Community News, February 6

The Pierson faculty took on the Sag Harbor First Responders in a friendly game of basketball in the Pierson gymnasium on Friday afternoon. MICHAEL HELLER

Adele Kristensen, right, swears in Southampton Town Volunteer Ambulance Second Assistant Chief Guy Sparks, First Assistant Chief Linda Forster and Chief Tom Nanos.

Bridgehampton School pre-K students, including from left, Meia Verzosa, Gianna Walker and Isabel Leon, conducted a science experiment in which hey explored whether salt or sugar would melt an ice block faster. They first made a prediction by casting a vote on a salt or sugar T-chart. Then, they observed the salt and sugar covered ice blocks and drew a picture of their observations. The scientific experiment resulted in learning that the ice melted quicker using the salt.

Our Lady of the Hamptons School second-grader Giressy Blandon hugs her grandmother, Blanca Correal during the school's recent celebration of Catholic Schools Week.

Tuckahoe School third-grader Brenda Perez recently visited Washington D.C. as part of an outreach program offered through the Children's Museum of the East End.

The East Quogue Elementary School Drama Club will open its production of "On Broadway" on February 13 at 7 p.m. The show will feature song and dance numbers from popular Broadway shows.

Shinnecock Nation Tribal Trustee Germain Smith presented the Tuckahoe Common School District with the Shinnecock Nation flag, accepted by Superintendent Len Skuggevik. The gift was in recognition of the district's "ongoing efforts to ensure the Nation is a valued part of the Tuckahoe family." The Tuckahoe Common School District and Shinnecock Nation are in the final stages of a contract that would enable the students of the Shinnecock Nation to continue the option of attending the district for at least another five years. The current contract is set to expire in June 30, 2020.

The Ellen Hermanson Foundation recently announced that during 2019, it has awarded $326,000 in grants to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. From left, Anne Tschida Gomberg, executive director, The Ellen Hermanson Foundation; Edna Kapenhas, MD, director of Breast Surgery and medical director of The Ellen Hermanson Breast Center at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital; Julie Ratner, co-founder and chairwoman of The Ellen Hermanson Foundation; and Robert Chaloner, chief administrative officer, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.

A check representing the proceeds of the annual collaborative fundraising dinner for the Westhampton Food Pantry, hosted by Westhampton Kiwanis Club, the Knights of Columbus Father Slomski Council, and the Westhampton Rotary Club, was presented recently to Father Michael Bartholomew. The pantry is housed at Immaculate Conception Church and provides food and financial assistance to those in need in the Greater Westhampton area. From left, Peggy Jayne, Rotary; Beth Hard, Rotary; Father Michael Bartholomew, Immaculate Conception Church Pastor; Kathleen Pantaleo, Kiwanis; Phil DeBritta, Knights of Columbus; Rori Jones, Kiwanis; and Matson Hard, Kiwanis.

Wilma Ramirez, center, of Hampton Bays won a $300 scholarship from Peconic Bay Zonta, a nonprofit group that works to improve the status of women and girls. Peconic Bay Zonta members Diane Greenberg, left, and Liala Strotman joined Ms. Ramirez at Suffolk County Community College, where she successfully completed level 3 of the school’s English as a Second Language program (ESL). The local Zonta group awards the scholarship biannually to a student in the ESL program who is studying to achieve an educational goal. Born in Ecuador, Ms. Ramirez came to the U.S. as a teenager and completed high school locally. Currently, her dream is to attend college. She said, “I enrolled in the ESL program because after being in this country for 26 years and working hard to put my three children through college, it’s finally my turn to go back to school.” Ms. Ramirez, a single mother whose children are now age 26, 21 and 18, currently employs three people in a company she started called Wilma’s Cleaning Service Corporation. While she is proud of her accomplishments so far, she is motivated to improve her skills. “I want to better myself, not only for me but to show my children that you can set goals and achieve them at any point in life.” Peconic Bay Zonta covers the East End of Long Island and is affiliated with Zonta International, which works to empower women around the world through service and advocacy. For more information about the local Zonta group, see http://peconicbayzonta.blogspot.com.

Seven-year-old Abigayle Leland is a study in concentration as she applies some icing during a Football Jersey Cookie Decorating Workshop that was held at the John Jermain Library on Saturday. MICHAEL HELLER

Six-year-old Henry Rozzi is a study in concentration as she applies some icing during a Football Jersey Cookie Decorating Workshop that was held at the John Jermain Library on Saturday. MICHAEL HELLER

Southampton School District students and staff wore blue shirts and ribbons on January.. 30 to pay tribute to the memory of Thomas Valva of Center Moriches and to raise awareness of child abuse. Blue signifies child abuse prevention.

Westhampton Beach Elementary School fourth graders explored Native American artifacts during a special hands-on program, Journeys into American Indian Territory, an annual program sponsored by the PTA.

Westhampton Beach Middle School students are doing their part to help animals injured in Australia’s devastating fires by sewing fleece crate blankets and crocheting bird and small animal nests. All of the items will be delivered to Australia through the Animal Rescue Collective Craft Guild.

Southampton High School presents a production of "Freaky Friday" starting this evening at 7 p.m. with performances on Friday at 7p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Admission is free. DANA SHAW