Plainedge School Bus Driver Arrested

Charged with DWIA after bus has accident with 29 seventh-graders aboard; Deputy Supt. speaks about safety protocols in Massapequa

For the second time in less than a month, a resident of the Massapequas has been arrested for allegedly driving a school bus with students on board, while also being under the influence of alcohol. James Sommer, 47, of Massapequa was arrested by Suffolk County Police, and charged with allegedly driving while his ability was impaired. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to Suffolk County Police, Sommer was driving a school bus with 29 Plainedge Middle School seventh-graders on board, when he attempted to park the bus and backed into a tree limb. The Plainedge School District released a statement from Superintendent Edward Salina, stating the teacher chaperoning the trip notified the building principal of the incident and local police were contacted. The statement from the district further explained that the principal, the district transportation supervisor, and the assistant to the superintendent for facilities and special projects arrived to assess the situation and ensure the students’ safety. According to the police, one of the students was taken to Huntington Hospital with minor injuries.

Red Ribbon Week At Plainedge

The Students Against Destructive Decisions Club held a series of activities during the week of Oct. 22 in conjunction with Red Ribbon Week. During the week, daily morning announcements with anti-drug messages were made. In addition, students signed a pledge against drugs and bullying, and after signing the pledge, affixed their name to a board outside of the cafeteria. The club also hosted a multimedia anti-drug presentation and handed out drug- and addiction-related informational packets.

Sparks Fly At MSD Board Meeting

Resolution to approve Pride For Youth workshop is defeated

Midway through the Oct. 18 Massapequa School Board meeting, Board President Maryanne Fisher’s cell phone rang and she left the meeting to take the call. A few moments later, she returned and announced that she had to leave due to a family issue. Her absence would have a significant impact later on.

Following the report of Superintendent Charles Sulc, as well as a presentation on the district’s Summer Stars program, the board voted on the resolutions on the agenda. The process was going rather ordinarily as the annual audit was accepted, IEP recommendations were approved, a performance agreement for a production of Grease at Berner Middle School was approved, and the board also approved Long Island Neuropsychological Consultants to serves as special education consultants for the school year, although trustee Jane Ryan abstained from that vote. She later told the Massapequan Observer that she chose not to vote because she has done business with the consultants and although she has no issue with them, she felt it would be a conflict of interest for her to cast a vote. However, when the board got to the fifth resolution on the agenda, the meeting took a controversial turn.

Meet The Candidates For Legislator

Maglione, Venditto vie to win special election

Joanne Maglione, 42, and Michael Venditto, 31, are challenging each other for the position of legislator from the 12th Legislative District. The winner of the special election to be held on Election Day, November 6, will become only the second person to hold the position which Peter Schmitt occupied from the inception of the legislature in 1996, until his death earlier this month.

Maglione is a former deputy county attorney and currently works at the law firm of Jaspan Schlesinger in Garden City. She is running on the Democratic line, although she describes herself as “a lifelong Republican.” Maglione is a graduate of SUNY Albany and Brooklyn Law School, She and her husband live in Massapequa Park with their two children, Dominick, 7, and Paul, 4.

Bocce Tournament Winners Receive Trophies

At the Oct. 15, Village Board meeting, the winners of the annual bocce tournament were presented with trophies. Mayor James Altadonna commented that the tournament has become so popular that teams were turned away this year. He further added, that an additional bocce court is being added to accommodate more teams in the future.

Blessing Of The Animals At Maria Regina

Pastor Frank Nelson with a four-legged friend at Maria Regina Church. Many parishioners brought their pets to Maria Regina on Oct. 6 for the blessing of the animals.                                      

Photo by Ronald Scaglia

Robbery And Shooting In Massapequa

The Nassau County Police Department is reporting that two Amityville men have been arrested because of an incident that occurred on Clocks Boulevard and Oakley Street. According to detectives, Daron Morris, 33, and Tyron Doe, 25, allegedly were armed with a handgun when they met with a male victim, 22, and demanded money while simultaneously shooting him in the knee.  Furthermore, according to detectives, one of the subjects then allegedly reached into the victim’s pocket and removed cash before both subjects returned to their vehicle and fled the scene.

Sparks Fly In The Debate Arena

Town hall format and Obama’s performance finds president rebounding in the polls

On Tuesday, Oct. 16, Hofstra University was the site for the second of three debates between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney. Hofstra had also hosted a debate between then-Democratic nominee Obama and GOP nominee Sen. John McCain back in 2008, making the school just the second university to host consecutive presidential debates. (St. Louis’ Washington University was the other.)

With Romney scoring what many considered an upset victory over Obama’s decidedly lackluster performance in the first debate, this follow-up was going to be a “deal maker or breaker in this campaign,” according to political pundit Chris Matthews, who spoke at Hofstra the prior week. Shortly after moderator Candy Crowley took the stage at 9 p.m., it was clear both candidates were prepared to come out swinging, making for a lively hour and a half that found roughly 65 million viewers tuning in to the town hall-style debate, according to the Nielsen Ratings.

Candidates Announced For Special Election

Joanne Maglione and Michael Venditto vie to become legislator

The Democratic and Republican parties have announced candidates for the upcoming 12th Legislative District special election. The winner of the election will finish the unexpired term of Legislator Peter Schmitt, who passed away in early October.

The Democrats have nominated Joanne Maglione, although she describes herself as “a lifelong Republican.” Maglione is the former deputy county attorney and is a resident of Massapequa Park.

Altadonna: Massapequa Park Needs Emergency Room Center

Village is working with North Shore-LIJ to build ER center on Sunrise Highway

Progress continues to be made in a plan to bring an emergency room facility to Massapequa Park. Mayor James Altadonna spoke with the Massapequan Observer, and said that the village, along with North Shore-LIJ, is continuing to pursue building an emergency room center on Sunrise Highway near the Long Island Rail Road station.

According to Altadonna, a request for proposal has already been issued. Currently, the village and the hospital system are in the process of trying to secure property where the facility would be constructed. The mayor said that negotiations are currently taking place regarding a number of properties on Sunrise Highway. Altadonna, who served as an EMT in Deer Park, believes that an emergency center is needed in the village so that residents can be treated as quickly as possible when emergencies arise.