News Nearby: Riverhead Downtown Gets $30K Grant

Here’s a look at some of the top stories that made headlines in and around your community this past week.

East Hampton

Rocker Lou Reed Dies at 71

Lou Reed, the legendary rocker behind the Velvet Underground, has died. Reed, who had a house in East Hampton, passed away on Sunday at his home in Springs, six months after undergoing a liver transplant. He was 71.

Southampton

High School Students Protest Outcome of Southampton-Tuckahoe Merger Vote

A few hundred Southampton High School students held a peaceful sit-in on Friday morning to protest the way the Southampton-Tuckahoe school district merger vote went down earlier this week. Sebastian Cuyjet, a sophomore who lives on the Shinnecock Reservation, which is within the Southampton School District, organized the protest after hearing from other student who were just as disappointed with the outcome as he was.

Westhampton-Hampton Bays

Kiwanis Starts Collection Drive For Unwanted Instruments

It's no secret that many area school districts are struggling and in most cases, the first programs cut when budgeting are music-related. That's why the Kiwanis Club of Westhampton has decided to step in and help. This week, the 22-year-old Kiwanis Club kicked off a musical instrument collection drive in an effort to provide instruments to the area school districts, including Westhampton Beach and Eastport, for students to use.

North Fork

Porters Final Game Of Season Canceled; Hampton Bays Forfeits

The Porters won't be able to play their final game of the season at Greenport High School on Saturday: The game has been called off. Hampton Bays School Superintendent Lars Clemensen explained why the game was canceled: "The Hampton Bays School District made the decision to cancel Saturday's varsity football game against Greenport based on patterns of reported conduct that is both dangerous and unbecoming of Hampton Bays student athletes. This is an internal disciplinary matter, and therefore confidential because it involves students. Those involved will be disciplined appropriately in accordance with the code of conduct."

Riverhead

Riverhead’s Downtown Receives $30K Grant For Lighting

After months of discussions about how lighting can help enhance downtown Riverhead, Supervisor Sean Walter announced that the Riverhead Business Improvement District has recently been awarded $30,000 in Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization funding that will allow for the purchase and installation of LED light fixtures along Main Street.