News Nearby: School Bus Driver Arrested on DWI Charge

Sachem

Patch has confirmed that Robert Stundis, the Bohemia man arrested in Ronkonkoma Wednesday for DWI while operating a school mini-bus, drove for The Three Village School District's contracted bus company, Acme.

Full story: http://sachem.patch.com/articles/mini-bus-driver-arrested-in-ronkonkoma-driving-drunk-with-missing-tire

West Islip

The Islip Town Board got an earful Tuesday from residents who are not too pleased with a preliminary 2013 budget proposal that would raise Town taxes by 65 percent–or $225 a year for the average homeowner. 

Full story: http://westislip.patch.com/articles/potential-65-percent-islip-town-tax-hike-fires-up-residents

Lindenhurst

Police say James Bartolomeo - the husband of former Lindenhurst Board of Education Trustee Julie Bartolomeo who resigned on Wednesday - provided alcoholic beverages to a group of high school students at his home in Lindenhurst last month.

Full story: http://lindenhurst.patch.com/articles/husband-of-former-boe-trustee-arrested-for-providing-alcohol-to-minors-at-house-party

Patchogue

An elderly man who went missing while visiting family in Patchogue has been found.

Full story: http://patchogue.patch.com/articles/police-man-lost-in-patchogue-found-in-brooklyn

Babylon Village

Three shootings in a neighborhood of West Babylon in the past month are all gang related, according to Inspector Gerard Gigante of the Suffolk County Police Department's First Precinct.

Full story: http://babylonvillage.patch.com/articles/police-west-babylon-shootings-are-gang-related

Sayville-Bayport

Bayport-Blue Point Board of Education President James March issued a second statement Tuesday night regarding the controversy over a BOE welcome dinner event for the district’s new school chief, stating it was an “honest mistake” and that it is time to “move on.”

Full story: http://sayville.patch.com/articles/b-bp-boe-apologizes-again-for-policy-breach-pledges-better-oversight#c

Half Hollow Hills

When her younger brother was diagnosed with autism last year, Nova Shek quickly became his biggest supporter.  So when the sixth grader at Candlewood Middle School noticed that 4-year-old Zen's classmates at Building Blocks Developmental Preschool in Commack were sharing just a few iPads, which have become an integral tool in helping children with autism communicate, she took action. 

Full story: http://halfhollowhills.patch.com/articles/dix-hills-middle-schooler-donates-ipads-to-developmental-preschool

Deer Park-North Babylon

Burglaries have spiked in Deer Park over the past two weeks, Suffolk County Police said during a recent meeting at the First Precinct in West Babylon.

Full story: http://deerpark-northbabylon.patch.com/articles/burglaries-spike-in-deer-park