Friedberg JCC

Friedberg JCC thrives as Oceanside's community hub

Around the corner from the Sands Shopping Center and beyond the residential area of Oceanside Road lies a world of services for adults, children and youth, the LGBT community, those with special needs, as well as programs for managing health and fitness and a summer camp, on Neil Court. It’s the Barry and Florence and Friedberg Jewish Community Center.

It’s website describes it as “the very pulse of Long Island’s South Shore Jewish community. It is an allencompassing facility, dedicated to maintaining the spirit of Judaism and its values.” However, it's much more than that. It's many programs and services offer soemthing for everyone. Among it's new initiatives is its “Boxing for Parkinson’s” program. “We were offering the Rock Steady program, which is big for Boxing for Parkinson’s,” Jackie Ruiz, the JCC's director of wellness said.

Rock Steady Boxing enables people with Parkinson’s to fight their disease by providing noncontact, boxing-style fitness programs that improve their quality of life.

“For people with Parkinson’s, it’s slower and we work with that,” Constantinos Labrinos, JCC boxing instructor said “I tell people to give me feedback and if there is anything they want to incorporate.” — Jake Pellegrino And Kepherd Daniel

Photos by: Tim Baker/Herald Top photo: The Barry and Florence Friedberg JCC is host to numerous programs in the community such as for those special needs, children and youth and the LGBT community

Marine Nature Study Area

offers a serene 'slice'of wildlife

Take a break from the hustle-and-bustle of Long Island life and grab a “slice” of nature in Oceanside at the Marine Nature Study Area. The center, located in a residential area just south of Waukena Avenue, at 500 Slice Ave., is a 52-acre salt marsh preserve dedicated to environmental education and research.

It features over 280 species of birds, over 50 species of fish, 12 species of mammals, 8 species of herptiles and several invertebrates and plants.

“This is a representation of the south shore of Long Island and this ecosystem is one of the most productive types in the world,” Michael Farina, Conservation Biologist said.

Photos by: Tim Baker/Herald Top photo: One of the education display cases along the trails explains some of the bird species that visit the center’s shoreline during the year. Bottom photo: A yellow-crowned night heron. A summer migrate that breeds in local neighborhoods in the tall oaks and sycamore trees, it feeds on crabs and other invertebrates in the saltmarsh.

Continued from page 17 He praises the MNSA's’ convenience and location. “Hidden behind all the homes and community is this little gem of an ecosystem that we have easy to it right from the road,” Farina said. “You don’t have to take a train or a boat; it’s right in our own backyard.”

Also here are seven designated observation and study sites equipped with visual aides and elevated boardwalks that provide access to a marine algae site and dune community. In addition to the natural outdoor wetlands area, MNSA features an “interpretive center” which contains fish tanks and informative displays.

However, the building sustained

Photos by: Tim Baker/Herald Top photo: Juvenile gulls are tan and brown mottled to camouflage themself from predators. It takes them a few years before they resemble their more familiar parents. Bottom photo: The Herring Gull is one of the many different gulls on the island. Their unique behavior of dropping food on hard surfaces make them easy to identify.

significant damage during Hurricane Sandy and after a lengthy process, a new building with improved facilities is set to begin construction at the end of this year.

“It will be a larger area so we can have the capacity to show local marine organisms and have more fish tanks,” Farina said. “We will also have a dedicated room for education, similar to a classroom or high school lab and we’ll be able to host larger classes in an indoor setting and not be dependent on the weather.” — Jake Pellegrino

Photos by: Tim Baker/Herald Top photo: Saltmarsh Cordgrass makes up most of the saltmarsh. Adapted to withstand the daily tides, it is one of the reasons the saltmarsh is one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. Bottom photo: The Herring Gull is a common gull along the shore, sharing the waterways with the many boaters that use the bays.