Week in Review: Town Budget Adopted; Hazmat Team Response; Headstone Returned

Here are some of the top headlines of the past week, plus stories that may have flown under your radar:

Budget Adopted: The Southampton Town Board , a 1.2 percent rise over the 2011 levy and well below the new state-mandated cap of 2 percent.

Board, Chief Continue Grappling With Efficiencies in Police Department: Three hot topics regarding the town's police operations — a potential staff reduction next year, over-budget overtime costs, and a proposed $700,000 upgrade to the department's technological system — all came to a head on Tuesday afternoon as the town board continued its discussion with Police Chief William Wilson on .

Absentee Ballot Count Awaited: The Suffolk County Board of Elections now projects that it will on Monday, either confirming Republican Christine Preston Scalera's tentative victory or giving Independent Brad Bender an upset win.

$5,000 in Copper Stolen: The owner of TRM Enterprises on Maple Lane in Bridgehampton told police that sometime before Nov. 10 from containers located at the back of his business.

Hazmat Response After Man Allegedly Tries to Kill Himself with Chemicals: A Bridgehampton man is under psychiatric care after he , causing a hazmat response at Southampton Hospital, according to authorities.

TVs Stolen from Hotel Rooms: Following reports of three stolen televisions from rooms at the Atlantic Hotel between Oct. 24 and Oct. 25, employees at the Route 27 hotel said .

Police Charge Water Mill Woman With Burglary: Southampton Town police arrested a 39-year-old Water Mill woman after they said she .

Stevenson's on the Move: For those looking to reminisce upon Christmases past — or any times past, for that matter — over that toy you bought or got at 65 Jobs Ln., .

Bag Ban Gets Mixed Reviews: A week after a ban on certain plastic bags went into effect in Southampton Village, : Some have not been effected at all, some said the effect has been so-so, while others say the ban could be bad for business.

Child's Headstone Returned to Cemetery: Donald Boland in his Noyac home’s carport a few days after he closed on the property in 1984. It recently made the journey across the Shinnecock Canal back to its original location.

Final 'Out Southampton' Book Released: The new book, “The Third of Us: Our Southampton Part 3: More Family Stories & Food Traditions,” doesn’t put on airs. If looking for celebrity gossip or tales of the idle rich in the Hamptons, then you may have to keep looking. If seeking to , then “The Third of Us” is for you.

'To Kill a Mockingbird': Bay Street Theatre is putting on to rave reviews. The final showtimes are Friday and Saturday night, Thanksgiving weekend.

Local Arts Organizations Receive State Grants: Southampton arts organizations annual grants announced this week.

Cat Adopt-a-Thon: Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons in Wainscott at the Southampton Elks Lodge on Saturday. ARF director of marketing Jamie Berger reported that seven cats were adopted during the four-hour event.

Rabbit Available for Adoption: The Southampton Animal Shelter is looking to . According to Donald Bambrick, the animal shelter supervisor, Oreo was found hopping around a yard in Hampton Bays.

New Law Targets Serial Sexual Assault: In response to multiple allegations of sexual assault against former Penn State assistant football couch Jerry Sandusky, and a scandal that has rocked the campus and made national headlines, state

  Patch reader Faustina replied, "Oh God NO. Woman in front of me at Walbaums picked up her 5cent paper bag and the contents fell out of the bottom: broken glass everywhere and frayed nerves. This is a pain for everyone concerned."

  RSA commented, "Does anyone enjoy inhaling second hand smoke or fumes, except maybe other smokers? And who actually likes seeing all those cigarette butts littering the areas where the same smokers have lit up and discarded their butts before boarding the train?"