Laurie Farber, a long-time resident of Jericho and alum of Jericho High School, was recently appointed to the Town of Oyster Bay Environmental Bond Fund Committee.

Farber joins the town attorney and the commissioners of the departments of Parks and Public Works on the committee as well as citizens Terese Kinsley, from Massapequa, John Agello, from Hicksville and Norman Parsons from Sea Cliff.

Members of the committee were selected after being nominated by local community groups. After Farber wrote a letter to Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto expressing her interest in the committee, Councilwoman Bonnie Eisler added Farber's name to her recommendation list.

Farber's position in the Sierra Club made her a knowledgeable candidate for the position. After reading books by John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, Farber decided to get involved. "Reading his writings pushed me to do something," said Farber.

She is now the Conservation Chair for the Long Island Sierra Club, which is a national organization with the Long Island group covering Nassau and Suffolk and encompassing over 6,000 members between the two counties.

"I follow environmental issues on Long Island and also work on many individual issues," said Farber. "I did some work with pesticide issues, groundwater issues and trash issues." Farber has been involved in many environmental actions since she first joined the Sierra Club over ten years ago.

Members of the committee will be responsible for conducting research on the acquisition, preservation and protection of environmentally sensitive land as well as the enhancement of park and recreational facilities. The committee will then make project recommendations to the town board on how to spend Sea Fund monies.

The Sea Fund is a $30 million environmental bond that was approved by town voters last November. Twenty million dollars has been earmarked for the acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands and $10 million will go to fund improvements to park and recreational facilities.

The Commission, along with the town board, will be setting up three public hearings to take place in three separate locations throughout the town in the near future. The hearings, which will be announced when they are set, will allow the public to voice their concerns and ideas regarding the bond.

"This is very important," said Farber. "For me, it is a way to make a long-term difference in our town. There are more and more kids in the neighborhoods and this is about their future."