At the Glen Cove Board of Education meeting on Monday, April 14, board members voted 6-0 to adopt next year's budget in the amount of $52,425,599. The number reflects an increase of $2,406,095, or 4.81 percent from the 2002-2003 budget. This in turn yields an estimated tax rate increase of 6.38 percent, although Assistant to the Superintendent for Business Larry Blake made it clear that the increase is pending state aid, and that depending on the amount of aid the city receives, the tax increase could be lower, but not higher. "We're working with the governor's current proposal, which may be increased by the legislature, hopefully prior to July 1, which is the date we would be setting the levy," he said. Mr. Blake also declared that this increase will be one of the lowest budget-to-budget increases in Nassau County, as evidenced by what he has read and discussed with other districts' business officers. FULL STORY

As the first order of business at the Glen Cove City Council meeting of April 8, two of Glen Cove's finest were officially given promotions. Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp said she was very pleased to promote William Whitton from sergeant to lieutenant and David Birkenhead from officer to sergeant. She wished the two men well, adding, "I expect great things from both of you." FULL STORY

On Monday, April 14 Glen Cove played its rival, Island Trees. A win would move Big Red into first place in the B/C II Conference. Ninth-grader Kelly DeAngelis pitched an outstanding game, going the distance and allowing only one earned run. Joan Starkman went 3-3 with a home run, 2 runs scored and 4 RBIs, Diana Diaz went 2-3 with a double and an RBI, Aubrie Dillon went 2-2, and Samantha Renison went 1-2 with 2 runs scored. Jamie Downer and Aja Alter hit triples to add to a great hitting game. This win made Glen Cove 5-1 in the league and 8-1 overall. FULL STORY

Most North Shore games and meets were rained out last week, but the softball team had one matchup, defeating Mineola, 1-0. Kim Lerch pitched another outstanding game. She had 16 strikeouts and was one batter away from a perfect game, allowing a triple on an 0-2 pitch. In another play, Cara DiSanti helped out by catching a fly ball with the tying run on third base. Offensively, Krista Hoffman went 2 for 3 and Christie Swiezbin led off an inning with a double. According to Lerch, "We were not hitting well, but as soon as we got a run, we knew we would win." The Vikings are 4-1 on the season. FULL STORY