Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A man was struck and killed by a police car on Long Island The intersection of Wantagh Avenue and Duck Pond Drive North in Wantagh New update - 22-Year-Old ID'd As Victim In Fatal Police-Involved Wantagh Crash at the intersection of Wantagh Avenue and Duck Pond Drive North A 22-year-old man was crossing westbound over Wantagh Avenue when he was struck by a marked Nassau County Police vehicle He was taken to a hospital with multiple injuries and was pronounced dead roughly 30 minutes later The victim’s identity had not been released as of early Friday evening It was not immediately clear whether he was in a marked crosswalk and had the right of way at the time Daily Voice has reached out to Nassau County Police for clarification Two officers in the patrol car reported minor injuries and were evaluated at a hospital The New York State Attorney General’s Office was notified and responded to the scene Kayla Mannix of Wantagh reacts after scoring the first goal of the game in the second half in the Nassau Class A girls soccer final against North Shore on Thursday Kayla Mannix is an integral part of history for the Wantagh girls soccer program scored the winning goal as third-seeded Wantagh defeated top-seeded North Shore to win the girls soccer Nassau Class A championship at Farmingdale State on Thursday night It’s the first county title in program history for Wantagh Wantagh (12-4-1) advances to play Shoreham-Wading River (12-2-2) in the Long Island Class A championship/Southeast Regional Final at 3 p.m “They have a fight in them,” coach James Polo said “This group has been known to rise to the occasion and they believe in each other and that belief gets the job done.” beat a defender near the 18-yard box and took another dribble toward the net before firing the winning goal toward the top of the net with 15:48 left in the second half so I just cut in right and I shot as hard as I could,” Mannix said Polo had a feeling a special moment was nearing for Mannix “She’s just an amazing athlete,” Polo said she has a toughness and she’s not afraid of the spotlight She wants it and you can see today she wanted it shooting up until here and I saw it was coming and I just said to her The adage of it being difficult to defeat a team three times played out on Thursday as North Shore had a pair of one-goal victories in conference play over Wantagh this season “We knew they got us twice and we knew we could get them the third time,” Mannix said "We came out confident and ready for them The Wantagh players thought last year may have been their chance to make program history entering the Nassau Class A playoffs as the top seed But when Wantagh lost to Seaford in the semifinals it added that additional motivation throughout the offseason and this fall “They came driven and ready to do something this year,” Polo said “I’m just proud of them for how they’ve worked and responded and how they play for each other.” Owen O'Brien covers high school and college sports for Newsday He's also covered professional teams such as the Mets Jets and Giants since graduating from the University at Buffalo The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months was struck and died crossing Wantagh Avenue at Duck Pond Drive North Salomone was a transgender female Nassau police's homicide division is investigating it is standard procedure when a death is involved Attorney General Letitia James's Office of Special Investigation is looking into the circumstances surrounding Salomone's death Two officers were headed south on Wantagh in a marked police vehicle when the pedestrian was struck Funeral arrangements are complete for Salomone Bernard Roman Catholic Church in Levittown the family suggests donations made in Morgan's memory to the church Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2024 at 12:37 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Ellen Lederer DeFrancesco is the Democratic challenger for NY's 14th Assembly District (Courtesy of Ellen Lederer DeFrancesco)NASSAU COUNTY NY — Election Day is right around the corner and voters will choose between incumbent Republican state Assemblyman David McDonough and Democratic challenger Ellen Lederer DeFrancesco in the general election on Nov The 14th Assembly District covers Bellmore Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will publish candidate profiles as election day draws near https://ellen4assembly.com/ I was raised in Nassau County and have lived in Oceanside for the past 14 years Does anyone in your family work in politics or government I am running for the New York State Assembly because I will be the representative we deserve This office will allow me to combine my lifelong dedication to public service and environmental advocacy to better serve our community and make a positive impact What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post My opponent is a career politician who has been in office for over 22 years He votes remotely via Zoom and is rarely seen in the community and public safety but not to connect with voters We need leadership focused on in-person discussions about our community I’m committed to collaborating with elected officials and community leaders to address today’s challenges I’m running to prioritize people over partisan politics I actively engage with residents through weekly updates What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign It’s important to me that people know who I am and what I stand for I’m committed to making Long Island more affordable Predatory utility companies prioritize profits over service quality I believe our water and electricity should be public utilities providing better service at lower prices Having watched my children grow and my parents age I strongly feel Long Island must be affordable for seniors to live with dignity and for the next generation to pursue their American dream here I also stand firmly for women’s reproductive rights What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job One of my greatest strengths is my ability to listen and learn I don’t claim to be an expert in everything and I’m not afraid to say “I don’t know.” My strength lies in surrounding myself with knowledgeable people and genuinely considering their perspectives I’ll speak with the seniors in our community I thrive in collaborative environments where diverse experiences come together to solve problems I’ve sent a weekly newsletter featuring the quote don’t tell them what they need.” This approach helps me make informed decisions that positively impact the community What problems facing your district would you look to solve if you are elected/re-elected There’s a lot of work to be done on topics like women’s reproductive care and the climate crisis Families like mine are feeling the strain and need solutions now We need affordable solutions for our seniors and a financial plan for the future to keep our younger generation on Long Island Cancer is a prominent health issue for Long Islanders and is a leading cause of death for children What measures would you take to help lower cancer rates and bolster research in the field We need to dig deeper into why cancer is such a prominent health issue for Long Islanders by focusing on toxins in our air and soil that may be contributing to high cancer rates or “forever chemicals” from our water and banning their unnecessary use in products is essential as they have become a major environmental and health concern in recent years I also strongly support early detection efforts and I’ll work to improve access to affordable healthcare and cancer screenings to help ensure early diagnosis and timely treatment What would you do to help small businesses struggling with inflation and the cost of goods needed to manufacture their products I plan to use a three-pronged approach to this issue I would advocate for targeted tax breaks and incentives for small businesses and push for state-backed grants and low-interest loans to help businesses manage the rising costs I think working with small business owners directly and getting their perspectives on where the pain points are is critical and would help focus on the most effective solutions I would work with local chambers of commerce to provide resources and workshops on how to navigate economic challenges and improve efficiency in an ever-changing economic landscape What plans do you have to help improve water quality and keep it safe for generations Improving and protecting our water quality is essential for the health of our residents I plan to join the fight in holding corporations accountable for polluting our waterways and introducing toxins into our water supply How can the immigration crisis be addressed at the federal and local level Can federal and local officials work together I believe federal and local officials can and should work together and the bipartisan bill needs to be introduced This would help ensure that local resources aren’t overwhelmed which some say can be attributed to price gouging I support initiatives aimed at holding large corporations accountable for unfairly raising prices and exploiting consumers The median cost of renting on Long Island falls between $2,000 and $3,100 How can more affordable housing options be created More affordable housing is a major concern for many Long Islanders with low inventory driving up both rental and purchase prices ensuring housing is compatible with existing communities and sustainable for the future Rather than focusing solely on “affordable housing” we should start talking about “NextGen housing” so our children and young professionals can afford to live on Long Island This will allow us to retain a talented workforce give younger families a shot at the American dream of homeownership and allow seniors to stay close to their families What is your stance on SALT (State and Local Tax Relief) What needs to be done to keep Long Island streets safe from crime News & World Report ranked Nassau County as the number one safest county in America I support our police and first responders and plan to work in conjunction with local law enforcement to provide them the tools they need to keep our communities safe The DWI/DWAI rate is escalating island wide to address the escalating addiction crisis We need a multi-faceted approach that includes prevention I strongly endorse education and rehabilitation programs for those in need This would include legislation that addresses addiction treatment funding and mental health resources I also support tougher penalties for repeat offenders What is the best advice anyone ever gave you The best advice I ever received was to "always lead with empathy and integrity." It reminds me to listen to others and act with honesty and compassion in everything I do staying true to these values ensures that I'm making decisions that uplift and unite the people I serve Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions I want voters to know that I’m focused on real solutions to improve the quality of life for everyone in our community I am dedicated to advocating for affordable living and ensuring access to healthcare and education for all Public service is about listening and collaborating to find solutions for the greater good and community leader have prepared me to represent our district with compassion and integrity we can build a better future for all of us Authorities have identified a 22-year-old man who was fatally struck by a Nassau County Police vehicle on Long Island Kills 22-Year-Old Man Crossing Long Island Street was attempting to cross westbound over Wantagh Avenue at the intersection of Duck Pond Drive North when he was struck by a marked police vehicle Salomone suffered multiple injuries and was transported to a local hospital Two officers involved in the crash were also taken to local hospitals with minor injuries The New York State Attorney General was notified and responded to the scene as required for police-involved fatalities Anyone with information is urged to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers General - Has participated in the Carolina Leadership Academy in the GAP Year program Junior (2014) – Played in seven games as a reserve on the offensive end .. Scored a goal and had a ground ball and draw control against Elon on March 12 .. Also gathered a ground ball against Boston University Sophomore (2013) - A backup who played in seven games off the bench for the NCAA champion Tar Heels .. Boston College (both regular season and ACC Tournament) Personal - Paula Mary Schmidt is the daughter of Mary and Paul Schmidt .. her father is the wrestling coach at Nassau Community College .. Her sister played lacrosse at George Washington .. Wantagh’s Cole Spinelli hits two-run triple in sixth inning of Game 2 of Nassau A quarters on Tuesday Cole Spinelli has picked a very good time to get hot the junior outfielder delivered Wantagh’s biggest hits in its biggest game On Tuesday it came with Wantagh trailing host North Shore by a run with two out in the sixth inning of Game 2 in their Nassau Class A quarterfinal series Spinelli delivered a two-run triple that went to to the fence in right-centerfield and started a four-run rally that carried Wantagh to a 7-3 victory and a sweep in the best-of-three series He drove in two runs in Wantagh’s 3-2 victory in Game 1 “I was looking for a fastball and got one on the second pitch,” Spinelli said “It felt great to put our team back on top  This is a team that’s been down and finds a way to rally.” “(Spinelli) came through with the biggest hit of the year so far,” said Christian Danzilo AJ Bardi kept the rally going with a run-scoring single to right-center and Jack Tate capped it with a run-scoring double to left for a 6-3 lead The victory was an excellent example of the ‘Wantagh Way.’ The team got solid pitching And it just kept coming through with good at-bats “(Spinelli) looked good in his previous two at-bats with a sharp ground ball and a single so I had complete confidence in him right there,” Wantagh coach Keith Sachs said “North Shore is a very tough team and we had to play well to win this series.” Wantagh (18-2-1) will be re-seeded for a best-of-3 semifinal series that is scheduled to start on Sunday “Our team is here to stay and we have an eye on the county title,” Tate said Matt Ryan drove in all three runs for the Vikings Danzilo had a tough act to follow after Tate struck out 17 in 6 1/3 innings of the 3-2 victory in Game 1 The junior lefthander allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks and struck out eight After surrendering a 2-1 lead on Ryan’s two-run single in the bottom of the fifth he hit the next batter and then got the following three out to keep it a one-run game he retired the Vikings in order in the sixth “We’re the best 1-2 punch in the county,” Danzilo said I always try to pitch better than he just did “Every pitch that (Danzilo) throws has a lot of movement and when he finds a rhythm he can be hard on a lineup,” Sachs said “He did a good job of keeping the score where it was and limiting the damage when he gave something up.” Sachs made a mound trip with one on and one out in the seventh to tell Danzilo he was three short of the state mandated 125-pitch limit He used them to get a ground ball for the second out and lefty Gavin Deignan got the next hitter to end it 2023 at 4:21 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Police surround a home in North Wantagh after an incident on Tuesday morning NY — There was a large police presence in a residential area of North Wantagh on Tuesday Police would only confirm to Patch that an incident took place just before noon at a home on Twin Lane South Photos show Nassau County Police's Crime Scene Unit while other patrol cars blocked the street at Thistle Lane Declan Lally scores 13 of his team-high 15 points in second half as the Knights advance to Nassau Class A final sinks a shot from close range during the Nassau Class A boys basketball semifinals against Wantagh on Wednesday at Farmingdale State College The barking of Wantagh fans and cheers of Floral Park boys basketball supporters echoed around Floral Park junior Declan Lally as he stepped up to the free-throw line with 30.2 seconds remaining and the score at 58-53 leaving behind only the sound of both his shots swishing through the hoop “Obviously they were big free throws,” Lally said calm down and shoot them like you always do in practice.” Those two points were part of Lally’s 13 second-half points as his 15 points helped top-seeded Floral Park hold off No in the Nassau Class A semifinal round at Farmingdale State College with Wednesday night’s result representing the closest winning margin yet “They were very well prepared for us tonight,” coach Sean Boyle said Wantagh came out swinging with a 19-point first quarter to lead by six The Knights didn’t take a lead until their final basket before halftime courtesy of a Collin Murphy three-pointer off a terrific offensive rebound and pass from junior Brady Croon to make it 28-25 That effort helped Floral Park limit Wantagh to 14 points combined across the second and third quarters “We know what we’re capable of,” junior Brendan Martin said “We just stay focused and ready on the defensive end.” Wantagh levied constant double-teams against senior Anthony Caris who countered with a game-high five assists That included an alley-oop to junior Brendan Martin who tipped the pass in for two of his 14 points that’s my guy often on the court,” said Caris Wantagh struggled to connect from deep until it was too late hitting just one of its six three-pointers before the final five minutes of the game Smothering defense and productive scoring from four steals) and senior Oliver Iacobazzi (12 points four steals) helped Wantagh (13-9) compete to the final buzzer back at Farmingdale State College at 4 p.m “At the start of the season we set a goal to go as far as possible Michael Sicoli covers high school sports for Newsday He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and left with a master’s degree in sports journalism in 2023 Firefighters were able to save many artifacts from the building The holiday spirit was put on hold after a fire at the Wantagh Preservation Society  postponed  an annual Christmas tree lighting Saturday a petting zoo and photos with Santa before volunteers from the Wantagh Fire Department noticed smoke emerging from the roof and chimney of the Victorian Railroad Station at the site so they called us and we got there within three minutes,” said Kevin Regan a public information officer for the Wantagh Fire Department Regan said several volunteers had already been at the site for a recruitment event Regan estimated about 50 to 60 volunteers worked to put out the blaze which burned a hole in the middle of the roof Seaford and North Bellmore fire departments responded to the scene Krussmann said the county fire marshal is still investigating what caused the fire to break out shortly after 3:30 p.m From breaking news to special features and documentaries the NewsdayTV team is covering the issues that matter to you By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy “It looks like it came from the pot belly stove inside,” he said Santa and others at the event watch the firefighters at work Officials said everyone safely evacuated the building, which dates to 1885 and was moved to the site in 1966 to save it from demolition. The nonprofit Wantagh Preservation Society opened a museum in the building in 1982, according to the preservation website Preservation society president Beth Obergh said the firefighters were “phenomenal and caring” for swiftly putting out the fire but also saving artifacts from inside the Victorian building Volunteers moved possibly thousands of items in their collection from the building to a train car temporarily for safekeeping a crew was beginning to patch the roof with plywood and tarps Officials were still determining the extent of damage Saturday night The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce organizes the annual festival and tree lighting to kick off the holiday season “I'm grateful that nobody was hurt,” said chamber president Cathy McGrory Powell “I'm also grateful that it didn't happen later at night where maybe we would not have noticed it … and there would have been more damage.” The tree lighting was postponed Saturday because electricity was disconnected at the site “We’ll figure something out and maybe just let the community know and they'll meet us all here and we'll have the pipe band playing,” she said No injuries were reported as a result of the fire and smoke “It was noticed and it was dealt with rather quickly so as good an outcome as possible,” he said it just ruined the evening for a lot of people who were looking forward to it.” Trump's influence on NY's future .. Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories police tape had been taken down on Sand Hill Road in Wantagh after a deceased man with a gunshot wound was found on nearby Wayside Lane Police are investigating a homicide after officers responding to a call in Wantagh discovered a deceased man with a gunshot wound overnight Wednesday Nassau County police identified the victim Friday as Yinauri A Police said the 32-year-old man was originally from Amityville but recently had been splitting his time between Puerto Rico and Westbury Police said officers responded to a call on Wayside Lane at 12:13 a.m — and found the body "on the side of the road." Additional information was not immediately available Mitch and Shari Macy of Bellmore in July 2018 in Pebble Beach Mitch Macy of North Bellmore talks about meeting his wife living with my family in North Wantagh and working in Manhattan as an accountant I was waiting to catch an early train to the city Back then the westbound train might arrive on either side of the platform so I asked the "cute girl" which side the train would come in on "The side where everyone is standing." I found out later she had recently had her palm read and was told she was going to meet her future husband and that he would be a professional whose first or last name would begin with an "M." As soon as I arrived at my desk at work that morning I called my mother and told her I had met the girl I was going to marry Our first date was at a St John's University basketball game at Madison Square Garden with dinner before the game She was taken aback but laughed at what I said Shari and Mitch Macy in February 1980 at Welwyn Preserve in Glen Cove We had a great time dating — going to the beach I proposed to her before a family Thanksgiving Day dinner at the Salty Bay Yacht Club in Freeport We were married nine months later at Temple Beth Shalom in Lawrence small Sunfish sailboats were available to hotel guests "Let’s take out a boat." The guy tending the boats asked if I knew how to sail "I’ve been sailing since I was a kid." You’ve heard about Aruba’s reputation for being windy we immediately capsized our little Sunfish under strong winds — but survived We returned to an apartment in Forest Hills and later our current home in North Bellmore I went into my family’s service station business in Deer Park and worked there for the past 35 years I sold the station last year and am now semiretired Shari was a tour guide for a company that offered amazing tours to senior groups but I look forward to many trips with my own personal tour guide She is truly my everything as "our song," sung by Rod Stewart Shari and I look forward to a Thanksgiving getaway with the entire family If I could talk to my younger self back in 1980 I would say: It only gets better from here TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU MET. Access the online form at newsday.com/lilovestory — or send an anecdote along with your phone number and a photo to ann.smukler@newsday.com or call Ann Donahue-Smukler at 631-843- 2520 Photos cannot be returned and may be used in other publications affiliated with Newsday Jim and Rose Anne Urban of North Wantagh smile for the camera at Jim's service award dinner at Leonard's of Great Neck in 2018 Rose Anne (Calandra) Urban of North Wantagh chats about meeting her husband In 1969 I was at Meadowbrook Hospital (now Nassau University Medical Center) to apply for a nursing job lived with my family in East Meadow and had just graduated from Nathan Littauer Hospital School of Nursing in upstate Gloversville James Urban was a fellow classmate from our second- and fourth-grade classes at Meadow Lawn Elementary School (now George McVey Elementary School) On a second-grade field trip to Hayden Planetarium in Manhattan We hadn’t seen each other for about 12 years before meeting at the hospital but recognized each other and chatted a bit He was an X-ray technician student and was assigned to do my chest X-ray as part of the employment process I got the job and loved running into James He was also 21 and living in East Meadow with his family He attended Meadowbrook Hospital School of Radiography during the day and worked as an ambulance attendant in the evenings and we had dinner at a pizza place near the hospital We started dating and saw each other every day He would stop by my house after his evening shift and usually fall asleep exhausted Four months after our first date we got engaged Raphael Roman Catholic Church in East Meadow on a rare 60-degree day We honeymooned at Memorytown USA in the Poconos where we snowmobiled over beautiful snow-covered fields Jim was drafted into the Army four months after our wedding A recruiter suggested he enlist so he could serve as an X-ray technician His first assignment was Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio we returned to Long Island a few months later We bought a house in North Wantagh in 1977 where we live today Jim has worked in many positions at NUMC’s radiology department He’s been there 54 years and is now assistant to the radiology department’s administrator Jim and Rose Anne Urban of North Wantagh in a photo taken at Rose Anne's bridal shower in 1971 I worked in many areas of hospital nursing as well as staff development While I worked the evening shift for 15 years supervised homework and put the girls to bed I’ve been an adjunct professor for five years at New York Institute of Technology’s nursing department in Old Westbury never forgetting my birthday or anniversary He used to send me flowers at work for all occasions Jim collects coins and stamps that he hopes to leave to his grandson someday We have vacationed in resorts along the East Coast and enjoy our time share on Cape Cod Although I was hoping for a big 50th anniversary celebration we’re having a small celebration at The Cooperage Inn in Baiting Hollow Maybe one day we’ll hold hands again at the Hayden Planetarium John’s Hall of Famer and grandfather Jerry Houston on Thursday Sofia Della Ratta knew there was a Hall of Famer in the crowd on Thursday there just for her but the North Shore senior loves every time her grandfather can make a game in person and it gives her that little additional push to be at her best John’s Athletics Hall of Fame and Della Ratta’s grandfather Della Ratta had a star performance with 25 points 6 Plainedge in the Nassau Class A girls basketball quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon I have to do my best in front of him,” Della Ratta said I call him after every game so just having him here [is great] Della Ratta scored 12 of her 25 points in a second quarter in which North Shore outscored Plainedge 16-4 to take a 28-13 halftime lead She even took a charge on the ensuing possession before creating and finishing a layup “She does everything,” coach Keith Freund said she led our conference in rebounding and scoring She prides herself on doing the little things.” on March 6 at Farmingdale State in the Nassau Class A semifinals North Shore led by at least 12 points for the entirety of the second half Alexandra Basile added seven points and three steals and Elizabeth Aurre had seven rebounds and three steals Allie Younghans had 11 points and Peyton Wise added eight points for Plainedge (11-10) Although Della Ratta was the primary force in the Vikings’ victory she refuses to accept the accolades that come with it “I feel like everyone just pushes everyone even more,” she said It’s moving parts all over and everyone comes together and that’s when really good things happen.” “She’s a security blanket for everyone,” Freund said we can get the ball to her and she’ll make a play happen.” If it seems like a lot of people are getting COVID right now We’re in the middle of a worldwide summer COVID-19 wave A high or very high level of COVID-19 virus is being detected in wastewater in almost every state, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention At least 10 other states have a high amount of COVID in the wastewater We can’t have other reliable measures,” said Dr dean of the School of Public Health at Brown University and former White House COVID-19 response coordinator in an interview with NPR’s Morning Edition “this is turning out to be possibly the biggest summer wave we’ve had.” Jha said we’ve settled into what feels like a more familiar pattern with COVID. Recently, the CDC labeled COVID as being endemic, meaning that COVID is here to stay in predictable ways. There are two waves a year: one during summer and another during winter The summer wave tends to be a little smaller which has a wave in the winter and almost no cases after COVID infections can rise in between waves “It’s looking like this is probably not a seasonal virus associate chief of infectious diseases at UCLA and professor of medicine in an interview with Morning Edition Jha adds that the summer wave this year is still smaller than any of the winter ones It started a little earlier than the one last summer Jha is hopeful that the surge will peak and ease soon but he doesn’t know exactly when that will happen COVID is continuing to evolve very rapidly, and every three or four months we get a new COVID variant. This summer, the dominant strains of COVID are KP.3.1.1, accounting for 27.8% of U.S cases and KP.3, accounting for 20.1%, according to data from the CDC and the Infectious Diseases Society of America Jha said that these variants evolved from Omicron “It doesn’t seem like these variants are more deadly But they are almost certainly more contagious,” said Yang “So if you have something that’s equally deadly but more contagious you will see more severe illnesses and deaths.” A new vaccine is currently being developed to target these new dominant variants And so they would hopefully reduce the number of people that are getting symptomatic COVID and hopefully with that reduce the circulation,” said Yang Yang expects the new vaccine to work well to prevent severe illness and death Jha echoed that the new vaccines will be very protective against the current variants He said the vaccines available right now are targeted to the variants that were dominant last year The COVID vaccines are “not going to provide a lot of protection against infection But they would still provide some protection against serious illness,” he said If you haven’t gotten your vaccine this year Jha recommends waiting until the new vaccine comes out in a few weeks for the best protection He acknowledges that asking people to make substantial changes to their lives four and a half years into the virus is a tall order And if you are high risk and do get infected treatments like Paxlovid are a great option Jha said that the recommendation for most people is to get one shot a year He said there’s evidence that for the highest risk people like elderly people in their late 70s or 80s or people who are immunocompromised a second shot in the spring can offer an important level of protection they should focus on getting one shot a year “What I recommend to people is they get it around the time they get their flu shot which is usually in late September or October,” said Jha thinks it is a good idea for anyone to get a booster if they haven’t had a COVID vaccine in six months Even though Jha said this may be the worst summer COVID spike we’ve had “If you look at deaths from COVID so far in 2024 we’re getting these surges… but they’re not turning into hospitalizations and deaths at the same kind of numbers we’ve seen in past years,” Jha said And so each infection just doesn’t mean as much as it did four years ago Become an NPR sponsor Two school districts in Nassau County will ask residents this week to approve bond proposals that would lead to sweeping renovations and upgrades of school playgrounds 6 at the district's three elementary schools to approve a more than $69.5 million bond referendum that has been broken into three separate parts 8 at Newbridge Road School to approve a more than $39 million bond referendum the proposed bond will be presented as three propositions but the first proposition must pass before the other two could be approved The first proposition addresses core infrastructure districtwide replacing components that are original or haven’t been replaced in decades central heating and air conditioning for all instructional spaces The proposal — at more than $39 million — is budget neutral meaning it will not have an impact on local taxes Get the latest updates on how education is changing in your district The second proposition focuses on enhancing areas of play and creativity including upgrades to the athletic fields at the secondary campus which includes the middle and high schools and Forest Lake Elementary School; a complete renovation of districtwide auditoriums and new playground equipment for all three elementary schools District officials estimate the $16 million proposition would cost the average homeowner an additional $11 per month The third proposition proposes a renovation of the library media center and cafeteria at Wantagh High School; creation of outdoor eating spaces for the middle and high school; kitchen replacements at each elementary school would cost the average homeowner an additional $9 a month The projects were part of a strategic five-year plan The timing is right to offer a bond referendum because the district has some existing debt service coming off the books for projects from about 15 years ago "When we did our facilities plan about five years ago we targeted this point in time," he said The average age of the buildings in the district A district committee prioritized projects in Wantagh and the school board wanted to offer one budget-neutral option to residents some of the initial work could begin in the summer of 2023 with the bulk being done in summer of 2024 "And we're projecting that it would take about five years from bond approval to the completion of the work so we're projecting out to about 2028," he said "The conversation we hear in the community is Why not wait?' It's just one of those things that the longer you wait to put it out for consideration … it just continues to push it further down the road." a more than $39 million bond would provide for projects including districtwide upgrades to heating as well as electrical systems; ADA elevator installations at John G Dinkelmeyer and Saw Mill Road elementary schools and playground improvements at all six elementary schools The elementary district serves about 2,100 students in grades K-6 Additional projects would focus on areas noted in a Building Conditions Survey skylight replacement and door replacement in district buildings the average homeowner would pay $16.47 more a month ranging from 65 to nearly 100 years old,” Superintendent Marie Testa said Overhauling the district's HVAC systems will "guarantee clean as well as the ability to properly regulate temperature and indoor air quality," she said It also will be more cost-effective and energy efficient The upgraded playgrounds would be open to community residents when school is not in session work could start in the summer of 2023 and be completed by 2025 but that could extend to 2026 depending on costs and other construction factors 2022 at 12:41 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Andrew Garbarino is the incumbent for New York's 2nd Congressional District NY — Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R—NY) is seeking re-election to U.S Congress in New York's 2nd Congressional District He will be challenged by Democrat Jackie Gordon on Nov Nassau County communities in the 2nd district include Levittown Suffolk County communities include Amityville https://garbarinoforny.com/ Re-election for New York’s Second Congressional District I went to Sayville High School where I participated in student government and worked at the local hardware store I received my communion and confirmation at St I went on to receive my BA in history and classical humanities from The George Washington University I then returned to Long Island where I received my Juris Doctorate from Hofstra University I joined my father at our family law firm in downtown Sayville I saw firsthand some of the challenges facing Long Islanders and how policy and law have a direct impact on people’s lives That inspired me to run for a seat in the New York Assembly where I served the 7th district for four terms I now represent New York’s Second District in Congress and serve on the House Small Business Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee where I am the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity I am the proud son of a lawyer and small business owner and a teacher I also am the proud Godfather of three children; Lincoln I served four terms in the New York State Assembly representing the 7th District as a lifelong resident of the south shore of Long Island We have accomplished so much together during my first term in Congress but Long Islanders are experiencing record inflation we will focus on cutting back on excessive government spending in order to address inflation restoring American energy production to bring down gas prices and reduce our reliance of foreign fuel and passing legislation to secure the southern border including by investing in additional manpower and physical and technological border security tools I have a demonstrated record of working across the aisle to get things done both during my first term in Congress and throughout my service in the New York State Assembly I was rated among the top 5 most bipartisan Freshmen Members of Congress and am the Co-Chair and lead Republican of several bipartisan Congressional Caucuses the Transatlantic Friends of Israel Caucus Each vote I cast is with the best interest of my constituents in mind which is why I voted for The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) which will bring over $170 billion to New York State for crucial repairs to our roads I am also a former private attorney and in that job I saw firsthand how laws and regulations impact people when applied in the real world which is how I know that Congress must be intentional and judicious when imposing new laws and regulations on the American people After two years of excessive spending and overregulation in Washington harming our economy’s ability to rebound from COVID-19 it is clear that we need a change of leadership not another reliable vote for Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi’s out-of-touch agenda I look forward to fighting to revitalize our local economy in the next Congress as part of a Republican Majority that will prioritize the issues that matter most to Americans - reducing inflation and crime My top priority has always been to help the people I represent I’ve proven that I believe in results-driven governing I have introduced 19 pieces of legislation and cosponsored more than 460 pieces of legislation on behalf of New York’s Second District More than 60 pieces of legislation I supported have passed the House of Representatives including 7 I introduced – the VSO Support Act the Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act the CISA Leadership Act Cybersecurity Grants for Schools Act of 2022 and the Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act I secured $4.45 million in Fiscal Year 2022 in appropriations for Community Funding Projects directly to the Second District and have had nearly $25 million for Community Funding Projects approved for inclusion in the House appropriations package for Fiscal Year 2023 I co-founded the Congressional SALT Caucus to fight to eliminate the SALT deduction cap and am the Republican lead of the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act to ensure 9/11 first responders and survivors continue to have access to health care benefits for 9/11-related illnesses I’m especially proud that my team has helped over 3,000 constituents through casework including by returning over $4 million back to constituents from the government in the form of federal benefits and grant programs and assisting with over over 500 passport renewals When I was first elected to the State Assembly my mother told me that she was very proud of me but to always make sure that I do the right thing I think of her and make sure I am doing the right thing for my district and my constituents Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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The crash happened north of Exit W-3 around 6 a.m Detectives say 32-year-old Jhonson Merilu was pronounced dead at the scene State police say Merilus was the only person in the car Wantagh's Irene Huguet drives against North Shore 's Eleanor Casale during a Nassau County playoff game at Wantagh High School on Friday Feb Irene Huguet feels like the star of her own movie Spain — the home of the running of the bulls — dreamed of life in the United States and through an international exchange program is a high honors student in her junior year at Wantagh High School and the starting center on the girls basketball team despite arriving in the United States this summer She lives with a host family and will go back to Spain at the conclusion of the school year “It’s so different from my high school in Spain who has a noticeable accent but speaks English fluently She said children in Spain are required to learn English from a young age an organization in Spain that aids students’ desires to study abroad Huguet found her place in the Wantagh home of Steve and Lucy Cates and their 11-year-old son prior to the Nassau County High School Girls Basketball Playoff game vs North Shore High School They volunteered to host a student from South Korea last year because Lucy Cates said her cousin in Virginia enjoyed the experience After viewing several profiles of potential candidates they volunteered again to welcome Huguet into their home through an organization called International Student Exchange “Something about her drew me to her,” Lucey Cates said A video call with Huguet’s parents served as an introduction between the two families Host families are required to pass extensive background checks and although they are not required to pay for Huguet’s expenses They have treated me like their daughter since I came here.” Though Steve Cates said there was an adjustment period during the first few weeks He said Huguet is responsible and keeps him and his wife updated with calls and texts when out with her new friends “We laugh because Irene took Wantagh High School by storm,” said the 47-year-old Nassau County police lieutenant “She’s so friendly that she gets along with everybody Wantagh coach Stan Bujacich thought it was a practical joke when he heard through the grapevine of an exchange student seeking to play basketball Bujacich watched from afar with Julia Wilkinson A 5-11 post player with a shooter’s touch seemingly came from nowhere He later learned that she excelled as a team defender and could pass with both hands it’s like a one-year contract,” said Bujacich who added he’s never coached an exchange student before “I had the other coaches laughing when they were asking me about her.” Wantagh athletic director Jennifer Keane said approving Huguet’s eligibility was standard procedure “The process for Irene was not that hard because she was part of an already established “Once we got all of the information from the host family I completed the Foreign Student Reporting form for [Nassau] BOCES and submitted it to the executive director for approval Once I received the approval from Section VIII Irene was deemed an eligible competitor for Wantagh for one year.” Huguet said the game’s physicality is far different here than in Spain The biggest difference was the volume of basketball she’d have to play we don’t play in high school,” Huguet said but we have less practice and less games than here.” Steve Cates played in high school and used to coach in the Police Athletic League my family usually comes to see my games,” said Huguet who video chats with her parents and 13-year-old sister on Sundays Huguet is like any other member of the student body excels in her studies and participates in after-school activities “I’m going to be so sad to go back home,” she said which plans to visit Huguet in Spain in the future “She’s beautiful inside and out,” Lucy Cates said “I will be an emotional mess when she goes back to Spain.” Wantagh Parkway northbound was closed under the Newbridge Road bridge in East Meadow after an SUV struck it A driver on the Wantagh State Parkway was killed after striking an overpass early Saturday morning was heading north on the parkway in a Mitsubishi Outlander and crashed north of Exit W3 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow at 6:12 a.m. No other information was immediately available (R-Merrick) and Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R-North Merrick) today joined with the Wantagh American Legion and members of the Wantagh community in remembering those who were taken from us on 9/11.       The ceremony is an annual tradition which the American Legion sponsors to honor the memory of the 9/11 victims and pay tribute to the heroes who helped rescue others from danger Bells were rung in memory of each of the Wantagh residents who were killed in the attacks      Senator Fuschillo is pictured speaking at the Wantagh American Legion’s 9/11 Memorial Ceremony He is joined by Assemblyman Dave McDonough (right) and Wantagh American Legion Chaplain Jack Bergersen (left) Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2021 at 2:19 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The state is launching a study into the feasibility of a public takeover of New York American Water on Long Island Andrew Cuomo has announced that the state will launch a study into a public takeover of New York American Water Long Island's largest privately owned water company the special council for ratepayer protection at the state Department of Public Service New York American Water has faced mounting criticism from customers and politicians over drastically increased fees over the last few years the 120,000 customers of New York American Water on Long Island have been plagued by exorbitantly high rates for water — this simply cannot continue," Cuomo said in a statement "New York is immediately launching an effort to thoroughly study all options to reduce customer costs for this vital necessity and a basic right safe and affordable water and we are going to pursue every avenue to make that happen." which has its Long Island office in Merrick The Department of Public Service is currently reviewing the $600 million sale of New York American Water to Canadian company Liberty Utilities The state says that the news of the sale sparked lots of local interest in a public takeover of the system Both Sea Cliff and Massapequa submitted comments about the feasibility of taking over parts of the system Last November, Cuomo had put forward a bill that called for a study into a public takeover of New York American Water That bill said the study had to begin by April 1 Cuomo's latest act directs the Department of Public Works to begin the study immediately Cuomo is leaving no option off the table when it comes to protecting ratepayers and that includes potentially municipalizing all or part of New York American Water Company on Long Island," said Lancman "The results of our analysis will help the Governor local government officials and customers make an informed decision on how best to reduce water rates and provide safe and reliable drinking water in the long-term." The study being conducted by Lancman will include opportunities for public comment and public hearings has been an advocate for New YOrk American Water customers "Long Islanders have been forced to live with American Water’s ridiculously high rates and poor service for too long," said Kaminsky "It is past time for an impartial study to determine how clean affordable water can best be provided to our communities I applaud the governor for making this a priority and will continue to lead the fight for utility transparency and affordability Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2011 at 5:28 pm ETA portion of North Wantagh Avenue was closed in both directions Tuesday afternoon after a tractor-trailer a school bus and two other cars were involved in a collision just past Bryant Street in Bethpage who was the driver of one of the cars involved in the accident the small school bus suddenly appeared in front of her car as she was heading northbound along North Wantagh Avenue "It just happened so fast that I was dumbfounded," she said said she learned later that the tractor trailer initially struck the school bus Members of the Bethpage Fire Department and the Nassau County Police Emergency Services Unit worked to extricate a matron who was trapped in the bus and transported her to the hospital McCabe said that two other people were sent to the hospital Nassau County police issued a release stating the closure of the roadway at approximately 2:15 p.m The closure stretched from Bryant Street to the intersection of N Wantagh Avenue and Hicksville Road Patch will have more updates as they become available (R-Merrick) and Assemblyman David McDonough (R-North Merrick) recently joined with the Wantagh Football Club to honor one of the organization’s outstanding young athletes at its annual awards luncheon Thirteen year old Jimmy Errante was awarded the Wantagh Football Club’s Senator Fuschillo Award which is given to a football player who has been in the program from his first day of eligibility and who serves as a role model and leader for his fellow athletes both on and off the field.  Senator Fuschillo (right) and Assemblyman McDonough (left) are pictured as they present Jimmy Errante (center) with his award They are joined by Rich Polo of the Wantagh Football Club (second right) and Jimmy’s father 2012 at 2:56 am ETMore than a dozen concerned community residents descended to the fourth floor of the Nassau County Supreme Court building in Mineola Wednesday morning expecting to hear North Bellmore strip club owner Billy Dean’s  against the Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) after it a cabaret application for his planned Wantagh establishment last summer The visit to Mineola was a short one however after they learned shortly before the scheduled 10 a.m hearing that has been postponed until March 14 requested the two-week-adjournment to have more time to prepare a reply brief for the appeal Dean’s suit against the town argues that the Hempstead BZA should have never revoked its original June 2010 approval for cabaret usage on 3500 Sunrise Highway in Wantagh The zoning board decided last March to schedule a of Dean’s application under the name Green 2009 due to vocal  that mounted against the development as well as a belief that not enough people were notified of the original hearing date During the last year, protests have been held in front of 3500 Sunrise Hwy. because of fears that Dean will operate his Wantagh establishment similar to in North Bellmore, which is advertised on its website as "Long Island’s No. 1 strip club." Billy Dean’s website provides a link with information that describes the Wantagh venue as one that will offer dinner entertainment with audience participation catering to bachelor Dean  his planned business during a May 18 zoning board hearing as one that would feature “a Las Vegas style feel” with jugglers is able to get the BZA’s decision reversed and be granted a cabaret license it would enable the 3500 Sunrise Highway business to offer live music The cabaret usage would not however permit topless or nude entertainment Around 20 opponents to Dean’s proposed Wantagh entertainment club came to Wednesday’s court hearing including Artie Blaurock who lives around the corner from 3500 Sunrise Hwy Blaurock said he isn’t buying that the facility will not operate as a strip club since Billy Dean’s Showtime Café also is not permitted to have topless or nude entertainment spoke to opponents outside the courtroom Wednesday and said he has been getting many calls from concerned residents about the possibility of a strip club moving into their neighborhood “There is no doubt that what he is planning to open is an adult cabaret,” said Denenberg whose 19th district covers the southern section of Wantagh “A strip club will diminish their quality of life in the neighborhood.” Dean’s suit argues that the zoning board "had no basis" for revoking its previous approval of cabaret on 3500 Sunrise Hwy. The suit also points out that property on the corner of Oakland Avenue has had cabaret usage for previously opened bars and restaurants going back to the late 60's The March 14 appeal hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m and is being heard by Judge Antonio Brandveen 2016 at 1:37 pm ETChristopher Morley Park pool facility in Roslyn-North Hills will officially open for the summer season on Monday Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announced Nassau County’s outdoor swimming pools are located in Hicksville All county pools are open daily through Labor Day and include various conveniences Call the park at (516) 571-8113 for more information Christopher Morley Park offers a large swimming complex such as an Olympic-size pool A Leisure Pass is required for residents to receive the resident rate Wantagh Park and North Woodmere Park offer “water theme” facilities that incorporate Olympic-size swimming pools interactive water-play areas and water slides is comprised of two small pools as well as kiddie pools Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2019 at 5:59 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A funeral mass was planned Monday (Kevin Imm/ ImmsterFirePhotos.com)LEVITTOWN a former Levittown fire captain and NYPD sergeant has died of an illness stemming from the 9/11 attacks was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma nearly two years ago the state's Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 69 wrote in a Facebook post JudyAnn; sisters Cynthia Young (Daniel) and Alicia Post; mother-in-law Maureen Smith and sisters-in-law Shannon Giudice (Matt) and Kerrianne Mosher (Joel) Johnston was an NYPD sergeant in the strategic response group and a 9/11 first responder He was also a dedicated former captain of the Levittown Fire Department's Ladder 6 and member for over 30 years Family received friends Saturday and Sunday at the Levittown Fire Department's station 3 on North Wantagh Avenue Fire department services were held Sunday night in Class A uniform A mass of Christian burial was planned Monday afternoon at St Friends and family members took to social media to remember Johnston "So true: A Hero never dies," one poster wrote Another wrote: "Because of Hero's (sic) like Sergeant Scott Johnston we can never forget 9/11 Thank you for your service just doesn't seem to be enough The scene of a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of Wantagh Avenue at Red Maple Drive in Levittown that occurred around 9:30 a.m A motorist was killed Monday when his Dodge Ram flipped over on Wantagh Avenue in Levittown and collided with two other vehicles Homicide Squad detectives reported that the 46-year-old man was driving north on Wantagh Avenue about 9:30 a.m The vehicle flipped over ​and struck two westbound vehicles stopped on Red Maple Drive North a 60-year-old woman driving a Ford 150 and a 24-year-old man in a Honda Odyssey were taken to a hospital with minor injuries Wantagh's James Corbett, left, battles Giovanni Santiago of Sachem North during the David Bloom Memorial Duals at Wantagh Corbett won the 182-pound match by decision League wrestling is closer to the county meets, and Long Island's top team Wantagh continues to dominate. Fresh off defeating two of Suffolk's top teams -- Sachem East and Islip -- on its way to winning the Union-Endicott duals in Binghamton, Wantagh also dominated Herricks, 70-9, then defeated Westbury Manhasset moved to the top of Conference III-B with three wins last week. A tight 35-26 decision over Bethpage was followed by a decisive 81-6 victory over Valley Stream South. The Indians concluded with a 41-22 victory over Glen Cove to move to the top of the conference standings Last week in Suffolk Rocky Point asserted its dominance in League VI with a 55-21 win over Shoreham-Wading River, then defeated league foe Amityville East Islip put itself in front in League IV with consecutive wins to open the league season, defeating perennial contender Hauppauge, 39-31, on the back of an upset pin by the Redmen's Griffin Brown over Hauppauge's Ben Tepperman, then put Copiague away is taken down by Wantagh's Justin Vines at 113 pounds at Wantagh on Saturday Dec “We call him a mat rat,” Wantagh assistant coach Todd Bloom said “We basically have to kick him out of the wrestling room.” Vines’ hours of training were put to good use during his takedown of Sachem North’s Eddie Galante with 46 seconds remaining in the second period in the final of the Warriors’ 70-7 win over the Flaming Arrows on Saturday That match punctuated the 16th David Bloom Memorial Tournament The sophomore wrestled at 113 pounds for the host team but his strength was equal to that of competitors several classes larger Vines’ drive to get the pin was clear from the opening movements of the match He had Galante on his back for most of the second and his anticipation of both Galante’s escape and takedown tries made it evident that Vines had also done his homework “He’s nonstop,” said coach Paul Gillespie of Vines’ 4-0 showing in the tournament “We have a lot of good sophomores this year Among the day’s top wrestlers were brothers Christian The elder Encarnacion (106) finished 3-0 in the tournament after a technical fall in 4:34 against Connor Green Encarnacion worked him so hard that the beginning of the third period was delayed so Green could catch his breath ride him out and look for my takedowns,” he said pinning Reggie Berrios 29 seconds into the second at 99 pounds drag-arounds and other techniques to dominate “Today I was just coming here to do my best,” he said but his toughness and tenacity really make up for it.” Poly Prep and Roosevelt also participated in the dual meet Sileo and Schmidt were apart of Wantagh teams that reached three straight Nassau County Class B title games from 2008-2010 Both earned All-American honors during their careers with the Lady Warriors TD BANK confirmed plans to shut down 20 locations This month’s filings included closures up and down the east coast Banks like TD are required to report branch closing plans to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency OCC reported 20 separate closure filings by TD Most of the banks shutting are in the Northeast It’s not clear when exactly these locations will shut down but clients will need to find their new branch if they hope to continue in-person banking New York is losing the most locations. Most of those locations are in New York City or Long Island. New England will also lose several TD Banks Two locations in South Carolina are slated to shut Wells Fargo is also planning to close some locations, Daily Mail reported That bank is preparing to shut down some west coast locations With many Americans shifting to online banking since the pandemic banks have shut down locations across the country California was hit the hardest by the wave of closures See how your state stacked up A Navy Federal customer claimed the bank took $1,000 and left them "fuming" 2013 at 11:21 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced on Wednesday that a Brooklyn man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in a violent 2011 home invasion in North Bellmore.Eduardo Cruz was convicted in July of nine counts of first-degree robbery three counts of second-degree unlawful imprisonment two counts second-degree of criminal possession of a weapon fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property second-degree attempted unlawful imprisonment and third-degree escape.Rice said that at approximately 8:30 a.m exited a vehicle being driven by Dario Guerrero and approached a North Bellmore home Cruz then entered the home through the unlocked front door and began beating a female resident before signaling to Segura and Arroyo to come inside tied up three residents of the home and began to search for money A fourth resident who lived in the home’s basement was also tied up before having his cell phone and $350 stolen from him.During the course of the robbery a male resident of the home Arroyo grabbed him and tried to pull him inside The male resident broke free of Arroyo and ran from the house into the street screaming for help The three defendants fled the house and got into the waiting car being driven by Guerrero and were spotted by responding police driving eastbound on Merrick Road into Merrick.Upon stopping the vehicle an NCPD officer ordered all four men out of the car and then attempted to arrest Cruz Segura and Guerrero jumped back into their car and drove straight at the officer Arroyo fled on foot but was arrested a short time later Guerrero was arrested after a traffic stop on Sunrise Highway in Wantagh Segura was arrested in a cab heading back to Brooklyn after a traffic stop on the Southern State Parkway.Segura pleaded guilty for his role in the attack and was sentenced to 15 years in prison Guerrero was convicted at trial and sentenced to 1 ¼ to 4 years 26.“Families should be able to feel secure in their own homes without worrying that a band of violent thugs is going to break into their home and terrorize them,” Rice said Cruz led this attack and then violently resisted arrest when police tried to apprehend him and his cohorts The excellent work of members of the Nassau County Police Department and my office ensure that this defendant will spend a very long time behind bars.”   working with the Nassau County Police Department arrested four men yesterday on various drug charges after it was discovered heroin was being sold out of a beverage distributor located adjacent to two Wantagh schools detectives from Suffolk County Police Department’s Narcotics Section along with Nassau County Police Department’s Narcotics Section were able to determine that heroin was being sold out of The investigation utilized undercover narcotics purchases of heroin that was being sold out of the store The investigation concluded with a search warrant being executed on the store this past Tuesday at 3:15 p.m All four of the men arrested worked in the store including Michael Pfister was arrested on an active Suffolk County warrant Cruz was charged with five counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and five counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds Marmolejos was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance Pfister was charged with one count of unlawful possession of marijuana The New York State Liquor Authority was also present during the execution of the search warrant and will be conducting their own investigation according to Suffolk County police officials Cruz will be held overnight and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip later on Thursday Schwartzman and Marmolejos were arraigned Wednesday morning Friendly’s – the ice-cream parlor that serves up frozen treats burgers and more – abruptly closed seven Long Island locations in Jan announced it was closing the seven restaurants including the East Northport location at 361 Larkfield Road The announcement also included closings at locations in Farmingdale “These closings are regrettable; however the franchisee concluded that continuing operation was no longer viable,” J & B said in a statement “Guests can still find 18 operating Friendly’s restaurants in Nassau and Suffolk counties.” Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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