The East Island Bridge was re-opened on Tuesday morning, July 15 after just more than three months of reconstruction and rehabilitation. The project was slated to open in late June, but the unseasonable rains of the spring of 2003 postponed completion, just as it postponed, or cancelled, barbecues, communion parties, the rebuilding of the Landing School roof and the Memorial Day parade. FULL STORY

Glen Cove Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp has announced that AvalonBay Properties exercised their option to purchase property on Glen Street and launch their second phase of construction. AvalonBay bought the approximately one-acre of property, located between Acclaim Entertainment and the Maserati-Ferrari showroom, for $2 million from the Glen Cove Community Development Agency. Mayor Holzkamp said, "The second phase of construction by AvalonBay Properties on Glen Street is consistent with my administration's commitment to Smart Growth Economics-a concept that brings housing to a community's downtown amid shopping, restaurants, services and transportation. Our downtown will also benefit in another way. A public improvement grant, funded by AvalonBay, will be used by the Glen Cove Industrial Development Agency to pay for the complete renovation of the Pratt Boulevard Municipal parking lot behind the Glen Cove Police Headquarters. It will also fund new, efficient street lighting." FULL STORY

The Glen Cove softball team finished a great season making the playoffs once again. The season was capped off at the All-County dinner on June 2. The Big Red softball program had five members honored for their outstanding success throughout the year. Ninth-grader Jamie Downer was All-County, 12th-grader Joan Starkman was All-Conference, 10th-grader Christina Abbondandolo and seventh-grader Aja Alter were All-Division and Aubrie Dillon was the Senior Scholar/Athlete. FULL STORY

At the 2003 Nation Masters Championships held in Tempe, Arizona, Glen Cove's Dick Guido dominated the 85-89 year group, winning the gold in the men's 1,000 yd., 500 yd., and 200 yd. freestyle and the 200 yd. individual medley, as well as a silver medal in the 200 yd. backstroke. Favored to win his fifth gold in the 100 yd. individual medley, Mr. Guido was late arriving at the starting block, getting there when the swimmers were already in the pool. Despite diving in late, he finished first in his age group, only to be disqualified for his late start. Mr. Guido said, "With the heat at 104 degrees around the pool, I was glad just to get wet...but deserved to be kicked out for not being on time for the event. FULL STORY