Councilman Stuart Besen with staff of Project EXCEL along with some of the graduates of the Babysitting Workshop.

This past Tuesday, Huntington Town Councilman Stuart Besen presented graduation certificates to those students who recently completed the Babysitting Workshop Program. "As a parent myself, I know how hard it can be to find a qualified babysitter and I am proud to say that there are now 42 new-qualified babysitters to call upon throughout the Town of Huntington," stated Councilman Besen.

Councilman Stuart P. Besen joined forces with the Town of Huntington Youth Bureau Project EXCEL and local fire departments and expanded the four-week Babysitting Workshop, which was previously given. The Babysitting Workshop had been a successful program but now it has become even better. The program is run by members of the EXCEL team and includes an introduction to babysitting, caring for infants and children and how to apply for babysitting jobs. A new twist to the course this year added first aid, emergency and fire safety procedures taught by a member of a fire department.

The students that have completed this course have been listed on rosters, held at Project EXCEL and the five participating fire departments (where they took the course) for babysitting job referrals. "This program could not have been such a success without the support and dedication of the five local fire departments who hosted this program," commented Besen.  "I would like to personally thank the East Northport, Eaton's Neck, Huntington Manor, Centerport and Dix Hills Fire Departments for opening their doors to this fun and informative program." added Besen.

The program will run again in the fall. For more information on the Town of Huntington's Babysitting Workshop, you can contact Project EXCEL at 631-271-5499 or Councilman Besen's office at 631-351-3171.