_________ Oceanside/island park ________
HERALD Author to share memoir in I.P.
o’Side students visit Broadway
Hospital earns top rank in care
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Vol. 60 No. 9
FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 5, 2025
$1.00
Love, Ava Project expands from toy drive to nonprofit By KEPHERD DANIEl kdaniel@liherald.com
The Love, Ava Project — which began as a holiday toy drive more than a decade ago — has now emerged as a full-fledged nonprofit capable of touching the lives of countless families. Brianna O’Hagan, general manager of the local gastropub EGP Oceanside, is the founder of the Love, Ava Project, a nonprofit that will forever memorialize Oceanside teen Ava Salonia, who died in August 2023 after battling leukemia. “I’ve always wanted to put a name on what I did and kind of expand it, and to be able to do some other things with the foundation, not just only during the holiday season,” jESSICA SAloNIA O’Hagan said.
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Maureen Lennon/Herald
Strikes, spares and cat care Four-year-old Tessa Rao and her costumed aunt Annie Melia took part in the annual Kitty Cove Bowling Fundraiser to benefit the Island Park shelter. The event brought together nearly 100 supporters for an evening of fun at Maple Lanes. Story, more photos, Page 10.
“We were used to receiving and expecting gifts during the holidays,” O’Hagan recalled, “but I wanted my siblings to understand that it’s equally important to give back.” Over time, the effort expanded to include athletic programs, local businesses and an Adopt-a-Family initiative in several surrounding communities. Each year, EGP Oceanside dedicates a day to benefit a local family facing challenges. The event started as a way to bring people together, and evolved into a platform for giving back.
rianna loved my daughter in such a special way. She was always there for Ava.
A family tradition of giving
Twelve years ago, O’Hagan organized a small toy drive, donating gifts to the Cancer Center for Kids at NYU Langone. Her goal was to show her younger siblings that the holidays weren’t just about receiving, but also about giving.
The inspiration behind Love, Ava
The turning point for O’Hagan came when she met 16-year-old Ava, who was a recipient of the Adopt-aFamily program as she was battling leukemia. Despite her struggles, Ava dedicated herself to spreading kindness. She made bags for hospital patients and nurses, signing each one with the words “Love, Ava,” inspiring the name of the foundation. When Ava died, O’Hagan received a poignant
Easy. Honest. Accurate.
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ParkMobile raises revenue, and some I.P. residents’ ire
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x 6.5”By=KEPHERD Yellow box DANIEl
Designed to modernize parking management, the ParkMobile app has generated both praise and protest among residents and business owners.
So far this year, that revenue is already approaching $7,000, bringing the total income from the system to just under $59,000 Just over a year after Island since its launch. The village Park switched to a digital parkhad projected $50,000 to $100,00 ing system on Feb. 1, 2024, the in annual revenue. community is seeing a change Revenue gains and enhanced At the same time, village in both municipal management enforcement and everyday parking experiThe primary goal of imple- officials report that the new menting the ParkMobile sys- system has effectively doubled ences. Rather than relying on tradi- tem was to generate new reve- the number of parking tickets tional meters, the village imple- nue without burdening resi- issued. That number surged mented the ParkMobile app, dents with higher taxes, and it from 617 in 2023 to 1,241 last has done that. In the first full year, and over 100 tickets have requiring drivers to pay a fee of $1 per hour — with a 45-cent year of operation, the system been issued so far this year. The surcharge for using a credit generated just over $52,000 in largest increases were seen in thecall “No 516.715.1280 Parking Permit” and parking fees, with over $41,000 or card — to parking its municApplyinonline at mptrg.com/heraldwrap ipal lots. Drivers who don’t own comprising the village’s por- “Other Violations” categories, a smartphone can call a phone tion of the fees in its Long making it clear that the sysnumber to pay for parking. Island Rail Road parking lots. tem’s stricter oversight is hav-
ing an impact. “I think the revenue part was better than I hoped for, which is a win for the village,” Island Park Mayor Michael McGinty said. “It’s been a year, and we’ve taken in over $52,000. It’s impacted our borrowing in a positive way, because it’s recurring revenue.” The village sought addition-
al revenue streams to address financial challenges, to be able to borrow at favorable rates, invest in community infrastructure and improve its bond rating.
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While the village has generContinued on page 11