Top 5 RVC Hard News Stories of 2011

2011 is coming to an end, and as we approach 2012, let's look back at the top five hard news stories in Rockville Centre this year.

No. 5 — Hurricane Irene hits Rockville Centre

Luckily, no one was injured during the late August hurricane/tropical storm that ripped through Long Island. , and dozens of trees were uprooted causing damage to numerous village homes. Remember ? Or what about ? The village did an excellent job with its response time and , and kudos to the Department of Public Works and Electric Department for their great work.

No. 4 —

Six Riverside Elementary School students were taken to an area hospital on June 9 and were treated for heat exhaustion after feeling ill while practicing for their spring concert in the school's gym.

The gym does not have air-conditioning, and school officials said the temperature in the gym was in the mid-80s.

According to Board of Education President Liz Dion, the entire school — about 160 kids — were in the gym rehearsing for the concert. Around 60 fourth and fifth graders were on "risers" or on stage, singing and dancing when ten of them became sick.

No. 3 —

On July 17, the village lost a longtime staple of the community when Greystone Deli burned down. Fire department officials said flames spread through the ceiling of the deli and firefighters were on the roof trying to extinguish the blaze, which they said appeared to be electrical in nature. No one was hurt in the blaze, and thanks to by the community, owner William Waxon said he will rebuild the beloved deli.

No. 2 —

After an acrimonious run up to the village election, Francis Murray, Nancy Howard and Mike Sepe defeated Concerned Citizens Party incumbents Mary Bossart and Dave Krasula, as well as newcomer Michelle Sewell, for the three open spots on the Village Board. Murray's party — RVC United — received double the amount of votes in the election, putting him in the same mayoral seat his father held in the village for 20 years.

No. 1 —

The early morning raid on July 1 in an Old Mill Court apartment complex was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Officials said the gang members trafficked cocaine, heroin and crack throughout Long Island.

According to James Margolin, spokesman for the FBI, 13 of 15 Bloods gang members wanted for narcotics trafficking were arrested during the raid of an apartment complex on Wellington Street and North Centre Avenue. The raid, which took place at 5 a.m. on July 1, was the culmination of a 14-month investigation led by the Rockville Centre Police Department.

If convicted of the drug distribution conspiracy charges, each of the faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Stories that nearly made the cut:

Do you think we missed a story? Let us know in the comments!