Project Z.E.B.R.A.S.

Project Z.E.B.R.A.S. is a club at Smithtown East HS which focuses on global awareness in the Zulu region of South Africa. Project Z.E.B.R.A.S. stands for Zulu Education through Books, Resources, And Science. The club has held assemblies and carried on several fundraisers to provide support to two schools in impoverished rural areas. One of these is an elementary school, the Bhempliko Primary School, which teaches 350 students from grades 1-8. The other school is Ndabeziphezulu High School which has approximately 320 students from grades 9-12.

In summers 2006 and 2008, Ms. Elaine Maas, a Science teacher at Smithtown East, visited these schools and donated supplies and funds provided by Project Z.E.B.R.A.S. Among these supplies were 10 refurbished non-electric microscopes donated from discarded district supplies. These microscopes will be used in science classes at the high school. Previous to this donation, the science classes had none. The primary students received various supplies including laminated maps of Africa hand-drawn by students from Branch Brook Elementary School.

Photos seen here are from the Kwa Zulu Natal region of South Africa. This area, the most impoverished rural area of South Africa, has been devastated by conditions of adult HIV and malaria.

-By Smithtown Central School District

The Matador will have more on the numberous clubs here at East coming up in our next print issue...

Nissequogue River Rescue

Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau units, with assistance from multiple agencies, helped rescue a Centerport couple after their canoe was stuck in the Nissequogue River in Smithtown Monday around 5 p.m.

Dennis Ferrari, 49, and his wife Katherine Ferrari, 47, both of 41 Mariners Court, Centerport, were in a canoe on the Nissequogue River this evening when they got stuck on the mudflats. When they couldn’t reach land, the two called out to a passerby who called 911 at 5:12 p.m.

The Smithtown Bay Constable responded to the scene, along with Suffolk County Police Marine, Aviation and Emergency Service and Fourth Precinct units.

Several members of the Smithtown Fire Department, the Nesconset Fire Department and the Kings Park Fire Department all responded and tried to reach the couple by raft. When the raft hit the mud and was no longer able to move in the water, several firefighters tried to walk through the mud. A Nesconset firefighter was able to reach the couple in the canoe.

The West Islip Fire Department was called to the scene with a hovercraft. With Assistance from the Suffolk County Police Aviation Section, they were able to retrieve the couple, along with the Nesconset firefighter who reached the canoe.

Dennis and Katherine Ferrari were taken to Saint Catherine of Siena Medical Center and treated for Hypothermia. The Nesconset firefighter was taken to Stony Brook University Medial Center for observation for exposure to hypothermia. Another firefighter was checked by Smithtown Fire Ambulance at the scene and released.

Safe Halloween

Smithtown High School East will both be holding their annual Safe Halloween on Friday, October 31st from 3:30 to 7:30 pm. Elementary students grades K-5 are invited to participate in fun activities including Halloween themed crafts, spooky storytelling, an obstacle course, and our Art Honor Society famous Haunted House. Please come in costume. We ask that you bring 3 non perishable food items (i.e.: corn, peas, gravy, corn muffin mix, stuffing, cranberries, cake mix, or canned fruit) to support the Thanksgiving Food Drive.