“In a community like this, you don’t really think about families struggling, but year after year, we have more and more families in need,” said Liana Sventoraitis, social worker at Sanford … more

As if riding a zip line off the Great Wall over water weren’t enough, there was always snacking on fried scorpions to get the four Bellmore-Merrick teachers’ hearts racing. The women also played … more

Veterans, elected leaders, firefighters and Boy Scouts circled around the War Memorial at Newbridge Road Elementary School in North Bellmore on Wednesday to salute America's veterans. In a brief, but emotional ceremony, the crowd of about 40 marked Veterans Day on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Veterans Day was first celebrated as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919, as a way to remember the end of Word War I. (Hostilities in what was then the world's largest armed conflict ceased on Nov. 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.) President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day. In 1953, the celebration was later renamed Veterans Day to recognize the sacrifices of all members of U.S. armed forces. more

Instead of sweets and treats this Halloween, a Great Pumpkin Run was held at Jacob Gunther Elementary School in North Bellmore this year. The brainchild of phys.-ed. teacher Jim Mulvey, the run had the students in each class dash around a pumpkin patch set up in the gym during their recess period, and then pick out pumpkins. An oversized pumpkin, "Jacob the Great Gunther Pumpkin," was on display in the lobby for a guess-the-weight contest. The student whose guess was closest took it home. more

Saul Lerner, the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District athletic director, recently resigned his post as coordinator of the Nassau County Boys' Basketball Committee because, he said, the Section VIII Athletic Council rejected a proposal of his to fine-tune the seeding process that ultimately determines teams' playing schedules. In 2006, Lerner was the architect of an ability-grouping system that determined a team's conference by its record. Previously, teams were assigned to conferences without much regard to their records. Rather, officials used what they called the "snake," in which teams were seeded and then laid out on a grid that wound back and forth in serpentine fashion. more

At a New York State Women of Distinction ceremony on Oct. 15 at the Levittown Public Library, five of nine honorees hailed from Merrick. Ilene Dixel, account executive for the Merrick and Bellmore Heralds, Dr. Beverly Adler, Margaret Mueller and Ildi O'Gorman, all of Merrick, were honored by State Assemblymen David McDonough, Republican from North Merrick, and Joseph Saladino, Republican from Massapequa. Dixel has lived in North Merrick with her daughters Ashlee and Jessica for 10 years, where she has become an active member of the community. more

After his white sedan collided with a passenger van on Sunrise Highway on Monday afternoon and rolled over, a driver was covered in tomato sauce, which may have appeared to be blood initially, confusing responding police officers about the extent of his injuries more

Tens of thousands of local folks thronged Bedford Avenue and its environs last Saturday and Sunday for the annual Bellmore Family Street Festival, sponsored by the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce. At this year's fair -- touted as Nassau County's largest -- there was a little something for everyone, from carnival rides to crafts to live marshal-arts demonstrations to pony rides, a petting zoo and any number of expos, from crafts to sports. Additionally, there was entertainment at the Town of Hempstead Showmobile throughout the weekend. And in the middle of it all, the Bellmore Herald had booth, staffed by Bellmore Herald Accountant Executive Ilene Dixel, Senior Editor Scott Brinton, and reporters Nancy Hiler and Sari Zeidler. more

In the race for Town of Hempstead clerk, the choice is clear: Republican incumbent Mark Bonilla of Bellmore. more

The 23rd annual Bellmore Family Street Festival, organized by the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores, was originally scheduled for Oct. 17-18, but had to be rescheduled because of the threat of rain. The fair, touted as Nassau County's largest family festival, is now set for this weekend, Oct. 24-25. With this year's theme, "Sweet Dreams: Filled with Spice and Everything Nice," the festival will take place 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Bellmore Long Island Rail Road station and along Bedford Avenue, with carnival rides every evening. more