Week in Review: Pharmacy Robbery Prevention; Winter Farmers Market Returns

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: On the heels of a violent and sometimes deadly year at Long Island pharmacies, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced Monday a series of initiatives meant to increase safety and deter robberies at area pharmacies. 

: Think farmers markets are a summer thing? Think again. Sisters Lona Graepel and Jaime Greci introduced the first indoor G&G Long Island Winter Farmer's market in 2009 and it's back for a fourth season with even more vendors and dates in Northport, Melville and Garden City. The Northport Farmers market is today from 1-5 p.m. inside St. Paul's United Methodist Church.

: Superintendent Marylou McDermott denied the idea that the district would force students to take accelerated science at Monday's Northport-East Northport Board of Ed meeting after residents raised concerns.

: Resident and former teacher Frances La Duca drew applause from union members several times during the Monday Northport-East Northport Board of Ed meeting when she expressed frustration with what she perceives to be the district’s lack of long-term planning and disregard for teacher involvement.

: The Town Board voted Tuesday night to restore funding cut from arts programs, but rejected the same thing for several youth programs. The — rejected 3-2 by the Town Board Nov. 9 — went into effect when it didn't pass by the Nov.20 deadline. Included in that budget were cuts to arts programs that totaled $240,000; programs benefiting from town funding include the , at , , , Whaling Museum, and .