Way to Go: Sage Chasen, West Babylon

A West Babylon High School senior has used music to help improve the lives of elderly residents.

Sage Chasen, 18, is founder of Performers Opposing Pollution, an a cappella group that has performed at local nursing homes and participated in beach cleanups during the past two years. He also is a location leader for Piano for Patients, a Port Washington organization that coordinates student music performances at nursing homes and hospitals.

"They just appreciate it so much," he said of senior citizens for whom he has performed. "They always like to see younger faces."

For his community service efforts, Chasen received the Mayor E. Donald Conroy Scholarship, worth $10,000, which was available to high school seniors living in the Village of Babylon.

Chasen said the a cappella group was most active in his junior year and has included up to 20 teenagers from the West Babylon, West Islip and Amityville districts. They took part in about one cleanup and performance a month at such locations as Gilgo Beach and Sunrise of West Babylon.

Chasen is vice president of his school's National Honor Society and a member of the technology, math, science and foreign language honor societies. He also is part of the school's Leaders Club and Students for Environmental Awareness Club.