9 Most Read Stories of October

As we welcome November this weekend, let's take a quick look back at the most-read stories of October 2013. 

Kings Park Man Dies of Head Injury Weeks After Struggle With Cops

A Kings Park man who took a blow to the head during a police struggle nearly three weeks ago died Saturday as a result of that injury, according to police.

On Sept. 24, Suffolk County Police received a call that Lawrence Ports, 60, was acting irrationally at his 35 Hemlock Drive home in Kings Park, and after arriving police decided to call the county's Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team to take Ports to Stony Brook University Hospital.

Man Slips Out of Kings Park Restaurant Without Paying

A Commack man was arrested on Sept. 26 and charged with one misdemeanor count of failure to pay for services based on stealth. Police said the man ordered food and drank several alcoholic drinks at the Celtic Crossing Tavern in Kings Park, then left without paying. His bill totaled more than $100. 

Kings Park Mother Pleads for Return of Son's Stolen Memorial

A Kings Park mother begged Smithtown officials for help in tracking down her late son's military cap - one of many items missed when his memorial suddenly disappeared. 

Rose Byrne came forward to ask for public's help in finding items stolen from the memorial for her late son Seamus Byrne, an army veteran who received the Purple Heart for his service in Afghanistan, who was killed crossing Main Street after a birthday celebration in February 2011.

Police: Drunk Kings Park Man Hits 80 Mph on Vets Highway

Ryan Dutton, 24, of Kings Park, was arrested on Oct. 5 in Smithtown and charged with one misdemeanor count of driving while intoxicated - first offense. Police said Dutton was driving a 2012 Nissan westbound at 80 miles an hour on Veterans Memorial Highway in Smithtown at  12:38 a.m. Officers pulled over Dutton for speeding and swerving along the roadway.

Co-Workers Start Fundraiser for Kings Park Man Battling Brain Cancer

A Kings Park woman's co-workers are reaching out to the community to help raise funds to help a local husband and father battle against brain cancer. 

Rebeca Sanchez, a co-worker of Kings Park resident Kim Massa, has created a Give Forward fundraiser to help Kim and her husband, Jim Bubeck, who is battling stage 3 brain cancer. 

TD Bank Eyes Party Hardy's Main Street Storefront

TD Bank is looking to build a new branch in Kings Park, with eyes on a prominent Main Street spot. 

TD Bank has submitted site plans Sept. 16 to take over Party Hardy's storefront at 60 Main Street in Kings Park. The national has proposed razing the current building to build a 2,500-square-foot center it claims will benefit local residents. 

Cops: Kings Park Man Snuck Into St. Catherine's Boiler Room

A Kings Park man was arrested on Oct. 21 in Smithtown for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and third-degree criminal trespassing. Police said the man was driving a 2006 Chrysler when his driver's license has been suspended 15 times on 6 different dates, most recently on Feb. 10, 2013. He also snuck into the boiler room of St. Catherine's of Siena Medical Center without the proper authority or permission to do so, without giving reason, according to reports.

Police Step Up Patrols Over Halloween to Stop Psych Center Trespassers

Trespassers hoping to get a cheap thrill sneaking into the former Kings Park Psych Center this Halloween are more likely to wind up in handcuffs. 

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced Thursday it will be stepping up patrols and restricting travel near the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center property - now the Nissequogue River State Park - during the Halloween weekend. 

Parents: Growing Concerns Over Common Core Content, Data Mining

Kings Park parents are have growing concerns over the Common Core as the school year gets into full swing, while still left with unanswered questions about the district's stance and implementation of the new curriculum. 

"My son is losing his interest in school," said Debra Morsello, who has a third-grader in Kings Park. "I'm seeing him fight me, I'm seeing him in tears and I'm seeing him upset over the tests."