It's a safe bet that any dust settling on the blackboard in Lisa Drewes's classroom at Fayette Elementary School in North Merrick is a byproduct of abandonment rather than chalk. The fourth-grade room is outfitted with one of 15 SMART Boards in the North Merrick School District, a new tool that teachers are crediting with revolutionizing teaching methods and making conventional blackboards obsolete. "I put my schedule on it every day, aside from that I don't write on my blackboard at all," Drewes said. more

NextG Networks filed a motion in New York State Eastern District Court on Oct. 21 to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Merrick Gables Association against NextG, the Town of Hempstead and cell phone provider Metro PCS. The Merrick Gables Association and a group of Nassau County residents filed suit in late August after months of frustration with cell phone antennas and 40-foot-tall poles that were installed near homes and schools, on town-owned public rights of way, by NextG Networks, a wireless frequency provider contracted with Metro PCS in Nassau County. more

Many candidates vying for votes in upcoming local elections reached out to residents at an Oct. 14 Meet the Candidates Night hosted by the South Merrick Community Civic Association and the North Merrick Community Association at the Merrick Golf Course clubhouse. Hopefuls seeking terms in county, town and District Court positions were given 10 minutes to address the crowd. Above all else, candidates used the time to speak out on the controversial Lighthouse project that, if approved, would redesign Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and much of the surrounding Garden City area. Most candidates also took time to introduce themselves and explain what they hope to do for residents should they be voted into office on Nov. 3. Candidates running for county offices who spoke at the event were Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, and his Republican challenger, Edward Mangano; Republican candidate for District Attorney, Joy Watson; Republican incumbent running for county clerk, Maureen O'Connell; Nassau County Legislator Norma Gonsalves, the Republican incumbent representing the 13th L.D., and her Democratic challenger, Patricia Maher; and Nassau County Legislator David Denenberg, the Democratic incumbent representing the 19th L.D., and his Republican challenger, Dr. Fred Jones. Candidates for Town of Hempstead offices who attended were Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray, a Republican, and her Democratic challenger, Kristen McElroy; Town Clerk Mark Bonilla, a Republican, and his Democratic challenger, Anthony Rattoballi; and Town Council challenger in the 6th District, Democrat Matt Hynes. District Judge candidates Donald Birnbaum, the Democratic incumbent, and his Republican challenger, Terrence Murphy, also spoke. more

The race in the 13th Legislative District pits longtime incumbent Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) against Democratic challenger Pat Maher.Both candidates hope to address high property taxes, … more

The New York State Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the attorney who represents the Lawrence School District, reversing the state comptroller's determination that he should be removed from its pension system. Following the Aug. 20 decision, the state must repay the lawyer’s missed pension payments within 30 days and reinstate him in the state retirement system. more