Grausso Property In Kings Park Protected

By Erica Jackson

Public officials gathered in Kings Park today to announce that the county has acquired 6.5 acres of environmentally sensitive property that sits within the Nissequogue River watershed. The property, known as the Grausso property, was purchased via the county’s 1/4 percent Drinking Water Protection program for $521,000.

 

“It behooves us to purchase and preserve this property in its natural state,” said Suffolk County Legislator Lynn Nowick, who was instrumental in the property’s acquisition.  “It is a good purchase for the county.  We have to try and preserve whatever we can.”

 

According to Nowick the parcel now adds to other county-preserved properties in the area, including ten acres of contiguous land and another 20-acres, which was bought four years ago. The state also owns a 75-acre parcel that sits adjacent to the Grausso property.  That land has been transformed into a park, known as the Nissequogue River State Park.

 

The acquisition of the Grausso property, said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy said, “is a major step forward in our process of protecting the Nissequogue River, which is vitally important to the Long Island Sound tributary.”  He added, “Our efforts, combined with action taken by New York State officials, will ensure that more than 100 acres of mature, contiguous oak forest will ultimately be preserved forever.”

 

Kings Park Civic Association President Sean Lehmann praised the purchase. He said, “The Kings Park Civic Association appreciates the efforts of Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and County Legislator Lynne Nowick to preserve one of Kings Park’s last remaining open spaces. This land acquisition not only preserves the Kings Park Greenbelt, it also protects an important part of the Nissequogue River watershed area from future development.” Mike Rosato, head of the Nissequogue River Foundation agreed and added, “County Executive Steve Levy and Legislator Lynne Nowick really get it.  They understand how important these acquisitions are are to our environment, quality of life and to help stabilize our tax base.” Kings Park resident Ed Maher, who also serves as chair of the Smithtown Democratic Committee, also applauded the county’s efforts. He said, “As a resident of Smithtown and Kings Park I am pleased that this environmentally sensitive land is protected.”

Levy, Nowick to Announce Acquisition of Kings Park Wetlands Area

Suffolk Officials Say Acquisition of 6.5-Acre Tract is Part of Overall Plan to Preserve 100 Acres of Neighboring Oak Forest

Hauppauge, NY – Suffolk Executive Steve Levy and County Legislator Lynne Nowick will be joined by state and town officials, as well as community advocates and environmentalists, as they announce the acquisition tomorrow of 6.5 acres of environmentally sensitive wetlands located in the Nissequogue River watershed region.

 “This acquisition is a major step forward in our process of protecting the Nissequogue River, a vitally important Long Island Sound tributary,” said Levy. “Our efforts, combined with action taken by New York State officials, will ensure that more than 100 acres of mature, contiguous oak forest will ultimately be preserved forever.”

The county is acquiring a 6.5-acre site known as the Grausso property, which is located in the Kings Park Greenbelt area, south of Route 25A and east of Indian Head Road in the Town of Smithtown . New York State has purchased an adjacent 75-acre property that was formerly part of the Kings Park State Hospital facility. Suffolk previously had bought 10 acres of contiguous land and has its sites on additional vacant woodland property, which when purchased would bring the amount of total holdings to more than 100 acres.  

For The 2nd Time This Week Lake Ronkonkoma Beach In Islip Is Closed to Bathing

For the second time this week Lake Ronkonkoma Beach in the Town of Islip is closed to bathing.  It is beneficial to you to check the bathing beach hotline below before you make a trip to any of the three beaches listed.

James L. Tomarken, MD, MSW, MPH, MBA, FRCPC, FACP, Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, said today that Lake Ronkonkoma Beach in the Town of Islip is closed to bathing due to the finding of bacterial levels in excess of acceptable criteria. 

 The following beaches will remain closed to bathing:  Tanner Park Beach in Copiague on the Great South Bay.

 For the latest information on affected beaches, call the Bathing Beach HOTLINE at (631) 852-5822, contact the Department’s Office of Ecology at 852-5760 during normal business hours, or visit the website link below and in the Popular Links box, click on “Beach Advisories Map” (http://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health).

SENATOR FLANAGAN TO HOST EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MEETINGS

Continuing his annual effort to help the community, Senator John J. Flanagan (2nd Senate District) will be hosting three Emergency Preparedness Seminars throughout the region. The meetings, which will be held in DixHills, Kings Park and Ronkonkoma, will be free of charge to all in thecommunity.

The three meetings will all include presentations from representatives of the New York State Emergency Management Office, the Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management, the American Red Cross and the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) about preparing for and dealing with most any type of emergency. All who attend the meetings will be provided with expert instructions on how to prepare a disaster supply kit, develop a family communications plan, and a variety of other important safety tips.

The meetings are scheduled for the following dates:
Thursday, August 19th at 7:00 pm Kings Park Fire Department 2 East Main Street, Kings Park

Tuesday, August 24th at 7:00 pm Lake Ronkonkoma Fire Department177 Portion Road, Ronkonkoma

Wednesday, September 1st at 7:00 pm Half Hollow Hills Community Library - Dix Hills Building
55 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills

All three of these events have a limited capacity, so Senator Flanagan’s office is requesting that residents who plan on attending contact his office by calling 631-361-2154 or by sending him an e-mail at flanagan@senate.state.ny.us.

Anyone who has any questions about these meetings or who would like additional information, including directions and emergency preparedness tips, should visit www.senatorflanagan.com and click on the Emergency Preparedness link on the home page or call Senator Flanagan’s office at 631-361-2154.

“These meetings are designed to help community members prepare for and recover from all types of emergencies if and when they occur and Ithank all the organizations for taking part in this annual series. While we all hope that this information is never needed, the reality is that being ready beforehand is critical in times of emergency and the advice those attending will receive is easy-to-follow and essential. I urge everyone who can attend to come and take part in these important meetings,”stated Senator Flanagan.

A Question of Ethics At Smithtown Town Hall

By Erica Jackson

It was just three years ago that an ethical debate broke out in Smithtown Town Hall when a tenured councilman accused a fellow councilwoman of using town resources for political gain.  Now, it seems the tables are turned: That same councilman’s ethics came into question last week when an e-mail invitation to his summer fundraiser on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, listed the town council office as a number to call to make a reservation.

 

The use of the town council office phone line and its secretary is in direct violation of section 30-10 of the town’s ethics code, which reads, “No town officer or employee shall use or permit the use of town property (including land, vehicles, equipment, materials and any other property) for personal convenience or profit, except when such use is available to town citizens generally or is provided as a matter of town policy.”

When asked about the use of the phone number Councilman Wehrheim told SmithtownMatters.com that it was an error on the part of the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce, which he says originated the e-mail.  “It wasn’t me that sent it out,” said Wehrheim.  “All of my political stuff is done from home and apparently they must have gotten the invite and just put the message out to all their members and inadvertently put the wrong number.”

 

However, despite the “error” as Wehrheim says it was, the town council’s secretary fielded at least two phone calls regarding the fundraiser.  On Wednesday morning, two people associated with SmithtownMatters.com anonymously called the council office to inquire about the fundraiser and both were told the cost was $85 and that tickets were being sold at the door.

 

“He is a hypocrite,” said former Councilwoman Joanne Gray. “Not only is the use of the town’s phone number for his fundraiser unethical, but it’s against the law. It seems Mr. Wehrheim has a short term memory when it comes to going after someone who was totally innocent of ethics charges brought against her.”

 

In 2007 Wehrheim sent a letter to the town’s Board of Ethics questioning Gray’s decision to place a campaign magnet in town-paid letters she sent to town residents informing them about the availability of state-owned boating slips.  In the end, she maintained her innocence, but was fined and ordered by a Supreme Court judge to pay $3,500.

 

Regarding Wehrheim, Smithtown Republican Chairman Bill Ellis said that though he doesn’t know all the facts, he trusts, “It was an error and nothing else.”

Edward Maher, the Smithtown Democratic chairman believes that if it is in fact a mistake, a correction should have been sent out or at the least, Councilman Wehrheim should put out a press release saying an error was made.  However, Maher said if it wasn’t in error, the use of the town’s phone line should be investigated.  He said, “That would be a violation of the law and absolutely a problem.”

 

SmithtownMatters.com did attempt to contact the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce, leaving multiple messages, however no calls were returned as of press time.  Nor were calls returned by the volunteer members of the town’s board of ethics. 

 

Presently, there are only two members sitting on the board of ethics, Tracy Epstein and Patrick O’Leary. The third seat is vacant and waiting to be filled by the town board.

Update on Monday, August 9, 2010 at 11:16PM by .

Kings Park Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dee Grasso has contacted SmithtownMatters.com in an effort to set the record straight and clear Smithtown Councilman Ed Wehrheim’s name of any wrong doing.  Stating that she made a mistake Grasso said “I shouldn’t have sent anything out.  It was a big mistake on my part.” According to Grasso, she intended on e-mailing an invitation to the chamber’s August BBQ using her personal e-mail, but mixed up the event with Wehrheim’s.  She said, “It became a huge screw up and I have apologized up and down.  I am not trying to hurt anybody and I will make sure I get the right information in the future. “

The e-mail, as reported by SmithtowMatters.com advised recipients to contact the Smithtown Town Council’s phone number for reservations and additional information for Councilman Wehrheim’s July 28 fundraiser. By law, the council’s number cannot be used for political events. Councilman Wehrheim has denied any wrong doing.