LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A Long Island boy was honored for his act of bravery after alerting his family to a fire in their home, effectively saving their lives.

Jamari Connors, 6, of Lindenhurst, was eating a snack after coming home from pee-wee football practice when he smelled smoke. Connors went to investigate, calling out from room-to-room alerting his family members, who were scattered in different parts of the house, CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan reported.

“He got me, my attention, I came down,” William Connors, Jamari’s grandfather, said. “That is when I saw the house was on fire. But getting back to Jamari — he did a great job, he is a hero, but he don’t understand what hero means.”

Minutes later. the Connors’ home on North Erie Avenue was enveloped in flames. Lindenhurst First Responders were able to control the three-alarm fire.

Babylon Councilman and firefighter Thomas Donnelly was one of several officials who presented Connors with a heroism award at a special ceremony honoring local acts of bravery.

Jamari’s actions are said to have helped save his mother, grandfather, two cats and a dog.

Donnelly said. “We call that courage,” Donnelly said.

The Connors lost all of their possessions in the fire and are currently living in a temporary trailer.

Jennifer Connors, Jamari’s mother, said that despite the family’s current circumstances, this Thanksgiving is more special than ever.

“A house can be rebuilt, a life can’t come back,” she said.

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) — Up to 2.5-ft of snow fell on Long Island over the weekend, and many side roads are still snow covered and hazardous for drivers and pedestrians.

As CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff explained, there’s danger in the cleanup too.

Across Long Island the big dig went on two days after a record storm. Plows of every size and shape, both public and private worked the roadways as homeowners tried to clear intersections of the mounds of snow that buried sidewalks and driveways.

“I’ve been here 25 years and in the 25 years I’ve been here this is the worst job they’re ever done,” one Hicksville homeowner said.

The unhappy homeowner said Town of Hempstead plows blocked in driveways and intersections.

A town spokesman blamed homeowners for shoveling and blowing snow back into the streets, and said they’re not supposed to do that during major storm cleanups.

“Then they get on us for throwing now in the streets, but if they had done their jobs I wouldn’t have to do this,” Ed Schulman said.

Doctors at Nassau University Medical Center sounded a warning for homeowners who were dangerously trying to clear jammed up snowblowers.

“We had two people who have finger amputations,” Dr. Victor Politi said.

It’s a hazard that landscapers take very seriously.

“God forbid you stick your finger in and the thing turns on. The propellers are going to take your fingers right off,” Will Fernandez said.

Heart attacks are also a danger. Four Long Islanders died while shoveling and snow blowing.

“The heart has to work harder already because you’re shoveling. On top of it you are constricting blood vessels, raising your heart rate and also your blood pressure, so take frequent brakes,” Dr. Amgad Makaryus said.

In Lindenhurst, shoreline homeowners said if there was a silver lining to a snowbound weekend it’s that fears of Sandy-like flooding came and went with the tide.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — There’s a battle brewing on Long Island, as one village wants a moratorium on new e-cigarette stores. Officials in Lindenhurst say there are too many unanswered health questions.

Lindenhurst residents seem divided over the plan to prevent hookah bars, marijuana dispensaries and any new electronic cigarette stores from opening in the village.

“A lot of these kids are getting a hold of it and they’re overdosing on it,” said Lorenzo, who favors the plan. “I see them as dangerous… they need to control it somehow.”

“It is huge at work and is a growing fad,” Lindenhurst customer Albert Augustine told CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan.

Some village officials argue these businesses work against their effort to attract more family-friendly business.

Vaping lounges and electronic cigarette stores dot the landscape on Long Island’s South Shore. Four dozen recently opened from Valley Stream to Southampton.

Lindenhurst wants to attract more family-friendly businesses and hopes to halt any new vape, hookah bar, or marijuana derivative dispensaries that sell cannabis oil.

“I would rather see nice stores and restaurants in my town, than a vapor store,” Victoria Kelly, a Lindenhurst homeowner, told CBS2.

Though the shops are considered “hip,” many parents don’t like the idea of their proximity to young children.

Some are close to schools, libraries, and neighborhoods. Owners say the industry is mired in misunderstanding.

“I have zero nicotine in there. So I only vapor for the flavor,” Boris Kowatschitsch, of Clean Vapor, said. “So this is not nicotine, there is no second-hand smoke.”

“You should be able to open up your own business in this state, country. That is what we were founded on,” John Lappas, a Clean Vapor employee, said.

Officials said they want a ban because there are too many unknown, unanswered questions.

“I just want to be able to limit and control the ones in the downtown area… we still don’t know the long term causes these e-cigarettes,” Lindenhurst Deputy Mayor Michael Lavorata said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate e-cigarettes. A public hearing on the plan will be held Tuesday night.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Authorities on Long Island are offering a $2,000 reward in a case involving a German shepherd found with its muzzle taped shut.

Chief Roy Gross of the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Animals says the dog was found by police on Saturday on Montauk Highway in Lindenhurst.

The male dog was found with its muzzle closed with duct tape.

The Babylon Animal Shelter is now caring for the dog. Gross says the dog was unable to eat or drink.

“To leave this dog unable to eat or drink, abandoned and frightened on a busy road is heartbreaking,” Gross said.

Gross said the dog appears to be healthy, indicating the animal was probably not duct taped for a long period of time.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Suffolk SCPA is asking anyone with information about the incident to call 631-3882-7722. Callers can remain anonymous.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Firefighters will stay on high alert Thursday over concerns about flare ups from a blaze that torched several homes and sparked a large brush fire in Suffolk County.

The fire Wednesday in the area of Copiague and Lindenhurst damaged five homes and left at least two charred and destroyed.

“It was intense down here, like the ashes,” said witness Simon Hick. “The wind changed direction so fast that the ashes, the island was on fire. Came through the neighborhood and started lighting stuff up.”

The fire started at a house on East Santa Barbara Road as the result of an electrical short in a wall-mounted air conditioner. A mother inside grabbed her child and ran out immediately.

“All of a sudden they yelled, ‘It’s out of control’ and at that point, I saw the whole back yard up in flames,” said witness Laura St. Angelo.

The heat from the flames were so intense, they melted the siding of Keith Bush’s home.

“I went in to get my phone charger, of all things, and I saw smoke coming through the wall,” he said.

As CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan reported, Bush had been overwhelmed with worry on Wednesday, when his neighbors called him at work to tell him that the street was on fire, and his house was melting.

“I thought my house would be gone, and my cats would be gone,” he said.

Fire destroyed only the siding, as another house blocked what could have happened. His cats Lexi and Ciro were safe.

“It’s incredible. I’m very lucky,” Bush said.

After spreading to nearby homes, the flames jumped over Strongs Creek and then spread to the tinder-dry brush at nearby Indian Island wildlife refuge, creating a huge plume of smoke.

Fire crews worked for hours hosing down the homes and the dry brush to prevent a full-blown disaster, CBS2’s Ilana Gold reported.

“This is tragic, but it could’ve been a lot worse,” said Acting Suffolk County Police Commissioner Timothy Sini.

The whole area is still recovering from Superstorm Sandy. Many of the homes are being prepared for elevation, while others are waiting to be demolished.

Sarah Aldridge, 35, surveyed the damage to her rebuilt, elevated home which had just been repaired. It was again condemned on Thursday, by the blaze that left the walls charred and roof collapsed.

“I was supposed to move back in in two weeks and now it is going to be another year and two weeks now dealing with the insurance companies,” she said.

The Bolognas across the street had also just rehabbed their Sandy damaged home.

“Just part of life, you have to keep going,” Ron Bologna said.

Wind an dry conditions on Thursday, remained a concern for firefighters. They doused the brush to protect property, pets, wildlife, and Ralph Soluri’s egg laying hens.

“I was in the fire department for a bunch of years, and even inside houses I’ve never seen smoke like that in my life. Couldn’t see the front of your had, so I was worried about the chickens,” he said.

The family that lived in the home that was completely leveled by the fire was planning to move out to make repairs from Sandy.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Police on Long Island believe a suspect tied to more than a dozen armed robberies may have struck again.

The latest incident happened just before 10 p.m. Wednesday in Lindenhurst. Police released surveillance video late Thursday.

Investigators believe the knife-wielding suspect, who has alluded police on Long Island for months, held up a Subway shop on Sunrise Highway, CBS2’s Andrea Gyrmes reported.

Suffolk police said the suspect entered the store and threatened an employee.

“I’m scared, but it happened in the evening. The morning is safe,” one worker told CBS2’s Andrea Grymes Thursday.

Investigators believe the latest holdup is connected to a string of similar crimes in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Wednesday night’s robbery came just hours after a police news conference about the search for the suspect. 

“We are very, very concerned,” said Nassau County Det. Richard LeBrun. “He is becoming more brazen and he needs to be captured and apprehended by the police.”

The recent string of robberies have other local employees on edge.

“Detectives came in and they quizzed us, they talked to us, everything about it,” John Kremnitzer, who works overnight at a nearby 7-Eleven, told WCBS 880’s Marla Diamond. “Hopefully they’re going to protect us and look out for us.”

“I was in shock. I haven’t seen so many cops in my life,” he told Grymes. “It’s really scary.”

The spree began in the beginning of March. Police say there have been 13 robberies in Nassau and including the latest incident, three robberies in Suffolk.

Around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, the thief allegedly entered a 7-Eleven in Westbury with  a large kitchen knife and ordered a clerk to empty the register.

Police said the same bandit also struck Tuesday morning at a Dunkin Donuts in Elmont.

According to police, the suspect typically strikes when there are no customers on premise, and will typically wait nearby the targeted location before robbing the store.

“He is very calm,” LeBrun said. “He goes in, he’s very methodical. He displays a knife, he goes right after the cash register and he goes right out the door. All this happens within 30 to 60 seconds.”

The suspect is believed to be between 25-30 years old and is described as being 6’0″ tall and around 170 pounds, police said. The suspect was last seen wearing a dark-colored hooded jacket, blue jeans and tan work boots, with a dark-colored scarf or bandana over his face.

Anyone with information is asked to call police.

So far, no one has been hurt.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A Long Island man has been reported missing after his damaged boat was recovered off the South Shore of Long Island Sunday morning.

According to police, Andrew Weis, 48, of Lindenhurst, left Gilgo Beach in his 13-foot boat at around 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 13, headed towards Lindenhurst.

However, police say Weis’ boat was discovered by authorities in the Great South Bay near Venetian Shores Park in Lindenhurst at around 7:30 a.m. Weis was not on the vessel, and the boat had visible damage.

Investigators believe Weis may have been involved in an accident while on the water.

CBS2 reports that detectives believe the experienced sailor may have been involved in a boating accident.

The investigation is ongoing.

Police are asking anyone with information to call 631-854-8152 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A skilled boater was discovered dead Monday in the Great South Bay off the South Shore of Long Island, less than two days after his empty boat washed ashore.

As CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan reported, police were searching for answers Monday in the mysterious accident.

The flag was lowered to half-staff Monday at the Anchorage Yacht Club in the Great South Bay – the destination never reached by member boater Andrew Weis, 48. Weis was an avid outdoorsman and athlete.
“He’s a great swimmer,” said yacht club manager Billy Jennings, “a great guy — very nice guy.”

Weis’ 13-foot white and gray dinghy was found washed up on Venetian Shores – a marina dock in Lindenhurst – on Sunday morning. It was empty and crumpled.

Weis had left Gilgo Beach at 5:30 p.m. Saturday with a life jacket onboard. He headed out alone to meet friends at the yacht club gazebo – a routine 25-minute round trip.

He never showed.

An urgent maritime alert went out and the search began, with Coast Guard boats and helicopters. It spanned two days and multiple rescue agencies who pulled his body ashore from Copiague Harbor Monday morning.

In Huntington, Weis’ tearful parents wanted to try to say thank you to first responders.

“We’re in deep mourning,” his father said. “We apologize.”

At the Melville home that Jennings shared with his girlfriend, another of Weis’ boats was visible on his driveway. Neighbors described him as popular and outgoing.

“It’s pretty sad,” said neighbor Max Kim. “I’ve known him for a while now.”

“I didn’t even think of foul play,” said neighbor Ethel Schroeder. “I figured it was, you know, an accident on the water.

Suffolk County police and the Coast Guard were asking any boaters who may have seen anything suspicious on Saturday evening to contact them at once.

“We don’t know what happened,” said Great South Bay resident James Quirk. “Did a storm come up? Did he get thrown overboard? Was he really a good swimmer?”

The Weis family must cope with this tragedy. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s office will determine cause of death.

Police have launched an investigation to discover exactly what happened and why. Based on the damage to Weis’ boat, detectives believe Weis was involved in some type of accident.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A six-way intersection on Long Island is causing a lot of concerns for residents.

The six-way intersection between 31st Street, Catskill Avenue and North Strongs Avenue only has two stop signs — creating a confusing situation for drivers.

Lee Stiffel, of Lindenhurst, has lived near the intersection for 22 years. She said there are at least two accidents per month, including one recently where a car flipped over. 

“At night especially, it’s become like a drag race,” Stiffel told WCBS 880’s Sophia Hall.

Stiffel said her dog was also killed in the intersection. She has continuously complained to Town of Babylon officials.

“If you put a street light here, it would solve everything,” Stiffel said. “You’d have cars having to wait to make the appropriate turns instead of literally playing Russian roulette.”

A spokesperson for the Town of Babylon said officials will continue to examine the intersection and any line-of-sight issues that may be present.

BRENTWOOD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Creepy clown sightings are now being reported on Long Island.

Police said they received a 911 call Wednesday night about a group of people dressed up as clowns, jumping in front of and chasing cars on Commack Road in Brentwood. Authorities also received a call about a person dressed as a scary clown in North Babylon.

Police have not confirmed any of the reports, and no officers have personally witnessed any of the menacing clowns, Suffolk County police Chief Stu Cameron said, adding that there have been no reported assaults nor credible threats against public safety within the county.

“We understand this may be a social media prank throughout the country, but we take quite seriously all calls that involve intentional harassment, trespassing, disturbing of the peace, and reported activity that results in the citizens of our county feeling threatened,” Cameron said.

Police are closely monitoring social media channels and calls made to the department, Cameron said.

Some people on Twitter claimed to have witnessed the clowns.

After one of the anonymous Long Island clowns threatened Lindenhurst on Twitter, the elementary school kept students inside for their recess, CBS2’s Ali Bauman reported.

And North Babylon schools were put on lockout Friday.

“I think it’s out of hand,” said Nicholas, a North Babylon resident. “Got to put a stop to that. It’s not a joke really.”

Khalique Owens said his Wednesday night drive home along Commack Road in Brentwood was ominous, like a scene out of a horror movie.

“I see a clown right in the middle of the street — full clown suit, clown mask, with a long object that looked like a bat in his hand, just standing there,” Owens told Bauman.

Owens started to drive off — and then he saw another clown.

“The second clown, I guess he was kneeling. (He) just stands up real slowly as I drove past,” Owens said.

The creepy clown sightings have been increasing across the country recently.

A woman who works in Brentwood said it’s nothing to laugh about.

“I think it’s dangerous,” she told WCBS 880’s Sophia Hall. “Enough! It’s not even Halloween yet. It’s not even funny.”

Creepy clowns have been scaring people across the nation since August, when reports started coming out of South Carolina of clowns running in the woods and attempting to lure kids in with candy.

Since then, similar stories of strange sightings and encounters have come out of nearly a dozen states including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.

On Friday, an Ohio school district closed all of its schools after a woman said a man dressed as a clown grabbed her by the neck and made a threat against students.

Earlier this week, a New Jersey boy said he was walking home through an alleyway in Phillipsburg when he encountered a sword-wielding clown. The boy said he heard the clown say ,“I’m gonna get cha,” and he immediately ran home.

In another incident, three clowns reportedly jumped out of the woods and chased a different child in Phillipsburg.

The reports have also prompted the Toms River Police Department to increase its presence at schools out of an abundance of caution.

“Nobody knows how to defend against it because we don’t know if it’s a prank or they’ll harm people,” Owens said.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Two people were critically hurt Friday when a work van sped away from police and slammed into a sports car in a residential Long Island neighborhood, according to authorities.

“It sounded like a bomb went off when I first heard it,” Lindenhurst resident Lauren Penetinto told CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan. “What was scary was how quiet it was, so you knew these people were hurt. They had to use the jaws of life to rip these people out.”

The van T-boned the sports car, sending both vehicles careening, rolling and flipping into Penetinto’s front yard.

“They had to take the roof off the car to pull the two people out, and it was horrifying,” witness Samantha Ortiz said.

Meanwhile, the driver of the work van fled the scene, running through yards and into a creek, police said.

CBS2 learned a K-9 unit was called in to help collar the accused hit-and-run suspect. He was arrested and charged with drugged driving.

“It’s a residential area and they shouldn’t be driving this fast. There are kids playing,” parent Kim Riecker said. “I’m nervous. I have three kids.”

A crossing guard witnessed what was described as a suspicious van lurking in the neighborhood. Concerned it might be involved in a drug deal, police were called.

Friends and family of the suspect appeared to be distraught and unwilling to talk, McLogan reported.

The victims in the sports car were critically injured.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has announced an agreement with LA Fitness to better accommodate those with disabilities.

Claudia Ciatto, of the Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island, filed the complaint after her 22-year-old son, who is diagnosed with epilepsy, signed up for a gym membership at a LA Fitness location in Lindenhurst.

According to the complaint, her son’s aide, who is required to accompany him while exercising, was denied access to the gym unless he also paid a fee — even though the aide did not intend to use any equipment in the facility for personal use.

“A general manager, who was extremely rude — he told my son ‘you can not come in with someone else unless you pay extra fees,'” Ciatto told WCBS 880’s Sophia Hall. “I specified that we were told that my son would not have a problem and he said ‘well, that employee should have never told you that.'”

“I said, ‘well what would you prefer, that he has a seizure in your gym without somebody there to help him?” she added.

According to the complaint, Ciatto’s son was forced to cancel his membership due to the facility’s refusal to waive the fee.

“I’m always very shocked when they treat other people with disregard based on their ability level,” Ciatto said.

Following and investigation by the Attorney General’s office, California-based Fitness International, LLC has agreed to allow free access to all aides accompanying disabled patrons to their 29 New York facilities. Ciatto’s family was also awarded a free 18-month membership and $5,000 in relief, according to a statement released by Schneiderman’s office.

LA Fitness said in a statement that what happened in Lindenhurst was an isolated incident and the agreement reaffirmed their policy of not charging caregivers.

BABYLON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Flooding continued to be a problem on Long Island Tuesday, a day after a nor’easter slammed the Tri-State Area with high winds and heavy rain.

Drone Force 2 flew over the strong coastal system that contributed to high-tide flooding, keeping some from going to work or school.

Streets were flooded in Babylon Tuesday morning, where the water could be seen up to the garages and front doors of several homes. On Grant Street, some residents were unable to drive away due to two feet of water on the roads.

Schools in Babylon and Bay Shore also had delayed openings.

“My street was flooded,” one student told CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan.

Backwater streets, particularly those along South Shore canals and bays, were especially hard hit. Fortunately, there was no major home or basement flooding – but the street flooding was severe enough for many.

Freeport resident Yolanda, who lives in the area of South Ocean Avenue and Adams Street, said every time it rains, it floods.

“When I got up at 6, it was a lake,” she told 1010 WINS’ Carol D’Auria. “It’s a lake.”

Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy said the solution is to install ocean gates just like ones in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

“They’ve had them in Stamford since 1964 and they’re working fine. In New Bedford, they’re up there for 50 years,” he told 1010 WINS’ Car D’Auria. “They’ve never had a flood since they installed them.”

In communities along the Great South Bay south of Montauk Highway, sophomores at Bay Shore High School were worried about midterms.

“The storm gives us a chance to like stay inside and really like buckle down,” one girl said while enjoying breakfast at a local diner.

“Last night, I couldn’t fall asleep because the wind was like hitting my windows,” another said.

At Fire Island National Seashore, some inland flooding was reported as officials checked on isolated residents, and state parks officials surveyed erosion from Jones Beach to Montauk.

“Here at Robert Moses State Park, we lost about 80 to 90 feet of sand along the shoreline,” said New York State Parks spokesman George Gorman. “That is considerable, but we had plenty of sand and it will not affect beachgoers come the summer.”

In Lindenhurst, resident Tom Vassiliou sprang into action before 5 a.m. knocking on his neighbor’s doors and warning them the street was very flooded and they better move their cars.

“I was kind of being the valet today for the flood,” he told WCBS 880’s Sophia Hall.

Water also flooded a large area of Riverhead’s downtown business district. Residents said the flooding is as bad as they’ve ever seen it.

“Honestly it’s been quite a while since I’ve seen anything like this,” a man named Richard told WCBS 880’s Mike Xirinachs.

Several vehicles were also left stranded in a flooded parking area.

Suffolk County officials said the worst of the flooding was confined to South Shore backwater streets along the bays and canals, because rain amounts fell short of expectations.

Meanwhile, PSEG crews spent the morning clearing downed power lines. At the height of the storm, 24,000 Long Islanders experienced outages.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A Long Island woman has been arrested after allegedly driving drunk and crashinger her car with her 9-year-old son as a passenger.

According to police, Roxanne Simonetti, 49, of Lindenhurst crashed her 2012 Jeep Liberty on Centre Avenue at around 11:15 p.m. Saturday night.

Simonetti’s son received minor injuries and was released to another family member, police said.

It was not immediately clear if Simonetti was injured.

Simonetti was charged with Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated under Leandra’s Law, Driving While Intoxicated, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Simonetti is expected to be arraigned in Central Islip on Sunday.

HUNTINGTON STATION, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A widower turned his back at the drunk driver who killed a beloved wife and mother.

Ryan Gurecki of Lindenhurst has been sentenced to 6 years and no more than 18 years for the drunk driving car crash that killed 56-year-old Karen Holden, a married mother of two and longtime nurse.

As CBS2’s Dave Carlin reported, exactly how long he stays behind bars will be up to his rehabilitation while imprisoned, and the recommendations of the parole board.

Gurecki’s attorney is Dan Sullivan.

“He’s indicated to me that he wants to be over and above a model prisoner. He wants to take advantage of everything you can to help other people while he’s there,” Sullivan said.

Prosecutors sand the victims’ family and friends asked the judge to factor in Gurecki’s tarnished record with other DWIs, a license suspension, and accidents dating back to 2002.

He admitted that he drank 5 beers on June 26, and got behind the wheel and slammed into the Holden family’s vehicle on Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station. Karen was killed, her husband William and son Robert were injured.

“This was a sad day for everyone, and this was not only a sentencing for Ryan correctly, but we were all sentenced to a life without her,” Karen’s sister Lynne Pallmeyer said.

Pallmeyer said the 35-year-old Gurecki should not get out of prison a day before his 56th birthday, which would be the maximum sentence and then some.

“She died at 56 years, 6 months, and 26 days, and that’s when her life should’ve been going on, and I’m hoping Ryan Gurecki can somehow be an example to other people to think first, and please don’t drink and drive,” she said.

The victims’ husband had no comments for reporters as he left the courthouse. He gave a long list of reasons to the judge, and said Gurecki killed a big part of him too, and that he deserved no leniency.

During Holden’s emotional speech about his wife he said he did not want to hear Gurecki apologize, so when he started to say he was sorry Holden stood up in court and turned his back on him.

As the family tries to move on, they said they will focus on community activism and are glad to be working with Karen’s employer St. Francis Hospital on a scholarship program for young nurses.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A 55-year-old mother was killed and her teenage daughter was injured when they were hit by a car just after leaving church in Lindenhurst, Long Island Sunday morning.

Suffolk County police said around 9:10 a.m., Diane Aluska and her 16-year-old daughter, Jenna, were walking on the sidewalk in front of 225 South Wellwood Ave. between East Hoffman and East Gates avenues in Lindenhurst.

“She had thought that she had put it in drive,” Suffolk Police Detective Sergeant James Murphy said of 80-year-old Ann Riolo. “She left it in reverse, hit the gas, started speeding backwards, lost control, and jumped the sidewalk.”

Diane Aluska was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center where she was pronounced dead, police said. Jenna Aluska and Riolo were taken to the same hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

“At the last second you could see the mother kind of throw the daughter out of the way and sacrifice herself to try and save her own daughter so that was pretty heartfelt,” Joe Biggs told CBS2’s Dave Carlin.

Biggs says the Aluskas just left his bakery on South Wellwood after attending 8 a.m. mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help across the street.

“A terrible tragedy,” church pastor Monsignor Joseph DeGrocco said. “Terrible day to have this happen.”

Msgr. DeGrocco says the entire parish is in mourning.

On the Lindenhurst street where the Aluskas live, neighbors tell CBS2 Diane’s husband works for the local post office and she worked in an office for the town of Babylon.

Neighbor Jim Conrad saw Diane and Jenna together and happy on Friday.

“It stuns you,” he said. “I can’t believe she’s passed.”

No charges are expected, 1010 WINS’ Roger Stern reports.

The Corolla was impounded for safety checks, police said. The investigation continued Sunday afternoon, and anyone with information was asked to call the Suffolk County Police First Squad at (631) 854-8152.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — The daughter of a woman killed in a Mother’s Day crash in Suffolk County, was heartbroken to find out that her mother died while pushing her out of the way.

Suffolk County police said around 9:10 a.m. Sunday, Diane Aluska, 53, and her 16-year-old daughter, Jenna, were walking on the sidewalk in front of 225 South Wellwood Ave. between East Hoffman and East Gates avenues in Lindenhurst.

They were struck by a 2005 Toyota Corolla whose driver was backing out of a diagonal parking space, police said.

“She had thought that she had put it in drive,” Suffolk Police Detective Sergeant James Murphy said of 80-year-old Ann Riolo. “She left it in reverse, hit the gas, started speeding backwards, lost control, and jumped the sidewalk.”

Diane Aluska was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip where she was pronounced dead, police said. Jenna Aluska and Riolo were taken to the same hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff spoke exclusively with Diane Aluska’s husband and Jenna’s father, Kenneth Aluska. He said his daughter was doing as well as could be expected – but on Monday morning, he had to do the unthinkable and tell her that her mother had died.

“I just told her her mother is dead. I had to wait until after her surgery. She couldn’t be devastated right before her surgery. She was heartbroken,” he told reporters earlier.

He said he briefly returned home to retrieve a notebook for Jenn, who hopes to one day become a journalist.

“She asked me to bring her notebook. She’s in the middle of writing a book. She wants to go to college for it,” he said.

Upon returning from the hospital, he said his wife had saved their daughter’s life.

“She loved her kids she lived her life for her children,” he said.

Kenneth Aluska was out buying Mother’s Day flowers for his wife when the accident happened. He said his wife had taken their daughter to 8 a.m. Sunday mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and the out-of-control car slammed into them moments after they left the church.

“I rushed over to the firehouse where she was laying, and, but she didn’t remember; you know, she was crying for her mom,” Kenneth Aluska told Gusoff.

The owner of the bakery next door on South Wellwood Avenue said his surveillance video, which the family asked not be made public, clearly shows the mothers selfless final act.

“The mom was hands down a hero. As the car was backing in, the last second, the mom grabbed the daughter and threw her out of the way – and gave her the whole the sacrifice of her life,” said bakery owner Joe Biggs. “So she saved her daughter’s life on Mother’s Day. True hero.”

“It’s a terrible tragedy,” said Monsignor Joseph DeGrocco of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. “There are no words. The best we do is be present for them.”

Flags were lowered Monday at Babylon Town Hall, where Diane Aluska – a breast cancer survivor — was a beloved public servant for 16 years in the town clerk’s office.

“Everyone knew her as the glue that held the office together,” said Babylon Town Supervisor Schaffer. “She was funny.”

CBS2’s Gusoff asked Ken Aluska if his wife’s instinct to put her daughter’s life before her was to surprised him. He said it did not at all.

“Any good parent would do the same thing for their child,” he said.

When asked what people could do for him, he said: “Support – you know, I mean, nobody should ever have to go through this. It’s very difficult.”

Jenna Aluska was still hospitalized Monday after spinal surgery. The physical recovery will require follow-up operations.

Her father asked the community to remember Diane Aluska as a beautiful person who loved life and her family.

No charges have been filed in the case, and there has been no response to the driver. Police classified it all as a tragic accident, and said Riolo seems to put her car into reverse by mistake.

BABYLON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A hate filled post on social media may cause a Long Island worker his job.

The post was directed at a 17-year-old honor student who wears a hijab — a head covering.

As CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff reported, the accomplished Lindenhurst High School senior reached the top, when the school video was posted on Facebook, someone instantly tried to cut her down.

The comment — peppered with expletives — ordered the Muslim teen to “take the trash bag off your head.”

It’s author? Andy Vita. His employer? The Town of Babylon.

“This is one really sick person that needs to be held accountable for his actions,” town supervisor Rich Schaeffer said.

Schaeffer said a strong message needs to be sent, that hate speech while it may be legal, is hurtful.

“There is going to be consequences to what you say. People have to realize when you’re posting something on Facebook of social media, it’s like putting it on a billboard on the LIE,” he said.

Vita — an equipment operator — now has no comment, and there was no response at his home or from his union.

He’s been suspended for a month without pay, and the town is seeking his termination for conduct unbecoming of a public employee.

If he remains he will be sent to sensitivity training.

Meantime the superintendent issues a graduation day statement.

“I will not allow anyone’s ignorance to taint this academic milestone for Yasmin,” he said.

The posting was widely seen locally.

“I get it, it’s free speech, but at the same time if you’re working for the town you have to portray a good example,” one resident said.

The vitriol on social media is not going unnoticed by many employers; sensitivity training is more and more in demand.

“Most work places are saying these days, we value a culture of diversity and inclusion,” Dr. John Cloverdale, President, Center for Workplace Solutions said. “The goal is always to get people to understand the impact of their words and their behavior on other people.”

Yasmin appears to have already mastered the art of empathy.

“We can’t all save the world obviously, but we can help it, even the people who have not been kind to me have taught me something I’m going to take with me,” she said.

Those, said her superintendent, are words of wisdom and grace.

The town supervisor has offered her a paid summer internship before she heads off to the University of Texas to study engineering.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A Babylon town employee suspended for reportedly writing hateful comments about a Muslim student claims he’s not responsible for the hostile writings.

The controversial post was directed at a 17-year-old Lindenhurst High School senior Yasmin Zohny, a top honors student who wears a hijab.

Hate Filled Post Directed At Teen Could Cost Babylon Town Worker His Job

In a video posted by the school, she can be seen donning the Muslim head covering and talking about inclusiveness.

“Even the people who have not been kind to me have taught me something I’m going to take with me,” she said.

Her message was apparently lost on one person when the video was posted to Facebook. A comment, laced with expletives, ordered the young woman to take “the trash bag off your head.”

The post bears 51-year-old Andy Vita’s name, but the father of two claims a hacker was behind the derogatory post.

“People are nasty, I don’t know what to say,” he exclusively told CBS2’s Jessica Borg.

Vita’s wife Jen says Andy doesn’t hate anyone, and the family called police to their Lindenhurst home on Friday.

“It’s a computer crime and anybody who looks up the definition of a computer crime, it’s somebody that was hacked, or uses their account without permission,” Jen said.

Suffolk Police confirm to CBS2 that a police report was filed and they are investigating the Vitas’ claims, but they won’t say whether a cyber crime is at play.

Meanwhile, the town of Babylon — where Vita has worked as an equipment operator for 30 years — is seeking to terminate him.

Town Supervisor Rich Schaefer says Vita’s alleged hateful rhetoric, although legal, is “unbecoming of a public employee.”

“There is going to be consequences to what you say,” he told CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff earlier this week, adding that town attorneys have “gathered evidence that’ll lead to several charges” against Vita.

One of the main ones, Schaefer said, is “writing the comment on town time.”

In the wake of the allegations, Vita has been suspended without pay for 30 days. His wife claims they’re “the ones suffering right now because he’s not working.”

Still, despite the controversy the couple says they wish the teenage girl at the center it all well.

In a statement, Zohny wrote, “It is important that things like this don’t get swept under the rug, because while I know I can handle this, there is a chance that a young girl somewhere, wearing her hijab for the first time, can’t handle it.”

At the end of the 30-day suspension, Vita will have a disciplinary hearing that’ll determine whether he keeps his job.

His union says it will have no comment until the investigations are complete.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Police are searching for a driver in a deadly hit-and-run crash as a Long Island family copes with a third tragedy in two years.

Pauline Aluska, 54, was killed overnight by a hit-and-run driver that struck her as she crossed Montauk Highway at South 13th Street in Lindenhurst and left her for dead, CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan reported.

Doctors at Good Samaritan Hospital were unable to save Aluska’s life, police said.

“If you have a heart, have a soul, turn yourself in,” Aluska’s brother, Kenneth, said.

The victim was the sister-in-law of Diane Aluska, a mother who died after being struck by a car on Wellwood Avenue on Mother’s Day. Diane Aluska and her daughter were just leaving Mass when an elderly driver lost control and jumped the curb.

Pauline Aluska’s brother, John, was also killed in an unsolved hit-and-run crash just feet from where Pauline was struck, Suffolk County police said.

Kenneth, Diane’s widower, said his sister was visiting their brother’s roadside memorial when she was killed.

“What do you do? What do you say? There are no words to describe it,” Kenneth said. “I have the determination to go on, the love of my kids.”

He is pleading with the driver to come forward.

Monday’s hit-and-run occurred just steps from where 18-year-old Brittney Walsh was killed by a drunken driver in 2012.

Residents say they’re still waiting on a traffic light that’s been promised.

“Maybe it could have saved this woman’s life, maybe it could have, no one will ever know,” homeowner Domenic Roseto said. “It’s a danger zone, just one big danger zone here.”

“Where’s the traffic light? It’s supposed to be coming soon, we need it. We really need it because everyone speeds so fast,” homeowner Mary Jane Stoker said.

Police are poring over surveillance video and will release more information soon on the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run crash.

The state DOT says it’s in the process of installing a traffic light on South 13th and Montauk Highway.