Find Your Daily Voice
Tuesday, aug 5
82°
© 2025 Cantata Media
Kathy Reakes
Reporter
kreakes@dailyvoice.com
Kathy Reaks has worked as a reporter in the local news business since 1984, starting as a news clerk and working her way up. She spent 17 years at Florida Today in Melbourne, Florida as a general assignment reporter, crime reporter, entertainment reporter and restaurant critic. She worked four years at Hometown News as a general assignment reporter, then another two years at Spacecoast Daily in Cocoa Beach, Florida. She attended Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Florida.
Staffer At Long Island Hospital Accused Of Forcibly Touching Female Patient
A Long Island man has been arrested for allegedly forcibly touching a woman who was being treated at an area hospital.
Taylor Melecio, age 25, of Wantagh was arrested on Sunday, June 6, for the incident which occurred in East Meadow.
According to Nassau County Police detectives, a woman, age 29, who was being treated at Nassau University Medical Center, 2201 Hempstead Turnpike, was inappropriately touched by a hospital staff member while being transported back to her hospital room.
The victim then called the police to report the incident, said police.
A thorough investigation was co…
Long Island Man Sentenced For Long Island Expressway Crash That Killed One, Injured Two
A Long Island man has been sentenced to 12 to 25 years in prison for a two-vehicle crash that killed a father of four and seriously injured two others while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Fernando Ramirez Jr., age 34, of Bay Shore, who was convicted by a jury in April for the 2017 crash, was sentenced on Tuesday, June 1, said Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini.
The crash took place on Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, when Ramirez was driving a 2008 Subaru eastbound on the Long Island Expressway service road in Hauppauge.
At approximately 3:20 a.m., Ramirez ran a r…
Beloved Hudson Valley Teacher Dies At 52
A beloved Hudson Valley teacher has died after a battle with a brain tumor.
Orange County resident Sue Giza, age 52, of Middletown, a 10th-grade math teacher Monroe-Woodbury High School in Central Valley, died on Monday, May 24.
"During her time at Monroe-Woodbury, she inspired many young people and was a kind and supportive colleague. She will forever be missed," the school district said.
Besides her love of rock concerts and teaching, Giza's many interests included cooking, bike riding, cross country skiing, and winemaking.
"She would spend hours at a time in her ka…
82°
