Community Corner

Best of March: Most Viewed Stories of the Month

Firefighter layoffs, teenage drinking, drug busts and a suicide at a nearby train station were issues that mattered most to readers.

From firefighter layoffs to teenage drinking, drug busts and a suicide at a nearby train station, these are the most viewed articles of March 2013:

Laid Off Firefighters' Last Day of Work Saturday: The six professional firefighters laid off last month will officially say goodbye to the job Saturday. Trustees voted 6-2 in favor of laying off six professional firefighters and one fire lieutenant at a board meeting in February. The lieutenant, under civil service law, has actually been demoted to firefighter.

Crime Blotter: School Windows Damaged, Identity Theft and a Pot Bust: A recent crime report included a report of damaged windows at Homestead School, the arrest of a male 21-year-old and female 19-year-old, both from Elmont, for the sale of one ounce of alleged marijuana and more.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade Returns to Mineola in 2013: A photo gallery of the March 3 St. Patrick's Day parade in Mineola.

Nearby: Person Killed at Mineola LIRR Station Tuesday Morning: A person was killed at the Mineola LIRR station two weeks ago after jumping onto the tracks during the morning commute. The man was later identified as George Hahn, 66, of Mineola.

iPhone Theft Leads to Slew of More Charges: A Freeport teen was held by gym employees after he allegedly took an iPhone from a locker at XSports Fitness at Roosevelt Field Mall earlier this month. Nassau County's Third Squad reports that Latique D. Oates, 19, was being restrained by employees until police arrived. During a subsequent investigation, police said Oates was found to be in possession of six prepaid Visa gift cards, five Costco membership cards and a BJ’s membership card, none in his name.

Craigslist Ad Leads to Drug Bust in Garden City: A Craigslist ad selling "420" -- aka marijuana -- led to a drug bust on Stewart Avenue in Garden City earlier this month. According to detectives, after seeing the ad on Craigslist advertising the sale, detectives contacted defendants Kevin Desir, 21, and Cynthia Castillo, 19, both of Elmont, who agreed to sell them one ounce of marijuana.

Charging Residents for Special Pick Up?: During budget talks this month, trustee Nick Episcopia suggested residents be charged for special garbage pick up in order to generate additional revenue for the village. He made the suggestion in light of the fact that more businesses, particularly on Ring Road and north Franklin Avenue, are opting out of village garbage collection. When first estimated some years ago, officials thought that $230,000 would be met. In reality, the village will actually see approximately $130,000 for the year.

Nearby: Prostitution Arrests Continue at West Hempstead Spa: Two Flushing women were arrested for prostitution this month at a West Hempstead day spa called Lucy Day Spa, located at 300 Hempstead Turnpike.

Refreshed Kings Opens on Franklin Avenue: Kings Food Market refreshed its only Long Island-based location. As part of the refurbishing, Kings has a new, larger produce department, including more organic products, said Connie Deckel, the store manager at Kings on Franklin Avenue in Garden City.

Purse Snatcher Flees Novita: Police are seeking the public's help in identifying an unknown subject accused of stealing a pocketbook from a patron of Novita March 1 at approximately 12:28 a.m. According to reports, the unknown subject entered the restaurant and stole the victim's purse containing money, credit cards and other assorted personal belongings.

Crime Blotter: Heroin Bust, Missing Elderly Woman and Harassment: A recent crime report included An elderly lost female from Mineola, the arrest of a male 28-year-old from Bellport for criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance (heroin), the loss of more than $800 in assorted handbags, purses and jewelry from a store on Seventh Street and more.

Nearby: Conviction in Robberies at Cosco Parking Lot: A jury convicted a Hempstead man for robbing two women of their pocketbooks at gunpoint in the parking lot of the Westbury Costco, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced earlier this month. It took a jury about four hours to convict Randy Summerville, 32, of two counts each of robbery in the first, second and third degrees, and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. He faces up to 25 years in prison at his April 8 sentencing. 

Teenage Drinking going to far: A concerned Mom of three wrote to Patch to vent some frustrations on teenage drinking in Garden City. Her thoughts led to an interesting conversation.


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