— Neighbors in Port Washington spoke out in opposition to a large data center proposed to be built on the city’s north side In nearly an hour of public comments at the Port Washington Common Council meeting Tuesday night 19 different people spoke against the proposal many of them residents who live near the site They accused city leaders of bulldozing the city’s charm in the name of progress “Port Washington being the jewel of Ozaukee County,” Ryan Jenkins said “What a huge irony that we’re talking about putting this huge structure just outside of downtown.” More than 500 people have signed a petition opposing the data center Troy Cook is the petition’s author and spoke at Tuesday’s meeting albeit essential are a dog and pony show just to give the appearance that our elected representatives care,” Troy Cook said Despite the objections, the Common Council took the next step forward, approving an ordinance to add a new zoning code to the city’s zoning rules. The "I-3 Technology Campus District" will govern the proposed data center site it requires measures to reduce light pollution and caps the sound emitted from the complex at 70 decibels Watch: Port Washington neighbors take complaints on proposed data center to the city Mayor Ted Neitzke spoke with TMJ4 in February regarding residents concerns He argued the center will bring a lot of opportunities to the city while also increasing tax revenue He told residents at Tuesday’s meeting that their concerns are not falling on deaf ears “Many of the things being put into place tonight will allow the city to be in a stronger position when we put a developer’s agreement,” Mayor Neitzke said There are still some moving parts before shovels can go in the ground TMJ4 plans to continue following up with neighbors and city leaders as the proposal goes forward Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip Report a typo The Harborside retirement community in Port Washington see in March 2023 The Harborside retirement community in Port Washington recently entered into its third bankruptcy in 10 years leaving many residents concerned about their futures Trump's influence on NY's future .. Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months PORT WASHINGTON — The Port Washington man charged earlier this month with possessing child pornography has now been charged with repeated sexual assault of a child who has been in the Ozaukee County Jail since March 31 is accused of sexually assaulting a child between 2011 and 2015 in the city of Port Washington said the abuse occurred when he was between 9 and 13 years old according to the criminal complaint filed Monday against Kruse The man said the abuse occurred at Kruse’s home where the boy would occasionally spend the night Kruse talked about giving him as a boy an old iPhone before Kruse began abusing him He reported that Kruse told him not to say anything about the incident The complainant said there were a lot more incidences The boy and his mother eventually moved to Milwaukee and the overnight visits became less frequent But the boy likely spent another 10 nights at the house The man said he told his mother about the abuse about three to four years ago She said the boy’s father was never around and Kruse was viewed as a father figure and positive role model Kruse taught at day cares in Ozaukee and Washington counties including Forest Friends Learning Place in the city of West Bend and Tiny Sprouts Child Care Center in the city of Port Washington according to the complaint filed last on April 1 The child pornography charges stemmed from information an Ozaukee County Sheriff’s detective received from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force regarding two videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct that were uploaded and shared using Kik Messenger an instant messaging social media application One of the videos shared was 34 seconds long and involved two boys approximately 9 to 13 years old A separate photograph uploaded to the Kik Messenger account also showed two boys engaged in inappropriate behavior The complaint said this picture appears to possibly be photoshopped or AI-generated Kruse is being held in the Ozaukee County Jail on $250,000 cash bond in the pornography case and $500,000 in the sexual assault case 10 things to know this week from the WOW counties (Waukesha Ozaukee and Washington) sent on Sundays Get the latest Ozaukee County news delivered Tuesday and Thursdays so you don't miss out on updates Have Ozaukee County breaking news alerts sent to your inbox as they happen Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Southeast Wisconsin might soon be home to another data center — this time in Port Washington Cloverleaf Chief Development Officer Aaron Bilyeu came to Port Washington Tuesday night to speak to the city’s Common Council He said his company prepares sites for data center construction by buying up property connecting it to the power grid and selling it on to a client like Google or Apple “As I like to say — and certain people like to make fun of me for — it’s quiet dark rooms and servers going blinky-blinky all day,” Bilyeu said He said most data centers employ between 50 and 100 people in office jobs “The only time people go into those server halls is when you get a hard drive failure or something like that,” he said He said he couldn’t give a specific acreage or wattage for the data center yet. But he said many modern data centers require 350 megawatts. That’s enough to power 280,000 households The entire city of Milwaukee has 231,000 households A Microsoft data center campus now under construction in Mt Pleasant is expected to use 450 megawatts of power when complete Artificial intelligence drives the growing energy needs of data centers. NPR reported in July that the power needs of AI tools have increased Google’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent over the last five years and that asking AI chatbot ChatGPT one question is equivalent to burning a lightbulb for 20 minutes Port Washington mayor Ted Neitzke IV said that the potential data center’s advantages “far outweigh the cons” for his city He said the loss of local manufacturers — like the lawnmower-maker Simplicity — have made the city’s revenue too dependent on residential property taxes He said restoring a “greater developmental mix” would shift the tax burden back to commercial landowners Neitzke told the Ozaukee Press that the city would consider creating a tax-increment financing district to pay for sewer and water extensions to the data center There is one more player in the development story: the Town of Port Washington The potential construction area — between I-43 Dixie Road and the Ozaukee Interurban Trail — and its current landowners are within the town’s borders Development would require annexation by the city which can’t happen until the municipalities’ current land agreement expires in December 2025 At its meeting on Monday, the town board delayed taking any action on the border agreement, TMJ4 reported Chair Mike Didier did not respond to a WPR request for comment on Thursday Bilyeu said many landowners within the potential site are already under contract for a sale “We have a few that we’re still having conversations with,” he said Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board — A petition opposing a coming data center project in Port Washington has garnered the support of hundreds The petition is titled "Stop the Port Washington Data Center," and it has gathered nearly 400 signatures as of Wednesday evening It warns of the loss of homes and farmland while putting a strain on the electrical grid "These plans must be squashed," the petition says Christine Reichert has lived in Port Washington for decades She came to TMJ4's Let's Talk listening session in February to voice her concerns TMJ4 followed up with her to get her reaction to similar concerns from neighbors I want to make it right on this planet," Reichert said "A data center to me is not that direction." City leaders, including Mayor Ted Neitzke, have previously spoken to TMJ4 regarding the project increase property tax revenue and put the city on the map as a tech center TMJ4 took those neighbors concerns to an expert Mike Litman chairs the computer science department at nearby Concordia University Wisconsin asking him what red flags residents should be watching out for in the coming months Watch: Petition garners hundreds of signatures opposing Port Washington data center "It is probably going to bring more money and more technology to the area which I can obviously see the positives of that," Litman said "I think the most unpredictable part of this is the timing for upgrading the infrastructure The last thing a resident wants is to have inconveniences with their electricity because some potentially cool thing is coming into existence TMJ4 reached out to the firm building the site as well as We Energies regarding the power grid a spokesperson for We Energies said the company is prepared to build the infrastructure needed without passing costs on to neighbors "We designed the rate to make sure no costs to serve these new customers will be subsidized by other residential or business customers," a We Energies spokesperson said Earlier this year, the City of Port Washington agreed to annex about 1,900 acres of land from the town in order to prepare for the project. They are currently in the process of creating a new zoning designation to regulate the center. According to city agendas they plan to host a public hearing on that issue next Tuesday Bella Gray of Long Beach windmills her pitch during a Nassau Conference V softball game against host Port Washington on Monday Bella Gray’s right arm and Long Beach’s defense have the Marines in strong position to win a conference title Gray allowed four hits and two runs over seven innings as Long Beach defeated host Port Washington “At times I put more pressure on myself to be better and to throw more strikes,” Gray said “My team always backs me up and that makes me feel better when I’m pitching.” Brianna Bothell hit a one-out single in the top of the first Andie Spiteri followed with a triple to drive in Bothell and scored when the throw into third went out of play “I have confidence in myself and all the girls with the bats,” Spiteri said “I knew that even if we didn’t string together many hits we’d play strong defense and get great pitching.” Alex Miller doubled to lead off the bottom of the second for Port Washington bringing Miller home to cut the Long Beach lead to 2-1 Spiteri singled to lead off the fourth and Jorjia Domingo doubled to give Long Beach runners on second and third with no outs threw Spiteri out at the plate for the second out of the inning but Domingo scored on a wild pitch with two outs Fushetto hit a two-out single to drive in Sophie Schwartz for Port Washington and cut the Long Beach lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth Gray induced a pop-up in the next at-bat to strand runners on first and second Sydney Olivo made a diving catch on a sinking liner in rightfield ending the bottom of the third for Long Beach Shortstop Emily Adler made grabs on sharp grounders in the fourth and seventh innings before firing to first to help preserve the Marines’ lead “I always expect my defense to be there and this game really showed it,” Gray said I can rely on the defense to turn them into outs.” Long Beach (10-1) is undefeated (10-0) in conference play The Marines now hold a three-game lead in conference V “We played Port Washington the first game of the season and we extended the lead late but I told the girls to expect a closer game,” Long Beach coach Carmine Verde said but these girls battle to the last pitch.” — Despite a chilly and windy start to the week Ozaukee County's main marina is busy getting ready for the summer RELATED CONTENT: Kenosha celebrates arrival of thousands of salmon fingerlings to boost Lake Michigan ecosystem The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources delivered a huge shipment of 60,000 salmon Monday afternoon Many local charter fishers spent the day launching their boats for the first time this year Dale Allen is the president of the Great Lakes Sport Fisherman's Club WATCH: Port Washington receives 60,000 salmon for summer fishing season "Port Washington's the best place to be," Allen said "We keep (the fish) in the net pens for the entire three weeks so that they get scented to the Port Washington water Allen estimates about half of the fish could be caught by the end of the roughly five-month fishing season Nicky Boy Charters put two of their boats in the water Monday morning They run a total of four boats each summer sometimes venturing out to fish twice daily Boat captain Jeremy Dahm said they worked on the boats all winter "We look forward to this all spring," Dahm said "All of these boats bring thousands and thousands of dollars to the city." signs of life on the lakefront signal the beginning of the Summer and warmer weather coming soon Maggie Fassett has lived in Port Washington for five decades and recently moved right near the lakefront there will be boats pulling in every day with salmon and trout." Scenes from a Nassau Conference V softball game between Long Beach and host Port Washington on Monday Sydney Olivo of Long Beach chases down the fly ball for an out during a Nassau Conference V softball game against host Port Washington on Monday Jorjia Domingo of Long Beach slides head first and scores during a Nassau Conference V softball game against host Port Washington on Monday Julia DiGiorgio of Long Beach makes the out at third during a Nassau Conference V softball game against host Port Washington on Monday Emily Adler of Long Beach reacts after retiring the Port Washington side during a Nassau Conference V softball game in Port Washington on Monday Emily Adler of Long Beach makes the play to first during a Nassau Conference V softball game against host Port Washington on Monday Andie Spiteri of Long Beach is tagged out at the plate by Abigail Trenaman of Port Washington during a Nassau Conference V softball game in Port Washington on Monday Brianna Bothell of Long Beach makes contact during a Nassau Conference V softball game against host Port Washington on Monday Port Washington starting pitcher Olivia Kostka delivers to the plate during a Nassau Conference V softball game against Long Beach in Port Washington on Monday Sydney Olivo of Long Beach lays down a bunt during a Nassau Conference V softball game against host Port Washington on Monday Andie Spiteri (red helmet) of Long Beach scores off of a triple and a dead ball call during a Nassau Conference V softball game against host Port Washington on Monday Pitcher Bella Gray (center) of Long Beach finishes her 3-2 victory over Port Washington in a Nassau Conference V softball game in Port Washington on Monday Bella Gray of Long Beach windmills her pitch during a Nassau Conference V softball game against host Port Washington on Monday Bella Gray of Long Beach fields a line drive back to the pitcher's mound during a Nassau Conference V softball game against host Port Washington on Monday Alexandra Miller of Port Washington makes the play at second during a Nassau Conference V softball game against Long Beach in Port Washington on Monday Port Washington officials are one step closer toward bringing a massive data center complex to the city the Common Council approved an agreement allowing the city to annex 1,900 acres in the surrounding Town of Port Washington The town board approved the agreement earlier the same day Officials had revealed tentative data center plans at a council meeting on Jan Port Washington Mayor Ted Neitzke IV told WPR he believes a data center’s advantages “far outweigh the cons.” He claimed it would almost double the city’s total tax valuation That could halve residents’ property taxes Data center developer Cloverleaf Infrastructure is driving the project The new agreement allows Cloverleaf to pitch the site to prospective operators like Google or Meta The area was otherwise protected from annexation until 2026 “They cannot make a deal with one of those end users without assurances that the annexation could occur sooner than 2026,” said the city’s attorney Chris Smith at Tuesday’s council meeting Smith said any potential annexation hinges on Cloverleaf finding a buyer and the city agreeing to terms with that buyer The 1,900 acres are bounded by Interstate 43 to the east and south the Ozaukee Interurban Trail to the west and Dixie Road to the north Cloverleaf was founded in Feb. 2024, according to an interview with its co-founder Brian Janous in industry news outlet Data Center Dynamics In that interview, Janous said he started the company after realizing power utilities were unable to keep up with AI’s ballooning energy needs His company specializes in buying up property and working with utilities to bring “the largest electric loads” to data center sites, per its website — not in actually building the facilities Cloverleaf representative Aaron Bilyeu told the Port Washington Common Council that new data centers often use up to 350 megawatts of electricity That’s enough to power 280,000 households. The entire city of Milwaukee has 231,000 households A spokesperson for WE Energies said the local utility is “committed to adding capacity and infrastructure to serve this site.” Private equity firms NGP Energy Capital and Sandbrook Capital invested $300 million in Cloverleaf this summer Cloverleaf’s website doesn’t mention any other projects in the works besides Port Washington Neitzke said he expects the company to bring several centers to the 1,900-acre site in phases adding he believes high demand for the centers could make that process go quickly The city will craft its zoning code to maximally conceal the data center “They recognize that we want to maintain the beauty and charm of our city while growing and developing in a scalable and sensible way,” he said of Cloverleaf Cloverleaf is buying land for the project via private transactions according to a statement from Port Washington make a threat of eminent domain,” Neitzke said Speaking during the Common Council’s public comments “This legacy that you’re going to create I don’t think it’s what you think it’s going to be,” said Kim Tydrick She said she’s concerned about noise and light pollution told the council his family “would throw a very large party if this whole thing were to fall through.” “Cloverleaf can promise the moon before they turn around and sell it,” he added “But they can’t guarantee what Meta IBM or whoever will do once it’s theirs.” OZAUKEE COUNTY — Port Washington State Bank has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2025 honor by Southeastern Wisconsin Top Workplaces The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC The confidential survey uniquely measures the employee experience and its component themes including employees feeling respected and supported 'Being recognized as a top workplace is an incredible honor and a true reflection of not only the bank’s dedication to fostering a positive supportive culture but also the role our employees play in carrying forward that culture,' said PWSB Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources Stella Peduzzi 'We’re proud to provide an environment where employees feel valued Energage CEO Eric Rubino said that earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies especially because it comes authentically from their employees 'That’s something to be proud of,' Rubino said leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard Port Washington State Bank employs 130 people among eight branches in Ozaukee County The bank encourages fun through team-building activities like live karaoke The employees host bake sales and jeans days for local charities Many branches also celebrate birthdays with potlucks and special honorary lunches Port Washington State Bank has been a full-service locally owned and operated community bank for 125 years the bank is principally owned and led by the fourth and fifth generation descendants of its founder Clarence Hill "Being recognized as a top workplace is an incredible honor and a true reflection of not only the bank’s dedication to fostering a positive supportive culture but also the role our employees play in carrying forward that culture," said PWSB Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources Stella Peduzzi "We’re proud to provide an environment where employees feel valued "That’s something to be proud of," Rubino said — Volunteers in an Ozaukee County city are ensuring that a 165-year-old lighthouse lives on for another century The 1860 Light Station has overlooked downtown Port Washington for generations delighting thousands of visitors to the lakeside city the Port Washington Historical Society issued a call for volunteers to help maintain the lighthouse Dave Garacci and Nicole Sova are two of the volunteers they returned home to Port Washington and became part of this growing tradition spending her days in the glow of that same lighthouse “I never imagined that I would be able to stay in the lighthouse,” Sova said “The thing I like most about it are the stories.” The lighthouse’s museum and adjoining apartment are filled with items from the city’s history That includes furniture and even a phonograph manufactured by Port Washington’s Wisconsin Chair Company Watch: Volunteers travel far and wide to preserve historic Port Washington lighthouse “It just feels good to be here,” Garacci said visitors can climb several flights of stairs and ladders to reach the light room The historical society restored it a few decades ago so that it could once again shine down on the surrounding marina Nicole and Dave are just a few of the volunteers who maintain the lighthouse The historical society’s keeper program allows anyone to sign up to live at the lighthouse for a week in the summer the keepers also serve as hosts and tour guides for visitors enthusiasts came from as far as the East Coast to take part The Port Washington Historical Society is still looking to fill spots for this upcoming Summer. You can visit their website here Tommy McCarvill #1 of Port Washington looks for an open teammate against Mepham during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday trying to collect his thoughts about his six-goal game while his teammates jokingly jeered at him less than 15 yards away “We just wanted to move the ball quickly and take smart shots,” McCarvill said “Just get the ball to Tommy,” Lavey said with a laugh That alone proved to be a solid gameplan in Port Washington’s eighth win of the season defeating Mepham 18-3 on the road Saturday in non-league play who scored five of his six goals in the first half had no shortage of highlights His first goal came after he rolled inside off his defender’s shoulder before ripping a shot into the bottom right corner McCarvill’s fourth goal traded finesse for raw power ripping a shot hard enough to ricochet out of the goal and back onto the field with 3:37 left in the first half McCarvill ended the half another score with only 4.5 seconds remaining stumbling before finding his feet to jump and find the bottom right corner Senior Brendan Lang added four goals and senior Dom Forgione added two goals and an assist “We’ve got a lot of senior guys who we’ve been playing for,” McCarvill said “So to come out here and move the ball well continue to be major contributors after solid junior seasons Liam McCarvill added a goal and an assist as one of 10 Vikings to register a point beating each other up,” Tommy McCarvill said Port Washington (8-1) forced three turnovers on the ride by the end of the third quarter against Mepham (4-4) with senior attackman Will Ahmuty’s two caused turnovers exemplifying what Lavey expects from his players “We don’t give up transitions,” Lavey said but that starts with our attackmen and ends with our goalie.” Winning seven of 10 first-half faceoffs and 15 of 20 through three quarters thanks to junior Griffin Marvin and sophomore Dylan Freeman helps that philosophy by controlling the pace of play That hustle and grit is becoming the cornerstone of Port Washington lacrosse beginning with talented sophomore goalie Max Eynon (six saves) and star senior defenseman Harrison Behan to senior Jake Feinstein in the midfield all the way to Ahmuty and Lang up front Michael Sicoli covers high school sports for Newsday He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and left with a master’s degree in sports journalism in 2023 — Renovation work on a decades-old Ozaukee County library begins this week Niederkorn Library in Port Washington will receive a variety of upgrades via a $1.1 million state grant The library will add new private study rooms remodel the downstairs bathrooms and replace the kitchenette used for events The library has been a fixture of Port Washington's Grand Avenue for more than six decades Library director Tom Carson says the work is badly needed Watch: Renovation work on Port Washington library starts Tuesday "Libraries play such a critical role in communities," Carson said when crews begin to remove a small amount of asbestos found behind the old kitchenette's cabinets Carson said the removal will not be costly and it should be complete around the end of the month For library patrons like long-time Port Washington resident Lonne Schreiner Schreiner brings her adult son Tony to the library every week to pick up books Tony has autism and reads at a second-grade level so I know how old this place is," Schreiner said "There's just so much you can do (at the library) that you didn't think you could." The rest of the renovations are expected to start in late Spring to early Summer We Energies’ longest-returning peregrine falcons Brinn’s body was found in the Port Washington nest box but he stopped returning to the nest box within a few days of Brinn’s death Related coverage: Bird flu deaths increased in recent months, Wisconsin wildlife officials say Brinn had been nesting at the Port Washington Generating Station since 2014 Their deaths come as the bird flu continues to impact animals across the nation Wisconsin wildlife officials suspect that highly contagious avian influenza has killed hundreds of wild birds across the state in recent months and they’re hopeful that pace will slow as summer approaches Several neighbors stopped by Port Washington's South Beach Angela Sommer brought her two sons for a walk on the nearby beach "It's an uncontrollable thing," Sommer said We're hoping the population can get regenerated over time and they can be in better health." Recently, the virus was detected at a Sheboygan County poultry farm. Forty thousand birds at the farm had to be killed to prevent the disease from spreading with the affected commercial farm placed under quarantine A nearby small hobby poultry farm in the Village of Cascade within the boundaries for potential bird flu infection we know their legacy lives on in the dozens of chicks they brought into this world and the awareness they helped to bring to peregrine falcon recovery efforts across the state,” Alison Trouy The birds had been a staple for viewers ofWe Energies’ nesting boxes, which started more than 30 years ago to help revive the endangered species Trouy said despite the tragic news of the birds’ passing Watch: We Energies' longest-returning falcons have died “We have had two new peregrine falcons take up residence at the nest box since Brinn and Beasley’s deaths,” Trouy said “We are hopeful that we will see the first eggs in the coming days or weeks.” The risk for bird flu remains very low for humans. Since February, the CDC has reported 70 cases nationwide The vast majority of patients were exposed at dairy or poultry farms For many travelers, the state of Washington is synonymous with the bustling energy of Seattle, the rugged peaks of Mount Rainier and the lush greenery fed by the rainy weather Yet beyond the well-known attractions lie small towns that capture the heart and soul of the Pacific Northwest—places where history and community spirit thrive with little fanfare The eight underrated Washington towns profiled here offer vibrant arts perfect for travelers looking for something different in 2025 Port Townsend is a Victorian seaport with an artsy twist located on the northeastern tip of the Olympic Peninsula While many visitors to the peninsula head straight to the spectacular Olympic National Park Port Townsend offers beautifully preserved 19th-century buildings and an eclectic downtown filled with bookstores The town’s annual Wooden Boat Festival (September 5-7 2025) draws maritime enthusiasts from around the world yet is still not as well-known as it should be Visitors can explore Fort Worden Historical State Park or simply wander the historic streets of this underrated gem of a town Walla Walla is a picturesque town surrounded by rolling vineyards and wheat fields While the Walla Walla region has won accolades as a top wine destination the town does not always get its due as a great destination on its own merits Walla Walla’s walkable downtown offers boutique shopping and historic buildings like the Kirkman Mansion Museum Outdoor adventurers will love nearby Bluewood for skiing or the South Fork Walla Walla Trail for hiking The Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days (August 27-31 2025) provide a taste of the area’s agricultural roots Ellensburg is a college town with Old West flair and modern energy Despite this appealing blend of history and youthful vibrancy the town is often overlooked by travelers speeding past on Interstate 90 Those who stop for a visit are well rewarded Central Washington University fuels a lively cultural scene The famous Ellensburg Rodeo (August 29-September 1 2025) brings authentic Western traditions to life each Labor Day weekend Tucked between Skagit Valley’s tulip fields and the Swinomish Channel Its downtown is full of independent galleries and waterfront eateries like Nell Thorn Bistro The Museum of Northwest Art anchors the artistic energy of the waterfront district La Conner’s reputation for scenic beauty peaks during the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival but the La Conner Classic Boat and Car Show (August 2 2025) showcases a different side of its coastal culture La Conner often remains underrated because it is small and easily passed by but those who stop are rewarded with a town full of surprises Nicknamed “Little Norway,” Poulsbo proudly celebrates its Scandinavian heritage with Viking murals this Kitsap Peninsula town is perfect for kayaking 2025) celebrates the community’s Nordic roots with parades Despite the town’s cultural richness and the fun it has celebrating this richness Poulsbo is often overlooked by those rushing to the Olympic Peninsula and missing out on one of Washington’s most distinctive small towns Because it is tucked deep into the mountains, Winthrop remains under-visited compared to Leavenworth or the Cascade Loop. However, for scenery, recreation, and Wild West charm, few places compare. Winthrop invites you to step back into the Old West with its wooden boardwalks, saloons, and western storefronts set against the dramatic backdrop of the Cascade Mountains Winthrop also serves as the gateway to the Methow Valley offering endless opportunities for cross-country skiing The annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival (July 18-20 2025) brings nationally recognized musicians to this tiny town sitting on the northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula serves as a major gateway into Olympic National Park yet the town itself is often underappreciated Travelers often pass through Port Angeles en route to hikes and ferry crossings missing out on the town’s genuine coastal charm and cultural vitality with views of Vancouver Island across the strait and restaurants like Kokopelli Grill and Barhop Brewing The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center and the Field Arts & Events Hall foster a thriving arts scene the Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival (October 10-12 2025) celebrates the local culinary bounty Situated along the scenic Columbia River Gorge, Stevenson is surrounded by an adventurer’s paradise, yet is often overshadowed by Hood River on the Oregon side of the gorge. Though easily accessible from Vancouver and Portland Stevenson remains underrated because of its quiet understated vibe—a perfect fit for travelers wanting to blend outdoor adventure with small-town hospitality Home to the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum and access to hiking trails like Wind Mountain and Beacon Rock Stevenson’s Gorge Blues and Brews Festival (June 20-21 2025) celebrates local craft beer amidst the jaw-dropping scenery travelers have more reason than ever to seek out the hidden gems of Washington State These eight underrated towns deliver a mix of coastal beauty They are places where communities thrive without overwhelming crowds and where authenticity shapes every experience Washington’s small towns are ready to welcome you photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com — A local supper club will represent the Milwaukee area restaurant community in Green Bay next month The Moonlight Tavern in Port Washington is one of 20 supper clubs from across the state chosen to take part in the NFL's "Taste of the NFL Draft"charity event Husband and wife Anders Dowd and Ashley Heun have owned the tavern since last year They revamped the menu to include all of the supper club favorites while also adding a few twists like a rotating assortment of flavored deviled eggs "The difference for me [between] supper clubs and fine dining is it's more of a home-style meal Watch: Port Washington supper club headed to NFL Draft the pair will travel up I-43 to Green Bay to serve their signature parmesan-crusted salmon at the event The event is a fundraiser for GENYOUth an organization working to end childhood hunger "Hopefully they sell out the tickets and raise as much money as they can to kinda help kids here in the state," Dowd said The Moonlight Tavern is located inside the historic 1902 Port Hotel building at 101 E Just weeks after voters passed a $59.4 million facilities referendum the Port Washington-Saukville School District is cutting staff to address a $1.2 million budget deficit for the next school year The decision to cut staff positions comes after district voters approved funds April 1 to build a new Saukville Elementary School and make improvements to the district's other schools The cuts have not been popular; a petition on change.org calls for an independent audit of the district's finances said he is a taxpayer and a former student of the district He told a reporter he started the petition because the $1.2 million budget deficit was announced right after voters approved the $59.4 million referendum Gierach said he thinks an audit would ensure tax dollars are spent wisely He also said he thinks the Port Washington-Saukville School District's administration is "too bloated." He also noted that Port Washington taxpayers have recently seen other tax increases recently: after a $1.175 million per year referendum in April 2024 to hire additional firefighter/emergency medical technician positions to fund improvements to the city's water treatment plant at a cost of $20.7 million and to pay for a new public safety building Here's what to know about the budget deficit and staffing cuts with a combination of full-time positions being eliminated and a reduction in employee work hours being implemented said district superintendent Michael McMahon in an email to a reporter Both declining enrollment and the expiration of federal pandemic aid contributed to the deficit The superintendent said the district has experienced a slow enrollment decline since 2012. At the same time, demand has grown for additional staff, especially to comply with new state mandates such as Act 20, which focuses on improving early literacy McMahon said the district historically has not consistently evaluated its staffing needs in relation to enrollment trends the timeline for staff retirement notifications has made it difficult to align staffing adjustments with actual needs teachers could notify the district of their retirement as late as June that timeline conflicted with state statutes requiring preliminary layoff notices to be issued by the end of April and final layoff notices by May 15 "Because retirements were often announced after these deadlines the district was not in a position to absorb those positions through attrition and would often rehire for them by default," he said the district has put in new processes to better monitor enrollment trends class sizes and adjust the number of classes per grade-level as needed The district has also established clearer retirement notification timelines to align staffing decisions with enrollment needs and only uses layoffs when staff cuts could not be absorbed through attrition In response to the petition's request for an audit McMahon noted that financial consulting firm Clifton Larson and Allen already presented its annual audit to the School Board in January McMahon said he invited Gierach to meet with him to discuss his concerns In an update to his online petition April 18 Gierach said McMahon responded by saying he wanted it to be known that he responded even though the Change.org petition shows he did not respond yet Gierach also said McMahon told him he was concerned the petition does not accurately reflect his willingness to engage and that McMahon told him "he takes great pride in communicating openly with the public and being transparent." McMahon said Gierach posted a comment but that the website refers to him as a decision maker that has "not responded." He also said Gierach is continuing to incorrectly share that the district's budget deficit is $2.1 million when it is actually $1.2 million McMahon gave Gierach days and times to meet the week of April 21 McMahon said declining enrollment is due to an increase in the number of students open enrolling out of the district That was a key focus during 20 referendum information nights held with the community in January "The recently passed referendum will provide the district — and specifically Saukville — with a new school building We believe this investment will help attract and retain families thereby stabilizing and potentially increasing enrollment," McMahon said McMahon said the district's enrollment has dropped from 2,650 students in the 2015-16 school year to 2,350 students today He said staffing levels were not adjusted to align with those enrollment trends That has resulted in elementary class sizes "in the low teens." "While small class sizes were supported in the past state funding has not increased to support this model," he said the district cannot sustain class sizes of 12 to 13 students at the elementary level He said the district must look to surrounding districts that are balancing their budgets with class sizes in the low 20s to be financially responsible What are the next steps?McMahon said the School Board must approve final layoff notices by May 15 He also said the district will carefully evaluate staff resignations districtwide "Our goal is to absorb as many reductions as possible through attrition allowing us to eliminate positions rather than individuals," he said Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on X (Twitter) at @AlecJohnson12 the empty possessions dwindled away for Jamestown in the closing minutes Thursday night Port Washington was taking advantage at the other end of the floor it spelled a 50-39 victory for the Vikings in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AAA boys basketball semifinal at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena They got after it,” Jamestown senior Jaydian Johnson said postgame “I don’t think we played our best basketball tonight Nothing was falling for us; just an off-day.” The Section VIII champions ended the game on a 15-2 run to punch their ticket for today’s 7:45 p.m championship game against Section II’s Shaker including their 17th Section VI title and fifth Far West Regional crown but short of the third state championship game appearance in program history “We played a pretty tough schedule in Western New York But maybe they were a little bit different type of teams than these guys,” Jamestown head coach Billy Miley said They did a better job of that today.” but Port Washington took a 26-20 lead into halftime thanks in large part to 9-of-13 shooting from the floor during the second quarter “I think it was just losing guys … not being 100% aware at all times,” Miley said “They took advantage of that.” The Vikings’ Kenny Daly – who finished with a game-high 23 points – then hit a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to give his team its largest lead to that point at 29-21 But the Red & Green fought back and Elijah Farmer’s free throw with 3.9 seconds left in the third quarter made it a three-point game Jamestown’s Gavin Johnson opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 35-all but that would end up being the Red & Green’s only field goal of the final eight minutes Jaydian Johnson hit a pair of free throws with 6:10 remaining to give Jamestown a 37-35 lead before things fell apart for the Section VI champs Port Washington got two offensive rebounds on its next possession and Daly eventually made a free throw to make it 37-36 before Izaias Clemmons scored through contact to give his team a 38-37 advantage with 5:06 remaining “We like more possessions and pushing the ball a little bit,” Miley said “They do a good job of taking that away defensively and being very deliberate at the offensive end so we’re not getting as many possessions as we normally would like.” That contact was Farmer’s fourth foul and then on Jamestown’s next trip down the floor before Miley could put in a substitute Farmer picked up his fifth foul on an offensive rebound attempt “We were having a hard time stopping them before that,” Miley said of Farmer’s exit “Obviously we certainly are better with him on the floor.” The Vikings’ Chase Kovar made it 40-37 on their next trip before the Red & Green’s Carson Panebianco sank two free throws to make it 40-39 Those ended up being the final points Jamestown would score The Red & Green went 1 of 14 from the field while Port Washington went 6 of 8 at the foul line to put the game away They make you work for everything,” Miley said “We got a couple of decent looks and weren’t fortunate enough to knock them down.” they don’t gamble and they take smart shots … They were just knocking shots down,” Jaydian Johnson added “We didn’t play our brand of basketball tonight junior Jericho Thagard was consoled by Jaydian Johnson and Panebianco the Red & Green’s 10 juniors and two sophomores will set a goal nothing short of returning to Binghamton next March “We keep getting to this point and not being able to get over the hump,” Miley said “There are a lot of guys who want to get back here.” “They’ll be back next year.” NOTES: Jaydian Johnson had 15 points and eight rebounds; Farmer had 8 points and four rebounds; junior Dominic Gonzalez had 7 points and five rebounds; and Panebianco had seven rebounds for Jamestown … Daly had 23 points and five rebounds; Clemmons had 12 points and 12 rebounds; and Ryan Shanahan had five rebounds and four assists for Port Washington … Shaker forced overtime in the first semifinal on Bless Demand’s 3-pointer with 3 seconds remaining in regulation and then outscored Newburgh 12-3 in overtime SALAMANCA — Fredonia scored four runs in the fourth inning and five more in the fifth to turn a one-run lead into .. Copyright © 2025 Ogden Newspapers of New York | https://www.post-journal.com | PO Box 3386 Port Washington defeated Mepham in a Nassau boys lacrosse matchup on Saturday Will Ahmuty #6 of Port Washington looks to dodge Matt Biscardi #25 of Mepham during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Jacob Apat #16 of Port Washington scores against Mepham during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Tommy McCarvill #1 of Port Washington looks to score as Michael Grizzard #7 of Mepham defends during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Jake Feinstein #8 of Port Washington checks Cameron Lubrano #21 of Mepham during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Tommy McCarvill #1 of Port Washington and Jacob Apat #16 of Port Washington celebrate a goal by Tommy McCarvill #1 against Mepham during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Mepham celebrates a goal against Port Washington during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Tommy McCarvill #1 of Port Washington looks to score as Michael Grizzard #7 of Mepham defends him during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Tommy McCarvill #1 of Port Washington and Liam McCarvill #3 of Port Washington celebrate after a goal by Tommy McCarvill #1 during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Brendan Lang #9 of Port Washington winds up for a shot against Mepham during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Alessandro Walaitis #34 of Mepham looks for a teammate as Harry Behan #21 of Port Washington chases him down during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Harry Behan #21 of Port Washington defends Alessandro Walaitis #34 of Mepham during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Harry Behan #21 of Port Washington outruns the Mepham midfielders on a fast break during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Harry Behan #21 of Port Washington on defense against Mepham during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Tommy McCarvill #1 of Port Washington and Will Ahmuty #6 of Port Washington celebrate a goal by Tommy McCarvill #1 against Mepham during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Cameron Lubrano #21 of Mepham shoots against Port Washington during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Cameron Lubrano #21 of Mepham advances on a fast break against Port Washington during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Will Ahmuty #6 of Port Washington dodges Matt Biscardi #25 of Mepham during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Jimmy Gannon #11 of Port Washington hits Braedon Kehoe #13 of Mepham during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Griffin Marvin #4 of Port Washington and Braedon Kehoe #13 of Mepham face off during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Tommy McCarvill #1 of Port Washington looks to score as Jack Weber #22 of Mepham defends him during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Jack Weber #22 of Mepham hits Tommy McCarvill #1 of Port Washington as he tries to dodge during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Owen Heller #16 of Mepham defends Jacob Apat #16 of Port Washington during a Nassau boys lacrosse game on Saturday Port Washington's Common Council is initiating public discussion on specific standards that will influence the sights and sounds of a possible data center campus An April 15 meeting will include a public hearing on proposed zoning rules for the project If zoning and a litany of other steps proceed smoothly construction could begin as early as August concerns and curiosity about the project didn't have details to anchor their perspectives to before the land was already under contract and primed for annexation their comments at local meetings have been rooted in research and speculation That dynamic is, in part, at the crux of frustration for some who've spoken at city meetings in the four months since it was announced (and it's often a point of contention in other communities nationwide at the center of the industry's rapid growth) That's just the way development often goes which orients its entire business model around this order of operations ― obtaining permitting and contracts and then seeking end users to hand it all off to some will want to be very public about what they're doing and want to engage very quickly," Cloverleaf's Chief Development Officer Aaron Bilyeu told the Journal Sentinel in a February interview "Other users tend to be more quiet about things and will want Cloverleaf to continue to be the face of this for as long as possible." Facing a project that will likely transform their community, many residents don't just want responsible stewardship of the proposed project by city leaders They want details before decisions, as many have said at public meetings they will begin to have a say on some of those details On Tuesday, April 15, the city will hold a public hearing for an ordinance that would create new zoning guidelines for a "Technology Campus District," which hasn't existed before within the city, according to city documents It's not a site plan or an environmental impact assessment, but it will give residents the opportunity be heard on the zoning code that will govern an eventual site plan, according to the agenda for the Common Council's April 7 meeting which includes a first reading for the ordinance hasn't been posted to the city's website as of Monday afternoon screening and lighting at the proposed data center campusA data center's impact on the area will be directly influenced by the success of the zoning code Currently, no sections of the city's zoning code, written in 1965, outline standards for large-scale technology campuses like a data center, according to the Plan Commission report attached to the April 7 agenda penned by the city's Planning Director Bob Harris The proposed ordinance would amend the city's zoning code to add language that would both accommodate and regulate "technology campuses" like the data center development proposal The ordinance covers acceptable noise levels screening and lighting for any "technology campus" seeking zoning approval within the city Harris wrote that city planning staff drafted the proposed zoning text with the goal of "minimizing light and sound run-off and maximizing According to the agenda documents the proposed Technology Campus District zoning draft requires that screening or shielding certain things from public view loading areas and mechanical equipment like meter boxes and utility conduits The landscaping section of the draft requires that setback areas be landscaped with native species and diverse tree species' intended to reduce the site's vulnerability to pests and diseases It also requires the developer use landscaped berms to buffer noise and undefined There's also a provision requiring reforestation of areas with regionally appropriate trees, contributing to ecological restoration and alignment with guidelines from Wisconsin Forest Management The proposed sound rules limit noise at 70 decibels when measured at the exterior property line and allows noise mitigation walls up to 24 feet high surrounding utility areas noise from a dishwasher or vacuum is what 70 decibels sounds like Neitzke said he recently stood at Dixie Road and Highway LL to measure the existing sound level using a free decibel reader app on his phone He said the average over 20 minutes was 68 decibels which he attributed to wind and interstate sounds direction and reach of light emitted from the site as well as downward-directed shielding that would help minimize skyglow and glare that could impact nearby properties wildlife and activities at Harrington Beach If approved, the new technology campus district would be wrapped into the city's new zoning code at the completion of a comprehensive zoning rewrite project The proposed ordinance was drafted with input from a variety of stakeholders according to an email to the Journal Sentinel from Chris Jenkins a firm handling city communications on the proposed data center Jenkins said those involved with the draft included city staff special development counsel to the city at the firm von Briesen & Roper Cloverleaf and the city's zoning code rewrite consultant GRAEF He said they considered public input expressed by city and town residents at prior meetings and in correspondence as well as zoning codes in other areas where data centers are already located Construction could start as early as August Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation have both expressed excitement about the direction Port Washington is taking with the data center development Both entities are working to support the project and growth it would bring to the city With the help of the state and all the law firms Neitzke estimated that an end user "could be moving dirt as early as August." the end user will likely be announced and the city will likely approve a development agreement Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @levensc13 congratulates teammate Ava Curtis after she scored a tie-breaking goal to give the Cyclones a 10-9 lead over Port Washington with 5:07 remaining in the fourth quarter of a Nassau Conference I girls lacrosse game at South Side on Wednesday That’s where senior Sienna Connolly comes in “I knew there was over a minute left to go and that it would probably be their last chance to tie it,” Connolly said I saw the ball go up and just went for it.” Connolly intercepted the goalie’s pass, allowing the Cyclones to run out the remaining time on the clock and seal the 10-9 win over Port Washington in Nassau I “Sienna is impactful on all ends of the field,” coach Robert Devlin said and just a great understanding of the sport.” The Cyclones started the game with a 4-0 lead but the Vikings scored three consecutive goals in the second to cut the lead to 5-4 “We’re really trying to work on being consistent all game and we’re hoping to build as the season continues.” scoring three goals within the first five minutes But Port Washington scored four unanswered goals to tie it going into the final quarter “It was a lot of back-and-forth,” Curtis said and then we would let them make their way back But we knew we needed to fight it out in that final quarter.” Curtis and Connolly each finished with two goals Skye Korten added two goals and one assist and Annie Chimienti had one goal and three assists and Hayes Hassett made 12 saves for Port Washington (5-3) South Side (7-2) has fallen short of the county championship game we get there and we just fall short,” Connolly said We’re really motivated to go all the way.” Executive Circle Awards Sign up for your daily digest of Long Island Business News Listen to this article Long Island Business News has announced that it has chosen this year’s winn[...] The financial landscape of Long Island continues to evolve through the leadership of the remarkable [...] Long Island’s business landscape contains a remarkable tapestry of organizations that have stood t[...] Celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month by showcasing the extraordinary wo[...] Listen to this article Lorraine Gregory Communications will be holding a blood drive at its Edgewood[...] Long Island lost 3,100 construction jobs year-over-year in March ending a 12-month streak of gains,[...] Kids Empire and My Gym are opening at Mayfair Shopping Center in Commack Chick-fil-A opens its 12th Long Island location in East Meadow creating 80 jobs and supporting loca[...] Realty Three plans $120M South Village at Station Crossings with 273 rentals Amazon plans to purchase 26.7 acres of Massapequa’s Sunrise Mall site to build a new South Shore d[...] Our mission at Long Island Business News is to be the vital business news and advertising source to Long Island’s most influential readers Get our free LIBN e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions Conversations about the data center that could take up nearly 2,000 acres of land in Port Washington are still happening TMJ4 has heard concerns from residents for months TMJ4’s Megan Lee sat down with Mayor Ted Neitzke to get an update on the project and address some resident concerns "Why weren’t there dialogues as soon as Cloverleaf [Infrastructure] came to you guys to talk?" My very first few conversations with them were about making sure the community sees what’s going on and has input." The lack of an organized open discussion about the potential data center coming to Port Washington is a major complaint from residents that Lee has spoken to over the past few weeks we're stakeholders and members of the community Just because we don't have open dialogue on camera doesn't mean it's not occurring," Neitzke said City leaders have been working with Cloverleaf Infrastructure on a data center development adjacent to I-43 near Lake Drive The land is currently owned by 40 to 45 different owners "We're going to have technology centered in the North Shore of Milwaukee That wasn't on anyone’s bingo card," Neitzke explained Watch: Port Washington mayor updates community on potential data center project He is excited about the opportunities it could bring to the area Pat Morrissey who lives in Port Washington thinks the project is moving along too quickly without resident input "If we're sitting at a table and we're talking and we're listening and saying things like ‘Oh I didn't think of it that way.’ Or different perspectives but we haven't been given a chance to do that,” Morrissey explained she has expressed frustration over the lack of open conversations about the project and the multiple letters she has sent to city leaders "I received nothing from the Common Council or the mayor They did not get back; they did not write anything," Morrissey said Lee asked the mayor why he hadn’t responded to her letter Just one that—I didn’t know that I needed to respond to It was really a suggested idea from her to do for us." We get to determine what that area will look like Neitzke said they are learning from other cities as data centers start to pop up around Wisconsin "We’re sending our department heads into those communities to learn from them our first two will be our police and fire chiefs Did you need equipment?’ so we can be as proactive as possible," Neitzke explained Neitzke said he is planning to host a community session at the end of this month to hear from residents Here is a link to the city's website about the project Officials from both the town and city of Port Washington approved an agreement that would allow the city to annex the site of a proposed data center in the town overtaking around 17% of the town's total land Much of the 2,000 acres of town farmland in question is already under contract to be the site of a sprawling data center proposed by a Houston-based, private equity-backed data center development company called Cloverleaf The company first floated preliminary information about the proposal at a Jan. 7 city meeting but that meeting left more questions than answers They still don't know any specific details on the data center that could be built in their backyards But Cloverleaf and city officials have been eager to get the ball rolling The town and city both unanimously approved terms that would allow the city to annex the site of the proposed data center The land in question stretches from the city's northern border up to Dixie Road and spans east of the Ozaukee Interurban Trail and west of Interstate 43 The city also approved a pre-annexation agreement with the proposed data center's developer land in the Town of Port Washington had been protected from annexation due to a 2004 border agreement between the town and city Port Washington Town Chairman Mike Didier told residents at a Jan That agreement was originally scheduled to sunset on Dec told city officials it wants annexation to occur before 2026 in order to start attracting an end-user company that would ultimately build and operate the facility according to Von Briesen & Roper's Chris Smith the city's special counsel for the project city officials approached the town board to see if its members would end the 2004 border agreement early and allow the land to be annexed before the year’s end Those conversations came to fruition on Tuesday when the city and town both agreed to move that expiration date up to Feb Negotiations to allow the annexation started with a town board meeting where members deliberated in closed session then reemerged into open session to unveil the contingencies they asked of the city In exchange for allowing around 17% of the town to be annexed by the city on Feb the Town secured the following contingencies to be included in a development agreement with an end-user: The town will receive $150,000 each year for the next five years This far surpasses state statutes that would require the town to receive the tax revenue it would have gotten would get from the annexed property for five years.The end-user company will fund utilities for the project site and for the area of town called Knellsville Property owners in Knellsville would have an opportunity to use municipal water and sewer at no cost to the town.The town will also get an extension of its current Fire Services Agreement and a cap on the current fire service fees for 2025 at around $176,000.If the city does not find a company that will accept taking on those terms as part of a development agreement the annexation agreement terms "become moot and we will unwind everything," Smith said "If a company will not agree to those things The agreement also included stipulations separate from a future development agreement: Amanda Mueller moved to the Town of Port Washington three years ago to escape three data centers she used to live near in Texas She was one of around two dozen town residents who attended the city's meeting its ramifications and the promises that were not kept," Mueller said She said her home is now for sale to escape the proposed data center and she's frustrated that news of it has already affected the value of her house expressed environmental concerns over potential light and noise pollution "I understood the initial enthusiasm over a microchip facility because that is the new economy and it's a rare opportunity for one of those facilities," Tydrick said "But these data centers are a dime a dozen." had the experience and ability to deliver its promises Tydrick also expressed his doubts on whether the 50 to 100 permanent jobs Cloverleaf claims the center would bring is worth such a massive investment or commanding of the sizable acreage it would consume Town resident Paige Dawkins argued that city is moving too quickly and urged the council to pause and ensure it has all the facts about the ways these massive facilities impact local communities "This decision to bring a data center of such a magnitude into our community will no doubt have a vast affect," Dawkins said the truth lies somewhere in between and in the fine details to be determined." A resounding message from Dawkins and other residents who spoke is that they don't have enough of those details from Cloverleaf to discern the truth of how this would impact them Much of that reality lies in the "temporary" nature of Cloverleaf "They will not be the final owner that everyone will have to deal with years from now Cloverleaf can promise the moon before they turn around and sell it But they can't guarantee what Meta or IBM or whomever will do with it." Port Washington celebrates after defeating East Meadow in the Nassau Class AAA boys basketball championship at Farmingdale State College on Saturday The sound of elation reverberated throughout the Farmingdale State gym Seventy-eight years had come and gone since Port Washington’s last boys basketball county championship in 1947 and the previous two years seemed even longer after losses to Baldwin in the final But Saturday night ended in pure jubilation for the Vikings 1 Port Washington saw its 20-point second-quarter lead turn into a tie four times in the second half but it ultimately never trailed in a 58-50 victory over No 2 East Meadow in the Nassau Class AAA championship game “It’s awesome,” said Port Washington coach Sean Dooley “To have been here three years in a row and to know what it feels like to be on the other end the last two that was as tough a game as we’ve had all year and diving on the floor — just making winning plays Izaias Clemmons 10 and Cole Reyes and Chase Kovar seven each for Port Washington (19-4) and it just really feels great to finally get it done.” The Vikings led 32-12 with 3:41 left in the second quarter but East Meadow (19-4) ended the first half on a 10-0 run The Jets used an extended 24-4 run to tie it at 36 with 3:32 left in the third quarter “This is the way we’ve been all year,” coach Tom Rottkamp said “Our main driver for success has been energy East Meadow tied it at 44 on Izaiah Richards’ layup with 6:11 left and Clemmons’ tip-in with 1:26 left made it 55-50 Kovar went 3-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final 22.1 seconds The Vikings did not allow a made field goal in the final 4:05 Port Washington will face Half Hollow Hills East for the Long Island Class AAA title at 1:30 p.m I think we really worked hard for it,” Clemmons said “I’m happy the boys can [win] and bring it back to our coach and bring it back to the hometown.” — A local food pantry is just a few months away from moving into a new home that is more than three times larger than its original location The Food Pantry Inc. of Port Washington will move this Summer into a new home on Grand Avenue The organization purchased the former Aurora Health Center and is in the process of renovating the space into a full-service pantry The cost of the property and the renovations tallied close to $1.2 million in total Watch: Port Washington food pantry close to moving to new home Board president Steve Hansen said they started looking for a new home four years ago after realizing that their current space was not large enough to meet demand we have between 15 and 20,000 pounds of food that come in and out of [our current location]," Hansen said "They've done a remarkable job getting to where we are at today but you can only do so much with limited space." the organization has occupied space in the basement of the parish offices at St Executive Director Marcia Nosko says the new space will allow them to expand services to the roughly 100 families they serve "We would like to provide certain health screenings," Nosko said We're going to have a commercial kitchen in our new space." Nosko says the organization is targeting a July opening for their new location Construction crews are currently in the process of renovating the building PORT WASHINGTON — The City and Town of Port Washington made a big decision Tuesday night City and town leaders agreed to amend a border agreement that dates back 20 years. This is the next step for the potential data center project and I don't think any of you would either," resident Kim Tydrick said during public comment "This is not what I signed up for; I'm out of here," resident Amanda Mueller said Many are worried about long-time farm families being asked to sell their land for the potential project "The pre-development agreement approved by the Common Council defines the site as approximately 1,900 acres." "I believe Ozaukee farmers should be supported and shouldn't have to sell their land for pennies on the dollar," one resident said during public comment Watch: Residents raise concerns as Port Washington leaders approve land annexation The Common Council heard the pleas from residents to not move forward with the land annexation council members voted yes on the agreement "What is the long-term plan here,” town resident we don't have the answers to because we're still seeking them as well," Port Washington Mayor Ted Neitzke said Gaulke said there are benefits to living within the town there's just something special about being in a town," Gaulke explained According to a statement from the city: “The annexation agreement provides benefits to both the City and Town including significant long-term property tax revenue for the City extension of municipal water and sewer to certain properties within the Town and an extension of agreements covering the fire and rescue services that the City provides to the Town The entire region will benefit from new jobs created by the project.” Mayor Neitzke also addressed the concerns over non-disclosure agreements and we have not signed any NDAs on this project I would ask if that would stop," Mayor Neitzke said officials will provide additional public updates as the project progresses "This agreement represents an important next step in a proposed project that would provide significant benefits to our residents," Mayor Neitzke said in a statement Residents who have questions about the project can contact the city via email: economicdev@portwashingtonwi.gov Chicken enchiladas at Mesita in Port Washington After little more than a year in Port Washington, Mesita has closed. The Mexican restaurant's last day was Sunday, just three days after the group opened its biggest, grandest Mexican restaurant, in Amityville Amityville was a better fit since it is not as seasonal." Some of the Port Washington employees have transferred to Amityville others will be staying in Port Washington to work at the new restaurant taking over the space This will be the second Jade on Long Island. The first, in Hicksville, made a splash when it opened in April When Mesita opened at the corner of Port Washington Boulevard and Main Street in December 2023 a Belgian-style brasserie that lasted three years in what previously had been a Wells Fargo Bank His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the service for the Saturday of Lazarus at Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Port Washington New York The Archangel Michael parish started the Challenge Liturgy the Challenge Liturgy reaches out to Orthodox Christians with intellectual and developmental disabilities bringing them into the full life of the parish His Eminence recognized the important efforts of the parish to build a substantive relationship of love with those who may need extra support and how it parallels the relationship Maria you have established a circle of inclusion This is a place where you can learn the deep lessons of life – of what is really important,” His Eminence remarked Archbishop Elpidophoros further reminded parishioners how Christ feels our pain and suffers with us just as he knew the pain and loss that was coming to Lazarus and to his sisters As much as anything you will ever read in Holy Scripture this simple verse tells you everything you need to know about how God feels about you He weeps for every human being who must endure sickness and suffering The Lord loves each of us as a most cherished and dear friend the way that He loved Lazaros; the way He loved the sisters Photos: Orthodox Observer/Dimitrios Panagos Get the Orthodox Observer delivered to your inbox Download VCF • Join our Mailing Lists • Donate The information contained on the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is for informational purposes only Certain individuals and institutions are presented for reference purposes only and may not be under the supervision or jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese The Holy Archdiocese does not exercise any administrative oversight or assignment authority over clergy that are not part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Scenes from a Nassau Conference I girls lacrosse game between Port Washington and host South Side on Wednesday Ava Curtis of South Side makes a pass during the fourth quarter of a Nassau Conference I girls lacrosse game against Port Washington at South Side on Wednesday gets pressured by Margaret Cassidy of Port Washington during the fourth quarter of a Nassau Conference I girls lacrosse game at South Side on Wednesday Ava Curtis of South Side gets in position to shoot during the fourth quarter of a Nassau Conference I girls lacrosse game against Port Washington at South Side on Wednesday Sienna Connolly of South Side looks to pass during the fourth quarter of a Nassau Conference I girls lacrosse game against Port Washington at South Side on Wednesday Ava Curtis of South Side carries downfield during the second quarter of a Nassau Conference I girls lacrosse game against Port Washington at South Side on Wednesday Ava Curtis of South Side makes a pass during the second quarter of a Nassau Conference I girls lacrosse game against Port Washington at South Side on Wednesday and Catherine Karman of Port Washington look to gain control of a draw during the second quarter of a Nassau Conference I girls lacrosse game at South Side on Wednesday Anna Chimienti of South Side surveys the field during the fourth quarter of a Nassau Conference I girls lacrosse match against Port Washington at South Side on Wednesday