Long Island Church Damaged in Fire
New Hope Lutheran Church in Valley Stream suffered extensive damage after an electrical fire broke out inside the church. The Valley Stream firefighters who responded to the scene around 6:30pm Wednesday report flames shooting through the roof when they arrived. It took six local fire departments to battle the flames. No injuries have been reported and authorities say the fire was accidental.
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Family of Victim in Haven Drugs Murder Announces Suit
The family of Jamie Taccetta, one of four victims in the Haven Drugs pharmacy killings, has announced a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies that make oxycodone and the doctor who allegedly prescribed painkillers to the convicted murderer, David Laffer. Laffer walked into Haven Drugs in Medford on Father’s Day last year and killed four people inside the pharmacy before stuffing a backpack with thousand of oxycodone pills, painkillers he said he needed for his wife. Laffer has been sentenced to life in prison without parole while his wife, Melinda Brady, was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Authorities say she helped plan the robbery and drove the getaway car. Brady claims she didn’t know the plan would involve killing. The Taccetta family’s suit also names the Suffolk County Police Department, claiming they caused Jamie’s death by failing to investigate Laffer’s gun license and confiscating the gun he used in the murders, and the owner of Haven Drugs for selling drugs to Laffer and failing to protect the pharmacy with proper security systems.
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Kosher Caterers Serves Up Non-Kosher Dishes to Clients
A Long Island caterer is accused of committing a major sin in Jewish faith. Scott Morrell, owner of Morrell Caterers, is denying claims made by the general manager and chef, that he used the same kitchen and utensils to prepare kosher and non-kosher foods. Chef Michael Savitsky and general manager Tom Cataldo filed a suit against Morrell saying he cut corners by using the same equipment to prepare non-kosher items, such as shrimp and lobster, as he did to cook kosher. “This is a very calculated and cynical deliberate way of destroying my company,” says Morrell.
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Massapequa Man Charged in Stock Scam
Nassau County police arrested Stefans Zaffuto on Tuesday and changed with grand larceny after scamming a woman of out $5,000 dollars. Zaffuto, 27, is a former employee of Chase Bank and is accused of persuading the victim to buy unspecified stocks and guaranteed the woman 20-percent interest. The victim reportedly gave Zaffuto cash in the banks parking lot but the former banker didn’t have the money he guaranteed three months later when she contacted him again.