Smithtown Man Arrested For Damaging A Cell Tower Under Construction

Suffolk County Police today arrested a Smithtown man after an investigation revealed he had damaged a cell tower that was being built in Nesconset.

On November 28 at approximately 8 a.m., police were called to the Smithtown Highway Department, located at 758 Nesconset Highway, after workers at the site reported that someone had cut the feeder cables to the 210-foot tower sometime between 11 p.m. on November 23 and 6 a.m. on November 28. Metro PCS is constructing the tower on Smithtown Highway Department property. Representatives from the company told police the damage would cost more than $100,000 to repair.

Following an investigation by Fourth Squad detectives, using evidence recovered at the scene, police today arrested Ronald Derisi, 67, Smithtown, and charged him with Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree and Tampering 1st Degree.

Derisi was issued an appearance ticket and will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip at a future date.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

A Tasteful Way To Dine And Fundraise

By Nancy Vallarella

“The table is a place of communion for life’s large and small events,” Master Chef Art Smith.

No eating establishment depicts this sentiment more than Butera’s of Smithtown. Over the last 4 years, Smithtown residents have gathered here for celebratory meals, memorial repasts or to have a bite with friends and family. Sensitive to the needs of the community, Butera’s has always tailored their menus to provide quality and value.

The most innovative step Butera’s has taken in reaching out to the community is Give Back Day. This is an opportunity for organizations to raise money by promoting lunch or dinner at a Butera’s location on a designated day.  In return, they receive 10% of the sales generated through their promotional efforts. Sales are tracked with a certificate specific to the organization which is presented with the payment of the check.  “It is a practical and productive way to fundraise. People unite for a cause by sharing a good meal with friends”, comments Chef/Owner Nick Zografos.   Christine Fitzgerald, a founder of The Smithtown Children’s Foundation recently jumped at the opportunity stating, “I’m all in on a fundraising event that all I have to do is promote.”  Other groups that have seized this opportunity are the Guide Dog Foundation, The Center for Developmental Disabilities Parent’s Association, America’s Vet Dogs, The American Cancer Society, and The Diabetes Association.  Organizations wishing to participate in Butera’s Give Back Day can contact Manager Greg Arron at 631-979-9113.

Butera’s also shows their appreciation to returning guests with Butera’s Loyalty Rewards Program.  Every dollar spent is a point earned and recorded on a Butera’s Loyalty Rewards Card. Points are accumulated and are converted into Butera’s Gift Cards at various point levels and dollar amounts. Other benefits of this program include Double Point Days, Triple Points on your Birthday and the Ultimate reward earned -100 thousand unredeemed points earns meals at Butera’s for FREE for LIFE!

Raising families and running a business personally go hand in hand with Chef/Owners Martin and Laurie Butera (husband and wife), brother Gary Butera and Nick Zografos. They are keenly aware of today’s economic challenges and of time being a precious commodity in two income households. Nick Zografos notes, “Butera’s has always been a family restaurant. We try to make it possible for a family to experience quality food at reasonable prices.”  Pasta and sandwich lunch entrees are offered at $10 and kids eat for free off the kids menu with the purchase of an adult entrée. This is a huge incentive to bypass the fast food drive thru. Another family friendly menu choice is Butera’s New Family Style Dinner Options that feeds 2 or more people.

As the weather gets colder, the roads get slippery and cold and flu season approach, it is helpful to remember that Butera’s offers free local delivery on dinner orders. Off premise catering is also available.  LIKE Butera’s of Smithtown on Facebook for updates on specials and promotions. Menus can be viewed Facebook and on their website www.buteras.com.

****On Tuesday, December 6^th Butera’s will be hosting a Give Back Day for The Smithtown Children’s Foundation. Certificates to credit your sale can be found on the following Facebook pages: Butera’s of Smithtown, What’s Cookin? Smithtown and The Smithtown Children’s Foundation. While you are in Facebook, LIKE Butera’s of Smithtown and What’s Cookin? Smithtown for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Butera’s.

Kings Park Resident Killed in Motorcycle Accident

Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating a two-vehicle crash that killed a motorcyclist in Coram last evening.

Gary Curcie, 46, was operating a 1986 Honda motorcycle westbound on Middle Country Road at approximately 9:30 p.m. when he collided with a 1996 Saturn driven by Donald Savacool, 23, at the Country Club Driveintersection. Savacool, of Centereach, was traveling in the eastbound turning lane on Middle Country Road and was making a left turn onto County Club Drive when the vehicles collided.

Curcie, of Kings Park, was transported via ambulance to John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson, where he was pronounced dead. The passenger of the Saturn was also transported to John T.Mather Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Both vehicles were impounded for safety checks and the investigation is continuing.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS

NYS A.G. SCHNEIDERMAN ON DECISION TO DELAY VOTE ON PROPOSED FRACKING REGULATIONS

NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today issued the following statement regarding a decision by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to postpone a scheduled vote on its proposed draft hydrofracking regulations. 

“This delay further demonstrates that the proposed regulations for fracking in the Delaware River Basin are not ready to see the light of day. Without a full, fair and open review of the potential risks of fracking in the Basin, the public will continue to question the federal government’s ability to protect public health and environment.

“I also commend Delaware Governor Markell for stating that Delaware would vote ‘no’ on the current regulations. His position echoes my longstanding position: the federal government must follow both common sense and the law, and conduct a full study of fracking in the Basin before proceeding with regulations.”

"When It Comes To Our Children, We Cannot Be Too Careful"

As I ready myself for the holidays, planning and creating my culinary contributions for my large Irish family, the headlines about the heinous Penn State Child Sex Abuse scandal continue to galvanize broadcast and print news and the victims lay heavy in my heart.

The second those headlines came through my kitchen t.v. a week back I had a sense of panic. My son Bryan and a few dozen Kings Park athletes from the high school went to Penn State to attend a track and field camp in the summer of 2005.   I rang Bryan and spoke to him in his Binghamton dorm room and he said he saw nothing unusual in his short 4 or 5 day stay at the famed university.

The headlines coming out of Penn State are shocking for a myriad of reasons and leave so many of us asking – how could this have happened and even more so, how could this have happened so many times?

About seven years back while on the board of St. Joseph’s CYO, all the board members and coaches were asked to submit to a background check as are most people who work with children today.  We all welcomed the new protocol.

I am happy to say that in the last twelve years since I’ve resided in Kings Park, there has a been an enormous commitment to educating parents about child sexual abuse.  Our former superintendent provided the Apple of My Eye program from Parents for Megan’s law.   My parent organization comrades and I also ran the program through Council of Schools and the Mary DeRose Parent Center and Senator John J. Flanagan brought it to the district in 2009 as well.

A child-protective phenomenon, Parents for Megan’s Law is a local non-profit that give parents and children the tools to protect them from the monsters who carefully and methodically hunt their victims. 

PFML tells us that 90% of all sexual abuse occurs with someone a child has an established and trusting relationship with, whether known or not by the parent and who is often a person of authority. They also provide ten rules for safety for children and teens and a gamut of helpful information on their website www.parentsformeganslaw.org.

I’m thrilled to see the commitment to educating parents about preventing childhood sexual abuse remains steadfast.   Council of Schools will be providing an important seminar by the Director of the Coalition for Child Abuse and Neglect at Kings Park High School on January 24^th from 7-9 p.m. for parents of all ages.  They will offer information on keys issues surrounding preventing child sexual abuse including critical data from Parents for Megan’s Law.  They will offer parents warning signs and preventative strategies, it is a must see for all parents and grandparents.

Unfortunately in my forty-seven years I have known several people dear to me who have had the same fate as the Penn State victims.  I can tell you it forever changes the person and their family.

When it comes to our children, we cannot be too careful; we must arm ourselves with every piece of information available to ensure their safety.  BRAVA to the women at Council of Schools for their dedication to this critical issue.  There are a lot of reasons Kings Park is a great place to raise a family but the collective commitment to our children is undoubtedly number one. 

Maureen Ledden Rossi