East End Notebook: Whale, Sharks, Puppies, and More

RIVERHEAD

Tensions are escalating between a group of protesters who rally outside in Aquebogue and the owner of the business.

For weeks, protesters have been  the puppy store on Route 25, carrying signs stating that many pet stores purchase dogs from puppy mills; the most recent protest was this weekend.

And now, Scott Kaphan, the owner of the store, is fighting back: A letter was sent to the Companion Animal Protection Society, the group that organizes the protests and similar efforts nationwide, by Ronald T. Alber, Jr. of the Commack-based Alber & Loglisci, LLP, ordering the protesters to cease and desist, or else risk the filing of legal action, including a restraining order "enjoining any further injurious conduct."

WESTHAMPTON-HAMPTON BAYS

Washed Up Whale Buried; Researchers Believe It Was Struck by Ship

A  Friday on  in Hampton Bays was examined and buried over the weekend, according to Kim Durham, the rescue program coordinator at the.

Durham said it took personnel from the Suffolk County Parks Department nearly four hours to move the nearly 40-ton whale for forensic examination and burial with equipment chains snapping due to the whale's weight. 

SOUTHAMPTON

A 35-year-old Hampton Bays man who apparently drowned was found at  in Southampton Village on Wednesday morning.

According to , a father and daughter walking on the beach at 11:11 a.m. spotted the victim, later identified as Keith S. Greene, and called 911.

Police said members of  and  along with four lifeguards from the  attempted CPR.

NORTH FORK

It’s time for Suffolk County to start spending time and money on getting rid of ticks, says county Legis. Ed Romaine. Because for many residents, one bite from a tick carrying Lyme disease has become a matter of life and death.

Romaine is part of a newly formed county tick task force, created in June to study the spread of tick and vector-borne related diseases, and to develop a comprehensive needs assessment. During Tuesday’s work session, he told the  that this is the second tick task force he’s been involved in, and he’s going to push for the group to visit Southold Town for a public meeting in September.

The first task force formed two years ago and focused on Lyme disease — a tick-borne disease affecting hundreds in Suffolk County. Several medical professionals were onboard to talk about their concerns with how Lyme is treated, and how the disease is too often under-reported and misdiagnosed.

EAST HAMPTON

Lifeguards put to rest rumors of a shark bite in East Hampton waters, though they confirmed there have been a few reported shark sightings close to the ocean shoreline in recent weeks, following three shark findings in the bay.

The latest came Tuesday evening, about 100 yards off shore in front of  in Montauk, according to general manager and CEO Paul Monte. He said no one was harmed.

The town's chief lifeguard John Ryan Jr. said he responded to a report of a shark in the ocean waters in front of the Maidstone Club three weeks ago. He said someone on the second floor of the clubhouse spotted a shark, though he remained on the beach for about an hour and never saw it.