Top trending stories on social media for News 12 Long Island in 2022

It has been a year with a tense trial, a sports accomplishment four decades in the making and sharks.

Stephen Levine

Dec 28, 2022, 8:01 PM

Updated 694 days ago

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Top trending stories on social media for News 12 Long Island in 2022
It has been a year with a tense trial, a sports accomplishment four decades in the making and sharks. Here are a few of the top trending stories on social media for News 12 Long Island from 2022.

Police: East Northport father fatally struck by stray bullet while visiting son at Marist College (October 4)

The heartbreaking story of a Long Island father killed while visiting his son during a college family weekend gripped viewers. Paul Kutz, of East Northport, was struck by a stray bullet when two homeless men opened fire at the hotel he was staying at. 

Wegmans announces first location on Long Island to open in Lake Grove (April 25) 

News of Wegmans Food Market coming to Long Island had viewers excited. The popular chain will be opening a 100,000-square-foot store in the DSW Plaza near the Smith Haven Mall. Wegmans has 106 locations across the East Coast, but this will be its first on Long Island.

Michael Valva sentenced to 25 years to life in murder of son Thomas Valva (December 8)

"It was difficult for everyone." That is what Judge William Condon said about the Thomas Valva murder trial on sentencing day. The 8-year-old's father was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after being convicted of murdering his son. On the day of Thomas Valva's death, the former NYPD officer hosed down his son outside when it was below freezing, yelled at him in an expletive-filled rant and slapped him several times as the child collapsed.

'Summer of Sharks' (July 18-21)

It was the "Summer of Sharks" on Long Island in 2022. Between sharks being seen chasing a school of fish near Jones Beach to sharks washing up on the beach and a teen being bitten by a shark off Fire Island, it was a wild week in Long Island's waters.

On to Williamsport: Massapequa heads to Little League World Series (August 12)

The Massapequa Coast Little League team made all of Long Island baseball fans when they won the Metro Region championship. The 12-year-olds became the first Long Island team to reach the Little League World Series since 1978. They were eliminated by Pennsylvania but proved to be an inspiration to every boy across Long Island who ever wants to play in the Little League World Series.
This list was compiled by data from CrowdTangle. Local story posts with the most engagement from the year to date were then chosen for the list.