A Garden For Nissequogue River State Park

“Nature is always lovely, invincible, glad, whatever is done and suffered by her creatures. All scars she heals, whether in rocks or water or sky or hearts.” 
- John of the Mountains: The Unpublished Journals of John Muir, (1938), p. 337.

site of Healing GardenIt feels right. A healing garden and the Nissequogue River State Park (NRSP) go together like stamps on envelopes. They don’t just coexist, they fit. One completes the other.  The Nissequogue River State Park, located on the grounds of the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center, has a lot of history to overcome. The park is littered with dilapidated, deteriorating, graffiti laden buildings that once provided shelter to society’s most fragile and rejected people - those with mental disabilities.   Great brick buildings, dating back to the early 20th century that once exemplified strength and commitment, now are just hollowed out facades decaying and putrid. A reminder of just how fragile and difficult our world can be.

And yet the NRSP is undergoing a transformation, a blighted antiquated psychiatric

 center is being transformed. A park is taking shape. A marina is coming to life, buildings are being demolished,Finesse Landscape Design delivering boulders for the garden wild life is returning, and people are visiting. Hikers, bicyclists, walkers, runners, cross country skiers are returning and taking ownership of their park. The State, through funds secured by Senator John Flanagan, has been at work removing the most dangerous of the buildings from the property. There is more to be done, but there is hope where there hasn’t been hope in a long time. The NRSP Foundation, a group of local residents, has been prodding the State every step of the way to preserve the park with its beautiful vistas and open space and to turn it into a place of pride for the Kings Park community, Smithtown and New York State. 

Enter the Commack - Kings Park Rotary Club (CKPRC). Rotary is no stranger to offering hope. In fact, offering help and hope is what the Rotary is about. Whether it is fighting disease as in the eradication of polio, building

Finesse Landscape Design creating the focal point of the gardenwells in areas without clean water, providing heart surgery for children, Rotary is there helping people to help themselves. A healing garden to help people get through challenging times or just to reflect, a no-brainer for members of the  Commack - Kings Park Rotary Club. Teaming up with the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation (NRSPF) and working with New York State Office of Parks, Preservation and Historical Sites, the CKPRC, with a lot of help from professionals will be creating a garden at the NRSP. Joan G. McGillicuddy, Surrogate Gardener and breast cancer survivor, created and donated the design for the garden focusing on native species that would compliment the theme of healing, tranquility and nature. Eric Hagenbruch, a Saint James resident and owner of Finesse Landscape Design, donated all the work involved in the construction of the garden and more. Recognizing the beauty
Charles Reichert, owner of the Fort Salonga IGA kicked off fundraising with a $1000 donationand compatiblity of a tree at the site, Eric and his crew cleared the tree of weeds and overgrown foliage exposing a most beautiful and unusual tree aptly named by Eric “The Tree of Life”. Funding for the project came from donations from people throughout the town of Smithtown, with a major donation being made by Charlie Reichert of IGA. 

The healing garden will be completed in the next week with the dedication on Wednesday, July 31 at 7:15 pm. In conjunction with the dedication, there is a wine and cheese tasting event being hosted by the Commack - Kings Park Rotary Club. Funds raised at the event will be used to enhance the garden. Invitation

The “Healing Garden” is a gift to the people who visit the park. It is a gift of beauty and hope and it is a gift of serenity and unlimited possibility. 

Nissequogue River State Park is located at 799 Saint Johnland Road, Kings Park, NY 11754. It is open seven days a week from sunrise - sunset. There is a fee for parking. For information

Week 2 - Get Serious About Staying Healthy Fitness Plan

By Kia Edwards

As a trainer who mainly focuses on in-home exercise, I can tell you that a gym is not necessary to keep fit. A few pieces of basic equipment and a small space can help you achieve or maintain a healthy fitness level. This month, I’ll give you weekly exercise plans to help you reach your goals without having to go to the gym. They are simple, yet effective and can be done by nearly everybody.  Each workout should start with a short warm-up to get your muscles ready and end with a quick stretch.  

If you’re just starting, don’t worry!  It’s not too late to join.  Additionally, if you found week 1 to be particularly challenging, you can repeat it again this week in order to continue building necessary strength.  The workouts will become more challenging throughout the month.  Should you have any questions, please contact me at  HYPERLINK “mailto:Kia@LaFortesse.com” Kia@LaFortesse.com and I will respond as quickly as possible.  Good luck!  Here comes week 2!

What you’ll need: 

Dumb bells: 10-15lbs or Resistance Bands 

An exercise mat, preferably one with good padding to protect your back

Good sneakers 

Optional pieces: Exercise ball, Medicine Ball (8-12lbs typically work well),Jump rope 

Monday: Interval Training

First: Do a 5 minute warm up and stretch

Jump rope: 25 to 50 reps (start slowly then speed up as you become more comfortable)

Push-ups/ beginner push-ups: 12-15

stationary lunges (photo achesandjoints.org)Stationary Lunges: 12-15

Sit-ups (with or without medicine ball): 12-15

Leg Lifts: 12-15

Repeat

Tuesday: Rest with light stretching (You’re welcome)

Wednesday: Upper Body

Warm Up

Plank Hold (or beginner plank): 30sec

Bicep Curls: 15reps

Tricep Kickbacks: 15reps

Lateral Raises (use lighter weights and do not lift your arms past a horizontal position): 12-15reps

Repeat

Thursday: Cardio

30min of light cardio (your choice) 

Friday: Lower Body

Stationary lunges (feel free to use your weights): 15 on each leg

calf raises (photo slapdashmom.com)Calf Raises (with weights): 25

Lying Side Leg Raise 

Lie down on your side and let your head rest on your arm.  Slowly lift your leg as high as possible, pause, then slowly return to starting position:

20reps

Hip Raises 

Lie down facing the ceiling and bend your knees.  While keeping your feet flat on the floor, raise your hips and squeeze your glutes.  Return to starting position.

20reps  

Repeat 1x

Saturday: Cardio and light stretching

30min of light cardio

Sunday: Rest

Take it easy!

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   

DiNapoli: Lax Board Oversight Allowed Former Village of Old Field Treasurer to Steal Nearly $60,000

DiNapoli: Lax Board Oversight Allowed Former Village of Old Field Treasurer to Steal Nearly $60,000 Poor oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Old Field allowed its former Treasurer Andrea Brosnan to steal nearly $60,000 in village funds without detection, according to an audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The findings of the audit were shared with Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas J. Spota whose office charged Brosnan with second-degree grand larceny, first-degree falsifying business records, defrauding the government and official misconduct on May 22.  Criminal proceedings are pending.  “The Village of Old Field learned a powerful lesson about what can happen when no one minds the store,” DiNapoli said. “The former treasurer controlled all the financial levers of this village and went on a spending spree, going as far as boosting her own pay. I applaud Suffolk County District Attorney Spota and his team for taking immediate action and holding this wrongdoer accountable for her actions. It is critical that Old Field officials take steps to ensure this never occurs again.”  “The defendant forged the Mayor’s signature on checks, she paid her personal utilities with money from village accounts, she bought merchandise with taxpayer dollars from Amazon and other firms that sell furniture, housewares and apparel, and she applied for and obtained unauthorized gas cards which she used to buy herself fuel, cigarettes, and food,” Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said. “The lesson of State Comptroller DiNapoli’s thorough review is simple. Inattention is expensive.”  The audit examined the board’s oversight of village financial activities and the treasurer’s duties for the period January 1, 2009 to July 31, 2012. More than $46,000 in inappropriate cash disbursements and $13,000 in inappropriate payroll payments were made.  Auditors and investigators found the former treasurer falsified the signature of the mayor and deputy mayor and inappropriately cashed 36 petty cash checks, which she issued, of which $11,484 was misappropriated. In one case reviewed by the auditors, a check for $399 cashed by the former treasurer was supported by eight original receipts totaling $303 for postage related to mail packages sent to France; Portland, Oregon; and Costa Rica.    Additionally, 37 electronic disbursements totaling $11,596 were made from the village’s checking account to seven vendors who did not do business with the village. Though the former treasurer was the only individual with access to the accounting records, she claimed to not know who made or recorded the payments.    Auditors also found that the former treasurer: Used two gasoline cards, the existence of which village officials were not aware, for questionable expenditures totaling $11,348. Made 46 payments totaling $7,432 to an office supply company that were either unsupported or unrelated to village business. Purchases included packaged food, laundry supplies, a digital camera and DVD’s of children’s movies. Forty-one of the 46 payments had a “ship to” address of the former treasurer’s home.  Made 15 payments totaling $3,404 to a mail-order catalog company for purchases that included an air mattress, children’s clothing, cookbooks and Yankees paraphernalia.  The former treasurer was able to make and conceal 58 improper payments to herself totaling $12,862 for 607 hours not worked because the village allowed her to do all aspects of the payroll process.  The village allowed the former treasurer to do both bank reconciliations and maintain custody of its bank accounts.  As a result, it went undetected that 30 of 86 bank reconciliations did not balance and ten of the bank statements were altered to conceal improper payments through whiting out or missing sections.    The board did not perform any audits of the former treasurer’s financial records in 2011 or 2012. In addition, it did not receive complete, accurate and current financial information from the former or current treasurers.   Without timely and accurate financial information, the board is unable to adequately monitor and manage village operations.    DiNapoli’s office recommended more than a dozen steps the village must take to regain control of its finances. The village generally agreed with the findings, and its response is included in the audit.  To view the full audit report, click here:  http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/villages/2013/oldfield.htm     Anyone with additional information on this matter or any other public corruption is encouraged to contact the Comptroller’s office by dialing the toll-free fraud hotline at 1-888-672-4555; filing a complaint online at investigations@osc.state.ny.us; or mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller Investigations Unit, 110 State Street, 14th floor, Albany, NY 12236.

Young And Looking For Something To Do? Week Of July 20-27

By Cristen Feeney

July 20-27

This week, you’re going to need to keep cool in the hot weather. Here are some events going on around Smithtown to help you forget about how hot you are.

Cool down at Superior Ice Rink, 270 Indian Head Road, Kings Park. Skating is open to the public (limited hours) on Wednesdays, Friday Nights with a DJ, Saturday and Sunday. Check out their schedule by clicking link above.

On July 20, St. Catherine’s is partnering with Island Harvest to sponsor a “Summer Healthy Food Fair” from 10am-12pm. There will be activities, healthy food, and information on how to be a healthier you. Admission is free and it is a great way to keep up or start a journey to a healthier you. St. Catherine’s Medical Center 25A Smithtown.

If you’re already doing well in the food department, but you’d like motivation to be more active, World Gym Setauket is holding a Tennis Festival, with 8 time “Grand Slam” winner, Ivan Lendl. This event costs $15 per adult and $10 per child. If you’d like to bring the whole family, you can all go for $50. The event includes food, and goes from 10am-1pm on July 20.

On Sunday July 21, from 11am-3pm, Smithtown Scion is holding their second annual “Wag n’ Wheels” event with the Long Island chapter of Canine Companions for Independence. It is a day of games, contests, food and drink. All proceeds go back to the cause. It is free entry. For more information on Canine Companions for Independence, visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.cci.org/” http://www.cci.org.

If you enjoy nature, and you have a young child, Caleb Smith State Park is hosting events for kids and their parents. There is an event on the July 21, called “I Spy a Dragonfly” at 1:30pm, and there is another event on July 25 at 10am called “Moon Myths and Facts.” For more information on how to register, visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.nysparks.com/events/event-results.aspx?pk=124” http://www.nysparks.com/events/event-results.aspx?pk=124.

On July 24, Huntington Bay Dental is holding their “4th Annual Autism Fundraiser” at Watermill Caterers. If you call in advance, admission is $75 and it is $85 at the door. There will be food, an open bar and various auctions. All proceeds go back to the Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism. For more information, call 631-425-0300.

On Friday July 26 at 7pm, Maum Meditation is hosting an event Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, called “Your Happiness Matters: Heal Your Mind.” If you’re stressed out, and need a way to cope, you can get your free ticket by calling 718-225-3472.

If the kids are looking for something fun to do, BounceU has Open Bounce Events, where you can have fun every Friday with different themes and “mini getaways.” This Friday, the theme is “Island Dream Vacation” from 1:30-3pm. For more information, visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.bounceu.com/party-places-for-kids/new-york/nesconset/” http://www.bounceu.com/party-places-for-kids/new-york/nesconset/

Saturday July 27 at 12pm, legislative candidate Gary Jacobs is having a meet the candidate barbecue at his house in Smithtown, all you have to do is RSVP by emailing  HYPERLINK “mailto:GJ@GaryJacobsforSuffolk.org” GJ@GaryJacobsforSuffolk.org or visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.GaryJacobsForSuffolk.org” www.GaryJacobsForSuffolk.org. 

All this week, Simply Pilates in Smithtown has a variety of 45 minute classes for beginners to pros. Pilates is a great way to stay in shape, while having fun at the same time. To sign up for a class you must visit the studio to register, then visit  HYPERLINK “https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/home.asp?studioid=25493” https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/home.asp?studioid=25493.

How to Dish a Local Fish

What’s Cookin’?  -  Smithtown

By Nancy Vallarella

How to Dish a Local Fish

During my childhood summers, my dad and I would pack a lunch and fishing gear and head out to the Hamptons to rent a boat barely big enough for the both of us at a place called Oscar’s.  We would spend the day fishing together.  I was grateful for the time spent out on the water and for the fact that my dad would never complain about baiting my hook when I did not have the courage to do it myself.  He was just as grateful for my ability to hang onto the fishing pole when it started to jerk and wiggle as the fish started to bite. We would come home with a trunk load of fish, mostly fluke or flounder.  Dad would begin the messy task of butchering the fish and mom would cook up a batch while packaging up fillets for friends and neighbors.  The waste (fish heads, scales, guts and tails) was buried in our garden. At night fall, the neighborhood cats would meow a lullaby while looking for the buried fish parts. Mom was right – “fish is brain food”. Over 40 years later that memory is crystal clear in my mind’s eye.

Steve Sicari, Jr.Steve SicariFishing enthusiast and co-owner the B.L.T. Café in Saint James, Steve Sicari possesses a wealth of local fishing information. “Right now you can catch striped bass in Porpoise Channel in Stony Brook”, he shares with me with a giant grin and sparkle in his eyes.  “I like to throw the fillets on the grill with a little olive oil and lemon”.  In addition to a home style breakfast and lunch, you can pick up the latest weekly edition of The Fisherman at the B.L.T. Café.  The sign on the B.L.T. Café reads:  Breakfast – Lunch – Take Out.  One may think the acronym really stands for Breakfast – Lunch – Tale (as in fish).  Here is Steve and his son with some beautiful striped bass that didn’t get away. 

You don’t have to get your pole out to enjoy local fish. Gail and Mark Nelson of Ocean’s Bounty Seafood, Gail’s Clamsalso in Saint James, sell a varying assortment of local commercially harvested seafood. Right now clams, steamers and mussels are plentiful. Instead of telling the tale of how the fish was caught, Gail will enthusiastically share how to prepare it and the tale of where, when and who dined on that recipe with her.  Invite friends over to help cook and eat. Throw in a little local vino and presto…. a fish tale is created. 

On Smithtown Matters Food and Restaurant Guide you can find great recipes for clams and white fish provided by Gail of Ocean’s Bounty Seafood. 

Post a picture and tell a little tale of your fresh fish catch or  cooked fish dish on Smithtown Matters  facebook page www.facebook.com/SmithtownMatters between now and August 31, 2013 and you will be entered to win a $20 gift certificate at Ocean’s Bounty Seafood or a $20 gift certificate at the B.L.T. Café. Good luck and happy fishing and dishing!

Try Gail’s delcious recipes