Oheka Castle Owner Shot

Guests pose in gardens of Oheka Castle.

Gary Melius is reported in stable condition after he was shot in the parking lot of Oheka Castle about midday Monday.

Earlier this month, Behind Every Great Fortune, a historical novel about Otto Hermann Kahn who built the castle, was published. 

The novel is described as "crackl(ing) with intrigue, ritual murder, sexual depravity, and betrayal, as the action races from the first terrorist attack on New York City to the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand, the murder of Rasputin, the Russian Revolution, and the bloody devastation of WWI."

The castle has been a popular site for charity events and celebrity weddings since Melius first purchased the site in 1984. Its name is drawn from Kahn's name (Otto Hermann Kahn). 

The estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Suffolk Hosting Black History Month Celebration

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone invites residents to join the Black History Month celebration next week at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge.

The Progress & Resources Yesterday & Today event Thursday opens with a vendor showcase at 5:45 p.m., followed by the celebration at 6:30 p.m.

The celebration  will feature the film series The African Americans: 

“Many Rivers to Cross”

Caution Urged in Clearing Snow from Roofs

Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone advises homeowners with flat roofs to be careful about clearing snow and advises them to consider hiring a roofing professional for the task for their own safety and the safety of the roof.

Experts note that while homeowners’ first concern might be a roof collapse, more common is damage caused by leaks through cracks the result of water seepage and expansion. In both cases, however, residents need to be careful about removing snow from the roof to avoid putting additional weight – their own – on flat roofs already supporting the weight of the accumulated snow, ice and water.

Roofing professionals should have the proper safety equipment. Homeowners who attempt to remove the snow themselves should practice safety and common sense, including staying away from the roof’s edge.

Experts note that while homeowners’ first concern might be a roof collapse, more common is damage caused by leaks through cracks the result of water seepage and expansion. In both cases, however, residents need to be careful about removing snow from the roof to avoid putting additional weight – their own – on flat roofs already supporting the weight of the accumulated snow, ice and water. Roofing professionals should have the proper safety equipment. Homeowners who attempt to remove the snow themselves should practice safety and common sense, including staying away from the roof’s edge.


“Flat roofs pose a particular challenge, and that challenge only increases when rain beats down on a flat roof covered with snow,” Petrone said. “This is especially true in situations when a daytime thaw is followed by a freeze overnight.”

Carbon Monoxide Kills Legal Seafood Manager; 27 Sickened

Photo by Steve Silverman

The manager of the Legal Seafood restaurant at Walt Whitman Shops died Saturday night from carbon monoxide poisoning. Another 27 people were sickened by the fumes.

The Huntington Manor Fire Department and Suffolk police responded to a report that a woman had fallen and struck her head. Emergency workers felt ill after arrival and recognized that carbon monoxide poisoning.

After evacuating the restaurant, police found the manager, Steven Nelson, 55, in the basement. He was taken to Huntington Hospital and pronounced dead.

Police said the 27 victims, which included four ambulance crew members and three police officers, were treated at local hospitals for non life threenting symptoms. Most of those who became ill were restaurant employees.

The nearby Panera Bread and The Cheesecake Factory were evacuated as a precaution.

Among the responding departments were the Greenlawn and Melville Fire Departments.

Huntington Hospital Wins Magnet Designation Again

 Huntington Hospital, a member of the North Shore-LIJ Health System,  has become the first hospital on Long Island to be designated a magnet hospital for the third consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program® for excellence in nursing services, the hospital announced Tuesday.

The consecutive designations put Huntington among an elite class of hospitals in the United States. Only 86 of the nation's 5,724 hospitals have attained Magnet status three times or more, and only 6.8 percent -- or 391 – are Magnet accredited.

"To earn Magnet status once is a tremendous accomplishment and a great source of pride for our nurses and the entire hospital," said Kevin F. Lawlor, Huntington's President and CEO. "To retain Magnet status for a third consecutive time is the result of the hard work of many people.  It's truly a team effort by a dedicated staff whose ultimate goal is in meeting the healthcare needs of our community."

Huntington Hospital was the first community hospital on Long Island to achieve Magnet status eight years ago.

According to the ANCC, the leading nursing credentialing organization in the United States, Magnet designation is widely accepted as the gold standard of patient care. The Magnet Recognition Program recognizes excellence and professionalism in nursing, which results in enhanced quality of care and patient safety.  Applicants undergo an extensive evaluation and members granted Magnet status must continue to meet rigorous standards.  To reapply for and receive Magnet status is confirmation of the hospital's resolve to deliver the highest level of nursing care. Research shows that Magnet hospitals are more effective at attracting and keeping quality nurses.

"Our initial Magnet designation eight years ago raised the bar on patient care and inspired all of us – nurses, physicians, professional and support staff – to strive to be even better," said Susan Knoepffler, Huntington's Vice President of Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer. "I'm incredibly proud of the commitment our nursing department made to once again – for a third time – to embark on this Magnet journey, and of the support we have received from staff and departments throughout the hospital. It is truly an honor to be associated with this exemplary team of professionals."

To view video about how this award affects staff and patients at Huntington Hospital, visithttp://www.northshorelij.com/hospitals/video-library.  

Established in 1916, Huntington Hospital is a full-service, 408-bed nonprofit hospital serving Huntington Township and surrounding communities.  Visitwww.hunthosp.org.

SOURCE North Shore-LIJ Health System

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/02/18/6167486/huntington-hospital-is-first-on.html#storylink=cpy

Chiefs Ask Your Help in Clearing Hydrants

The Town of Huntington Fire Chiefs' Council asks you to clear snow from fire hydrants near your home, which can help you and your neighbors in the event of a fire. 

With the numerous snowstorms that have hit the area, many fire hydrants have become buried in local neighborhoods which will be a problem for the fire department's water supply should a fire occur. 

In a fire, every minute counts and the sooner that firefighters can reach a hydrant, the quicker they can extinguish the fire.                                        

Storysubmitted by Steve Silverman 

Housing Coalition Launches Petition for Ruland Road

The Huntington Township Housing Coalition has started a petition in support of a plan for affordable rental apartments on Ruland Road in Melville.

Harborfields Library Hosting Blood Drive Feb. 19

Harborfields Public Library is hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 1-7 pm. Walk-ins welcome! Harborfields Public Library 31 Broadway Greenlawn, NY 11740 631-757-4200 www.harborfieldslibrary.org

In the midst of an unprecedented string of winter storms, New York Blood Center  is urgently asking donors to roll up their sleeves to replenish the community blood and platelet supply.

Dozens of blood drives have been canceled because of bad weather. Blood drives that are continuing have experienced greatly reduced attendance, while operations at NYBC’s many walk-in donor centers are similarly affected. 

“I urge residents to donate to this vital cause,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said. “So many people depend on donations to survive serious illnesses or accidents. Giving blood is an easy way to help others in need.”

To donate blood or platelets or for information on how to organize a blood drive please call toll free: 1-800-933-2566 or visit: www.nybloodcenter.org

Of the six major blood types, five are below target levels. The supply of O-Negative blood – “universal donor” blood that can be transfused into anyone in a trauma situation – is now below the minimum emergency “safety level.”  Also, platelets- needed for clotting- have only a 5-day shelf life and meeting the needs of cancer patients and others who require this lifesaving blood component has been a challenge.

“While we’re confident in our ability to supply our partner hospitals, we’re still struggling with the effects of the snow and ice for the past two weeks, and worried about an even bigger hit this week,” said NYBC Vice President Rob Purvis.  “It is critical that we all pitch in by donating blood to ensure that supplies aren’t further diminished in the days ahead.”

There is no substitute for human blood, with about one in seven hospital admissions requiring a blood transfusion.  Blood is especially important for people with leukemia, other forms of cancer, and of course for trauma victims. With a limited shelf life, supplies must be continually replenished.

Three factors are combining together to prompt NYBC’s emergency declaration:

1.     Many blood drives have been cancelled because of accumulated or predicted snowfall.

2.     Many donors haven’t been able to make scheduled donation appointments due to the weather.

3.     Hospital demand for blood types – notably O-negative, the universal blood type because of its usefulness in trauma situations – remains high.

If you cannot donate but still wish to participate in bringing crucial blood products to patients in need, please ask someone to donate for you, or consider volunteering at a local blood drive.  NYBC also offers special community service scholarships for students who organize community blood drives during summer months.

Any company, community organization, place of worship, or individual may host a blood drive. NYBC also offers special community service scholarships for students who organize community blood drives during summer and winter months. Blood donors receive free mini-medical exams on site including information about their temperature, blood pressure and hematocrit level. Eligible donors include those people at least age 16 (with parental permission or consent), who weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, are in good health and meet all Food & Drug Administration and NY or NJ State Department of Health donor criteria. People over 75 may donate with a doctor's note.

Man Wanted in Wallet Robbery at Whitman Mall

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who robbed someone in a store at the Walt Whitman Mall in Huntington Station last month.

A man was in the Apple Store, located at 160 Walt Whitman Road, when he felt an unknown man put his hand into the victim’s jacket pocket in an attempt to steal the victim’s wallet on Jan. 13 at 4 p.m. The two struggled and the thief gained control of the wallet that contained cash. The man fled the mall in a 2008 white Toyota Camry.

The man was described as black, in his 30s to 40s, 5 feet 10 inches tall to 6 feet tall and 170 pounds. He also had a goatee. 

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000.00 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

DDI Expanding, Hiring at Suffolk Employment Center

The Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI) will be recruiting a large number of people at the Suffolk County One Stop Employment Center next week.

"This recruitment drive is an opportunity for people looking for a range of duties and work schedules, full time or part time, to work with children in need of care We are happy to assist by connecting workers and employers," said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.

DDI is looking to hire approximately 150 teaching assistants and direct-care counselors to staff the expansion of its Huntington campus to include a children’s residential program and added classrooms. 

The Smithtown-based organization is the largest provider of services for individuals with autism on Long Island. DDI offers educational, residential, vocational, and medical services to children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. DDI also operates preschool programs for both children with disabilities as well as typically developing students. 

DDI is partnering with the Suffolk County One Stop Employment Center in an effort to allow its recruiters access to an expanded database of job seekers and provide space to meet with applicants. Most of the jobs are entry level; about half are full-time positions.

The recruitment event is set for Feb. 19, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Suffolk County One Stop Employment Center, 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge

Chris Algieri Boxing Friday at the Paramount

Chris Algieri (“The Pride of Huntington”) returns to action on Friday, FEBRUARY 14 challenging world ranked Baltimore native Emanuel “The Tranzformer” Taylor in the ten round junior welterweight main event live on ESPN Friday Night Fights at The Paramount in Huntington.

Joe DeGuardia, President and Founder of Star Boxing, said

“This is an excellent nationally televised matchup of young, hungry junior welterweights with a lot to gain” said DeGuardia. “Chris has made The Paramount his home with his electrifying hometown performances. This will be his eighth fight in the venue, all wins and all sellouts. I strongly encourage fans to purchase tickets in advance to ensure entry on fight night.”

“Emanuel had two terrific knockout wins earlier this year; over Raymond Serrano at The Paramount and also over top contender Victor Cayo both of which were nationally telecast.”

” These are two of the very best junior welterweights in boxing with almost identical records and we’re thrilled that ESPN will broadcast the fight,” continued DeGuardia. “It’s a perfect compliment to our acclaimed “Rockin Fights” series which has sold out each of its previous eleven events.”

“This is just the kind of fight I’ve wanted, against another top prospect with national exposure,” said Algieri. “I was at Taylor’s win over Raymond Serrano last January and I’m very aware of how tough he is.”

“There’s already a great buzz about this fight and The Paramount as always will be packed and full of great boxing fans.”

Emanuel Taylor was also excited about the fight. “I’m ready to continue my path to a world title,” said the confident Taylor. “Chris Algieri is a very good fighter but I plan on showing the ESPN audience why I’m the best junior welterweight in the boxing.”

Both Algieri and Taylor are coming off their best year yet. Sporting an unblemished record of 18-0 with eight knockouts, Algieri is coming off a three-win 2013 campaign highlighted by a thrilling ten round decision over heralded New Jersey prospect Jose Peralta on FEBRUARY 23 and telecast on NBC Sports Network as well as a win over veteran world title contender Mike Arnaoutis in the fall.

Although starting his training camp on Long Island, the pre-med student will head to Las Vegas for world class sparring in preparation for the fight. He has previously trained at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, California, and expects to continue sparring with numerous top fighters as he has done recently, including newly crowned welterweight world champion Marcos Maidana.

Baltimore’s Taylor made his name in the rough and tumble Maryland gyms while establishing himself as one of the premier regional amateur boxers in recent times with a record of 186-26 while winning numerous national and regional tournaments.

Compiling a record of 17-1-0 with 12 knockouts over his four years as a professional, Taylor will return to The Paramount, site of his dominant SHOWTIME televised performance over Raymond Serrano on JANUARY 25, which ended in a devastating sixth round stoppage victory by Taylor. Taylor followed that win with another upset TKO win (8th round) over top rated Victor Cayo in the main event on ESPN in Atlantic City.

Taylor is currently world ranked #4 by the International Boxing Federation.

The Paramount is located at 370 New York Avenue in Huntington, New York, 11743. Doors on the night of the event will open at 7:00 p.m. with the first bell at 7:30 p.m.

Sales to the general public begin Friday at 10:00 am and are priced at $200, $150, $100, $60 and $50 for “ESPN Friday Night Fights/Rockin Fights 12″. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, (www.Ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000). Tickets are also available by calling Star Boxing at (718) 823-2000 or on their website www.starboxing.com and through The Paramount Box Office, (631) 673-7300.

Read more at http://www.eastsideboxing.com/2014/chris-algieri-vs-emanuel-taylor-headlines-espn-friday-night-fightsrockin-fights-12/#se13z2bvsLt37TAd.99

Registration Tonight for Adult Ed in Huntington

You can register online or by mail but if you want to sign up for adult education classes in person, go to Huntington High School between 6 and 9 p.m. Wednesday night.

Classes range from dance to intermediate Chinese to southern Italian cooking.

Kohl's Top Chef Cook-Off

The Kohl’s Cares® Keeping Kids Healthy Program and Cohen Children’s Medical Center want to challenge boys and girls to create tasty, healthy, exciting new recipes.

The contest is open to children age 5 - 17. Maximum of two children per entry. A Parent or Guardian MUST be involved.
Visit www.kohlshealthykidsny.com

Here’s how it works:

Recipes are submitted online along with a photo of the prepared dish. Online submission will be accepted until April 5.

 Recipe submissions must fall into one of three categories:appetizers/side dishes, entrees, desserts/snacks.

Five semifinalists from each category will be chosen and notified on April 18, 2014. These semifinalists will attend a cook-off at Cohen Children’s Medical Center on May 10, 2014, at 9 AM. Top Chef Danny Gagnon will be present to assist with judging at the cook-off event. At the event one winner will be selected from each category. These three finalists will be judged; the winner will receive the grand prize; the two runners-up will also receive a prize

Bellone, Suffolk County Food Policy Council Announce the Release of Annual Report

The Suffolk County Food Policy Council (SCFPC) released its annual report to the Suffolk County Legislature and to Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. This report summarizes the actions and steps taken by the Council over the course of 2013. It also identifies future steps and actions to be investigated in 2014.

The SCFPC is made up of members of the Department of Health Services, the Department of Economic Development & Planning, the Department of Social Services, food equity advocates, community-based groups, food growers, retailers, and distributors, and Legislator Kara Hahn, the Chair of the Suffolk County Legislature’s Environment, Planning, and Agriculture Committee.

The mission of the Food Policy Council is to:

•  Promote the production, distribution, and awareness of locally grown food.
• Strengthen and prioritize policies that will improve food access, health, and nutrition
•      Enhance the regional food system by utilizing local agriculture and farming.

“Access to fresh, healthy foods is absolutely essential to the continued success and growth of our local communities, said County Executive Bellone. “Suffolk County has a rich, vibrant agricultural industry and we must continue to do better to ensure that all citizens, regardless of income status, are able to purchase healthy, affordable food. I applaud the Suffolk County Food Policy Council in their efforts to encourage local food production and to improve local fresh food accessibility.”

Some of the Council’s 2013 successes include:

·       The creation of a position on the Suffolk County Food Policy Council for a “local public school district administrator, to be selected by the Legislature” who can assist and offer expertise on “farm-to-school” initiatives.

·       The production of a “How to Guide” describing the process of beginning a community garden.

·       The update of a 2010 map created by the Long Island Victory Garden Task Force identifying parcels of County-owned land that could potentially be used for community gardens.

·       The Council helped advocate for the successful passage of legislative changes to Chapter 8 of the Suffolk County Administrative code, the code that governs Suffolk County’s Purchase of Development Rights program. These changes will help expand direct marketing and processing activities on preserved Suffolk County farmland and will help bring fallow, uncultivated preserved farmland back into agriculture production.

The Council expects to see exciting completion of recent initiatives in the near future including:

·       The identification of a corner store owner in a “food desert” in Gordon Heights who will host an event featuring educational materials and displays, food sampling and cooking demonstrations, and opportunities to eligible attendees to enroll in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance (SNAP) Program. The event is planned to be held in March. It is hoped the event can serve as a pilot project for future efforts.

·       The Council is working on developing a community gardens website. The website, though still under construction, will serve as a comprehensive resource for people and organizations that want to begin or participate in community gardens on Long Island, including information on how to organize, how to grow or start a garden, possible funding opportunities, and a calendar of events coordinated or hosted by local gardens.

·       The creation of an online presence for the Suffolk County Food Policy Council. The SCFPC should serve as a resource for Long Islanders seeking information about healthy foods, news about proposed policies, and notification of relevant workshops and events. The first step is to create a Facebook and Twitter feed to serve those needs.

“The Suffolk County Food Policy Council is committed to developing practical and actionable policies and programs that will help support our local farmers and fishermen and ensure local food security as we work to alleviate food access inequities in our communities” said Suffolk County Food Policy Council Chair, August Ruckdeschel, Farmlands Administrator in the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development & Planning.

“I commend the Suffolk County Food Policy Council for its work thus far in identifying ways to promote access to healthy, locally grown, food for all of our 1.5 million residents,” said Legislator Kara Hahn, Chairwoman of the Legislature’s Environment, Planning and Agriculture committee.  “As I continue to look toward ways of curbing the national epidemic of obesity and heart disease here in Suffolk County, I welcome their informed judgment of nutritional disparities that are commonplace throughout our culture.”

“Now is the time to strengthen Long Island’s local food sector,” said Amy Engel, Executive Director of Sustainable Long Island. “Sustainable Long Island is proud to serve on the Suffolk County Food Policy Council and looks forward to the continued collaboration that will advance our food system in a more equitable, environmentally just way.”

“Island Harvest is proud to be joining with our colleagues in different fields as a member of the Suffolk Food Policy Council, all working together to move important issues like food safety, food equity/access to healthy foods, and buying local from simply ideas and concepts to real action and direct benefits to the people of Suffolk County,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, President & CEO of Island Harvest.

“Cornell University Cooperative Extension is committed to boosting food security by promoting healthy lifestyles, improving access to fresh, local, nutritious foods and striving for food sustainability. Together with the Food Policy Council we strive to decrease the burden of obesity in Suffolk.” Vito Minei, Executive Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension.

“In the spirit of the mission of the Food Policy Council, community gardens offer food access with the aim of improving health, all while emphasizing local eating.  This locavore philosophy results in utmost nutrient consumption, and a gentler carbon footprint,” said Iman Marghoob, the Community Gardens Coordinator at Stony Brook University Medical Center and the Chairwoman of the SCFPC Subcommittee on Community Gardens

Dairy Queen Coming to Huntington

Wilbur Breslin, president of Breslin Realty Development Corp., said his firm has negotiated a 30,000 s/f ground lease for property at 321 West Jericho Tpke. for Dairy Queen Grill and Chill. 

That space is currently empty; it previously housed an OTB center. The building is on the north side of Jericho Turnpike, opposite the old cemetery, and next door to Burger King.

In July, 2013 the Breslin Organization negotiated a deal in Massapequa for the first new Dairy Queen location since the 1970s - the chain has been absent from the area since then. 

The new Jericho Tpke. location was negotiated by Charles Navarro of Breslin Realty.

No further details were immediately available.

Driver Hurt After Hitting Tree

Huntington Manor firefighters responded to this single car accident on Oakwood Road and Rolling Hills Drive around 1:25 PM on Monday afternoon. Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free the trapped driver. He was transported to Huntington Hospital by Huntington Community First Aid Squad. Suffolk County Police were investigating the cause of the crash.

Huntington NAACP Plans Black History Month Program

The NAACP Huntington Branch will celebrate Black History Thursday, Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m.  

The event will be held at the South Huntington Public Library, 145 Pidgeon Hill Road, Huntington Station, New York. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Johnasina Cummings, Dentist, Cummings Family Dentistry of Huntington/Clinical Assistant Professor, Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine.

For more information contact Betty J. Miller, president, at (631) 421-4292, Irene Moore, Program Coordinator, at (631) 421-2433 or Dolores Thompson, Program Chair, at (631) 425-2640.

Sign Up for Huntington Kindergarten Registration

The Huntington School District has announced kindergarten screening and registration dates for children who will be five years old by December 1, 2014.

Parents or guardians should call the kindergarten registration hotline as soon as possible at 673-4299 to secure a registration packet. Callers that reach a voice mail recording should leave their name, address and telephone number and their call will be returned as soon as possible. After receiving the packet, parents can select the date on which they want to register their child and have him/her screened.

Kindergarten registration is by appointment only. Registration will be held in the district’s primary schools on March 11, 13, 25 and 27. (Additional make-up sessions will be held on Monday and Tuesday, April 7-8 at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School.)

There are several documents that parents or guardians must bring with them to the registration including: four proofs of district residency, including original property deed or property owner affidavit (see registration packet) and three current utility bills in the parent/guardian’s name; child’s original birth certificate, child’s certificate of immunization and physical exam and parent’s photo identification.

Blog Workshop Monday Night

Are you struggling to find “THE GOLDEN VOICE” that will make people melt when they hear about how wonderfully life-changing your product or service is? Is your brand whispering into the infinite abyss of Internet marketing, getting lost among advertisements for Apple's latest gadget or Aunt Betsy’s  over-kill Facebook status’ of her selfies featuring Betsy Jr. her toy poodle? 

Do you want to tell customers the story of your business but don’t know how to start? Let us help you think creatively and out-of-the-box to use your blog to create interest, engagement and to spur action on behalf of the reader. No more waiting for customers to wa

nder through your door, desperately hoping they like it enough to stay and maybe even come back. We will help YOU catch their attention on the Internet in ways that matter, we’ll help THEM form a relationship with you before they even walk through your door and who knows, maybe even inspire them to drag their friends along too!

This seminar will be ACTIVE. Sure we’ll show you some samples and ideas, but YOU will be doing the work, along with help from other attendees. You’ll brainstorm topics, tag lines, titles and formats that work for your business. You’ll see how you can incorporate Vlogging, pictures,campaigns etc. to make people interested in the story of your business and how they can be a part of it! Join us and bring your business cards to exchange information!

This seminar will be run by Erika Forland, a creative writer and educator and Andrea Bonilla, a copywriter and social media consultant. Both are community liaisons in Huntington Station.

Join the event on Facebook or the Source the Station website. 

Light Snow on the Way

Suffolk County crews plow Oakwood Road. Photo Credit: Pam Robinson

Huntington is expected to get more snow starting early Sunday evening.

The National Weather Service says:

Light snow likely, mainly after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Snow, mainly before midnight. Low around 21. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph after midnight.

Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Dix Hills Men Arrested in Cemetery Thefts

Suffolk County Police arrested three people last week on charges of stealing bronze vases from a Farmingdale cemetery.

First Precinct officers responded Friday to a 911 call of a theft in progress at Pinelawn Cemetery, located at 2030 Wellwood Ave., at approximately 12:15 p.m.  Officers located two men who were still at the cemetery in a white 2010 Volkswagen Beetle which had also been driven in a prior larceny at the graveyard.  When the officer attempted to initiate a stop, the driver of the Volkswagen evaded police by driving through a locked metal gate.  After a brief pursuit, the suspects were apprehended at the intersection of North Pine Drive and North Linden Street in Massapequa.    

Nicholas Giambalvo, 27, his passenger, Max Schneider, 24, and the owner of the Volkswagen, Elizabeth Dono, 27, were responsible for the thefts of numerous bronze vases with a combined value of approximately $53,000.  The thefts occurred on October 1, and 16, 2013, and February 5, 6, 2014.

Police said Giambalvo and Dono are also responsible for a burglary that occurred December 2013 in which they entered a vacant home on Kime Avenue in North Babylon and stole copper piping.

Giambalvo, of Etna Lane, Dix Hills, was charged with four counts of Grand Larceny 3^rd Degree, Burglary 3^rd Degree, Unlawfully Fleeing an Officer, Criminal Mischief 3^rd Degree, Reckless Driving and Resisting Arrest.through a locked metal gate.  After a brief pursuit, the suspects were apprehended at the intersection of North Pine Drive and North Linden Street in Massapequa.   

Schneider, of Dix Circle, Dix Hills, was charged with two counts of Grand Larceny 3^rd Degree and Resisting Arrest.

Dono, of Amsterdam Avenue, North Babylon, was charged with Grand Larceny and Burglary 3^rd Degree.

Suffolk Olympians Getting Ready

Suffolk Olympians ready to go in Sochi: from left, West Islip's Aidan Kelly, Smithtown's John Daly and Huntington Station's Matt Mortensen) Photo Credit: Twitter/ @MattMortensen_

Cooper Branches Out With Mine Safety Company

Jon Cooper, Lloyd Harbor resident and former majority leader of the Suffolk County Legislature, has started a new business. Long Island Business News reported that the new company, Alerton International Inc., is a mine safety company. Unfortunately, LIBN is behind a paywall but we'll try to get an interview with Jon.

Brandi Glanville to the Book Revue

The Book Revue is planning the following events:

2/10 - Long Island Writers Guild

2/12 - Brandi Glanville

2/19 - Book Revue Book Group

3/3 - Hofstra's Great Writers Series Workshop

3/25 - Gae Polisner

3/26 - Book Revue Book Group

3/27 - Jane Green

4/15 - Alicia Silverstone

5/6 - Rick Springfield

5/21 Emily Giffin

January Call Stats from HCFAS

The Huntington Community First Aid Squad reports the following call stats for January:

January of 2014: 478
Last year for January: 506
Year to date: 478
Last Year YTD: 506

The organization is looking for volunteers:

• Enroll in an American Red Cross "Responding to Emergencies / CPR for the Professional Rescuer" class. It takes about 32 hours to complete the course.
• After you pass the CPR component - usually the third and fourth classes - the Membership Committee chairperson will address the class and pass out applications.
• Complete and return the application. HCFAS will mail letters to your references.
• You will be invited to a personal interview. You will be asked why you want to join the Squad, and be given additional information about HCFAS policies and procedures. You will be asked to sign a Disclosure Form allowing us to do a Background Check. You will also receive information about taking a Squad-paid physical exam.
• Go to a Squad physician and complete the medical exam. When all forms have been received, your file will be brought to a Board of Directors meeting to review your application, references, background check and the recommendation of the members attending your personal interview. The Board will make a decision, and you will be notified promptly.
• You will attend Dispatch Training classes for three weeks, then dispatch on your shift for approximately 13 weeks, pass a dispatch exam and attend ambulance orientation prior to riding an ambulance. You will progress from observer to aide to first aider.
• If you wish to become a driver or crew leader, you will take further training at HCFAS to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
• If you have any questions about the process or your progress please contact us at recruitment@hcfas.org.

Questions regarding the site should be directed to hcfaswebmaster@yahoo.com

Covering the News

Huntington deserves a website devoted to news around town. A number of sites and publications already do just that but there's still a piece missing.

We welcome commentary from all political viewpoints, news from organizations and individuals who want to tell their fellow residents what's going on.

While we wholeheartedly believe in the First Amendment, that does not obligate this site to publish personal attacks or bigotry. But all views are welcome.