READER OF THE WEEK IS KAREN DAVILA OF WEST BABYLON
BVHS Scholarship winner...Page 2
Vol. 58, No. 24
THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2024
IN THE NEWS
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www.babylonbeacon.com
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50 CENTS
Town bringing anti-vaping program to schools
Grant helps Garden Club grow Program developed by Lindenhurst Middle Schooler Vanessa Faith Probst at North Babylon High School
Gayle Estrada, a North Babylon High School chemistry teacher and adviser of the new Garden Club, has been awarded an Agriculture in the Classroom grant for $2,997 for the school’s garden thanks to Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Gayle Estrada, a North Babylon High School chemistry teacher and adviser of the new Garden Club, has been awarded an Agriculture in the Classroom grant for $2,997 for the school’s garden thanks to Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District. The goal of the grant is to increase awareness of local agricultural production in Suffolk County, and to strengthen the connection students have with healthy, fresh, local foods. The grant money will help to fund an indoor grow light system allowing food crops and culinary herbs to be grown in the winter, edible fruit trees and bushes, and a tumbling compost bin to help aid in the district’s continuing compost and recycling efforts. “I started the Garden Club this year to provide students with hands-on opportunities to connect with nature, learn about sustainable food production and develop valuable life skills,” said Ms. Estrada. On average, the club consists of 15 students who meet once a week after school for an hour and have been learning how to plant, harvest and maintain the garden of food crops and native plants. Garden Club members are responsible for maintaining the garden as are the students in the career development program. Those students will harvest during the summer months as they are in session all year round. “My goal is to expand to reach all students in the school focusing first on the food chemistry, culinary, health, and nutrition classes with use of the garden’s harvest to teach with cooking demonstrations and tastings. Additionally, students will learn how to give back and help the community by donating the harvest to the food pantry at high school,” Estrada explained. Future goals include having the elementary and middle schools visit to help harvest and support their science learning goals.
Vanessa Faith Probst, who was recognized last week for her work in putting together a student-led program to give her peers vital information about the negative effects of vaping, is shown at right at press conference as she is acknowledged by Lindenhurst Middle School Principal Frank Naccarato Jr. for her commitment. Shown in background, left to right are members of the S.C. P.D.’s First Precinct, Lindenhurst Mayor Michael Lavorata, Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, S.C. Leg. KevinMcCaffrey and Lori-Ann Novello of Lindy Cares. By Carolyn James Spurred on by a singularly determined middle by youths, showed that 84.4 percent believed that school student, the Town of Babylon has joined vaping and e-cigarettes was the most pressing iswith the Lindenhurst School District and Long Is- sue among youth in the community. Mental health land Cares to put together a comprehensive pro- was listed second at 83.1 percent, followed by algram addressing the issue of vaping by young peo- cohol and smoking at 79.2. Social issues such as ple. bullying, self-esteem, peer pressure and violence The goal is to establish the program in every (Continued on Page 3) school district in Babylon Town. The program is unique because it utilizes peer counselors and students to reduce the incidents of vaping in middle and high school by providing information about the negative effects of vaping. A survey completed by 77 middle and high school students last year conducted by Lindy Cares, a coalition formed to prevent and reduce substance abuse