On Sept. 1, David Solomon, a dentist with a practice in Oceanside, tended bar at E.B. Elliott's in Freeport to raise money for Familial Dysautonomia, a rare genetic disease that affects the autonomic and sensory nervous systems of children from birth. Children suffering from it are unable to feel pain, produce tears and are affected in every major system of the body, often causing sever respiratory, cardiac, orthopedic, digestive and vision problems. more

An ad hoc group of students and high school parents converged on the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Board of Education meeting Sept. 2 to call on district officials to reconsider their 2007 stance against synthetic-turf football fields at Calhoun, Kennedy and Mepham high schools. Roughly 250 parents and their children attended, with young people donning Merrick Police Activity League, Merrick-North Merrick Little League, Bellmore Braves and Calhoun football jerseys. In response to recent calls for artificial turf, Board of Education President Diane Seaman announced at the meeting that the district was forming a committee to explore ways to improve the high schools' football fields. She noted that the committee would look not only at synthetic turf, but also at ways to upgrade maintenance of the current grass fields. more

On Sept. 11, 2001, an estimated 3,000 men and women perished at the World Trade Center in the worst terrorist attack on American soil. Twenty-five of the victims were from the Bellmore-Merrick area. Eight years later, we fondly remember them and their contributions to the community. To this day, our heartfelt condolences go out to the families. At the Bellmore and Merrick Heralds, we're creating a wall of remembrance on our recently rebuilt Web site at www.liherald.com. If any local 9/11 families would like to add photographs to the wall, please e-mail them to Scott Brinton, senior editor, at sbrinton@liherald.com. more

In response to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's and Department of Health's May report on synthetic turf, Environment and Human Health Inc., a nonprofit group based in North Haven, Conn., issued a rebuttal listing its concerns with the state's findings. Environment and Human Health describes itself as "an organization dedicated to protecting human health from environmental harms through research, education and the promotion of sound public policy." The group comprises "doctors, public health professionals and policy experts committed to the reduction of environmental health risks to individuals." more

An elementary school teacher from Merrick already accused of one sex crime now faces charges in two counties. Daniel Rothbard, 28, was arrested Sept. 3 for allegedly forcing a 13-year-old girl from Suffolk County to engage in oral sex at his Meadowbrook Avenue home on July 7, authorities said. Police learned about the encounter after Rothbard was arrested July 21 in Suffolk County for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in the parking lot of Westbrook Elementary School in West Islip, after meeting her on MySpace. Believing there may have been more victims, authorities began a probe into his online life. more

In recognition of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, which aims to increase the community’s understanding of the grief associated with the loss of an unborn or newborn child, Winthrop-University Hospital’s Perinatal Bereavement Team will host the sixth annual Walk to Remember on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 9 a.m. at Field 5 of Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. more

The elementary school teacher already accused of a sex crime now faces charges in two counties. more

In response to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's and Department of Health's May report on synthetic turf, Environment and Human Health Inc., a nonprofit group based in North Haven, Conn., issued a rebuttal listing its concerns with the state's findings. Environment and Human Health describes itself as "an organization dedicated to protecting human health from environmental harms through research, education and the promotion of sound public policy." The group comprises "doctors, public health professionals and policy experts committed to the reduction of environmental health risks to individuals." more

Nearly 200 people filled the Merrick Library for the first of two public hearings on Sept. 1 to speak out against a proposed 12 percent rate hike for Aqua New York Water Service. A second hearing was held in the evening at Brookside School and was also well attended, according to reports. The rate hike proposal angered the many residents from Bellmore, Merrick, Wantagh, Seaford, Levittown and Massapequa who have no alternative water provider and reportedly pay more than neighboring communities in the Town of Hempstead that are part of municipal water districts. 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