SINCE 1899
Vol. 113 No. 43 November 25, 2011
1 DOLLAR
Serving Bayville, the Brookvilles, Centre Island, Cold Spring Harbor, Cove Neck, East Norwich, Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Locust Valley, Matinecock, Mill Neck, Muttontown, Oyster Bay, Oyster Bay Cove, Syosset and Woodbury
Band gives voice to spirit of Christmas giving By David J. Criblez dcriblez@oysterbayguardian.com
The Christmas season is about the spirit of giving and for the past decade the band J has given their time and talent to raising funds for the HPS (Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome) Network of Oyster Bay Cove. They stage a pair of Christmas concerts at the Oyster Bay High School Performing Arts Center each year. Now, in celebration of its 10th anniversary, J is doing even more. The band has released an album, A Very Merry Christmastime, featuring original Christmas music and updated versions of Christmas standards. One hundred percent of the CD sales and iTunes downloads go to the HPS Network. The band is a family affair, consisting of the brother and sister musical duo — vocalist/acoustic guitarist John DiGennaro of Plainview and vocalist JoAnn Criblez of Bayville — plus pianist/guitar-
ist Charlie Kulis, bassist Daniel Criblez, flutist Belanne Ungarelli, keyboardist Sonny Mirabelli, guitarist/bongo player Scott St. Denis, guitarist Jim Guarini, violinist Johana Guarini, violinist Laura Zukowski, saxophone player Mervin Hernandez and drummer Thomas Criblez. The first show is scheduled for Friday, December 2nd at 7:30 PM with an encore performance Sunday, December 4th at 2 PM. Admission is free and donations will be accepted for the HPS Network.
Rare genetic disease Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS) is a rare genetic disease, which causes albinism, legal blindness and a bleeding disorder. In some individuals, the disease may progress to include inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease and, ultimately, pulmonary fibrosis (hardening of the lungs).
Donna and Richard Appell of Oyster Bay Cove founded the HPS Network in 1992 in response to the difficulties that they faced trying to find medical research that could benefit their daughter, Ashley Anne. In 1986, Ashley was born with this rare medical disorder and was hospitalized for almost two months just before her third birthday after developing the Crohn’slike colitis that is typical with this disease. The HPS Network is the only organization serving HPS families internationally. Through education, outreach, advocacy and research support they follow their mission of finding a cure.
Generous community Every year Donna Appell is deeply touched at the effort the band puts into the concerts. “Knowing all the work that goes (Continued on page 6)
Photo by David J. Criblez
Now in its tenth year, the band J will perform a pair of benefit Christmas concerts at the Oyster Bay High School Performing Arts Center.
Fireplace blaze spreads to burn Oyster Bay home tic. We needed to open the walls to get to it.” OBFC #1 Chief Anthony CaroHe may not be able to cook a lis and Atlantic Steamer’s First Asturkey this year, but a homeowner sistant Chief Doug Schadler were at 32 Orchard Street in Oyster Bay first on the scene, immediately folcan be thankful that he’s got car- lowed by Chief Jimenez. ing neighbors. By the time he arAt 10:05 PM on rived, the fire was Wednesday, Novemcoming out the side ber 16th they alerted of the house where him that his house the fireplace was. was on fire. Once the fireThe man, who men secured a water was home alone, was source, the fire was able to escape unextinguished within harmed as Atlantic 20 minutes. HowSteamer Fire Comever, they worked an pany and Oyster Bay additional 45 minFire Company #1 utes to make sure collectively battled they had opened Photo by Nick DeJesu the blaze, calling in A fireplace blaze gut- and inspected all the mutual aid from East ted one side of this void spaces, ripping Norwich, Bayville Oyster Bay home. through walls to find and Locust Valley where the fire was fire companies. hiding. “The fire was showing more on “We had an aggressive approach the outside than the inside initially. pulling three lines. We stretched a When we got there it was burning hose to the second floor, one to pretty good on the outside and just the bottom of the stairs and one starting on the inside,” said Atlan- to the outside of the house,” said tic Steamer Fire Chief Ty Jimenez. Chief Jimenez. The homeowner had kept a fire The house is not in livable conburning in his fireplace all day and dition but is repairable. into the night and the Nassau CounThis fire is a wake up call for ty Fire Marshal determined that the all residents to get their fireplaces fire spread from the fireplace. checked before using them this “There might have been cracks holiday season. in the fireplace because the home “It was a great stop by the guys. is 150-200 years old,” said Ji- We got there in the nick of time menez. “The fire got released into and got fast water on the fire,” the walls of the house and trav- said Chief Jimenez. “Another 5-10 elled through the void spaces up minutes and it would been a difto the second floor and into the at- ferent story.” By David J. Criblez
dcriblez@oysterbayguardian.com
Photo by David J. Criblez
Students from the James H. Vernon Intermediate School in East Norwich helped pack food for the needy as part of the Interreligious & Human Needs Council’s Holiday Sharing Program.
Making sure no one goes hungry for Thanksgiving By David J. Criblez dcriblez@oysterbayguardian.com
Every year, before Carol and Randy Daub of Oyster Bay sit down to their own Thanksgiving dinner with their family they prepare boxes of groceries for over 115 dinners for local families in need. The couple co-chairs the Interreligious & Human Needs Council’s Community Social Action Committee (CSAC) Holiday Sharing Program, which collects, sorts and distributes the
food and food certificates. Donations were accepted and organized at the First Presbyterian Church on East Main Street in Oyster Bay on November 21st & 22nd. The program begins in October when CSAC sends out 1,000 letters to all churches, schools, residents and other local organizations seeking food and monetary donations. Recipient families are chosen through recommendations made by local churches, the Youth & Counseling Agency, Hispanic Cultural Center, (Continued on page 6)
Even Santa gets gift ideas at church’s Victorian Fair
Museum honors Prey’s artistry and advocacy W. Schantz, Executive Director and CEO of the Heckscher Museum of Art. “Barbara is Artist Barbara Ernst Prey known to be one of the most of Oyster Bay was important artists honored by The who ever painted in Heckscher Museum the medium.” of Art in HuntingPrey is an interton, along with Asnationally recogtoria Federal Savnized artist rooted ings, at museum’s in the traditions annual Celebrate of American landAchievement Benscape painting. efit on Saturday, She serves on November 19th. the National CounPrey was being cil on the Arts, the recognized for her advisory body of Barbara Prey artistic achievethe National Enments as well as her advo- dowment for the Arts. Prey cacy for the arts community. is also an artistic ambassador “Barbara truly is one of the for the State Department’s great treasures of Long Is- Arts in Embassies program. land. She is truly a gifted waShe was commissioned four tercolorist,” said Dr. Michael (Continued on page 6)
By David J. Criblez
dcriblez@oysterbayguardian.com
Photo by David J. Criblez
Patrick, 8, Nicole, 5, and Connor Walsh, 5, of East Norwich visited with Santa Claus at the First Presbyterian Church’s Victorian Fair in Oyster Bay on Saturday, November 19th. The annual fair, held from November 18th-20th, is a three-day celebration of fellowship, friendship and community where people shop for holiday gifts, crafts, fashion jewelry and homemade baked goods. “It’s a wonderful experience where all sorts of people come together from the church and surrounding neighborhood. Everyone seems to enjoy it,” said the church’s pastor Rev. Jeffrey Prey.