Richard Lawless of Springs, a self-employed painter and writer, died on Nov. 23 at the Kanas Center for Hospice Care in Quiogue. He was 75.

John J. Mullen, an environmental activist and founding partner of Mullen & McCaffrey Communications, died of a heart attack on Friday at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. He was 73.

Now that multiple pharmaceutical companies have developed Covid-19 vaccines, federal and state officials are putting together plans for the distribution of those vaccines. However, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday said he has identified three major obstacles in the way of fair distribution among the general population.

Residents can cast their ballots on Tuesday in fire district elections across the region, granting five-year terms to commissioners who oversee finances and operations in local fire departments. The Springs and Bridgehampton districts have contested races this year; in Amagansett, there is a separate proposition on the ballot.