On most any summer weekend, it’s easy to find sunbathers soaking up rays at Long Island’s many beaches, but whether they have taken the necessary steps to protect their skin isn’t as evident. Some 100 million Americans suffer from skin cancers and diseases, according to the American Skin Association. That’s why Bellmorite Edward Diller, a longtime supporter of the nonprofit organization, has launched the Pan Long Island Challenge to raise awareness about skin disorders as well as money for research. more

Lynbrook's Mike Kozlakowski and Oceanside's Tyler Heuer spark Long Island's 17-14 victory over NYC in the Empire Challenge. more

The Bellmore-Merrick Challenge, organized by Calhoun High School special-education teacher Katie Lessig and physical-education teacher Heather Riddiough, recently offered more than 200 special-education students from eight high schools the chance to compete in good-natured camp games and track and field events. more

Many Bellmore and Merrick residents have yet to receive their homes’ assessed values from Nassau County. That’s just one of the problems that Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg has with the county’s assessment system. more

Community activist Carol Gordon, a Democrat from Massapequa, is once again challenging state Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. in the 8th Senatorial District. Gordon last ran against the senator from Merrick in 2008. more

Jordan Rodriguez’s 1-yard touchdown run with 1:41 remaining gave New York City a 15-10 victory over Long Island in a rain-soaked Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge football game on June 22, played before a record crowd of 8,224 at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium. more

We Americans know some things about ourselves. It’s part of our narrative. We are winners. We are optimists. We have a “can do” attitude that allows us to smite our enemies and solve our problems. We invent things, fix things and help others. more

If we learned anything from last week’s elections, it’s that voters have become a lot smarter than we give them credit for. The May 18 primaries were just the first round of tests for many influential incumbents, and several big names flopped at the polls. more

Following their first-round victory, the academic team from John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore is moving on to round two of The Challenge, an academic quiz show designed to test students’ knowledge in a Jeopardy-style format. more

Tzvi Lewisohn, a Calhoun High School senior, loves to win. Basketball, bowling, you name it, Lewisohn is a competitor. But, he is quick to note, more important than winning is sportsmanship. “We always congratulate the other teams,” Lewisohn, a member of Calhoun's Challenger bowling and basketball teams, says with a smile. “We don't want them to think we're out to win; we're just trying to have fun.” Of course, it doesn't hurt that both teams are undefeated for the past two years. They have not lost since the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District started the Challenger basketball league for special-education students with a handful of other Nassau County school districts in 2008. more