The business community of Port Washington has banded together with their Manhasset colleagues to initiate a legal challenge to what they consider to be the unfair apportionment of school taxes. The coalition's primary complaint is that commercial properties pay a disproportionate share of real estate taxes compared to their actual percentage of assessed valuation within the school district. For example, in the school year of 2005/2006, commercial properties accounted for 11.6 percent of the school district's assessment yet paid 18.4 percent of the school district taxes. FULL STORY

First, a little history. Discussions about cleaning up Sheets Creek first began over 30 years ago. In the fall of 1998 a major effort was mounted by the TONH, together with marina owners on Manhasset Bay and Waterfront Advisory Commission, assisted by the county and other individuals and groups. At that time more than 200 tons of debris were removed from the creek and disposed of by the TONH Solid Waste Management Authority (SWMA). Items found and disposed of included barges, old metal cranes, floats, marine equipment, pilings, and even a tugboat; one single piece weighed approximately 20 tons. (For more details, see the article Port Washington News November 12, 1998, which is also available on line at www.antonnews.com). Over the next few years, there was some cleanup activity, primarily with volunteers supported with some resources from TONH. During 2002, there was another major thrust (Port Washington News January 9, 2003, also online). At that time, more than 26 tons of debris were removed, with some assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers. FULL STORY