LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A retired MTA bus maintenance worker was struck and killed as he walked early Monday morning by a vehicle that never stopped.

As CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff reported, the stretch of roadway in Lindenhurst, Long Island, where John Aluska, 61, died is notorious for speeding.

Karen Quinn spotted his body around 1:15 on business-lined Montauk Highway.

“I saw what to be a dead boy in the street,” she said, tears in her eyes.

“I turned my car around, and I put my flashers on so nobody else could run it over.”

Residents have complained the stretch of roadway, which has a speed limit of 40 mph, is like a speedway.

“They come around this corner — sometimes they’re doing 60 miles an hour — and there should be a stoplight here,” said Lindenhurst resident Robert Harvey.

“It’s about the fifth or the sixth time, and you hate to concede this is just like a drag strip,” said James Stoker, also of Lindenhurst.

Aluska lived just blocks away. Police say he was struck by a driver traveling eastbound.

“At this point, we don’t have a description yet to give of the suspect vehicle,” said Suffolk County police Detective Sgt. Jim Madden. “We’re canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses” and surveillance video.

Friends say Aluska retired from the MTA and looked forward to moving to Florida.

While distraught relatives are trying to find out why he had stepped into the road, neighbors count yet another victim of a deadly corner.

Eighteen-year-old Brittney Walsh, driving home from a new job, was killed in 2012 by a drunken driver. A memorial stands at the very corner of the latest hit-and-run.

“Brittney died there, and we have accidents there all the time,” said neighbor George Caserta.

Despite petitions and a new pedestrian crosswalk, residents blame a deadly combination of a blind corner and reckless speed.

“We keep asking people to do something for us, and they won’t do it,” one man said.

Suffolk police are asking anyone with information to come forward. The hit-and-run vehicle would likely have front-end damage.

The state Department of Transportation said it is conducting a crash analysis and speed study of the area to decide if additional traffic lights are needed. The study is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Heavy rain and whipping winds are causing a mess of downed trees and flooding in parts of New York.

The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood advisory for The Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island and Queens, as well as parts of Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties for Saturday. There is also a high surf and coastal flood warning for southern Nassau County.

Out in Suffolk, Linenhurst was hit hard with dozens of trees downed across just one neighborhood, CBS2’s Ilana Gold reported.

Over on 9th Street, residents saw several inches of flooding during high tide.

Some streets looked more like rivers as drivers did the ‘I don’t think so’ stop with their cars and turned around because they were afraid they would get stuck, WCBS 880’s Sophia Hall reported.

Flooding in Lindenhurst on Oct. 3, 2015 (Credit: Sophia Hall/WCBS 880)

Over in Stony Brook, the wind took down a tree at the corner of North Country Road and Beacon Hill Drive. Crews were on the scene overnight cleaning up the damage that blocked the intersection for several hours.

Crews were also cleaning up in Smithtown on Route 111, where the storm knocked down a large tree.

Meanwhile on Staten Island, about 55 homes in Great Kills were still without power Saturday morning after the wind took down power lines near Windsor Road.

The only saving grace for many residents in the area is the news that Hurricane Joaquin is no longer seen as a danger to the Atlantic Seaboard as it continued on a path expected to keep it well off the U.S. coast.

Eye On The Storm: Video | Watches/Warnings | Radar | Storm Tracker | Precautions/Preparations

Though forecasters warned that even as Joaquin peels away from the coast, its effects will be felt, because it will continue supplying tropical moisture to the gusty rainstorm stretching from Georgia to New England.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 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) — Even though there has been no heavy rain for nearly a week, residents are frustrated that some streets in Lindenhurst have been flooded.

As the sun shines brightly overhead, Anthony Delia looks at his property on Walnut Place. The front yard is flooded and the water continues into the street, WCBS 880’s Sophia Hall reported.

It’s the same story on other streets, including Elm, Spruce Place and Pine.

“The water comes into the garages when it gets high enough,” Delia said. “There’s always standing water so we have to worry about mosquitoes.”

Dave Byron said residents have been complaining for years.

“It’s frustrating,” he said. “You would think by now, three years later, somebody would have done something about it.”

The Town of Babylon spokesperson said it’s believed that a collapsed pipe is to blame, but because it is located in a protected wetlands area, they need to get a special state permit to fix the problem, Hall reported.

Until the issue is resolved, he said town employees will drain the water from the streets.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A gathering of motorcycle clubs on Long Island led to 11 arrests this weekend, police said.

The event Saturday night on Hoffman Avenue in Lindenhurst was hosted by the Pagan Motorcycle Club, police said.

Suffolk County police said they seized five hanguns, a rifle, a shotgun, marijuana, cocaine, crystal meth, a billy club and three vehicles.

The suspects were from the Bronx, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and North Carolina. The charges against them include criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a weapon.

They are scheduled to be arraigned Sunday at First District Court in Central Islip.

Updated Tuesday, Nov. 3 1:58 p.m.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A Rainbow Shops clothing store in Lindenhurst is the latest retail location targeted in what police believe is a string of armed robberies committed by the same suspect.

In each of the robberies, an armed suspect tied up employees and customers before taking cash and other valuables.

One customer unknowingly walked into the Wellwood Avenure store right as the crime was in progress.

“I walked into the store and I was robbed, the guy was holding us to gunpoint,” the customber told CBS2’s Tracee Carrasco. “There was ladies behind the counter tied up and stuff and I just walked in in the process in the ending of it.”

A New York and Company in West Babylon was targeted in a similar robbery on Oct. 12. Several other locations in Babylon, Carle Place and East Meadow have also been hit, according to police.

Jasmine Blassingame was turned away from the store this afternoon, as detectives conducted their investigation.

“I’m kind of scared now,” Blassingame said. “Should I go to another store and this might happen to me, or my mother or someone close to me. I just cant believe that.”

Suffolk County police Chief Kevin Fallon said robbing clothing stores is unusual.

“Because women’s clothing stores usually have a number of people inside, either working in the store or going in as customers,” he told WCBS 880’s Sophia Hall. “So that is a little unusual, and that’s what has us a little bit worried on this is that he is going into stores where there are customers there.”

The suspect is said to be 5 feet 8 to 5 feet 10 inches tall with a thin build, and typically wears a black face mask, a black hooded sweatshirt and gray sweatpants, according to police. He is armed with a black handgun.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to call 800-220-TIPS.

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.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – After three members of the same family were killed in crashes in Lindenhurst, those who live and work in the area insist something must be done to stop tragedies on a busy roadway.

A man who owns a body shop on Montauk Highway gave police the surveillance video of the hit-and-run crash that killed Pauline Aluska earlier this week.

“After the guy hit her, he slowed down to make sure he ran somebody over. He didn’t know what it was, maybe,” he told WCBS 880’s Sophia Hall. “When he saw he hit somebody, he burned out of here in a small black pickup truck.” 

You only have to spend a short time in the area to see drivers exceeding the speed limit, Hall reported.

“It’s a drag strip. The average car is going maybe 80 miles per hour,” the shop owner said. “We’ve had people constantly begging for a light, or a nightlight, for people. It’s very dark at night.”

A traffic light is set to be installed at South 13th Street, where Aluska, her brother John in 2015, and 18-year-old Brittany Walsh in 2012 were all killed.

“Maybe it could have saved this woman’s life, maybe it could have, no one will ever know,” homeowner Domenic Roseto said Monday. “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.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — As officials target vape stores and hookah lounges in one Long Island community, owners and patrons of those shops claim it’s unfair discrimination.

As CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan reported, two dozen vape shops and hookah lounges have opened across Long Island’s South Shore in the past year. The Village of Lindenhurst wants to put on the brakes, with a controversial proposal to ban all e-cigarette stores, medical marijuana dispensaries and water-pipe smoke shops. 

Village officials decided to take action after hearing complaints from parents of children who passed by some of the lounges on their way to and from school and the local library.

John Lappas, who helps manage the store Clean Vapor, calls the proposed crackdown a Big Brother-type move.

“I don’t think it’s anything to be afraid of,” he said. “It’s 21 and up to purchase anything here.”

E-cigarette user Leo Pensa claims the devices are merely a stress reducer.

“On Long Island, there’s a big drug problem pretty much,” he said. “We should just crack down more on harmful drugs than e-cigarettes.”

“Or what about the underage drinking that sometimes happens in the bars on the strip?” added Christina Martin, who also uses e-cigarettes. “What about that? Why are you focusing on this industry?”

Martin said she believes vaping helped her break her addiction to cigarettes.

“I was a pack-a-day smoker at the time that I quit, and I was 18,” she said. “And I haven’t touched a single one since.”

New Lindenhurst Mayor Mike Lavorata said the jury is still out on health risks and he wants a safe and family-friendly environment

“We want people to walk our downtown and not have to look at vape stores,” he said. “In my opinion, vape stores and hookah bars and things of this nature just don’t fit in with the downtown we’re looking to create.”

If the ban is to go through, a law must be created and a public hearing held. The first chance for debate is 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Lindenhurst Village Hall.

If the law is enacted, already-established vape stores and hookah lounges would not have to close, but no new ones could open and no medical marijuana dispensaries would be welcome in Lindenhurst.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A car filled with four people slammed into a fire hydrant and a tree early Monday morning on Long Island, killing two of them and critically injuring the others.

The crash happened shortly before 5:30 a.m. on North Wellwood Avenue and Lenox Street in Lindenhurst.

Sixteen-year-old Joseph Galdorisi, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

A 22-year-old female passenger in the backseat was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, where she later died. Her name has not yet been released.

The driver, 17-year-old David O’Brien did survive. As did another passenger, 16-year-old Daniel Ozuroski. Both remain in critical condition at the hospital.

The investigation is ongoing.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – A Long Island community is mourning the loss of two young lives following a fatal car crash.

As WCBS 880’s Sophia Hall reports, a photo of 16-year-old Joseph Galdorisis is now attached to a tree on Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst, along with flowers and religious balloons. He and a 22-year-old female passenger were killed when a Mustang slammed into a fire hydrant and tree early Monday morning.

(Credit: Sophia Hall/WCBS Newsradio 880)

The driver, 17-year-old David O’Brien, and another passenger, 16-year-old Daniel Ozarowski, were seriously injured.

Grief counselors are on hand at the town’s high school Tuesday.

“I am hoping that everyone will grieve with the families as I am doing,” Lindehurst Mayor Michael Lavorata told Hall. “People have a tendency to speculate as to what happened or what might have happened. I have no clue as to what happened.”

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.

TOWN OF BABYLON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – Police are trying to track down a woman they say held up a Long Island convenience store at knifepoint.

The robbery took place around 8 p.m. Friday at The Barn on North Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst.

Police said the woman displayed a knife and demanded cash.

People who live in the area say the store needs to improve its security.

“It’s not safe here. They have one person on — mostly women — and anybody can come in,” said Joann DeRiggi.

“It’s a shame that people take advantage of businesses like this and try to rob them I guess,” added Angelo Garofalo.

The suspect is described as a white woman with a thin build, last seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt and black sweatpants.

Police do not believe the incident is related to a recent string of knifepoint robberies that were also carried out by a woman.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – Funds pledged to fix a deteriorating Long Island park remain in limbo.

Three years have passed since the community won a grant to upgrade outdated equipment in order to make their park handicapped accessible and safe for everyone. But as CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan reported, bickering in Albany may have stalled the check.

The Fusaro family, of Lindenhurst, is fighting for a fix. It’s been a decade since their tiny neighborhood park fell into disrepair.

“For years here, we’ve been trying to upgrade this park. The sand here is terrible, the equipment is outdated,” Christopher Fusaro said.

Homeowners lobbied for and eventually won a grant issued by the State Dormitory Authority three years ago. The organization administers park funding and pledged to rehabilitate the deteriorating Lt. Edward Weckerle Memorial Park, where there are rusted swings, splitting seats, an obsolete jungle gym, and trucked-in road sand.

“It’s uneven and it’s difficult for people to use with a stroller, and certainly if you have a wheelchair or any sort of mobility disability, you can’t navigate your way into this park,” Kristin Fusaro said.

But the promises remain unfulfilled — the check for $100,000 has yet to arrive. And the village is restless.

“I need the park done. It’s been three years. We’re tired of it,” Lindenhurst Mayor Mike Lavorata said. “I jokingly said, the money is languishing in purgatory and I want to bring it back.”

Others blame the delay on State House in-fighting. The GOP says wheels sometimes turn slowly and the project is moving forward. But Democrats claim no action was taken by the Republican majority.

“I don’t understand what the point of all this is in the end. If the money is available… there’s no reason for it,” Democratic New York State Sen. John Brooks, of Seaford, told McLogan. “If it’s done, get them the money so we can move on to the next thing.”

Meanwhile, residents have started a petition.

“Six hundred and 50 signatures in under a week or so… We haven’t really been able to get any information… Without that money, we really can’t do much of anything to this park,” said Kristin Fusaro.

A Dormitory Authority spokesperson told CBS2 it still has not received the paperwork. Once it does, final approval from the state department of the budget is needed before the $100,000 grant can be released.

The GOP senate spokesman in Albany said the paperwork has been completed and the majority leader recently signed off on the project.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Two women are facing charges after police say they stole a 75-year-old Navy veteran’s walker from outside a bakery in Lindenhurst.

It happened outside the Black Forest Bakery on North Wellwood Avenue around 9:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Police said surveillance video from the bakery captured the theft. In the video, police said both women can be seen coming up to the walker on the sidewalk and then taking off with it.

The Navy veteran, Richard Dixon, was inside the bakery at the time.

“I go out and the thing was gone,” Dixon told CBS2’s Marc Liverman. “Mad, sad and annoyed.”

And so was the owner of the bakery, Tom Lorch.

“Sickening, sickening,” he said. “I hate anybody that steals something from someone else to begin with, but I mean a walker?”

So Lorch decided to do something about it and posted the surveillance videos. Almost instantly, the videos started going viral and offers started pouring in on social media to replace Dixon’s walker.

“I was shocked,” Dixon said. “Never in my life has anybody gone to bat for me.”

The community outreach didn’t just end on social media. People started bringing in walkers to the bakery. Two young kids even sent him a letter that they heard his walker was stolen.

“This is our Easter money for you to get a new walker. Thank you for serving,” Dixon read from the letter.

With the help of the community, police said they later identified the suspects as 22-year-old Monica Newcombe and 42-year-old Heather Lauro. They said Newcombe was arrested at a home Wednesday evening and said Lauro turned herself in to police.

Monica Newcombe and Heather Lauro (credit: Suffolk County Police)

The walker was returned to Dixon, so all those that were donated will be taken to a local veterans group on Long Island.

“Heartwarming,” Dixon said. “There are people that are good in the world. There are people that are good. It just takes a catalyst to get things going.”

The two women have been charged with petit larceny and received desk appearance tickets. They are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Police said Newcombe had four previous arrests, including one for criminal possession of heroin. Lauro was previously arrested for criminal possession of narcotics.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) – It was love at first sight.

Eight years ago, Kyle Cropsey, of Lindenhurst, slipped a note inside the window of a blue 1971 Volkswagen bus.

“Ever since I was young, I had an infatuation with these Volkswagen buses,” Cropsey told CBS2’s Jessica Layton on Thursday night.

Cropsey – who was 16 at the time – wrote the bus was his “future car.”

“I scribbled a note, ‘please call me,’ and I slipped it in right through the window and saw it fall to the floor and thought, ‘Oh my god, he’s not going to see it,'” he said.

Eight years ago, Kyle Cropsey, of Lindenhurst, slipped a note inside the window of a blue 1971 Volkswagen bus.

Fast forward eight years.

Cropsey got a call from Cris Mead, who lives in Oakland, Calif. It turns out Mead’s father Cornelius owned the van and kept Cropsey’s note. Cornelius Mead purchased the bus back in 1971 and used it to take cross-country trips, and kept a log book.

After Cornelius passed away, Cris was cleaning the bus out and he came upon Cropsey’s note in the log book.

The Mead family then decided to give Cropsey the bus, on the condition that he restore it and “go on plenty of adventures.”

“We were trying to figure out what to do with all of my dad’s stuff, and one of the things was the Volkswagen van. My sister came across a note,” Cris told Layton. “It choked me up when I read it. It’s just the way this whole journey has progressed has been absolutely amazing.”

Cropsey said “it was fate.”

“’We think my dad would want you to have the bus,’” he said. “After all these years, it came and found me.”

Cropsey picked up the bus, which Cornelius had named Matilda, from his widow last weekend. The engine runs pretty well and the radio still works.

The family wouldn’t take money but asked Cropsey to send photos of the restoration along the way and keep them updated on Matilda’s adventures.

“My friends will definitely be packed in here. We’ll have surf boards in here,” he said. “This will definitely be paid forward in one way or another.”

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A Lindenhurst man is facing multiple weapons charges after cops discovered nearly two dozen firearms, along with high-capacity magazines and an alarming cache of tactical gear, inside his home on Sunday during a search prompted by a “threatening message left at a school” in Rockland County.

Police in Suffolk County say they were notified by officials from the Clarkstown Police Department to check on Robert Csak, 32, after he left a series of threatening voicemails, directed at an employee, on the answering machine of the Summit School in Upper Nyack on Saturday.

Robert Csak, 32 (credit: Suffolk County Police)

Csak attended the school for youth with emotional and behavioral issues in 2002 and was identified through caller ID and school records, according to police.

“From every indication we have now he felt slighted by this individual from an encounter back in 2002 and was carrying a grudge,” Suffolk Police Chief Stuart Cameron said.

Csak wasn’t home when officers arrived, so police say his landlord let them into his house on 38th Street where they observed a tactical shotgun, crossbow, night vision goggles, high-capacity magazines, and an assault-style weapon.

After securing the apartment and obtaining a search warrant, officers recovered an additional 19 firearms, a silencer, more than 200 high-capacity magazines, a Tommy gun, an additional set of night vision goggles, bulletproof vests, gas masks, knives, asps, and a bump stock.

Authorities say the pizza delivery driver was arrested while on the job late Saturday at a red light and is facing multiple charges of criminal possession of a weapon.

Csak’s landlord of roughly two years says he had no idea his tenant was hiding the arsenal in his home.

“He kept to himself, you know, didn’t say much,” he said. “He came and went, I’m his landlord you know? Paid his rent on time and was always nice to me and texted me. Never really gave me any trouble.”

Csak is expected to face a judge Monday.

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — The Suffolk County district attorney says a pizza delivery driver with prior emotional problems threatened his former school and now is being held on a $750,000 bond after an arsenal of illegal assault weapons was found in his home.

Robert Csak, 32, of Lindenhurst, is facing multiple weapons charges after nearly two dozen firearms were recovered from his home, along with ammunition and an alarming cache of tactical gear.

The charges stem from an investigation started when the Clarkstown Police Department went to check Csak after he alledgedly left a series of threatening voicemails, directed at an employee, on the answering machine of the Summit School in Upper Nyack on Saturday.

Csak wasn’t home when officers arrived, so police say his landlord let them into his house on 38th Street where they observed a tactical shotgun, crossbow, night vision goggles, high-capacity magazines, and an assault-style weapon.

After securing the apartment and obtaining a search warrant, officers recovered an additional 19 firearms, a silencer, more than 200 high-capacity magazines, a Tommy gun, an additional set of night vision goggles, bulletproof vests, gas masks, knives, asps, and a bump stock.

Authorities say Casak was arrested while on the job late Saturday at a red light.

Csak attended the Summit School for youth with emotional and behavioral issues in 2002 and was identified through caller ID and school records, according to police.

“From every indication we have now he felt slighted by this individual from an encounter back in 2002 and was carrying a grudge,” Suffolk Police Chief Stuart Cameron said.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – A Long Island woman is showing off the unlimited potential of a tiny home she’s created out of a school bus.

Some people call it a magic bus, but Catherine Ovejas likes to call it “apartment 84,” named after her children, who are eight and four.

It’s a 30-foot-long, 50-seat school bus that she gutted and turned into a tiny home that sleeps up to four people.

Catherine Ovejas’ tiny home inside a school bus. (Credit: CBS2)

“We have here what can be a sitting area, but also a sleeping area,” Ovejas explained to CBS2’s Marc Liverman.

She bought the used bus, and with a little outside help she spent six months converting it.

It’s about three feet from the sleeping area to the kitchen.

“We wanted it to be as self sustaining as possible, so there is a 55-gallon water tank secured under the bus,” she explained.

A few more steps and you’re in the back.

“This is our lounge. It’s a sleeping area. It serves a lot of different purposes: Dining,” she said.

There’s storage everywhere, Liverman reported.

“We have built in storage underneath the beds,” Ovejas said.

It doesn’t even feel like you’re on a school bus, Liverman reported. It actually feels like you’re in a tiny home and it’s only 225 square feet.

“We just passed the shower… this is the bathroom, there’s a shower tiny little tub and we have a toilet as well,” Ovejas said. “And it’s pretty spacious. It is pretty spacious.”

Catherine Ovejas’ tiny home inside a school bus. (Credit: CBS2)

She has a system for providing hot water.

“Around the corner from the shower you’ll see on demand instant hot water. So you can take hot showers,” she said.

She hopes she inspires others to create tiny homes.

“Just to increase creativity in people, to inspire them,” she said.

The bus was just completed in July. She expects to rent it out for $200-$300 a night.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Dozens of Long Island homeowners are learning they’ve been squatting on land they thought they owned.

It turns out a strip of their backyards belongs to their village.

So what now?

Carol Steinberg told CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff she has enjoyed her yard for 25 years, but the back chunk of it isn’t really hers. Yet, for years she’s been using it.

Behind approximately 50 Lindenhurst homes is a vestige of another time — public land known to surveyors as a “paper road.” On paper only exists “Richards Lane.” It’s mapped out, but has never been paved.

A 25-foot wide dirt alley that was created for deliveries is now invisible, filled in with sheds, fences and swimming pools.

Residents in one Lindenhurst neighborhood are at odds with the village over a portion of their backyards. (Photo: CBS2)

Former resident Linda Langone said she remembers coal deliveries in the 1940s.

“A lot of people like my mom and dad had coal heat at the back of the house, in the basement was a window and the truck would come down Richards Lane,” Langone said.

MORE: Backyard Battle Brewing In Neighborhood On Long Island

Back in 1974, her father bought the deed to her strip for $1, but now the Village of Lindenhurst wants to correct land records for other homeowners using the lane. It can now annex the public strip behind each home for $3 per square foot. On average, that would generate $3,000.

“I’ve been here so long, I feel they should have brought this up a very long time ago,” Steinberg said.

“I think $3 a square foot is a lot of money. I think if I still have to pay taxes on it, it should maybe be given,” resident Elmo Tarasi added.

However, officials said other residents have had to pay to annex other paper roads. Mayor Michael Lavorata denied that it’s a money grab.

“I can’t just give property away that is village property. I don’t think it would be fair to others who have had to pay in the past,” Lavorata said.

Municipal law expert Tom Wassel said villages have no choice.

“The village is not allowed to just give them the property because that would be an unconstitutional gift of publicly property. The property is owned by all of the taxpayers,” Wassel said.

Lindenhurst officials told CBS2’s Gusoff they’re not coming in with bulldozers to clear anything out on Richards Lane, unless a homeowner is thinking of selling. If so, they will then be required to clear any structures, or pay up.

Experts said it is not unusual for a municipality to have vestiges of public alleys or trails. It’s usually discovered when a home is surveyed during the sale.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — You may notice at your local library things looking a little greener, and we are not talking about the color of the books.

There is a push to make libraries in New York state, and in turn their patrons, better stewards of the environment, CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff reported Monday.

Public libraries practically invented the “re-use” concept. Now libraries are going even greener.

Lindenhurst Memorial has earned bragging rights as Long Island’s first library to be certified by the Green Business Partnership.

“Libraries share. That’s our basic philosophy,” director Lisa Kropp said.

Lindenhurst Memorial Library is pulling out all the stops in its going green initiative. (Photo: CBS2)

Kropp said every decision now is based on its impact on the environment.

Sharing means discarded books are resold or recycled, saving trees. Collection areas have been set up for everything from used batteries to prom dresses. Even children’s crafts are made from discarded items, sending dramatically less trash to land fills.

“Anything that we can think of that uses materials that we already have, that’s what we try to do. We don’t want to reorder,” said children’s librarian Jeanne Matias.

“We are trying to be a leader in our local community and show patrons ways they can make subtle changes that have a big difference,” Kropp added.

MORE: “Drag Queen Story Hour” For Children Stirs Controversy At Library

You don’t need help at the reference desk to find the changes — water refill stations, LED bulbs used to reduce energy consumption, and new non-toxic flooring.

“Previously we would have just opened a catalog and bought a very bright-colorful child-looking carpet, and now we are looking at it going, ‘What are those colors? What is the dye in this?'” Kropp said.

They have switched to compostable cups and eco-friendly cleaning products.

“They work just as well. There is no smell,” said head custodian Joan Dilluvio.

MORE: Parents In NJ School District Fear New Library Policy Could Turn Kids Away From Reading

A compost pile will soon fertilize the library’s vegetable garden that shares its harvest with the community.

Eight other Long Island libraries are nearly certified in the New York Libraries Association model, which is being eyed nationwide.

“We want to lead by example. We want the communities to see, here in Brentwood, they have solar panels on the roof. They built these wonderful rooms here with glass, rather than hard walls. They are glass walls but you can see through them, so that they don’t have to put additional lighting in,” said Roger Reyes of Suffolk County Cooperative Library System.

Libraries have always been a place to seek knowledge, but now you will take away a lot more than a book or two. The takeaway is a living lesson in how to go green.

Lindenhurst is the first library on Long Island and third in the state to achieve Green Business Partnership.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – Three children were struck by a car early Wednesday morning on Long Island.

It happened around 4 a.m. near the intersection of Sunrise Highway and Straight Path in Lindenhurst.

Police said a 13-year-old boy and his 9-year-old brother were on their way to a 7-Eleven when they were hit. Their 12-year-old cousin was also struck.

The driver stayed on the scene.

The 13-year-old was taken to the hospital in critical condition, his 9-year-old brother is in serious condition and their 12-year-old cousin is stable.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – A fire broke out at the Veterans of Foreign Wars building in Lindenhurst Wednesday morning.

The fire started around 10:30 a.m. at the VFW hall on North Delaware Avenue near Newark Street.

Suffolk Police say they have no reports of any injuries.

Investigators will have to determine how the fire started.

BAY SHORE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Two rival Long Island teams and their fans forgot about football for an afternoon and united to embrace a special score.

As CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan reported Monday, something wonderful happened on the field to 11-year-old Jackson Wyss.

“Overwhelmed, completely overwhelmed,” his mother said.

Tonya and James Wyss’ son was born with cerebral palsy, and born an avid football fan.

MORE: New Jersey Student Battles Through Cerebral Palsy To Become High School Track Star

Jackson Wyss, right, and his mother, Tonya. (Photo: CBS2)

Bay Shore’s PAL opened its arms to Jackson, and its playbook during a recent game against rival Lindenhurst.

“I went up to the coach from Lindenhurst and explained what we wanted to do and he says, ‘When? How do you want to do it? Great.’ And he had a play set for his kids,” Suffolk PAL president Joseph Rao said.

“All the other kids on the other team started diving out of his way and trying to make tackles,” Bay Shore teammate Charlie Rao said.

“The players really helped to make it Jackson’s special day,” teammate Joey Rao added. “I saw Jackson with a big smile and the crowd going crazy behind me.”

Of course, Jackson’s parents were on pins and needles the entire time.

“You just want for them and it’s a little bit scary,” Tonya Wyss said. “Will they make friends? Will people make fun of them?”

MORE: VIDEO: Woman With Cerebral Palsy Goes Viral With CrossFit Workout

Several years ago, Jackson’s sister, Emma, started a campaign, “Say No to the ‘R’ Word.” The Bay Shore community signed on. No more using the term “retarded.”

Instead, the idea is to stress embracing differences.

There wasn’t a dry eye on the field that day. Players and parents from both sides called it the “play of the year,” and no one remembered the final score.

“The future is very bright when we look at the generation coming up and what they are doing for each kid that has extra needs,” Tonya Wyss said.

On the arms and backs of his football brothers, Jackson was pushed across the goal line, bringing a community much more than a score.

Jackson has been on the sidelines for years as an honorary member of Suffolk’s PAL football league.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – One village on Long Island wants to quiet things down in order to keep people happy.

The tranquility of Lindenhurst’s marina is not always translated to the rest of the village. Officials there are considering expanding their generic noise ordinance to now regulate more than dozen types of specific sounds.

“We’ve had a law in the books since 1993, and it’s really never been updated to today’s standards. We want to move to the 21st century,” said Lindenhurst Village Mayor Mike Lavorata.

Lavorata, en engineer by trade, is considering dosimeters, which read noise levels. A dosimeter can cost $2,000-$3,000 apiece. Code enforcement officers would be armed with them when complaints come in.

“The mufflers that these young people have on their cars,” one Lindenhurst resident said.

“Parties at night after hours are intrusive,” said another.

Other sounds residents asked to be regulated: Incessant dog barking, blasting air conditioners, neighborhood industrial operations, construction after hours, motor boats revving.

Many grips are lodged in noise sensitive areas such as libraries and schools.

“I’d like to see how they’re going to enforce it,” one resident said.

“It’s all about making money,” said another.

“I’m firmly against it. That will curtail development down here,” said a third.

“What someone might consider obnoxious, others might not. To me, a loud guitar is awesome at 95 db, and that’s the way Led Zeppelin’s supposed to sound. But to someone else, that’s probably noise,” said Lavorata.

Once decibels level proposals are fine tuned, village officials would set penalties and fines. Until then, feedback from homeowners in Lindenhurst is welcome.

Village officers hope to have the new ordinance in place by this spring when most of the seasonal noise complaints increase.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A Long Island girl thought the news was filming at her school on Friday for a story on her physical education class, but instead she got the ultimate Valentine’s Day treat.

Just like her father, 10-year-old Alexus London is a leader. As she took charge in her gym class at William Rall Elementary School in Lindenhurst, she had no idea her dad, Army Staff Sgt. Daniel London, was waiting in a nearby room.

“I’m nervous. I can honestly say it’s the first time I’m nervous to see my own daughter,” London said.

London returned back from his third deployment in Afghanistan on Monday, staying with his fiancee in their Brooklyn home all week with the ultimate plan to surprise his daughter for Valentine’s Day.

“He just said he wanted a special day for her. He knew if we went in the middle of the week, she’d be like, I’m not going back to school,” said Jennifer Aragones, London’s fiancee.

He even had to disguise his whereabouts when they FaceTimed.

“Could not be outside ’cause the minute she sees that it was dark her time and dark my time, she’s like, there’s something wrong with this picture,” London said.

Army Staff Sgt. Daniel London returned from his third deployment in Afghanistan and surprised his 10-year-old daughter, Alexus London, at her Long Island school on Feb. 14, 2020. (Credit: CBS2)

The whole plan was leading up to the moment Alexus saw her dad in her school gymnasium.

The two haven’t seen each other in person since last June at her school’s father/daughter dance.

“There’s not words to explain how much I missed him,” Alexus said.

London is also a member of the FDNY, even featured in the calendar one year, and Alexus’ mom, Rosemary London, is an NYPD officer. Both, though, were active members of the Army. At one point, they were deployed together.

Army Staff Sgt. Daniel London returned from his third deployment in Afghanistan and surprised his 10-year-old daughter, Alexus London, at her Long Island school on Feb. 14, 2020. (Credit: CBS2)

“We left right after her 2nd birthday and we came back after she was already 3 and a half,” Rosemary London said.

The fifth grader learned at a young age that deployment is never easy, but the reunions that come after are always sweet — especially on Valentine’s Day.

“I still think this is a dream,” Alexus said.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Long Island was not spared from Tropical Storm Isaias. It uprooted trees and knocked out power to many.

Block after block in Lindenhurst, trees were tangled in wires Tuesday night.

“As fast as it came in, it left, but it left a path of destruction with it,” resident Kyle Zeman said.

“When the trees were coming down, it was like a train coming through. I mean, the wind was howling as bad as Sandy as far as the wind goes, definitely,” resident Tony Fazio told CBS2’s Ali Bauman.

Cell phone video captured one tree snapping on a residential block in Suffolk County.

WATCH: Tree Falls On Suffolk County Street —

The wind uprooted a towering tree next to Mike Fazio’s house in Lindenhurst, even ripping apart the asphalt, but the homeowner is thankful overhead wires may have actually spared his roof.

“Scary, to be honest, because I wanted to make sure the tree didn’t come down on the house,” he said.

An old tree toppled onto the C’est La Vie’ Boutique in Lindenhurst, New York, on Aug. 4, 2020. (Credit: CBS2)

Zeman is among the thousands of Long Islanders who lost power when an old tree toppled on the aptly named C’est La Vie’ Boutique on his block.

“We can’t get through to PSE&G to find out what’s going on. They’re overwhelmed,” he said.

RELATED STORY: Tropical Storm Isaias Causes Con Edison’s Second Largest Storm-Related Outage In History

When the power went out in Roslyn, Pamela Cott says her son went out to his car to listen to the Islanders game on the radio, wind still whipping around him.

“The Islanders scored and he decided he was going to get out of the car now and just go back in the house, and with that, as he opened the door, this huge branch hit his windshield,” Cott said.

The glass shattered, hitting him in the head.

“He was shaken. He found some shards of glass in his scalp,” Cott said.

RELATED STORY: 1 Dead When Tree Falls On Car As Tropical Storm Isaias Hits New York City

Branches and leaves littered the streets all throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties, and they were dangling all over wires in Malverne.

WATCH: CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff Reports From Garden City 

Two giant oaks lifted the sidewalk and crashed into one Garden City house.

The Denis family in Garden City was thankful that one giant tree fell in the right direction — away from their home.

“The tree was really just moving like we’ve never seen it before, so we just hollered for everybody to get in the basement and, like, less than a minute later, we heard a thud,” Dawn Denis told CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff.

“Sixty to 70 mph winds, I think. It was really, really messy,” Chris Denis said.

Many Long Islanders are now wondering where to even begin cleaning the mess up.

“It’s gonna be a long night, long couple of days,” Tony Fazio said.

More than 2,000 PSE&G workers were out Tuesday night trying to restore power. Some outages may last over 24 hours, but crews are working 16-hour shifts until power is fully restored.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — An initiative on Long Island is gaining attention. Customers are paying it forward, and it all begins with a post-it note.

Alice Bopp and her family moved to Lindenhurst from Rio de Janeiro.

“I’m from Brazil, I love coffee,” Bopp told CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan.

Alice Bopp, owner of Muni’s coffee shop in Lindenhurst, speaks to a customer. (Credit: CBS2)

Bopp opened Muni’s on Wellwood Avenue, then the pandemic hit.

“We here, and community, we stood together,” she said.

Once able to reopen, they offered walk-up service, and finally, coffee can now be ordered inside, too.

“My barista popping up, saying, ‘Have you seen this?'” Bopp said.

Customers were connecting with suggestions on paying it forward — buy a coffee for someone struggling.

“Let’s jump right in! Let’s turn this board around. Let’s start sticking post-it on it. The first post-it, we did it, and then from there, nonstop,” Bopp said.

Translating to five batches of notes, totaling almost 500 drinks.

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“I donated one of the ice cookie rainbow lattes, and you see there’s more and more post-it notes every day,” patron Karen Altenburger said.

“During a time that’s kind of been hard on everyone, you know, just make someone smile for the day,” patron Kerry Moore said.

Customers are spontaneously spreading goodwill.

“I’ve never seen this in a coffee shop. I really think it’s nice,” patron Jonathan Pagan said.

Customers at Muni’s coffee shop in Lindenhurst are paying it forward, and it all begins with a post-it note. (Credit: CBS2)

Pagan suddenly plunked down $5 for an unknown person’s future drink with a note saying, “Hopefully it will brighten somebody’s day.”

“Put another drink on the bill. The thing just started going, going with beautiful messages,” Bopp said.

Some who don’t live close enough to Muni’s are wiring payments and sending messages so Bopp can post a sticky note to strangers.

Her son and husband say coffee and compassion are in Alice’s blood.

“This has been her dream. We saved up and we got it rolling. People have been very generous,” husband John Bopp said.

“I feel good about it ’cause these workers help people in need,” 7-year-old Benjamin Bopp said.

“They go over there, they grab it, the smile right away comes up. You can tell by the eyes,” Alice Bopp said.

Alice hopes the post-it empathy continues beyond the pandemic.

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LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A Long Island man is under arrest after police say he impersonated an officer and abducted a teenage girl.

Donald Cristiano Jr., of Bay Shore, is facing charges of kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal impersonation and luring a child.

Police said the 46-year-old pretended to be a police officer to lure a 14-year-old and 16-year-old girl into his white SUV.

“When I received this call yesterday, [my] heart sank,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone told reporters Thursday. “Every parent’s worst nightmare.”

(Credit: Suffolk County Police)

It happened around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday while the girls were walking on Herbert Avenue in Lindenhurst.

Cristiano allegedly told the teens he was investigating gang activity in the area and it wasn’t safe, so they should get into his vehicle. He asked them where they were going, and they said the library.

“That’s what makes me afraid, because we teach our kids, if they’re going to see police officers or firemen, to trust them. That’s why it’s so tough,” neighborhood father Michael Krzal told CBS2.

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Police said Cristiano drove the teens to the Lindenhurst Memorial Library parking lot and told the 16-year-old to get out so he could talk to the 14-year-old. He allegedly took off with the younger girl to nearby Fireman’s Park.

“While in the vehicle, that man grabbed the 14-year-old girl’s pants and waist and made inappropriate comments,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said. “She was able to grab the door handle, kick the door open while fighting him off. She was able to run to a nearby home, where the homeowner called 911.”

Meanwhile, the older girl told a nearby crossing guard what happened, and she called police.

The 14-year-old was taken to a hospital for observation and released. Police said both girls are doing well, considering the circumstances.

“It’s horrible. I’m so glad they got him,” said one local mom.

Investigators were able to use surveillance to track down Cristiano’s vehicle, and his own son verified his description. Police located him in a rooming house in Bay Shore.

Cristiano has no known record in New York, but had been arrested for several crimes, including assault, in Florida.

Police want to remind the public: If anyone tells you they are an undercover officer, ask for identification.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — The man accused of posing as a police officer to lure two girls into his SUV on Long Island was in Suffolk County Court for arraignment Friday.

Bond for Donald Cristiano Jr. was set at $1 million.

Prosecutors say on Wednesday, Cristiano told the girls, ages 16 and 14, that he was investigating gang activity in the area and it wasn’t safe for them to walk.

He drove the two girls to a local library, told the older teen to get out, then drove off with the younger girl.

MORE: Donald Cristiano Jr. Arrested On Charges Of Impersonating Police Officer, Abducting Teenage Girl On Long Island

Police say he took her to a park and touched her inappropriately.

She fought him off and ran for help.

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FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A few New Yorkers have learned the value of their COVID shots. The first winners of the state’s vaccine incentive offering free college have been notified.

CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff spoke with the lucky winners of a full scholarship.

“I was like, ‘It’s worth a shot, you just never know,'” said Christina Low, whose daughter won.

Natalia Low’s mother signed her up for New York’s free college drawing. Then an email arrived.

“I literally had to do a double take because I thought it was actually spam,” Natalia’s mom said.

The Lindenhurst 9th grader won.

“Now I can actually settle in and focus a lot more on school, because I know that this is very big,” Natalia said.

“As a single mom who works full-time, it’s difficult,” said Natalia’s mom. “Financially, it’s a burden off our backs, where we can breathe a little bit.”

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The prize is more than $100,000 in tuition, room, board and expenses at any SUNY or CUNY college. A free ride.

The “Get a Shot to Make Your Future” incentive is aimed at 12 to 17-year-old New Yorkers among those with the lowest vaccine rates.

But Natalia didn’t need an incentive. She already got her first shot.

“I think that the vaccine is very important and it can help benefit you and others,” she said.

12-year-old Reed Livoti of Mount Pleasant also won.

“I get to go to free college. It’s free education,” Reed said. “I was very excited to hear. My mom was crying downstairs.”

They were tears of joy from the parents of triplets.

“Is this real? I had to read it like three times. I’m like, no, this is real!” said Vincent Livoti, Reed’s father. “This is a step forward in getting back to things where they used to be, which is a good thing.”

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For the Low family, with mounting medical bills from both of Natalia’s parents battling cancer, the prize, like the vaccine, brings peace of mind.

“It’s amazing. It’s an amazing opportunity for our family. It truly is,” Christina Low said.

There’s still time to enter. There will be three more drawings over the next three weeks.

In all, there will be 50 winners. Ten are announced each week.

The state says it’s a chance to set an example and set yourself up for debt-free college.

Click here to learn more about New York’s Vaccination Scholarship Incentive.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Suffolk County Police are trying to find two teens missing from Lindenhurst.

Lydia Pacheco, 15, and Aaliyah Powers, 16, are believed to be together, police said.

Lydia Pacheco, 15, and Aaliyah Powers, 16, were last seen on June 15, 2021 in Lindenhurst, NY. (credit: Suffolk County Police)

Lydia hasn’t been seen since June 15. She’s approximately 5 feet, 2 inches tall, 120 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Aaliyah was last seen June 15 at the McDonald’s on Montauk Highway in Lindenhurst, where she works. She’s approximately 5 feet, 4 inches tall, 128 pounds, with black hair and blue eyes.

Aaliyah was last seen wearing a light blue McDonald’s uniform with black pants and black sneakers.

Investigators believe the teens may be traveling by train.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the Suffolk County Police First Squad at 631-854-8152.

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — New York state now boasts the strongest tenant protections in the nation.

On Thursday, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law the extension of the eviction moratorium for homes and businesses, after part of it was struck down last month by the Supreme Court.

But as CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff reported, struggling landlords say nearly two years of no rent is too long.

READ MORE: Exclusive: Long Island Homeowners Claim Tenants Exploiting Eviction Moratorium To Skip Paying Rent Altogether

Eric Thompson said he worries he won’t be able to hold onto his Lindenhurst home, because a tenant won’t pay rent and won’t get out, despite his offers “to forgive the rent and give her money to move. She’s like, ‘No, I’m staying.'”

While he’s paying all the utilities, taxes, mortgage and maintenance.

“I’ve broken down and cried so many times about this. I can’t believe everything I’ve worked for the last 18 years, I’m giving it away to somebody else,” Thompson said.

He said tenant, who lists her employment as a substitute teacher and tutor, stopped paying $2,000 a month a year ago, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gusoff asked her if she wanted to give her side of the story, but Llanos said, “I’m not interested right now, and I would like you to leave please.”

“I get the whole hardship. I also lost my job this year, and I’m taking away people’s plates right now for a living … If anyone is in hardship, there are plenty of jobs out there,” Thompson said.

And now, the state’s eviction moratorium has been extended until January, with Hochul citing the continuing pandemic and “heartless” Supreme Court ruling as reasons why.

Supporters say the extension is needed, because of stalled rent relief.

“The feds gave us money. They gave us money to give to renters and New York state failed. We did not give it out … We have to make sure people get that money, to help the landlords as well,” said Lisa Tyson of the LI Progressive Coalition.

FLASHBACK: As Aug. 31 Eviction Moratorium Expiration Approaches, New York Tenants Say Nothing Has Been Done To Help Them

The extension will give some 800,000 households that are behind in rent more time to apply for relief, and landlords the ability to challenge hardship claims in court, but it won’t be a quick or simple process. Courts have backlogs.

“The burden of proof is going to be on the landlord. The landlord’s gonna have to show that somebody doesn’t have income, somebody doesn’t have assets or the ability to pay,” real estate attorney Richard Apat said.

Several Democrats opposed extending the moratorium.

“There’s two vulnerable populations. There is the tenant and there’s the small landlords, and on Long Island, a lot of landlords can barely pay their taxes,” said Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre, who represents Lindenhurst.

Like Thompson, who said he now has to sell his house.

“There was a text message some time ago, ‘I love your house. I would love to buy it from you,'” he said.

From the tenant who owes thousands in back rent.

FLASHBACK: Long Island Woman Says Tenants Haven’t Paid Rent Since May 2019, Hurl Racial Slurs When Asked To Pay

Landlord groups are vowing to sue to stop the eviction moratorium in federal court, calling it a “death warrant for owners of small buildings.”

New Yorkers who are struggling to pay their rent can apply for assistance through the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, or ERAP. Applicants to the program are automatically protected from eviction while their application is pending and will receive a year of eviction protections if they qualify for assistance. To find out more, please click here.