West Islip Blogs of the Week: Mar. 31

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.

Seven Signs That Your Relationship Is In Trouble

Local writer Cindi Sansone-Braff gives her thoughts on how to tell if your relationship is falling apart. She discusses several signs that could give you a hint if you, or your partner, are no longer "into" it.

"You and your mate talk to each other in a way that you wouldn't talk to anyone else in the world," she writes. "For instance, when you speak there is a nasty edge in your voice.  Or, one or both of you frequently nags, whines, has little or no patience for the other, yells, sulks, or gives the silent treatment on a day to day basis."

Declining Enrollment: Is it Time for School District Consolidation?

Education expert Dr. Meryl Ain ponders in her weekly post whether it is time for Long Island school districts to condense, rather than expand, as budgets get tighter and tigher.

"In the last decade, school districts have been reluctant to sell their closed buildings," she writes. "This is because districts that sold their buildings in the past often needed them just a few years later when enrollment picked up. District officials faced criticism and remorse when the buildings could not be reclaimed."

Exercising during Pregnancy: Is it Safe?

Dr. Michael Polcino explores the ideas behind excerising while pregnant and whether it is safe for the mother to do so – or for the baby.

"It is generally agreed that exercise can reduce the common discomforts of pregnancy," he writes in. "Exercise may even help decrease the risks of gestational diabetes and even preeclampsia."