Poofa sits with an officer after his rescue. Photo from SCPD
Poofa sits with an officer after his rescue. Photo from SCPD
Suffolk County Police officers rescued a 6-year-old male Goldendoodle from an abandoned cesspool in Kings Park Tuesday night, Oct. 27.
Boris Avezov was outside Superior Ice Rink on Indian Head Road, walking with his dog Poofa at approximately 7:30 p.m., when the dog pulled his leash away from his owner to chase a rabbit. Poofa then fell into a 16-foot abandoned cesspool located behind the ice-skating rink, where he remained for about an hour as officers from Emergency Services worked to free him.
Officers Tom Russo, Mike Cocia and Lance Prager were lowered into the cesspool using a mechanical pulley system. They were then able to adapt a sked, a piece of equipment normally used to rescue people, to save the dog. Officers Glen Baillargeon, Gerry Sheridan and Mike Simpson were also involved in the rescue.
Poofa and the officers were not harmed. Avezov, of Bellmore, was waiting for his children who were ice-skating at the rink.
A helicopter airlifted an injured football player from Huntington school district to Stony Brook University Hospital. Photo from Greenlawn Fire Department
A 12-year-old football player and student at Finley Middle School in Huntington was airlifted from a field on Greenlawn Road Monday, Oct. 24, just after 6 p.m.
The Greenlawn Fire Department responded to the scene. Two Greenlawn FD Rescue Squad ambulances responded along with the Greenlawn/East Northport Fire District Paramedic. About 20 Greenlawn firefighters and rescue personnel also responded to the incident.
The department said a paramedic evaluated the player and determined that the patient should be transported to an appropriate trauma center for further treatment.
The Suffolk Police Medivac helicopter was requested and airlifted the youth to Stony Brook University Hospital.
A car crashed into a home on Pawnee Drive last Friday evening. Photo by Steve Silverman
By Victoria Espinoza
A car drove through the front door of a Commack home on Pawnee Drive this past Friday, Oct. 21.
The Commack Fire Department, Commack Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Suffolk Police responded to the crash at about 7:30 p.m. Commack firefighters operated at the scene with two engines, a heavy rescue truck and fire police, under the command of Third Assistant Chief Bobby Wilkins. There were no reported injuries and the Smithtown Fire Marshal was requested to assess the damage to the home.
Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco signs $10,000 check presented with Legislator Sarah Anker, on right, to the North Shore Youth Council for a new family counseling initiative to combat substance abuse. Photo from sheriff's office
A strong support system is vital in a fight against drug abuse, and now North Shore families will have more options to help struggling loved ones manage their addiction.
Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) and Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco delivered a check for $10,000 to the North Shore Youth Council in Rocky Point this week, which will be designated for its new family counseling initiative to combat substance abuse. The grant, which is funded from the sheriff’s office asset forfeiture monies, will engage whole families in therapy designed to help them cope, understand the root causes of addiction and support their loved one’s recovery.
Anker proposed the pilot initiative following a conversation with Father Frank Pizzarelli from Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson.
Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker and Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco with members of the North Shore Youth Council after presenting the check for it’s new substance abuse program. Photo from sheriff’s office“Father Frank is on the frontlines in our battle against addiction in Suffolk County,” she said. “He impressed upon me the importance of the family unit in successfully treating addiction.”
When Anker approached the sheriff about the possibility of using asset forfeiture funds dedicated for this purpose, DeMarco was all in favor of the project.
“Family therapy can lower relapse rates, help parents with addicted children find effective ways to support their loved one’s recovery and even help children with addicted parents deal with their struggles,” he said. “ I am hoping this initiative will serve as a model and get more families involved in recovery.”
The North Shore Youth Council serves communities across the North Shore, including Port Jefferson, Wading River, Middle Island, Ridge and Coram. The agency helps hundreds of families each day through their school-based prevention and before and after care programs. According to the youth council’s Executive Director Janene Gentile, many people within the community can’t afford family counseling, because money is tight due to lost wages and the cost of treatment.
“Treatment is the first step, but ongoing family therapy is often essential to getting to the root of the problems that led someone to use drugs in the first place,” she said. “This grant will defer the cost of family counseling, which will eliminate the most common barrier to families engaging in therapy.
North Shore Youth Council’s Board President Laurel Sutton joined with Gentile in thanking the County sheriff and legislator for their support.
“I want to thank Sheriff DeMarco and Legislator Anker for giving us this opportunity to enhance our counseling services to struggling families impacted by the opioid [problem],” she said.
For more information about the family counseling initiative, or to schedule an appointment with a counselor, call the North Shore Youth Council at 631-744-0207.
Suffolk County Police Seventh Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a tow truck operator in Shoreham Oct. 22.
Gian Russo was dispatched to Route 25A, east of Defense Hill Road, to tow an unoccupied, disabled vehicle. The tow truck was parked on the shoulder of the roadway, facing westbound, when a 2008 Ford Taurus struck the disabled vehicle and Russo at approximately 8:20 p.m. Russo was in the process of hooking up the vehicle to the tow truck when he was struck.
The driver of the Ford, Betty Lutz, 72, of Coram, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Russo, 39, of East Moriches, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician’s assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.
All vehicles were impounded for safety checks. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Seventh Squad at 631-852-8752.
Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a mother and her daughter in Selden Oct. 22.
Shuofang Yang was driving a 2013 Audi S4 on Adirondack Drive when he attempted to make a left turn, heading westbound onto Middle County Road, when his vehicle collided with a Nissan Altima traveling eastbound on Middle County Road at approximately 5 p.m.
The driver of the Nissan, Marie Sanacore, 73, of Coram, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner. Her mother, Nellie Furino, 96, who lives with her, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where she died a short time later.
Yang, 22, of South Setauket, and his passenger were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Both vehicles were impounded for a safety check. The investigating is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.
Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are investigating a shooting that took place at Melissa’s Restaurant in Huntington Station this past Saturday, Oct. 22.
Second Precinct patrol officers responded to a shot spotter activation, which is technology used to detect when shots are fired, at the restaurant, on New York Ave. at 2:16 a.m. Several patrons reported hearing shots, shell casings were recovered and police determined shots were fired. Police said the suspect was described as an Hispanic male wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt pulled tightly around his face.
The investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone with information about the incident to call the Second Squad at 631-854-8252 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
A three-car crash left one car overturned in Huntington Station Oct. 15. Photo by Steve Silverman
A three-vehicle crash in Huntington Station left one car on its side Oct. 15.
Huntington Manor Fire Department and Suffolk Police responded to the scene last Saturday night, on East Jericho Turnpike and Thorney Avenue in Huntington Station.
Manor firefighters dispatched an engine and heavy rescue truck, under the direction of Third Assistant Chief Chuck Brady. Firefighters applied an absorbent for a fuel spill and secured the vehicles. One injured driver was transported to Huntington Hospital by the Huntington Community First Aid Squad.
Scenes from Miller Place Fire Department's annual open house and fire safety day Oct. 16, as part of promoting fire protection month. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scenes from Miller Place Fire Department's annual open house and fire safety day Oct. 16, as part of promoting fire protection month. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scenes from Miller Place Fire Department's annual open house and fire safety day Oct. 16, as part of promoting fire protection month. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scenes from Miller Place Fire Department's annual open house and fire safety day Oct. 16, as part of promoting fire protection month. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scenes from Miller Place Fire Department's annual open house and fire safety day Oct. 16, as part of promoting fire protection month. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scenes from Miller Place Fire Department's annual open house and fire safety day Oct. 16, as part of promoting fire protection month. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scenes from Miller Place Fire Department's annual open house and fire safety day Oct. 16, as part of promoting fire protection month. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scenes from Miller Place Fire Department's annual open house and fire safety day Oct. 16, as part of promoting fire protection month. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scenes from Miller Place Fire Department's annual open house and fire safety day Oct. 16, as part of promoting fire protection month. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scenes from Miller Place Fire Department's annual open house and fire safety day Oct. 16, as part of promoting fire protection month. Photo by Greg Catalano
Al Kopcienski has been a longtime member of the Miller Place Fire Department. File photo by Greg Catalano
Scenes from Miller Place Fire Department's annual open house and fire safety day Oct. 16, as part of promoting fire protection month. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scenes from Miller Place Fire Department's annual open house and fire safety day Oct. 16, as part of promoting fire protection month. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scenes from Miller Place Fire Department's annual open house and fire safety day Oct. 16, as part of promoting fire protection month. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scenes from Miller Place Fire Department's annual open house and fire safety day Oct. 16, as part of promoting fire protection month. Photo by Greg Catalano
The Miller Place Fire Department hosted its annual open house Oct. 16.
Miller Place Fire Department’s Station 2 hosted fire prevention and safety demonstrations, along with other family-friendly activities to help promote fire prevention month.
The open house helped highlight y the different community trucks and tools used to fight fires and keep the public safe. Suffolk County’s sheriff’s department was also on sight helping to talk to young children about safe driving and the hazards of drunk driving.
Suffolk County Police have arrested a 24-year-old Sound Beach woman for driving while intoxicated with children in her car in Miller Place Oct. 15 at about 10 p.m.
A Good Samaritan called police after she noticed an apparently intoxicated woman putting her children in and out of her car, while illegally parked in a handicapped zone in front of Stop & Shop in Miller Place. Officers stopped the Lincoln Navigator on Carlisle Road in Miller Place at about 10:30 p.m. The woman, Holly Olsen, had two children ages two-years-old and two-months-old in her car.
Olsen was charged with driving while intoxicated, aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child passenger 15 years old or younger (Leandra’s Law), two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Olsen was be held overnight at the 4th Precinct and was scheduled to be arraigned at 1st District Court in Central Islip on Oct. 16. Attorney information for Olsen was not immediately available.
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