"Happy writes white,” the novelists say. Talk about a happy man or happy news and before you complete the thought, your readers will fall asleep. It was Tolstoy who glibly indicted happy families by saying “they are all the same.” more

Q. We have a turn-of the-(last)-century front-porch colonial. It needs substantial modernization, and I've found that problems that seem unrelated in fact do contribute to one another, leading to bigger costs than expected. For example, we need new wiring. I've seen knob-and-tube in parts. What’s the best way to rewire, since we need new insulation, there’s some termite damage and the steam boiler needs an overhaul? more

People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be … more

Everyone in town knows Tony D. — or has seen him, anyway. more

A new flavor, a new energy, a new excitement: This is how people described the first observances of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur at the new South Shore Reform Congregation of Temple Am Echad in Lynbrook. more

On a plot of land called the Mariner’s Burying Ground in the Rockville Cemetery in Lynbrook, an 18-foot-tall marble obelisk pays tribute to the terrible tragedies of the Bristol and the Mexico, shipwrecked just days apart in the winter of 1836-37 off the coast of Long Island. more

Each year, drunken drivers cause deadly accidents and claim innocent lives. Their stories often become local and sometimes national lore, cautioning others about the potentially deadly consequences of a crime that some see as socially acceptable. But there is another type of loss that goes with drinking and driving, I recently learned. One that may be considered insensitive or politically incorrect to discuss. Three defense attorneys I interviewed saw the possible loss of one's reputation and even future employment as an unfair fate that befalls many of their clients. I contacted the lawyers after the Nassau County Police Department and the district attorney's office gave me a firsthand look at what a DWI arrest entails. Police simulated my arrest for DWI, including everything from handcuffing me to locking me up. Later, the district attorney's office brought me to District Court, where I took a tour of holding cells, courtrooms and assistant district attorneys' offices. I wrote about the experience for Herald readers. But as I spoke with defense lawyers, expecting to hear mainly about the financial burden of a DWI conviction, I learned that some of the most serious consequences for the convicted are harder to quantify. more

Members from the he Malverne Merchants and Professional Association and East Rockaway and Lynbrook chambers of commerce, along with village and state officials, got to together to talk and network on Sept. 23 at The Bristal of Lynbrook on Freer Street. more

Kevin McDermott gives the word "determination" a new definition. The Chaminade and Duke alumnus, just 22, suffered a life-changing accident in July, and has shown a tremendous strength of will in his efforts to prevail over his severe injury. Many of his friends are taking action to help. more

President Obama is asking Gov. David Paterson, a fellow Democrat, to withdraw from the governor’s race, according to The New York Times. Paterson should consider obliging. As a matter of fact, why bother waiting until 2010? He should consider stepping down now. more