School News for August 5, 2021

Six Suffolk County Community College interns are spending their summer monitoring the health of tidal wetlands as part of a multi-year study funded by a grant issued to Suffolk County and the college from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Interns Jake Montgomery (Hampton Bays), David Ziff (West Islip), Kyler Vander Putten (Oakdale), Brendan Lin (Stony Brook), Grace Nelson (Selden), and Jessica Cormier (Farmingville) don waders, backpacks and other protection from the heat and biting insects to navigate through the challenging conditions of South Shore salt marshes as part of a multi-year post-Hurricane Sandy tidal wetland restoration project.

Assistant professor of marine biology and grant coordinator Dr. Kellie McCartin said the students are given an orientation before starting their field work to understand the overall goals and science behind the multi-year study and how to safely navigate the salt marshes.

“There are three monitoring aspects to this study: measuring the abundance of mosquito larvae, surveying the fish, invertebrate and plant community, and measuring water quality. Our students are learning a wide variety of skills and data collecting methods commonly performed by environmental scientists,” Dr. McCartin explained, noting that the students are in the field up to four times per week collecting data that are vital to current and future salt marsh restoration efforts here on Long Island.

“Salt marshes play an important ecological role as the interface between the marine and the terrestrial environment, said Project Director of the Coastal Resiliency Internship Amy Dries.

“Salt marshes also affect public health by providing larval habitat for mosquitoes that are vectors for disease,” Ms. Dries said, adding that previously, ditching and pesticides were used as a control mechanism. “Ditching requires maintenance, and mosquitoes develop resistance to pesticides in the long-term.”

Beginning in the summer of 2017, select marshes on the South Shore of Long Island were sampled weekly for mosquito larvae, nekton, and vegetation were collected and water quality parameters like dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity were measured by interns from Suffolk County Community College. Hot spots of mosquito larvae were frequently found near locations of the invasive common reed, phragmites australis, where reduced water flow and low salinities were also identified. Based on the data obtained by the interns, restoration of the marshes began in 2019.

“We need healthy wetlands for a healthy Suffolk County,” said Edward Bonahue, president of Suffolk County Community College, “whether it’s water quality, habitat restoration, or aquaculture. Our students clearly feel a sense of urgency about this project, and I’m delighted they’re committing their time and energy to studying our crucial natural resources.”

Suffolk graduate and now field supervisor Nick Cormier, himself an intern before earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Stony Brook University, said it’s nice to combine a passion for science with being outdoors.

“It’s a great opportunity that’s also fun,” Mr. Cormier said. “The students are engaged and inquisitive. They want to be there.”

Our Lady of the Hamptons Principal Sister Kathy, the faculty, parent and student communities said in a release this week that they are exceedingly grateful to the members of the parishes for the support, concern and prayers during the last year especially. Enrollment for the fall school year is strong and Our Lady of the Hamptons has targeted September for the return of the full after-school athletics program to complement the religious, academic and fine arts programs.

While waiting list status is already operational in every grade level in the kindergarten through eighth grade building in Southampton, interested families are urged to contact the school immediately if interested in being considered should space become available by calling 631-283-9140.

The registration of new students in the four-year-old preschool program at St. Rosalie’s campus in Hampton Bays for the September 2021 school year is now open. Interested parents should consult the Admissions and Principal’s pages at olh.org. A personal interview with parent and child is required.

Dimitrios Dimopoulos, of East Hampton, is among more than 1,100 Canisius College students named to the spring 2021 dean’s list or merit list. Mr. Dimopoulos is a member of the Canisius Class of 2023, majoring in political science. He earned a place on the merit list for the spring 2021 semester.

SUNY Delhi announced this week that Valerie Hartman of East Hampton has been named to the dean’s list for the spring 2021 semester, as has Jose Rosado III and Shailee Garcia Cordova, both from East Quogue, and Emily Lupercio Gonzalez, of Wainscott.

The dean’s list is a recognition of students who enrolled in six or more credits and earned a 3.5 or higher grade-point average for the semester.

The University of Hartford has announced that Jennifer Calle, of East Hampton, has been named to its president’s honors list and the dean’s list for spring 2021.

Tufts University announced last week that India Galesi-Grant, of Sag Harbor, and Ravi MacGurn, of Amagansett, have both earned dean’s list honors for the spring semester.

Tufts University awarded approximately 1,500 undergraduate students degrees in disciplines ranging from the sciences and engineering to the humanities and fine arts during its online degree conferral ceremony commemorating the accomplishments of the Class of 2021. The graduates from the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering included Alex Weinstein of East Hampton, with a degree in applied environmental studies.