I am a dentist who practices in Great Neck and lives in Manhasset and I have just had the experience of a lifetime. Dreams are rarely this good. Imagine being in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican where there is a worldwide delegation of Jews seated in the audience waiting for a private audience with His Holiness John Paul II. It is to be a meeting of gratitude within the tone of reconciliation. FULL STORY

While Democratic Supervisor Jon Kaiman reported in his Jan. 27 State of the Town address that North Hempstead is in "excellent fiscal shape," Republican leaders, specifically, Peter Cavallaro, chairman of the North Hempstead Republican Committee, and Angelo Ferrara, the sole Republican North Hempstead Town Councilman, feel differently. While Kaiman references "continued surpluses, a stable fund balance; increased revenues from sales taxes, permits and fines; and a falling debt burden" in support of the town's good standing, Republicans argue that the town's fiscal status is far from "fine and rosy." FULL STORY

After 27,354 miles with an average speed of 15.9 knots, Ellen MacArthur has broken the non-stop single-handed round the world record. She sailed her 75-foot trimaran B&Q across the finish line at Ushant on Monday, February 7th after 71 days, 14 hours and 33 seconds, just one day and eight hours off the record set last year by Francis Joyon. Said MacArthur. "I cannot believe it, I absolutely cannot believe it. It hasn't sunk in yet. I don't think until I see faces again that it's really going to sink in. It's been an absolutely unbelievable journey both physically and mentally. I'm absolutely overjoyed." MacArthur's shore team climbed on board B&Q to help her sail the 100 miles to Falmouth, escorted by the Royal Navy' HMS Servern. FULL STORY

On the blizzard weekend of Jan. 22, three local area clubs, Plandome Country Club, Port Washington Yacht Club, and Manhasset Bay Yacht Club held their annual Cow Bay Invitational Platform Tennis Tournament, with the proceeds donated to two recognized charities benefiting the survivors of the tsunami disaster earlier in the month. FULL STORY