Smithtown Man Drives Into Bldg. On E.Main St

Commercial bldg. 227 E.Main (photo courtesy Smithtown public safety)A motor vehicle traveling westbound on Middle Country Road crashed into a vacant building at 227 E. Main Street on Monday, August 4, approximately  9:50 am.  The driver of the vehicle, a 66-year-old Smithtown resident, was taken to St. Catherine’s of Siena Hospital for observation.

2009 Jeep Wrangler crashed into 227 E. Main St. Monday, Aug. 4 (photo courtesy Smithtown Public Safety)According to Smithtown Fire Marshall Nicholas Kefalos; A 2009 jeep wrangler driven by a Smithtown resident was heading westbound on Middle Country Road when he swerved. As he attempted to correct the swerve he collided with another vehicle before leaving the road and hitting the commercial bldg. located at 227 E. Main St., Village of the Branch.

The building which was vacant at the time and is currently on the market(photo courtesy of Smithtown Public Safety) sustained damage on the left side, but did not damage any weight bearing walls. Apparently, according to Kefalos, the jeep went up the steps before hitting the building.  

Neither of the drivers, both Smithtown residents, involved in the vehicle crash are believed to have sustained serious injuries.

Can You Help? Claudia Bowers Kidney Transplant Fundraiser

Claudia Bowers Kidney Transplant Fundraiser

Friends and family in Smithtown  have always rallied around each other in times of need. Whether it’s been for a neighbor fighting cancer or a family who lost their house in a fire, those in the community have long held fundraising events like spaghetti dinners and silent auctions to help their neighbors through difficult times.  

Now, through a growing trend called crowdfunding, they are taking these efforts online.  

Friends and family of Claudia Bowers have set up a crowdfunding page on the popular crowdunding website, GiveForward.com. 

So far, the friends and family of Claudia Bowers have raised $1,950 for medical costs associated with her kidney transplant since the campaign launched on July 29.

Just over a year ago, Claudia, who has been a Smithtown resident for over 38 years, was diagnosed with renal failure, a debilitating disease that forced her to retire from a job she loved as Suffolk County Girl Scout’s Director of Camping Services. The diagnosis, which also requires her to go to dialysis three times a week at St. Catherine’s of Siena Hospital in Smithtown, often times prevents her from spending time with the loves of her life, her grandchildren.

There is, however, a light at the end of the tunnel for Claudia. In September, her sister, Alyson Capone, of Daytona Beach, Florida, will unselfishly give her the gift of life by donating one of her kidneys to her big sister.  The operation will take place at the University Hospital at Stony Brook.

Of course, with a kidney transplant comes costs — costs that the insurance company won’t cover, including medications that Claudia will need to take to prevent her body from rejecting her sister’s kidney. Due to what is called a “donut hole,” in the insurance system, Claudia will have to pay $5,000 out of pocket for these expenses. This is why a fundraiser has been set up in her name. 

“Raising this money is so important to help my mom on her way to good health. It has been a long road since her diagnosis and we are forever grateful to everyone who has stepped up to help,” said Erica Jackson, Claudia’s eldest daughter.

To learn how you can support Claudia Bowers, please visit http://gfwd.at/1qLf44M or go to www.GiveForward.com and search for Claudia Bowers, Kidney Transplant Fundraiser the campaign closes on October 30, 2014.

A Facebook page to provide supporters with updates has also been created and can be visited here: https://www.facebook.com/Claudiastransplant?ref=hl

About GiveForward

GiveForward.com is one of the world’s leading online fundraising websites and the easiest way to raise money for a loved one in need. It is the #1 platform to start a medical fundraiser with 99 cents of every dollar going directly to the people who need it.  It is the only online fundraising site with fundraising coaches who provide fundraising ideas and guidance on how to raise money online. 

Smithtown Is Paddle Board Territory

By Dana Klosner

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Paddle boarding is the fastest growing water sport in the country now, according to Joe Funaro, owner of Long Island Stand Up Paddle Board Company based out of Smithtown’s Long Beach. And Smithtown is on top of that trend. You can find classes on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings through the Town of Smithtown Recreation and Parks department that sail out of Smithtown’s Long Beach. Classes are $40 and are taught by Funaro, who also sails out of Sunset Harbor Yacht Club in East Patchogue. He’s got boards in Lake George and Clearwater Florida. He sails out of six locations on Long Island that are Smithtown’s Long Beach, South Hampton, East Islip, Oyster Bay, Setauket and the Connetquot River. 

Paddle Boarding started in the Hawaiian Island a couple of hundred years ago, Funaro said. Big wave surfer Laird Hamilton brought it to the mainstream.

Funaro, a former Jones Beach lifeguard and current gym owner, saw Paddle Boarding in Florida eight years ago. 

“We used to stand on surf boards 15 or 20 years ago (on Jones Beach),” he said. He bought some boards and integrated the sport into his routines at Body FX the gym he owns in East Islip. Now the gym has classes in Yogalates, Boot Camp and Yoga all on the board.

“Paddle Boarding works for people at any age,” Funaro said. “It’s easier than surfing. For surfing you need much more instruction. For Paddle Boarding you can take one lesson and you’re doing it.”

With Paddle Boarding the wind has a factor in it but it’s not driven by it. For surfing, it seems like the stars have to be aligned for it to be perfect, Funaro said.

“In Paddle Boarding you don’t need a wave,” he said. “The boards are thicker, wider and longer, that gives them their balance.  You can stand on a Paddle Board for hours. You can do it anywhere. You can do it in calm water.”

That’s why Long Beach is good for the sport. It’s calm, it’s not that windy, it’s flat and there is not a lot of boat traffic, he said. 

There is no age restriction or background in water sports necessary to start paddle boarding. 

“I took a guy out who was 75,” Funaro said. “He had some challenges but inevitably was able to do it. You’re not going to start surfing at 75.”

And, if you get a shorter paddle even an 8 year old can do it. 

“I took a girl out who didn’t know how to swim,” he said. “People take kids 3 or 4 years old out on boards with them, they’re that stable.”

And it’s a relatively inexpensive sport, he said. 

“You can take an intro lesson for $40,” Funaro said. “Then you can buy your first board and paddle for $550. Boards go up to $4,000 and paddles go up to $500 but then you’re paying for lighter boards that are good for races. The lighter the board, the harder it is.”

For Myles Feeney, 19, of Smithtown, this was something he wanted to try after he saw people doing it in Montauk.

“It’s fun,” said Feeney who has gone kayaking. “I thought it would be more challenging. It looks hard, but it’s easy and nice and relaxing. You can even sit down if you get tired. A lot of people go kayaking because they think it’s easy because you’re sitting down. Paddle boarding is easier and more fun than kayaking.” 

Kathy Albrecht, 50 of Smithtown thinks of paddle boarding as a great workout.

“It’s great to be on the water and get exercise,” said Albrecht who goes to the gym five times a week. “There’s nothing more beautiful than being out in Long Beach and going into Stony Brook Harbor. It’s just magnificent. Paddle boarding is the hottest new fad for people over 50 because it’s easy on the joints. It’s a wonderful addition for the Smithtown Parks and Recreation program.”

To book a class call Smithtown Parks and Recreation at 360-7644 or call Joe Funaro directly at 326-7926.

Smithtown Dish – small bites of foodie news

By Nancy Vallarella

Chef Guy Rouge of Mirabelle - pig roast Aug. 29Really Local Foodie Deals, Steals and Fab Events!

Saturday August 2, stop by the Nesconset Farmer’s Market as they launch their August Give-a-Way…a Paderno Vegetable Slicer! To be eligible to win, register with your email address at the manager’s stand.  Recipe demonstrations using this appliance which slices vegetables into spaghetti and spiral shapes will take place each Saturday during the month of August. For more information reference Nesconset Farmer’s Market Facebook page.

Every Tuesday enjoy $2 tacos for lunch at Del Fuego in Saint James. Choose from beef, chicken, pork, brisket and fish.

Every Wednesday until September 3^rd – Sunken Meadow Seafood Fest 6pm- 9pm Field 1 Pavilion. ½ lobster, mussels, clams, corn, peel and eat shrimp and potato - $26.

Whisper VineyardThis summer enjoy  Wine Down Thursdays at Whisper Vineyards in Saint James. From 12 – 7pm enjoy 25% off glasses of wine! Cheese and antipasti platters available.

Date Night Thursday at the Chop Shop in Smithtown offers a choice of soup, salad or appetizer, your entrée and a bottle of wine from Date Night Menu - $59 ++/per couple.

Friday, August 29^th Chef Guy Rouge of Mirabelle at The Three Village Inn, Stony Brook will be hosting his end of summer pig roast! Save the date, this is a local culinary treat!

Give It Back - Business Owner MJ Kim Wants Hess To Adhere To Covenants

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“What sets America apart from the rest of the world is not voting or democracy, it is America’s support and commitment to the fundamental law of property rights” - MJ Kim owner of State Farm Insurance business located at 2102 Jericho Tpke., Commack.

MJ Kim - Outside his office Jericho Tpke. CommackMr. Kim has operated at the same location on Jericho Tpke. for twenty-two years. During those twenty-two years Mr. Kim shared a driveway  (curb cut allowing access) on state road 25 with the gas station on the corner of Harned and 25.  According to Mr. Kim the curb cut was similar to other curb cuts on the road with the first thirteen feet of property belonging to NYS.  

The filling station went out of business, the property fell into disrepair and was a boarded up vacant blighted site for many years.  A proposal was made to demolish the old filling station and to build a Hess gas station with a retail operation. Variances were required for the retail operation. Public hearings were held and the public showed up in large numbers with a majority opposing the granting of variances which would allow for the retail operation. The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approved the variances. The Town Board was divided with Councilman McCarthy, Creighton and Malloy supporting the proposal and Supervisor Vecchio and Councilman Wehrheim in opposition.   Between the time Councilman Malloy lost his election and before the the new board was sworn in, the board moved to approve the Hess proposal which included the variances.  

New Hess station corner of Harned and Jericho Tpke. CommackMr. Kim spoke quietly at the public hearings, not in opposition to the proposed Hess Station, but he spoke in detail about his business, his roots in the community and his business needs. (Mr. Kim was born in South Korea and moved to the U.S. at the age of five. Kim lived in Setauket attended Ward Melville HS and attended church in Commack. He has a bachelor’s degree from Stony Brook University and a masters from Adelphi University.) Not surprisingly access was his concern. His remarks revolved around ensuring that his business would be able to survive and thrive as it had for twenty-two years.  According to Mr. Kim, he has spoken with representatives at the Planning Department, NYS Department Of Transportation and the owners of the property, Lenny and Mike Icovino, who in a letter to Mr. Kim proposed the purchase of Mr.Kim’s property.   All offered assurances that Mr. Kim’s concerns would be addressed.

Mr. Kim, in an interview in his office Monday, July 28th, expressed his frustration with the Town, the DOT and with his future neighbor. Earlier this month, after receiving permits from NYS DOT, thirteen feet of Mr. Kim’s curb cut was removed narrowing access to his property without his consent.  To add insult ot injury, construction vehicles parked on the street in front of his property obstructed visibility and access. Mr. Kim pointed out that he located on Jericho paying a premium for his property because of its visibility and accessibility.

Mr. Kim has documents showing covenants on the property which allow him access and parking in the back of the property which have been eliminated by the ongoing construction. A second covenant, according to Mr. Kim, is the prohibition of a restaurant facility to be built on the site, which he argues is exactly what Hess is doing by serving food and beverages.

According to Mr. Kim the town is denying any responsibility for covenants suggesting it is a civil matter. 

What does Mr. Kim want? He wants his curb cut returned to its former state, cross access and parking, and he wants to be allowed to operate the way he has for the past twenty-two years. How does this end? Mr Kim has secured legal counsel and is going to do whatever is necessary to have his property returned to its original state.  “I’m not stopping at the first round. This will continue until I get satisfaction and I am left alone.”