9-11 A Night Of Remembrance

A NIGHT OF REMEMBRANCE

The Commack Community is cordially invited to a Candlelight Ceremony in remembrance of the heroes of September 11, 2001. This year we will recognize first responders for their continuing commitment to community service.

Presentation at the Heroes Memorial Track at Commack High School Football Field

Time: 6:30 pm

Honorary Guest Speakers:Congressman Steve Israel and Senator John Flanagan

Commack unveiled its 9-11 Memorial at last year’s ceremony. This is the 12th year of Candelight “Night of Remembrance” Ceremonies. For all the photos from 9-11-12, click here: http://www.commack.k12.ny.us/communitynews/pics/9-11-2012/album/index.html

Candidates Spouse - Alleged theft of political signs "No such theft took place"

Dear Editor:

An on-line story on a website called Smithtown Matters was just brought to my attention regarding an alleged theft of political signs. Let’s be clear: no such theft took place!

Click on photo to enlarge - photo submitted by Barbara HenningsThe article in part tells the story this way: “A passerby witnessed a woman pull her car over, exit the car, and begin to remove signs promoting the campaigns of Mario Mattera and Lynne Nowick, and place them in the car trunk. When confronted, the woman stated that she was stealing ‘the signs because Mattera stole my Paul Hennings signs.’ The witness demanded she put the signs back, but she refused. The witness told the woman that he noted her license plate number and would be contacting the police.” I also see that Mr. Mattera will have “an announcement later this week” about the “identity of the car.” Since I was there, let me spare everyone the suspense. My name appears below so you don’t have to guess who I am.

Last Sunday morning, August 25th, I was on my way to the store and noticed that a political lawn sign for my husband that I had put up in front of a well- known establishment – with express permission of the owner – had been pulled up and was lying flat on the ground. In its place, where it had been, were two signs, one for Mattera and another for Nowick.

As I have done elsewhere in town where someone has clearly displaced the Hennings sign, I pulled over to put my sign back up when a man identifying himself as “a friend of Mario” said “what are you doing? I put those signs up.” I told him I was putting up my sign, never mentioning my husband’s name, and I asked him if he knocked my sign down, which he denied.

I was not going to be intimidated, so I proceeded to put my sign upright. Because he threatened to take down my plates, I took a photo of all three signs in the ground together. (photo attached)

Let me politely state again, no signs were “stolen” by me. No signs came near my “trunk.” When I left, all the signs were there, as the photo shows.

There are consequences for calling someone a thief when the accuser knows that to be false.

Barbara Hennings

What's Cookin'? Smithtown - Zucchini Pasta With Gazpacho Dressing

If you were at the Kings Park Farmer’s Market on Sunday you might have seen “What’s Cookin’? Smithtown’s, Nancy Vallarella. Hopefully you took the opportunity to stop by, say hi, and grab a bite of the food she was preparing. Chef Nancy was serving up a nutritious and delicious Zucchini Pasta.  Using a special tool called a turning slicer, Chef Nancy changed regular green zucchini into a spaghetti shape and served it with a flavorful Gazpacho Dressing (recipe below). Many of the ingredients are found in backyard gardens and all of them can be found at the Farmers Market.  In addition to the pasta, Chef Nancy served up some wonderful breaded, fried pickle slices that were outrageous!  

Councilman Bob Creighton at Kings Park Farmers MarketSummer may be ending, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up the wonderful summer foods and flavors. Visit the Kings Park Farmers Market on Sundays 10am - 2pm across from the Kings Park Fire Department. 

Zucchini Pasta with Gazpacho Dressing - by Nancy Vallarella

Serves 4 as a main course. Serves 8 as a salad course.

4 medium zucchini

4 cups chopped fresh tomato - (about 6 large) reserve ½ cup

½ medium Vidalia onion chopped

2 roasted red peppers

2Tbs. balsamic vinegar

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 – 2 Tbs. fresh basil

2-3 cloves roasted garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

• Roast red peppers and peel off skin.

To roast peppers: Cut peppers in half. Discard seeds, stem and membrane. Place face down on foil lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes or until you smell peppers cooking then turn oven to broil. Broil until skin is blackened. Let cool. Peel off skin.

• Roast whole garlic head and reserve 2- 3 cloves.

To roast garlic clove: Peel excess skin from head. Cut head to expose cloves. Place head in foil and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Close head in foil and place in baking dish. Bake at 400 for 30 – 35 minutes until cloves are soft and pop out when squeezed.

• Place 3 1/2 cups of tomato, ½ Vidalia onion, 2 roasted peppers, 2Tbs. balsamic vinegar, basil and roasted garlic cloves in blender. Blend until ingredients are combined. Slowly pour in extra virgin olive oil until incorporated. Add salt, pepper and additional roasted garlic and basil to taste.  Stir in ½ cup reserved cupped tomatoes. Place in frig for a few hours or overnight.

• Spiralize washed zucchini and dress with gazpacho. 

I recommend Padero World Cuisine turning slicer www.paderno.it

You can also find a hand tool at Sur La Table.

Expect An Announcement This Week On Campaign Sign Theft

“We have identified the owner of the car. The investigation as to who was driving the vehicle is ongoing. I will have more to say about this next week.” Mario Mattera, in a phone conversation with Smithtown Matters. Mr. Mattera was asked to make a statement about the identity of the person who illegally removed campaign signs on 25A in St. James last week. (Candidates Spouse - Alleged theft of political signs “No such theft took place”)

Mr. Mattera is currently in a primary against Paul Hennings and Robert Trotta for a seat on the Suffolk County Legislature. His goal is to replace Lynne Nowick  in the 13th Legislative District. Ms. Nowick has been term limited out of office. Nowick is looking to fill a seat on the Smithtown Town Council and is also in a three-person Republican primary.  Both Nowick and Mattera are endorsing each other. Many of their signs are posted by the same people. According to Mattera, he is placing signs with the permission of residents and business owners. He has instructed all supporters on the appropriate placement of signs and campaign literature, and expressly forbids the removal of competitors signs and literature. 

The Mattera campaign issued the following statement last week. “A passerby witnessed a woman pull her car over, exit the car, and begin to remove signs promoting the campaigns of Mario Mattera and Lynne Nowick, and place them in the car trunk.  When confronted, the woman stated that she was stealing ‘the signs because Mattera stole my Paul Hennings signs.”  The witness demanded she put the signs back, but she refused.  The witness told the woman that he noted her license plate number and would be contacting the police.

The signs were not replaced and the police were asked to investigate. “This is how crazy things are going in this campaign. This woman stopped her car, stopped traffic and ran across 25A, putting herself and other drivers in jeopardy to steal my signs.” Mario Mattera.   According to sources, all the primary candidates are experiencing theft of signs and the signs are not cheap.  In a primary getting ones name out before the public is critical. Signage is one way to do it. According to Mattera, “these signs were paid for with campaign donations, money that came from family and friends and supporters to help me. I cannot take the illegal removal of the signs lightly and I am angry that instead of talking about issues like the terrible drug problem we have, this woman is making the conversation about signs. How crazy is this? I will have an announcement to make next week after the investigation is completed.” 

Inspection Site Dedicated In Honor Of Officer Glen Ciano

Suffolk County Legislators Salute Officer Ciano at Dedication of Motor Carrier Inspection Site in his Memory - Nowick, Kennedy, Gregory, Muratore, Browning, & Stern Attend Ceremony

(Smithtown, NY)…A Motor Carrier Inspection Site has opened on Crooked Hill Road in Commack and commercial trucks, buses, school buses,  and limousines will be inspected to check suspension, breaks, tires and fluids. It was dedicated in memory of Officer Glen Ciano who was killed in the line of duty in 2009, when his patrol car was hit by a drunken driver.  This was a collaboration between the Town of Smithtown, Suffolk County and a private company. Officials from the Town of Smithtown, County of Suffolk, New York State Senate and Assembly and Police Benevolent Association attended the dedication ceremony.

Legislator Nowick said, “This is a fitting tribute to a dedicated police officer who cared about the safety of others. This site will continue to save lives in Officer Ciano’s memory.”

Picture with the Ciano family are from left to right Suffolk County Legislators Tom Muratore and Lynne C. Nowick, Susan Ciano, Officer Ciano’s widow;  their son, Daniel; and daughter, Samantha; Legislators John M. Kennedy, Minority Leader; Kate Browning, chair of the Public Safety Committee; and DuWayne Gregory, Majority Leader.