Kings Park men arrested for heroin sales and possession

On Thursday, February 20, 2014, members of the New York State Police arrested CHRISTOPHER BOUTIN, age 29, LOUIS BOUTIN, age 34 and PATRICK BOUTIN, age 28 after the execution of a narcotics search warrant at their residence located in Kings Park. 

CHRISTOPHER BOUTIN was charged with:
3 counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3^rd Degree
2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7^th Degree

LOUIS BOUTIN was charged with:
Criminal Possession of Marihuana 4^th Degree

PATRICK BOUTIN was charged with:
Unlawful Possession of Marihuana

Shortly after 6am, members of the New York State Police Special Operations Response Team and the Troop L Narcotics Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant at the residence. A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of quantities of heroin, xanax and marihuana. The investigation revealed that CHRISTOPHER BOUTIN was using the residence as a meeting spot to sell heroin.

After an inspection by the Smithtown Department of Public Safety, Smithtown Fire Marshal and Building Departments, the residence was deemed unsafe. All residents were forced to vacate until violations were corrected.

CHRISTOPHER BOUTIN was held and will be arraigned in Suffolk County 1^st District Court on February 21, 2014.

LOUIS AND PATRICK BOUTIN were released with appearance tickets to appear on March 25, 2014 in 1^st District Court.

 

Smithtown Dish - Last Weekend To Explore Commack Farmer's Market

Smithtown Dish – small bites of foodie news

By Nancy Vallarella

Last Weekend to Explore Commack Farmer’s Market

Thera Farms LettuceMark your calendar to head down to the Commack Farmer’s Market this Sunday February 23. They are open from 10:00am – 2:00 pm at the Suffolk YJCC, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack. The Bad News: THIS IS THE LAST DAY. The Good News: YOU CAN STILL FIND PLENTY OF FARM FRESH GOODS! 

Jen’s Hens EggsHere are some highlights: Thera Farm’s, Ronkonkoma - Hydroponic Lettuce, 8 Hands Farm, Cutchogue – Jen’s Hens Eggs & Fink’s Country Farm, Manorville – Assorted Vegetables. Here’s what I put together with farm fresh ingredients from Fink’s:  Mostly Squash Soup 

More Good News: – L.I. Green Market has committed to expand the Nesconset Outdoor Farmer’s Market this coming June. 

Mostly Squash SoupMostly Squash Soup – Nancy Vallarella

Combination of the following peeled and diced into 1 inch cubes:

2 medium carnival squash, 2 empire apples, 2 medium sweet potatoes, 1 medium butternut squash*

3- 4 Tbs. olive oil - divided

3 tsp. kosher salt - divided

1 ½ tsp. fresh ground pepper - divided

2 medium shallots, chopped fine

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 carrots, peeled and cut into small diced pieces

10 cups vegetable or chicken broth - divided

1 cinnamon stick

toasted pumpkin seeds – optional garnish

Carnival SquashPreheat oven to 425 degrees and center racks. Divide peeled and cut vegetables and fruit and place onto two baking sheets. Pour 1 to 1 ½ Tbs. of olive oil along with 1 tsp. of salt and ½ tsp. of pepper on each and toss. Place in oven and roast for approx. 30 min. until veggies are fork tender. Toss while roasting to prevent sticking.

While vegetables are roasting, in a heavy bottom stock pot on medium low heat sauté shallots until translucent. Add garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds.  Add carrots and continue to sauté until carrots are fork tender. Add 6 cups of broth.  Turn up heat to medium and cook to boil. Turn heat down from boil, add cinnamon stick and continue to simmer for 20 – 30 minutes. 

Remove cinnamon stick. Add roasted vegetables and fruit to stock pot and blend with immersion blender until smooth. At this point add the remaining broth to reach desired consistency and heat through. Add remaining salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds.

* I used round bottom of squash for this recipe and saved long neck for a spiralized butternut squash dish. You can substitute butternut squash for the carnival squash. The total on the roasted ingredients is 3-4 lbs. approx… 8 cups peeled and diced.

Interview With Newly Appointed Councilwoman Lynne C. Nowick

Maureen Ledden Rossi

Councilwoman Lynne C. Nowick at January Town Board meetingCouncilwoman Lynne Nowick showed up at Town Hall at three p.m. Tuesday afternoon to meet with Smithtown Matters. The sun was shinning, snow was melting, there were even some birds chirping. Was this a sign that spring was on the way, a sign that a new season was upon us? Prior to Nowick’s recent absence and temporary unemployment due to an unsigned oath of office, the councilwoman had her office painted a cheery pale yellow. The councilwoman’s mood was as bright as the fresh coat of paint; maybe it was because earlier in the day she became completely official when she signed her oath of office in the town clerk’s office. “I’m back,” she laughed.

However, it was not Town Clerk Puleo who officiated her signing - it was a member of his staff - Regina Burke. The mention of the Puleo name left the seasoned elected official disheartened. “You know Vinny and I know each other for close to three decades, it’s really a shame what happened,” she said. Nowick added that in no shape or form was SHOCK a sufficient enough word to describe how she felt when she realized her position, the position she won back in the November election, was null and void. “He passes my office all the time, he could have told me about the book with the oath waiting for my signature,” she lamented.

Nowick drew some criticism from some in the crowd at last week’s special town board meeting, a meeting called specifically to reappoint her to her council seat and Patrick Vecchio as supervisor. Many wondered aloud why she wasn’t on hand to sign the oath of office. Nowick said she was away on a scheduled vacation and the return home was a nightmare that included two cancelled flights as well as driving a rental car to a second airport. She admitted much like the situation in town hall her travels were a debacle. “I watched the meeting online live and was very happy with the results, I called Bob Creighton, Eddie Wehrheim and Tom McCarthy and thanked them all for doing the right thing,” she shared.

Asked if she had any hard feelings she said although saddened at the events that transpired, she had no harsh feelings towards anyone. “We are a team and we are going to get the job done, we will be collaborating on various projects, we will be able to work together that is never going to be an issue for me” she explained. She said that she has sought the views of all three councilmen regarding different issues facing the town since being sworn in on the steps of Town Hall on January 1st. She said they are all very experienced leaders who know the ins and outs of town government and have a lot to offer her. However, she admits in her short tenure that there are some things lacking. “Personally going forward I would like to see more communication with department heads, more communication between all of us,” she explained.

The former legislator reflected on her days in county government. She said that of course she and her colleagues would disagree on issues, however, after the meeting they would go into the conference room, have coffee and talk about their children. “Why can’t we do that here?” she asked.

Nowick has plenty of experience working with both Democrats and Republicans during her time at the Legislature; however, this the first time the life-long St. James resident is working with all males. Asked about the history of women on the Town Board and their short tenure over the last decade or so, she smiled and was extremely coy. Like a seasoned elected official she said, “I’d like to think after this last week it is a new day in Town Hall, everyone had time reflect on the events and now we have plenty of work to do.”

When asked about the legislation fellow Republicans Senator John Flanagan and Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick will be introducing in Albany to overturn the over one-hundred year old law that terminated her position, she was ambivalent. She said it would be a tough road to get that law passed but that she certainly didn’t want to have to run another election in the fall of 2014. She was grateful that the lawmakers were interceding. Jokingly she proposed her own brand new law. “Lynne’s Law would call for proper notification for newly elected officials as to the protocol of the signing of the oath,” she laughed. Councilwoman Lynne Nowick is officially back at work and Smithtown voters can only hope she’s right - that it’s a new day in Town Hall.

What's Cookin'? Smithtown - Whole Foods Market Supper Club

What’s Cookin’? – Smithtown

 By Nancy Vallarella  - Photos by Lori Schneider

Whole Foods Market Supper Club – a must try dining experience!

Since April of last year, Whole Foods Market, Lake Grove has been hosting a monthly Supper Club.  After a short hiatus for the busy holiday months of November and December, they resumed this past January. I had the good fortune of getting in before registration closed. Although the menu appeared promising, I have to admit being skeptical due to the low price of $15.00 for a four course meal and the aspect of communal dining as I had anticipated going solo. I am happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. 

After checking in at the Customer Service and paying the $15.00 fee (receipt is required to be seated) I was greeted at the opposite front corner of the store by Marketing Team Leader and our hostess for the evening Lori Schneider. Lori graciously greeted us and we picked our seats. Suggestion: Get there early if you are picky about seating. 

I really lucked out at my table. Sitting next to me was veteran Supper Clubber Marilyn and her plus one Erwin.  Across from me were Jane, Jerry, Jennifer and June – no Joke!   We all began to share our love for great food, area restaurants and foodie gossip. As the first course arrived there was an abrupt and prolonged silence, generally a positive sign during food service.

Lori gave us a brief description of the ingredients used and how the recipes where developed using minimal amounts of salt and oil in keeping with the relaunch of Whole Foods Market’s Health Starts Here program.  Each dish was packed with flavor.  The full menu for the evening included: No Cream Winter Vegetable Bisque, Cilantro Lime Baked Chicken Wings with Pad Thai Kale Salad, Thai Baked Salmon with Baby Bok Choy and Honey Green Tea Granita with Glazed Pears and Pomegranates. All were very good but the clear favorite was the salmon which was expertly seasoned and cooked to perfection by in-house chefs Gavin Fitzpatrick and Siara Mole who made an appearance to take questions and pass along published copies of their recipes to take home. 

The Supper Club is usually held on a Monday night although this month will be an exception and will be held on Tuesday, February 25^th.    For the official menu check the Whole Foods, Lake Grove facebook page but early info has Spiced Sweet Potato & Broccoli Crostini, Winter Squash Carbonara, Balsamic Glazed Cornish Hen with Barley, Cauliflower & Fresh Herb Buratta and Myer Lemon Cream with Graham Cracker Sea Salt and Whole Trade Fruit planned. The four course meal is $15.00. Guests will be asked if they would like to make an additional voluntary $5.00 donation to the Whole Planet Foundation.

The Whole Planet Foundation was founded to help alleviate poverty and hunger in world-wide communities that supply products to Whole Food Stores. They provide grants to microfinance institutions which service 59 countries. These institutions offer microenterprise loan programs, training and financial services to the self-employed poor. Since 2006, over forty million dollars have been committed with a 97% repayment rate. 

Seating for this event is limited.  To register for this Supper Club event call Whole Foods, Lake Grove at 631-588-1466.

Thai Baked Salmon with Ginger Marinated Mushrooms

Kings Park's St. Patricks Day Sweatshirts Are Very Special

Maureen Ledden Rossi

The 4^th annual Kings Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held Saturday March 1^st.   Thousands of people will descend on the small community that has strong Irish roots.  Adorned in green, they will come to hear the dozens of pipe bands and enjoy what has rapidly become one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in Suffolk County.    To help keep those marching and parade goers both warm and green, this year the St. Patrick’s Day Committee purchased one thousand Kelly Green sweatshirts from Spectrum Designs. 

Committee member and owner of Professors Diner, Kevin Denis was thrilled by his recent tour of the Nassau County facility where the hooded sweatshirts were made.  “I fell in love with these kids, it was amazing to watch them hard at work – they produce a quality product for a fair price,” he shared.  Spectrum Designs hires young adults on the spectrum, a term used and associated with Autism because symptoms  and severity of impairment vary greatly.   Autism is a considered a neural developmental disorder; it’s generally characterized by impaired social interaction and verbal and communication difficulties.  

Kathleen Lanese is the Kings Park mother of two autistic boys and a well-known Autism advocate.  She introduced Denis to Spectrum and accompanied him on his tour of the Port Washington plant.    “This company is so important, so many of our kids are aging out of services and need meaningful work,” she explained.  Lanese said after the age of twenty-one, they no longer receive services from the public school system.  “Are they supposed to just sit home?” she questioned.  Lanese applauds what Spectrum is doing and hopes that this wonderful organization can continue to expand and offer employment opportunities for Kings Park residents with special needs.

Spectrum is presently celebrating their third birthday. They employ 30 teens and young adults with Autism.  They are optimistic that if they continue to get the word out about what they do, their business will grow.    Partners Patrick Bardsley, Nicole Sgrue and Stella Spanakos are proud of the non-profit business they have built together.   “I came to know Nicole when I was working at a summer camp a few years back, I was working with her son Nicolas who has Autism,” Bardsley explained.   Born in the United Kingdom, Bardsley earned his graduate degree in Special Education with an emphasis on Autism.   He is happy to report that Nicholas who is now 22 is employed by the company and enjoys coming to work.   “I love to work as well – I’m blessed to have interaction with the guys every day; if I’m having a bad morning they cheer me up,” he laughed.

New York State Industries for Disabled (NYSID) works with companies like Spectrum, known as social enterprises.   “By employing people with special needs, we help lower Social Security costs,” he continued.   Municipalities are supposed to come to NYSID companies first.   “We don’t even have to technically bid if our price is with what they paid in previous years or within 10% of market price,” he added.  

Bardsley laughed when saying their quality control is second to none.   “Kids with Autism tend to be very meticulous in the way they do things, they are very detail oriented,” he said.  His employees will notice the smallest error in an order, like a crease in a sweatshirt or uneven printing.    He said the expectations for the employees are very clear and they respond to that.   “They find so many things challenging if life; they like to know exactly what they have to do and they like being successful at it,” he said. 

The sweatshirts for the St. Patrick’s Day parade are $20 – for size XL or larger they are $25 (sizes go up to 3XL).  They are being sold at Professors Diner in the Key Food Parking Lot.   The St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is hoping to sell all one thousand hoodies before the parade and optimistically be able to order more from Spectrum.    The company also makes party favors and promotional products.   “Your patronage and support assists us in our mission to employ these highly capable individuals while helping them achieve fuller, more productive, meaningful lives,” said Bardsley.