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JCC member celebrates her 100th birthday By JANET PRETE Correspondent
Janet Prete/Herald
Mildred Cohen celebrated a landmark birthday at the Barry and Florence Friedberg JCC last week.
Mildred Cohen, ador ned with tiara and sash, entered the community room of the Barry and Florence Friedberg JCC in Oceanside for her 100th birthday celebration on Jan 27. The party, originally scheduled for Jan. 20, just one day after her actual birthday, was postponed for a week due to inclement weather, which made traveling treacherous. Cohen, a member of the JCC for more than 30 years, was honored at the group’s annual meeting last June 25, when she Continued on page 9
Volunteer Fair brings Oceanside community together By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
The Oceanside Library was filled with energy last Sunday, as it hosted its third annual Volunteer Fair — the first at the newly renovated facility — drawing hundreds of people from Oceanside and beyond who were eager to connect with local organizations and find meaningful ways to give back. The event featured a diverse lineup of nonprofits from Oceanside and across Long Island, offering opportunities for people of all ages and interests. Representatives from organi-
zations including the American Red Cross, Citizens Climate Lobby, Lend-a-Paw and the Book Fairies welcomed the attendees, sharing their missions and telling them about the various ways in which volunteers can make a difference. “We’re always looking, as an organization, for financial donations, book donations, for volunteers to donate their time,” said Mary Blanco, of the Book Fairies, a nonprofit in Freeport that is dedicated to distributing books to underserved communities. The organization, which has been in existence for 13 years, has distributed over 5 million books, ranging from
children’s literature to adult novels. “It’s a nice place to volunteer — a nice community of people who are very friendly and from all backg rounds,” Annette Ready, a recently retired teacher who started volunteering with the Book Fairies last year, said. Other participating organizations included Girls on the Run Long Island, the Kiwanis Club of Oceanside, the Oceanside SAFE Coalition, Eager to Serve and the League of Women Voters. Whether through environmental advocacy, educational support or health services, each group demonstrated the many ways in which area residents
can make a positive impact. The fair also catered to students fulfilling community service requirements for programs like the National Junior Honor Society. “We’re lucky that the community supports our program, community service and volunteer opportunities,” library Director Chris Marra said. “As different milestones come up
throughout the year, they need community service hours, so we provide opportunities yearround for them as well.” The Volunteer Fair not only showcased the variety of ways that people can give back, but also celebrated the shared commitment to community growth and support in Oceanside and beyond. The Rockville Centre Continued on page 10