Suffolk County police said Robert Fattibene, 53, of Smithtown, was driving a Dodge Durango northbound on Commack Road when he crossed into the southbound lane and hit a Nissan Altima driven by 32-year-old Herver Leonel Garcia Munoz of Brentwood at 6:35 p.m.

Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

Yesenia Marilu Martinez Vasquez, 24, a passenger in the Nissan, was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital.

Justin Martinez, the toddler who was riding with his mother and father in the car, was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip. Both the mother and child are listed in critical condition.

First Squad detectives impounded the vehicles for safety checks, are continuing the investigation and ask anyone with information about the crash to contact them at 631-854-8152.

The events range from fundraisers for Superstorm Sandy survivors and family events for the kids to local bars and restaurants offering specials on burritos, margaritas and Coronas—so break out that souvenir sombrero from Cancun.

But, before leaving the house in a poncho, here’s a quick North American history refresher lesson:  Cinco de Mayo is not—like some people mistakenly believe—Mexican Independence Day, which is Sept.16.

The holiday commemorates the Battle of Puebla, when Mexican forces turned back invading French troops in 1862—a symbol of resiliency for the world’s most populous Spanish-speaking nation.

And for those who still remember their high school Spanish 101, here’s a potentially useful bonus factoid—a Mexican saying that may come in handy on the Long Island Rail Road this weekend: “A boca de borracho, oídos de cantinero.”

It translates to “the mouth of drunk, ears of barman.” It basically means ignore the loud drunks.

Saturday
10 a.m.-5 p.m., Cinco de Mayo Dive Meet, Nassau County Aquatic Center, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, 516-572-0501.

2-4 p.m., Cinco de Mayo at the Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City, 516-224-5800.

Cinco de Mayo Kickoff Party, Napper Tandy’s Irish Pub, 275 Rte 25A, Miller Place, 631-331-5454. $4 Coronas and margaritas.

May 4-5: Cinco de Mayo Weekend at The Nutty Irishman. 323 Main St. Farmingdale. 516-293-9700. $4 Coronas, 8-10 p.m.

Sunday
11 a.m.-2 p.m., Cinco de Mayo Festival at the Garden of Eve Organic Farm & Market. 4558 Sound Ave, Aquebogue, 631-523-6608

11 a.m.-2 p.m., Cinco de Mayo at the Long Island Game Farm Wildlife Park. 638 Chapman Blvd, Manorville, 631-878-6644. www.longislandgamefarm.com

12-2:30 p.m. or 3-5:30 p.m., Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Kid’s Fun Skate. United Skates of America, 1276 Hicksville Rd. Seaford, 516-795-5474.

2 p.m., Cinco de Mayo: Serenata Mexicana. The Suffolk Theater, 118 E. Main St. Riverhead, 631- 727-4343. $35.

2-3 p.m., Latin Music. Long Island Museum of American Art, History and Carriages, 1200 Route 25A  Stony Brook, 631-751-0066

2-5 p.m., Mambo Loco at Martha Clara Vineyards. 6025 Sound Ave. Riverhead, 631-298-0075

3-8 p.m., Cinco de Mayo Party, Sandy survivor fundraiser, Knights of Columbus, 2333 Bellmore Ave., Bellmore, 516-785-9407. $40.

3-9 p.m., Cinco de Mayo at Pefecto Mundo Latin Bistro. 1141-1 Jericho Turnpike, Commack, 631-864-2777.

10 p.m.-12 a.m., Cinco de Mayo at Lily Flanagan’s Pub. 345 Deer Park Ave., Babylon, 631-539-0816

Cinco de Mayo Party at Dublin Deck. 325 River Ave, Patchogue, 631-207-0370.

Cinco de Moe’s at Moe’s Southwest Grill, multiple locations. Homewrecker burrito, chips and salsa for $5 and bobblehead Cinco de Moe’s collector’s cups.

Margaritas and Fajitas at Cozymel’s Mexican Grill, 1177 Corporate Dr., Westbury.11 a.m.-12 a.m.

Buy two tacos get one free at Chico’s Tex-Mex Restaurant, 18 Berryhill Rd., Syosset, 516-802-3500. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

$2 tacos, $5 nacho platters, $3 beers and $4 margaritas and sangrias at Swell Taco, 135 Deer Park Ave., Babylon, 631-482-1299. 12-4 p.m.

$5 margaritas, $3 beers, free giveaways, Don Juan’s, multiple locations.

-Compiled by Danny Mounce

Suffolk County police said Traci Gillow, 49, of Sound Beach, was driving a Mercedes-Benz southbound on Middle Island-Yaphank Road when she veered into the northbound lane south of Whiskey Road and struck a Hyundai shortly before 5 p.m.

The driver of the Hyundai, Patricia Moon, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Gillow was taken to the same hospital where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after Middle Island Fire Department firefighters extinguished the flames in her Mercedes-Benz.

Seventh Squad detectives impounded both vehicles, are continuing the investigation and ask anyone with information regarding this crash to contact them at 631-852-8752.

Barbara Nitti, 27, was driving a Ford sedan westbound on Route 25 when her vehicle crossed into the opposite lane of traffic and struck a car near the corner of Old Middle Country Road at 1:30 a.m., police said.

The driver of that car, 68-year-old Lillian Fernandez, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Nitti was taken to the same hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Both women are from Coram.

Nitti was charged with driving while intoxicated. She will be arraigned once she is released from the hospital.

Sixth Squad detectives are continuing the investigation and ask anyone with information on this crash to call them at 631-854-8652.

Suffolk County police said Bennie Demaro, 86, was making a left turn in his Cadillac from County Road 83 onto Canal Road when his vehicle was hit by a southbound Mazda pickup truck at 2:35 p.m.

His passenger, Salvatore Anselmo, was taken to John T. Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson where he was pronounced dead.

Demaro was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was listed in critical condition.

The Cadillac also struck a Dodge Magnum driven by 53-year-old Lauren Pedone of Port Jefferson Station. Neither she nor her 16-year-old son was injured.

The driver of the pickup truck, 27-year-old Timothy Grady of East Patchogue, was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Vehicular Crime Unit detectives impounded the vehicles, are continuing the investigation and ask anyone with information to contact them at 631-852-6555.

Salvatore Distefano

A Suffolk County police officer helping investigate a fatal car crash was injured when an alleged drunken driver rear-ended his patrol car in Patchogue on Sunday evening, authorities said.

The highway patrolman was at the scene of a crash that killed a 22-year-old driver on Sunrise Highway earlier the same day when Salvatore Distefano crashed his Chrysler into the cop car at 7:12 p.m., police said.

Police Officer Brian Smales had parked his car, with emergency lights activated, on the right shoulder of the express portion of the road in an attempt to make the scene safe for the search, police said.

Smales was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was treated for head, neck, back and leg injuries.

Distefano was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue where he was treated for facial lacerations.

The 29-year-old Central Islip man was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, assault and violating New York State’s “Move Over Law” that requires drivers slow down and change lanes to safely pass an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road.

He will be arraigned Monday at First District Court in Central Islip.

Smales was at the scene of the crash that claimed the life of Colin Garrett of Patchogue and injured two of his passengers at 1:32 a.m. Sunday, police said.

Vehicular Crimes Unit detectives ask anyone with information regarding this crash involving Distefano to call them at 631-852-6295.

Gloria Montoya, 49, Commack, was driving a Honda Accord eastbound on the LIE near exit 51 when her car was rear-ended in the center lane by the dump truck that was merging from the right lane at 7:30 p.m., police said.  The Accord then struck the concrete center divider, a Toyota Solara in the HOV lane and a Dodge Magnum in the center lane, police said.

The driver of the Solara, 83-year-old William Broer of Hauppauge, was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was listed in serious condition. Montoya was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.  The driver of the Magnum, 35-year-old Carlos Gonzalez of Central Islip, was not injured.

Police described the dump truck that fled the scene as a newer-model, clean silver or grey-colored vehicle.

Second Squad detectives are continuing the investigation and ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has information to contact them at 631-854-8252 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.  All calls will be kept confidential.

President Barack Obama gave his second inaugural address in Washington, D.C. on Monday, Jan. 21, 2012.

Long Island played a supporting role in the presidential inauguration from offering musical talent before the big day to supplying celebratory libations afterward—plus local residents that went to Washington, D.C. for the occasion.

Bedell Cellars winery in Cutchogue provided a 2009 Merlot for the 2013 Inaugural Luncheon on Monday. The Stony Brook School’s Chamber Singers sang a South African song called “Bonse Aba” during a pre-inauguration celebration Saturday. And countless Long Islanders braved the cold to watch President Barack Obama’s second inauguration live.

“Being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every contour of life,” Obama said from the steps of the Capitol Building. “It does not mean we will all define liberty in exactly the same way, or follow the same precise path to happiness. Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time—but it does require us to act in our time.”

The president gave his second inaugural address Monday after a ceremonial oath. Chief Justice John Roberts had sworn Obama shortly before noon Jan. 20, as is legally required, but his swearing in ceremony was redone publicly Monday for the full day’s events, which coincided with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Whenever Inauguration Day falls on a Sunday, it is rescheduled for the following day.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), chair of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, said the caterers for the 2013 Inaugural Luncheon chose Bedell, the North Fork wine.

“Serving Long Island’s own Bedell Cellars Merlot at the Inaugural luncheon shines a spotlight on one of New York’s world-class wine industry,” said Schumer. The senator was reportedly pushing for Long Island duck on the menu, but the Merlot will be served with bison instead.

The 16-member Stony Brook School Chamber Singers had received an invitation to sing in an inauguration event at the National City Christian Church as well. They were among 40 ensembles invited to perform from across the country.

In addition to LI residents who drove down to the nation’s capital on their own, some organized bus trips, including an NAACP-chartered coach to D.C. from Lakeview that left early Monday morning destined for the National Mall.

Comparing the Founding Fathers to the partisan gridlock in today’s Congress were dominant themes woven throughout Obama’s speech as he nudged the Republican majority that has blocked his legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay,” the president said. “We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate.  We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect.  We must act, knowing that today’s victories will be only partial, and that it will be up to those who stand here in four years, and 40 years, and 400 years hence to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.”