Bellone takes the stage, literally

Steve Bellone may have given new meaning to the phrase, "puppet government." The Suffolk County executive stood on the set of the Tony Award-winning puppet parody "Avenue Q" Thursday to address about 80 government and business leaders at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts. The set of the R-rated "Sesame Street" spoof depicts a gritty city street. Bellone made no mention of his surroundings until someone noted that he had been speaking for an hour with a bra hanging over his head. Turning toward a row of undergarments on a clothesline, Bellone said to laughter, "I didn't even see that." Then he continued discussing economic development and Suffolk's budget crisis. -- Carl MacGowan