Message to Sergeant Matthew Schmidt, Army Reservist, 411 Civil Affairs Battalion: Your family and friends love you, miss you very much and want you to come home soon. FULL STORY

Thousands of immigrants enter the United States each year hoping to fulfill the American dream. Many of them try to obtain citizenship so that they can take part in America's opportunities and, in some cases, escape tyranny. Unfortunately, for some immigrants, their first experience in America is with corrupt individuals who scam them into applying for citizenship documents from inexperienced and false entities. A new measure Assemblyman Alfano has sponsored puts an end to the practice that he terms "a disgrace and embarrassment." FULL STORY

The West Hempstead Kiwanis Club is planning its First Annual Charity Slow-Pitch Softball Tournament. The tournament is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 7, at the WH Middle School baseball fields. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of equipment for our local fire departments (Lakeview and West Hempstead) and toward the continuing efforts to maintain the September 11 Memorial at Hall's Pond Park. FULL STORY