Smithtown’s Fields of Dreams Becomes Reality

Smithtown’s Fields of Dreams Becomes Reality

The Town of Smithtown hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Daniel J. Flynn Memorial Park in Commack on April 23. Elected officials, town employees, veterans and family members assembled to mark the rededication of the park which first opened in 1979. It is a state-of-the-art ballpark.

Daniel J Flynn, a Kings Park hero, lived only twenty years. He graduated from Kings Park HS in 1965. He had a passion for baseball and a love of country. A talented baseball player, he was invited to try-out for the St. Louis Cardinals. Flynn, instead of pursuing a career in baseball, enlisted in the U.S. Army.  Daniel Flynn was sent to Vietnam and was killed in action on May 25th, 1968. Twenty days after his arrival. 

In 1979 the park located on Old Commack Rd. was dedicated in Flynn’s honor. The park, once state-of-the-art, aged and was not up to the standards of many other ball parks in Suffolk County. As other towns upgraded their fields leagues and playoff games went elsewhere. In 2018 Smithtown’s Town Board decided to dedicate $4.5 million to remediate the park. That figure grew almost $3 million by the time of the rededication ceremony.

The park is truly a field of dreams or four fields of dreams. The fields, Indian Head, Lawrence, Old Dock and Pulaski, have lights for nighttime play that function with a smartphone app. There are individual scoreboards, infield and outfield turf (upgraded for a life expectancy of 15 years) special drainage, four broadcasting positions are housed in the concession building. A playground is scheduled to be installed and a parking field renovation is still in the works.

According to Smithtown Recreation director Thomas J. McCaffery, all little league teams throughout the township are eligible to play on the fields and have been scheduled to do so in this 2021 season. McCaffery said the local 50+ Mens League as well as fast pitch teams are anxious to get the go ahead to play at the park.

The town is expecting to  generate revenue by hosting regional tournaments and selling advertising on field fences.  Organizations interested in using the fields can apply to the recreation department for a permit.

Daniel J. Flynn Memorial Park is a wonderful tribute to the all the men and women who served and to thoseTown Clerk Vincent Puleo, Councilwoman Lynne Nowick, Town Supervisor Edward Wehrheim, Deputy Supervisor Thomas McCarthy, Councilman Thomas Lohmann, Smithtown Parks Director Joseph Ar who died in Vietnam. Recognition must go to Supervisor Wehrheim, town council members as well as Smithtown Parks supervisor Joe Arrico and Councilman Thomas Lohmann for turning Smithtown’s field of dreams into a reality.

Smithtown To Host Free Shredding Event April 10

Safely Shred Sensitive Documents at the Shredding Event on April 10th

Smithtown, N.Y. - The Town of Smithtown Department of Environment and Waterways, in partnership with the Municipal Services Facility and the Department of Public Safety, will host a Paper Shredding Event on Saturday, April 10th. This free event will be held at the Smithtown Municipal Services Facility, located at 85 Old Northport Road in Kings Park, from 9:00 AM through 3:00 PM. Residents will be asked to wear face masks and not to leave their cars, to protect everyone’s wellbeing amid the coronavirus. Proof of residency is required. There is a limit of three file boxes per vehicle.

“This has become an increasingly popular event for the community. Residents can safely and securely dispose of unwanted documents from the comfort of their vehicles in time for a good Spring cleaning. The process, orchestrated by DEW, MSF and Public Safety, is seamless… so residents can get in and out fast, while doing their part in protecting the environment.” - Ed Wehrheim, Town of Smithtown Supervisor 

In 2020, over 440 households came down to safely shred sensitive documents in the Fall. The September 2020 event was the largest to date, with over 16 tons of paper safely shredded by the industrial strength “Shreddersaurus.” The turnout was three times the normal volume. The previously scheduled April 2020 shred event was canceled due to the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

All personal documents are safely destroyed by Data Shredding Service, Inc., a full-service confidential shredding service located on Corporate Drive in Hauppauge.

Smithtown's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Scheduled For April 24

Smithtown is hosting a Household Hazardous Waste Collection event on Saturday, April 24th. This free event will be held at the Smithtown Municipal Services Facility, located at 85 Old Northport Road in Kings Park, from 7:00 AM through 3:00 PM. Residents are asked to wear face masks and not to leave their cars, to protect everyone’s wellbeing amid the coronavirus pandemic. This event is for Smithtown Township residents only. Proof of residency is strictly enforced.

Approximately 490 Smithtown households participated at the October 2020 event. Collected waste included waste oil based paints/ flammable paints, gasoline, paint thinners, waste gases, petroleum distillates, flammable solids, oxidizers liquids and solids, sodium/potassium nitrates, acids, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, misc. toxic liquids (i.e. Chlordane, etc.) and solids, lacquers, lithium batteries, battery acids and various other toxic compounds.

New York State DEC is expected to reimburse the Town for 50% of the contractor expense for this event. Materials are collected and manifested for disposal by Care Environmental Corp.

***Silver Alert Missing Selden Man***

Silver Alert- Cathal Schlageter

Suffolk County Police have issued a Silver Alert for a missing Selden man who suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and may be suicidal.

Cathal Schlageter, 27Cathal Schlageter, 27, was last seen by a family member at Independence Plaza in Selden on March 20 at approximately 3 p.m. He was driving a red 1999 Toyota Corolla, license plate GXB 7544. He was reported missing today at approximately 11 a.m.

Schlageter is white, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 145 pounds with light brown hair and blue eyes.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on Schlageter’s location is asked to call 911 or the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.

Silver Alert is a program implemented in Suffolk County that allows local law enforcement to share information with media outlets about individuals with special needs who have been reported missing.

Update on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 9:57PM by .

Cathal Schlageter has been located unharmed.

Making Their Voices Heard Black Lives Matter And Blue Lives Matter Rally

Is the black flag with a thin blue line a symbol of support for police or a symbol of racism?

A group of Black Lives Matter (BLM) supporters staged a protest rally/march in Smithtown, Saturday, March 6th demanding the removal of the black and white flag with a thin blue line from Smithtown Fire Department equipment. 

A small group of BLM supporters began their march at the Smithtown train station and marched to Elm Ave. by way of Maple Ave. The group chanted “hey,hey,ho,ho racists flags have got to go” and “black lives matter” as they marched.

A group, estimated by police to be more than 100, who support the use of the thin blue line flag staged their own rally at the intersection of Elm and Jericho then proceeded down to the Smithtown Fire House on Elm. 

According to BLM attendees the flag is too often seen at events where Black Lives Matter supporters are protesting the use of force by police against people of color. The thin blue line flag is seen by protestors as a symbol of racial injustice similar to the confederate flag. 

Not so, say people waving the thin blue line flag. The flag represents support for police who have a difficult job and show courage and integrity in the line of duty. 

There were plenty of interactions between the two groups. Chanting of “black lives matter” was met with chants of “all lives matter”.  In the middle were police who had the challenging job of ensuring the peaceful rally remained peaceful.

Despite the loud exchanges from both sides there were several civil conversations between individuals challenging and explaining positions. A Viet Nam veteran from Nissequogue said he had no problem with the flag being placed on fire department equipment and he had no problem with the dual rallies saying that free speech and peaceful protest is an American way of life.

The protests were loud and mostly peaceful until late afternoon. According to police three arrests were made.  A fight broke out among protesters at approximately 4:10 p.m. Brandon Felton, 47, of East Meadow, was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest.  Derek Bolster, 45, of West Islip, was charged with Disorderly Conduct and an outstanding warrant. Matthew Baranski, 46, of East Norwich, NY, was charged with Disorderly Conduct and an outstanding warrant. The three men will be arraigned at a later date.