Initially the transportation bid for next year came in at 19.2 percent over last year's contract, whose total was $1.6 million. Before the actual bid was submitted a few weeks ago, Assistant Superintendent for Schools Mary Callahan had estimated only a 10 percent increase when the preliminary budget was put together. After the bid was submitted, the board was looking at an additional $160,000, as this was the only bid they received. (Reportedly, the problem with obtaining bids for Port comes from its location (end of the peninsula) and the fact that there is no convenient place to park the buses during school hours when they're not in use.) FULL STORY

The Friends of the Port Washington Public Library announce its annual Richard Dodge Whittemore Book & Author Luncheon to be held Friday, May 9, from 11:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the George Washington Manor. Cost of the luncheon is $45 per person. Reservation brochures have been mailed to Friends donors and are available for the public at the library. FULL STORY

The Port Washington Knights of Columbus Council #1227 are proud to announce that Mark Andriola and his brother Pat Andriola have won the Long Island (Brooklyn, Queens, Suffolk) free throw championship at the Merchant Marine Academy. Pat won the 13 year old section by hitting 23 of 25 shots while Mark took the 10 year old group making 19 of 25. This was rare because A. two boys from same council, and B. it was a "brother thing." FULL STORY

Will spring ever come? Even though the calendar says it is spring, and daylight savings time brings longer days - the weather just is not cooperating. The weather gods are either confused or just teasing us - again. Wonderfully warm weather with gentle breezes had many of us spending days at the boatyard working on our boats and daydreaming of days of racing on Manhasset Bay, or taking a leisurely day sail on Long Island Sound to watch a beautiful sunset over New York City. But the early part of this week, as the cold northern wind brought unusually severe weather to our area, those thoughts seemed premature, and forced our spring fever to be short-lived. As we slosh through the snow and sleet, and bring out the snow shovel for what we hope is the last time, we'll have to trust that the cold weather can't last much longer, and the warm weather that brought out the daffodils is just around the corner. FULL STORY