Oyster Bay honors charitable youngsters

Young Town of Oyster Bay residents who have devoted significant time to charitable work were honored Tuesday in a Town Board ceremony.

The presentations marked the town’s seventh-annual Kids of Distinction awards, conducted with Old Bethpage non-profit Kids Way, Inc. The program has provided $27,000 in scholarships.

This year’s recipients are:

* Alexa Paige Miller, a Woodbury Jewish Center Religious School 6th grader, who raised $7,000 through a dance-a-thon to help underprivileged children attend dance programs.

* Tara Silberg, a Jericho Middle School 6th grader who, since age 9, has raised money as part of Multiple Sclerosis Bike Tour teams.

* Andrew Fierstein, a North Shore High School sophomore and 11-year cancer survivor, who leads Relay for Life teams.

* Natalie Gramegna, a Massapequa High School freshman involved in several volunteer organizations.

* Christopher Yao, a Jericho High School freshman who raises money for cleft lip surgeries and school supplies for homeless children.

* Nora M. Reade, a Farmingdale High senior who started a local Polar Bear Club to benefit the American Cancer Society.

“The concept of the program is to recognize kids for taking part in activities done on their own initiative,” said Kids Way Inc. co-founder Philip Eslick.