Adopt a Shelter Cat Month - A Good Time To Visit Smithtown's Animal Shelter

By Joe Flynn

At Smithtown’s Animal Shelter, any month is a good month to adopt a cat. Nationally, June has been dedicated as “Adopt A Shelter Cat Month”. The American Humane Association recognizes spring as “kitten season” due to the time of year when cats tend to reproduce. For this reason, animal shelters around the world tend to be more crowded now, as summer arrives, and shelters are encouraging even more people to consider whether they might be good pet owners.

But kitten season is not the only time of year for cats of all ages to arrive at the Smithtown Animal Shelter for adoption. According to Smithtown Animal Shelter employee Monica Stevens, many of the cats they receive are pets with owners who simply don’t want them any more. “Everybody wants a kitten, but they often bring back their older cats. Even then, there’s a wait list of a few weeks.” Cats become less energetic and, arguably, not as cute as they age, their owners sometimes get tired of them. The Animal Shelter’s crowded Cat Room is filled mostly with adults, even though most show no lack of energy and friendliness.

Cat Room At Smithtown Animal ShelterSmithtown, along with many towns on Long Island, has seen an increase in the number of feral cats being brought to the shelter over the past several years. This says Stevens, is due to responsible people bringing these cats in to be spayed and neutered, both services the Smithtown Animal Shelter is required to provide. Just one pair of cats in an area is enough to produce dozens in only a couple of years. Not only are the cats born into a harder life than that of a house cat, but also, more importantly, they can put a neighborhood at greater risk for disease and upset other natural animal populations.

The Animal Shelter staff makes sure that the cats they have aren’t thrown into just any home. Potential owners submit to background checks in order to make sure that they are ready to care for a pet. For example, if you are already a cat owner but have never taken your cat to a vet, you may be turned down. The staff here has clearly developed bonds with each of the animals; no cat is to be put at risk of landing in unloving hands.

Stevens says that many of the people who come to the shelter to adopt have become interested after sitting in traffic on Route 25 and seeing the large “KITTENS” sign. The shelter’s website features a “pet finder” option that allows potential owners to find the cat that directly matches the personality they want. Although the shelter contains mostly dogs and cats, they are equipped to take care of other animals that are deposited with them, until they can find a home for these animals, too. The shelter is designed to send animals off to a home where they can be pets again, but the staff works to make sure that all the creatures there, even the ones who will never have a new owner, are happy and well adjusted to humans.

A Visit To Kings Park Farmers Market - Mother Nature's Therapy For Foodies

What’s Cookin?  Smithtown

By Nancy Vallarella

Mother Nature’s Therapy for Foodies

This past Sunday I enjoyed the old-fashioned, feel good experience of shopping at the Kings Park Farmers Market.  Inspired by the products available there, I found my mind racing with recipe and menu possibilities. Speaking with the people, who grew the products I purchased, really connected me to the product and the community. I found many treasures and just when I thought the adventure could not get any better …I heard the news:

A Farmers Market will open in the parking area of Nesconset Plaza on Saturday, July 7^th.

Nesconset Plaza is located directly across from the Nesconset branch of the Smithtown Library on Smithtown Boulevard.  Banners will be sprouting up all over town announcing the details.  Now Smithtown residents have the nearby option of shopping for farm fresh goods from a variety of vendors on Saturday and Sunday. There is still room for additional vendors. Vendor applications can be requested by contacting Bernadette Martin at: bmartin@ligreenmarket.org

This is not a typical shopping trip. It is not a dreaded task. It is all about slowing down.  Shoppers at farmers’ markets engage in conversation more than customers in supermarkets. They are speaking to the people who are selling the product and in many cases, grew it. They are speaking to both neighbors and strangers exchanging information on how to prepare product s and sharing opinions on products.  Many people bring their four-legged friends along. Human interaction is bountiful. Forget about making a list. It’s all about inspiration buying.

Getting back to the actual shopping adventure of this past Sunday, I did have a few items in mind but knew it was highly unlikely that I would come home with some tomatoes. Shopping at a farmers’ market is a very seasonal event.  Items may not be as readily available as in supermarkets. The half-full side of this is the products that are available have not been stored, iced or shipped. It is as fresh as you can possibly get without growing it yourself. You will probably buy more than you intend but the food keeps well. Past purchased basil (kept in the refrigerator’s vegetable drawer) stayed fresh for nearly three weeks!

Sunday’s haul included the most beautiful and blemish free organic zucchini. After all, I am on a quest to perfect my zucchini spaghetti recipe.  The market was rich with lettuces. I chose a bunch of arugula. I am thinking of using that to add a textural and peppery contrast in a rigatoni a la vodka dish.  Both veggies were purchased from Thera Farms whose tag line is …Our veggies are so fresh you’ll want to slap them.

The most valued treasure of my shopping adventure, DEET free, natural insect repellent from Saturday’s Soap.  Yes, I am terrified that I will be a mosquito banquet this summer. I find great comfort in this product’s natural ingredients and owner Belinda Windbish’s knowledge of application in all the ingredients found in her products made in Lake Ronkonkoma.

Upon recommendation from my new furry friend, Doc Holiday (reference photo) and his master, I will be making future purchases from Coach Farms (goat cheeses and products) and Life is Grruff for my furry best friend.

When visiting the King’s Park Farmers market be sure to visit Branson at the Sannino Bella Vita Vineyard Wine booth. He will graciously offer you a tasting of their products and give you a brief summary of how each is made. Say hi to Krista and Brianne back from college and full of enthusiasm to be at KPFM this summer selling artisan breads, cakes, pies and pastries from The Blue Duck Bakery Café.

There are other vendors selling pasta, seafood, pickles and coffee. Get there early for the best selection. Get there late for the best conversation.  For information on scheduled demonstrations and entertainment look up Kings Park Farmers Market on Facebook or sign up for their newsletter at their booth!

Success For Musical Moments At Russ Savatt Park

“The concert was fabulous”.  That is the message Musical Moments orgainzer Dorothy Chanin had for photo by J. GallagherSmithtown Matters.  “There were 183 people in the audience on the first count and people were coming in throughout the concert.” 

The Kings Park Civic Association and the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring Musical Moments at Russ Savatt Park inphoto by J. Gallagher Kings Park.  In addition, there are businesses that sponsor individual performances. The first 2012 Musical Moments performance was Gary Pumilia and The Acoustic Six sponsored by Professor’s Diner in Kings Park.

Originally scheduled for Friday, June 22 the concert was canceled due to rain and thunderstorm threats. Not a problem for Saturday’s performance when the photo by J. Gallagheraudience enjoyed perfect weather.

If you didn’t make the first Musical Moments concert you have another chance this Friday, June 29,  the tango will be highlighted.  Put your dancing shoes on and enjoy a tango demonstration and a tango dancing lesson.

Man Arrested For Boating While Intoxicated Following Crash

Suffolk County Police Dive Team Officer Steve Tarolli recovered the body of missing boater, Christopher Mannino, 39, of West Islip, in the Great South Bay at 1:30 p.m. The operator of the Skater boat who was charged with Boating While Intoxicated has been identified as Brian Andreski, 26, of Dix Hills. Andreski is still in the hospital and was issued a Field Appearance Ticket for a later date. An autopsy will be conducted by the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner to determine the cause of Mannino’s death.

Suffolk County Police today arrested a man for boating while intoxicated following a crash that left one boater missing in the Great South Bay off Captree Island early this morning.

Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau received a distressed call on the radio regarding a boat crash that occurred under the Robert Moses main span bridge at approximately 4:50 a.m. When Marine Bureau units arrived, they found one boat, a 25-foot Skater, overturned and the operator and passenger in the water. The other vessel, a 1967 38-foot Hatteras, with five people on board was damaged during the crash and had started to sink. One person fell into the water during the crash and remains missing. The Marine Bureau received assistance from the Aviation Section, Coast Guard and several fire departments.

The operator of the Skater was arrested and charged with Boating While Intoxicated. The operator and the passenger of the Skater were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The four aboard the Hatteras were not injured. The Marine Bureau Dive Team is continuing to search the waters for the fifth boater.

Third Squad detectives with the assistance from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the crash. Anyone with information is asked to call the Third Squad at 631-854-8352 or Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Summer Heat - Avoid Heat Stroke

By Chris Biancaniello

With temperatures rocketing, it is important to understand the dangers of heat stroke and the signals your body sends to you. Heat stroke is a type of hyperthermia and is the most severe of heat-related illnesses. While the elderly, children, obese and those with chronic medical conditions may be at higher risk for heat stroke, it can happen to anyone.

Dr. Peter Morelli - Pediatric CardiologistPeter Morelli, MD. ColumbiaDoctors – Pediatric Cardiology, a Pediatric Cardiologist in East Setauket, suffered from Heat Stroke while in medical school during his time in the Air Force. It was August in Alabama with the  temperature in the 90’s and humidity about 90 percent Dr. Morelli was running in a local 10k. He remembers all to well waking up in the local hospital’s emergency room hooked up to an IV and on a respirator suffering from heat stroke.

He has some helpful pointers on how to recognize Heat Stroke, as well as how to avoid it. Heat Stroke occurs when your body’s temperature goes over 106 degrees and body’s organs begin to shut down. Often times you lose consciousness, you can be at risk for kidney failure as well as brain damage.  Heat Stroke is preceded by heat exhaustion; when your body’s core temperature rises, the symptoms are a precursor to heat stroke. Symptoms include, dehydration, nausea, and tiredness. If these symptoms are ignored, Heat Stroke can occur and it can be fatal.

Warning Signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke:

1. “If you feel like you’re not sweating, you may be heading towards heat stroke. If you’re dry, it’s not good.” Sweating is your body’s natural way of cooling you down. Without it your core temperature will rise, which brings us to #2.

2. “Drink before, during, and after exercise. Try and drink a lot and make sure you have salt. You want to replace your sodium you lose when you sweat. That’s why Gatorade and PowerAde have become more popular. Just having some pretzels or salty crackers along with your regular drinking helps. That’s why they used to have salt tablets in the military.”

3. “You lose a lot of heat through your head, if you wear helmets it will keep that heat in. That’s why a lot of football practices right now are without all the pads.”  The more clothing you wear, the more heat is contained. Athletes that play sports like lacrosse and football should be particularly careful because they wear helmets.

4. “As far as activities to do, swimming is a good one if you’re really into endurance sports. Biking is nice as well because you can get the breeze while you’re on your bike, and you can have a water bottle right at your disposal.” While Dr. Morelli would never discourage running, he did say to try and keep it in moderation.

Like most things, the most obvious precautions are the best. Make sure you hydrate, don’t overexert yourself, and if you are doing physical activity; make sure you’re sweating. Weight lifting and running indoors on a treadmill in air conditioning might be a preferable option in the really high heat to outdoor activities, but  try and recognize the signals your body is sending you.