According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) website, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) has extended the public comment period regarding the Main Line Corridor Improvements Project (which ended Aug. 31) "based on the volume of comments received." FULL STORY

New Jersey-based Vornado Realty Trust announced earlier this week that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Hicksville's 1.2 million square foot Broadway Mall. In addition to purchasing the mall for $57.2 million, Vornado will also assume $95.8 million in existing debt from the current owner, Atlanta-based Gregory Greenfield & Associates, therefore bringing the total purchase price up to as much as $153 million, according to a press release posted on the company's website (www.vno.com). FULL STORY

Coming off only three days of rest and playing in their second game in one week, clearly no one could have criticized the Hicksville Crusaders 9-year-old football team had they turned in a less than spectacular performance on Oct. 30. However, after defeating Garden City two weeks ago and creating the possibility of a Divisional Championship within their midst, the Crusaders went full throttle last week in beating the Elmont Cardinals 26-6 at John Walker Memorial Field for their sixth consecutive win this season. FULL STORY

Tiger Schulmann's Karate in Hicksville announced that it would be conducting a free Abduction Prevention Seminar for children. The seminar will focus on teaching children basic prevention skills through a combination of "do and don't" situation skits and through discussions about strangers, avoidance, code words and escape techniques. Instruction will also be given on what to do (and not to do) when at home alone, especially relevant for latchkey children. Parents will also be coached on the importance of educating their children on identifying potentially dangerous situations and in teaching them how to react. FULL STORY