Village Beacon Record

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A teenager on a motorbike was injured Tuesday when he was hit by a sedan that then fled the scene, according to police.

The Suffolk County Police Department said 18-year-old Kyle Fiore was riding east on Jamaica Drive in Sound Beach when a sedan, which had been traveling south on Deer Drive, struck him shortly before 5 p.m.

The sedan, described as light-colored, fled the scene. Police said Fiore, a Sound Beach resident, was treated at Stony Brook University Hospital for a broken femur — the thigh bone — and other non-life-threatening injuries.

Police impounded the motorbike for a safety check.

Detectives from the 7th Squad are investigating the crash. Anyone with information is asked to call them at 631-852-8752, or to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-220-TIPS.

Superintendent Michael Ring discusses the NYS Comptroller’s report with local residents. Photo by Giselle Barkley

Despite the New York State Comptroller’s audit report, Rocky Point school district is sticking to their guns.

Last week, on Nov. 19, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released completed audits of four school districts, including Rocky Point. In the audit, he claimed that the school district exceeded the four percent statutory limit on its fund balance between July 1, 2013 and March 31 of this year.

According to the audit, during the 2009-10 to 2013-14 fiscal years, the Board at the time had accumulated $13.1 million. However, the district only used $1.2 million, and experienced a surplus in their unrestricted fund balance. Rocky Point’s Superintendent, Michael Ring, said this fund is utilized in emergency situations where the district cannot afford necessary expenditures — this includes funding programs or accommodating a special needs child, among other reasons.

Ring refuted the comptroller’s financial report.

“Bottom line for us is that if we were over the four percent, our external auditors would be required to report that,” Ring said in a phone interview.

But the Superintendent said no such claims were filed. He added that the Comptroller’s odd method of counting the school’s fund balance is unusual, as excess money from one school year is added to the previous year’s closing bonds.

Ring mentioned that the Comptroller acknowledged the district’s fund balance was below four percent within that time period. Now, the district is between 5.4 to 7.8 percent, according to the Comptroller’s report. Taxpayer dollars contribute to the district’s unregistered fund balance. An excess of money in this fund means taxpayer dollars go to waste. Ring assured meeting attendees that is not the case for the district.

For Rocky Point school board members, acquiring funds for the unrestricted fund balance is a guessing game. The school district must base their fund balance amount on possible future expenditures that the school may not be able to afford without this fund balance. Typically, the district budgets its money conservatively. The district’s actual expenditures are within 0.2 percent of what they budgeted.

Some community members weren’t phased by the Comptroller’s report. When asked about it, Rocky Point resident Mary Heely said she was surprised by the news. She stood by the Superintendent’s word that the district didn’t exceed the statutory limit of its unrestricted fund balance. With the failure of the district’s bond, Heely, like some other community members, had other financial issues on her mind.

“According to Mr. Callahan,” said Heely, referring to Rocky Point Board of Education member Sean Callahan, “we may be in serious trouble if there was a major event in this district. I think that’s the bigger concern at this point, as far as the lack of funds that could be necessary in the future.”

Residents were “freezin’ for a reason” at Cedar Beach on Saturday, for the Town of Brookhaven’s sixth annual Polar Plunge event.

Some of the countless residents in attendance took the plunge into the chilly waters of the Long Island Sound to help raise money for the athletes of the Special Olympics New York. Plungers who raised at least $125 received a sweatshirt for their efforts.

Members of the Suffolk County Police Department, Nestle Nesquik, Long Island’s My Country 96.1 FM and local government officials, including Supervisor Ed Romaine (R), Councilwoman Jane Bonner (C-Rocky Point), Councilman Kevin LaValle (R-Selden) and Councilman Neil Foley (R-Blue Point), were there to show their support or join the plungers and take a dip in the water.

Despite the breezy weather and cold currents, some residents left the water saying the water wasn’t as chilly as last year.

A fireball erupts during a demonstration on the dangers of deep-frying a turkey in hot oil. Photo from Brookhaven Town

Brookhaven Town officials held a fiery presentation on Nov. 20 to demonstrate the dangers of deep-frying a turkey in hot oil.

According to a press release from the town, the trend is a growing one that is responsible for several deaths and dozens of injuries every year.

The hot oil can splash or spill, causing severe burns.

“The fireball that we saw during the demonstration clearly showed how the improper use of turkey fryers can lead to personal injury and the destruction of property,” Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) said in a statement. “I hope that people who use deep fryers follow all the manufacturer’s safety instructions and keep a fire extinguisher handy.”

Romaine and the town’s chief fire marshal, Chris Mehrman, held the demonstration on the Friday ahead of Thanksgiving.

The supervisor also announced that this holiday season the town would accept waste oil, which is used to create biodiesel fuel, at the town landfill on Horseblock Road in Brookhaven hamlet.

Last year, the town accepted more than 350 gallons of used cooking oil after Thanksgiving, according to the press release.

The landfill is open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday, from 7 a.m. to noon.

For Thanksgiving fire safety tips, visit the National Fire Protection Association at www.nfpa.org.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Legislator Sarah Anker stand together on Election Day. Photo by Rohma Abbas

By Desirée Keegan

Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker has won back her seat after a hard-fought battle that began on Election Day, when the polls closed with her leading her challenger by only one vote.

After absentee ballots were counted, the 6th District legislator expanded her lead to 17 votes, ending a race on Thursday that had originally been projected to drag through Thanksgiving.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Legislator Sarah Anker stand together on Election Day. Photo by Rohma Abbas
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Legislator Sarah Anker stand together on Election Day. Photo by Rohma Abbas

“It’s been a very intense race,” Anker (D-Mount Sinai) said. “I’ve had so many people come up to me, claiming that they were that one vote, and I am greatly appreciative and thankful that my supporters did go out there and vote. The bottom line is that every single vote counts.”

First-time Republican challenger Steve Tricarico, a deputy superintendent for the Town of Brookhaven Highway Department, said although the results were not what he preferred, he will continue to be a voice in his community.

“This is a great civics lesson,” he said. “We ran a good race, a clean race, an honest race, and I’m just glad that a lot of the positions that we took throughout the campaign have gotten out there. I grew up here, I live here, I’m raising my family here in the 6th District and I will continue to be an advocate for those issues that I feel are most important to the residents.”

Tricarico said he called Anker to congratulate her and wish her luck in her new two-year term, but also said he voiced his desire for the incumbent to think about some of the issues he focused on in his campaign, such as the local cost of living and public safety.

Anker will start her sixth year in office in January, in an area that frequently elects candidates from the opposite party — 6th District voters have consistently supported Conservative Councilwoman Jane Bonner for Brookhaven Town Board and Anker’s predecessor was Republican Dan Losquadro, who vacated his seat to become a state assemblyman and then later the town highway superintendent.

“People ask me why I put myself through the stress to run a very competitive campaign, and my answer would be because I love to help people, and I want to continue to do that job; people underestimate what I can do and what I can get done,” Anker said. “I think during the counting of the absentee votes, the GOP was quite surprised. They expected to win a number of votes over in the senior community, but I gained a lot of support there because I worked really hard in that area to help them with their problems and to help them with concerns and issues.”

Steve Tricarico is confident on Election Day. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Steve Tricarico is confident on Election Day. Photo by Desirée Keegan

Tricarico said he is back to focusing on his job at the highway department, and that with results showing that nearly half of the people in the 6th District are looking for change, he will not be closing the door on a future run.

Joking that she will be taking some much-needed time off, Anker said she is also ready to move forward with projects she’s been working on, such as those geared toward keeping young professionals on Long Island by erecting affordable housing and connecting college graduates with local jobs. In focusing on public safety, Anker has been working with Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson to address drug addiction on the North Shore.

“Even though this race was very close, it still shows that people are happy with the job that I’m doing and they’re willing to jump the party line,” Anker said. “I make sure I’m inclusive of a lot of ideas. I’m transparent. I think my ability to stay focused on the goal of helping people and trying to resolve problems has elevated me above the fray.”

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The Shoreham-Wading River football team poses for a group photo in celebration of it's second consecutive Suffolk County championship with a 24-14 win over Elwood-John Glenn on Nov. 19. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Since November 2013, all the Shoreham-Wading River football team has known is how to win football games, and although the Wildcats had their hands full with No. 2 Elwood-John Glenn, the team was able to grind out a win, 24-14, for the Suffolk County Division IV title Thursday night at Stony Brook University’s LaValle Stadium.

“When you work hard this is what you get — a county championship,” Shoreham-Wading River junior quarterback Kevin Cutinella said. “It’s been a battle throughout the season. We’ll watch film and practice late to prepare for the Long Island championship the same way we did for this game.”

Shoreham-Wading River junior quarterback Kevin Cutinella scrambles out of the pocket in the Wildcats' 24-14 victory over Elwood-John Glenn for the Suffolk County Division IV title on Nov. 19. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River junior quarterback Kevin Cutinella scrambles out of the pocket in the Wildcats’ 24-14 victory over Elwood-John Glenn for the Suffolk County Division IV title on Nov. 19. Photo by Bill Landon

Amid rain and harsh winds, Elwood-John Glenn lined up in punt formation after a three-and-out, and snapped the ball to the punt protector, who was unable to handle the wet ball, and the Wildcats pounced on it, recovering the fumble at the nine-yard line. Two plays later, Cutinella punched in for the touchdown, and with the extra point good, helped put his team out front 7-0 at the 8:42 mark of the first quarter.

With the Knights unable to answer, the Wildcats were on the move again. On the first play from scrimmage, senior running back Chris Rosati drove the ball down to the nine-yard line with just over four minutes remaining in the stanza. Two plays later, Rosati pounded his way into the end zone for the score, and with senior kicker Daniel Mahoney’s extra-point attempt successful, the Wildcats edged ahead 14-0.

On Elwood-John Glenn’s ensuing possession, Chris Forsberg almost went the distance as he broke free of tacklers and covered 81 yards. Shihan Rudyk finished it as he punched it in from three yards out to put the Knights on the scoreboard. With the point-after attempt good, Elwood-John Glenn trailed 14-7 with 7:37 left in the half.

The Knights struck again soon after, when quarterback Wayne White found Kyle Tiernan for a 25-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14-14 heading into the break.

The rain intensified and the wind picked up in the second half, leaving both teams struggling for traction in the third quarter.

After an injury timeout, Shoreham-Wading River senior Jason Curran took over under center, but it was Mahoney who helped his team score next, as he attempted a 33-yard field goal attempt in the fourth. The senior made it look easy, as he split the uprights to put his team out front, 17-14. According to the kicker, it wasn’t as easy at it looked.

Shoreham-Wading River senior running back Chris Rosati breaks outside for a long gain in Shoreham-Wading River's 24-14 victory over Elwood-John Glenn for the Suffolk County Division IV title on Nov. 19. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River senior running back Chris Rosati breaks outside for a long gain in Shoreham-Wading River’s 24-14 victory over Elwood-John Glenn for the Suffolk County Division IV title on Nov. 19. Photo by Bill Landon

“It was like kicking a rock,” he said, adding that he was exhilarated to see the ball go between the posts. “It felt like my leg was 10 pounds heavier and the ball was 10 pounds heavier.”

With five minutes left on the clock, the Wildcats added insurance points when Curran handed off to Rosati, who did what he’s done all season, grinding up the middle for the touchdown. With Mahoney perfect on the evening, Shoreham-Wading River put the game away 24-14.

“We put in the right kids in the right spots,” Shoreham-Wading River assistant coach Hans Wiederkehr said. “We were able to make plays at the right time.”

The Wildcats advance to the Long Island Championship, where the team will take on Locust Valley on Friday at Hofstra University. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.

“We’ve got a lot of homework to do because we’ve never seen them before,” Wiederkehr said. “But we’re going to get right back to what got us here — practicing hard watching film.”

By Giselle Barkley

Independence — that’s what veteran Glen Moody is fighting for.

Glen Moody and Indy stand on the stage at the Help Glen Bring Indy Home fundraiser. Photo from the Help Glen Bring Indy Home fundraiser
Glen Moody and Indy stand on the stage at the Help Glen Bring Indy Home fundraiser. Photo from the Help Glen Bring Indy Home fundraiser

As veterans still struggle with adjusting to life beyond the war, post-traumatic stress disorder is a reality for men and women like Moody, with 22 PTSD-stricken veterans committing suicide daily. Although Moody said he wasn’t suicidal, the California-based Patriotic Service Dog Foundation and a one-year-old red fox Labrador named Independence — Indy for short — are helping make his life a little less stressful.

On Saturday, at Napper Tandy’s Irish Pub in Miller Place, the 35-year-old Afghanistan and Iraqi vet led the Help Glen Bring Indy Home fundraiser, which aims to raise PTSD awareness and raise money to help veterans afford and obtain a PTSD service dog. These service dogs help veterans snap out of flashbacks, anxiety attacks and address other PTSD-related issues. Moody, who was born and raised in Miller Place, mentioned the dogs will also keep an eye on their war heroes — they are trained to guard or protect their vet by sitting in front, beside or behind them.

According to Moody, around 300 people attended the event. He said they raised $20,000 Saturday night, which is double what he hoped to raise. Typically, veterans will get their service dog from the foundation after the dog is 18 months old. But in light of the overwhelming community support on Saturday, Indy will live with Moody until January. This allows Indy to adjust to Moody’s lifestyle in New York.

“Tom was proud to tell me that … no one’s killed themselves [after getting a Tackett dog],” Moody said about the veterans who’ve obtained dogs from Tom Tackett’s foundation — Tackett is a trainer and the president of Patriotic Service Dog Foundation.

The absence of suicide attempts is an accomplishment for the foundation, whose goal is to reduce the statistic from 22 veterans committing suicide down to zero. Tackett could not be reached prior to publication due to technological difficulties, but Moody said he met Tackett after a fellow marine advised Moody’s family to get one of Tackett’s service dogs. The suggestion lead Moody to California in August, where he met Indy.

Charlie Kapp, Joseph Sguera and Glen Moody pose for a photo with a steel sculpture made by Kapp. Photo from the Help Glen Bring Indy Home fundraiser
Charlie Kapp, Joseph Sguera and Glen Moody pose for a photo with a steel sculpture made by Kapp. Photo from the Help Glen Bring Indy Home fundraiser

Moody served as a Fleet Marine Force corpsman with the U.S. Marines from 1999 to 2005. While Moody fought in the front lines, he was also the doctor on the field.

“If anything bad happens, they’ll cry on my shoulder, or if they get shot or blown up, they all come to me,” Moody said. “I’m the one that’s got to treat them first hand.”

The experience left Moody with anxiety attacks and issues with his personal life when he returned to Long Island. He said his PTSD was to a point where it affected his everyday life and those around him. According to Moody’s aunt LynnAnne Daly, Moody didn’t have anyone to turn to during his time of service. She added that there should be more support for causes and providing service dogs for veterans.

“We need to get government funding for this,” Daly said about providing service dogs to veterans. “These men and women are fighting for us.”

According to the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation, around 460,000 veterans from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars suffer from PTSD or brain injuries after or during their time of service. The training period for dogs like Indy starts at eight weeks old until they are 18 months old. With the large portion of veterans suffering from PTSD, Daly added that the fundraiser and the cause “is not just about Glen. It’s about spreading awareness.”

Moody agreed and said he is trying to make a difference, starting with the foundation, the fundraiser and his four-legged companion.

“I’m not the only guy [suffering] — I know I’m not,” Moody said about his PTSD. “When I talk to veterans they say the same thing. We need more awareness and that’s what I’m doing.”

Children take part in playground activities at Heritage Park in Mount Sinai. File photo by Erika Karp

Taxpayer dollars don’t go to the Heritage Park in Mount Sinai.

The 15-year-old park is funded by the Heritage Trust Fund, a nonprofit organization that helps keep the park and its annual community events alive. Earlier this year, two of the organization’s popular community events — Summerfest and the carnival — were rained out. The group lost $3,900 from Summerfest and only made $7,500 from the carnival; they were hoping to raise $5,000 and $25,000 from the events, respectively.

Now, Heritage Trust is $25,000 below its operating budget. The lack of money left Heritage Trust board members with an idea to “create a Close the Gap Campaign,” shortly after the carnival ended on Oct. 5 — the only day community members attended for the four-day event— to try to raise funds to make up for the lost money.

In the past several days, the organization raised $2,680, around 10 percent of the online fundraiser’s goal of $25,000. The Heritage Trust has 47 more days to raise money. According to Heritage Trust President Lori Baldassare, the money raised from this campaign will go toward upkeep of the park, paying off various insurance or financial expenses and funding future events.

“We were hoping the carnival would help us get back on our feet,” Baldassare said. She added that the trust’s request for donations with the online campaign wasn’t created because they weren’t doing well.

“It’s because of circumstances like the weather that prevented us from meeting our goals,” she said.

Heritage Trust holds around eight fundraising events in addition to occasions like the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which is free to residents. This year they added a fundraising event on Nov. 6 to help their effort. According to one of the founding board members Tom Carbone, the organization had its ups and downs, but he said they haven’t “been in the situation [they’re] in now.”

Aside from gathering money from fundraising events, Baldassare and Carbone agreed there are additional complications.

“It’s harder and harder to find volunteers,” Carbone said. “We had a solid base of support when we were building the building and supporting the park.”

Fifteen years ago a Home Depot was planning on purchasing the property. Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) was important in acquiring and preserving the property. He wasn’t available to comment on the park, but countless other community members were also involved, including Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai).

Anker said she was there when the park was being built. According to Anker, a Home Depot in that location might have deterred people from moving to Mount Sinai and said the park is important to the area.

“I think the park is a jewel in the Mount Sinai community,” she said. “The community needs to be more aware of the needs of the park. If it wasn’t for Heritage Trust, the park wouldn’t be there … we’d be missing out on the gifts that the park gives us.”

Although the Heritage Trust and the park lack the support they once had, sponsors like Dierdre Dubato continue to help. Dubato said she may donate up to $1,000 to the organization annually and agreed that many people think local government bodies help support the park. Many don’t realize the park is funded by a nonprofit despite the fact that this is advertised on one of the few signs residents pass before entering Heritage Park’s facility.

Although Baldassare said there is no need to eliminate an event like the tree lighting, which costs the organization a couple hundred dollars, if they don’t have enough money to support these types of community events, these events would be the first to go.

To date, the organization has 28 supporters on its online campaign. Baldassare acknowledged that residents and their families are busy, but said she wished more people would help the organization maintain the park.

“I just feel that it’s a little bit harder to rally troops,” Baldassare said about funding community events. “It would be nice to have that grassroots support that we did when we were creating the park.”

En route to an arrest
A 56-year-old man from Miller Place was arrested for driving while ability impaired on Nov. 14, after police pulled him over when he failed to maintain his lane. The man had been driving a 2006 Mercedes-Benz east on Route 347 in Port Jefferson Station when police pulled him over.

On Nov. 13, a 32-year-old man from Port Jefferson Station was arrested for driving while impaired by drugs, after police pulled him over for failing to stay in his lane on Terryville Road. He had been driving a 2011 Ford.

Just on time for 4:20
Police arrested a 56-year-old Rocky Point resident for criminal possession of marijuana at the Port Jefferson train station. An officer spotted the suspect and several other people hanging around the station around 4:20 a.m. on Nov. 13, and he was arrested shortly afterward.

A clean catch
A 51-year-old man from Centereach was arrested on Nov. 11 for petit larceny. According to police, he took a power washer from the Lowe’s on Nesconset Highway in Stony Brook on Oct. 29, then returned the item and received a gift card for the return. Police arrested the man at the 6th Precinct.

Unwanted entry
On Nov. 2, a 37-year-old man from Selden was arrested for criminal trespassing after he entered a residence on Mount Sinai-Coram Road. A person who owned the home asked the man to leave, and he did eventually leave the premises. He was arrested at the 6th Precinct on Nov. 12. Police didn’t say why or how the man entered the home.

Diamonds are a thief’s best friend
Police arrested a 21-year-old man from Miller Place for criminal possession of stolen property after he sold stolen jewelry to a pawn shop in early October. Police arrested the man on Nov. 13 on Middle Country Road in Selden.

This is not a drill
On Nov. 11 around 8:45 a.m. someone went into the Home Depot at 401 Independence Plaza in Selden and stole a drill.

A bump on the road
A 32-year-old man from Rocky Point was arrested for unlicensed operation of a car and criminal possession of a controlled substance on Nov. 12, after police pulled the man over on Ridge Road in Shoreham for an unknown reason. Police said the driver of the 1996 Jeep Cherokee was in possession of crack cocaine.

Port punch
An unidentified man punched another person at a residence on Patchogue Road in Port Jefferson Station on Nov. 14 around 3:45 a.m. Police didn’t know what caused the incident.

Punching off some steam
On Nov. 14, police arrested a 23-year-old man from Ronkonkoma for criminal mischief, after he punched and damaged a bedroom door at a residence on Water Road in Rocky Point.

Unlocked and unloaded
Between 1 and 9 a.m. on Nov. 13, an unidentified person removed an iPad and binoculars from an unlocked 2009 Jeep. The incident happened on Hillcrest Avenue in Port Jefferson.

The last keg stand
Shortly before 7 a.m. on Nov. 14, an unknown person entered a store on Route 25A in Mount Sinai and stole a few kegs of beer. Police didn’t say how many kegs the person took.

On a quest for the quad
According to police, an unknown person forced open the side door to a residence on Russell Drive in East Shoreham, breaking the door frame and entering the garage. Once inside, the person stole a 2015 Yamaha Quad. The incident occurred between 6:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Nov. 12.

Go fish
An unidentified person entered the Stop & Shop at 260 Pond Path in Centereach on Nov. 11 and stole three packages of sushi.

Unless you’ve got power
Police said on Nov. 11 at 2:10 a.m. a man was confronted and pushed by three unknown people who then stole the victim’s hoverboard scooter. The incident happened in the woods near Boyle Road in Selden.

Measure of a thief
Someone went to the Walmart at 3990 Nesconset Highway in Setauket-East Setauket and took a 25-foot Stanley Tape Measure and left the store without paying. The incident took place on Nov. 12 at 4:03 p.m.

Trouble at Target
Detectives are searching for two men who stole $135 worth of beer and sprayed mace on a store employee at Target in Commack on Nov. 7 at about 1:45 p.m. When the men were attempting to leave with beer, an employee confronted them and one of the men sprayed the employee with mace, allowing the pair to escape. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about the alleged attempted robbery is asked to call them anonymously at 1-800-220-TIPS (8477).

Jewels
A 25-year-old from Commack was arrested after police said he stole jewelry and a phone from someone between June 4 and Nov. 1. He was arrested at the 4th Precinct on Nov. 16 at 7 a.m. and charged with fourth-degree grand larceny.

No mercy for Mercedes
An unknown person keyed a 2014 Mercedes parked on Nicola Lane in Nesconset at midnight on Nov. 13.

Some mid-day cocaine
On Nov. 16 a 42-year-old man from Port Jefferson Station was arrested after police said he was driving a car without a license and had cocaine in his possession. He was arrested at the 4th Precinct just before noon and charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

OMG for GMC
An unknown person stole four rims and tires from a 2006 GMC Yukon at the King O’Rourke car dealership in Smithtown at midnight on Nov. 14

Jewelry thief
Police said a 21-year-old woman from Ronkonkoma stole jewelry from a resident’s house on Pinelawn Road in Farmingdale on Oct. 22. She was arrested at the 4th Precinct at 8:15 p.m. on Nov. 13 and charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

Darn for Dairy Barn
On Nov. 15 at 1:30 a.m. an unknown person threw a cinder block through a glass door and stole money from a Dairy Barn in Kings Park.

Speedy arrest
A 21-year-old man from Patchogue was arrested after police pulled him over for speeding in a 2007 Hyundai on Middle Country Road in St. James and said he was driving drunk at 3:20 a.m. on Nov. 15. He was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.

Cosmetics crook
An unknown person stole assorted cosmetics from CVS on Jericho Turnpike in Commack on Nov. 16 at 1:30 p.m.

Pickup pullover
On Nov. 13, a 29-year-old man from Coram was arrested while driving a 2015 Chevy pickup truck on Veterans Highway after police said he failed to maintain his lane. He was pulled over and then police said he was driving drunk. He was arrested at 10:30 p.m. and charged with driving while intoxicated.

Identity confusion
On Nov. 14 at 1:45 p.m., a 29-year-old man from Huntington Station was being arrested at the 2nd Precinct for a bench warrant when police said he gave someone else’s name. He was charged with false personation.

Cash and credit card crisis
A resident of Lakeridge Drive in Huntington reported that a credit card and cash were stolen from his or her house on Nov. 14 at 4 p.m.

A punch and a name change
A 26-year-old man from Huntington Station was arrested on Nov. 13 after police said he punched someone in the back of the head on E 3rd Street in Huntington Station. The victim did not require medical attention. When the man was arrested at 10:30 p.m., he gave a false name and was charged with false personation.

King Kullen crook
An unknown man stole assorted food from King Kullen on Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station at noon on Nov. 14.

High Hyundai
On Nov. 12, police said a 20-year-old man from Deer Park was arrested in Dix Hills Park after police said he was in possession of marijuana inside his 2007 Hyundai just before 7 p.m. He was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

Life’s a beach
Police said a 22-year-old man from East Northport was in possession of heroin and a glass pipe with residue on Nov. 13 at Crab Meadow Beach in Northport. He was in the parking lot in a 2001 Dodge Ram truck at 6:20 p.m. when he was arrested and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Police said a 20-year-old man from East Northport was in possession of marijuana at Crab Meadow Beach in Northport on Nov. 11 at 5:20 p.m. He was arrested and charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

Third times the harm
A 34-year-old man from Huntington was arrested on Nov. 14 after police said he was driving a white 2002 Chevy without an interlock ignition device. He was driving east on Pegs Lane in Cold Spring Harbor at 5 p.m. when police pulled him over for suspicion of drunk driving. He was charged with using a vehicle without an interlock and his third charge of driving while intoxicated in less than 10 years.

Mistakes at Macy’s
On Nov. 13, a 33-year-old woman from Commack was arrested at Macy’s in Huntington after police said she stole more than $1,000 worth of merchandise at 3:30 p.m. She was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny.

Text message terror
A resident of Garfield Place in East Northport reported that he or she was receiving threatening text messages that were causing alarm for the person on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.

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Chris Rosati rushes for yards in a game earlier this season. File photo by Bill Landon

So far it’s been another perfect season for the Shoreham-Wading River football team, as the No. 1-seeded Wildcats move into the Division IV finals today, where the team will take on No. 2 Elwood-John Glenn at Stony Brook University at 7 p.m.

After going 8-0 in league play, the Wildcats moved on to face No. 8 McGann-Mercy in the qualifying round, where the team demolished its competition, 41-7. Next up was Bayport-Blue Point in the semifinals, and again, Shoreham-Wading River came out on top, 21-6.

Kevin Cutinella lines up in a game last season. File photo by Bill Landon
Kevin Cutinella lines up in a game last season. File photo by Bill Landon

In the game against Bayport, the opposition scored first, which was just the second time the team had allowed an opponent to score first all season. The only other time, was when Elwood-John Glenn got on the scoreboard first in the second quarter of the team’s Oct. 17 matchup. But as has been the case with the Wildcats all along, the team found its groove and consistently piled on the points.

Scoring first was senior wide receiver Jon Constant on a five-yard run with six minutes left in the first quarter, which gave Shoreham-Wading River the lead for good, at 7-6. Junior quarterback Kevin Cutinella completed five of seven passes for 85 yards, and also rushed in the team’s next score, to put the Wildcats out in front, 14-6. Senior running back Chris Rosati scored the final touchdown of the game on a 47-yard run, and senior kicker Daniel Mahoney remained nearly perfect on the season, as he split the uprights for the final time of the game. Mahoney only had one kick blocked and two kicks miss the entire season.

Senior fullback Will Loper had 10 tackles with a forced fumble, and junior defensive end Ethan Wiederkehr had six tackles and a forced fumble in the win over Bayport-Blue Point.

As was the case last season, the Wildcats always found ways to score, while also limiting their opponents to two scores or fewer. Three of the team’s games were shutouts this season, and while Shoreham-Wading River tallied 353 points this season, the Wildcats only allowed 60 points against.