Saddened But Not Defeated Larry Flynn Talks Maritime Museum

Larry FlynnKings Park resident Larry Flynn was never happy with New York State’s decision to demolish the 100 year-old boathouse at the Nissequogue River State Park (NRSP).  “The boathouse is part of Kings Park’s history. It is a part of the history of the people who grew up in the town. It was in good condition and withstood hurricanes even the recent storm Sandy. It is a shame to see a building like that torn down.” Said Larry.

A little resigned and quite a bit saddened by the January 15^th demolition, Larry Flynn sent off a letter to Commissioner of NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Properties, Rose Harvey. In the letter he requested the construction of a new boathouse to house a Kings Park Maritime Museum.

Historic BoathouseWhat’s unique about his idea is his willingness to do the difficult job of raising the money to pay for the Museum.  “It can be done. We have people in Kings Park who want to preserve the history of our town. We’ll get private funding, hold fundraisers and apply for grants. We can do it.”

What’s holding him back? New York State’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Properties has yet to give Flynn the okay to move forward.  

On January 15, 2013 Larry Flynn sent the following letter to Commissioner Rose Harvey:   

Dear Rose: Today, on the grounds of the Nissequogue River State Park, formerly the Kings Park Psychiatric Center, the Historical Boathouse in the Kings Park Basin was demolished. It had served the Kings Park community for over 100 years and even withstood the recent destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy.

With the boathouse now gone, this would be the perfect opportunity to fund and construct a new boathouse to serve as a maritime museum for the North Shore. The money to fund the project would come from donations and grants.

Your comments on this endeavor would be greatly appreciated. Attached please find images of the before and after of the existing building.

Lawrence G. Flynn, Kings Park Resident

Currently the State is busy with the demolition of buidings at the Park. LI Regional Director of State Parks, Brian Foley, has stated that the current focus is on phase I of the demolition - dangerous buildings. A second phase of demolition is projected and a master plan for the park will be created at some point in the future. Currently, The Nissequogue River State Park Foundation, which was created to protect and preserve the park, is working to have NYS develop a master plan for the park. On December 11, 2012 the Foundation sent a letter to Governor Cuomo requesting the creation of a master plan. NRSP Foundation encourages Governor Cuomo to establish the park’s master plan.

It remains to be seen if a boathouse and/or maritime museum will be a part of the Nissequogue River State Park’s master plan, but as most people have learned, Kings Park residents seldom give up on what they believe to be a good thing for their community.

As of January 22, 2013 Larry had not received a response to his proposal. 

Meet Kings Park's Gymnastic Champion - 9-year-old Katie Finnegan

Kings Park’s newest champion is 9-year-old Katie Finnegan. For the second consecutive year Katie has taken first place in the NYS USAG Gymnastics Championship. This year the event was held in Elmira, NY, where she competed with gymnasts in the 8-10 year-old age group.  What does it take to be a gymnastic champion? For Katie it means five years of practice 18-20 hours a week and good coaching. According to Katie’s mom, Kim, coaching is a key to success “Katie trains at Gold Medal Gymnastics in Huntington which has consistently won State, Regional and National titles. Even though the school has opened a new facility in Smithtown Katie will continue her training in Huntington*.”

Katie won her NYS USG Level 6 All Round Championship by finishing first in floor exercises, second in balance beam and bars and fourth in vault.

(*Amended to reflect Huntington not Northport as originally published)

Smithtown's Joseph DeMarco - Making a Difference

Smithtown’s Joseph DeMarco - Making a Difference

Joseph DeMarcoAccording to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Almost 1.3 million women in the U.S. each year are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner.  And, domestic violence has a tragic and lasting impact on the children who witness violence between one’s parents or caretakers as it is the strongest risk factor of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next.

It is gratifying to know that there are people in our community like Joseph DeMarco who are using their skills to help victims of domestic violence. Congratulations to Attorney Joseph DeMarco, Nassau County Bar Association’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Month For January 2013.

NCBA Names Joseph DeMarco Pro Bono Attorney of the Month For January 2013 By: Valerie Zurblis Organization: Nassau County Bar Association

Mineola, Long Island, NY – For his unwavering dedication, support and pro bono legal assistance to help battered and abused women through the Pro Bono Project of the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Joseph A. DeMarco of Smithtown has been named Pro Bono Attorney for the month of January, it was announced today by Marian Rice, president of the Nassau County Bar Association, the largest suburban bar in the country.

Joe DeMarco donates his time and legal talents to those in need in many ways. He is an active member of at the Nassau County Bar Association, serving on the Matrimonial Law Committee. He provides pro bono legal services through the Volunteer Lawyers Project, which helps Nassau’s neediest residents, and has mentored at-risk students at the Alberta Gray Schultz Middle School in Hempstead through NCBA’s Student Mentoring program… He has also assisted with the administration of Nassau County PEACE (Parent Education And Custody Effectiveness), a program that helps divorcing parents make responsible decisions that recognize their children’s need for continuing, good relationships with them.  He has also served as a member of the Lions Club.

As a partner at the law firm of Schlissel Ostrow Karabatos, PLLC in Garden City, DeMarco practices exclusively in matrimonial and family law, focusing on matters involving complex equitable distribution, support, child custody issues and appellate work. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Tulane Law School in 2001 and was selected by Super Lawyers as a 2011 and 2012 New York Rising Star.

Making a difference is Joseph DeMarco a 1994 graduate of Smithtown High School. After graduation Joseph attended  Wake Forest University graduating in 1998. Joseph went on to Tulane Law School where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 2001. He currently resides in Smithtown with his wife, Alida and 2 children, Antonio and Juliet.

CONGRATULATIONS - TWO 2013 INTEL FINALISTS IN SMITHTOWN

Two students from Long Island were selected as Intel finalists. Finalists Mayuri Sridhar and Michael Zhang will be go to Washingington DC where they will compete in the last phase of the competition.

The Intel STS recognizes and rewards 300 students, as well as their schools, as semifinalists each year. From that select pool, 40 finalists are then invited to Washington, DC in March to undergo final judging, display their work to the public, meet with notable scientists, and compete for $630,000 in awards, including the top award of $100,000.

Mayuri SridharMichael ZhangSridhar, Mayuri (Kings Park High School) 
Kings Park, New York 
Computational Analysis of the DNA-Binding Mechanism of the p53 Tumor Suppressor and its Inactivation through the R249S Mutation

Zhang, Michael (Smithtown High School East) 
Saint James, New York 
Role-Inducted Perspective Visual Behavior during Scene Free-Viewing

Information Wanted: Fatal Hit and Run in Centereach

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the driver of the vehicle involved in a fatal hit-and-run with a pedestrian in Centereach.

At approximately 12:45 a.m. on December 21, 2012, Michael Van Hulse, 29, of Centereach (pictured here), was walking eastbound on Park Street, west of Rustic Road, when an unknown type of vehicle struck him, knocking him to the ground. Van Hulse suffered life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle did not stop and did not report this incident. Police believe the vehicle involved was painted a metallic red and may have sustained damage to the windshield and the black plastic panels on the underside of the vehicle. 

Anyone with information about this crime, or the vehicle involved, is asked to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-220-TIPS.  All calls will be kept confidential. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. 

 Authority: D/Sgt. Michael Fitzharris      CC# 12-776894

 Sixth Squad Detectives                        CW# 13-012/JJ