What's Cookin'? Smithtown - Kings Park Farmer's Market

What’s Cookin’? – Smithtown

By Nancy Vallarella

Where’s the (New York State Grass Fed) Beef?

You can find it at the 4th season opening of the Kings Park Farmer’s Market this Sunday, May 18th.

Coach Farms artisanal goat cheesesBernadette Martin of Long Island Green Markets has confirmed that many popular vendors will be returning along with some new additions. This Sunday expects to see Kalypso Greek Yogurt back with their fruity flavors tucked into those fabulous reusable terra cotta containers. Garden Fusion will be there with organic vegetables and herb plants. Coach Farms is returning with a variety of artisanal goat cheeses. One of the newest offerings is olive oil.  Entertainment, this Sunday, will be live music and Abracadoodle face painting for the kiddies.

Farmer and popular market  returnee Teddy Bolkas the “Tomato Whisperer” from Tomato Whisperer - Teddy BolkasThera Farms, Ronkonkoma, will be there with his hydroponic green goodness and something new; New York State Grass Fed Beef. According to Teddy, a variety of cuts will be available (steaks, ground meat, roasts) and bones for stock or furry four legged friends.  FYI ladies - for those of you that have been asking…Yes, Teddy is single.  You will find him on Sunday at the Kings Park Farmer’s Market and at the Nesconset Farmer’s Market on Saturdays starting June 7th.  Throughout the season, he will be bringing the greens, beef, beefsteaks and beefcake!

“It’s an early start this season.” Notes Alyson Elish-Swartz market co-founder, King’s Park Civic Association liaison and resident.  “The growth of the business has been remarkable. The Kings Park community has truly embraced this event and has volunteered their talents to help make it a success.” Alyson gets numerous calls from volunteers offering to provide entertainment and fundraising undertakings at the market for causes within the community. “We have come to the aid of our local food pantry (St. Vincent DePaul Society’s Food Pantry at St. Joseph’s Church) and provided a scholarship to King’s Park High School students over the past several years.

Social media has also been a major contributor to the growth. Kings Park Farmer’s Market has a facebook page and an e-mail newsletter subscription can be requested by sending a message to lbfarmersmarket@gmail.com.

Last fall Newsday documented a shopping trip at the market with local restaurant Café Red. It can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaKSSNRhBNw

Stop by this Sunday. Walk around, meet your neighbors and support regional food and craft producers. Remember my farmer’s market motto, “Arrive early for the best selection. Arrive late for the best conversation.”

The Kings Park Farmer’s Market is open from 9am – 2pm. It is located in the municipal parking lot on Rt. 25A across from the Kings Park Fire Department.

Nissequogue River State Park Foundation Completes Community Quilt 2014

Kids from the Commack and Kings Park school districts participated in the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation’s (NRSPF) 3rd annual Community Quilt Contest.  Students were given blank quilt squares and asked to use their creativity to decorate the square. Once completed the squares became part of the 2014 community quilt. Participants were asked to decorate a square with the theme What inspires me. 

The quilting event is the brainchild of NRSPF board member Karin Vanderveer. “Each year it has gotten bigger attracting more participants and more sponsorships. “This year we received 570 completed quilt squares. An overwhelming positive response.” said Ms. Vanderveer.  Sponsorships for the event included The Reichert Family - IGA in Fort Salonga and Larkfield, Smithtown Matters, The Hessel Family, The Hale Family and Signarama in Huntington. 

Awards were given out at the Administration Building at the Nissequogue River State Park on Saturday, May 10th.  Many of the awardees were present to receive their certificates and T- shirt. Families applauded and the kids beamed with well deserved pride.

2014 Commuinty Quilt awardees were:

Olivia Wolf -1st place, Alyssa Jacino - 2nd place, Sofia Cassara - 3rd place. 

Five people were awarded certificates for Special Recognition - Gianna Adduci, Riley Anelli, Eric Baldwin, Luc Deraney,  Lili Rath and Serafin Rohrer.

People Making News - SHS East's Jessica Martin

Jessica Martin – Athelete and Humanitarian

Jessica MartinOn April 26th, Smithtown High School East Sophomore Jessica Martin participated in the annual Bob Pratt Smithtown Invitational Track and Field Meet held at Smithtown HS East.  Jessica won the Girls High Jump with a jump of 5”4”.

Aside from being an amazing athlete, Jessica is also an incredible humanitarian.  At the meet, she held a raffle for various filled baskets and raised $500.  Jessica will use part of the money to purchase children’s toys and pajamas for the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Center at Stony Brook Hospital.  The remaining money will be donated to the Sunrise Fund which assists children with afflicted by cancer.

People Making News - Ladouceur Continues McCann High Jump Legacy

Smithtown West senior Alex Ladouceur is shown clearing the high jump bar at 6’-4”. Scene was the St. Anthony’s Invitational track and field meet on Saturday, May 3rd. Winning each of West’s outdoor contests this season, Suffolk champion Ladouceur succeeds last year’s stellar jumper Mike McCann who was named ‘County Athlete of the Year’ in 2013. McCann has taken his leaping prowess to the University of Nebraska, while Alex Ladouceur is headed to upstate Oswego in the fall.

Charges Of Harassment In Town Clerk's Office Leads To Transfer Of Deputy Town Clerk

If you find yourself asking “What just happened”, after Tuesday’s Town Board meeting you are not alone.  With a unanimous 5-0 vote the Town Board transferred Maureen Sussillo, Deputy Town Clerk I / Deputy Registrar out of the Town Clerk’s office into the Planning Department.  The transfer was stunning because of the rapidity with which the Town Board moved. 

According to Supervisor Vecchio, he received a letter from a Smithtown Administrator’s Guild (SAG) attorney alleging unacceptable working conditions and the harassment of Ms. Sussillo in the Town Clerk’s office. Copies of the letter were distributed to Board members. 

Town Clerk Vincent Puleo, in a telephone conversation Wednesday, said that he did not receive a copy of the letter. Puleo said he learned about the letter and the complaint about his office on Monday, May 5th at a golf outing when Councilman Wehrheim, also attending the outing, mentioned it to him.  

The attorney’s letter was discussed in executive session on Tuesday morning.  In his office after the Town Board meeting Councilman McCarthy explained that during the executive session it was decided that the risk of legal action was significant and an immediate transfer of Ms. Sussillo was warranted. At Tuesday’s 2 PM Town Board  meeting a resolution was a read-on (not part of the scheduled agenda) leading to the immediate transfer of Maureen Sussillo as well as the transfer of funds from the Town Clerk’s office to the Planning Department.

In his discussion about the transfer, Supervisor Vecchio noted that there has been “turmoil over the past year”. It is this turmoil that apparently led to Ms. Sussillo’s current inability to do her job which council-members  McCarthy, Wehrheim and Creighton agreed  she did well.

The type of harassment that took place in the Town Clerk’s office has not been made public. Town Clerk Puleo said he couldn’t comment on it, but he was unaware that any harassment took place. As of Wednesday afternoon, Puleo said he had not seen the SAG attorney’s letter, had not had a conversation with the Town Attorney, and had not spoken with Ms. Sussillo.  ” I am in the dark about all of it. There was no memo, no discussion. I found out about the transfer on Tuesday at 1:20pm.” Puleo said he has requested from the Town Attorney a copy of the alleged letter and the allegations. 

What happens now that the Town’s Deputy Clerk I position is vacant? Puleo said “We’ll get things done. We are working at reorganizing. It may be slow but we’ll get it done.”  According to Puleo, the Clerk’s office is short-staffed. He hopes to move the 2nd Deputy Town Clerk  Susan DeHaven into the Deputy Town Clerk I position and will be requesting funding to hire to fill vacant positions. 

Councilman Wehrheim, in a phone conversation Wednesday said he will be speaking with the Town Clerk about his staffing needs. Wehrheim was effusive with his praise of the work Ms. Suscillo has done in the Town Clerk’s office. He also praised Puleo for his modernization of the office, the use of technology and increased transparency. Wehrheim said the clerk’s office is extremely busy and he will support restructuring and hiring.

Ms. Sussillo has been employed by the Town of Smithtown since 1989 and has worked in the Town Clerk’s office since 1992. According to Planning Director Frank DeRubeis, Maureen Sussillo has skills that make her a perfect fit for his department. Calling her an expert in record management he delineated a long list of tasks that have been on the back burner that will become Ms. Sussillo’s responsibility. 

Maureen Sussillo declined to comment for this article.