Young And Looking For Something To Do? Smithtown Summer Offerings

By Cristen Feeney

The Smithtown Youth Bureau kicks off summer programs tomorrow night (6/25) at 6PM the first session “Safe Summer Nights Program” at Hoyt Farm in Commack. Youth in the Town of Smithtown who are entering grade 6 and older are invited to come down and hang out from 6PM until 9PM. This includes all public and private schools in Smithtown, Hauppauge, Commack, and Kings Park. We will have sports, games, arts and crafts, and more!

Smithtown’s Safe Summer Night ProgramAfter finishing a hard year and passing all their finals, often, high school and college students struggle to find something to do over the summer. Sleeping and playing video games are only fun for so long, and a summer job may not take up all of your time. Some students may want to get out and explore what their community has to offer. In Smithtown, there are so many events and opportunities that many people pass up, simply because they do not know they are available. Regardless of your interests, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

            If you’re interested in sports, Smithtown Recreation Department has Basketball, Soccer Lacrosse, Field Hockey, Swimming, Track and Field, Baseball, and tennis programs, for people between the ages of 4-16 (ages vary between programs). These programs run anywhere from 1-3 weeks and focus on placing children and teens in a safe environment for learning or improving their skills in any of the sports listed. If you’re older that 16 and still looking for something to do, they also offer various dance and fitness classes for anyone 18+.

            If you’re interested in music, every Tuesday from July 2-August 13, the Suffolk County Executives Office sponsors concerts at the Nesconset gazebo across from Nesconset Plaza. They are completely free, and anyone is welcome to bring a chair or a blanket and come listen and dance to live music! If you’re closer to Hoyt Park Farm, in Commack, there are also concerts sponsored there by Smithtown Recreation Department every Sunday night starting June 30th.

            If you’re interested in theatre or performance, and you’re between the ages of 7 and 18, Smithtown Performing Arts Center has a “Summer Theatre Enhancement” program. It is a 3 week long program for beginners and seasoned actors, alike. It is every Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm and there is a showcase at the end to show your family and friends everything that you’ve gained from the program.

            If you’re interested in art, the Smithtown Arts Council, has summer classes for people of any age, but there is a camp program created specifically for students in grades 9-12. It’s a great way to keep up with your art during the summer, when art classes in school are not in session.

            If you’re interested in getting a head start with school work for next year, SCOPE has a SAT/PSAT and ACT prep program. Part of the program is online, and anyone is welcome to join.

            If you’re interested in volunteering or doing charity work, Sweetbriar Nature Center is always looking for volunteers to help in outdoor or butterfly gardens. If you don’t want to spend the summer inside, this is a great opportunity to get outdoors and help out.

            There is something for every person to do this summer, whether you are 8 or 80, there is a way to get involved in your community and be a part of something great.

            For daily events across Long Island this summer, you can visit http://long-island.newsday.com/events.

Moreland Commission - " LIPA in its current state, should no longer exist"

What’s wrong with LIPA? Apparently a great deal and it didn’t start with Hurricane Sandy. The Moreland Commission has released its report of LIPA and it is not good. Click here for the NY Times link to Moreland Commission report. The report is critical of LIPA’s lack of oversight in payments to consultants, overcharging customers, misrepresenting rate hikes and more.

In its letter to Governor Cuomo, the members of the Moreland Commission included this statement:

“The Final Report continues the investigation of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) by picking up on the investigation initiated by the Office of the New York State Inspector General (IG), ordered by you in April 2011, which uncovered issues not previously reviewed. The new issues identified appear to be only a sampling of LIPA’s structural dysfunction and blatant disrespect for ratepayers. Furthermore, the Commission believes that some of the issues warrant further investigation by a prosecutor. Ultimately, the Commission concludes that LIPA’s bifurcated management structure fails to work not only during weather emergencies, but also during “blue sky” conditions, reinforcing the Commission’s initial conclusion that LIPA, in its current state, should no longer exist.”

The report hones in on LIPA’s relationship with the consultant firm Navigant. This relationship is a “revolving door” for management for both LIPA and Navigant. Former LIPA CEO Michael D. Hervey left LIPA after Superstorm Sandy and almost immediately became an employee of Navigant. Between 2008 and 2011 LIPA customers paid $65 million to consultants of which $28 million went to Navigant. According to the Commission, consultant bills were seldom scrutinized, resulting in payments to Navigant consultants being reimbursed for expenses including travel, hotel, food, and even an out of state engineering license, that were well beyond acceptable established standards.  

Page 17 of the report addresses concerns the Commission has with Navigant billable hours and lack of oversight. Navigant has between 52 and 64 consultants working with LIPA, mostly senior in rank, and billing between $300 - $500 per hour exclusive of expenses. Some of these consultants have 1,800 billable hours a year. According to the report between 2008 - 2012 “Robert Kendall, Managing Director, who maintains residences in California and Utah, was Navigant’s top billing consultant to LIPA and alone billed LIPA over $4.5 million. During this time, Kendall often billed well over 2,000 hours a year and in 2008 billed almost 3,500 hours. These hourly charges were approved and paid despite internal questions regarding their propriety.”

The Commission did convey the importance of taking steps to prepare for the next weather related emergency, but those recomendations were overshadowed by the very negative information about LIPA’s management.

To read the Moreland Commission report click here.

This Summer Add Salsa To Your Exercise Schedule

By Kia Edwards

Exercise seems to get a bad rap at times; it’s difficult, often makes you sweat and, worst of all, it can get BORING.  The last idea, however, can be fought.  Exercise doesn’t always have to be about running 5 miles with ankle weights and lifting dumbbells.  Getting fit is easier with these fun workouts:

High-Intensity Dance Classes

Trying something new such as Salsa lessons or even African dance can teach you coordination, balance and help you with rhythm (not a necessity, but a dress just looks better when you can move gracefully to the music). The movement involved in dancing naturally works your core and other large muscle groups to help you get lean. The Hokey Pokey won’t cut it since the aim is to get your heart rate up.  You may have to take it slow while learning the basic steps, but dancing is a great workout if you allow yourself to get lost in the music. Best of all, it’s a calorie burner. An individual weighing about 140lbs has the potential to burn 370-400 calories an hour while an individual closer to 180lbs can burn 450-480 calories.  Compare this to the idea that we burn approximately 100 calories per mile (the heavier you are, the more you burn), and you’re looking at a four mile jog/run to achieve the same results. 

Hiking

Forget the treadmill and elliptical.  Spring and summer mean it’s time to take your friends, family and/or spouse on a hiking trip.  The fresh air, good company and opportunity to see some exciting wildlife can help you forget you’re exercising.  Add your backpack for water, food or other necessities, and you’ll soon notice an increase in your fitness level.  The terrain is a large contributor when determining how many calories you can burn. A 2 mile hike with a generally flat terrain won’t burn nearly as many calories as a hike with a lot of hills, which can burn close to 600 calories for a 190 pound male. An extremely rugged terrain can burn up to 650 calories for the average female. 

Self Defense Classes

I believe every person should have a basic knowledge of how to defend themselves in case of an emergency…or in case your trainer really is driving you crazy.  Self-defense lessons can teach you how to protect yourself, and help you increase your strength and agility.  It works your muscles due to the force you use when punching and kicking, but it also a good way to improve your muscular endurance since you have to keep your arms up at all times.   An hour of a hard workout can help the average woman 400-500 calories per hour and some boxing classes claim to help you burn up to 1,000 calories per hour. 

Tennis

You don’t have to hit the ball like Serena or Djokovic to get a good workout from tennis.  It improves your hand-eye coordination and your reflexes since you never know where the ball is going to land. It’s a fun way to socialize and an intense match can help you keep fit.  You can also measure your fitness progress by playing tennis. The stronger you become (which you may have to use weights for), the harder you will hit the ball.  As your cardiovascular endurance improves, you’ll notice that you’re able to play longer games.  A person weighing 200lbs can burn over 500 calories by playing a moderately intense singles game. Hate playing outside? The University of Wisconsin conducted a study and found that you may burn 150 calories playing Wii Tennis for 30 minutes. It’s not as good as the real thing, but it’s better than sitting on your couch watching other people play tennis. 

Water Games

Games like water polo or pool basketball are great ways to work out without realizing it.  Your cardiovascular endurance will increase greatly due to the effort required to move around in the water. Moving around in water requires more energy and it’s perfect if you have bone, muscle or joint problems due to its low impact.  NutriStrategy states that an individual weighing 130lbs can burn 550+ calories an hour, while a 155 pound individual can burn close to 700 calories per hour. 

Having an unchanging workout routine is a recipe for falling off the wagon, or seeing a plateau in your weight loss.  Mixing it up with any of these activities, or others that you like to try will keep your workout plan fun and effective.  

*Sources for caloric burn were based on the following sources:

ACE Fitness

The American Council on Exercise

The International Sports Sciences Association

Mayo Clinic: Aerobic Exercise

NutriStrategy

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 

Town Board Meeting - Starts Calmly Ends In Uproar

By Taylor Fleming

The Smithtown Town Board meeting on Thursday June 20, 2013 started calmly but ended in uproar. The Board unanimously voted “yes” to most resolutions, and personnel matters, except for two resolutions both to which Supervisor Patrick Vecchio voted “no.” The first resolution to which Supervisor Vecchio did not support Town Board Voted 4-1 in favor of the resolution (Supervisor Vecchio voted “no”)was for the Board to approve Zoning Petition #2012-06 by Bolla LI Operating Corp, changing a zone adjacent to the intersection of Route 111 and Route 347 from residential to Neighborhood Business.  The second was to authorize the waiver of fees, for a six-month period, for façade renovations and fees for site plan exemptions related to façade renovations for all buildings within the Central Business zoning district. Resolution 3-K was withdrawn.

Following the call to order, correspondences, resolutions and personnel matters the Town Board heard from five members of the community. All five speakers addressed opposition towards the proposal of St. Johnland Nursing Center to build a 50-acre complex on Sunken Meadow Road. 

Michael Chicvak of Kings Park quoted the oath of allegiance, which each board member must swear to before entering office. He reminded the Board of the duties and responsibilities they each promised to uphold for the town of Smithtown. “Now,” said Chicvack, “everyone of you must act.” He stated that 100% of the households in the neighboring Uplands areas, which he received signatures from, opposed the project. He then advised that the Board of Ethics look into this matter. “[The Town Board should] abide by the wishes of its residents,” Chicvack warned, “or we will vote you out of office.”

Next, Margaret Lewis of Kings Park took to the podium to express her opposition to the project. She stressed environmental protection and noted that the high prices of the proposed townhouses directly contradict the prospect of this unit as a place for senior citizens. “How can the town council support [this project] on environmentally sensitive lands?” Lewis asked the Board, adding her own warning to “please think of the long term consequences.” 

Sean Lehmann, president of the Kings Park Civic Association, presented a stack of numerous signatures in his hand to show the Board. He said he was “holding out,” however, as he discovered there were more to get. “This project should have been dead on arrival,” Lehmann contended. “Dead on arrival.” 

Following Lehmann’s remarks, Supervisor Vecchio and Councilman Thomas McCarthy addressed him, the other speakers, the Board and members of the community. “We do not have a zone hearing scheduled,” Vecchio said. He added that if they did he would have agreed with Lehmann. Councilman McCarthy said, “I’m voting no to scheduling it.” 

The next community spokesman was Rich Gorbecki who cited a letter from a New York State Park Official written in September 2012 which voiced concerns over the increased traffic, noise pollution, light pollution and negative impacts of St. Johnland’s project. “Please tell Greenbrier Corporation to take the Uplands project back to Texas,” he said. 

Christopher Borrella, who also addressed the Board, said that the project “doesn’t seem to me to make sense.” He stated that the Uplands project would lead to more police and fire department calls to service costing the community more money while depleting the value of houses in the neighboring areas. 

Finally, David Fennes asked the Board to give a show of hands for who supported the Uplands project. Smithtown Town Attorney John Zollo responded by stating that this gesture was inappropriate, as the zoning hearing has not been scheduled. 

After his response was met with much resistance from community members, Supervisor Vecchio said, “I choose to say to you I am opposed.” Councilman McCarthy followed suit, stating, “I already told you. I will not vote. I am against this project.” Councilman Malloy, however, questioned Fennes’ approach. “To cut it short,” said Malloy, “[and] say vote yes or no…then why have a public hearing?” He then told Fennes that he was jumping to conclusions regarding the Board’s opinions and that he did not support the project but rather, “we are in support for the concept of this project.” 

Fennes concluded his address by asking the Board a question: “Why put it here?” 

Following the last speaker, the Board moved to adjourn the meeting just past 7:30pm. 

Theater Review - "Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson"

THEATER REVIEW

“Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson”

Produced by: Smithtown Performing Arts Council

Reviewed by: Jeb Ladouceur

This musical about (of all things) the nation’s seventh president, opened at New York’s Bernard Jacobs Theater on October 13, 2010 and closed a scant 2 ½ month later due to poor attendance. That in itself is not a total indictment—lots of shows flop on The Great White Way—but “Grease” it ain’t. That record-setting staple arrives in town next month.

As experimental rock operas go, “Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson” is pretty typical fare, thus one wonders what the production is doing on the Smithtown Performing Arts stage when it could as easily have been cleaned up and presented at one of our local high schools. Could it be that our kids’ taste is improving?

Implausibly, Alex Timbers’ overstuffed book for “Bloody…” was nominated for awards in a couple of categories during its brief run, but the theatergoing public wasn’t buying it, and with good reason. This is the sort of story one envisions a wiseguy student writing to get even with a History teacher who has assigned the class a paper on the Jackson presidency.

Granted, the play has its serious moments, but they are few and ineffective. Not that the ambitious guy in the title role doesn’t give it his best shot: Young Jack Weppler tries to make a convincing case while castigating Native Americans with assorted ‘F-bombs’ and ‘S-bombs’ for example, but his pitch would have been better snarled than shouted. The trouble is, Weppler is so convinced of the magnificence of his delivery that he constantly pats himself on the back even before the lines have left his mouth.

Such miscalculations must be laid at the door of Director Ken Washington. It’s hard to believe that an old pro like him doesn’t know when an actor is flat out talking too fast.

Short of  re-writing the script, there’s not much Washington could have done about this play’s potty-mouth jokes, I suppose, but he could have cut Weppler’s ill-advised line addressed at an Indian Chief, “Your music is terrible!” That about sums up the whole ‘Bloody’score.

Similarly, the choreography in this show is non-existent, though the vocal contributions of the actors playing Martin Van Buren, John C. Calhoun, and Henry Clay are so-so. The same may be said for those of Jackson’s heartbroken wife Rachel, performed by Cai Radleigh.

Unhappily (or maybe not), the drums frequently drowned out the vocals in Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson … also, one wonders what this bunch of kids did for stage business before POTUS and FLOTUS popularized the presidential fist bump. This is the eighteen hundreds, folks.

Notes on my playbill: Before this rock opera is over, we might end up ruing the day Les Paul ever invented the electric guitar.

Fear not, theater lovers, a real musical (“Grease”) is on the way in July. And you won’t find those smutty F & S bombs there.

Award-winning Smithtown author Jeb Ladouceur has published seven novels. His theater reviews appear in dozens of L. I. newspapers. In Ladouceur’s next thriller, “The Dealer” due this summer, Israeli extortionists threaten to destroy Hoover Dam demolishing the Las Vegas Strip - if casino operators don’t pay millions.