Student Sues Kings Park School District

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.”

Message From the Smithtown Democratic Chair

It has been brought to my attention that there is a robo-call going around to local Democrats claiming that the Smithtown Democratic Committee does not support the re-election of Tim Bishop to the US Congress. It is an outrage that an an unnamed group would pretend to speak for our committee. 
 
The Smithtown Democratic Committee strongly endorses Tim Bishop for re-election and strongly condemns this ridiculous lie.

Ed Maher,
Chair
Smithtown Democratic Committee
59 W Main St
Smithtown, NY 11787
631-265-6520

Motor Vehicle Crash in Hauppauge Pedestrian Killed

Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a pedestrian in Hauppauge last night.

Thomas Martino was driving a 2006 Honda Accord westbound on Express Drive North in Hauppauge when his vehicle struck Robert Denise, who was attempting to cross the road near MacArthur Boulevard at 8:30 p.m.

Denise, 56, of Dorado Circle, Hauppauge, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner. Martino, 26, of 18 Surrey Lane, East Northport, was not injured.

The Honda was impounded for a safety check and the investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452.

The Candidates For State Assembly - 7th District

State Assembly - 7th District

By Erica Jackson

In the State Assembly race, incumbent, Republican Michael Fitzpatrick is vying to keep his seat from Democratic challenger Richard Macellaro.

Michael Fitzpatrick has served in the New York State Assembly since November 2002.  Prior to his election, he served as a Smithtown Town Board member for 15 years.

A graduate of Hauppauge High School, Fitzpatrick is an investment associate with UBS Financial Service, Inc. of Port Jefferson. 

Fitzpatrick is active in the community and is involved in the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and sits on the board of directors of the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame.

Fitzpatrick and his wife, Lorena have two children Corina and Michael.  They live in St. James.

 What makes you uniquely qualified to sit as a representative? 

As the strongest fiscal conservative in entire legislature, I am uniquely qualified to deal with serious fiscal issues. I am a representative with the fortitude and the backbone to deal responsibly with these issues. That makes me uniquely qualified.  

What do you hope to accomplish, if re-elected? 

I look forward to partnering with the new governor to move this state on the right fiscal track and improve the employment picture for the people of this state. Building a stronger business climate is priority number one. 

Name one thing that you would like the public to know about you. 

I am willing to take a tough stand on fiscal issues and will defend my position.  

Richard Macellaro holds a degree in political science from Queens College and has worked as a special assistant for two assembly members, Joseph Lentol and the late Fred Schmidt.  He has 20 years experience as a home health care administrator.

Macellaro is active in the community and is an executive officer of the Smithtown Democratic Committee, a trustee of the Kings Park Fr. John Papallo Lodge and is an officer of the Lakebridge Condo II Board of Managers.

Macellaro and his wife, Diane have two daughters, Andrea and Jillian.

What makes you uniquely qualified to sit as the state assemblyman for the 7th AD?

As a special assistant for two NYS Assembly members for more than 5 years, I was responsible for constituent concerns and researched issues that were of significance to those Member’s districts. I was a founding member of a not-for-profit, community based organization (The St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corp.,) partnering with government, industry, business, youth, education and neighborhood residents, to find common sense solutions to community problems.  I was a Home Health Care Administrator, for more than 20 years.  I wrote competitive and successful program and managed operating budgets ranging from $30 to $50 million per year.  I supervised thousands of home care workers and advocated for safeguarding the rights of the elderly and disabled, working towards increased medical care, while reducing Medicaid costs.  I was instrumental in negotiating contracts with worker unions, vendors and NYC governmental agencies. Additionally, I was a paid consultant for a local, proprietary Home Care Agency.  I’m 58 years old and retired from full-time employment.

What do you hope to accomplish, if elected?

I will bring to the 7th Assembly District my experience and commitment as it applies to the various state issues.   I plan to meet with as many of my neighbors, friends and residents to better my understanding of the issues and concerns that affect our community and to encourage a dialogue with various civic and elected leaders to arrive at the best solutions as they make important decisions for the betterment of Y(our) district.  We need common sense solutions to district problems. 

I have the training, education and ability to seek and provide funding sources to successfully maintain service projects, such as; health care programs (drug prevention and secession,) provide for more elderly or youth activities (recreational and sports associations,) job training and skills development resources, equal job protections for men and women, more jobs and better community jobs.

I hope to bring more funds back to the district by obtaining and providing more funding sources for district initiatives and insure that district residents and community based organizations receive funding for their activities, that benefit the District, including food pantries. 

Name one thing that you would like the public to know about you.

 I am not the incumbent.  I hope to bring a new and refreshed prospective to the NYS Assembly and to initiate meaningful growth and development programs and projects for the entire district.  I believe that we need to upgrade and expand upon new ideas and create a more harmonious atmosphere for district voters/residents.  Competence, effectiveness, conciliation, tenacity and a full-time commitment will be the hallmarks of my tenure as your next assembly member. 

The Candidates For State Senate - 2nd District

And the Candidates Are…

 By Erica Jackson

On Tuesday, November 2 voters are being asked to vote for candidates running in various elections. To help our readers to make an informed decision, we have compiled biographical information for each candidate. We have also asked each candidate three questions to respond to in their own words. 
 

State Senate - 2nd District

In the race for State Senate are Republican incumbent John Flanagan and Democratic challenger Ira Bernstein.

John Flanagan was raised in Huntington, attending Harborfields High School. He holds a BA in Economics from the College of William and Mary and holds a law degree from Toro Law School. He previously served in the state assembly.

As a member of the State Senate since 2002, Flanagan says he has fought to “reduce the tax burden on Long Island”  He says he has worked hard on local issues.  In Kings Park, he says he successfully halted the sale of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center.  

Flanagan and his wife Lisa reside in East Northport.  They have three children.

Flanagan did not respond to the three questions asked by SmithtownMatters.com as of press time.

 

Ira Bernstein, of Centereach, is a financial services advisor and a former Commack School District teacher, where he worked for 25 years.  He is a graduate of SUNY Stonybrook and Columbia University.

Bernstein is a member of Lions International and a member of the Brookhaven Senior Advisory Board, where he served as a negotiator for seniors to lower LIPA rates for seniors. He is an activist for Citizens Campaign for the Environment and a past youth work study coordinator of the Lake Grove School.  He also is a member of the Ronkonkoma Revitalization Committee.

What makes you uniquely qualified to sit as a representative in the Senate? 

I am a former teacher, who taught in Commack schools for over 25 years.  I am now a licensed financial representative with knowledge in finance. Getting more out of services and not wasting government money is my asset. I am uniquely qualified in that as a member of the Brookhaven Senior Advisory Board, I lowered rates for seniors on their LIPA bills.   

 

What do you hope to accomplish, if elected?

I will work to protect the schools.  Mr. Flanagan does not give money to the school and has hurt all of our educational programs, especially in Smithtown.  He has cut funding from every school district.  He wants to put a cap on taxes, which sounds good to homeowners, but does not help businesses.  The other most important issue is Wallstreet. They got away scott-free with what they did.

 

Name one thing that you would like the public to know about you?

I am a member of the NYSID, a group of 6000 teachers. Without them education would not advance.  They are the main assets for our children. They motivate them to become good citizens.