Last year, the proposed Mineola School District budget for the 2003-2004 school year failed twice, causing the board of education to adopt a contingency budget. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lorenzo Licopoli still believes that proposed budget was a fiscally responsible one, although the public did not support it. This year, the district feels it did even more cost cutting to put forth a fiscally responsible and sound budget. FULL STORY

Earlier this year, Winthrop-University Hospital received the 2004 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence according to an announcement from HealthGrades, the national healthcare quality company. The distinction placed Winthrop among the top 5 percent of all acute-care hospitals in the country in terms of overall clinical excellence across a broad array of services. FULL STORY

Advance To First Diocesan final four -- March Madness arrived on Searing Road in Mineola when the Corpus Christi Seventh Grade Basketball Team entered the CYO "C" Round of 24 for the second time in three years. A regular season record of 10-2 was good enough for second in divisional placement and an opening round tournament bye. The "Firemen" ended the season on a eight game winning streak including a win at previously undefeated first place finisher, St. Vincent de Paul of Elmont. After falling in the opening round in 2002, the troop was destined to avenge bad memories. Just how far the Road to Smithtown (St. Anthony's High School) would take them was hard to fathom. FULL STORY

Justin Sandler, a third-grade student at Jackson Avenue School, received his Cho Dan Black Belt at a special ceremony held in January at Charles Water's Karate & Fitness. The black belt test consisted of terminology, forms, endurance, one-step sparring, self-defense, kicks, knowledge of culture and a 1,000 word written essay as well as board breaking. FULL STORY