiality of nuclear disarmament and the human costs of war.

“The main goal is to make people conscious of the fact that we have more rather than less nuclear weapons,” Romaine said. “I certainly hope that attendees consciousness is awakened or introduced.”

[juliefishbach-blog]

Agency gives amputees medical care, trip to pool

Published in the Roslyn Times and TheIslandNow.com 

                                                                                  (Photo Credit:Julie Fishbach)

Ngawang Tsetin held onto the railing with one of his two prosthetic arms, walking up the stairs to the water slide at the East Hills Village Park while another boy, Ahmed Sharees, trailed behind with his one hand clasped firmly to his friend’s back.

The teenagers from Iraq and India spent Wednesday poolside, swimming and splashing in celebration of the treatment they are receiving from the Global Medical Relief Fund and the bonds they have created with each other.

“We are best friends. We have a band together, we share a room, we go to school together, we do everything together,” said Ahmed, 17. 

Since its founding in Staten Island by Elissa Montanti in 1997, the The Global Medical Relief Fund has helped arrange free medical treatment for children seriously injured during wars and natural disasters or have become seriously ill.

The Global Medical Relief Fund also finances patient travel, housing, food and clothing expenses, while Shriner’s Childrens’ Hospital of Philadelphia provides treatment, surgeries and prosthetics, Montanti said. 

“It’s really a wonderful thing to see these boys come together,” Montanti said. “There’s no obstacles, there’s no conflict, there’s no adversity like there is in their home countries. They care for each other. They look out for each other.”

An 11-year-old Iraqi named Sajjad Hadi and a 6-year-old Filipino named Aldrin Tadic joined Ngawang and Ahmed on Wednesday as guests of East Hills resident and Global Medical Relief Fund board member Natalie Mines.

“I love seeing these kids smiling and having fun,” said Mines, who added that she brought the boys and their mothers to her house in May for a Mother’s Day barbecue. “That just gives me such joy, to know that I was able to contribute to their joy.”

After some time in the pool the boys and their families enjoyed dinner at the park and went to Mines’ home, where they jumped on the trampoline, played soccer, and listened to Ahmed and Ngawang sing and play the piano. 

“In Staten Island, they work on songs constantly,” Mines said. “They sang a John Legend song, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” by Elton John. When they sing it, you can’t help but cry. It’s just a kid with one arm and a kid with no arms and they’re fighting so much so the sun never comes down on them. It’s just wonderful.”

The day at the pool was “like a vacation,” said Ahmed, who swam with one arm pushing through the water. “We are enjoying the weather and like the summertime here.”

Ahmed lost his right arm and vision in an explosion at age seven while walking home from school, Montanti said. 

Ngawang, 16, who has lost both of his arms, was electrocuted in a Tibetan refugee camp as a boy.

Sajjad survived a car bombing three years ago but lost a leg, Montanti said. His two brothers died in the attack. 

Aldrin lost his left leg when he was hit by a flying piece of metal during the November 2013 typhoon that left 6,340 dead and 1,061 more missing.

“[Aldrin] was like finding a needle in a haystack,” said Montanti, who added she spent months searching for injured children displaced during the typhoon. Children assisted by the Global Medical Relief Fund stay at the organization’s Dare to Dream house, which opened in 2012 and was financed by benefactors Miles Nadal, the chief executive officer of the marketing agency MDC Partners, and Hollywood writer-director-actor Tyler Perry. Ahmed, Ngawang, Sajjad and Aldrin are each currently staying at the Dare to Dream house and are enrolled in Staten Island public schools.

When asked what he likes best about the Dream house Ahmed said, “It brings kids from all over and we live as a family.”

Ahmed was given prosthetic arms and eyes, and is being considered as a candidate for an trial eye implant that would enable him to see minimal shadows and depth. Montanti said she has since taken guardianship over Ahmed and has filed for his asylum to the United States. 

“I’m praying and hoping there’s something down the road for him, because he’s extremely bright,” Montanti said. “He’s learned to play the piano by ear.”

Ngawang has undergone several surgeries to accommodate prosthetic arms. Montanti said two of his surgeries transferred nerves and skin from Ngawang’s back to his left shoulder and right elbow so future prosthetics would be more functional.

Sajaad received a prosthetic leg in 2011 and in May underwent surgery to curb a protruding bone. Montanti said he has since been fitted for a new prosthetic. Aldrin was also fitted for new prosthetic legs and is currently learning to walk with them, Montanti said.

While the children and parents all seem to love and appreciate the Dream house, Montanti outings are especially treasured. The organization’s small budget makes it difficult to get the kids out but Montanti said, “We try to do what we can.” “We are lucky that Natalie hosts a day. It’s a real treat for them. They love coming to the park and don’t want to get off the slides or out of the water,” Montanti said.

[juliefishbach-blog]

Summer school work to bleed into fall

Published in the Roslyn Times and TheIslandNow.com

Projects to improve the infrastructure of the Roslyn School District’s five campuses slated to begin later this month may not be completed until after the school year begins in September, officials said Monday.

KG&D architects Erik Kaeyer and Russell Davidson said classroom door and other hardware renovations would begin during the summer and be completed by October, while the removal of an abandoned rifle range and asbestos-laden pipes in the basement of East Hills Elementary School and the repaving of the Roslyn High School track should be finished by early September.

Fire alarm systems and interior and exterior security cameras at each of the school buildings will also be enhanced as part of the summer work, while general construction projects include the replacement of fencing throughout the district and of 360 classroom doors to improve emergency lockdown capabilities. 

Though trustees questioned student safety while workers finish projects that extend into the school year, Davidson said workers would be required to wear identification badges and would be prohibited from interacting with students. Officials said the track, now nearly a decade old, would take a month to fix because of the severity of the depressions in the pavement. 

Though the project would require a plastic covering to be placed over the track, trustees have questioned whether residents would be kept off the track during construction. 

“The issue will be getting the community off the track and the weather,” Roslyn Superintendent of Schools Dan Brenner said, referring to the frequency of rainfall in August.

Trustee Clifford Saffron said he was concerned the track’s construction would interfere with early-season football practices, but Brenner said the team could use other fields on the high school’s campus and would not play home games until well into the season.

The projects will be financed with $4.5 million from the district’s capital reserve. Officials said approved bids on construction total $2,626,408, while hardware and material bids have come back at $1.6 million.

Roslyn Assistant Superintendent for Business Joseph Dragone said the summer projects are not part of the $41.5 million capital bond that voters approved in May.

Kaeyer and Davidson said that during the board’s next three meetings - tentatively scheduled to take place Aug. 12, Aug. 25 and Sept. 4 - they will outline project designs and the construction timeline for projects included in the capital bond.   

Renovations, Davidson said, will likely occur in two phases, with the first including the demolition of the Roslyn High School bus garage and projects at Roslyn Middle School and East Hills Elementary School.

Projects at Harbor Hill and Heights elementary schools and Roslyn High School, he said, would be more complicated to complete and are set as part of the second wave of work, tentatively set for completion by 2017.

“In September of ‘17 we will be buying a lot of ribbon to cut,” Dragone said. 

In other developments:

As part of the district’s reorganization meeting, Saffron and Board of Education President Meryl Waxman Ben-Levy were sworn in as trustees for new three-year terms. 

Both longtime incumbents were re-elected to their positions in May.

Ben-Levy and Saffron were also each reappointed as the board’s president and vice president, respectively. They were first appointed to their roles on the board in 2009.

“This has become a great passion of mine,” Ben-Levy said as she thanked her fellow board members. “I couldn’t find a greater group of people to work with than those at this table. I feel lucky to be part of this.”

[juliefishbach-blog]

New class initiated at Marine Academy

Published in the Roslyn Times, Great Neck News, and TheIslandNow.com

Lawrence Balsamo Jr. stared at the reflection of his full head of dirty blonde hair, taking a few final seconds to appraise his appearance.  

Sitting in a barber chair at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point on Wednesday, he gave a small smile as a razor was brought to his head, bringing him one step closer in his transformation from recent high school graduate to plebe candidate.

As the final pieces of hair fell to the floor, the Island Park resident kept his eyes on the mirror and proudly touched his freshly-shaven head as he stood to join his fellow “plebe” candidates on the first day of their Indoctrination, also known as INDOC, on the path to becoming midshipmen. 

“This has been his lifelong dream to make it here,” Balsamo’s father, Lawrence Sr., said. “This is what he wanted, and I guess not many people get to realize that dream, and he did it at 18 years old.” 

Balsamo was one of 252 members of the Class of 2018 who took their first steps toward serving America on Wednesday as they said goodbye to their families and began the academy’s 20-day academic, military and physical-training program. 

The plebe candidates were selected from 2,200 students applicants and hail from 46 states and four foreign countries, including Malaysia, Romania, Panama and the Republic of Korea, which USMMA officials said is one of the most diverse classes ever to enter the Academy. 

                                                                                  (Photo Credit:Julie Fishbach)

“It is a program that will make these high achievers the leader of character that our nation needs,” said Rear Admiral James A. Helis, addressing the candidates’ parents. “It’s going to be a tough four years. These next few weeks may be the toughest weeks they may experience.” 

The incoming plebe class scored a mean of 631.50 on the SAT’s critical reading section and a 651.63 in math, USMMA officials said.  

About one-fifth of the students will serve the academy’s band company, which performs at a variety of important national events, while 123 plebes were recruited for athletics, officials said.

“They have already shown that they are far above their peers and that is why they are here today,” Academic Dean Shashi N. Kumar told parents. 

The class also includes the highest percentage of women and minorities ever to enter the academy, Helis said, with female enrollment at 18.6 percent and non-Caucasian students making up 27.7 percent of the incoming class.

Upon entering the academy’s O’Hara Hall on Wednesday, the plebes were weighed and measured, completed registration, received uniforms, learned essential commands and how to salute, and had their heads shaved. 

During the final part of Indoctrination Day, dressed in uniforms and heads freshly shaved, plebe candidates joined the five companies to which they were assigned and stood at attention at Barney Square. 

Parents watched as Acting Maritime Administrator Paul N. Jaenichen addressed the academy’s five plebe companies for the first time.

Helis said that for many of the new plebes, training will mark the first time in their lives that they will have been exposed to an environment in which they will take orders, work alongside others, “clean their own rooms and do their own laundry without much supervision.”

Plebes will choose from one of six academic majors – including marine transportation, maritime logistics and security, marine engineering, marine engineering systems, systems engineering and maritime and shipyard management – at the end of their first trimester. They must also spend one full year at sea as part of their requirements.

At the completion of the academy’s four-year program, midshipmen receive a Bachelor of Science degree, the training necessary for licensing as a merchant marine officer and the skills associated with enlisting as a reserve in the United States military. 

Upon graduation, midshipmen must fulfill a service obligation to complete five years of active military duty or sail as a U.S. merchant marine for five years while serving for eight years as a reserve.

“What some of them are going to see is that they are really going to struggle,” Helis said. “We are going to stretch them, we are going to push them, and we are going to require them to expand their horizons. And at some point they are going to struggle.”

But Helis reassured parents that he is confident the students would grow into strong sailors and mature young men and women in the coming years. “They are here,” he said, “because they have what it takes to get through.”