In the months, weeks and hours leading up to the Oct. 19 referendum, proponents had worked tirelessly to convince residents to vote for the bond, which drew an outcome of 1,493 in favor and 1,238 against. Some school board members and PTA leaders had even spent the day calling residents or talking with them outside supermarkets in an effort to rally support. For them, programs such as full-day kindergarten and reduced class sizes, which are made possible by the bond, have been long-awaited, and are sorely needed to help students meet today's tougher educational demands. FULL STORY

When Mary McSwiggan's minivan was struck by a tractor trailer that ran a red light at the intersection of Lakeshore Boulevard and Sunrise Highway, nearly every bone in her body was broken. Mary, a wife and mother of four was on her way to work at North Shore University Hospital, where she is a nurse, when the accident occurred. Last Thursday, the Irish community sponsored a benefit at Jackie Reilly's Irish Pub in Bethpage to raise funds to help with McSwiggan's medical expenses. Family, friends, and neighbors came out in full force to help the McSwiggan family during this tough time. FULL STORY

The Massapequa Road Runners Men's Masters Team (all runners age 40 plus) took 6th place in the highly competitive Men's Masters Division, covering the 50 miles in 5 hours, 41 minutes, 44 seconds. The "Massapequa Menagerie," scored in 7:04:06, good for 24th place in the Men's Open Division. Teams from the Farmingdale based "Runner's Edge" captured 2nd place in the Men's Open Division, 1st place in the Women's Open Division, and 1st place in the Men's Masters and Mixed Masters Divisions. FULL STORY

The undefeated Farmingdale Hawks Football Peanuts White Team (5-6-year-olds) continues its winning ways at 5-0-1. FULL STORY