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Community Corner

Week in Review: Gregg Saunders Killed in Crash; Missing Jet Skier Found Dead

Also in the week's news, red tide appears early this summer, and a dead whale washes up on the beach.

Here is a look back on the week's top headlines in Southampton and some news you may have missed.

Click on the headlines for more on each story:

Sagaponack Resident Dies in Crash


Police on Friday confirmed that Gregg Saunders, the retail developer who owns the Wainscott building where Whole Foods opened this summer, was the man killed in the head-on crash on Montauk Highway in East Hampton on Thursday.
Saunders, a part-time Sagaponack resident, was 55 years old. East Hampton Village police said the Benjamin Rechler, 19, of Brookville, was reaching into the back seat to adjust a surfboard that had become loose inside his Audi station wagon, when he crossed into the oncoming eastbound lane striking Saunders' Prius.

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Friend-since-childhood David Bernstein described Saunders as "a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy," even in board meetings earlier in his career, when he still had long hair. He was casual and funny, "definitely a character," Bernstein said. "He was one of kind."

Jet Ski Fatality


Southampton Town police said Tuesday afternoon that the body of a jet skier who had gone missing Sunday night in Mecox Bay was recovered in the waters near Cobb Road in Water Mill mid-afternoon on Tuesday. The man was identified as 29-year-old Astoria, Queens, resident Eleuterio Ubisse.

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Rescuers pulled from the darkness and choppy waters as storms prepare to roll through the South Fork.

Fire


A home was engulfed in flames late Tuesday morning, closing Montuak Highway.

Marine


According to one Stony Brook University scientist, algal bloom made its second earliest appearance since red tide first started showing up in Long Island waters.


The Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating incidents on shores of Tiana and Shinnecock Bay shores; Baykeeper points finger at red tide or pesticides.


Eric Shultz says he visited the sites and believes that people mistook shed crab shells for dead crabs.


A dead whale washed up in Hampton Bays on Friday, after it was seen floating out in the Atlantic Ocean earlier in the day. Kim Durham, the rescue program coordinator at the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research & Preservation, said the whale's body landed just east of Tiana Beach.

Local Heroes


Two young brothers were honored by the Southampton Village Board and praised by local emergency personnel Thursday night for keeping their heads in a crisis situation and ultimately saving a life. Through their quick responses, with no regard for their own safety, 11-year-old Jonathan Otto-Bernstein and 13-year-old Nicholas Otto-Bernstein saved their babysitter from drowning after she had a seizure while swimming in a pool. While Nicholas called 911 and gave the dispatcher vital information, Jonathan stayed in the deep end of the pool with the victim to keep her head above water —  and cleared blood and water from her lungs with chest compressions.

Real Estate


Recording artists and Forbes' #1 Power Couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé have reportedly dropped $400,000 to rent the Bridgehampton estate of Joe Farrell of Farrell Building Company during August, according to The New York Post.


Lauded Water Mill estate is on the market for $10,975,000.

Crime


In other nearby arrests, a Flanders man is charged with sexual assault of a child.


Also among the week's arrests in Southampton Village, a Shirley man charged with bail jumping, and a Chappaqua woman charged with DWI.


Also, a teen was reportedly caught with 15 ecstasy pills and several bags of marijuana.


Reports through August 6.


Police reports from July 30 through August 6.

Business


Just can't tear your feet out of the sand at Main Beach for lunch? No problem.


Metro Restaurant Marketing, launched by WordHampton founder Steve Haweeli, will focus on restaurants in the metro-NYC market.

Coming Up


is asking voters to approve a 1.98 percent increase in the tax levy, and to decide who will represent them on the Board of Trustees.  The estimated new tax rate is $0.1816 per $1,000 of assessed property value, up 4.07 percent from the current tax rate. For an at-large seat, incumbent Sandra Klemuk faces Shirley Katzter. For a designated Southampton seat, incumbent J. Judith Johnson is up against Susan Stevenson.


Southampton High School students will show off their Mariner pride on Sept. 15, as they march on Southampton Village streets with parade floats for homecoming. The parade is followed by a community fair open to all and, of course, a football game.


Classes available on the second Tuesday of each month at the Southampton Village Volunteer Ambulance station on Meeting House Lane.

Benefits


A "Sneek Peek" of the Lowline Project, the world's first underground park, was offered in Water Mill Saturday.


The Halsey Whitecap Farm hosts this year's outdoor country supper.


Party raised money for the hospital’s Jenny and John Paulson Emergency Department.

More


Veterans made their first appearance on Long Island Saturday.


Southampton resident Joe Johnson is due back in court on August 28

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