Residents and school district personnel had the opportunity to support the PAWS education foundation this past December by shopping for the holidays at Barnes & Noble Book Store in Bay Shore. Through an arrangement with book store officials, holiday shoppers who presented PAWS coupons at the registers guaranteed a percentage of the sales - including visits to the cafe - to be donated to the education foundation. This fundraiser, along with several others during the year, provides the funds for grants awarded to principals and teachers in the West Islip School District.

Recently, PAWS Board of Directors granted awards for a Book Nook Reading Center, five iPODS, Reading Tables and Chairs, and a $46,600 Recording Studio at the high school. Since its inception five years ago, the 501 (c) (3) organization has donated over $224,000 worth of materials and equipment to the district, including a $25,000 Yamaha Baby Grand Piano to the High School Performing Arts Theater.

Among the school principals and administrators who read to youngsters in the store's Children's Section were Superintendent Richard A. Simon, Udall Road Middle School Principal Dan Marquardt, Beach Street Middle School Principal Andrew O'Farrell, Manetuck Principal Mary Anderson, Oquenock Principal Dawn Morrison and Bayview Principal Rhonda Pratt. A special visit was made by Santa Clause himself!