Kings Park Resident Killed in Motorcycle Accident

Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating a two-vehicle crash that killed a motorcyclist in Coram last evening.

Gary Curcie, 46, was operating a 1986 Honda motorcycle westbound on Middle Country Road at approximately 9:30 p.m. when he collided with a 1996 Saturn driven by Donald Savacool, 23, at the Country Club Driveintersection. Savacool, of Centereach, was traveling in the eastbound turning lane on Middle Country Road and was making a left turn onto County Club Drive when the vehicles collided.

Curcie, of Kings Park, was transported via ambulance to John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson, where he was pronounced dead. The passenger of the Saturn was also transported to John T.Mather Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Both vehicles were impounded for safety checks and the investigation is continuing.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS

NYS A.G. SCHNEIDERMAN ON DECISION TO DELAY VOTE ON PROPOSED FRACKING REGULATIONS

NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today issued the following statement regarding a decision by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to postpone a scheduled vote on its proposed draft hydrofracking regulations. 

“This delay further demonstrates that the proposed regulations for fracking in the Delaware River Basin are not ready to see the light of day. Without a full, fair and open review of the potential risks of fracking in the Basin, the public will continue to question the federal government’s ability to protect public health and environment.

“I also commend Delaware Governor Markell for stating that Delaware would vote ‘no’ on the current regulations. His position echoes my longstanding position: the federal government must follow both common sense and the law, and conduct a full study of fracking in the Basin before proceeding with regulations.”

"When It Comes To Our Children, We Cannot Be Too Careful"

As I ready myself for the holidays, planning and creating my culinary contributions for my large Irish family, the headlines about the heinous Penn State Child Sex Abuse scandal continue to galvanize broadcast and print news and the victims lay heavy in my heart.

The second those headlines came through my kitchen t.v. a week back I had a sense of panic. My son Bryan and a few dozen Kings Park athletes from the high school went to Penn State to attend a track and field camp in the summer of 2005.   I rang Bryan and spoke to him in his Binghamton dorm room and he said he saw nothing unusual in his short 4 or 5 day stay at the famed university.

The headlines coming out of Penn State are shocking for a myriad of reasons and leave so many of us asking – how could this have happened and even more so, how could this have happened so many times?

About seven years back while on the board of St. Joseph’s CYO, all the board members and coaches were asked to submit to a background check as are most people who work with children today.  We all welcomed the new protocol.

I am happy to say that in the last twelve years since I’ve resided in Kings Park, there has a been an enormous commitment to educating parents about child sexual abuse.  Our former superintendent provided the Apple of My Eye program from Parents for Megan’s law.   My parent organization comrades and I also ran the program through Council of Schools and the Mary DeRose Parent Center and Senator John J. Flanagan brought it to the district in 2009 as well.

A child-protective phenomenon, Parents for Megan’s Law is a local non-profit that give parents and children the tools to protect them from the monsters who carefully and methodically hunt their victims. 

PFML tells us that 90% of all sexual abuse occurs with someone a child has an established and trusting relationship with, whether known or not by the parent and who is often a person of authority. They also provide ten rules for safety for children and teens and a gamut of helpful information on their website www.parentsformeganslaw.org.

I’m thrilled to see the commitment to educating parents about preventing childhood sexual abuse remains steadfast.   Council of Schools will be providing an important seminar by the Director of the Coalition for Child Abuse and Neglect at Kings Park High School on January 24^th from 7-9 p.m. for parents of all ages.  They will offer information on keys issues surrounding preventing child sexual abuse including critical data from Parents for Megan’s Law.  They will offer parents warning signs and preventative strategies, it is a must see for all parents and grandparents.

Unfortunately in my forty-seven years I have known several people dear to me who have had the same fate as the Penn State victims.  I can tell you it forever changes the person and their family.

When it comes to our children, we cannot be too careful; we must arm ourselves with every piece of information available to ensure their safety.  BRAVA to the women at Council of Schools for their dedication to this critical issue.  There are a lot of reasons Kings Park is a great place to raise a family but the collective commitment to our children is undoubtedly number one. 

Maureen Ledden Rossi

SHS Graduate - Mike Specchio - Takes Pride In Smithtown

Smithtown Schools Receive a New ‘Welcome’

(back row from left) Smithtown West Assistant Principal Dan McCabe, Peter D’Ambrosio, Charles Cocchiola, Mike Walsh, Rolando Adamovicz, Peter Moran (front row from left) Smithtown Superintendent Edward Ehmann, Mike Specchio, Smithtown West Principal John Coady, Giuseppe Abbrancati, Sherry Marsico, Melvin AguillarSmithtown, NY.  Over the last year, almost all of Smithtown’s schools and District Office have received new masonry welcome signs and landscaping.  The stone, landscaping and electrical work were all donated by a company co-owned by a Smithtown graduate who wanted to show his appreciation for the education and guidance he received throughout his public education experience.  For Mike Specchio, the endeavor became a way to share his pride in Smithtown schools.  “When people drive by our schools, I want them to see a unified look for all of the schools, and I want them to see something that generates pride,” said Mr. Specchio.  Gappsi Group, the company headed by Giuseppe Abbrancati and his partners including Mr. Specchio, created the welcome signs for almost all of the school buildings in the district.

Early in 2010, Smithtown West Principal John Coady began discussing with Assistant Principal Daniel McCabe ideas to help identify and beautify the entrance to the high school.  “West had no identifying marker that let people know they were entering our campus, and we were brainstorming ideas on what we could do to welcome students, parents and visitors to our school,” said Mr. Coady.  “We thought that having a stone wall created with the school name embossed on a plaque would be an attractive welcome to everyone who came up our driveway; Mr. McCabe then set out to solicit bids from interested companies.”  As the plan was being discussed, Ann Marie Specchio, a staff member at Smithtown West heard about the idea and spoke to her son, Mike.  After graduating from what was then Smithtown Central High School in 1996, Mike joined Gappsi Group and began his career.  “After my mom told me about the bid proposal, I went up to the school and thought back to all of my experiences here.  I wanted to give back to the school and the district.  I wanted to repay them somewhat for giving me a foundation to build on.  After talking with Giuseppe Abbrancati the founder and CEO of Gappsi, we decided to donate the work to the school and once we began we decided we would expand our vision and redo all of the buildings in the district.  Giuseppe is also a Smithtown resident, and he shares my thanks for the education our students receive,” explained Mr. Specchio.  Gappsi Group has been a local business for almost twenty years creating landscaping and other home improvements with an expertise in masonry and natural stone.

“After we decided to donate the welcome signs, we set about designing and planning the work with all of the partners in the company.  This project was a collaborative effort and we wanted to create these signs so that each had a unique quality while maintaining continuity from building to building.  Mike Walsh and Rolando Adamovicz designed the stone work and landscaping. Charles Cocchiola supplied carpentry, Pete D’Abrosio and Peter Moran worked on the masonry and Kevin Anderson added to the project with his insight.  We began working in mid-2010 and have completed work at Branch Brook, Smithtown, St. James, Mills Pond, Accompsett, Tackan and Dogwood Elementary Schools, Great Hollow, Nesaquake and Accompsett Middle Schools, Smithtown West and District Office on New York Avenue,” stated Mr. Specchio.  Still to be completed are Smithtown High School East and Mount Pleasant Elementary. 

Edward Ehmann, Smithtown Superintendent of Schools remembered Mike Specchio as an energetic student who would be destined for success once he harnessed his talents and drive.  “Mike and I had many conversations about his future while I was principal.  He was always involved, and I told him that once he graduated and found his footing, he would be a great success and a good man.”  Mr. Ehmann noted that one of the goals of the Smithtown School District is to instill in students a sense of community and the fulfillment from volunteering to serve others.  “As I visit the schools in our district, I am grateful for the outstanding work Mike and everyone at Gappsi accomplished.  On behalf of the Board of Education and all of the parents and students in our district, we are very honored by all the time, material and work that were donated to our schools and the district.  It is fulfilling for all of the teachers, the staff, the Board to see students giving back and honoring the education they received in Smithtown.”

“Every morning when I drive into the school entrance, I look at the sign and the landscaping and can’t believe the difference it has made in the appearance of our campus.  I have had parents say to me that the sign is such a presence and it radiates a welcome to our school,” said Mr. Coady. 

“I have had many people call the company and thank us for the work we did.  They can’t get over that we would donate back to the district, but like I said, Smithtown Schools gave me the tools to succeed and now that I can repay them in some way, I am happy to show them my gratitude,” said Mr. Specchio.

Each of the Smithtown schools has a natural stone wall with a plaque of the school name in the center.  The walls are surrounded by a cement walkway, shrubbery and perennial flowers, and landscape lighting.  “I think this a wonderful thing that Gappsi did.  This really brightens this corner and is a welcome to downtown Smithtown, which is sorely needed,” Jeanette LaRock, a long-time Smithtown resident stated when asked about the work completed at District Office on New York Avenue and Main Street.  To view the finished signs and other work completed by the Gappsi Group, visit their website at www.gappsi.com.

Bellone Wins Smithtown - Democratic Chair Ed Maher

Dear Editor,

The results are in and Steve Bellone wins Smithtown! (Newsday November 10^th). In the race for Suffolk County Executive, Democrat Steve Bellone received fifty percent of the vote in the Republican stronghold of Smithtown. For this result I want to thank every member of the Smithtown Democratic Committee and all of the volunteers and staffers who worked with the Bellone Coordinated Campaign in Smithtown.

While I had hoped for a better outcome in the local elections as the Smithtown Democratic Leader I’m proud to have had been represented by our candidates Howard Knispel, Teresa Haft and Martin Aponte.  It takes a lot of courage to run for public office and for doing so Howard, Teresa and Martin deserve our gratitude and respect. I’m looking forward to their continued contributions to our party as members of the Smithtown Democratic Committee.

The results of the Bellone-Carpenter race demonstrate that the voters in Smithtown are not monolithic and will cross party lines to vote for the person who they feel will do the best job. This knowledge gives me and my group the optimism to press on and should sow at least some doubt in the opposition as to the notion that they have a lock on the local electorate.

In the post election period the Smithtown Democratic Committee will be turning its attention to efforts to strengthen its organization and will be accepting applications for membership from Registered Democrats who live in Smithtown. Interested parties should inquire through our website www.smithtowndemocrats.org.

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone who voted.

Sincerely,

Ed Maher

Chair

Smithtown Democratic Committee

Kings Park