Mar. 3: Blood, Sweat and Tea Edition

Welcome to a very busy Thursday in the Massapequas. There's a little bit of everything from important public meetings to a week long party that's continuing today.

We're going to take a look at all of it.

Each day, we spotlight events and happenings in and around the area that we think  you ought to know about. We want your help too. If there's an event announcement you'd like us to highlight, please contact us.

Here's what you need to know  today: 

• School Board Meeting: The Massapequa Board of Education continues its budget process Thursday night . There will be a presentation on the instructional portion of the proposed 2011-2012 school budget. The meeting gets underway at 8 p.m. in the .
• Blood Drive: The Town of Oyster Bay is sponsoring a blood drive at several locations including one in Massapequa today. To donate you must be between the ages of 17 and 75 years old or 16 with parental permission. If you're 76 or over, you can donate with a doctor's note.  You must also weigh 110 pounds and not have donated blood in the last 56 days. You can donate at in Massapequa at 977 Hicksville Road from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You can also donate at Town Hall North at the Blood Mobile, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and the Department of Public Works War Room (Highway),  at 150 Miller Place Syosset from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• More Mardi Gras: This is the "sweat" portion of Thursday's agenda. We don't know if people will be sweating at today, but tonight's countdown to Mardi Gras is billed as "Hotter than Hell Night." They will be running a special on a two course dinner and there will be live music by Jim Treutlin from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Literary Tea: The B is hosting a literary tea featuring some of our most promising local writers–the members of the "Writing Our Stories" senior citizen group. They will be reading their stories beginning at 1 p.m. The public is invited.
• ZBA Meeting: The town of Oyster Bay Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 7p.m. at Town Hall North at 54 Audrey Avenue. There are several Massapequa properties on the agenda.