Robi Damelin, an Israeli, lost her son David to a Palestinian sniper. Ali Abu Awwad, a Palestinian, lost his older brother Yousef to an Israeli soldier. But, instead of clinging to traditional ideologies and turning their pain into more violence, they have decided to try to understand the other side --- Israeli and Palestinian. On Friday, April 27, at 8 p.m., Robi Damelin and Ali Abu Awwad will be guests in the pulpit at Temple Emanuel of Great Neck. In the portion of the Sabbath service reserved for the sermon, they will join Congressman Gary Ackerman and Rabbi Robert S. Widom in a discussion of the gathering network of survivors who share their grief, their stories of loved ones, and their ideas for lasting peace. FULL STORY

As we go to press, it appears that the Town of North Hempstead is poised to approve a contract with Verizon for a 15-year cable franchise that has the potential to rectify an inequitable situation in Great Neck, namely that the school channel would be broadcast to everyone, not just households in incorporated villages. However, there is a catch. According to Supervisor Jon Kaiman, the town would have a dedicated school channel, but it would be shared among the 14 school districts in the town. FULL STORY

Benjamin Dorman, of Great Neck, has been appointed by Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel as a member of the Open Men's Basketball Team representing the United States at the 12th European Maccabi Games in Rome, Italy. The Games will take place July 2 to 13. FULL STORY

New York Institute of Technology's (NYIT) School of Health Professions, Behavioral, and Life Sciences will host a Health Fair and 5K Run on Sunday, April 22 at its Old Westbury campus from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Open to the public, the fair will offer free preventative health services and education programs to help promote a healthy lifestyle. FULL STORY