Char marks were visible around a window after Sunday's fire at the Thomas F
Casey Center on the MercyFirst campus in Syosset
About 80 firefighters responded to a fire in a classroom at a Syosset group home on Sunday
a fire alarm on the second floor of the three-story building on the MercyFirst campus on Convent Road triggered a 911 call to the Syosset Fire Department
Nassau County Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro said
The fire appears to have been caused by a malfunctioning air conditioner
"The fire does not appear to be suspicious,” he said
Nassau County police and the fire marshal's office are investigating the cause of the fire
politics and crime stories in Nassau County
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Casey Center on the multi-acre MercyFirst campus
Char marks were visible Sunday evening around the edges of a broken window
and four additional windows were broken on the southeast side of the building
MercyFirst is a nonprofit that houses kids and young people in the child welfare and juvenile jails systems
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Carne asada and pulled chicken tacos on corn tortillas at Tommy Tacos in Syosset
The debut of Tommy Tacos, a rock-inspired taqueria that opened in Huntington in 2020
there was one catastrophe after the next mucking things up
the brand persevered and has expanded to a second location
Blending traditional and modern elements of Mexican street food
the menu at the Syosset location mirrors Huntington's with a large selection of tacos ($4.75-$7.50) from birria ($19.50 for three) to steak to shrimp varieties
and desserts including Churroreos ($7) — dough-fried Oreos — and a funnel cake made from a twisted churro ($8)
The chef-driven concept is run by Tom Stein
who started as a dishwasher in his father’s Florida restaurant
rising within New York City's Tao Group before moving to Huntington with his wife
The idea for the restaurant came during the Steins’ honeymoon in Mexico
The Syosset location is larger than its Huntington sibling, with an even more generous bar doling out agave spirits, as well as kitschy frozen classic and strawberry margaritas
and would appreciate what we bring to hospitality," Stein said
Stein sources nixtamlized corn tortillas from Tortilleria La Milpa de Rosa in Westchester County and makes most everything else daily
including carnitas that take hours to braise
a collaboration with local baker Don Donneruno of The Cake Don (who contributed one of the restaurant’s graffiti murals) featuring smashed chorizo
and cabbage slaw with Thai peanut sauce and bacon bits — and a seasonal veggie taco
for now filled with roasted cauliflower and Buffalo sauce
Kids (and adults) will love the masa-battered fried corn fritters served with an addictive chile-queso dip
as well as a changing daily aqua fresca — watermelon on opening day
with updates on the restaurant’s Instagram page
Tommy Tacos, 98 Jackson Ave., Syosset, 516-682-8226, tommylovestacos.com; Open Tuesday through Saturday 11:30 a.m
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Receiver of Taxes Jeffrey Pravato were joined by Nassau County Legislator Samantha Goetz to unveil new baseball and softball fields at Syosset-Woodbury Community Park
where two natural surface baseball infields were fully converted to synthetic turf playing areas
which were generously donated by local baseball and softball leagues
“These wonderful improvements enhance the overall playing experience for our little leaguers and others who use these fields,” said Supervisor Saladino
“These upgrades are being achieved in the most cost-effective way possible while bringing enjoyment to all who use them
We also thank the Syosset Girls Softball League and the Syosset Little League for their generous donation of the new scoreboards at this facility.”
Artificial turf fields have a general useful life of up to 10 years
however they are less expensive than the long-term cost of maintaining natural grass and a dirt surface
Turf fields also provide the potential for fewer cancellations of games due to inclement weather
as the field is able to absorb rain storms in a manner that is not possible on a fully-dirt infield
For more information about Town parks, including local programs and events, visit the Town’s website at www.oysterbaytown.com/parks
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Alexandra "Sandy" Durst at her 2016 Syosset High School graduation with her father
Tom Kelly was finishing up his morning walk near his Upper West Side apartment on a gloomy St
Patrick’s Day when something peculiar caught his eye
On top of a bed frame left out for garbage lay a Class of 2016 Syosset High School diploma
"Who the heck would throw that out?" Kelly recalled saying to himself
This question, which he took to social media to help to find the Syosset High School alumna who owned the document
known for his commentary on Long Island towns and culture
said his own high school diploma was destroyed in Superstorm Sandy
so he knew that the loss of the document was significant
But Kelly said he also wanted to return the journals that were left in the open
After finding little information in a quick Google search, Kelly took to TikTok to ask about Alexandra Dayna Durst
"TikTok detectives" were on the case
many of whom reached out directly to Durst
"People contacted me over text; people were writing in the Syosset Mom Facebook group and the Huntington Facebook group
My chorus teacher contacted me," said Durst
John’s University law student said that two days before the viral video she had visited her parents
and had gone through some of her high school belongings
said she noticed a box of journals that had mildew on them and asked her parents to throw it out
"I didn't even see my diploma was in there," Durst said
When Durst learned of the video from a friend who FaceTimed her
she said she was concerned that anyone could have read her personal entries
"It was also encouraging that when social media needed to get this task done
that the algorithm met and found all these people," Durst said
Both Kelly and Durst believe someone must have gone through the trash and scattered her items before Kelly found them
She contacted Kelly several hours after he posted his initial video
saying she was the owner of the items and that her father
Kelly said meeting John Durst was a classic New York story
"I've become accidentally popular on TikTok and Instagram
especially for my Long Island content," Kelly said
it's just funny that with having a New York City apartment as well
that Syosset led to me meeting a man whom I've lived in the next building to for 15 years
Kelly posted a follow-up video on social media of him reuniting the items with Durst’s father
Patrick’s Day drinking beer in John Durst’s apartment
cheering to a mystery solved — and a new friendship
Maureen Mullarkey is a breaking news reporter at Newsday
She previously worked as a reporter for Patch
where she covered a range of Long Island stories on topics such as the Diocese of Rockville Centre bankruptcy and the Babylon School District abuse scandals
Taylor Renny of Syosset is safe at second during a Nassau softball game against Glen Cove in Syosset on Wednesday
The Syosset offense has begun to find its groove
and Wednesday's offensive explosion was its latest feat
Syosset scored 11 runs in the second inning as it defeated visiting Glen Cove
three RBIs and three runs scored and her older sister
including striking out the side in two innings
“Our mindset is to be aggressive and hit line drives,” Lanza said
“We want those balls to get through and find the gaps
Taylor Renny led off the bottom of the first with a single
stole second and advanced to third on the throw
Alison Predmore drove in Renny with a sacrifice fly
then Lanza doubled and was driven in by Sienna Renny’s single to tie the game at 2-2
“We’re all focused and have been working on what we need to fix,” Sienna Renny said
“We’ve eliminated some early bad habits and our team chemistry is great.”
Taylor Renny singled to lead off the second inning and was driven in by Predmore’s double
Lanza doubled on the first pitch of her at-bat to drive in Predmore and give Syosset a 6-2 lead
Sienna Renny singled to drive in Lanza and increase the lead to 7-2
She gets on base to start us off and everyone gets the feeling that we’re going to have a good game.” Sienna Renny said
“She creates havoc and gets everyone into the game.”
bases-clearing double in her second at-bat of the second inning
Lanza again doubled on the first pitch to drive in Predmore and Saanvi Dhupar drove in Lanza with a single
“I was seeing the ball well and trying to get the best pitch possible to drive,” Lanza said
“That normally comes early in the count for me
Natalie Weigand singled in the top of the fifth and her older sister
hit a two-run home run for Glen Cove (3-5)
Syosset (8-4) has scored double-digit runs in three of its last four games
They’re doing a great job of laying off pitches up in the zone and swinging at good ones,” Syosset coach Dave Anderson said
“We just have to keep getting better each day
but it seems to be really coming together now.”
Syosset defeated Glen Cove in a Nassau softball matchup on Wednesday
Glen Cove catcher Alyssa Weigand turns a double play during a Nassau softball game against host Syosset on Wednesday
Glen Cove starting pitcher Natalie Weigand windmills her delivery during a Nassau softball game against host Syosset on Wednesday
Syosset starting pitcher Nicolette Ferraro delivers to the plate during a Nassau softball game against Glen Cove in Syosset on Wednesday
Glen Cove starting pitcher Natalie Weigand dives for a short pop up in the infield during a Nassau softball game against host in Syosset on Wednesday
Alyssa Weigand (23) of Glen Cove is greeted at home after hitting a home run during a Nassau softball game against host Syosset on Wednesday
Taylor Renny of Syosset beats the throw to Glen Cove catcher Alyssa Weigand to score during a Nassau softball game in Syosset on Wednesday
Glen Cove relief pitcher Brooke Simmons delivers to the plate during a Nassau softball game against host Syosset on Wednesday
Alison Predmore of Syosset flips the ball to first to end a Nassau softball game against Glen Cove in Syosset on Wednesday
Syosset teammates celebrate after their 62-53 win over Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK in the Nassau Class AAA girls basketball final at Farmingdale State College on Saturday
One principle you’ll commonly hear at a basketball practice is to only work on skills you’ll perform in a game
Taking half-court shots could fall under a waste-of-time category
And she now has the evidence to back that up
When the Syosset senior would pass up some sips of water during breaks at practice to work on those shots
She was honing a county-championship winning skill
the senior made a half-court shot at the buzzer to take a one-point lead into the locker room in the girls basketball Nassau Class AAA final
She took the pass with less than three seconds left from the opposite side of the court
took a few dribbles and fired in the basket
After countless half court shots attempted at practice
Nelmes knew she was capable of making that low-percentage basket
“When there are water breaks during practice
we’re practicing half-court shots and it finally paid off
I definitely think it brought up our momentum.”
Syosset carried that momentum into the second half as second-seeded Syosset scored nine of the first 11 points of the third quarter enroute to a 62-53 victory over No
4 Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK in the girls basketball Nassau Class AAA final at Farmingdale State College on Saturday afternoon
“We do this all the time at practice but now that it really happened
it changed the momentum,” said junior guard Samantha Schneider
“They were coming back and that put us up at half and we weren’t going to go back down.”
Syosset (20-3) plays the winner of Whitman/Brentwood at 6 p.m
on Saturday at Farmingdale State College in the Long Island Class AAA championship/Southeast Regional Final
Syosset opened the game on an 11-2 run and led 13-8 after the first quarter
Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK went on a 10-2 run over 2:33 to take an 18-17 lead with 39 seconds left in the second quarter before Nelmes’ half-court shot
Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK (17-6) rallied again in the third quarter when Emma Heaney scored six of her 20 points over a 13-second span to cut Syosset’s lead to 33-31
But Nelmes followed with a block and dribbled the court before finding Ivy Matthews for a layup
which started an 11-3 run to close the period
you just have to give 10 times more than you had and once you do
“That really led us to building more of a lead and then we finally closed it off.”
Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK opened the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run to cut Syosset’s lead to 46-44 with 3:38 left before Schneider made all three foul shots after being fouled on a three-point attempt
The score never returned to a one-possession contest
Matthews and Jaylah McKay had 14 points each for Syosset
13 rebounds and six blocks and Nicole Kyriacou had 17 points for Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK
After winning its second straight county championship
Syosset looks to win its first Long Island crown in program history on Saturday
it was all of our first time getting into the Long Island championship
I don’t think we had the right mindset,” Nelmes said
we know we’ve been there and I think we’ll be ready.”
Syosset coach Michael Ferreira credited Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK for a challenging contest
“They made that as difficult as absolutely possible,” Ferreira said
“They have a special group of seniors over there and they have a lot to be proud of
I’ve been on the other side of this and there’s nothing you can say to make it better
But they did a tremendous job of making that as difficult to win as it was.”
He also credited Nelmes for her tough defense and timely plays
“That’s just Kate Nelmes doing what Kate Nelmes does
She practices those shots all day at practice
but I’m happy she has that type of shot in her arsenal and it was huge going into halftime.”
Owen O'Brien covers high school and college sports for Newsday
He's also covered professional teams such as the Mets
Jets and Giants since graduating from the University at Buffalo
New York State Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz joined with Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and the Syosset High School Dog Rescue Club to announce that he has secured $100,000 in state funds for the Town of Oyster Bay to construct a new dog park at Stillwell Park in Syosset
This grant will enable the community to provide a safe
and fun environment for dogs and their owners
fostering a vibrant space for socialization and recreation
“I’m proud to secure these funds for the design and construction of a new dog park in Syosset
This project will enhance the overall experience at Stillwell Park by adding designated areas for large and small dogs
ensuring an enjoyable experience for pets and their owners alike.”
“We are thrilled to receive these grant funds from Assemblyman Blumencranz
which allows us to bring this much-needed amenity to Syosset,” said Supervisor Saladino
“The dog park will provide a dedicated space where residents and their pets can enjoy the outdoors and connect with our community.”
The dog park is expected to break ground in coordination with other improvements at Stillwell as the Town of Oyster Bay is expected to soon take title to the property from Nassau County
Community members will have opportunities to participate in the planning process and stay updated through public meetings and announcements
Stillwell Park is already a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts
The addition of the dog park will further enhance the park’s offerings
making it a hub for families and pet owners in the area
Assemblyman Blumencranz and Supervisor Saladino are committed to enriching the quality of life in Syosset and creating spaces that bring people together
The new dog park is just one of the many ways the Town of Oyster Bay and New York State continue to invest in the community’s future
Executive Circle Awards
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Syosset office property trades for $1.75M
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Garden City players after winning a Nassau boys lacrosse game against host Syosset on Tuesday
Garden City boys lacrosse might be the best public-school program on Long Island when everything is clicking
But that wasn’t the case Tuesday at Syosset
After a slow start that left the Trojans trailing upon exiting the first quarter Garden City left Syosset with an 11-4 road win in Nassau Conference I
The Trojans ran away for their second win of the season by scoring five fourth-quarter goals
But despite 11 goals and an offensive explosion to end the game for Garden City
it was the defense that shined the brightest
After allowing three unanswered goals inside the first seven minutes the Trojans defense stepped up as senior goalie Jake Schlipf only had to save three shots for the rest of the game
“Obviously we didn’t come out the way we should’ve,” senior defenseman Luke LeSueur said
“Our coaches settled us down and locked us in,” sophomore defenseman Andrew Dengler added
Dengler earned the responsibility of guarding Syosset star attackman Brody Waxer and lived up to the task
“I knew (Waxer) was a great guy,” Dengler said
I think we prepared really well for them today.”
only allowing low-percentage shots that would’ve required pinpoint accuracy to even grace the top corners of the goal
Senior midfielders Blake Cascadden and Michael Berkery
But it would’ve meant little if the offense couldn’t finish
and that’s where sophomore Anthony Asaro made his presence felt early and often
The attackman scored four goals and assisted two more
with four of his points coming in the second half
“Thankfully my guys were able to get me the ball.”
Asaro and freshman attackman Ben Smith look like they'll be causing havoc all season
with Smith delivering a pair of assists to Asaro from behind the goal before the attackman returned the favor by assisting Smith’s pair of goals
a strong program that featured a terrific day by standout senior defenseman Will Cawley (three caused turnovers
shows Garden City is ready to compete with the best of the best
That includes an upcoming non-league game on Tuesday against Rye
It’s the same program that narrowly fell 9-8 to eventual state Class C champion Bayport-Blue Point in last year’s state semifinal
I play club with some of them,” LeSueur said
Michael Sicoli covers high school sports for Newsday
He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and left with a master’s degree in sports journalism in 2023
NY — Members of the Nassau County Police Department assisted the FBI in removing human remains from Underhill Preserve in Jericho on Wednesday
The remains appear to have been present at the preserve for several years
A preliminary identification of the deceased has been made by law enforcement
the person responsible is in law enforcement custody and there is no threat to the community
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
round flatbread coming out of the oven at Pinsa in Syosset is
a close-but-not-identical relation that lends its name to the two-month-old establishment
Pinsa is a Roman specialty that dates back at least two millennia
Its origins are shrouded in mystery but the modern version is made not only with wheat but with other flours (rice
etc.) so that it can be a bit lower in gluten
And whereas pizza dough is stretched and topped in one fell swoop
and then topped and finished when they are ordered
The combination of the dough’s composition and the double baking gives them a distinctive delicacy and crunch
Syosset’s Pinsa was, until September, a pizzeria called Acqua E Farina where chef-owner Luca Pizzuti had been slinging Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza since 2018
who grew up near Rome and was a longtime pinsa partisan
said a few factors that led him to make the switch
Last year, New York City passed a law that required wood- and coal-fired pizza ovens to adhere to new ventilation / filtering standards
Pizzuti wondered how long it would take Nassau County to adopt similar regulations
Whereas pizza dough benefits from the intense heat of a wood-fired oven
"Pinsa needs to be cooked gently." The electric ovens he now uses not only run cleaner
because the shells are made in a facility in Brooklyn
he needn’t employ anyone in Syosset who knows how to make or stretch dough
His pinsa dough is made with wheat flour and rice flour
making it comparatively lower in gluten than all-wheat pizza dough
seems to make it more digestible for gluten avoiders but
he loves the taste and texture of pinsa and how well it takes to toppings both traditional — American-style shredded mozzarella and tomato sauce
"Bufalina" with buffalo mozzarella
cherry tomatoes and arugula — and fanciful — a pistachio pie also features mozzarella
ricotta and caramelized onions; there’s even a blueberry pie made with mozzarella
Individual 12-inch pies range from $13.99 to $18.99
large rectangular pies (17-by-12-inch) are also available
Pinsa dough is also crafted into 10 fresh sandwiches ($16.99 to $17.99) whose fillings include ham
Pinsa, 43 Berry Hill Rd., Syosset, 516-802-2272, pinsasyosset.com
Samantha Schneider of Syosset shoots underhanded during a Nassau Class AAA girls semifinal basketball game against Freeport at SUNY Farmingdale on Saturday
An often overlooked part of a championship team is having players to fit specific roles
top three-pointer shooter or record the most steals
Syosset senior guard Ivy Matthews’ role isn’t typically to finish among the team leaders in scoring or rebounding
in the girls basketball Nassau Class AAA semifinals at Farmingdale State College on Saturday
“Coach [Michael] Ferreria always says just be the best player at your role
so I just knew I had to play my role,” Matthews said
get open for my teammates and find my teammates.”
that girl has worked her butt off on defense and it’s great to see that kid get rewarded for all her hard work all season long,” Ferreria said
“For her to come out [Saturday] and give us 20
4 Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK (17-5) at noon on Saturday at Farmingdale State College in the Nassau Class AAA final
Samantha Schneider had 31 points for Syosset
including 13 points in a 24-10 third quarter for Syosset
Syosset led 26-16 at halftime and 50-26 entering the fourth quarter
“Her teammates know once Sam gets that look in her eye
we try to make that extra pass and find her,” Ferreria said
“But it’s really the unselfishness of the rest of the team to recognize that and kind of play through her for a little bit.”
Schneider credited her teammates for the third-quarter success
“It was really just my teammates finding me
they set great screens and I was able to get some quick points,” Schneider said
“But it wouldn’t have been possible without the screens and the passes from my teammates”
Madison Harris had 13 points and six rebounds for Freeport (17-5)
Syosset looks to win its second straight Nassau Class AAA championship on Saturday
“As special as last year was for that group and for the program as a whole
I think this team wants to write its own history and make its own mark on the program,” Ferreria said
“And we’re one game away from doing that.”
The Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK girls basketball team has never even appeared in a county championship game
That’s about to change and the Hawks left no doubt of that
Fourth-seeded Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK defeated top-seeded Massapequa
in a Nassau Class AAA semifinal at Farmingdale State College on Saturday night
including 18 points and nine rebounds in a first half where the Hawks outscored Massapequa 37-17
The Hawks opened the third quarter on a 9-2 run over the first five minutes of the period to take a 46-19 advantage
Nicole Kyriacou added 13 points in the win
Maeve Schiereck had nine points for Massapequa (15-7)
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino officially opened new pickleball courts for play at the Syosset-Woodbury Community Park in Woodbury
the Town constructed new pickleball courts for local residents
“Pickleball is a fun sport for all ages that combines elements of tennis
It’s become incredibly popular in our Town
with seniors and families playing daily at our existing courts,” said Supervisor Saladino
“These new courts will be a welcome addition to the community
and get ready to play one of the world’s fastest growing sports at the new courts in in Oyster Bay.”
Pickleball has quickly become one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation
and the Town of Oyster Bay is proud to lead the way in creating opportunities for residents to enjoy this exciting game
Plans are currently being developed to construct additional courts in Farmingdale and Massapequa in 2025
Vanessa Frullo of Syosset gets congratulated by teammates after performing on the balance beam during the Nassau gymnastics team championship at Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK on Thursday
In a gymnasium filled with Nassau’s best gymnasts
But that can’t be said for Syosset’s Vanessa Frullo
One simply cannot look away from the flips and kicks that led her to the best performance of her high school career at the Nassau team championships at Plainview-Old Bethpage High School on Thursday
Frullo posted a stunning 37.025 in the all-around
helping Syosset stay atop Nassau for the fifth year in a row and the sixth time in seven years
Syosset’s 175.975 beat out Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK’s 171.95 and Massapequa’s 169.1
Frullo’s score was the highest at a team championship meet since 2008
especially because [Tuesday’s state qualifier] wasn’t my very best,” Frullo said
Syosset dominated across nearly every event
tallying at least 42 points in each and placing first in bars (43.125) and beam (45.7)
None of that would’ve been possible without Frullo
who opened the meet on bars with a stunning routine that earned her a sterling 9.575 before adding a 9.55 on beam
Both scores led all gymnasts in the events
Senior Leah Chin added scores of 9.4 on both beam and floor
tying Massapequa’s Samantha Hogan for the meet’s best score on the latter
Hogan also had the second-best all-around score with a 35.8
Plainview-Old Bethpage’s Marisa Schlossman won vault
given the team’s younger roster this season after graduating numerous seniors
kind of different from what we’re used to,” Chin said
“We knew it would work out in our favor if we did what we always do.”
all that means is that there’s more room for stars to shine
Tea Alexandru had a terrific routine on beam in which she scored an 8.9
Senior Ilana Slade scored an 8.85 on floor
especially with how well Plainview is doing,” Slade said
Syosset coach Steven Silipo insists that talent alone wouldn’t be enough to win if not for Chin
“They just supported the team the whole time,” Silipo said
A ham and Swiss club at Neptune Diner in Syosset
Queens’ Neptune Diner had been under family ownership for 40 years when its lease ended in July
around the time Syosset’s Celebrity Diner was looking for a new owner
the new Neptune Diner in Syosset is open with a glossy
the Neptune Diner was launched back in the '80s by Peter Katishtis and his brother George
are the trio bringing the eatery to Long Island
in Crown Heights in Brooklyn and Bayside in Queens
"We always wanted to do something on Long Island," Katsihtis said
"Celebrity has been around for a long time
so when a mutual friend between the prior owner and us put us together
standard fare includes three-egg omelets (from $10.75)
and larger format plates including pasta specials
Greek specials such as moussaka ($22.95) and gyros (from $13.50)
Katsihtis said the new owners knew the space "was tired
and needed some TLC." The renovated dining room is anchored by a semicircle bar
Katsihtis said the new owners "are not trying to reinvent the wheel
We have customers who have been coming here for a long time
we are just trying to make it a happy place where you can bring your family."
Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset will be leased to a school for gifted children next year
The building that housed Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset has stood vacant since shuttering in June
but the reopening of its doors to a new generation of students from the Long Island School for the Gifted has reignited hard feelings for members of a coalition who fought to save the original academy
The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas confirmed in an email they will lease the property to the independent South Huntington school for 10 years beginning in May of next year
"The Sisters of Mercy are delighted that the building will continue to be used to educate local children," reads the statement provided by spokesman Bob Keenan
The move has stirred strong sentiments among some former faculty
and students that established the OLMA Preservation Coalition to salvage the near century-old institution
either by partnering with the sisters or leasing the property and creating their own school
who cited a financial deficit amid declining enrollment for the all-girls Catholic high school's closure
rejected the coalition’s efforts of financial support and an educational model to keep a school open
the institution has had nearly 10,000 young women walk through its halls
Members of the coalition also feel the nuns newly announced plan is at odds with their previous position that the property would not be used for a new school
In a February letter to the nuns
the coalition had asked to be notified if the sisters had no interest or had other plans for the property
the nuns indicated that they would not support or be affiliated with any school at the site
They also stated that the property would not be used for a school
is "not an option," on their property
No other information about the new arrangement was released
provides an "accelerated educational program" for children in kindergarten through eighth grade
Miller said the school lease is a reversal from the nuns' previous statements and raises questions about their decision-making regarding the property
While partly relieved the property will continue to serve as a children's learning institution
Miller said she doesn't understand why the offers from the coalition were rejected
"Why wouldn't you want to work with the people who loved it
It just doesn't make sense," Miller added
"The feedback that we're getting from people is just that there's still a lot of confusion and hurt
people who made large donations [to the academy]
It’s just shock and betrayal," said Miller
"I think the girls are managing but there is a lot of sadness for them," she said
The sisters made what they have called a "difficult decision" to close the school following a 45% drop in enrollment in a decade
the average class had 100 students but the 2023-24 freshman class had 37
The closure has left one remaining all-girls Catholic high school open on Long Island
where dozens of former schoolmates followed
news that the hallways will once again be filled by pupils drew conflicting emotions
"I'm happy that at least it gets to be used by other kids
but I'm sad because … it was my school and it had all my memories," said the 17-year-old senior from Huntington
Recent photos of an alumnae association gathering at the former school only reminded her of the institution’s now lifeless classrooms
"I remember walking down there as a freshman going to class and now it's empty
said knowing another school will take the place of the former academy has left her dealing with a range of emotions
"I’m heartbroken … because they didn't give us the opportunity to create a school in the image of Mercy and have it in that building
or bring on another school … They didn't give us a chance," Bernadette Cuevas said
they made it seem like they had no interest in releasing the property
it's like a whole other level of abandonment," she added
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