5 Top Stories of Summer

Although fall is now here, the memories from summer's top stories are still present. This summer saw tragedy, natural disasters, historic decisions regarding gay rights and more.

Check out the top five stories from summer.

1. – Patrick Luca, 41, went kayaking with his 5-year-old son Caden at the Kings Park bluff, and according to his son, went down into the water. Caden, who was wearing a life jacket, was pulled out of the water by a local boater while his father remained missing. The late police officer's body was later discovered by a passing boater in the Smithtown Bay.

2. – Hurricane-turned-tropical storm Irene hit Aug. 27 and left trees blocking roadways, power lines down and homes in the dark for more than a week.

3. – While the public outcries began in May after the transportation referendum was passed, school being out in the summer didn't stop the talk of busing. Ultimately, .

4. St. James, Nesconset 9/11 Memorials Constructed – Two new 9/11 memorials were constructed in the town, a and the .

5. – New York passed same-sex marriages into law on June 24, and on July 25 Hauppauge residents John Garand, 57, and Rene Meyer, 61 made their way to town hall to become the first couple in the town to fill out the application.