Erin McKenna and Bret Chizever sing “You’re the Top” from “Anything Goes” during the Teeny Awards press conference.

The 2010 Teeny Awards, an innovative theater recognition program created by the East End Arts Council for area teens styled after Broadway’s Tony Awards, is under way. Theater troops from 15 high schools are competing for red carpet treatment at a gala awards ceremony in June.

This year, the gala awards ceremony will take place at Riverhead High School. For many years, the gala awards ceremony took place at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. In order to accommodate more attendees, the ceremony will move into host high school auditoriums. This year, it will be at the Charles Cardona Auditorium of Riverhead High School.

The cast of characters who support the Teeny Awards.

Tags: East End Arts Council, Riverhead, art & culture, schools, teens by Nancy
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On Monday, November 2, from 7:00pm-8:30pm, the Retreat, Violence Prevention Programs, in conjunction with Southold School will present “Cyber-Safe Kids: Keeping Your Kids Safe in the Technological Fast-Lane – Do You Know Where in the (virtual) World Your Children Are?”

The program will take place in the Southold Elementary School Library and is free and open to the public. It will be presented by Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, a clinician with over 20 years experience in the field of safety and violence prevention with a specialty in digital abuse.

On the same day, Southold School students will participate in either the Cool 2B Kind or the Cyber-Safe Kids in-school program presented by Helen Atkinson-Barnes, Retreat Educator with Hands Are Not for Hitting workshops.

Please RSVP to karenmurray25@gmail.com.

Tags: Southold, events, learning, parenting, schools, teens, youth by Nancy
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“You hear a lot about global warming,” said teacher Bob Jester, “but not much about global learning. That’s what this historic moment is about.”

In a ceremony to celebrate the completion of a project they initiated last September, 26 high school science students traveled with their teacher, Mr. Jester, to witness a moment in solar-powered boating history on Preston’s Dock in Greenport. Sophomore Meghan Davis pushed up a lever that ceremoniously connected the solar panel on the roof of Preston’s to a solar-powered battery-driven boat, The Glory, a tour boat of the future.

No damage or injuries were reported.

In fact, The Glory is now being powered by the solar panel on Preston’s. Tourists will be able to get a quiet, carbon-free tour of the Greenport harbor area.

As part of the project, a new “Glory Solar Satellite Learning Center” was established at the East End Maritime Institute, making educational inspiration and information available to hundreds of school children on the East End and around the world.

How It Happened

In 2008, students in Mr. Jester’s science and research class at Riverhead High School were challenged by Mr. Jester to determine how alternative energy sources might be used on the East End of Long Island. Their research included field trips to Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Lab, and the GO SOLAR shed in Aquebogue. They also took a field trip to the Greenport Marina where they interviewed Captain David Berson, The Glory’s owner. After speaking with Captain Berson, the research class designed a solar panel docking station for the marina to supply the energy for and to encourage the use of battery-powered boats like The Glory.

They researched the cost, the location and the angles of the solar panel that could be used to generate power and where the money could be found to complete the project (i.e., grants, local funding, etc.). According to their research, the project would not only help eliminate greenhouse gases, but it would also decrease water pollution, and provide “reverse metering” by putting energy into the power grid rather than drawing it down.

“These students were phenomenal,” said Mr. Jester. “They were very excited about this project. We took our findings and presented them to the Greenport Village Board. Part of our plan was to increase awareness about the possibility of using alternative energy sources in an effort to affect a change in the atmosphere.”

The students determined that the project would cost approximately $10,000. They contributed the funds they raised in a paper recycling project and from a science competition. Josh Horton of East End Maritime Institute; benefactor Jim Moore of Riverhead, a former student of Mr. Jester’s; and Jamie Minnick of E2 Systems took their money and made the dream a reality.

On July 30th of 2009, the project came to fruition with the installation of solar panels on the roof of Preston’s.

It was a win-win for all.

“Everybody wins,” Mr. Jester said. “I overheard one of my students say to another, “Isn’t this the way you always dreamed school could be?”

RHS Science Research Class of 2009 on the Greenport
dock adjacent to the solar-powered tour boat and
learning center, The Glory.

RHS Science Teacher Bob Jester with former student,
Jim Moore, who helped finance the project, and
Albert Harsch from E2 Systems. E2 installed the solar panel.

Captain Dave Berson is at the podium. Front L-R:
RHS sophomores Sean Harkin and Meghan Davis; Josh Horton
Back: RHS science teacher Bob Jester and Legislator Ed Romaine.

Tags: Riverhead, community bulletin, environment, greenport, learning, math & science, schools, seas, teens by Nancy
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The East End Arts Council, founder of the groundbreaking high school theatre recognition program fondly known as the Teeny Awards© (modeled after the Tony Awards) has announced its 2009 nominees.

All participating East End high school theatre productions have been attended by a select panel of judges, who evaluated students based on specific dramatic skills criteria, which the schools were provided with in early Fall.

A formal awards ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, June 7th at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. With support from the East End business community, award winners will be recognized for their hard work and dedication to theatre arts. Due to space limitations, attendance to the Teeny Awards ceremony is by invitation only.

And the nominees are… on the Art & Culture page!

Tags: art & culture, events, schools, teens by Nancy
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Riverhead Community Awareness Program, Inc. (CAP) will sponsor its 24th Annual Say NO to Drugs March on Friday, June 5, 2009. The 2008 Riverhead Blue Waves Football Team and Coach Leif Shay will lead this year’s march.

The 2008 Long Island Champion Blue Waves were the first football team in Long Island history to finish the season with a 12-0 record. In addition to winning the Class II Long Island Championship, they also won the Division II championship, the Big 4 championship, the Suffolk County championship, and the Rutgers Trophy—which is given to the team designated as the “best team in the county.”  Head Coach Leif Shay was chosen as Suffolk County Coach of the Year.

“We are thrilled to have these young men and coach Shay lead this year’s march,” said Felicia Scocozza, CAP’s executive director. “The choice was clear after many teachers called and wrote to us praising them as role models.”

Since 1983 Riverhead Community Awareness Program, Inc. (CAP), a not-for-profit agency, has been providing drug and alcohol prevention education programs for the Riverhead Central School District. Although CAP directly serves over 2,000 students a year through its prevention and counseling programs, it is best known for its two-year prevention program taught to over 700 fifth and sixth graders in Pulaski Street School by community volunteers and student peer leaders. The program ends with the annual Say NO to Drugs March in which students march from Pulaski Street School through Riverhead wearing Drug Free Body t-shirts.

Following the march, Riverhead Town Supervisor Phil Cardinale will emcee a ceremony on the steps of Pulaski Street School in which Coach Shay and the senior players will address the students and community. After the ceremony, the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1742 will once again generously serve a picnic lunch to all of the students.

This year, the march will begin at 9:30am in front of Pulaski Street School; head south on Roanoke Avenue, then west on 2nd Street, returning to Pulaski Street School via Griffing Avenue.

Tags: In Memory, Riverhead, community bulletin, events, health, parenting, prevention, schools, services, society, teens, youth by Nancy
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On Tuesday May 19,  from 9:30am – 11:30am, the Suffolk Coalition for Parents & Children will host a discussion on the subject of “Identifying Mental Health Issues in Children: Treatment, Medication and Intervention Options” at the Middle Country Public Library at 101 Eastwood Blvd in Centereach.

Experts include Fran Mellow, LCSW, Family Service League; and Theresa Gilbert, MS, RN, NPP, Suffolk County Department of Mental Health Services.

Further information is available by calling 631-585-9393 x262.

Tags: community bulletin, health, parenting, schools, seasons & weather by Nancy
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On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, local residents will vote on proposed school budgets for 2009-10. For information about your district’s proposed budget and polling places and times, please visit the links on the Schools & Libraries page.

Tags: community bulletin, politics, schools by Nancy
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Local school districts have planned a “Job Shadow Day” for interested 11th grade students on April 2, 2009.

This effort connects students to local businesses, gives them a taste of the real work world and specific career goals, as we strive to keep them attached to our community, and empower them for the challenges ahead. If you, or anyone you know is in a position to host a student, please contact one of the following guidance offices for further information:

• Kathy Williams (point person) -Southold (631) 765-7001 or email  kwilliams@southoldufsd.org
• Jason Mastropiero – Mattituck
• Brandi Hopkins – Greenport

Tags: community bulletin, events, schools, teens, work by Nancy
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In a unique collaboration, the New York Council for the Humanities has joined forces with the Floyd Memorial Library and Greenport School to offer Together-Book Talk for Kids and Parents, a weekly family reading and discussion series that runs from Wednesday, February 25 to Wednesday, April 1, from 6:30-8:00pm.

“Together offers families a chance to discuss books in a meaningful format. These discussions give kids the chance to enjoy reading outside of school and gives parents the opportunity to share the books their kids are reading,” says Council Executive Director Sara Ogger.

At Greenport School, the discussion leaders will be Mira Dougherty-Johnson, a librarian at Floyd Memorial Library, and Tim Wood, an English professor at Nassau Community College. They will lead six discussion sessions, each focused on a young adult book related to themes of American identity. “We’re really excited to be hosting a free event for the community and especially excited to get kids and grownups involved in talking about the ideas of freedom, being American, and courage,” said Mira.

The Together program is designed to promote lively, thought-provoking intergenerational dialogue. The program is free and open to the public, although pre-registration is required. Designed for nine- to eleven-year-olds and their caregivers, the Together series asks for a commitment to all six sessions. Families from the whole North Fork are invited to register. For more information about the series, please contact Mira Dougherty-Johnson at 477-0660 or miradj@optonline.net.

For more information about Together-Book Talk for Kids and Parents visit www.nyhumanities.org/discussion_groups.

Tags: art & culture, elementary, excursions & activities, greenport, libraries, parenting, schools by Nancy
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Council for Unity Tearing Down Walls of Hate

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Next to the door of a tiny meeting room, about the size of a music practice room, is a “Wall of Hate” built into a natural indentation of the hallway wall. To build the “Wall of Hate,” students cut out large squares to represent red bricks and wrote descriptions of “hateful” events that have happened to them. These bricks have been taped to the wall to form a “Wall of Hate.” Later in the week and prior to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, this wall of hate will be torn down. This effort initiated by tolerance.org is part of larger program coordinated by Pulaski’s social worker, Lauren Zambrelli, to encourage tolerance and a feeling of unity in the school. Prior to Valentine’s Day, she will coordinate another program encouraging students to “pay it forward” by performing acts of kindness throughout the school and the community.

“An estimated 5.7 million youth in the United States have identified themselves as a bully; admit to being bullied, or both.  Bullying can also include racial or ethnic slurs, stereotyping, and bigotry,” states Ms. Zambrelli.  “At Pulaski Street School, the Council for Unity members are working on a ‘Stop the Hate’ campaign.  They are building a wall filled with incidents of bullying and hate. These are personal incidents that C.F.U. members have experienced or witnessed.  These incidents will be discussed in depth and possible solutions developed to help to end incidents of hate. When the wall is complete, C.F.U. members will collectively tear down the wall, symbolizing healing and growth as well as a new-found respect for tolerance and peace.”

Social worker Lauren Zambrelli is engaged all day long right through her lunch hour in that tiny room meeting with students in grades 5-6 in this school of 840 students, who often have some very big issues. Students can get a pass at any time to go down and see “Ms. Z,” as the students fondly call her. If she can’t help the student resolve the difficulty, she will encourage him or her to schedule a mediation session. (Ms. Zambrelli flips through a loose-leaf notebook, which reveals about ten scheduled conflict mediation sessions during the last couple of days.)

“At this age, students have a hard time communicating their feelings and resolving their difficulties,” states Ms. Zambrelli. “I help students find language for their fears and their anger. Usually, an issue can be resolved pretty quickly by just bringing the two parties together before they act on their anger by name calling and fighting. If students are having difficulty at home, they often stop down and talk it over with me. I try to help them in any way I can. Students at this age really need to know that there is someone they can turn to when they need help. It makes a huge difference in their lives.”

Ms. Zambrelli has used the Council for Unity, a national organization designed to fight against gangs and give students a positive “family,” as the centerpiece of her efforts at the school. The Council for Unity family at Pulaski is about 60 students strong. Council members meet in five small group sessions of about ten students each throughout the day during their lunch break or recess. The small group sessions help give the students of every type and etnicity a “voice” and a “safe haven” to deal with their own problems and teaches them the skills to encourage other students in the school to practice tolerance and to work for school unity.

The Council for Unity also reaches out to the larger community through efforts like food drives and fundraisers. During the holidays, the Pulaski Street Council for Unity acted as a catalyst to provide gifts for twelve families in need. In addition to Pulaski’s Council, Council for Unity is offered at both the Middle School and the High School. In addition, a parent Council for Unity group meets monthly at the Riverhead Free Library.

“I think the Council for Unity and the addition of Ms. Zambrelli to our staff is one of the best things that has happened to our school in the last three years,” states Pulaski Street Principal David Densieski. “Ms. Zambrelli’s influence and the Council for Unity’s efforts  have made an incredible difference in student behavior and student morale. Since the inception of this program three years ago, we have had only one superintendent’s hearing. The year prior to her arrival, we had several. I’m behind her 100%!”

Photo caption: Ms. Zambrelli with some of the Council for Unity members in front of the “Wall of Hate” at the Pulaski Street School.

Tags: Riverhead, community bulletin, historical/heritage, schools, society by Nancy
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