Demolition Of Kings Park Buildings Set For Late July

By Joe Flynn

Thursday, June 14, 2012.  A public informational meeting was held at the Nissequogue River State Park concerning the demolition of buildings formerly part of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center. The meeting hosted by Ron Foley, regional director of State Parks, addressed questions about the demolition schedule, methods and safety concerns.

Dvirka & Bartilucci Consulting Engineers (D&B) are currently contracted to manage the project. D&B spokesperson, Frank DeVita, addressed the method of demolition and the equipment to be used. He indicated the equipment was specifically designed to ensure safety. DeVita addressed the concerns about air pollution and noise pollution that have some Kings Park residents worried. To this end, D&B will set up four monitoring stations around each demolition site with each measuring dust, hazardous particles, and noise pollution. Data from these stations will be transmitted directly to staff computers through a remote modem. In the case of an exceedance of any of these emission levels, work will be stopped until engineers find a way to decrease the emission.

Each demolition area will be completely contained, with check-in stations at each entrance preventing anyone from accidentally wandering onto a hazardous demolition site.

The “only major change” in the project since the initial contract with D&B has been the method for demolishing the famous smokestack, which sits close to the north end of Old Dock Road. The smokestack will now undergo a “controlled implosion” from dynamite placed as high as 35 feet from the ground. With the bottom blown out, the smokestack is expected to collapse straight down, without any major hazard. Before demolition, the structure will be wrapped in 9-gauge geotextile, a fabric fence designed to stop debris and dust from escaping.

Despite the minimal hazard anticipated, precautions are being established in the form of a 1000-foot exclusion zone to be maintained during the implosion and for 72 hours afterward. The blast itself is expected to last only 5 seconds and will not exceed noise ordinances.

Nissequogue River State Park will remain open while demolition is occurring. The project has been pushed back once again, and is now expected to begin “in late July” and continue for 8 months. A total of 19 buildings are intended to be demolished. Most of these will be demolished individually, except those, which are located in clusters, such as Buildings 122 and 123. As each work site will be separately contained, park patrons and activities are not expected to be negatively impacted.

Approximately 40 people were in attendance. If residents at the meeting had one concern, it was for the schools. Now that the project will not begin until late summer, it will likely spana good part of the school year. This is a special concern for San Remo Elementary School, William T. Rogers Middle School, and Kings Park High School, all of which are located directly adjacent to former Psychiatric Center Property. Several residents complained both of difficulty in communication with State Park Police and a lack of a public schedule for the demolition. Mr. Foley made assurances that these issues will be resolved well before the actual project begins. The school board and local parents requested that the demolition schedule be planned with consideration for the public school schedule, for which they received an indefinite answer.

D&B plans to launch a website explaining the details of this project. The site will be online within the next couple of weeks at kppccleanup.com.

What’s Cookin Smithtown?

By Nancy Vallarella

Grillin – n – Chillin

Summer 2012 is upon us. Time to embrace the great outdoors and fire up the barbie!  Before your enthusiasm wanes, start out by cleaning the grill and checking the gas connections for leaks. Remember to store a backup gas tank in a safe place. 

Once the grill is in order, get your grilling menu repertoires sparking!   The standard hamburger and hot dog feasts get old fast. Get your creative juices following…

The Kings Park Farmers Market opens June 24^th.  It is located in the Municipal Lot on 25A across from the Kings Park Firehouse. Take a look at their Facebook page for vendor announcements. There will be more there than veggies!

Check out The Crushed Olive of Stony Brook. They offer over 18 different flavor infused extra virgin olive oils and over 20 balsamic vinegars to enhance your grilling ingredients.  Items can be purchased on their website but I recommend visiting the store. There you can sample the evoos and vinegars.  The store also carries other gourmet items. While visiting in June, ask for the details of their Grilling Recipe Contest.  Winners will receive a $50.00 gift certificate to The Crushed Olive and an embroidered Crushed Olive apron.

Feeling a little intimidated around the grill?  No worries, there is plenty of help in town. Elegant Eating of Smithtown offers cooking classes. The July BBQ class and Luau class are wait list only but if you hurry, The Thrill of the Grill class in August is open.  Reference their website: www.eleganteating.com for class details.

 Go to Smithtown Matters Food and Restaurant Directory and click on Sequa Deli. Click their Catering Menu and select Picnics.  There you will find Sequa’s gamut of outdoor dining options. All American Picnic and BBQs, Pig Roast, Aloha Hawaiian Luau, Southern BBQ, Long Island Clam Bakes – it’s all there!

Do you fear the etymologist’s predictions that we will pay for our mild past winter with an insect population explosion this summer?  Concerned your guests will be carried off by armies of ants or annoyed by nipping mosquitos?  We have solutions!

The newest culinary establishment to join Smithtown Matters Food and Restaurant Directory: Butterfields of Hauppauge. This cameleonesque establishment is hidden on the boarder of Hauppauge’s industrial complex.  Its unassuming exterior gives way to an impressive 40 foot mahogany bar, a surprisingly chic dining area with high back loveseats serving lunch, dinner and catering for up to 140 people. Owner Mike Shalley and Executive Chef /Owner Jerry Suppa magically morph Butterfields from lunch to dinner to late night entertainment establishment seven days a week.  Lunch is not served on Saturdays and Sundays but Butterfields is open for private catered events. How do they do it? Let’s just say Mr. Shalley’s savvy hospitality business experience and Chef Suppa’s culinary expertise (Johnson and Whales University College of Culinary Arts, Garden City Hotel and the Oyster Bar) makes a dynamic duo.  Do some chillin at Butterfields. Saturday night DJ and dancing to the 70’s and 80’s. Friday night live bands until the end of June.  On June 27^th, Butterfields will host a four-course California Wine Pairing dinner for $65/ pp.++.  Reservations are recommended.

HS EAST GIRL’S GOLF TEAM IS #1

Smithtown High School East 2012 Girl’s Golf Team, coached by Robert Woods, has had many accolades this Spring.  They won the Sportsmanship Award, were undefeated League 1 Champions and went on to win the Suffolk County and Long Island Championships.

Eagle Scout Dean Bauer Honors Memory of Sarah Long-Harte

By Chris Biancaniello

You don’t have to be a former student of Sarah Long-Harte’s to understand the impact she had on the peopleDean Bauer around her. Mrs. Long-Harte passed away after her battle with breast cancer almost 2 years ago, and yet her legacy will not soon be forgotten. In her name she already has a scholarship, a garden, and now a white picket fence in front of St. James Elementary where she taught for six years.

Dean Bauer and Alexander BeckerSmithtown East sophomore and Eagle Scout Dean Bauer created the new white picket fence that can be found in front of St. James Elementary. He was a student of Mrs. Long-Harte in 3^rd and 4^th grade when she was simply known as Ms. Long. “Everything she did was to help the kids,” Dean said just before giving an emotional speech about his project, “She’d want me to do something, at this school, to help and that’s why I built this fence.”

A pancake breakfast and a carwash held in front of St. James Elementary were responsible for raising the $3,000 necessary to create the 200-foot long fence. With the help from his friends Alexander Becker (Alex is in the process of creating a memorial garden for the St. James Fire Department for his project), Gregory Becker, and Dean’s family, he was able to complete the fence in just three days time. The fence was important because the gaps in the shrubbery permitted people to pass through and walk across the bus path. This was especially dangerous for some of the younger students.

Dean Bauer and Mrs. LongMrs. Long-Harte’s mother, Mrs. Long, was in attendance at the dedication of the fence on Thursday, June 14. Mrs. Long mentioned that students are still sending her letters stating that they have donated to breast cancer foundations in her daughter’s name. “We try to do everything we can to keep her memory alive, it’s very easy to do with the support we have.” Two scholarships were given out last week to two of Mrs. Long-Harte’s former students who decided that education would be their college path; the scholarship is called the “Sarah Long-Harte Memorial Scholarship.”

Dean’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor will be held tonight (Friday, June 15) at 6:30 in the Smithtown High School East Auditorium.

(Editor’s note - the photo captions initially mislabled have been corrected)

Kings Park Soccer Club's Coach Joe Piacentino Retires

By Dr. Phil Faquet

On Saturday Coach Joe Piacentino coached his last game on the pitch at Kings Park. The Paladins lead early on;  however, fell behind 2-3 late in the game. A late header would have tied the game but a heroic diving save prevented the goal. His team presented him with a framed Jersey signed by his present team as well as past team members. This U18 team has had over 40 boys wear the Jersey many of the members are playing in college.  It was an emotional fair well from the Coach and the parents.   

Coach Joe was a graduate and soccer player from Kings Park High School in 1976 and Syracuse University in 1980. He is computer expert and has been working at Brookhaven National Labs since 1998. Soccer is his passion. Before, during and after college Joe has always been involved with soccer. His personal involvement evolved from player to mentor; he coached and managed the Kings Park Soccer Club program. He has coached boys and girls travel and school teams; his teams have won titles on many different levels. He is proud that his teams have also won quite more than a few Sportsmanship Awards over the years. Joe has worked tirelessly to improve the soccer program in Kings Park and was one of the prime movers in the enhancement of Tiffany Field and its maturing into a first-class place to play this beautiful game . He is quick to point out that there are many members of the Kings Park Soccer Club who devote a great deal of time to our town and work just as hard to help our kids. His continued involvement with the Kings Park Soccer Club and his 40 years of Kings Park soccer experience is a testament to his dedication. The Kings Park Soccer  program has had over 25,000 kids come through.

Thanks for your dedication - Congrats Coach Joe Piacentino!