Oceanside/Island Park Herald

12/19/2025

Thirteen years after a small holiday gesture sparked a grass-roots movement, the Love, Ava Project launched its biggest toy drive yet in November, mobilizing dozens of South Shore businesses and volunteers to bring Christmas to children and families facing hardship.

Founded over a decade ago by Brianna O’Hagan, general manager of the gastropub EGP Oceanside, Love, Ava has grown into a sizable nonprofit. Its toy drive and adopt-a-family initiative honors the memory of Ava Salonia, an Oceanside 16-year-old who died in August 2023 of leukemia. Ava and her family received support from the project during her treatment — a connection that continues to inspire the organization’s work.

Read more here: https://www.liherald.com/stories/love-ava-project-biggest-toy-drive-south-shore-families,219098

📸: Courtesy Brianna O'Hagan

12/19/2025

Thirteen years after a small holiday gesture sparked a grass-roots movement, the Love, Ava Project launched its biggest toy drive yet in November, mobilizing dozens of South Shore businesses and volunteers to bring Christmas to children and families facing hardship.

https://www.liherald.com/oceanside/stories/love-ava-project-biggest-toy-drive-south-shore-families,219098?

Thirteen years after a small holiday gesture sparked a grass-roots movement, the Love, Ava Project launched its biggest toy drive yet in November, mobilizing dozens of South Shore businesses and volunteers to bring Christmas to children and families facing hardship.

12/18/2025

For eight select nights, which began on Friday, illusionist and entertainer Eric Wilzig once again is transforming the outside of his home into an immersive holiday light show — a 20-minute, elaborate, music-synchronized spectacle powered by more than 20,000 lights and custom-built props.

https://www.liherald.com/oceanside/stories/eric-wilzig-oceanside-holiday-light-show-20000-lights,219097?

For eight select nights, which began on Friday, illusionist and entertainer Eric Wilzig once again is transforming the outside of his home into an immersive holiday light show — a 20-minute, elaborate, music-synchronized spectacle powered by more than 20,000 lights and custom-built props.

12/18/2025

This year’s “Lights on the Green,” organized by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, once again drew crowds of families, businesses and local organizations for an evening designed to kick off the holiday season on Dec. 6.

https://www.liherald.com/oceanside/stories/oceanside-lights-on-the-green-annual-holiday-celebration,219096?

This year’s “Lights on the Green,” organized by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, once again drew crowds of families, businesses and local organizations for an evening designed to kick off the holiday season on Dec. 6.

12/17/2025

Jay Daniels returned to the Island Park Public Library on Dec. 6 for a community holiday sing-along, his second appearance since performing a Burt Bacharach tribute earlier this year.

https://www.liherald.com/oceanside/stories/jay-daniels-holiday-sing-along-island-park-library,219095?

Jay Daniels returned to the Island Park Public Library on Dec. 6 for a community holiday sing-along, his second appearance since performing a Burt Bacharach tribute earlier this year.

12/17/2025

The Oceanside SAFE Coalition and the Oceanside High School Youth Council raised funds to support youth mental health and substance misuse prevention through their annual SnapRaise online prevention fundraiser, which ran through Dec. 4.

https://www.liherald.com/oceanside/stories/oceanside-safe-coalition-fundraiser-youth-mental-health-prevention,219094?

The Oceanside SAFE Coalition and the Oceanside High School Youth Council raised funds to support youth mental health and substance misuse prevention through their annual SnapRaise online prevention fundraiser, which ran through Dec. 4.

12/12/2025

Oceanside High School’s 39th annual Turkey Shoot — a district-wide food drive that assembles and delivers Thanksgiving baskets to families in need — once again mobilized students, staff and community members last week in a sweeping display of generosity.

https://www.liherald.com/oceanside/stories/oceanside-high-39th-turkey-shoot-thanksgiving-meals,219041?

Oceanside High School’s 39th annual Turkey Shoot — a district-wide food drive that assembles and delivers Thanksgiving baskets to families in need — once again mobilized students, staff and community members last week in a sweeping display of generosity.

12/11/2025

The Oceanside School District began a month-long, districtwide “Let Grow” campaign on Dec. 1, a K-through-12 initiative that rallies educators and families around a goal that is simple but sweeping: helping children become more confident and resilient by encouraging them to do more for themselves at home and in school.

https://www.liherald.com/oceanside/stories/oceanside-schools-let-grow-campaign-student-independence,219039?

The Oceanside School District began a month-long, districtwide “Let Grow” campaign on Dec. 1, a K-through-12 initiative that rallies educators and families around a goal that is simple but sweeping: helping children become more confident and resilient by encouraging them to do more for themselve...

12/11/2025

The Island Park Public Library was buzzing with conversation on Nov. 20, as Evolution Cards and Collectibles hosted its first Sports Collectibles Discussion and Appraisal in the Community Room.

https://www.liherald.com/oceanside/stories/island-park-library-sports-collectibles-appraisal-evolution-cards,219037?

The Island Park Public Library was buzzing with conversation on Nov. 20, as Evolution Cards and Collectibles hosted its first Sports Collectibles Discussion and Appraisal in the Community Room.

12/10/2025

Vincent Staffa has spent nearly his entire life connected to the Oceanside Fire Department — first as a kid attending his father’s Sunday meetings and now as a commissioner seeking another five-year term in the upcoming election on Dec. 9.

https://www.liherald.com/oceanside/stories/oceanside-fire-commissioner-vincent-staffa-re-election-2025,219036?

Vincent Staffa has spent nearly his entire life connected to the Oceanside Fire Department — first as a kid attending his father’s Sunday meetings and now as a commissioner seeking another five-year term in the upcoming election on Dec. 9.

12/10/2025

Broadway actor, composer and director Shaun Taylor-Corbett brought a vibrant lesson in culture and craft to Oceanside High School during a Nov. 24 workshop.

https://www.liherald.com/oceanside/stories/oceanside-high-broadway-actor-native-american-song-dance,219034?

Broadway actor, composer and director Shaun Taylor-Corbett brought a vibrant lesson in culture and craft to Oceanside High School during a Nov. 24 workshop.

12/09/2025

Modern design, unbeatable convenience, and a true sense of belonging! The Langdon is quickly becoming one of Lynbrook’s standout places to call home. ✨

For Tamara Bowman, one of the unexpected pleasures of living at The Langdon in Lynbrook is the ease by which her family can come to visit. She observed, “I knew my commute to Manhattan would become incredibly easy because The Langdon is literally across the street from the Lynbrook LIRR station bu...