NYSUT Gives Democrat Zove An Early Endorsement

Chalk one up for Democratic candidate Jason Zove. Months ago Zove decided he would step up to the plate and challenge Mike Fitzpatrick for his position as Assemblyperson in the 8th Assembly District. The district includes all of Smithtown. 

Jason received an early endorsement from New York State United Teachers’ (NYSUT) Board of Directors. He is the only non-incumbent to receive a NYSUT early endorsement. NYSUT is a 600,000 member union with members in education, human services and healthcare. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.

““I want to thank the NYSUT Board of Directors for their early endorsement which will make a tremendous difference in our campaign and I am confident that we will be successful in November with their full support,” said Zove. “For the last 12 years we have been represented in Albany by someone who puts politics first above our best interests, and, unlike my opponent, I will be a leader who will not turn his back on public education and our children.” Jason Zove.

On The Wings Of An Eagle - Eagle Scout Tim Hardy

By Dana Klosner

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Craig Mastandrea (L) and Eagle Scout Tim HardyIf you’ve driven down route 347 where it intersects Jericho Turnpike in Commack at the Elwood-Commack Veteran’s Memorial Site you might have noticed something new. A 14 foot wooden carving of an Eagle stands proudly at the site.

It’s all part of Eagle Scout candidate Tim Hardy’s Eagle Scout Project. Tim is a member of Troop 8 in East Northport. The eagle was a donation from family friend Craig Mastandrea, a chain saw artist, who owns Wood Cut Design in Port Jefferson Station.

When Hardy, 15, a sophomore at Commack High School, saw the overgrown state of the Memorial Garden last year he decided he had to do something about it.

He knew he wanted to undertake a landscaping project for his Eagle Scout project. He went to Suffolk County and asked what needed to be done. They suggested the site.

“Everything was overgrown,” Tim Hardy said. “The cannon was rusted and the grass was four feet high.”

Finished project“He was upset that the site was run-down,” said his mom, Jodi. “He felt it was disrespected. He felt he had to do something to benefit the community.” 

Hardy went to work. He got the approval from the Suffolk County Boy Scout Council. Then he sat down with a family friend and drew up a sketch of how the site would look when completed. 

Then he got to work getting donations. Two Home Depots donated cement and other necessities. Sherman Williams in Commack donated paint for the cannon and Greenland Nursery in East Northport donated a Maple Tree, some perennials and annuals, Jodi Hardy said. 

Hardy also held a car wash and raised $800. 

But, perhaps the most noticeable donation came in the form of a 14 foot Eagle carved out of wood. 

“We couldn’t come to terms with anything else that would represent America than an Eagle,” Mastandrea said.

 “It was an absolute honor to do this project for the Scouts and the Veterans,” he said. 

It took 200 hours, five days of work but Tim and his troop made the site beautiful. 

“We weeded the site – [with a donated rottotiller], mulched it, trimmed all the hedges, painted the cannon and added benches from Loews,” Tim Hardy said.

“He really put 100% into it,” Jodi Hardy said. “He didn’t cut corners; he did it truly from his heart. For example, he used dark wood chips because he thought they look nicer and he put down a weed barrier to prevent weeds from growing back. He wanted it to look as nice as possible for years to come.”

His hard work was appreciated by the veterans.

Memorial Day“When I saw the park I thought it was amazing,” said John Gilmartin, Post Sr. Vice Commander of VFW Post 9263 of Elwood-Commack.

Gilmartin said he found out quickly who was responsible for the beautification and wanted to let him know he appreciated the fabulous job he did.

Gilmartin contacted Tim Hardy’s mother and asked him to march in the Memorial Day Parade along with the veterans.

“He had an honorary position for the day,” Gilmartin said.

But that’s not all. Gilmartin introduced Tim Hardy at the podium in front of hundreds of people and told them what he did. 

“We wanted him to get recognition,” Gilmartin said. “When people pass by in the future they will see it and we will be very proud.”
 

Kings Park Yacht Club's First Annual Boater Safety Event and Boat Parade

By Chris Biancaniello

            Members of the Kings Park Yacht Club (KPYC) gathered Saturday morning at the Nissequogue State Dan Aiello addresses life vest safety (click on photo to enlarge)KPYC - Boat Safety EventRiver Park North Marina for their first annual Safe Boating Day and Life-Jacket giveaway. Club members raised money for the vests by hosting a boater safety course.  Dan and Alan Aiello (Son and Father), both members of the Kings Park Yacht Club, taught the course, and used the money charged for the course to purchase over 100 life jackets and to distribute them free of charge.

            The goal of the Boat Safety Event was to raise awareness for boater safety, as well as to encourage the use of life vests. As Captain Dan Aiello noted, “…accidental drowning accounts for two-thirds of all boating related-fatalities.” Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick was in attendance and praised the Yacht Club as a “…great organization that promotes the safe enjoyment of water.” Assemblyman Fitzpatrick also noted that, “this is what Long Island is all about- it’s all about the water.” Also in attendance was NY State Senator John Flanagan who noted the importance of the event stating that, “Safety is paramount and this will save lives.”

KPYC Clubhouse (click on photo to enlarge)KPYC Boat Parade (click on photo to enlarge)After a few short speeches, the real fun began when members of the Yacht Club (who incidentally are not required to own a boat) took attendees out for a trip on the water exposing them to the true beauty of Long Island’s North Shore as well as promoting membership in the Yacht club. The club itself is open to just about everyone and sponsors various events including fishing contests. Members often meet at their clubhouse (a converted houseboat that sits in the Nissequogue), as well as take trips to the shores of Connecticut.

Regional Director Wayne R. Horsley (click on photo to enlarge)The Boat Safety Event also highlighted the beauty of the Nissequogue State River Park, as well as the promise it is showing. Much to the appreciation of the Yacht Club members and attendees, Regional Director of Parks Wayne Horsley mentioned his plans to help “make the Nissequogue River a premiere state park.”

The KPYC members hope Boat Safety Day will become an annual event, they will continue to preach fun, but more importantly safe fun out on the water. As park director Bill Purtill said, “It’s a feel good day on the river. The Kings Park Yacht Club’s doing this event is a great thing, and I believe it is indicative of how the Kings Park community operates as a whole.”

KPYC members were pleased to have NYS Senator John Flanagan, Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick,  Long Island Director of State Parks Wayne Horsley, Director of Sunken Meadow State Park Jeff Mason and Nissequogue State Park Director Bill Purtill show their support for the Safe Boating Event and Boat Parade.

If you would like information about the KPYC Boat Safety Course contact Captain Aiello at aldente311@aol.com. For information about the Nissequogue River State Park 

Smithtown Democrats Support Upholding The Will of The Voters

Smithtown Democrats Chairman: NYS Assembly Made the Right Choice on Smithtown Bill

Earlier this week, The New York State Assembly approved an Act extending the time within which certain elected officers may file their oaths of offices, thereby negating the need for a Special Town Board election this November. Assemblymen Edward Hennessey (D- 3rd AD) and Michael Fitzpatrick (R- 8th AD.) sponsored the bill. Specifically, the new law enables “any duly elected town officer or officers within the town of Smithtown as of the last town- wide election that failed to take or file their respective oaths of office within the statutorily prescribed period shall continue to serve in such capacity and for the term from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2017.” The bill now moves to Governor Cuomo’s desk for final approval.

The Chairman of the Smithtown Democratic Committee commended the members of NYS Assembly that voted to pass this measure, one that reflects the will of Smithtown’s voters to re-elect Supervisor Pat Vecchio and to elect Lynn Nowick to the Town Council this past November. Smithtown Democratic Committee Chairman Ed Maher said, “I applaud the members of the Democratic majority in the NYS Assembly for embodying a spirit of cooperation and civic responsibility that obviously does not exist in Smithtown Town Hall.” Mr. Maher added, “A special election would be a gross misuse of taxpayer funds, so we’re fortunate that the Democrats in Albany are helping to clean up Smithtown’s mess.”

Suffolk County's Women's Bar - 30 Years In The Making

By Dana Klosner

In March the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association(SCWBA) celebrated its 30^th year. 

The world was a much different place for female lawyers thirty years ago than it is today, said Valerie Manzo, Esq. the organization’s founding president and Smithtown resident.  “There were no women judges in Suffolk County at that time.”

SCWBA’s Past PresidentsThe group was formed by twenty female attorneys who started out just having lunches together.

“Some of us were inside the DA’s office, some were private practice attorneys,” said Manzo. “We would have lunch, share information and mentor each other. We started to notice we were not being recognized on the pipeline for higher positions and judicial positions.”

Manzo said they asked the Big Bar – the co-ed Bar- for representation on a committee that evaluates potential candidates. It was denied at that time without a reason being given. 

“Generally speaking we were told that we didn’t have enough experience and that we weren’t practicing long enough,” Manzo said. “We came up with a list of how long each person had been practicing.”

The group met for lunches in 1982 and 1983 then officially began the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association in 1984.

“We were sworn in by Justice Marie Santagkta,” Manzo said. “She had to come in from Nassau County to swear us in because there wasn’t a single woman on the bench in Suffolk County. She installed all the officers.”

There was already a group called the Nassau/Suffolk Women’s Bar Association but the meetings for Suffolk County lawyers were a logistical nightmare, Manzo said. 

Legislator John Kennedy, Valerie S. Manzo, ESQ. First President, SCWBA, Justice Sandra L. Sroi, Appellate Division Of The NYS Supreme Court , Bernadette Castro, Supervisor Patrick R. Vecchio, Legislator Robert Trotta, Tara A. Scully, Esq. President SCWBA - 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SCWBAThe organization is still affiliated with the Nassau/Suffolk Women’s Bar Association and is one of 18 chapters of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York - WBASNY

“Our organization meets the needs of women lawyers,” Manzo continued. 

Now there are plenty of women on the bench, Manzo said. 

“In 1982 the Hon. Mary Werner – who was a wonderful judge and a Senior Assistant District Attorney would say she could count all the women who had been in the DA’s office on two hands,” Manzo said. “Quite a difference from today.” 

“We got to know each other’s practices,” Manzo continued. “When a member of our organization – male or female – [because there are male members] would run for a judiciary position many of us would be on a committee. We would work on campaigns and cross party lines. We would help each other out. Now it’s not uncommon for a woman to be in a judicial position. People don’t think twice whether it’s a man or woman running. “

But the work is not over. 

“There are still a lot of glass ceilings left,” Manzo said. “We need to make inroads. We’re not represented on corporate boards as much as our numbers would indicate. [About] 83%  of Congress is male. Some say our numbers are dropping and we need to wake up. We’ve become complacent.  We should be leaders.  Fifty percent of the population is female and we are not in leadership roles. This is a national treasure we are not utilizing. We are competing on a global scale for everything. Why not use all of your population when it comes to leadership roles.”

“The goal of the organization as a whole is to promote the advancement of women in the legal profession and improve the status of women in society,” said the organization’s current president Tara Scully. “The SCWBA has impact on the local level, but, what many don’t realize is that the organization has significance statewide, nationally, and internationally as well. Locally we do things like provide free mammograms to the community by bringing in mammogram vans twice a year, we take collections for service members on active duty, we collect clothing for domestic violence victims reentering the workforce, assist the Cohalan Child Care Center in fundraising, food and book donation collections. As a statewide voice, the organization is regularly asked to comment on legislation impacting the profession and/or women. Internationally, the WBASNY has a special consultative status to the United Nations.”

On a personal level, Scully said the group has provided her with a professional home. A group of women, of broad and diverse backgrounds that are accessible to her at any given time for any reason. 

Later this month the group will install its new officers with Lisa S. Fine taking over as president.