Way to Go! East Islip student beautifies church property
Joseph Norrby, a sophomore at East Islip High School, beautified the property around a statue at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in East Islip. Credit: Mark Businski
An East Islip High School student recently spearheaded a project to beautify the property around a statue at a local church.
Joseph Norrby, a sophomore, led the effort that included weeding, mulching and planting shrubs around a statue of Mary outside St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in East Islip. He also built a new kneeler and removed an old concrete path the behind the statue.
The makeover was part of a project for Norrby’s Eagle Scout Award, the highest achievement attainable in the Boy Scouts of America. He is a member of Troop 205.
“My life purpose is to provide strong examples and to be a good role model for others younger than me,” Norrby said. “I want to share my stories and accomplishments to inspire others. I also want to help others break my records, and push others to always do the best that they can.”
Norrby is an avid runner and has accumulated many first-place finishes at track and cross country meets — including having placed first in both the high jump and the 1,000-meter dash last school year at the Suffolk County Boys Frosh/Soph Winter Track Championships, hosted by Just-In-Time Racing in Longwood. He also placed first last school year in the all-division high jump, all-league high jump and all-county high jump.
He also plays the trumpet in his school’s band and has been on the honor roll since middle school.
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
