Church and Community Bless Jackson Avenue Project

held a blessing ceremony this past Sunday for the workers and equipment of the

Members of the church and community gathered with Pastor Mark Herbst for a special blessing following the worship service. Representatives such as Nassau County Legislator and Oyster Bay Town Councilman joined the gathering. Together, they blessed the workers and their tools as they overlooked the construction.

According to Herbst, the object of the blessing was to express appreciation and offer thanks to the workers and the members of the community. 

“We recognize that they are providing a service to us," Herbst said.

Don Horsfield, member of Local 138 of Operating Engineers, said that the unions are behind the workers and the church. The many delays on the project and the slow economy has been difficult to all who were anticipating jobs from the construction.

“There are multiple organizations working together,” Horsfield said. “There’s a brotherhood.”

, President of Residents for a More Beautiful Syosset, has advocated for the construction for over ten years. According to Schultz, the workers are mindful of the community and the work is going quickly and safely.

Jacobs said that she is happy to finally to see the project in production and that she is proud to be involved.  It is a much needed change that will benefit the community.

“Despite the delays, the bottom line is that the road is finally happening,” Jacobs said.

Officials and community members seem to agree that the project has commenced due to the hard work of the residents of Syosset.

“Here it is less about the government and more about the residents that live here,” Coschignano said. “The people care about their town.”