Week in Review: Bishop Ethics Probe Sought; Bus Rear Ends Car After Driver's Drink Drops

Look back on the week's top local news and catch up on the news you missed.

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Smithtown Councilman Robert Creighton formally requested Friday that the Office of Congressional Ethics launch an investigation into U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop, following a Politico report that the congressman’s campaign sought a contribution after a constituent asked him to expedite fireworks permits.

A three-vehicle crash that sent several people to the hospital and closed Montauk Highway in Water Mill for more than an hour on Tuesday afternoon occurred when a Hampton Jitney driver became distracted due to his beverage falling to the floor of the bus, according to police. Southampton Town police said Thursday that the bus was headed westbound when it rear-ended a Mercedes Benz station wagon carrying five passengers, which was thrust forward into the rear of a masonry dump truck. One occupant of the station wagon suffered serious head trauma and was airlifted by a Suffolk County police helicopter to Stony Brook University Medical Center.

On Saturday night, emergency officials had to rescue 37 people from a sandbar in Shinnecock Bay, where a party was being held, after the boaters who took the partiers to the sandbar in the first place left them behind. Three who tried to swim to shore were rescued after being caught in a strong current. Eric Shultz, president of the Southampton Trustees, a governmental body that oversees the waterways, said that despite the screw-up made by the party-goers, everyone's enjoyment should not be deprived.

Bridgehampton Fire Department Fire Council and Bridgehampton Fire District Board of Commissions at odds, The Southampton Press reports.

Streaks of red tide — a toxic algal bloom that threatens marine life — were clearly visible in Noyac Bay during a flyover on Thursday. Aerial photographer Jeff Cully captured images of red tide lining the shore at Long Beach.

For Assemblyman Dan Losquadro, R-Shoreham, a mandated Long Island Sound flyover route for Hamptons-bound helicopters is a “fix that didn’t fix anything.” Urged by Sen. Charles Schumer, the a new rule that requires “helicopter pilots to use the New York North Shore Helicopter Route when operating along the North Shore of Long Island.”

Suffolk police holds active shooter seminar for area theater owners after Aurora, Colo. shootings during "Dark Knight Rises" premiere.

Construction on LIRR bridge expected to last through the end of October.

The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences is taking an on ambitious project to restore the ecological health of a long-troubled Southampton bay, with the aid of $3 million in grants announced Monday. Donated by the Laurie Landeau Foundation and Simons Foundation, the millions will enable SoMAS marine scientists to carry out the first phase of the project, which includes planting eelgrass beds and seeding shellfish in the areas of the bay where they will be most likely to flourish. According to SoMAS scientists, by adding more live organisms to the bay to use up excess nutrients — which are mostly the result of groundwater pollution from septic systems — the bays can be rid of an overabundance of algae that are threatening to marine life and human health.

announced Monday — thanks to a $5 million gift from the Audrey & Martin Gruss Foundation — it will open a new heart and stroke facility for treating cardiovascular disease and emergencies

Belonging to the same party, Democrats Bridget Fleming and found much they could agree on as they debated in Southampton on Wednesday night, but where they disagreed was on who would make a better New York State senator — and who is better suited to challenge longtime incumbent Kenneth P. LaValle, R-Port Jefferson, in the general election.

This online free quiz takes an in-depth look at your stance on a range of issues, then compares them to candidates' responses.

To make walking and bicycling to school safer, Pine Street in Southampton Village — where is located — has undergone a transformation this summer that means new traffic patterns for motorists.

In recent years, Southampton and Sagaponack villages each had a high-profile oceanfront real estate teardown that made international headlines.

Tracey Tooker's hats have been worn by many notable women, from First Ladies Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton, to Martha Stewart, Barbara Walters and Aretha Franklin. “I do all aspects of millinery,” or hatmaking, Tooker said on Monday at her latest pop-up location, on Hill Street just west of Windmill Lane. The small shop is filled to the brim with hat racks, and no two hats in the store are alike, displaying the range of Tooker's imagination. “That’s what makes these hats different," she said. "They’re really art pieces.”

James B. Fairchild hosted an exclusive cocktail party at his on Hampton Road in Southampton on Aug. 4 for his sister Jill’s new handbag collection, Fairchild Baldwin. The handbags are designed and made in New York from materials including kangaroo, broadtail and Italian leather with hammered handles.

Steve Levy signs on with Campolo, Middleton and McCormick, while continuing to run consulting firm and think tank.

Junior rider stays calm in two-round equitation class at Hampton Classic.

Olympian and six-time grand prix winner takes the 1.45m Open Jumper class.

Rescued Horses made available for new owners.

Scenes from opening day in Bridgehampton.

$50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge held Sunday.

Suspect surrenders to Southampton Village police.

Officer Brian McNamara suffered a deep laceration to the knee. Also in the week's news, a drug dog sniffs out $1 million in narcotics proceeds.'

Also among the week's arrests in Southampton Village, a woman charged with felony DWI after allegedly trying to avoid a checkpoint, and three Westhampton man caught with ecstasy, according to police.

Southampton Village police seek man pictured in surveillance video at TC Men’s and Women’s Wear.

More storms expected than originally planned for 2012, officials say.

Storm toppled trees, ripped apart beaches and left people without power for days.

"The Wine & Food Classic" brings harvest festival to the Hampton Classic.

Saturday event at Southampton Social Club bridges Southampton, UK, and Southampton, NY.

Cocktail party includes dogs available for adoption from local rescue groups.

Pancake breakfast supports volunteer fire department.