Two weeks ago, Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference board members Rich and Lisa Schary led about 40 curious people on a hike through the woods lining both sides of the Bethpage State Parkway, from the Southern State Parkway north to Hempstead Turnpike. What they encountered both pleased and disturbed them. FULL STORY

There was a packed house in the Howitt Middle School auditorium for the recent Farmingdale Board of Education Special Recognition Meeting, where the board joined the administration, as well as many friends and family members, in congratulating a legion of students and staff on a host of achievements. FULL STORY

Farmingdale endurance athlete John Kaufmann successfully completed the second annual Caumsett State Park 50 Kilometer run on March 7. Kaufmann finished in 48th place among the men who completed the 50K, with a time of six hours, 29 minutes, 58 seconds. The run was staged by the Greater Long Island Running Club under the direction of Vinny Croce. FULL STORY

The Farmingdale PAL girl's youth lacrosse program opened up last weekend on winning notes. The eighth-grade and both seventh-grade girl's teams, which play in the independent Long Island Senior Girls Youth Lacrosse League, all won close games on a beautiful early spring weekend. FULL STORY