As budget negotiations heat up in Albany and in local school districts, those at the helm are faced with another concern: how to get the tax saving benefits of the state's 1999 School Tax Relief (STAR) program to homeowners who missed the March 1 extended filing deadline. FULL STORY

Their weekend Bowling Bash, enjoyed to the fullest in Atlantic City, didn't effect the pin-pounding sharpness of the Floral Park Knights of Columbus keglers when they returned to the wars, last Thursday, at the Bellerose Lanes. If anything, their happy sojourn in the Fun Metropolis lent a little more "zip" to their delivery, spelling "lotsa trouble" for the hapless Bellerose wood. FULL STORY

Sewanhaka Central School District recently completed a successful 9-4 gymnastics season in which three exceptional athletes advanced to the state competition in Fishkill, NY. New Hyde Park eighth-grader Marissa Affronti led the way, qualifying in the vault and uneven bars. She placed 18th out of 66 gymnasts in the vault competition. Carey junior Jillian Makarius also represented Sewanhaka in the vault competition, while Elmont junior Natasha Perrin competed in the rigorous floor competition. FULL STORY