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Press Release |
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(LtoR) Sen. Flanagan, Charles Gardner, Tony Tanzi, Larry Flynn,
Dee Grasso & Jack Hessel
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The Kings Park Chamber of Commerce recently setup their
new office in town. Located in the first business west of Church
Street, the office will function actively three times per week. A
few amenities have to be added and then telephone and fax numbers
will be publicly announced.
On hand to wish the Chamber officers well in the effort to become
more visible was State Senator John Flanagan.
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By Ken Kraska |
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It t'was a grand evening at the Kings Park Heritage Museum as
the Musem along with the Ancient Order of Hibernians produced a
marvelous show. One hand demonstrating their musical talent were
John Rummel & Charlie O'Fantana, the Gallowglass Band and a
traditional Irish group called Seven's & Three's. Highlighting the
evening were students from the Petri School of Irish Dance
performing their time-honored step dance routines.
CLICK
HERE FOR MORE PICTURES FROM THE EVENT
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By Ken Kraska |
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See ya later Mom...
It's September 8th and Nicholas DiDonato is ready to GO, back
to school that is. This year Nick is an upper classman at Fort
Salonga Elementry and the third grader was looking forward to
meeting his new teacher Mrs. Tartamello.
The
smile tells it all!
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By Ken Kraska |
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The Maryland based developer, Erickson Retirement Communities,
is currently surveying and performing due diligence tests on the
KPPC property. Issues concerning the property's defective title and
possible claims by Kings County and the City of New York appear to
be resolved. However, this fact has not been confirmed. In addition
to the Kings County parcel, there are other tracts of land within
the KPPC which were donated for use to the hospital, by private
individuals; these parcels too contain reverter clauses.
Confirmation as to whether any or all of these title encumbrances
have been put to rest has not been noted.
The Kings Park Civic Association has taken an
active role in scrutinizing all the prospective purchasers of
property. Prior to engaging in any dialogue with Erickson, the
Association requested in writing, signed by an authorized officer,
answers to several basic questions which they call "talking points".
At their September 27th meeting the Association announced they
received a response to their quires and read them out to the
members. A synopsis of the response is as follows:
As currently proposed the
Erickson campus will occupy 92 acres out of the total of 368
acres to be conveyed. Erickson will honor the restrictions which
call for a 3 to 1 ratio of open space to developed land and will
leave the area of matured woods undisturbed. The company is seeking
to obtain a "Planned Unit Development" or "PUD" zoning agreement
with the Town of Smithtown to develop the 92 acres. A "PUD" is
generally less restrictive than traditional zoning and is usually
sought for developing a large tract of land to be utilized by a
single owner. The "PUD" gives the developer a little more
flexibility with design and building requirements.
Intentions are to demolish all existing buildings included in
the sale and construct twenty new buildings with heights ranging
between one story and six and a half stories with total of
approximately 2,000 units. The only original structures to remain
will be three buildings retained by New York State. With regard to
commercial units, they indicated their usual build out includes a
banking facility, a small convenience store, a beauty parlor and
barber shop. As part of their plan they will provide a shuttle bus
service to Main Street for all other types of shopping and services.
Erickson will act as builder
and operator and will in all likelihood farm out the actual
construction to local contractors. Since they have established
building requirements and standards, Erickson will utilize local and
regional architects who have had experience with their prior
developments.
On a financial note, Erickson indicated they may apply for any and
all available Brownfields's reimbursements. In addition, they may
also apply for certain real estate tax abatements. As a side note,
Smithtown Town Tax Assessor Gregory Hild was present at the
Association's meeting. Mr. Hild stated he had "very preliminary"
talks with Erickson and the group may seek to structure their tax
levy as a "Payment in Lieu of Tax" or "PILOT". This type of
levy fixes the time frame and the amount of tax to be paid.
Such a levy may be more or less than a traditional levy since it is
based on a mutually negotiated agreement between the Town and the
owner.
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By William Davis
& Tom O’Brien |
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Troop 75 Kings Park, NY, Boy Scouts of America,
originally known as Troop 1 Kings Park, will be celebrating its 88
years of Scouting in Kings Park by holding a reunion on October 2,
2004 starting at 12 p.m. at the RJO School Building in Kings Park,
NY. We are looking for any members, Scouts, Leaders, Parents or
Family of past and present Scouts to join us in our celebration.
There will be a Court of Awards followed by a luncheon and a
campfire/Flag retirement ceremony at Caleb Smith State Park later
that evening. There will also be displays and demonstrations set up
by our current Scouts for all to enjoy throughout the day.
Charted in 1916 as Troop 1, the Troops name was changed in 1929
to Troop 75. Prior to 1929 all Troops were numbered by town and the
first Troop chartered in that town was given the number 1 and so on.
In 1929 the Suffolk County Council Boy Scouts of America, in an
effort to eliminate confusion caused by multiple Troops with the
same numeral, renumbered its Troops council wide.
If you or anyone you know were or are a member of Troop 1 / Troop
75 Kings Park, NY and would like more information on our reunion
please contact the Troop by calling (631) 863-0860 or log onto our
web site
www.Troop75BSA.org.
If you plan on attending please contact us for more details. If you
will be coming from out of town and need a place to stay we have
made arrangements with the Hampton Inn on Commack road for a group
rate. Just tell them you are with Troop 75 and give them
confirmation number 81295399. Please call them at 800-564-2678 by
September 10, 2004 for a reservation.
Also we will be printing a journal with the history of the Troop
and would like to hear from our members even if they can’t make it,
so if you are unable to attend please contact us, we would still
like to hear from you. |
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By Ken Kraska |
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Kings Park
High School this week received a special gift from a special
visitor. Home from his tour in Iraq is Kings Park HS graduate (class
of '98) Marine Lance Corporal Brian Tuite.
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LCPL Brian Tuite & Mrs. Martino |
For the past few years
Kings Park High School has been sending off letters and care
packages to our soldiers abroad. The program which initiated as a
class project by Mrs. Gail Martino has turned into a community
support effort.
To show the gratitude of his unit and those who received
these letters of support and goodies from home, LCPL Tuite presented
to the school an American flag which had been flown over Iraq. With
all that his unit has been through he indicated the letters from
home were the most valuable things sent to soldiers and helped to
remind them that they were not forgotten.
After the presentation, LCPL Tuite participated in an
informal questions and answer session with the SADD officers and
student council delegates.
THANK YOU! LCPL BRIAN TUITE... you are the man!
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