Commack Resident Tom Mooney Celebrates St. Patrick's Day With His Accordion And Harmonica

L-R Brian Flaherty, Shannon Troccoli, Grace Kelley and Tom MooneyMany people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by attending parades and eating corn beef & cabbage. Commack resident Tom Mooney does both, but this year he added a little something extra to his festivities. This year Tom, along with his accordion and Tom Mooneyseveral harmonicas, joined friends Grace Kelley and Brian Flaherty at Miller’s Ale House in Commack Thursday, March 16, where he treated Ale House patrons to some Irish music and a few patriotic tunes. Tom, a Vietnam Veteran, is self taught on both instruments.

When he wasn’t playing music Tom regaled this reporter with stories of his learning to play the accordion as well as some stories from his service time. He is past commander and current service officer of Smithtown’s VFW Post 10870 and American Legion Post 833. Tom is also the local administrator for the national Voice of Democracy essay contest. 

Tom Mooney is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with his family. The Millers Ale House event was a warm up for tomorrow’s festivities.*

*Page was updated 

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP - Casino Gambling On LI

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP

By Karl Grossman

Suffolk County suddenly has gotten a major gambling casino smack in middle of the county—indeed, there’s no missing the just-opened Jake’s 58 Hotel & Casino along the Long Island Expressway. It had been the Islandia Marriott Long Island, at 10 stories with 227 rooms, a huge hotel for Suffolk. Islandia is just south of Smithtown in northern Islip Town. 

It was purchased by Delaware North which describes itself as a “global hospitality and food service company” and will be running it with the Suffolk County Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation. Jake’s 58 gets its name from the nearest LIE exit, 58, and the Jacobs family, owner of Buffalo-based Delaware North. 

It is a high-stake gamble for Suffolk OTB. As Newsday’s article was headlined last month, “Suffolk OTB counts on a casino in Islandia to counter bankruptcy.” Indeed, Suffolk OTB officials are hoping the casino will generate $2 billion in gross revenue a year. That would get Suffolk OTB out of bankruptcy which it first filed for in 2011. “Suffolk County OTB executives say Long Island’s first video lottery casino is the agency’s last ditch effort to emerge from bankruptcy and save itself—if the Islandia betting parlor can meet projected revenues,” Newsday reported.

Suffolk OTB—indeed gambling in general in the U.S.—has hit hard times in recent decades. Much of this has to do with what is termed the “casino-saturation problem.” In 1978, only Nevada and New Jersey had commercial casinos. Today, they are in 24 states—and also, gambling on the Internet has been growing.  

Atlantic City was for a time the gambling mecca of the Northeast. But now nearly every state in the region has casinos. As for Atlantic City, which had a dozen huge casinos, now that’s down to seven with the latest one closing last year, Trump Taj Mahal.

“Atlantic City losing to Walmart-style casinos in Pa.” headed a 2013 article in USA Today. “The year 2005 was a very good year for this casino resort,” the piece began. “The eight years since? Awful! The latest figures show gaming revenue has plunged 44%, to around $3 billion.” It went on, “Convenience gambling and regional competition are driving the demise. Casinos with fewer amenities—dismissed recently by a Tropicana casino executive…as ‘Walmarts with slot machines and a bar and a restaurant’—have opened near major population centers.”

Jake’s 58, meanwhile, is not exactly a traditional casino. It is limited to video slot machines—265 of them now and an expected 1,000 by this summer. They are electronic versions of traditional casino games. Suffolk OTB plans to ask for the state’s OK to add an additional 1,000. But this set-up might be fine for Long Islanders seeking to avoid a drive to Atlantic City or Connecticut to bet in their casinos, or a trip upstate.

How Suffolk County got a casino is an odd story. In 2014, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sought to “reform” the Long Island Power Authority and bring in a New Jersey-based company, PSEG, to be the main utility on the island.  But this was opposed by the island’s state legislators from both parties. According to sources in Albany, Mr. Cuomo pushed a deal, taken to legislators by his then top aide, former Deputy Suffolk County Executive Larry Schwartz. Under it, to aid Nassau and Suffolk’s financially-strapped county governments, they would get the governor’s go-ahead to set up facilities for video slot machines—in return for the lawmakers supporting his “reform” scheme. More than half then went for it.  Originally, Mr. Cuomo had sought to locate new casinos only in economically depressed areas upstate.

In the end, intense public opposition in Nassau County stopped the proposed casino there, but an arrangement was made under which Nassau would receive revenue from a video slot operation in Queens.

Suffolk OTB, in sharp decline, earlier had closed 10 of its 14 gambling locations and sold its Hauppauge headquarters. It faced strong resistance when it sought to site the video slot casino in Medford. Then the Islandia Marriott came on the market. Suffolk OTB officials say this was a top choice all along considering its central location and, unlike Medford, the construction of a new facility wasn’t needed. The hotel could be modified to become a casino.

Suffolk County government is, meanwhile, to receive at least $2 million in the first year, $3 million in the second and then $1 million for each of the next eight years.

The small village of Islandia, created in 1985, has been promised $47 million over 20 years by Delaware North, enough to cut village property taxes by about half for its 3,335 residents, says the village’s mayor, Allan M. Dorman, a big booster of the casino.

But there is a lawsuit pending brought by some area residents seeking to close the Islandia operation. It alleges the village’s approval was fraught with illegalities. They further complain the casino will lead to crime, increased traffic and lower property values.  

Opponents of state-sponsored gambling have also long charged that it hits low-wage earners the hardest, causing debt, broken families and other personal tragedies—that gambling is often addictive and government shouldn’t encourage it. Years ago I researched and wrote an article on the Gamblers Anonymous group. Members spoke of the thrill of gambling—as opposed to betting—the difference being, they explained, they couldn’t afford to lose the money when gambling and this danger caused a certain “high.” They spoke of losing jobs and relationships and becoming hooked on what became a compulsion. Gamblers Anonymous remains active on Long Island and with a new casino here can be expected to be yet more active. 

A recent article in The Atlantic magazine related: “A significant portion of casino revenue now comes from a small percentage of customers, most of them likely addicts, playing machines that are designed explicitly to lull them into a trancelike state that the industry refers to as ‘continuous gaming productivity.’”

Karl Grossman is a veteran investigative reporter and columnist, the winner of numerous awards for his work and a member of the L.I. Journalism Hall of Fame. He is a professor of journalism at SUNY/College at Old Westbury and the author of six books.

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP - Upgrading Cesspool Systems With County Help

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP

By Karl Grossman

The Town of East Hampton is moving ahead with a program to provide financial assistance to homeowners and businesses to upgrade their cesspool systems with new technology that drastically reduces nitrogen discharges.

It’s a program that should be county-wide—and could be through a bill authored by State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. 

Some 75 percent of homes in Suffolk use cesspools. The Town of Smithtown is heavily cesspool-dependent. This is problematic because the waste they discharge sends large amounts of nitrogen into the underground water table and are a major cause of what has raised havoc with surface water, causing brown tides and red tides and otherwise setting off eutrophication.

But in recent years there has been the development of new sanitary systems that limit nitrogen discharges to extraordinarily low levels.

The hitch is that they cost about $15,000 each. The Town of East Hampton is creating a program under which rebates would be provided—up to 100 percent of the $15,000. The money would be obtained by a change approved in referenda in the five East End towns in November in their Community Preservation Fund (CPF). Accepted in referenda by East End voters in 1998, it has raised nearly $1.2 billion so far to save farmland, open space and historical sites. The change  allows for 20 percent of money raised by the CPF to be used for water-quality projects including the new low-nitrogen sanitary systems. The basis of CPF is a 2 percent transfer tax on most real estate transactions. It is paid for by buyers. The CPF also last year was extended by 20 years to 2050. 

There’s no such program in western or central Suffolk, although there was an effort several years ago to establish one in Brookhaven Town.

Mr. Thiele, of Sag Harbor, whose district includes Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island towns and a piece of Brookhaven Town, too (East Moriches and Center Moriches and parts of Shirley and Mastic) has just introduced a bill to establish a county fund dedicated to water purity so assistance for the installation of the improved systems that would be available countywide. Mr. Thiele has been central to CPF since its outset. His measure is somewhat similar to a proposal advanced by County Executive Steve Bellone last year. It also is  predicated on a charge on the amount of water used. 

However, there was resistance to the Bellone plan by some state legislators who feared  the money might be used by the county for other purposes.

Mr. Thiele’s bill provides tight controls. The monies collected would be in a “lock box” for no other use and, as noted in the measure, monitored through an “annual audit by an outside independent agency.” There would be a 15-member board of trustees administering what would be called the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act. The board would work with an advisory committee. Moreover, the program would only come into being if voters approve it in a countywide referendum. 

It would cover the entire county and on the East End be in addition to monies from the CPF. Mr. Thiele says that even with the CPF, the East End needs all the funding it can get too restore and preserve water quality. 

Also, he said, the state is “probably” going to allot several billions to back clean water initiatives so with the program “Suffolk would be in a position to leverage and attract those dollars.”

Under Mr. Thiele’s measure, there would be a “water quality restoration fee” of one-tenth of one cent per gallon of water usage. The first 125,000 gallons would be exempt. The amount of usage would be figured on the records of the Suffolk County Water Authority and other water companies, and for places where wells are used, a chart outlining estimates. “It is estimated the fee would generate $50 to $60 million annually for water quality improvement projects in the County of Suffolk,” says a state memorandum on Mr. Thiele’s bill.

The East Hampton plan, if approved by the town board, would provide 100 percent—up to $15,000—of the cost of new sanitary systems in the construction of new homes and businesses, mostly in areas designated as water protection districts. All new construction and any house or business undergoing substantial expansion would be required to have the low-nitrogen systems. “New construction, you’ve got to have new technology,” said Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell in a discussion of the plan at a board meeting last month. Outside of water protection districts, property owners replacing existing cesspools would receive half the cost of replacement and for those with modest income, up to three-quarters of the cost. .

Kevin McAllister, founder of the Suffolk organization Defend H20, who has long championed the new low-nitrogen systems, said he is “very pleased that East Hampton has taken the lead on this” and sees the county overall as “making great strides” in bringing the new low-nitrogen systems to Suffolk.

Karl Grossman is a veteran investigative reporter and columnist, the winner of numerous awards for his work and a member of the L.I. Journalism Hall of Fame. He is a professor of journalism at SUNY/College at Old Westbury and the author of six books.

Legislator Rob Trotta's Statement On Retroactive Promotion Of Elaine Barraga

Legislator Rob Trotta released the following statement on the retroactive promotion of Elaine Barraga. 

Nepotism at Its Best… 

Suffolk Legislator Trotta Denounces Approval of Legislation to Promote Daughter of County Legislator Retroactively for Last Six Years

When I was sworn into office as a Suffolk County Legislator, I took an oath to uphold the laws of the State of New York and Suffolk County, as did my colleagues on the Legislature and the County Executive. Apparently this oath has meant little to my fellow legislators and the County Executive as they think they are part of an elite ruling class who can make their own laws when it suits them for their own purpose. 

The law in question is the failure of the County Executive, the County Attorney and Legislator Tom Barraga to file the required legislation to promote and provide a pay raise for Elaine Barraga, in the Department of Law, who is the daughter of sitting Legislator Barraga. 

Ms. Barraga’s employment history with the County is as follows: 

• 2010 hired, with legislative approval,  as Senior Assistant County Attorney ($89,314)
• 2011 promoted, without legislative approval,  to Principal Assistant County Attorney ($95,030) 
• 2014 promoted, without legislative approval, to  Deputy Bureau Chief ($115,205)
• 2016 promoted, without legislative approval, to Bureau Chief ($150,540)  

“While I have nothing against Elaine Barraga and do not know her, I am appalled that the County Executive and County Attorney would now, when caught, introduce legislation to approve her promotions retroactively. Furthermore, I am disappointed that my colleagues see fit to support this legislation rather than uphold the laws of the Suffolk County,” said Legislator Rob Trotta. “I would expect this type of political scheming in Russia or a Third World country, but not in Suffolk County. What message does this send to the taxpayer? If you do something wrong you pay a fine, if the “ruling class does, we just change the law,” added Trotta.

“Furthermore, I find it troubling that the promotions of Ms. Barraga appear to coincide with at least two votes where Legislator Barraga voted along with Democrats on important bills,” said Trotta. “Legislator Barraga’s latest vote increased mortgage fees by $300, contradicting his previous vote in opposition to the budget that called for the increases. His vote for the fee increases enabled two Democratic legislators, who may face a tight re-election race, to vote against the fee increases even though they previously voted in support of the budget containing this and other fee hikes. The day before the vote, legislation was introduced by the County Executive to formally promote Ms. Baraga to Bureau Chief. What more can I say?” Trotta added.

During the discussion at the March 7 legislative meeting about the resolution to retroactively confirm the three promotions of Elaine Barraga, one Democratic legislator who had also voted against the mortgage increase conveniently left the room and was absent for the vote which passed 14 - 1 with Legislator Trotta voting no. 

St. James 2017 St. Patrick's Day Parade Saturday, March 11

***St. James St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 11***

The Board of Directors, of the St. James Chamber of Commerce, is proud to announce their selection of The Winters Family “Winters Bros” 2017 Grand Marshal, in their March 11^th St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

In 1950’s, James (Big Jim) Winters along with his brother, Joe, started a small, local trash hauling business on Long Island.  Through hard work, determination and a commitment to customer service the company grew.  Fairly soon the company branched out with an operation in Florida and a continued concentration on Long Island.  As time moved on, Big Jim’s wife, Brigid, joined the growing company and was a big part of the company’s future success.  Eventually, each of Big Jim’s and Brigid’s five sons (Sean, Joe, Jimmy, Michael and Andrew) joined the business.

In the late 1980’s Big Jim retired and left the business operations to his sons.  Sean focused on operating the Long Island business while the other brothers purchased a small waste removal company in Burlington, VT.  In just three short years, the Vermont business experienced rapid growth and became one of the largest waste services companies in the State.

But the Winters brothers’ love for Long Island endured and eventually all the brothers returned to the Island where they began an ambitious strategy of growth through acquisitions and a never-ending commitment to excellent customer service.  In 2011, Winters Bros. had an opportunity to expand their operations to Connecticut and Westchester and Putnam counties in upstate New York. 

Today, more than 100,000 customers depend on Winters Bros. for fast, friendly and reliable waste collection and recycling services.  Winters Bros. employs more than 525 people who care deeply about the environment and are dedicated to improving the communities we serve.  Winters Bros. is proud to be one of the largest recyclers in the northeast.  Winters Bros. also works with many local municipalities to help them organize and operate cost effective and sustainable waste collection and recycling programs.

From its humble beginnings, Winters Bros. has grown to become one of the premier waste collection and recycling companies in America.  We offer solutions for the management of solid waste and recyclable material and specialize in the collection, processing and sale of recyclable material and the collection, transfer and disposal of municipal solid waste.  With 400 collection vehicles, 14 transfer stations and 12 recycling centers, Winters Bros. uses cutting edge technology to advance recycle. 

Winters Bros. Waste Systems continues to build on a solid foundation that was established with a foundation of uncompromised integrity, treating people right, protecting the environment and doing the “right” thing every single day.

The Winters brothers are proud to call St. James their home.  The Winters brothers have deep ties to the St. James community and each brothers (and all of their children) attended Smithtown schools. 

The Winters Family has indicated that they are deeply honored, to have been chosen as Grand Marshal in the 2017 St. James St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  

“On behalf of the St. James Chamber of Commerce and our great Community of St. James, we want to give you the honor in our parade to say THANK YOU for all your time, service and truly notable, deserving, ‘pillar’ of the community, this year.” Congratulations on being chosen for our 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in St. James Grand Marshal.

“With my diligent parade staff that has worked very hard to kick off this year’s planning for the parade, it will be a great turn out!! Participating this year we have local businesses, clubs, organizations.” Parade Director Kerry J. Maher

PRINCE: Click on photos

Prince Mason Petrocelli is 1.75 years old. His great-great-grandma Winnifred immigrated to NY from Ireland. Mason loves to dance, sing, make funny faces, and say, “hi!” to everyone… especially puppies.  Mason is the son of Jeff and Nikki Petrocelli who have been married for almost 6 years after falling in love at Smithtown High School. He is the toddler barista at Soul Brew and a toddler model signed with an agency in NYC. He’s been featured in Gap & Burberry national campaigns. 

Prince Colin Loughlin is  10 years old, attends 4th grade in Mr. Casazza’s class at Saint James Elementary School. He loves playing football, riding his quad and hanging with his friends. He loves taking walks down to the water with his family.

PRINCESS:

Princess Josephine Loughlin - 7 years old, attends 2nd grade in Miss Fox’s class at Saint James Elementary School.  She likes gymnastics and hanging with her friends. She enjoys to color and draw pictures, playing with her puppy Tinker Bell, and being with her brother.

Princess Kieran Inzerillo-7 years old. attends 2nd grade at St. James Elementary. She likes girls scouts and dance. She enjoys reading , riding her bike and going to the beach. 

Princess Sophia Gavaris- 10 year old Sophia is fun, creative, funny and kind. She loves to cook, take her dogs for walks and enjoys hanging out with her 3 brothers.  She is a genuine, one of a kind, down to earth person!  

Princess Valentina Perciballi- 4yrs old, attends nursery school at The Ivy League School in Smithtown. Valentina takes tap and ballet at East Coast Artists Dance Center. Valentina enjoys playing outside, going upstate and anything involving jumping! 

Princess Jillian Donnelly-10 years old and she lives with her Mom, Dad, and sister, Emily. She is been in Girl Scouts for 6 years and plays on a basketball team. Jillian loves to read, play with her friends and be with her family. She loves to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with her friends and family at the St. James parade every year.

Princess Emily Donnelly is 9 years old She plays basketball and soccer. She has been in Girl Scouts for 4 years. She loves to sing, play guitar, and play with her friends. St. Patrick’s Day is an important holiday in the Donnelly house and we look forward to celebrating it with friends and family every year!

Princess Kara Greene- ivy league school, horseback riding, ballet& tap, drawing, kara completed in the 2016 Hampton classic and rides on the foxtail equestrian team.

Shea Lynne Milne- 8 years old and attends third grade at St. James Elementary School. She loves to play soccer, dance and play with her big sister Rylee. Shea enjoys gardening, pigs and playing with her dog Toby and her cat Sandy. She is the squiggliest kid I know.

Angelina DiGennaro-10 years old Loves to cook and bake. Enjoys arts and crafts of all kinds. Great dancer and has a super big heart. Always makes us laugh !

St. Patrick’s Day Parade the Parade Route:
We kick off our shamrocks at 1:00pm starting at the Smithtown High School East Parking lot next to the Track on Woodlawn Avenue. We traveled down Woodlawn Avenue to Lake Avenue to make a left onto Lake Avenue…following all the way down to the St. James  Gazebo right by the St. James Railroad Station. That’s where our Grand Marshal and our Princes & Princesses will watch the parade from the review stand.

We hope you can attend the best and biggest parade around!!!