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Times of Smithtown

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Government efficiency program yields results with six-figure grants

Smithtown Town Hall. File photo by Rachel Shapiro

The Town of Smithtown has been awarded two efficiency grants, courtesy of the state, Supervisor Pat Vecchio (R) said in a statement.

New York State has awarded Smithtown a total of $902,363 to help the town continue its regional fuel facility consolidation project and another $288,750 to help its regional storm water management initiatives, Vecchio said. The grants came as part of the state’s local government efficiency program, which encourages projects that will achieve savings and improve municipal efficiency through shared services and consolidations.

The regional fuel facility consolidation project was created to expand and update fueling stations in order to consolidate fueling operations among municipalities within the township, Vecchio said. In addition to cost savings, the project should improve the town’s fueling needs in the event of large-scale disasters like a hurricane, the supervisor said.

Smithtown’s fueling station is located at the town’s highway department. The new facility, Vecchio said, will have a larger capacity for fuel reserves, use backup generators and have a computerized monitoring system to protect the environment and control fuel inventory. Smithtown municipal partners, including the Village of Nissequogue, the Village of the Branch and the Village of Head of the Harbor should be using this upgraded facility along with Smithtown, St. James, Kings Park, Nesconset, Hauppauge and the Commack fire districts.

In August, Vecchio was authorized to submit a grant application for funding the Regional Stormwater Management Initiative through the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation water improvement program. He said funding from that grant allows the town to implement its stormwater management program in partnership with the villages of Nissequogue, Head of the Harbor and Village of the Branch.

“These two grants move us in the right direction,” Vecchio said in a statement. “It is projects like these that give the town, the villages and the fire districts an opportunity to modernize facilities, share and improve services while reducing the tax burden.”

The project included the maintenance of storm water catch basins throughout the town and the villages and the purchase of a vacuum truck that will be shared by all four municipalities. Proper maintenance of the basins should reduce the amount of contaminated sediment entering the ground waters, Stony Brook Harbor and Millers Pond, Vecchio said.

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Many of us may think that black-and-white photographs are not interesting. Mimi Hodges, an enthusiastic photographer and Sound Beach resident, doesn’t agree. She likes to take black-and-white photographs of local places. As she puts it, “color can sometimes be a distraction.”

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A sundial at Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown. Photo by Mimi Hodges
An arch bridge at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge in Shirley. Photo by Mimi Hodges
A Celtic cross at Little Portion Friary in Mount Sinai. Photo by Mimi Hodges
The exterior of the Brewster House in Setauket, circa 1665. Considered to be the oldest house in the Town of Brookhaven, the Brewster House was home to six generations of Brewsters and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Photo by Mimi Hodges
The interior of the Brewster House in Setauket, circa 1665. Considered to be the oldest house in the Town of Brookhaven, the Brewster House was home to six generations of Brewsters and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Photo by Mimi Hodges
The interior of the Brewster House in Setauket, circa 1665. Considered to be the oldest house in the Town of Brookhaven, the Brewster House was home to six generations of Brewsters and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Photo by Mimi Hodges

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Benzing the rules
On Dec. 10, police arrested a man from Miller Place for unlicensed operation of a car. The 32-year-old man was driving a 2007 Mercedes down Route 25A in Miller Place when police pulled him over and found the man’s license had been suspended 10 times before.

Not what the doctor ordered
Police arrested a 26-year-old man from Shoreham for criminal possession of a controlled substance on Dec. 10, after pulling him over on Echo Avenue in Sound Beach for an unknown reason and discovering prescription medication in his car that had not been prescribed to him.

A holiday steal
A 30-year-old woman from Selden was arrested for petit larceny on Dec. 12, after she allegedly stole toys and clothing from the Kmart on North Ocean Avenue in Farmingville two days before.

Impaired judgment
Police arrested a 51-year-old man from Selden for driving while ability impaired on Dec. 11. He had been driving a 2000 Toyota down Route 25 in Selden when he failed to maintain his lane and police pulled him over. He has had previous DWAI convictions in the past 10 years.

To the left, to the left
A man from Stony Brook was arrested on Dec. 11 for driving while ability impaired in a 2003 Subaru on North Country Road in Setauket-East Setauket after he made a left turn from a no-turn lane. Officials saw the 30-year-old make the turn and arrested him at the scene.

Window pains
On Dec. 12, police arrested a 23-year-old man from Stony Brook for criminal mischief. Police said the man cut a window screen of a residence on Christian Avenue an hour before his arrest.

Smoking green on Greenhaven
Police arrested an 18-year-old from Centereach on Dec. 9 for criminal possession of a controlled substance after catching him smoking marijuana in a 2000 Lincoln Town Car on Greenhaven Drive in Port Jefferson Station.

Coke to cuffs
A 22-year-old man from Middle Island was arrested for criminal possession of a controlled substance on Dec. 10 on Mount Sinai Avenue in Mount Sinai. Police officers had allegedly found cocaine in his car.

East Broadway brawl
Police arrested a 55-year-old woman from Centereach for harassment around midnight on Dec. 12, minutes after she shoved someone and made harassing comments at Danfords Hotel & Marina on East Broadway in Port Jefferson.

Parking lot larceny
An unidentified person entered a parking lot on East Main Street in Port Jefferson and stole a purse, iPod and phone charger from a parked car. Police didn’t specify the car’s make and model or if it had been unlocked at the time of the Dec. 12 incident, but there was no sign of a break-in.

Grinch steals Christmas again
On Dec. 12, an unknown person stole holiday decorations and extension cords from the front yard of a residence on North Country Road in Mount Sinai.

You’ve got mail
Someone stole a mailbox from a residence on Glenwood Avenue in Miller Place on Dec. 13, around 4:13 a.m. On that same day, between 2 and 11 p.m., someone stole a mailbox from a residence on Devon Road in Sound Beach.

A lesson in stupidity
Someone stole a 2015 Honda from a 7-Eleven parking lot on Middle Country Road in Selden. Police said the car was on when it was stolen. The incident happened on Dec. 12 between 6:55 and 7:03 a.m.

Go home, caller
According to police, a Home Depot employee received a harassing phone call while at work on Dec 12, at the location on Pond Path in Setauket-East Setauket.

Needed money for books
Between Dec. 9 and 10 someone used another person’s bank card to withdraw money from a Teacher’s Federal Credit Union account. The incident was reported on Circle Road at Stony Brook University around midnight.

Chores and cartoons
Police said someone stole a washing machine and a television from a residence on Eos Road in Rocky Point on Dec. 11 around 10 a.m.

Scholarly slash
On Dec. 12, someone slashed the two rear tires of a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee while the car was parked on Harvard Road in East Shoreham.

Knife strife
A 33-year-old from East Meadow was arrested at the corner of Main Street and New Street in Huntington at 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 12 after police said he was recklessly waving a black folding knife in the air on a public sidewalk and alarming pedestrians. He was charged with disorderly conduct for violent behavior.

Necklaces nabbed
Police said a 25-year-old man from East Northport stole jewelry from someone on Cornflower Lane in East Northport at 8 p.m. on Nov. 23. He was arrested on Dec. 10 at the 2nd Precinct and charged with third degree grand larceny.

Wallet woes
On Dec. 12, a 28-year-old man from Huntington was arrested at the 2nd Precinct after police said he stole a wallet from someone’s purse on Nov. 2 at 11:47 p.m. on New York Avenue in Huntington. He was arrested just before 5:30 p.m. and charged with petit larceny.

Rocking out
Police arrested a 34-year-old man from Huntington on Dec. 9 for a previous incident on Oct. 19 at 5:50 p.m. where he threw a rock through a storefront glass door on Gerard Street in Huntington. He was charged with second degree criminal mischief.

FedEx theft
On Dec. 11, at 6:50 a.m., an unknown person stole a FedEx package left at the front door of a home on Mechanic Street in Huntington.

Feeling blue on Blue Goose Lane
A 36-year-old man from Northport was arrested on Dec. 8 after police said he had marijuana on him at the corner of Little Plains Road and Blue Goose Lane in Huntington Station at 4:20 a.m. He was charged with fifth degree criminal possession of marijuana.

Crack is whack
On Dec. 11, a 47-year-old man from Coram was arrested on Maplewood Road in Huntington Station after police said he was driving without a license and was in possession of crack cocaine at 10:34 a.m. He was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Gone in a flash
An unknown person stole camera equipment from a 1995 Honda Civic parked on Mechanic Street in Huntington on Dec. 9 at 1 p.m.

May-day on May Street
Police said an unknown person stole a wallet and cell phone charger from a 2011 Hyundai parked on May Street in Huntington Station on Dec. 11 at 11 p.m.

High road
A 27-year-old man from Brentwood was arrested on Dec. 10 after police said he had heroin in his possession at 1 p.m. on Walt Whitman Road. He was charged with third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Resident of fence-ded
On Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. an unknown person stole parts of a fence from the back of a pickup truck parked in a driveway on Old Northport Road in Commack.

Flee attempt
A 59-year-old woman from Kings Park was arrested on Dec. 13 after police said she hit a 2013 Mitsubishi while driving a 2013 Toyota on Lou Avenue in Kings Park at 1:23 a.m. and then tried to flee the scene. She was charged with operating a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of a crime with property damage.

Screwed
On Dec. 13 a 42-year-old woman from North Babylon was arrested at the 4th Precinct after police said she tried to return deck screws for store credit from Wood Brothers Air Compressor on Express Drive in Brentwood that she had taken from the sales floor just before 3 p.m. on Oct. 27. She was charged with petit larceny.

Santa Claus isn’t coming to town
On Dec. 10 at 1:30 p.m. an unknown person stole a five-foot singing and dancing Santa Claus on display on a resident’s front porch on Orchard Street in Hauppauge and fled in a red Jeep.

Ring ring
Police said a 37-year-old man from Moriches made threatening phone calls to another person at 7:05 p.m. on Dec. 9. He was arrested on North Country Road in Smithtown and charged with first-degree criminal contempt by telephone.

Blown away
A 79-year-old man from Fort Salonga was arrested on Dec. 11 after police said he used a leaf blower to blow leaves and ash residue onto someone’s parked car on Woodmere Drive in Fort Salonga repeatedly at about 2:20 p.m. He was charged with second-degree criminal contempt and second-degree harassment.

Bowling lane blues
An unknown person damaged a 2005 Honda parked in AMF Commack Vet Lanes parking lot on Jericho Turnpike in Commack on Dec. 10 at 1:45 p.m. Police said the car’s rear driver-side window was damaged and a leather shoulder bag, cash, laptop, wallet and credit cards were stolen out of it.

Xanax bust
On Dec. 10 a 21-year-old man from Hauppauge was arrested at about 11:30 a.m. on Townline Road in Hauppauge after police said he had Xanax in his possession without a prescription. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Motor Parkway market
Police said a 21-year-old man from Brentwood sold heroin and crack cocaine on Motor Parkway in Brentwood on Nov. 17 and 18 and Dec. 1 and 4. He was arrested on Dec. 10 after police said he tried to flee the scene just before 9 a.m. and charged with four counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, one charge of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest.

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The Kings Park community can now expect more than $41 million in capital projects to give facilities within their school district a much needed upgrade. File photo

Kings Park schools are getting a face-lift.

On Tuesday, Dec. 8, community residents approved a capital project bond referendum totaling $41,422,515. The final vote was 1,331 yes, 499 no.

The board of education and Superintendent of Schools Timothy Eagen extended their appreciation to all those who participated in this vote.

“This bond is exactly what our facilities and grounds need to rebuild a foundation of pride in Kings Park,” Eagen said in a statement. “I am very thankful that the community has been so supportive of this project. Our infrastructure is in desperate need of updating.”

The results of the vote demonstrate that community residents value the quality education Kings Park provides to its students and the importance of maintaining and renovating district facilities for the benefit of students, staff and the community.

With the approved project, all six buildings within the district would see building improvements, including roof replacements, bathroom renovations and door and hardware replacements, as well as asphalt and pavement upgrades as necessary.

Plans also call for auditorium upgrades, gymnasium renovations and the creation of a multipurpose athletic field and accompanying concession stand/comfort station at Kings Park High School. Additional high school renovations include upgrading the library to provide for 21st century student research and learning needs and resurfacing and upgrading the high school track.

The full listing of projects can be found on the district’s website, www.kpcsd.k12.ny.us.

“On behalf of the BOE, I thank everyone who voted,” said board President Pam DeFord. “I would also like to thank the entire Facilities Committee and Dr. Eagen for the effort and time they dedicated to this project. From the beginning, taking on this bond project was a community effort. Many community members worked collaboratively to assess the needs of our district, keeping in mind the needs of our students as well as watching the cost factor for all residents. It was wonderful to have the community support the work of the committee. As we start ‘rebuilding our Kings Park pride,’ we should all be reminded of this great community. As you may have heard before, ‘it takes a village to raise a child,’ and together, that is exactly what we are doing in our community. ”

The district said that it looks forward to the community’s future involvement as the plans and projects proposed in the approved bond become a reality.

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Smithtown's Chris Crespo leaps up to the rim between West Islip defenders. Photo by Desirée Keegan

Defense won the Bulls this basketball game.

The Smithtown West boys’ basketball team came out blocking shot after shot against a tall West Islip team, outscoring the competition 55-28 in its League III opener.

“I loved the defensive intensity. The defense is our backbone this year,” Smithtown West head coach Mike Agostino said. “We like to hold a team under 30 points. We have to defend, we have to help each other and play pressure defense, and that’s what gives us extra possessions and gets us extra shots.”

Smithtown's Greg Giordano moves the ball up the court. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Smithtown’s Greg Giordano moves the ball up the court. Photo by Desirée Keegan

Although the Bulls won by a wide margin, the game wasn’t always that way.

After more than three minutes of play, both teams were scoreless. It wasn’t until the 4:36 mark that senior Matt English nailed the tail end of his free-throw attempts to get the first point on the board.

A minute went by until the team scored again, with senior Doug Levy coming up with a big block before sophomore Chris Crespo intercepted an inbound pass and converted it for two points. After another Levy block, West Islip called a timeout.

“The first half, we didn’t get shots to fall, but we were playing really good defense,” Crespo said. “Shots blocked, a lot of steals, points on turnovers and a lot of good stuff like that, so I think the defense really helped us win this game.”

At the 1:11 mark, English scored on a putback to extend the Bulls’ lead to 5-0, but a West Islip field goal and three-pointer sandwiching junior Kyle LaGuardia’s free throw and field goal off a rebound on his own free-throw miss brought the score to 8-5 at the end of the first quarter.

Nick Grande looks to make a pass for Smithtown. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Nick Grande looks to make a pass for Smithtown. Photo by Desirée Keegan

Crespo started off the second stanza with a three-pointer, and after a West Islip field goal, Levy added a putback and junior Gordon Shouler followed with a three-pointer of his own to extend the team’s lead to 16-7.

“Going into the second and especially in the third quarter, we were really getting our shots to fall,” Crespo said. “And still, the defense continued to remain strong.”

By the halftime break, Smithtown West had doubled West Islip’s score, 24-12.

“We don’t shoot as much as other teams have, but we do have plenty of guys that can shoot and get hot quick,” Agostino said. “We just have to find our rhythm, but this is only our second game.”

English and senior guard Nick Grande powered the Bulls through the third. First, English began the scoring with a putback, and after four West Islip points, Grande started off his scoring for the evening with a field goal.

English swished two free-throw points, and West Islip scored a field goal of its own, but Grande answered back when he converted a putback for two.

West Islip grabbed another rebound, but Grande nailed a three-pointer to extend the Bulls’ lead to 37-18. The two teams traded field goals again and West Islip tacked on a two free throws to bring the score to 39-22.

Gordon Shouler defends for Smithtown. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Gordon Shouler defends for Smithtown. Photo by Desirée Keegan

“Everything starts on defense and I think we played four full quarters of defense, so that’s always going to keep you in the game,” Grande said.

What helped the team besides its defense was having a myriad of players that can score. Eight different players contributed to the team’s total score, which isn’t common.

“When other teams are getting fatigued, we’re still rotating new guys in,” Grande said. “It definitely puts a lot of pressure on them to keep up with us.”

Five different players scored in the fourth quarter, and by midway through the final eight minutes, Agostino was able to swap in his bench players to get playing time.

Grande and Shouler finished with 11 points each, Crespo added eight with six assists and three rebounds, and English scored seven points and had seven rebounds.

“Even those guys that are coming in late in the game, they’re doing the same thing,” the head coach said. “They’re defending, they’re being aggressive, they’re rebounding and it’s those constant waves of aggression that are coming at teams that I think can really help us down the line.”

Agostino would like to see some improvements in the team’s offensive game, but so far, he likes what he’s seeing.

“Once that happens,” he said of the progression throughout the season, “I think we’ll be really tough to beat.”

Smithtown West travels to Newfield on Thursday, with tipoff scheduled for 5:45 p.m.

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Glenn Jorgensen poses with a tree stump at the Montclair Avenue highway yard. File photo by Rachel Shapiro

Smithtown’s former Highway Superintendent Glenn Jorgensen was sentenced to 560 hours of community service and three years’ probation in state Supreme Court on Friday after pleading guilty to charges accusing him of falsifying public documents, records showed.

Back in October, Jorgensen, 64, pleaded guilty to the felony charge of offering a false instrument for filing and the misdemeanor charge of official misconduct relating back to a construction project he headed in November 2014, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office said. He appeared in front of Supreme Court Justice Mark Cohen in Riverhead on Friday, where he avoided four months of jail time and received a plea deal that included his community service sentencing as well as a surcharge of $375 to be paid over the next 90 days.

Anthony La Pinta, Jorgensen’s Hauppauge-based criminal defense attorney, could not be reached from comment.

According to the criminal complaint against Jorgensen, the former highway superintendent instructed an employee of Smithtown to alter road construction reports to hide his approval of Medford contractor Suffolk Asphalt Corp. paving as many as eight Smithtown streets in below-freezing temperatures throughout November 2014.

“This disposition compels the defendant to resign from his elected position and his admission of guilt before the court confirms the facts uncovered during the investigation,” Robert Clifford, spokesman for the DA’s office, said in a statement earlier this year. “As the superintendent of highways, Mr. Jorgensen knowingly had false information about the paving of town roads filed as an official town record, and he knowingly directed that inaccurate information be filed to make it appear as though the roadwork met state mandatory specifications.”

Jorgensen resigned from his position Oct. 16.

“It is a sad occurrence and I will have no comment other than I have sympathy for Mr. Jorgensen and his family,” Smithtown Supervisor Pat Vecchio (R) said in an October statement.

In April, Jorgensen was charged with tampering with public records, falsifying business records, filing false records, official misconduct and grand larceny, Suffolk County District Attorney Tom Spota said. Initially, Jorgensen pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the time, Jorgensen, of St. James, was accused of altering road construction reports and stealing a public work order for an improper repaving. He tried to conceal his approval of paving at least eight Smithtown streets in freezing temperatures last November and then directed a highway foreman to alter the record of the weather conditions done during the repaving work.

Jorgensen had also been accused of sexual harassment involving his former secretary. The town was issued a notice of claim alleging he sexually harassed her in December. The claim also alleged he had taken her out to job sites, out to eat and eventually fired her after finding out she was dating an employee of the highway department.

District attorney detectives found work orders for the improper repaving jobs hidden under Jorgensen’s bed at his Hope Place residence in St. James.

Jorgensen worked for the Smithtown Highway Department for 37 years, and won election for highway superintendent in 2009 and 2013.

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Congressman Steve Israel speaks on the dangers of hoverboards at the Commack Fire Department on Dec. 15. Photo by Victoria Espinoza.

One of this year’s hot holiday items might be a little too hot.

Hoverboards have been flying off the shelves this holiday season, but recent safety issues, including multiple cases of boards catching fire or exploding, have given some shoppers pause. That’s why U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D) gathered with members of the Commack Fire Department Tuesday and urged consumers against buying hoverboards specifically made in China, because he said the type of batteries used in them may ignite.

“Hoverboards may be the hot holiday gift, but they are literally catching on fire and igniting questions about their safety and the safety of lithium-ion batteries,” Israel said. “New Yorkers should remain hesitant before purchasing these hoverboards and stay vigilant while using and charging them.”

Hoverboards are self-balancing and electronic two-wheeled devices on which people can travel from place to place. When riding one, a person may appear to be levitating, or hovering, similarly to those on the hoverboards featured in the film “Back to the Future II.”

Israel stood beside a photo display of several fires that the Commack department had already responded to where hoverboards caused combustion inside someone’s home, destroying property and, sometimes, entire rooms.

Hoverboards shipped from overseas use lithium ion batteries, which can combust if heated or overcharged due to their limited voltage range. Israel called for more research from the U.S. Department of Energy on the safety of using lithium ion batteries in hoverboards.

The congressman also noted that airports already task their security personnel to remove all lithium ion batteries from checked bags for the same reason.

“Well if we know that those lithium ion batteries could be a hazard to the plane, and we know a hover board with a lithium ion battery could be hazardous to our homes, that says we need to do a little bit more research,” Israel said.

Commack Fire Marshal Joe Digiose flanked the congressman on Tuesday and said he urged residents to be careful when buying hoverboards until more research is completed. He said there is no research that shows the American-made products are not working well, but the ones from overseas pose more of a danger and are being shipped at a very high rate to the United States.

“We recommend you don’t buy them but if you do, buy an American-made one,” he said.

Don Talka speaks on research of lithium ion batteries at the Commack Fire Department on Dec. 15. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
Don Talka speaks on research of lithium ion batteries at the Commack Fire Department on Dec. 15. Photo by Victoria Espinoza

Don Talka, senior vice president and chief engineer at Underwriters Laboratories has been involved in research on lithium ion batteries for years, starting back when they were involved with similar issues in laptops. He said the major problem is the mating of the battery with the rest of the electronics used in the hoverboards.

“What we’ve learned through our research … is that the combination and how these pieces interact causes the issues,” Talka said. “And how the batteries are charged and discharged are all items which need further investigation.”

At the press conference, Israel inspected the box that a hoverboard came in, and said that despite all the instructions and caution labels about the product, there is nothing to be said about the battery.

“That has been established as one of the single greatest threats to property and potentially lives when they’re coming from China,” Israel said. “That’s why we want to comply with the energy chair to fully research this and make sure that people aren’t being exposed to greater risk and threat by lithium ion batteries.”

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Suffolk County police car. File photo

A Commack woman and her dogs Marlo and Bo were saved from their burning home Friday morning, with the help of two firefighters and a police officer.

The Suffolk County Police Department said 45-year-old Elyssa Roth dropped Marlo out of her bedroom window into the responders’ arms, then jumped out herself. Bo was later saved from inside the house.

It all started shortly before 9:30 a.m., when someone called 911 to report the fire on Suttonwood Drive, police said. Officer David Mascarella from the 4th Precinct and Commack Fire Department volunteers Bernie Simoes and Paul Carnevale responded to find heavy smoke and limited visibility at the burning home. The heavy flames and intense heat prevented Mascarella and Simoes from going inside, police said.

The responders convinced Roth to drop Marlo the dog from her second-floor bedroom window, then followed and the men caught her. Bo was found inside the house and treated at an animal hospital.

That second dog was not the only one who needed medical attention. Police said Roth and Mascarella were treated for smoke inhalation at Stony Brook University Hospital and at Smithtown’s St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center, respectively. The pair of firefighters were treated for respiratory distress at the scene of the blaze.

According to police, arson detectives have determined the fire had a non-criminal cause.

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File photo

The girl hit by a car on Main Street last week has died of her injuries, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

Kings Park’s 11-year-old Holly Gallo died on Dec. 10, police said, five days after a van struck her as she crossed the road in her hometown. The van had been traveling east and had just passed Thompson Street at the time of the crash, roughly 11 a.m. that Saturday.

Holly initially survived the crash but had been in critical condition at Stony Brook University Hospital before her death on Thursday.

The van’s driver, a 52-year-old Freeport man, was not hurt.

Shortly after the crash, police said they had impounded the van for a safety check and detectives from the 4th Squad were investigating.

A Gofundme.com website was launched in the days following Holly’s death in which family members and friends raised more than $48,000 to help the family. Sabrina Klemballa, who identified herself as a close member of the family, said the family has felt support from the North Shore and beyond since the 11-year-old’s death.

Phil Corso contributed reporting.

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Heroin rides shotgun

A 38-year-old woman from East Setauket was arrested on Dec. 5 for criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police said officials pulled the woman over between Main Street and Dayton Avenue in Port Jefferson Station for an unknown reason, then discovered she was in possession of heroin. The drug was on the front passenger seat of the woman’s 2005 Ford. Police arrested her at the scene.

It’s not my asphalt

On Dec. 3, police arrested a 19-year-old man from Port Jefferson for robbery and criminal mischief, after police said he threw someone to the ground and stole their wallet near the Pax Christi Hospitality Center on Oakland Avenue in Port Jefferson. The man also threw a piece of asphalt at the building and broke one of its windows. Police arrested the man on Linden Place.

Heads and tails

Police arrested a 38-year-old man from Mount Sinai on Dec. 6 for driving while ability impaired while going east on Route 25A in Mount Sinai. Police pulled the man over because his Volkswagen Jetta’s headlights and taillights weren’t working. Officials discovered the man was under the influence and arrested him at the scene.

A 54-year-old man from Centereach was arrested on Dec. 5 for driving while ability impaired in a 1992 Buick on Rustic Road in Centereach. Police pulled the man over around 12:42 a.m. because the car’s taillights weren’t working. They discovered he was intoxicated and arrested him.

Wrangling a suspect

On Dec. 5, a 41-year-old man from Centereach was arrested for leaving the scene of a car crash. The man was driving a Jeep Wrangler east on Old Town Road in East Setauket when he crashed into a 2006 Acura around 8:05 p.m. Police arrested the man minutes later at his residence on Gnarled Hollow Road. Police said the man failed to stop, causing the crash, but it was unclear if that was at a stop sign or at a traffic light.

Desperate Housewives, cont.

Police arrested a 17-year-old male from Selden for assault with a weapon on Dec. 6, a day after he struck someone with a glass bottle. Police didn’t say what caused the altercation but said the victim was transported to the Stony Brook University Hospital. The teenaged assailant was arrested the following day at his residence on Wisteria Lane in Lake Grove.

College crash

A 56-year-old woman from Selden was arrested for leaving the scene of a crash on Dec. 5, after driving a 2004 Nissan on College Road in Selden and crashing into another car. Police found the woman after she fled and arrested her at the 6th Precinct.

If I had a Nicolls …

Police arrested a 31-year-old woman from Islip on Dec. 4 for driving while ability impaired on Nicolls Road in Stony Brook. Police pulled her over when she failed to stay in her lane and arrested her after discovering she was under the influence.

Que Linda!

An unknown person slashed a tire of a 1997 Lincoln that was parked on Linda Street in Port Jefferson Station. Police said the incident happened between Dec. 5 at 10 p.m. and Dec. 6 around 6 a.m.

Cutting

On Dec. 6, a 39-year-old man from Port Jefferson was arrested for harassment. The man was standing on Main Street in Port Jefferson and had a machete in his pants. Police said the man pointed the machete toward his own throat and made a cutting motion.

Thief fresh

An unidentified person walked into the Subway on Route 25A in Miller Place with a small black handgun and demanded money from the cash register. The incident happened on Dec. 4 around 8:19 a.m.

On Dec. 3, someone stole a yellow skateboard in front of the Subway on Route 25A in Shoreham.

Two chains

An unidentified person stole two bikes and a chain saw from a residence on Farmingdale Road in Sound Beach between Dec. 4 at noon and Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. The items were located in a storage shed near the house.

Just kickin’ it

On Dec. 4, several unknown people kicked a hole in the fence of a residence on Model Court in Sound Beach.

Out of gas

Police arrested a 25-year-old man from Rocky Point on Dec. 6 around 9:55 p.m. According to police, the man entered a BP gas station in August armed with a small handgun and demanded money from the cash register. Police finally arrested the man on Dogwood Road in Rocky Point.

Cracking the Walnut

An unknown person stole cash and removed a locked safe from a residence on Walnut Drive in East Shoreham on Dec. 3.

Meet me upstairs

Police said an unknown person broke the upstairs window of a residence on Park Hill Drive in Selden on Dec. 6.

For your convenience

An unidentified man and woman entered the CVS Pharmacy on Middle Country Road in Selden and stole beauty supplies, medical supplies and other items from the store. Police said the incident happened on Dec. 6.

Common sprinkler’s trick

An unknown man entered Old Navy on Jericho Turnpike in Commack sometime between 9:30 p.m. and 6:15 a.m. on Oct. 25 through a common sprinkler room. It is unknown if the man fled with any items. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man, who was seen wearing a black hoodie.

Trying to stay fresh

A 46-year-old man and a 25-year-old man both from Farmingville were arrested on Dec. 5 at 6:50 p.m. for stealing air fresheners and red hair dye from Costco on Garet Place in Commack, according to police. They were charged with petit larceny.

Smack in Commack

On Dec. 4 an 18-year-old man from Dix Hills was arrested after police said he had a large amount of cocaine and prescription drugs without a prescription in his possession on Commack Road in Commack at midnight. He was charged with three accounts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Prepare for beat down

Police said a 25-year-old man from Dix Hills stole two pairs of Beats headphones from Target on Henry Street in Commack at 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 3. He was charged with petit larceny.

To infinity and — nope

A 44-year-old man from Commack was arrested on Dec. 3 at 6:10 p.m. after police said he was in possession of heroin and was driving a 1994 Infiniti on Carlton Avenue in Commack with a suspended license. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

We didn’t start the fire

On Dec. 6 a 30-year-old man from St. James was arrested at 6 p.m. on Privet Court in Smithtown after police said he threatened to physically harm someone and burn their house down. He was charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration.

Ladies don’t get in her Mercedes

A 49-year-old woman from Smithtown was arrested in Huntington Station on Dec. 3 at 6:40 p.m. after police said she was involved in a crash while driving a 2000 Mercedes and discovered she was on drugs. She was charged with first-degree operation of a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs.

Driving on the high road

On Dec. 6 a 26-year-old man from Islandia was arrested on Larkfield Road and Daly Road in Commack at 8:12 p.m. after police said he was driving a 2009 Pontiac while on drugs. He was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs.

The lady in the Mercedes

A 49-year-old woman from Smithtown was arrested in Huntington Station on Dec. 3 at 6:40 p.m. after police said she was involved in a crash while driving a 2000 Mercedes. Police discovered she was on drugs and charged her with first-degree operation of a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs.

Not in prime position

A 22-year-old man from East Northport was arrested at the corner of Prime Avenue and Mill Lane in Huntington at about 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 6 after police said he was in possession of marijuana and prescription medication without a prescription. He was charged with two accounts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana.

No smiles on Broadway

Police said a 27-year-old man from Wheatley Heights had marijuana in his possession at midnight on Broadway Road in Greenlawn, on Dec. 6. He was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

Liberty is caught

On Dec. 3, a 58-year-old man from Dix Hills was arrested at the 2nd Precinct for an incident on Nov. 19 at 10:35 p.m., where police said he was driving a 2011 Jeep Liberty on New York Avenue in Huntington when he side swiped another vehicle and then fled the scene. He was charged with operating a motor vehicle and leaving the scene with property damage.

Wallet woes

Police said a 32-year-old man from Huntington stole a wallet from someone inside Christopher’s in Huntington on July 19 at 11:15 p.m. He was arrested on Dec. 2 at the corner of New York Avenue and Main Street and charged with fourth-degree grand larceny involving a credit card.

A 25-year-old from Bayville was arrested on Dec. 4 at 11:10 p.m. at Acacia Restaurant on New York Avenue in Huntington for stealing someone’s wallet. He was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny.

Not nice in the Nissan

On Dec. 2, a 37-year-old man from Huntington Station was arrested after police said he was driving a 1998 Nissan on New York Avenue in Huntington Station at 3:40 p.m. with a suspended license. He was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle.

Corner drugs

Police said a 22-year-old man from East Northport had marijuana in his possession on Mckay Road and Columbia Street in Huntington Station at 12:15 a.m on Dec. 6. He was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

Driving on the high road

On Dec. 6, a 26-year-old man from Islandia was arrested on Larkfield Road and Daly Road in Commack at 8:12 p.m., after police said he was driving a 2009 Pontiac while on drugs. He was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs.

Not BB-ing nice to the windows

On Dec. 4, at about 10 p.m., someone reported that a window of his or her home on West Neck Road in Huntington was shot with a BB gun.

Close but no cigar

An unknown person broke into a home on Browning Drive in Greenlawn on Dec. 5 at 9:30 a.m. but did not steal anything.

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