If you are suffering from asthma, or other related pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis and emphysema), the Beth Thalheim Asthma Center at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System is offering free medical help through its hands-on/research and/or private consultations program. Under the direction of Great Neck physician Dr. Jill P. Karpel, the center is set to see patients having these diseases on a regular basis for consultation, treatment and education, and for research. FULL STORY

According to a consortium of Great Neck mayors, if State Comptroller Alan Hevesi's Feb. 14, 2003 advisory to them regarding a 1000 percent increase in their payments to the NY State Employees Retirement system is not ameliorated, there may be a highly negative economic ripple effect. Local officials concurred that ramifications of the increase would be "catastrophic" because of the breadth of the impact affecting the villages, the town, the school districts, the libraries, the parks, the sewage treatment districts, the water districts and all entities whose employees are covered under the State Retirement Fund. It is the cumulative effect of raises across the board that they are worried about. FULL STORY

The ground is frozen now but in three months, thousands of men and women will be gearing up to kick off the 2003 American Cancer Society's Babe Zaharias Golf Tournament season on luscious green golf courses across Long Island. Last year, the tournaments had a landmark season. FULL STORY

The United States Power Squadrons' Basic Boating Course will be given at the Sousa Elementary School, 101 Sands Point Road, starting Tuesday, March 18 at 8 p.m. for eight weeks. The course covers boating fundamentals for all boaters from the operator of a small outboard to the skipper of a family cruiser or sailboat. It includes boat handling, equipment requirements, navigation rules, aids to navigation, chart and compass fundamentals and basic piloting and plotting techniques. Personal Water Craft certification is also offered. FULL STORY