Q. After shoveling so much snow, I’ve been wondering more about whether it would pay to heat my driveway. Can you tell me . . . more

Beat the Heat: Hempstead Town Opens Cooling Centers, Extends Hours at Pools and Beaches As temperatures swell into the 90s, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray is inviting residents to beat the heat by taking a break at a town cooling center, pool, or beach. To offer neighbors a place to be safe and cool during the latest heat wave, Murray announced the opening of 15 cooling centers, 15 pools and eight beaches from Monday, August 17th through Wednesday, August 19th. “Once temperatures rise into the 90s, the heat can be very dangerous if not taken seriously,” Murray said. “I urge neighbors to be careful during this period of extreme heat and to consider visiting one of our town’s cooling centers, beaches or pools to cool down and relax.” Cooling centers are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Monday, August 17th through Wednesday, August 19th. -Baldwin Senior Center, 1810 N. Grand Ave., Baldwin, (516) 546-7110 -Bellmore Senior Center, 2000 Bellmore Ave., Bellmore, (516) 221-9696 -Cedarhurst Senior Center, 200 Cedarhurst Ave., Cedarhurst, (516) 295-1177 (open until 4:30 p.m.) -East Meadow Senior Center, 1485 Front St., East Meadow, (516) 794-2458 -Elmont Senior Center, 138 Elmont Rd., Elmont, (516) 354-4777 -Franklin Square Senior Center, 1182 Martha Pl., Franklin Square, (516) 328-3010 -Green Acres Senior Center, 400 Flower Rd., Valley Stream, (516) 872-8810 -Levittown Senior Center, 555 N. Newbridge Rd., Levittown, (516) 433-5454 -Merrick Senior Center, 2550 Clubhouse Road, Merrick, (516) 868-4777 -Oceanside Senior Center, 2900 Rockaway Ave., Oceanside, (516) 766-8888 -Rosa Parks Senior Center, 2 Babylon Tpke., Roosevelt, (516) 867-1612 -Salisbury Senior Center, 460 Salisbury Park Dr., Westbury, (516) 333-5440 -Uniondale-Hempstead Senior Center, 840 Uniondale Ave., Uniondale, (516) 292-1313 -Uniondale-Merrick Senior Center, 750 Jerusalem Ave., Uniondale, (516) 538-5050 -Wantagh Senior Center, 1150 Seamans Neck Rd., Wantagh, (516) 785-8505 Hours of operation will be extended at the following pools on Monday, August 17th through Wednesday, August 19th. Closing at 7 p.m. -Roosevelt Pool, Roosevelt -Town Park at Sands Pool, Lido Beach Closing at 8 p.m. -Forest City Park Pool, Wantagh -Rath Pool (Franklin Sq. Park District)\ -Walker Memorial Pool, Lakeview -Hewlett Point Pool, Hewlett -Malibu Pool, Lido Beach -Eight of Levittown’s Community Pools Lifeguards will be on duty for an extra hour (until 7 p.m.) at the following beaches: -Town Park Point Lookout -Lido Beach Town Park -Lido West Town Park -Town Park at Sands -Hewlett Point Park -East Atlantic Beach -Atlantic Beach Estates -Point Lookout Civic Beach Murray also offered residents tips on how to “beat the heat” during this period of extreme temperatures: - Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun. - Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day, usually between 11AM and 4PM. Consider performing these tasks in the early morning or evening hours. - When in the sun, wear sunscreen and a hat to protect your face and head. - Drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty. - Eat well balanced, light and regular meals. - Wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes. - NEVER leave children or pets in closed vehicles. - Check on elderly family members, friends and neighbors. - When indoors, use an air conditioner or fans to cool rooms if available. “During this heat wave, please avoid the sun as much as possible and spend time in a safe, cool location, such as one of our cooling centers, pools or beaches,” Murray said. In addition to the extended pool hours listed above, Echo Park in West Hempstead and Veterans Memorial Park in East Meadow are open regular hours through 10 p.m. more

Swimming in a pool or the ocean is some of the best fun that summer has to offer, but the dangers are ever-present — in the Town of Hempstead alone, lifeguards make more than 2,000 rescues each summer . . . more

Exhibits and more... Enduring ImagesAn exhibition, drawn from Hofstra University Museum’s permanent collections, that focuses on the lasting record created by an artist’s visual … more

We New Yorkers are enduring one of the bitterest winters in the last 25 years. Gasoline prices may be low . . . more

Q. Before leaving the house on a summer day, I close the blinds (slants up) to deflect the sun, and with it, the summer heat. My husband maintains that it’s useless to do so on the north side of the house . . . more

With blistering temperatures sure to return any day now, you’ll stay safe by staying cool. The National Weather Service points out that heat is one of the leading weather-related causes of death in the U.S., and when it’s combined with the high humidity typical in our area, sweltering summer days can be downright dangerous. more

Amid the current heat wave, New York American Water is urging residents to follow Nassau County’s odd/even lawn sprinkling guidelines to conserve water owing to the vastly increased demand caused by daily temperatures in excess of 95 degrees Fahrenheit. more

In lieu of high temperatures blazing throughout the south shore, the Town of Hempstead is opening 15 cooling stations from Monday, June 24, to Wednesday, June 26. more

Quick: Where do East Coast hurricanes originate? A. Antarctica B. The Southern Ocean C. The Sahara Desert D. The Indian Ocean. more