Hess Express Gets A Green Light By Town Board

Site of proposed Hess Express - Harnard Rd & Rte. 25 CommackThe Town Board, sitting as the Board of Site Plan Review, voted 3-2 on Tuesday afternoon to approve the site plan for a controversial Hess Express gas station on the corner of Rte. 25 and Harned Road in Commack.

The plan calls for the demolition of two structures  and the construction of a 12-pump gas station with a 1,231 square ft. convenience store. The plan has been the subject of much controversy. The original gas station has been boarded up for almost a decade.  Reopening the site as a gas station was never an issue since the property is zoned WSI and gas stations are a permitted use in WSI. The trend for  Hess stations has been to include a convenience store at their stations. The construction of the convenience store at this site requires a change of zone and variances. The Town Board denied the application with a three-two vote in 2009.

With a new board in place the Hess plan gained momentum. At a February 23, 2012 Public Hearing for the Hess plan two dozen residents spoke for over two and a half hours expressing their opinions and concerns (Town Hears Proposal For Commack Hess Station). Rudy Massa owner of Gasoline Heaven presented a petition with over 1,800 resident signatures opposing the plan.

The plan went to the Board of Zoning Appeals and was granted approvals to proceed. Before Hess could move forward they needed the approval of the Board of Site Plan Review which they received on Tuesday. The vote- Councilmen McCarthy, Creighton, Malloy “yes”. Supervisor Vecchio and Councilman Wherheim “No”. 

According to Town Attorney John Zollo, The approval by the Board allows Hess to proceed. Demolition can begin after Hess files its demolition site plan and gets the necessary permits. 

In a conversation with Rudy Massa Wednesday afternoon, he expressed a great deal of disappointment in the vote. While admitting that there is a small component of competition in the effort to prevent the Hess Express, it’s the saftey issue that concerns him. Massa talks about his children and grandchildren and other residents of the community, a “safety issue doesn’t just go away. The Town voted it down once before. There have been no changes in traffic. How can they do this?”

Meat Or Meatless - Which Is The Right Way To Go?

By Kia Edwards

From “meatless Mondays” to “Tofurky Thursdays”,  more Americans are becoming more aware of their diet and switching over to some form of vegetarianism.  In fact, the amount of vegetarians in the US has nearly doubled in the last few years to just about 5%.  Is it worth making the switch?  Let’s see….

For starters, the American Dietetic Association defines vegetarians as:

• Image - www.bu.edu•           Vegans or total vegetarians exclude all animal products (e.g. meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and other dairy products). Many vegans also do not eat honey.

• •          Lactovegetarians exclude meat, poultry, fish, and eggs but include dairy products.

• •          Lactovegetarians exclude meat, poultry, fish, and eggs but include dairy products. fish but include dairy products and eggs. Most vegetarians in the US are lacto-ovovegetarians.

The shift toward a vegetarian diet is based on the fact that Americans generally eat a high calorie diet that consists of too much saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium.  In addition, Americans tend to eat too few complex carbohydrates and fiber.  Combine this with the fact that obesity is rising at an alarming rate, and we have a solid reason to change our diets.  Studies have shown that vegetarians have a lower risk of developing many conditions plaguing our population such as obesity, heart disease, some cancers {specifically colorectal, breast and ovarian}, diabetes and high blood pressure.  This is because a vegetarian diet is typically low in fat and high in fiber.  However, it is possible to eat a diet that is high in fat if the wrong things are eaten on a regular basis (think french fries, hash-browns, etc).

Vegetarians do need to be aware of the fact that if they don’t eat a balanced meal, they increase their risk of lacking some nutrients.  Quinoa, soy, lentils and tempeh are good sources of protein for vegetarians to eat.  Vegetarians can also rely on dark, leafy greens for iron and calcium.  Vitamins B-12 and D become more of a challenge, but additional supplements may be taken in order to get an adequate amount in your diet.* 

Image from www.sodahead.comNow, on to the meat eaters.  What are the benefits of meat?  The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine states that a meat diet has the following benefits: it’s a good source of complete protein, iron, zinc and B vitamins.  Protein is necessary to build and repair muscle tissue, a necessity for everybody, but especially athletes.  Iron is necessary for transporting oxygen around the body, while zinc helps with healthy eyes and skin.  Meat diets also have the added benefit of simplicity.  Vegetarians generally have to carefully plan their meals in order to ensure that they are getting the required nutrients.  Lastly, meat diets tend to provide more satiety than vegetarian diets.      

The downside to a meat diet is that meats contain saturated fats and cholesterol.  This increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease.  Relying on meat as a main food source can also lower your fiber intake.  After eating that porterhouse steak, you may be too full to eat the side of spinach AND dessert…so guess which one you choose?  Fiber is important for digestion and may help to prevent colorectal cancer.  Digesting meat also requires more effort for your kidneys.  However, a healthy individual typically does not have to worry about this fact.   

All in all, it’s a matter of personal taste….so the battle between the carnivores and omnivores will continue.  Vegetarian diets certainly have their benefits and, if you are willing to make sure that you’re getting all of your nutrients, it’s not a bad way to go.  Some health experts recommend that individuals, at the very least, try to follow a vegetarian diet a couple of times a week to experience the health benefits.  Meat eaters can focus on eating more lean meats and incorporating fish in their diets.  They should also focus on getting enough fruits and vegetable to ensure adequate fiber intake if they aren’t willing to make the change.      

*Please check with your doctor before taking 

Kings Park Resident Frank L. Mercuri Captures The Beauty Of Smithtown

Fall Colors by Frank L. Mercuri - click on photo to enlargeSummer in Smithtown means beaches, boating, picnics and outdoor concerts. Transitioning into autumn presents Smithtown residents with many seasonal activities that are  both beautiful and fun. Different from the summer but equally pleasurable and a little awe inspiring as well. Check out Frank L. Mercuri’s “Fall Colors” a video of some of the beautiful scenes found throughout Smithtown. Click here for video

The Results Are In - Vecchio, Puleo, McCarthy, Nowick, Jorgensen Win

Somewhere around 10pm Bill Ellis, chairperson of the Smithtown Republican Committee began to announce the winners in the November 5th election. The filled room erupted in cheers and applause.  

click on photo to enlarge - L-R John Kennedy, Glenn Jorgensen, Robert Trotta, Thomas McCarthy Patrick Vecchio, Lynne Nowick and Smithtown Republican Chairperson Bill EllisOne by one as the names John Kennedy, Robert Trotta, Thomas McCarthy, Lynn Nowick, Glenn Jorgensen, were announced  the room came alive. Then Ellis announced Patrick Vecchio had won and would begin his 37th year as Town Supervisor on January 1, 2014 and the supporters went wild. Vecchio, beaming thanked his wife Bernadine and all his supporters giving special thanks to Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick. Vecchio talked about the nastiness of the campaign and  joked that just this morning he learned he was building a casino in Kings Park in reference to a flyer that was being passed around by Creighton supporters.  

Unofficial Board of Election Results: *denotes winner 

In the three-way race for Supervisor - 

Steve Snair 4,976 votes 24.58%, (D 4225, WF 302, I 449)

*Patrick Vecchio 9,085 votes 44.89%, (R)

Robert J. Creighton 6,167 votes 30.47%. (C)

Town Clerk race - 

Edward Haeffer 6,170 votes 32.75%, (D 5140, WF 410, I 620)

*Vincent Puleo 12,626 votes 67.03%. (R 8,794, C 3,832)

Superintendent of Highways race-

Thomas D. McCarthy 6,835 votes 35.47% (D 5,829, I 1,006)

*Glenn Jorgensen - 12,427 votes 64.5% (R 8,924, C 3,503)

Councilperson - (Two)

Adam S. Halpern 5,464 14.39%(D 4628, WF 337, I 499)

Richard S. Macellaro - 5,745 15.13% (D 4,684, WF 440, I 621)

*Lynne C. Nowick - 10,516 27.71% (Republican)

*Thomas J. McCarthy - 11,696 30.82% (R 8,503, C3,193)

Kevin J. Malloy - 4,519 (Conservative)

12th Legislative District

Gary Jacobs -3,151 27.64% (D 2,841, WF 310)

*John M. Kennedy Jr - 8,245 72.33% (R  5,704, C 2004, I 537)

13th Legislative District

Elaine A. Turley - 4,302 29.43% (Democratic)

*Robert Trotta - 9,569 65.46% (R - 6,997, C- 2,572)

Mario R. Mattera - 742 5.07% (Independence)

Update on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 9:06AM by .

District Judge, 1st District

Richard Horowitz - 71,982  46.08% (D 60,621, WF 4,615, I 6,746)

*Karen M. Wilutis - 84,142  53.87 % (R 60,444, C 23,698)

Three Candidates For Supervisor - Vecchio, Snair And Creighton Want Your Vote!

When voters go to the polls on November 5th they, hopefully, already know that there are three candidates on the ballot for town supervisor. Incumbent Patrick Vecchio is running on the Republican line, Steve Snair on the Democrat, Independence and Working Families line, and Robert Creighton on the Conservative line. By the time voters get to the polls they will have had ample time to understand the significant issues facing the Town and the positions taken by the candidates.

The three candidates offer the electorate real choice, hopefully voters will see beyond the political rhetoric and cast their vote for the candidate that presents a sound vision for Smithtown’s future. 

Patrick VecchioIncumbent Patrick Vecchio, 83, has served as town supervisor for thirty-six years. When asked why he chooses to run year after year his answer is simply - “because I love what I do.” His message to voters in this year’s election is to think about the quality of life you enjoy as a resident of Smithtown.  Vecchio is proud of his record of fiscal conservatism which he proclaims has allowed the town to survive the recent recession unscathed. When he talks about the future he speaks of “wrongheaded development” as a significant threat to the quality of life currently enjoyed by Smithtown residents. The Creighton campaign has attacked him for prematurely taking positions against the proposed Uplands project in Kings Park and Whisper Vineyard in St. James. Vecchio’s response, “I don’t care. Yes I supported the vineyard on Edgewood and I still do. What I do not support is a catering facility with its obnoxious noise and traffic right next door to homes.”

Vecchio is very critical of the proposed Upland development at St. Johnland in Kings Park. He freely offers his position that the proposal is not so much about providing housing to seniors as it is about profit. The Creighton campaign predicts an expensive lawsuit ahead of the town as a result of Veccho’s very public opposition to the project before the process plays out. If this is true Vecchio does not seem concerned, “The public has the right to know my position.”

Vecchio bristles when he hears complaints about Smithtown’s downtown areas. “Do we have vacant storefronts in the town? Yes we do, and DeRubeis (Director of Planning) has provided information that indicates that the number of empty stores has been fairly consistent over the years. Is there something the town can do about it? I don’t think the town should be in the business of filling empty stores.” When asked about the traffic problems on Main Street in Smithtown, Vecchio acknowledges that the situation is not perfect. He points to the fact that Main Street is a state road and that other than advocate the Town has little say in what NYS DOT does. Regarding the new traffic pattern, which includes a merge of traffic heading west on Rte. 25, Vecchio admits it is not perfect.  He suggests that “you have to break eggs to make an omelet” and while it may not be perfect it is safer than the previous road configuration.  A widening of the roadway would help with the flow of traffic but would also decimate the businesses along Main Street and he is opposes that.

What is he most proud of? The quality of life residents enjoy. He is quick to point to Smithtown’s parks and beaches free to residents and parking at train stations also free to residents. “We were the first town in Suffolk County to approve apartments over stores. We were the first town to require carters to use natural gas vehicles. We have a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan and a Master Plan that is updated every time we approve a zone change.” What about the future? Vecchio’s response is that he will continue with the policies that have worked over the past 36 years which include maintaining tight controls over the budget and fighting wrongheaded development.

Steve SnairDemocrat Steve Snair, 32, is a native of Smithtown having grown up in Kings Park and graduated from Kings Park High School. He currently resides in Nesconset, and he is a practicing attorney who specializes in tenant and foreclosure issues. His office is located on Main Street in Smithtown.  Snair is unique among the candidates in many ways. He has never served as a police officer, doesn’t have a tax-payer funded pension or tax payer funded health insurance, and he was born well after the Beatles broke up.

Snair’s campaign is very much about the future and how to ensure Smithtown’s viability and fiscal stability into the future.  He is one of the many who have benefitted from the investment in education provided by the tax-payers in Kings Park, he has many happy memories of growing up here and he has chosen to live and work in the town. But the lack of work-force housing for young people makes it difficult.  He is vocal about incorporating the smart- growth principal of providing housing over commercial buildings in our downtown areas to accommodate seniors and young adults.

Those who have had the opportunity to speak with Steve are impressed with his humor and his no-nonsense approach to the issues facing the town.  Paramount to him is maintaining the quality of life Smithtown residents enjoy.  It is Steve’s belief that without planning, our quality of life will diminish and we will continue to deal with controversial building projects.  “Fill in the vacancies in our downtown areas, and leave open space alone.” he said at the League of Women Voters debate. When asked about the Uplands and a possible “swap” of NRSP property for property owned by St. Johnland he suggested that as Supervisor he would work to help facilitate a resolution. 

Snair favors the town having an outreach program for businesses that are looking to move or expand. “With business come customers which he equates to revenue and a stable tax base”. Along with planning and smart growth, Snair promises a review of all of the town’s departments with the goal of streamlining and finding efficiencies. He opposes the proposed catering facility on Edgewood Ave in St. James stating that it would have a negative impact on traffic and the quality of life for those living near the site.

He shares the public’s concern about substance abuse and has been certified in the use of Narcan, a drug used to counteract an opiate overdose. Is Steve Snair too young to be Supervisor of Smithtown? Rich Schaeffer became Town Supervisor at the age of 29 and Steve Bellone at age 30. According to Steve his age should not be seen as a negative. He is full of energy which he plans to use every day as Supervisor. 

Robert CreightonConservative candidate Robert J. Creighton, 76, has served as councilman for the past six years. He is running on the Conservative line even though he changed his party registration to Republican a year ago in preparation for a run for supervisor. Serving on the Town Council Creighton has been frustrated by what he perceives as the deliberate stalling of projects that would benefit tax payers in the town. 

Creighton points to the Nassau-Suffolk Lumber Yard across from Town Hall as a perfect example of what is wrong in the town. “For six years the owners of the property have been putting forth plans for the redevelopment of the property and they have been rejected. The last set of plans were created by our Planning Department and even those were rejected. That’s not right.” says Creighton.

He has been associated with some of the more controversial land use applications; in Kings Park, the Uplands and the Carlson proposal, in St. James a catering facility on the Whisper Vineyard property on Edgewood, and in Smithtown, Whisper Nursing facility on 25A in Smithtown. Creighton says that it is not true that he has made up his mind in support of these applications. What he does say is that he will not offer his position on the applications until the process plays out. He warns of legal action being taken against the town due to the rash statements made by Vecchio and Councilman McCarthy. “Every application accepted by the town should be given its proper hearing. In the case of the Uplands, “we allowed them to move forward with an expensive EIS (environmantal impact study) they deserve to be heard. I may or may not support the proposal but I will wait until all the information is available before I make my decision.”

Creighton is a proponent of bonding for road repairs, working with NYS DOT to improve the traffic flow on Main Street in Smithtown. He favors sewers and voted to set $1 million aside to support a Kings Park sewer project. He expresses concern with the use of surplus funds to balance the budget. “The surplus is at a point where using more of it will result in a lower bond rating for the town.”

Why does he want to be town supervisor? “As a council person I have been able to do some good, as Supervisor I can do a lot of good.” What does he hope to accomplish as Supervisor? Resolving some of the land use issues and finding ways to increase revenue for the town. Opponents say he is too close to developers. He bristles at this and talks about his love of the town and how he doesn’t want to turn Smithtown into Queens. A family man he hopes his grandchildren will be able to stay here and enjoy the wonderful quality of life that his children enjoyed.