Politics & Government

Town Hall Notes: "Boardwalk Empire" to Film in Riverhead

Also, Suffolk Theatre marquee is declared a historic sign, and cleanup after Irene continues

"Boardwalk Empire," an HBO crime drama series set during Prohibition, will film in Riverhead, according to the Town Board.

During their meeting Thursday morning, the board voted to approve the agreement with Bootleg Productions, Inc., a Brooklyn-based production company that will film the show.

The drama, entering its second season and starring Steve Buscemi as a corrupt Atlantic City politician, will pay the town $156 per hour for use of police department personnel and $10 per hour for use of a police vehicle, totaling $2,823. 

Find out what's happening in Riverheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Suffolk Theatre sign declared historic

The Town Board officially designated the of the Suffolk Theatre a "historic sign" at their meeting Thursday morning.

Find out what's happening in Riverheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A representative for the theater, which has been and is expected to open in 2012, said the sign was restored to how it orginally looked in 1933, except for the digital lights around the sides of the marquee.

Former Town Councilman Vic Prusinowski, a consultant on the project, said the theater's display will be used to advertise upcoming events at the theater and help support its sponsors.

Some board members expressed concerns that the theater may not honor the lack of restrictions on what could be written on the marquee, but Prusinowski assured the board the theater would not use the sign for paid advertising.

"'Burger King [hamburgers], $1.99' will not happen," Prusinowski said. "We will not be selling retail advertising."

The East End Arts Council will hold a to officially light up the marquee for the first time.

Town's Irene cleanup continues

The Town Board authorized the Highway department to purchase a wood chipper to help aid in cleanup after Tropical Irene downed trees and branches across the region over the weekend.

Highway Superintendent George "Gio" Woodson said crews were working hard to clear streets across town.

"I just have one bucket truck so we're doing the best we can," he said. "It'll take a couple of weeks to clean up all this stuff."


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