History In The Making - Town Hall To Be Dedicated To Patrick R. Vecchio

Smithtown continues to celebrate its 350th Anniversary by making history with the dedication of Town Hall to Long Island’s longest serving Town Supervisor, Patrick R. Vecchio.

In 1978 Smithtown a newly elected Patrick R. Vecchio began to serve the residents of  Smithtown as Town Supervisor. Since 1978  Mr. Vecchio has maintained his office at Town Hall located at 99 West Main Street, Smithtown. Earlier this year Town Board members decided that 2015, the year we celebrate Smithtown’s 350th anniversary, would be a good time to recognize Supervisor Vecchio’s service to Smithtown. On March 3rd Smithtown’s four town council members Thomas McCarthy, Edward Wehrheim, Robert Creighton and Lynne Nowick decided that an appropriate way of recognizing Supervisor Vecchio’s service to Smithtown was by dedicating Town Hall in his honor.

March 3, 2015 Patrick Vecchio was surprised to learn Town Hall will be dedicated in his honor.On March 3rd, 2015 the four Smithtown Town Council members approved the following resolution:

WHEREAS, Patrick R. Vecchio, the son of Italian immigrant parents, was born in Manhattan’s Little Italy was raised in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, and in 1968 began to call the Town of Smithtown his home.

WHEREAS, Patrick R. Vecchio served his Country as a member of the U.S. Army during the Korean War, was honorably discharged in 1954, and, thereafter, began a distinguished law enforcement career when he joined the New York City Police Department in 1955; and

WHEREAS, Patrick R. Vecchio’s remarkable career as a police officer spanned 20 years serving as a detective sergeant, the chief of security for former New York City Mayor John Lindsay, and as a member of a special unit responsible for the protection of visiting dignitaries, including United States Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy; and

WHEREAS, following his retirement from the New York City Police Department in 1975, Patrick R. Vecchio embarked upon what would become a legendary career in politics and was elected Supervisor of the Town of Smithtown in 1978: and

WHEREAS, Patrick R. Vecchio has served as Supervisor of the Town of Smithtown for the last 38 years and is the longest tenured Supervisor in the history of Long Island; and

WHEREAS, during his illustrious tenure as Town Supervisor, Patrick R. Vecchio has enriched the lives of generations of Town residents and maintained an unwavering commitment to fiscal responsibility: and

WHEREAS, in light of Patrick R. Vecchio’s life-long service to the public and the residents of the Town of Smithtown, the Town Board deems it appropriate to dedicate the Town of Smithtown Town Hall Building in his honor.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board hereby approves that the Town of Smithtown Town Hall building located at 99 West Main Street, Smithtown, New York shall, this 3rd day of March 2015, be dedicated in honor of Patrick R. Vecchio 

The Smithtown 350 Foundation together with the Smithtown Town Council are sponsoring the dedication ceremony which will take place at Town Hall (99 West Main St., Smithtown) on Sunday, November 1, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. Guest speakers include County Executive Steve Bellone, NYS Senator John Flanagan and NYS Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick. The public is welcome to attend and show their support for Long Island’s longest serving Town Supervisor Patrick R. Vecchio. 

10th Annual Taste of Smithtown Celebrates A Decade Of Helping Those In Need

10^th Annual Taste of Smithtown Celebrates a Decade of Helping Those in Need

 By Nancy Vallarella

MosaicOn Tuesday, November 17^th, the 10^th annual Taste of Smithtown will take place at Mercedes-Benz of Smithtown in Saint James. Traditionally, this event is known for Smithtown’s culinary businesses putting their best food forward. Over the past decade, it has grown to support Smithtown residents in need of assistance in addition to children world-wide in need of heart surgery.

RelishThe Taste of Smithtown is a great platform to network with the Smithtown community.  Smithtown Rotary members associated with Senior Resources of Long Island originated the fundraiser. The event was built on helping children world-wide through the Gift of Life.  Over the first several years, it became apparent that assistance was also needed at home.

Crazy CrepeIt is not uncommon to drive down Brooksite Drive and see residents waiting for the food pantry to open.   Pat Westlake, Director of the Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry, assists thousands of families within Smithtown. The pantry is solely funded through contributions from Smithtown residents and businesses. Proceeds from the Taste of Smithtown help to fill the void of much needed food staples.

For the past eight years, the Smithtown Children’s Foundation has been aiding families within Smithtown that have encountered financial and emotion stress. Although they run various fundraisers throughout the year, the Taste of Smithtown is an opportunity to engage a range of Smithtown residents like no other.  From local business owners to high school students, SCF rallies to raise awareness and funds to continue to aid those within our community who are encountering difficult times. 

This year’s participating businesses reached out to the event’s organizers with unprecedented enthusiasm.  Within days of posting a save the date notice, a record number of culinary business confirmed participation. Villa Sorrento and Crazy Crepe Café were among the first participants to register along with loyal sponsor, Elegant Eating. 

MosaicThe food is sure to amaze based on the beautifully presented, mouth-watering and interactive tasting from last year’s event.  Over thirty culinary and wine businesses will be present including new comers: Whisper Vineyards, Azueljos Mexican Restaurant, and Up in Smoke BBQ. 

Mosaic of Saint James along with MV Limousines have donated a Night Out on the Town.  - Dinner/Cooking Demonstration and Wine Pairing for 2 with Limousine Transportation will be won by a Taste of Smithtown ticket holder. To qualify: purchase your ticket before the November 2 cutoff date! 

All paid attendees will be taking home a goodie bag chocked full of food themed samples and promotional offerings in addition to the chance to win raffle prizes at the event. Please refer to Taste of Smithtown’s Facebook page for updates and ticket purchasing info. On-line ticket purchasing: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-of-smithtown-tickets-18871147109

Last Town Council Candidate Debate Before Election Day

Four candidates, invited three showed-up.  Supervisor Patrick Vecchio, not invited, not physically present and not a candidate, still very much present in the answers and statements given by candidates Creighton and Wehrheim. Smithtown Matters and Smithtown Messenger hosted a debate for Town Council candidates Tuesday evening at the Smithtown Fire House. Four candidates Robert Creighton, Lisa Inzerillo, Larry Vetter and Edward Wehrheim were all invited to participate. Lisa Inzerillo declined the invitation. A panel from local news outlets were tasked with questioning the candidates. The questioning from the panelists lasted one hour and then the floor was open to questions from the audience. 

Despite political affiliation Creighton, Vetter and Werheim were in agreement on lot of positions. The first question of the night went to Councilman Creighton about pay to play. Candidate Creighton took the opportunity to clear the record regarding an incident involving accusations that involved his son attending his golf outing fundraiser. A clearly unhappy Creighton expressed his frustration with accusations that mar his reputation and question his integrity. 

The second question went to Larry Vetter about the brain drain. Vetter listed the reasons young people leave Long Island which include the lack of job opportunities for our highly educated children,lack of community and the lack of affordable housing. Vetter pointed to areas of opportunities including multi-family housing, redevelopment of the Hauppauge Industrial Park and sewers for downtowns. Wehrheim pointed to the void created by the demise of Long Island’s defense industry. He spoke of efforts to reinvent the industrial park by creating a high tech park with high paying jobs. Creighton said the “Brain drain  was a human drain.” He pointed to the vacant lot across the street from Town Hall saying that multi tenant housing for young people and seniors would help people stay in Smithtown.  This proposal, said Creighton, has the support of Councilman Wehrheim. Creighton brought Supervisor Vecchio into the discussion pointing out how he has changed his position from opposing to recently supporting the redevelopment. 

Edward Wehrheim answering a question.The third question went to Edward Wehrheim and addressed the acrimony on the Town Board. Wehrheim acknowledged problems, but the bad behavior, “Doesn’t come from our end.” Wehrheim said that he and Creighton are courteous and professional and prepared, not childish and foolish.”  Wehrheim elaborated on the success he and Creighton have had bringing in tax-rateables. Creighton said there was a “ certain amount of division on the board” and that he and Wehrheim try very hard. He mentioned consolidation of services as an area that has fallen victim to partisanship with Vecchio and two others on the board opposing it. 

KP Civic Association President Sean LehmannOther questions included the 2% tax cap which the candidates agreed was a “necessary evil”. Vetter and Creighton would not support breaching the cap and Ed Wehrheim said that if there came a time when there was not enough money to fund services like snow removal, then he would support breaching the tax cap. The candidates spoke about efficiencies, commissioners, mandates, and updating town building code. 

Commissioners were Creighton and Wehrheim’s answer to Patrick Vecchio’s control over department heads. Creighton said it would be cost effective and challenged an Inzerillo piece suggesting that the piece overstated the cost of commissioners. All Town Board members act as liason to departments assigned to them by the supervisor. Councilman Wehrheim has resigned as liason to all the departments he was assigned. His reason for proffering his resignation is interference by Supervisor Vecchio. Wehrheim suggested that department heads are unwilling to speak with him for fear of retribution by the Supervisor. 

Estimated counts have between 80 and 100 people attending the debate which lasted two hours and covered a great deal of territory. All three candidates were well prepared and stated their positions effectively. There were no flubs and some insightful moments. Robert Creighton and Edward Wehrheim are clearly running as a team. Many times they answered questions with Councilman Creighton and I or Councilman Wehrheim and I …….  Larry Vetter, a first time candidate, was able to articulate a common sense and practical approach to governing. His message was, I will do what is in the best interest of the public. 

Councilman Wehreim gave the most impassioned closing statement. He adamantly exclaimed, ” I probably know more about town government than anyone, even the supervisor.” Wehrheim went on to challenge people to hold Inzerillo accountable for not attending the recent debates. He made the case that a person unwilling to go before the public is not worthy of receiving your vote. 

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd.

Op Ed- November 3rd Vote To End Stagnation

By Larry Vetter

Remember, remember the third of November. Although not quite the original saying (which referred to the fifth of November), this phrase made popular in a movie a few years back actually dates to the infamous gunpowder incident in British history and a character named Guy Fawkes. He railed against the monarchy and his sentiment may be quite fitting for modern day Smithtown.

Tuesday, November 3, is Election Day and this year is a local election year. Although most voters are energized during a national election year, the local elections have more of a direct effect on your everyday life. The conditions of your towns, parks, roads, neighborhoods and the value of your homes and quality of life are impacted by what your local officials do, or more so in the case of Smithtown; not do.

Our townʼs stagnation coincides with the seemingly endless years our political officials remain in their positions. We have two incumbents, one with twelve years in office and the second with eight, now asking for another four years, which will give them sixteen years and twelve years respectively. Although nice people, they have been by their own admission ineffective because of endless bickering with the supervisor and the supervisorʼs appointed officials as well as being stifled by the other town board members. Another four years from each of these individuals is simply going to amount to four more years of ineffective government.

There are two remaining choices. One candidate who is new on the scene has vowed in her own op-ed pieces to maintain the status quo and vote with the supervisorʼs every plan. Isnʼt that what we already have? Isnʼt that a big part of the stagnation? The other person that is running is also new on the political scene and is I.

I am the fourth candidate. I have outlined my entire campaign, the issues facing us, and many of the strategies I will employ to tackle these issues, since my nomination. The outlines have been in the form of op-ed pieces available through on-line publications and print publications locally. My background has been and still is in the private sector. I have been able to accomplish much during my career simply be being persistent, diligent and honest. I intend to bring that level of commitment to government. The idea is not wholesale change, but an adaption of Smithtown to a point to make us ready to meet the needs of the future, ensuring that our children, grand children and great grand children have good lives and a great town in which to reside.

I implore you to do the research on not just my candidacy, but also all who are running. Make an informed choice and please take the fifteen to twenty minutes

needed to make your voice heard by voting on Election Day. Do not leave the choice to someone else.

I want to take a moment to thank all in Smithtown for this opportunity to run for office. It is something I have never done and I feel privileged to live in a country where anyone who cares and wants to do something has that opportunity. I will be voting on Election Day and I hope you all will join me at the polls. 

Larry Vetter is the Democratic candidate for Town Council

OpEd- Blips Within Town Should Make Voters Think Before Voting

By Larry Vetter

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Albert Einstein

The quote above is one of the most oft cited quotes these days. It seems to pop up in conversations and articles at least weekly. It has become quite applicable to the Town of Smithtown. I propose that if we continue to elect our town officials and conduct our town business the way we do, we make this quote our official town motto.

I am the Democratic nominee running for one of the positions of Town Council. Since my nomination, only five short months ago, we have had a number of blips within the town.

• The Smithtown animal shelter supervisor resigned under a cloud. That was soon followed by three resignations of volunteers helping to steer the shelter on the right course. That was followed by a rift within the town council as to who knew what and who told what and who didnʼt say what.

• The Smithtown Parks Department had two top officials resign suddenly “under a cloud of controversy” after the public demotion of an employee and a subsequent letter from that employee. Please tune in later because I am sure there is much more to unfold.

• The Smithtown highway superintendent resigned also under a very dark cloud. There is a felony charge waiting, as well as an unresolved lawsuit against the town.

There is nothing funny about this chain of events. While this is going on, government is not. Now add the fact that there is a 104 million dollar budget attached to this dysfunctional display. As voters, we are now tasked with Election Day 2015 on November 3.

There are several choices ahead. We can re-elect two incumbents who have been in office 12 years and 8 years respectively. By their own admission, they have been ineffective while the above has been going on. The supervisor has blocked them, the supervisors chosen officials have blocked them and fellow town board members have blocked them. They are now asking us to ensure another four years of stagnation, by re-electing them to the same position among the same people to accomplish what? The same thing? Please refer to the quote at the beginning of this letter.

Another choice is to elect a new Republican candidate for office. She has vowed in her own op-ed pieces to continue the work that the supervisor and town board have been doing by voting for all programs put forth by the supervisor and keeping Smithtown the same as it has been. Sounds like a nice plan if we were running efficiently. However, please refer to paragraph three as well as the quote at the beginning of this piece.

I am the fourth choice. I have no ties to the town board. I am a private citizen who has worked within the private sector my entire life. I bring a great deal of very useful experience to the table. I also bring a record of success and accomplishment. I am not looking for a new career or a patronage job and instead will attempt to move the town forward. I think independently and have watched for 35 years as our town has slipped. I have published my entire campaign within the local newspapers and on-line so that there are no questions as to how I intend to move forward. My opponents underestimate me by simply pretending I donʼt exist.

November 3, 2015 is a much more important date than most people realize. It is an opportunity for everyone to revisit the Einstein quote and decide whether we want to continue as we have been for so long, or if we want to begin steering Smithtown toward a path that is filled with promise for the future and a desire for improvement. Local issues matter a great deal and local elections are decided by the few. If you ever wanted to have your vote matter, now is the time. 

Larry Vetter is the Democratic candidate for Smithtown Town Council