Susan Lupinacci, Supervisor's Mom, Dies At 67

Susan Lupinacci

Susan J. Lupinacci, 67, a lifelong Huntington Station resident and mother of Huntington Supervisor Chad Lupinacci, died on Tuesday, Jan. 15 in her home on 11th Avenue, Supervisor Lupinacci said in a statement released last Wednesday.

In his statement, Lupinacci said, “I am devastated by the sudden loss of my beloved mother. She was the glue that held our family together. My mother’s life centered on family and friends, she put everyone before herself and she had an enormous amount of love to give.”

“She was a compassionate person who instilled the importance of helping others in me and my entire family and her absence from our lives is an immeasurable loss. I am so fortunate to have had a mother who loved me unconditionally and supported me wholeheartedly in my many endeavors. I will cherish the countless memories that we shared, and never forget the pride she had when I took the oath of office as Huntington Town Supervisor at our alma mater, Walt Whitman High School. I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers of support and healing during this painful time,” Lupinacci said.

Susan Lupinacci was born on Dec, 1, 1951 to Joseph and Ann Di Spirito. She grew up on 7th Avenue North in Huntington Station with her brother and sisters, graduating from Walt Whitman High School with the Class of 1969.

Her family owned Di Spirito Meat Market, the prominent pre-Urban Renewal Huntington Station butcher shop on New York Avenue, which was later relocated and renamed Whitman Meats.

Lupinacci had a career as a professional gardener and caterer and moved just four blocks from her childhood home to reside at 11th Avenue with her husband Sal Lupinacci for more than 40 years.

In addition to her husband and son, she is survived by a daughter Allison Belfiore, brother Edward Di Spirito, sisters Dolores Kenny and Connie Di Spirito, two grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family will receive friends at M.A. Connell Funeral Home Monday, Jan. 21. Funeral services will be held at 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at St. Hugh of Lincoln R.C. Church in Huntington Station. Burial will follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Huntington.

Suozzi Scores Seat On Ways And Means

Congressman Thomas Suozzi works during a hearing of the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Huntington’s second-term congressman Thomas Suozzi has been named to the House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee.

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) thanked House Democratic leadership and the new Ways and Means Committee chair Richard Neal (D- Worcester, MA) for appointing him to the prestigious committee.

“It is an honor to be appointed and serve my constituents on this committee,” Suozzi said. “I will fight for the national issues voters and American families are concerned about – increasing wages, improving retirement security and reducing healthcare and prescription drug costs – as well as local issues like reinstating the SALT deduction.”

The Committee on Ways and Means is the oldest committee of the United States Congress, and is the chief tax-writing committee in the House of Representatives. The committee has jurisdiction over revenue and related issues such as tariffs, trade agreements, Social Security, Medicare and other social services programs.

Suozzi said his experience as a former CPA, an attorney, Mayor of Glen Cove and Nassau County Executive would help bring expertise to the committee charged with handling revenue and tax legislation.

Suozzi is slated to take over the “downstate New York seat” on the committee previously held by former Democratic congressman Joe Crowley. Crowley lost the 2018 Democratic primary for New York’s 14th District in Queens to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Suozzi is one of 10 new Democratic members appointed to the Ways and Means Committee since the Democrats took control of the House on Jan. 3.

Alleged MS-13 Members Charged In Teen's Stabbing

Three alleged MS 13 gang members arrested after a 16-year-old Huntington High School student was stabbed at the Big H shopping center in Huntington, entered the country illegally, according to the Suffolk DA. Police charged, from left, Nobeli Montes Zuniga, Oscar Canales Molina and Ramon Arevalo Lopez with second-degree assault. Photos/SCPD

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

Three alleged members of the MS-13 street gang arrested Wednesday after a teen was stabbed at the Big H shopping center in Huntington entered the country illegally, according to Suffolk District Attorney Tim Sini.

At a press conference Thursday afternoon Sini detailed the incident that sent a 16-year-old Huntington High School student to the hospital and left at least one other teen injured.

Police were called to the Burger King in the Big H shopping center at 837 New York Avenue at 3:38 p.m. on Jan. 9 where a fight had broken out between two groups, Sini said.

The alleged MS-13 members – Nobeli Montes Zuniga, 20, Ramon Arevalo Lopez, 19, and Oscar Canales Molina, 17, all of Huntington Station – “charged after the teens while wielding bats and knives, and an altercation broke out,” Sini said.  

During the ensuing “melee,” Sini said Lopez stabbed the 16-year-old.

The stabbing victim was taken from the scene to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Sini said another teen was also injured in the incident.

The three suspects took off in a Toyota, and were arrested in the vehicle a short time later “with blood on their clothing and hands,” Sini said.

Zuniga, Lopez and Molina are all “confirmed” members of the MS 13 gang, and all entered the country illegally,Sini said.

According to the DA:

• The alleged stabber, Lopez, entered the country illegally on Dec. 8, 2016 and was picked up by the Department of Homeland Security in October 2017. A federal judge released him from custody in June 2018.

• Molina entered the country as an unaccompanied minor. He was picked up by Homeland Security in July 2017 and released by a federal judge on November 28 of that year.

• Zuniga entered the country as an unaccompanied minor.

There was increased security at Huntington High School Thursday.

In a letter posted to the district website Wednesday night, Huntington Superintendent James Polansky said high school staff was aware of the incident.

“So as to take every precaution possible, additional security measures will be in place at the school tomorrow morning and a police presence has been requested,” Polansky said in the letter.

Suffolk Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart confirmed police acted on Polansky’s request and had officers at the high school Thursday during lunchtime and at dismissal.

She said Thursday afternoon no incidents had occurred at the school.

Zuniga, Lopez and Molina were all charged with second-degree assault. They were arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Jan. 10.

Lopez’s bail was set at $35,000, according to Sini.