Edward Wehreim Defeats Supervisor Vecchio In Republican Primary

Smithtown Republicans will have a new candidate at the top of their ticket come November. Edward Wehrheim has won the Republican primary. The September 12th primary was too close to call with Ed Wehrheim leading Vecchio by 39 votes. Absentee ballots and affadavits were counted today. Although the numbers are not official at the end of the count it appears Ed Wehrheim had an 84 vote advantage over Vecchio.

Theater Review – ‘The Bridges of Madison County’

Theater Review – ‘The Bridges of Madison County’

Produced by Theatre Three – Port Jefferson Reviewed by Jeb Ladouceur

Francesca Johnson is a moderately fulfilled Italian war bride living a rather dreary, but apparently decent existence in staid, rural Iowa. During eighteen years on the farm, and married to a nice-enough guy who’s the brusque father of her two teenaged kids, Francesca’s ostensibly never considered an extra-marital affair. Then again, she’s never run into anybody as desirable (and available) as the divorced, Robert Kincaid.

When Robert stops at the Johnsons’ farmhouse to ask for directions to a covered bridge he’s been assigned to photograph for National Geographic (husband Bud Johnson and kids are off to the State Fair for the weekend) Francesca’s pent-up early forties juices are re-awakened, and the photographer finds himself in an almost-impossible-to-resist situation.

This is the premise of Robert James Waller’s runaway best-selling 1992 novel, ‘The Bridges of Madison County,’ a book that thus far is said to have sold to the tune of 60 million copies worldwide. Even before one considers pass-along readership, that’s a publishing phenomenon of the first order. It’s clear that author Waller has tapped into a story of vast interest and near-universal appeal.

On Theatre Three’s impressive stage in Port Jefferson, noted director Jeffrey Sanzel has mounted the musical version of ‘Bridges…’, and the lengthy production (nearly three pleasing hours) is faithful enough to both the blockbuster novel, and the 1995 award-winning Clint Eastwood – Meryl Streep motion picture.

The secret to real-life academic Waller’s overall success (and especially that of ‘Bridges’) seems to be believability. Readers the world over, having cast their emotional lot with the romance-starved Francesca, and her somewhat lesser-torn love interest, photographer Kincaid, quickly bombarded National Geographic with hundreds of letters demanding to know more about the life and work of Robert the irresistible lensman.

The truth is, of course, that neither Robert the photographer, nor any National Geo story on the famed Iowa bridges actually exist. But so compelling is Waller’s fabrication that to this day thousands of the writer’s admirers … as well as the millions of attendees at the film and stage versions of his story … refuse to accept the magazine’s claims of fictitiousness. It’s the kind of conviction that every writer of fiction dreams of establishing in his readers … or those who view stage and film adaptations of his work. 

The version of ‘Bridges’ now playing at Theatre Three thru October 28, is a heartbreaking tale of love’s difficult choices that serious theatergoers really should see. Yes … it will generate controversy … but so do apple pie, football, and flu shots. The collective genius of Tracylynn Conner (Francesca), Brian Gill (Robert Kincaid), and director Jeffrey Sanzel is that they provide fodder aplenty for everyone’s mill … without unduly offending patrons who might disagree with their interpretations.

When leaving the charming old playhouse last weekend, I heard one woman say somewhat huffily, “How long did she think that would last?” To which her male escort responded semi-salaciously, “Seems to me they’re both already ahead of the game.”

It’s easy enough to observe that Robert Kincaid embodies the second chance that middle-aged women rarely get, but the question remains as to whether this single man, accustomed as he now is to total freedom from responsibility, represents a wise choice for a future life together. In the final analysis, it is Francesca who must decide (and decide she does … my lips are sealed). And the wisdom of her choice seems divided along gender lines.

One thing is beyond dispute, however … it is the expert interpretation of this moving slice of life. The acting … and particularly the pacing of all the performances … is superb. Amy Wodon Huben is perfect as Francesca’s good-hearted but gossipy neighbor down the road … and the mostly-strings orchestra under the direction of Jeffrey Hoffman is splendidly unobtrusive.

That’s essential in this play because Jason Robert Brown’s music and lyrics constitute such an important component of the show. If, for instance, there’s a more touching country ballad than ‘It All Fades Away,’ I haven’t heard it.

I confess that after reading the Waller novel, I feared viewing the film would prove a disappointment … it didn’t. And having been thus impressed by the motion picture, I approached this Long Island premiere of ‘Bridges’ in its musical version with trepidation … I shouldn’t have. It’s even better than the movie!

On Broadway, the show received a total of nineteen nominations from major awarding agencies (including four Tony nods, and winning two). Nonetheless, the musical never really resonated with sophisticated New York audiences, and ‘Bridges’ closed on May 18 of 2014, after a mere 100 performances. Fortunately, Theatre Three has brought this wistful gem to Port Jefferson’s ‘Broadway on Main Street,’ where every member of its cast and crew contributes to still another winning production.

Award-winning writer, Jeb Ladouceur is the author of a dozen novels, and his theater and book reviews appear in several major L.I. publications. His recent hit, THE GHOSTWRITERS, explores the bizarre relationship between the late Harper Lee and Truman Capote. Ladouceur’s newly completed thriller, THE SOUTHWICK INCIDENT, was introduced at the Smithtown Library on May 21st. The book involves a radicalized Yale student and his CIA pursuers. Mr. Ladouceur’s revealing website is www.JebsBooks.com

Highway Superintendent Robert Murphy On Salary Increase

Robert Murphy holds the elected position of  Smithtown’s Superintendent of Highways. He has been in the position since being appointed to fill the vacancy left by Glenn Jorgensen’s departure in 2015. In 2016 he was elected to serve the remaining term which ends December 31, 2017. He is up for reelection in November and is running unopposed. According to Murphy the feedback he has received from members of the town board has been very positive. One would think that it would be smooth sailing for Murphy’s election bid. But the reality is with less than six weeks before the election Robert Murphy is getting hammered with negative press about his recent budget for the Highway Department. 

In his budget proposal Robert Murphy has included a $40,000 salary increase for the position he holds as highway superintendent. The position he is running unopposed for, the position he is expected to win.

Supervisor Vecchio, in a phone conversation with Smithtown Matters said “NO” to the increase.

Robert Murphy is standing strong in defense of his proposal. According to Murphy there are many reasons why the position warrants higher pay, “There has been an increase in the job responsiblilities of the superintendent of highway including Governor Cuomo’s shared services initative.” With the goal of saving taxpayers money Smithtown will now be sharing responsibility for maintaining roads in the town’s three villages Nissequogue, Head of the Harbor and Village of the Branch. He has been praised for the work he has been doing. Some of his foremen and  some department heads in other departments have higher salaries, even though he has more employees and a budget that is one quarter of the town’s budget. In nearby towns the position pays much more than the current $110,000 he receives. And by the way he made the same salary proposal last year.

Murphy, in a phone conversation with Smithtown Matters said, “I’ve been played like a deck of cards.” After talking about increased responsibilities he pointed out that he made the same proposal in the budget he submitted in 2016 and he received a $13,824 increase and no press. This year he included the increase with the expectation that he might get a modest increase. What he did get was a lot of press. What’s different this year? Murphy is running on the Republican ticket that supports Ed Wehrheim for Supervisor.

Superintendent Of Highway Robert Murphy speaks at Patrick R. Vecchio’s candidacy announcementMurphy was at Vecchio’s candidacy announcement standing at the podium and speaking about his support for the Supervisor. What  changed? He is a Republican and the Smithtown Republicans selected Ed Wehrheim at the nominating convention.  He says he was warned that there would be consequences if he didn’t support Vecchio for supervisor, but it is a safe bet that he did not expect the consequence to be the bad press he is receiving. 

Murphy acknowledges that he is asking the public to vote for him and he acknowleged that he knew what the salary was when he accepted the appointment and when he ran to fill Jorgensen’s unexpired term. He knows that there are some people who will say he is being greedy; he, however, is steadfast in his belief that the unlike other elected positions superintendent of highway requires a full time commitment, oversees 130 town employees and has a responsiblity for a large part of the town’s budget.

Murphy has already had his budget meeting with Supervisor Vecchio and according to Murphy it went well. Murphy offered assurances that regardless of the salary he will continue to do his best to meet the needs of Smithtown residents.

Inquiring Legislators Want Answers About County Red Light Camera Program

Legislator Rob Trotta speaks at Miller Place press conference about reporting of red light camera statisticsSuffolk County Legislators Rob Trotta, Leslie Kennedy and Tom Muratore want to know why the county’s annual Red Light Camera Program Report does not include statistics on incidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists at red light intersections. Standing at the red light camera intersection of Miller Place Rd and 25A, Trotta slammed the program and called attention to two fatality’s, a pedestrian and a bicyclist, that occurred at the site. 

Trotta, a fierce opponent of the county’s red light program, wants to know if  Nelson & Pope, the engineering company that creates the Red Light Camera Program Report, was directed to withhold statistics that were included in its 2010, 2011 and 2013 reports. According to Trotta the engineer at Nelson & Pope said,“he was told ‘a few years ago’ not to include them.” The legislators have three questions they are demanding answers to: Who directed Nelson & Pope not to include information, why the data has been excluded and finally has the county violated  NYS Motor Vehicle & Traffic Law, section 111 - b4, 2m 1-4 which stipulates municipalities submit a report annually which includes the aggregate number, type and severity of accidents reported at intersections where a traffic-control signal photo violation- monitoring system is used and the number of violations recorded at each intersection where a signal system is used…”

Trotta stated, “Anybody who is hit by a car on a bicycle or a pedestrian are not being reported to State and that’s required by law. The vehicle and traffic law specifically states that the reports have to be complete and processed up to Albany by June of the year after it closes. If they don’t, if they’re not complete these are not, these are actually crimes for submitting false instrument for filing. And that’s when you knowingly send something to the State when you know the information is wrong.” 

Trotta is calling for an investigation. He has called on NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to open an investigation into the county’s underreporting of accidents for 2014-2015. “There are multiple reasons why this program should be shut down immediately and I am aghast that we are doing nothing and we are lying to the public by not including the pedestrians and the bicyclists.”

The red light camera program which generates $32 million in revenue for Suffolk County was the subject of a public hearing at the county legislature earlier this month with some legislators proposing to conduct a review and a suspension of the program until the review is completed.

People In The News - Bill Holst For Smithtown Town Supervisor

By Stacey Altherr

For Bill Holst, this will not be his first time at the Smithtown political rodeo.

Democratic candidate for Smithtown Town Supervisor Bill Holst Holst, a 65-year-old Nesconset resident, was a Suffolk County legislator serving the Smithtown area from 1997 to 1999, first winning a special election and then a complete term. He was also an assistant town attorney, and served as president of both the school board and local chamber of commerce.

He ran for the supervisor seat in 2005, beaten, as many Democrats before and after him, by the seemingly immovable Patrick Vecchio, who has been town supervisor for 30 years and garnished 55 percent of the vote that year to Holst’s 28 percent. 

This time could be different, Holst said, calling this year a “tremendous opportunity.”

 Vecchio may not even have the nomination, after coming up 39 votes short against Councilman Edward Wehrheim with absentee ballots left to count. If Wehrheim takes the nomination, Holst said, the incumbent councilman will have to answer to his work so far on the town board.

“If he loses, and I run against Wehrheim, my chances are very good,” Holst said. “He acts like he suddenly found his voice, but where was he the last 14 years?”

Holst is running with two other Democrats on his ticket: Patty Stoddard, a retired teacher involved in Nesconset community matters, and Amy Fortunato, a local businesswoman, on the Smithtown Forward line. The team is also running on the Working Families and Women’s Equality party lines.

Holst’s roots in the town run deep. Noting he is an 11^th generation descendent from Smithtown Founder Richard Smythe, Holst graduated from Smithtown High School in 1970 and from New York University in 1974, after which he served in the U.S. Army from 1975-78. He received a law degree from St. John’s University in 1982. His two adult children also reside in the town.

An assistant Suffolk County attorney since 2004, he was also once town attorney in Smithtown serving from 1987-88.

During his time as Suffolk County Legislator, Holst pushed for revitalization of the county’s downtown districts, which in Smithtown, has been a source of contention.

 “I actually went around to different parts of the Island, and did presentations,” Holst said of his efforts, adding that government officials in communities such as Patchogue, Bay Shore, and Northport have created thriving downtowns. 

“They really embraced the whole idea of downtown revitalization… but in my own hometown, it is pretty indifferent.”

Among his other concerns is how the town board handles its agendas for public meetings, including adding items at the last minute that have big financial implications, for instance, that are often surprises to board members. He gave as an example the paving of Lake Avenue.

It often is the case with development, he noted, where ideas are thrown out at meetings and then abandoned, saying that the “whole dynamic” is that a developer presents an idea, the town board approves it, the public learns about it from there and has issues with it, and then “the town acts like it never happened.”

“There is a better chance of it happening if everyone is in the loop,” he said. “I pointed out, why not give the public an opportunity to speak on it?” he said of the public meetings. “It’s not tailored to solving any problems. In fact, it creates them.” Holst would advocate for citizen committees to look at these bigger town issues, he said.

 He also wants a healthy discussion on term limits. “People are very amendable to the idea to the concept of term limits,” he said.

The vote for town supervisor, town council, and other elected town officials will be Tuesday, Nov. 7.