Kings Park Man Charged With DWI After Striking Coworker With Vehicle

Suffolk County Police today arrested a Kings Park man for driving while intoxicated after he struck a coworker with a vehicle in a parking lot in Fort Salonga early this morning.

Kip BeermannKip Beermann was driving a 2001 Ford pickup with a trailer attached in a parking lot off Meadow Glen Lane when he struck his coworker, Kevin Schmidt, who was working in the parking lot.

Schmidt, 47, of Setauket, was transported to St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown where he was treated for serious injuries. Beermann was not injured.

Fourth Squad Detectives charged Beermann, 52, of 363 Meadow Road, with Driving While Intoxicated and will be arraigned tomorrow at First District Court in Central Islip.

The Suffolk County Police Motor Carrier Safety Section conducted a safety inspection of the vehicle at the scene.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Smithtown Dish – small bites of foodie news

Smithtown Dish – small bites of foodie news -  By Nancy Vallarella 

The competition for your grocery dollars in the Smithtown/Lake Grove area is stiffening up. This is really good news for the consumer. Businesses will fight for your dollar by providing extra customer service, higher quality products and competitive pricing, or they will get swallowed up by the competition. 

There are little extras popping up here and there.  

I recently noticed Uncle Giuseppe’s publishing recipes in their sales circular. Quick, simple and using several of their featured items.  I did try their recipe for fig and prosciutto pizza and found it simple and delicious. This week’s circular recipe is stuffed zucchini. It looks equally promising, especially with the zucchini priced at 99 cents per pound. 

No doubt while shopping for these recipe items, Uncle G’s is counting on you to pick up your grocery essentials. While strolling through the store you may also be inspired to create your own quick and simple recipe using their products. I did…

Deconstructed Eggplant Parmesan

1 medium globe eggplant 

2 cups panko breadcrumbs

½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano- Reggiano

2-3 large eggs lightly beaten

1 pint container of Uncle Giuseppe’s ciliegini with cherry tomato*

Chopped fresh basil leaves - optional

 Slice up 1 medium eggplant - 1/2” slices. Dip slices in egg then panko breadcrumbs mixed with 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano. Place slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper with a light coating of olive oil. Add a mist or drizzle of olive oil on top of each slice. Bake about 12 min. at 400 degrees until golden and soft in the center. Let rest 10 minutes. Plate with marinated ciliegini with cherry tomato from Uncle Giuseppe’s and there you have it! - - Buon Appetito!

*Slice ciliegini and tomatoes in half to stretch portion for more servings. Basil may be added to taste.

Three Times A Charm - Vecchio And Nowick To Take The Oath Of Office Tuesday, June 24

There will be a swearing in ceremony for Supervisor Patrick Vecchio and Councilwoman Lynne Nowick  on Tuesday, June 24 at 12:30 pm on the steps of Town Hall. Judge John Toomey will swear in both Vecchio and Nowick.

Last week Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation sponsored by NYS Senator John Flannagan and Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick allowing Nowick and Vecchio to fill out their four year term of office. Earlier this year Town Clerk, Vincent Puleo declared the positions vacant when Vecchio and Nowick’s required oath of office were not filed as required by law. 

Demos Or Zeldin - Republican Voters Get To Decide

By Chris Biancaniello

Tuesday morning at 6am Republican voters will head to the polls to vote on who will represent their party against 1st electoral district U.S. Congressman Tim Bishop. The two candidates vying for the position are State Senator Lee Zeldin and former federal prosecutor George Demos.

Lee ZeldinThis is not Zeldin’s first attempt to unseat Bishop who has held the office since 2003. He previously ran against him in 2008, losing by a 16 point margin of 58-42%. Zeldin, an Iraq war veteran is currently serving in New York State’s 3rd District State Senate seat as he has since defeating Democrat Brian X. Foley in 2011. He’s garnered strong support from several notable Republicans including former presidential candidate and Arizona Senator John McCain, as well as Rick Santorum, and former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

Zeldin’s opponent, George Demos, is familiar with the primary for this position asGeorge Demos he ran for the same position in a 2010 primary. Demos ultimately lost to Randy Altschuler, who was unable to unseat Bishop after attaining the Republican nod. Demos is backed by Mayor Rudy Guiliani and Governor George Pataki.  It is also worth noting that Demos has raised nearly twice the funds for his campaign as Zeldin, a large part of which comes from his own personal wealth and those close to him.

When the polls close tomorrow at 9PM the Republican nominee will be determined. As of now there is no clear leader. Both candidates are said to have different styles of conservatism, Zeldin is known for compromising on some issues in order to focus more on others, while Demos is considered to be more uncompromising in his conservative beliefs. Tomorrow will mark the end of an arduous campaign for one of the two candidates as the other will begin preparing for the general election in November.

Voting begins Tuesday, June 24 at 6am and ends at 9pm. Only Republican voters can vote in the primary. Find Your Polling Place

LI Regional Director of NYS Parks and Recreation Wayne Horsley Loves His Job

By Dana Klosner

(click on photos to enlarge)

Wayne Horsley speaks at Kings Park Yacht Club Safe Boating EventWayne Horsley took the reigns as Long Island Regional Director of Parks and Recreation on December 17, 2013. He says he loves his job.

“This job is the opportunity of a lifetime and a dream come true,” he said.

Prior to becoming regional director he was a Town of Babylon Town Councilman for six years. Then he won a county legislature seat where he was a presiding officer and ran the county legislature for a short period of time.

“I was there for the hard times of the recession,” he said. “I helped keep the county afloat. Now it’s on its way to financial solvency and reward.”

He heads the administration of 38 parks on Long Island and oversees the historic matters and recreation that involve the state parks. This includes parks from Valley Stream to Orient and Montauk Points, he said. This is the largest park region in the state as far as attendance and different types of parks are concerned. The remodeling of Jones Beach is underway with $65 million in government and state legislation. 

“Jones Beach will have the look of Robert Moses and Jones Beach state parks built in 1929, but it will have the amenities and infrastructure of a 21^st century park,” he said.

“People don’t know what’s on Long Island,” he said. “It’s got the largest recreation system, I believe, in the United States. People take it for granted. I like to show it off.”

For example, he said, Bethpage State Park has the Black Course golf course. The Barclays Golf Tournament will be held there in 2016. In 2019 the US Open will be held at Bethpage Black. The Ryder Cup will be held there in 2024. This is a huge international golf tournament to be held at Bethpage State Park. There have been US Opens with Tiger Woods playing there. 

“It’s the greatest public course in the country,” he said. 

Sunken Meadow Golf CourseAnd, at Sunken Meadow State Park the club house for the golf course was just redone. Currently they are in the process of rebuilding the central mall buildings which have not been touched since its inception.

Marina at NRSPThen there’s the Nissequogue River State Park (NRSP) carved out of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center. The most Northern Area includes a marina and soccer field which is used by the soccer club of Kings Park. The administration headquarters is there and there are several hundred acres of park ground. 

There is a large section outside the State Park that is under state park authority. The northern section of the old Psychiatric Center grounds is dedicated to Nissequogue River State Park. The rest of the area has lots of buildings and is under the jurisdiction of the State Parks. There are no long term plans on what’s going to happen to take down those buildings, he said.

 “We are creating a first class park, but right now there are many big buildings on the park grounds,” he said. “Senator Flanagan approved some dollars in the state budget* to take down the buildings. Lots of folks are saying can’t we hurry up. These are very large buildings and they are costly to take down. We will take down those in the worst shape.”

Healing Garden at the NRSP (Donated to the Park by the Commack-Kings Park Rotary Club and Nissequogue River State Park Foundation )The Nissequogue River State Park overlooks the sound. It will always be a State Park. The rest may be as well, we just don’t know yet, he said. 

Some of the most beautiful waterfront property is on the Nissequogue River State Park,  he said. 

“When you look at the Nissequogue River from the water you look at the park itself,” he said. “It’s one of the most beautiful places on Long Island, or maybe anywhere. When you look at the shore you can see Osprey and Cranes and people swimming. When you come out of the mouth of the river you see Sunken Meadow Park and you see how it all fits in. Nissequogue River State Park is a first class State Park. The people of Kings Park and the people of New York should be proud.”

*NYS Senator John Flanagan secured  $30 million for use at the Nissequogue River State Park.