'Prolific Serial Pedophile' Teacher Sexually Abused Babylon Children Decades Ago, Jury Finds 'Prolific Serial Pedophile' Teacher Sexually Abused Babylon Children Decades Ago, Jury Finds
'Prolific Serial Pedophile' Teacher Sexually Abused Babylon Children Decades Ago, Jury Finds A retired Long Island elementary school teacher was found guilty of sexually abusing children decades ago, marking the first time he has been held criminally accountable. Thomas Bernagozzi, 75, of Babylon, was convicted Friday, Feb. 13, in Suffolk County Court of course of sexual conduct against a child, criminal sex act against a child, and possessing a sexual performance by a child. Jurors acquitted him of two additional counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child. Bernagozzi was arrested in December 2023 following a Suffolk County Police investigation that determined he sexuall…
NY ICE Facility Would Be Near Youth Sports Complex: Bipartisan Pushback Continues NY ICE Facility Would Be Near Youth Sports Complex: Bipartisan Pushback Continues
NY ICE Facility Would Be Near Youth Sports Complex: Bipartisan Pushback Continues A proposed federal immigration detention facility in Orange County is drawing continued, bipartisan opposition, with local leaders warning the site’s proximity to youth sports complexes could endanger public safety and strain local infrastructure. On Tuesday, Feb. 10, New York State Sen. James Skoufis announced he joined Town of Chester Supervisor Brandon Holdridge and a bipartisan coalition of Hudson Valley elected officials in sending a formal letter to the US Department of Homeland Security outlining concerns about the proposed ICE processing facility at 29 Elizabeth Dr. in Chester. The …
School Employee Accused Of Inappropriate Touching At High School On Long Island: Detectives School Employee Accused Of Inappropriate Touching At High School On Long Island: Detectives
School Employee Accused Of Inappropriate Touching At High School On Long Island: Detectives A school employee is accused of inappropriately touching a student at Lawrence High School in Cedarhurst, detectives announced on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Officers responded to a 911 call at the school, located at 2 Reilly Road, around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, after a victim reported the alleged incident to a school administrator, according to Fourth Squad detectives. Following what detectives described as a thorough investigation, Constantine Theodosiou, 59, of Cedarhurst, was arrested, authorities said. Theodosiou is charged with: Forcible Touching. Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Sexu…
Election '26: Why Antonio Delgado Suddenly Walked Away From NY Governor’s Race Election '26: Why Antonio Delgado Suddenly Walked Away From NY Governor’s Race
Election '26: Why Antonio Delgado Suddenly Walked Away From NY Governor’s Race New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado has suspended his campaign for governor, saying he no longer sees a viable path forward in the 2026 race. In a statement released Tuesday, Feb. 10, Delgado said the decision came after careful consideration, but emphasized that he plans to continue serving New Yorkers in his current role. “I’ve decided to end my campaign for governor of New York,” Delgado said. “After much consideration, I’ve concluded that there simply is no viable path forward,” he said. Delgado said that while his bid for governor has ended, his broader political work has not. He said h…
Election '26: Blakeman Reveals Running Mate For Governor's Race Election '26: Blakeman Reveals Running Mate For Governor's Race
Election '26: Blakeman Reveals Running Mate For Governor's Race Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman unveiled his choice for lieutenant governor, tapping a veteran law enforcement official to join his 2026 campaign. Blakeman has chosen Todd Hood, the longtime Madison County sheriff, as his running mate in the Republican race for New York governor, Blakeman announced Monday, Feb. 9. “My running mate, Sheriff Todd Hood, has spent his career protecting communities, managing complex public safety operations, and standing up for law-abiding New Yorkers,” Blakeman said in a statement. He added that both men believe current bail laws and policing policies ar…
Family Starts Over After Late-Night Fire Destroys LI Home; Community Support Swells Family Starts Over After Late-Night Fire Destroys LI Home; Community Support Swells
Family Starts Over After Late-Night Fire Destroys LI Home; Community Support Swells Support is rising for a Long Island family after a late-night house fire forced them from their home, destroying nearly all of their belongings. The fire broke out late Saturday night, Feb. 7, at the East Meadow home of Kim and Ralph Maresco and their two sons. The family escaped safely thanks to the quick response of the North Bellmore Fire Department, according to a GoFundMe campaign organized by Darlene Paskiewicz. No injuries were reported, but the home sustained extensive damage and personal belongings inside were destroyed. “[They] experienced every family’s worst nightmare, their ho…
LI Man Turns $2 Ticket Into $4.5M Payday LI Man Turns $2 Ticket Into $4.5M Payday
LI Man Turns $2 Ticket Into $4.5M Payday A Long Island lottery player just scored a life-changing win, claiming a CASH4LIFE prize worth at least $7 million. Jason Champagne, of Bellmore, claimed the $1,000 A Day For Life top prize after his ticket matched the first five numbers drawn on Dec. 9, 2025, according to the New York Lottery. The winning numbers were 12, 24, 36, 54, and 56, with Cash Ball 02. While the prize guarantees a minimum payout of $7 million paid out over time, Champagne opted to take the cash value instead. He received a one-time lump sum payment of $4,557,000 after required withholdings. The winning ticket was…
Wrestling Coach Molested Child At Long Island Elementary School, Police Say Wrestling Coach Molested Child At Long Island Elementary School, Police Say
Wrestling Coach Molested Child At Long Island Elementary School, Police Say A man who worked as an assistant wrestling coach at a Long Island elementary school stands accused of molesting a student on campus, police said. The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, 2025, at Lido Elementary School in Lido Beach, according to Nassau County Police. Investigators determined that John Anfossi, 54, touched a juvenile female student in a “sexually inappropriate manner” during a wrestling practice session at the school, police said. Anfossi, of Long Beach, was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child. He was arraigned at First District…
LI Coach Admits Blackmailing Minors Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images LI Coach Admits Blackmailing Minors Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images
LI Coach Admits Blackmailing Minors Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images A former Long Island high school assistant coach admitted in federal court that he sexually exploited dozens of minors online, using threats and blackmail to coerce children into sending explicit images. Joseph Garofalo, 21, of Valley Stream, pleaded guilty in Central Islip Thursday, Feb. 5, to sexual exploitation of a child, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. At the time of the crimes, Garofalo was employed as an assistant lacrosse coach at Valley Stream Central High School. Investigators determined he used social media to contact minors and engage …
ICE Arrests Prompt 25% Of Students To Stay Home From Greenport School, District Says ICE Arrests Prompt 25% Of Students To Stay Home From Greenport School, District Says
ICE Arrests Prompt 25% Of Students To Stay Home From Greenport School, District Says Reports of federal immigration enforcement activity rippled through a Long Island community, leaving one in four students absent from school and prompting district leaders to reassure families. Approximately 25 percent of students were absent from the Greenport Union Free School District on Wednesday, Feb. 4, following reports of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the village, the district confirmed. Superintendent Beth Doyle said the district shifted to a closed campus for lunch for grades 7 through 12 so students could remain on school grounds and feel safe and secur…
Amazon Movie Casting Paid Background Roles In Hudson Valley, NYC Amazon Movie Casting Paid Background Roles In Hudson Valley, NYC
Amazon Movie Casting Paid Background Roles In Hudson Valley, NYC Lights, camera — paycheck. A new Amazon MGM feature film is casting paid background actors in New York City and across the Hudson Valley, offering locals a chance to appear on screen while earning up to $224 per day. The casting call, posted on Backstage, seeks both adults and children to appear as non-speaking background performers in the project, currently working under the title “CTTS.” Who They’re Looking For The production is hiring adults 18 and older to work as background pedestrians. Filming runs from mid-February through the end of March in New York City and Hudson Valley locatio…
NY Deploys ‘Legal Observers’ As Trump Admin Immigration Raids Expand NY Deploys ‘Legal Observers’ As Trump Admin Immigration Raids Expand
NY Deploys ‘Legal Observers’ As Trump Admin Immigration Raids Expand As federal immigration raids expand nationwide under the Trump administration, New York is deploying legal observers to monitor enforcement actions and protect residents’ rights. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Tuesday, Feb. 3, a new statewide initiative dubbed the Legal Observation Project to document immigration enforcement actions and identify potential violations of constitutional rights. Under the initiative, the attorney general’s office will collect reports of federal enforcement activity and, when appropriate, deploy trained legal observers to witness and document …