On New Year's Day, 2002, Thomas R. Suozzi followed his eight years as mayor of Glen Cove by beginning his new role as the first Democratic County Executive in 30 years. This administration also marks the first time in history that Nassau County has both a Democrat as county executive and a Democratic majority in the legislature.

An overflow crowd met at the Town Hall of North Hempstead on New Year's Day for the inauguration of Supervisor May Newburger, Councilmen Fred Pollack and Wayne Wink and Town Clerk Michelle Schimel.

US Representative Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/LI) played Santa by securing and delivering holiday gifts, in the form of millions of dollars, to numerous Long Island projects and community organizations. They include $350,000 for the Town of North Hempstead to acquire more land along the Hempstead Harbor Shoreline Trail.

The Hon. Robert Morici swore in Mark P. Sauvigne as Manhasset Park District Commissioner on Tuesday, Jan. 8. Sauvigne joins Commissioners Patricia Roberts and Bernard Rolston to move the Manhasset Park District through a critical time in its history.

Less than eight weeks after it was established, the Manhasset Friends and Neighbors Trust raised more than $130,000 to aid the families of Manhasset residents killed on Sept. 11.

On Jan. 16, Manhasset was in the national spotlight as five research students were named among the nation's 300 best and brightest, semifinalists in the Intel (formerly Westinghouse) Science Talent Search.

In her annual State of the Town Address, North Hempstead Supervisor May Newburger stated that for the third successive year all the town's major funds are in surplus. Stating that Moody's gave the town its second long-term bond rating increase within three years, she said "I can say with pride that we have brought this rating from its historic low to its historic high."

Retired Rockville Centre Diocese Bishop John R. McGann died on Jan. 29 at age 77 at Mercy Medical Center. Bishop McGann had led the Rockville Centre Diocese for more than 20 years.

Two of Manhasset's Intel semi-finalists, Jonathan Lii and Allegra Giovine, advanced to finalist status. They joined an elite group of 40 students selected from across the country.

Thomas Dwyer was sworn in as the newest member of the North Hempstead Town Board. Mr. Dwyer was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Councilwoman Doreen Banks who was appointed Commissioner of Nassau County Parks by County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi.

St. Francis Hospital held a bittersweet Valentine's party on Feb. 15 as her many friends gathered to bid farewell to Sister Jean Pignone, who has lived and worked at The Heart Center for 61 years. Sister Jean was the last of those then young nuns who came out to Flower Hill in 1941 to start a camp for inner-city children with rheumatic heart disease. Sister Jean recalled that there were 200 children and 55 nuns

In an unusual step, the 6th Precinct of the Nassau County Police Department reached out to the community for help in combating a rash of burglaries that had taken place in recent months on the North Shore. The two areas that had been principally targeted were the apartments in Great Neck and homes in East Hills. However, Manhasset, lying between the two, has had its share. The police urged local residents to be alert. The burglars often approach a house from the rear and, the police said, the only person who may notice them is a neighbor. "If you see something strange," said Sergeant Robert Anderson, "don't try to solve it. Let us solve it. If it turns out to be a false alarm, that's fine."

Louie's Restaurant, a landmark in Port Washington for nearly 100 years, was sold to two Manhasset men, Martin Picone and Mike Guinnane. They stated their intention to keep the restaurant going in the tradition maintained by the Zwerlein family.

The Manhasset High School girls' JV basketball team completed a perfect 17-0 season.

The Town of North Hempstead approved an amendment to the building code to accommodate the Greentree Foundation. The change adds a "permitted use" to the Residential Open Space article which permits uses carried out by non-for-profit, charitable, educational or governmental entities or international organizations primarily within enclosed buildings. The Greentree Foundation currently pays $800,000 in real estate taxes and is seeking tax-exempt status.

St. Mary's boys' varsity basketball team won the Boys Class B Federation Championship of New York State, defeating heavily favored Amityville in overtime.65-61.

The St. Mary's Gaels won their fourth straight New York State High School Hockey Championship by defeating Lancaster (Buffalo) in Rochester.

North Hempstead Town Councilman Fred Pollack was named by the town board to be the liaison to Manhasset.

North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset received the Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service, joining Long Island Jewish Medical Center as one of the only two hospitals in New York State to be honored with this prestigious award.

The Town of North Hempstead board voted unanimously at its April 2 meeting to adopt two ordinances relative to the removal of trees in the unincorporated areas of the town. The first ordinance relates to the removal of trees during construction on private property. The second relates to the removal of trees unrelated to construction. The commissioner of buildings was granted the authority over the regulation of the removal and replacement of trees in the front yards of private properties "so as to ensure safety and preserve the aesthetics and character of a neighborhood."

The Munsey Park Women's Club dedicated a garden in Waldman Memorial Park to the memory of those who died on September 11, 2001.

The 2001 SCA Fair was held on Saturday, April 27, on a beautiful day. Once again the fair raised funds for the SCA to contribute to the Manhasset Public Schools.

A Manhasset man, Nikolaos Kotsopoulos, was arrested for the murder of his wife, Carol, in their Manhasset Avenue home.

North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset opened The Marilyn and Maurice Cohn Trauma Center, a new 15,000 square foot, three-tiered facility. This was the first phase of a three-step $25 million project to expand and renovate the Emergency Department of the hospital.

Manhasset held its "best Memorial Day Parade ever," according to the large numbers of families who came out to watch it. Manhasset American Legion Post #304 Commander Edward Gaus led the parade.

Manhasset voters approved the 2002-2003 school budget by a 2-1 margin and Trustee Thomas Maimone was elected to a second term.

Manhasset's Christ Church celebrated its 200th anniversary.

The Manhasset School District broke ground for a planned 9/11 Memorial Garden. The garden will be dedicated at Homecoming in October.

Inspector George Morrish stepped down as commander of the Nassau County Police Sixth Precinct. He had been a member of the department for 35 years and was commander of the Sixth Precinct since 1996.

The Board of Directors of the Manhasset Public Library presented its plans for a new library to the public at a meeting on June 11. The proposal is to keep the library substantially at its present location, after acquiring the property presently occupied by Adam Art.