_________ Oceanside/island park ________
HERALD o’Side alumnus is recognized
Mourning Vishnu Dutt Sharma
Taking a look at social media
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VoL. 59 No. 35
AUGUST 22 - 28, 2024
$1.00
O’Side teen’s initiative aids mental health “People make cards like how I was doing for AP experience, but give these cards to people in Aleena Zeejah, a 16-year-old m e n t a l h e a l t h e m e r g e n cy Oceanside High School student, rooms and hospitals to help is doing her part to make a dif- people while they’re in the hosference in the lives of those pital.” Each card features encourimpacted by mental health conditions, launching the Cards aging messages and uplifting images, such as a Stitch-themed For Mental Health initiative. card with the The project phrase on the front encourages local that reads, “Ohana teens and volunmeans family, and teers across Long family means Island to create nobody g ets left handmade cards, behind.” An inspirwh i c h a r e t h e n ing note on the delivered to i n s i d e re a d s, “ I patients in mental b e l i e ve i n yo u . health units at Rocío LóPEz Yo u ’ r e s t r o n g , local hospitals. The yo u ’ re a m a z i n g , project aims to lift FoNTELA and you have the p at i e n t s ’ s p i r i t s patient relations power to get during their hospithrough this.” tal stays and spread Zeejah’s dedication to menawareness about the importal health advocacy stems from tance of mental health. Z e e j a h ’s A P e x p e r i e n c e her involvement in a school coursework inspired her initia- program called natural helpers, tive, with students creating which focuses on peer support handmade cards to brighten and mental health education. the days of patients battling She has been part of this procancer. The experience was so gram since eighth grade and moving that it ignited a spark credits it with sparking her interest in mental health. in her to do even more. “It’s like a peer support “I enjoyed that, and that led me to want to start cards for group,” Zeejah said. “It’s cenmental health,” Zeejah said. Continued on page 10
By KEPHERD DANIEL
kdaniel@liherald.com
Nicole Gangi/Herald
Tribute band brings the house down Emily Victoria, of Let’s Sing Taylor, which performs all things Taylor Swift, captivated the audience with renditions of Swift’s hits at a special concert for children with cancer and their families at Sunrise Day Camp-Long Island. Story, more photos, Page 3.
Powering up to fight hunger on L.I. PSEG food drive sets up at O’Side’s Sands Shopping Center By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
Oceanside residents had a chance to lend a helping hand in the battle against food insecurity on Long Island when the Power to Feed Long Island food drive made its seventh stop of the summer at the Oceanside Stop & Shop last Friday. Power to Feed, a food drive initiative by PSEG Long Island and Island Harvest, partners with Island Harvest and PSEG Long Island. PSEG provides venues for residents to donate food and other necessities to their neighbors in need. “I came down to support the cause, and I’m happy that it turned out good,” Joe Ponte, a
member of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce board of directors, said. “We need more people giving and caring.” Oceanside’s D’Cocco’s Pizzeria supplied volunteers with pizza as they collected outside the supermarket in the Sands Shopping Center. Food collection bins and a drive-through option were set up in the parking lot and in front of the store, where people could donate nonperishable items and household essentials. Shoppers received reusable shopping bags as a thank-you for their donations. The event aimed to combat the growing problem of food insecurity in the area. About 20 volContinued on page 5
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veryone was so happy and receptive to it.