🌱 Westhampton-Hampton Bays Daily: School Staff Shortages + Hunt

Patch apologies that Westhampton-Hampton Bays Daily has been absent the past few days. After a slight change, we are back in action! My name is Diane Witek and I will be taking over as your host of the Daily. Thank you, Jackie, for awesome reporting!

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and colder. High: 40, low: 23.

Here are the top stories in Westhampton-Hampton Bays today:

1. The overall picture for schools right now is a mixed bag, staffing shortages fueled by the spike in positive COVID-19 cases are a real issue that could worsen in the coming days and weeks. It is widely considered to be the most serious threat to retaining in-person instruction. The highly contagious omicron variant has led to record-breaking positivity rates; as of Jan. 4, the seven-day average positivity rate in New York State was just north of 21 percent, with Long Island owning the highest seven-day average of the 10 regions in the state, at 25 percent. (SagHarborExpress.com)
2. The Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays' executive director, Virginia Frati, said she was horrified when gunshots rang out outside on Tuesday morning. "I saw that a hunter had shot a deer which was lying, still alive, near our raccoon pens," she said. She picked up the deer, her arms, face, pants and glasses covered with its blood, and tried in vain to save it. But despite her best attempts, the deer died. She believes the deer is one that was released after rehabilitation from the center. (Westhampton-Hampton Bays Patch)
3. At the New York State Championships, the Westhampton Beach boys cross country team placed second, and have a long list of postseason awards to show for it! (Newsbreak)

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Today in Westhampton-Hampton Bays:

• Work Group Meeting — Facilities & Operations. (4 p.m.)
• TAB — Hampton Bays Public Library. (4 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Nextdoor Neighbor, Lynn Ave, HB: "Friends coming up for 10 days in July. Retired couple, non-smokers, no pets looking for a rental. HB or EQ or WH. Thanks!" (Nextdoor)

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Events:

• Dune Road/Rogers Beach Cleanup. (Jan. 8)
• Sannino Vineyard Wine & Doughnut Pairing. Located at Sannino Vineyard, 15975 County Road 48, Cutchogue. (Jan. 9)
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Announcements:

• Behind The Scoreboard — Horses Can Guide The Blind. (Details)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Diane Witek

About me: Impassioned Writer, Website Designer, Social Media Marketer and newly proclaimed Baker. Lover of nature and animals of all kinds.