8 Head to Olympic Swim Trials

Some of the news from around Long Island this week.

Many athletes dream of Olympic glory, but competing on the world stage could become a reality these local swimmers this summer. Eight members of the Garden City-based Long Island Aquatic Club have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials, which will take place from June 25 to July 2 in Omaha, Nebraska, where they will race for spots on Team USA.  The swimmers -- Jack Wagner, 20, of Malverne, Roger Dent, 23, of Muttontown, Emily Kelly, 20, of Belle Harbor, Michael Lennon, 18, of Williston Park, Daphne Skelos, 24, of Rockville Centre, Christian Yeager, 18, of Huntington, and Erik Heinemann, 19, and Oliver Lee, 20, both of Cold Spring Harbor -- are all members of LIAC, the top-ranked USA swim club in New York State and 14th nationwide.

A Woodmere church that was established more than 100 years ago will hold its last service this Sunday. The , at 1023 Broadway, will close its doors after years of dwindling membership. At its height, the church counted over 600 members. The current congregation has about 20 members.

“Over a period of time, the building, which was once filled with activities, praise, laughter, and some of the best suppers in town, noted a change from growth to a downward spiral,” said the Rev. Wendy Steed, spiritual leader of both the Woodmere church and St. Luke’s Church in Inwood. “Members of this church have valiantly battled the challenges of continuing to support this church. And yet, finally the day has come.”

Town of Oyster Bay to Offer Retirement Incentives

The approved an early retirement program on Tuesday that will offer financial incentives for eligible employees. Moving swiftly in the wake of a recent downgrade of theby one investment firm, the town held a public hearing on the local law to create the incentive package, then voted unanimously to approve it.

"We knew sooner or later it was going to come to this," said citing the lingering recession for the town's current shortage of cash. He likened the town's finances to households around Long Island, where costs have increased while income has not.

The Babylon School District is celebrating a huge donation of $200,000 by a Babylon resident to help build the school's first science research laboratory center. The Babylon Board of Education formally accepted a donation in the amount of $200,000 from Theresa Santmann, a health care adovcate and entrepreneur, and her Theresa Patnode Santmann Foundation, Inc. The funds will be used to transform an existing art room at Babylon High School into a state of the art science research center.

With a narrow 2-2-1 decision, the Huntington Town Board put an end to months of passionate debate and voted down a resolution, sponsored by Councilwoman Susan Berland, which would have regulated bamboo growth in the Township.

If approved, the law would have held property owners liable failing to mitigate bamboo growth onto an adjoining property, regardless of preexisting conditions. Proposed fines ranged from $200 to $5,000 for repeat offenses.

Mystique Gardens hookah lounge in Farmingdale was ordered to comply with its permit in the face of several reported building and liquor law violations.

The ordered owners Mag and Maurice Eldeiry, along with their attorney Tom Abbate, to disassemble a large gazebo and quit allowing customers to bring their own alcohol, at least until they formally present their case to the board.