Tracy and David Banner, owners of Banner Auto Repair in Bellmore, recently received a $750 grant from the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance for John F. Kennedy High School. more

At first glance, sweetly smiling sixth-grader Ally Murphy of North Bellmore might seem out of place on a football field. Truth is, she feels quite comfortable there, so much so that she captured second place in the Tri-State NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Championships in the 12-13 year-old division at the Meadowlands Arena recently. more

As evidenced by the recent razor-thin margin of victory achieved by Nassau County Executive-elect Edward P. Mangano recently, every vote counts. Many high school seniors, like me, are approaching their 18th birthdays. It's a significant milestone in many ways, but most important, we are granted the privilege to vote. more

W.C. Mepham High School's chapter of the National Art Honor Society held its annual induction ceremony recently, at which 38 students were inducted into the group. more

About 40 members of the Merrick Kiwanis Club, the Calhoun High School Key Club and the Merrick Avenue Middle School Builders Club loaded up vans full of food and toys and distributed the goods among families throughout the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District last Sunday. Students at elementary schools in the Merrick and North Merrick school districts, along with the MAMS and Calhoun, collected the toys in recent weeks. The Kiwanis Club collected food donations outside of local supermarkets. more

Tzvi Lewisohn, a Calhoun High School senior, loves to win. Basketball, bowling, you name it, Lewisohn is a competitor. But, he is quick to note, more important than winning is sportsmanship. “We always congratulate the other teams,” Lewisohn, a member of Calhoun's Challenger bowling and basketball teams, says with a smile. “We don't want them to think we're out to win; we're just trying to have fun.” Of course, it doesn't hurt that both teams are undefeated for the past two years. They have not lost since the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District started the Challenger basketball league for special-education students with a handful of other Nassau County school districts in 2008. more

The Forever 9 - Robbie Levine Foundation recently held a fundraiser gala at the East Meadow Jewish Center. From left, Bob Samuels, president of the Merrick P.A.L., Laurie Samuels and Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg joined Craig and Jill Levine, founders of the organization. more

The Kiwanis Club of Merrick is wrapping gifts at Roosevelt Field Mall now through the end of the holidays. Cost is $3-$15 and up, depending on the size of the box. Volunteers will be at the main entrance by the glass elevator outside New York & Co. from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call (516) 972-1423. more

Larry Wallach, a licensed exotic animal trainer and exhibitor from Hewlett-East Rockaway, is bringing some baby critters — including a kangaroo and a Royal White Bengal tiger — to the Hallmark … more

The Nassau Council Chamber of Commerce, an organization representing more than 40 chambers in Nassau County, announced Tuesday the start of its most comprehensive media and advertising campaign encouraging Nassau residents to shop locally this holiday season. The program, dubbed "It Starts Here... Buy Locally," includes more than 130 radio spots, more than 50 TV spots, and print advertisements. more