As yesterday marked the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, the New York Mets baseball team officially lent a hand to a local school that took a serious hit due to the storm. P.S. 52 on Buel Ave, in between the Midland Beach and South Beach areas, was flooded with 17 feet of water and remained closed for five weeks in late 2012 due to damages and unsafe conditions. 


[Photo source: silive.com]

Mets pitcher Vic Black, team COO Jeff Wilpon and mascot Mr. Met joined Borough President James Oddo and Principal Jane McCord for the unveiling of a new baseball diamond in the school's playground, as well as the installation of new fencing.


[Photo source: silive.com]

The team also donated sports equipment such as baseballs, softwalls, wiffleballs, and…

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After the trick-or-treating is done and the sun goes down on Halloween Night, the gates to Fountain Cemetery in Port Richmond, one of Staten Island's oldest and rumored most haunted cemeteries, will be opened for a spooky walking tour.


[Photo source: flickr.com]

Ghost enthusiasts and those seeking a scare will be led by torchlight through the deepest, darkest parts of this 213-year-old cemetery. According to Staten Island/Fountain Cemetery Association President Lynn Rogers, this cemetery has been the location of many reports of spirit sightings over the years. The cemetery rests over what was once a sacred Lenape Indian burial ground, which accounts for the sight of a phantom wandering Native American man. Other recurring sightings include a woman in…

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Geologist and professor at the College of Staten Island, Dr. Alan Benimoff, will be leading a walking tour through Conference House Park in Tottenville this Sunday, November 2nd, beginning at 11 am.


[Photo source: bridgeandtunnelclub.com]

This educational tour is designed to increase awareness of the park's natural environment. During the tour, Dr. Benimoff will discuss the landscape's unique geological features, such as "the bluffs," or steep cliffs. The "walk and talk" will also provide insight into some of the resiliency initiatives being taken to prevent the coastline from future severe storms.


[Photo source: thatlongyellowline.com]

This walk is just one in a series of tours entitled "Dunes, Drawing and Dendrology," a program sponsored by…

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About 80 youngsters from P.S. 39 finally got to harvest their crops on Monday, which they had planted earlier this year as part of a structured lesson on gardening and eating right.


[Photo source: silive.com]

The school, in partnership with the American Heart Association and the YMCA, opened the borough's first Teaching Garden alongside their building on Sand Lane in South Beach. The students harvested tomatoes, mint, basil, squash, peppers, and cucumbers. They then learned how make healthy lettuce wraps with their fresh harvest, with the guidance of AHA volunteers. 


[Photo source: silive.com]

The American Heart Association provided the school with the materials for both the hands-on growing and the classrom aspects of the lessons. The in-class…

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As the cool winds pick up and our noses begin to run, we find that fall is currently in session and Old Man Winter is just around the bend. A hot cup of Joe can combat the harsh seasons, but instead of the usual big-name shops, try one of these local cafés to warm you up.

Beans & Leaves in West Brighton is the quinessential, cozy café. This snug shop on Forest Avenue opened its doors in May of 2012. Customers keep coming back for the relaxed atmosphere, warm service, and free wi-fi. Grab a seat at a table or in a comfy lounge chair. Beans & Leaves serves a full coffee and tea menu, as well as Coffee of the Day, with mouthwatering flavors such as toasted marshmellow, graham cracker, and cinnamon bun. The shop also serves snacks and desserts with gluten…

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Do you remember a night out bowling with friends at Victory Lanes? What about catching a movie at the Lane Theater? How about those warm summer days spent at the South Beach Amusement Park? Well now you have the chance to buy back a piece of your past!

Antiques dealer and collector Bill Nesnay of Pine Beach, NJ has recently come into posession of many pieces of historical Staten Island memorabilia. He bought them from the owner of an abandoned storage facility, who also an antiques enthusiast, having purchased the items from shops and stores around S.I. as they went out of business back in the day.


[Photo source: silive.com]

A few hot items are a framed poster from the former Paramount Theater, projectors from the Lane Theater of New Dorp, two…

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Within the past year, the North Shore of Staten Island has seen somewhat of a boom in creative, new businesses. The large buildings and warehouse spaces prove to be excellent habitats for emerging entrepreneurs.

Opening in December, Tech Box offers private and semi-private workspaces for technology-driven minds to gather and work on projects. The company operates out of a renovated warehouse on Clinton Street, in the Stapleton section of the island. Owner John Salis is also the man behind the Staten Island Arts Building, just a block away, which has hosted gallery openings, shows, open-mic nights and other arts-related programing. His vision is to provide the already tight-knit artist and creative community with places to come together and flesh out…

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Freshman from Brooklyn's Poly Prep Country Day School rolled up their sleeves in the name of global warming.

As part of the school's annual freshman service day, the group of nine students and two faculty arrived at the Greenbelt Nature Center off Nevada Avenue Friday morning, where they were given a lesson on forest restoration. The students brought potted American elm and sweet gum saplings with them to plant. Greenbelt staff demonstrated how to dig a deep hole, how to properly remove the saplings from their pots, and how to prepare the roots before placing them in the ground.


[Photo source: silive.com]

For some of the teens, planting a tree was a brand new experience. According to silive.com, the students felt a sense of accomplishment and pride…

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Decker Farm has been a landmark of Staten Island since the early 1800s. Every Saturday and Sunday in October this year, the farm hosts a pumpkin picking event from 11am-4pm.


[Photo source: localharvest.org]

Located at 441 Clarke Ave in Historic Richmond Town, Decker Farm provides a day of family fun, with activities such as farmhouse tours, hayrides, a cornstalk maze, arts and crafts, and face painting. And, of course, pick out your very own pumpkin before you go.


[Photo source: historicrichmondtown.org]

Tickets are sold at the door and run $5 for adults and children, or $16 for a family four pack. Grab your coats and hurry before time runs out!

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Fans of the Food Network show "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives," longtime friends Lou Gelormino and Mike Lauro aimed to provide Staten Island with a bar/restaurant that serves new and interesting variations on traditional pub dishes.


[Photo source: silive.com]

The Twisted Dish Tavern, in Annadale, has been open since June. The unconventional menu, led by Chef Kristen Tutrone, serves up everything from small plates and appetizers, to sandwiches, entrees, and desserts. Just to paint a picture, eccentric examples include a 9 oz. hamburger patty topped with bacon, brie, and caramelized banana with a sweet rum glaze, and a grilled cheese sandwich with peanut butter, banana, jelly, bacon, and cheddar. The beverage menu doesn't fall short, either, with…

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