Ladybugs, Raccoons and Lyndah Ray

By Stephanie Healion

Lyndah Ray reading her first book “Ladybugs 3” to the kids in front of the fireplace at Starbucks.On Sunday, November 13^th, local Smithtown author Lyndah Ray held a reading and book signing at Starbucks on Main Street.  The kids sat on couches and a special carpet. Some kids drank hot chocolate and ate lollipops while enjoying Ray reading her book, “Lady Bugs 3”.  There were ladybug-coloring pages available for the kids to color however they wanted.  Some children autographed their artwork that was then hung on the walls of Starbucks.  Each child who purchased a book had it autographed by Ray.

After Ray read “Lady Bugs 3”, she did a reading of her new book, Raccoon Cub Sparkey, which had just been released. During the reading, the children offered up their own knowledge of raccoons.  Four-year old Jackson announced, “Raccoons also eat fish along with going through the garbage.”  Jackson’s older brother, Brady, informed everyone that “raccoons wake up at night and sleep during the day.”

Sparkey, with the book inspired by an actual raccoon.“Raccoon Cub Sparkey” is based on an actual raccoon named Sparkey that Ray became familiar with during her work as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.  Ray has a special place in her heart for raccoons, believing that they are greatly misunderstood too often seen as scary menaces that come out at night and peruse garbage pails.

“They’re a little startling because we’re unfamiliar with them since they are nocturnal and we don’t see them during the day.  You don’t see them quite as frequently as you would see a squirrel, but you’ll see them more now because more buildings are going up and all that.”  Ray has had up to 175 raccoons in rehabilitation at one time.  She eventually released them in groups at locations approved by the NYSDEC.

Ray is a seasoned actress, currently appearing on the show Louie CK on FX.  “Lady Bugs 3”, her first book, was released in December of 2005.  “I’ve believed in children’s literature even as a child.  Children come from a genuine space, they learn and they’re easier to teach.  So I share things with them that I know of the planet and nature. Because they are the future of our planet. The future of the planet is in their hands, that’s why I tell them to love our planet Earth, and all creatures large and small.  Anything from a bug to a raccoon to an elephant.  Everything has its place.”Lyndah Ray reading with Lauren Modzelewski, 9, of Smithtown

As for any future endeavors, Ray has one or two ideas in the works.  “Right now I’m considering writing a line of children’s chapter books.  Something I’m tossing around is Johnny Ripper, and if it’s green he won’t eat it.  He has all these ideas, about hiding his peas under his mashed potatoes.  I’m working on him.  There’s another one about a dog that came out of a pound, he was in the pound for a while and he was sad and now he’s in a happy family.  Those are just some things.”

Ray is not only the author; she also illustrated the book with a little help from her mother.  The book is filled with rich colors, each page standing out from the last.  “I did all the illustrations in pen and ink.  I got sick and was in bed, and my mother came and painted it in.  Between the two of us we did it.  I dedicated this to my mother, S. Ray.  So it’s by L. Ray and S. Ray.”

Raccoon Cub Sparkey will be released on Amazon.com in 30 days.  For now, orders can be made at www.xlibris.com.  Lady Bugs 3 can also be found on Amazon.  Between the raccoons and the ladybugs, there was plenty of fun and learning for everyone.

Honoring Our Veterans

by Stephanie Healion

Nick Albanese at 2010 Memorial Day Parade
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy

Every year, November 11^th is a day we dedicate to the honor and memory of those who have served our country.  Veterans Day, then known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a legal holiday in 1938 to honor those who fought in World War I.  Today, we honor the men and women that fight for our country, serve our country, protect our country, and allow us the freedoms we enjoy every day.

This year on Veterans Day, the Veterans Plaza in Smithtown will be the venue for a Veterans Day Ceremony.  During this ceremony, there will be a dedication of the waterfall in Veteran’s Plaza to a veteran who not only served our country, but has worked tirelessly over the years with other veterans, Nicholas Albanese.

Nick Albanese, who passed away just recently, was not only a proud veteran of the Korean War, serving in the Marines for four years, but the Commander of the Smithtown American Legion Hall for over 20 years.  His son, Nick Albanese Jr., fondly remembers his father as a hardworking man, dedicated to his country and the veterans.  

“He was very proud to be a Marine and serve our country.  He cared so much about the seniors too.  He was at that Hall seven days a week, and he never wanted a thank you.  He was always strong with the military.  Instead of going to college with a football scholarship, he joined the Marines.”

The waterfall in Veterans Plaza was donated by the Smithtown American Legion in 2010.  The dedication of the waterfall is an honor pressed upon Albanese, his son saying that he neither wanted it nor expected it.  “He set it up, he got the politicians to okay it, and he was involved from start to finish.  When I went to him and told him that they were going to name it after him, he said “Why are they going to do that?  It’s for everyone, don’t name it after me.”  But the American Legion insisted, and went to the politicians with it and got the okay, and when we told him that it would always be there and that his kids and grandkids would see it, he finally got it and was okay with it.”

Tom Mooney, a service officer in the Smithtown American Legion and the Master of Ceremonies in Friday’s ceremony, believes that it’s important for the community to support their veterans.  “There is pride in being a veteran.  Personally, I feel a sense of obligation to the community and to the other veterans.  We try to make it easy for the community to help.  On Friday we will be selling phone cards to send over to the troops.  It’s important for the community to get involved, help or make a donation.”

A veteran of the Vietnam War, having served two years in the army, Mooney understands full well what it means to be a veteran.  “There’s camaraderie among veterans.  We know what they went through, how they feel, and we try to help them.  At Christmas we are going over to Northport Hospital to give a Christmas meal to the homeless veterans at the shelter there.  We try to help in any way we can.”

Veteran’s Day was created to honor all those who have served our country, whether it be home or away, in the army, navy, marines or air force.  Find a way to get involved, to donate time, money, food or goods to those serving who need them.  On November 11, please remember to keep these men and women in your thoughts, your prayers and your hearts, not just on this day but every day.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's Statement On Delaware River Basin Fracking

NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman issued the following statement in response to revised draft hydrofracking regulations posted today by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), with the approval of its supporting federal agencies.

“By issuing these modified draft regulations, the federal government continues to ignore New Yorkers’ concerns about the impact fracking may have on our environment, health and homes. Though modified, these regulations still lack the benefit of a full environmental impact study, which is required by law and dictated by common sense. Without it, the federal government does not have a complete understanding of the health and safety risks fracking poses, even as it stands to open up the Delaware River Basin to thousands of new gas wells. These regulations are both inadequate and illegal, and I will continue to use the full authority of my office to require that the federal government meet its clear legal obligation to fully study the environmental impacts of fracking in the Basin.”    
  
Background

Attorney General Schneiderman filed a lawsuit on May 31 against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal government agencies that determine federal policy on the Basin, for failing to perform a full environmental review of proposed regulations that would allow substantial natural gas development – including the controversial fracking technique – in the Delaware River Basin.  The Attorney General demanded that the federal agencies comply with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a law requiring such agencies to conduct a full review of actions that may cause significant environmental impacts.  

Today, the DRBC posted draft regulations for natural gas development in the Basin that “modify” regulations originally published on December 9, 2010.  The Commission has scheduled a vote on these modified draft regulations on November 21.  The DRBC estimates that its proposed regulations would allow thousands of new natural gas wells in the four-state, 13,500 square mile Basin, most of which are expected to be developed by fracking.

The Delaware River Basin covers 2,300 square miles of New York, including portions of Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Schoharie, Greene, Ulster, Orange and Sullivan Counties, as well as almost 60 percent of New York City’s West-of-Hudson drinking watershed, which provides most of the drinking water used by over nine million New York residents and visitors.

It's Election Day - Set The Bar High When You Vote

It’s Election Day - Set The Bar High When You Vote

“Set the bar high. Set the bar too low and you lose the incentive to be creative and to make positive change.”

It is Election Day…Will you vote?  Too many people will not take the time to educate themselves about the positions of the candidates. Too many candidates will not articulate their positions.  Generalities are the norm.  Cut taxes, reduce fraud, pro-business, get tough on labor… we’ve heard these statements from candidates across the political spectrum.

But elections are not only about candidates.  Elections are about the future, elections are about quality of life, elections are about vision, and most importantly elections are about voters. 

When you vote, focus on issues that have impacted on your life.   Issues like traffic, safety on Main Street, and are roads falling apart.  Has Smithtown received its share of grants from the federal government, the state, and the county?  Is there a master plan for the town, or is development haphazard?  

These are challenging economic times and raising taxes is not an option.  So how does the candidate propose to ensure that Smithtown is positioned to survive and thrive in the future?  

Elected officials are better when the electorate is committed to making office holders accountable.

Set the bar high and you have a stake in the future. Set the bar too low and you will get exactly what you are shooting for.

Pat Biancaniello

SCPD Conducts Alcohol Sting In Commack And Smithtown

Suffolk County Police Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers conducted an underage alcohol sting of six businesses in the towns of Commack and Smithtown and four establishments were found to be in violation of the law.  

On Friday, November 4, a volunteer younger than 21 was acting as an agent with the Suffolk County Police Department and entered six businesses with the intent to purchase alcohol. Some of the stores chosen were in response to community complaints while other stores were randomly selected.  The following business failed inspection and a store representative was charged at each establishment with Unlawfully Dealing with a Child 1st Degree for selling alcohol to a minor.  

·         Matthew Burger, 20, of 7/11, 362 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack

·         Brian Farrell, 21, Hess Express, 1173 Jericho Turnpike, Commack

·         Mary Marvin, 36, of Long Island Wine and Spirit, 1171 West Jericho Turnpike, Jericho Turnpike, Commack

·         Jatinder Kumar, 34, of 7/11, 7 Edgewood Ave., Smithtown  

Each arrestee was issued a Field Appearance Ticket to appear at a future date at First District Court in Central Islip.  

The following establishments complied with New York State Law and refused the sale of alcohol:

·         Gasoline Heaven, 2088 Jericho Turnpike, Commack

·         Shell Station, 170 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack  

The operation was part of an ongoing effort by the Suffolk County Police Department to ensure compliance of laws pertaining to the sales of alcohol and tobacco products.