Thanks to John Cassano and Orlando Molinares/Donna Puglisi for joining One Leg Up With Alex Garrett to discuss their upcoming collaboration with the Viscardi Center!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Here's your host, Alex Garrett.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Well, I made a promise to those that awarded me
a very special grant at Ideas Park, which is actually
presented by Viscardi Center and Heinz Institute at Iowa University,
to literally start the work of one leg up Alex
tomorrow and that was on July sixteenth. Well, once again,
tomorrow feels like today because today we're promoting something very
(00:34):
special with PSC and g Now you have electricity Long Island,
it's most likely through PSC and g l I. And
I have Orlando Melanariis and John Cassano with me from
PS and g l I, the arm that actually works
with folks like the Viscardi Center.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Thank you both for joining.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Me today, right, welcome, glad to be here. Now.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I got to meet Orlando at the u OAA dinner.
How cool is that? And how small world does that?
And here we are talking about VISCARTI. So first of all,
tell us about the ABLE division of p S and
g l I and how you guys give back to the.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Community Able EBRG, which is the Employee Resource Group. We
just tend to focus on those with disabilities both internally
on the company and externally as well. We look to
push the opportunities to people with disabilities the even and
aboard opportunities. Within PSC and G. We're applicable, so able
(01:36):
basically goes out and we deal with many different organizations,
everything from PTSD to physical and both cognitive disabilities. We
worked with Canine Companions with their therapy and service dogs,
and over the past couple of years we've been a
very big support of Viscarti and the Games of the
(01:57):
Physically Challenged, and last year we came up with an
idea we'd like to do a little bit more outside
of the games themselves and do something a little bit
more personal between PSC and G and Biscardi. So we
came up with the idea of a three on three
basketball tournament where we would have some of our people
in the wheelchairs and some of the people from the
(02:18):
Viscardi varsity team teaming up together and playing almost like
what they do in a March Madness, which is a
reduction bracket, so we have a single winner. With that,
we're gonna give another check to Riscarti. We're also going
to sign a basketball for everybody who participates and donate
(02:39):
that to their trophy showcase. And if all goes well,
which we anticipated will, we're looking to make this an
annual event and next year possibly even bigger and possibly
hold at NASA Community College.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
How cool is that we're obviously the Victory Challenge is
held every year in NASA kund of Games for the
physically challenges.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Out every year with the wheelchair basketball. I love that
pcnng l I is involved. I also love that you.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Expanded from New Jersey. I mean to to get involved
with l I like this means a lot. And as
someone who you know dealt with prior electric companies, you
guys are great. Now, Orlando, I want to talk to
you about how it started, because you told me at
the table at UOA how this whole venture started.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
It actually started. We were tending one of Prascotti's our
presentation that we normally go yearly, and John and I
were discussing what can we do to proceed with having
more of an interaction or Scotty through the able organization,
the e b r G, and then we came up
(03:44):
with the plan. We give up the plane. You know
it would be a good idea. It creates some sort
of basketball tournament and have the partisipants from Pascotti played
with the ps G employees and and make a day
of it there and we came up with the the
concept of something similar to March Badness that they have
in the college tournament. This is our first year, you know,
(04:06):
this is our learning, our learning steps, and this is
something that we need to know how to organize. So
hopefully we can have this on an annual basis and
going forward, we can make this tournament a lot better
and a lot larger and more of our people, more
of our employees can participate, and that's what we really
want to deal. You know, we're trying to try to
(04:29):
basically also gave our employees a vision of what Wascatti
centered to us for their students, and we hopefully we
can bring that to the outfront.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
All right, I have to give credit to Amy de Leo,
who actually connected us Orlando right that dinner and here
we are talking to Amy as everybody knows, big supporter
of the game's physically challenged and Viscardi.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
So to see her, you know, bring more people on
board means a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Now, I got a couple of questions for you guys, Hey, wi,
will you guys be playing in this next Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Well, right now we're we're looking to put see how
many teams. Obviously you have to get an even number
of teams. And since we'll be coordinating with doctor Rosaid
his staff, Lando and I might not be playing in
the games, but if we need additional people to firm
up and even number of teams, we will both be playing.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Well, that'll be fun to watch now watching these kids play.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I want your both perspectives on this, and Orlando, we
touch on it at the OI dinner. Watching these kids
play must bring a certain feeling to you guys, you know,
just watching them excel on the court.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
It does every time we attend any kind of Moschondi
Center event joy and are truly amazed. And how I
gotta put it, how amazed we are these students that
are there. They're always smiling there, always have the happy face,
(06:01):
and they never seemed to be angry. And that is
something that we both admire a lot, and we see
that a lot when we attend these events in Piscatti Center.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Now, obviously PCNNGLI is in the community a lot, so
in addition to Ascarti and uh, you know, the games,
where else can we find you guys in the community.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
We get involved with a lot of different things. We're
going to be hosting an employee event on alics harm
disease coming up later this month, and we're supporting a
new not for profit in September. It's called a Run
to break Through and that was actually started by a
gentleman who recently passed away. His son unfortunately was born
(06:49):
oh the disability and is in a wheelchair for life.
So the father was a runner and he was trying
to figure out a way to get his son more
and get him out there with him at all. And
they built a special wheelchair that the father can get
his run in and the son goes along with them,
and from there it just it just grew. A not
(07:12):
for profit was formed and each year now they're going
to have a run. This year it's at Hexta State
Park on a Sunday where they're bringing in you know runners,
they're bringing in people in.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Well that's normally, if I'm not missaying, where they have
the usual Alzheimer's Day run. Because I met Buddy Harrelson
out there when he was part of that run a
few years, you know, seven.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Years ago or so, yep, yep, so yep. We try
to get involved in as many things as we can, Alex,
anything that has to do with, like I said, either
physical or cognitive disabilities. And you know, like Orlando was mentioning,
you know, when we leave the Viscardi Center after any event,
you get to see how if the mind wants to
(07:55):
do something, the mind definitely can And to see a
lot of the students there, the way they participate and
excel in things that they favor is kind of amazing.
And the basketball team is just you know, one of
the things that the Piscardi Center does, you know, between
teaching them to swim, working with them to get food
(08:15):
service certificates, they built a room that looks like a
retail environment so that they can get used to working
in a retail environment. So Piscarti is truly one special
place and it holds a special place in each of
our hearts. And we spoke to doctor Roasted, executive director,
and he was extremely welcoming and very excited to start
(08:39):
something like this, and like we mentioned, hope it's going
to be an annual event and from here it just
grows more and more.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
No, Doctor Rosa is an incredible advocate of Viscardi as
is the coach of the wheelchair basketball team Joe Salonica.
Now I know, Orlando, you've been directed with Joe and
you see how great of a coach he is for
these kids. I mean, that's gotta make an impact as well.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Oh with Dust, Yeah, Joe's an amazing individual. We met
Joe a loot a month ago in one of the
meetings we had UH and Uh seems to be an
individual that's very dedicated to his school, the basketball and
seems to be a very knowledgeable individual. And I was
(09:20):
very impressed with with Joseph, very nice guy.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
And doctor Bays I've known forever. And of course all
of this continues the legacy of doctor Viscarti. Now, prior
to partnering over with Viscarti, did you get a chance
to research who he was and.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
How you know and how is how important is he
to continue his legacy through all of this as.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Well the True Dallas We were out there one time.
We never had a full tour of the facility. We
were always limited to the gym prior to the games
that physically challenged and doctor Rosa was nice enough to
set up a full tour of the facility, including doctor
Viscarti's office. The way he left it, it's pretty amazing.
(10:01):
He had a vision and back then when things weren't
so easy, you didn't have probably a lot of governmental
support or even community support. But he obviously didn't let
him hold back, and he built a special kind of school.
The kids that go there, like Orlando said, are very
integrated in everything that the school allows them to. Everything
(10:26):
there is welcome with open arms, the staff. It's truly
a special place and anyone who has time should visit
the Viscardi Center just to see how these these young
kids and the staff just how well they get together,
they perform, and when they graduate, you know they have
(10:46):
a future, you know, whether it's going to school or
going to work.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
No, it's pretty awesome.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
And they also have adult programs now to help out
kids who are there till they're twenty one or so.
So it's it's really all inclusive and very intense of
helping them out. I gotta say, though, you mentioned who
ever can visit now helping people can sign up for
this event or how can people attend?
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Well, this first year we kind of kept it small.
We ran to a bunch of hurdles trying to get
this thing done. That's the first time we did in
the company, so we decided to keep it a little small.
So this year it'll pretty be much the involvement of
the students, the staff of Viscarti and a small number
of PSG employees. Like we were saying, next year, would
(11:31):
like to have this thing really grow to the point
where Viscardi can't even handle the influx of people. Would
like to see and it was optioned to us to
possibly use National Community College next year in the gymnasium
if need be so. So this year it's, like we said,
it's a learning experience. We're getting through the hurdles and
next year should go a lot smoother with the probably
(11:54):
I would say much earlier planning as well.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
You know, I got to ask you, I don't know
if you guys were part of the New Jersey team
they came over, but when PCNG took over, l I
how impactful was it for your lives?
Speaker 3 (12:04):
I mean, I feel like it's changed everything on the
island having PCNG out.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Here, it was it wasn't that much of a change
for us. It was business as usual. They called it
lifting and shifting. Donna is pretty new still to the company,
but Priya a Lando ancement. Most of our careers on
the natural guests side of the business through Brooklyn Union Gas,
who then became Keyspan, who then became National Grid. So
(12:32):
what happened was is that anyone who was on the
electric side of National Grid when the contract ended was
lifted and shifted into PSC and G. So the biggest
change was just the name of the company really and
some of the senior leadership that came over from New
Jersey and the transfer. But for the most party, it
was pretty much business as usual. We all have the
(12:55):
same values and high levels of customer service, making sure
that the lights stay on, you know, attending to storms
as quickly as possible. And we're very involved in the
community like we were with National Grid.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
I believe you sponsor the Islander power Plays, if I'm
not mistaken, there's some involvement there with the Islanders also. Well,
I'm sorry, I believe you guys also sponsor the Island
power Plays. If I'm not mistaken, you guys are with
them as well.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Yes, yes, we get involved in a lot of different things.
When we were National Grid, you know, the playing field
changed a little bit because we went from Montalk into say,
Staten Island. But since the electric portion now is dedicated
from the Rockaways to Montalk, we're pretty much on Long
Island at this point. We don't go into the city
as much anymore, so we don't have that much interaction
(13:45):
with like the nets and things like that. But we're
very involved with the islanders, the Long Island Ducks, and
a lot of you know, the smaller and larger groups
on Long Island that we get involved with. We do
a lot of things with the schools from from grade
school all the way to high school. We do mentoring,
resume help, so, you know, we try to get involvement.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Here's the question I have for those that are disabled
residents try are there ways you guys help make their
electricity adaptable? Like is there a way to maybe make
outlets different? Like is there a way you guys help
the adaptive community in that way as well? Is making
places more accessible.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
A good question? I don't know if Orlando can incident.
I know what we do is when someone is disabled
on their account, it's well noted so that there is
a problem priorities. You know, we'd look at certain priorities
that you know, if someone say disabled that needs a
breeding machine or seepat machine, this is uh, this is
(14:47):
well noted. So we try to restore people like this
as soon as possible on a priority basis. Actually for
actually going into the house, I'm not sure we've done.
We've done some things with the Red Cross. We've partnered
with the Red Cross with things like smoke detectors for
people who are hard of hearing or deaf, special uh
(15:13):
bed inserts so that got bid there was a fire,
the dead would start to vibrate, So we've done different
things like that. Orlando, are you familiar with anything physical
within the house?
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Not at all. John, You just mentioned exactly what you
and I learned when we were volunteering for the Red Cross.
Now I don't that I'm aware PCG doesn't have any
other devices.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
One good question now is that's something we could check
on and even follow up with you.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Yeah, love that.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Now how about hiring, So obviously I'm also about, you know,
like doctor Viscarti was and all of us are about making.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Sure people disabilities are hired.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Does PSC and g l I, in addition to helping
disabled community, also hire the disabled community.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Yes, we do obviously, you know, based on their disability.
When there is a position available, people with disabilities are
always considered, say, for instance, like a call center position.
You know, some people would look at that as an
entry level position, but it's one of the best positions
to start with in a company like ours, because you
(16:15):
get to see everything from the ground up. You know,
you're talking to customers, you're arranging for you know, uh,
response rates and and sometimes types of service. You know,
sometimes it's a billing question. And these these are positions
whereby somebody even that's uh dedicated to a wheelchair instead
is sitting in a chair in front of a computer. Dude,
(16:35):
sit in the wheelchair and work the same way. You know,
there's there are a bunch of different jobs that are
always considered, and you know, part of our our makeup
is to always uh look at the best possible candidates
and put them in the best possible position so they
could succeed.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
I love that well.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
You know, I also got to say one thing that's
changed with PCNG, because I read the headlines a lot
from then and now is you know headlines when it
was light and now it's PCNG. Is the power lines
are just not coming down as much. How did you
guys maintain control of mains or all these power lines
are up.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
In order and not you know, flailing in the wind.
It seemed like at times.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
There's a program. It's called hardening of the system, and
what that means to the lay person is that we
look at areas that are subject to outages and we
do track these so many times they'll go out, they'll
change the poles if the cement poles got to go
in versus a woodpole or a stronger woodpole, or poles
are getting older and we're you know, have a pole
(17:41):
replacement program. We have a vegetation management program whereby we
subcontract out to Asplin Energy Aspen Construction, and they have
a tree trimming division where they'll go out and they
trim around the wires and stuff so that during heavy
storms and wind and stuff that as branches come down,
(18:01):
they're not going to take down the lines as well.
And harding of this system is also tensioning of the lines.
We've gotten a lot smarter and with equipment today is
a lot stronger. We have communication boxes all over the
networks that when something goes down, we'll usually know even
before a person calls, so we can start arranging for
(18:21):
a restoration. So there's a lot of good things coming down.
And then obviously you have where possible where you can
bury the lines, you know, and that's usually a good
thing because you don't worry about them coming down. But
the only downside of a buried line is that when
there's a problem on the ground, it takes a little
bit longer to figure out what's going wrong because you
can't drive the circuit and just you know, witness everything
(18:44):
by eye. We have a special underground team that's got
to bring special equipment out and whether it's sonar or
radiate and basically find out where the issue is and
then open up that area and hopefully fix it.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
All right.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
I got to ask one more thing about the weather
we've had because it's been so hot, but I hadn't
heard many of power out it. Just how did you
guys maintain all of that during Is it that the
heartening and the system or is that something different that you.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Guys were able to maintain power through the heat.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
Well, you know, with the influx of renewables now besides
creating power in the power plants that we've had for years.
We're also purchasing power from a lot of these solar farms.
There's large solar farms. You got the wind coming on
now out in the sounds, so there's always an additional capacity.
(19:34):
Now we're not hurting his bed looking for capacity in
case of like you know, a one hundred degree day
that goes to three or four days and people are
using energy like crazy. We have that capacity now to
serve and together with the heartening of this system, you know,
it basically works well. So a lot of these solar
(19:56):
farms that you see with it putting in twenty thirty
thousand panels and stuff, we'll purchase that energy and send
it through the grid, so we always have power. The
fossil plants, you know, they're getting old. You know, they
need a lot of maintenance to keep them up and running.
So you always have that backup and uh other opportunities
to you know, to generate the power that we all use.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
You mentioned the grid, and I want to kind of
put a boat to all of this. When you think
of the grid, how does P S, E and G
also include disabled community to protect the grid for them
as well. I feel like not many people take them
into account. And we talk about grids and whatnot.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Well, you guys realized too, the grid is more and
more than a complex network that transmission that transmits electricity
from power plants to the consumers. So, like I was
saying before, we do code accounts for people with disabilities,
all kinds, both physical and cognitive, you know, any kind
(20:55):
of medical disability they have in the house. So it's
it's very important for us, then words, to attend to
these to keep the power on. And we've been lucky,
you know, PS and G'll get beat up in the
newspapers every once in a while, but uh, a lot
of people don't realize what goes behind all that.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Very rarely, let me tell you, very rarely. I notice
a lot of good press and a lot of good
news from you guys.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Actually, yep, it's getting very it's getting much much better.
We do surveys throughout the year, like JD Power, who
a lot of people are familiar with, and we're getting uh,
you know, better and better responses. People are starting to
realize that our restoration times are down and that uh,
you know, we're adhering to making sure that the power
(21:37):
stays on, you know, as hard as it could be sometimes.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Now, Orlando and John and John, I want to ask
you about this because I have a friend of mine
from church who actually works for PSC and the.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Under the Jersey side.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
So do you guys communicate with the Jersey side or
are you kind of now your own conglomerate.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
On Long Island.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
So we do communicate with Jersey. You know, we're one
team with one company, so we do have a back
and forth with them. We do use their knowledge and
they use our knowledges. So that's what keeps the company
going forward. And we do have a very good relationship
with Jersey.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Now, Donad's on the call, I see as well. Are
you just listening?
Speaker 2 (22:13):
I do you want to chime in on what the
on what you guys are doing with the programs here
with Viscardi and whatnot.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
I just recently joined with John and Orlando. I've been
with the company for about a year and a half
and I'm thrilled to be doing this project with them
at the Misscardi Center. I'm coming up on Tuesday. Yeah,
that's about it.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Well, we're excited.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
I'm excited that you guys are partnering with Mi Alma
Mater because it just shows how much more involved the
community is, you know, collaborating, how much more of a
Scardi's getting out there? How much more Yeah, they're getting
out there in the community even more through PC and
G And I love that.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Yeah, I think, Alex, you know, you'll find that our
company is very community minded. Like I said, we're involved
and a lot of different things, everything from Long Island
cares and handing out food at supermarkets every you know
on weekends and stuff for those who you know come
down to the heart of times we've done. We've actually
we got something coming up where we're going to help
(23:16):
plant the huge garden in a facility and then the
facility will maintain the vegetables and everything that. So our
employees are involved a lot of things. We do a
Polar Bear plunge to raise money. So you'll always find
a PSNG employee doing something within the community.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
All right, I don't want to make it a competition,
but what could if I may ask, what could kan
Ed learn from ps so that the New York City residents.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Have the right electricity?
Speaker 2 (23:40):
I feel like there's a lot of complaints about kaned.
Here is PC and G available in New York City? Yet?
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Is that in the plan at all or no. Kanye
is a very huge and powerful utility and with people
got to understand the problem in the city is that
the infrastructure is very old and it's it's not so
easy the words you don't see you know, the poles
(24:06):
and the wires it's say in Manhattan as you're going
down the street and stuff. So when something goes wrong,
it takes a lot longer. Like I was saying, when
things are underground, it's good and bad. The good being
that it's not subject to maybe wind and a lot
of things like that, but it's subject to a lot
of heat, steam and just the aging of the equipment.
You know. Kanet has a very a long an old
(24:32):
reputation of being around for a very long time, very
powerful utility, very good people. It's just at the infrastructure
would probably take billions to replace all at once. And
I think with their plan is they you know, they
try to replace as much as they can when they can.
So yeah, they get beat up now and then. But
being in this business, we kind of know, you know,
(24:52):
what it takes and stuff, and we're lucky that our
infrastructure is a little easier to maintain because most of
it's above ground. Well, when you get into kind ofisin's territory,
things get a little different. It's a different animal at
that point.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Well, thank you for keeping Long Island safe. And maybe
one day PC you will expand the city. Who knows,
but you never know. Life is interesting like that. But
I gotta ask you one more thing, because I've dealt
with mechanics on different radio shows with the car shows
and whatnot. But I'm thinking of the trade schools right
and obviously being electricity in the trade is PCNNGLI also
investing in the trade schools in New York and getting
(25:29):
that back up and even more popular today.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
John, I presume we are. I'm not sure. I know
there was some sort of a training that we were
fringing through posees with the Land Academy that we have
in Hicksville. That's the last thing I heard about participating
in some sort of training. I'm not sure. I'm not
involved with that particular aspect of the company.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
Interesting.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Well, now, I just know that trade schools are very important,
and I'm sure that listening to this maybe more will
be inspired.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
To join PC and G because they know, hey, this is.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
A community, community minded organization, not just our electricity, but
a community.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
There's people behind it too.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
There's a lot of faces to this organization.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Well and beyond the power play.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
I always think of that piece of NG powerplay I
listened to every time of an Islander game.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
So there you go.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Well, guys, this meant so much to have you on
and I'd love to continue the conversation and I want
to know if I can make it next week, but
do give us a recap.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
I'd love to hear you, guys recap this with me
next week.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Love to follow up with you on that.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
Yes, definitely word all right.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
Orlando Molinaris, John Cassano, and Donna Poglici, thanks for joining
the One Leg Up Network and talking about this incredible
event with Viscardi next week. I'm so glad to hear
about this and to talk about it today.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Alex appreciate it. Thank you for having us.
Speaker 4 (27:01):
Yes, I was. Thank you very much for having us.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
M
Here's your host, Alex Garrett.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Well, I made a promise to those that awarded me
a very special grant at Ideas Park, which is actually
presented by Viscardi Center and Heinz Institute at Iowa University,
to literally start the work of one leg up Alex
tomorrow and that was on July sixteenth. Well, once again,
tomorrow feels like today because today we're promoting something very
(00:34):
special with PSC and g Now you have electricity Long Island,
it's most likely through PSC and g l I. And
I have Orlando Melanariis and John Cassano with me from
PS and g l I, the arm that actually works
with folks like the Viscardi Center.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Thank you both for joining.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Me today, right, welcome, glad to be here. Now.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I got to meet Orlando at the u OAA dinner.
How cool is that? And how small world does that?
And here we are talking about VISCARTI. So first of all,
tell us about the ABLE division of p S and
g l I and how you guys give back to the.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Community Able EBRG, which is the Employee Resource Group. We
just tend to focus on those with disabilities both internally
on the company and externally as well. We look to
push the opportunities to people with disabilities the even and
aboard opportunities. Within PSC and G. We're applicable, so able
(01:36):
basically goes out and we deal with many different organizations,
everything from PTSD to physical and both cognitive disabilities. We
worked with Canine Companions with their therapy and service dogs,
and over the past couple of years we've been a
very big support of Viscarti and the Games of the
(01:57):
Physically Challenged, and last year we came up with an
idea we'd like to do a little bit more outside
of the games themselves and do something a little bit
more personal between PSC and G and Biscardi. So we
came up with the idea of a three on three
basketball tournament where we would have some of our people
in the wheelchairs and some of the people from the
(02:18):
Viscardi varsity team teaming up together and playing almost like
what they do in a March Madness, which is a
reduction bracket, so we have a single winner. With that,
we're gonna give another check to Riscarti. We're also going
to sign a basketball for everybody who participates and donate
(02:39):
that to their trophy showcase. And if all goes well,
which we anticipated will, we're looking to make this an
annual event and next year possibly even bigger and possibly
hold at NASA Community College.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
How cool is that we're obviously the Victory Challenge is
held every year in NASA kund of Games for the
physically challenges.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Out every year with the wheelchair basketball. I love that
pcnng l I is involved. I also love that you.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Expanded from New Jersey. I mean to to get involved
with l I like this means a lot. And as
someone who you know dealt with prior electric companies, you
guys are great. Now, Orlando, I want to talk to
you about how it started, because you told me at
the table at UOA how this whole venture started.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
It actually started. We were tending one of Prascotti's our
presentation that we normally go yearly, and John and I
were discussing what can we do to proceed with having
more of an interaction or Scotty through the able organization,
the e b r G, and then we came up
(03:44):
with the plan. We give up the plane. You know
it would be a good idea. It creates some sort
of basketball tournament and have the partisipants from Pascotti played
with the ps G employees and and make a day
of it there and we came up with the the
concept of something similar to March Badness that they have
in the college tournament. This is our first year, you know,
(04:06):
this is our learning, our learning steps, and this is
something that we need to know how to organize. So
hopefully we can have this on an annual basis and
going forward, we can make this tournament a lot better
and a lot larger and more of our people, more
of our employees can participate, and that's what we really
want to deal. You know, we're trying to try to
(04:29):
basically also gave our employees a vision of what Wascatti
centered to us for their students, and we hopefully we
can bring that to the outfront.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
All right, I have to give credit to Amy de Leo,
who actually connected us Orlando right that dinner and here
we are talking to Amy as everybody knows, big supporter
of the game's physically challenged and Viscardi.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
So to see her, you know, bring more people on
board means a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Now, I got a couple of questions for you guys, Hey, wi,
will you guys be playing in this next Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Well, right now we're we're looking to put see how
many teams. Obviously you have to get an even number
of teams. And since we'll be coordinating with doctor Rosaid
his staff, Lando and I might not be playing in
the games, but if we need additional people to firm
up and even number of teams, we will both be playing.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Well, that'll be fun to watch now watching these kids play.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I want your both perspectives on this, and Orlando, we
touch on it at the OI dinner. Watching these kids
play must bring a certain feeling to you guys, you know,
just watching them excel on the court.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
It does every time we attend any kind of Moschondi
Center event joy and are truly amazed. And how I
gotta put it, how amazed we are these students that
are there. They're always smiling there, always have the happy face,
(06:01):
and they never seemed to be angry. And that is
something that we both admire a lot, and we see
that a lot when we attend these events in Piscatti Center.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Now, obviously PCNNGLI is in the community a lot, so
in addition to Ascarti and uh, you know, the games,
where else can we find you guys in the community.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
We get involved with a lot of different things. We're
going to be hosting an employee event on alics harm
disease coming up later this month, and we're supporting a
new not for profit in September. It's called a Run
to break Through and that was actually started by a
gentleman who recently passed away. His son unfortunately was born
(06:49):
oh the disability and is in a wheelchair for life.
So the father was a runner and he was trying
to figure out a way to get his son more
and get him out there with him at all. And
they built a special wheelchair that the father can get
his run in and the son goes along with them,
and from there it just it just grew. A not
(07:12):
for profit was formed and each year now they're going
to have a run. This year it's at Hexta State
Park on a Sunday where they're bringing in you know runners,
they're bringing in people in.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Well that's normally, if I'm not missaying, where they have
the usual Alzheimer's Day run. Because I met Buddy Harrelson
out there when he was part of that run a
few years, you know, seven.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Years ago or so, yep, yep, so yep. We try
to get involved in as many things as we can, Alex,
anything that has to do with, like I said, either
physical or cognitive disabilities. And you know, like Orlando was mentioning,
you know, when we leave the Viscardi Center after any event,
you get to see how if the mind wants to
(07:55):
do something, the mind definitely can And to see a
lot of the students there, the way they participate and
excel in things that they favor is kind of amazing.
And the basketball team is just you know, one of
the things that the Piscardi Center does, you know, between
teaching them to swim, working with them to get food
(08:15):
service certificates, they built a room that looks like a
retail environment so that they can get used to working
in a retail environment. So Piscarti is truly one special
place and it holds a special place in each of
our hearts. And we spoke to doctor Roasted, executive director,
and he was extremely welcoming and very excited to start
(08:39):
something like this, and like we mentioned, hope it's going
to be an annual event and from here it just
grows more and more.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
No, Doctor Rosa is an incredible advocate of Viscardi as
is the coach of the wheelchair basketball team Joe Salonica.
Now I know, Orlando, you've been directed with Joe and
you see how great of a coach he is for
these kids. I mean, that's gotta make an impact as well.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Oh with Dust, Yeah, Joe's an amazing individual. We met
Joe a loot a month ago in one of the
meetings we had UH and Uh seems to be an
individual that's very dedicated to his school, the basketball and
seems to be a very knowledgeable individual. And I was
(09:20):
very impressed with with Joseph, very nice guy.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
And doctor Bays I've known forever. And of course all
of this continues the legacy of doctor Viscarti. Now, prior
to partnering over with Viscarti, did you get a chance
to research who he was and.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
How you know and how is how important is he
to continue his legacy through all of this as.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Well the True Dallas We were out there one time.
We never had a full tour of the facility. We
were always limited to the gym prior to the games
that physically challenged and doctor Rosa was nice enough to
set up a full tour of the facility, including doctor
Viscarti's office. The way he left it, it's pretty amazing.
(10:01):
He had a vision and back then when things weren't
so easy, you didn't have probably a lot of governmental
support or even community support. But he obviously didn't let
him hold back, and he built a special kind of school.
The kids that go there, like Orlando said, are very
integrated in everything that the school allows them to. Everything
(10:26):
there is welcome with open arms, the staff. It's truly
a special place and anyone who has time should visit
the Viscardi Center just to see how these these young
kids and the staff just how well they get together,
they perform, and when they graduate, you know they have
(10:46):
a future, you know, whether it's going to school or
going to work.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
No, it's pretty awesome.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
And they also have adult programs now to help out
kids who are there till they're twenty one or so.
So it's it's really all inclusive and very intense of
helping them out. I gotta say, though, you mentioned who
ever can visit now helping people can sign up for
this event or how can people attend?
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Well, this first year we kind of kept it small.
We ran to a bunch of hurdles trying to get
this thing done. That's the first time we did in
the company, so we decided to keep it a little small.
So this year it'll pretty be much the involvement of
the students, the staff of Viscarti and a small number
of PSG employees. Like we were saying, next year, would
(11:31):
like to have this thing really grow to the point
where Viscardi can't even handle the influx of people. Would
like to see and it was optioned to us to
possibly use National Community College next year in the gymnasium
if need be so. So this year it's, like we said,
it's a learning experience. We're getting through the hurdles and
next year should go a lot smoother with the probably
(11:54):
I would say much earlier planning as well.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
You know, I got to ask you, I don't know
if you guys were part of the New Jersey team
they came over, but when PCNG took over, l I
how impactful was it for your lives?
Speaker 3 (12:04):
I mean, I feel like it's changed everything on the
island having PCNG out.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Here, it was it wasn't that much of a change
for us. It was business as usual. They called it
lifting and shifting. Donna is pretty new still to the company,
but Priya a Lando ancement. Most of our careers on
the natural guests side of the business through Brooklyn Union Gas,
who then became Keyspan, who then became National Grid. So
(12:32):
what happened was is that anyone who was on the
electric side of National Grid when the contract ended was
lifted and shifted into PSC and G. So the biggest
change was just the name of the company really and
some of the senior leadership that came over from New
Jersey and the transfer. But for the most party, it
was pretty much business as usual. We all have the
(12:55):
same values and high levels of customer service, making sure
that the lights stay on, you know, attending to storms
as quickly as possible. And we're very involved in the
community like we were with National Grid.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
I believe you sponsor the Islander power Plays, if I'm
not mistaken, there's some involvement there with the Islanders also. Well,
I'm sorry, I believe you guys also sponsor the Island
power Plays. If I'm not mistaken, you guys are with
them as well.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Yes, yes, we get involved in a lot of different things.
When we were National Grid, you know, the playing field
changed a little bit because we went from Montalk into say,
Staten Island. But since the electric portion now is dedicated
from the Rockaways to Montalk, we're pretty much on Long
Island at this point. We don't go into the city
as much anymore, so we don't have that much interaction
(13:45):
with like the nets and things like that. But we're
very involved with the islanders, the Long Island Ducks, and
a lot of you know, the smaller and larger groups
on Long Island that we get involved with. We do
a lot of things with the schools from from grade
school all the way to high school. We do mentoring,
resume help, so, you know, we try to get involvement.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Here's the question I have for those that are disabled
residents try are there ways you guys help make their
electricity adaptable? Like is there a way to maybe make
outlets different? Like is there a way you guys help
the adaptive community in that way as well? Is making
places more accessible.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
A good question? I don't know if Orlando can incident.
I know what we do is when someone is disabled
on their account, it's well noted so that there is
a problem priorities. You know, we'd look at certain priorities
that you know, if someone say disabled that needs a
breeding machine or seepat machine, this is uh, this is
(14:47):
well noted. So we try to restore people like this
as soon as possible on a priority basis. Actually for
actually going into the house, I'm not sure we've done.
We've done some things with the Red Cross. We've partnered
with the Red Cross with things like smoke detectors for
people who are hard of hearing or deaf, special uh
(15:13):
bed inserts so that got bid there was a fire,
the dead would start to vibrate, So we've done different
things like that. Orlando, are you familiar with anything physical
within the house?
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Not at all. John, You just mentioned exactly what you
and I learned when we were volunteering for the Red Cross.
Now I don't that I'm aware PCG doesn't have any
other devices.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
One good question now is that's something we could check
on and even follow up with you.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Yeah, love that.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Now how about hiring, So obviously I'm also about, you know,
like doctor Viscarti was and all of us are about making.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Sure people disabilities are hired.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Does PSC and g l I, in addition to helping
disabled community, also hire the disabled community.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Yes, we do obviously, you know, based on their disability.
When there is a position available, people with disabilities are
always considered, say, for instance, like a call center position.
You know, some people would look at that as an
entry level position, but it's one of the best positions
to start with in a company like ours, because you
(16:15):
get to see everything from the ground up. You know,
you're talking to customers, you're arranging for you know, uh,
response rates and and sometimes types of service. You know,
sometimes it's a billing question. And these these are positions
whereby somebody even that's uh dedicated to a wheelchair instead
is sitting in a chair in front of a computer. Dude,
(16:35):
sit in the wheelchair and work the same way. You know,
there's there are a bunch of different jobs that are
always considered, and you know, part of our our makeup
is to always uh look at the best possible candidates
and put them in the best possible position so they
could succeed.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
I love that well.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
You know, I also got to say one thing that's
changed with PCNG, because I read the headlines a lot
from then and now is you know headlines when it
was light and now it's PCNG. Is the power lines
are just not coming down as much. How did you
guys maintain control of mains or all these power lines
are up.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
In order and not you know, flailing in the wind.
It seemed like at times.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
There's a program. It's called hardening of the system, and
what that means to the lay person is that we
look at areas that are subject to outages and we
do track these so many times they'll go out, they'll
change the poles if the cement poles got to go
in versus a woodpole or a stronger woodpole, or poles
are getting older and we're you know, have a pole
(17:41):
replacement program. We have a vegetation management program whereby we
subcontract out to Asplin Energy Aspen Construction, and they have
a tree trimming division where they'll go out and they
trim around the wires and stuff so that during heavy
storms and wind and stuff that as branches come down,
(18:01):
they're not going to take down the lines as well.
And harding of this system is also tensioning of the lines.
We've gotten a lot smarter and with equipment today is
a lot stronger. We have communication boxes all over the
networks that when something goes down, we'll usually know even
before a person calls, so we can start arranging for
(18:21):
a restoration. So there's a lot of good things coming down.
And then obviously you have where possible where you can
bury the lines, you know, and that's usually a good
thing because you don't worry about them coming down. But
the only downside of a buried line is that when
there's a problem on the ground, it takes a little
bit longer to figure out what's going wrong because you
can't drive the circuit and just you know, witness everything
(18:44):
by eye. We have a special underground team that's got
to bring special equipment out and whether it's sonar or
radiate and basically find out where the issue is and
then open up that area and hopefully fix it.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
All right.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
I got to ask one more thing about the weather
we've had because it's been so hot, but I hadn't
heard many of power out it. Just how did you
guys maintain all of that during Is it that the
heartening and the system or is that something different that you.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Guys were able to maintain power through the heat.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
Well, you know, with the influx of renewables now besides
creating power in the power plants that we've had for years.
We're also purchasing power from a lot of these solar farms.
There's large solar farms. You got the wind coming on
now out in the sounds, so there's always an additional capacity.
(19:34):
Now we're not hurting his bed looking for capacity in
case of like you know, a one hundred degree day
that goes to three or four days and people are
using energy like crazy. We have that capacity now to
serve and together with the heartening of this system, you know,
it basically works well. So a lot of these solar
(19:56):
farms that you see with it putting in twenty thirty
thousand panels and stuff, we'll purchase that energy and send
it through the grid, so we always have power. The
fossil plants, you know, they're getting old. You know, they
need a lot of maintenance to keep them up and running.
So you always have that backup and uh other opportunities
to you know, to generate the power that we all use.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
You mentioned the grid, and I want to kind of
put a boat to all of this. When you think
of the grid, how does P S, E and G
also include disabled community to protect the grid for them
as well. I feel like not many people take them
into account. And we talk about grids and whatnot.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Well, you guys realized too, the grid is more and
more than a complex network that transmission that transmits electricity
from power plants to the consumers. So, like I was
saying before, we do code accounts for people with disabilities,
all kinds, both physical and cognitive, you know, any kind
(20:55):
of medical disability they have in the house. So it's
it's very important for us, then words, to attend to
these to keep the power on. And we've been lucky,
you know, PS and G'll get beat up in the
newspapers every once in a while, but uh, a lot
of people don't realize what goes behind all that.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Very rarely, let me tell you, very rarely. I notice
a lot of good press and a lot of good
news from you guys.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Actually, yep, it's getting very it's getting much much better.
We do surveys throughout the year, like JD Power, who
a lot of people are familiar with, and we're getting uh,
you know, better and better responses. People are starting to
realize that our restoration times are down and that uh,
you know, we're adhering to making sure that the power
(21:37):
stays on, you know, as hard as it could be sometimes.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Now, Orlando and John and John, I want to ask
you about this because I have a friend of mine
from church who actually works for PSC and the.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Under the Jersey side.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
So do you guys communicate with the Jersey side or
are you kind of now your own conglomerate.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
On Long Island.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
So we do communicate with Jersey. You know, we're one
team with one company, so we do have a back
and forth with them. We do use their knowledge and
they use our knowledges. So that's what keeps the company
going forward. And we do have a very good relationship
with Jersey.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Now, Donad's on the call, I see as well. Are
you just listening?
Speaker 2 (22:13):
I do you want to chime in on what the
on what you guys are doing with the programs here
with Viscardi and whatnot.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
I just recently joined with John and Orlando. I've been
with the company for about a year and a half
and I'm thrilled to be doing this project with them
at the Misscardi Center. I'm coming up on Tuesday. Yeah,
that's about it.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Well, we're excited.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
I'm excited that you guys are partnering with Mi Alma
Mater because it just shows how much more involved the
community is, you know, collaborating, how much more of a
Scardi's getting out there? How much more Yeah, they're getting
out there in the community even more through PC and
G And I love that.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Yeah, I think, Alex, you know, you'll find that our
company is very community minded. Like I said, we're involved
and a lot of different things, everything from Long Island
cares and handing out food at supermarkets every you know
on weekends and stuff for those who you know come
down to the heart of times we've done. We've actually
we got something coming up where we're going to help
(23:16):
plant the huge garden in a facility and then the
facility will maintain the vegetables and everything that. So our
employees are involved a lot of things. We do a
Polar Bear plunge to raise money. So you'll always find
a PSNG employee doing something within the community.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
All right, I don't want to make it a competition,
but what could if I may ask, what could kan
Ed learn from ps so that the New York City residents.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Have the right electricity?
Speaker 2 (23:40):
I feel like there's a lot of complaints about kaned.
Here is PC and G available in New York City? Yet?
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Is that in the plan at all or no. Kanye
is a very huge and powerful utility and with people
got to understand the problem in the city is that
the infrastructure is very old and it's it's not so
easy the words you don't see you know, the poles
(24:06):
and the wires it's say in Manhattan as you're going
down the street and stuff. So when something goes wrong,
it takes a lot longer. Like I was saying, when
things are underground, it's good and bad. The good being
that it's not subject to maybe wind and a lot
of things like that, but it's subject to a lot
of heat, steam and just the aging of the equipment.
You know. Kanet has a very a long an old
(24:32):
reputation of being around for a very long time, very
powerful utility, very good people. It's just at the infrastructure
would probably take billions to replace all at once. And
I think with their plan is they you know, they
try to replace as much as they can when they can.
So yeah, they get beat up now and then. But
being in this business, we kind of know, you know,
(24:52):
what it takes and stuff, and we're lucky that our
infrastructure is a little easier to maintain because most of
it's above ground. Well, when you get into kind ofisin's territory,
things get a little different. It's a different animal at
that point.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Well, thank you for keeping Long Island safe. And maybe
one day PC you will expand the city. Who knows,
but you never know. Life is interesting like that. But
I gotta ask you one more thing, because I've dealt
with mechanics on different radio shows with the car shows
and whatnot. But I'm thinking of the trade schools right
and obviously being electricity in the trade is PCNNGLI also
investing in the trade schools in New York and getting
(25:29):
that back up and even more popular today.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
John, I presume we are. I'm not sure. I know
there was some sort of a training that we were
fringing through posees with the Land Academy that we have
in Hicksville. That's the last thing I heard about participating
in some sort of training. I'm not sure. I'm not
involved with that particular aspect of the company.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
Interesting.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Well, now, I just know that trade schools are very important,
and I'm sure that listening to this maybe more will
be inspired.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
To join PC and G because they know, hey, this is.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
A community, community minded organization, not just our electricity, but
a community.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
There's people behind it too.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
There's a lot of faces to this organization.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Well and beyond the power play.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
I always think of that piece of NG powerplay I
listened to every time of an Islander game.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
So there you go.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Well, guys, this meant so much to have you on
and I'd love to continue the conversation and I want
to know if I can make it next week, but
do give us a recap.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
I'd love to hear you, guys recap this with me
next week.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Love to follow up with you on that.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
Yes, definitely word all right.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
Orlando Molinaris, John Cassano, and Donna Poglici, thanks for joining
the One Leg Up Network and talking about this incredible
event with Viscardi next week. I'm so glad to hear
about this and to talk about it today.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Alex appreciate it. Thank you for having us.
Speaker 4 (27:01):
Yes, I was. Thank you very much for having us.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
M
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com