North Shore Land Alliance, Inc. (NSLA) and Friends of the Bay, along with 100 other organizations, joined Long Island's Last Stand (LILS), a 10-year action plan announced on Jan. 12, to save the most significant remaining open space and farmland, and to restore and protect our bays, harbors, and public parklands across Long Island. FULL STORY

A $5,000 grant from the North Country Community Association Fund in the Long Island Community Foundation has been awarded to the Doubleday Babcock Senior Center in Oyster Bay. The award will be added to the Angela P. Koenig Fund, which supports the operating expenses of the senior center. FULL STORY

On the first day of 2006, Sunday, Jan. 1, I was invited to the 7th annual polar bear club swim. It was 30 degrees with no wind and no sun and the water was like glass. There was a Christmas tree standing tall in the sand and a bonfire neatly arranged not far away. It took place on Long Island Sound, at the end of Valley and Shorewood Roads in Bayville. FULL STORY

Registration for the Oyster Bay Rough Rider Lacrosse, Inc. teams will take place again on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Atlantic Steamer Firehouse on East Main Street. You can also pick up the paperwork at Total Equips, the new sports store in Oyster Bay, located at 17 Audrey Ave. (opposite Taby's). Just fill in the forms and mail them to the lacrosse group. FULL STORY