Here are some recent articles of interest to all of us concerned about children:
 

• The American Academy of Pediatrics has published a new report on "The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents and Families."
• Matt Richtel wrote in The New York Times, "In Online Games, A Path to Young Consumers."
• The Ounce of Prevention Fund has produced a moving video titled, "Change the First Five Years and You Change Everything."
• A victory was declared by the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood as Scholastic severs ties with the coal industry.
• Dana Friedman has blogged about how parents are sending their very young children to a pricey pre-school in "A Perceived Advantage."

John M. Sepe, a vice president with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, has joined EYI's board of directors. A Pace University grad, John's charity involvement includes the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Carson Lalli Pohlman Brain Cancer Foundation.  One of seven children, John lives in Brightwaters with his wife Ursula and their children -- Caitlin, age 6; Ronan, age 4; and one-year old Conlon.

Patricia (Trish) Manzi has joined EYI as director of LINCK (Long Island Nature Collaborative for Kids). Trish brings 22 years of not-for-profit environmental education and wildlife conservation experience to EYI. A graduate of SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry, Trish is earning her master's degree in environmental science at C.W. Post. Contact Trish at pmanzi@eyi.org.

EYI is piloting Wakenheza, an instructive program on about working and interacting with families in public spaces, in four libraries: Uniondale, Port Washington, Sachem, and Mastic. EYI's Sheila Sussman and Helen Alessi visited Port Washington to discuss how to diffuse difficult public situations (photo).

Congratulations to EYI board and advisory board members who are being recognized for their good work! Awards for Long Island Business News' Top 50 Most Influential Women in Business went to EYI Board Chair Sandra Feinberg and Member Lorraine Aycock, and Advisory Board Member Jill Rooney and EYI President Dana Friedman are among National Association of Woman Business Owners' (NAWBO Long Island) "25 Businesswomen of Excellence" at its June 9 Gala.

EYI's comprehensive inventory of every national, state, county, town, and village park on Long Island will become a searchable database packed with information for families, teachers and caregivers. "Pick-a-Park" features descriptions and directions for 650 parks in Nassau and Suffolk, and will be available online in just a few weeks. Watch for the big announcement!