Find Your Daily Voice
Underage Waiters Were Sexually Abused At Franklin Square Wedding Venue, Lawsuit Says
Three underage former employees are suing a Long Island wedding venue, alleging they suffered “egregious” sexual abuse and, later, retaliation when they came forward.
A lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of New York on Saturday, March 30, accuses Sand Castle Caterers in Franklin Square of turning a blind eye to abuse and harassment allegedly suffered at the hands of manager Enrique Sanchez.
The victims, who were 15 years old at the time, worked at Sand Castle as waiters from the summer of 2022 to August 2023.
According to the complaint, Sanchez regularly kissed the teens, grabbed their…
Fourth Man Nabbed For String Of Nassau County Burglaries: Police
A young man from New Jersey was arrested after he was discovered to be part of a group that has committed a string of burglaries across Long Island, police announced.
Fazon Farrington, age 19 of Newark, New Jersey, was arrested following an investigation that stemmed from a Lake Success incident, Nassau County Police said on Thursday, March 14.
On Saturday, Jan. 13, a group of three men, also from New Jersey, were reportedly fleeing from the scene of a home they attempted to burgle — but were stopped when they crashed into the officers driving towards the scene.
Original Report - …
Nassau County Doctor Sentenced For Overprescribing Opioids, Leading To 5 Deaths
A Long Island doctor – who once ran his office out of an old Radio Shack and his car – may now spend over a decade behind bars for prescribing his patients thousands of opioid pills at a time, leading to five overdose deaths.
George Blatti, age 78, of Nassau County, received his sentence of five to 15 years in prison for the deaths on Monday, Jan. 22, according to the Nassau County District Attorney.
According to the investigation and his guilty plea, between 2016 and 2018, Blatti prescribed patients addicted to opioids thousands of pills – such as oxycodone, morphine, clonazepam, alprazo…
'Things Will Get Ugly': Gambling Debt Collector From Franklin Square Convicted, Usao Says
Two men, including one 86-year-old Long Islander, have been convicted for extorting money from someone who owed them a gambling debt, authorities have announced.
Anthony Romanello, age 86 of Franklin Square, was convicted alongside his co-conspirator Joseph Celso, 50 of Queens on Monday, Dec. 11, according to the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York,
Romanello and Celso, along with another Queens resident named Luan Bexheti, conspired from March to June 2017 to collect a gambling debt from an unnamed victim and a family member (named John Doe 1 and John Doe 2…
3 Charged During Franklin Square Massage Parlor Raid, Police Say
Three women were arrested on various charges, including prostitution, after an undercover investigation on Long Island, according to police.
The raid took place on Thursday, Nov. 30 in Franklin Square after Nassau County Police conducted an undercover investigation at Zen Retreat Spa, located at 346 Franklin Avenue.
A 30-year-old Hicksville woman was taken into custody and charged with unauthorized practice of a profession.
A 31-year-old woman from Jamaica, Queens was also arrested and charged with prostitution.
Additionally, police arrested another Queens woman, age 30, who allegedly h…
National Guard Sergeant Nabbed For Sexual Offenses In Cortlandt, Peekskill, State Police Say
A ranking officer in the Army National Guard has been accused of committing sexual offenses, according to New York State Police.
Sergeant First Class Pablo Rivera, age 49, who resides on Long Island in Franklin Square, was arrested on Monday, May 15, and charged with two counts of forcible touching.
A lengthy investigation determined that the victim was inappropriately touched by Rivera on two different occasions in Northern Westchester County, in the town of Cortlandt and the city of Peekskill, state police announced on Wednesday, May 17.
Rivera was transported to Cortlandt Tow…
Tacos At New Franklin Square Restaurant Are 'Busting Out At The Seams'
A new taquería on Long Island is earning high marks just weeks after opening.
Tony’s Tacos debuted its third Long Island location, located in Franklin Square at 677 Hempstead Turnpike, in late October 2022, according to its Facebook page.
Its menu boasts just about every type of taco one could crave, including several varieties of chicken, shrimp, pork, fish, and veggie tacos.
Those opting for the classic carne asada taco will find juicy steak, onion, cilantro, and Tony’s mild green sauce. There’s also the Americano, consisting of ground beef, pico, lettuce, shredded cheese, and sour cre…
'The World Lost A Great Guy': Former Rockville Centre Police Officer, Father Dies At Age 52
Ernest Ziegler Jr. lived life to the fullest, as evident from his many hobbies that included skydiving, motorcycle riding, fishing, boating, and scuba diving.
Now loved ones are mourning the loss of the Long Island native and father of three following his death Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the age of 52, according to his obituary.
Ziegler grew up in East Meadow and spent the last six years splitting his time between Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania, and Juno Beach, Florida.
He was an experienced law enforcement officer, having worked as a US Border Patrol agent and officer in the New York City Police Depa…
Man Driving Drunk With Kids In SUV Crashes Into 3 Vehicles In Franklin Square, Police Say
A man is facing charges after police said he drove while intoxicated with a woman and two teenagers in the vehicle and crashed into three parked vehicles on Long Island.
Ramon Oliveras, age 46, of Fresh Meadows, Queens, was arrested following the crash in Franklin Square at 1:40 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 21, the Nassau County Police Department said.
Police said Oliveras crashed a 2020 Infiniti QX4 SUV into three unoccupied, parked vehicles in the area of Doris Avenue and Langdon Street.
A 49-year-old woman, a 15-year-old girl, and a 13-year-old girl, who were passengers in the Infiniti, all suf…
Man Found Dead In Sag Harbor Worked With NYC Opera, Became Chef
A man whose body was found in a Long Island cove has been identified as a former employee of the New York City Opera and a chef who had a lifelong passion for music.
Keith Viagas, of Sag Harbor, died on Saturday, Aug. 6, from drowning near his home in Sag Harbor Cove. He was age 63.
Viagas grew up in Franklin Square, attending both John Street School and H. Frank Carey High School, where he appeared in musicals, according to his obituary.
His late father, Anthony Viagas, was a jazz musician, and Viagas lived in a home filled with music.
"At one point Keith would be pl…
Fire Destroys Garage, Vehicles, Damages Franklin Square Home, Officials Say
A Long Island woman and her son were saved from a house fire after neighbors woke them up by ringing their doorbell.
The fire took place in Franklin Square around 11 p.m., Wednesday, July 13, on Howard Avenue.
Arriving Franklin Square firefighters were met with a large garage fire with multiple vehicles burning, hazardous materials, and a collapse of the garage, the Franklin Square Fire Department said.
Firefighters had the main body of fire quickly knocked down. Extension into the residence was kept to a minimum, the department added.
The department was aided by 11 other department…