Ahmed Malik and Cemal Tastan. Photo courtesy Middle Country Central School District
Centereach High School has announced that two of its standout students, Ahmed Malik and Cemal Tastan, have earned first place in the prestigious Financial Services Team Decision-Making event at a recent DECA competition. This impressive accomplishment has secured them a spot to represent Centereach High School at the New York State Career Conference in Rochester this March.
The New York State Career Conference will bring together over 3,000 talented students from across the state, where Ahmed and Cemal will have the opportunity to showcase their knowledge and decision-making skills in front of industry professionals. The event will feature role-playing scenarios where students engage with business leaders, demonstrating their ability to solve real-world challenges in a competitive setting.
DECA is a globally recognized organization that provides high school and college students with the opportunity to prepare for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. It plays an essential role in fostering emerging leaders and entrepreneurs, equipping them with the tools they need for future success in the business world.
“We are incredibly proud of Ahmed and Cemal’s hard work and dedication,” said Thomas Bell. Centereach High School principal. “Their achievement showcases their talents and highlights the strong foundation of leadership and business skills fostered at Centereach High School. We wish them the best of luck as they continue their journey at the New York State Career Conference!”
This recognition reflects the commitment of Centereach High School’s DECA program to preparing students for success in a variety of fields, and we look forward to seeing Amad and Cemal compete at the next level.
For more information regarding the Middle Country Central School District and its students’ many achievements, please visit the District’s website: https://www.mccsd.net/.
Andrew Singer with students in a newly created makers space in the Engineering Building at SBU.
Photo by Debra Scala Giokas/Stony Brook University
By Daniel Dunaief
Andrew Singer. Photo courtesy of SBU
Andrew Singer, the Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) at Stony Brook University, has bigger numbers in mind. For starters, he’d like to see CEAS increase in size, from 5,000 total students, including 3,500 undergraduates, to as many as 10,000 students.
“We are small as an institution compared to other institutions of our reputation in research,” said Singer, referring both to the overall population of the university and to the college he leads.
He believes growth at the CEAS could occur because there is “that much demand for a Stony Brook College of Engineering and Applied Sciences education right now.”
Singer, who joined Stony Brook in July of 2023, believes that state schools like Stony Brook provide an education that create life changing opportunities for people and their families. The lack of available housing on campus at this point is a rate limiting step in increasing the number of students who can attend.
Getting the word out
Singer, who came to Stony Brook after 25 years in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at the University of Illinois, believes public universities have historically seen themselves as being local and serving the mission of the state, without needing to advertise.
“As public funding diminished, many public institutions realized they needed to tell the world that they were serving this tremendous mission and adding tremendous value to society,” Singer said.
Indeed, the late Chemistry Professor Paul Lauterbur helped invent the MRI machine, which has become such an important diagnostic tool in medicine. Lauterbur, who was a tenured professor at Stony Brook from 1963 to 1985, shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine along with British Physicist Sir Peter Mansfield in 2003.
Singer also wants prospective students to know that John L. Hennessy, the former president of Stanford University and current chairman of Google’s parent company Alphabet, earned his Master’s and PhD degrees from Stony Brook.
“Telling our story not only can help to bring some of the world’s greatest educators and researchers to campus, but can also ensure that the resources needed to continue to build on our successes are available,” said Singer.
Finding funds
Additionally, the CEAS Dean believes professors in the college can diversify their sources of funding.
“One of the things I noticed at Stony Brook is that most of the research is funded through grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy,” he said. “That concentration of funding makes you vulnerable to changes in the funding cycle.”
Additionally, competition for funding from those agencies is extremely high.Singer has been urging faculty at CEAS to seek funding from industrial sponsors.
“At the end of the day, what’s important is the scholarship you create,” he said.
Singer appreciates how his colleagues at Stony Brook are pursuing funds for larger interdepartmental funds.
Vice President for Research Kevin Gardner has “strong experience in building these larger portfolios of funding for faculty research,” Singer said. Gardner and Singer talk “often about ways we can continue to develop opportunities for faculty to go after new funding and present ideas to industry.”
Gardner described Singer as a “rock star” who has “great ideas” and is “super brilliant with tons of positive energy. He can move things and already has been moving things in a positive direction for CEAS.”
Gardner believes engineering could and should be twice the size it is and suggested that Singer is “the guy who will get us there.”
Opportunities for growth
Singer appreciates the depth and breadth of faculty interests at the CEAS. “Our faculty are brilliant researchers, working at the forefront of many areas of importance to society, from information and energy systems, to human health and disease prevention, to clean water and security,” he said. “With nine departments in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, it is difficult to find an area of science and engineering where our faculty are not having impact.”
Singer sees opportunities for growth in areas including artificial intelligence.
The university launched the AI Innovation Institute (AI3) in September of last year, which will expand the Institute for AI-driven Discovery and Innovation, which was established in 2018 from a department-level institute within the CEAS to the university-wide AI3, reporting to Provost Carl Lejuez. Steve Skiena, distinguished professor in the department of Computer Science, is serving as the interim director of AI3 while the university has been searching for an inaugural director.
The provost appreciates the efforts Singer has been making on behalf of the CEAS and the university. Singer is “good at thinking about the big things we need to focus on,” Lejuez said in an interview. Singer has “brought a leadership style that is consistent with the culture we’ve been trying to create over the past few years. We are partners with faculty, staff and students. We are including them not just at the end of decisions.”
Singer is also continuing to pursue his own scientific studies. His research interests include signal processing and communication systems. He has worked on underwater acoustics, where he studied underwater communication for the subsea industry. He has also worked in wireless communications for cellular and radio applications and in fiber optic communication systems.
Singer has two graduate students at Stony Brook and several students who are completing their work at Illinois. His students are working in areas related to audio signal processing, such as improving the performance of hearing aids and devices like noise-cancelling headphones, as well as in underwater acoustics.
Singer has had two companies emerge from research in his lab. He would like to continue to engage in innovation and entrepreneurship and help grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem at Stony Brook.
Quantum work
CEAS has invested in areas related to quantum communication.
In August 2024, Stony Brook was chosen to lead a project in the National Quantum Virtual Laboratory program. Funded by the National Science Foundation and led by Principal Investigator Eden Figueroa, Stony Brook Presidential Innovation Endowed Professor, the team is designing and implementing a 10-node quantum network connecting labs at Stony Brook, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Columbia University and Yale University.
Stony Brook held a workshop on Quantum Information Science and Communication systems in Manhattan that Figueroa led, in which some of the foremost experts in the field presented their work and discussed collaboration opportunities with Stony Brook, Singer explained.
Stony Brook has its “local and global strengths.” Singer wants to focus on building on those areas and to have SBU becoming well known to students and faculty as a destination of choice.
uard Elijah Olaniyi in action against Yale on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. Olaniyi passed away on Thursday, Feb. 27 after a battle with brain cancer. Photo by Emma Harris/Statesman file
By George Caratzas
Elijah Olaniyi, a former star for the Stony Brook University men’s basketball team died on Thursday, Feb. 27 after an on-and-off battle with brain cancer. He was 26.
More than 15 months ago, Olaniyi was diagnosed with a tumor on the right frontal lobe of his brain. After undergoing three different surgeries to remove it, it was revealed that the tumor had been cancerous. Olaniyi went through radiation therapy and declared himself cancer-free on Feb. 27, 2024. Late in 2024, Olaniyi was once again hospitalized, as the cancer returned.
Olaniyi was recruited out of Newark East Side High School in Newark, N.J., and lost his mother, Ruth Olaniyi, just two days after arriving at Stony Brook in 2017. Across four years with the Seawolves, Olaniyi distinguished himself as one of the best players in program history, averaging 12.2 points per game.
Nonetheless, he excelled on the court, serving as the sixth man for the Seawolves as a freshman. Appearing in every one of Stony Brook’s 32 games, Olaniyi averaged 7.8 points per game, on the way to being named the America East Conference’s Rookie of the Year.
He then took the next step forward as a sophomore, becoming a full-time starter and continuing his dominance. His production jumped, as he averaged 12.3 points per game and was named to the All-America East Third Team in the 2018-2019 season. His junior year proved to be his most fruitful, as he averaged 18.0 points per game. After his stellar 2019-2020 campaign, he was awarded with a selection to the All-America East First Team.
The next year, Olaniyi took his talents south, transferring to the University of Miami for his senior year. After moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference, Olaniyi still found some success as he was good for 10.5 points per game while shooting 42.1% from the field.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA gave Olaniyi an additional year of eligibility, which he used to return to the north shore of Long Island for a graduate season as he pursued a degree in Business Management.
In his final year of college basketball, Olaniyi dealt with a knee injury which sidelined him in the third game of the Seawolves’ season. Even upon returning to the court, Olaniyi took time off throughout the year to deal with mental health issues, something doctors later attributed to the tumor which they believe began to form during the 2021-2022 season.
After leaving Stony Brook, Olaniyi moved overseas, where he tried launching a professional career with the Basket-Ball Club Sparta Bertrange in Luxembourg. He played well in Europe during the 2022-2023 season, but was forced to medically retire on Dec. 6, 2023.
In a statement to Stony Brook’s Statesman, Stony Brook Athletics said “We are completely shattered by the news of Elijah’s passing. Not only was Elijah a beloved member of our Seawolves family, he was a son, brother and friend who gave so much of himself to so many. Throughout his battle with cancer, he displayed the competitiveness and courage that he displayed on the basketball court. Although Elijah’s brave fight has peacefully come to an end, his legacy and the memories he left behind will endure forever.”
During their game against Hofstra the night of his passing, current members of the Seawolves wore a heart-shaped patch with the letter “E” in the center in Olaniyi’s honor. In emotional fashion, Stony Brook won that game over its cross-island rival by a final score of 59-56.
“It’s hard because those of us that know Elijah and were part of his career and life, it’s difficult because he’s a kid, he’s a young man,” head coach Geno Ford said in a postgame press conference. “We knew it was coming because he had been battling this illness. He hung in there way longer than what was advertised, which was no shock because of the competitor and a warrior he was as a player.”
Olaniyi is survived by his father Festus, and five siblings: Samson, Gabriel, David, Esther and Hannah.
George Caratzas is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
Pictured from left,Twila Silverman, Chair of Suffolk County Women’s Advisory Commission; Stacey Ann Caggiano, Director of Suffolk County Department of Women’s Services; Fifth Legislative District Woman of Distinction Johanna Kosak; Suffolk County Legislator Steven Englebright; and Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. Photo courtesy of Leg. Englebright's office
At a luncheon held at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge on March 4, all 18 Suffolk County Legislators honored the county’s Women of Distinction for 2025. The county’s Department of Women’s Services asked each legislator to choose an impressive female constituent from their district who volunteers their time to make their community a better place. Legislator Steven Englebright (D-Setauket) named nonprofit founder Johanna Kosak as the Fifth Legislative District’s Woman of Distinction.
Kosak founded the Comsewogue Music and Arts Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, in September 2023 after her daughter noticed a lack of music and arts scholarships in the Comsewogue School District. The nonprofit organization assists students pursuing creative paths.
“It’s impressive that Ms. Kosak found a need in her children’s school district and took matters in her own hands to do something about it,” Englebright said. “Music and other creative pursuits are vital for the collective good of our society.”
Kosak works alongside school district mothers Secretary Michele Provenzale and Treasurer Yoon Choi-Perrone, as well as the nonprofit’s student volunteers, her daughter, Annmarie; Perrone’s son, James; and Provenzale’s son, Michael.
The volunteers organize and host 20 to 30 fundraisers annually and have raised $12,000 since September 2023. The nonprofit is present at every school concert and drama production to sell flowers and snacks, hold raffles and request donations.
The nonprofit raises funds for scholarships for Comsewogue High School seniors who plan to enroll in college music, arts, marketing, business and architecture programs. CMAC also provides opportunities for art students to promote their artwork at the nonprofit’s craft fair. Last year, the sale of artwork supplied funds for CMAC and the Arts Honor Society.
Additionally, the CMAC supports teachers by providing grants for educators to invite professional musicians and artists for workshops and career development sessions. CMAC also raises funds to reduce costs for families in financial need who wish to send younger children to music or drama programs during the summer vacation.
The nonprofit’s work includes supporting the Comsewogue High School Business Department by providing learning and collaboration opportunities for students interested in digital art marketing.
In addition to her volunteer work with CMAC, the mother of four works fulltime and volunteers with her husband at Infant Jesus Roman Catholic Church. Her husband serves as the organist, while she plays keyboard. A former instructor at Suffolk County Community College, Kosak also volunteered with the Suffolk Piano Teachers Foundation, serving in roles such as president, vice-president and competition coordinator.
Kosak said she was honored and humbled to be honored and credited her fellow volunteers and the community for making CMAC a success.
“This recognition was not only for me but for our entire community and a great encouragement to continue,” Kosak said.
Ward Melville High School Team 15041 demonstrated exceptional mathematical prowess in the prestigious High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling this year. Photo courtesy the Three Village Central School District
Two teams of students from Ward Melville High School demonstrated exceptional mathematical prowess in the prestigious High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM), earning top distinctions in an international field of competitors.
Ward Melville High School Team 15702 demonstrated exceptional mathematical prowess in the prestigious High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling this year. Photo courtesy the Three Village Central School District.
The HiMCM, an esteemed competition that challenges teams of up to four students to develop mathematical models addressing real-world problems, emphasizes critical problem solving, collaboration and clear communication. This year’s competition saw participation from 1,055 teams representing 474 schools across 20 countries and regions.
Ward Melville High School was proudly represented by Team 15041, consisting of Amanda Liang, Sarah Wu and Victoria Ye, and by Team 15702, including Tina Xing and Anna Xing. Both teams achieved remarkable success in the competition. Team 15702 earned the Finalist designation, placing them in the top 5% of all participating teams. Team 15041 attained the highest honor of Outstanding Winner, a distinction awarded to only eight teams worldwide and placing them in the top 1% of all competitors. Notably, among these eight Outstanding Winners, only three hailed from the United States, including Team 15041 from Ward Melville and a team from Stuyvesant High School in New York State.
The success of these teams highlights the strength of Ward Melville’s mathematics program and the commitment of its students and faculty to excellence in STEM education. Congratulations to Team 15041 and Team 15702 for their extraordinary accomplishments.
The Pre-College Summer Program offers one- to two-week courses that provide attendees with the opportunity to have a college campus experience, take courses, participate in workshops, and access resources across campus, including bridging connections with Stony Brook faculty and industry experts.
Throughout the program, attendees will connect with like-minded program participants, while learning to transition to college life and explore areas they might want to pursue a degree in. Prospective attendees must apply to be accepted into the Pre-College Summer Program.
There are a number of discounts available. High school students who apply before March 7 will receive a discount of $100 on the program fee, while those who are currently enrolled in Accelerated College Education at Stony Brook University will receive a $150 discount, and those who qualify for free and reduced lunch will receive a $250 discount on the program fee.
Scholarship opportunities are also being offered for future Seawolves. Students who attend the Stony Brook Pre-College Summer Program this year and subsequently apply, get accepted and enroll at Stony Brook will be eligible for two possible scholarships: New York State residents will receive a $1,000 scholarship over four years ($250 per year) and out-of-state residents will receive a $2,000 scholarship over four years ($500 per year).
Aerial Robotics, where participants will learn how to build a robot of their own – a micro quadcopter drone – and program it to fly itself across an arena.
Introduction to Biotechnology, where participants will be introduced to some of the basic techniques used in the field of biotechnology.
Cancer Biology, where participants will conduct hands-on experiments to create extracts containing phytochemicals and learn what happens when these extracts are used to treat cancer cells.
Communicating Science, where participants will develop tools to effectively communicate in a way that excites, engages, and encourages audiences to want to learn more about science.
Computational Linguistics, which introduces participants to the wonders of natural languages and the analytical methods underlying natural language technologies, including AI, used worldwide.
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Additive Manufacturing, where participants will learn the principles of CAD software for 3D modeling and assembly, the basics of additive manufacturing and its applications in engineering, and the design process, including requirements analysis and prototyping.
Creative Writing, where participants will read and discuss contemporary works of nonfiction, fiction, and poetry as well as practice writing around these genres through exercises.
Dental Sciences, where participants can obtain hands-on experience in an advanced preclinical laboratory as well as discover what it’s like to be a dental student.
Electrical Engineering, where participants will explore the fundamentals and practice of engineering.
Environmental Science in the Worm Lab, where participants will design and conduct experiments in ecotoxicology including using experimental design, data collection and data analysis.
Finding Your Passion in Health Professions, where participants will learn about advancing career options and discover what it takes to become a successful member of today’s interprofessional healthcare team.
Introduction to Engineering Design, where participants will experience the fundamentals of engineering through hands-on activities and projects. They will work with hand tools, learn the basics of 3D printing, and engage in practical problem-solving to design, build, and test their own creations.
Machine Learning and Self-Driving, where participants will be introduced to machine learning and self-driving through both lectures and hands-on interactive exercises with self-developed remote-control vehicles.
Micro Filmmaking, where participants will learn visual storytelling by developing a micro screenplay and ultimately create a final micro film.
Pre-Law, where participants will learn civil law concepts, including intentional torts, negligence, product liability and contracts.
Robotics Engineering, where participants will be taught the fundamentals of robotics, including practical electronics, mechanical design, and microcontroller programming. They’ll develop problem-solving skills, advance critical thinking, and broaden creative and innovative reasoning.
Sustainability in Action, where participants will learn about local, regional, national, and international efforts at sustainability through brief lectures in the morning, guided research into examples of sustainability, and afternoon field trips to locations on and off campus to see sustainability in action.
TV Studio & Video Production, where participants will have hands-on experience in video production and explore camera operation, composition, video editing, and production techniques in a state-of-the-art broadcast studio and computer classroom.
Understanding Public Health, where participants will participate in this experiential program offered by Stony Brook University’s School of Health Professions, where they will learn about advancing career options and discovering what it takes to become a successful member of today’s interprofessional healthcare team.
“The Pre-College Summer program is designed to inspire and engage. Our renowned faculty and dedicated staff work exceptionally hard to create an environment for rising high school juniors and seniors characterized by active learning, discovery, and community,” said Peter Diplock, PhD, vice provost of Continuing, Professional, and Online Education, School of Professional Development. “Our overarching goal is to provide our participants with a realistic preview of university life in a fun and supportive environment.”
Participating students can take courses, led by Stony Brook faculty, all while living on the Stony Brook campus. Students also have the opportunity to participate in recreational activities held on campus. In addition, the program is supplemented by participation in college readiness workshops.
“Pre-College Summer is designed to give participants a preview of college life and give them the confidence necessary to successfully navigate the transition from high school to university. Because our courses are non credit bearing, there is no added pressure of tests and assignments to complete, only an immersive, hands-on learning experience for our participants,” said Tayyiba Qureshi, interim director of the Pre-College Summer Program. “This also allows our instructors the creative license to paint on a clean canvas in ways that make learning transformative, fun and inspiring. It’s an opportunity for them to preview a field of study and perhaps decide if they want to pursue it as an undergraduate – or they may walk away from the program thinking ‘this is not what I want to do for the rest of my life!’ That’s the beauty of this program, it’s the realistic introduction to college and all of its intricacies without the lasting commitment.”
Courses will be held across four sessions throughout the month of July
Session One: July 6-11
Session Two: July 13-18
Session Three: July 20-25
Session Four: July 27-August 1.
The program cost is $2,250 ($2,000 is the discounted rate for free or reduced lunch recipients). Applications close on May 30, 2025. The application process involves submitting the applicant’s high school transcript, a reference, a short essay, and a $45 application fee.
Pictured (left to right) are Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich; Councilman Neil Manzella; Craig Knapp; Councilwoman Jane Bonner; Supervisor Dan Panico; Councilman Neil Foley; Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig; Councilman Michael Loguercio and Town Clerk Kevin LaValle. Photo from Town of Brookhaven
At the February 13 Town of Brookhaven Board Meeting, Councilwoman Jane Bonner recognized Rocky Point School District music teacher, Craig Knapp, for being named 2024 ‘Educator of Note’ by the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF).
Mr. Knapp is the 18th music teacher to be recognized by LIMEHOF. The ‘Educator of Note’ award recognizes exceptional teachers who demonstrate a commitment to music education, play an active role in the community, and have a significant influence on the lives of music students of all backgrounds and abilities.
The ceremony took place at LIMEHOF’s museum location in Stony Brook and featured musical performances by current and former students, live and video-recorded speeches from colleagues, and a video presentation about Mr. Knapp’s career.
Pictured (left to right) are Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich; Councilman Neil Manzella; Craig Knapp; Councilwoman Jane Bonner; Supervisor Dan Panico; Councilman Neil Foley; Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig; Councilman Michael Loguercio and Town Clerk Kevin LaValle.
Over 500 students from 32 Suffolk County public and private high schools are currently participating in the 2025 New York State High School Mock Trial Program, the largest the Suffolk County program has ever seen. The Suffolk County Coordinators, Glenn P. Warmuth, Esq. & Leonard Badia, Esq., head up this annual educational program co-sponsored by The Suffolk County Bar Association and The Suffolk Academy of Law.
Northport High School
The New York State High School Mock Trial Program is a joint venture of The New York Bar Foundation, the New York State Bar Association, and the Law, Youth and Citizenship Program. In this educational program, high school students gain first-hand knowledge of civil/criminal law and courtroom procedures. Thousands of students participate each year. Objectives of the tournament are to: Teach students ethics, civility, and professionalism; further students’ understanding of the law, court procedures and the legal system; improve proficiency in basic life skills, such as listening, speaking, reading and reasoning; promote better communication and cooperation among the school community, teachers and students and members of the legal profession, and heighten appreciation for academic studies and stimulate interest in law-related careers.
The 2025 Mock Trial case is a civil case entitled Leyton Manns vs. Sandy Townes. In this hands-on competition, the teams argue both sides of the case and assume the roles of attorneys and witnesses. Each team competes to earn points based on their presentation and legal skills. “Judges”, usually local judges and attorneys who volunteer their time, score the teams based on ratings on preparation, performance, and professionalism.
While the Mock Trial program is set up as a “competition,” emphasis is placed on the educational aspect of the experience which focuses on the preparation and presentation of a hypothetical courtroom trial that involves critical issues that are important and interesting to young people.
The first round of the competition began on February 5, 2025 with four weeks of random team matchups. The top 16 teams will then head to Round 2 at the John P. Cohalan, Jr. Courthouse in Central Islip, New York, for three weeks of “Sweet 16” style competition leading to the Finals on April 2, 2025 at Suffolk County Surrogate’s Court in Riverhead with the Honorable Vincent J. Messina, Jr., Surrogate, presiding. The Suffolk County champion will then compete in the New York State Finals in Albany on May 18-20, 2025.
The Suffolk County High Schools involved in the 2025 High School Mock Trial competition are: Bay Shore High School, Babylon High School, Brentwood High School, Central Islip High School, Commack High School, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, Comsewogue High School, Connetquot High School, Deer Park High School, East Hampton High School, East Islip High School, Eastport-South Manor High School, John H. Glenn High School, Greenport High School, Half Hollow Hills High School East, Half Hollow Hills High School West, Hampton Bays High School, Harborfields High School, Huntington High School, Kings Park High School, Lindenhurst High School, Mattituck High School, Miller Place High School, Newfield High School, Northport High School, Shoreham-Wading River High School, St. Anthony’s High School, St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School, Southampton High School, The Stony Brook School, Ward Melville High School, and West Islip High School.
For interest in joining the High School Mock Trial program for 2026, please contact Suffolk County Coordinator, Glenn P. Warmuth, Esq., at (631) 732-2000 or [email protected]. Mock Trial can be an after-school club, an elective class, or part of your school’s curriculum. An attorney will be provided to you to help coach the students in the matters of the legal profession.
The Suffolk County Bar Association, a professional association comprised of more than 2,600 lawyers and judges, was founded in 1908 to serve the needs of the local legal community and the public. For more information about these or other Suffolk County Bar Association programs or services, call 631-234-5511 x 221 or visit www.scba.org
Superheroes of the Sky program at Sweetbriar Nature Center 02/15/25. Photo by Bill Landon
Superheroes of the Sky program at Sweetbriar Nature Center 02/15/25. Photo by Bill Landon
Superheroes of the Sky program at Sweetbriar Nature Center 02/15/25. Photo by Bill Landon
Superheroes of the Sky program at Sweetbriar Nature Center 02/15/25. Photo by Bill Landon
Superheroes of the Sky program at Sweetbriar Nature Center 02/15/25. Photo by Bill Landon
Superheroes of the Sky program at Sweetbriar Nature Center 02/15/25. Photo by Bill Landon
Superheroes of the Sky program at Sweetbriar Nature Center 02/15/25. Photo by Bill Landon
Superheroes of the Sky program at Sweetbriar Nature Center 02/15/25. Photo by Bill Landon
Superheroes of the Sky program at Sweetbriar Nature Center 02/15/25. Photo by Bill Landon
Superheroes of the Sky program at Sweetbriar Nature Center 02/15/25. Photo by Bill Landon
Superheroes of the Sky program at Sweetbriar Nature Center 02/15/25. Photo by Bill Landon
By Bill Landon
It was another edition of Superheroes of the Sky Saturday morning, Feb. 15, at the Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown where a cacophony of wild birds of prey made their presence known and tour guide Jim MacDougall conducted the daily ritual of feeding the hawks, barred owls, turkey vultures and bald eagle among others at the end of Eckernkamp Drive in Smithtown.
Sweetbriar Nature Center is situated on 54 acres of varied garden, woodland, field and wetland habitats on the Nissequogue River. Hundreds of species of plants and animals make their homes there.
Many of the feathered friends were injured raptors lucky enough to find safe refuge at the center where onlookers learned about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild.
Through education and examples, the center encourages responsible decision making, appreciation and respect for the unique wildlife and ecosystems found on Long Island.
The next Superheroes of the Sky program will be held on Saturday, March 8 from 11 a.m. to noon. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 children. Preregistration is required by clicking here.
For more information about the Sweetbriar Nature Center visitwww.sweetbriarnc.org.
Smithtown High School East seniors Sophia Trivigno and Gabe Finger traveled to Albany on Feb. 11 to advocate for passing the Students for Solar Act (S1986). The students met with Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Smithtown High School East seniors Gabe Finger and Sophia Trivigno. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Smithtown High School East seniors, Gabe Finger and Sophia Trivigno, traveled to Albany on Feb. 11 and joined the Long Island Lobby Coalition to speak one-on-one with members of the New York State Senate, Assembly and governor’s staff to advocate for passing the Students for Solar Act (S1986). They highlighted the success of Smithtown High School West’s solar array for its environmental benefits and for the cost savings that go directly back into the schools.
Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassey (D-Port Jefferson), a Smithtown High School East alumna, praised the student’s involvement. “What a joy to speak with two students from my very own high school on Long Island Advocacy Day,” Kassey said. “Along with fellow community members, Gabe and Sophia traveled to New York’s capital to let us policymakers know the kind of future they want — a sustainable one! Their visit and voices reinforce my commitment to passing laws that not only address the near future but also build towards meeting long-term goals as we work towards both environmental and fiscal sustainability for every New Yorker.”
The students were met with applause and admiration for their passion to make a difference. “It is imperative these students are given the opportunity and voice to advocate for their future,” says Melissa Parrott, executive director, Renewable Energy Long Island. “Gabe and Sophia expressed themselves with such confidence and commitment, it was impressive.”
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