In a stunning fourth quarter save, the Neighborhood Notification bill was wrestled from what appeared to be the edge of a legislative abyss in the waning hours of the 2000 session. For seven years, environmentalists joined by breast cancer activists, have lobbied the state legislature to pass a law requiring professional pesticide applicators to notify their clients' adjoining neighbors prior to using high-pressure sprayers to apply pest treatments. In addition, schools and daycare centers would have a responsibility to notify parents about pesticide usage. Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli along with Steve Englebright of Setauket co-sponsored the Neighborhood Notification legislation on the assembly side and shepherded it successfully through the assembly year after year. But each year the Senate swatted the legislation, bowing to the objections of the pesticide industry. FULL STORY

The Bell Atlantic Luge Series returns to Long Island, July 7-9, as the United States Luge Association (USA Luge) seeks aspiring young athletes for its development team. Clinics will be held on the campus of the State University of New York's College at Old Westbury. FULL STORY