News Nearby: Drunk Bus Driver Sentenced to 2 Years in Jail

Debate Persists On Contentious Miller Place Kindergarten Proposal

Full-Day kindergarten continued to be the topic of contention at Wednesday’s second budget workshop as the district pitched the proposal again while now including a four-year projection.
Clearly the most controversial topic after the first workshop, the program would come at no cost to district the first year and little cost in 2014-‘15 thanks to Kindergarten Conversion State Aid that would be received. The first two years of full-day kindergarten would come at a net cost of $105,370 thanks to a projected $750,000 in aid

Revenue Questions Loom Over Upcoming Village Budget

As Port Jefferson Village officials work on crafting a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Treasurer Don Pearce reported on Monday night that while increases in spending shouldn't be too much of a problem, the revenue side of the equation could prove to be quite a challenge.
Pearce and Village Board members discussed a preliminary budget proposal on Monday night at a work session, after the treasurer had discussed with department heads what would be necessary in next year's spending plan.
"We do not have, in my opinion, an expense problem here. But we have a severe revenue problem," Pearce said.

 Allstate to Build Tower Across from High School

Allstate Insurance will be building a new 70,000-square-foot office building across from Hauppauge High School to house its regional headquarters.According to Long Island Business News, Allstate will reportedly build a five-story building on a 24-acre lot on Veterans Highway that already houses two other towers, and was originally slated to hold a third.
Biz: Businesses to Pay Most of Hauppauge School BudgetHauppauge’s business districts will contribute more to the 2013-14 school budget than resident taxpayers, according to information provided working a budget workshop Tuesday at the Whippoorwill Administration building.

New CrossFit Gym Opens in St. James

CrossFit, a community-oriented fitness program that utilizes constant and varied high-intensity movements, is now offered in a new gym to the area, located at 648 Middle Country Road, units 4 and 5.

The gym is co-owned by Ryan Davis, a Setauket native and certified CrossFit coach since January, who before opening his own gym had prior coaching stints at LA Fitness and CrossFit Stony Brook.

Alongside Davis in CrossFit Smithtown is co-owner and coach Alexandra Totino. Davis and Totino have recently added another CrossFit coach, Brad Pareso, who

Drunk Bus Driver Sentenced to 2 Years in Jail

The Three Village school bus driver who was busted for driving drunk with a flat tire on the Long Island Expressway will serve two years in prison, according to a report published Thursday in Newsday. Robert Stundis, 48, of Bohemia, was convicted in December on charges including 12 counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle and six counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Reports say he had a blood-alcohol content of .23; a half-empty bottle of vodka was found in the center console of the bus.

Commack Multiplex Turns to Rubble
Once a vibrant, local attraction, the Commack Multiplex Cinemas is now nearly halfway demolished to make room for a Lowe's Home Improvement store.