Westbury School District residents can go to the polls Thursday, Feb. 15 to cast their vote for or against the proposed EXCEL grant. EXCEL (Expanding our Children's Education and Learning) is a statewide program designed to help public school districts fund construction projects at no cost to the local property taxpayers. The initiative is funded by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) through the issuance of $2.65 billion in tax-exempt bonds. According to district officials, the innovative funding source will help ease overcrowded classrooms and, at the same time, provide relief to the district's taxpayers. Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Drexel Avenue, Dryden Street, Park Avenue and Westbury Middle Schools. FULL STORY

North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Town Councilman Wayne Wink, and Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender announced that the town has been awarded a $180,000 grant from the New York State (NYS) Department of State to study the feasibility of providing coordination and shared services between ambulance and emergency medical services in six of seven fire districts under the auspices of the town and by the two fire departments serving the Village of Great Neck Plaza (co-applicant with the TONH in the grant proposal). FULL STORY

At the 22nd Reid-Robeson Basketball Classic Feb. 3, the boys JV basketball team defeated West Hempstead (80-71), the girls varsity basketball team defeated Jericho (59-53) and the varsity boys lost to Chaminade (46-36). FULL STORY