10 Pivotal Stories of 2010 in Three Village

It's been an eventful year for Three Village, with a handful of stories that put the community in the national spotlight along with developments that brought the community together. What did you think was the biggest news story of the year? Share your thoughts by logging in and adding a comment below!

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Rebuilds Lutz Family Home

to help the Lutz family, enlisting Alure Home Improvements to construct a new home for siblings Kathleen and John Lutz and their six brothers and sisters with Down syndrome. Spectators and volunteers came from all over Long Island to help out and cheer on the crews, which took over Ringneck Lane and the surrounding areas during the build. The show later unveiled a New York City-themed dream house in the episode, .

Stony Brook University Shuts Southampton Dorms, Relocates Academic Programs...

Stony Brook University's academic landscape was altered in high-profile fashion in April, when president Samuel L. Stanley Jr. cited nearly $60 million in cuts to state education funding to slash programs at the Shinnecock Hills campus. Student protests, politician flak, and a lawsuit soon followed.

...But Judge Rules University's Actions Illegal

In August,  because the university had failed to involve the Stony Brook Council in the process. The oversight committee voted in October to support Stanley's decision, a move which the SUNY trustees ratified in November.

Authorities Quarrel Over Unsafe Conditions at Intersection

The intersection of Christian Avenue, Woodbine Road and Houghton Boulevard in Stony Brook got some attention in June as local authorities squabbled over plans to address traffic safety there. Three Village may see the issue rehashed in the coming year, as one local resident recently sent a query to Brookhaven's Director of Traffic Safety, Lynn Wyent, requesting updated information. "The intersection is still unsafe and has NO formal traffic pattern ... It is getting VERY frustrating," resident Del Ross said in the letter. As of press time, Wyent had not responded.

Darth Vadar Robs Local Bank

An unknown thief put East Setauket on the map in July when he dressed as Darth Vadar, flashed a gun and , prompting headlines like "Empire Strikes Bank" and jokes about "the Force" used in the crime.

Viloria-Fisher, Levy Clash Over Graduation Speech

A keynote address at Ward Melville High School's  in June irked Suffolk County Legis. Vivian Viloria-Fisher, D-Setauket, who later  and expressed shock and disappointment that the district had allowed its commencement stage to become a political platform. Viloria-Fisher later  for Levy's post in 2011.

Community Kills Proposal for Homeless Shelter

Concerned over its proximity to Gelinas Junior High and an historic section of Setauket, residents opposed to the establishment of a in Setauket worked together to stop it this past fall. The agency which would have operated the shelter, Patchogue-based Community Housing Innovations, continues to search for housing for around 400 homeless families in Suffolk County.

Ward Melville High School Students Continue Tradition of Science Success

Ward Melville's InSTAR program, a competitive program which pairs students with mentors in the sciences to carry out elite research projects, produces results each year, and 2010 was no different. , a Ward Melville senior, was the first runner up in the 2010 Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology, a national event. Several of his peers were named . It won't be the last we hear from the InSTAR students, as the Intel science competition results will be announced in early 2011.

Math Regents Exam Sparks Controversy

The state's changes to the structure and content of the Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents exam caused an uproar in the Three Village Central School District, where students' success rates were lower than expected. The district stepped in to do damage control, offering extra support for students re-taking the test, and considered program changes to address the new exam format. The issue may again be in the spotlight after the January Regents exam results.

Stony Brook Woman Sentenced in Hit-and-Run Death of Courtney Sipes

Maureen Lambert, 21, will serve four to 12 years in prison after admitting she was high on heroin the night she fatally struck 11-year-old Courtney Sipes in Smithtown with her sport utility vehicle and fled the scene. by judge Stephen Braslow, who told a packed courtroom he was sick of seeing intoxicated or high drivers responsible for tragedy on Long Island's roadways.