7-Eleven Sting, Christian Avenue Top Summer Stories in Three Village

Let's take a look back at the most-read stories of the summer of 2013:

South Setauket Man Among 9 Indicted in 7-Eleven Sting

Authorities in June indicted nine people from New York and Virginia – including a South Setauket man – for smuggling illegal immigrants into the country and forcing them to work long hours for minimal pay at several Long Island 7-Eleven stores. 

Mystery Christian Avenue Sign Poster At It Again

Work on Christian Avenue has since begun, but in mid-July, another sign poking fun at Brookhaven's highway department popped up on Christian Avenue. This one appeared near Sand Street and reads: "For Expert Tire Repairs Call Dan 451-9200." The phone number is for the town's highway department facility on Old Town Road in Coram.

New Stony Brook Medical Facility Coming; Former Steakhouse to be Razed

A structure being built on Stony Brook Road at the rear of the Coventry Commons shopping center will house Stony Brook Medicine’s Perioperative Services, a hospital spokesman told Patch on Wednesday. Additionally, the building formerly home to J&R's Steakhouse, which closed shortly after superstorm Sandy due to roof damage, will be knocked down to create more parking for the area, the spokesman said. 

Taxi Driver Dies in East Setauket Crash

A taxi cab struck a utility pole on Aug. 2 in East Setauket, killing one, Suffolk police said. Police have identified a taxi driver who died early Friday morning in a car crash in East Setauket as Wayne Bracone, 58, of Ridge. Bracone was driving a 2001 Ford for Islandwide Taxi when the cab left the roadway and struck a utility pole at Gnarled Hollow Road and Route 25A. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

SBU Official: Illegal Off-Campus Rental Listings Dramatically Down

In the fight against the problem of illegal boarding houses, one simple step taken by Stony Brook University officials has paid off big-time. Landlords listing available rentals must now prove their housing is legal by showing their permits – a step which Elaine Crosson, vice president for external relations at SBU, said has led to a decrease of more than 70 percent in the number of rental listings on the school’s off-campus housing website.