Wantagh and South Side faced off in a Nassau boys lacrosse matchup on Friday Cullen Lynch of South Side celebrates his game winning shot on goal to end a Nassau Conference I boys lacrosse game in the second overtime against host Wantagh on Friday and scores on South Side goalkeeper Jack DiSarlo during a Nassau Conference I boys lacrosse game in Wantagh on Friday South Side goalkeeper Jack DiSarlo leans in for a save during a Nassau Conference I boys lacrosse game against host Wantagh on Friday Cullen Lynch of South Side comes from behind the net to look for an opening during a Nassau Conference I boys lacrosse game against host Wantagh on Friday John Hawthorne (29) of South Side approaches the net with Luke Martini of Wantagh defending during a Nassau Conference I boys lacrosse game in Wantagh on Friday Wantagh goalkeeper Gianni Passaro takes a breather during a time out of a Nassau Conference I boys lacrosse game against host Wantagh on Friday Cullen Lynch leads the South Side celebration of a Nassau Conference I boys lacrosse game against host Wantagh on Friday Cullen Lynch (17) and Brayden Gamberg (25) celebrate South Side’s overtime victory over Wantagh in a Nassau Conference I boys lacrosse game in Wantagh on Friday Cullen Lynch of South Side lines up his game winning shot on goal to end a Nassau Conference I boys lacrosse game in the second overtime against host Wantagh on Friday shoots and scores on Wantagh goalkeeper Gianni Passaro to tie the Nassau Conference I boys lacrosse game 12-12 in Wantagh on Friday John Hawthorne of South Side takes a shot on goal during a Nassau Conference I boys lacrosse game against host Wantagh on Friday Devin Paccione of Wantagh takes a shot on South Side goalkeeper Jack DiSarlo during a Nassau Conference I boys lacrosse game in Wantagh on Friday The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months Click here for Greater Long Island newsletters. Click here to download the iPhone app This month marks 100 years of the Nassau County Police Department the department is hosting a huge parade this weekend in Wantagh who’s also been heavily involved in the Nassau County Police Museum A block party will then take place at Railroad Ave. — outside of Mulcahy’s — immediately after the parade and run from 3 p.m The parade will celebrate the department as the 11th largest in the U.S. The NCPD started more than 25 years after the county was formed in 1899 Along with marchers and pipe bands from the New York City and Suffolk County police departments the parade will also feature motorcycles with sidecars and antique Plymouth and Ford patrol cars Every living commissioner and chief of the department was invited to participate as well as members of village police departments Family members of officers who died in the line of duty will also be marching “We only do big things here in Nassau County,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said at a press conference last month “We have invited every police department motorcycle unit in the United States to come to this parade so that we can celebrate together and make it the biggest police motorcycle parade in the history of the United States.” O’Leary said that a 1925 antique Harley Davidson with a sidecar will be making an appearance was used by just 11 of the 55 officers back when the NCPD was just a fledgling department The antique vehicles will also be display outside Mulcahy’s for photos Photo credit: Nassau County Police Department on Facebook Tap here to see what’s happening the one constant for the Ardsley girls basketball team was its defense — its fast And Saturday night at Hudson Valley Community College that defense lifted the Panthers to their first state title Ardsley recorded eight steals and five blocks and otherwise disrupted Section 8 Wantagh's offense for four quarters en route to a 39-28 state Class AA championship win Seniors Iva Corluka and Joie Levy both hit for double figures and Madison Bortstein had a couple of key buckets but it was Ardsley's collective play on defense "They're very aggressive and use that to their advantage," said 32-year Wantagh coach Stan Bujacich was making its first appearance in a state championship game It's something I've been dreaming about since I was a little kid," Levy said "It's the best feeling I've ever felt in my life." Ardsley led 16-14 at the half and the score was knotted at 17 before Levy hit a 3-pointer off a Corluka feed with just under five minutes left in the third quarter who scored and was fouled and hit her free throw to put Ardsley up 22-17 with 3:10 left in the quarter 30-second clock-beating underhand scoop and score by Bortstein The Ardsley defense deserved a collective player of the game award with people like Leah Burriss and Dylan Paley who were both limited to three points but combined for three blocks and seven rebounds and were often impossible to drive on or shoot over But top game honors went to the seniors Levy and Corluka whose team didn't miss a beat when she missed the last couple of minutes of the third quarter with a bloody nose after being fouled had a game-high 15 points and nine rebounds the hero with 32 points in Wantagh's unlikely come-from-behind win over Albany Academy in Friday's semifinals While Wantagh players and fans were at times beside themselves over some calls indicated he thought officials only blew a couple of possessions and they "didn't make much difference." who noted between travel club play and the Panthers he'd coached some members of his team 12 months a year for eight years "You've got to care about each other and love each other." The junior Bortstein said even after a slow start that saw the score tied 8-8 at the end of the first period Corluka said of the championship marking the end of their high school careers She said she felt all season that Ardsley would win the Section 1 Class A title and after doing so "We'll be known as champions for the rest of our lives," said Levy I'll be calling them every day when I'm 60 years old." Ardsley wins its first ever state girls basketball titleLive blog A steal by Joie Levy leads to a Madison Bortstein bucket that cuts Wantagh lead to 8-7 with 1:05 left Wantagh dominating boards but with mixed results It put up three straight shots and came away with nothing Iva Corluka foul shot with 36.3 seconds left in quarter knots things at 8 Ardsley is getting very few second chances Wantagh is controlling its defensive boards And the Panthers are also missing 3s that often fall for them Wantagh's Riley Forthofer drives inside to give the Section 8 team a 14-13 lead with 3:20 left in the quarter Joie Levy with steal and is fouled with 1:06 left She hits both shots to put Ardsley up 16-14 Ardsley's hounding defense is bothering Wantagh But Ardsley's shots aren't falling and Corluka is unhappy she's not getting foul calls when driving inside Riley Forthofer with seven for the Warriors She gets a Wantagh airball and feeds Corluka on a break Corluka hits and is fouled and hits foul shot Ardsley up 23-17 with 3:10 left in the quarter Corluka picks up third foul with 2:41 left in quarter She hits one of two foul shots to put Ardsley up 24-17 but leaves for medical attention with 2:04 left in quarter Sabrina Asadurian picks up fourth foul for Wantagh with 1:23 left in quarter Madison Bortstein with huge scoop bucket for Ardsley Fourth quarterArdsley up 26-19 with 5:15 to play Madison Bortstein buries a big 3 to expand Ardsley lead to 10 at 31-21 with about 4:20 left Corluka offensive rebound and is fouled with 3:30 to play which had never won a Section 1 girls basketball title is now going to have its first ever state title Nancy Haggerty covers cross-country, track & field, field hockey, skiing, ice hockey, basketball, girls lacrosse and other sporting events for The Journal News/lohud. Follow her on Twitter at @HaggertyNancy The Cyclones from South Side took themselves and their fans on a boys lacrosse thrill ride last season rising up from way behind to win in the state Class B semis and final Then 27 players took their diplomas and moved on is showing that same Grade A comeback capability After rallying from seven goals down in the fourth Tuesday to stun Syosset they found themselves in a five-goal hole in the fourth Friday at Wantagh senior midfielder/attackman Cullen Lynch scored his fourth goal with 1:57 left in that second extra session to give South Side a 13-12 victory “We try and instill in them about not quitting and believing in themselves and the next play and each quarter,” coach Steve DiPietro said “So even though it’s a different group personality-wise they’ve been buying in and they’ve been doing what we’ve asked of them and learning along the way and have made some mistakes  But overall this group has got a no-quit attitude They saw what happened last year with it.” 4-2 in the Nassau Power League) got production from two sophomores Luke Mullen posted five goals and an assist and Chaminade transfer John Hawthorne added three goals and two assists It was Hawthorne who fed Lynch for his winner a shot from about 5 yards out on the right side “I think it’s a great team,” Hawthorne said “All of us work very hard together in practice and it shows in the games.” Wantagh led 11-6 with 8:19 left in regulation after Matt Giacobello completed a run of seven straight goals “We’re still looking to put a complete game together,” Wantagh coach James Polo said Joe Nicholson scored his fourth to give Wantagh (8-4 One more comeback: Mullen tied it at 12 with 1:35 on the clock “I think it’s just because everybody trusts each other so much,” said Lynch one of just two Cyclones who started throughout the championship season “We have so much trust in each other to make the plays.” DiPietro expects a rematch against Wantagh in the Nassau C final May 31 at Hofstra “I’m hoping my boys can become driven to get there,” Polo said “I hope that they can take this loss as a learning experience like we did the last time we lost.” 2025 at 1:45 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The head of the Wantagh Preservation Society is angered by a judge dismissing a lawsuit regarding Native American mascots at schools NY — While a lawsuit challenging the state's ban on any Native American nicknames and mascots in schools was dismissed recently a longtime Wantagh resident is emphatic in his views There is no opinion with this; that's why this shouldn't even be entering a courtroom," said Matt Susco president of the Wantagh Preservation Society The Wantagh School District said it would explore other legal action for the future of the "Warriors." "Our emblem that Native American head with one or two feathers on it— that's accurate "Not even Native Americans could say that offends them." The lawsuit was also filed by Massapequa School District Two Suffolk schools were also part of the dismissed suit Wantagh Superintendent John McNamara said of the judge's decision that they are "disappointed by the court’s ruling that requires Wantagh to move away from its longstanding Warrior nickname." "If someone says they are offended by our emblem "Even a six-year-old wouldn't understand the argument." Susco said Wantagh High School with its name and imagery should not have been included in the state's ban from the start It's a perfect example of liberal nonsense the cancel culture getting involved where they shouldn't be," he said While Susco is not happy with the ruling by U.S he is also angered by the Wantagh School District for "pussyfooting around." The superintendent had said they are "reviewing the decision and will explore all available options as we move forward." Susco said Massapequa is the only district that had taken a firm stand on the matter from the start "They're actually standing up for it with the community the school district and all the people together," Susco said He argues that school officials in his hometown were not as forthright in their direction and verbiage citing they were willing to remove the Warriors mascot but hopes to keep the name "That is just the most weaking argument I have ever heard in my life," Susco said It remains to be seen what Wantagh and Massapequa will do regarding the Native American ban but there is a push for President Trump to take up this matter "I'm trying to get in touch with someone from [President] Trump's cabinet," he said The Massapequa Board of Education has reached out to Trump’s Department of Education "I want someone from his cabinet to take a look at this issue because it's unconstitutional," Susco said when pushed about whether it was in fact unconstitutional Our logo isn't a cartoon of an Indian on a horse with a full headdress shooting an arrow at somebody," he said "This is a picture of a real human being." Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Wantagh defeated Long Beach in a Nassau girls lacrosse matchup on Tuesday Sabrina Asadurian #14 of Wantagh gets in position to shoot during the second quarter of a Nassau County Conference I girls lacrosse game against host Long Beach High School on Tuesday She scored four goals in Wantagh's 11-9 win Riley Forthofer #24 of Wantagh reacts after her team's 11-9 win over host Long Beach High School in a Nassau County Conference I girls lacrosse game on Tuesday Sabrina Asadurian #14 of Wantagh carries upfield during the third quarter of a Nassau County Conference I girls lacrosse game against host Long Beach High School on Tuesday Sabrina Asadurian #14 of Wantagh makes a pass during the second quarter of a Nassau County Conference I girls lacrosse game against host Long Beach High School on Tuesday gets pressured by Delaney Chernoff #22 of Long Beach during the fourth quarter of a Nassau County Conference I girls lacrosse game at Long Beach High School on Tuesday Sandoval scored a goal to break a 9-9 tie with 3:04 remaining in the final frame Riley Forthofer #24 of Wantagh circles behind the net during the second quarter of a Nassau County Conference I girls lacrosse game against host Long Beach High School on Tuesday Isabella Sandoval #25 of Wantagh gets in position to shoot during the fourth quarter of a Nassau County Conference I girls lacrosse game against host Long Beach High School on Tuesday She scored a goal to break a 9-9 tie with 3:04 remaining in the final frame Riley Forthofer #24 of Wantagh looks to pass from behind the net during the second quarter of a Nassau County Conference I girls lacrosse game against host Long Beach High School on Tuesday and Juliana Cerasi #11 of Wantagh look to gain control of a draw during the fourth quarter of a Nassau County Conference I girls lacrosse game at Long Beach High School on Tuesday gets pressured by Madeline Drago #15 of Wantagh during the second quarter of a Nassau County Conference I girls lacrosse game at Long Beach High School on Tuesday passes under pressure from Franky DeCicco #12 of Long Beach during the second quarter of a Nassau County Conference I girls lacrosse game at Long Beach High School on Tuesday and Juliana Cerasi #11 of Wantagh look to gain control of a loose ball during the second quarter of a Nassau County Conference I girls lacrosse game at Long Beach High School on Tuesday 2025 at 4:01 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce hosts its 5th Annual St NY — Preparations are underway for the Wantagh St This year's grand marshal is Nassau County PBA President Tommy Shevlin The parade takes marches down Wantagh Avenue from Beltagh Avenue to Park Avenue Participating should assemble at Wantagh High School beginning at noon a pair of block parties will follow on Railroad Avenue and Park Avenue Extra LIRR trains will be added and several streets will close starting at noon, including Beltagh and Wantagh avenues. Get more details on the parade on the chamber's website Riley Forthofer had a goal and four assists as she helped Wantagh set a positive tone for the upcoming playoffs on Tuesday Riley Forthofer compared Wantagh’s four-game losing streak to a drought with some water necessary to recapture the full essence of the team’s potential and Wantagh had an abundance of that in crucial moments on Tuesday in Nassau Conference I girls lacrosse on Tuesday to snap its losing skid Two of the four losses came in one-goal defeats as Wantagh has been competitive in nearly every game this season “These past games we’ve lost have been really close so to win this really brings back our confidence 100%,” Forthofer said “It reminds us how good we really are and how much we can accomplish.” 5-4) is the defending Nassau Class C champion and by playing in Conference I along with a challenging non-league schedule “This will help us prepare for playoff games because this team was really good,” midfielder Sabrina Asadurian said “I think we all came together really nicely We’ve been figuring things out at practices and blending it together.” including one off an assist from Madeline Drago with 3:16 left in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 9 Isabella Sandoval scored the winner 12 seconds later off an assist from Juliana Cerasi Sandoval had three goals and Cerasi and Drago each had a goal and two assists Skylar Kilfeather had five goals and three assists and Marianna Chimienti had four goals and one assist for Long Beach (7-5 “I think this is going to help us set the tone for the playoffs,” Forthofer said “We can reference back to this game and know we’ve been in a close game and we understand what to do in certain situations to win it.” Wantagh went on a 4-0 run for 3:16 in the second quarter to take a 6-4 lead before Long Beach tied the score at 6 before halftime Wantagh scored both goals of the third quarter before Long Beach opened the final period on a 3-0 run before Wantagh scored the game’s final three goals in a game of runs “A lot of turnovers that we shouldn’t have had and I’m sure (Long Beach is) having that same conversation,” coach Lauren Ruppert said “But the one thing that’s great about Wantagh (players) is they are fighters.” 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 2025 at 10:17 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A driver lost control and crashed into a tree and hit a home in Wantagh NY — A vehicle crashed into a Wantagh home on Sunday afternoon The 80-year-old female driver lost control of her 2013 Toyota which struck a residence on Douglas Avenue The car struck a small tree causing it to fall and shatter a front window in the home A 30-year-old woman in the home was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries The driver of the vehicle was also brought to a nearby hospital The Nassau County Building Inspector responded to the location and deemed it structurally safe State police identified the defendant as Timothy Bohr A Westbury man pleaded not guilty in court on Monday after being charged over a shots-fired incident on the Wantagh State Parkway on Sunday No one was injured in the shooting incident at the stop sign on the W2 East Exit ramp of the southbound parkway according to State Trooper Brittany Burton a public information officer for state police Troop L was involved in a “verbal altercation” with someone before he brandished a black handgun and fired a single round “in the direction of the victim” and “in close proximity to residential houses” according to a complaint submitted to First District Court in Hempstead was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree menacing The Westbury man pleaded not guilty to both counts Follow the latest developments in the Gilgo Beach killings investigation By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy He was released without bail but the Nassau County District Attorney's Office said Judge Lisa A LoCurto ordered that any pistol permit or license Bohr might hold be revoked and he surrender any guns he has to Nassau police until the case is resolved could not be immediately reached for comment Monday afternoon 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 MacArthur defeated Wantagh in a Nassau softball matchup on Thursday gets congratulated by teammate Danielle Giordano #16 after lining a bases-loaded one-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning to plate the winning run in the Generals' 3-2 walkoff victory over Wantagh in a Nassau softball game on Thursday bunts to plate the tying run with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning in a Nassau softball game on Thursday lines a one-out triple to right field during the bottom of the seventh inning in a Nassau softball game on Thursday one-out single to plate the winning run in the Generals' 3-2 walkoff victory over Wantagh in a Nassau softball game on Thursday reacts after crossing home plate to give the Generals a 3-2 walkoff win over Wantagh in a Nassau softball game on Thursday gets congratulated by teammates after lining a bases-loaded gets congratulated by teammate Gianna Spaventa #11 after lining a bases-loaded one-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning to plate the winning run in a Nassau softball game on Thursday reacts after connecting for a one-out triple in the bottom of the seventh inning in a Nassau softball game on Thursday lines an infield single during the bottom of the third inning in a Nassau softball game on Thursday gets pressured by John Gendels #24 of Wantagh during a Nassau boys lacrosse game at Massapequa on Tuesday By the time halftime arrived in Tuesday’s Power League game Massapequa's boys lacrosse team had put on a powerful show against defending Nassau Class C champion Wantagh “We were playing some of the best lacrosse that we’ve been playing all season,” said junior attackman Tyler Byrnes who posted all three of his goals and his lone assist in the first half “Seeing that score — [we were] not really taking a lot of looks at it until halftime — it was a little eye-opening showing what this team can do really to our full potential.” but standout senior goalie Michael Jannotte delivered 14 of his 22 saves after the intermission and host Massapequa held on for a 10-7 win “We have a young group,” said Kevin Catalano Massapequa’s first-year head coach after eight running the JV It’s just we’ve got to put together four quarters this time of the season.” his team is 6-1 (3-1 in the league) after opening the season with five straight wins Massapequa fell in the A final to Farmingdale “That’s what we’ve been saying ever since that game last season,” Byrnes said “that we want to be back in that stage with a different outcome.” This talented Wantagh team has dropped three straight after opening with three victories “There are a lot of teams [in the Power League] that have a bull’s-eye on their back and we’re one of them,” coach James Polo said “There’s a lot of talk on the outside of what Wantagh is you’ve got to be able to respond and rise to the occasion … The kids are frustrated.” Byrnes provided the 9-1 halftime advantage The UMass commit converted from in close with 3.6 seconds left against Gianni Passaro scored twice in a 22-second span inside the first minute of the fourth and Dylan Martini made it 10-7 with 7:41 remaining But Jannotte got in Wantagh’s way a lot during that second half “[The defense was] pushing toward the alleys and I was seeing the ball very well,” Jannotte said it would be harder to make the saves I’m making.” Kathyrn Monaco of Garden City winds up her shot at the net during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Wantagh on Tuesday It took less than 12 seconds for Garden City to completely flip the direction of the contest The Garden City girls lacrosse team allowed five of the game’s first six goals and appeared destined to end the first quarter with a sizable disadvantage But the Trojans showcased how dynamic and fast they can be with Kimberly Colucci scoring with 11.7 seconds left before Kathryn Monaco won the ensuing draw control ran behind the cage and wrapped around for a goal at the buzzer of the opening period to cut a four-goal deficit to a two-goal disadvantage Those two scores started a run of six straight goals for the Trojans to fuel host Garden City to a 10-6 victory over Wantagh in Nassau Conference I girls lacrosse on Tuesday “I knew we couldn’t get down on ourselves,” Monaco said “We had to keep picking ourselves up and stay positive and know that we’re a good team and can come back Kim scored the second goal and then we scored again before the quarter and there’s a big difference between 5-2 and 5-3 Colucci led Garden City with three goals and an assist with all four points coming during the Trojans’ 6-0 run She scored the final two goals of the run to give Garden City a 7-5 lead entering halftime “My teammates were just giving me the opportunities to get out there and go,” Colucci said “We knew their defense and their personnel 4-3) went on a 5-0 scoring run over 7:17 in the first quarter after Tori Ottomanelli scored the opening goal for Garden City “They came out and punched us in the face and credit to them,” coach Dave Ettinger said “They are a good team with a lot of good players and they really took it to us early there and I’m just happy with how our girls adjusted and found a way.” 6-0) allowed just one goal in the final three quarters “We were able to pick each other up and no one really started getting down on anyone “We all knew we had to change something and that’s what we did.” The Trojans had eight different goal scorers Riley Forthofer had two goals and three assists to lead Wantagh and Juliana Cerasi and Sabrina Asadurian added two goals each Tuesday was a battle of defending county champions with Garden City winning Nassau Class B and Wantagh taking Class C last year Monaco remained confident in a champion vs in the Long Island Class A girls basketball championship at Farmingdale State College on Saturday Juliana Cerasi and many of her multisport Wantagh teammates had felt defeat too many times when they were one victory away from a Long Island title They weren’t going to allow that to happen for a third time in less than 12 months That focus was apparent from the opening tip Saturday night as Wantagh defeated Mount Sinai in the Long Island Class A girls basketball championship/Southeast Regional final at Farmingdale State College Wantagh used an 18-6 fourth quarter to pull away and win the first Long Island title in program history Wantagh had reached a Long Island championship game in girls lacrosse and girls soccer since losing in the Nassau Class A girls basketball final last year “We already had two shots at this,” Cerasi said She added: “Most of the team have had other sports get to this point so we know the feeling of losing and we didn’t want our season to end We’ve played I counted 116 days of basketball We love playing with each other and we just pushed to the end to show that we really wanted to keep going.” Wantagh (22-2) will play Albany Academy at 1:30 p.m Friday at Hudson Valley Community College in the state Class A semifinals ‘You can make a name for yourself in the history of our program,’ ” coach Stan Bujacich said Kayla Mannix scored nine of her 18 points in the fourth quarter “I knew at halftime I had to get it together I knew we had it so I kept telling my teammates four assists and four steals and Riley Forthofer added six points and 13 rebounds Mia Betancourt’s 10 points led Mount Sinai (19-4) we pressed right away and we don’t usually do that,” Cerasi said Cerasi couldn’t help but think back to previous Long Island championship finals “You remember that feeling of crying on the bench,” Cerasi said We were sitting there on the bench getting ready to celebrate but last year we were hysterically crying.” Wantagh isn’t satisfied with just winning a Long Island title It hopes to make even more school history in Troy “I don’t want to go up there just for a joyride We want to go up there and get that first game and then anything can happen in the second game This is something special for our program and our community.” Garden City defeated Wantagh in a Nassau girls lacrosse matchup on Tuesday Deanna Prisco of Garden City moves the ball during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Wantagh on Tuesday Kimberly Colucci of Garden City shoots and scores in the second quarter during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Wantagh on Tuesday Madeline Gonzalez of Wantagh makes the save during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Garden City on Tuesday Lyla Ingrilli of Wantagh cradles the ball during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Garden City on Tuesday Averie Smith of Garden City comes in for a shot during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Wantagh on Tuesday Ashley Clark of Garden City looks for a play during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Wantagh on Tuesday Regan Becker of Garden City (left) and Juliana Cerasi of Wantagh for the draw during a Nassau girls lacrosse game on Tuesday Juliana Cerasi of Wantagh charges toward the net where she will score during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Garden City on Tuesday Mia Dankenbrink of Wantagh scoops up a loose ball during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Garden City on Tuesday Isabella Sandoval of Wantagh passes the ball during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Garden City on Tuesday Michaela Molgano of Garden City scores tying the game during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Wantagh on Tuesday Arcangela Haffner of Garden City races for the loose ball during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Wantagh on Tuesday Victoria Ottomanelli of Garden City is defended by Annika Kurz of Wantagh during a Nassau girls lacrosse game on Tuesday Goalie Goalie Kate Connolly of Garden City makes the save during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Wantagh on Tuesday Sabrina Asadurian of Wantagh shoots and scores during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Garden City on Tuesday Kathyrn Monaco of Garden City is defended by Madeline Drago of Wantagh during a Nassau girls lacrosse game on Tuesday Brynn Reilly of Garden City reaches for the loose ball during a Nassau girls lacrosse game against Wantagh on Tuesday Juliana Cerasi of Wantagh is heavily defended Ellie Andersen of Garden City (left) and Deanna Prisco of Garden City by during a Nassau girls lacrosse game on Tuesday The Garden City team comes out meet goalie Goalie Kate Connolly of Garden City after their victory over Wantagh during a Nassau girls lacrosse game on Tuesday Wantagh teen William Desroches’ life was cut far too short following a  personal watercraft accident in August 2023 will be remembered forever in his hometown a nonprofit organization that was formed last year was created to raise funds to build a new soccer and lacrosse turf field in Desroches’ name at Forest Lake Elementary School in Wantagh The foundation is holding a fundraising event “William was very athletic,” said Don Desroches William’s father and the president of the foundation he wouldn't stop until he got it done and he had this quiet strength about him.” The Wantagh School District approved the plan to build the field last year and Desroches received a rendition of what the field would look like The foundation needs to raise $1.2 million to fund the project and he said they are around $4,000 as of last Wednesday Newsday's weekly newsletter takes you on the field and inside the high school sports scene across Long Island They are aiming for the field to be built in the summer of 2027 William was an avid soccer and lacrosse player and a member of both junior varsity teams at Wantagh He was set to play varsity soccer as a junior in the fall of 2023 William’s older brother by about 17 years and a treasurer for the foundation so it was a nice way to bond and grow together,” Tom said we were basically peers and best friends and brothers on the field at that point where he was starting to challenge me a lot more and started to pick my pocket a little bit “It was fun to see the progression that he had Just the joy and the dedication that he had on the field too Don Desroches’ idea to build the field stemmed from other fields in Wantagh that are named after children, including James Lodato’s Field of Dreams a baseball field at Forest Lake that William played on when his personal watercraft was hit by another watercraft at Crescent Lake in Wolfeboro Tickets for the fundraising event are available for purchase and donations can be made at WilliamDF.org Massapequa defeated Wantagh in a Nassau boys lacrosse matchup on Tuesday looks to move the ball upfield during the third quarter of a Nassau County Power League boys lacrosse game against Wantagh at Massapequa High School on Tuesday gets pressured by John Gendels #24 of Wantagh during a Nassau County Power League boys lacrosse game at Massapequa High School on Tuesday Byrnes recorded three goals and an assist in Massapequa's 10-7 win Dylan Martini #22 of Wantagh scores a goal off a Massapequa turnover during the third quarter of a Nassau County Power League boys lacrosse game at Massapequa High School on Tuesday gets pressured by Ryan Kiderman #11 of Massapequa during a Nassau County Power League boys lacrosse game at Massapequa High School on Tuesday Tyler Byrnes #21 of Massapequa makes a pass during the second quarter of a Nassau County Power League boys lacrosse game against Wantagh at Massapequa High School on Tuesday He recorded three goals and an assist in Massapequa's 10-7 win gets pressured by Luke Martini #32 of Wantagh during a Nassau County Power League boys lacrosse game at Massapequa High School on Tuesday and goalie Michael Jannotte #19 celebrate after a Massapequa goal in the first quarter of a Nassau County Power League boys lacrosse game against Wantagh at Massapequa High School on Tuesday celebrates with teammates after Massapequa's 10-7 win over Wantagh in a Nassau County Power League boys lacrosse game played at Massapequa High School on Tuesday there will be no parking permitted on Wantagh Avenue or in front of parking lots along the parade route Anyone who leaves a vehicle in those locations the police will be notified to contact the owners to remove the vehicle any towing would be at the owner's expense with the marchers expected to arrive by noon at Wantagh High School Nassau County PBA President Tommy Shevlin is this year's grand marshal Wantagh celebrates beating Lynbrook at the Nassau Class A girls basketball final on Monday Kayla Mannix wasn’t going to let this one get away Trailing by one point with less than 20 seconds left in Monday night’s game Wantagh had a Plan A and a Plan B while drawing up a play during a timeout The sophomore forward corralled an offensive rebound near the baseline and found Riley Forthofer Forthofer hit a layup with 7.7 seconds left to give second-seeded Wantagh a 44-43 victory over top-seeded Lynbrook in the Nassau Class A girls basketball final at Farmingdale State College “I knew I was going to get it,” Mannix said I was going to get it and pass it however I could but once I got that rebound and threw it right to Riley I knew she was going to make that layup.” “I just knew I had to put it back up and I did,” Forthofer said that just happened.’ I’m just in shock right now Wantagh (21-2) will play Mount Sinai (19-3) at 8 p.m on Saturday at Farmingdale State in the Long Island Class A championship game/ Southeast Regional final Wantagh wins! Kayla Mannix with an offensive rebound and finds Riley Forthofer for a layup with 7.7 seconds left and Wantagh holds on to defeat Lynbrook, 44-43, in the girls basketball Nassau Class A final @Wantagh_Warrior pic.twitter.com/xldOkdJIdI Forthofer also hit two free throws with 46.5 seconds to cut Lynbrook’s lead to 43-42 Wantagh forced a turnover after Forthofer’s go-ahead layup to take its first county title since 2006 Juliana Cerasi had 12 points and Isabelle Ferraro added 10 for Wantagh The teams were tied at 16 at halftime and Lynbrook led 28-26 entering the fourth quarter For many members of Wantagh’s girls basketball team it was the players’ third county title in less than 12 months Wantagh also won a girls lacrosse and girls soccer title “This was huge for them and they are winners,” coach Stan Bujacich said “They win in other sports and the whole year we’ve been like this We pulled games out of the hat a couple of times Cerasi remembered the feeling of losing in the county final last year and was determined to have a different outcome in her senior season “We had that feeling in our head from last year We did not want to end this game like that.” “This moment is so special to me and my coaches “This is what we’ve been playing for all season co-owners of Olde Towne Garden Irish and Victorian Gift Shop in Wantagh some visible and others that speak of a magical mysticism in a gift shop crammed with bits of Ireland picked out by sisters from Galway At the Olde Towne Garden Irish and Victorian Gift Shop in Wantagh visitors delight in  items curated by co-owners Ann Durkin and Ellen Dolan-Curran like a thick cable knit sweater from the Aran Islands off Galway the Cadbury bars and "safety" symbols like Ireland’s Connemara marble beads to rub away the worry "We only sell what we would have in our own home," Dolan-Curran says Some of their most popular items reflect the Irish belief in the interconnectedness of life an ancient symbol of eternity where heaven and earth coexist "They all have meaning like the Celtic intertwine [that] represents our lives and how we’re all connected and our souls join together," Dolan-Curran notes referring to a design that weaves lines over and under each other you’ll think of somebody you haven’t seen in a few days or a few weeks and they’ll walk in the door." Get ready for the weekend with our picks on where to shop When the sisters opened their doors in 1994 They then found out Long Island had a large Irish-American community the garden items made way for Irish crafts from here and abroad along with products from women-owned businesses that benefit others The sisters came to the United States in 1985 on temporary work visas and intended to return to Ireland — but the weather and Americans were so inviting they made the United States their new home "We dovetail very well,"  Durkin remarks about running about business together."We don’t put a limit on the hours we put in .. Things you really couldn’t ask of someone else you would because you’re both partners in the business." the sisters credit their business survival to the locals and the Irish-American community "They come to us as opposed to going online or they come to us first," Durkin says "And a little bit of Irish luck." Claddagh rings at $50 and sterling silver warrior shield cuff links at $155 Olde Towne Garden Irish and Victorian Gift Shop, 1902 Wantagh Ave., 516-826-2574, irishvictorian.com Krista McNally 2024 at 10:37 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Wantagh High School senior Dylan Martini was named the best football player of the year in Nassau County NY — A Wantagh High School senior has been named the best football player in Nassau County Dylan Martini is the first Wantagh player to receive the Tom Thorpe Memorial Award in its 82-year history The running back finished the season with 1,976 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns Martini was instrumental in his team winning the Long Island championship "It means a lot,” he said of winning the award It’s crazy to see that I’m on par with many of the great players here." Martini will play his fourth season on the varsity lacrosse team He has committedto playing lacrosse for the State University of New York at Albany where he is considering majoring in either business or sports medicine The Parkview bar and restaurant is now open and things are humming along in Wantagh after an ambitious makeover of what used to be Scuttlebutt Tavern The gleaming-new Parkview spot is unrecognizable from the old watering hole “The build-out was very involved,” said Liz Griesch “We wanted to create a space that was classy and clean. It took a few months and was a process The makeover is highlighted by the real brick warm light fixtures and marble-style floors and table tops as well as an array of entrées (the Fork & Knife section of the menu) that range from shrimp Luciano to streak frites to crab cakes and salads “Everything from our French fries to our cocktail mixers are made in house,” Griesch told Greater Long Island Griesch and her partner and the executive chef That all came together in June after some mutual introductions “Scott had recently purchased and started renovating the building,” Griesch said so I asked him to come to the meeting with me Brendan and I always had a tremendous mutual respect for each other and over the years always tried to bring each other various opportunities, but the timing had not been right as of that point.” Both are industry veterans. However, Banks is also a war veteran who served as a Staff Sergeant and completed three tours in Iraq and a fourth in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army Infantry. Long Islanders also might recognize him from his time at the local Burgerology chain, or his popular Brendos in Williston Park He’s the mastermind in the kitchen at The Parkview As for Griesch, she works the front of the house and has been working in restaurants since bussing tables at 14. She went on to run high-volume French and Italian restaurants, including her own venture, Gio’s Atlantic Beach “I stepped away from that to have the freedom to do what I do best: make fresh cocktails and create an ambiance that’s both elegant and sexy,” she told Greater Long Island this week “I knew the South Shore needed a place like The Parkview,” she continued people have to choose between elevated cocktails and a sexy vibe The Parkview felt like the perfect marriage of those two worlds.” There is street parking in front of the building There is also street parking on the side streets that straddle the The Parkview to the east (Fir Street) and west (Pine Street) The team is currently in discussions with its neighbors to secure more parking which could be announced as soon as this spring go with the namesake cocktail The Parkview That’s lavender infused vodka with hibiscus bitters The espresso martinis are also a can’t miss “Our espresso machine has been imported from Italy and is situated behind our bar similar to how it is in all of the cocktail bars of Europe,” she said “We buy only high-quality espresso that is made exclusively for our machine.” The Parkview has become instantly known in the neighborhood for its wings The other big seller is the steak tidbits served with crispy onions and aus jus The team also said the lettuce boats (pictured above) have surged in popularity especially in January and among the more health conscious diners but use Romaine lettuce instead of tortilla “Our guests really seem to love the fact that it’s a lighter option but still packs a punch when it comes to flavor,” Griesch said the Parkview currently offers Buffalo chicken Click here for the full dinner menu. Click here for the drink menu. Top: The new bar at The Parkview, located at 3355 Merrick Rd. in Wantagh. (Michael White) 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 Wantagh's Kayla Mannix moves the ball against Ardsley during the state Class A girls basketball championship on Saturday in Troy TROY — The Wantagh girls basketball team had a playoff run pulled straight from a television show Nearly every game of Wantagh’s postseason went to the final horn An overtime victory after trailing by four points with 40 seconds left in a county semifinal A winning shot with less than eight seconds left that started with an offensive rebound in the county final A 22-point scoring run to overcome a 15-point deficit entering the fourth quarter in a state semifinal not something you’d expect to witness three times in less than three weeks And although it didn’t have the ultimate Hollywood ending of being crowned as a state champion it doesn’t take away from Wantagh’s feelings of pride and accomplishment in the state Class A girls basketball  final at Hudson Valley Community College on Saturday night Wantagh (23-3) won its first Long Island championship in program history this season after winning its first county title since 2006 Wantagh reflected one more time together in the locker room about more than just its final day together “We were talking about obviously this one game doesn’t define our whole season,” senior Juliana Cerasi said “We won counties for the first time in 20 years we won [a Long Island championship] for the first time in program history we really pushed ourselves and we got to this point No one thought we were even going to get here.” Wantagh’s consistent late-game heroics made the postseason run even more memorable for the team “It’s so exhilarating and rewarding when you have those wins We lived out the season to the fullest and that’s kind of what the best part was.” After Wantagh forced 19 turnovers in a 58-51 victory over Albany Academy on Friday Ardsley took better care of the ball by playing at a slower pace “Their guards really took care of the ball but these kids had a great year,” coach Stan Bujacich said They were just awesome all year and I loved going to battle with them.” Wantagh trailed 16-14 at halftime and was outscored 10-3 in the third quarter as Ardsley (23-3) opened a 26-17 lead Ardsley led by at least seven points for the entire fourth quarter “It didn’t come out like how we wanted,” Cerasi said “but I’m really proud and we all pushed each other until the end.” eight rebounds and two steals and Riley Forthofer added nine points and 13 rebounds for Wantagh Although the season ended with one fewer win than Wantagh hoped “It was a joyride and it was something we’ll never forget.” NY — Officers responded for a man in need of medical attention on the Meadowbrook Parkway Bridge in Wantagh While working underwater at the bridge on Thursday morning the 34-year-old victim suffered a severe laceration to his hand Marine bureau officers applied a tourniquet and the man was transported to the Jones Beach Coast Guard station The victim was airlifted to an area hospital for further treatment and evaluation 2025 at 10:13 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A woman was badly hurt when she was struck by a vehicle in Wantagh NY — A 60-year-old woman is in critical condition after getting struck by a car in Wantagh on Monday afternoon The victim was attempting to cross Wantagh Avenue at Laurel Lane when she was hit by a 2015 Honda driven by a 17-year-old girl The 60-year-old woman suffered serious injuries 2025 at 10:24 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A driver was arrested early Friday for traveling in the wrong direction on the Wantagh Parkway NY — A driver was stopped early Friday on the Wantagh Parkway heading the wrong way near Jones Beach State Park was spotted in the southbound lanes near Exit W4E (Southern State Parkway) traveling against traffic Deopersaud was found to be intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of .19 percent — more than double the legal limit aggravated unlicensed operation and driving while intoxicated Deopersaud is due back at Nassau County District Court on March 12 A spokesperson for the New York State Police said: "Wrong -way driving is extremely dangerous and often leads to serious or fatal crashes. This arrest is a reminder of the dangers of impaired driving." Wantagh players celebrate a 58-51 against Albany Academy during the NYSPHSAA Class A girls basketball semifinals on Friday in Troy TROY — Trailing by 15 points entering the fourth quarter Wantagh exited its huddle knowing this likely would be the team’s final eight minutes together And if you’ve followed the Wantagh girls basketball team this postseason you’d know that giving this team belief is a dangerous thing Wantagh — which trailed by 18 points in the third quarter — scored the first 22 points of the fourth quarter and exited with an improbable 58-51 win over Albany Academy in a state Class A semifinal at Hudson Valley Community College on Friday but we kept wishing and we just wanted it more,” said sophomore Kayla Mannix who scored 20 of her 32 points in the fourth quarter “We had no pressure on us and they kept messing up They got inside their own heads and we used that opportunity to keep going and we just never gave up.” Wantagh went on the 22-0 run in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter and outscored Albany Academy 29-7 in the period we have good attitudes and we just keep pushing no matter what Mannix’s three-pointer brought Wantagh within 44-41 with 6:03 left Sabrina Asadurian followed with a layup off an assist from Juliana Cerasi a minute later Mannix hit another three-pointer on the next possession to give Wantagh a 46-44 lead with 3:45 left I knew we were going to win the game,” coach Stan Bujacich said which also trailed in the fourth quarter of its county semifinal and final wins will seek the first state title in program history when it plays Ardsley at 7:45 p.m Mannix hit a layup and four three-pointers and went 6-for-6 at the foul line in the fourth quarter ‘This is crazy,’ and I’m just so proud of her,’ Cerasi said “She’s putting it all out there and she’s doing it for the team Albany Academy (21-5) led 38-20 before Mannix’s basket with 4:45 left in the third quarter began the comeback and you want to believe that you are winning right away,” Cerasi said “But once we got those shots and got it closer “They just know how to win,” Bujacich said Bujacich called Friday “the most amazing game I’ve been involved with” in 32 years as Wantagh’s head coach Mannix said she wasn’t confident about the team’s chances after three quarters “They were kind of feeling [confident] and they thought they had it,” she said And they don’t know how hard we’ve worked for this.” Welcome, Mickeymickey@disney.comManage MyDisney AccountLog OutLong Island holiday event cut short after fire breaks outByEyewitness News Sunday Saturday at the Wantagh Preservation Society and Museum.WANTAGH Long Island (WABC) -- A holiday event on Long Island had to be cut short after a fire broke out Saturday at the Wantagh Preservation Society and Museum The Chamber of Commerce was holding its annual Winter Wonderland Holiday Fair when someone noticed smoke coming from the roof Firefighters arrived and put out a small fire near the chimney No one was injured and firefighters removed some historical artifacts from the building to keep them safe The Nassau County Fire Marshal is investigating but the fire is not considered to be suspicious Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. 2025 at 10:35 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The U.S Air Force Thunderbirds will headline the Memorial Day weekend air show at Jones Beach (The FourLeaf Air Show at Jones Beach)WANTAGH NY — The lineup is set for the 2025 Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach Air Force Thunderbirds will headline the Memorial Day weekend show This year’s show will be the Thunderbirds’ 10th appearance as headliners over 459,000 people attended the 20th Anniversary Show over the three-day period making it the most highly attended air show to date Additional military performers for the 2025 show include: the United States Army Golden Knights Parachute Team the United States Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II the United States Navy EA-18G Growler Demo Team the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) the 106th Rescue Wing NY Air National Guard and the 105th Airlift Wing unit of the New York Air National Guard Bethpage Federal Credit Union has been the title sponsor of our local air show since its inception in 2004 building on its history as the credit union founded by employees of Grumman Aerospace who built many of the aircrafts flown in the show over the years Bethpage recently rebranded to become FourLeaf Federal Credit Union making this year’s show the FourLeaf Air Show at Jones Beach include: the American Airpower Museum Warbirds; current reigning Air Masters Cup Series champion and current Sky Grand Prix Champion Aarron Deliu; Warbird Thunder featuring the North American SNJ Texan a former WWII Navy Advanced Training Aircraft; the Farmingdale State College Flying Rams and Long Island’s own David Windmiller “We are thrilled to welcome the United States Air Force Thunderbirds as this year’s headliners and look forward to an amazing show by all our performers,” said George Gorman “Every year more and more people come to our show which has over the past 20 years become one of the most well-respected and well attended air shows in the country It has become a great tradition for Long Island to honor our military and veterans and kick off the summer at Jones Beach.” The standard $10.00 vehicle use fee will be collected each day upon entry to the State Park 2025 at 1:07 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A driver crashed into a building and pole on Merrick Road on Thursday morning NY — A driver crashed into a building on Merrick Road in Wantagh on Thursday morning The vehicle struck and partially entered the CRC Computer Repair and Valhallan ESports Training shops An investigation revealed that a 37-year-old male had a medical episode behind the wheel of his 2021 Buick on Merrick Road in the vicinity of Brookside Avenue The vehicle crossed over the eastbound lanes and struck a telephone pole causing it to fall before striking the buildings The driver was transported to a local hospital for treatment PSEG Long Island said the vehicle took out multiple sections of wire The outage initially affected more than 500 customers fewer than four dozen customers were without power Crews were working to replace the broken pole and attach the wires