West Islip Blogs of the Week: May 26

What are your neighbors thinking about? Is a national-news story peeking the interest of the neighborhood or is someone simply sharing their insight on every day life? 

No worries if you missed the past week – we've collected the top blog posts across our local Patch sites in one convenient place.

Do you have ideas to share? You can always join our Local Voices right here.

Gas Plumbing 101: How it Works and How to Maintain it

Lindenhurst blogger and local plumber Pat Dolan gives readers an introduction on gas plumbing and just how exactly it works – especially, how to maintain the system.

"By taking preventative measures and knowing what to watch for, you can keep your home and family safe," he writes. "It's imperative that your system is regularly inspected so that a professional can identify and repair any problems."

Learn More, Earn More, Stay Employed

Babylon Village blogger Daniel Gerger writes in about adult students and how education will help keep a person employed longer.

"The other compelling reason to get a college degree is that it  significantly reduces the chances of losing a job," he writes. "Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute examined the employment rate during the recent recession and found that the more education an individual had, the less likely they were to have lost their job in the past five years."

Video Blogs: Pet Friendly Realtor

Deer Park-North Babylon blogger and real estate agent Kristin Schuster goes on camera again with her video blog on what to do with man's best friend when it comes time for an open house.

Head on over to the link above to hear all of her best tips!

An Alternative Treatment Approach To Middle Ear Infections

West Islip blogger and resident doctor Laura Bowen gives her best tips on alternative treatments for pesky (and sometimes painful) middle ear infections.

"Since the ear canal in a child is shaped differently than in an adult sometimes the fluid does not drain properly," she writes. "This puts the child at risk for hearing issues and associated speech and development issues."