Special Guest Speaker Ed Wehrheim
Smithtown Town Council Member

Pictured above Ed Wehrheim listens intently to suggestions made by Charlie Vita.

Smithtown Town Council Member Ed Wehrheim addressed the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce on the Revitalization of Kings Park's Main Street. Last August, representatives from the Smithtown Town Council, Council Members Ed Wehrheim and Pat Biancaniello met with representatives from the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce to discuss and brain storm ideas for creating a more pedestrian and business friendly downtown.

Council Member Wehrheim reports that the Smithtown Planning Department has put together a few conceptual plans and presented them at the January 2009 General Meeting of the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce with the help of Smithtown Town Clerk Vincent Puleo.

The revitalization projects discussed at the January 2008 Chamber of Commerce General Meeting: Installing and Updating Cross-Walks Along Main Street and the Expanding and Upgrading of Savatt Park to Help Promote Downtown Kings Park.

Install Cross Walks Along Main Street

"The speed limit is 30 MPH on Main Street, that means people actual go 40+", explained Kings Park Chamber of Commerce President Charlie Gardner, "We need to slow traffic down and provide safe crossing."

Town Council Member Ed Wehrheim recounted how one afternoon a motorist became inpatient waiting for a senior to walk across main street. "As soon as the light turned green, he started to lean on the horn."

The proposed cross-walks would be clearly labeled indicating that its a state law that motorists must stop for pedestrians in the cross-walk. Main Street in Kings Park is a State Road and any plan to make changes on that roadway would require New York State Approval.

(Click Image Below to View Details of Plan:)

Expand and Upgrade Savatt Park to Help Promote Downtown Kings Park.

Russ Savatt Park is currently located on Main Street in Kings Park next to Ralph's Italian Ices and comprised mainly of a few park benches, brick patio and a pass-through for automobiles entering and leaving the Kings Park Train Station. Ralph's Itailain Ices opened up in spring of 2008 in the former location of the Brown Dog Cafe. Pictured below is the doorway which opens to the Russ Savatt Park area from Ralph's Food Service Area.

"Ralph's Italian Ices was packed all summer long", explains Council Member Wehrheim and he went on to say that the park contributed to that success. "By enlarging the park, adding parking and removing the pass-through, its is hoped that more people will be attracted to downtown Kings Park as a destination.", Kings Park Chamber of Commerce President Charlie Gardner added.

 Below are the concept plans for the proposed park. (Click on Image to View)

The stated objectives for the new park improvements are to provide an attractive space for gathering and events, create an authentic 1890's environment, increase pleasure walking on Main Street, have minimal maintenance costs, set a standard for future development, inspire renovation of nearby properties, help attract business to Main Street and act as a focal point for the downtown area.

Proposed at the center of the Russ Savatt Park is a kiosk detailing the history of Kings Park and the recreational opportunities available nearby. This past spring the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce completed installing the Kings Park History Plaques along the Hike and Bike Trail which outlines the Nissequogue River State Park and details the history of the former Kings Park State Hospital. This Kiosk appears to be right in line with that project and the very strong sense of history which is a vital part of the Kings Park Experience.

Who is Russ Savatt?

 Pictured above at a Kings Park Fire Department Clam Bake in the late 1940's, Russ Savatt after who Savatt Park is named, was a true old school Kings Parker in every sense of the word. Russ was a Marine Corps Judo Instructor in World War II, member of the American Legion, founded the Kings Park Boys Athletic Club which focused on boxing, toured Europe as an accomplished acrobat, semi-pro football player, an active member of the Kings Park Volunteer Fire Department and owned and operated a barber shop for the better part of 40 years, just footsteps away from the park which now bears his name.

Kings Park Historian Kingsley Pedlar recalls, "Russ was the kindest, folksy person you would ever want to meet. You could walk by the shop, sit down and he would talk to you for hours, never losing that smile for a second. Russ was a very strong man although he only stood about 5 foot 4; In many ways he was one of the tallest men I have ever had the pleasure meeting. He was originally from McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania and although he never totally lost that Mill-Town accent, he was a true Kings Parker in everyway."

The learn more about Russ Savatt visit the Kings Park Heritage Museum's Forum Topic: "Who is Russ Savatt?".

 Click HERE to Visit the Forum at the Museum!

Click Here to Read Newspaper Article

Russ Savatt Picture Gallery
(Click Image to View)

Pictures and Article by Steve Weber, King Pedlar, Kings Park Heritage Museum

January 2009: Guest Speaker: Jim Mulvaney
Tactical Intelligence Services Inc.
 

Jim Mulvaney from Tactical Intelligence Services addressed the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce on the topic of  "Drug Detection and Prevention" in the Work Place.  Jim explains that by testing surfaces such as door knobs, keyboards and desks, it can be determined if anyone who touched these surfaces has used drugs recently.

The technology samples the oils inadvertently left behind when a person touches any smooth surface. "Its the same oils finger print powder adheres to when the police dust for finger prints at a crime scene.", explains former Newsday Reporter and Current President of Tactical Intelligence Jim Mulvaney.

"This test will not tell you who is using illegal drugs, but it will tell you that there is a problem and how wide spread it might be." Jim is currently working with several school districts to determine the extent of drug abuse in student population. Pictured below left is the device used in finger-print drug testing.

For more information on this technology visit www.tacticalintelinc.com

Pictures and Article by Steve Weber