A young boy finds Geo Cach treasure on beach during Garvies Point Day in Glen Cove Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011 (Long Island Press/Michael Damm)

Local families came out in droves Saturday to celebrate Garvies Point Day by bonding with nature at Garvies Point Museum and Preserve in Glen Cove.

Parents brought their children to join in the festivities, including films and movies, face painting, gallery tours, nature crafts and nature walks. Tour guides also led groups in bird watching, a butterfly garden tour and a lapidary workshop open house.

Click here to see more photos of Garvies Point Day

The Garvies Point Museum and 62-acre preserve overlook Hempstead Harbor. It is run by the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums.

Among its resources are archaeological artifacts from Long Island’s Native American  tribes and local geological exhibits.

The museum is open Tues. through Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 516-571-8010, or visit their website at www.garviespointmuseum.com

In this May 19, 2009, file photo, singer Ashanti Douglas, left, poses with her mother Tina Douglas at a press preview for the "The Wiz" at the New York City Center in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)

Rumors of a break up continue to swirl after R&B singer Ashanti was recently spotted dining on Long Island without her longtime boyfriend, rapper Nelly.

Sources say Ashanti, a Glen Cove native best known for her break-out hit “Foolish,” was seen with her mother, Tina Douglas, celebrating a belated Mother’s Day dinner on Monday in Jericho—with Nelly noticeably absent.

Ashanti and her mother got the royal treatment nonetheless at the trendy upscale Chinese restaurant Philippe Chow on Jericho Turnpike, one of several locations—named for the famed chef and owner—where celebrity sightings are the norm.

It is not the first time rumors have been circulating that Nelly, a native of Texas, and Ashanti called it quits. But that chatter gained new steam this week when an online celebrity gossip website reported that the couple was no more, although verification proved tricky.

The rumors could not be confirmed Friday after attempts to reach representatives for Ashanti and Nelly were unsuccessful, meaning it could all be “Just a Dream,” or a nightmare depending upon how you look at it.

If the rumors turn out to be true, the stunning singer, actress and model will surely have no shortage of new beau’s to choose from. Not that Nelly would have any problem rebounding.

The one hope for some clues is Ashanti’s fifth studio effort, slated for release sometime this year. Surely a recent heartbreak will find its way onto the record, if there is any truth to the rumors.

Although, technically, Nelly and Ashanti never publicly confirmed that they were in fact a couple, so a confirmation that they are destined for splitsville would be even less likely.

All fans can do is hope that if it does turn out to be true that it turns into some good R&B song fodder.

What do you think: false rumor or is it really over between superstar couple Ashanti and Nelly?

Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age playing at Terminal 5 in Manhattan on Friday, March 25, 2011 (Ryan Atkinson/Long Island Press)

Queens of the Stone Age landed their time machine at Terminal 5 last Friday night to deliver a history lesson by performing their self-titled debut album straight through to support its re-release this month—a rare feat in the modern music industry.

A band willing to bare its raw, unpolished roots to the world is refreshing. For Josh Homme, lead singer/guitarist and QOTSA founder, embarking on the month-long US tour to share his initial vision of hypnotic self-described “robot rock” is also feeding the band’s sixth ongoing studio effort.

Cult classics like “Regular John,” “If Only” and “Mexicola” provide a strong bedrock of tight, gritty ditties to build on.

“Doing the rehearsals for the first record is really defining the new one,” Homme told The Guardian. “It’s been turning the new record into something else. What we were doing was kind of bluesy and now it’s turned into this trancey, broken thing. The robots are back!”

Click here to see more pictures of Queens of the Stone Age at Terminal 5

Officially from Palm City, Calif. (3 miles from Mexico), the band’s first show was played and eponymous album recorded in late-’90s Seattle (re-released by Rekords Rekords/Domino Records). Those grungey echoes ring true.

Born out of the ashes of Homme’s previous metal band, Kyuss—don’t call it stoner rock!—QOTSA has smoothed some of the edges without sacrificing edginess, due in part to the regularly changing line-up. Lately it’s guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, bassist Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita on keyboards and guitar, and drummer Joey Castillo.

Given their longevity, the rotating cast is clearly not a sign of weakness. Homme is regularly in not-a-sidebands, like Eagles of Death Metal and his latest venture, Them Crooked Vultures, with Dave Grohl and John Paul Johns of Led Zeppelin.

The re-issued album was also expanded by three tracks: “The Bronze” and “These Aren’t the Droids Your Looking For” from the QOTSA/Beaver split EP, plus “Spiders and Vinegaroons” from the Kyuss/QOTSA split EP.

That last psychedelic B-side was skipped in the live performance. Homme needed time to cover more recent ground, including “Turnin’ the Screw” and “Make it Wit Chu” off their latest work, Era Vulgaris.

They also squeezed in “Little Sister” and “Burn the Witch” off the previous album, Lullabies To Paralyze. And of course, they closed with “No One Knows” from the third album, Songs for the Deaf.

Sadly, the breakout sophomore effort, Rated R, was neglected. But that’s OK, because Homme didn’t waste his chance to lecture the crowd between songs.

“Some people say that because you see everything that you’re spoiled,” he told the New York audience. “I think you understand things that other towns don’t understand. You understand that you can’t try to be cool, that’s impossible. Cool is, you like something and that’s it.”

Cool class came with a caveat: “But what do I know, I have a mullet,” he said. “I’m from the desert, I dunno jack shit.”

The Grand Marshals for the race included actors Josh Duhamel and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley along with Director Michael Bay, who had a pair of Transformer stock cars take a lap at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. on February 20, 2011 (Kevin Kane)

Before the drivers had a chance to rev up their engines at the 53rd running of The Daytona 500 on Sunday, a host of celebrities, including stars of Transformers, took the main stage to get the crowd revved up.

The Grand Marshals for the race included Director Michael Bay and actor/model Josh Duhamel, who plays Captain/Major William Lennox, along with English model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who plays Carly, protagonist Sam Witwicky’s new love interest, replacing the Megan Fox character, Mikeala, in  Transformers: Dark of the Moon, the third and final film in the series.

A pair of  Chevrolet Impala stock cars that star in the upcoming Transformers movie took a lap at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. just prior to the race to promote the movie, which is scheduled to be released in theaters July 1.

The NASCAR stock cars are a part of a heavily armed Autobot team in the movie called The Wreckers. On hand for the race was the #48 Lowes/Colbalt car, aka “Topspin,” and the #42 Target car, aka “Leadfoot.”

Click here to see more pictures of celebrities and The Wreckers at the Daytona 500

The third car in the team “Roadbuster,” is the #88 AMP Energy/National Grid car, which is driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Roadbuster was presumably too busy preparing for the big race to show off his guns beforehand.

Also on hand during the warm ups for the Great American Race were county singers Brad Paisley, the Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year who performed during the pre-race show, and Martina McBride, who sang the National Anthem.

Paisley opened with “Saturday Night” and also played “Water” and “Mud on the Tires.” He also drove the pacecar.

But not all of the celebrities were there to work the show. Duhamel’s wife, Fergie, of the Black Eyed Peas, came down to suppert her husband and watch the race. She had performed during the pre-race show in 2006.

Trevor Bayne, a 20-year-old rookie racecar driver, won the race in a stunning upset, making him the youngest to ever achieve the feat.

His win came on the 10th anniversary of the death of Dale Earnhardt, the famed driver who raced 20 years before he finally won the NASCAR equivalent of the Super Bowl.

Earnhardt died during a crash in the last lap of the race in 2001.

Schumer, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction of U.S. Marshal confirmations, had previously recommended Inspector Dunne to President Barack Obama. Dunne currently serves at Inspector for the NYPD, where he has served in a number of important management positions. The Eastern District encompasses the counties of Richmond, Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk.

“Inspector Charles Dunne’s tremendous experience, steadfast dedication to the professional administration of justice, and deep knowledge of the communities where he serves make him an ideal U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of New York,” said Schumer. “Charlie is a true blue New Yorker who was born and raised on Long Island, went to school here and coaches youth lacrosse. Inspector Dunne has shown himself to be an outstanding law enforcement professional and his deep rooted connections to the Eastern District made him a clear choice for this position.”

“The Senate has wisely confirmed Charles G. Dunne as the new United States Marshal for the Eastern District of New York,” added Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. “As the head of my security detail, I have seen Charlie’s impeccable judgment at work every day and I rely on his exceptional skills, intelligence and professionalism. I want to thank Senator Schumer for his strong support of this nomination. 

“The nearly eight million New Yorkers who live in Brooklyn and Queens and Nassau and Suffolk counties are lucky to have this phenomenally able career law enforcement professional help protect them as the U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District,” he continued.

“Inspector Dunne’s confirmation is a tribute to his professionalism, in which the NYPD takes great pride,” said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.



Charles Dunne currently works for the NYPD and holds a law degree from St. John’s University School of Law. He joined the force in 1990 and has worked his way up the ranks to his current position as Inspector. He is currently the Commanding Officer in the Intelligence Division for Municipal Security where he oversees the safety and security of the Mayor of New York City, the Speaker of the City Council, the Comptroller, the Public Advocate, and various other iconic municipal buildings such as Gracie Mansion and City Hall. Since becoming Inspector, Dunne developed and oversaw security protocols for the Mayor at several high profile events, such as the 2008 Presidential Inauguration, the Funeral of Pope John Paul II, and the 2004 Summer Olympics. Inspector Dunne also has experience in pursuing warrants, conducting investigations and fugitive apprehension.

Dunne received his B.A. degree from Fairfield University in 1989 and his M.A. degree in 1997 from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. In 2002, Dunne also earned his law degree from St. John’s University School of Law and was admitted to the New York State Bar Association. 

The Senate is expected to vote on the nomination soon.

Though some details are unavailable since the incident is still under investigation, police say, at least two people—a student pilot and his flight instructor—were taken to Stony Brook University Medical Center and hospitalized. Police describe the pilot’s condition as “serious” as of 8 p.m.

The crash occurred near the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Veterans Highway at about 3:07 p.m., police add. The plane, a Beechcraft Muskateer, was on fire and firefighters responded to the scene. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says the pilot had been practicing landings at MacArthur when the plane crashed about a half-mile from the runway. 

The fliers had been practicing “touch and go” landings, in which the pilot immediately takes off after his wheels touch the tarmac, said FAA spokesman Jim Peters. Two people were aboard the plane, he added. 

“The plane is completely disintegrated. There’s nothing left,” said Michael Ruggiero, who owns a furniture factory near the crash site. “It’s a pile of rubble, and all I can see is the tail of the plane.”

Ruggiero added that the single-story manufacturing building hit by the plane appeared to have suffered “mostly broken windows.” The building was unoccupied, police said.

With Associated Press.

According to Eighth Squad detectives, Shaquan Hinson, 22, and a 20-year-old male victim were at the handball court on Wantagh Avenue and Sprucewood Drive when Hinson produced a pocketknife, put it to the victim’s face and demanded his wallet.

The victim complied and Hinson then fled the scene with the wallet on a bicycle, detectives said. Subsequent investigations led to his apprehension in the vicinity a short time later. There were no injuries reported.

Hinson is charged with first-degree robbery and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and will be arraigned Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead.

John Licausi

John Licausi, 50, of Riverleigh Avenue, ran a red light at a Medford intersection May 8, 2008 and struck a compact car driven by Scott Foster, 46, of Manorville, the office said, killing him. Licausi was high on cocaine and fleeing police when the fatal collision occurred, around noon at Horseblock Road and Old Medford Avenue.

In addition to the aforementioned charges, the jury also convicted Licausi of unlawfully fleeing a police officer in the first degree, reckless driving, three counts of failure to stop at a stop sign, two charges of failing to stop at a stop light and one count of speeding, said the office.

Licausi’s conviction came after a day and a half of jury deliberations in Suffolk County Court. His trial began May 13.

Licausi faces a maximum of 12 and one-half to 25 years when he is sentenced July 13.

David A. Steeves

David A. Steeves, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder during jury selection for his upcoming trial in the death of 41-year-old Maureen Steeves, who died at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital 10 days after ingesting coffee laced with potassium cyanide. 

State Supreme Court Justice Robert W. Doyle said he will sentence David Steeves to 19 years to life in state prison on July 19. His defense attorney, Craig McElwee, said his client purchased the poison to kill himself, but then “chickened out” and gave it to his wife instead.

Doyle added that his client agreed to enter the guilty plea following prosecutors’ assurances that his two teenage sons would not be in court Friday nor at his sentencing. 

With Associated Press.

Michael Holley, 18, of Hempstead, got into an argument with a 37-year-old man when Holley shot the victim in the abdomen and leg on Albemarle Avenue, police said.

The victim was treated at Nassau University Medical Center for his injuries.

Third Squad detectives said Holley also robbed a pizza delivery man on the same Hempstead street on July 13, 2009.

Holley was charged with assault, criminal use of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon for the alleged shooting.  He was charged with robbery and assault for the alleged robbery.

He was arraigned Thursday at First District Court in Hempstead.

The victim had just left Roosevelt High School on Conlon Road when he was hit by a gunshot to his upper left arm and back at 2:54 p.m., police said.

The victim returned to the school where security notified police. He was taken to Nassau University Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries.

First Squad detectives ask anyone with information on the above incident to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

John Calabrese

John Calabrese was charged with four counts of criminal impersonation.

Third Squad detectives said he falsely claimed to be a police officer with varying complaints of pain starting in January at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.

A supervisor recognized Calabrese from previous visits and notified police. 

He was arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Nassau County police released a sketch Thursday of the suspect that falsely identified himself as a police officer twice on Sunday night.

Nassau County police say the suspect wanted for impersonating an officer is depicted in this sketch (click to enlarge)

A man driving a white Mitsubishi Gallant northbound on Grand Avenue in Baldwin struck a Toyota being driven by a 45-year-old man at 7:10 p.m., police said. The Mitsubishi driver displayed a gold-star shaped badge around his neck, identified himself as a police officer and demanded the victim’s license and registration, police said.

After complying with the suspect, the victim became suspicious, got out of his vehicle and ran across Grand Avenue to a Fire Station. The suspect got back in this vehicle and fled northbound on Grand Avenue.

Nearly two hours later, the same suspect pulled in front of a Honda driven by a 21-year-old man on Merrick Avenue in East Meadow, forcing it to a stop at 9:04 p.m., police said. The suspect again identified himself as police officer and asked the victim for his license, police said. The victim refused, backed up his vehicle and left the scene.

The suspect was described as a white man between 30 and 40 years old, with a crew cut, wearing tan cargo shorts and a white tank top.

First Squad detectives ask anyone with information regarding these criminal impersonation incidents to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

Freeport Police responded to 911 calls reporting multiple shots fired on Rutland Road and an investigation revealed that four rounds entered the home through a front wall and then entered a bedroom where a resident was sleeping at 12:51 a.m., police said. Bullets lodged in a wall, ceiling and, possibly a door, police said. 

A 762 x 39 rifle casing was recovered in the street in front of the house.  There were no injuries reported. 

Witnesses reported seeing a group of up to six men drinking and arguing in front of the residence prior to the shooting. A red SUV and small black sedan were seen leaving the scene immediately following the shooting. 

First Squad detectives ask anyone with additional information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.  All callers will remain anonymous.

Joseph Sorrentino allegedly used matches to ignite a bed of his two-story Lawrence Street home after an argument with his stepson shortly after noon.

The Garden City Park Fire Department responded with 50 firefighters and extinguished the blaze in approximately 30 minutes, police said.  No injuries were reported, although fire damage to the house was extensive.

Arson/Bomb Squad detectives charged Sorrentino with arson. Shortly after his arrest, he was taken to Long Island Jewish Hospital in Lake Success with complaints of chest pain stemming from a prior heart condition.

He will be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead as soon as practicable.

Gail Vokoun

Gail Vokoun, 58, of East Meadow, was charged with grand larceny and falsifying business records. She is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Between August 2007 and September 2009, Vokoun, who was the director of the First Presbyterian Church of Levittown’s nursery school for 15 years, stole $41,489 from the school through unauthorized credit card purchases and by writing checks to herself from the school’s bank account, prosecutors said.

The theft was suspected by a member of the church’s clergy, who confronted Vokoun. She allegedly admitted to stealing $20,000, but an independent audit and investigation alleged that she stole more than twice that amount, prosecutors said.

Vokoun used the money to pay her property taxes, cable and phone bills, car insurance, dinners, hotel reservations and trips to the florist, prosecutors said. She resigned in September 2009.

Vokoun faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.

A man entered the Citibank on North Broadway and presented a note demanding money to a teller at 2:42 p.m., police said. After obtaining an unknown amount of cash, the robber fled on a bicycle northbound on North Broadway.

The suspect was described as a white man with a pale complexion in his 30s, 6’ tall with a medium build, wearing a faded baseball cap, white and orange striped long sleeved shirt and jeans. He appears to match a description of an individual who committed a similar robbery on Thursday, May 27, in Massapequa.

Robbery Squad detectives request anyone with information regarding the above crime to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

Wesley Thorne

Rosario Parrino was walking on North Ocean Avenue when he was confronted by Wesley Thorne, 19, when Thorne stole $200 from Parrino and fled on foot at 4:40 p.m., police said. Both Thorne and Parrino are from Patchogue.

Passersby ran after Thorne but lost sight of him while witnesses stayed with the victim to talk to police.

Officers apprehended Thorne 15 minutes later on Main Street in Patchogue.

He was charged with grand larceny and will be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Central Islip.

Fifth Squad detectives ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident to call them at 631-854-8552.

Suffolk County police said Edward McCloskey was driving a Toyota Highlander northbound on Route 110 when his vehicle collided with a Toyota Scion driven by Carol Kolano, 44, of East Northport, at the intersection of Gazza Boulevard at 12:35 p.m. 

McCloskey was airlifted to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow where he died from his injuries at 2 p.m. Kolano was not injured. Both vehicles were impounded for a safety check. 

First Squad detectives are continuing their investigation and ask that anyone who witnessed this crash and have not been interviewed to call them at 631-854-8152.

A man driving a white Mitsubishi Gallant northbound on Grand Avenue in Baldwin struck a Toyota being driven by a 45-year-old man at 7:10 p.m., police said. The Mitsubishi driver displayed a gold-star shaped badge around his neck, identified himself as a police officer and demanded the victim’s license and registration, police said.

After complying with the suspect, the victim became suspicious, got out of his vehicle and ran across Grand Avenue to a Fire Station. The suspect got back in this vehicle and fled northbound on Grand Avenue.

Nearly two hours later, the same suspect pulled in front of a Honda driven by a 21-year-old man on Merrick Avenue in East Meadow, forcing it to a stop at 9:04 p.m., police said. The suspect again identified himself as police officer and asked the victim for his license, police said. The victim refused, backed up his vehicle and left the scene.

The suspect was described as a white man between 30 and 40 years old, with a crew cut, wearing tan cargo shorts and a white tank top.

First Squad detectives ask anyone with information regarding these criminal impersonation incidents to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.