Shelter Island Gazette

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone is calling attention to the 'shocking' rise in the county's COVID-19 positivity rate to 12.8 percent. Read more at https://shelterislandgazette.com/bellone-shocking-rise-in-/

Our columnist Joanne Sherman recalls a visit to a tree farm where making her selection involved a geography quiz. Read her latest "Off the Cuff" at https://shelterislandgazette.com/off-the-cuff-o-christmas-/

Putting together your New Year's resolutions? Our Joanne Sherman says there's an app for that, and she might pay attention to it if she weren't so distracted by cute videos of kittens and babies. Read her latest "Off the Cuff" at https://shelterislandgazette.com/off-the-cuff-no-resolve-t/

Shelter Island School Superintendent Brian Doelger announced Sunday evening that a staff member tested positive for the novel coronavirus and the school would go to distance learning on Monday. https://shelterislandgazette.com/doelger-school-staff-memb/

Nature Conservancy’s Mashomack Preserve and Sylvester Manor Educational Farm announced Thursday they’re going to be partners in compost. The two nonprofits are working together to establish a closed-loop system of carbon cycling right here on Shelter Island. Read deatils in our post: https://shelterislandgazette.com/mashomack-preserve-and-sy/

Please take seriously the warnings about not gathering indoors except as necessary with others beyond your immediate household. The case count on Shelter Island, which stood at nine through June, is rising quickly now, with eight cases reported since October, three in just the last few days. Read our post below. Our best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery to the Islanders struck by this virus. Everyone else: Wear your mask, wash your hands, and keep your distance. https://shelterislandgazette.com/seven-recent-cases-bring-/

The new Santa's Christmas Shop at The Chequit is open Friday through Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM with lots of ornaments, tree trimming supplies and holiday gifts for everyone on your list. A sweet, sunny shop that is a window on the future at The Chequit where restorations are ongoing.

Shelter Island Town Councilman Jim Colligan will apologize to Town employees under the recommendations of an impartial investigator in a complaint about his behavior relating to the display of political flags on employees' personal vehicles. The employees had sought the councilman's removal from office, but the arbiter said doing so "would constitute a penalty disproportionate to the offense." Read the full report: https://shelterislandgazette.com/town-colligan-to-apologiz/

Susan Williams, whose self-described "messy yard" has been the focus of a Town-wide debate, appeared at the Town Board meeting Friday to demand that it table the proposed Yard Sale Law. Find coverage in this Shelter Island Gazette post: https://shelterislandgazette.com/williams-demands-town-boa/

A 14th COVID-19 case has been reported on Shelter Island. That's four new cases in about two weeks. The report came as New York rolls out new rules to try to slow the spread of the virus, including 10 PM closing for bars, restaurants, gyms, and fitness centers and limits on gatherings to no more than 10 people. Read our coverage at https://shelterislandgazette.com/shelter-island-covid-19-c/