Community Corner

Good News: Relay Raises Cash; Students Shine

Some stories put a smile on your face. Here's our wrap-up from around northern Suffolk and the East End.

As a local news organization, Patch covers stories of all kinds, from heartbreaking tragedies to nitty-gritty breakdowns of government and school district issues. But some stories are simply inspiring, often showing that at the heart of our communities is a desire to do good. Here are some of the touching headlines from the past seven days.

Commack Raises $127,000 in Relay for Life

The Commack community took a stand against cancer last week, raising nearly $127,000 for the American Cancer Society at the district's second Relay for Life, in which hundreds of community members walked the school track overnight.

Hauppauge Robotics Team Leads in National Competition

The Hauppauge robotics team recently took top honors at the Small Business Partnership of Long Island’s  FIRST Robotics Regional Competition. 

The competition requires students to build robots from scratch starting with a tool kit of random materials sent by the competition. The robots must be able to complete certain tasks, such as throwing disks or climbing ladders. The teams have just six weeks to complete their robots. The students work on building their team's robot six days a week, day and night, until the competition.

Ross Students Learn Life-Saving Skills

Ross School students are well prepared to jump into action if they encounter a medical emergency.

According to school officials, eighth graders earned their certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including how to use automatic extern defibrillators, from the American Heart Association recently.

Students learned how to do chest compressions, manage an airway, and ventilation skills, on both adults and children. They also now know how to use an AED, which can be used to shock a patient in cardiac arrest.

Volunteer Residents Help Rehabilitate Wildlife at Sweetbriar

There is a special group of folks at Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown who have taken their love of nature to assist in the rehabilitation of the more than 100 injured wildlife animals that come to the facility and get them ready to re-enter their habitat. Watch as Fios 1s  highlights the role that volunteers play in getting these furry friends back on their paws and into the wild.

Simons Center Café to Host ‘MasterChef 4’ Premiere Party

Chris Ciccone has worked as an emergency room nursing assistant at Stony Brook University Hospital, plays in the band Walking Sideways, and is currently the chef at the Simons Center Café at Stony Brook. Ciccone also happens to be a contestant on the Fox network's "MasterChef 4," which will premiere on May 22 at 8 p.m. To celebrate the special occasion, the Simons Center Café will host a viewing party with refreshments by Ciccone himself.


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