Democratic Chairman Ed Maher Calls Out Creighton & Wehrheim Over Failure To Follow Campaign Finance Law

Creighton and Wehrheim Ignore NYS Election Regulations

SMITHTOWN, NY- Ed Maher, Chairman of the New Democratic Party of Smithtown, was outraged today when he discovered that Town Councilmen Bob Creighton and Ed Wehrheim were negligent in filing their campaign finance reports by the required date.

“Their 32-Day Pre-Primary Financial Disclosure report was required to be filed with the Suffolk County Board of Elections by Monday, August 10,” said Ed Maher. “Amazingly, as of 11:04 a.m. on Tuesday August 18, they had still not complied with this New York State election regulation – over one week after it was due!” 

“This is what happens when career politicians, who have been in office forever, think that the rules don’t apply to them,” continued Mr. Maher. “By ignoring New York State Election regulations, they demonstrate their indifferent disregard for the public. If they can’t comply with a simple filing deadline, how can voters trust them to budget their tax dollars?”

“Hypocritically, both Mr. Creighton and Mr. Wehrheim were ‘sticklers’ for the rules during the failed attempt to remove Supervisor Vecchio after his re-election in early 2014,” said Chairman Maher. “When their Conservative Party ally, Town Clerk Vincent Puleo tried to invalidate the legitimate election of Mr. Vecchio on a technicality, both Councilmen Creighton and Wehrheim originally supported this action. It’s also important to note that Mr. Puleo did not attempt to make Mr. Vecchio aware of the deadline.”

“This hypocrisy on the part of these two career politicians is a perfect example of why people have begun to lose faith in their elected officials,” concluded Mr. Maher. “This November, the voters of Smithtown have the opportunity to vote out the incumbents…ethical conduct matters.”

Smithtown Historical Society Restores Homestead Porch

Historic Homestead Porch Restored

In April 2015 the Smithtown Historical Society began groundwork on an exciting buildings & grounds project made possible by a generous anonymous donor. After receiving some much need preservation work, the Judge John Lawrence Smith Homestead was ready for the restoration of its front porch. Once a beautiful gathering spot for the family, this architectural feature was lost over time as the structure underwent multiple renovations. Under the guidance of Mancini Architecture and the craftsmanship of Schoolhouse Remodeling, the physical reconstruction is complete and the house is back to its original glory! “To have this porch be completed, to have this building be completed, is such an achievement for the Smithtown Historical Society.  With this new structure we are now able to tell another chapter of the story of the families that lived here,” said Executive Director Marianne Howard.  “We are very grateful to our anonymous donor, Mancini Architecture and to School House Remodeling for helping to make this dream a reality.” 

Ribbon Cutting: (l-r): Architect Mark Mancini, School House Remodeling Owner & Contractor Matt Fleece, Executive Director Marianne Howard and Town Historian Brad Harris celebrate the completion of the Smithtown Historical Society’s Historic Judge John Lawrence Smith Homestead with a ribbon cutting and community barbecue.A ribbon cutting ceremony announcing the official opening of the porch was the centerpiece of the Smithtown Historical Society’s annual community summer barbecue.  More than 100 community members gathered around the porch to celebrate its completion and to enjoy an all you can eat barbecue catered by Panico’s Community Market. Refreshing Italian ices were also served thanks to the generosity of Uncle Louie G’s of Smithtown. The barbecue was made possible through the sponsorship of Mancini Architecture, Neal and Janice Richman, People’s United Bank, School House Remodeling, Uncle Louie G’s of Smithtown, Dot and Peter Micciche, Carolyn and Jim Borella, and Fairway Market. 

The barbecue was just the beginning! The porch will allow the historical society to use the historic house in many new ways for educational and social programming. Currently the society is working on developing special events to showcase the building’s recent addition. Ms. Howard is confident that the new porch will serve the community well, “It will be such an asset to us and the community for generations to come.”

Two-Vehicle Crash Sends SUV Through Park Bake Shop In Kings Park

photos courtesy of Michael Shtanko - click on photos to enlarge.

A two-vehicle crash Sunday, August 9 at 3:52 a.m at the corner of Main Street (25 A) and Pulaski Rd. sent one vehicle, an SUV, through the door and wall of Park Bake Shop 112 Main Street, in Kings Park.  

Park Bake Shop owner Lucy Shtanko said in a phone conversation with Smithtown Matters that she was shocked by the incident and extremely relieved that their were no serious injuries. “Things happen and even though the damage to the bakery is substantial the important thing is that those involved were able to get out of the car, everything else can be repaired.”said Lucy.

According to Police the Fire Marshall and the Smithtown Building Inspector deemed the building structurally sound.  Park Bake Shop is open for business, but there are a lot of repairs to be made. The vehicle went through the front of the shop taking out glass cases and counters, even the ceiling was impacted.  

According to Suffolk County Police minor injuries were sustained by those in the vehicles. Two summonses were issued at the scene of the accident. No further information is available at this time.

Huntington Accountant Sentenced Four - Thirteen Years For Stealing From Clients

“By carefully choosing his victims to prey on their vulnerabilities, he used his skill as an accountant to steal over $800 thousand dollars and he kept the thefts undetected for over five years,” District Attorney Spota. 

Accountant sentenced to prison for stealing over $800k from clients

Scott MeyerSeaford resident Scott Meyer was sentenced in Suffolk County court today to four and one-third to 13 years in prison for stealing money from the clients of his Huntington accounting firm, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.

Addressing the court in a letter written on behalf of her late brother who was victimized by Meyer, Frances Dunphy Livernois wrote that it was heartbreaking that her brother “while his cognitive, physical and functional abilities steadily diminished…was taken advantage of at a time when he was most vulnerable.”  

Livernois’ brother, John C. Dunphy Jr., of Greenport, the owner of W.T. Hickey Corp. Electrical Contractors for over 60 years, suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.  As his accountant, Meyer stole $159,858 from the businessman who died in April of 2014. 

In her letter, Ms. Livernois said Meyer’s “betrayal and deception” are “beyond comprehension”.

The court ordered that restitution be paid by Meyer as a part of his sentence.  In addition to the Dunphy estate, other victims due restitution from Meyer include the Huntington Rural Cemetery Association, a not-for-profit due $427, 500, the Nob Hill Condominium Complex in Ronkonkoma, due $31,836, and the family of Meyer’s disable client, Marc Rothschild of Los Angeles, who suffered a $243,076 loss.

District Attorney Spota said Meyer’s greed fed his appetite for a lavish lifestyle that included approximately $140,000 he spent on vacations in Aruba, Disney World and the Bahamas from 2008 to 2013.

“By carefully choosing his victims to prey on their vulnerabilities, he used his skill as an accountant to steal over $800 thousand dollars and he kept the thefts undetected for over five years,” District Attorney Spota said.

Meyer, 48, is a former partner of the Johnson and Meyer accounting firm in Huntington.

Op-ED - We Can Do Better - Stop Gamesmanship, Theatrics, Smoke And Mirrors

By Larry Vetter

After you cut through the personalities and posturing, ultimately all political campaigns are about Issues. Too often issues are defined as a “Republican issue” or a “Democratic issue” or even Conservative or Liberal issue. Lines are drawn in the sand, never to be crossed.

Maybe I look at life more simply, but I believe campaign issues are common goals and they revolve around what is right, ethical, fair and necessary. Quality of life such as proper sewage, solid infra-structure, housing, vibrant downtowns, plentiful good careers and integrity are all a part of local government and can be impacted for either better or worse and are all stepping stones for a healthy community. These issues cannot be defined as either Democratic or Republican.

I believe government is very similar to business in that in order to succeed, one has to deliver what is promised. Promises are very easy to toss about, but eventually it becomes time for action and we need our elected officials to have the ability to back up what they say.

Our political system and our goals have been reduced to gamesmanship, theatrics and smoke and mirrors. We are barely able to resolve differences between ourselves and less and less thought is put into how our actions will impact the future. Often we appear as rival gangs rather than adults’ working together to ensure our way of life continues.

America’s past has always been highlighted by an optimistic view of the future. We will have better transportation, more conveniences, safer homes and better health care. I sense we have lost a part of that. Smithtown is concerned with today and the here and now. We have lost that drive to ensure our town is better for the next generation.

This November there is once again our annual opportunity to turn a corner and start working toward creating a town that is great for today’s residents and even better for those yet to come. Choose the candidates that will work to make our towns vibrant and desirable for our children and grandchildren.

Larry Vetter is a Democratic canidate for Smithtown Town Council in November.