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Health & Fitness

Guess Who's Not Coming To Dinner

Can Rockland County Republican Chairman, Vinnie Reda, sing 'Happy Birthday' for Legislator Sparaco? If not maybe ex-Bronx Chairman, Jay Savino, will do the honors and sing 'Jailhouse Rock' as his 'Swan Song'?


Of course, it does depend on the people, but sometimes I'm invited places to kind of brighten up a dinner table like a musician who'll play the piano after dinner, and I know you're not really invited for yourself. You're just an ornament - Marilyn Monroe

In the 1967 classic film Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, starring Sidney Poitier, the controversial subject of an interracial liberal marriage held the nation in rapt attention.  The plot centers on Joanna’s return to her liberal American home, bringing her new fiancé - a young, dynamic black physician - to dinner where he meets her parents rattling them by the unexpected situation.

In this 2014 drama starring Ed Day the controversial subject of an internecine conservative marriage holds Rockland County in rapt attention. The plot centers on County Legislator Sparaco's return to his conservative Republican home, putting out flyers that his recently rediscovered friend - the newly elected dynamic County Executive - will come to his birthday dinner to meet Sparaco's friends many of whom were rattled by Day's unexpected election.

There is only one problem - Day is not going to attend his birthday/fundraiser dinner and will not be singing Sparaco's political praises or even a keyless rendition of 'Happy Birthday'.

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However, if any of you have a spare $1,000 dollars which you would like to donate to a politician, whom you are already supporting in a part-time position for 5 hours of work a day and $76,500 per year of your taxpayer money, then there is a seat at the head table reserved especially for you where you can dine and sing along with Vinny Reda who will now be the dinner party's main ornament.

For $1,000 you may also have an opportunity to play Round 2 of "Let's Make A Deal" at the fundraising political craps tables.  You may recall that Round 1 resulted in a huge loss for some of the County's biggest craps players in last year's County Executive election. That shabby game, played in Round 1, involved an alleged deal to provide the Independence Party Line to then-candidate Day's Democratic opponents.

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Such a shameful political deal was not surprising to those who follow the Journal News opinion writer, Phil Reisman, who described the Independence Party as a 'legal racket', that exists only for the purpose of exchanging political patronage jobs for its endorsement.

The Independence Line was given to Highways Superintendent, Wayne Ballard, and every member of the Clarkstown Town Board in the November 2013 election. How many of them will turn up at Sparaco's birthday event in full genuflection mode remains to be seen, but we shall not be surprised, in the light of Day's "prior engagement", if several of them suddenly discover that they have "prior engagements" too. 

Perrotta, the 'Frontman' to some and 'Chairman' to others in the local version of the 'legal racket' 'non-independent' Independence Party, should also be there to 'meet and greet' the Republican hoi polloi. Conversing with Legislator Sparaco on Sparaco's facebook page he joked about their political opponents saying that they loved playing with "little punks".  On the same Facebook page Perrotta referred to a woman who was questioning Legislator Sparaco's pre-knowledge of the results obtained in unopened absentee ballots saying: "I can't believe how many 'sheep' we have here. They should call it Rockland Farm not Rockland County."

Those who voted to give a Clarkstown tax cert job to the now-convicted, ex-Bronx GOP Chairman, Jay Savino, and who also voted to create a part-time position paying $76,500 and use of a town car for the county legislator might be in attendance. Big-spending craps players like them might have the final honor of shaking hands and having a photo op with Savino, the biggest craps player of them all, before he heads off to his 'rock and roll' stint in Federal prison.

When playing craps in Rockland, remember you have to be deeply into the "crap" to win it!  Unfortunately for Sparaco's future political prospects Day is apparently refusing to play the "Let's Make A Deal" craps game any more. In the election season when running for his present post of County Executive, Day released an announcement about the corrupting dynamics of the "let's make a deal" politics being practiced by the minority parties in Rockland County; he said it was not something with which he would participate. Day called upon his opponent, David Fried, to join him in eschewing another round of the disgraceful "let's make a deal" political game and strike out with him on a new path of "Let's NOT Make A Deal". Regrettably, Day's challenge to Fried was met by the latter genuflecting to the 'Masters of the Deal' in Round 1. With an announcement today on his Facebook page it appears that Day has declared he has no intention of genuflecting to the 'Masters of the Deal' in Round 2.  

Day wrote: "Just an informational advisory to my FB friends. I have gotten a number of inquiries regarding a mailed flyer and a flyer currently on a website stating that I will be a guest speaker at Legislator Frank Sparaco's fundraiser on March 12th. To set the record straight - that information is inaccurate and I will not be speaking at that event.  I wanted my supporters who may be attending to know that due to other commitments I will not be in attendance."

We hope that with the example Day has shown other political leaders will follow his lead and will strike a new course in Rockland County's politics. 

Liam Neeson once remarked: "I'm Irish, so I'm used to odd stews - I can take it - Just throw a lot of carrots and onions in there and I'll call it a dinner.

But for $1,000 per plate at the 'head' table Neeson would expect at least one attractive ornament with whom to share his "odd stew".

This blog is authored by Michael N. Hulla retired senior citizen. Hull contributes periodically to the Facebook page Clarkstown: What They Don't Want You To Know.

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