While the rest of the city was busy hoarding canned food, a handful of intrepid surfers were instead chasing after Irene, hunting down the elusive big waves that only a big storm can bring. "It's our only chance as East Coast surfers to get large, powerful waves like in other places in the world," said "hurricane surfer" Shea Lopez. "It's exciting being around the hurricane. You can't help but get caught up in the drama." more ›

The body of a Long Island math teacher and surfer who had been missing since Sunday was found today off the coast of western Indonesia. Daniel Bobis, who had been vacationing with his wife and a friend, wiped out while surfing. His body was pulled out of the waters by fishermen, about 20 miles from where he had been. more ›

Evan Potts, who was accused of killing Ian Sharinn with his Nissan Altima in a road rage incident in Long Beach in 2009, was acquitted of second-degree manslaughter charges. However Potts, who was 22 at the time of the incident, was convicted of criminally negligent homicide, and faces four years in prison at his sentencing on August 16, ABC 7 reports. At the time, a witness described that Potts ran over Sharinn "like a cat in the road…I heard his head rattling in the undercarriage." more ›

An osteopath with a family practice on Long Beach is being hit with a sexual harassment lawsuit by three former employees who accuse the alleged shock doc of a litany of perverse transgressions. Yesterday the three women held a press conference to elaborate on the accusations; they say Dr. Edward Kleiner sexted them, groped them, offered weight-loss tips, exposed his penis, and once brought an inflatable sex doll to the office—a gag that never gets old (if you're a 15-year-old boy). Kleiner also allegedly accepted marijuana as a form of payment and authorized his administrative staff to write pre-signed narcotics prescriptions for patients while he was away on vacation. But perhaps the creepiest accusation involves an insemination incident. more ›

The Nassau County DA's office announced it will not press charges against the NYC school teacher whose student drowned while on a class trip at Long Beach. Sixth grader Nicole Suriel, who could not swim, was in the water, even though there were signs clearly stating there were no lifeguards on duty, and drowned to death. Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice said, "The decision to visit the beach and allow the students to enter the ocean may not have been wise, but the evidence does not establish that it was a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would have observed." more ›

While Hurricane Igor is headed way east, a high surf advisory was in effect through this morning (waves of 6 to 10 feet were expected). Even though one surfer in North Carolina died on Sunday, our local surfers have been enjoying the opportunity. Above are photos from Long Beach and below is a video from Rockaway Beach: more ›

A Department of Education investigation into the drowning of sixth grader Nicole Suriel during a class trip to Long Beach slammed Columbia Secondary School for poor planning that led to the tragedy. The beach had numerous signs noting there were no lifeguards on duty; there were three adults supervising the 24 students. The DOE fired first-year teacher Erin Bailey and disciplined assistant principal Andrew Stillman and Principal Jose Maldonado-Rivera. more ›

Now it turns out that another public school—PS 3 in Greenwich Village—had a field trip at Long Beach last Tuesday, the same day that Columbia Secondary School sixth grader Nicole Suriel drowned there. According to the Daily News, 50 students from PS 3—with 24 adults—"got in the water with Columbia Secondary School kids at Long Beach, where no lifeguards were on duty." Columbia Secondary's field trip had about two dozen students, supervised by three adults. Apparently the DOE doesn't require a lifeguard on duty for swimming at this time; a spokeswoman said before any changes are made to the regulations, the department is "awaiting an outcome of an investigation." more ›

The drowning of a NYC sixth grade student during a class trip to Long Beach is now under criminal investigation. Nicole Suriel, 12, and other Columbia Secondary School students were in the water, even though there were signs clearly indicating no lifeguards were on duty. A high-ranking source told the Post, "We're looking to see if any of the adults involved in this have any criminal responsibility. There's a crime called endangering the welfare of children, and it's hard to see how this doesn't fit that description." more ›

The father of a 12-year-old girl who drowned during a class trip in Long Beach, Long Island, told the NY Times, "We had so much fun there, going to the beach [in the Dominican Republic]. She loved the beach, but she didn’t know how to swim." Juan Suriel said he tried to teach her, but emphatically told the Daily News that daughter Nicole "did not know how to swim" and that he and his wife never signed a permission slip. more ›

The tragic death of 12-year-old Nicole Suriel, who drowned during a class trip to Long Beach, is putting the practices that Columbia Secondary School and the Department of Education enforce during school trips under scrutiny. Suriel's parents say they did not sign a permission slip for the trip and Juan Suriel recounted hearing about his daughter's death: "The principal called, 'We have to go to the beach. I think Nicole is dead.' I said, 'You're joking. Only two or three hours ago I spoke to her.' It just doesn't make sense." more ›

A sixth grader at Columbia Secondary School drowned while on a school field trip to Long Beach yesterday. Twelve-year-old Nicole Suriel disappeared while swimming and was found nearly an hour and a half after other students and adults realized she was missing. WPIX reports, "At some point got swept by a current, ending up in an area far from view"; Nicole was later pronounced dead at a hospital. more ›

Police say that it was an accident when a Long Beach police officer ran over a beachgoer with his SUV on Wednesday. Nassau County police spokesman Det. Lt. Kevin Smith said that officer Paul DeMarco had been driving north when there were calls for help for a swimmer in distress. Newsday reports, "His attention momentarily diverted, DeMarco made a 'sweeping' U-turn to the right when he struck Marshall Starkman, 43, sitting in a lounge chair, Smith said. DeMarco didn’t realize he had hit anyone until beachgoers told him, police and officials said. 'He begins the turn and he doesn’t see the gentleman lying in the sand,' Smith said." more ›

A swimmer is missing and presumed dead off of Long Beach. WCBS 2 reports, "a 19-year-old Brooklyn man was wading about knee-deep in the water with three friends, but the strong current off the jetty soon sucked all four of them out to sea." Only the three friends could swim, and officials were unable to find Baruch College student Emanuel Tiburcio. Long Beach City Manager Charles Theofan said, "Unfortunately, not even the best swimmer could survive in water that rough and that cold." more ›

Uh-oh: While responding to a call about a surfer in distress, WABC 7 reports, "A sunbather was run over by a police officer driving on the beach to respond to a reported water rescue in Long Beach this afternoon. The victim was lying in a chair when he was run over by the sport utility vehicle just before 12:30 p.m... The sunbather, a man in his 40s, was rushed by helicopter to Nassau University Medical Center." The Long Beach Police, whose officer was involved in the incident, is asking the Nassau County Police to conduct the investigation. WABC 7 adds, "The victim's chair was low to the ground, and it may have been obstructed by the sand." more ›

Evan Potts was in court today for a routine conference on his upcoming manslaughter trial for fatally running over Ian Sharinn after a road rage confrontation in Long Beach a couple weeks back. Sharinn's family was there to meet face-to-face with the 22-year-old Potts, who claims that he panicked and drove into Sharinn when the victim was yelling at him and banging on his vehicle while Potts was stopped at a red light. WCBS 2 says that a witness believes it was an accident, "Someone else in our building gave the same account of the story." Potts has been out of jail for a week after posting $500,000 bond. Speculation is that parents of the Queens College student had to mortgage their home in order to raise the money. Outside court Evan Potts told a reporter, "All I have to say is I'm glad to be out to defend myself against these charges." A "Free Evan Potts" Facebook group has almost 700 members an is discussing a possible benefit concert. more ›

It's one thing to have a party at home with drinks and dancing. But it's another thing to charge guests for entrance at your home basement nightclub. Newsday reports that Long Beach police, who were investigating a noise complaint, found 30 people inside—and 20 people outside—of Julissa and Joseph Naraine's home. Paying a fee would allow folks to enjoy music, dancing, a DJ and a buffet at the Naraines'. The couple, who "claimed the parties help pay for his daughter to perform in beauty pageants," now face charges related to violating zoning, building and alcohol laws. We hope Cafe Disco in Scranton, Pennsylvania isn't shut down! more ›

Evan Potts is being held on $5 million bond after pleading not guilty to manslaughter charges after fatally striking 34-year-old Ian Sharinn with his Nissan Altima and then driving over the victim's body. The 22-year-old defendant's lawyer, Stanley Kopilow, said he would appeal the high bail—$500,000 if paid in cash—as he told the court yesterday, "This was a tragedy that was fueled by unreasonable anger on the part of the deceased and panic on behalf of my client." more ›

A 34-year-old man was killed after a road rage confrontation in Long Beach that saw the 22-year-old driver of the other vehicle strike the victim with his Nissan Altima and continue driving right over him before fleeing the scene. Evan Potts was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter after onlookers say he panicked when the driver of a '78 canary yellow Porsche got out of his car and began yelling at Potts after the two had been in an ongoing confrontation behind their respective wheels for over a mile. Nassau County Police spokesman Kevin Smith said, "We believe he extended his arms and said something to him. We believe it was a profanity. We don't know the exact phrase that was used, but at that time the driver stepped on the gas, struck him, might have dragged him for a short period of time." A witness described it, "He went right over him like he was a cat in the road...I heard his head rattling in the undercarriage." Potts claims that he was trying to get away fro the driver for five minutes and had been attempting to call 911. more ›

This past weekend, the Coast Guard, NYPD, FDNY and other groups looked for swimmers missing off local shores but ultimately did not find any of the three people who were apparently caught in riptides. Since Friday, four other people drowned off NYC and Long Island beaches. more ›

After Friday's dangerous day where two people drowned and two others were missing off NYC and Long Island beaches, more people were caught by the waters. In Long Beach, 29-year-old man was struggling in the waters; though lifeguards reached him quickly, he died on the way to the hospital. And off Coney Island, a 10-year-old girl is still missing of the waters while another child was pulled from the same waters earlier in the day. The Coast Guard said, ""The undertows and rip tides have been particularly strong around the beaches for the past few weeks. The Coast Guard continues to urge the public to use caution while enjoying the water in areas known for rip tides." more ›

A boy who recently graduated middle school drowned yesterday afternoon after jumping into the Reynolds Channel off Long Beach. Leo Vann and his friends had been at the skateboard park, and Vann decided to jump in to cool off. Though Vann reportedly could swim, it's believed he got caught in the undercurrent. Witnesses were unsuccessful in saving him and it took rescuers over 30 minutes to pull Vann from the water. His mother questioned why the skateboard park wasn't better supervised (however, Newsday noted a "no swimming" sign nearby). more ›

Clifford is unapologetic about his bullying behavior, claiming that it's his first amendment right to berate people who annoy him and laughing as he describes the time he punched a woman in the face. The lawyer who got his degree after retiring from the NYPD on disability says "If I look like an ass, I look like an ass. I can't change who I am." more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: Is there a bank robber hitting up multiple banks on the Upper West Side? There were robberies at 2438 Broadway and 59 West 86th St; there were also two separate police vehicle MVAs in The Bronx and Brooklyn; and a fatality under a train in Jackson Heights (it says A, but we'll assume it's the E).
• If any Wall Street types you know were depressed yesterday after the Dow lost 280 points, they'll be happier today: The Dow gained almost 250 points in a rally and Nasdaq had its biggest rally in a year (thanks to speculation that Apple will introduce new iPods before Christmas).
• Just in time for the start of school, a federal judge upheld the city's ban on metal bats during high school games. The law hits the books Saturday and groups opposing the ban have yet to decide if they're going to appeal.
• Also in time for school: Almost half of NYC teens have had sex: More than two-thirds use condoms, while only 8% use birth control pills.
• Quinnipiac pollster Mickey Carroll talks to The Politicker about Spitzer's scandal ("It's crazy!").
• Stop dreaming about your home fix it's and make them happen: Brownstoner is having a Salvage Fest on September 8.
• The 12-year-old girl hit by a stray bullet in Crown Heights was back playing with her friends yesterday.
• Robert A.M. Stern Architects will be designing the George W. Bush Presidential Library.
• Finally, a note to all aspiring gangsta rap parody artists. Don't film the video at the grocery store you work in like a pair of brothers in New Jersey did. That will get you fired.

• Red Bulls 5, Galaxy 4: Giants Stadium fills up for plenty of events, but Red Bulls games don't usually rank among those. Saturday's did, if only because David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy was in town. Those fans, who were there for Beckham and not the Galaxy, found another rare treat: goals in a Major League Soccer game. Soccer doesn't need frequent scores to be exciting, but the rare 5-4 game never hurt anyone. Not only did Beckham play, but he stayed on the artificial pitch the whole game, setting up three goals in his team's loss. The nine total goals fell two short of the league record, which came nine years ago. Jozy Altidore had two of them for the Red Bulls, who are now 10-7-3.
• Yankees 5, Tigers 2: Control can do wonders for a pitcher. Roger Clemens didn't have his best stuff, but he did well in two departments: strikeouts and walks. He K'd eight and walked none through six innings while allowing two runs, and Bobby Abreu's two-run homer off the left-field fair foul pole helped make him a winner. So did the bullpen, which in Kyle Farnsworth, Luis Vizcaino and Mariano Rivera provided three innings of scoreless relief. The Yankees can take three of four in the series if they win when Chien-Ming Wang takes on Jeremy Bonderman, the man who eliminated the Yankees from the playoffs last year.
• Mets 7, Nationals 4: The good news: Luis Castillo homered and the Mets won. The bad news: Damion Easley sprained his ankle, and, with Ramon Castro moved to the disabled list, the Mets' catching corps now consists of Mike DiFelice and Sandy Alomar Jr. Their short-handed lineup -- Carlos Delgado was also out nursing an injury -- still had David Wright, who doubled home two runs to give his team the lead for good against John Lannan, a Long Beach, N.Y., native.

A Brooklyn resident who went swimming in the buff off Long Beach was lost overnight until the Coast Guard found him yesterday morning. Newsday reports that Neal Mello went for a swim around 9:30PM on Saturday night. He "left his clothes, phone and wallet beside a friend, who then fell asleep on the sand near Edwards Avenue." more ›

New York has a small Cambodian community. The Fordham and University Heights sections of the Bronx are home to about 2000 Khmer immigrants. One of the more recent immigrants is Ratana Veth, Cambodian actress and karaoke star. (Note: The Times refers to the her as Ratana Veth but her internet fans invariably call her Veth Ratana). Veth married Tek Vandy, owner of the Battambang II grocery store on East Kingsbridge Road, last year and moved to the Bronx in September. more ›