Issuu

The TIMES of Smithtown

Volume 28, No. 35

SERVING SMITHTOWN • ST. JAMES • NESCONSET • COMMACK • HAUPPAUGE • KINGS PARK • FORT SALONGA October 29, 2015

$1.00

Nightmare On Main Street

Also: Minstrel Player’s ‘Back to the Zone’, SCPA’s Classic Movies lineup, Halloween Happenings

PAGE B1

Lost love in Smithtown All about elections

Everything you need to know about your local candidates ahead of Nov. 3

STARTS ON PAGE A13

BY SUSAN RISOLI

To all the couples who attached padlocks to a footbridge in Sunken Meadow State Park: sorry, sweethearts. Your public declarations of love were removed recently by the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Lovers worldwide have embraced the tradition of decorating locks with initials and other symbols of partnership, and ceremoniously attaching them to bridges. Fearing that locks would weaken structures and make them unsafe, municipalities have been removing the tokens of love. Twentytwo love locks were recently taken off the footbridge at the end of Sunken Meadow’s parking field 3. The New York City Department of Transportation removed 450 locks from the

Brooklyn Bridge in April. And officials in Paris have been prying locks off bridges that span the River Seine. A recent visit to Sunken Meadow revealed a barren bridge stripped of the locks that adorned it earlier this year. Only one lonely testament to love remained – a heart scratched into the metal railing, bearing the message “LW + GE.” State Parks spokesman Randy Simons said in an email Tuesday that the Parks Department was concerned that, over time, an increasing number of locks could add unsafe weight to the bridge. Locks can get rusted, and that could also affect the bridge, Simons said. Those who put a love lock on the bridge and want their memento back, he said, can LOCKS continued on page A11

Photos by Susan Risoli

Views of the footbridge at Sunken Meadow State Park, where lovebirds once saw locks representing their permanent affection, pictured inset. The locks have since been removed, as shown in the lower photo.

PAGE A2 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • OCTOBER 29, 2015

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A3

Setauket doc pleads guilty to fatal hit-and-run Victim’s family publicly forgives him in CI court By Elana Glowatz and Phil Corso

A cardiologist has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, drunk driving and leaving the scene of a Smithtown car crash, 16 months after he killed a fellow medical professional and mother of three. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office announced on Friday that Setauket doctor Thomas Stavola, now 56, will spend two years in prison and five years on probation after last year’s crash, during which his Audi broadsided victim Monica Peterman’s Mercedes at the intersection of Routes 25 and 111. It was shortly before 4 a.m., and Peterman, 45, had been on her way to work as an X-ray technician at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center. Instead, the Middle Island resident was pronounced dead at that same hospital, where she had worked for more than 10 years. District Attorney Tom Spota said previously that the doctor, who sustained minor injuries in the crash, left

the scene without helping Peterman. “Witnesses who came upon the crash scene said the defendant suddenly left and began walking west on Route 25,” Spota said in a previous statement. “What I found most troubling is the fact that a physician chose not to render any kind of aid or use his cellphone to call 911 to get some assistance for a seriously injured motorist.” The DA said those witnesses gave police officers a description of Stavola, and a sergeant on his way to the scene spotted the man about 500 feet from the crash, walking quickly with his head down. According to the DA’s office, Stavola had a .10 blood alcohol content 90 minutes after the fatal incident. The impact of the collision had embedded Stavola’s front license plate into the side door of Peterman’s car. Stavola originally pleaded not guilty to his charges. The victim’s family filed a $20 million civil lawsuit against him last year, saying they hoped it would

File photo

thomas stavola, pictured left, will spend two years in prison and five years on probation.

help make punishments stricter for drunk drivers. But Stavola changed his plea and Peterman’s family supported the twoyear sentence and probation, the DA’s office said. Her husband, Russell Peterman, said in a statement that his family wanted to let go of the anger they felt toward Stavola and realized he

deserved another chance “to go back to helping people.” In the courtroom, Peterman’s family members delivered remarks of forgiveness to Stavola, adding that they believed his punishment suited the crime. In their statement, they said they felt Stavola needed to go back to helping others.

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PAGE A4 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • OCTOBER 29, 2015

R O T T C A L E S I L G E E -

Y D E N N E K E LI L

S E L

12th e h t f ts o n e d i s Re

pec x e t c i distr

cial fi f o d lecte e n a e in c n e d pru d n a n vatio r e s e r tp

• Has been placed on three critical Legislative committees - Health, Human Services and Public Safety

Accomplishments Since April, 2015:

• Successfully lobbied to reduce the 2016 County Operating Budget by 13 million dollars. • Saved taxpayer money by utilizing interns to assist our Legislative Office staff through Stony Brook Masters in Public Policy Internship Program. • Continues to maintain a rent-free Legislative office in a County owned building. • Works with directors of Human Service Programs, Highway Department and Economic Development in Smithtown and Brookhaven to access services for all constituents. • Supports COPE and school Drug Prevention Programs. • Successfully runs the 12th District’s Blood Drive that has delivered more than 2000 pints of blood to the NY Blood Center. • Preserved funding in the 2015 County Operating Budget for safety upgrades of County Roads 16 (Smithtown Blvd), 76 (Townline Rd) and 67 (Motor Parkway) including the continuation of the In Fill Sidewalk Initiative in Nesconset. • Worked in conjunction with SCPD 4th Precinct to adequately staff the precinct and its 17 sectors. • Supports the reinstatement of the Blydenburgh Park Advisory Board to advocate for maintenance and enhancement of its Historic District at the Blydenburgh Mill, the Weld House and the Lake - as well as promote the parks recreational uses for equestrian, fishing and boating.

VOTE Paid for by Friends of Leslie Kennedy

• Secured a $100,000 grant through a private foundation for the continued development and maintenance of the Lake Ronkonkoma County Park/ Lily Pond Preserve/ Walter S. Commerdinger Park. • Worked with the Village of the Branch and SCPDW to secure a 1.2 million dollar grant for ground water flooding abatement along the northeast corridor of the Nissequogue River.

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REPUBLICAN • CONSERVATIVE • INDEPENDENCE Endorsed by Suffolk County PBA, Detective Investigators PBA, Superior Officers Association, Detectives Association and the Police Conference.

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A5

Head of the Harbor grapples with deer hunting By Victoria Espinoza

The deer debate has hit Head of the Harbor. Residents sounded off on the ongoing deer management discussion at Village Hall last Wednesday night, and after hearing residents’ concerns with the initial resolution proposed last month to allow more hunting, the board of trustees withdrew consideration. The law was originally written to amend the village code to enable hunting of deer pursuant to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation authorization. But trustees said it was rescinded so as to allow more time for thought before action. “We retracted that law and it is completely off the table,” trustee Judith C. Ogden said. The board created an advisory committee that will consider and report to the board on a local deer management program. The committee is expected to give a report to the board by Dec. 31, Ogden said. Mayor Douglas A. Dahlgrad said it is his hope that the committee will meet with other villages and towns to see how they are handling their deer issues, as well as with the DEC. Residents continued to voice their distress for how the board will handle this is-

sue in the upcoming months. George Kaloyanides, a Head of the Harbor resident, said this issue has garnered more interest than any other in the 30 years he’s lived here. He said he hopes that this issue is dealt with as transparently as possible as it goes forward. “I hope you [the board] would consider expanding this charge to include polling residents of the village to see how many people see the deer as a problem,” Kaloyanides said. “In the intent of eliminating concerns, I think a majority vote of the proposed actions would help.” John Lendino, a Head of the Harbor resident, questioned the board’s judgment for the handling of communications on this issue. He said that notices of the public hearing were hidden under several other documents on bulletin postings around the town. “All these people tonight wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for me,” Lendino said. Jeffrey Malkan, a Head of the Harbor resident, said that a vote should be included for this issue on this year’s ballot so voters can say if they approve. “The final word should belong to the people,” Malkan said. “In the interest of avoiding controversy, it should go back to the residents as a referendum.” Chairman Michael Utevsky will

Photo by Victoria Espinoza

Head of the harbor board of trustees discuss the deer issue on Wednesday, oct. 21.

head the committee along with eight other members and trustee liaison Deputy Mayor Daniel White. A public hearing was held in early September where residents were concerned not only with the proposal, but also the way village hall handled alerting citizens on the issue.

Julie Korneffel, a Head of the Harbor resident, was unhappy with how little notice she was given about this issue before it came to town hall. “There is a big concern for transparency now,” Korneffel said. She also felt that the code written “seemed purposely vague.”

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24/7 PAGE A6 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • OCTOBER 29, 2015

POLICE BLOTTER

APARTMENT TO RENT? MERCHANDISE TO SELL? NEED TO HIRE SOMEONE? SERVICE TO OFFER?

E 24

You need to place a classified ad…

AD O

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SSIF

IED

Your ad will appear online weekdays within 24 hours and in our 6 weekly newspapers

CL A

OUR

THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD

T...PL A

THE PORT TIMES RECORD THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY

Smoke sign blows away It was reported that business signs from Aroma Smoke Shop in Smithtown were damaged by four unknown teens at 4 p.m. on Oct. 24.

NO PROBLEM!

Xanax o’clock Police said a 24-year old woman from Northport was in wrongful possession of Xanax at 5:55 a.m. at 4 Parsons Lane in Nissequogue on Oct. 22. She was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

it’s now just

a few clicks away

Go to CLASSIFIEDS in our home page menu online

Not so lucky Police said an unknown white man entered Gulf gas station on Nesconset Highway and fled with scratch lotto tickets on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

[tbrnewsmedia.com]

and follow these easy steps:

• Click place an ad • Select your category • Submit your classified • Review your ad

Oxy-co-don’t A 17-year old man from Smithtown was arrested after police said he was in possession of oxycodone at Commack Liquors on Route 25A in Commack on Oct. 23 at 6:05 p.m. He was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

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Rims gone It was reported that two sets of rims

Online deadline is Monday noon for Thursday print publication

Questions? Email us at class@tbrnewspapers.com or call 631 331-1154

and tires were stolen from a 2016 Cadillac Escalade at a dealership in Smithtown sometime between 10 p.m. on Oct. 20 and 8 a.m. on Oct. 21 Bad contact On Oct. 22, a 23-year old woman from Commack was arrested after police said she hit someone on the head on Route 454 in Commack at 3 a.m. She was charged with second degree physical contact. The nail polish remover An unknown person stole numerous bottles of nail polish at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 21 from Walgreens on Larkfield road in Commack. Home Depot items have new home A 47-year old man from East Northport was arrested on Oct. 22 after police said he stole miscellaneous items from Home Depot on Jericho Turnpike in Commack at 10 p.m. He was charged with petit larceny. Wrong turn On Oct. 24, a 40-year old man from Bay Shore was arrested after police said he made an illegal left hand turn on Route 25A in Smithtown and they discovered he was driving drunk. He was charged with driving while intoxicated. Boozing and speeding A 36-year old man from Centereach was pulled over for speeding on Route 347 in Commack when it was discovered that he was driving drunk at 1:50 a.m. on Oct. 22. He was charged with driving while intoxicated. — COMPILED BY VICtOrIa EsPInOza

BREakIng nEws

DAY

OR N

IGH

THE TIMES OF HUNTINGTON, NORTHPORT & EAST NORTHPORT

File photo

Stolen apparel A 36-year old man from Plainview was arrested after police said he stole assorted apparel from the Smith Haven Mall in Smithtown on Oct. 24. He was arrested at 1:20 p.m. and then, once he was taken to the 4th Precinct, police said he had an altered New York State identification card. He was charged with second degree forgery of an official document.

CE Y

THE VILLAGE TIMES HERALD

THE TIMES OF SMITHTOWN

Incidents and arrests from Oct. 20 - Oct. 26

If news breaks any time, find the latest on our website: www.tbrnewsmedia.com

OCTOBER 29, 2015 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A7

Smithtown budget reduces spending By Phil Corso

Smithtown’s 2016 preliminary budget proposal called for a small increase in taxes despite some spending cuts, but officials said they anticipated no layoffs because of it. The $101 million budget, if approved, would reduce the amount of money the town spends by about 3.4 percent when compared to this year’s budget, the preliminary proposal said. An average Smithtown home assessed at $5,500 would see an increase of roughly $18.01 in annual taxes, or $1,271.25 in total, the budget said. As for the town’s tax levy, the budget pegged it at $55.49 million, which was more than last year’s $55.04 million levy. In his budget message, Smithtown Supervisor Pat Vecchio (R) said the town was building on an initiative started in 2015 in a five-year capital plan that targets strategic infrastructure upgrades. “[The budget] substantially moves the town to a structurally balanced budget that does not reduce resident services,” Vecchio said. “It recognizes the initiatives started in 2015 of replacing only essentially needed positions as employees retire or otherwise leave the employ of the town.” Last year, the town used more than $5 million of surplus funding to balance the budget. But this year, the town was able to use much less than that at $500,000. The use of surplus funding to balance the budget was one of the key reasons Councilmen Bob Creighton (R) and Ed Wehrheim (R) voted against the proposal last year, but both officials told Times Beacon Record Newspapers last week that they were glad to see the town working to end that practice. In regards to the town’s general fund, Vecchio said taxes increased by $31.62 for the average home without the use of surplus dollars, which he called a change from Smithtown’s past practices. Expenditures went down by nearly $1.1 million, or 2.5 percent, he said. “The town continues a ‘pay as you go basis’ for repairs and separation pay for retiring workers,” the supervisor said. “Large capital expenditures have been reduced in the operating budget because they have been included in the 2015-19 capital program, which acquires long-term assets through borrowing instead of the use of current operating funds.” The town was also able to meet the 2 percent tax cap with help from roughly $900,000 in health insurance and workers’ compensation increases, which a decrease in required state pension contributions help address, Town Comptroller Donald Musgnug said. Also included in the budget were longevity and step increases for nearly 30 Smithtown Administrative Guild and 375 Civil Service Employees Association union workers, he said. Projects in line with the town’s five-year capital budget plan between 2015 and 2019 helped Smithtown save money in the 2016 preliminary budget, officials said, citing various savings that came as a result of them. The town’s LED streetlights project helped save $200,000 in utility costs, and taxes in the outside village fund decreased by $8.80. The town also allocated savings of about $35,000 in the animal shelter supervisor’s salary to pay for trap, neuter and release services as well as the hiring of a part-time trainer to help train the eight dogs housed at the shelter, town officials said. On the subject of Highway Department savings, Vecchio said $500,000 of surplus funds there was used to stabilize taxes. Funding was also increased in the town’s snow coffers by $2.14 per household assessed at $5,500 because of severe storms, which he said exhausted funding last year. The Town Board must adopt the budget by Nov. 20. NOTICE OF FORMATION, Fluid West, LLC. Articles of Org. Filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on October 14, 2015. Office location: Suffolk SSNY designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copies of

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PAGE A8 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • OCTOBER 29, 2015

Winter Wonderland A fun and fabulous way to reach our North Shore audience, LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE is part of the TBR family of publications. Our collection of magazines offer contemporary insights and of-the-moment notes on life and wellness on our island.

File photos

Above and below, local shellfish, like oysters and clams, are harvested on the North Shore.

DEC limits shellfishing Elevated levels of fecal bacteria found in local waters

Savor the Season of the Holidays and Beyond! Enjoy our special features including: • Cultural and Seasonal Events Calendar • Music and Arts • Winter Fun and Fitness • Food • Wine • Shopping • Winter Home Trends • Style • Winter Getaways • Focus on Health Section

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lops, either year-round or seasonally. In Mount Sinai Harbor in Brookhaven Town, approximately 200 acres will be reclassified as closed for the harvest of shellfish during the period May 1 to Oct. 31. In Stony Brook Harbor, approximately 300 acres shall be reclassified as closed from May 15 through Oct. 31, to closed instead from May 1 through Dec. 31, for the harvest of shellfish. In Cold Spring Harbor, approximately 99 acres shall be designated as closed during from May 1 through Oct. 15, for the harvest of shellfish. For more information about shellfish safety and New York’s role in the National Shellfish Sanitation Program, visit the DEC’s website. The emergency regulations adopting the changes are effective immediately. Additional information may also be obtained by contacting the DEC’s Shellfisheries office at (631) 444-0492.

OCTOBER 29, 2015 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A9

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PAGE A10 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • OCTOBER 29, 2015

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A11

RE-ELECT

Rob Trotta

Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta never stops fighting for the people in his district and for Suffolk County.

Sponsored legislation to: • Limit campaign contributions from unions and companies doing business with the county • Require hotels, motels and businesses to have direct access to 911 • Identify and cut $64 million in welfare waste, fraud and abuse

Outspoken fighter: • Against placing red light cameras on every corner • Exposing wasteful 18 year bonding of police cars that only last 3 years • For the protection and preservation of our environment • For transparency to budget and regulatory processes • Against excessive government spending and debt • For personal responsibility and ending the growth of welfare programs

“Through my experience with the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, I know that integrity, dedication and hard work is the only way to get the job done right. As a legislator, I am watching the bottom line and stopping wasteful spending to help keep Suffolk County affordable for our families.”

Photos by Susan Risoli

Top, a pair of locks decorate the bridge in a photo taken in January. Below, a more recent photo of the bridge shows the locks have been stripped.

LOCKS Continued from page A1

Rob is committed to transparent & honest government that eliminates waste, fraud and abuse of our tax dollars, and to policies that improve our economy and quality of life.

RE-Elect Rob Trotta – Suffolk County Legislator Republican – Conservative – Independence - Reform

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pick it up at the Sunken Meadow park office. “We encourage our visitors to express their friendship and love in other ways that do not interfere with others’ enjoyment of the natural setting and park property,” Simons said. Going forward, if park officials see anyone attaching a lock to the bridge, “We would explain to the individual or individuals that this is not permitted and have them remove the locks,” he said. “We do not see locks being placed on any of our bridges in the future.” The Parks Department hasn’t seen

love locks at any other state parks, Simons said. The New York City Department of Transportation has been taking love locks off the city’s bridges since 2013, said a DOT spokesperson in an email Tuesday. She said the department removed 9,363 locks this year, from January through the end of September. “Locks pose a safety risk for those using the Brooklyn Bridge and are not allowed,” she said. “We strongly discourage visitors from leaving locks on our bridges as it poses a danger to the infrastructure and the cars traveling below.” “We ask that all visitors to the Brooklyn Bridge and other bridges across the city help keep our landmarks clean and in a state of good repair.”

Election Day – November 3, 2015

trottaforsuffolk.org – Paid for by the Friends of Robert Trotta

PAGE A12 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • OCTOBER 29, 2015

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A13

Local Election Guide

PAGE A14 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • OCTOBER 29, 2015

County race focuses on finances, planning By Victoria Espinoza

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D) said he hopes to continue his work addressing the county’s top issues, including affordable living, financial issues and wastewater management. But in order to do that, he first has to get past Republican challenger Jim O’Connor. O’Connor (R), a partner in the Manhattan law firm of Maroney O’Connor LLP, said he was hoping to unseat Bellone and get a handle of the county’s finances, which he argued are currently in bad shape. “We are in massive amounts of debt,” O’Connor said. “Our taxes are a significant problem.” Bellone said that he inherited a $500 million deficit when he arrived to his position in 2012, and during his short time in office he said he has been able to resolve a “legacy of issues” left to him — including minimizing that deficit. O’Connor also said one of the issues looming over the next several years is the county’s handling of negotiations with police salary contracts. “They are back-loaded contracts,” O’Connor said. “The real impact of these contracts won’t be felt until 2017 and 2018.” O’Connor said he does not know how the county will pay for those salaries, and

proposed to freeze them if he is elected. “One of the things we can control is our labor costs,” O’Connor said. Since his election, one of the examples Bellone heralded as evidence that he was working to streamline government efficiency and cut spending was his proposal — approved by public referendum last year — to merge the offices of the county comptroller and treasurer to cut costs. Bellone said it should save more than $1 million annually. He also said he has reduced the government by more than 1,100 positions. Bellone said he is focused on shoring up the county’s water quality in his reelection bid. “Unless we reverse the decades of decline that we’ve seen in our water quality, we are mortgaging our future,” Bellone said of why improving the county’s wastewater management is so crucial. Bellone celebrated SepticSmart Week over the summer, when he encouraged residents to stay informed on how to properly maintain their septic systems. Both candidates discussed how they planned to fully utilize the county’s resources and make living in Suffolk more affordable. To get there, Bellone said he wants to better utilize Stony Brook University, because “as Stony Brook University goes,

Jim o’connor is facing off against suffolk county Executive steve Bellone.

so goes Suffolk County.” He said one the challenges and opportunities residents in the area have is enacting initiatives that better link Stony Brook University with other North Shore assets like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. O’Connor said he and Bellone have a fundamental difference on how to go about dealing with affordable living in

Photos by Giselle Barkley

Suffolk County. “I don’t agree that the way to do this is more [government] programs,” O’Connor said. “The way to do this and stimulate more economic growth is by turning things around and making sure Suffolk isn’t the second-most expensive place to do business and live in the United States. The only way to do that is by reducing the costs.”

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A15

Smithtown incumbents face bipartisan opposition By Phil Corso

Over the past several years, if a Smithtown Town Board vote resulted in a 3-2 tally, chances were incumbent Republicans Bob Creighton and Ed Wehrheim were the lone naysayers. Both electeds have been seeking re-election this fall, as political newcomers from both sides of the aisle have stepped up for their seats. Creighton, 77, came out on the bottom of a three-way Republican primary back in September, losing the GOP line on Tuesday’s ballot to both Wehrheim and Lisa Inzerillo, 50, of Kings Park, while still retaining a spot on the Conservative, Independent and Reform party lines. Meanwhile, Democrat Larry Vetter, 62, threw his hat into the race over the summer and has been vying to break the town’s all-Republican board. All the candidates, except for Inzerillo, sat down with the Times of Smithtown last week to discuss top issues facing Smithtown and what their plans were to address them if elected. Creighton said he hoped his record would speak for itself in his bid for another term, citing his background in law enforcement and private sector success before joining the Town Board in 2008. In the interview, both Creighton and Wehrheim discussed that familiar 3-2 split on the board and argued that dissension too often got in the way of progress. Earlier this year, Creighton, who is in his second four-year term on the board, took to a work session to propose that the town consider installing commissioner

positions similar to those held in neighboring townships like Brookhaven and Islip, which he argued would streamline workflow and make department heads more accountable. Town Supervisor Pat Vecchio (R) was outright against the proposal and opposed it each time it was discussed before the board, which Creighton said stonewalled it from progressing. “I’ve worked to try and change government a little bit and to make it more accountable, but it really hasn’t been acted on,” Creighton said of the plan, which Wehrheim also supported. “It will not be acted on until two of the other council people take a stand, which they will not do as long as Mr. Vecchio is there.” Wehrheim, who is running for his fourth term on the board, said he would use another term in office to stimulate economic growth in the town, specifically with downtown business revitalization and infrastructure repairs in mind. When asked how he planned on bettering his standing in the classic 3-2 Town Board split, Wehrheim said he would only keep doing what he has been doing — bringing business to every work session with hopes of spurring action. “It’s a political issue that doesn’t need to exist. It might be great press, but I don’t pay much attention to the dissension,” Wehrheim said. “I bring business to every board meeting, because I have constituents that need me to discuss issues important to them.” Wehrheim cited a recent legislative effort he championed alongside Creighton, adding that the two “went back and forth”

Photos by Rohma Abbas

incumbents Bob Creighton, left, and Ed Wehrheim, middle, are squaring off against Democrat larry Vetter, right, and republican lisa inzerillo, not pictured, for their seats on the smithtown Town Board.

over a minimum wage proposal for the town’s seasonal workers. That minimum wage hike was subsequently included in the 2016 preliminary budget in September. Vetter, the lone Democrat in the fourway race, said one of the key points that set him apart from the rest, in his first run for public office, was his “outside looking in” perspective coupled with his extensive background in environmental science and business. He centered his campaign on attacking the “Long Island brain drain” and fighting to keep young adults in Smithtown by making it a more vibrant place to live and raise a family. “I have four adult children — they’re all gone and off Long Island,” Vetter said. “I have three grandchildren I’m watching grow up on Skype. Everything springs from that, and that includes industrial development, downtown revi-

talization, housing initiatives, and other aspects, like sewers, infrastructure.” Vetter said that if elected, he would only seek out one or two terms before removing himself from the board because of his strong support for term limits. Earlier this month, Vecchio joined other marquee Republican names in Smithtown on the steps of Town Hall to endorse Inzerillo, flanked by councilmembers Tom McCarthy (R) and Lynne Nowick (R) as well as Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) and state Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-St. James). Inzerillo, however, did not respond to several attempts to organize a four-way candidate debate at the Times of Smithtown’s headquarters. She was also absent at other debates throughout the town, with the latest one a week before Election Day at the Smithtown Fire House.

Trotta takes on Macellaro for county Legislature By Phil Corso

A difference in philosophy underscored the race between an incumbent Republican legislator and his Democratic challenger. Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) was first elected to the Suffolk County Legislature in 2013 and said his first term in office opened his eyes to the county’s financial woes. But to keep working at it, he must first win re-election against Kings Park resident Richard Macellaro. The two sat down in the Times Beacon Record Newspapers newsroom last week to discuss their campaigns and demonstrate why they deserved to represent the county’s 13th District, which encompasses Smithtown, Fort Salonga, Kings Park, Nissequogue, St. James, Commack, Head of the Harbor and East Northport. Trotta kicked it off with strong rhetoric. “It’s been an eye-opening experience over the past two years. I am shocked and saddened at how bad the county is fiscally,” Trotta said, highlighting the crux of his concerns looking ahead in the Legislature. “I’ve seen serious, serious problems. Worse than anybody even knows.” The legislator said the looming threat of the county’s bond rating being reduced coupled with the growing sentiment that

it’s too expensive to live in Suffolk have made his job all the more challenging. The blame, Trotta said, rests on out-of-control spending, too much union involvement in politics, and too much money being tossed around in campaign contributions. A mismanagement of funding was at the heart of almost everything Trotta discussed as key campaign concerns. He cited recent development — part of a downtown revitalization plan — in Wyandanch as “overkill” and cautioned that communities like Kings Park would benefit from his voice of concern as the community looks toward a similar revitalization. “Kings Park is a diamond in the rough, and we have a plan there when it comes to sewers,” he said. “But we don’t want it to be another Patchogue.” Macellaro — who identified himself as a “new kid on the block” when it comes to seeking political office, despite unsuccessful bids for the state Assembly in 2010 and Smithtown’s Town Board in 2013 — said he wanted to put his experience as a civic member of the Kings Park community to work. With the campaign slogan “A different voice, a different choice,” the Kings Park resident said he hoped to use the office to prevent an increase in property taxes by consolidating all the

Photos by Rohma Abbas

suffolk County legislator rob Trotta, left, is facing off against Democrat richard Macellaro.

county’s school districts, allocating just one per town. While a move like that does not rest in the hands of a Suffolk County legislator, Macellaro said he would use his office as a bully pulpit to enact the change. “It can be done,” he said. “Someone has to begin to force the school districts to lessen property taxes for our residents.” Another important issue he said he planned on addressing, if elected, was working to construct an all-encompassing master plan for the county. Doing so, he said, would revitalize downtowns throughout the county, enhance transportation and ultimately help entice

young families to stay in Suffolk. Beyond finances, Trotta said he was not a proponent of the county’s Red Light Safety Program, which utilizes cameras at traffic signals to catch and ticket cars that run red lights. He argued that some of its regulations, including the right-on-red violations, are nothing more than a money grab on innocent residents. But Macellaro, who has worked for the county’s traffic and parking violations agency in the red light division, said he disagreed. “I think the government is functioning very well,” he said. “Taxes are what we pay for the lifestyle we choose.”

PAGE A16 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • OCTOBER 29, 2015

Muratore seeks re-election for the 4th LD By Giselle Barkley

Suffolk County Legislator Tom Muratore said he doesn’t consider himself a politician, but more of an advocate for the people he represents. He said he hopes that mentality will help him earn another term on the job. “People don’t realize how much government has to offer,” he said. “Yes, you pay the taxes, but you also enjoy the services. My priority is to provide those services.” This is the fourth time Muratore (R-Ronkonkoma) is running in the 4th Legislative District, which includes Selden, Centereach, parts of Ronkonkoma and Farmingville, Coram, Holbrook, Lake Ronkonkoma, Lake Grove, Medford and Port Jefferson Station. His Democratic opponent, Jonathan Rockfeld, has not actively campaigned for the position. With an absentee opponent, Times Beacon Record Newspapers had the chance to sit down with Muratore alone and discuss his past term and future plans, if re-elected to a fourth term. For Muratore, ensuring public

safety was one of the top issues he wanted to work to address. Over his last term, Muratore proposed a resolution to monitor the use of drones in the county, citing past incidents in California and Connecticut where drones were problematic — planes carrying water remained on the ground during a wildfire in California, impeded by drones taking photos. In Connecticut, a man put a 9mm automatic pistol on a drone before it took to the sky. His initial resolution proposed banning drones on beaches from May 15 to Sept. 15, as well as around public buildings in the county. The resolution was watered down before it was approved, 17-1, after legislators and County Executive Steve Bellone (D), who is also running for reelection, took issue with the bill. If re-elected, Muratore hopes to revisit the issue and possibly tighten restrictions. “Something’s going to happen, I just know it,” Muratore said. “[But] I hope [nothing happens] before we can revamp this drone bill.” One idea he has is to make it mandatory for those flying

drones to become members of the American Model Association, which would help track the owner of a drone and provide insurance if the drone harms an individual. Increasing staffing within the police department is another issue on Muratore’s list. He mentioned that the county has fewer officers now than it did 10 years ago and said the limited staff makes it difficult to address problems like drug abuse. “Drugs are like a tree: If you really want to kill a tree … you start at the roots,” Muratore said. “By going out and making arrests for small amount of heroin [and] small amounts of marijuana, you’re just trimming the leaves.” Drug dealers are the stem of the issue, according to Muratore, but insufficient police staffing prevents officers from conducting longer, in-depth investigations. In a fourth term, Muratore also plans to continue his involvement with the Red Light Safety Program, through which cameras at traffic signals help catch and ticket cars that run red lights. While county Democrats and Republicans have not always seen

Elect JUDGE Julianne

CAPETOLA Supreme Court Justice  Cross-endorsed by Republican and

Democratic Parties  59 years old, married to attorney/restauranteur Anthony A. Capetola, 8 grandchildren  Current Acting Supreme Court Judge, Nassau County  Served for more than 17 years as an elected Family Court Judge, Nassau County  Former Supreme Court Referee, Nassau County  Former Law Secretary, Nassau County Supreme Court  Former Law Assistant, Nassau County District Court  B.A. State University of New York at Buffalo, Summa Cum Laude/Phi Beta Kappa  J.D., St. John’s University Law School  Founding Member of Nassau County Courthouse Kiwanis  Found “WELL QUALIFIED” by the Suffolk County Bar Association  Former Nassau County Coordinator and Member, New York State Advisory Panel of the Parent Education And Custody Effectiveness (PEACE) Program  Founding Member Interdisciplinary Forum of Nassau County  Chair of the Nassau County Judicial Committee of Women in the Courts  Recipient of the Fidelis Juri Award from the Uniformed Court Officers Fraternal Order of Court Officers  Endorsed by Nassau County Police Benevolent Association  Endorsed by Court Officers Benevolent Association of Nassau County Paid for by Friends of Judge Capetola

Photo by Ron Pacchiana

legislator Tom Muratore, above, runs for re-election for the 4th legislative District.

eye-to-eye on the issue, with Republicans calling the ticketing program a money grab, Muratore wants to continue talks to reform it. While he voted in favor of initiating the program a few years ago, he disagreed with the county’s supposed manipulation of

fees associated with the program. “If you’re getting tens of thousands of tickets and you increase the fee by $5, you’re getting half a million to a million dollars, maybe more,” Muratore said. “That’s just money-grabbing right there.”

2015

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Each year, with our readers’ help, we honor the people who have contributed in the communities we serve. ❖ The honorees are profiled in a special edition at the end of the year. ❖ Nominate your choice(s) by emailing phil@tbrnewspapers.com ❖ Please include your name and contact information, the name and contact information of the person you’re nominating and why they deserve to be a Man or Woman of the Year. ❖ DeaDline: noveMber 20, 2015

2015

OCTOBER 29, 2015 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A17

Stern, McNally vying for county Legislature Longtime Suffolk legislator set to face off against Republican challenger looking to reduce spending of doing it.” The legislator countered, however, A longtime Democratic Suffolk that the county has worked steadfastly County legislator, seeking a final term to reduce the size of government in rein office to represent parts of Hunting- cent years by 1,100 positions, and by ton Town, will go head to head in an consolidating departments — like the election on Tuesday against a political recent merger of the county offices of newcomer who said a fresh perspective comptroller and treasurer. is in order. He said he has had to make tough Suffolk County Legislator Steve choices as a legislator, like deciding not Stern (D-Dix Hills) has been in office to continue operating the John J. Foley for a decade and is seeking a sixth and Skilled Nursing Facility, an operation final two-year term before being term- county taxpayers subsidized at the cost limited out of that seat. He’ll have to of millions of dollars. fend off a challenge by Tom McNally, “It was an excruciatingly difficult a Republican attorney from Dix Hills, decision to make, but the right one for who is part of the Huntington Republi- Suffolk County taxpayers.” can Committee’s executive board. Another reason Stern said he’s runIn phone interviews this week, both ning is to work on the county’s sewer candidates talked about what they see issue. He called himself a leading proas top issues in this year’s campaign. ponent of sewer infrastructure develThe topics centered on how to steer Suf- opment, cosponsoring legislation idenfolk’s financial ship, ways to tifying what areas would fund sewers in Suffolk, the best served by sewers and Both candidates government’s role in assistchoosing how to prioritize talked about ing veterans and more. which neighborhoods get Stern touted his signa- Suffolk’s finances, developed first. ture legislation, the HousIt’s particularly crucial ing our Homeless Heroes sewers and how to Huntington, he said, beinitiative, a package of bills to assist veterans. cause that priority list inthat aims to end veteran cludes the expansion of the homelessness in Suffolk Southwest Sewer District, through a number of avenues. which serves Deer Park, North BabyThe legislator, who sits on the Suffolk lon and other western neighborhoods. County Veterans and Seniors CommitWith expanded capacity comes the tee, said he wants another term in of- ability to rev up revitalization in Hunfice to continue accomplishing goals in tington, particularly in Huntington that package of bills — particularly be- Station, where developer Renaissance ing able to say “in the very near future, Downtowns already has plans in place. that we have ended veteran homelessStern said the county’s getting $388 ness in Suffolk County.” million in funding from the federal “I do believe we are going to accom- and state government to embark on plish that goal,” he said. these infrastructure projects, someMeanwhile, while McNally lauds thing he wants to see through. Stern’s veterans initiative, he said he’d “Will we see movement on the issue? take it a step further. The contender The answer is yes. We are starting to said he’d work to create legislation see that now.” that would make sure vets returning McNally, by contrast, agrees water from service have a job. “If they want quality is a big issue on Long Island, a job, they have a job. If I’m fortunate but doesn’t see how the county could enough to be elected, I would double fund such a large investment. down and continue forward with all “I think it’s an investment we have the efforts Mr. Stern has implemented to make, but I think we have to cut on veterans and senior issues.” back in other areas. We’re not cutting County spending is one of the main back in other areas.” tenets of McNally’s platform. Stern was critical of his opponent’s If elected, he said he’d mandate a take on the issue, noting the $388 milreduction in spending at all Suffolk lion in sewer funds the county has. County agencies by 2.5 percent per de“These kinds of opportunities is partment, except police, and 1 percent where the money comes from,” he said. for the police budget. Spending caps “If you just throw up your hands and are necessary, he said, because of the say this is too big, too bold, can’t afford county’s “huge, huge deficit.” it, then you miss out on opportunities “It’s not impossible, it’s just a matter like we are participating in.” By Rohma aBBas

suffolk County Legislator steve stern, top, and Republican Tom mcNally.

File photo s

PAGE A18 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • OCTOBER 29, 2015

OFFICE Democratic

Republican

Conservative

Green

Working Families

Independence

Women's Equality

Reform

Write-in

Democratic

Republican

William G Ford

Conservative

Patricia M Filiberto 1C

William G Ford

Independence 1F

William G Ford

Write-in

Democratic 2A

Robert F Quinlan

Conservative 2C

Robert F Quinlan

Independence 2F

Robert F Quinlan

Write-in

Democratic 3A

Republican

Write-in

Janine A BarberaDalli

Conservative

Democratic 7A

Republican

Julianne T Capetola

Conservative

Write-in

Kathy G Bergmann

Independence

Kathy G Bergmann

Julianne T Capetola

Conservative

Write-in

David A Morris

Independence

David A Morris

Robert A Mc Donald

Republican

Robert A Mc Donald

Democratic

(Vote for Any Seven)

Democratic

Justice of the Supreme Court 10th Judicial District Democratic

Conservative 4C

James P Jack L Mc Cormack Libert

Republican

Howard H James P Jack L Heckman Jr Mc Cormack Libert

Conservative 3C

Write-in

Howard H Deborah Heckman Jr Poulos

Independence 3F

Howard H Heckman Jr

Write-in

Republican

Emily S Pines

Independence

Emily S Pines

Republican 9B

John J Toomey Jr

Independence 9F

John J Toomey Jr

County Executive

(Vote for One)

Family Court Judge

12A

(Vote for Any Two) Democratic

Democratic 14A

Receiver Of Taxes

(Vote for One)

County Legislator

13A

(12th District) (Vote for One) Democratic

Councilman

15A

15B

Republican 16B

(Vote for Any Two) Democratic

Republican

Larry A Vetter

11A

Republican

Margot E Rosenthal

Democratic

Republican

Adam S Halpern

10A

12B

Democratic

Republican

Martha L Luft 14B

11B

Conservative

Lisa M Inzerillo

13B

Republican

Marlene L Budd

Conservative

Edward R Wehrheim

10B

Republican

Steve Bellone

Conservative

Deanna Varricchio Edward R Wehrheim

Robert J Creighton

Write-in

16H

Robert J Creighton

Reform

Robert J Creighton

16F

Independence

Reform

Write-in

Edward R Wehrheim

15H

Edward R Wehrheim

15F

Independence

16C

Conservative

14H

15C

Leslie A Kennedy

Independence

Deanna Varricchio

Reform

Deanna Varricchio

Write-in

14C

Conservative

13H

Deanna Varricchio

George F Harkin Jr 13C

Conservative

Leslie A Kennedy

Matthew G Hughes 12C

12D

George F Harkin Jr Green

12E

Independence

Leslie A Kennedy

Reform

Leslie A Kennedy

Write-in

14F

Conservative 11C

Matthew G Hughes 11D

Working Families

Martha L Luft

Reform 12H

George F Harkin Jr

Write-in

13F

James P O'Connor 10C

James P O'Connor Green

11E

Matthew G Hughes Working Families

Martha L Luft

10E

Marlene L Budd

Working Families

Steve Bellone Matthew G Hughes

Reform 11H

Matthew G Hughes

Write-in

12F

Independence

10G

11F

Independence

10F

Independence

Women's Equality

Steve Bellone

Reform

Steve Bellone 10H

James P O'Connor

Write-in

STATE OF NEW YORK - COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

SAMPLE - VOID

AFFIDAVIT BALLOT FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION - November 03, 2015 INSTRUCTIONS:

Democratic

Republican

William G Ford

Conservative

Patricia M Filiberto 1C

William G Ford

Independence 1F

William G Ford

Write-in

Democratic 2A

Robert F Quinlan

Conservative 2C

Robert F Quinlan

Independence 2F

Robert F Quinlan

Write-in

Democratic 3A

Republican

Write-in

Janine A BarberaDalli

Conservative

Democratic 7A

Republican

Julianne T Capetola

Conservative

Write-in

Kathy G Bergmann

Independence

Kathy G Bergmann

Julianne T Capetola 6C

Conservative

Write-in

David A Morris

Independence

David A Morris

Robert A Mc Donald

Republican

Robert A Mc Donald

Democratic

(Vote for Any Seven)

Democratic

Justice of the Supreme Court 10th Judicial District Democratic

Conservative 4C

James P Jack L Mc Cormack Libert

Republican

Howard H James P Jack L Heckman Jr Mc Cormack Libert

Conservative 3C

Write-in

Howard H Deborah Heckman Jr Poulos

Independence 3F

Howard H Heckman Jr

Write-in

Republican

Emily S Pines

Independence

Republican

John J Toomey Jr

Independence

John J Toomey Jr

County Executive

(Vote for One)

Family Court Judge

(Vote for Any Two) 12A

Democratic 14A

Receiver Of Taxes

(Vote for One) 13A

County Legislator

Democratic

Councilman

15A

15B

Republican 16B

(Vote for Any Two) Democratic

Republican

Larry A Vetter

Democratic

Republican

Margot E Rosenthal

11A

Republican

Richard S Macellaro

Democratic

12B

10A

Republican

Martha L Luft

14B

11B

Conservative

Lisa M Inzerillo

13B

Republican

Marlene L Budd

Conservative

Edward R Wehrheim

10B

Republican

Conservative

Deanna Varricchio

Edward R Wehrheim

Robert J Creighton

Write-in

16H

Robert J Creighton

Reform

Robert J Creighton

16F

Independence

Reform

Write-in

Edward R Wehrheim

15H

Edward R Wehrheim

15F

Independence

16C

Conservative

Robert Trotta

14H

15C

Conservative

14C

George F Harkin Jr

Deanna Varricchio

Reform

Deanna Varricchio

Independence

Deanna Varricchio

Conservative

12E

Robert Trotta

Matthew G Hughes

12C

12D

George F Harkin Jr Green

Working Families

Martha L Luft

13H

Write-in

14F

Conservative

11C

Matthew G Hughes 11D

11E

Independence

Robert Trotta

Reform

Robert Trotta

Write-in

13F

James P O'Connor 10C

James P O'Connor

Green

Working Families

Matthew G Hughes

Martha L Luft

10E

Marlene L Budd

Working Families

Steve Bellone

Independence

Reform

Write-in

George F Harkin Jr

12H

Martha L Luft

12F

Independence

Reform

Write-in

Matthew G Hughes

11H

Matthew G Hughes

11F

Independence 10F

10G

Steve Bellone Women's Equality

Reform

Steve Bellone 10H

James P O'Connor

Write-in

13C

Steve Bellone

Democratic

(13th District) (Vote for One)

1. Mark only with a writing instrument provided by the board of elections. 5. Do not overvote. If you select a greater number of candidates than there are vacancies to be filled, your ballot will be void for that public office. . 6. If you tear, or deface, or wrongly mark this ballot, return it and obtain another. Do not attempt to correct mistakes on the ballot by making erasures or cross outs. 2. To vote for a candidate whose name is printed on this ballot fill in the oval  above or next to the name of the candidate, like . 3. To vote for a person whose name is not printed on this ballot write or stamp his or her name in the space labeled "WRITE-IN" that appears at the bottom of the Erasures or cross outs may invalidate all or part of your ballot. Prior to submitting your ballot, if you make a mistake in completing the ballot or wish to change your ballot choices, you may obtain and complete a new ballot. You have a right to a replacement ballot upon return of the original ballot. column for such office. 4. Any other mark or writing, or any erasure made on this ballot outside the voting squares or blank spaces provided for voting will void this entire ballot. 7. After completing your ballot seek the assistance of an election inspector.

OFFICE Democratic

Republican

Conservative

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Working Families

Independence

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AFFIDAVIT BALLOT FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION - November 03, 2015 INSTRUCTIONS:

STATE OF NEW YORK - COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

SAMPLE - VOID

LD#: 12

Town: Smithtown

ED#: _________Page 75

LD#: 13

Town: Smithtown

ED#: _________Page 77

9155

9151

OCTOBER 29, 2015 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A19

PEOPLE School magazine earns first-place award

Kaleidoscope is Kings Park High School’s literary and art magazine. For the fifth year in a row, the magazine and its staff members earned American Scholastic Press Association’s First Place Award. To achieve this, the members dedicated their time to gathering submissions of creative writing, such as poetry and prose, and artwork, such as paintings and photography, and other visual arts created by the student body. The members then evaluated the submitted works, employing scholastic criteria in order to select the pieces that were published in this year’s magazine. The result of their hard work speaks for itself.

Photo from Smithtown Central School District

Nesaquake Middle School students used the scientific method to design and test their own parachutes.

Learning to fly Photo from Kings Park High School

From left, Michael Inzerillo; Marlena Urban; Lino Bracco, Kings Park High School principal; Vincent Mangogna; Laura Macy, advisor; Nicole Christodoulou; Timothy Eagen, superintendent; Dara Blitzer; and Courtney Luning. Eric Homeyer and Peter Montenegro are missing from the photo.

Eighth-grade science students at Nesaquake Middle School in Smithtown Central School District recently became parachute engineers by using the steps of the scientific method to design and test a parachute. As part of the experiment, the students designed and tested a parachute based on a hypothesis, recorded its sail time, and examined ways to improve its design. After the first experiment and adhering to the scientific method, the students were allowed to make one final adjustment to their design to see if the parachute would fall at a slower rate. As a follow up, the students formulated a second hypothesis and retested the parachute’s fall time. The information was recorded in a data table, and a double line graph was created to further organize collected data. Based upon their results, students developed conclusions and drafted a lab report detailing how the scientific method applied to their experiment. The experiment enabled the classes to explore complex science concepts in a hands-on and practical manner, while challenging them to work within the parameters of the scientific method.

Special Education gets Classey

Photo from Nancy Sparling

From left, Timothy Eagen, superintendent; Julian Ubriaco; and Lino Bracco, Kings Park High School principal

Senior selected as semifinalist Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation recently announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high-school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million. Kings Park High School congratulates high-school senior Julian Ubriaco, who has been selected as a Semifinalist from a pool of more than 1.5 million students in more than 22,000 high schools. Caitlin Classey.

Photo from Camille S. Koorey

Submission information: Email items to people@tbrnewspapers.com

Hauppauge School District is pleased to welcome Caitlin Classey as a new special education teacher at Forest Brook Elementary School. She previously was a special education teacher at P.S. 155 William Paca in Manhattan, and served as a teaching assistant at Pines Elementary School, among other teaching positions. Classey received a bachelor of arts degree in child study and speech communications and a master of arts degree in literacy/cognition from St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue. She holds professional certifications in Literacy, Birth to Grade 6; Early Childhood Education, Birth to Grade 2; Childhood Education, Grades 1 to 6; Students with Disabilities, Birth to Grade 2; and Students with Disabilities, Grades 1 to 6. Classey is a resident of Smithtown.

PAGE A20 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • OCTOBER 29, 2015

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A21

Photos by Desirée Keegan

Clockwise from left, John Kazubowski kicks the ball behind him; Max Mohrmann pushes the ball forward toward east islip’s net; and, below, nathan Biondi maintains possession as east islip defenders swarm around him.

Kazubowski hat trick propels Bulls to first-round win Boys’ soccer

Smithtown West . . . . 4 East Islip . . . . . . . . . . . 2 By Desirée Keegan

John Kazubowski said he normally doesn’t score goals, but if he told you that Tuesday, he’d be lying. The Smithtown West senior forward scored a hat trick to lead the No. 3-ranked Bulls, 4-2, over No. 14 East Islip in the first round of the Class AA playoffs. Just over 10 minutes into the first half, Kazubowski went to knock the ball deeper into East Islip’s territory from the 30yard line, only to hit the top of the crossbar and bounce into the right corner of the net for a good goal and the 1-0 lead. In shock, the forward threw his hands up in disbelief as the crowd erupted. “I don’t usually shoot during the season a lot, so I thought, ‘Hey, might as well,’” he said. “I had space so I took it and it came out nice, I guess.” Minutes later, an East Islip player escaped defenders and on a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, knocked it into the right corner to tie the game. Smithtown West head coach Tom Lips said that since his team was going against a low seed, the other team knew they had to give it their all if they wanted to progress through the bracket. “They have everything to loose, but

more importantly, we’ve had two starters out of our consistent lineup,” he said of junior defender Reed Massaro and sophomore midfielder Andrew McDonnell who were both injured in the last game of the regular season. “We’ve had no injuries until the last game of the season and this is our first game playing without them, so it obviously affected us greatly — especially in our back line where we’re very thin defensively.” Despite Kazubowski scoring again in the eighth minute off an assist from senior midfielder and co-captain Matt McDonnell, East Islip tied it up, 2-2, off a foul kick four minutes later. “I don’t think we rose emotionally to the occasion,” Lips said. “I think the other team outworked us. Do I think we’re a better team? Yes, but they outworked us. We have talent, it’s just we weren’t cohesive, pretty much played their style and it’s a compliment to them. We just weren’t good today.” The Bulls opened up the second half with an early attempt, but couldn’t capitalize, which happened multiple times throughout the game. “We came a little not awake in the first half and it was a tough one, but we rallied through the second half,” Kazubowski said. “We have to play better in the next round if we want to do something big this season. We have to wake up for the next round and produce something better.” At the 21:53 mark, the senior forward proved he couldn’t be stopped, when he

grabbed a tipped rebound in front of the box and faked out the keeper, shooting the ball into an empty right side for the 3-2 advantage. “We didn’t play our best, but we definitely came back after they scored a goal or two and pushed in the end,” Matt McDonnell said. “I think we were physically a little more fit toward the end of the game, which helped us.” With 15:09 left on the clock, McDonnell took a penalty kick shot after a teammate was blocked on a breakaway, and he shot it past a diving East Islip goalkeeper

for the 4-2 win. “I think we were just able to persevere,” he said. “We had a few missed plays and couldn’t finish a few opportunities, but we worked hard and got back in it. If we come together as a team we can go far.” Smithtown West hasn’t lost a game since Sept. 16, when the team fell to crosstown rival Smithtown East, 1-0, and are now 141-1. The Bulls move on to host No. 11 Half Hollow Hills West on Friday at 2 p.m. No. 16 East lost its outbracket game at home against No. 17 Sachem North, 3-1, on Oct. 24.

PAGE A22 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • OCTOBER 29, 2015

ENDORSEMENTS

Bellone is best

It’s a real race for the Suffolk County executive spot this year. In one corner, you’ve got a seasoned incumbent, Steve Bellone (D), who has an ambitious vision for the region’s future. On the other side, you’ve got Republican Jim O’Connor, who knows finances and is in tune with the taxpayers’ pockets. It was a tough call, but we say re-elect Bellone. While Bellone’s judgement call in tapping James Burke — who recently resigned as the county’s police chief amid a federal investigation — gives us pause, the county executive has some big plans ahead. Those include better connecting Suffolk’s existing downtowns to its research institutions to create an attractive environment that entices millenials and employers to stay on the Island.

Incumbents on the mark Experience and track record are the name of the game in this year’s Smithtown Town Board race, and on that note, we endorse Republican incumbents Bob Creighton and Ed Wehrheim. The two work well as a team, and say they have downtown revitalization high up on both their lists of priorities for another term. They’ve backed a proposal to restructure Smithtown government to lead to more accountability and cooperation. The plan would involve creating four commissioner positions that would oversee about five to six department heads, compared to the 26 department heads currently answering to the supervisor. That plan stalled due to opposition from Republican Supervisor Pat Vecchio. When it comes to economic development, both men encour-

Two more for Trotta

The incumbent advantage is the name of the game in the race for the 13th Legislative District in Suffolk. And to Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) go the spoils. A focused and practical lawmaker, Trotta has served his district — the Town of Smithtown and a small portion of Huntington Town — well in the last two years. He is a watchdog, unafraid

O’Connor said he sees it in a different light, saying it’s too expensive to live on Long Island and that county government needs to make it cheaper for residents, who are leaving in droves, to stay put. We appreciate a focus on finances, but we prefer Bellone’s long-term vision of the county’s future. Now, if he could only prevent his dreams from getting in the way of action. The county executive has grand plans to change a lot of things in Suffolk, from his proposal to connect those downtowns to his desire to increase the sewer network and improve water quality. But after trimming his salary, the size of government and his own body weight, there’s one more thing he must trim: his big goals, into more tamed, specific plans of action. It’s great to have ideas that would transform the way we

live on Long Island, but we can’t get there in just one leap, which our county executive’s rhetoric seems to demonstrate. We have to take small steps that add up to larger ones. Bellone can do it. He demonstrates an understanding of complex issues — for instance, he knows the solution to the Island’s drug addiction issue is to work on prevention and treatment resources, not just add more cops on the streets. Simple improvements like getting all the county’s town supervisors in one room to agree on streamlining a building process in the county may seem small, but it’d make a huge difference in spurring economic growth, which would also feed into his larger plans. And maybe he might want to add O’Connor to his administration. He seems to have some good ideas.

age it. Wehrheim said he helped facilitate the redevelopment of the Smith Haven Mall and assisted in bringing Bob’s Discount Furniture to the Smithtown area. With Wehrheim’s support, Creighton also pitched raising the minimum wage, which eventually made its way into the town’s 2016 preliminary budget. It will be an uphill battle at the polls next Tuesday for Creighton, as he won’t be running on the Republican line. That spot belongs to Lisa Inzerillo, a Republican who narrowly beat him out in a primary election on a rainy day — the perfect storm for low voter turnout. Inzerillo did not show up for a debate at the Times of Smithtown’s headquarters. Democratic challenger Larry Vetter is a knowledgeable, nice man, who strikes us as creative, energetic, bright and pragmatic. It would be great to see him take on some government position. But we feel right now

is not his time as councilman. Vote Creighton and Wehrheim on Election Day.

of pulling punches, particularly when it comes to the county’s financial standing. He says the municipality is heading in the wrong direction, that money is being spent unnecessarily and that the county needs to increase its sales tax revenue. He blasts the Suffolk County Red Light Safety Program, calling it a money grab, and he’s passionate about cleaning up the cozy relationship between campaign contributors and politicians. He’s also not afraid to admit

when he feels he’s messed up — he told us that he wishes he voted in favor of raising the tobacco purchase age from 19 to 21. Trotta’s opponent Rich Macellaro, a Democrat, has a noble platform — to consolidate school districts into one per town — but we ask, how? County government has really no jurisdiction over that kind of local change, and so we question how much having a position in the Legislature would work in getting the job done.

File photos

Town councilmen Bob Creighton, top, and Ed Wehrheim.

Luft: Tough but fair

Martha Luft has served as a judge in Suffolk County Family Court for the past decade, and her experience and compassion while serving are why she deserves another term. She is no stranger to serving in emotional courtrooms and meeting face-to-face with some of the most vulnerable members of our society. She comes to the job with humility, and the passion she shows while discussing different aspects of her work is impressive. Some of the driving qualities she said keep her going include patience, communication and an ability to deliver tough love for those who need it most while still operating with compassion and understanding.

She said she often calls on her experience as a mother of three and a grandmother of as many to guide her when working to balance her heart with her mind in her judgeship. In her re-election bid, she faces off against Marlene Budd, George Harkin Jr. and Matthew Hughes. But of the four candidates seeking the two judgeships up for election this year, Luft was the only one rated highly qualified for the position, according to an Independent Judicial Election Qualifications Commissions report. Luft is an exceptional candidate with a track record that supports our conviction. She told us she loves family court. She said she thinks she found her calling, and so do we. Re-elect Martha Luft for Suffolk County Family Court judge.

Let’s stick with Steve Stern Ending veteran homelessness in Suffolk, seemingly an impossible feat, is something Suffolk County Legislator Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills) says he’s confident he can declare if given one more term in office in an election next week. We endorse Stern. Not because of this vow. But because of the steps he’s taken to try and achieve this goal. The legislator spearheaded a package of bills to attack the scourges of Suffolk County’s veteran homelessness problem. The bills propose to do so in a number of ways, including making properties available for veteran housing, working with nonprofits to offer greater services to vets and more. He’s spent 10 years in office and he’s vying for his final two-year term before he is term limited. While his challenger Republican Tom McNally, also Macellaro also works for the Suffolk County Red Light Safety Program and feels the initiative helps with a safety issue. While it does address some safety concerns, on the whole we side with Trotta and other GOPers in the notion that the program is a money grab and does not do enough to address the crux of the issue. Trotta is on a roll, and we say give him two more years. We endorse Rob Trotta for Suffolk County Legislature.

of Dix Hills, has thought of some solutions to fix the county’s finances, we feel his plans need some work. Cutting from departments across the board may not be the best approach in certain cases. Aside from his work on the ground with veterans, Stern chairs the county’s Veterans & Seniors Committee. In that role, he’s worked to help both populations while also saving the county money. He found a way to reorganize a program that provided free legal assistance to seniors funded by the county and the feds by getting Tauro Law school involved. The school now manages the program, and the county keeps the money it used to spend on it. Experience is invaluable, and for that, coupled with his achievements, we say elect Stern to a final term in office next Tuesday.

File photo

County Legislator Rob Trotta is a financial watchdog.

OCTOBER 29, 2015 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A23

Getting our mojo working in a sea of negativity

D. None of the above by DaNiel DuNaief

vtimes@tbrnewspapers.com

he first few moments after we open our eyes, our minds process everything around us. Wait, what day is it? Hmm, did we dry clean the right suit for today? Do we really have to do that presentation? Could it possibly have snowed and might we have a day when we can relax at home?

Somewhere in those moments when we put the pieces of our lives and minds together, we might take stock of how we feel about the coming day and its challenges. Are we going to puff out chests, knowing that we’re going to ace that test, that we’re going to give the perfect presentation or that we’re going to do so well in that job interview that the company will not only offer us a position but will give us a higher salary than they had intended. Where do we find the zen, strength and confidence to succeed, while having something to offer? And why, like a reputation, does it so often seem so fragile? Let’s take a look at children. They are smaller versions of us — up until high school — and some of the thoughts, emotions and reactions to experiences that they have are more visible. They haven’t learned how to cover so much of themselves up. When they play their musical

instruments, for example, we can tell that they’ve played the wrong note by the color of their faces and by the way they slump their shoulders when they stand with the group for a final applause. We can watch them pull their hats low over their eyes when they throw a ball into right field from shortstop or when they shake their heads and roll their eyes at their misfires. Even surrounded by a large collection of friends and family, our children can so readily believe the worst about themselves. In a way, I suppose, believing that we can and should be better could be motivational. We’re not where we want to be, we’re not who we want to be, and we have to figure out how to get from the now of point A to the goal of point B. It’s also important for us to find some humility. If we walked around town, the house or school acting as if we were the preordained future leader of the free world, we would be insufferable,

irritating and ridiculous. Still, when it comes to that balancing act, we seem so much more likely to look down on ourselves, our efforts and our achievements. No matter how much our parents or friends tell us we’re fantastic and that we contributed something extraordinary, we are still ready to home in on the imperfections and wonder whether we’ll ever live up to our own expectations. We read inspirational books, follow the examples of people who have achieved what we’d like to do and surround ourselves, sometimes, with sayings like, “Today is the start of something incredible.” Along the way, however, someone nudges us off the tracks and we hope that tomorrow might be the real start of something spectacular. Maybe there are people who have become so effective at becoming “nattering nabobs of negativity,” to borrow from former

Where do we find the zen, strength and confidence to succeed?

Vice President Spiro Agnew, that we are ready to believe them. It’s easier, after all, to knock someone off a mountain than it is to climb one yourself. Maybe, in addition to all the diet plans to help us avoid giving in to our cravings for the sugar our country produces and uses to celebrate so many occasions, what we need is a new industry: Mojo Inc. This could allow us to succeed in a humble way, perhaps, while refueling us with positive energy. Daniel Dunaief’s recent book, “The Other Parent,” may be purchased online from www.tbrnewsmedia.com/ebooks.

Election special from TBR News Media

between you and me by leah S. DuNaief

vtimes@tbrnewspapers.com

nside this issue is a treasure trove of first-hand information about the candidates and the issues in the coming election. How do I know? Because we, the different members of the editorial board of Times Beacon Record Newspapers, personally interviewed 16 people running for office across the three towns that we serve: Brookhaven, Smithtown and Huntington. The offices the candidates are running for are all local, which means that these are the officials who

will have the most direct effect on our lives. The positions range this year from county executive and county legislator to town supervisor and town council, to highway department supervisor and family court judge. We asked them questions without bias, seeking only to understand who they were, what they believed and what we could expect from each of them, should they be elected — or reelected, as the case might be. The setting in our conference room was relaxed, and we hoped comfortable, with opponents for each office seated together around the table responding to questions put to them by our editors and reporters. Sometimes there were four candidates, sometimes only one who might be running unopposed or against a shadow opponent, but mostly there were two during each session. Most of the time, the hour goes by calmly, but occasionally the opponents get testy with each other — they may even become openly hostile. At one such session some years ago, one of the candidates

invited the other out to the back parking lot “to settle things.” When the other began to take off his jacket, we quickly intervened. But there was no such flare-up this year. The answers were timed in an attempt to get to the main ideas without running on too long. There was ample time at the end for each visitor to tell us anything more that perhaps we hadn’t elicited with our questioning. We have written up the details of each interview in a separate article for the election section. And we discuss the candidates at the end of each hour and come to a conclusion for the endorsement. Most of the time, the editorial group was unanimous because the choices were fairly direct. But for a couple of races, we talked over the pros and cons of each candidate at length before making the selection. These endorsements are based on both the in-depth interviews and the considerable information we know about the incumbents since we have been cov-

TIMES BEacon rEcord nEWSPaPErS

We welcome letters, photographs, comments and story ideas. Send your items to PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733 or email to phil@tbrnewspapers.com. Times Beacon Record Newspapers are published every Thursday. Subscription $49/year • 631–751–7744 www.tbrnewsmedia.com • Contents copyright 2015

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Leah S. Dunaief GENERAL MANAGER Johness Kuisel MANAGING EDITOR Phil Corso EDITOR Phil Corso

ering them closely throughout their terms in office. Of course, after reading the stories, you may or may not agree with our conclusions. Our job is to get you thinking. The many hours that are given to this task, throughout the month of October, are a service for our readers. We are privileged to enjoy an extended faceto-face time with those standing for election, and we feel an obligation to pass along whatever information, facts and impressions we gather during these sessions. We sincerely hope we help in the sometimes-difficult job of casting a responsible vote. Each year we include in the election section a sample ballot that we are able to procure, with greater or lesser difficulty, from county election officials. This year the effort took most of an entire day until we got to the right person. It was finally our art director who located the prize. We believe it was well worth the trouble, because readers have told us that it is a great advantage for them to receive the ballot at the voting

LEISURE EDITOR Heidi Sutton SPORTS EDITOR Desirée Keegan ONLINE EDITOR Elana Glowatz

The many hours that are given to this task are a service for our readers.

poll already knowing how it is laid out. Our editorial board is made up of staffers with different political leanings, but when we put our journalists’ hats on, we try to judge each race strictly on the merits of the opposing candidates. And while it is technically possible for me to be tyrannical about the final selections, that is almost never the case. We decide by majority rule. Sincere thanks to the talented staff who join in this extra work each year. We truly believe that we are watchdogs for the people, and nowhere is that more necessary than in reporting about government and its office holders. We hope we have helped you, whether you read by newspaper and/or online. Now please vote.

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kathryn Mandracchia ART AND PRODUCTION DIRECTOR David R. Leaman INTERNET STRATEGY DIRECTOR Rob Alfano

CLASSIFIEDS DIRECTOR Ellen Segal BUSINESS MANAGER Sandi Gross CREDIT MANAGER Diane Wattecamps CIRCULATION MANAGER Courtney Biondo

PAGE A24 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • OCTOBER 29, 2015

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