Week in Review: Assailant Sentenced; School Districts Look at Merger

Take a look back at the week's top headlines and some news you may have missed:

With Tuckahoe School District looking to curb costs to taxpayers, and Southampton School District not wanting to lose all of Tuckahoe's ninth- through 12th-graders to another receiving district, the two school districts now plan to study merging into one.

East End Pols Petition FAA for Mandatory Atlantic Helicopter Route
East Hampton officials argue over why one councilman signed it before it was fully vetted before the whole board.

Medical examiner says protocols may change to help speed up fatality investigations; some interest in speed cameras to slow drivers down.

Under their new law, local governments may establish a property tax exemption on energy efficient and environmentally friendly construction.

Just under two months after a State Supreme Court judge ruled that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's payroll tax was unconstitutional, the MTA announced multiple proposed fare hikes that could take effect as soon as next March. The MTA warned following the August ruling that it may be “forced to implement a combination of extreme service cuts and fare hikes," and according to a release from the MTA, most Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad ticket prices could rise between 8.19 to 9.31 percent.

House Fire Victim Ona Masters Dies at 95
Southampton woman suffered from smoke inhalation during Thursday fire at her home.

20-Year-Old Injured in Car Fire Dies; Family Mourns Tragic Loss
Brian A. Gutierrez Arteaga died Oct. 14, after Hampton Bays crash one day earlier.

Sagaponack Residents Rebuff Board's Tennis Court Setback Plan
Village residents angry over legislation targeting tennis courts, The East Hampton Star reports.

3rd Floor of Village Hall Seen as Better Target for Renovation
Richard Yastrzemski says that as a Southampton Village trustee, a thorn in his side since he was first elected in 2008 has been that two floors of Village Hall sit empty and unused. Now the Village Board is looking to change that, by installing an elevator in the century-old building and renovating one of the vacant floors so it can be used for village offices. While last month month village officials eyed the second floor for a renovation, Village Administrator Stephen Funsch reported during Thursday's Village Board meeting that it would be cheaper to renovate the third floor, which is completed gutted.

Mick Hargreaves' Assailant Sentenced
A Hicksville man who pleaded guilty to assaulting a Southampton musician with a crowbar in July 2011 in the parking lot of a Bayport bar was sentenced to eight years in prison on Wednesday. Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said 26-year-old Jalaluddin Khojandi will be subject to five years of post-release supervision after serving his time in an upstate prison, and a permanent order of protection was ordered to keep Khojandi away from the victim, Mick Hargreaves, 40. Hargreaves suffered cuts to his head — that had to be stapled shut — and two skull fractures during the assault.

Crimes Nearby: Man Charged With DWI With 3-Year-Old Passenger
In other crimes on the East End, three repeat DWI offenders picked up on East Hampton.

Incident Reports: Rash of TV Thefts
Also recently reported to Southampton Town police, a Flanders woman reports a fraudulent charge from a non-existent law firm, and a watch stolen during a party in Hampton Bays.

Village Police Log: Woman Altered Oxy Prescription
Also among the week's arrests in Southampton Village, a Commack woman is picked up on a warrant for issuing a bad check.

Town Police Log: Felony Charge for Repeat DWI Driver in Water Mill
Also among the week's arrests, DWI charges in North Haven and North Sea.

West Water Street Condo Developers File for Bankruptcy
Eight-figure debt looms over Sag Harbor condominium project, The Sag Harbor Express reports.

Green Top Farm is near three renowned golf clubs.

Looking for a home in Southampton Village that won't cost millions? Look here.

Southampton Village's Most Expensive Real Estate Listings
Take a look at the top five priciest residential properties in Southampton Village.

Incumbent state senator and Southampton Town councilwoman face off in Hampton Bays.

Election Day is right around the corner — Nov. 6 — but there are still several opportunities on the South Fork to ask questions and listen to the political opponents spar.

Congressional candidates tussle over campaign styles, economy.

BuzzFeed Senior Editor Anna North to Speak at Stony Brook Southampton
Author of novel "America Pacifica" coming Oct. 24.

VIDEO: Author Jonathan Ames at 'Writers Speak'
Novelist, essayist and "Bored to Death" showrunner and creator speaks at Stony Brook Southampton.