Most Read Stories of 2011

1.

The most read story of the year was a Dec. 10 report of Suffolk County Police arresting David Smith, 21, of St. James after they say he pointed a green laser at an airplane and the ensuing police helicopter sent out to determine the laser's location. After the story broke, opinions of the incident went viral, .

2. 

Two young sisters were hit by a car on Main Street and sent to Stony Brook University Medical Center on May 5, one by helicopter and the other by ambulance. Police later released the names of the sisters, .

3. 

The former Boulder Creek Restaurant location at the intersection of Nesconset Highway and Mount Pleasant Road saw new life as months of constriction and resulted in the upscale steakhouse Insignia Prime Steak and Sushi.

4. 

During the March 22 regular Board of Education meeting, hundreds of teachers in attendance staged a walk-out following a speech by Smithtown Teachers Association President Richard Forzano, who accused the board of hindering negotiations.

5.

In the last week of 2011, pop star Britney Spears came to St. James for a quick workout, hitting the . Spears hit the gym and co-owner Daniel Moreno said gym members and staff let her work out uninterupted.

6. 

Teresa Hatta, 53, of Smithtown, died Nov. 5 in a car accident on St. Johnland Road. Police said Hatta was driving a 2003 Honda northbound on St. Johnland Road at 8 p.m. when she was hit by Timothy Suozzo, 20, of Smithtown, who was driving westbound on River Heights Road in a 2000 Toyota. After being struck by Suozzo, Hatta's car continued up St. Johnland Road and hit a tree.

7. 

After boaters discovered a 5-year-old boy drifting along the shores of Kings Park Bluff on Aug, 12, the search was on for his father Patrick Luca, a New York City police officer and Smithtown resident Patrick Luca. Luca's body was discovered .

8. 

Jonathan Czeh, 34, of Kings Park, was struck and killed Dec. 21 while was crossing West Jericho Turnpike at Plymouth Boulevard. Czeh was struck by a 2004 Ford Expedition driven by Lisa Boyle, 40, of Commack and pronounced dead at the scene.

9. 

Seamus Byrne, 33, of Smithtown, , was killed on the morning of Feb. 27 trying to cross Main Street at Lawrence Avenue in Smithtown leaving his birthday celebration.

10. 

The Smithtown Fire Department and Suffolk County Police responded to a three-car accident that closed Route 25A in Smithtown from West Main Street to Avalon Gardens on Sept. 6.