Many -- including members of the public, the administration, and the BOE -- sought the adoption of a revised budget and its presentation to the public for a vote as quickly as possible, or face the cancellation of much-needed programs like summer school. Dr Inserra pointed out that "We need a budget quickly ... without a budget, we can't have a summer program. Our kids must meet new demanding standards, and summer school will help them do this; it includes an intensive ESL program." FULL STORY

Governor George E. Pataki signed into law legislation to protect New York's water supplies against contamination from the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) by banning the use, sale or importation of fuels containing MTBE in the state beginning in 2004. FULL STORY

Colin Schneider, a local junior sailor, who participated in the Schreiber HS sailing team for four years, sailed in both the Port Washington YC and Knickerbocker YC junior sailing programs and the Long Island Sound 420 program, has graduated from SUNY Maritime College with several prestigious sailing honors. Colin was presented with three awards: the Knickerbocker Yacht Club Award, given to a cadet who demonstrates the highest qualities of competitive sailing; the du Moulin Award, a $500 U.S. Savings Bond, awarded to the cadet who is the most active in the extra-curricular sailing program; and the Maritime College Faculty-Student Association Award, presented to the cadet who is an outstanding athlete. FULL STORY

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor May W. Newburger and Town Board members have announced the availability of a new marine pump-out service available to boaters in North Hempstead waters. The service provides boaters, docked or in the bay, with an environmentally sound method to dispose of waste from their boat. FULL STORY