Gianna Volpe

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag fire weather warning for Long Island, which will remain in effect until 8 p.m. this evening. The warning means there is an enhanced threat for the spread of wildfires with wind gusts up to 35 mph and humidity as low as 20 percent.

Construction and development dominated discussion at today's Riverhead Town Board meeting as the board granted four permits advancing the developments of several new local businesses.

A land clearing permit was granted this afternoon after the board adopted a resolution to allow Heritage-Riverhead Retail Developers, LLC, to begin development of "The Shops at Riverhead," a 270,781-square-foot shopping center that will include a Costco wholesale store.

The new owner of Calverton farm purchased at a foreclosure sale was startled to find 15 apparently abandoned horses on the property after he took possession of the 134-acre site Tuesday.

David DeRosa called Riverhead Town Police when he made the discovery shortly after noon. He then went to work filling containers of water for the horses, some of whom appeared emaciated.

A local farmer who raised more than $30,000 in an online fundraising campaign to help him bring a German hops harvester to the North Fork, says the machine is now ready to make its voyage to the United States.

An Aquebogue man is accused of drunk and reckless driving while leading police on a car chase through downtown Riverhead early this morning.

In the first three weeks of operating the Riverhead animal shelter, North Fork Animal Welfare League has had
17 dogs come into to the Youngs Avenue facility— all of them pit bulls. Hoping to curb Riverhead's "humongous" pit population, NFAWL is offering free spay/neuter services for pits.

If every person has an animal totem, the cat, with its legendary nine lives, is definitely the one for Ted Squires of Flanders.

After many a close call during his dirt-bike-riding days as a youngster, Squires had a brush with death twice in late 1980s. Once, he was hit by a car in the New York City, sustaining critical injuries. The second time, he was shot by the sniper who killed one person and wounded four others in Riverhead during December 1988 and January 1989.

Riverhead school district voters will be asked to approve two ballot measures in May that will allow the Board of Education to use proceeds from the sale of district-owned land, as well as future undesignated general fund balances, to purchase land near the Phillips Avenue Elementary School for the purpose of eventually building a new bus garage there.