The assistant secretary of the United States Department of the Interior on Thursday affirmed the Shinnecock Nation's sovereignty over the Westwoods land parcel, the site of a planned gas station and travel plaza on Sunrise Highway, the Nation announced Friday.

Paid Notice: Michele Anne Novak, born October 30, 1951, passed away peacefully at her home in Sag Harbor, New York, after a courageous battle with ALS, which she was diagnosed with in March of this year.

According to an audit released on Dec. 24 by the New York State comptroller's office, the Montauk Fire District failed to file three years' worth of required financial reports, paid out unauthorized longevity and overtime to employees, and lacked oversight and consistency in administering its length-of-service award program (LOSAP) for Montauk's 131 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians.