Five Alleged Gang Members Indicted

Five alleged members of a Long Island street gang were indicted on charges of murder, assault and robbery. Two of the five men, Hector Torres and Jose Alvarenga, were arraigned on Monday, each pleading not guilty. The other three defendants will face arraignment later this week. The charges come after prosecutors say the men were involved in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy outside of a house party in Brentwood while one of the defendants is accused of killing another gang member suspected of working as a government informant execution-style.

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Syosset Student Diagnosed with MRSA

A student at Syosset High School was recently diagnosed with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA is a strain of staph infection that is resistant to basic antibiotics, such as methicillin. It can be spread by sharing contaminated items such as towels and clothing but the Nassau County Health Department is working with the school to minimize the risk of transmission to other students. If untreated the infection can develop into a full blown case of staph infection, impetigo and even MRSA pneumonia but if taken care of early it came be treated with localized care by a physician and antibiotics. Principal Giovanni Durante says that the “simplest and most important measure to prevent the spread of infection is to use good personal hygiene… hand washing, proper care of skin injuries and skin infections, and avoiding sharing personal items such as razors, headgear and towels.”

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LI Woman Brought Back to Life at LIJ Medical

24-year-old Joanne Giacalone suffered cardiac arrest and passed out in a parking lot as a result on the afternoon of December 20, 2011. She was brought to a local hospital and then transferred to North Shore-LIJ where a medical team performed constant chest compressions thusly saving her life. It was also discovered that she had a significant pulmonary embolism (clots in the lungs). Doctors hadn’t been too optimistic in her chances of survival however. After Giacalone’s surgery her breast bone couldn’t be closed due to internal swelling. Surgeons moved her to the ICU, chest open and only a dressing covering her heart. Dr. Michael Graver (the surgeon who saved Giacalone’s life) and Dr. Jacob Scheinerman (Vice Chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery) dubbed Miss Giacalone as their “Christmas miracle” and was permitted to go home on January 3. Giacalone is a nursing school graduate and has hopes of working in the LIJ cardiothoracic unit. Dr. Graver announced that she will be admitted into the Critical Care Nursing Fellowship later this year.

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DWI Suspect Used Fake ID

Police stopped Isreal Garcia after he let a house on Albany Avenue in Southampton where police responded short before 11pm to a report of a domestic incident. The 34-year-old man was apprehended on Quogue Avenue while driving a jeep, allegedly under the influence of alcohol. After Garcia failed the field sobriety tests he presented a fake North Carolina drivers license to officers. Garcia has been charged with driving while intoxicated and criminal possession of a forged instrument. He will be arraigned at Southampton Town Justice Court.

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