The Huntingtonian | Archive | Health & Wellness

Suffolk Officials to Implement Pilot Program to Combat Opioid and Heroin Abuse

October 8, 2015 5:55 am Comments Off

County Executive Bellone was joined by Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco, Assistant Deputy County Executive Tim Sini and treatment providers to announce a new pilot program as part of the County’s multi-pronged approach to addressing heroin and opiate use and abuse. In 2014, there were more than 250 opioid related deaths in Suffolk County and […]

Three New Human Cases of West Nile Virus Reported in Suffolk County

October 6, 2015 12:35 pm Comments Off

Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Services James Tomarken reported today three new human cases of West Nile virus in Suffolk County.
One new case, an adult male under 55 years of age who resides in the Town of Islip, began experiencing symptoms consistent with West Nile virus on August 24, 2015. He visited his healthcare professional, […]

Healthy Suffolk: Learn to Be…Tobacco Free

October 6, 2015 5:21 am Comments Off

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Health Commissioner James Tomarken, MD, encourage residents who use tobacco to obtain help in breaking their addiction through Suffolk County’s “Learn to Be …Tobacco Free” program.
“We are promoting good health to all residents in Suffolk County,” said County Executive Bellone. “For those who are addicted to tobacco or nicotine […]

Water Quality: Private Profits and Public Costs

October 1, 2015 7:07 am Comments Off

By Dan Gulizio
Elected officials, environmentalists, civics and development interests are all talking about water quality these days. That is a good thing. Fish kills, turtle die-offs, toxic algal blooms, bacteria-driven beach closures, contaminated shellfish beds and a rising tide of contaminants all reflect an ecosystem in crisis. State, county and local elected officials have all […]

More Mosquito Samples Test Positive for West Nile Virus

September 20, 2015 7:56 am Comments Off

Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. James L. Tomarken recently announced that 21 mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile virus. The mosquito samples, all Culex pipiens-restuans, were collected from September 9 through September 10 from North Babylon (1), West Babylon (3), Huntington (1) Huntington Station (1) Northport (1), Dix Hills (1), Smithtown (1), Nesconset […]

Over 36,000 Meals Donated to Island Harvest on Hunger Action Day

September 18, 2015 5:49 am Comments Off

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone was joined by Randi Dresner, President & CEO of Island Harvest, and Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency personnel to highlight September 3rd as Hunger Action Day and September as Hunger Action Month.
In honor of Hunger Action Day, Suffolk County donated over 36,950 Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) to Island […]

Huntington Beaches and Most in Suffolk – Advisory Against Swimming

September 11, 2015 12:16 pm Comments Off

County Issues Advisory against Bathing at 64 Beaches
Wading River Beach remains closed
Due to the heavy rainfall, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services has issued an advisory against bathing at 64 beaches. The advisory is based on the potential for the presence of bacteria at levels that exceed New York State standards.
The beaches covered by […]

The Miracle of Sewers

September 11, 2015 6:07 am Comments Off

EVERYONE is talking about sewers today. Elected officials, environmental advocacy groups, industry experts are all on the sewer bandwagon. Sewers, we are told, will protect and restore ground and surface water quality, lower taxes, prevent and reduce sprawl, reduce traffic and stem the exodus of young people from the region. Unfortunately, like most public policy […]

Bellone Declares September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in Suffolk County

September 7, 2015 5:52 pm Comments Off

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone recently welcomed volunteers from the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s Long Island Chapter to declare September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
The coalition’s members, including chapter president Linda Rosen, provided County Executive Bellone with an update on the status of its education and awareness initiatives throughout the region – including the chapter’s […]

Clean Water – A Simple but Elusive Concept

September 4, 2015 6:24 pm Comments Off

By Dan Gulizio
Clean Water. Drinkable, swimmable, fishable water. It is a simple concept, universally agreed upon. Yet, by all accounts, ground and surface water quality have declined dramatically in recent years.
According to the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, nitrogen (a leading contaminant of both ground and surface water) has increased by as much as […]