Week in Review: Victims' Daughter Speaks Out, Historic OK and More

Catch up on the past week's big headlines.

Test Scores Fall, Though School Supes Unphased

As with everywhere across the state, standardized test scores in local Miller Place, Mt. Sinai and Rocky Point dropped dramatically as state education officials increased the benchmarks required for higher proficiency passage – but superintendents are urging parents and students not to worry.

"I don't judge my students based on a volatile exam," said Mt. Sinai Superintendent Enrico Corcetti. "We are in the business of producing functional young adults to enter the business world and college. And we do it well. We will continue to do that."

Echo Avenue Among Roads Getting Sign Upgrades

Drivers on Echo Avenue in Miller Place may have noticed new signage as of late, the result of upgrades made possible in large part due to federal funding that is part of a larger project throughout Brookhaven Town.

According to the office of Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro, the town received over $1.2 million to upgrade and replace signs throughout town that are listed as a Federal-Aid Urban System roadway. Brookhaven will cover the remaining 20 percent required for the project.

Hallock Home Gets Historic OK from Town

Town board members OKd measures on Tuesday night to designate the Hallock homestead as a local landmark, and to support a grant application seeking both state and federal historic recognition of Rocky Point's oldest home.
Mini Market Slated for Former Bagel Joint Space

A market will be opening its doors soon on the corner of Prince and Broadway, in the space that last housed a bagel shop.

Bagels-N-a-Hole Lot More opened up in early 2011, but not finding the market it was looking for, had to close down before Christmas of that year. The site has remained vacant since, though new signage for a Broadway Mini Market has popped up, as well as a 'Coming Soon' sign.

Victim's Daughter Seeks Stricter Hit-and-Run Penalties

In the weeks following her mother's death, resulting from a hit-and-run accident on Canal Road in Mt. Sinai, Lindsay Benjamin has taken to the Internet to ensure the man reportedly involved in the crash stays put in jail, and future offenders receive stricter penalties for leaving the scene of fatal crashes.

Launching a petition on Change.org on Tuesday, Benjamin has collected over 2,100 signatures in less than two days, aiming toward end goal of 10,000 – though the signatures are just a start.

Bonner to Face Primary Opponent Once Again

Councilwoman Jane Bonner will face a primary opponent for a third consecutive election this fall, as Brian Lenz, Brookhaven Town's former assistant director of traffic planning, will be facing off against the incumbent Republican on Sept. 10.

Grants Could Bring Big Investment to Downtown Rocky Point

Local officials are awaiting word on a couple of grants they say could start paving the way – literally – for a revitalized downtown Rocky Point, adding up to more than an $800,000 investment in the area.