News From Around LI, March 31

Here are a few stories you may have missed around Long Island this week:

Nordstrom Rack Moving In to Huntington Station

A new Nordstrom Rack store will take over the space vacated by at the Huntington Shopping Center. The approximately 36,000-square-foot store is expected to open in the fall.

Republic Airport Issues Noise Alert

As part of the planning for a national bicentennial observance of the War of 1812 on April 1 and 2,  will be hosting two F-18 jets from the US Navy's precision demonstration team.

The Blue Angels will touch down at Republic Airport on Sunday and then take off for a familiarization flight over New York Harbor during Monday.

Their activities are expected to produce the type of noise expected from military aircraft applying full power for takeoff.

South Country Schools Chief Retiring

After a drawn out predicament involving a grade-changing scandal, Joe Cipp Jr. has resigned as school chief of the South Country School District, which includes East Patchogue in its coverage area.

Cipp, the winningest football coach in Suffolk County history, who became the first gridiron coach at Bellport High School in 1976 and graduated from Sachem in 1966, was allegedly involved in a scandal involving former Clippers player Ryan Sloan, who is now playing at Syracuse.

On March 21, the South Country Board of Education voted 5-3 to accept Cipp’s resignation.

Long Beach City Council Approves Borrowing

Voting 5-0, the City Council on Tuesday approved a $6 million revenue anticipation note, a borrowing measure that City Manager Jack Schnirman said will cover payroll, avoid layoffs and maintain essential city services as officials attempt to close a $10.2 million deficit and balance the 2011-12 budget by the end of the fiscal years on June 30. 

Bill Would Rein In DEC Powers

Following the case of a brother and sister who were  after the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation took 90 pounds of their fish last July, South Fork Assemblyman Fred Thiele is proposing legislation to put a check on DEC searches.

"Under the current process, the DEC is the police, the prosecutor, the judge, and jury, all before the case ever gets to court." Thiele said. "There is no check on the authority of the DEC. Citizens are entitled to some due process of law under the Constitution."

A DEC spokeswoman said via email on Friday, "We do not comment on proposed legislation."

Kelly Lester was initially charged with a misdemeanor for the alleged sale of shellfish to the public without a permit, but the charge was later dropped to a violation at arraignment. Paul, her brother, was charged with possession of untagged fluke and possession of over the limit fluke, which are violations, not considered a criminal offense under the statute.