Weird News of the Week: Disney Character Goes Missing

As a local news organization, Patch covers stories of all kinds, from heartbreaking tragedies to inspiring tales of community brotherhood. But some stories are just plain weird. Here are some of the stranger headlines from the past seven days.

After about of Tiana and Shinnecock bays in Hampton Bays last week, county and state officials said this week that mosquito or pesticide spraying is not the cause.

The cause remains under investigation by the Department of Environmental Conservation. Though spraying had been one determinant considered by the Peconic Baykeeper — an algal bloom could be another — Kevin McCallister said he's still unconvinced at the thought that there has been no spraying in the area.

Lifeguards in East Hampton are putting concerns about shark sightings to rest this week as rumors swirled about a shark bite in local waters.

The rumor — as rumors tend to be — turned out to be false. And while there have been a few unsubstantiated reports of shark sightings, it's not entirely out-of-this-world for someone to see one. Or think they saw one.

"There are a lot of times these sighting turn out to be dolphins, sunfish, or debris floating the water," said Ed McDonald, who oversees East Hampton's beaches.

Ariel, and a Quarter Tank of Gas, Go Missing

In a couple of the week's stranger thefts, a Port Jefferson art gallery reported that someone had in a cherry frame around 10 a.m. Meanwhile in Flanders, a man recently woke up with more gas in his car tank - or so he thought. After returning home around 3 a.m. with a quarter tank of gas, he said he woke up with his gas needle at a halfway. When his car refused to start, he realized and made off with his gas.