Free Republic

A bar on Long Island is in hot water after it reportedly took bets on shooting deaths in New York City and Chicago. The Cliffton on East Main Street in Patchogue created a gambling pool on which city would see the most shooting deaths over the Labor Day holiday weekend, with the winner offered a cash prize, according to Newsday. “Let the shooting sprees begin!” the bar reportedly posted to Instagram last week along with a photo of a Super Bowl-style betting box. Officials have since expressed outrage over the gambling pool. …

Suffolk County police arrested seven people and detained two others on immigration holds during a raid of two Patchogue bars they said were MS-13 hangouts. Suffolk police and the state liquor authority raided Cuscatlon Sport Bar & Grill at 290 East Main St. and at El Capitan Sports Bar at 125 Medford Ave. about 1 a.m. Saturday, police said. Both bars were condemned and shut down because of unsafe conditions and structural issues, police said. Suffolk police Commissioner Timothy Sini said the bars were targeted as public nuisances, where gang members were known to gather. …

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. — Snowflake parties have been multiplying, winter light festivals have been abounding, and holiday concerts have filled school halls with joyous tones.But Christians are saying, “Enough with the political correctness run amok. We want our Christmas back!” Consider: When Patchogue Village on Long Island, N.Y., renamed its Christmas boat parade a “holiday” event, Fireworks by Grucci dropped its $5,000 donation. Three thousand supportive calls, e-mails and letters poured into the company. Philip Butler, the company’s vice president, even received e-mail thanks from a U.S. Army colonel in Iraq.When the American Humanist Association, a Washington, D.C.-based atheist group, launched...

<p>An annual parade of boats on a Long Island river that dropped "Christmas" from its name has apparently lost lots of supporters.</p> <p>About 1,000 people showed up Sunday for the Patchogue (PACH'-awg) Boat Parade of Lights. That's 500 fewer than usually showed up when it was called the Patchogue Christmas Boat Parade.</p>

WASHINGTON - A new book offers chilling details about the valor and sacrifice of a Long Island Navy SEAL - but it could also hurt his chances for the Medal of Honor. Lt. Michael Murphy of Patchogue died leading three other frogmen on a secret Afghan recon mission on June 28, 2005. One of them, Marcus Luttrell, writes in "Lone Survivor" that the team was surprised by three Pashtun tribesmen, including a young boy, herding goats. Luttrell made the shocking claim that Murphy took a vote on whether to kill them to stay covert. One SEAL abstained. One said they...