Fair 44°
Police & Fire
Islip Terrace Man Accused Of Committing Lewd Act While Naked, Watching Girls Islip Terrace Man Accused Of Committing Lewd Act While Naked, Watching Girls
Islip Terrace Man Accused Of Committing Lewd Act While Naked, Watching Girls A Long Island man has been accused of committing a lewd act while watching two girls through a window in his home. The alleged incident happened around on Friday, Aug. 30 in Islip Terrace. A family member of the girls reported to police that the man was naked and committing the act while watching the minors, from the window of his home, located on Sunrise Highway (Route 27). Following an investigation by Suffolk County Police Third Squad detectives, Joseph Zink, wage 59, of Islip Terrace, as arrested today at approximately 3:50 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2. Zink was charged with: …

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Tourists Spent Record-Breaking Amount On Long Island Last Year, Report Shows Tourists Spent Record-Breaking Amount On Long Island Last Year, Report Shows
Tourists Spent Record-Breaking Amount On Long Island Last Year, Report Shows It appears tourists just can’t get enough of Long Island. Travelers spent a record-breaking $7.5 billion across Nassau and Suffolk counties in 2023, according to data from New York State’s annual Tourism Economics report.  That figure far surpassed 2022’s record-breaking spending of $6.6 billion by 12.7 percent. Tourists spent the most, 36 percent, on food and beverages, followed by lodging at 20 percent, the report found. Retail and service stations added another $1.2 billion, or 16 percent of total spend. Suffolk County saw the biggest increase in tourism dollars in 2023, with 15.6…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
See Floodwaters Burst Through Suffolk County Library Causing Millions Of Dollars In Damages See Floodwaters Burst Through Suffolk County Library Causing Millions Of Dollars In Damages
See Floodwaters Burst Through Suffolk County Library Causing Millions Of Dollars In Damages A dramatic video was just released of the torrential flood that tore through a Long Island library causing millions in damages.  The Smithtown Library in Suffolk County uploaded surveillance videos taken Monday, Aug. 19, as heavy rains pushed into the building at One North Country Road in Smithtown. It collapsed walls, bashed open doors, and destroyed books and furniture.  More than a foot of rain fell on parts of Long Island overnight on Aug. 19. The library kept its precious collection of rare historical items in a climate-controlled vault. The video shows floodwaters teari…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
20-Year-Old, Furry Friend Rescued From Patchogue Marina 20-Year-Old, Furry Friend Rescued From Patchogue Marina
20-Year-Old, Furry Friend Rescued From Patchogue Marina A man and his dog have some officers to thank for rescuing them from a Long Island marina. The early-morning incident happened in Patchogue, at Mascot Dock and Marina, at around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27. Suffolk County Police said a 20-year-old Holbrook man was crabbing when his dog, a 2-year-old pit bull, jumped into the water. The man jumped in after her but was unable to exit the water. Fortunately for the pair, two Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau officers responded in their boat and pulled them to safety.  Both man and dog were unharmed.

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by Michael Mashburn
Traffic
Long Island Expressway Closures Planned In Brookhaven: Here's When Long Island Expressway Closures Planned In Brookhaven: Here's When
Long Island Expressway Closures Planned In Brookhaven: Here's When A stretch of the Long Island Expressway is scheduled to be closed for roadwork. The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) is advising motorists of weeknight closures on I-495 in the town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, weather permitting, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 3, for approximately 10 weeks to facilitate concrete pavement repairs: Eastbound between Exits 64 (Route 112) and Exit 67 (Yaphank Road/Suffolk Route 21), two lanes will be closed from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. All lanes will be closed and detoured onto the South Service Road from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. Two lanes will be clos…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
School Bus Driver From Suffolk County Downloaded Images Of Child Sexual Abuse: DA School Bus Driver From Suffolk County Downloaded Images Of Child Sexual Abuse: DA
School Bus Driver From Suffolk County Downloaded Images Of Child Sexual Abuse: DA A Long Island school bus driver has been accused of downloading images and videos of child sexual abuse and then uploading them to his cloud storage account. Guenther Mayrhofer, age 71, of Mastic Beach, who worked for the William Floyd School District, was indicted on Thursday, Aug. 29 for 50 counts of promoting and possessing child sex abuse material. “There is nothing more important to my office than protecting children and tracking down predators in our community," Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said. "It is deeply disturbing that this d…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Disgruntled Gambler Shot 2 At Port Jefferson Business, Jury Finds Disgruntled Gambler Shot 2 At Port Jefferson Business, Jury Finds
Disgruntled Gambler Shot 2 At Port Jefferson Business, Jury Finds A 27-year-old man could spend decades in prison for shooting two victims at a Long Island business. Alexander Castillo, of the Bronx, was found guilty of assault and related charges by a Suffolk County jury on Friday, Aug. 23. According to prosecutors, Castillo spent several hours playing pool at a Port Jefferson pool hall on Dec. 28, 2022. Over the course of the evening, he placed bets on each game and lost an undisclosed amount of money. Shortly after 7 p.m., Castillo left the pool hall and returned three minutes later wearing a ski mask and hat. He then pulled out a loaded gun and deman…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Here's How Much Shootings In NY Have Declined In Past Year, Report Says Here's How Much Shootings In NY Have Declined In Past Year, Report Says
Here's How Much Shootings In NY Have Declined In Past Year, Report Says State leaders are crediting major policing reforms for a marked decline in shootings across New York State. In 21 counties outside of New York City, the number of shootings with injuries dropped 29 percent through July compared to the first seven months of 2023, a Division of Criminal Justice Services report shows. The data came from police departments across the state participating in the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, which provides agencies with state funding for equipment, overtime, personnel, training, and technical assistance aimed at reducing shootings and firea…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
AG On Lookout For Price Gougers Cashing In On Recent Long Island Flooding AG On Lookout For Price Gougers Cashing In On Recent Long Island Flooding
AG On Lookout For Price Gougers Cashing In On Recent Long Island Flooding State leaders are on the lookout for businesses hoping to cash in on the recent flooding that hit Long Island. New York Attorney General Letitia James issued an alert warning businesses against price gouging on essential items in Suffolk County.  It comes after a federal emergency was declared in response to widespread flooding that damaged several homes and washed out roads. “As families in Suffolk County recover from the devastating aftermath of last week’s storm, I am warning businesses not to use this as an opportunity to unfairly raise prices,” James said. Earlier Report:&nbs…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Owners Admit Fault After Fire Kills Sisters At Noyac Vacation Rental Owners Admit Fault After Fire Kills Sisters At Noyac Vacation Rental
Owners Admit Fault After Fire Kills Sisters At Noyac Vacation Rental A husband and wife from Long Island admitted fault after a fire killed two Maryland sisters staying at their vacation rental. Peter Miller, age 56, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal negligent homicide, and Pamela Miller, age 55, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Aug. 26. It came two years after sisters Lindsay Wiener, age 19, and Jillian Wiener, age 21, both of Potomac, Maryland, died in a fire at the couple’s Noyac rental home in August 2022. Earlier Report: Sisters On Vacation Killed In Hamptons House Fire According to prosecutors, …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Ex-Stony Brook Attorney Who Stole $800K From Clients Gets Prison Time Ex-Stony Brook Attorney Who Stole $800K From Clients Gets Prison Time
Ex-Stony Brook Attorney Who Stole $800K From Clients Gets Prison Time A former New York attorney is heading to prison after confessing that he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from his clients. Former Long Island resident Douglas Valente, age 57, now of Florida, was sentenced to between one and four years in prison in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, Aug. 22. Prosecutors said Valente, the former principal attorney at the Valente Law Group in Stony Brook, stole more than $800,000 from three former clients by taking money from his escrow account. Earlier Report: Former NY Attorney Stole Nearly $1M From Clients, DA Says Among the victims was a cl…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Homeowners Impacted By Suffolk Co. Flooding Could Get Up To $50K In Repair Grants; Here's How Homeowners Impacted By Suffolk Co. Flooding Could Get Up To $50K In Repair Grants; Here's How
Homeowners Impacted By Suffolk Co. Flooding Could Get Up To $50K In Repair Grants; Here's How Help is on the way for Long Island homeowners who were impacted by severe flooding. Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a disaster emergency for Suffolk County on Friday, Aug. 23, following this week’s record rainfall that resulted in major flooding to homes and businesses, and washed out several roads. Hochul’s office also announced that impacted homeowners may be eligible for grants of up to $50,000 to fund or reimburse certain qualifying health and safety related repairs not covered by insurance or other relief programs. Earlier Report: 'We Will Rebuild': Powerful Storm, Flooding Leave Tr…

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by Michael Mashburn