In addition to hanging out with their friends after school, participating in team sports or working on the weekends, 76 Girl Scouts in Nassau County have worked a minimum of 65 hours to improve their communities. They have performed acts of kindness and goodwill. This earned them the Gold Award, the highest honor that a young woman can achieve in Girl Scouting. FULL STORY

In his long career as an historian and author, Massapequa resident Salvatore LaGumina has carved out a niche as one of the nation's leading chroniclers of the Italian-American experience in the United States. FULL STORY

The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island will be celebrating its 20th anniversary at their annual Sports Festival, on Sept. 9, then follow-up with a Gala black-tie dinner at the end of the month. Sponsored by Anton Community Newspapers, the McDonald's Sports Festival hosts the area's most successful charity softball tournament in the metro area. Returning for a ninth consecutive year is the Columbus Lodge #2143 Golden Lions co-ed softball team ("CL"). FULL STORY

Bill DaCosta of Massapequa was recently inducted into New York Institute of Technology's (NYIT) Athletics Hall of Fame. The former baseball player was honored at the Eighth Annual Awards Banquet held at the Chateau Briand in Carle Place. DaCosta graduated from NYIT in 1990, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. FULL STORY