Republican Primary Candidates Discuss Views At LWV Meeting

Standing room only. Republicans filled the Brush Barn for last night’s League of Women Voters candidates meeting for the September 12th Republican primary. Audience members were given the opportunity to hear the candidates vying for town supervisor, town board, and town clerk postitions on the Republican line. 

With an overflow crowd standing outside the open doors, Republicans, many party faithful, and other interested residents got to hear canidates Patrick R. Vecchio, Edward R. Wehrheim (for Supervisor), Robert P. Doyle, Thomas Lohmann, Thomas J. McCarthy, Lynne C. Nowick (for Town Council), Conrad A. Chayes, Vincent Puleo (for Town Clerk) discuss their positions.

All questions were presented to the candidates by Suffolk County League of Women Voters moderator Lisa Scott. 

Town Clerk Candidates Vincent Puleo (l) Conrad Chayes (R)The questioning began with the candidates for Town Clerk incumbent Vincent Puleo and challenger Conrad Chayes. At the outset it appeared from Mr. Puleo’s demeanor that he was angry, it only took five minutes to understand why. Despite being in his position for twelve years, Mr. Puleo was going to have to defend himself against accusations appearing in recent negative mailings. The opportunity arose when a question about improving interactions with with the public led Mr. Chayes to respond “I would do the job. Not play a Candidates Puleo and Chayes leaving the stagegame of gotcha.” Mr. Puleo has been under attack since early 2014 for the debacle that led to a crisis whereby reelected candidates Supervisor Vecchio, Tom McCarthy and newly elected Lynne Nowick did not sign the mandated Oath of Office and were unable to serve in their positions. The book where electees sign is under the purview of the Town Clerk and it was alleged that Mr. Puleo, who opposed the three electees in the election, willfully neglected to have them sign the book. This charge has been repeatedly denied by Mr. Puleo and again last night when he repeated his position that the allegations were “ridiculous”. Mr Puleo said that the people who call themselves victims should look at themselves, repeating that his job is not to run after people to collect signatures but to have them sign and file the documents. Ms. Scott called them on their non-answers which led both candidates to acknowledge that continued and improving online services including access to information and applications is key to serving the public. 

Supervisor candidates were next on the agenda. Sewers was the key word in the supervisor portion of the meeting. Both candidates concurred that the growth in the business district in Smithtown will be determined by the installation of a sewer system. Both candidates agree that Kings Park, through the efforts of their local Ed Wehrheimcommunity organizations, have done the heavy lifting on developing a plan for their downtown area. Specifics Patrick R. Vecchioabout hook-ups and user fees were not discussed. Both candidates agreed that the mom and pop stores prevalent in Smithtown’s past would not be returning. A question was asked about downtown shuttles, to which both candidates agreed that without population density transportation shuttles in the downtown areas would not be practical. A question, based on the Youth Bureau’s wish list, was support for a youth recreation center. Mr. Wehrheim, was a supporter of the proposal but said that the numbers it would serve were just not there to commit to building a recreational center. Supervisor Vecchio, is not a fan of a stand alone recreation center, he indicated that he supports the town’s involvement with youth programs but felt that schools were the appropriate place to house youth programs. Mr. Vecchio pointed out that schools and gymnasiums were already equipped and should be used to facilitate programs. Both candidates expressed support for land preservation. Both candidates agreed that accessory apartments were not appropriate for residential areas. Candidates took a wait and see attitude on Gyrodyne property but expressed concern for over development and density. Mr. Vecchio reminded people that the property is currently zoned industrial.

Differences were remarkably few. Supervisor Vecchio pointed out that Councilman Wehrheim voted against the funding for revitalization of the St. James business district. Mr. Wehrheim defended his vote saying there wasn’t enough time to examine the proposal between the time it was proposed and voted on. He currently supports the St. James revitalization program now that a new water main and a sewer line have been added. The candidates disagreed on consolidation of town buildings. Purchasing the New York Avenue School was once considered for the purpose of consolidation of town buildings. Although the school is no longer available for purchase Mr. Wehrheim continues to support the idea of consolidation.  Mr. Vecchio believes  the current configuration is cost effective and beneficial to citizens. Mr. Wehrheim criticized the lack of communication between the town and the school district.

In closing Mr. Wehrheim spoke of his six-point platform which includes using the town’s stellar fiscal position to bond for improvements. He spoke of needed improvements to the Landing Country Club and the Hauppauge Industrial Park. His plan includes creating a business advisory council which he believes will be able to work out issues before they get to the town. He proposes putting Smithtown’s triple A bond rating to work by increasing bonding for projects which he claims will have a negligible impact on taxpayers. Mr Wehrheim also expressed his desire for increased oversight of town departments.

Mr. Vecchio used his closing to point out that Mr. Wehrheim spoke of increasing oversight of town departments but six months ago refused all assignments designating him to act as liaison to town departments.

Next Town Council candidates

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP - Eclipse A Moment In Life

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP

By Karl Grossman

When the eclipse came last week, I feared my life was in eclipse. 

As the sky darkened, I felt my life darkening, too.  

I had just gotten, two hours before, a phone call from my doctor’s office about an MRI report that found tears in the tendons and muscles that connected to my left arm’s rotator cuff—the body part in a shoulder that is key to arm movement. Two days before, I was informed about the report of an earlier MRI, of my right shoulder, that found the same situation.

Two shoulders, two rotator cuffs in trouble—was I in trouble!

Ahead almost certainly was an operation, indeed two operations, an initial one and months after healing occurred in one shoulder, an operation on the other.  And what an operation rotator cup surgery involves! I went to Google—often depressing (although full of facts) I’ve found, when seeking information about a medical problem.

One medical website said that a rotator cup operation, even if done arthroscopically (with small incisions and tiny tools) can take two to two-and-a-half hours. Then that arm needs to be immobilized for weeks, kept in a sling.

Another site said you might want to sleep in an easy chair for a time so as not put pressure on the operated-upon shoulder. (I have problems enough sleeping all night in a bed.)

Other sites said that if you stick to a bed, you need to build up a mountain of pillows or get a big bolster to sleep on, almost sitting up to avoid shoulder pressure. 

There would be post-operative pain.

And there’d be months—it might be three to six—of rehabilitation and months to get an arm’s strength back. And in my situation, I’d have to do this twice. 

Farewell Prius. Forget about driving for a year. How would I be able to manage to work as a professor of journalism, for 40 years as of this school year. at SUNY/College at Old Westbury? How would I write this column and do my other writing?  I do TV, too. How would I manage that? 

All this was in my mind as the eclipse neared.

I went to the post office and there was Rabbi Berel Lerman of the Chabad North Haven in the Hamptons. The Chabad had held services in the living room of his house in North Haven and the Sag Harbor Inn since starting in 2013. But it has just established a Center for Jewish Life, across from the post office in a huge space that had been the temporary location of John Jermain Memorial Library while it was being expanded and renovated. Rabbi Lerman asked whether I would like to see this new center.

It was so impressive. Rooms for teaching and displaying art, and a beautiful sanctuary.

Then I told the rabbi about what I faced. And he took me into his study and we prayed together for my health. And, afterwards, in his warm, caring way, he said maybe my problem could be handled without surgery. I said I wish it could.

I went next to the front steps if the so nicely reconstructed library where people had gathered for the eclipse. The sky was getting a touch darker. I figured the friendly folks in my community would share those hard-to-obtain eclipse glasses so I could view the eclipse. They did. 

Then I walked in that midday twilight back to my car—believing my life in eclipse, too. 

Until the next day. Then I sat with another warm, caring person, Dr. John J. Brennan, an orthopedic surgeon to whom I was referred. He is with the orthopedic department at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson. It and the other five hospitals of Catholic Health Services of Long Island have put a special focus on orthopedic medicine. Among them is St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown. 

Dr. Brennan and his compassionate assistant, Sean O’Came, heard my story, examined me and studied the MRIs. And then Dr. Brennan explained that at my age—75—tears in tendons and muscles linking to rotator cuffs are not unusual. Indeed, he told about a study of hundreds of men who had no shoulder problems in which 25% of those in their 60s were found to have  rotator cuff tears and 50% of those in their 70s had torn rotator cuffs.

Because I still have basically OK arm movement and minor occasional pain, he said no surgery was needed!  My loving wife of 56 years and I listened to him in amazement and thanksgiving. 

My eclipse, a day after the big one, suddenly passed. 

And we went out to dinner to celebrate.

Karl Grossman is a veteran investigative reporter and columnist, the winner of numerous awards for his work and a member of the L.I. Journalism Hall of Fame. He is a professor of journalism at SUNY/College at Old Westbury and the author of six books.

People In The News - Environmental Conservation Officer Timothy Fay

ECO TIMOTHY FAY HONORED AS TOP NEW YORK
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION OFFICER

Suffolk County Officer Receives Officer of the Year Award for Outstanding Service

Environmental Conservation Officer Timothy FayNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Timothy Fay received the 2016 “Officer of the Year” award from the Shikar-Safari Club International in a ceremony hosted by long-time Club member Robert Stackler, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today.

Shikar-Safari Club International was founded in 1952 by an international group of hunters interested in exchanging ideas about the sport. Each year the club sponsors an award for the Wildlife Conservation Police Officer of the Year in all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces and the territories of both nations, acknowledging the important part ECOs play in local, national, and international wildlife conservation.

ECO Fay grew up in the Town of Champlain in Clinton County and after graduating high school joined the US Army serving 21 years, retiring from the New York Army National Guard. He attended Buffalo State Collage graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree and Graduate work in Multidisciplinary Studies. He attended and graduated from the 17th Basic Academy for Uniformed Officers, a twenty-six week residential police academy held in 2007. After graduation Tim was assigned to Region 1 and patrolled Suffolk County enforcing New York’s Environmental Conservation Law, including investigating hunting, fishing and trapping activity, releases of petroleum, asbestos and other hazardous substances, water pollution, wetland damage, timber theft, wild animals unlawfully kept as pets, and commercial and recreational marine fishing.  

ECO Fay keeps the mission of the Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) close to his heart, and thoroughly enjoys all the aspects of the mission, from tickets and arrest, to education, and especially outreaches. He is involved in the Youth Conservation Program, Youth Waterfowl Day and other youth oriented hunting and fishing outreaches.

ECO Fay maintains one of the most diverse enforcement programs in the Division. He is adept at all aspects of the Environmental Conservation Law. Additionally, he successfully networks with outside agencies and organizations, and he actively accepts outreach projects for the Division, helping to spread the word for protection of the environment and the State’s natural resources.

ECO Fay was recognized for numerous successful marine fish and wildlife investigations involving shellfish, crustacean and food fish. With his diverse workload, he was also responsible for multiple cases concerning the unlawful disposal of solid waste. This recognition also includes his work as a Field Training Officer, directing and guiding new officers in the field, locating, identifying, enforcing big game violations and bringing the charges to a successful resolution in court.    

ECO Fay is trained and certified in many fields of work with the DEC Division of Law Enforcement. He is a Field training officer and a Firearms instructor, training new and current police officers inside the DEC as well as outside agencies. He is also as a member of the NYS DEC/DLE Special Operations Group (SOG) completing the DEC Basic Tactical Operator’s Course in 2015 and the SWAT Operator Course in 2016. 

For the past 11 years, ECO Fay’s professional work ethic and commitment to his profession resulted in him being nominated and receiving the Shikar-Safari Club International Officer of the Year award. Tim resides in Northport in Suffolk County with his wife Anne and four daughters, Emily, Lauren, Nora and Valerie.

THEATER REVIEW - "Little Shop Of Horrors"

THEATER REVIEW

“Little Shop of Horrors” - Produced by: The Gateway PAC – Bellport

Reviewed by: Jeb Ladouceur

Rock musicals are far from my favorite genre, but as the saying goes, “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.” The saying is not to be confused with the transpositional pun that denigrates the poor oboe, defining that 17^th Century musical instrument as: ‘An ill wind that nobody blows good.’ No one seems to know who first turned the phrase that oboists the world over understandably detest, just as wine aficionados decry the definition of a ‘hangover’ as ‘…the wrath of grapes.’

In the absence of definitive proof to the contrary, I’d put my money on Oscar Wilde as the author of either (or both) of those clever witticisms. One thing is certain, though, if the brainy Irish quipster were to find himself in the audience of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ (an unlikely prospect indeed) he’d no doubt beat a hasty retreat to the nearest exit without waiting for even a scintilla of redemptive theatrical value in this so-called musical.

Which, to be fair, could be a mistake.

Not to be overlooked in any recounting of this 1982 off-Broadway phenomenon (it wasn’t produced on the Great White Way, thus never was Tony-nominated) is the fact that ‘Little Shop…’ received high praise in almost every category during its five-year run at the Orpheum Theatre in Greenwich Village. Included in the dark comedy’s accumulated honors in 1983 alone were the prestigious New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best musical … the Drama Desk Award for outstanding musical … and the Outer Critics Circle Award.

With a lineup like that, who needs Tony?

When a transfer of the musical to Broadway was proposed, the principal architects of  ‘Little Shop…’ and notably book writer Howard Ashman, decided the show belonged right where it was … in The Village. As the third longest running musical at the time, the production team employed the old axiom, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Besides, with 2,209 performances under their belts, writer Ashman and composer Alan Menken had created the highest grossing production in off-Broadway history … so what’s not to like?

Well frankly, it’s a matter of taste … and the plot in this weird comedy about a wretched worker in a florist shop … who happens to raise a plant that derives its nourishment from human blood and flesh … makes me question whether or not I’m in the right line of work. Admittedly, as Howard Ashman wrote, in his introduction to the acting edition of the libretto, “The show satirizes many things: science fiction … grade B movies … musical comedy itself … and even the Faust legend.” Which is all well and good, but the theatergoer still has to overcome the ‘for the love of Mike’ roadblock. And it’s not a matter of being squeamish … I loved Theatre Three’s bloodthirsty production of ‘Sweeney Todd,’ for instance.

Then there’s the ‘music.’

 This reviewer was around in the early 1960’s when rock & roll, Motown, and doo-wop tunes (like those in ‘Little Shop…’) were all the rage, but the unfortunate fact is I didn’t like the stuff then … and I dislike the genre even more now. With the evolution of rap music, for example, what we’ve done to our once proud jazz and folk music heritage is clearly disgraceful.

As for The Gateway’s ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ it must be said that the Bellport production company never fires blanks. When they undertake a project, you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll deliver as good a version of the show (every show) as you’re likely to see anywhere. All the actors in this strange play are excellent. The pace is perfect. The sound, set, lighting, and music are typically lush … and of course, the grand old playhouse itself is as comfortable a venue as any on Long Island.

_____________________________________________________________

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

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP - SC Hotbed For Lyme Disease Is Vaccine In Our Future?

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP

By Karl Grossman

It’s very good news that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced last month a plan to expedite under a program it calls “Fast Track” the approval process for a vaccine to ward off Lyme disease

The vaccine’s maker, Valneva, which specializes in vaccines—it declares its goal as “advancing vaccines for better lives”—has completed an initial clinical trial.

Valneva, headquartered in France, conducted the “Phase 1” clinical trial of the vaccine, named VLA15, in the United States and Belgium.

“Whether or when” the FDA will approve the vaccine is “uncertain,” noted Newsweek in its report on the FDA action, “but the FDA’s Fast Track designation indicates that the need is critical, now more than ever….The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector-borne infection in the U.S.”

Suffolk County has long been a hotbed for Lyme disease.

And once there was an earlier vaccine to prevent the disease. Indeed, when that vaccine, called LYMErix and produced by SmithKline Beacham, first came out in 1998, I got a series of injections of it.

Making a judgement based on a negative is problematic—but a terrific negative in this situation is that I have never come down with Lyme disease since. And in the ensuing years my wife, working with tweezers, has pulled off me at least 40 ticks, the vector or carrier of Lyme disease.

I went for the shots—from our family doctor, Dr. Dan Lessner, now retired, a very careful physician—after having written pieces on the devastating impacts of Lyme disease when not caught promptly and treated with antibiotics.

The first time I heard about Lyme disease was from a neighbor who got it bad in the early 1980s. The leadership of the Suffolk Department of Health Services then downplayed the gravity of Lyme disease. I wrote about how a tick bite is sometimes not apparent and if Lyme disease is not stopped in time, chronic Lyme disease can develop and be a long-lasting medical nightmare. 

So as soon as I read about a new vaccine I went for the injections.

But not long after I got the shots, LYMErix was taken off the market by its manufacturer following complaints of adverse reactions in some people, notably their developing arthritis after being vaccinated. A group of 121 individuals brought a class action lawsuit in 1999 citing this. 1999. The SmithKline Beacham settled the lawsuit in 2003. “The plaintiffs didn’t receive any compensation,” reported Newsweek, “because their attorney said SmithKline Beacham’s voluntary removal of LYMErix from the market was sufficient enough.”

“If You’ve Had Lyme Disease, Blame the Anti-Vaxxers,” screamed the headline of the investigative magazine Mother Jones last month. “Lyme disease has been spreading for years, and thanks to global warming it’s poised to explode over the next few years,” its article began. 

“Influenced by now-discredited research…activists raised the question of whether the Lyme disease could cause arthritis. Media coverage and the anti-Lyme-vaccination groups gave a voice to those who believed their pain was due to the vaccine, and public support for the vaccine declined,” said Mother Jones. “But there was a control group—the rest of the U.S. population. And when the FDA reviewed the vaccine’s adverse event reports in a retrospective study, they found only 905 reports for 1.4 million doses. Still, the damage was done, and the vaccine was benched.”

The Mother Jones piece concluded: “All of you who have had Lyme disease should know this. You could have avoided it if not for the ravings of the anti-vax nitwits and the gullibility of the mainstream TV talkers who give them a platform. It’s long past time to put an end to this idiocy.”

The Mother Jones article also quoted Dr. Stanley Plotkin, an emeritus professor of the University of Pennsylvania who developed the rubella vaccine and co-invented vaccines for rabies and rotavirus. Dr. Plotkin was cited, too, in a recent editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine—considered among the finest medical journals—stating that the absence of a Lyme disease vaccine is “the worst recent failure to use an effective vaccine.”

 I’m of a generation that still remembers fear of polio. I recall the concerns about polio in Boy Scout camp in the early 1950s. Franklin D. Roosevelt had contracted polio visiting a Scout encampment, also in upstate New York, a few decades earlier. I remember seeing an “iron lung” for the first time—a metal cylinder into which a person with acute polio and extreme difficulty with breathing was placed. And then the Salk polio vaccine arrived and eradicated the polio scourge.