Community News, January 23

Beau Taylor

Stacey York's fifth graders at East Quogue Elementary School are reading the novel "Hatchet" about a boy who must learn to survive in the Canadian wilderness after surviving a plane crash. As part of the book study, they created paper airplanes and tested to see which flies the farthest distance and is able to float on water.

East Quogue Elementary School fifth graders kicked off the new year by identifying one word to summarize goals for 2020 and action steps to accomplish them.

Cary Wyllie’s fifth-graders, from left, Liam O’Connor ,Kayden Mulvane, Londhen Escobar, Joaquin Jimenez and Nico Cortina, at East Quogue Elementary School created artistic interpretations of famous quotes by Martin Luther King Jr.

Liam Brand and Nic Simone show off the projects they created to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day . They researched his words and were guided by “Only love drives out hate.”

The 2020 officers for the Bridgehampton Fire Department were sworn in on January 8. From left, 2nd Assistant Chief Tom Federico, 1st Assistant Chief Nick Hemby, Chief Mark Balserus, treasurer Jack Zito, and deputy treasurer Harry Halsey. Richard Kelly, not in photo, was sworn in as secretary.

Pierson Junior Emelia Balz shows off one of her photographs to mom and dad during the opening reception of the Pierson High School "In Progress" photography exhibition at the John Jermain Memorial Library on Friday afternoon. MICHAEL HELLER

Fourth-graders at Our Lady of the Hamptons School presented a special assembly “Alice’s Adventures with Idioms,” a play based on English grammar in song and dance.

Fourth-graders at Our Lady of the Hamptons School, including Phoebe Sosa and Scarlett Macias, presented a special assembly “Alice’s Adventures with Idioms,” a play based on English grammar in song and dance.

Instructors Tina Curran and Steve Flores, second and third from left, lead a small group as they practice Qi Gong at the Universalist Unitarian Church of the Hamptons on Sunday, January 12. MICHAEL HELLER

Elke Luyten hands out cups of hot mulled cider during a kickoff party at the Watermill Center on Saturday afternoon. MICHAEL HELLER

Beth McNeill-Muhs helps her kids West and India decorate candles during a kickoff party at the Watermill Center on Saturday afternoon. MICHAEL HELLER

Students in grades three to five at Westhampton Beach Elementary School rang in the new year by exploring new books during a “book tasting” event cooked up by school librarian Joy Campagna. As an authentic touch, the school’s library was transformed into a restaurant, complete with artificial candlelight, classical music and a menu featuring a variety of book genres. Students were encouraged to “taste” new books and take one home to devour.

Westhampton Beach High School senior Harvey Edwards took third place in the recent Greater New York Auto Dealers Association Regional Competition. He competed in a series of timed activity sets, including ones that focused on circuits, voltage and alignment. His win qualifies him to take part in the state competition in February. He also works at Otis Ford and is a memer of the Explorers program at the Quogue Fire Department, with the goal of becomine a full member in the future. In the fall, he plans to study diesel technology at Lincoln Tech.

The Tuckahoe Educational Foundation and the Tuckahoe PTO funded four days of yoga for all students at Tuckahoe School. Under the guidance of Angela Polchinski and Marcus Lapianna, the students learned how to use their breath to help them relax in difficult situations, and learned balance techniques and stretches.