On Friday, Jan. 31, Mona Davis opened her beautiful home in Sands Point for a cocktail evening and an opportunity for guests to meet actress Julia Ormond and film producer Caroline Baron. Ormond and Baron are co-chairs of FilmAid International (FAI), the non-profit organization whose incredible work with international refugees is finally attracting the media attention it deserves, including being featured at the 2002 Golden Globe Awards. But the publicity itself is not enough and it is at events such as the cocktail party at Davis' home, where the all-important funds are raised. FULL STORY

The Port Washington Board of Education and school administrators are facing, what may euphemistically be called, "challenges." The 2003-2004 budget needs increases in the state health care benefits in the amount of approximately $1 million. Another $1 million increase has to be made to the upcoming budget for the state retirement employee, which is feeling the impact of the current poor stock market. In addition, while state mandates are always being heaped onto the local school districts, Port Washington's state aid is being cut by $811,000, that the district has to find somewhere else. And the fixed contractual increases (i.e. the 3 percent increase in teachers' salaries this year) add to the "challenges." FULL STORY

Rich du Moulin, who sailed with the Junior Sailing Program at the Knickerbocker YC, will embark on an adventure that most of us only dream about. On March 16, he and his skipper, Rich Wilson, will set sail from Hong Kong in their 53-foot trimaran Great American II. Their journey will cover the 15,000 - mile China Trade route to New York in pursuit of the record set by the clipper Sea Witch in her 1849 voyage. Now, 154 years later, Great American II will challenge Sea Witch's great record of 74 days 14 hours, and take over 500,000 school children from across the country along with them for the ride. Both men are passionate about sailing and teaching young people about the sport they love. This trip allows these two sailor/educators to pursue their dream and open a new world to the children who will follow their escapades for the next two months. Students will be able to see how math, sciences such as meteorology and oceanography, and even the lessons of history apply in real-time adventure. In a letter written to supporters, du Moulin writes, "Imagine a classroom that no student wants to leave...where learning comes alive with teachers who have access to real-world content and real-world people. Imagine how a raptly engaged classroom of students reinvigorates a teacher. Imagine a parent's satisfaction when their child comes home excited and motivated to learn." During the trip, through a special hybrid newspaper/online Newspaper in Education (NIE), the LA Times, The Hour, Newsday, the Seattle Times will showcase their real-world learning adventures using the curricular materials developed by Rich Wilson's Ocean Challenge. Students can also log onto AOL@SCHOOL to follow the voyage. Wilson has developed a teacher's manual and curriculum designed with lessons for the K-12 age group, which are timed to be taught during the voyage. The curriculum will include teaching related aspects of geography, history, math and science, nutrition, weather forecasting, perseverance, astronomy, goal setting. For more information, visit www.sitesalive.com. For those who would like to learn more about sitesALIVE, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization, log onto www.sitesalivefoundation.org FULL STORY