2025 at 11:45 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Firefighters battled a house fire in South Farmingdale on Sunday NY — Firefighters battled a South Farmingdale house fire on Easter Sunday afternoon Officers responded to a home on Crestwood Boulevard around 2:45 p.m The residence was "fully engulfed in flames" when officers arrived along with the assistance of nearby departments extinguished the flames after the home's residents were evacuated The home sustained extensive damage in the fire as most were sitting down to their Holiday Feast for Easter the members of the South Farmingdale Fire Department battled a fierce house fire on Crestwood Boulevard," the South Farmingdale Fire Department wrote on its Facebook page The fire spread throughout the structure from the ground floor through the attic "The fire extinguishment was further hampered by burning propane cylinders in the rear yard," the department stated The blaze was placed under control within an hour The Nassau County Fire Marshal Hazmat Unit handled the leaking propane tanks with a controlled burn off of the compromised cylinders reported three minor injuries and was "extremely grateful for the neighboring fire departments who assisted South Farmingdale," the department wrote The Nassau County Fire Marshal and Arson Bomb Squad also responded to the scene The fire was deemed not suspicious at this time Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Calling it "a sad situation," Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said her office has opened a criminal investigation into the animal owner who left 30 cats and kittens in a wooded area alongside the Bethpage Bikeway in South Farmingdale — felines that were rescued after two teens riding bikes stumbled upon them Tuesday found in cages rescuer Linda Cairo said were "filled with feces and urine" and lacking ample food and water were transferred on Tuesday evening to the Town of Oyster Bay Animal Shelter in Syosset standing beside Donnelly and cradling a kitten pledged to have the rescued felines evaluated treated and placed for adoption into "happy homes." A handyman who said he delivered Uber Eats orders on his bicycle McDermott said "family issues" forced him out of his home in Farmingdale a week ago He said he moved the cats "two at a time" on his bike leaving them in the area just north of Exit 31 on the Southern State Parkway and just east of the Bethpage State Parkway "There were domestic issues," McDermott said I actually spend about $400 a month taking care of them." McDermott said he planned to move to Florida with the cats who runs Long Long Island Cat Kitten Solution who runs Kittynap Kitten Rescue in Bethpage the Nassau County SPCA and Town of Oyster Bay Animal Control officers "I think someone was taking care of them in the past — and maybe just got overwhelmed." this story will have a happy ending," Saladino said it's about providing forever homes — not seeing them forever homeless." Donnelly said McDermott had "open criminal complaints" and initial reports from investigators indicated McDermott was not supposed to be in the Farmingdale home where he said he'd lived — and the cats were not supposed to be there either Whether criminal charges will be brought against McDermott depends on the outcome of the investigation "It's so important for people to understand that animals We can't have 30 cats living on the side of the Southern State Parkway in cages," Donnelly said "We have an obligation to make sure the animals are safe — and he's safe." 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 Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months 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 woman has died days after being struck by a Jeep on Long Island The intersection of West Chestnut and Spencer streets in South Farmingdale following a collision in South Farmingdale days earlier Piazza was crossing West Chestnut Street near Spencer Street at around 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, when she was hit by a 35-year-old Jeep driver making a left turn, as Daily Voice reported She suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to the hospital where she spent the weekend in critical condition Additional details about Piazza’s life were not immediately available. Loved ones are invited to share funeral details, a statement, and/or photos by emailing mmashburn@dailyvoice.com 2024 at 10:04 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Susan Blackmore She was last seen by her family on Wednesday NY — A South Farmingdale woman was reported missing on Thursday after her family last saw her Wednesday was last seen leaving her Plitt Avenue residence at 12:30 p.m 5 feet 5 inches tall and 120 pounds with green eyes and blonde hair She was wearing a green ski jacket and dark yoga pants Detectives asked anyone with information on Blackmore to contact the Nassau County Missing Persons Squad at 516-573-7347 or call 911 The Long Island widow of a late FDNY lieutenant who died in a double fatal fire decades ago was located hours after relatives reported her missing Susan Blackmore, age 68, of South Farmingdale, had last been seen leaving her Plitt Avenue residence at around 12:30 p.m her sister Jeanne Santora informed her Facebook followers that Blackmore had been found and was safe “Thank you everyone,” she wrote News of Blackmore’s disappearance quickly gained traction on social media where many noted that the mother of four is the widow of late FDNY Lieutenant James “Jimmy” Blackmore Blackmore died in July 1998 when a floor collapsed as he battled a five-alarm fire at an apartment building in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn The blaze also claimed the life of Captain Scott Lapiedra 2025 at 6:41 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A woman was critically injured in a South Farmingdale crash on Friday night NY — A pedestrian was seriously injured in a South Farmingdale crash on Friday night was crossing the road near Spencer and West Chestnut streets when she was hit by a 2018 Jeep driven by a 35-year-old man around 7:05 p.m. The driver was making a left turn onto Spencer Street The woman was brought to a local hospital by police ambulance where she was listed in critical condition One firefighter was injured battling an early morning fire Thursday in an abandoned storage shed in East Farmingdale One firefighter was injured battling an early morning fire Thursday that destroyed a storage shed at an abandoned commercial property in East Farmingdale North Amityville and North Lindenhurst responded as did an ambulance crew from West Babylon Police said the fire was reported by a passing motorist Fire officials said that while the scene was listed as being on Route 110 the shed appears to be on the adjacent property which also backs up to a home on a nearby street Both commercial property locations are currently fenced off and unoccupied Fire officials said the fire was contained to the shed — and that the residence was not damaged and officials said he was transported to a hospital for treatment after suffering a foot injury at the site The extent of any injuries was not disclosed A 24-year-old woman was critically injured after being struck by a Jeep in South Farmingdale A Nassau County Police Highway Patrol vehicle on West Chestnut Street near Spencer Street Detectives said the woman was crossing the street northbound when the 35-year-old driver of a 2018 Jeep turned left onto Spencer Street and struck her The victim was transported to an area hospital by police ambulance 2024 at 9:31 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Here is where to see Santa Claus in Farmingdale in 2024 NY — Visits and pictures with Santa Claus are treasured traditions for many Farmingdale families kids have several chances to see jolly old St Santa arrived at Walt Whitman Shops on Nov 8 and will be available for visits through Christmas Eve 2025 at 7:02 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Marisa Piazza was pronounced dead on Monday in connection with injuries she suffered when she was hit by a car on Friday night NY — The woman critically injured in a crash in South Farmingdale on Friday night succumbed to her injuries was pronounced dead by a physician at a local hospital at 3:54 p.m Piazza was crossing the road near Spencer and West Chestnut streets when she was hit by a 2018 Jeep driven by a 35-year-old man around 7:05 p.m Piazza was brought to a local hospital by police ambulance Click here for Greater Long Island newsletters. Click here to download the iPhone app Family and friends gathered Saturday morning to mourn the loss of 24-year-old Marisa Piazza a case manager dedicated to helping others who died this week after being struck by a car in South Farmingdale Piazza was critically injured in the crash She was crossing northbound at the intersection of West Chestnut and Spencer streets when a 35-year-old man driving a 2018 Jeep struck her while making a left turn Piazza was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition and died on Monday Police said that the driver remained at the scene and no other injuries were reported in the car accident where loved ones gathered to remember Piazza’s kindness Piazza worked as a case manager at The Fortune Society a nonprofit focused on rehabilitation and reentry services stating on her LinkedIn page that she had “a growing foundation and passion for rehabilitation and aiding in others’ successes.” She previously worked as a case manager at the Family Service League of Long Island A graduate of Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia she earned a degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology Tributes poured in from friends and colleagues words can’t explain the effect you had on everyone you met You were and are a bright light for everyone who was blessed enough to know you,” Steve McManus wrote on the Tribute Wall of Piazza’s obituary “She chose to be a human being who was kind She loved helping people…Her way of being speaks to the beautiful spirit that she possessed.” and uplifting presence made a lasting impact on our community Top photo: Maria Piazza of Farmingdale was 24 years old She posted this photo on her Facebook page last August (Facebook) Tap here to see what’s happening Suffolk County Police Third Squad detectives investigating a crash that seriously injured a pedestrian in Bay Shore Friday night Two pedestrians were hurt in separate crashes in South Farmingdale and Bay Shore on Friday night A 24-year-old woman was critically injured when she was hit by a vehicle while crossing Spencer Street in South Farmingdale around 7 p.m was making a left turn onto Spencer Street from West Chestnut Street when the collision occurred A police ambulance transported the victim to an area hospital Suffolk police said in a release they are investigating a crash that seriously injured a male pedestrian on the Sunrise Highway service road under the Fifth Avenue bridge in Bay Shore around 9:42 p.m was headed west when his vehicle struck the man An ambulance transported the victim to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore for treatment of serious injuries  Anyone with information on the South Farmingdale crash can call 1-800-244-TIPS Those with information on the Bay Shore crash can call 631-854-8352 More coverage: Long Island traffic crashes claimed 243 lives in 2022, 29% more than in 2019, Newsday has reported as dangerous driving increased post-COVID-19 and police traffic enforcement dropped according to a Newsday analysis of crash and ticketing data and traffic experts 2024 at 9:52 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Christopher Rosselli was arrested Tuesday in connection with a fatal South Farmingdale hit-and-run that killed Mohamed Elromi (Nassau County Police Department)SOUTH FARMINGDALE NY — A man was arrested Tuesday in connection with a fatal South Farmingdale hit-and-run from the winter of Wantaghm was charged with one count of leaving the scene of an incident resulting in a death His arraignment was scheduled for Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead Officers were called to 116 Merritts Road at 3:40 a.m. Jan. 28 for a report of a pedestrian struck lying in the roadway with severe head trauma A short-bed silver /gray pickup truck struck Elromi and left before officers arrived Elromi was pronounced dead at a local hospital Graffiti was removed from the September 11 Memorial at Tobay Beach on Monday Two people face criminal mischief charges after they spray painted graffiti in several locations Saturday at Tobay Beach officers were called to the Town of Oyster Bay park at 1 Ocean Pkwy where they found graffiti at the Boatyard restaurant The graffiti caused about $3,500 worth of damage in total who were arrested on Sunday without incident Each faces charges of second-degree felony criminal mischief and a misdemeanor charge of making graffiti Follow the latest developments in the Gilgo Beach killings investigation “This act of vandalism is an affront to the memory of those we lost and the heroes who sacrificed everything,” Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said in a prepared statement “The Town of Oyster Bay will never tolerate hate and we urge anyone with information to come forward immediately.” Muhammad pleaded not guilty Monday in First District Court in Hempstead He was released with nonmonetary bail conditions and ordered to return to court next week Muhammed’s court-assigned attorney could not be reached for comment Monday The juvenile was set to be arraigned Monday at the Youth Section of First District Court in Hempstead Maureen Mullarkey is a breaking news reporter at Newsday She previously worked as a reporter for Patch where she covered a range of Long Island stories on topics such as the Diocese of Rockville Centre bankruptcy and the Babylon School District abuse scandals Public works and water supply facilities near Ridge Road in Farmingdale Farmingdale's water remains safe to drink A slow-moving chemical plume that has already reached one of Farmingdale’s three public water supply wells will soon reach the remaining two but officials say ongoing upgrades to the wells will keep drinking water clean moving south from the 9½-acre former site of Claremont Polychemical Corp. which operated from the mid-1960s through the ’70s is affecting the Eastern Parkway well and will in the near future reach the two wells at Ridge Road They’re going to be polluted,” Ekstrand said during an interview Aug Farmingdale's water remains safe to drink after a nearly $20 million effort to purchase and install upgrades that filter the chemicals The village completed the enhancements at the first well affected by the plume earlier this summer and the upgrades to the remaining unaffected wells are expected to be ready by next spring “We are confident we’re going to make it in time,” said Village Administrator Brian Harty referring to the plume’s arrival at those two wells It is not clear when the plume will reach the wells at Ridge Road The Claremont Polychemical plume is separate from the expansive Grumman plume that is located west of Farmingdale Claremont Polychemical ran an industrial site in Old Bethpage that manufactured pigments for plastics and inks between 1966 and 1980 The company disposed of liquid waste in leaching basins and put sludge in drums and metal tanks according to the Environmental Protection Agency Nassau County authorities in 1979 found 2,000 to 3,000 drums of inks resins and organic solvents throughout the site located about 1½ miles north of Farmingdale Some of those drums were damaged and released chemicals into the ground The EPA used emergency funding in 1989 to begin the cleanup of the site shallow groundwater near the site was found to be contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation The village was notified about the plume in October 2021 and Farmingdale moved to acquire advanced oxidation processing and granulated activated carbon equipment during the winter of 2021 into 2022 The equipment was put into service at the Eastern Parkway well in July and identical systems are expected to be up and running at the other two wells at Ridge Road in the first quarter of 2025 The DEC said the groundwater contamination from the Claremont Polychemical site is not a continuous plume After past and ongoing remediation efforts They range from 65 feet deep in the areas closest to the former industrial grounds to around 250 feet deep in areas south of the location VOCs are usually human-made chemicals that are part of the process of manufacturing paints and other products Farmingdale borrowed $19.65 million to pay for the equipment upgrades and Ekstrand said the village is expected to receive about $8.6 million in state and county grants to help cover the cost He said Farmingdale also applied for additional federal funding The village raised water rates around 8% beginning in May and said future rate increases are expected similar to increases seen elsewhere on Long Island As the village prepares for the plume's VOC contamination, the DEC said "emerging contaminants," including PFAS and 1,4 dioxane, have been detected at its monitoring wells, according to the agency's 2024 first quarter report. The federal government announced strict national limits earlier this year on the amount of PFAS or "forever chemicals," allowed in drinking water Village officials say the equipment works to filter out those contaminants a professor at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences said Farmingdale’s upgrades can effectively target contaminants that are bearing down on its wells he said that higher pollution concentrations from the plume could cause village officials to more frequently change out components of the infrastructure like the large column that polluted water is pumped through “If the AOP [advanced oxidation processing] is destroying the compound the granulated activated carbon is actually just absorbing the PFAS out of the water,” Gobler said if you hit a plume and the concentrations are very high it just means you’ll need to more frequently change out" pieces of that equipment The DEC issues quarterly monitoring reports for the Claremont Polychemical plume The agency said it has 55 monitoring wells that assess the location of the pollution including six that are specifically located directly above Farmingdale’s public water systems The agency confirmed one of Farmingdale’s wells detected contaminants from the plume but said the pollution is being effectively treated Dozens of Long Island school districts have already scheduled a two-hour delay for the start of classes on Wednesday as another winter storm is expected to blanket the area with several inches of snow overnight Some of the larger districts that have posted delayed starts include William Floyd Westhampton Beach and Eastport-South Manor are also tapping the brakes on the start of school for Wednesday As far as scheduled closings of school for the day The Calverton School has reported that school is cancelled on Wednesday Below is a list of Long Island school districts that as of 7 p.m. on Tuesday have announced a delayed start for school on Wednesday, according to News 12 Long Island which is maintaining an updated list of school delays and closures Weather predictions for the Long Island region call for snow showers to start rolling in about 8 p.m before heavier precipitation begins at 10 p.m The snow is expected to begin tapering off about 3 a.m Up to three inches are expected to fall on Long Island with temperatures hovering around 30 degrees On the heels of tonight’s storm comes another wintry mix that is expected to run Wednesday evening into Thursday That wether system is expected to affect the Wednesday evening commute A 20-year-old man and a juvenile were both charged in a string of vandalism at a Long Island beach Officers were called to Tobay Beach in Massapequa for graffiti damage that was done to several areas at around 3:45 p.m An investigation found that Tayyab Muhammad of South Farmingdale and a juvenile accomplice defaced the 9/11 Memorial Wall which also damaged the Boatyard and Surf Shack restaurants Muhammad and the juvenile suspect were arrested Sunday They were both charged with criminal mischief and making graffiti NY — The Empanada Spot celebrated its grand opening on Thursday — just over a week after it started serving Colombian delicacies in Farmingdale and a representative for New York state Sen said it feels "amazing" to have cut the ribbon on his establishment "The welcome has been amazing," Castro told Patch the support with the chamber has been a blessing The Empanada Spot opened last week Castro said his shop's first weekend serving up food was "crazy." "It's better to be that way than to be sitting down doing nothing The Empanada Spot offers a different type of cuisine from the Italian establishments that previously occupied the building Many Farmingdale residents expressed excitement about having a new type of food in the area The Castro family themselves live in Farmingdale "We kind of knew we needed something different," Castro said The eatery offers more than 40 different types of empanadas a member of the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors congratulated Castro and his family on opening The Empanada Spot "Danny told me when I first met him that the reason why he moved here he couldn't find a place to walk close enough to get empanadas near his house," Blitzer said Let's work 80 hours a week and open up our own restaurant.'" The empanadas come from Castro's mother's recipes "People are raving about you online on Facebook And this is the last ribbon cutting we are doing in this location let’s start by explaining the colloquial use of the term “South Shore” here on Long Island — in this case Suffolk County If someone in Suffolk says they’re from the South Shore they’re referring to the dozens of communities that run along the coastline — from Amityville to Eastport — mostly straddling Sunrise Highway And that’s an entirely different animal No one from Southampton is from the South Shore this 40-mile stretch is home to some of the most diverse communities on Long Island And it’s all underscored by a string of renowned which is one of just 10 national seashores managed by the U.S and just experience on Suffolk County’s South Shore If you’re going out on the South Shore heading to one of its many downtowns is the move because you can skip from place to place without getting back in a car as well as DIY spots and date night options with a few less bars but more finer dining options than Patchogue Lindenhurst is our choice for craft beer lovers with four breweries within walking distance on Wellwood Avenue and two more in nearby Copiague and Amityville because the LIRR station runs right through the downtown with plenty of drinking and dining options Sayville and Center Moriches each offer more of a quaint downtown dining experience This is a huge problem for Suffolk County’s South Shore and we hope elected officials will make it a priority to help facilitate the building of more hotels and start thinking more outside the box when it comes to zoning and permitting for bed and breakfasts especially for guests coming in for weddings as there are dozens of catering halls on and near the water (All that said, a Tempo by Hilton hotel is currently in the works for downtown Patchogue.) There are some existing hotels around the airport to the north but along the coastline and Sunrise Highway you’ll find few we could recommend road-trip era motels utilized by Social Services Boutique options are limited and small, but really nice, and include Bellport Inn and Temperance Hall, which are both in Bellport, as well as the Ocean Bay House There’s a range of performance venues in the region, from those offering professional shows to really great community theaters and arts centers. Two of Long Island’s three professional theaters are located on the South Shore: The Argyle Theatre in Babylon and The Gateway in Bellport Joseph’s University Long Island Campus in Patchogue Tap the links for show schedules and tickets The best villages and hamlets (as we call unincorporated communities here on Long Island) for waterfront dining is absolutely Patchogue but almost every village and hamlet offers options Fire Island offers plenty of waterfront dining options, but there’s only that’s directly on the dunes of the Atlantic Ocean (as opposed to facing the bay), and that’s Casino Café at Davis Park (from Patchogue) offer food and alcoholic beverages at designated “beach bars,” with the biggest being Salt Shack at Cedar Beach often with live music playin into the night during the summer months Robert Moses State Park is a gem and is actually located on the westernmost tip of Fire Island It’s accessible by car travel over the breathtaking Robert Moses Causeway (pictured) Smith Point is also accessible by car over the Smith Point Bridge, and is similar to Robert Moses in many ways, except you can camp out on the campgrounds facing the bay, and take your 4×4 on the eastern portion of what’s called Outer Beach. The one caveat for taking your truck or SUV on the beach is you need a permit. Click here for details And remember to deflate those tires or you will get stuck What’s colloquially referred to as Fire Island (even though it includes Robert Moses and Smiths Point) is only accessible for visitors via ferry The South Shore has some wonderful federal county and town parks and facilities for hiking experiencing history or just gathering with friends and relatives Many former MLB players have played for the Ducks Long Island’s lone major professional sports team, the New York Islanders but UBS Arena is pretty easily accessible by car or Long Island Rail Road Friends don’t let friends pick them up at JFK or LaGuardia airports in Queens because the entire experience is harrowing and nerve-wracking as those are the only airports in the United States where you pull up and immediately start getting hollered and screamed at by police officers and airport workers Not to mention the traffic getting back through Queens and Nassau and out to Suffolk County Note: We would rather transfer twice to end up at MacArthur The LIRR will take you from NYC all the way to Montauk (through the Hamptons) via the Babylon, then Montauk lines. The local trains stop at every town on the South Shore, so you could tour the region from your window seat! (It might take awhile.) But, fares just went up This is the busiest commuter railroad in North America You might think all that volume would make it one of the cheapest This is the preferred way to bop around the South Shore Heavy traffic typically loosens up after you get through Nassau County There are no traffic lights on Sunrise Highway after Lindenhurst so it’s pretty smooth sailing from “Lindy” on east Just don’t call it The Sunrise Highway; you don’t want to look like a tourist Southern State Parkway runs mostly along Sunrise Highway but ends in East Islip was built in the late-1920s to bring summer travelers out from the city to enjoy Long Island’s state park system Now it’s a sort of track for 20-somethings in cheap cars with sound-makers to chase each other around This is a curvy road that was built for pleasure The ferries from the South Shore have one destination and one destination only: Fire Island There are three areas from which to set sail (from west to east) Fire Island Ferries provides ferry service between Bay Shore and the Fire Island communities of Kismet Just a few more items worth noting: You can’t bring bikes on the ferries but dogs are allowed (though some communities don’t allow dogs on the beaches.) There are no bathrooms on the boats do not miss the last boat off Fire Island at night Sayville Ferry Service has been taking beachgoers across the Great South Bay to Fire Island since 1894 And still ushers residents and visitors from Sayville to Fire Island’s legendary LGBT communities of Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines Water Island and the Sunken Forest at Sailors Haven The ferries operate out of a marina on Browns River in Sayville There are two ferry terminals on Patchogue River. The Davis Park Ferry Co. runs all boats back and forth between Patchogue and the community Davis Park, as well as the Watch Hill wilderness The address for the Patchogue-Davis Park Ferry Terminal is 80 Brightwood Street in Patchogue, at the town’s Sandspit Marina. Tap here for the ferry schedules to Davis Park and it’s discounted for Brookhaven Town residents Don’t even bother looking for on-street parking The Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry Terminal is operated by the National Park Service and is located at 150 West Avenue in Patchogue seasonal passenger ferry service is provided to Watch Hill by Davis Park Ferry Co. 2024 at 1:23 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Mohamed Elromi was identified as the man killed in a South Farmingdale hit-and-run crash early Sunday NY — A man was killed in a South Farmingdale hit-and-run crash early Sunday Officers were called to 116 Merritts Road at 3:40 a.m They found Elromi lying in the roadway with severe head trauma Detectives request anyone with information regarding the hit-and-run to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or call 911 NY — Convenience Hub recently opened in South Farmingdale The shop is located on Merritts Road to the right of Irving's Pastrami and Cafe La Bella Notte. The cafe has yet to reopen after it was destroyed in a fire in December 2022 2024 at 10:08 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A South Farmingdale home was damaged in a fire on Monday NY — A South Farmingdale home was damaged in a fire on Monday afternoon Officers were called to a West Oak Street residence at 2:50 p.m. All residents were out of the home before police arrived Approximately 50 firefighters were on scene The building sustained moderate structural damage along with variant degrees of smoke The Nassau County Fire Marshal and Arson Bomb Squad detectives were on scene 2022 at 6:18 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Firefighters battled a South Farmingdale house fire on Friday afternoon NY — Firefighters battled a South Farmingdale home fire on Friday afternoon as Nassau police went to the Midwood Avenue home Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino joined with Councilman Lou Imbroto and the Town’s Highway and Planning & Development officials to commence the demolition of a long-dilapidated zombie home in the South Farmingdale community This longtime eyesore was recently court-granted for demolition following multiple complaints from local neighbors “This property has had a lack of maintenance and complaints from neighbors,” said Supervisor Saladino Town personnel found deplorable conditions at this location with each passing inspection This property showed clear signs of neglect and it became more and more evident that this dwelling was falling into great disrepair.” Town inspections discovered a variety of code violations debris strewn throughout both indoors and outside With the property owner not fulfilling most opportunities to clean it up the Town Quality of Life Task Force stepped in to help residents “While the condition of this property worsened over time the Town continued all efforts to keep the property maintained and of course safe to the surrounding neighborhood,” said Councilman Imbroto “The great success of our Task Force really speaks for itself as we’ve now successfully demolished more than two dozen homes since its inception.” The Code Enforcement Bureau of the Department of Planning and Development is charged with the enforcement of all codes, rules and regulations pertaining to zoning, housing and public safety. It is expressly designed to handle requests of citizens regarding possible violations.  To file a complaint, or to register a zombie property in your neighborhood, please visit www.oysterbaytown.com/codeenforcement South Farmingdale hometown hero Marc Bynum is reimagining the high-end restaurant experience for the road The 43-year-old chef is cooking up ramen and handheld foods with flavors beloved around the world on his new Hush Food Truck Long Islanders are likely familiar with Bynum and the Hush name. The three-time Food Network “Chopped” champion opened his first restaurant, Hush Bistro, in Farmingdale in 2014. He also runs catering through his Marc Bynum Concepts brand Bynum boils down three decades of culinary experience he acquired through books I’ll make the barbacoa with them in Puebla.” then I can take my knowledge and make it my own,” he added “So it’s not necessarily traditional Hush Food Truck’s menu boasts Bynum’s take on crowd pleasing — and sometimes messy — handhelds Louie ribs in a chipotle barbecue sauce topped with pickled watermelon rind and serves his dry aged beef burger with cave aged cheddar His gochujang wings boast “dat sauce,” his concoction of gochujang The other half of Bynum’s menu is a selection of ramen bowls Spice fans will crave the spicy shrimp or the lobster miso aka the “bad & bougie.” The chef said the latter is a top seller with it’s lobster miso “The beautiful thing about ramen is it’s such a new cuisine it’s only 100 years old,” Bynum said “So you can still put your mark on it all of those things and (blend) it with Japanese and Korean techniques “And it’s not like everybody else’s ramen,” he added With seven books about ramen on hand in his truck While cooking up food in various communities he hopes to develop in his followers a similar hunger for knowledge “I don’t want everybody in my community and every food desert on Long Island and New York to always have to just eat fried food and not good vegetables,” the chef said in high-end restaurants on Long Island,” he added “I don’t want to say I’m one of one It’s more about teaching what I’ve learned over the past 30 years and teaching it to the new generation And hopefully they’ll take it and listen.” Bynum hopes to turn his truck into a platform for aspiring chefs He said they can cook with him in their communities and educate residents not only about food He is also finalizing “From Guns to Butter,” a series of courses with guest speakers and chefs that he will run in Nassau County The program is a culmination of dual passions to educate young would-be culinary masters and to provide second chances to formerly incarcerated individuals “It’s not easier than the street in a lot of ways it’s more difficult,” Bynum said of the kitchen “It’s not about your hands and fighting — it’s about using your brain.” Hungry Long Islanders can order from Bynum’s Hush Food Truck from noon-7 p.m., Monday to Friday at his regular spot in the Farmingdale Stop & Shop parking lot. People can follow his Instagram to see when and where he will park his mobile eatery on Saturdays The chef’s fans can also stay up to date on his menu as it may change drastically down the road I might be doing tacos or something like that,” Bynum said I’m back to having fun again and that’s what I really want.” 2023 at 4:30 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Michael Owen was convicted on Friday of murdering his estranged wife Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced James man was found guilty on Friday of murdering his estranged wife in January 2020 Michael Owen, 30, was convicted of second-degree murder after he strangled Kelly Owen to death at her South Farmingdale home on Jan Michael Owen's sentencing is scheduled for Sept "Kelly Owen was a bright young mother who had aspirations to be a nurse," Donnelly said in a news release "She was in the early stages of pregnancy with her estranged husband's child and wanted to reconcile the marriage ended those dreams when he strangled his wife with a rope-like object on January 2020 Our condolences are with Kelly's family as they mourn her senseless loss." Kelly Owen was at her apartment on First Avenue in South Farmingdale the day she died The nursing student lived on the same property as her parents and shared custody of her then-6-year-old child with her husband Kelly’s father walked the child to school that morning Kelly, at the time, was working as an aide at an aftercare program at a local elementary school between 3 and 6 p.m. When she did not show up for work, a co-worker called her parents, and Kelly’s parents discovered their daughter's lifeless body "[Michael Owen] did not want this child," Detective Lt Stephen Fitzpatrick of the Nassau County Police Homicide Squad said at a news conference in January 2020 "He did not want to give her medical insurance He had this new relationship that he was involved in Video surveillance showed Michael's vehicle was in Kelly's neighborhood at 9:30 a.m parked two blocks away from Kelly’s home and turned his phone off before arriving in South Farmingdale so that his cellphone location could not be tracked Michael deleted text messages from both his phone and Kelly's phone Michael's DNA was discovered around Kelly's neck The jury deliberated for roughly two hours at the summations Thursday 2023 at 10:21 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A Farmingdale home was engulfed by flames on Wednesday evening NY — A South Farmingdale home was engulfed by flames on Wednesday evening prompting several fire departments to respond The fire originated from a barbecue grill in the back of a Plitt Avenue home around 5:45 p.m. The homeowner used the outdoor grill and turned it off but when he returned to the grill he found the back of his home had become engulfed in flames The homeowner grabbed his daughter and two family dogs and called 911 after leaving the house The South Farmingdale Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire with the help of firefighters from Farmingdale North Massapequa and the North Amityville fire departments Four firefighters were treated at the home for minor smoke inhalation The Nassau County Arson Bomb Squad along with the Nassau County Fire Marshall and the Town of Oyster Bay Building Department investigated the home and deemed the fire accidental 2019 at 4:13 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Dangerous chemicals tied to cancer problems in pregnancy and child development issues are found in drinking water across the country (Shutterstock)Most Americans don’t think twice about drinking a glass of water found more than 270 harmful contaminants in local drinking water across the nation problems in pregnancy and other serious health conditions aggregated and analyzed data from almost 50,000 local water utilities in all 50 states Read more on the Environmental Working Group’s data sources and methodology. The organization found a troubling discrepancy between the current legal limits for contaminants and the most recent authoritative studies of what is safe to consume “Legal does not necessarily equal safe,” Sydney Evans a science analyst at the environmental group “A lot of these legal limits are outdated and not necessarily the safe level and the EWG really wants to fill that gap,” Evans said “The federal government has not been able to set those new regulations to protect public health We’re trying to fill the gap to let people know what the safe levels of contaminants in water are.” the group found six contaminants across our water supply between 2012 and 2017 Farmingdale is serviced by two different water utilities: The Village of Farmingdale Water Department The following contaminants were detected above the environmental group’s own recommended health guidelines in the village's water: The following contaminants were detected above the environmental group’s own recommended health guidelines in South Farmingdale's water: the environmental group estimated up to 110 million Americans could have the potentially cancer-causing immune-system damaging contaminant in their drinking water Yet the EPA requires drinking water utilities across the country to test for only six of 14 known substances in the category A variety of other contaminants often found in the water of millions of Americans can profoundly impact health which has been linked to brain damage in small children; arsenic The EPA did not respond to numerous requests by Patch seeking comment on the findings of the study many of the 270-plus contaminants detected through water sampling are at levels deemed legal under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act yet are above levels that recent studies have found to pose possible health risks Visit the environmental group’s web page for Farmingdale to see the recommended ways to combat the specific substances in your drinking water and the risks that they pose "If they disagree with the federal or state standards I'm not an expert in that," said Frank Koch superintendent of the South Farmingdale Water District "It's our job to meet or exceed those standards." "Our village water is healthy," said Farmingdale Village Administrator Brian Harty And we're under all the limits of anything that's being talked about in the press these days." New York State is currently poised to adopt the nation’s most protective maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFOA spokeswoman for the New York State Department of Health "New York State agencies are also undertaking what is arguably the nation’s most comprehensive investigation of potential sources of contamination by these chemicals EWG’s guidelines are not enforceable standards protective of public health as established through a scientific process that evaluates the health impacts of the contaminant and the technology and cost required for prevention The environmental group has a clear opinion on the federal government’s handling of water safety “The regulatory system meant to ensure the safety of America’s drinking water is broken. The inexcusable failure of the federal government’s responsibility to protect public health means there are no legal limits for more than 160 unregulated contaminants in U.S. tap water,”Environmental Working Group researchers stated in its “State of American Drinking Water.” A focal point of the organization’s concern is the Environmental Protection Agency’s refusal to add a single new contaminant to the toxic chemicals list covered by the Safe Drinking Water Act in almost 20 years “With the science on what we call ‘emerging contaminants’ continuing to grow it is clear that there are components of our tap water that can be improved,” Kristin Strock professor of Environmental Science at Dickinson College who is not affiliated with the environmental group also emphasized the challenges in the process of federally regulating harmful contaminants suggesting the current system is somewhat backward “The road to regulating harmful contaminants is difficult as our current construct for ensuring clean water is based on ‘proving’ that something is harmful before it is regulated as opposed to assuming contaminants could be harmful and ‘proving’ them safe before allowing them to go into industrial production and “The EPA has been working on identifying safe limits for a number of these emerging contaminants and continues to work on the problem.” The Environmental Working Group also noted that the every-day person is frustratingly helpless to the chemicals going into their water supply and the subsequent costs associated with different water filtering techniques vice president of science investigation at the group “Industries and companies that released PFAS into the environment and drinking water sources — should be responsible to covering such costs as it is unfair for homeowners to be saddled with costs for pollution they did not create.” The water group does offer information, though, on filtering technologies that you can use to dramatically reduce water contamination The environmental group’s public database catalogues contaminants in every water system in the country — the first such database of its kind. First, select the state where you live, and you’ll see state-level data. For more local information, enter your ZIP code. After you enter your ZIP code you’ll be directed to a page showing the name of your water utility system Select “View Utility” to see which contaminants were identified in your area For those with concerns, the environmental group provides a guide to buying water filters If you find your local water supply has a particularly high level of a dangerous chemical you can search for a filter that best blocks the specific substance the group also acknowledges they are more of a Band-Aid solution than an actual fix “We really want to iterate that’s a first-line “It’s what you can do today to protect yourself but really we want long-term permanent change and that’s going to happen at the community level.” Subsequently, the environmental group has created a set of seven questions to ask your elected officials about tap water The organization strongly believes that everyone can help in the battle to improve tap water safety “We absolutely believe in the power of personal advocacy — for individuals to reach out to their local elected officials of all levels The power of people can come into play,” Naidenko said The majority of the group’s funding comes from private charitable foundations here’s a partial list of the organization’s largest backers More detailed information on the organization’s funding and annual reports are available on its website 2023 at 1:00 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Here is where to see Santa Claus in Farmingdale in 2023 NY — Visits and pictures with Santa are treasured traditions for many Farmingdale families there’s nothing quite like seeing jolly old St Santa will be at Macy’s stores in New York City In New York, Santa will be at Macy's Herald Square from Nov. 24 through Dec. 24. Reservations are required. Book yours here are offering professional portraits with Santa through Dec JC Penney has stores in Brooklyn and Queens 2023 at 3:01 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Hair District New York is coming to South Farmingdale NY — The Hair District New York is coming to South Farmingdale Signage for the storefront is up on Hempstead Turnpike in the same shopping center as Wine Palace and Verizon and crews are working on assembling the interior An opening date has not yet been announced NY — Gyro Hut & Grill has opened in Farmingdale Nassau County police on Wednesday identified a 44-year-old man killed last week in a crash while riding an electric bicycle in South Farmingdale as Adam Markevitch of North Massapequa The cyclist was traveling east on Reese Place when he collided with a black 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee The cyclist suffered “severe trauma injuries,” according to police and was pronounced dead at the scene by Nassau police medics Police did not announce any immediate charges related to the crash An investigation into the crash by the Homicide Squad was ongoing politics and crime stories in Nassau County Electric bikes have grown in popularity on Long Island in recent years, and by state law they must follow most standard biking guidelines, Newsday previously reported E-bikes can’t go faster than 20 mph and are limited to streets that have a speed limit of 30 mph was charged with murder in connection to the strangulation of a South Farmingdale woman earlier this month (Nassau County Police Department)Kelly Owen NY — Nassau Police on Tuesday arrested a man they say strangled a young mother and nursing student to death in January The woman's estranged ex-husband killed her on Jan 15 after learning she was pregnant with the pair's second child and didn't want to pay insurance was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after police say he killed Kelly Bretana Owen Michael Owen pleaded not guilty to the charge at his Wednesday court appearance had a child and then legally separated in March 2018 The two continued to have a physical relationship and Owen recently learned she was pregnant Michael Owen also found himself dating another woman "[Michael Owen] did not want this child," Det Stephen Fitzpatrick of the Nassau County Police Homicide Squad said at a news conference Fitzpatrick said their marriage started "getting rocky" regarding monetary matters, among other things. In December 2018, an argument about money led to a domestic violence complaint Fitzpatrick said no order of protection was issued Kelly Owen moved out in January 2019 and went back to live with her parents in their First Avenue home in South Farmingdale She asked her ex-husband to put her on his health insurance as she began nursing school and was going to doctor appointments and he and Kelly continued to argue over finances and insurance coverage Kelly told Michael that she was pregnant and believed the child was his "Their arguments escalated in regards to the pregnancy as well as the insurance information," Fitzpatrick said our investigation has determined Michael went to that house and strangled Kelly Michael Owen is a former marine Kelly Owen was found dead in the South Farmingdale home Jan She was not breathing when officers arrived at 3:41 p.m Owen, a nursing student, lived with her parents, brother and 6-year-old daughter She got her daughter ready for school the morning of her death before Owen's father took her to school Her parents were suspicious when Owen's car was still in the driveway even though she should have been at the school helping out with her daughter's after-school program They went inside where they found their daughter unresponsive on her bed The medical examiner's office confirmed she was strangled Fitzpatrick said the medical examiner also confirmed she was pregnant told Patch that Owen was a "beautiful person," and that she looks at her picture every day "My son Robert had the privilege of escorting Kelly to his prom," Hopkins-Donohue wrote on Owen's ObitTree page "She was so beautiful and such a lovely person He was so proud of her and thought she was an amazing We hope you find some peace in the days ahead We will continue to look at the pictures of her beautiful face and be grateful that she was on our path." 2020 at 10:39 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Kelly Owen NY — A woman was found strangled to death in her South Farmingdale home Wednesday afternoon not breathing when they arrived at her home on First Avenue at 3:41 p.m. The medical examiner's office said she was strangled Owen lived with her parents, brother and 6-year-old daughter Photos posted on Owen's Facebook page last week show her at Disney World with her daughter Detectives are asking anyone with information on the case which is being investigated by the Homicide Squad Owen, a nursing student, got her daughter ready for school Wednesday morning before Owen's father took her to school. Owen's parents found her dead 2022 at 4:24 pm ETCafe La Bella Notte in Farmingdale was "destroyed" in a fire on Tuesday night (AFrevola Photography)Cafe La Bella Notte in Farmingdale was "destroyed" in a fire on Tuesday night NY — A fire Tuesday night badly damaged Cafe La Bella Notte of South Farmingdale The fire is "suspicious in nature," the Nassau County Police Department Arson Bomb Squad said Firefighters rushed to 180 Merritts Road around 9:30 p.m Flames already engulfed the cafe when officers got there Approximately 50 firefighters from South Farmingdale East Farmingdale and Massapequa extinguished the blaze The cafe sustained "moderate damage" because of the fire The cafe will not reopen for the foreseeable future "I'm sad to share the news that our beautiful cafe will be closed for days to come," the cafe owner wrote in a Facebook post "I was unfortunately notified last night that the cafe was destroyed by a bad fire I would like to thank each and every one of you that have supported me throughout the last two years With a little prayer and lots of hard work Thank you all and have an incredible holiday." The shopping center also houses Irving's Pastrami and another vacant storefront up for lease The three storefronts sustained smoke and water damage Pastrami shop Irving's said on social media it too would temporarily close "until further notice," and reopen after Christmas The shop said it's doing "everything in their power" to open before the holiday Cafe La Bella Notte opened in March 2021 Irving's opened in Farmingdale in October 2021 Owner Andrew Fenton relocated the shop from Woodbury after he founded the eatery in March 2018 2015 at 8:53 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A South Farmingdale man was arrested after police seized an undisclosed amount of cocaine and $28,000 in cash from his home Tuesday afternoon A narcotics investigation by Bureau of Special Operations Officers led to the arrest of Veselko T as he exited his Pleasant Drive home at 2:25 p.m Authorities then executed a search warrant on his residence and seized the drugs and money Pavkovic was charged with five counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance He will be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead PLEASANT PLAINS – The Pleasant Plains Fire Department has opened a new substation at Farmingdale Road and Illinois 125 to better serve the growing number of families moving into the area Chief Bob Schafer said the new station will allow the volunteer firefighters to have a quicker response time in the area The department will continue to operate its main fire station in Pleasant Plains but our population is shifting,” Schafer said when the fire department was started in Pleasant Plains the major population was in Pleasant Plans We’ve gotten a lot of influx from Springfield We need to take care of our people in this area an open house was held to give people a look at the new station and they are ready to start running calls from the facility The new station was built at a cost of about $200,000 and has four vehicle bays also called a pumper because it pumps water was purchased used for $70,000 and the rescue truck was purchased used for $50,000 Schafer said the new station was built without a tax increase The ground for the new station was donated by the Bunn-O-Matic Corp There are volunteer firefighters who live near the station who will be able to take advantage of its strategic location Kirsten Davin of the Pleasant Plains Fire Department said there has been a lot of residential development along Farmingdale Road The department’s coverage area extends to South Farmingdale Road That area on South Farmingdale Road near the termination of the department’s coverage area is about a 15-minute drive for fire trucks coming from the station in Pleasant Plains a pole barn on South Farmingdale Road used by Fraase Excavating caught on fire Davin lived nearby and drive directly to the scene but had to wait for the fire engines to arrive from Pleasant Plains No one was in physical danger from the fire but Davin had to wait with the family as the fire consumed the barn and destroyed their possessions “It was the worst feeling to stand there and watch the fire go through the building,” Davin said “We just stood there and said they were coming a conversation was started about the possibility of building a new station to serve the southern portion of the Pleasant Plains Fire District Davin estimated that if they were called today to the Fraase property equipment from the new station could cut ten minutes from the trip When it comes to fighting a fire or running an emergency medical call 10 minutes could make a world of difference “If you have somebody who is not breathing and has no heart rate It can definitely make a difference,” Davin said –Contact John Reynolds: john.reynolds@sj-r.com