Serving Roslyn, East Hills, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights, Greenvale, Old Westbury and North Hills
$1.50
Friday, October 27, 2023
Vol. 11, No. 43
LIVING 50 PLUS
EAST HILLS SPOOKTACULAR KAIMAN, De DeSENA TRADE BLOWS AT DEBATE RESCHEDULED
PAGES 25-28
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
LIU buys litigated camp land Zoning battle forces JCC to sell BY C A M E RY N O A K ES LIU Post has purchased the property that once housed Camp Jacobson, a Jewish day camp hosted by the Sid Jacobson JCC, after litigation forced the day camp to end operations in 2022. According to the JCC, the lot was sold to the university on Sept. 21. The 14-acre plot of land at 340 Old Wheatley Road, where the camp was formerly held, is located next to the university’s campus and was sold, according to Newsday, for $8.5 million. JCC Executive Director David Black said in an email sent to families on Oct. 18 that the JCC struggled to address the aftermath of its closure in 2022, considering alternative uses and the financial hit from the litigation. He said he is both happy and sad to have sold it to the university. Black said funds from the sale will go towards renovations of the JCC’s main site at 300 Forest Drive. The East Hills-based Jewish community center purchased the property in Brookville in 2008. The day camp, which was established in 2009 and brought in thousands of children from more than 400 families, ended its operation last year when the JCC announced its closure in a Sept. 13, 2022 email to parents and a Sept. 27, 2022 press release. Continued on Page 42
PHOTO COURTESY OF CLARA POMERANTZ
Children from the Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation hold up their drawings to be sent to Israeli soldiers.
Israel-born trustee leads aid drive East Hills’ Clara Pomerantz helps village fill 100 duffel bags with supplies BY C A M E RY N O A K ES In the wake of the war in Israel, community members have begun gathering donations for Israeli soldiers to fill more than 100 duffel bags tailored for specific troops and their needs. “Right now [time] is of the essence because you don’t know if the
soldiers are going into Gaza right now,” East Hills Trustee Clara Pomerantz said. “So if it’s tomorrow, they need this stuff.” The collection drive is being coordinated by Pomerantz alongside Stephanie Small, a congregant of the Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation. Pomerantz was born in Israel, moving to the United States at the age of six, with much of her family still living in her birth country. She said this is why she was so passionate about taking up this project. She said through familial connections to Israel she was able to learn about the needs of the IDF troops and receive lists of items in demand.
“So every day they’re asking for different things,” Pomerantz said. Israeli soldiers holding up student drawings they received in their duffel bags. (Photo courtesy of Clara Pomerantz) Pomerantz said she joined efforts with the Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center to collect donations for IDF troops, with the JCC focusing on wound care and Pomerantz’s drive collecting tactical gear. In tandem with tactical gear, Pomerantz said they are also collecting wound care, food, sleeping bags, waterproof clothes and hygiene products. Individuals have been dropping off donations at high volumes,
Pomerantz said, as well as purchasing items through their Amazon wishlist. Included in the duffel bags are cards from students at the Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation’s religious school, of which Pomerantz is the director of. Each duffel bag packed is designated for a specific troop, filled with items they have specifically requested. “It’s tailored to whoever needs what,” Pomerantz said. Included in the requests are minute details, including shoe sizes for specific soldiers. “We’re packing a size nine, we’re packing a size 10 and my daughter Continued on Page 43