New York City Center Encore! began twenty years ago with a mission to revive the wonderful musicals of the past. With little to no scenery and brief rehearsal time, talented and often famous actors present 4 to 6 performances of each show. Actors hold scripts in front of them and may even blow a line or two, but the audiences don’t care. The program and some of the shows have been so well received that some shows like Gypsy, Chicago and Finian’s Rainbow, have opened on Broadway again. The City Center audiences responded so well that the presentations continue to this day. This season City Center is presenting the inaugural season of Encores! Off-Center with three Off-Broadway shows. more

It’s been an interesting year for District 13’s various summer programs, which are well under way at Howell Road School. But spirits are high despite a change in venue and some extremely hot weather. more

A derailment inside one of Amtrak’s East River tunnels Monday evening caused delays in the morning commute for Long Island Rail Road riders on Tuesday, and officials said congestion could continue … more

At a June 5 ceremony at the Woodbury Country Club, Herald Community Newspapers took home four honors in the Press Club of Long Island’s annual Media Awards contest. more

Helena Williams has fought many battles and spearheaded several major initiatives during her five-year tenure as president of the Long Island Rail Road, the country’s largest commuter railroad. … more

A great philosopher once said that “the two professions for which there is no formal training are politics and motherhood.” more

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney got himself into a lot of trouble last year by making disparaging remarks about the so-called “47 percent” of Americans who rely on the government for their needs. more

In preparation for a nor’easter set to slam into Long Island Friday evening, the Metropolitan Transit Authority will operate eight additional afternoon eastbound Long Island Rail Road trains for commuters heading home early before the weather worsens. more

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice has charged 17 people with stealing more than $250,000 worth of copper wire belonging to the Long Island Railroad and selling it to a scrap yard, she … more

When Hurricane Sandy struck on Oct. 29, it severely damaged a number of Town of Hempstead facilities in the Bellmore-Merrick area. Repair work is under way, but it could be some time before they are up and running again. Particularly hard hit were the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve, the Sanitation Department and the Merrick Senior Center. more