Winter - A Time To Enjoy Smithtown Outdoors!

With forty-nine days left until the first day of spring and snow piled up everywhere it might be tempting to stay indoors until the big melt starts.  It might have been tempting for some this weekend but not for everyone.  With temperatures reaching into the thirties this weekend it was not difficult to find people enjoying the wonders of winter right here in Smithtown.

Hoyt Farm Hoyt Farm in Commack was the place to be if you wanted to do some sledding in a very safe environment.  Kids and parents seemed to be having a ball enjoying the hilly terrain.   The hills were perfect for sleds, discs and for the adventuresome rolling down the hill without anything.  Ok, I’m not sure if that was intentional but it did seem to be fun.  Other places where kids were sledding were off 25A in Kings Park and Hauppauge High School.

 There were some not interested in sledding preferring cross-country skiing and snow shoeing at Caleb Smith State Park and on the Hike and Bike Trail in Kings Park.  Jim Dipelessi, a Kings Park resident, took advantage of the pristine conditions on the Hike a Bike trail and went cross-country skiing.  “ There was a lot of snow and no one had been on it so I made my own path.”  

 There were lots of people walking on the boardwalk at Sunken Meadow Beach.  Even though the boardwalk was not completely clear of snow people were jogging, walking, pushing baby carriages, taking photos and believe it or not even traversing the boardwalk with cross country skis.Cross Country Skier at Sunken Meadow Beach

Congratulations to those who made the most of the snow and had fun!

Ode To Worm Permit

80 years ago, before all Vecchio’s terms,
This town began to regulate worms.

The digging of worms requires a permit,
The clerk’s office decided the law didn’t fit.

We should forego the money we collect
because the work it entails is a pain in the neck.

The Board will deliberate and make a decision,
They will work hard said a resident with a little derision.

The decision will be made with thought and insight,
And because this is Smithtown it won’t be overnight.

This thought comes to mind and needs to be spoken,
This Town Board is best at fixing that which is not broken.

Anonymous

Ottaviano vs. Kings Park Central School District et al.

Ottaviano vs. Kings Park Central School District et al. The Kings Park Central School District is pleased that this litigation has been resolved.  Under the settlement agreement the district will not be obligated to pay any money.  The matter has been resolved to the district’s satisfaction. We want to remind all of our students and parents that the district’s eligibility policy remains in effect.  Any student who uses or possesses alcohol or drugs on school grounds will be suspended from all athletic and extracurricular activities for one year. The above is the statement posted on the Kings Park School District Web site.   Ms. Ottaviano is a senior at Kings Park High School who admitted to bringing alcohol to a school sponsored event.  The school district took the position that this was a violation of an agreement that Ms. Ottaviano had signed.  The consequences were significant for Ms. Ottaviano who was barred from participating in extra curricular activities throughout the school year.  Ms. Ottaviano’s school record was noted with the violation. See Article below

Update on Friday, January 21, 2011 at 11:35AM by .

By Erica Jackson

2009 KP Girls SoccerIt sounds like an episode from Beverly Hills 90210, but it’s not. Kings Park High School senior Nina Ottaviano has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the school district for suspending her from all extracurricular activities after she admitted to providing a bottle of alcohol to a fellow student.  

“The bottom line is that we think the punishment is overly harsh,” said Jeffrey Brown attorney for Ottaviano.  “She has been suspended from all activities in her senior year.  It is a hypocritical policy — other male student athletes, who have come to school drunk, have not received such a penalty.”Nina Ottaviano - Girls Soccer 2009

Earlier in the school year, Ottaviano,17, gave a friend a hair spray bottle containing alcohol.  She says she obtained the rum from another student.  Ottaviano’s friend was caught with the bottle on a bus taking students to the Brentwood Country Club for a party.  Ottaviano came forward and admitted giving the liquor to the student. She was suspended from activities as was her friend.

The suspension, said Brown is detrimental to Ottaviano’s chances of getting into college.  “Her family spent a lot of money for lessons to help her get into a college.  Her school athletics should have given her an extra edge.” Prior to her suspension, Ottaviano was involved in soccer, basketball, the honor society and she sat as the editor of the school newspaper.  Brown says it is hoped that the lawsuit will prompt the district to allow Ottaviano back into sports and instead give a different punishment.  For example, Brown suggested not allowing Ottaviano to go to her prom.  “We are hoping to sit down with someone at the school.  But so far the school is not willing to budge,” said Brown.

When asked to respond to the situation, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Susan Agruso, said the district has posted a comment on its website.  It reads, “We cannot comment on whether or not there is litigation pending or threatened. The district’s Code of Conduct and Eligibility Policy are posted on the district’s website.”

According to the district’s code of conduct, possessing alcohol is a level V infraction, which calls for “up to permanent loss of privileges; a superintendent’s hearing; community service; referral for counseling; removal of student from calendar year from extra curricular, co-curricular and athletic activities; mandating attendance at outside agency such as AA or Alanon; removal from all honor societies; and a police report.”

With the lawsuit all over the news, articles have appeared in Newsday and on CBS news, Brown says Ottaviano is now dealing with bullying in and outside of school.  Just this week, Ottaviano received death threats on her Facebook page.  A second Facebook page dedicated to Kings Park High School has provided an outlet for Kings Park residents to comment on the issue. 

One poster wrote, “Common reality is most kids in all schools go to prom and senior dinners drunk so why would they go hard on a sober girl with just a bottle. Schools are corrupted I guess.” Another wrote, “While, yes, I do agree that there should definitely be consequences, I’m not sure the punishment fits the crime. But what pisses me off even more, is that Kings Park discipline is so inconsistent. Football players have brought alcohol to school sponsored events and weren’t pulled off the team.”

That Is One Big Pile Of Snow!

By Pat Biancaniello

Snow is everywhere!  That is the phrase you hear most often when you visit the Branch Shopping Center on Main Street in Smithtown.  The January 12^th snowstorm dumped as much as 18 inches of snow in the area.  While people expect to see snow piles, no one was prepared for what they saw at the Branch shopping center. “Mt. Waldbaums,” is the name given the huge pile of snow by Waldbaums’ employee Joe Furtunato and an unnamed customer.

What is most perplexing to anyone who visits the Waldbaums shopping center is the decision to pile snow directly in front of the windows at Waldbaums.  The pile of snow which measures 18 feet high, according to Waldbaums employee Ronnie Buell a student at Kings Park High School, blocks the windows, takes up handicapped parking spaces, and blocks the visibility of the entrance.

The Manager of Waldbaums, Michael Fitzpatrick, was surprised but understanding.  In a phone conversation with Mr. Fitzpatrick on Friday January 14^th he said, “There was a lot of snow dumped on us and while I am not thrilled with the placement of the pile of snow, I have confidence that the landlord, Acadia Realty Trust, will be removing it shortly.  Tonight if not tomorrow.”

Tim Harris, the front-end manager of Waldbaums was surprised to see the snow pile, but he said on Thursday the 13^th, “While every customer has something to say… he has not received any complaints.” Did he think the contractor could have done a better job? “Yes, the snow piled in front of the store makes it difficult for people who may have special parking needs or difficulty walking and need to have easy access to the store.” 

One customer, who only gave her name as Lynne, felt that people were making too much of a big deal over the pile of snow.  “There are bigger problems in the world than Smithtown’s snow.  Snow removal is difficult and they did a fine job.”

Kerri Mckeever, Kings Park resident and co-owner of 5^th Street Paving in Bay Shore, knows quite a bit about snow removal.  Her company has the contract to pave Islip Macarthur Airport.  Her reaction to Mt. Walbaums, “with all of the challenges that this storm presented and there were many, it’s just not right to have the pile of snow placed in front of the store.”  Ms. Mckeever acknowledged the difficulty many contractors are having with the removal of snow with limited places on site to put it.  “However, there seemed to be room on the periphery of the property to place the snow rather than placing it directly in front of the store.  In many instances, phase two of the snow removal process begins the day after with pay loaders and trucks taking the snow to different sites.”  That is what Manager Mike Fitzpatrick is expecting.  “I have a good relationship with the landlord and expect that they will begin removing the snow soon.  If not, I will not be as understanding as I am now.”

Tenant Rosalie Mallozzi, co-owner of the Smithtown Branch Barbershop in the same shopping center was smiling when she said “I have never seen anything like it.  Even when I lived in Brooklyn where they would pile the snow on street corners.  It is amazing to see this.” 

Nesconset Woman Arrested - Charged With Drug Trafficking

Federal agents arrested Joanne Connelly, 48, of 167 Southern Blvd., Nesconset.  Connelly, according to Newsday, headed a drug ring in Smithtown that trafficked in the sale of the drug roxicodone a substitute for OxyContin.  Connelly was released on $500,000 bail.  

See Newsday story…