Northport HS Students Volunteer To Protect Local Waterways

NORTHPORT, NY — Students of Northport High School’s Environment Team (E-team) are continuing their work to protect the environment by working with Citizen's Campaign for the Environment (CCE), according to a news release from the school district.

E-Team members Skyla Fabbricante, Catarina Rasizzi, and Tom Secrest volunteered to assist CCE in notifying North Babylon homeowners of an opportunity to have Suffolk County pay for sewer hook-ups to the homes in the Carlls River watershed.

The county's sewer expansion program aims to protect local waterways and reestablish the health and functionality of wetlands. Wetlands protect Long Island's mainland from flooding and storms.

Students prepared by participating in an hour-long training with professional CCE staff and learned how to discuss the issue with members of the community.

"I felt good about myself knowing that I'm doing something to make the world a better place, even if it's really small," Fabbricante said via news release.

Rasizzi called it a "very fun and cool experience," expressing eagerness to partake in similar activities.

Tom Franco, an English teacher and advisor to the E-team, said his students learned that doing something good for the environment and the future of Long Island's waters sometimes means stepping out of their comfort zone.

"Going door to door and talking to people about important community issues takes guts," Franco said. "They learned valuable communication skills and did a great job."

CCE anticipates that students will have an opportunity to expand upon this program in additional communities on Long Island in the future, according to the Northport-East Northport School District.