Following the New York State Legislature's vote to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older, the Shinnecock Indian Nation issued a statement celebrating the initiative.

The removal of a mulberry tree, native beach plums and roses, and other plants in late March was one outcome of Southampton Town maintenance workers coming to "scrape" the parking lot at Long Beach to prevent vegetation from encroaching. But not only did the plants serve as habitats for many native animals, environmental advocates say, they also anchored the beach against erosion.

The East Hampton Town Board took a step closer to adopting a more stringent building code at its work session on Tuesday. Among other things, the new law would require new construction and major renovations to achieve maximum efficiency through technology and design, in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

CSEA members ratified the agreement in an April 7 vote, with 74 percent in favor. The ratification, announced in a statement issued from Town Hall on Tuesday, comes more than two years after the previous contract expired. Negotiations commenced in 2018, prior to its expiration, but a mediator was called in when the parties reached an impasse.

For the 10th year in a row, the Sag Harbor School District is proposing a spending plan that stays under the state-mandated cap on tax levy increases while maintaining all programs, services, and extracurricular activities and sports.

On the table is a $44.87 million budget for 2021-22. The projected tax levy is $40.32 million, a 1.48-percent increase from this year, but still slightly under the levy limit. Year over year, the budget would increase by 1.22 percent.

 Springs School officials released updated 2021-22 budget projections during Monday's school board work session. Among the highlights was the news that this year's projected tax levy increase has been trimmed from 3.91 percent down to 2.61 percent — still within state limits on tax-levy increases — although that number is not yet set in stone.

Shay Siegel and Mai Ismail have something in common: writing poetry. Ms. Siegel is a young-adult author and Mai is a high school student who hopes someday to publish her work, but they both use poetry as an outlet for expressing emotions that can often be difficult.

Here's what's happening locally for kids and teens this week.

Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough brought a lot of heat to New York Fashion Week with a video of their collection for Proenza Schouler filmed at the Parrish Art Museum on the coldest weekend of the year.