I've recently written a series of articles chronicling what it's like to be arrested for drunk driving in Nassau County. Though I've had the participation of the district attorney's office, Nassau County police and a number of defense attorneys, as well as input from many readers, one voice has been noticeably absent. Until now. 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

It's a safe bet that any dust settling on the blackboard in Lisa Drewes's classroom at Fayette Elementary School in North Merrick is a byproduct of abandonment rather than chalk. The fourth-grade room is outfitted with one of 15 SMART Boards in the North Merrick School District, a new tool that teachers are crediting with revolutionizing teaching methods and making conventional blackboards obsolete. "I put my schedule on it every day, aside from that I don't write on my blackboard at all," Drewes said. more

The following are profiles of candidates running for seats on the Nassau County and district court. more

While Nassau County residents are paying some of the highest taxes in the nation, Comptroller Howard Weitzman has done his part to ease the burden somewhat. During the past eight years Weitzman has shown that he is a competent financial watchdog, and has looked for savings in places no one before him ever tried. more

The race in the 13th Legislative District pits longtime incumbent Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) against Democratic challenger Pat Maher.Both candidates hope to address high property taxes, … more

As they have at recent Central District Board of Education sessions, roughly a half-dozen parents and members of a recently formed, ad hoc community group, Time for Turf, spoke again at the Oct. 7 board meeting, reiterating their desire to see artificial-turf football fields at Calhoun, Kennedy and Mepham high schools. And, they said, they're not going away. In two recent meetings at which Time for Turf members spoke, they were unchallenged in their calls for synthetic-turf fields, with Central District officials primarily listening to their concerns and, most recently, forming a district committee to examine ways to improve all of Central's 31 athletic fields at its three high schools and two middle schools. This time, the calls for artificial turf were met by vocal opposition from Fred Kleiman, a local resident. Repeatedly noting the per-field cost for synthetic turf of more than $1 million, Kleiman said it would be "fiscally irresponsible" of the Central District to consider such a proposal, given that it would likely mean a property-tax increase amid a deep recession. more

The Merrick School District welcomed the newest additions to its staff at the Sept. 29 Board of Education meeting. Joining the faculty this year are art teachers Robyn Jordan at the Birch School and Amanda Kaminsky at Chatterton School. Also teaching English as a Second Language districtwide is Christine Treglia. "These teachers went through an extensive interview process," Dr. Ranier Melucci, district superintendent, said. "On behalf of the Board of Education, the central office and the Merrick community, I want to welcome each of our three new teachers to the school district." Also discussed at the meeting were plans for the new school year, including continuation of guided reading programs and the inclusion of fun, wellness-based physical activities for students, like the popular game Dance Dance Revolution. The next Board of Education meeting will be on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at Levy-Lakeside School. All board meetings are open to the public. more

Hempstead Town Councilman Gary Hudes, a Republican from Levittown, is seeking re-election to a third four-year term. He is being challenged by Democrat Matthew Hynes, who is also from Levittown.The … more

The public is invited to the League of Women Voters' candidates forum on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, 1125 Broadway, Hewlett. Details... more