Week in Review: Massive Crash on LIE; Local Leaders Address School Safety

1. One Dead in Massive LIE Car Pileup

A 25-car pileup on the Long Island Expressway killed one and injured 32 on Wednesday, closing the highway and backing up traffic for miles, Suffolk County Police said.

2. Local Leaders From All Walks Attend School Safety Roundtable

Over three dozen officials from local schools, government, and emergency service departments within Southampton Town borders met in Hampton Bays Middle School Tuesday evening, days after a school shooting in Connecticut left 27 dead, marking the first step of a collaboration between the town's many organizations that might respond in the case of such an emergency in Southampton.

3. MTA To Hike LIRR Fares

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday voted to raise its fares across the board, including a 9 percent Long Island Rail Road hike set to impact Long Island commuters and travelers in March.

4. Pine Barrens Commission Relocates to Westhampton Beach

In an effort to establish a physical presence in the Central Pine Barrens region, the Pine Barrons Commission has decided to relocate its office from the Great River area of Islip to Westhampton Beach.

5. Winter Seal Walk Dates Set at Cupsogue

Seal walks at Cupsogue Beach are back. The Coastal Research & Education Society of Long Island has announced its schedule for the winter walks, which start on Dec. 23.

6. Judge: Storm-Damaged Cars in Speonk Can Stay

County Supreme Court judges struck down a request last week to remove over 3,000 storm-damaged cars in Speonk.

7. 

Looking to pay tribute the 20 children and 6 adults that lost their lives on Friday after a school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, parents of students from Westhampton Beach and Remsenburg/Speonk started an e-mail chain on Sunday night asking parents to have their children dress in Sandy Hook Elementary School's School color, green.

8. Hampton Bays Middle School Students Evacuated 

While information about the tragedy in Newtown, Conn. – where 20 first graders and 6 adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School – started to trickle out last Friday afternoon, middle school students in Hampton Bays were being evacuated due to an unrelated incident.

9. School Supes Reach Out to Fearful Parents Following Newtown Tragedy

Trying to hold themselves together, parents hugged their children a little tighter as they sent them off to school on Monday morning in the wake of Friday's tragedy in which 20 first graders and 6 adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

10. Architect Provides Insight on Canoe Place Inn

Scott Pollack, a Boston-based architect working with Gregg and Mitchell Rechler of R Squared LLC on a proposed restoration of Canoe Place Inn in Hampton Bays shared his thoughts on the historic site earlier this month in a blog he posted.

11. Performing Arts Center To Undergo Refurbishment

The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Centerhas announced on its Facebook page that the center will be closing for a renovation project.

If you have a news tip, e-mail it to Editor Erica Jackson at Erica.Jackson@Patch.com

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