They stand silent and tall, having brought beauty, oxygen, shade and a grand ambiance of old wealth, even to modest neighborhoods. At one time, they had symmetry and the look of lushness and vigor. And now, they are misshapen with limbs akimbo and bare, posing more of a hazard than a benefit. They are maples in decline. And they are everywhere lining our streets. As arborist John Hickey of Lehman Plant Care Company says, "They are trees that have lost their dignity." FULL STORY

At the August 1 Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) meeting in Thomaston, the controversial hearing regarding the introduction of a BP-Amoco station, accompanied by a 24-hour BP Connect retail facility, to the 655 Northern Boulevard location, was continued. An influx of BP Products North America, Inc. representatives and passionate residents spoke in turn supporting and opposing the issue, respectively. FULL STORY

On July 22, Sportime at Roslyn tennis club arranged a fun and sun-filled day trip to their sister Sportime Amagansett club for "Ladies Day Tennis in the Hamptons." A vivacious group of 26 lovely tennis and sport members joined hundreds of fellow World Team Tennis enthusiasts from several of the 12 Long Island Sportime club locations. FULL STORY

Rev up your muscles - and your heart. The Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation (LIAF) is putting out the challenge to a pair of kayakers to circumnavigate the 300 miles around Long Island next spring as part of a unique charitable event, called the Memory Paddle Challenge. FULL STORY