Editorial - OOPS! Creighton Campaign Might Want To Take Back Recent Mailing

Oops. May I take that back?  This statement may be the thought of the day for the “Creighton for Supervisor” people.  Right after the committee, trying to win the Republican primary against Patrick Vecchio, mailed a campaign piece contrasting the town’s of Islip (good) and Smithtown (bad), Newsday came out with an article, “S & P lowers Islip Town Credit rating outlook.”

Additionally, Empire Center for Public Policy, Inc. released a report, “What they Make”, ranking towns by employee pay. The Town of Smithtown (TOS) ranked number two and Islip ranked number nine out of the ten towns in Suffolk County.  According to the report (without benefits) the average pay in 2012-2013 to a TOS employee was $54,808 and in Islip the average pay is $39,583. With the “devil being in the details”, make note that TOS has 591 employees and Islip 1,093. Islip is a much larger town*. Do the math, there is an additional $10 million burden for the taxpayers of Islip that doesn’t include pension and health care costs.

Islip might not have been such a good choice for the Creighton campaign.

Is the public paying attention? Some are. I recently met a couple who are long time residents in the Town planning to vote in the September 10 Republican primary. After voting for Vecchio many times, they decided to support Creighton in the primary until they received a pro - Vecchio flyer in the mail stating the positive Bond rating received by the TOS. It completely changed their perspective and they are once again supporting Vecchio.

There is a scant two weeks left before the primary vote. Vecchio, the master of “status quo”, will do what he has always done, paint a picture of a “Lake Woebegone” type of Smithtown.  Is it real?

Mr. Creighton, get rid of the person who is handling your literature.  They are leading you down a path of no return. Tell the voters what is so wrong with Smithtown that there needs to be a change in leadership. In the words of the TV show Mission Impossible, “your job should you decide to accept it,”  and you have accepted it, is to tell the Republican primary voters how your vision is going to improve their quality of life. 

Pat

*omitted in the original posting.

Weight Gain from Weight Training? Don't Worry Keep Lifting

By Kia Edwards

So you did it: you bought the weight training equipment and then you took the big step and started using it!  However, some of you may have noticed that your hard work has caused the scale to move in the wrong direction, or not move at all if your goal is weight loss.  Before you hurl your weights in the trash (or, in my clients’ case, at me) consider these common causes.

Muscle Mass

Gaining muscle is beneficial for many reasons. It increases your strength, metabolism and gives you a toned appearance.  Muscle is more dense than fat, and this muscle gain could cause weight gain. Five pounds of muscle will weigh the same as five pounds of fat, but five pounds of fat will take up mor e room. You may not see your progress if you only use the scale.  Use other measures such as how your clothes are fitting or if you’ve lost inches on your waist to figure out how the weight training program is working.

Nutrition Habits

Many people experience an increase in hunger when they begin a new workout regimen. Muscle tissue increases metabolism, which will cause you to want to eat.  It’s not uncommon for people to feel that they deserve a treat after a workout, but you would just undo everything you worked so hard for.  You may have to eat more, but make sure you choose low-calorie, largely unprocessed foods.  Fruits, vegetables and lean proteins such as chicken, fish and lentils will keep you on track.  And just to be clear, your jeans won’t rip if you allow yourself to have a treat every now and then, it just shouldn’t be an everyday thing.  

Water Retention

After a tough workout, your muscles experience microscopic tears. Don’t worry, your body will rebuild the muscles to be stronger than before. Increased muscle mass means an increase in the ability to store glycogen. This allows you to perform exercises for longer periods of time because the glycogen provides the necessary energy. However, glycogen storage comes along with additional water storage. According to Drs. Alan Titchenal and Joannie Dobbs, nutritionists in the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences at University of Hawaii-Manoa, an additional gram of glycogen causes the body to store approximately 3 grams of water.

If I leave you with one thing, it’s that the scale doesn’t always give you a full view of what is going on in your body.  Gaining weight can be disheartening, and can throw you into a state of fury.  Don’t get discouraged — your body may be going through some great changes that you can’t see yet. If your issue is nutrition, you can people to help you improve your habits.  A better way to measure the effectiveness of your workout is to measure your body fat percentage.  Here is my final thought: keep lifting!

Kia Edwards is a certified personal trainer and nutrition specialist who lives in New York City. She studied French and Economics at Colgate University, spent 15 years as a high-level competitive gymnast and 6 years as a gymnastics coach.  Her business, La Fortesse At Home Fitness Training, helps clients get healthy with simple at home exercises and nutrition counseling. www.LaFortesse.com    

Snair Slams Opponent on Term Limits

Supervisor candidate Steve Snair says Creighton cannot be taken at his word

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

SMITHTOWN, NY – Steve Snair, the Democratic, Independence, and Working Families candidate for Smithtown town supervisor, today challenged his opponent’s support for a resolution to impose term limits on the town’s elected officials. 

“My opponent today announced his support for a resolution to impose 12-year term limits on Smithtown’s elected officials. Although I am in favor of term limits, it’s become clear that Councilman Creighton is simply using this measure as a political stunt in an election year. Mr. Creighton has served on the Town Council for nearly 6 years, why has he waited until 3-weeks before a primary to raise this issue? It’s a phony act on his part,” said Snair. 

This isn’t the first time Councilman Creighton has discussed the issue of term limits. Back in 2007, when Mr. Creighton first ran for Town Council, he said if elected it would be his first and last term. However, he broke his pledge and ran for another 4-year term in 2011 and is currently seeking higher office in the middle of his second term.

“Councilman Creighton cannot be taken at his word,” added Snair. “He has lied to the voters in the past regarding this issue and until I see term limits implemented, I don’t trust him and the voters of Smithtown shouldn’t either.”

Steve Snair is an attorney who operates a private law practice based in the Town of Smithtown. The lifelong resident of Smithtown announced his candidacy for supervisor in April of this year, running on a platform of revitalizing the town through updated planning, job creation and economic development, which will grow the tax base and relieve the burden off middle class taxpayers.

Editorial - Businesses On Old Northport Road Are Not Victims

Hank Carlson addressing the Town Board Aug. 15A walk down memory lane. Hundreds of people turned out for the August 15th, 7pm Town Board meeting.   People were being turned away due to overcrowding. Kudos to the women who never gave up and fought for evening meetings. The League of Women Voters, Joanne Grey, Lenore Cernitz, and Zabby - some of the names that come to my mind as I remember the battle to provide access for working people to our Town government. It’s hard to believe but prior to 2006 there were two 2pm town board meetings a month and no televised meetings. The public’s expectations were so different.

It does not require a huge stretch of the imagination to believe that things were really different forty years ago when Hank Carlson relocated his precast business from Main Street, Kings Park to Old Northport Rd. What hasn’t changed is the fact that Mr. Carlson was an astute business man forty years ago and remains so today. Presumably, Mr. Carlson worked out a deal that was very favorable to himself and business.  Another thing that hasn’t changed is the 1 acre zoning on the residential property that is owned by Mr. Carlson. 

Try as he might to paint himself and his businesses (according to Carlson’s bookkeeper there are seven businesses operating from 140 Old Northport Rd.), as victims, his claims do not pass the “smell test”.

According to Town Planner, David Flynn, the Carlson’s, Hank and son Toby, own approximately sixty five acres of property on Old Northport Road.  Approximately 14 acres are zoned for heavy industry, 11 acres are zoned for light industry and 40 acres zoned residential.

Homeowners in the area have repeatedly complained about the noise, the stench and the hours of operation on the property.  The outdoor storage of mulch is not a permitted use, but there it is on site. Aerial photos show the extent of the mining on Mr. Carlson’s property including residentially zoned areas.  Saida Ralda de Pantaleon,  bookkeeper for the Carlson’s, mentioned the $158,000 a year  paid in property taxes to the town. Presumably, that covers the entire sixty-five acres. A lot of money? Not really. Averaged out it’s less than $2,500 per acre. Who else in Smithtown pays so little and gets to maintain their own fiefdom violating town zoning at will? 

As the public becomes more sophisticated about what happens in the Town and more willing to speak up before their elected officials, more stories like this are likely to come to the forefront.  An updated master plan, long overdue, is necessary to resolve the “march of the residents” questioning the legality of businesses near their homes. Residents have every reason to expect the Town Board to be vigilant in enforcing the current zoning and code. They must be wary of what may pass as quick fix “economic development” and “tax revenue” generating plans.

Shame on you Mr. Carlson for blaming the Town for your prosperity. Congratulations to the women who fought to make town government accessible.

Pat

Dr. John J. O'Donnell Road Becomes Official!

Dr. John J. O’DonnellSaturday, August 17 - Dr. John J. O’Donnell Rd. was added as a name of Manor Rd. in Smithtown.

With a beautiful clear sunny sky overhead, scores of family, friends, employees,click on photo to enlarge - O’Donnell Family patients and spectators assembled as Supervisor Patrick Vecchio, and Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (former patient of Dr. O’Donnell)  unveiled a new road sign designating Manor Rd. as Dr. John J. O’Donnell Road. The sign located on the corner of Manor Road and Bank Street memorializes and honors the memory and contributions of Dr. John J. O’Donnell one of Smithtown’s best known and longest practicing pediatricians. 

Steve O’Donnell spoke of his father’s commitment to his patients and scouts.Dr. O’Donnell practiced in the town of Smithtown for over 30 years before retiring in his 80’s. Much of that time was spent in the building on the corner of the Manor Road and Bank Street intersection.  To the people who attended the naming ceremony he was much more than a pediatrician. To 10 people at the ceremony Dr. O’Donnell was “Dad”, to others he was the grandfather, father-in-law and great-grandfather. To Dr. Adler, who attended the ceremony, he was a colleague. To some he was the boss who demanded much of his employees and gave much more back. To some he was a supporter of animals and the guide dog foundation, an Eagle Scout, and to others like Eileen Riehl, who had never met him but heard a lot about him, he was a legend.

Dr. O’Donnell’s daughter Betsy Maniotis was all smiles as she said,”It’s a wonderful memorial to my father, Dr. O’Donnell, for all of his hard work giving back to the community. Not only in medicine but saving animals and supporting the Guide Dog Foundation.  I am one of 11 children it is a wonderful legacy to pass on to our children.”  

Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick, with obvious affection for Dr. O’Donnell and his family, stated, ” Dr. O’Donnell was a wonderful man, a great doctor, a great citizen of Smithtown and New York State.”  Judging by the smiles, everyone seemed to share the sentiment!