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Decades of fun at Twin Oaks Day Camp ger “family.” Based in Freeport, the camp serves many other communities, including MerFor half a century, Twin rick, Bellmore, East Meadow, Oaks Day Camp has been a Wantagh, Seaford, Baldwin, summer haven for generations Rockville Centre and beyond. The Elmans’ daughter, Jenni of campers, who have created memories and friendships last- Elman-Davis, now runs Twin ing a lifetime. Oaks, alongside assistant direcAs the camp tors Carin Stone marks its 50th anniand Michele Colella, versary this summer, w h o h ave b o t h its leaders are worked at the camp reflecting on what for more than 25 makes Twin Oaks a years. special place, drawThe camp is split ing families to into four divisions, retur n year after JENNi ElmANwith its youngest year. members taking DAViS Twin Oaks has part in the Barney been family owned Director, Program for chiland operated since Twin Oaks Day dren between the 1975, although its Camp & Day School ages of 20 and 30 h i s t o r y s t re t ch e s months. Each campback even further. er is paired with a one-on-one Hal Elman was a head coun- supervisor, and they get to take selor at the camp prior to 1975, part in a half-day program, and when the former owners filled with fun, adventure and were looking to sell the proper- socialization. ty, Elman and his colle g e The Lower Camp is for three friend, Bernie Hoffman, along and four year olds and the with their wives, Barbara Upper Camp enrolls children in Elman and Beverly Hoffman, kindergarten through third decided to purchase it. grade. Full day and mini day Since then, the camp has programs are available. The flourished into what it is today camp’s activity directors create — a place where every camper an engaging and diversified and their family member feel experience for all campers, and like they’re part of an even big-
By JoRDAN VAlloNE
jvallone@liherald.com
W
e’re a place that smiles.
Holden Leeds/Herald
Alyssa Beznicki, left, Oriana Merzlyak and Matthew Klein formed a team called MAO to make food and raise funds for charity.
Kennedy High juniors fight hunger with a four-course meal By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com
Three juniors from John F. Kennedy High School prepared a four-course meal for donors as part of the Cooking for a Cause 2025 Fundraiser, collecting over $750 for Island Harvest on Feb. 1. Merrick residents Matthew Klein, Alyssa Beznicki and Oriana Merzlyak are students enrolled in JFK’s Culinary Hospitality and Applied Management Program, also known as CHAMP, which teaches students about cooking and running businesses. They met in the program last year, and now share a vision of keeping the community well fed. The MAO team, named using each student’s first initial, comes together once a
month to create a four-course tasting menu. The meal is made from scratch, and highlights each chef ’s specialties, from dinners to desserts. “We do it because we all enjoy cooking, but even for us, it’s not enough,” Merzlyak said. “We decided to start doing it out of school, just for fun, and we thought, why don’t we invite people and cook for them? We decided that the money we collect from it, we would donate.” “We love doing what we’re doing,” Klein added of their thinking. “It would be so amazing if we could give back to the community in a way. “We’re fortunate enough to have everything we need in life to succeed, and some people aren’t as fortunate. So we COntinued On pAge 4
COntinued On pAge 10