Community Corner

Top 7 Stories of the Summer 2012

Take a look back at the major news that turned heads during the summer 2012.

The summer of 2012 saw plenty of major news related to Commack, from brutal the murder of a 2009 Commack High School graduate to news of name-brand restaurants with big followings looking to set up shop in town.

Here's a look at the top news stories of summer 2012: 


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Albany Sheriff's offices have arrested Tracy Zetsche, 52, and charged her with second-degree murder of her son, 22-year-old Gabriel Philby-Zetsche.  

Times Union reported that Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said the autopsy of Philby-Zetsche revealed that he died of a stab wound to his chest and multiple skull fractures caused by blunt force trauma. Apple also told the media Philby-Zetsche was lying dead for five days before his aunt found his body.

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Restaurant developers are looking to bring the bold flavors of the west to Jericho Turnpike in Commack. 

Darden Restaurants filed an application with the Town of Huntington on July 17 to build a Longhorn Steakhouse at the site of the former deli at 6228 Jericho Turnpike in Commack.


Seafood restaurant Main Catch opened its doors in the former site of Southside Fish & Clams this summer.

The Commack restaurant is still run by the same ownership, but has put a new focus on their customers, they said. Main Catch features seafood, steak and sushi on Jericho Turnpike, where Southside was previously self serve. 


The Town of Smithtown was robbed of more than $200,000 by a trio operating a recycling scheme in town for more than two years, officials said, and that amount is likely to increase.


Commack High School is one of many districts across Long Island struggling to come to grips and find a solution for a rising trend of local teen suicides.  


At first, recent sightings of supposedly needy families holding signs asking for money at stores along Veterans Highway and Nesconset Highway prompted Long Islanders to graciously open their wallets to help.

However, some now fear the panhandlers may be scamming people and exploiting children after the adults holding the signs were allegedly spotted with different children in their company.


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