“This is what newspapers do best,” the judges of the New York Press Association’s Sharon R. Fulmer Award for Community Leadership said in conferring on the Merrick Herald the … more

The Bellmore and Merrick Heralds are now on Facebook! Friend us and be the first to find out what's going on in your community, schools and with your neighbors. Share your thoughts, pictures and opinions. Get up-to-the-minute hyper-local updates and links to in-depth stories on www.LIHerald.com. Log on to www.Facebook.com/BellmoreMerrick.Herald to join the conversation. more

Once a volunteer, always a volunteer could be the motto for Terry and Frank Freyvogel of North Bellmore. Their volunteer efforts with Boy Scouts, their church and a host of other community activities began when their son Justin, now 22, was a toddler and continue today. For their unwavering dedication to children and their service to the community, the Herald proudly names the Freyvogels its 2009 People of the Year. more

At a New York State Women of Distinction ceremony on Oct. 15 at the Levittown Public Library, five of nine honorees hailed from Merrick. Ilene Dixel, account executive for the Merrick and Bellmore Heralds, Dr. Beverly Adler, Margaret Mueller and Ildi O'Gorman, all of Merrick, were honored by State Assemblymen David McDonough, Republican from North Merrick, and Joseph Saladino, Republican from Massapequa. Dixel has lived in North Merrick with her daughters Ashlee and Jessica for 10 years, where she has become an active member of the community. more

Tens of thousands of local folks thronged Bedford Avenue and its environs last Saturday and Sunday for the annual Bellmore Family Street Festival, sponsored by the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce. At this year's fair -- touted as Nassau County's largest -- there was a little something for everyone, from carnival rides to crafts to live marshal-arts demonstrations to pony rides, a petting zoo and any number of expos, from crafts to sports. Additionally, there was entertainment at the Town of Hempstead Showmobile throughout the weekend. And in the middle of it all, the Bellmore Herald had booth, staffed by Bellmore Herald Accountant Executive Ilene Dixel, Senior Editor Scott Brinton, and reporters Nancy Hiler and Sari Zeidler. more

A proven track record, a sensitivity to individual constituents’ concerns and an aggressive approach to tough issues are three of the key traits of a model elected representative. During his 10 … more

Although the Herald Community Newspapers have had an online presence since 1999, an expanded, more comprehensive Web site has recently been launched to help readers keep in closer touch with their communities. The new LIHerald.com has more news, sports, local business and arts coverage and event listings than ever before. more

Calhoun, Kennedy and Mepham high schools all celebrated Homecoming on Saturday, and students had a blast at the pre-game parades and at the big football games, despite all three home teams losing. Calhoun went down to Massapequa, 24-20. Kennedy lost a heartbreaker to Division, 21-20, after being up 20-0 at halftime. And Mepham was overpowered by No. 4 seed Wantagh, 30-7. more

Each year, drunken drivers cause deadly accidents and claim innocent lives. Their stories often become local and sometimes national lore, cautioning others about the potentially deadly consequences of a crime that some see as socially acceptable. But there is another type of loss that goes with drinking and driving, I recently learned. One that may be considered insensitive or politically incorrect to discuss. Three defense attorneys I interviewed saw the possible loss of one's reputation and even future employment as an unfair fate that befalls many of their clients. I contacted the lawyers after the Nassau County Police Department and the district attorney's office gave me a firsthand look at what a DWI arrest entails. Police simulated my arrest for DWI, including everything from handcuffing me to locking me up. Later, the district attorney's office brought me to District Court, where I took a tour of holding cells, courtrooms and assistant district attorneys' offices. I wrote about the experience for Herald readers. But as I spoke with defense lawyers, expecting to hear mainly about the financial burden of a DWI conviction, I learned that some of the most serious consequences for the convicted are harder to quantify. more

"Four DWIs [is what] it took before that woman killed my child," said Deena Cohen, president of the Long Island chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Cohen was speaking before an assembly of about 50 students at Seaford High School, arranged by State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., a Republican, and Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, a Democrat who is up for re-election. Cohen’s 21-year-old daughter, Jodi, was killed by a drunk driver 20 years ago. "I need you to understand the importance of [not] drinking and driving and drugging and driving," Cohen told the students. "The pain never goes away, ever ... The pain is still here. The 20-year number did something to my head. Jodi is gone almost as long" as she was alive. Tears were welling up in students' eyes as Cohen spoke. more