(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police are investigating the crash of a motor vehicle into a commercial building, damaging the structure of two businesses in West Islip on Monday, September 21.

Michael Bidetti, 40, was operating a 2010 Maserati southbound on Udall Road when he lost control of his vehicle at the intersection of Higbie Lane and crashed into the side of Higbie Bagels, located at 264 Highbie Lane, damaging the entire front portion of the bagel store and then crashed into the front portion of the adjoining store, Flavor Crisp Chicken, located at 262 Higbie Lane, at approximately 10:30 p.m. Both stores were closed at the time of the crash.

Suffolk County Police are investigating the crash of a motor vehicle into a commercial building, damaging the structure of two businesses in West Islip on Monday, September 21. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

Bidetti, of West Islip, was transported to an area hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The vehicle was impounded for a safety check and the investigation is continuing.

Police are asking anyone with information who may have witnessed the crash to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-224-TIPS.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police Seventh Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a man in Shirley on Monday, September 21.

Fred Mahnken, 79, of Shirley was crossing William Floyd Parkway, near Lawrence Road, when he was struck by a 1999 Oldsmobile that was traveling northbound at approximately 11:20 a.m.

Suffolk County Police are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a man in Shirley on Monday, September 21. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

Mahnken was transported to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue where he was later pronounced dead.

The driver of the Oldsmobile, Aniello Scotti, 94, of Shirley, was not injured. His vehicle was impounded for a safety check. The investigation is continuing.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about this crash to contact the Seventh Squad at 631-852-8752.

More than 3,500 Participants from 25 States and 4 Countries Ran to Raise Funds for Veterans

(Long Island, NY) Today, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone was joined by marathon sponsors, various local veteran organizations and local officials to announce that $160,000 was raised for veteran services through the Suffolk County Marathon and Half Marathon held on Sunday, September 13^th.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, sponsors, local officials and veteran organizations at press conference to announce $160,000 in funds raised for veterans. Photo Credit: Suffolk County.

“On behalf of our 1.5 million residents in Suffolk County, I am happy to announce that the Inaugural Suffolk County Marathon raised over $160,000 for veteran organizations,” said County Executive Steve Bellone.  “These funds will go a long way in expanding and enhancing services for our veterans.

County Executive Steve Bellone signs the check confirming the funding raised to serve Suffolk County veterans. Photo Credit: Suffolk County.

Legislation will be laid on the table to create a marathon funding advisory board who will be tasked with reviewing applications and awarding funding to veteran organizations who serve Suffolk County veterans.

(Long Island, NY) Vance Gilbert will be the featured performer when the Folk Music Society of Huntington kicks off its 2015-2016 season of FirstSaturday Concerts on Oct. 3 at the Congregational Church of Huntington  (30 Washington Drive, off Route 25A, Centerport). The8:30 p.m. concert is preceded by an open mic at 7:30 p.m. Tickets — priced at $25 ($20 for FMSH members) — may be purchased online at www.fmsh.org with a credit card or at the door (cash and checks only). For more information, visit the website or call (631) 425-2925.

Vance Gilbert is not merely a talented singer-songwriter, but a consummate entertainer who possesses “the voice of an angel, the wit of a devil, and the guitar playing of a god.” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Vance Gilbert performs at the 2015 New Bedford Folk festival. Photo Credit: Jake Jacobson.

With his engaging personality, wonderful biting wit, soulful and resonant tenor voice, and solid songwriting and performance skills, Vance Gilbert has been impressing audiences since emerging on the Northeast singer-songwriter scene during the early 1990s, according to Michael Kornfeld, FMSH president.

A former multicultural arts teacher and jazz singer from the Philadelphia suburbs, Vance Gilbert began playing open mics in the Boston area and soon attracted the attention of singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin. She invited him to be a special guest on a 1992 tour in support of her Fat City album. He has since released many albums of his own, toured extensively, and opened tours for the late comedian George Carlin for two years.

Vance drew two standing ovations following his stirring performance for the Folk Music Society of Huntington’s FirstSaturday Concerts series in 2007. He also graced the Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park in 2010 when he co-headlined the fifth annual Huntington Folk Festival with Susan Werner. His songwriting and performance clinics at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) conferences and the Rocky Mountain Song School also have drawn rave reviews from attendees.

Now in its 47th year, the Folk Music Society of Huntington presents two monthly concert series, a monthly folk jam and an annual folk festival in conjunction with the Huntington Arts Council.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police today arrested a Suffolk County Police Officer for fleeing the scene of a motor vehicle crash that seriously injured a motorcyclist in Ronkonkoma on September 20.

Thomas O’Neill, of Centereach, turned himself in at the Fourth Precinct this morning and was charged by Vehicular Crime detectives with Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Serious Physical Injury, a Class E Felony.

Suffolk County Police today arrested Suffolk County Police Officer Thomas O’Neill, 44, of Centereach for fleeing the scene of a motor vehicle crash that seriously injured a motorcyclist in Ronkonkoma on September 20. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

On September 20, Charles Giardinello was riding a motorcycle eastbound on Portion Road, 100 feet east of Avenue B, when the motorcycle struck a westbound pickup truck that was attempting to turn left into a parking lot at approximately 7:25 p.m. The truck, driven by O’Neill, then fled the scene northbound on Avenue B.

Giardinello, 40, of Nesconset, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was admitted in critical condition.

O’Neill, 44, is a Suffolk County Police Officer assigned to the Community Response Bureau and has been with the department since 2003. He was off duty at the time of the crash and has been suspended without pay. O’Neill voluntarily submitted to a blood test. A physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner obtained the blood sample, which will be analyzed for alcohol and drugs.

O’Neill provided the vehicle involved in the crash and consented to a search as well as a forensic analysis of the vehicle.

O’Neill was arraigned today at First District Court in Central Islip.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Vehicular Crime Unit at 631-852-6555 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Elevated precision to passion with their brilliantly tight performance

(Long Island, NY) Adelphi University’s Performing Arts Center (AUPAC) is proud to present the acclaimed Akropolis Reed Quintet, the international Fischoff gold medal winning performance group, on Friday, October 2, at 7:30 p.m. on the Westermann Stage of the Concert Hall at 1 South Ave, Garden City, NY.  The program will consist of classics such as Gershwin’s jazz-inspired Three Preludes as well as modern day compositions like John Leszczynski’sVariations in the Reeds. Akropolis will also be performing two of their first commissions, Fun Fun Fun Fun and High Speed Run.

Since being established in 2009 at the University of Michigan, Akropolis has captivated audiences throughout the United States, with their ability to play modern compositions as well as their unique and refreshing arrangements of classical music from the last four centuries. They have been recognized for their talent and innovation with a gold medal from the Fischoff Competition, the 2015 Fischoff Educator Award and five national chamber music prizes including grand prize at the Plowman and MTNA competitions.  Fanfare Magazine has accurately described Akropolis as “playing with imagination, infallible musicality, and huge vitality”.

Adelphi University’s Performing Arts Center is proud to present the acclaimed Akropolis Reed Quintet. Photo Credit: AUPAC.

Akropolis’ inevitable passion is seen not only in their performances, but also in their presence in the music community. They have successfully commissioned 25 new works with composers from the United States, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Turkey, Israel, Argentina and Serbia. In addition to their musical endeavors, Akropolis also created a Fall Education Tour in 2013, and visited ten schools in Michigan devoting time to underprivileged youth or under-funded arts programs. They have continued influencing “the next generation of music mavericks” through the Fischoff Educator’s Tour.  The tour provided them with the experience of working with local school reading programs to create a musical take on the children’s book The Best Story by Eileen Spinelli.

Akropolis has released two critically acclaimed albums, High Speed Run and Unraveled, and continues to impress listeners with their dynamic sound and intense precision.

Adelphi University Performing Arts Center (AUPAC) is one of Long Island’s premier cultural arts venues for entertainment of all kinds. Tickets are currently on sale and are priced at $30/$25, with discounts available to seniors, students and alumni. For more information about all events at AUPAC and to purchase tickets, visit aupac.adelphi.edu. Information is available at The Lucia and Steven N. Fischer Box Office at (516) 877-4000 or boxoffice@adelphi.edu. Regular box office hours areTuesday through Friday from 1-6 p.m. The box office is also open two hours before most scheduled performances.

About Adelphi University
New York’s Adelphi University is a nationally ranked, doctoral research university where students succeed by gaining the skills, knowledge and exposure to thrive as professionals and active citizens in an interconnected and fast-paced global society. Today, nearly 8,000 students from 38 states and 46 countries pursue degrees in person and online through Adelphi’s eight distinguished schools and programs—the College of Arts and Sciences, the Gordon F. Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, the Honors College, the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, University College, the College of Nursing and Public Health and the School of Social Work. Chartered in 1896, Adelphi is known for offering a personalized education—one is which students are mentored by talented and committed faculty members and readily find opportunities to initiate, innovate, explore and understand. With dynamic learning hubs on Long Island, in Manhattan and in the Hudson Valley, Adelphi serves communities, both regionally and globally, through the research and practice of its faculty, the collaborative initiatives undertaken by its centers and programs, the staging of distinguished cultural events and, most essentially, the education of future leaders and informed citizens.

(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,I-South Huntington), alongside several local elected officials, recently helped kick-off the Greenlawn Greek Festival at the Saint Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church. Lupinacci assisted in the ribbon-cutting, which signified the start of the festival.

(L to R): Assemblyman Andrew Raia, Huntington Town Councilwoman Susan Berland, Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci, Huntington Town Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, Suffolk County Executive Steve Ballone and Rev. Lou Nicholas pose for photos with members of the community at the Greenlawn Greek Festival. Photo Credit: NYS.

“It was a pleasure to come together as a community to celebrate and appreciate Greek culture. The Saint Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church did an exceptional job in hosting this festival, which had a tremendous turnout,” said Lupinacci. “I’ve always appreciated the efforts the Saint Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church makes to better its community; we are lucky to have this church and its members here in Greenlawn.”

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash during which a sanitation worker was struck and killed by a garbage truck in Melville on Monday, September 21.

Jose Arroyo was driving a garbage truck in reverse on Weinmann Boulevard when the truck struck Jose Molina, who had been riding on the rear of the truck, at 6 a.m.

Suffolk County Police are investigating a motor vehicle crash during which a sanitation worker was struck and killed by a garbage truck in Melville on Monday, September 21. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

Molina, 44, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner. Arroyo, 38, of Central Islip, was not injured.

Motor Carrier Safety Section officers conducted a safety inspection on the vehicle and it was released to the owner, Jody Enterprise Inc.

The investigating is continuing.

Joint OAG-NYSP “Operation Ghostbusters” Leads To Indictments Against Two Defendants Arrested In June For Allegedly Selling A Dozen Ghost Guns, Including AR-15s; Defendants Could Face 25 Years In Prison

(Long Island, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced a thirty-two count indictment of Thomas Weber and Antonio Himonitis alleging the duo sold untraceable guns—known as “ghost guns”—in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and the New York State Police (NYSP), “Operation Ghostbusters” uncovered this alleged scheme to sell ghost guns over the course of two months.

As alleged in the original criminal complaint in June, Defendant Himonitis and a co-conspirator ordered unfinished gun parts from different manufacturers across the country and assembled them into at least a dozen fully-functional ghost guns, which they then sold to undercover investigators posing as gun trafficking gang members.  As alleged in the complaint, Himonitis and Weber were in prison at the time they first devised a plan to assemble and sell the illegal weapons. Weber and Himonitis were arrested on June 25th in Long Island.

These arrests mark the first time a state law enforcement agency has indicted individuals on charges of assembling and selling ghost guns. Weber and Himonitis are charged with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, and multiple counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm in the Third Degree. If convicted, Weber and Himonitis face up to 25 years in prison.

“Ghost guns represent a new, dangerous frontier of illegal firearm trafficking—the creation of homemade, completely untraceable, military-grade firearms,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “It does not matter if you build it yourself or buy it off the street corner—an illegal gun is an illegal gun, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

New York State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico said, “These individuals have no regard for the damage these weapons could do to a community – if put in the wrong hands. By getting these weapons off our streets and stopping this business – we are preventing crimes, and perhaps even saving lives. I want to thank the Attorney General and Organized Crime Task Force for their efforts in another successful case. The State Police will continue to do all we can to keep illegal guns out of our communities.”

The assemblage of every ghost gun relies upon the purchase and simple modification of a firearm’s key component—the lower receiver. Composed of either metal or plastic, the lower receiver holds the upper, lower, and rear portions of the firearm together and is responsible for the actual “firing” of the bullet. Aside from a fully assembled firearm, the lower receiver is the only piece that is independently considered a firearm and is thus subject to firearms regulation under Federal law.

However, an incomplete lower receiver—lacking certain holes, slots, or cavities—is not considered a firearm, but instead regulated as if it were just a piece of metal. As alleged in the complaint, the defendants exploited this “unfinished receiver” loophole to purchase the receivers without undergoing a background check. Upon receiving the unfinished lower receiver, the defendants then needed to make only simple modifications to the part to transform it into a fully functional lower receiver.

As investigators found—and as many in law enforcement have long recognized—purchasers must make only a few small changes with a common drill press to transform any unfinished receiver into a fully-operational lower receiver. There are numerous online tutorials and instructional videos on how to properly mill a lower receiver, as well as precision tools such as a “jig kit” – a stencil-like tool – sold commercially to help guide an individual through the process. Once milled, the firearm typically remains unregistered and the lower receiver is not branded with a serial number. It is untraceable—a “ghost gun.”

“Operation Ghostbusters” was initiated in response to this growing trend. Back in April, an undercover investigator met with Defendant Thomas Weber in Nassau County Correction Facility East. As alleged in the criminal complaint, Weber stated that his associate, Defendant Antonio Himonitis, could acquire AR-10 rifles that would sell at $5,000 apiece. A day later, Himonitis allegedly called a co-conspirator from Nassau County Jail and instructed Collins to do an Internet search for “AR-15 Easy Jig,” a tool that is used to machine unfinished lower receivers.

In May, an undercover investigator met directly with Himonitis the day he was released from Nassau County Jail at a hotel in Uniondale, NY to allegedly discuss Himonitis’ method for constructing firearms with lower receivers. Over a period of several weeks, an undercover investigator allegedly purchased twelve fully-functional assault weapons from Himonitis at a motel in Nassau County.  As alleged in the complaint, these assault weapons did not have serial numbers or contain any other identifying markers.

A review of UPS records from May and June 2015 showed that nineteen packages from various gun manufacturers across the United States were allegedly delivered to the Suffolk County home of Himonitis and Collins, which they shared with a young child.

Defendants Weber and Himonitis are charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (Count 1), Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree (Count 2), Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Count 3), Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree (Counts 7-13), Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (Counts 14-20), Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree (Counts 21-24), Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Count 25-28), Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (Counts 29-32). Defendant Weber is charged with additional counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree (Counts 4 & 6) and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Count 5).

The charges against the defendants are accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Since 2011, OCTF has seized 274 firearms from gun traffickers. During the same time period, OCTF has also busted 24 large narcotics trafficking gangs in more than 560 felony narcotics arrests, and seized from them more than $1.5 million and more than 2,000 pounds of illegal drugs.

The investigation was conducted by OCTF Special Investigator George Gundlach, Supervising Investigator Kevin McCann and Deputy Chief Investigator Chris Vasta, with the assistance of OCTF Analyst Nicole Accurso.  The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Investigator Dominick Zarella.  New York State Police Investigator Edward Franke and Joseph Demaria of the New York State Police Gun Investigation Unit, under the supervision of New York State Police Major Joseph Tripodo, and Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Deputy Attorney General Howard Feldberg. Deputy Attorney General Peri Alyse Kadanoff runs the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force. The Executive Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice is Kelly Donovan.

(Long Island, NY) Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is pleased to announce that AVA LOCKS has joined Bay Street Theater as the DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.  Her role at Bay Street Theater encompasses theater arts education through administering Bay Street’s kids camps, as well as acting and audition Master classes for young adults. She will develop new educational programs at Bay Street for children and adults.  In addition, Ava will continue to grow the reach of Literature Live, a BOCES-approved Arts-in-Education program, which brings regional schools in to see curriculum-based literature come to life on stage in a professional production. This year’s production of John Steinbeck’s OF MICE AND MEN will run November 9-29.

“Bay Street Theater and Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is a resource for the East End Community the whole year round,” says Bay Street Artistic Director Scott Schwartz, “Educational programming built around live performance and the work we do on our stage is a central part of our mission. I am thrilled to welcome Ava Locks to the Bay Street team.  She is a talented and accomplished educator, a long time resident of the East End with deep ties to our community, and is someone who I am confident will bring new energy and growth to the educational programs we offer for both kids and adults.”

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is pleased to announce that AVA LOCKS has joined Bay Street Theater as the DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION. Photo Credit: Bay Street Theater.

“I am delighted,” says Ava, “to join the team at Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts where I can build upon and expand the unique and educational offerings for the community. As a New York State certified Special Education teacher who attends Bay Street’s Literature Live productions I am thrilled to be a part of this BOCES-approved Arts-in-Education program that offers students’ varied learning styles prospect in content comprehension and exposure to the performing arts for free!”

In addition to teaching, Ava has developed and written curriculum and promotional materials for a variety of educational organizations.  She enjoys the opportunities they present for educational outreach within her community. Ava is on the board of trustees for East End Special Education Parent Teacher Organization, (East End SEPTO), and on the Town of Southampton’s Business Advisory Council.  She was a founding staff member for the Children’s Museum of the East End, (CMEE). As Director of Education and Marketing at CMEE Ava established community partnerships and programming with local organizations. Ava is committed to encouraging community organizations, members and new audiences to participate in current and new programs at Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts.

Ava received a Master of Science, Childhood Education, from Long Island University and a Bachelor of Arts, Theater Production, from Bennington College. She has worked off Broadway, regionally, network television and in film before moving to the East End. “There are countless opportunities for community stake holders to participate in offerings that will continue to shape the theater and its center for the arts as a treasured resource.”

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is a year-round, not-for-profit professional theater and community cultural center which endeavors to innovate, educate, and entertain a diverse community through the practice of the performing arts. We serve as a social and cultural gathering place, an educational resource, and a home for a community of artists.