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Make A Dogs Day 2021

Through the Subaru Love Promise and Subaru Loves Pets initiatives, Subaru retailers are hosting adoption events across the country to help local shelter pets find loving homes. Since 2015, Subaru retailers have partnered with local animal welfare organizations through the Subaru Loves Pets initiative to impact over 250,000 animals in need across the country. For the third year in a row, Subaru will celebrate our National Make A Dog's Day on Oct. 22. This is a day where we encourage all dog lovers to do something extra special for their dogs. This day, combined with Subaru Loves Pets Month efforts, has helped many pets find loving homes - including thousands of incredible Underdogs. And to make National Make A Dog's Day even more special, Competition Subaru of Smithtown will be hosting an adoption event & pet supply collection donation Friday October 22nd from 3pm-6pm! Competition Subaru is proud to partner with Save-A-Pet Animal Rescue to help pets find their forever home. We are excited to be one of the retailers showing our promise and commitment to keeping all animals safe and healthy. This October,our dealership will be collecting donations for Save-A-Pet USA. We will be collecting items such as bleach, laundry detergent, trash bags, Purina Cat Chow, Purina Kitten Chow, Pedigree Dog Food ( dry & canned ), any canned cat food, paper towels. We look forward to seeing you at our Subaru dealership located at 601 Middle Country Road, Saint James, NY! Stop by our dealership and explore our large inventory of new and pre-owned vehicles. Test-drive the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek or the 2022 Subaru Outback. Contact us with any questions or concerns you may have!

The World of Pink Foundation

Competition Auto Group proudly supports the World of Pink Foundation and their mission to help women in the crucial healing period following breast cancer surgery by ensuring they can feel balanced, supported, and confident. World of Pink Foundation is a health facility dedicated to providing comprehensive aftercare for women who have undergone all phases of breast surgery, including mastectomies, lumpectomies, reduction, and augmentation. The foundation was founded in 2016 by board certified mastectomy fitter Christine A. Guarino with the mission to restore confidence for women following breast surgery. This organization is dedicated to providing women who are under or uninsured with necessary aftercare resources, which include bras, prostheses, and lymphedema garments at no charge to them. All donations will help these women gain the confidence and strength back again. On October 20th from 6:00pm-10:00pm the World of Pink foundation will be hosting a Survivor's Fashion show at the stunning OHEKA Castle in Huntington, NY. Tickets are $250 which include 2 hour cocktail hour- Banquet Dinner, Open Bar and Live Fashion show! Come show your support! Purchase tickets here: checkout.square.site/buy/6C7LLKK2LH7B4D722SYHJNKC Learn more here: www.worldofpinkfoundation.org/general-8 At Competition Automotive Group we know you have expectations and as a car dealer, we enjoy the challenge of meeting and exceeding those standards every time. Stop at our dealerships, Competition BMW, Competition INFINITI, Competition Subaru, Mercedes-Benz of Huntington, and Mercedes-Benz of Smithtown and explore our large inventory of new and pre-owned vehicles. Be sure to also check out our lease specials and our service and parts specials at all our dealerships!

Paws of War

The Paws of War is an amazing organization that trains and places shelter dogs to serve and provide independence to our veterans and first responders that suffer from traumatic effects sustained while serving their country and community. These animals provide essential and supportive service to heroes in need. Each veteran will experience the therapeutic and unconditional love only a companion animal can bring. Through our Subaru Share the Love Event, Competition Subaru has contribute over $50,ooo to this amazing organization.There are millions of dogs euthanized each year in the United States, many of which are the victims of overcrowded rescue facilities and are otherwise perfectly suitable as service dogs once they are given the training, the direction and the chance! There are many ways you can get involved and give. A service dog can help combat the daily symptoms of PTSD and can also increase the quality of life for someone suffering from TBI.Since 2014, Paws of War have brought over 300 dogs and cats, rescued by our troops serving overseas to safety in the U.S. They have provided 100’s of veterans with service and support dogs rescued from kill shelters. Paws of War provides service dogs and training to veterans who: Have served in any branch of the uniformed services at any time Have received an honorable or a general (under honorable conditions) discharge Have a disabling medical condition, connected to one's service Have met all Paws of War requirements for application into the program, applied, and been accepted into the program Have successfully completed all of the required Paws of War training and met certification requirements There is absolutely no cost to Veterans for the service dogs or the services that are provided, such as rescuing, training, and placement of the dogs! Stop by Competition Subaru of Smithtown and explore our large inventory of new and pre-owned vehicles. Test-drive vehicles like the 2021 Subaru Outback or the 2021 Subaru Ascent. Schedule a service online or stop by our Express Service Center where no appointment is needed. Be sure to also check out our new Subaru lease specials, service specials, and parts and accessories specials! Contact us with any questions or concerns you may have. We look forward to seeing you at our Subaru dealership located at 601 Middle Country Road, Saint James, NY!

Paw Patrol

There are plenty of places on Long Island that welcome and cater to canines, including the Competition Auto Group. We’ve compiled a list of dog-friendly destinations that are perfect for you and your pup.* According to Nancy Hassel, President and Founder of American Pet Professionals, a Long Island-based organization that unites all pet professions: “Dog 'parents' expect to be able to bring their dogs with them on outings, leashed and well behaved of course! Many local businesses are rolling out the red carpet for pets, and there are experts available to help non-pet businesses become pet-friendly.” 1. VINEYARDS Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard Bedell Cellars Croteaux Vineyards Duck Walk Vineyards Harmony Vineyards Macari Vineyards Martha Clara Vineyards Osprey Dominion Vineyards Palmer Vineyards Shinn Estate Vineyards Whisper Vineyards 2. BREWERIES Blue Point Brewing Destination Unknown Beer Co. Great South Bay Brewery Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. Jamesport Farm Brewery Long Ireland Beer Company Oyster Bay Brewing Company Port Jeff Brewing Company Saint James Brewery Sand City Brewing Co. 3. RESTAURANTS* Applebee’s Bahama Breeze Island Grille Country House eatMOSAIC Johnny Rockets Outback Steakhouse Pentimento Tim’s Shipwreck Diner 4. FAST FOOD Bonappetito Pizzeria Ristorante The Clay Oven Roger’s Frigate Shake Shack Sweet ‘n’ Savory 5. HOTELS The Blue Inn at North Fork The Garden City Hotel The Inn at Fox Hollow The Maidstone Oheka Castle Residence Inn by Marriott LI Viana Hotel & Spa 6. PARKS Avalon Park & Preserve Belmont Lake State Park Blydenburgh County Park Camp Hero State Park Cathedral Pines County Park Cedar Point County Park Coindre Hall/West Neck Farm Cow Harbor Park Dix Hills Park Edgewood Oak Plains Preserve Fire Island National Seashore Gardiner County Park Heckscher State Park Hither Hills State Park Jerome Ambro Preserve Makamah Nature Preserve Phragmites Park Prosser Pines County Park Setauket-Pt. Jeff. Sta. Greenway Southards Pond Park Southaven County Park Sunken Meadow State Park Twin Ponds Park West Hills County Park 7. BOATS/FERRIES Blue Crush Charters Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry Hamptons Boat Rental Orient Point Ferry Dog Cruise on the Capt. Lou LI Ducks Bark in the Park 9. NATIONAL RETAIL STORES Abercrombie & Fitch Ann Taylor Anthropologie Apple Barnes & Noble Bath & Body Works Bebe Bloomingdale’s Costco Foot Locker Free People Gap Hobby Lobby The Home Depot Lowe’s LUSH Macy’s Marshalls Michaels Nordstrom Old Navy Pottery Barn Restoration Hardware Saks Fifth Avenue Sephora Tiffany & Co. TJ Maxx Urban Outfitters *Many chain stores and restaurants (including ones on this list) leave it up to the manager to decide whether their individual locations allow dogs or not. The best way to ensure that you can bring your pooch inside is to call ahead and ask. Competition Magazine Volume 1 Issue 1

Alternatives for Children

Missing Milestones Every child has individual learning abilities, and it can be disconcerting when you sense your child is developing differently than his or her peers. You might notice your child is not reaching certain milestones when compared to an older sibling’s development, or even when compared to other children of a similar age. If there are concerns, it may be time to discuss them with your pediatrician, who will likely recommend that your child be evaluated. A Unique Focus on Learning Sometimes children’s needs are better served in a more focused or non-traditional environment, where learning is combined with individual instruction, and activities are facilitated by trained faculty who are educated to recognize and understand each child’s unique capabilities. Through a solid foundation of learning while supporting their mental, physical, emotional and social development, Alternatives for Children encourages success through focused assessment and the creation and implementation of individual learning plans, with teachers and clinical specialists working together with each child to reinforce positive outcomes. A History of Caring and Commitment to Children “We have served well over 20,000 Long Island children during our 30-year tenure,” says Dr. Marie Ficano, Executive Director of Alternatives for Children. “We serve about 600 children a year across our sites and provide them with the programs and services they need.” Alternatives for Children began as a small therapy-based program at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson in 1998. The program soon expanded and was known as St. Charles Educational and Therapeutic Center, which ultimately was renamed Alternatives for Children. There are four locations on Long Island, serving a diverse population of children and their families, in Aquebogue, East Setauket, Dix Hills and Southampton. Ficano explains that the local school districts conduct an independent evaluation for children between the ages of three and five, and the results determine what, if any, services the child needs. Since each child is different, some might require a half or full day of a program, while others may need individualized therapy. Certain children are medically frail and must be accompanied by a nurse, which necessitates additional therapies. “We provide a whole spectrum of services,” she says. SMART & State-of-the-Art All therapists are licensed by the State of New York, and the curriculum is approved by the New York State Education Department. “Our programs have a great reputation,” Ficano says. “We are often the first choice for families and school districts.” Alternatives for Children is equipped with superior technological provisions, from cutting edge computer labs and tablets to SMART boards in every classroom. In the listening center, Alternatives for Children provides interactive lessons where children are able to wear earphones to hear stories. “We have all kinds of adaptive and modified equipment for children who have difficulty hearing or seeing, and pointers for those who don’t have the dexterity to point themselves,” she explains. A Sensory Room for children on the autism spectrum has specialized applications geared toward their needs. “It’s very soothing in here. We play soft music, some of the equipment lights up and they have to stretch to reach the light in physical therapy, so it’s not so regimented. It’s one-on-one in this room,” Ficano explains. The center offers a Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy gym, vision, speech and music therapy, and a technology center with a dedicated specialist who ensures that each child’s iPad is individually programmed. There are also centers focused on science, literacy, reading, math and technology. An outdoor play area is located on one side of the building with an adaptive playground. On the other side is a beautiful Memory Garden in honor of children who have passed. Ficano says it’s a special place for families and faculty to reflect and remember these children. Daycare for Typically-Developing Peers Alternatives for Children also provides traditional day care for children as young as six weeks-old. According to Ficano, in a typical situation, these children will move into an integrated class when they are three years old, as their goal is to have 50/50 integration of special needs and typically-developing peers in the class. All children learn sharing, taking turns and self help skills. “Each child has an individual education plan, and we tailor that plan to the school. Our goal is to move the child across that continuum in the least restrictive environment and be integrated into their public school. We have many success stories with the data to back it up,” she says. Commitment from the Community Support from their board of directors plays a huge role in the success of Alternatives for Children. Chairman of the Board, Frederic Mendelsohn, MD, is board-certified in Neurorehabilitation and Neuroimaging, and was formerly affiliated with St. Charles Hospital. Peter Lessing of Lessings, Inc., a family owned catering juggernaut, is one of the newer board members. Jim Buzzetta, Vice President of the Competition Auto Group, who oversees their Mercedes-Benz of Huntington dealership, joined the Board of Trustees in 2005. Jim, who volunteers his time on several boards, has been the driving force for their fundraising efforts, especially the hugely successful annual Alternatives for Children Classics and Sports Car Rally. "Being involved helping AFC has really been an honor. It’s a big organization with a lot of complexity. Dr. Ficano and the staff are so dedicated and hardworking it’s an inspiration." Ficano says there is still much to do to make their budget. “We went six years without any increase in funding from the state. It was really hard, but like other non-profits, we are being asked to do more with less. That’s why these fundraisers are so important.” Buzzetta concurs with Dr. Ficano and adds, “We rely on the government to set our rates and fund us in a timely fashion, and we are highly regulated as a school that aids disabled children. There always needs to be a balance between taking care of the kids and following our mission, while staying financially healthy long-term. “It’s fascinating and really challenges my business knowledge. I am happy to share my experience with the board and help navigate the health and future of the school. It’s very fulfilling, and at AFC you truly believe that you make a positive impact in the success of the school, and thus the children, Jim says.” Be the Best You Can Be As Ficano walks through the halls of the center, she passed several staff members and faculty, all holding hands with a child and wearing a smile. It is that type of environment that allows children and their families to walk into a haven of learning and love, secure in the knowledge that they will receive top-notch care and an education in an atmosphere that encourages them to do the very best they can. Competition Magazine Volume 1 Issue 1

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