The TIMES of Smithtown
Serving Smithtown • St. JameS • neSconSet • commack • hauppauge • kingS park • Fort Salonga March 24, 2016
Volume 29, No. 4
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On the hunt Photos from The Fort Salonga association
above, Fort Salonga families pick up easter eggs near callahan’s Beach. left, young ones scan for eggs as they celebrate the easter fun near callahan’s Beach over the weekend. By giSelle Barkley
Call it a comeback
Smithtown board of education votes to keep cross-country squad together
Page a4
Fort Salonga families were on the prowl for Easter Eggs this past Saturday March 19, during the Fort Salonga Association’s 25th annual Easter egg hunt.
Parents and their children darted from one egg to another near Callahan’s Beach for a morning of Easter fun and a chance to see the Easter Bunny. See more photos of the Easter egg hunt on page A9.
Limo at fault in crash that killed Smithtown girls By phil corSo
A fatal crash was the result of a limousine’s dangerous Uturn at a busy intersection in Cutchogue, and on Wednesday a special grand jury placed the blame on the driver. Carlos F. Pino, 58, of Old Bethpage, surrendered to police Wednesday and was arraigned on four charges of criminally negligent homicide, four counts of assault, failure to yield the right of way, reckless driving and other traffic violations, Suffolk County District Attorney Tom Spota said. Pino was attempting a U-turn near the intersection of Depot Lane and Coun-
ty Route 48 on July 18 when Steven Romeo, 55, of Peconic, T-boned the limo, killing four and injuring six. The crash killed Smithtown’s Brittney Schulman, 23, and Lauren Baruch, 24, as well as Stephanie Belli, 23, of Kings Park and Amy Grabina, 23, of Commack, who were all riding in a limousine in the middle of a weekend wine tour on the eastern part of the Island. The collision also injured passengers Joelle Dimonte, 25, of Elwood, Melissa Angela Crai, 23, of Scarsdale, Alicia Arundel, 24, of Setauket and Olga Lipets, 24, of Brooklyn. Romeo, the DA said, was operating the truck under the influence of alcohol and was
Photo by alex Petroski
Suffolk county District attorney tom Spota addresses the media.
charged with driving while intoxicated the day of the crash. Pino pleaded not guilty to the charges on Wednesday and was given a cash bail of
$50,000 and bond of $100,000. His next court date is scheduled for April 19. Romeo also pleaded not guilty to two CRaSH continued on page a5