Way to Go! East Islip student beautifies church property
![Joseph Norrby, a sophomore at East Islip High School, beautified...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AMDk0M2M1MWItZDg0Ni00%3AMWItZDg0Ni00ZTMzNmM4%2Flfshuway221120_photos.jpg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
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.
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