Editorial - Affordable Care Act

We do a lot of things because our government requires it of us: we buy car insurance, vaccinate our children, follow speed limits, educate our children, put our children in car seats, our children wear helmets when they bike ride, we do not smoke in public places, we don’t burn leaves, we put fences around pools and we don’t serve alcohol to minors.  I’m sure you get my drift.  Government passes laws to protect and promote the well being of its citizens.

How many people would educate their children if a law didn’t require it?  How many people would not have their children vaccinated against the terrible diseases that now are almost unheard of in the United States?

I think we can all agree that there is a correlation between compliance to what we know is good policy and government legislation.

The Affordable Care Act may not be a panacea for all the health care issues facing our nation.  It will be expensive (although it is not as expensive as the Afghanistan/ Iraq wars). It has not been explained very well, leaving most people wondering what it is going to cost them personally.  The fact that it will not be fully implemented until 2014 makes it suspicious at best.

We know some of the benefits of the act already; children can be covered by parents insurance until they are 26, and pre-existing conditions will not prohibit one from getting coverage. Rates will not be raised and coverage will not be denied when someone is ill. Insurance providers will be required to invest in health care and to minimize administrative costs.

There will be more discussion and tweaking of the Affordable Health Care Act before it is fully implemented. It is in our best interest to put political rhetoric aside and try to find a way to make this policy work as efficiently and economically as possible.

To those who are of the belief that requiring individuals to purchase health insurance is equivalent to revoking an individual’s freedom I ask you how? Is this so very different from other government policy listed above?

There are real and there are imagined threats to individual freedom and I suspect that emotions run hot and cold as to what the threats may be.

Here are a few of the ways I think government is overreaching: having drones prowling the sky of the United States, posting cameras to monitor everything, allowing government access to personal conversations online and on the telephone, keeping files on private website use, killing American citizens in foreign countries and getting involved in an individual’s reproductive health decisions.

Requiring me to purchase health insurance does not make me feel less free.  Big Brother, now that’s enough to keep me awake at night.

Pat

Bobwhite Quails - Natures Way Of Reducing The Tick Population

By Chris Biancaniello

(photos added after today’s Bobwhite Quail Release)

Ticks, the cause of such ailments as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, have been multiplying unchecked on Long Island. According to the State Department of Health since 1986, there have 96,000 reported occurrences of Lyme disease in New York State. Eric Powers, a Long Island biologist is trying to combat this with an eco-friendly solution - Bobwhite Quails.

Bobwhite Quail Release - photo Smithtown MattersBobwhite Quails, native to Long Island, were once seen in abundance but as the population of people grew so did that of one of the quails predators - the house cat. With the increase in the cat population, the numbers of Bobwhite Quails started to dwindle and the tick population began to grow. Mr. Powers believes that the two are directly correlated. Bobwhite Quails are ground dwelling birds. They prey upon spiders, grasshoppers, and most importantly ticks.

That is why this Saturday, June 30^th, Mr. Powers is holding the 9^th annual Bobwhite Quail Release in Caleb Smith State Park, his main area of operation. He will be releasing over 200 birds in hopes that they will not only survive and breed, but they will help keep the tick population in check. The Quails come from classrooms across Long Island that are teaching incubation to students. Mr. Powers asked a number of teachers to incubate Bobwhite Quails instead of ducks. After they hatch, volunteers within the community help by raising them to ten weeks, when they are released to high-density tick populated areas. While Eric Powers releases most of the Bobwhite Quails, there are times when teachers and students release them in continuation of their class project.

Since the birds are native to Long Island, there is not much of a negative impact in releasing them, as opposed to something foreign that could end up reeking havoc on the ecosystem. “Lowering the tick population is a side effect of something that brings the ecosystem back into balance,” said Powers. The only reason some parks do not allow Quail releases is because of the changes that are necessary in order to create an appropriate habitat. “Caleb Smith State Park is most welcoming to my project. They have madeBobwhite Quail - First to be released. photo Smithtown Matters resources available for me to not only house the birds, but to also give my volunteers access after hours to attend to the birds. They have been very welcoming and very accommodating.”

Truth be told, the lasting success of the project depends mostly on people. “If we stop our efforts right now, the tick population in those areas will spike again.

Since the birds are ground dwelling and forage on the ground in open areas they are easy prey for all kinds of animals but especially cats. The Bobwhite Quail population can be decimated very quickly. “It’s mostly because we’re not addressing the fact that people let their cats out. Within six months or so after releasing the birds, the same problem reoccurs.” In fact Powers stated that only about 1% of the birds he releases would survive through the year to reproduce.

When asked what people can do to help support the cause he said, “The biggest thing that I’ve noticed is just keeping your cats indoors. In some towns across Long Island there are different town ordinances that say it is illegal to let pets roam the neighborhood. Just keeping pets contained in the house will have a positive effect on the environment.”

Caleb Smith Park Bobwhite Quail Release - photo Smithtown Matters

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.