What are the Oakdale OWLs? For the past five years, the Oakdale Historical Society has been honoring an individual who epitomizes the characteristics of leadership, knowledge, and service to the Oakdale community and its history with Oakdale’s Wondrous Leadership Award (OWL). This year, they honored an entire team – The West Sayville Junior Fire Department.
The West Sayville Junior Fire Department embodies the tenets of leadership, knowledge, and service. Under the direction of their leader, Melissa McManus, they have volunteered yearly for the fall and spring clean-ups of St. John’s churchyard and labyrinth. They have also participated in grave headstone cleaning and plan to do so again in the fall. These young people have been a prominent force in the Oakdale community in everything they do. They embody the spirit of volunteerism. Oakdale Historical Society is proud to honor them with this year’s OWL Award. They are a true inspiration.
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![“Unfortunately, and despite our warnings and advice to leave [Fire Island] while conditions allowed, many decided not only to stay but to come over to the island,” scolded Ocean Beach Mayor James Mallott in an emailed newsletter on the afternoon of Sept. 26, during the height of the nor’easter. “These decisions put themselves and their families in danger and jeopardized our first responders who had to answer calls that never should have been.”](https://www.fireislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_8692.jpeg?quality=51&w=700)
