''We want to see a new day for Nassau County,'' said Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli of Great Neck, as he prepared for the primary challenge to his candidacy for Nassau County Executive. In an interview just before the Sept. 11 primary, Mr. DiNapoli spoke confidently of his ''leadership skills,'' unifying and strengthening the Nassau Democrats when serving as their chairman, and his ability to ''work across party and jurisdictional lines,'' working with Governor Pataki and the Republicans to establish an oversight board and bring $105 million in aid to the beleaguered Nassau County. FULL STORY

It was otherwise an ordinary warm summer morning in late August, but what happened to a Town of Hempstead employee in a moment of quick thinking was hardly ordinary. FULL STORY

Town of Hempstead Supervisor Rich Guardino invites town residents to "learn the form" this season. One of the ancient Chinese martial art forms of meditation and exercise called T'ai Chi Chuan will be taught by instructors from one of Long Island's respected schools at two town parks, Echo Park in West Hempstead and Levittown Hall in Hicksville. FULL STORY