Maureen McGovern, of the Visiting Nurses called to say, "It's the entrance to the Muttontown Preserve where they pull up with their horse trailers - it's closed because we haven't had any rain!"

Billy Minicozzi guessed the picture was of a park. He went to a Mets doubleheader over the weekend. It was a great game, he said. Edgardo Alfonzo - they call him "Fonzie", he made the single in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game at 8-7. The team lost the second game at 7-5. But it was a memorable event! Also Mark McGwire hit his 50th home run of the season. Sammy Sossa is up to 51.

Maureen had it just exactly right. Due to dangerous fire hazard conditions caused by the severe drought, several Nassau County preserve areas have closed or have restricted access. Smoking and fires are banned throughout the entire preserve system.

Muttontown Preserve - Muttontown: the entire preserve is closed, except 50 acres adjacent to the Bill Paterson Nature Center. All equestrian events are canceled, and trail riding is suspended until further notice.

Garvies Point Museum & Preserve - Glen Cove: all nature trails are closed except shoreline trail. Museum and access trail to shoreline will remain open.

Sands Point Preserve - Sands Point: all nature trails are closed except shoreline trail. "Cats! Wild to Mild" exhibit, Falaise mansion tours and Wedgwood exhibit will remain open. Estate grounds near parking lots and beach access trail also remain open.

Welwyn Preserve - Glen Cove: preserve remains open except for posted area between rear lawn of Holocaust Museum and the shoreline.

Stillwell Woods Preserve - Woodbury: the entire preserve area is closed including the Long Island Greenbelt Trail, the Sierra Club Hiking Trail, the CLIMB Mountain Bike Trail and the Nassau-Suffolk Horsemen's Association Trail. Long Island Silent Flyers' field is closed. Town of Oyster Bay soccer and ball fields remain open, but smoking in these areas is prohibited.

Tiffany Creek Preserve - Oyster Bay Cove: the entire preserve is closed.

All South Shore Preserves will remain open with restrictions on smoking and open fires. These include Massapequa Preserve, Tackapausha Preserve in Seaford, Faith Larsen Meroke Preserve in Merrick/Bellmore, and Cow Meadow and Brookside Preserves in Freeport. Sustained drought conditions may require future closure of these preserves.

The Old Bethpage Restoration Village will remain open, with smoking prohibited on the village grounds.

These restrictions will remain in effect until further notification. For further information, call the Nassau County Department of Recreation and Parks Public Information office at 572-0200.