Bipartisan government was ushered into the Town of Oyster Bay earlier this week when four Democratic candidates were sworn into office at the induction ceremony for the once Republican-dominated town government. FULL STORY

Symbolic of the changes wrought by the November election, the induction ceremony for the Nassau County Legislature was chaired by New York State Comptroller Carl McCall, a Democrat. "It is important for New York State that Nassau County be strong," he told the enthusiastic audience at Nassau Community College. "When the perception of government goes from bad to worse, it's bad for all of us in both parties. You are the part of government that is closest to the people. You make a tangible impact on them and you must use that power. The problems of Nassau County are not Republican problems or Democratic problems but problems of all the people." Despite the current fiscal problems of the county, McCall concluded, "the economy is strong and it's a great place to live. Good luck and God speed." FULL STORY

Nearly 10,000 runners, walkers and spectators were on hand to welcome in the new year and the new millennium in Central Park with the annual Midnight 5 Kilometer Run co-sponsored by the New York Road Runners Club, Runner's World magazine and Asics Running Shoes, and Long Island was most definitely in the forefront of things. FULL STORY