Smithtown West Shines At 2013-14 Indoor Track & Field Competition

Smithtown West’s Bonhurst Wins National Shot Put Crown

U.S. High Jump Title Eludes County Champ Ladouceur

Ben Bonhurst & Alex LacouceurSmithtown High School West closed out the 2013-2014 indoor Track and Field season in dramatic fashion last weekend as two of its stars represented their school at the New Balance Indoor Nationals. The meet, which featured prize-winning boys and girls from across the nation, was held at the jam-packed, world-famous New York Armory, home of the renowned Millrose Games, and the world’s fastest indoor track.

Smithtown’s sensational State Shot Put champion, Ben Bonhurst, added an indelible exclamation point to his remarkable indoor season on Saturday, March 15, as he stepped up and heaved the shot 64’ 7-1/4”. Following that monumental first toss, State and County champs representing schools throughout the country attempted to match or surpass the mighty (6’ 4”) Bonhurst, but to no avail. It was destined to be Big Ben’s day.

“The adrenaline was just there today,” said the huge Florida State-bound athlete. “It was really pumping. You can always tell by the way the shot leaves your hand.”

The day before, on Friday, March 14, Smithtown West’s one other representative at the nationals, Suffolk County High Jump champ Alex Ladouceur, whose personal best leap is 6’ 5” competed in his specialty. “I felt good clearing the first jump at six-feet-plus,” said Alex, known to his teammates as ‘Lat,’ “After that the big field was cut in half and I had my chance…but the wheels sort of came off.”

Both high school field event champs said they’re eagerly looking forward to the upcoming outdoor Track and Field season at Smithtown West, where both are seniors…then on to college and an even larger stage. Ben Bonhurst will join the ranks of the legendary ‘Seminoles’ in the sunshine of Tallahassee, while Alex Ladouceur seems to favor Oswego State up north on the shores of Lake Ontario.

“‘Lat’ flourishes outdoors,” said one veteran observer. “As for Ben…who knows how far he can ultimately throw that thing?” “Count on it,” another fan at the Armory noted, “The powerful duo is bound to be heard from this spring…and beyond.”

Editorial - Under 21 Legislation Well Intentioned But....

The Suffolk County Legislature in a 10 - 8 vote approved legislation to restrict sales of tobacco and other items related to smoking to people over the age of 21. The legislation prohibits sales of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes, herbal cigarettes, rolling paper and pipes to all minors and adults under the age of 21. Businesses found in violation of the new law could be fined as much as $1,000 for their first offense and $1,500 for a second offense.  County Executive Steve Bellone is expected to sign the bill into law effective Jan. 1, 2015.

As well intentioned as it may have been, the Suffolk County Legislature’s vote to make 21 the official age of eligibility to purchase products of or relating to tobacco and or smoking, should make people of all ages uncomfortable.  Equality in the eyes of the law is the very basis of our democracy.  An 18-year-old is either an adult capable of making decisions or not.  The determination of competency in decision making should not be issue dependent. 

The dangers of smoking are incontrovertible. Smoking is detrimental to health and it is an economic burden for society. Lung cancer, heart disease, colon cancer and emphysema are just some of the diseases attributed to smoking. No one should smoke!

It is fair to assume that all eighteen members of the legislature would do everything within their power to prevent young adults from developing an addiction to tobacco products. They are to be commended for their desire to promote the health and well being of Suffolk residents. However, enacting legislation directed at one segment of the population is not the way to go. And enacting unenforceable legislation, no matter how well intended it may be, is not the way to go. This legislation does not change the fact that it is legal for eighteen-olds to smoke in private and in public designated smoking areas. 

Today’s eighteen year-olds are not ignorant of the hazards of smoking. They have grown up with mandatory health classes exposing them to all types of health issues including; sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, contraception and the consequences of substance abuse and smoking. Eighteen year olds may vote, join the service, marry, have children, have abortions,  enter into contracts, pay taxes, they are not minors when seeking health care and may be required to make life and death decisions. 

To classify eighteen to twenty-one year olds as uniquely unqualified to make decisions about smoking, tobacco and e-cigarettes is to single out a segment of society.  It also supports an arguement that our young adults, despite reaching an age of majority, are second class citizens. It is a classification that I suspect many of the legislators would have rejected when they were this age. 

Maturing is a process that often involves trial and error. No one is perfect and no one gets to senior citizen status without making a few course corrections. There is no way to prevent people from making bad choices. It happens at every age. Leading by example, education and effective legislation remain the viable solutions to preventing smoking addiction. 

Taxpayers across Suffolk County have paid dearly to provide our young people with the educational tools they need to make intelligent decisions. Suffolk County’s eighteen plus population deserve our support, trust and most importantly our understanding. They have a fabulous and exciting journey ahead of them. A little confidence in their ability is warranted. 

Pat

Hauppauge Resident Ed Borowski Celebrates 100th Anniversary Of USS Texas

WWII Veteran Ed Borowski, Gordon Jones, and Charles Birlew greet each other aboard the USS Texas during the Crew Reunion and Centennial Commissioning Celebration on March 12, 2014 in Houston. Old Battleship Texas sailors honored as vessel marks 100th anniversary

Photo By Mayra Beltran/Houston Chronicle

St. James Celebrates St. Patrick's Day

MacArthur Airport Home To LI News Radio 103.9

Long Island Talk Radio 103.9

Maureen Rossi

John Caracciolo says he had a very average Long Island childhood.  The forty-nine year old grew up on a tree-lined block in a bedroom community in Nassau County.  The son of a beautician and a member of the Police Department – he says maybe this is where his childhood wasn’t so average.  “My mother worked for the police department so she played with guns and my father did hair,” he joked. 

Back in December along with his partner Victor J Canales (Vic Latino) Carracciolo launched a new radio station.  The first of its kind, it’s the only free all news station on FM radio in the region.  Housed in a  corner office at MacArthur Airport, Long Island News Radio can be found on your dial at 103.9.   “We needed it we didn’t have a news talk outlet dedicated just to Long Island to Suffolk County,” he explained. 

Caracciolo is not new comer to the news business or the radio business.  He’s spent most of his adulthood dedicated to both. His company JVC oversees several Long Island stations that serve the entire island and coastal Connecticut; 105.3, Long Island’s only Spanish FM station, WBON LaFiesta on 98.5 and the Island’s home for Country music, 96.1.   Caracciolo and Canales have over three decades of radio experience between them.   They are proud to say that all their stations are staffed 24/7 with live D.J.’s who interact with their listeners via the phone, social media and texts. 

Caracciolo says they try to be as fair and as unbiased as possible when it comes to political issues.  He says the goal of the station is to cover all of Long Island and speak to all demographics. 

LI News Radio found itself on the political radar right out of the box.   In addition to the Chairman of the state’s Independence Party Frank MacKay, former Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy is also one of the station’s hosts.  Many on the political front have already graced the newest air waves including Suffolk County Legislator Tom Cilmi.  In less than three short months, some of the who’s who in local and state government have provided their political views and knowledge of government.  

Frank MacKayMacKay also hosts a segment called 52 players that actually highlights the who’s who on Long Island.  “It all about the players, there are 52 weeks in a year, 52 cards in a deck,” said Caracciolo.   The radio enthusiast said sometimes they highlight a well known person who’s politically active or it could be someone behind the scenes or even a business CEO that’s helping to develop the future of Long Island.   “Someone like a Tritech, the company behind the Ronkonkoma hub,” noted Caracciolo.

He says the most exciting thing about this new project is that it’s in his backyard.  “I love listening, I just love local news,” he said.  Caracciolo is proud of the fact that the news department is the largest in Suffolk County.  He said we live on an Island with one daily newspaper and one television news station; we needed more than that.    

In addition to reporting the news live several times a day, the Long Island News Radio website has a banner ticking off breaking news.  An extremely well done site, it’s visually esthetic and easy to navigate.  The Listen Live option appears throughout layers of the site.  Caracciolo says they want people to be able to listen at their desk and through mobile devices in addition to the radio.   WEEKDAYS provides of list of programming.  NEWS is provided in short blips – under one-hundred words, BUSINESS takes a look at the breadth of the business community on the Island, TRAFFIC provides maps with jams/accidents.  WEATHER has forecasts but perhaps we’ll see beach reports in the summer months with rip tide warnings.  SPORTS  has a popular segment called Scoreboard Roundup.  In addition, the station is the broadcast home of the NY Islanders.  

Smithtown resident and former Smithtown Democratic Chairperson Elaine Turley appeared twice in the last month on Steve Levy’s Saturday program.  She said she provided a more liberal counterargument to the conservative guests.  The popular and well poised Democrat spoke on an array of political topics and said she enjoyed participating in the show on Long Island’s new Talk Radio Station. 

When asked what his favorite show is Caracciolo said he has a few.   “On the weekends we have a show called Young & Young Brother’s In Law, they are criminal defense attorneys and the stories told are captivating, I listen to their show every week,” he said. The self-proclaimed news junkie said when he’s not running the business, he’s playing with transmitters.   What’s on the horizon for Caracciolo and Long Island’s brand new radio station?  He said they are looking to develop a very hip somewhat lighter segment for the mornings with a male/female duo.  It would be fun and they’ be doing the whole chatting from the couch thing – a View type radio program with interesting banter about the region and the news of day.   Long Island native and national powerhouse Sean Hannity can be heard weekdays from 3 – 6 p.m.  To listen or get news updates, check out the site:  www.linewsradio.com

Lifestyle Programming

Psychic Medium Live! – Mondays 9pm – 10pm – Click here for more information

Your Nest Egg - Tuesdays 9pm – 10pm – Click here for more information

The Gun Show – Wednesdays 9pm – 9:30pm- Click here for more information

The Mixology Show – Thursdays 9pm – 9:30pm- Click here for more information

The Cigar Czar – Fridays 9pm – 9:30pm – Click here for more information

The Non-Profit Voice – Saturdays 8am – 9am – Click here for more information

The New Me – Saturdays 9am – 9:30am – Click here for more information

Sunrise Wellness Center – Saturdays 9:30am – 10am – Click here for more information

The Realty Show – Saturdays 10am – 10:30am – Click here for more information

It’s All About Retirement - Saturdays 10:30am – 11am -Click here for more information

Divorce Course – Saturdays 11am – 12pm – Click here for more information

Brothers In Law – Saturdays 12pm – 2pm – Click here for more information

The Steve Levy Show - Saturdays 2pm – 4pm

Senior Counsel - Saturdays 4pm – 4:30pm – Click here for more information

Ask The Medical Expert – Saturdays 6pm-6:30pm – Click here for more information

Labor Lines – Sundays 8am – 8:30am – Click here for more information

Love My Skin - Sundays 9am – 9:30am – Click here for more information

Pet Talk – Sundays 9:30am – 10am – Click here for more information

LI Fantasy Guys – Sundays 10am – Noon- Click here for more information

Engeman Theater Presents - Sundays Noon – 1pm – Click here for more information

Guaranteed Sold with Ray Manzoni - Sundays 1pm – 1:30pm – Click here for more information

Let Me Call My Lawyer – Sundays 2pm – 2:30pm – Click here for more information

Health Nuts – Sundays 4pm – 4:30pm – Click here for more information

On The Docket – Sundays 4:30pm – 5pm – Click here for more information

The Stephanie O Show – Sundays 5pm – 6pm – Click here for more information

The Christopher Hahn Show – Sundays 6pm – 8pm – Click here for more information

Graveyard Blues – Sundays 10pm – Midnight- Click here for more information