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Mystery lingers below Wantagh Five men head down a manhole in the dark, mimicking N.Y. City oddity pulling a prank to people exploring the underground system. “I thought it could be teens A group of five people descended into the Wantagh doing a dare or something,” sewer system by way of a man- Wantagh resident Suzanne hole in the early hours of Aug. Pajonas said. Others questioned why the 27, prompting a number of 911 calls and an investigation that group would choose a busy has left residents wondering intersection, where businesses and surrounding streets have what was going on. surveillance camerThe group was seen removing a as. manhole cover on “There were the sidewalk of multiple witnesses Wantagh Avenue, who called 911,” near Jerusalem resident Justin Avenue, shortly Haas said. “Camera after 1 a.m., accordfootage was taken.” ing to Nassau CounHaas said the ty police. Two witcircumstances nesses reported seeraised questions ing the men enter CRISTINA about whether that the sewer before particular section RAPUANO they replaced the of the sewer syscover and disap- Wantagh resident tem could have peared undersome significance, ground. though there was no evidence Police and the Wantagh Fire of what the group was doing Department responded to the underground, or perhaps lookarea and searched the sewer ing for. system. No one was found The Fire Department, meanunderground and authorities while, is emphasizing that reported no damage, according whatever the reason, entering a to police. The reason the group sewer system can be extremely entered the sewer remains dangerous. Kevin Regan, the unclear. department’s public informaThe incident has generated tion officer, said the general plenty of theories among resi- rule is that anyone who does dents, ranging from teenagers CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
By HUNTER FENOLLOL
hfenollol@liherald.com
Courtesy Tom Donovan
Brandon Cullen, far left, who donated a kidney to fellow Jones Beach lifeguard Joseph Curry, with Curry and his parents.
A legacy of lifeguards at Jones Beach Generations of rescuers build ties that last lifetimes By HUNTER FENOLLOL hfenollol@liherald.com
For Jones Beach lifeguards, the job may end when the summer season comes to a close, but the bonds forged on the sand, and in the ocean, can last a lifetime. That legacy was recently celebrated when the Jones Beach Lifeguard Association honored three members of the lifeguard community whose contributions span generations: Dave Spence, who spent more than six decades on the beach; Scott Riegel, founder of the Junior Lifeguard program; and Brandon Cullen, who donated a kidney to a fellow lifeguard. For Spence, 84, of Babylon, the story began in 1959. A swimmer who had recently
moved to Long Island from Westchester County, Spence was looking for a summer job when he decided to try out for the lifeguard corps. He wasn’t fast enough to qualify for an ocean spot his first summer, and instead worked at the park’s West Bathhouse pool. The following summer, he made it to the ocean — and ultimately spent nearly 60 years there, with 2018 marking his final season. “There’s a lot of personal satisfaction, a lot of lifetime lasting friendships, and a lifetime of fun,” Spence said. He remembers Jones Beach as a much different place when he started. On busy summer days, blankets could stretch from the CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
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omething is up, and authorities need to figure out what.