Week in Review: Foxes Spotted in Smithtown, Fundraiser for Dogwood Teacher

Dogwood Parents, Students Bake Up Fundraiser for Inspirational Teacher

Dogwood Elementary School parents and students are proving they've received an A+ in learning caring is sharing. 

Alison Gaudy said she was shocked to learn when her daughter's kindergartner teacherValerie Spillane had a house fire in July and lost everything she owned. Gaudy and other parents banded together to spend sympathy cards with some gift cards, but felt the need to do more. 

Backyard Foxes: Map Shows Sightings Across Smithtown, Kings Park

It's not just you seeing furry red foxes in your backyards. According to the more than 50 people who responded to our sightings call-out, these wild canines are turning up in every corner of Smithtown, St. James, Kings Park and Nesconset.

Check out our map above to see where foxes have been spotted, and hear from locals about their fox encounters

Smithtown Native Gets Back to Work After Conquering Cancer - Twice

When Smithtown graduate Meredith Jorgensen was first diagnosed with cancer at age 28, in December of 2008, the initial reaction was denial, she recalls.

"It couldn't really be that," she said. "You hear about people having cancer scares. I figured it would be, like, 'Oh, OK. We'll figure it out.' But then it kept getting worse and worse."

Students Collect 241 Pounds of Back-to-School Supplies 

Six Smithtown students are making sure every child has notebooks, pencils and folders in their backpack for their first day of school. 

Over the last three weeks, fifth- and sixth-graders have hit the Brook Lane neighborhood of Smithtown seeking donations of various school supplies for Long Island Cares' School Tools program in Hauppauge.



Suffolk Legislature Candidate Condemns Sign Stealers

Stolen campaign signs have Suffolk Legislature candidate Mario Mattera and his supporters calling on police to launch a criminal investigation. 

Suffolk County police said the Mario Mattera for Legislature campaign filed an official complaint on Aug. 25 that a woman was seen stealing his campaign signs off Route 25A in St. James.