Political Or Economical - Residents May Get To Decide Fate Of Elected Positions

By Chris Biancaniello

Supervisor Patrick Vecchio Swearing In ceremony Jan. 2014Supervisor Patrick Vecchio is looking into a possible public referendum to decide whether the positions of Town Receiver of Taxes, and Town Clerk should be changed from elected positions to appointed ones. According to Supervisor Vecchio, the proposal is being considered to save the town some $225,000 and is recommended in a 2008 report by the New York State Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness.

In a conversation with Smithtown Matters last month, the 36-year incumbent talked about NY State’s 2 percent cap on tax increases for municipal budgets and how challenging it is to put together a realistic budget and remain within the cap. He predicts that governments at all levels will be looking for creative methods to remain under the cap. 

Town Clerk Vincent Puleo Town Bd. Meeting Feb. 2014Vecchio acknowledged that some may see this as a political move as both Receiver of Taxes Deanna Varrichio, and Town Clerk Vincent Puleo supported his oppenent in the last election. He denies that this proposal is political, declaring that he is just looking to cut costs wherever he can with minimum impact to the taxpayers. He does not believe that the proposal infringes on the democratic process due to the fact that the proposed change must go before residents (tax payers)  in a public referendum. Residents will get to vote in support or opposition to the iniative in a public referendum. 

Not everyone agrees.  “I don’t know where he gets off saying he’s going to save money!” says Puleo. “We take in over $650,000 and touch over 20,000 people. There are 11 towns [in New York] that have over 100,00 people and they all have elected officials. I’ve saved this office $6-700,000 over the past nine years. There’s no initiative for someone who is appointed to do the same. All of the hits that are being thrown my way, they don’t consider the people in my office. Come in and you will see the level of professionalism we display.”

Issues between Vecchio and Puleo go beyond who Puleo supported in the election,  recently there was controversy surrounding the fact that both Supervisor Vecchio and Councilwoman Lynne Nowick failed to turn in the required signed oath of office verifying their acceptance of their positions. The failure to turn them in resulted in the Town Clerk Puleo declaring the positions vacant . Vecchio and Nowick were appointed by the three remaining council members to a one year term (maximum allowed by law). An election to fill the remaining three year term was to take place this November; however, the state stepped in passing legislation that rendered such an election unnecessary. Some attribute these problem to Mr. Puleo because in the past the Clerk’s office made sure the the oaths were signed and filed. A job Puleo says he is not required too.

As for the position of Receiver of Taxes, Puleo says, “Are you going to replace Deanna with someone who is making less? Are you going to put someone in with less experience?” He believes it is unclear that these cuts will even save money. 

Councilman Creighton - June 2014Councilman Creighton is infuriated by the idea that because people supported him, they will have to pay for it with their jobs now some 6 years after the State report came out, “Mr. Vecchio was just saved by the will of the people, and now he’s trying to disenfranchise them. It is absolutely and positively a political move, he would never have touched these positions in the past.” Councilman Creighton did not mince words when he said Vecchio’s proposal is, “Vindictive, arrogant, stupid, unnecessary, and it will not save a dime.”

If there is to be a referendum on the Supervisor’s proposal in November, Town Attorney Matt Jakubowski will need to work quickly to create the legislation.  Once the legislation is created a majority of the Board members will need to support the idea before it can be decided by voters in November.

Smithtown HSE Student Patrick Teese Off To China On State Department Scholarship

From Local Track to Global Trek for St. James Teen

Patrick Teese Off to China on State Department Scholarship

By Maureen Rossi

Patrick TeeseA normal summer for Patrick Teese might include a job, some projects for school and hanging out with friends.  It would be also be punctuated with trips to Short and Long Beach in his town of Smithtown and an occasional movie.  A few years back the seventeen year old volunteered at a track camp and said that was a lot of fun.

“My Aunt lives in Atlantic Beach on the South Shore one block from the beach so my cousins and I go there as well,” he shared.

This summer, however, there will be no sand in between the toes of the soon to be Smithtown East Senior; he will not be munching popcorn while catching a blockbuster hit.

Teese left for a six-week trip to China on Tuesday morning to study the language and the culture.

A recipient of a merit-based scholarship for American students to study language through the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), he will be staying with a host family in Jiaxing, China.

NSLI-Y is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.  The program was launched eight years back to increase Americans’ capacity to engage with native speakers of languages deemed critical to foreign relations.  This scholarship goes to fewer than six-hundred students throughout the U.S.

The scholarship covers the cost of domestic and international travel, tuition and related academic expenses, daily language classes and supporting cultural activities, room and board and secondary health benefits.   The program also includes trips to help American students learn Arabic, Hindi, Korean, Persian (Tajik), Russian and Turkish.

  It was a dream of Teese to study abroad and he contemplated it for some time.

“I found the information on the trip online.  The State Department pays for it — it was free — so I brought it up to my mom and started applying,” he explained.   Teese said he was thrilled when he learned he was awarded the scholarship. 

Patrick C. Teese, in his tuxedo, ready for the Senior Prom.The St. James teen spent his last night prior to a two-day orientation outside of Washington, DC with his parents and relatives at a family wedding.

“My cousin Nick has dated Jessica for a very long time and I wanted go up to the wedding in Cobleskill before I left,” he added.    Right after the wedding, he flew out of Albany to Virginia for his orientation.

  Teese said the orientation would cover safety, rules and procedures before he and other teens from around the country flew to Shanghai.  When asked if he would be joined by fellow Long Islander’s the teen said it wasn’t probable.

“There is someone from Queens going to same city a me – there are other people on Long Island who received this scholarship but there are a bunch of departure dates to different countries so we won’t meet half the kids,” he continued. 

He did say there was a Facebook page for the applicants and the alumni so the scholarship winners could ask question and share concerns.

“Through the alumni page I learned it’s supposed to be very hot and the consensus was that it was going to be a life-changing experience and that I should enjoy every minute of it,” he shared.

A language aficionado, Teese had German 4, French3 and Italian 1 as part of his junior year schedule at Smithtown High School East.  He’s also in AP English and a Student Aide to his German teacher, Frau Specht.  In addition, he is a member of the National Honor Society, the Math Honor Society, the German Honor Society, English Honor Society and Athletes Helping Athletes. 

His passion and interest don’t lie in academics alone.  Patrick is a Varsity athlete who partakes in the Cross Country, Winter Track and Spring Track seasons.

The 2014 Eddy Meet Champions: The Smithtown HS East 4x800 Meter Relay squad won the trophy and set a new school record of 8:05.16.  Pictured ()l-r) are Coach Kathie Borbet, Matt Whalen, Patrick Teese, Eric Herrmann, Eric Melcer, and Coach Kurt Margraf.“I absolutely love running but I’m not sure when I started running, probably in middle school when I started Cross Country in seventh grade,” he remembered.

The youngest of four siblings, all tremendous athletes, particularly when it came to volleyball, he laughed at his own feeble attempt at the game.

“I tried out for Volleyball in seventh grade but I hit the coach with the volleyball,” he shared.   “I also remember going to my brothers’ soccer games.  I was in the field and it was pretty cold and someone kicked the ball and hit me right in the face,” he shared.  Teese said he was only five or six but that might have taken away any continued interest in that sport.  

  Maybe soccer or volleyball weren’t on the radar for Teese but once he started running, it was apparent to most around him he was quite good at track. As the years went by he began to excel in the sport.  As ninth-grader, he was third in Suffolk County in the Freshman Cross Country championship.  As a sophomore, he was All-League in the Indoor 800 Meter Run.

This year, he was a key part of the Smithtown East Boys 4 x 800 Meter Relay squad that garnered the championship trophy, and a new record time for East, at the prestigious Eddy Meet in Schenectady.  He said that the event was particularly exciting. 

“We were seeded for second place and came in first and also landed a record for the school,” he explained.

  In addition to praising his athletic ability, his track coach, Kathie Borbet, praised everything about him.

“He is one in a million.  He is one of the most caring people I’ve ever met, he cares about every kid on the team, cleans up the garbage on track and on top of that he’s a really good runner,” she said.

She shared that she admires his dedication to the sport and the team and that he’s always helping and doing and she finds that amazing.

“He always helps me carry stuff to my car and at the end of the season he replaced my ratty red chair with a chair he had made for me with my name on it,” she added.

She said it was the best gift she ever received, that it was so very sweet of Patrick.

“He’s so smart, the kid has everything going for him,” said Borbet.   A school Nurse and the coach of the Cross Country, Winter and Spring Track Teams, she was the first to hear about his scholarship.

“I said ‘What did your parents say?’  He said ‘you’re the first to find out!’”  

  Peter Schieck was Teese’s German teacher in seventh grade when Patrick started his language studies. Schieck, the Smithtown West Boys Track coach, shared all of Coach Borbet’s sentiments about the young athlete.

“He’s a great kid, he’s very mature; this is a young man you want to see represent America,” said Schieck.   He added that everyone in the district is very proud of him.

In 2013, Patrick was honored by the American Association of German Teachers, Long Island Chapter, for his excellence on the National German exam.  Pictured are his German teacher, Frau Samantha Specht, Patrick, and Smithtown HS East principal Ed Thompson.   In a pre-departure interview Teese said he was enormously excited and feeling very adventurous, he said he had no trepidations about the six-week journey to a foreign land.

“I’m definitely looking forward to creating memories and I’m excited about meeting my host family and optimistically keeping a relationship them,” he shared.   Teese said the family has a fourteen-year old son.  He’s not sure if they all speak English, but said the son will probably have knowledge of it since many Chinese schools teach English.   

Teese (SHE Class of 2015) is not sure about what career he will pursue but said it will probably include something  to do with International Relations.   As to college choices, he hasn’t made any decisions yet.  He did share that he will most likely stay on the East Coast.

Patrick Teese will be blogging from China (in English not Mandarin) and we hope to share some of his adventures with our readers throughout the summer.   

Op Ed - Historic Moment For Heroin Epidemic

The Beginning of the End? Historic Moment for Heroin Epidemic

Maureen Ledden Rossi

Family members and anti drug advocate Maureen Rossi joined by Legislators Cilmi and Trotta celebrate the singing of NYS legislation to help those dealing with addiction.History was made in Albany on Wednesday June 18^th when Governor Cuomo signed a series of critical bills designed to help combat the state’s burgeoning youth heroin crisis.  Those of us on the front line of the Movement; families of the addicted, those in recovery, treatment providers and grassroots civic organizations applaud these bills.  However, there were a few critical things left on a table in the Capital, things that must still get done if we are going to beat this thing and it’s incumbent upon all of us to beat this thing.

Unfortunately, what the Governor calls the greatest health crisis of our time and the C.D.C calls an epidemic is now a statewide problem.  No stranger to Long Island; we have been grappling with this youth epidemic for a decade.  Thousands of families have been affected in Nassau and Suffolk County; thousands of parents have buried a child and become part of a club no parent ever wants to join.  The loss of young life on Long Island in unquantifiable.     National experts in the field say Long Island was Ground Zero, however, despite numerous experts weighing in; hard numbers for both counties are very difficult to find.  The gaggle of reporters covering the epidemic at the Capital kept asking for those numbers.   Unfortunately, neither Suffolk nor Nassau County Health Departments have configured or published this data.  In 2010 the Long Island Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) reported two hundred and forty-two deaths from opiates and in 2011 they reported three hundred and forty seven with an anticipation of a higher number in 2012.  

During Cuomo’s press conference with leaders of the Senate and Assembly at his side, he spoke first the most critical bill of all, the Insurance bill.   He said there has been a lot of confusion with regard to ascertaining treatment.   However, for those of us trying to ascertain a bed for a young addict, there was never any confusion.  It was abysmally apparent that blatant discriminatory practices were at play.   They were told they are not high enough or don’t use enough heroin for detox, opiate withdrawal wasn’t lethal or they must fail at outpatient therapy prior to being provided inpatient services.   The profiteers, the big insurance company executives, have been playing Russian Roulette with the precious lives of Long Islanders and young people all over the state.  There is nothing confusing about that.  We watched helplessly as kids as young as eighteen and nineteen who overdosed two or three times were denied the proper medical treatment for their life-threatening disease.

The passage of the Insurance Bill appears to be an enormous victory but there are provisions missing that leave people with knowledge of the inner workings of Insurance companies worried and skeptical    The Insurance bill is supposed to remove obstacles to treatment by providing a more rapid appeals process if someone is denied.  It also ensures care will be provided while the appeals process is underway.  This is a win.  It is supposed to hold the hand of the Insurance companies to make sure they use recognized, evidence-based and peer-reviewed clinical review criteria, approved by the State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), when making decisions regarding the medical necessity of treatment.  Unfortunately , it turns out that this verbose phraseology might not be enough because the bill doesn’t require plans to cancel out or change their ability to have their own medical necessity criteria.  Ideally the definitions of the Insurance term medical necessity would have been standardized and transparent to beneficiaries with the exact same language for every carrier.  On the upside, the bill does ensure that these medical necessity decisions are made by medical professionals who specialize in behavioral health and substance use.   Elected officials on both sides of the isle believe these measure will make a palpable difference.   Critics remain cautiously optimistic.

The passage of this compromised bill that still has merit did not come about with ease.  Hundreds of Long Islanders made numerous trips to Albany in the last two months where parents of those lost told their excruciating tales of these Insurance denials to lawmakers.   They also shared their stories in the eighteen hearings around the state hosted by the Senate Joint Task Force on Heron & Opioid Addiction.  A bi-partisan effort, it was headed by Long Island’s own Senator Phil Boyle as its Chairman.  Those hearings played an integral part of the historic passage of bills that Boyle says will be the beginning of the end for this epidemic.

As the minutes of the last week in Albany ticked down, there were vigorous negotiations back and forth between the Assembly and the Governor’s office with lobbyists for the Movement.   The Senate was on board from the beginning, at the end of the day the Assembly and the Governor held the final cards.  They wanted the law to sunset in three years, it will not sunset.  They were pushing for a January 2016 start, we wanted it to be effective immediately – it will now go into effect until April 2015.   There was great pushback about the oversight, about the audits to be done by the Department of Financial Services (DFS).   We wanted enhanced DFS oversight of carriers with random audits to ensure the proper protocol was being followed.   However, it seems that it will be business as usual because they agreed to continue to do an audit every three years.  This is the current practice – this has not worked, from this vantage point, it appears we did not win this battle.

Sadly, in addition, there were two critical bills that were left on the table.  One was originally the other half of the I-stop bill; it required doctors to receive three hour training on prescribing opiates biennially.  Although basking in the light of victory for the cumulative package, Long Island families and activists will be back in Albany in the fall to fight the education bill.  Too many young people have been prescribed into their addiction by well-meaning doctors who quite simply did not know enough about opiates.  Many addictions started as a result of treatment for; migraines, surgeries due to sports injuries, car accidents and dental procedures.   

The other bill that needs to be reexamined in the fall is the Sober Home Bill requiring the oversight and regulation of Sober Homes.    If run properly, these homes have the potential to play a critical role in maintaining and enhancing recovery when people phase out of inpatient.  Public awareness campaigns, prevention education and doubling the size of the state’s Narcotic Enforcement team were all a win.  Withstate representatives up for election in the fall in both counties, it’s game on.   Long Islander’s must report any difficulties they encounter when seeking treatment for their child immediately to their Senators and their Assemblymen.  These elected officials must be held accountable and this absolutely must be the beginning of the end.  

Caleb Smith State Park Preserve - A Beautiful Way To Spend A Day Any Time Of Year

By Dana Klosner

(click on photos to enlarge)

Bob White Quail release at Caleb Smith Park PreserveCaleb Smith State Park Preserve, located in Smithtown is one of two state nature preserves on Long Island, the other being Connetquot River State Park Preserve.

Caleb Smith State Park Preserve boasts 543 acres and has been in existence for 41 years. The state took over the land from the Wyandanch Rod and Gun Club formerly known as the Brooklyn Rod and Gun Club, according to Park Manager Clarence Ware.

Guests can watch the seasons change as they enjoy the park’s many amenities. During the winter months many people partake in cross country skiing and snow shoeing.

Throughout the rest of the year guests can enjoy 2 ¼ miles of hiking trails, with a half mile all access trail that is a stone dust trail, good for people with baby carriages or disabilities.

You can also enjoy the park’s many conservation programs for tiny tots all the way through adults. If fishing is more your thing adults can enjoy fly fishing along the Nissequogue River from April 1^st through October 15^th while those age 15 and under can enjoy the Junior Angler fishing program. The river and ponds are stocked with Rainbow and Brook Trout. You can also catch Bass, Bluegills, Pumpkin Seeds and Catfish. Fly fishing is in four hour sessions, from 7am – 11am and 11:30-3:30. There is a $20 fee for a four hour session and you must have a New York Sate freshwater fishing license.  You must call the park at 631-265-1054 from Wednesday to Sunday to reserve a sight. 

If you’re a birdwatcher, this park is the right place to be. You can see Osprey, Mockingbirds, Red Tail Hawks, Egrets, Swans and Geese and even Otters occasionally. 

“There is a pair of Otters in the park right now,” Ware said.

Along the hiking trails there are lots of rare plants, like the Pink Lady Slipper, the Trailing Arbutus and Indian Pipe.

The nature museum has recently been renovated. In it you’ll find information on the grounds, displays on insects, a meeting room, a junior naturalist play area and four display rooms: The Ponds Room, The River Room, The Wetlands Room and The Forest Room. Each of these rooms exhibit categories of wildlife that live in these areas.

Classes for tiny tots, ages three to five, include “Natural Discovery” which takes place once a week. Junior programs include “Mice are Nice” and “Busy Bee.” Adults can enjoy “Scouting Trails Less Traveled,” and “Custom Walking Sticks,” where you bring your own stick and you are taught how to develop it into a walking stick.

“We offer a natural environment where we teach people with all natural programs,” Ware said.

There is an $8 parking charge from Memorial Day through Labor Day. This is covered by your Empire Passport. Seniors are admitted free of charge Monday-Friday, but on weekends must pay the parking fee.

There is a $4 fee for environmental programs for those ages five and up and a $3 fee for children aged three to five. 

For more information go to www.nysparks.com -

Contact Information - 581 West Jericho Turnpike

Smithtown, NY 11787  (631) 265-1054

It's Official Vecchio and Nowick To Serve Out Their Terms

In what most people consider one of the strangest events in Smithtown’s political history Supervisor Patrick Vecchio and Councilwoman Lynne Nowick were sworn into office for the third time this year. 

A brief swearing in ceremony was held on the steps of Town Hall on Tuesday, June 24th.  Judge John Toomey presided over the two officials’ oath of office ceremony.  In one of the lighter moments Councilwoman Nowick explained how she is hoping this is the last time this year that she will have to be sworn in. “I won a primary in September, won an election in November, was sworn in in January. Lost my job in February was sworn in again in February and now in June.”  Supervisor Vecchio joked that he couldn’t afford any more swearing in celebrations.

NYS Senator John FlanaganSupervisor Vecchio thanked Senator John Flanagan, Assemblyman Mike Fiztpatrick and Governor Cuomo for their efforts in creating, passing and signing legislation that allowed for the two officials to fill out their full four year term of office. The legislation received the support of most of the state legislators across party lines.  

Earlier this year Town Clerk Vincent Puleo (Mr. Puleo was not present at the ceremony) declared the position of Supervisor and Councilperson vacant due to the absence of the legally required signed ‘oath of office’.  Nowick and Vecchio had failed to sign the required document within thirty days of taking office.

The Town Clerk’s office has resposiblity for maintaing documents, but according to Puleo the Clerk’s office has no reponsibility to seek out the signatures of delinquent signers.  

Time ran out and the positions were declared vacant.  Councilmen McCarthy, Wehrheim and Creighton agreed to appoint both Vecchio and Nowick to the positions they were elected to in Nov. 2013.  The caveat was that the appointment could only be made for one year. To hold their postions the two newly appointed Town Board members would need to participate in an election in November and once again win the election.  Option two was having legislation in Albany approved that would allow the two to serve their full four year terms.

Smithtown Democrats got behind the movement to pass legislation.  According to Smithtown Democratic Party Leader Ed Maher, ” Honoring the will of the electorate in the November 2013 election was the right thing to do.”  With support for the legislation crossing party lines it seemed almost anti-climatic when the Governor signed the legislation. 

Supervisor Vecchio - Richard Macellaro- Martin Aponte Tuesday’s ceremony was a nice way to end the saga of deliquent signatures,
but will it end the bickering and bad feelings at Town Hall? Only time will tell.