SHSW Jacqueline Guercia's Team Wins First Place

Jacqueline Guercia, a senior at Smithtown High School West, was a member of the team from Wilson Tech’s Veterinary Assisting Program that won First Place in the National Competition for Small Animal Careers.  For the second year in a row Tech’s team won the contest in Springfield, Massachusetts, by identifying breeds and species, demonstrating general knowledge of veterinary science, team problem-solving, and participating in a workshop that covered all aspects of veterinary practice.

Nesconset Resident Arrested After Fleeing The Scene of MV Accident

Suffolk County Police today arrested a Nesconset man for driving while intoxicated, driving without a license and fleeing the scene after he was involved in a two-car crash that critically injured a Patchogue man in Bohemia early this morning.  

A 2010 Mazda, driven by Allan Collins, was stopped at a red light in the left turning lane of eastbound Veterans Memorial Highway at the intersection with Johnson Avenue in Bohemia when the vehicle was struck from behind by a 2007 Nissan at 5:50 a.m. The driver of the Nissan, Robert Watson, fled the scene following the crash but was apprehended at Johnson Avenue and Carlough Road in Bohemia a short time later by Fifth Squad detective Robert Suppa, who was canvassing the area looking for the driver who fled.  

Kevin Mead, 26, of 44 Bailey Ave., Patchogue, a passenger in the backseat of the Mazda, was transported to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue where he was admitted in critical condition with head and chest trauma. Collins, 57, and his daughter, Stephanie Collins, 24, who was seated in the front passenger seat, were also transported to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center where they were treated for shock.  

Fifth Squad detectives charged Watson, 24, of 197 Alexander Ave., Nesconset, with Driving While Intoxicated, Leaving the Scene of an Incident with Injury and Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle. Watson will be held for arraignment on October 4 at First District Court in Central Islip.  

Both vehicles were impounded for further investigation and safety checks. The investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.  

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Update on Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 2:48PM by .

Kevin Mead, who was critically injured in a hit-and-run crash on Veterans Memorial Highway in Bohemia on October 3, died today at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue.

Proud Girls From Smithtown

Kindness is contagious even when your 1,532 miles away. (Reprint From Huffington Post)

The word selfless is an adjective that defines a person who is completely devoted to others welfare or interest and not ones own. We never really met anyone that we could honestly say was completely selfless until this past summer when we were given the privilege of meeting 10 young girls from Haiti. After all, our culture is made of people who compete with one another to be the best. Most people equate “best” with more money, more things, more attention and prestige — you know the old saying, “Keeping up with the Joneses”. Although they do exist, it’s rare to find people who don’t care about the “Joneses” and give completely of themselves.

 In June, our team of PROUDgirls from Smithtown decided they wanted to take action and raise money for the people of Haiti. The devastation from the January 2010 earthquake was so great that they knew something had to be done. But where do you start when there are an estimated three million people affected? After researching various websites and reading about various organizations, the girls discovered a small orphanage in Haiti. H.O.P.E is home to 10 young girls ranging in age from birth-12 whose ongoing mission is to house, feed, clothe and educate orphans in Haiti and provide for these children to adulthood. PGOM thought it would best benefit the girls by raising funds that would allow them to purchase the everyday things that they needed most — things we take for granted.

The Smithtown PGOM team decided to host two large sporting events within each high school, which included a flag football game and a softball tournament. They designed and created t-shirts for the event and charged a fee to participate. Both events had the support of fellow students who caught the kindness “bug” from our PROUDgirls and had lots of fun participating. They sold enough $15 dollar tickets to raise seven hundred dollars for the orphanage.

Delivering the news to the children of H.O.P.E. would prove to be the most exciting part of this project. We set a date for a video conference call through Skype that connected the 10 girls from Smithtown, N.Y. to 10 girls from Haiti who lived 1,532 miles away.

That morning when we saw their sweet faces pressed up against the computer monitor we were forever connected. We watched and listened in awe as the Haitian girls sang to us in their native language. Their voices were angelic and they told us they loved us. But what happened next was the most contagious moment of kindness we have ever witnessed.

After graciously thanking us for the donations we had raised, they began to tell us what they planned to do with the funds. Our donation would not be used for their needs, but instead be used for children who were less fortunate and living in tent cites after being displaced from the quake.They would use our donation to buy school supplies for the children who lost everything. They felt were much better off then the rest and chose to give our humble donation to help those who needed it more. Sure they needed new clothes, art supplies, soap and toothpaste but their choice was to give to those who were fighting everyday to just survive.

The “Joneses” don’t exist for the girls at H.O.P.E., nor should they for us. We should all think twice about balancing our need to be the “best” and showing kindness. As the PROUDgirls and the girls from H.O.P.E. proved, kindness is in fact contagious, even when you’re 1532 miles away.

“If compassion were the motivating factor behind all of our decisions, would our world not be a completely different place?” - Sheryl Crow

Suffolk County Reports a Death Associated with West Nile Virus

Hauppauge, NY – Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Services James L. Tomarken, MD, MSW, MPH, MBA, FRCPC, FACP, reported that the New York State laboratory confirmed today that an adult who died last week has tested positive for West Nile virus.

The individual, who was under the age of 55, began having symptoms associated with West Nile virus — including fever, lethargy, and mental status changes — on September 2, 2010. The individual, who had an underlying medical condition, was hospitalized and died on September 23. The individual was from the Town of Brookhaven.

Dr. Tomarken extends his condolences to the individual’s family.

The New York State laboratory also confirmed two additional cases of West Nile virus:

An adult from Town of Babylon who is under the age of 55 began experiencing a rash, body aches, headaches, chills/sweats, photosensitivity and leg cramps on August 7th. The person was never hospitalized and is recovering at home.

Another individual, who is from the Town of Islip and over the age of 55, began experiencing fever, seizures, altered mental status and muscle weakness on September 13th. The individual, who has an underlying medical condition, is currently being cared for in the hospital.

The total number of human West Nile virus cases in Suffolk County to date this year is eleven – seven from the Town of Babylon, two from the Town of Huntington, one from Brookhaven and one from Islip. Of the eleven cases, there has been one death. There have been a total of five deaths associated with West Nile virus in the county since the virus was first detected in 1999: two in 2002, two in 2003 and this new case in 2010. 

Dr. Tomarken reminded residents that mosquito season extends from June 1 through November 1. “We ask residents to continue to take precautions to avoid being bitten,” he said. “We also ask them to visit their doctors promptly if they experience fever, headache or body aches for unknown reasons.” 

Dr. Tomarken said it was important for residents to reduce mosquito breeding in areas around their homes and property to prevent the transmission of West Nile virus to people. After each rainfall, remember to eliminate standing water in flower pots, clogged gutters, recycle bins, birdbaths, swimming pool and hot tub covers.  Using insect repellants, avoiding the hours from dusk to dawn (when most mosquitoes are active), and wearing long sleeves and long pants when outdoor activity between dusk and dawn is unavoidable, are also steps everyone can take to stay healthy this summer.

West Nile virus can cause serious illness and in some cases, death. It is estimated that 20 percent of those who become infected will develop clinically noticeable symptoms of West Nile virus disease. Mild symptoms include fever, headache and body aches, and occasionally a skin rash and swollen lymph glands.  Symptoms of severe infection (West Nile encephalitis or meningitis) include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, muscle weakness, stupor and disorientation.

Dead birds found on area properties may indicate the presence of West Nile virus in the area. To report dead birds, mosquito problems or stagnant pools of water, call the West Nile virus hotline in Suffolk County at 631-787-2200 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

For medical questions related to West Nile virus, call 631-853-3055.

For further information on West Nile virus, visit the Department of Health Services’ website at www.suffolkcountyny.gov/departments/healthservices.aspx .

Suffolk Opens Emergency Operations Center

 Precautionary Measure for High Surf Advisory, Flood and Wind Watches Issue by National Weather Service

Yaphank, NY – Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy announced today that the county opened its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Yaphank at 9 a.m. in preparation for flood and high-wind watches, following a high surf advisory issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for most of Suffolk County.

The EOC coordinates the county’s disaster response system and consists of workstations for representatives from the county, towns, villages, utilities and emergency responders.

“Though this is not a hurricane, these types of storms have the potential to create a great amount of damage—so we want to be prepared,” said Levy. “Cooperative planning among local, state and federal officials, along with proper public education, are crucial to mitigating the potential impact of any storm. Opening our state-of-the-art EOC further enhances Suffolk’s ability to monitor storm developments and rapidly communicate crucial public safety information to the media and public at large.”

Up-to-the-minute weather briefings are tracking a low pressure system along the coast that is expected to collide with a strong, high-pressure system that remains anchored over much of the north Atlantic.  The two systems are anticipated to create a corridor of strong, southerly winds in the area that may yield very heavy rain and strong winds this afternoon and into tonight.  Rainfall totals of 2 to 6 inches are possible where the heaviest bands set up, which will result in sharp rises of fast-responding rivers and streams and may lead to flooding.  Gusts of 45 to 55 MPH with the potential for more damaging wind gusts of up to 60 MPH at the peak of the storm are forecast.

Residents are also reminded to monitor their Local Primary Emergency Alert Systems such as WALK 97.5, which has teamed with Suffolk County in building a state-of-the-art broadcast facility at Suffolk’s EOC command center. The facility will further enhance the county’s ability to rapidly relay important public safety information over WALK’s airwaves.

Additionally, Levy urged Suffolk residents to sign up for the new Code RED emergency notification method. This high-speed telephone communication service delivers customized, pre-recorded emergency messages directly to Suffolk County homes and businesses at a capacity of up to millions of calls per day. Code RED generates telephone, e-mail and text messaging notices to subscribers. The 7,000 residents who already signed up for the service within just a few short weeks received the following message today:

“This message is from Suffolk County Fire Rescue - Suffolk County Residents should prepare for heavy rain and winds Thursday through Friday.  Starting late tonight narrow bands of heavy rain will develop, with the potential for rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour.  Rain will continue Thursday into Friday with storm totals of approximately 3.5 inches of rain in areas of Suffolk County.  This coupled with sustained winds of 25-35 mph with gusts of 50-60 mph will result in the possibility of urban flooding, downed trees and power outages.  Residents should prepare for this storm securing all loose objects outside that may be blown around by wind.  Should you experience a power outage contact LIPA at 1-800-490-0075 or 631-755-6900.  Weather conditions can change at any time and this storm should be monitored closely.  Please remember that 911 should only be used for “True” emergencies.  Please stay tuned to local television and radio stations for further weather updates.”

To sign up to receive these “Code RED” messages, access the following link: Code RED.

Individuals who do not have Internet access may call the Office of Emergency Management’s Customer Service Center at 631-852-4900, from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to receive Code RED information over the phone.

Levy reminded residents to dial 911 for life-threatening emergencies only. Residents with non-emergency situations can call the Suffolk Police Department’s non-emergency number, 852-COPS (852-2677) or the Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services line at 852-4900.