News by Robert Chartuk
News by Robert Chartuk on South Shore Press
Tierney Indicts Pair for Fires Set to Distract from Burglaries
A pair of Suffolk men arrested for setting fire to PSEG substations to distract law enforcement from their burglaries are under indictment by District Attorney Raymond Tierney. Frank Costa, 54, of Port Jefferson Station, and Jon Pucci, 29, of Middle Island, have been arrested for arson at three utility locations and nine commercial burglaries at businesses throughout Suffolk County. They also face weapons charges.
Glasses Raised for Manorville Water Project
Glasses of sparkling pine barrens water were raised in a toast Thursday to celebrate the completion of water mains to homes with contaminated wells in Manorville. Suffolk County Water Authority officials assembled on Primrose Path with local leaders, clean water advocates, and homeowners to herald the milestone.
Mazzarella to Headline Colonial Youth Event
"We're grateful that this community icon is headlining our main fundraising event," said Colonial Youth Board President Peter Costeloe. "We truly appreciate his support and all that he has done for our area."
Kayaker Saved in Dramatic Ocean Rescue
A kayaker who was pulled through Moriches Inlet into the Atlantic surf on Sunday was rescued by volunteers with the Eastport Fire Department, who deployed a rescue swimmer to help bring the man to safety.
Marc Herbst to Represent Suffolk on MTA Board
One of the three nominees Suffolk County Executive Edward Romaine forwarded to Albany for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board, Marc Herbst has been accepted by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Unkechaug Nation: 10,000 Years of History
After an ill-fated tenure as mayor of Tangier, Col. William Smith came to America in 1686 and amassed more than 81,000 acres of property, much of it from the Unkechaug Indians, in what would later become the Town of Brookhaven. He carved out 175 acres off Forge River in Mastic for what he called the "Beach Indians," and the land, known as the Poospatuck Reservation, belongs to them still today.
Suffolk GOP Picks November Slate
Congressmen Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino will lead Suffolk's Republican ticket in November in an election that will also see state senate and assembly seats up for grabs. Voters will also cast ballots for president and the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Kirsten Gillibrand.
Caracappa Agenda for 2024
Standing with the county executive and police department officials to announce the promotion of 24 detectives was a key moment in Legislator Nick Caracappa's agenda to keep Suffolk safe. Along with protecting the island's natural resources with adequate funding for sewers and wastewater treatment systems and making the county a more affordable place to live, the Selden legislator has set an ambitious agenda for his third term.
The Race is On: Suffolk Marathon Will Keep Running
The popular Suffolk Marathon, which raises millions for veterans causes each year, will continue under the administration of County Executive Ed Romaine, officials said last week. In its eighth season, the event was initiated by former Executive Steve Bellone.
Recycled Christmas Trees Protect Barrier Beach
Members of the Long Island Beach Buggy Association turned out in force over the weekend to place donated Christmas trees along the dunes to help build up the barrier island.
Renovation of the Mastic-Shirley Station to Begin
The long-awaited renovation of the Mastic-Shirley Train Station will begin this week with renovations to the existing sidewalks, followed by the building of a new plaza and waiting area this spring. Platform improvements will start in June.
Rescue Swimmer Joseph Dalen
A 1st Lieutenant with the Eastport Fire Department, the first responder sped to the scene on a boat driven by his father, Fire Chief John Dalen. The victim, who had capsized in the breakers at the mouth of the treacherous Moriches Inlet and was separated from his kayak, was too hypothermic to grab a rescue ring thrown to him. Joseph, already in cold water survival gear, was deployed to get him into the hands of the crew who pulled him in.
Residents Voice Concern Over Shirley Mosque Plan
A chief concern of residents speaking out against a Shirley mosque at a zoning hearing last week is the building is too large for the proposed site, while supporters, many from the Islaamic Center of Mastic-Shirley, said they welcome the 13,500-square-foot facility as an asset to the community.
Romaine Announces Police Promotions, Adds 24 Detectives
Keeping Suffolk safe is the stated goal of officials gathered at police headquarters in Yaphank Thursday to announce the promotion of 24 officers to detective and a number of leadership changes.
Army Corps to Update Home Raising Plan
Mastic Peninsula residents will get an update this spring on a federal effort to raise homes in the floodplain, the area that was inundated during Hurricane Sandy and the two coastal storms last month, according to the program's sponsor, the Army Corps of Engineers.
1040Man: Shirley's Go-To Tax Preparer and Accounting Expert
A familiar presence on Montauk Highway in Shirley for over two decades, 1040Man is the go-to tax preparation and accounting expert for thousands of residents and businesses.
Grand Marshal Named for St. Patrick's Parade
The Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will march down Main Street in Center Moriches on March 10, with George Keller serving as Grand Marshal. sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Moriches, the popular parade is in its 20th year.
Mastic's Moss Lots and the Dana Family
Forge River in Mastic was the setting for a great mansion known as Moss Lots, built in 1883 by William "Buck" Dana, husband of a great-granddaughter of William Floyd, the noted Patriot who signed the Declaration of Independence.
New Starbucks Planned for Shirley
The 1,800-square-foot coffee shop will be built near the Montauk Highway entrance of the center, which is also home to Applebees, Harbor Freight, and Aldi's supermarket. The new building is permitted by town code on the commercial property, and the developers, Damianos Realty Group, are looking to secure site plan approval for the construction. It will be the subject of a Brookhaven Town Planning Board hearing on February 21.
Shirley Mosque on Zoning Board Agenda
The center is requesting a rear yard variance of 25 feet, which will put the house of worship 35 closer to the adjoining property than allowed by town code. The applicant is also seeking approval for a six-foot high fence in the front of the property, as well as larger-than-permitted signage. They would also like to place the sign closer to the parkway than currently allowed.
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Stony Brook students blend fitness and ecology in 3K EcoWalk
Stony Brook University students participated in the "Running Wild 3K EcoWalk," a new Earthstock event conducted on April 21 at the Ashley Schiff Preserve.
From the Newsroom: In God We Trust, All Others Bring Data
Politicians make plenty of promises and toss out false claims with zero data backing them up.
The Big Beautiful Bill Targets Bettors
The Big Beautiful Bill was over 1,000 pages long and while many Americans were celebrating the large issues the bill set to solve, there was one section of the bill that seems to have been forgotten and it targets a very select group of people. Bettors, specifically sports bettors and poker players had a rude awakening when the detail of the bill was presented and they found they were targeted by the bill.