Community Corner

The Weirdest News of 2013

Some stories are downright strange. Here's our year-end wrap-up from across Long Island.

As a local news organization, Patch covers stories of all kinds, from heartbreaking tragedies to inspiring tales of community brotherhood. But some stories are just plain weird. Here are some of the stranger headlines we covered this year. 

St. James Demon House Featured on SyFy Ghost Show

Home is reportedly darkness-free following exorcism.

Traps Set for Pack of Wild Dogs

Town of Hempstead Animal Control hunts fox-like pack spotted around the Five Towns.

Patch Blog Helps Recover Missing Sound Beach Headstone

The odd story of the 19th century headstone found in Sound Beach after Hurricane Sandy took another turn when the stone, once missing, was once again returned to the civic.

Stolen Chicken Reunited With Brother

Black silky chicken found at local park is back home with his sibling after a being pet-napped.

FDA Approves Lynbrook Company's Treatment for Penis Curvature

The company developed the drug treatment and will receive royalties from sales.

Man Gets Stuck Down Drain

An employee at the Medford location of Sam’s Club dropped his keys down an 18-foot deep storm drain, and decided to go after them using a rope to climb down. The man got stuck down the drain and called 911 to be rescued.

Blind Man Booted From Flight

A blind man and his guide dog were removed from a US Airways flight from Philadelphia to MacArthur Airport that was eventually entirely cancelled after being ordered by a flight attendant to “stow” his guide dog Doxy under his seat.

Deer Crashes Through Restaurant Window

Animal caught on video as employee tries to wrangle the animal. Hijinx ensue.

Nine Months After Sandy, Here Come the Babies

A rise in births at Long Island hospitals shows “boom” tied to storm.

Cops: Suffolk Man Had 850 Snakes

More than 800 snakes — including a pair of 6-foot Burmese pythons — were found in garages at the home of an animal control officer in Shirley.

Cops: Fake Lion Story Causes Up-'Roar'

A satirical article claiming lions had been released to control the East End deer population apparently caused a bit of a panic, the Town of Southampton Police said, leading more than a few locals to call the cops to air their concerns with the “plan.”

Car Plows into Crowd ... of Dinosaurs

A driver in the parking lot of Yesterday's Treasures, a statue store on County Road 39 in Southampton, accidentally smashed into several statues, damaging or destroying several of them.

A Cemetery In the Most Unsuspecting Place

A Home Depot parking lot is the last place one would expect to find a cemetery, but sure enough, it exists in Commack.

Metal Band Graffiti Confused With Hate Crime

“Slayer” tag, with pentagram, confuses cops who most likely don’t listen to heavy metal.

Covered Wagon Wends Way Through Bridgehampton

A horse-drawn covered wagon with two men in cowboy hats was spotted around Bridgehampton, creating a small spectacle.


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