First-grader Alisa Reid thought the inaugural Baldwin Pride and Unity Day was the cat’s meow. The event, which organizers hope to turn into an annual affair, was held last Saturday and coincided with Sanitary District 2’s yearly Big Sweep cleanup. Pride and Unity Day featured entertainment by local musicians, exhibitions by various Baldwin groups and the dispersal of information about Baldwin causes. more

Those who have missed Rita’s Ices in West Hempstead, which closed in 2008, will be thrilled to hear that last month, only blocks away, Rita’s of Franklin Square debuted. more

“The Yellow Birds,” by Kevin Powers, should be required reading. The debut novel tells the story of two young American soldiers fighting their way through Al Tafar province in Iraq in 2004. more

It’s been a difficult few weeks for President Obama. more

A very wise person once told me that the two greatest professions for which there is no formal training are politics and motherhood. more

Towns across the South Shore will be observing Memorial Day with parades and holding services in honor of Americans who have died while in military service. Some of the parades will feature a Grand Marshal who will head the march. Memorial Day this year will be on May 27, but the dates and times of the commemorations may vary from town to town. The weekend will be filled with several honors and events of remembrance for fallen troops. Below is a brief rundown of the parades and services. more

A presentation on May 2 represented the next step in — and a new hope for — the future development of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. more

For more than a half-century, Herb Ruben was an advocate for mental health services on Long Island, leading one of the most respected agencies in Nassau County. The long-time leader of the Peninsula Counseling Center died on May 20 at the age of 87. more

Counseling is the second word in its name and the most important function the Peninsula Counseling Center serves. more

Each class at Brooklyn Avenue School got a special visitor last week. The school hosted its annual Readaloud on May 16, in which members of the Valley Stream community shared books with students. more