Once again, the birthday fairy has smacked — um, tapped — me on the shoulder. more

Is your freedom of speech your freedom to spend your own money? It is according to the Supreme Court. more

I love Long Island. I loved growing up here, and now I love raising a family here. Most of you love it, too. So why are so many people moving away? more

I was scaling the shelves of a local supermarket, trying to beat out another shopper who was heading for a box of farfel, when I had an epiphany . . . more

On March 18, many Long Island villages conducted local elections to fill the positions of mayor, trustee and other municipal posts. Democracy prevailed, even on the smallest scale. more

Journalism lost one of its greats last week. Jonathan Schell, a best-selling nonfiction author, columnist and correspondent for The New Yorker, Newsday and The Nation, died . . . more

Last week, field experts from the Long Island Department of Wildlife confirmed that a species of giant frog has moved into local waters. more

Long Islanders have a lot to be happy about these days. Not only is this wretched winter coming to an end, but our average proposed school-tax hike is the lowest it has been in more than four decades. more

Somehow, some way, in the next week, New York state will have a new budget. Almost all of the details will remain out of the public eye until the very last moment, and that’s probably a good thing. more

No child should be sad at school. I’ve spent the last few months speaking to elementary and middle school principals in Nassau County. more