Cops: iPhone, digital camera and vacuum stolen

Commack

• A resident on Cutchogue Lane reported that his van was damaged by vandals on Monday.
• Security personnel at the Costco store on Garet Place called police to report that a man was caught stealing a Kodak digital camera valued at $189 on Monday.

Dix Hills

• A man was arrested on Old Brook Road and charged with menacing on Monday.
• A contractor at a work site on Lamplight Lane told police that tools were stolen on Tuesday.

East Northport

• A Dyson vacuum cleaner worth $120 was stolen at the Bed Bath & Beyond store on Jericho Turnpike on Monday.
• A rear window and mirror were broken on a car parked on Vernon Valley Road on Monday.

Huntington

• A attempted burglary was reported at a store on Route 25 on Monday. The police said a back door was pried open but the building was not entered.
• Vandals spray painted a green Nissan Frontier SUV with white paint in the Long Island Rail Road parking lot on Monday.
• An iPhone was stolen from the Apple store in the Walt Whitman Mall on Tuesday.

Huntington Station

• The wheels and rims were stolen from a car on West 10th Street on Monday.
• A computer was stolen from the basement office of a house on West 11th Street during a burglary on Tuesday.
• A man was caught stealing beer from the King Kullen store on East Jericho Turnpike on Tuesday.

Melville

• A resident on Adriatic Drive said her car was damaged by vandals on Tuesday.
• Newsday reported that the gold Pultizer Prize medals that the paper had won during the years were stolen from their safe in the building on 235 Pinelawn Road.
• A man was seen stealing a pair of sneakers from the Marshalls store on Route 110 on Tuesday. Security personnel chased him but he got away.

South Huntington

• An Equinox was vandalized on New York Avenue on Monday.

West Hills

• Two men were caught and arrested for burglary at a store on Jericho Turnpike and Paumonak Drive on Monday, after the owner called police telling them he heard noises and saw two men in the store. The police report said the two entered the building through a second-floor window and took money.

Compiled by Joy Vestal

Arts Council welcomes new board members

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

The Huntington Arts Council announced the addition of two new board members last week: Kenneth H. Baer of Dix Hills and Patrick Zerbo of Cold Spring Harbor. The two were selected based on leadership and fundraising skills, council officials said.

"[Their] innovative abilities will be greatly appreciated," said Diana J. Cherryholmes, the council’s executive director. "We look forward to working with them and expanding our fundraising efforts to have a greater overall impact on the cultural life of Long Island."

Baer is currently vice president of investments at Baer Financial Group-UBS Financial Services in Melville. He’s previously served on several boards in an executive capacity.

Meanwhile, Zerbo is director of sales for J. D’Addario & Company in Farmingdale, which designs, manufactures and markets musical strings, drumheads and other accessories.

"His communications skills will be a huge help to us, especially because of his interest in reaching more young people through our Arts in Education program," said
Cherryholmes.

In other news, the Arts Council recently commenced its third silent art auction, "L’Art pour L’Art – A Silent Affair," which features work from council artist members in oil, pastel, watercolor, photography and sculpture. Proceeds will help fund council programs at the Main Street Petite Gallery in Huntington and the Art-trium Gallery in Melville.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 1-5 p.m. Saturday until Nov. 2. For more information, visit the Huntington Arts Council’s website at huntingtonarts.org.


Photos: Kenneth H. Baer and Patrick Zerbo (left-to-right) and Webster Stokeley's "Joanne With Flowers" painting on display as part of the silent auction.

Northport Angels earn their wings

By Lynn Petry
lynn.petry@newsday.com

Angels have been found in many religions, and now they’ve been spotted in Northport.

Long time friends, Luke Kennedy and Michael Pellegrino, have formed the Northport Angels Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises money for local families in need. Recently, they raised funds to help a local family battle cancer. Their venue was the Great Cow Harbor 10-Kilometer Run held in September.

Along with contributions from more than 100 runners and the sale of t-shirts, they raised $5,000 that went directly to 9-year-old Alec Campo of East Northport, who suffers from a bone cancer called Osteosarcoma. The two young men heard about Alec and his illness through Luke’s younger brother and they immediately decided to reach out and help him and his family.

Raising money for those in need is not new for Kennedy, who ran in the New York City Marathon last year to raise money for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. This year, on Nov. 4, he’ll be running in the New York City Marathon to raise money not only for Sloan-Kettering, but for Alec and the Angels Foundation. After that, Pellegrino and Kennedy plan on raising money during the holidays with local food and toy drives.

The reception that the Angels have gotten from others has been overwelming.

“Everyone knows someone who has cancer, in their family’s circle, a friend’s friend, a neighbor, everyone. We’ve just decided to do something about it,” says Pellegrino, who won’t be running the race on Nov. 4, but cheering from the sidelines. "We want people to contact us if they’re in need, that’s why we’re doing this.”

All the information on the Northport Angel Foundation and their fundraisers is posted on their website: http://www.northportangels.com/.

Pictured above: William Smith and Michael Pellegrino of the Northport Angels were awarded town proclamations for their 10K run last month.

Methods to avoid home foreclosure

By Deborah Morris
deborah.morris@newsday.com

The Community Development Corporation of Long Island will hold a free seminar on how to avoid home foreclosure in Huntington. Hosted by Councilwomen Glenda Jackson, the seminar, Hope For Homeowners: Taking Positive Steps to Avoid Foreclosure, will cover pertinent methods to avoid the foreclosure of your house, as well as discuss options in the event of such a situation. The event takes place Monday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. in the town board room. To RSVP, call Susannah Mrazek at 631-351-3270.

Commack teacher on expedition in Nova Scotia

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

Robert Minott, a fifth-grade teacher at Burr Intermediate School in Commack, received an Earthwatch Educator fellowship allowing him to track mammals in Nova Scotia this month. He was the award’s only New York recipient, according to Earthwatch Institute.

"This is the perfect opportunity to use 21st-century technology to bring the far reaches of the world into the classroom," said Minott, who received $5,000 as part of the fellowship.

During the expedition, Minott and two Chicago educators will assist a field researcher in setting camera traps, walking transects and observing the behaviors of raccoons, porcupines and other animals to determine how human activity can impact temperate ecosystems. He'll also communicate with students worldwide through the Earthwatch web site and blog.

"My school and classes around the world have been following this expedition," said Minott, who noted the district could apply the Earthwatch material to its curriculum. "My school’s principal is at the forefront of supporting this type of classroom education."

Cops: Wallet taken at gunpoint in Huntington

Commack

A contractor told police there was ongoing vandalism at his job site on Scholar Lane. He said he found work signs and safety lights broken Friday.

A windshield was broken Friday on a car parked on the corner of Hayrick and Scholar Lanes.

A van in the Home Depot parking lot on Crooked Hill Road was broken into Saturday and money, the radio and tools were stolen.

A woman was caught shoplifting Saturday at the Kohl’s store on Crooked Hill Road. The security personnel at the store told police she took Burberry perfume, a blouse, a vest and sneakers.

Tools were stolen from a van at the Costco store on Garet Place Saturday.

A woman told police her money was taken from her wallet Sunday at the Hamlet Golf and Country Club on Clubhouse Drive.

Security personnel at the Target store on Henry Street said they caught a man stealing two Tru Tech televisions valued at $600 yesterday.

Dix Hills

A woman was arrested Friday on Route 231 and charged with driving with a revoked license and giving a police officer the wrong name and other information.

The front windshield was broken yesterday on a car on Stratford Avenue.

East Northport

A man was arrested yesterday on Baylor Place and charged with criminal contempt and disobeying a court order.

Greenlawn

A Kirkland Drive resident reported Friday that vandals damaged her fence.

A house being built on Kirkland Drive was broken into Friday and copper piping was stolen.

A landscaper’s trailer was broken into Friday on Broadway and a chain saw, rope and a rake were stolen.

A burglary was reported yesterday at a house on Frazer Drive. The police report said entry was made through the garage.

A safe with jewelry and a 42-inch television were taken during a burglary at a house on Hofstra Drive yesterday.

Huntington

A man on Woodhull Road told police his wallet was taken when he was robbed at gunpoint Friday.

A Dunlop Road resident told police yesterday that a large group of youths was knocking over the mailboxes on his street.

A man was arrested and charged with robbery yesterday on Woodull Road. The police report said he robbed a person at gunpoint and took $60.

A side window was broken on a car yesterday on Brooks Avenue.

A sign was found broken yesterday on the Huntington Jewish Center property on Park Avenue.

Huntington Station

A motorist called police from the intersection of Lowndes and New York Avenue Saturday to report that a group of youths were throwing rocks at the passing cars.

A burglary was discovered yesterday at the Oakwood Country Deli on Oakwood Road. The police report said entry was made through a vent on the side of the building that set off the burglar alarm. Cigarettes and some small change were taken.

A man on New York Avenue told police he was robbed yesterday by three men.

A man said he was assaulted and robbed yesterday on Fairgrounds Avenue and East 6th Street.

Melville

A resident on Old Bridge Court said a window was pried open in a attempt to enter his house Friday.

A woman was arrested and charged with a DWI yesterday at the exit of Northern State Parkway and Pinelawn Road.

West Hills

The owner of a 2005 BMW said it was stolen Saturday on Equestrian Court.

Raising funds for breast cancer

Linda Behrman, a student at Katharine Gibbs School, was on campus during a Gibbs flea market last month to help raise funds in the name of classmate and breast cancer patient Lee Scheeler. Behrman, who represented the Huntington chapter of the Breast Cancer Coalition at the flea market, raised $120 and plans to organize a special Breast Cancer Awareness Day in this month at Gibbs’ Melville campus. She is from North Merrick.

3 veterans with books on tap in Huntington

In partnership with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, three soldiers who served in Iraq will be speaking about and signing their books about their tours of duty on Thursday, Oct. 11, at Book Revue in Huntington.

IAVA Executive Director 1st Lieutenant Paul Rieckhoff will speak about and sign his book “Chasing Ghosts – Failures and Facades in Iraq: A Soldier's Perspective.” Army Specialist Colby Buzzell will speak about and sign his book, “My War: Killing Time in Iraq,” and Sergeant Jason Christopher Hartley will speak about and sign his book, “Just Another Soldier.”

Each book is an account of the war in Iraq given by the soldiers who served there.

Band show at Walt Whitman

Music fans, take note. Walt Whitman High School's Wildcats marching band is hosting its home show Saturday Oct.13.

The competition, featuring field bands from 10 schools, starts at 6 p.m. and wraps up at 8:30 p.m. The competition will take place at the school, 301 West Hills Road, Huntington Station

The Whitman band director is Daniel Vecchiano. For more information about the band, visit waltwhitmanmarchingband.org .

'Team Giovinco' raises $6,000 in a walk

Stephanie Giovinco of Northport, front and center in hat, sits surrounded by family and friends from "Team Giovinco" after they raised $6,000 sunday for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation at a walk in Old Westbury.

Stephanie, who is 11, was diagnosed in July with type 1 diabetes, and her mother, Yvonne, and father Frank, a lieutenant in the East Northport Fire Department, led the group in the three-mile rundraising walk at SUNY College at Old Westbury.

For a previous story on Stephanie and the walk, click here.

The week so far . . .

The gloves came off in town races.
A family signed up in force for daughter.
We could almost taste the pickle festival.
A rock violinist is headed for high school.
And Tiki Barber drew a crowd downtown.

Ever find one of those little green things?

Minor mystery solved -- sort of.

Eva Browne, the head of the Asharoken Conservation Board, who led a beach cleaning effort this month along the north shore of the town of Huntington, mentioned that many of the volunteers, as in past years, reported finding small, green objects a little less than two inches long.

For example, a new volunteer this year – William Berg, a dentist who heard Browne speak at the Northport Rotary – cleaned Makamah Beach and found 10 of the brushes. It was the first time that beach was cleaned under the program, part of a statewide effort, because no one had previously volunteered in that area.

Others found larger numbers along Sound beaches in Asharoken. One family reported finding 80 of them, for example, and close to 250 were reported overall, according to Browne. She had shown them to someone from the American Littoral Society, who identified them as something used to clean pipes at a power plant.

Diana Parisi of KeySpan said this week that about 14,000 of the little pipe cleaners are forced through condenser pipes at the utility’s Northport power plant every night for 110 nights during the warm months from May to September. They clean algae out of the pipes, helping the plant to run more efficiently.

“Our goal is that we don’t want these to escape into the environment.” Parisi said, adding that the utility does everything it can to collect – and reuse – the cleaners. She also said that 14,000 trips a night for 110 nights gives the brushes more than 1.5 million chances to escape.

And she also raised the Connecticut question.

"I’m not trying to say that they’re not ours, because I did say that we do use those green brushes,” Parisi said, “but there are other power plants along the Long Island Sound. That could potentially be from them too.”

Meanwhile, Browne had a final tally from the cleanup, which occurred over a few weekends: 251 volunteers of all ages collected and recorded 2,343 pounds of garbage.

To read past stories about the cleanup, click here and here.

What the neighbors are up to

Compiled by Lynn Petry
lynn.petry@newsday.com

The Huntington Town Zoning Board of Appeals meets Thursday at 6 p.m. to consider the following applications:

East Northport

Linda Silvestri seeks a rear-yard variance to remove existing roofed-over patio and build a rear addition to enlarge kitchen, dining room and bathroom and attached deck, southwest corner of Selden and Cedar Hill drives.

Greenlawn

John Condon Realty Inc. seeks a rear-yard variance to legalize garage addition and legalize gazebo and deck, southwest corner of Kipling Drive and Frost Lane.

Michael T. Matassa seeks a use variance in order to convert a house to an accessory apartment legal for non-resident and conditional accessory apartment upon the approval of Suffolk County Health Department.

Huntington

James Galtieri seeks front- and rear-yard variances to legalize a one-story addition in the rear and build a front roofed-over porch to existing single-family house, east side of Anondale Drive, northeast of West Pulaski Road.

Thomas Abbate seeks a special-use permit and parking variance to expand existing restaurant with an 896-square-foot party room, west side of Wall Street, south of Southdown Road.

Michael E. and Deborah Ferranti seek a front-yard variance and relief of merger to legalize front-yard setback for existing letter in lieu of house, demolish masonry building and build a new single-family house. New lot to be conforming in all respects, east side of Virginia Avenue, south of Canyon Street.

Huntington Station

David and Stacey Elar seek a front-yard variance to legalize a front porch conversion, finish basement, replace building permit No. 983425 to build deck with awning and legalize shed, south side of East 25th Street, west of Homecrest Avenue.

Northport

Jack and JoEllen McCarthy seek a side-yard variance to build wood entry deck with open carport below, family room and basement rear patio with second-story roofed deck above, to legalize detached oversized garage with storage above shed, in-ground pool, removal of decks, converted garage and basement, east side of Rinaldo Road, north of Woodycrest Drive.

Police: Copper pipes stolen in Greenlawn

By Joy Vestal

Commack

A passenger side window was broken on a car today in a parking lot on Commack Road. A purse with credit cards and checkbook and a iPod were stolen.

Greenlawn

A contractor building a house on Kirkland Drive told police today that copper piping was stolen from the site.

Huntington

Security personnel at the K-Mart store on New York Avenue told police they caught a man shoplifting yesterday. The man had stolen hot dogs and tuna fish but gave them back and left the store without any charges being filed.

Huntington Station

A man was arrested yesterday on Columbia Street and charged with violating an order of protection.

A resident on Lenox Road told police yesterday that vandals have damaged his fence numerous times over the summer.

South Huntington

Two women and a man who had small children with them were seen shoplifting yesterday at the Sunglass Hut at the Walt Whitman Mall.

What's up in Huntington schools

Huntington schools remained active places this week. Here’s a just a taste of the announcements they put out:

The Highsteppers (above) danced away with more awards.
Students got ready for Homecoming tomorrow.
Huntington boys soccer: Goooooaaaalll.
The Blue Devils got three new coaches.
High school students soaked up the local history.

For more about the schools, visit hufsd.edu.

Town gets $50,000 LIPA grant

By Deborah S. Morris
deborah.morris@newsday.com

The town of Huntington received a $50,000 grant from the Long Island Power Authority for research of Long Island Sound.

The grant is being provided in conjunction with the $100 million Northport-to-Norwalk cable project sponsored by LIPA and Connecticut Light and Power. The project will replace the electric transmission cable system that links Northport with Norwalk, Connecticut.

Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said the funds will be used to continue the town’s efforts in complying with the Environmental Protection Agency. In 2002, an EPA directive required operators of small, separate municipal storm sewer systems to develop practices to control polluted storm water runoff. This involves sampling runoff from major outfall pipes to determine which are the most significant contributors of coli form.

“Since high coli form counts can result in closures of public beaches and restrictions on shell fishing, it can have very negative social and economic impacts in an area like Huntington,” Petrone said. “This study will complement our ongoing efforts to improve water quality in Huntington Harbor while providing valuable information.”

Work on the cable project began earlier this month when seven fluid-insulated lines were taken out of service. The removal of those cables is scheduled to begin next month. Those cables will be replaced with three state-of-the-art solid core cables that can transmit 300 megawatts of electricity between Long Island and Connecticut.

Installation and testing of the new cables is expected to be completed by the end of 2008. The new cables will help strengthen the reliability of the electric grid on both sides of the sound, according to LIPA.

A debate challenge in town board races

By Deborah S. Morris
deborah.morris@newsday.com

The Republican and Conservative party candidates for the Huntington Town Board have issued a debate challenge to their Democratic opponents.

Deborah Poulos and Bill Dowler said they want to have a debate in every hamlet and village in the town in an effort to ensure that voters are well informed and have a clear understanding about where the candidates for Town Board stand.

“Debates are healthy and provide voters with critical information about where public officials stand on the issues that matter most to them,” said Poulos, a first time candidate.

“If our current board members truly support open and honest government, there is no better way of demonstrating this then by participating in these debates. I anxiously await Ms. Berland and Ms. Jackson’s response and I’m sure they will agree to it,” Poulos said.

Bill Dowler, running for the second time, said, “I look forward to an open process and putting forth my positions and platform.”

Poulos is calling on Berland and Jackson to pledge their commitment to attend debates in the following hamlets and villages: East Northport/Fort Salonga, Greenlawn/Centerport, Melville/West Hills/Deer Park, Dix Hills, Huntington, Huntington Station, Halesite, the Village of Northport, the Village of Ashroken, the Village of Huntington Bay and the Village of Lloyd Harbor.

Councilwoman Susan Berland said there are currently six scheduled debates. “I have no problem debating them any place, any time or at any venue,” Berland said. “But I'd like to know which part of the town is not being represented by these debates. Whatever part of the town they think isn’t being represented I would be more than happy to join them there.”

The first candidates debate is scheduled for Oct. 3 at the Huntington Public Library on Main Street at noon.

Commack native flying high in Air Force

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

Only six-and-a-half years ago, 1st Lt. Brian R. Regulinski was strolling the halls of Commack High School, preparing for his first semester at Pennsylvania State University.

But today, things are a lot different for the outgoing 24-year-old Commack native. After earning his bachelor’s degree in 2005, Regulinski decided to join the U.S. Air Force, where he’s already risen to the position of an executive officer in one of the largest units responsible for training pilots and aircrews for wartime: Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.

More notably, he directs the Joint Air Ground Operations Group’s $1 million budget.

“Next year, it’ll become $4 million,” joked Regulinski, noting that Nellis trains combat air and ground forces using more than 1,200 F-15, F-16, F-22 and A-10 aircraft. “It can be challenging at times, but once you get the hang of it, it’s easy. I’m enjoying it.”

According to Regulinski, the base’s training exercises are entitled “Green Flag,” with Green Flag West in Nellis and Green Flag East at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. At Green Flag West, the mission is to provide air support to ground forces deployed to the National Training Center at California-based Fort Irwin, while Barksdale base provides the same support for the Joint Readiness Training Center at Louisiana-based Fort Polk.

Both bases prepare aircrew for the types of missions they’ll support during war.

“My biggest responsibility is keeping my boss out of trouble and making sure his schedule runs smoothly everyday,” said Regulinski, whose commander frequently travels to Barksdale and Fort Irwin. “I also get to meet a lot of dignitaries who come to visit. Looking back, I’ve met so many interesting people I can’t even pick one who stands out.”

In addition to his budgetary responsibilities, Regulinski also supervises the group’s personnel and computer program and a quarterly awards program, among other things. His ultimate goal is to become a squadron commander, which could take another 10 years.

“My mom isn’t happy about me being here, and she always jokes that she’s going to write a letter to President Bush if I get deployed,” said Regulinski. “But the military is very career broadening if you’re not sure what you want in life. I’m happy I enlisted.”

In his spare time, he said he enjoys riding his motorcycle or hiking Mt. Charleston, which is northwest of Las Vegas. He also talks twice a week with his family in Commack.

“Of course, I miss Long Island, but Nellis is a beautiful base and a great place,” said Regulinski, whose wife lives at Nellis. “I’m looking forward to what the future brings.”

Click here for a gallery stories about Long Islanders and spouses in the military.

Northport family in walk for daughter

When the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation fundraising walk kicks off Sunday at SUNY College at Old Westbury, the Giovinco family of Northport – who are new to the cause – will be out in force.

In July, Stephanie Giovinco, 11, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, requiring that she have insulin injections every day. Her mother, Yvonne, and her father Frank, a lieutenant in the East Northport Fire Department, will be leading Team Giovinco in the three mile walk with 17 registered walkers so far – a number expected to grow by Sunday. Organizers expect a total of 5,000 walkers at the Old Westbury event.

As of this morning, the family has raised close to $700 in connection with the Sunday event. Frank Giovinco says his daughter has raised $5,000.

In addition to the Old Westbury walk, the foundation has a 12-kilometer walk starting at New York City’s Battery Park, also at 10 a.m. A total of a half-million people are expected to participate in 200 walks across the country this year with a goal of raising $90 million to help fund research for a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications.

To see how the Giovinco family fundraising is going and to get information about donating, go to their page at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. Donations can also be made by mail to Stephanie Giovinco, 2 Amy Court, Northport, N.Y. 11768

New principals in Northport district

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

The Northport-East Northport School District has named two new principals: Jeffrey Haubrich at the Pulaski Road School and Michael Genovese as interim principal at Norwood Avenue School. Genovese’s contract is for one year.

“I hope to stay longer than that,’’ said Genovese, left, who was assistant principal at Northport High School. “Residents can expect consistency from me. I like to run a tight ship.’’

Genovese hopes to continue the school’s ongoing balanced literacy initiative and the district’s anti-bullying project, a focal point for Marylou McDermott since she took over the superintendent’s post last year.

“My goal is to maximize the good things we already have,’’ Genovese said.



Haubrich, left, previously was an assistant principal in the Half Hollow Hills School District.