Oyster Bay Herald 03–12-2026

HERALD

part in the program at Heritage Farms, said that organizing the greenhouse is his favorite part of the work.

Learning skills for daily life at Heritage Farms & Gardens

By WIll SHEElINE wsheeline@liherald.com

Members of the Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center’s Program Without Walls day habilitation program spent February learning job and life skills while volunteering at Heritage Farms & Gardens, in East Norwich, where they help care for plants, organize greenhouse displays and maintain the grounds.

The Program Without Walls, part of the JCC’s Irene and Ronald Cohen Life Skills Training Center, serves neurodivergent adults ages 21 and older. The partnership

with Heritage Farms is one of several connect adults in the JCC’s Center for Neurodiversity with work opportunities in the community, Heather Schultz, director of the Cohen Center, explained. Program participants practice teamwork and communication and learn to be independent while contributing to the farm’s daily operations.

The Program Without Walls has been operating for about seven years, and is designed to help participants develop skills through real-world experiences.

“Our center is known to have programs for those that are neurodiverse for close to 30

Continued on page 12

By WIll SHEElINE wsheeline@liherald.com

Students in the TV production program at Oyster Bay High School recently partnered with members of the Life Enrichment Center of Oyster Bay on a project aimed at preserving local history through personal storytelling.

Igram. The center had previously collaborated with students to write “Silver Threads,” a book composed of the memories and stories of center members.

f you can talk

The collaboration brought six high school students together with six senior center members for recorded interviews focused on oral history. Students filmed and produced short, documentary-style video packages focusing on the seniors’ stories, which ranged from experiences during major historic events to reflections on life in the 20th century.

with a person who has lived through that historic event, the event becomes very real, and this is what we have had with this program.

“They had reached out to us and said, you know, we’re looking for a way to collaborate,” Dallin recalled. And we said, you know, this actually would be a great thing for our digital reporting class, because we were looking for some new project ideas.”

KAtHERINE GIBSoN Bayville

The project began when the Life Enrichment Center reached out to teacher Alex Dallin, who leads the high school’s TV production pro -

Center members shared their experiences in on-camera interviews with students, who later edited the footage into short videos. The process, Dallin said, mirrored the workflow used in professional broadcast journalism.

“The students did everything for this,” he said. “Each student in the class was paired with a senior with an interesting history, and the students came up with the questions.”

For students accustomed to

Continued on page 13

things to know about west side school fire

Atlantic Steamer chief provides insight

By WILL SHEELINE

wsheeline@liherald.com

Firefighters from across the region battled a large blaze early Tuesday morning at the West Side School in Laurel Hollow, drawing a multi-department response and causing significant damage to part of the building. The fire, which began before dawn, required about two hours to bring under control and ultimately escalated to a third alarm response involving numerous departments. Francesco Barbera, chief of Atlantic Steamer Fire Company in Oyster Bay, shared details of the fire in an interview the next day. Here are three things to know about the incident.

Alarm went off, but there were no initial signs of a fire

Emergency crews were first alerted at 4:40 a.m. when an automatic alarm was triggered at the school. Firefighters arrived within minutes but initially saw no visible evidence of a blaze.

“When we first arrived on the scene, there really was no signs from the outside of the building that there was a fire going on,” Barbera said.

As part of standard procedure, firefighters entered the building and began a walkthrough to locate the triggered alarm and confirm conditions inside. While crews were conducting that search, a chief discovered smoke conditions in one of the rooms. Once firefighters entered and confirmed heavy smoke inside the structure, the situation was escalated to what firefighters call a “working fire.”

The blaze quickly spread from the basement to the attic

According to Barbera, firefighters located the original fire in the building’s basement. Crews were able to control flames on the lower levels as additional units arrived. However, the building’s construction allowed the fire to travel upward into the attic.

Firefighters then had to cut holes in the roof and attack the flames from above and below.

In total, the response escalated to a third alarm, bringing in about 16 departments to assist. He explained that a third alarm brings in additional companies both to the scene and to standby positions to cover other emergencies while local crews are tied up at the fire.

The entire firefighting effort lasted roughly two hours.

A

wing of the school suffered major damage, but no injuries

The fire caused significant damage to part of the school building, particularly around the library area, where the roof has partially collapsed. Even areas untouched by flames were affected by water used to extinguish the blaze.

Investigators are still determining the exact cause of the fire. Barbera said the matter remains under review by the fire marshal’s office.

Despite the scale of the response and damage to the building, no injuries were reported. Barbera said cooperation among the responding departments helped limit the impact.

“All the departments worked well together,” Barbera added. “We were able to minimize the damage as much as we could, and nobody was hurt. That’s what we strive for.”

HERALD SCHOOLS

Bay-East Norwich Middle/High School brought Hans Christian Anderson’s classic

Students ‘pea-form’ ‘Once Upon a Mattress’

Oyster Bay-East Norwich Middle/High School presented its spring musical, “Once Upon a Mattress,” to audiences in the school auditorium. The two-night run, from March 7-8, showcased the talents of dozens of students both onstage and behind the scenes and served as the culmination of months of rehearsal, preparation and construction.

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea,” “Once Upon a Mattress” features a score by Mary Rodgers, with lyrics by Marshall Barer and a book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer. The show originally opened on Broadway in 1959 and has enjoyed several successful revivals over the decades, most recently as a concert production at New York City Center in 2024, with two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster in the role of Princess Winnifred.

The OBMHS production was directed and choreographed by Teriann Chiappardi and produced by Erica Giglio Pac, with assistant direction by Virginia Kemp. Music direction was shared by Victoria Devine, who led vocal preparation and Matthew Sisia, who directed the orchestra. The production’s design team consisted of Maria Randazzo, Alexander Dollin and Erik Chocianowski.

–Will Sheeline

Princess Winnifred the Woebegone emerges from the castle moat for her big entrance number, ‘I’m Shy.’

Princess Winnifred prepares to sleep, while unbeknownst to her Queen Aggravain has placed a pea under her mattresses as a test of her nobility.

Students worked for months perfecting costumes and building the set for the two night show.

What covering Oyster Bay taught me about civic life

Civic engagement at the local, state and federal levels has declined significantly over the past several decades. Increasingly, it seems like we are all in our own well-maintained echo chambers, where our beliefs are instantly confirmed thanks to algorithms designed to keep us angry.

competitions at North Shore High School.

That early impression changed quickly once I began covering the village as a reporter. The “village of volunteers” lived up to its nickname. Nearly every week there seemed to be another community event, meeting or discussion about the future of Sea Cliff.

What struck me most was how many people were willing to take time out of their busy lives to attend meetings about village issues and stay informed about what was happening in their community.

There is no single cause for this dip in civic engagement. Increased digital isolation, intense political polarization and the erosion of traditional community structures have helped foster a culture with lower trust in governing institutions, decreased community group membership, reduced neighborly interaction and lower volunteering rates.

Part of what drew me to journalism initially was the hope of bridging that divide. We live in an interesting time — it has never been easier to find the truth, yet so much of political discourse is saturated with blatant lies and falsehoods.

While civic engagement nationwide may be declining, there is at least one community where it is alive and well: the Village of Sea Cliff.

When I graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2024, I had no idea what the future held. I had lived in Syosset for most of my life, and considering that the typical salary for a new reporter right out of college is not exactly generational wealth, I decided to begin carving my own journalistic path right from home.

My knowledge of Sea Cliff before this job came from my high school running days. I remember seeing the entrance to what I viewed as an artsy coastal community on my way to track

There were certainly moments of heated debate. But more often than not, there was an underlying understanding that everyone wanted to make the village better — even if they had different ideas about how to get there.

Covering the many unique people of the village along with issues like the ongoing debate over the Propel Project and battery energy storage systems, the village as well as school budgets, composting — and that one time Pirate’s Booty founder Robert Ehrlich tried to take control of the village government — made me a better reporter and person.

My time at the Herald has come to an end, and I will soon be starting a new chapter. But the lessons I learned covering Sea Cliff — about community, civic engagement and the importance of showing up — will stay with me wherever I go.

Thank you to the people who welcomed me into their meetings, their events and their conversations. And finally, thank you for everything, Sea Cliff.

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Locust Valley coaches honored by Red Cross

By JULIA CAPITELLI jcapitelli@liherald.com

Locust Valley High School coaches Brian Lorusso, Andrew Bock, Andrew Siegel, Ben Martinez and Elliot Aramayo were presented with the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for their response when senior Francesco Allocca suffered a cardiac event on the basketball court on Nov. 17.

The Lifesaving Award for Professional responders is the highest recognition given to individuals who use Red Cross training to save or sustain a life.

“Each coach responded with clarity, coordination and heart,” Jose Dominguez, chief executive officer of American Red Cross on Long Island, said during the awards ceremony on March 5. “Every decision, every moment, every act of calm under pressure, was essential, and because of their teamwork, because of the refusal to hesitate, a life was saved.”

High school coaches in New York are required to complete and maintain certifications in first aid, CPR and use of an automated external defibrillator. When Allocca collapsed during varsity basketball tryouts, the coaches quickly responded by administering CPR and using the nearest AED. Allocca regained consciousness within minutes before being transported by ambu-

lance to a local hospital.

“It’s awesome,” Allocca said, the day after the ceremony. “I think they’ve done a great job in the training, and they’re prepared as they could be, and they acted as quickly and as best as they possibly could.”

While Allocca, who started playing basketball in fourth grade, was not medically cleared to play in his senior season, he got to participate in the

team’s senior night at the end of February. He shot the first two points before coming out of the game. Allocca described is as a “great way to end” his high school basketball career.

Students at Locust Valley High School take a class in which they undergo training in first aid, CPR and use of an AED. The school has also recently added more AEDs throughout the building.

Siegel, who is in his fifth year coaching at Locust Valley, described Allocca as “such a great kid” and said that he continues to be present with the team, encouraging the other players.

“I’ve always tried to stay involved as much as I could, support the team, because I’ve been playing pretty much my whole life,” Allocca said. “So, I didn’t want this to change that, even if I couldn’t step out onto the court.”

Confident Hofstra brings high hopes

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

The Hofstra women’s lacrosse team fell one game short in its quest for a conference tournament spot last season and is determined this spring to be on the championship stage.

The Pride were picked to finish fifth in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) preseason poll, which would leave it once again on the outside looking in for reaching the four-team league playoffs. Hofstra placed fifth last year with a 4-4 CAA mark to finish one game behind Elon for the final tourney spot.

“We want to do everything we can to get into the CAA playoffs to give us an opportunity to play for the CAA championship, and an opportunity to win and get into the NCAA tournament,” said 14th-year Hofstra head coach Shannon Smith. “The only way to do that is by playing a very competitive non conference schedule to prepare us for a conference play.”

Leading the charge to bring Hofstra into the postseason is red-shirt junior attacker Nikki Mennella, who tallied 99 points on the strength of 62 goals and 37 assists last year. The reigning 2025 CAA Attacker of the Year registered six goals and seven draw controls in a 14-8 win at Marist on Feb. 26.

“She is a warrior out there on the field,” said Smith of Mennella, a USA Lacrosse preseason All-American selection who registered 24 goals and 11 assists through Hofstra’s first seven games. “She’s electric and has and can shoot the ball very well but more importantly she celebrates her teammates’ success even that much more and gets so excited for their big plays and goals, which is really fun to see.”

The Pride also returned sophomore attacker Kayleigh Bender, who was named the CAA Rookie of the Year as a freshman after recording 41 points on 31 goals and 10 assists. The Huntington High School product tallied a season-

high four goals in Hofstra’s 12-7 Valentine’s Day victory at Quinnipiac.

Hofstra’s offense has featured multiple scoring weapons early in the season including junior midfielder Natalie DeMeo (10 goals) and junior attacker Kristen Redding (seven goals). Freshmen Charli Joyce and Shannon Steck, a Massapequa native and Saint Anthony’s graduate, have also shown offensive potential early in their collegiate careers.

The defense is anchored by junior defender Christine Dannenfelser, who was named to the All-CAA First Team as a sophomore with 42 ground balls and 24 caused turnovers along with 58 draw controls.

“She’s everywhere on the field,” said

Smith of Dannenfelser. “She plays very inspired and with a sense of urgency.”

Dannenfelser leads a defensive unit that features juniors Evin Terzioglu and Natalie Little. Local freshmen Grace Varley, a Babylon native, and Brighid Smith, a Wagner transfer who was an All-County player at Wantagh High School.

Senior goalie Luchianna Cardello patrols the net for her final college season this spring. The former Massapequa High School standout recorded 12 saves in a 16-9 home loss to third-ranked Maryland on March 4 and eight stops in the Quinnipiac triumph.

“Lulu is seeing the ball very well,” said Smith of Cardello, who also had 12 saves in a 17-7 setback at Big Ten foe

Rutgers on Feb. 28.. “She is a senior so she has seen all sorts of different game scenarios and different shots.”

Hofstra opens up CAA play at home this Saturday against Elon at noon before hosting Ivy League Power Princeton Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. The Pride conclude the CAA regular season at home on April 25 against William & Mary before what they hope will be a conference semifinal game the following week on April 30 hosted by defending league champion Stony Brook.

Nominate a student under 18 for the Sustainability Champion Award to recognize their efforts in driving sustainable change.

Submit a nomination of approximately 100 words or less describing the student’s leadership in promoting sustainability: What motivates them? What impact have they had?

Be sure to include a photo or an example of their work—whether it’s a community garden, an environmental campaign, or a creative solution to a sustainability challenge.

celebrating women’s history month

Empowering and assisting the county’s libraries

By MADISON GUSLER mgusler@liherald.com

The Nassau Library System is a cooperative of 54 libraries throughout the county. While each one is supported by local taxes and governed by its own board of trustees, the NLS provides services, materials and programming to all member libraries.

“One of the largest services we provide are delivery services five days a week,” NLS Director Caroline Ashby said. “We enable libraries to share resources with one another. So when a patron in Levittown wants to use a book only owned by the Elmont library, we’ll pick it up from Elmont, sort it in our facility and send it to Levittown the next day for the patron to check out.

“We save Nassau taxpayers thousands of dollars a year,” Ashby added, “by resource-sharing this way.”

Ashby, a native of Port Washington, began her library career with the New York Public Library while studying for a master’s in library and information sciences at the Pratt Institute. “I was a volunteer in the adult literacy center as a tutor,” she recalled. “These were people from their 40s to their 70s who’d made it that far without real literacy skills.”

At the center, Ashby built relationships with patrons and learned about the challenges they faced, such as a lack of technology skills. She decided to teach those as well, helping with internet browsing, setting up emails and teaching them Microsoft.

“Because to be able to work,” she said, “you need to have a resume, submit your application over email, and know how to use Word.”

After finishing her degree, she worked at the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library, in Manhattan, part of a nationwide network that provides reading materials to patrons who are blind or visually impaired. Ashby, who worked with patrons by phone and email, and suggested braille and audio materials, credits this experience for broadening her perspective of library services.

In 2014 she was hired as assistant director of the NLS. “I wanted to come back home and serve a community closer to my heart,” Ashby said. In 2019 she was promoted to director.

NLS delivers more than materials to local libraries. Technology is a major aspect of its service, as it provides libraries with broadband internet service and organizes the shared-material catalog. The online catalog allows any cardholder in the county to view materials available at system branches.

NLS offers continuing education for library staff. “We provide training to library trustees on their governance responsibilities, we provide training to library administrators on management and legal compliance topics, and training for public-facing staff on outreach and best practices,” Ashby explained. Through its networking opportunities, she added, the NLS encourages librarians to “learn from one another so the service provided at public libraries in Nassau can be as consistent as possible.”

She also leads NLS’s advocacy work, connecting with local and state elected officials to ensure that libraries receive the funding and support available.

“The more NLS can do to support member libraries,” Ashby said, “the more freedom those libraries have to serve their communities in close, responsive ways.”

Opening doors for the next generation of women

By ALLYSON FERRARI aferrari@liherald.com

A leader helping Long Island girls find their voices traces that mission back to a childhood shaped by an immigrant’s perseverance and a belief that girls deserve the same opportunities to lead and succeed.

Now, as executive director of Girls Inc. of Long Island, Patricia Charlemagne works to expand opportunities and leadership pathways for girls across the region.

Charlemagne, 52, grew up in Queens before her family moved to Baldwin when she was 11. Now she lives in Baldwin with her husband of 15 years, Frank, and their two children, Alix, 13, and Taylor, 11.

Her parents, immigrants from Haiti and the Dominican Republic, prioritized education above everything else. Growing up in a working-class immigrant household, Charlemagne said she was surrounded by opportunities that helped shape her interests and ambitions.

“Education continues to be the most important thing to my family,” she said. “They were very committed to my education.”

Despite her family’s modest means, she took part in activities including ballet and piano lessons, afterschool sports and school programs focused on the visual and performing arts. At the time, she said, she didn’t fully realize the sacrifices her family made to provide those opportunities.

Those experiences later reinforced her belief that all children — regardless of economic background — deserve access to activities that help them grow and thrive.

After graduating from high school, Charlemagne attended Wesleyan University, where she earned a

bachelor’s degree before following it with a law degree from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law and a doctorate in educational and organizational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. During her studies, she developed an interest in how laws and workplace systems treated women differently, particularly women of color — which eventually led her to a career in nonprofit leadership.

Girls Inc. offers girls mentorship, leadership development and exposure to career pathways often dominated by men. Industries such as the trades and technology still have a relatively low representation of women, she said, something she hopes to change by introducing girls to those fields early.

“My journey to Girls Inc. of Long Island has been a full recognition that when girls are given resources, when girls are given opportunities, when girls are made to feel safe and a sense of belonging,” Charlemagne said, “there is no limit to what they can do.”

In addition to youth programming, the organization has begun partnering with companies working to diversify their workforces. The goal, she said, is to help businesses create environments in which women feel supported and encouraged to pursue careers in under-represented fields.

Charlemagne believes women and girls should be included when decisions are made, rather than having programs and policies created for them without their input. Her perspective has been shaped by challenges she has faced as a woman in the workforce, including disparities in pay and having her ideas overlooked.

“You share an idea and no one hears it,” she said. “Then a man repeats the idea, and all of a sudden it makes perfect sense.”

Those experiences, she said, reinforced the importance of helping girls develop confidence and learn to advocate for themselves.

For Charlemagne, empowering girls also means encouraging women to support one another and prioritize their well-being. “Take care of yourself first,” she said. “You cannot do anything for anyone else if you’re not taking care of yourself.”

ICE fears raised at GC city council meeting

By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com

Concerns about federal immigration enforcement in Glen Cove dominated the public comment portion of Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, with several residents urging city leaders to take a more active role in supporting immigrant community members who they say are increasingly living in fear.

Eight speakers addressed the council, sharing personal experiences, data and appeals for local leadership to respond to the impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the city. Council members listened to the speakers, but did not respond. Under New York’s Open Meetings Law, they are not required to.

The Rev. Roger Williams, of First Baptist Church of Glen Cove, reflected on the values that drew him to the city over two decades ago.

“One of the things that I admired from the outset was the diversity that the city had,” Williams, who moved to the community from Baton Rouge, La., in 1999, recalled.

Recent reports of immigration enforcement activity in the city have troubled him deeply, he said. Drawing parallels to historical injustices, he urged local officials to consider the broader moral implications.

“What we are dealing with is making sure that people who were not born in

By ABIGAIL GRIECO

this country are still respected as human beings,” Williams said. “Glen Cove is a city that can be an example that shows everyone that that is what we’re all about.”

Another speaker, Nabil Azamy, described what he said are measurable impacts that federal immigration enforcement may be having on schools, businesses and public services.

“More than a third of Glen Cove’s population is Hispanic,” Azamy said.

“Over 40 percent of our households speak a non-English language at home. When that community is afraid to participate in daily life, the consequences don’t stay contained.”

Azamy recalled a June enforcement operation near the Glen Street train station in which four men were arrested, noting that the Glen Cove Police Department previously confirmed that it had no advance notice and did not assist in the operation. Local networks monitoring immigration enforcement activity, Azamy said, have documented additional encounters in and around the city since then.

He also pointed to declining school enrollment as a potential indicator of broader community fear.

“Superintendent [Alexa] Doeschner reported that Glen Cove’s enrollment has fallen to 3,059 students, the lowest in 12 years,” Azamy said, adding that the school district is facing a projected budget gap next year.

Azamy asked the council to convene a roundtable discussion involving city leadership and the Police Department to examine how federal enforcement activity may be affecting the city.

“A serious, focused conversation among the people responsible for governing this city,” he said. “Our residents need to know what to expect.”

Karen Lori Papasergiou, a Sea Cliff resident and a Glen Cove native, recounted an incident she said occurred on Feb. 12, on Grove Street, while she was observing suspected immigration enforcement activity.

Papasergiou said she volunteers as part of a rapid response network that monitors ICE activity and informs residents of their rights. While she was sitting in her car that day, she said, a man in a vehicle approached her and identified her by name.

“He said, ‘Hello, Karen. I see that you’re Greek, and I know where you live,’” she told the council.

Papasergiou said the man claimed that he and others were on the lookout for a reported child molester. She later reported the interaction to the Police Department, which she described as supportive and respectful during her visit.

After Tuesday’s meeting, Glen Cove police confirmed that ICE was looking for a man “who, while in public, was arrested for exposing himself and was masturbating in front of three different women.”

Papasergiou urged city officials not to remain neutral on the issue. “These are your constituents,” she said. “These are members of your community who also chose Glen Cove for a reason.”

After the meeting, the Herald asked Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck to respond to the attendees’ comments. In a written statement, Panzenbeck said, “Allowing people to come to City Council meetings to express their opinions is what makes Glen Cove so special.”

things to know about st. patrick’s day

The history behind the holiday

agrieco@liherald.com

Every March 17, communities across the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with parades, music and plenty of green. What began as a religious feast day honoring Ireland’s patron saint has grown into a global celebration of Irish heritage and culture. Here are three things to know about the holiday and its history.

St. Patrick’s Day began as a religious feast, not a party

Observed each year on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day honors Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. The date marks the traditional anniversary of his death in A.D. 461. The day was originally a solemn religious feast day in Ireland, marked by church services and family meals. For much of its history in Ireland, the day was observed quietly, and pubs were even closed by law until the 1970s. Irish immigrants later transformed it in the United States into a public celebration of heritage and pride. Today, cities across the country host parades, festivals and cultural events. While it’s often associated with revelry, the holiday’s roots are spiritual and historical, commemorating Irish identity and resilience.

Why we wear green — and other symbols

Green became associated with St. Patrick’s Day because of Ireland’s nickname, “The Emerald Isle,” and the shamrock, which Irish legend says St. Patrick used to explain the Holy Trinity. Wearing green is also said to make someone “invisible” to mischievous leprechauns in Irish folklore. Other popular symbols include Celtic crosses, harps and pots of gold; the cross symbolizes Irish Christianity, the harp represents Ireland’s long musical and cultural heritage, and the pot of gold comes from legends of leprechauns said to hide treasure at the end of the rainbow. Even rivers get in on the tradition — the Chicago River is famously dyed bright green each year as part of the city’s festivities.

Signature dishes are essential for celebrations

While many people consider corned beef and cabbage a classic St. Patrick’s Day meal, it’s more Irish American than traditionally Irish. In Ireland, bacon and cabbage were more common, but Irish immigrants in cities like New York City substituted corned beef because it was more affordable and readily available from local butchers. Over time, the dish became closely tied to March 17 celebrations in the United States, symbolizing both adaptation and the blending of Irish heritage with American life. Another traditional favorite is Irish soda bread, a simple loaf made with baking soda instead of yeast that dates back to rural Irish kitchens. Often served alongside the main meal — and sometimes sweetened with raisins in American versions — soda bread has become a staple of holiday tables.

Nearly

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LI Isn’t Fighting High Property Taxes

Ownwell explains why Long Island homeowners are likely paying more than they should.

If you’re a Long Island homeowner or property owner, there’s a strong chance you’re overpaying on your

a tax grievance, you’re likely paying even more than you should. A recent survey1 of Long Island homeowners by

a property tax grievance — nearly triple

necessary defense against a property tax system that many homeowners say is broken.

A System That Penalizes Non-Filers.

homeowners agree that the current property tax system negatively affects

of property owners successfully appeal their assessments, the overall tax burden

who trust their initial assessments

the process too confusing, and end up subsidizing tax reductions for those who

tax system should function,” said Colton Pace, Founder and CEO of Ownwell.

knowledge to pay their fair share.”

The Affordability

of Long Island homeowners express concern about the long-term affordability of owning a home here due to property ���������������������������������

neighboring families trying to stay in the communities they love.

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his isn’t how a fair property tax system should function. Homeowners shouldn’t need insider knowledge to pay their fair share.

gap is costing homeowners thousands of dollars ����������������������� reform (or, at a minimum, accessible appeal options) has never been clearer.

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of Ownwell

COLTON PACE Founder and CEO

Time Is Running Out: Important Deadlines. If ��������������������������� property tax grievance, time is critical. ������������������������������������

Not All Property Tax Services Are The Same.����������������������������� a difference. Unlike the traditional

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Don’t let another year of overpayment go by. Your deadline is approaching!

Footnotes:

https://www.ownwell.com/insight/longisland-homeowner-property-tax-survey/

https://www.ownwell.com/trends/newyork/nassau

Nassau County: Deadline is March 31, ������Suffolk County: Deadline is May ����������Westchester County: Ongoing deadlines vary by town from January ��������������������������������� these deadlines means waiting another year and continuing to overpay on your property taxes.

Learning life skills in Program Without Walls

years,” Schultz said. “We wanted to make sure that we had meaningful programs to help adult clients be able to grow in different areas and increase their independence.”

Program participants volunteer at organizations on the JCC campus, in East Hills, and at businesses throughout the surrounding area. They work at the JCC’s food bank and its Early Childhood Center, and at special events, and also take part in outings on which they practice everyday skills like shopping and managing money.

The partnership with Heritage Farms is one of the program’s longest collaborations.

“They were one of our first community partners,” Schultz said. “So it’s probably been about six years or so.”

In addition to caring for plants in the greenhouse, volunteers organize displays for customers.

For Evan Golden, who has taken part in the program for two years, the experience has been both exciting and rewarding.

“So when I first heard the news about going to Heritage Farms, I was excited, because it was my first time actually working hands-on with farm equipment,” Golden said, “and I got to know what it’s like volunteering on the farm, and I also got to make new friends on the job and communicate well with the Heritage staff and JCC staff who helped me overcome my challenges along the way. I also got to interact hands-on and work with nature, which I enjoy, because I like interacting with and working with the outdoors, basically.”

Nicholas Sandoz said the chance to spend time with friends and staff while helping at the farm made the experience appealing.

“So when I heard of Heritage Farms, I thought to

Sid

JCC the Sid Jacobson JCC’s program Without Walls offers neurodivergent members an opportunity to develop important life skills, such as social interaction and money management.

me, it sounded interesting that maybe I’ll go also to be with my friends and obviously staff,” Sandoz said, “and I thought it was a great experience being there, always helping my friends when they need help.”

Matthew Beit said that cleaning is his favorite part of the work, while Sandoz said he enjoys the organizational side.

“I like to keep things nice and neat, not so messy,”

Sandoz said, “… and put the plants, like, where they need to go in order.”

Goldman added that cleaning and organizing the greenhouse also helps create a welcoming environment.

Schultz and other program leaders said that the experience also helps participants build social and communication skills. They work together in teams, and interact with customers and staff. The program also includes classroom-style lessons on skills such as phone etiquette and conversation.

“I think that [Programs Without Walls] has made me more confident as an individual,” Golden said, “because during the life skills part of the program … you get to learn about things that I might need help [with], like improving my social skills and … being more capable as an individual. I think the PW has inspired me to be better and improve and grow as a person — to be better.”

Candy Dubner, co-owner of Heritage Farms, said she has enjoyed hosting the program participants for many years. The farm sells products ranging from flowers and plants to baked and home goods.

Dubner, as it happens, worked for decades in speech pathology for Nassau BOCES, and she said she was happy to help create opportunities for adults with developmental differences. At the farm, she said, “We ask them, if you have a choice, what you would like to work on, not what you wouldn’t like to work with. And they all get along beautifully.”

The program, she said, benefits both the participants and the farm. For Dubner, the experience is deeply rewarding. “I get as much pleasure as I hope they do,” she said. “I really love it.”

For more information on the JCC and Heritage Farms, visit their websites, SJJCC.org and HeritageFarmAndGarden.com.

Students help bring seniors’ stories to life

interviewing classmates for short news segments, the project offered a new challenge.

“They’re used to being able to come up with their own news story, and then do quick little interviews to turn that into a story that’s maybe 90 seconds,” Dallin said. “So this was the first time where they sat down and really did an in-depth interview with one person.”

The interviews also required students to condense longer conversations into short narratives.

For Life Enrichment Center members, the experience offered a chance to share personal histories with younger generations. Katherine Gibson, 89, of Bayville, said the project highlights the value of oral history in understanding the past.

“It’s one thing to read about a historic event in your history book, and to me, it’s kind of flat,” Gibson said. “If you can talk with a person who has lived through that historic event, the event becomes very real, and this is what we have had with this program.”

The students, Gibson said, arrived well prepared for their interviews, and she was impressed with the breadth of their questions.

She shared a childhood memory of the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. “They broke into whatever program was on the radio to announce that Pearl Harbor had been bombed,” Gibson recounted. “And I’m 5 years old and I’m trying to ask my father, ‘What are they talking about?’ And he kind of patted me on the head and he said, ‘Be quiet, Honey, be quiet. Our country is going to go to a war’— and I lived through World War II on the radio.”

Projects like the students’ interviews, she added, help bring historical events to life in ways that textbooks cannot.

“The members have shared their own memories of

their teenage years, their young years,” Gibson said. “They have shared memories of their grandparents, their family, their neighborhoods.”

Another participant, Bayville resident Robert Goodyear, 80, recalled the Sept. 11 at the World Trade Center. Goodyear he had been scheduled to attend a meeting at the complex that morning related to fire-protection systems, he said, but he was delayed by another work issue.

“As I was walking down Lower Broadway, we saw confetti floating in the air,” Goodyear said, “and somebody said that a plane crashed into the north tower.”

From his office nearby, he saw the second plane strike the south tower.

“As we were standing there at the window watching it, we heard the engines go to full throttle and crash into the south tower,” he said.

Goodyear later helped direct people away from the disaster area as the towers collapsed. He said that sharing the story with younger generations is important, and helps preserve the memory of the thousands who lost their lives.

“I want to share this story with people so they don’t forget,” Goodyear said. “It’s something that should be passed on to the younger generation.”

According to Dallin, the students responded in different ways to the interviews. Some felt overwhelmed by the challenge of shaping long conversations into short stories, while others were deeply moved by the lives they encountered. And the seniors, he said, were equally appreciative of the experience.

“They loved that these students took an interest in their lives,” he said, “and took the time to sit down and really listen to them.”

The completed videos were screened for participants and community members on Feb. 26 in the high school’s auditorium. The seniors also received copies of their interview to share with family members.

Gibson emphasized the importance of preserving personal stories for future generations. “You die when you take your last breath, and you die when nobody remembers your name,” she said. “So to record your grandparents, where they came from, what they did when they were teenagers, themselves, their early life, their careers — it’s important.”

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Sharing a pint while re-clamming the bay

Dozens of supporters of Friends of the Bay came to the Oyster Bay Brewing Company for the kickoff of the environmental group’s Re-Clam the Bay project on March 6. The donations received will be used to buy adult clams from local harvesters for placement in the Town of Oyster Bay’s new sanctuary areas to boost the depleted shellfish population in Oyster Bay and Cold

Spring Harbor and improve water quality because shellfish filter pollutants. Those who donate at the brewery get to put their name on a clamshell they can mount on the wall. To make a donation directly to Re-Clam the Bay, visit FriendsOfTheBay.org/re-clamthe-bay.

–Will Sheeline

STEPPING OUT

Get your Irish on for St. Patrick’s Day

By Karen Bloom

ith hints of spring beginning to emerge (or so we hope), St. Patrick’s Day arrives like a cheerful burst of green, bringing with it a welcome dose of celebration and comfort. The beloved holiday is about more than festive attire and lively parades — it’s a chance to gather with family and friends, savor time-honored traditions and, of course, enjoy the rich flavors of Irish cooking.

From the hearty satisfaction of corned beef and cabbage to the warm, inviting aroma of freshly baked soda bread, St. Patrick’s Day offers the perfect excuse to bring a little Irish spirit into the kitchen.

Naturally, no St. Patrick’s Day table would be complete without one of Ireland’s most beloved staples: Irish soda bread. This simple, satisfying quick bread — made with baking soda rather than yeast — has been a household favorite for generations. Whether you prefer the classic loaf or a modern twist, such as soda bread muffins, there’s a version to suit every taste and skill level. Best of all, it’s easy to make, making it a perfect recipe to add to your seasonal repertoire.

Classic Irish Soda Bread

The “real” Irish soda bread consists simply of flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk. At the other end of the spectrum is Americanized Irish soda bread, a white, sweet, cake-like confection filled with raisins or currants and caraway seeds. Both are equally delicious!

• 3 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour

• 3/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

• Salted butter (preferably Kerrygold)

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. To a large mixing bowl, add the flour, salt, and baking soda. Whisk to combine thoroughly. Using a wooden spoon, make a well in the

A taste of the Emerald Isle

center of the dry ingredients. Add the buttermilk to the dry ingredients in the well. Use the wooden spoon to gently stir the ingredients together, starting at the center of the bowl and slowly working out. The dough will be very shaggy, that’s perfect!

Lightly flour a work surface, and pour the dough out onto the surface. Use your hands to gently knead the dough about 4 times, until it comes together, and the surface is slightly smoother. Use the palms of yours hands to shape into a round loaf.

Transfer the loaf to the prepared baking sheet. Lightly sprinkle the top with flour. Use a sharp chefs knife to slash a large X on the top of the dough.

Transfer right away to the oven and bake for 15 minutes at 450°. Lower the temperature to 400°F, rotate the pan 180° in the oven, and bake for another 25-30 minutes until deeply golden brown. Allow the bread to cool for at least 20 minutes, then serve warm with salted butter.

Irish-American Soda Bread

This classic quick bread recipe also brings great taste into your home.

• 5 cups all purpose flour

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into cubes, room temperature

• 2 1/2 cups raisins

• 3 tablespoons caraway seeds

• 2 1/2 cups buttermilk

• 1 large egg

Preheat oven to 350° F. Generously butter heavy ovenproof 10- to 12-inch-diameter skillet with 2- to 2 1/2-inch-high sides.

Whisk first five ingredients in large bowl to blend. Add butter; using fingertips, rub in until coarse crumbs form. Stir in raisins and caraway seeds. Whisk buttermilk and egg in medium bowl to blend. Add to dough; using wooden spoon, stir just until well incorporated (dough

Celtic Woman

will be very sticky).

Transfer dough to prepared skillet; smooth top, mounding slightly in center. Using small sharp knife dipped into flour, cut 1-inch-deep X in top center of dough. Bake until bread is cooked through and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool bread in skillet 10 minutes. Turn out onto rack and cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap tightly in foil; store at room temperature.)

Serve with hot tea and organic jam, Irish stew, traditional Irish cabbage dishes, or enjoy on its own!

Cheese

Soda Bread

This modern savory twist is another winner.

• 2 1/2 cups flour

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 2 teaspoons caraway seed

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper, ground

• 1/2 cup shredded Irish Cheddar cheese

• 2 eggs

• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350° F. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and seasonings in large bowl. Stir in cheese. Set aside. Mix eggs and buttermilk in medium bowl. Add to dry ingredients; stir until well blended. Spread in lightly grease 9-inch round cake pan.

Bake 30-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Tip: This recipe also lends itself well to a muffin version. Prepare dough as directed and divide among 12 greased muffin cups. Bake 2025 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

The Grammy-nominated global music sensation returns with their new tour, Celtic Woman — A New Era. The show, featuring Mairéad Carlin, Muirgen O’Mahony, Ciara Ní Mhurchú, and new singer Caitríona Sherlock, fuses the ensemble’s signature sound with fresh orchestrations, dynamic stage production, and a contemporary spark that honors Ireland’s rich musical and cultural heritage while embracing Celtic Woman’s continued evolution. The concert promises to be a mesmerizing blend of timeless tradition and modern storytelling, a spellbinding tribute to the enduring power of Irish music and the extraordinary talents of the performers. Audiences can expect an unforgettable and energetic evening with renowned and breathtaking harmonies, stirring original compositions, and instrumental virtuosity brought to life, reflecting the vibrancy of modern Ireland and its heritage.

Sunday, March 15, 8 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Josh Joplin with Jeffrey Gaines

lternative rock mainstay Josh Joplin returns to the stage for an intimate, can’t-miss evening alongside acclaimed singer-songwriter Jeffrey Gaines at My Father’s Place. Joplin spotlights songs from his latest full-length release, GpYr (“gap year”), a deeply personal project that arrives after a 12-year hiatus. It marks a bold new chapter in Joplin’s career. A deeply personal project, it’s an introspective musical journey that, via Joplin’s own experiences, allows us to ponder all of life’s transitions. Jeffrey Gaines brings his own brand of soul-baring musicianship, heralded for his soul-searching lyrics and his powerful live performances. Armed with little more than his voice and an acoustic guitar, He’s built an international following on the strength of his deeply felt lyrics. His stripped-down sets create an atmosphere that is at once intimate and electrifying.

Thursday, March 19, 7:30 p.m. $43. My Father’s Place 1221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn. Tickets available at mfpproductions.com.