_________ Oceanside/island park ________
HERALD Laura gillen is sworn in
O’side tackles teen anxiety
O’side helps mental health
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VOL. 60 NO. 3
JANUARY 16 - 22, 2025
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O’Siders speak on proposed townhomes use. The Oceanside Jewish Center would cease operations at the Oceanside residents packed a current location and the properpublic hearing on Jan. 7 at ty would be redeveloped. The Hempstead Town Hall to voice property would also have green their opinions on a proposed space, fencing around the perimeter and a traffic townhome developlight at the ment at the Brower entrance, and Av e n u e and Oceanside Road there would not be site of the Oceansa payment in lieu ide Jewish Center. of taxes ag reeThe project, led by ment. Fieldstone developer Fieldsaid it planned to stone Capital pay upward of G ro u p, wo u l d $800,000 a year in entail the construcproperty taxes tion of luxury when the project is townhomes on the completed. 4.3-acre property. “As we sadly Fieldstone enviknow, synagogues sions a gated devel- FRANK are experiencing a opment with 59 WAssENBERgH significant decline two-story town- Oceanside resident in membership, homes and 139 leading to mergers parking spaces, and closures,” and a traffic-mitigation strategy Baker said, adding that the during construction. The devel- development would fill a need for oper, represented by attorney high-quality housing in OceanDaniel Baker, outlined plans to side. rezone the property from ResiProponents argue that the dence B to Residence CA, allow- project would address housing ing for the development. The shortages for younger families site, which includes the Jewish and downsizing seniors while center and two single-family transitioning the tax-exempt homes, is currently exempt from property into a significant taxes because of its religious Continued on page 7
By KEPHERD DANIEL
kdaniel@liherald.com
Maureen Lennon/Herald
Coachella with a twist at JCC The Friedberg JCC hosted its first-ever “Coatchella” Coat Drive last Sunday, bringing together teens, volunteers, and music for a day of giving back. The event, playing off the famous Coachella music festival, featured music from Oceanside teen bans and collected over 100 coats to benefit the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless. Story, more photos, Page 3.
Renovated Oceanside Library will premiere ‘Poetry in Motion’ on Saturday By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
The highly anticipated “Poetry in Motion” — a short film that brings Long Island’s poetry scene to life through the lens of cinematic artistry — will be premiered at Oceanside Library’s newly renovated theater on Saturday. Directed and produced by Oceanside native Gregory Cioffi, the film showcases the raw energy and dynamic spirit of 12 talented Long Island poets. Tom Flynn, also an Oceanside native, is the film’s cinematographer, and Nassau County Poet Laureate Paula Curci is its executive producer. The event is free and open to the public. Cioffi and Flynn were classmates at Oceanside’s Elementary School 8 through Oceanside High School, and “Poetry in Motion” marks the
first return to their neighborhood roots as they celebrate Long Island’s vibrant poetry arts scene in their hometown. The project was a completely new experience for Flynn. “The poet opened his mind to a different form of art, and it challenged me to think of filming and editing in a more poetry-driven mindset,” Flynn said in a press release. Collaborating with Flynn, a professional music video director and childhood friend, Cioffi set out to craft a film that bridges the worlds of poetry and cinematic storytelling. Flynn’s expertise in music video production brought a fresh perspective to the project, allowing the team to experiment with fluid camera movements and psychological depth that mirror the rhythms and emoContinued on page 5
O
ceanside is not Queens. Our residents have come here to escape the massive overdevelopment.