March is Women's History Month - Regina Calcaterra

Smithtown Matters celebrates the women who made history and those who are making history. Regina Calcaterra is a Long Island girl who overcame many obstacles in her life. She has never given up on herself or on those who depend on her.

Regina Calcaterra – Suffolk County’s first female Chief Deputy Executive – Founding Partner of the New York office of Barrack, Rodos & Bacine, Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at CUNY. Candidate for NYS Senate in 2010

Regina is a board member of You Gotta Believe, the older foster children adoption agency. Every year at least 40,000 foster children age out of care at ages 18 or 21 to no one but themselves, thus exposing them to the perils of homelessness, incarceration or worse. Her advocacy for YGB rises from Regina’s own experience in the Suffolk County, New York foster care system, where she also aged out parentless. While growing up in Suffolk County with her four siblings, she was evicted from every home her family ever lived in and also lived in numerous foster homes, homeless shelters and on the streets. Despite the odds she began college at SUNY Stony Brook at 17 and later transferred to SUNY New Paltz and graduated college at age 21. Then at age 25 she began attending Seton Hall University School of Law and graduated by the age of 29.  Less than 2% of the US foster care population actually get a college degree and no statistics are kept for those who obtain advanced degrees, so Regina knows how fortunate she is to have beat the odds and credits the hardworking and committed public servants who ensured not only her survival, but her ability to thrive.

Regina is also a pioneer in family law, as the plaintiff In Re Parentage Regina M. Calcaterra, she brought the first case of its kind in the United States that allowed an adult child to determine their true parentage via DNA.  While Regina’s case was pending and thereafter, eight states adopted a child’s right to seek their biological parentage regardless of age, the other forty-two still have not. Thus, Regina’s case of first impression serves as guidance to jurisdictions that do not expressly permit an adult child to obtain DNA from their putative parents.

Regina, an aunt of fifteen nieces and nephews, lives in New Suffolk, NY, on the North Fork of Long Island

Kings Park's Kevin Denis - Force Behind St. Patrick's Parade

Kings Park Diner Leads Community Celebration

Owner aids in St. Pat’s Parade and other events 

By Chad Kushins

Photo by John Gallagher, courtesy of the Kings Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.In Kings Park, the month of March now brings a special and unique celebration to mark the beginning of spring – the town’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  An event that finds residents and visitors alike lining the streets to march and become “honorary Irish,” the parade is a true community effort.  For the past two years, however, very few would argue the fact that the efforts and leadership of one local business-owner has made a world of difference. 

Named The Times of Smithtown’s Business Man of the Year for his community work in 2010, Kevin Denis is the well-known owner of Kings Park’s Professor’s Diner.  Since taking over the popular Main Street eatery in 1991, Denis has been a vocal advocate for all-things Kings Park and its calendar of special events and celebrations.  Come March, however, Denis assumes his unofficial role as a leading force in making the town’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade one of the largest and best-known community gatherings of its kind.

“This is a wonderful community in Kings Park,” Denis told Smithtown Matters.  “Everyone is very supportive with what we’re doing and they love [the parade].”

Originally from West Islip, Denis married wife Linda in 1976, settling down in Kings Park to raise a family. Together with Linda and their four children, Denis became acquainted with the restaurant that he would one day own only a few years later, taking a job as a cook at the diner in 1979.  Twelve years later, he bought it.

When a fire destroyed Professor’s Diner in 1993, Denis not only rebuilt the structure, but added a showcase for memorabilia and photographs of Kings Park history, creating a small museum of the town’s heritage for residents and visiting patrons to share.  That gesture, coupled with the Denis family’s numerous efforts in helping local children and seniors, soon made the restaurateur a pillar in the community. 

In 2010, Denis was the driving force in creating Kings Park’s first-ever St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which has rapidly become a point of pride among residents who lobbied for such an event for years.  When hopeful Kings Park organizers searched for a common place in which hold their parade meetings, Denis allowed the regular meetings to take place in his restaurant  in the months before the parade.  Although the Town of Smithtown and the St. James hamlet had always held their own St. Patrick’s festivities for decades, Kings Park’s proud Irish had never organized such as event in their town – and the numbers pouring into the festival displayed the enthusiasm. 

“We had something like 7,000 people come down to the parade last year,” said Denis.  “I’ve been in this business for 24 years and I always thought that Kings Park was a very Irish town …  During March, we offer specials on corn beef and cabbage and celebrated St. Patrick’s right here.  Based on the feedback, I could never understand why the town didn’t have a parade of its own.  [Kings Park residents] love this holiday and I asked myself, ‘Why has this never happened?’”

This year marks the organizers’ second parade celebration.  In an effort to replicate the overwhelming number of people involved in years past and the parades’ recognized success, Denis is again leading the way to St. Patrick’s Day this month.  A fundraiser, featuring the musical, “A Wonderful Life,” was recently held to raise money at the John Engelman Theater in Northport.  Thanks to that event, $15,000 was raised using the performance’s ticket sales, raffles, and other donations. 

“It’s been a lot easier to organize this year than last year,” said Denis.  “Everybody wants this parade to keep happening and in having such a great committee to make such it does, we keep going forward.”  According to Denis, this year’s parade will not only welcome back local schools and civic associations to march and participate, but the parade committee will be granting awards for the best float and decorated storefront.

Denis also supports local charity events such as Long Island Harvest, Angels Without Faces, the Airmid Theatre Company, the St. Joseph’s Church golf outing and countless other fundraisers providing charitable donations throughout the year, including the popular weekly car shows held each Thursday during the summer months.  For his various efforts and achievements, Denis has been the recipient of the Dr. Robert Cody Award, the Kings Park Civic Association Humanitarian Award, and his 2010 title as “Businessman of the Year.” 

Denis added, “Really what I’ve learned from the experiences it just to never say, ‘no.’  When people need help, or want to contribute and participate in any of our events – especially the parade – I’ve learned to always say ‘yes’ and bring in as many community members as possible.”

This year’s annual Kings Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place Saturday, March 3^rd, beginning at 12 noon on the corner of Lou Avenue and Pulaski Road; the parade is set to march down Main Street, to Church Street, to Old Dock Road and will end at William T. Rogers Middle School.  Additional information can be found at www.kpstpat.com.

Town Board Work Session Tuesday, Feb. 28 @ 10am

The Smithtown Town Board held a work session this morning.  The topic - Bonding for the Commack Ambulance Corp.  The Ambulance Corp. is located on Burr Rd. in Commack in the township of Huntington.  The Ambulance Corp is  looking to renovate the building in which they have been located since 1975.  

The renovation is expected to cost between 5.2 million dollars and 6 million dollars. While funding for the project will come from both Huntington and Smithtown, the larger portion will come from Smithtown since almost two thirds of the residents serviced by the ambulance corp reside in the Smithtown portion of Commack.

While the Commack Ambulance Corp does have architectural drawings it is anticipated that the construction will not commence until late 2012 or possibly 2013.

  

The following resolution was offered by the Town Board en masse:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Smithtown, Suffolk County, State of New York will meet at the Victor T. Liss Board Room, Town Hall, 99 West Main Street, Smithtown, New York on the 28th day of February, 2012 at 10:00 A.M., time then in effect for the purpose of conducting a Work Session regarding bonding issues, the Commack Ambulance Corp., budget information, etcetera.

Dated:  February 23, 2012

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE, pursuant to Article 16 of the Town Law and the Subdivision Regulations of the Town of Smithtown, is hereby given that the Planning Board of the Town of Smithtown will hold a meeting at the Smithtown Senior Citizens Center, 420 Middle Country Rd., Smithtown, on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 8:00 P.M. to consider the following at which time all interested persons may appear before the Board to be heard on these matters:

ZONE CHANGE PETITION OF FB4 Realty, LLC., GMF Realty, LLC., Town Line Road Enterprises, LLC #2009-05, situated on the east side of Townline Road, (C.R.76) 1,907.35’ south of Northport-Kings Park Rd. Kings Park, Town of Smithtown, Suffolk Country, NY (SCTM #: 0800-23-3-8.1, 0800-23-3-8.2, 0800-41-1-1.1 & 0800-41-1-2). The Board will consider the request of FB4 Realty, LLC., GMF Realty, LLC, & Town Line Road Enterprises, LLC. c/o Vincent J. Trimarco, Esq., 1038 West Jericho Tpke., Smithtown, NY 11787 to change the zone from LI (Light Industry) to HI (Heavy Industry).

AMENDMENT OF LOT LINES located on the southwest corner of Oak Run and Lake Avenue (SCTM#: and 247 ‘ east of Southern Boulevard, Nesconset, Town of Smithtown, Suffolk County. Zoning District: R-15 (SCTM#: 0800-138-5-14 and 0800-137-3-25.2). The Board will consider the request of Steven M. Leonard, Nadine Sjolseth Leonard, John M. Leonard and the Estate of Isabel Pennise by Roy Pennise, Executor to amend the lot line between Lots 0800-138-5-14 and 0800-137-3-25.

WAIVER REQUEST for FILED SUBDIVISION known as SEJ ESTATES, #1107 located on the west side of Astor Ave., 848 ft. north of Oak Street and at the northern terminus of Heidi Court South, St. James, Town of Smithtown, Suffolk County, NY. Zoning District: R-21 (SCTM#: 0800-85-3-17.3, 17.5, & 17.6). The Board will consider the request of Joseph Meli, 11 Storyland Rd., St. James, NY 11780 to waive 232 lin. ft. of sidewalks within the subdivision.

Dated: February 17, 2012,br> By Order of SMITHTOWN PLANNING BOARD
JOHN GEE, Chairman 

DEC Charge Medford Man With Illegal Shellfish Harvesting In Nissequogue River

DEC ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION OFFICERS CHARGE MEDFORD MAN WITH ILLEGAL SHELLFISH HARVESTING
Individual Faces Four Misdemeanor Charges

A Medford man is facing four misdemeanor charges after New York State Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) observed him harvesting shellfish from an uncertified shellfish harvesting area in the Nissequogue River, near San Remo.

“In addition to protecting natural resources, Environmental Conservation Officers  play a valuable role in safeguarding the public’s health,”  New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Peter A. Scully said. “The harvesting of shellfish from uncertified waters has the potential to have dire human health consequences. Harvesting shellfish from uncertified waters could potentially result in the shellfish transmitting diseases to humans who consume them. The work done by DEC’s Environmental Conservation Officers is often the first line of defense against the transmission of diseases to humans.”

According to Captain Timothy Huss of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement in Region 1, on February 23, two ECOs observed John P. Martell walking along the shore of the Nissequogue River near Riviera and Locust Drive in San Remo. Officers then observed him driving down the road to the location where he stashed approximately 800 oysters. Martell was then confronted by the officers after he was seen loading the bags of oysters into his vehicle.

Martell,of Medford, was issued four misdemeanor tickets which each carry up to $1,000 fines and/or one year in jail. The four misdemeanor charges issued were: failure to tag shellfish, possession of commercial shellfish quantities at night, taking shellfish at night and possession of shellfish at night. Martell was also charged with one violation for failure to carry a commercial shellfish digger license which carries a potential $250 fine.

State law prohibits harvesting shellfish from sunset to sunrise. This law was made so law enforcement officials could easily observe shellfishing activities to ensure shellfish are harvested from certified areas.

The entire length of the Nissequogue River is listed as uncertified for shellfishing.

Martell has a court date of March 23 in Suffolk County First District Court in Central Islip.

For more information on shellfishing, visit DEC’s website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/345.html.  Additional information on DEC and shellfish safety can be found at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9161.html.

To report any environmental crime, please contact DEC’s toll free 24-hour TIPP hotline at: 1-800-TIPP DEC (1-800-847-7332). DEC keeps the identity of all TIPP callers confidential.

Teacher Evaluations - A Good Thing

New York Enacts Teacher Evaluations

Local school and community officials react to the new system

By Chad Kushins

NYS Gov. Andrew CuomoNYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi
NYS Education Commissioner John B.King

Elected officials and educators alike are responding to a statewide agreement reached last week, which would bring tougher teacher evaluations in public schools statewide and make student performance 40 percent of a teacher’s grade. 

Almost instantly controversial, the deal reached by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, NYSUT (New York State United Teachers), and State Education Commissioner John B. King Jr. would base the remaining 60 percent of the evaluation on classroom observation and other factors not related to standardized tests. Districts through collective bargaining will determine this criteria for the plan.

 The plan now goes to local school districts where discussion over specific areas such as an appeal process will be developed. A plan must be implemented within the coming year. Cuomo claims he will deny non-compliant districts the scheduled four percent increase in state aid that he has proposed.

The announcement brought together Cuomo, State Education Commissioner, King, and Teachers Union President Richard C. Iannuzzi, who had been wrestling over the details of the new statewide system since its introduction into law in 2010 as part of the state’s application for a federal “Race to the Top” grant.  New York is one of 19 states that received grants under the “Race to the Top” competition, which requires every recipient to adopt a teacher evaluation system.  Last month, the federal Education Department warned New York that it could lose its share of the money if it did not comply, causing a rush to compromise and completion of the announced plan.

The agreement creates a rating system for teachers.  The ratings are “highly effective,” “effective,” “developing,” and “ineffective.” For a teacher rated “ineffective,” a Teacher Improvement Plan (TIP) would be developed. Two annual ineffective ratings could lead to a hearing and possible dismissal. A rating of “highly effective” would allow teachers to be eligible for merit increases or other perks, as determined in local labor contracts.

Many officials and educators from Smithtown are responding to the announcement.  “There’s a lot to like here,” said Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick.  “When the announcement was made, we had a real deadline looming.  Governor Cuomo said, ‘We’ve had plenty of time,’ and he was right.  Our educational system has some major problems, given what we’re spending – that’s not debatable.  And I really do believe that there has to be accountability.  That’s been avoided, but now we have a governor who’s willing to stand up for it.  I, personally, thank him for that.”

Fitzpatrick continued, “I think that one of the reasons that there’s been no accountability in the schools has been the problem of taking on the union.  Now, it’s a matter of receiving a grant for funding and I really think Cuomo is leading the way here.”

According to Fitzpatrick, there is only one element to the new system that he has found to be a negative aspect.  “I’m not happy that bad teachers would be getting a two-year reprieve,” he added.  “But that’s the only downside, the only pill we have to swallow – and it’s a significant one.  It’s the kids who are going to suffer because of that for two years.”

State Senator John Flanagan concurred, citing the new governor as a chief source in the proposal and commenting on its importance for the state.  “Teacher evaluations are fundamentally and critically important to everyone,” said Flanagan.  “Also, if you can make a good compromise, that has value on its own.  I congratulate the governor.  He and his office made this needed compromise.”

Flanagan continued, “Whatever is done [with the evaluations], it must be in a timely fashion … If you look at other areas and school districts with high graduation rates and high grades, those set an example.  Ultimately, my hope is that this happens and that it happens right.”

“I commend the teachers and administrators who are working together now on an APPR (Annual Professional Performance Review) Committee that will ensure that we select the very best evaluation model to meet our district’s needs,” said former teacher and current member of the Smithtown Board of Education Joanne McEnroy.  “The Governor’s new system will, I believe, create the need for teachers to ‘self assess’ and, I think that they will have to develop and maintain some type of a professional portfolio in order to articulate and corroborate the full measure of their work.  This opportunity for teachers to self-assess/advocate is an unintended, but I believe positive outgrowth of the Governor’s proposal.”

According to McEnroy, she is not for an evaluation system that would use students’ scores on standardized tests to judge a teacher’s abilities.  “Every one of the new evaluation models that are proposed address areas that speak to a teacher’s ability to recognize and plan to meet this kind of diversity and, to execute lessons to address it,” she continued.  “However it needs to be established and, at the very least acknowledged, that the circumstances that are brought to the learning situation do act upon outcome.  While the teacher can control the planning, the process, the practices and the teaching methods that are used, he or she often has no ability to control the circumstances that are brought to the setting.”

McEnroy added, “In the Smithtown district, there are so many things to be proud of.  That was also the case before the Governor’s proposal.  Our students have always done well because our teachers are held to a very high standard—by our community, by our administration and, most importantly, by themselves.”

Calls to the Superintendent’s office and local branches of the New York Teachers Association were not returned due to winter break.

According to Flanagan, the next step in making the teacher evaluations a mandatory practice is to see this proposal go before the legislature.