Most Popular Bellmore Stories of August

From a fake celebrity prank that's gone viral to a Bellmore pilot that was arrested for flying below FAA regulations, it's been a busy August for Bellmore Patch. Here's a look at the most read stories:

5. Bellmore Resident Awarded $5 Million in Lawsuit: A Bellmore resident has been awarded $5 million following a federal jury verdict that ruled his business was damaged from a wrongful Nassau County police arrest in 2007. Bellmore resident Martin Tretola and his business were awarded $3 million in compensatory damages and $2 million in punitive damages by the federal jury in Central Islip, according to court records. Click here for more.

 The goal for Brett Cohen was to make New York City believe he's a celebrity — and for one night, that dream came true. Cohen, 21, and a 2009 John F. Kennedy High School graduate, came up with the idea to bring an entourage to the city, use paparazzi and fool the mobs at Times Square into thinking he was famous. Click here for more.

3. UPDATE: Motorcyclist Airlifted After Sunrise Highway Crash: Westbound Sunrise Highway was closed briefly between Bellmore Avenue and Centre Avenue after an accident involving a motorcycle. A Nassau County Police helicopter landed on Sunrise Highway to transport the motorcyclist to an area hospital. Click here for more.

2. Bellmore Man Arrested for Flying Plane Below FAA Regulated Altitude: A Bellmore man was arrested after allegedly flying his plane at altitudes of 200 feet back in June near Kennedy High School. According to Nassau County detectives, around 2:50 p.m. on June 17, Marc Capus, 49, operated his 1972 Cessna, twin-engine propeller aircraft at altitudes below the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) minimum safe altitude. The defendant flew his aircraft over Bellmore in the vicinity of Kennedy High School at altitudes of 200 to 400 feet, as tracked by the FAA NY TRACON. Click here for more.

1. Brett Cohen: The Transition From Fake to Real Celebrity: Just four days after John F. Kennedy High School graduate Brett Cohen posted a video on YouTube, his life has changed completely. The video, which is about Cohen’s prank to fool the people of New York City into believing he’s a celebrity, has actually helped him become one. Click here for the details.