East End Report: Town Must Pay $15K For Moving a Rock

NORTH FORK

Town Settles Suit, Will Pay $15k for Moving Rock

On Tuesday, the Southold Town Board agreed to replace a boulder removed from a Mattituck property and pay the property owners' $15,000 legal fees to settle a federal lawsuit that was filed against the town and Southold Supervisor Scott Russell in December 2011.

Mattituck resident Christine Rivera said she hopes this is the last chapter of an ongoing dispute she's had with the town over her property lines. In November, Rivera said two town employees came and removed the rock from her property, claiming it was obstructing access to the public beach at the end of Inlet Drive.

SOUTHAMPTON

As the Republican-controlled House of Representatives mulls how to tackle the pending expiration of federal funding for highways, the Democratic minority leadership has turned to Southampton’s .

Bishop, a five-term Democrat, is tasked with being the primary sponsor of the House version of MAP-21, or Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, a bill already passed in the Senate that would extend transportation funding for two years.

“It’s extremely important and there’s about 3 million jobs wrapped up in this bill,” Bishop told Patch.

EAST HAMPTON

Earlier Parade Hosts Smaller, Calmer Crowd

Chief Ed Ecker said on Monday that attendance at Sunday's checked in at roughly two-third of last year's parade - if that - and while the number of overall arrests dropped off slightly, and DWI arrests were way up, a void of disorderly conduct and assault bookings indicate that this year's crowd was a much calmer bunch.

The Annual Friends of Erin St. Patrick's Day Parade drew an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 last year. Ecker estimated 20,000 came Sunday on an overcast, relatively bitter day, which started two hours earlier than in previous years. 

With the earlier start - 10 a.m. compared to the norm of noon - trains coming from out west to Montauk arrived roughly 45 minutes after the parade kicked off.

WESTHAMPTON-HAMPTON BAYS

Montauk Highway Road Closures Expected in Hampton Bays

The Long Island Railroad has advised that there will be daily single lane closures of Montauk Highway near West Tiana Road in Hampton Bays until late next week.

The road closures are part of an project.

RIVERHEAD

Support for Charter School, Though Some Say Money Isn't There

Supporters who took to the podium Tuesday night at a at largely supported the idea of the Christian camp running its own school for grades seven through 12, welcoming the opportunity to provide an alternative choice for their kids, and mentioning the work that "the Ranch" has done over the years as one that points to a proven track record.