Week in Review: Whooping Cough; Coakley Guilty

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

Health Department Confirms Whooping Cough Case at Southampton Elementary: A Southampton Elementary School student is a highly contagious respiratory disease.

Our Lady of the Hamptons Unaffected by Catholic School Closings: While six Long Island Catholic Schools received bad news from The Diocese of Rockville Centre this week that their doors will close at the end of the school year, Our Lady of the Hamptons is .

Group for the East End Aims to Keep Drugs out of Water: The five town police departments in eastern Suffolk County will have their headquarters outfitted with under an initiative by Group for the East End to prevent prescription and over-the-counter drugs from entering Long Island's water supply.

Hundreds Take the Polar Bear Plunge: The Human Resources of the Hamptons held its eighth annual Polar Bear Plunge for Hunger at Coopers Beach in Southampton Village on Saturday morning, with . Mary Ann Tupper, the executive director of Human Resources of the Hamptons, said the Polar Bear Plunge helps more than 500 local families every year.

MINI Enthusiasts Stuff Car With Food for Charity: MINI Cooper owners and the MINI of Southampton dealership teamed up this holiday season in an effort to "Drive Out Hunger," .

Ray Topping Looks To Be Third Generation Fire Commish: Ray Topping Jr., who has been a part of the Bridgehampton Fire Department for more than 36 years and is a former chief, is in next week's district election.

Pell Unopposed in Bid for Fire Commissioner: Founding Southampton Fire District Commissioner Robert Grisnik will not seek re-election, setting the stage for to fill the seat.

Cause of Water Mill Shed Fire Still Unknown: . “The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time,” Southampton Town Fire Marshal Chris Hansen said Tuesday. “There are several aspects that we need to follow up on, and we’re working in conjunction with the town detectives.”

Grocers Decry New Supermarket Plan: A proposed change to the Southampton Village zoning code to allow a new grocery store in the highway business district at Thursday's village board meeting by two of the men who stand to lose the most if the law passes.

Board Considers Solar Panel Legislation: After allowing solar panel installation with little oversight – only an electrical inspection in most cases – Southampton Town .

Former DEA Agent Rails Against Police Department: An East Quogue man whose home and car was burglarized in mid-September .

Coakley Pleads Guilty: Carrie Coakley, of Westhampton Beach, to grand larceny and fraud for her role in an $82 million mortgage stacking scheme that her husband, Donald MacPherson, and former Suffolk County Legis. George Guldi have also pleaded guilty to.

All Holidays Coverage: Find out where to shop, where to dine and where to make merry this holiday season in Southampton Patch's 2011 Holiday Guide, including and .