Just as the buses were beginning to arrive, but prior to students exiting the buses, it was reported that a car was on fire on the far side of the parking lot. Given the circumstances, students remained on their buses and a staff member boarded each bus to assist children. The buses were then diverted to the High School where they waited for about 20 minutes until the Commack Volunteer Fire Dept. put out the fire, and the traffic on Townline Road subsided. Everyone was then returned to the school and escorted to their classrooms for the start of the school day. Teachers will take time to explain what happened and how the adults worked together to assure they were safe at all times.
Students are now safely back at North Ridge and the Halloween Parade scheduled for 2:30 this afternoon will be held as planned. To the credit of Mrs. Rihm and her entire staff, I am happy to report that the school’s emergency preparedness plans for such an event were enacted without fault.
I’d like to thank everyone that helped ensure the safety of our students and staff this morning, including district office staff, the Suffolk County Police Department, the Commack Volunteer Fire Department, and North Ridge staff.
Giuseppe Castelli, Michael Bosco,Sam Rossano, Ms. Bermúdez and Ms. Curran-Hernández The Spanish Honor Society of Smithtown High School West collected seven bins of food Sunday, October 24th from 10 AM to 6 PM at Stop &Shop though the humanitarian organization, Long Island Cares. The following students helped in the collection process.
Paige Kelly, Alex Tammaro, Courtney Lawrence, Kelly Weller, Lindsay DeLuna, Victoria Lowe, Katie Lowe, Jenn Booth, Michelle Kolakowski, Kaitlyn Hendricks, Jillian Cohen, Giuseppe Castelli, Michael Bosco, Jenna Martucci, Sam Rossano, Frankie Olito, Mike Vetri, Rob Fitting, Eric Culver, Tiffany Lai, Keira Murphy, Max Jacobs, Marc Giuffrè
These foods and toiletries will be donated to the Long Island Cares food and toiletries bank and through L.I.C. the goods will be distributed to the less fortunate in time so that they may celebrate and enjoy a Thanksgiving and Holiday season that will be one to remember! We thank the students who volunteered their time as well as the Honor Society’s advisors, Ms. Bermúdez and Ms. Curran-Hernández for doing their part in helping to help ameliorate suffering and poverty in our community.
The Fort Salonga woman charged almost one year ago for the fatal stabbing of her husband will not stand trial after pleading not responsible by reason of mental
disease or defect today in Suffolk County court.
Kathleen Prisco remains incarcerated in the Suffolk County jail without bail.
By statute, the New York State Office of Mental Health will direct the defendant to a state mental health facility for additional testing and treatment.Reports compiled from these psychiatric exams will be provided to the court and a hearing will be scheduled to determine whether or not the defendant has a dangerous mental disorder.
HSE Research Program Coordinator Maria Trinkle, Sanjay Palat, SHS East Principal Ed ThompsonCongratulations to Sanjay Palat, a senior in Smithtown High School East’s Science Research Program coordinated by Ms. Maria (Zeitlin) Trinkle. In a press release issued on October 22, Sanjay is one of 94 students nationally, and one of only 13 students to place as a Regional Finalist in New York State. Over 1400 projects were submitted to Siemens. Sanjay’s Project titled “Differentiation and Behavior of Dental Pulp Stem Cells in Hydrogel Scaffolds of Various Stiffnesses,” was conducted at Stony Brook University under the mentorship of Dr. Miriam Rafailovich. According to the Siemens Foundation, “The Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology recognizes remarkable talent early on, fostering individual growth for high school students who are willing to challenge themselves through science research. Through this competition, students have an opportunity to achieve national recognition for science research projects that they complete in high school. It is administered by The College Board and funded by the Siemens Foundation.” Sanjay’s project was a team effort with another student, Daryl Chang, from California. The two will compete at Carnegie Mellon University on the weekend of November 20. According to Ms. (Zeitlin) Trinkle, Sanjay is a talented research student who has a natural gift for science. He has worked diligently to accomplish this wonderful achievement.
HSW Research Program Coordinator Dr. Joanne Figueiredo, Angelina Seffens, HSW Principal John CoadyAngelina Seffens has been named a Siemens Semi-Finalist. Angelina worked with Rebecca Klahr from Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway. The girls did their work at Stony Brook University under the guidance of Dr. Marcia Simon and Dr. Miriam Rafailovich. Angelina has been a member of High School West’s Science Research Program under the direction of Dr. Joanne Figueiredo since her Sophomore year. Her study is entitled “Single Cell Detection of Cancer and Ultraviolet Radiation Damage.” The idea for Angelina’s project is based on changes that occur in cells as they progress towards cancer. In order to study this progression, the properties of cells and their surroundings were analyzed using Atomic Force Microscopy. Angelina and Rebecca found that cancer cells are softer than normal cells and that the extracellular matrix of cancer cells is harder than that of normal cells. They then looked at the effects of Ultra violet light on both cancer and normal skin-type cells. The data that they obtained indicates that UVA radiation has a large effect on these cellular properties and therefore on cellular mechanics. This work may have important implications in providing a method for detecting cancer at the single cell level.
This weekend, there are numerous events around town to spook and thrill children and adults alike.
For the Kiddies:
• The Nesconset Library will be hosting a costume parade on Friday, October 29. Children can strut their stuff in their costumes from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 on the grounds of the library. The free event, called the Ooogie Boogie Halloween Parade, is for children ages 2-5. Aside from the parade, there were be various trick or treat stations.
• Sweetbriar Nature Center is celebrating this halloween with its 10th annual Spooktacular event on Friday night from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
According to Nancy Adornett, program coordinator, families can learn about spooky, nocturnal animals and take a walk through one of Sweetbriar’s two spooky trails.
The first of the trails was created with young children, ages 4-7, in mind. Along the trail, children will meet characters dressed as nocturnal animals. A second trail, is led by a storyteller, who will tell the children a scary legend.
The fee for the program is $5 per person and families are asked to bring flashlights for the trail walks.
• A halloween parade along Lake Avenue will take place on Sunday at 12:30. The St. James Chamber of Commerce is hosting the costume parade that will start at the Capital one Bank at the corner of Woodlawn and Lake Avenues.
• Deepwells Farm County Park is featuring a “Not Too Scary” haunted house all weekend long. The haunted house is open Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday, October 31 following the St. James costume parade.
• Wicks Farm will be open all weekend with lots to do for families, according to Cathy Wicks, co-owner of the farm.
Aside from pick-your-own pumpkins, Wicks Farm offers hay rides, pony rides and halloween displays, including its 30-foot witch, which has become a local landmark.
The farm is also featuring two spooky, haunted mazes that are open during the day as well as in the evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00p.m.
“You have to know your child,” said Wicks, in talking about which maze children should enter. While actors will not touch participates, she said the scarier of the two mazes does feature some “surprises” that may not be appropriate for some children.
Wicks’ pumpkin patch is free, but there are fees to participate in the other events. Prices start at $10 per person.
• A Safe Halloween event will take place at both Smithtown High School East and Smithtown High School West on Friday between 3:30 and 7:00 p.m. The event for students in Kindergarten through fifth grade.
The program, called Spooky Hallways, will feature, halloween-themed crafts, spooky storytelling, an obstacle course and an Art Honor Society haunted house.
Students are asked to come in costume and bring a donation of a nonperishable food items.
For Adults
• This is not your typical haunted house: The Smithtown Arts Council is featuring two, upscale spooky productions this halloween weekend at the Mills Pond House in St. James. On October 29, productions of Qualla: Origins of the Undead can be seen at 6:00p.m., 7:45p.m., and 9:00p.m. The production, written by Greg Cioffi, a Long Island native, takes viewers back to victorian era England to chronicle the birth of zombies. The second production, which will be shown on Saturday, October 30 at 6:00p.m., 7:45p.m. and 9:30p.m. is a blend of comedy and horror. It takes viewers on an entertaining journey into purgatory where Salvatore Rizzo &ldquothe Deadfather&rdquo is trying to rebuild his mafia.
Also at the Mills Pond House is a Midnight Oils Art Exhibition, featuring fine art of frightening subject matters.
Krista Biedenbach, program coordinator, says both productions are must-see thrills.
• To tour Smithtown’s most haunted spot on halloween stop in at Katie’s Bar on Main Street. The bar, which will host a host a halloween party on Sunday night, has been featured on A&E channel’s Paranormal State. The ghostbusters from the show deemed Katie’s a haunted location and found paranormal phenomena at the site. The ghost, who is said to haunt the bar, is named, “Charlie.”
“I will be at the bar giving tours and showing videos and answering questions about the ghost,” said Brian Karppinen, owner of Katie’s. “People should come down and say hello to Charlie the Ghost. He loves the attention.”
;)
Friday, October 29, 2010 at 1:31PM 
