News Nearby: Rally for Gun Rights in Hauppauge, Fake Bomb in Commack

More than 200 local gun rights advocates took to the street Saturday at the H Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge to rally against New York State’s latest gun regulations. The protest was led by several local coalitions, including the Conservative, Society for Action, Turn Albany Upside Down, New York State Oath Keepers and the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association. The groups gathered together as part of multiple protests taking place on Long Island after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act in January, after the tragedy in Newtown, Conn.

From Commack Patch: Fake Bomb Addressed to Obama Causes Scare at Car Wash

Police responding to a fake bomb addressed to the President shut down Jericho Turnpike in Commack Wednesday, though the package, found in the trunk of a vehicle at the Commack Hand Car Wash, was a training bomb, officials said. The scare happened when a worker discovered a Rubbermaid box containing an object covered in wires, tape, flares, along with a letter addressed to "The President of America" with an Arabic name in the return address, in the trunk of a Hyundai Sonata they were beginning to detail.

From Port Jefferson Patch: Charitable Thrift Shop Growing a Following in Port Jefferson

The trend of shopping at thrift and consignment stores has yielded great results for the newest thrift shop in town. Since its opening on April 6 this year, The Retreat Boutique has been steadily growing a following, according to manager Jackie Carter. The boutique is one of two Long Island thrift stores that benefits The Retreat, a nonprofit organization "whose mission is to stop the cycle of domestic violence," Carter said.

From Miller Place-Rocky Point Patch: County OKs Rails to Trails Agreement With LIPA

Rails to Trails – a proposed bike and jogging path running along Long Island Power Authority transmission lines – will be moving forward to the next stop after Suffolk County Legislators unanimously approved an agreement with LIPA on Tuesday, which also has the support of County Executive Steve Bellone. The 25-year agreement between LIPA and the county would allow Suffolk to move forward in utilizing the underused land – and former rail spur – as a lengthy route for recreational, and even pedestrian, use running parallel with a busy Route 25A corridor.