By Reid J. Epstein, Newsday, Melville, N.Y. Dec. 11--Suffolk legislators took the first step yesterday toward buying the waterlogged Bavarian Inn property on Lake Ronkonkoma, prompting an aide to County Executive Steve Levy to protest the move by wearing his snorkeling gear.

By Carol Eisenberg, Newsday, Melville, N.Y. Aug. 30--WASHINGTON -- Adding their voices to a growing chorus, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rep. Tim Bishop called yesterday on the Army Corps of Engineers to come to the Lake Ronkonkoma area to help solve chronic flooding problems.

By Stacey Altherr, Newsday, Melville, N.Y. Aug. 23--Weary from two years of pumping basements, 375 people packed a conference room at the Hyatt Wind Watch Hotel in Hauppauge last night to hear from scientists and other experts on the phenomenon of rising groundwater in Suffolk County.

By Stacey Altherr, Newsday, Melville, N.Y. Aug. 1--In an effort to bring together similar communities affected by groundwater flooding problems, several local civic organizations are holding a public meeting at the Hyatt Wind Watch Hotel in Hauppauge.

By Stacey Altherr, Newsday, Melville, N.Y. Jul. 10--In another blow to flooded residents of the Charles Court area of Lake Ronkonkoma, a Smithtown official said the town can't shut off the pipe that pumps water into the lake because diverting the water to nearby recharge basins is not feasible.