Best of December: Most Viewed Stories of the Month

From a local scout leader charged with possessing and promoting child porn to the village board's decision to eliminate staffing at satellite fire stations at night, these are the most viewed articles of December 2012:

Garden City Scout Leader Charged With Possessing and Promoting Child Porn: A Garden City Boy Scout leader was arrested and charged with multiple felonies for possessing images of child pornography and making those images available to others via the Internet, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said this month. Edward Orenchuk III, 23, worked as a page at the Garden City Public Library.

Library Reacts to Page's Child Porn Charges: After Edward Orenchuk III's arrest, the library board of trustees released a statement explaining he was banned from the library facility and premises until the matter is resolved.

D.A. Rice: Garden City Attorney Tries to Extort $200K From Ex-Wife: Dominic Barbara, a high profile attorney from Garden City who once represented Joey Buttafuoco and more recently Howard Stern, attempted to extort $200,000 from his ex-wife and destroy her reputation and career when she didn't meet his demands, D.A. Kathleen Rice said this month. Barbara, 67, threatened to file false police reports and a false order of protection against his ex-wife, Rice said, and was arrested by D.A. investigators.

Pedestrian Fatally Struck on Stewart Avenue: A Hicksville man attempting to cross Stewart Avenue was fatally struck by a car earlier this month. According to Nassau County detectives, Justin Pistoia, 24, was near Endo Boulevard when he was walking across Stewart Avenue in East Garden City. A female driver, 67, in a 2012 Ford sedan allegedly struck the victim around 7:48 p.m.

Resident Thwarts Would-Be Burglar on Kildare Road: A Hempstead teen who works in nearby Garden City Park attempted to burglarize a Kildare Road home Dec. 6 but fled the scene when a resident witnessed him trying to gain access through a window, according to Garden City police.

Car Flips Over on Clinton Road: A car lost control on Clinton Road two weeks ago causing it to overturn. The accident occurred in the southbound lanes between Flower Road and Avalon Road.

Kidnap Scam Hits Garden City: A kidnap scam believed to be started by a man trying to extort money from unsuspecting Nassau County residents over the phone hit Garden City earlier this month. According to Garden City police, the department is investigating an incident where a village resident received a phone call from a male caller Dec. 10 who stated that her son was injured in a car accident with his nephew and needed $1,500 to pay for the hospital bill.

Second Subject Arrested for Garden City Burglary: Nassau County police arrested a second subject in connection with a September burglary on Roosevelt Avenue in Garden City. Police apprehended Sergio Aguirre, 21, of East Meadow, charging him with burglary 2nd degree.

Crime Blotter: Jewelry Stolen From Sackville Road Home: The police department is investigating an incident at a Sackville Road residence where a rear window was found pried open and several pieces of jewelry were discovered missing from a first floor bedroom.

Board Eliminates Staffing at Satellite Fire Houses: The village board voted 7-1 this month in favor of eliminating night staffing at both satellite fire stations. Mayor Don Brudie was the lone no vote. The move was a recommendation (#6) included in the $36,000, 85-page International City/County Management Association (ICMA) report, which analyzed the fire department's overall performance.