In February 2020, a little more than a month after Riverhead Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar entered office, the town and the Long Island Science Center held a joint press conference announcing the development of a new museum at the former Swezey’s Department Store building on the south side of East Main Street, and a town square on the riverfront to its south.

At the event, flanked by regional political figures including Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, then-State Senator Ken LaValle and then NYS Assembly Member Anthony Palumbo, the new supervisor made an enthusiastic pitch for the importance of the partnership of the museum and the town for helping to revitalize downtown Riverhead.

“A heart transplant for Riverhead is on the horizon,” Aguiar said.

However, Alek Lewis reports on Riverheadlocal.com that now, nearly four years later, the situation is much more complicated. The science center purchased the property in April 2020. Both the town square and the museum’s designs have undergone significant changes — and have received public funding. The science center has not moved into the Swezey’s building or filed an application to renovate the space. The town square that officials hope to establish — currently a grassy area to the east of the science center’s building — is waiting on an agreement with a master developer who plans to develop the east side of the square with a mixed-use hotel building.

And Aguiar, once a public supporter of the science center, has turned hostile to it.

Earlier this week, Aguiar accused the science center’s president, Laurence Oxman, of being uncooperative with the town and delaying the property’s development.

“That’s just not true,” said Oxman who told Riverheadlocal that the science center decided to list the property in April after it did not receive a share of Riverhead’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant award. The DRI local planning committee recommended the science center receive a $1 million grant.

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A nationwide shortage of mechanics began decades ago, partly because high school graduates were increasingly encouraged to pursue four-year college degrees rather than careers in trades, such as auto mechanics or electricians, according to auto repair industry and career development experts. It will become more acute as older mechanics retire, and advanced technologies that demand new skill sets emerge. Tory N. Parrish reports on Newsday.com that the staff shortages have meant higher salaries for mechanics and longer wait times for customers seeking car repairs. Between 2002 and 2022, the number of automotive service technicians and mechanics in New York state declined by 7,260, or 19%, to 30,750, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, the number of vehicles in operation in the United States grew 16.92% to 290.8 million between 2012 and 2022, said Jennifer Maher, CEO of TechForce Foundation, a Phoenix-based nonprofit that advocates for technical education and careers. In the next 5 to 10 years, there will be a massive exodus from the industry as older technicians retire and close their businesses, said Amanda Funk, associate director at the Repair Shops & Gasoline Dealers Association in Albany.

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Two dozen Long Island school districts have paid a combined $28.8 million to settle 37 lawsuits by former students who say teachers, administrators and fellow students sexually abused them, Newsday found. Districts paid former students between $5,000 and $8 million to end their lawsuits accusing the districts of not doing enough to stop the sexual abuse. The school districts' insurance companies during those times often either no longer are in business today or declined to cover the claims because the allegations date from so far back, records show. Jim Baumbach reports on Newsday.com that about 150 cases remain active. “I don't think that districts are prepared in some cases for payouts for these kinds of settlements,” said Ron Masera of the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association. Masera also is the superintendent of Center Moriches School District, which is not facing any Child Victims Act lawsuits. New York State lawmakers in 2019 passed the Child Victims Act, which allowed childhood survivors of sexual abuse a one-year window to file a lawsuit for damages. Then-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo extended the window a year, to August 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the law's passage, survivors were prevented from filing suit once they turned 23. The New York State School Boards Association has been lobbying state lawmakers to provide funding to districts that are facing large payouts because their insurance companies from the time of the abuse allegations either are no longer in business or declined to cover the claims. Jay Worona, deputy executive director of the state school boards association said that local taxpayers, “Shouldn't have to choose between paying these claims and cutting educational programming. That just doesn't seem like a good solution here.”

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This past Saturday evening, the Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton Beach hosted a special “Stand With Israel” concert event, featuring the music of Israel, with a lineup of songs and a keynote address from Rabbi Marc Schneier. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that the pain and horror of the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza are still fresh in the minds of those in the Jewish community, particularly with the rise in antisemitic attacks throughout the country. But Rabbi Schneier said he was not interested in creating a somber, reserved kind of environment at the synagogue on Saturday night. “It was very unique, very upbeat and uplifting,” he said of the concert. “My philosophy throughout the war has been to transition from despair to determination.” The congregation seemed to agree. The standing-room-only crowd reveled in the music, and Schneier said it showed, quite literally. “The place was shaking,” he said. “I saw the walls of that sanctuary shaking — that was the resonance, and the intensity of the music.”

During his keynote address, the rabbi reminded the congregation that the state of Israel is as strong as ever.

“2023 is not 1938,” he said. “Hamas mistakenly thought they were targeting defenseless and helpless Jews, but we’re no longer defenseless and helpless. We have a sovereign Jewish state with one of the most powerful militaries in the world.”

Rabbi Schneier also reminded the congregation that the Jewish people are “not alone,” pointing out the support from many key individuals and groups, including President Joe Biden, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and the leaders of countries like France, Germany and Argentina, as well as those in Arab and Muslim majority countries like Kazakhstan, Bahrain, Azerbaijan and more.

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Springs School has taken a few steps closer to finding its next superintendent. Desirée Keegan reports on 27east.com that the Board of Education announced at a meeting on Tuesday night that it has narrowed down 33 applicants to five finalists, who came in yesterday to meet with members of both a community and staff committee for their second round of interviews. “We bumped up our timeline a little bit. The applications are in, so there was no point in waiting,” board President Barbara Dayton said. “It’s been a process, but we’re excited by the candidates that we have and are looking forward to how things go.” The Springs School Board of Education met with the committees after their interviews Wednesday to gather feedback. Board members said there may be another executive session scheduled before the next board meeting, on December 12, to continue discussions about the candidates.

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Officials at Southampton Town’s Housing and Community Development office field calls from people “desperate for housing” nearly every day, said Kara Bak, the department’s director. They are working-class people who grew up locally, have jobs in the community and are struggling to keep their roots planted in an area with exorbitant real estate prices, she added in a recent Newsday interview.

To help boost affordable housing options, Southampton Town is working to adopt a community housing fund plan that outlines how officials will spend money generated through a new 0.5% tax on most real estate transactions. Joe Werkmeister reports on Newsday.com that in 2022, Southampton voters approved a referendum to create the fund. Earlier this month, Bak detailed a proposal for the housing fund plan at a town meeting. Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said then it's important to not only create homeownership opportunities, but also rental opportunities. "Not everyone is ready to buy a house," he added.

On Tuesday, the Southampton Town Board scheduled a Dec. 21 public hearing on the proposed housing fund plan, which could take effect early next year if legislators approve it.

Money in the fund, which already has generated more than $1.7 million, would be distributed through multiple programs under five banners if the proposal is adopted.

More than 45% of Southampton Town homes are valued at $1 million or more, according to the 2020 Census. Just 9.2% of homes are valued between $300,000 and $500,000.

Bak said the town will set up an online application for people to apply for programs before an advisory board will review applications and make funding recommendations to the Southampton Town Board.

Similar processes are underway in the Towns of Southold, East Hampton and Shelter Island, where voters also approved the creation of such funds last year. Riverhead Town opted out of the referendum.