Resurrecting 10 years - St. James 9/11 Memorial

By Matt Weber

Less than two months away from arguably the most memorable and somber day in recent American history, the Saint James Fire Department is erecting a memorial in commemoration of the 10 year anniversary of September 11^.  

The memorial, which includes a 14,000 pound piece of metal recovered from the tragic event, is a tribute to all the lives lost that day, including Doug Oelschlager, a Saint James resident, who was one of the first responders from Ladder Company 15. Individuals and businesses around the community have been very involved in helping to bring the memorial to fruition.

Head of the memorial committee and local fireman Tom Donahue is reminded of what it was like days after the attacks on the World Trade Center.  “The community has been outstanding…it reminds me of the days following 9/11, everybody was united, there was no democratic or republican,” said Donahue.  “Everyone was just patriotic, and everyone came down and helped out.”

What was first estimated to be a 75,000-dollar project saw quick cost cutting when businesses from around the community stepped in to do what they could to be a part of the event. Surveying the land, removing tree stumps, laying sod on the site and fund raising the community has really shown how much this memorial means to them.

The only minor complication was attaining the “bowtie” metal that is the centerpiece of the memorial.  Years ago a judge had ruled that before any of the metal was to be used, it had to be searched for any evidence it might hold relating to the 9/11.  Once the judge cleared all the metal for release, fire departments, museums and other establishments that wanted a piece of the historic metal had to fill out paperwork.

“The port authority put together a program where municipalities, museums and fire departments would be able to send in paper work and apply to get a piece of steel,” Donahue said.  “We put the paper work in, which took a couple years, and finally they responded back to us saying we could take a piece of steel.”

Whereas other fire departments received small remains of the fallen buildings, the Saint James branch received a “bowtie” piece that when placed in its base plate will weigh almost 16,000 pounds.

“The piece we got was only one of the two pieces they recovered from the rubble like it,” Donahue said.

The metal cross is currently outside of the Saint James Fire Department on Woodlawn Avenue at the corner of Woodlawn and Jefferson for those who want to see one of the pieces of the North Tower that once stood beautifully in the skyline of New York City. 

The official opening of the memorial will be September 11^th of this year, memorializing not only the life of local hero Doug Oelschlager, but also all those whose lives were tragically lost on September 11, 10 years ago.

No Cable box No Television For You!

If you are one of the many who ignored the friendly recorded message from Cablevision advising you that the drop dead- dead line of July 12^th, 2011 was fast approaching,  or if you hung up before your heard the part explaining that in order to maintain your CURRENT service you would need a digital cable box or cableCard for each television in use in your home, you are in for a very unpleasant surprise when you turn on your TV set. 

Cablevision has posted the following message on your television screen:    

Important Information About Your Service

A digital cable box (or CableCARDtm) is needed to receive this channel.  Please contact us at (866) 580-0535 to have a digital cable box shipped to your home FREE of charge OR visit one of our Optimum Stores.

For store locations, visit optimum.net/stores.

Effective today, if  Cablevision is providing service to your home, you need to have a cable box for each television in use in your home.  If you do not use the television regularly or you want only the basic channels 2, 4, 5, 7 etc. you will still need a cable box. And the cable box is going to cost you.

The price of a cable box from cablevision is around six dollars a month or $72 a year.  If you use more than one television expect to pay the fee for each television.  A customer service representative at Cablevision volunteered that FIOS and other cable companies have been charging per television for some time. 

People I have talked with have indicated that Cablevision may be willing to negotiate on the cost. A man from Commack told me he picked up a cable box at the Motor Parkway site and the fee was waived for a year.  In another case the fee on two boxes was waived .

It is up to you, the customer, to decide if you are willing and able to pay the additional costs.  For some it is a no brainer, I am not going to give up watching my shows I will have to pay– for others it is NO WAY, NO HOW I’m not paying.

Know anyone who wants to buy some slightly used TV Sets?

Kings Park Farmer's Market - Success You Can Taste!

Kings Park Farmer’s Market?  For the second consecutive Sunday the municipal parking lot across from the firehouse on 25A was the site of a successful farmer’s market.  The first one, held on Sunday June 26, provided the organizers with insight into how receptive the people of Smithtown would be to the concept of purchasing local product in a market type setting.  The facts spoke for themselves with some vendors running out of product long before the 2pm closing time.  The second Sunday, July 3^rd proved to be even more successful than the first.

More vendors, more products and more people highlighted the second week (Sunday, July 3).  “This is an atypical farmer’s market”, said Bernadette Martin, director of Friends & farmers Inc.  “There are more people here than we’ve seen at other farmer’s markets. Kings Park is very receptive to the market there are people who have come from Commack and other areas of Smithtown to support local farms.” *

Is it good for the community?  Sean Lehman, president of the Kings Park Civic Association worked to bring the market to fruition and credits the hard work of the civic association’s committee, co chaired by Ann Marie Nedall and Aly Elish-Swartz, for making it a reality.  “This is really great for the community and when you add to it the future expansion of the Hike and Bike trail, Musical Moments at Russ Savatt Park and events like Restaurant Week you see the community coming out and enjoying themselves and enjoying Kings Park.”

The Kings Park Farmer’s Market will be held every Sunday throughout the summer and into the fall.  You can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, bakery products, fresh roasted coffee beans and much more. The market is located on 25A across from the firehouse and the hours are 9am-2pm. 

Let us know what you think!

*Local Farms are farms throughout NYS within 250 mile radius of LI

July 5th Concert At Nesconset Gazebo Kicks Off Summer Concert Season

If you happened to be on Smithtown Blvd. in Nesconset Tuesday night around 8pm you might have noticed a huge crowd of people sitting around the gazebo.  If you had your windows open as you drove by the crowd you might have thought that you were hearing the rock band Queen. If you had the time to stop and you were lucky enough to find a parking space you would have seen and heard  a tribute band named Almost Queen. And if you are one of the hundreds who attended the free concert you are probably still humming the tunes from the concert. 

The Nesconset Chamber of Commerce kicked off their summer concert season with wonderful weather, a huge orderly crowd and a successful concert.   Almost Queen delighted the crowd comprised of children, parents and grandparents. Some in the audience came out to hear songs they grew up with and others came out to enjoy a free concert in the park. All came out to enjoy themselves and by all appearances that is what they did.

Nesconset Chamber of Commerce Vice President Jim Delahanty estimated that there were 2,500 people in attendance  “the feedback from the audience and the band was great.  What a great way to start the concert series. It was also nice to have Congressman Tim Bishop show up and dedicate the raising of the new flag.”

The concert series is sponsored by the Nesconset Chamber of Commerce through a grant from Suffolk County Legislator John Kennedy.  Concerts will be held on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 pm.at the gazebo on Smithtown Blvd.  For a listing of concerts in Nesconset and throughout Smithtown  Click here 

His name is Earl

 By Larry Lomonaco

Maybe you’ve noticed the gentle and smiling face of a man pushing his cart with recyclable cans and bottles around town. But then again maybe you haven’t.  Either way, his name is Earl.

Earl is a veteran and a long time Smithtown resident whose early morning walks, covering two to three miles a day, helps keep Smithtown looking its best.  Not that the town doesn’t do an excellent job of keeping the streets clean.  But Earl has added to the town’s beautification by picking up litter he comes across on his journeys on Main Street, especially on weekends when the town crew is off duty. The town has never looked better…all thanks to Earl.

Earl also keeps neat and clean the memorial site, located at the corner of Lawrence Avenue and Main Street, in honor of Courtney Sipes.  Courtney was a young girl whose life was senselessly ended too early. Now Earl can add to his memorial tasks by keeping the site for Seamus Byrne neat and clean of debris. Seamus Byrne was a husband and father of two.  He was a Purple Heart recipient who was killed at a corner on Main Street early one Sunday morning after celebrating his 33rd birthday at Napper Tandys. 

So the next time you see Earl, you’ll recognize him by his cap with the name of the ship on which he served - The Pawtucket, take a moment to thank him for his efforts in helping keep our town looking its best.   But especially thank him for serving our country.