Suffolk County hosts inaugural Irish American Heritage Celebration

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

In a sea of orange and green, Suffolk County officials, community groups and Irish Americans converged upon the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge on Friday, March 24, commemorating the firstever Irish American Heritage Celebration in county history.

In 2019, the Suffolk County Legislature unanimously approved a resolution designating March as Irish American Heritage Month. Friday’s event marked the first such celebration sponsored by the county government.

“We’re celebrating the incredible contributions that the Irish have made to the United States of America and to the world,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D).

The county executive also used the occasion to acknowledge the Ancient Order of the Hibernians, an Irish American heritage group with nine divisions across the county, including Port Jefferson, Selden, Smithtown and Huntington. Bellone said the AOH enriches Suffolk communities by celebrating Irish culture while giving back through various charitable endeavors.

Legislators from each of the county’s 18 districts had an opportunity to recognize an Irish American making an impact within their communities. Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) read off the biographical descriptions of each honoree.

Choral and bagpipe arrangements from several Irish American folk groups were performed, along with Irish historian Mike McCormack detailing the historical contributions of the Irish in Suffolk County.

— Photos from Steve Bellone’s Flickr page

SCPD to hold vehicle auction April 1

The Suffolk County Police Department Impound Section will hold an auction on April 1 at 9 a.m. at the Suffolk County Police Department Impound Facility, located at 100 Old Country Road in Westhampton. The auction begins at 9 a.m. and will be held rain or shine. There will be a preview of the vehicles on March 30 and March 31 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the impound yard. Vehicles will also be available for preview one hour prior to the start of the auction.

Approximately 120 lots will be auctioned off including sedans, SUVs, and motorcycles. All vehicles will start with a minimum bid of $300 and are sold asis. For a full list of vehicles, registration information and terms and conditions for the auction, visit www.suffolkpd.org under Precinct and Specialized Units, click Impound Section followed by Upcoming Auctions and Events.

The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police: Miller Place Smoke Shop robbed Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the person who entered the Miller Place Smoke Shop, located at 345 Route 25A in Miller Place, displayed what appeared to be a gun and stole money on February 6.

Rocky Point man convicted of murder

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on March 27 that Glenn Seejattan, 30, of Rocky Point, was found guilty after a jury trial of Murder in the Second Degree for the fatal shooting of a Centereach man who was reported missing in January 2022. As established at trial, the family of Justin Lee, 34, of Centereach, reported that he had been missing since January 18, 2022. Lee was last seen alive at Seejattan’s mother’s home in Rocky Point, where Seejattan also lived. On January 28, 2022, ten days after he went missing, the frozen body of Lee was discovered about a half mile away from Seejattan’s home. An autopsy revealed that Lee had sustained a gunshot wound to his head and a gunshot wound to his thigh.

A trial witness testified that Seejattan admitted that he had shot and killed somebody which he described as a drug deal gone bad. Seejattan further admitted that he shot the victim in the head, took his clothes off, wrapped him up in a blanket, and took him to the woods. Seejattan is due back in court for sentencing on April 26 and faces 25 years to life in prison.

Stony Brook woman found dead

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the death of a woman who was found in her car in the water in Stony Brook on March 26. Sixth Precinct police officers responded to Stony Brook Boat Ramp, located on Shore Road, after

Wanted for petit larceny

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a man and woman who allegedly stole two GOTRAX scooters from Target, located at 265 Pond Path in South Setauket, on February 23. The two items were valued at approximately $930. The suspects fled in a 4-door gray Nissan.

a 911 caller reported a vehicle in the water at approximately 6:45 a.m. Officers located Harriet Farish inside a 2020 Kia Telluride in the water. Farish, 76, of Stony Brook, was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the incident to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392.

Centereach massage parlor raided

Suffolk County Police arrested two Flushing women for alleged unlawful practice of a profession during a massage parlor raid in Centereach on March 27. Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers, along with a Town of Brookhaven Building Inspector, Brookhaven Town Fire Marshal and Brookhaven Town Investigator conducted a massage parlor investigation at New Day Spa, located at 14 Dawn Drive, and arrested Jessica Garcia, 30, and Wenjuan Deng, 42, were arrested and charged with alleged Unauthorized Practice of a Profession.

— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS.