Members of the Irvington Police Department shared motivating and positive messages with students at Irvington High School, thanks to more than 600 Post-it notes that were left on school lockers and doors throughout the building.

This is the second school year that Irvington High School students have received the positive messages. Last year, members of the Positive Impact Club at the high school coordinated the project at the beginning of the school year, while the PTSA coordinated it around midterms and the police department led the project at the end of the school year.

“It has been a rotating effort to involve as many students, parents and community members as possible,” said Jennifer Nunziato, student assistance counselor and advisor of the Positive Impact Club. “The Post-its continue to hang on the lockers, and the project seems to be well-received by the students and staff of Irvington High School.”

This year, Irvington Police Detective and Youth Officer Michael Toolan organized the project. Police officers wrote encouraging messages, such as “you matter,” “you are loved,” “you are incredible” and “you can do it, yes you can” on Post-it notes, while members of the varsity football team placed them on the lockers throughout the building prior to the start of the school year.

As the student assistance counselor, Nunziato works to enhance positive and healthy decision-making, as well as reduce the factors that put students at risk for alcohol and other drug use. Det. Toolan is a board member of Irvington About Safe Kids, which is a coalition that represents all sectors of the community — parents, students, educators, law enforcement officials, medical professionals, businesspeople and more — and works to motivate youth to make healthy, happy and responsible decisions.

 

Photo Captions: Irvington High School students received motivating and positive notes thanks to their peers and members of the police department.

 

Photos courtesy of the Irvington Union Free School District

DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 13, 2017) – The Mercy College women’s lacrosse team volunteered with Volunteer New York! for their 9/11 tribute day on Monday, Sept. 11 at the Westchester County Center.

Volunteer New York!’s mission is to inspire, mobilize, and equip individuals and groups to take positive action to address pressing challenges, support nonprofits and strengthen the quality of life in our community. Volunteer New York! is a one-stop resource devoted to increasing volunteerism in Westchester and our surrounding communities.

The women’s lacrosse team took time to make thank you cards for troops overseas and local first responders. This is the third year in a row that they have participated in this event.

“These student-athletes were so young when September 11^th happened that I feel it is important for them to understand the impact it had on our country and those who work each day to protect it,” said Head Coach Dawn Sachs.

To learn more about Volunteer New York! And how you can contribute, please click the link below.

https:/www.volunteernewyork.org

DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept, 13, 2017) – The Mercy College Field Hockey team volunteered on Friday, September 9^th through the Hillside Food Outreach.

The Hillside Food Outreach is dedicated to delivering food on a monthly basis to housebound people living at or below the poverty level in Putnam and Westchester Counties (NY) and Western Connecticut. At present, they deliver to 2,100 individuals each month.

Members of the Mercy Field Hockey team spent their evening working with the Hunger Relief Corps to help unpack crates of food and package food bags. The team was able to package 800 bags that night.

To learn more about how you can help Hillside Food Outreach, please see the link below.

http://hillsidefoodoutreach.org/how-to-help/

At the end of August, the Smithtown Central School District’s girls varsity swim team participated in an annual fundraiser to help raise money and awareness for cancer research through the Swim Across America organization — this year joined by Harborfields Central School District’s varsity girls team. Together, more than 40 swimmers raised $4,000 for the cause, and both teams committed to the event again next year.

Swimmers were thanked and congratulated by Suffolk County Legislator William Spencer. “Your commitment and support will make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by cancer,” Spencer said.

In addition to the swim itself, a scientist from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory attended the event and spoke with the participating swimmers to explain the importance of continuous support and research for cancer.

 

Photo Captions:

1. Girls varsity swim teams from Smithtown and Harborfields participated in a fundraising event for cancer research on Aug. 30.
2. From left: Harborfields team leader Hannah Spencer and coach Kiri Thomsen with Smithtown’s coach Sean Montalvo and Gianna Palazzo.

Photos courtesy of the Smithtown Central School District

 

NEW YORK, NY – On Sunday Sept. 10, the Iona College Softball team made its sixth straight trip to New York City to volunteer at the 27^th annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Central Park. The Race for the Cure is a 5K trek that is held in various cities throughout the United States to raise funds toward the research, screening, education, and treatment of breast cancer.  The softball team volunteers for a variety of different causes in the surrounding community.  The Iona College softball program looks forward to continuing volunteering for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in the following years.

Like every year the event was a success. The team’s hard work did not go unnoticed and the participants showed their gratitude.

Senior Courtney Miller comments that: “Volunteering at Race for the Cure has always been a special experience for softball. It is a cause we hold dear to our hearts because we’ve had teammates whose lives have been directly impacted by breast cancer. We love helping out and cheering the runners on who are trying to make such an important difference.”

The Gaels arrived before the race to set up the second water station along the 5K contest. Prior to the start of the race, the Maroon & Gold set up tables with multiple layers of water cups to provide the racers with water as they passed by. Throughout the event, every student-athletes quenched the thirst and cheered on thousands of participants who passed by.

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