“In these financial times, people can stay close to home. By bringing the Northport ArtWalk to our village, we are allowing people an opportunity to reinforce community ties and show support for the local arts.”

- Lisa Harris, Caffe Portofino

Long Island Development Corp.

Long Island Development Corporation is a 501C3 family of nonprofit economic development organizations which provide low cost loans, free technical assistance and seminars to small businesses, not-for-profits and others in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Formed in 1980, LIDC is governed by a diverse Board of community representatives including bankers, business people, educators, attorneys, philanthropists and others. It works with every regional resource from utilities to government to the private sector in order to bring all resources to the table for the benefit of its clients. Learn more on their website here: http://www.lidc.org/

Become a supporter of Smart Growth

Vision Long Island prides itself on having a broad range of supporters.  Become one today. A donation as small as $50 buys outreach materials to help a community build support for their vision. $500 sponsors an entire newsletter.  $5,000 makes you a lead sponsor of our Smart Growth Summit, buying 10 tickets and a key branding opportunity for your organization.
 
Your tax-deductible donation goes directly to Vision and lets you help strengthen efforts to put Smart Growth principles into action.

2010 SMART GROWTH AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Ceremony to be held:
Friday, June 18th at 11:30am

The 9th annual Smart Growth Awards will honor individuals and organizations taking leadership in advancing Smart Growth projects, policies, regulations and initiatives.

This year's distinguished honorees include:

Regional Leadership: Hon. Tim Bishop US House of Representatives
Creates a mix of uses:		Provide a variety of transportation choices:
Glen Cove Waterfront redevelopment RXR Glen Isle Partners		Rt. 347 NYS DOT
Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, historic & critical environmental areas:		Reinvesting in & Strengthening Communities:
Hon. Kate Browning & Hon. Ed Romaine, Suffolk County Legislature		'Buy Locally' Campaign Huntington Township Business Council
Encourage citizen and stakeholder participation in development decisions:		Create walkable neighborhoods:
Sergio Argueta S.T.R.O.N.G.		Dave Glass NYS DOT Bike-Ped coordinator (posthumously)
Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a sense of place:		Takes advantage of compact building design:
Village of Babylon		The C, Freeport Signature Organization
Housing opportunities & choices for a range of household types, family sizes & incomes		Fostering clean energy & green building development
Summer Wind Square Eastern Property Investor Consultants, LLC, Suffolk County Concern Riverhead Concern for Independent Living		Affordable housing development Roosevelt Development Group, Long Island Housing Partnership

The 9th annual Smart Growth Awards will be held on Friday, June 18th from 11:30am-2pm at the Crest Hollow Country Club.

Registration information is available here.

Plans for incinerator in Freeport draw protests

On Monday this week, over 100 concerned citizens gathered outside of Freeport's Village Hall to protest plans to build an incinerator which would convert waste to energy and is proposed to be constructed in the Village's southeast section. Some protesters expressed concern that an incinerator would be a source of pollution on the South Shore and that the estimated $500 million to fund the project could be spent on developing more sustainable sources of energy, especially because Freeport already has a power plant which meets residents' needs. The plant would expect to generate 960,000 megawatt hours of electricity a day and process 3,200 tons of waste.

According to village officials, the plan is in the exploratory phase. ZhongDe Waste Technology AG, a German company, visited in December to discuss prospects. Village special counsel for intergovernmental affairs, Douglas Thomas, was quoted in Newsday saying "there is an extensive RFP process that must be undertaken under the General Municipal Law of the State of New York."

According to Newsday, "Freeport Village Trustee Jorge Martinez said he's asked the administration for information on such a plan, but only learned details in limited public discussions. "In public sessions, the mayor indicated that there was going to be an RFP [request for proposals] sent out," Martinez said, adding he has not seen it."

CSA available in Amityville

Sophia Garden, a NOFA-NY LLC certified organic farm located in Amityville, has shares available in their CSA. Community Supported Agriculture has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Basically, a farmer offers a number of "shares" to the public, usually a box of vegetables.

Customers purchase a share, or a membership, and in return get a box of seasonal produce each week throughout the season. Membership can include some volunteer labor. CSA is a win-win for farmers and consumers! This is a great time to join one, so check out Sophia Garden this season and enjoy the local, organic crops!

Shareholders receive 10-15 lbs of vegetables from June-October. Half-share pick-up is $375, full share is $750. There is a 15 hour work requirement over the course of the season. Pick up is at the farm. Contact Elizabeth 631-842-6000 x307 or sophiagarden@aol.com.

4 Out Of 5 Agree: Transit is Important

National transportation advocacy coalition, Transportation for America has released the results of an exciting new poll which shows that 4 out of every 5 Americans think the United States would benefit from expanded public transportation options, including rail and buses. People don't think the current system is getting the job done. 73% said they feel they "have no choice but to drive as much" as they do; an overwhelming majority believe that expanding public transportation and opportunities for biking and walking would make their communities, and the country, better places to live. 58% said there should be more federal funding for public transportation, while 35% said the current levels are fine and only 5% said less should be allocated. 

The group writes, "If there's one thing we know, it's that Congress listens to polls - so as our lawmakers start to work on critical legislation that will shape transportation policy for decades, we have to make sure they know just how much support there is for our cause." Help spread the message to Congress that Americans desperately want better transportation options and opportunities for safe walking and biking here.

EPA Smart Growth Releases Report: Redevelopment Continues in Urban Neighborhoods

Across the country, many urban neighborhoods are experiencing dramatic transformations. Parking lots, underused commercial properties and former industrial sites are being replaced by condos, apartments and townhouses. In spite of the many impressive projects, a central question remains: Do such examples add up to a fundamental shift in the geography of residential construction?

According to an updated U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report, there is, in fact, a continuing shift in development toward urban neighborhoods in the United States, despite a sluggish real estate market. This trend is described in the EPA’s 2010 report, “Residential Construction Trends in America’s Metropolitan Regions.” Taking advantage of opportunities to reuse land and to redevelop underused sites is a key smart growth strategy. It helps communities protect natural lands from being developed, strengthens the local economy and puts new homes, stores and jobs within easy reach of surrounding neighborhoods.

The data show that, compared to the early 1990s, the share of construction in urban neighborhoods was up 28 percent in mid-sized metropolitan regions that have promoted redevelopment of underused sites and development around transit, such as Portland, Oregon; Denver, Colorado; and Sacramento, California. For example, in 2008 Portland issued 38 percent of all the building permits within its region, compared to an average of 9 percent in the early 1990s; Denver accounted for 32 percent, up from 5 percent; and Sacramento accounted for 27 percent, up from 9 percent. The report shows that an even stronger trend toward urban redevelopment in the largest metropolitan regions continued in 2008. New York City accounted for 63 percent of the building permits issued within its region. By comparison, the city averaged about 15 percent of regional building permits during the early 1990s. Similarly, Chicago now accounts for 45 percent of the building permits within its region, up from just 7 percent in the early 1990s. This shift has been especially dramatic over the past five years. 

More information on the report is available here.

Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach

The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) have released their new guide, which was published this month, "Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach." As an official ITE Recommended Practice, the guide carries significant weight and can be used to create more context-sensitive streets. The manual provides welcome relief from conventional design guidelines that prescribe wider lanes and faster speeds to move more automobile traffic, with almost no regard for the environment created for pedestrians or the ability of the street to support sidewalk commerce such as sidewalk cafes and storefront businesses. 

The manual focuses on context sensitive solutions (CSS) and how they are applicable to urban thoroughfares, or "facilities commonly designated by the conventional functional classifications of arterials and collectors." It continues, "Freeways, expressways and local streets are not covered in this report. The [report emphasizes] thoroughfares in “walkable communities”—compact, pedestrian-scaled villages, neighborhoods, town centers, urban centers, urban cores and other areas where walking, bicycling and transit are encouraged." 

The guide can also help redevelop conventional sprawl locations, including business parks, residential subdivisions, and strip commercial development. It can benefit these places by bringing safe and comfortable facilities for pedestrians, creating attractive streetside areas, establishing appropriate sizing of facilities with respect to pavement width, with associated potential for cost savings in right-of-way acquisition, construction and maintenance; successfully integrating transit facilities and operations, and managing speed.

The report is a breakthrough document for walkability planning- elected officials, planners, advocates and others who want to use the manual to make their streets more pedestrian- and business-friendly can download it for free here.

Douzinas says working together can happen on Long Island

Nancy Rauch Douzinas, President of the Rauch Foundation, wrote a piece in her "What Every Long Islander Should Know" column in March's LI Index newsletter called "Working Together CAN Happen Here." Refuting oft-heard conceptions that Long Islanders cannot work together, Douzinas cites a coalition of eight LI Towns that have banded together to work on making the region's homes and buildings more energy efficient. The coalition formed through the Clean Energy Leadership Task Force, organized by the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College. Through U.S. Department of Energy grants, Long Island could see up to $200 million because of this program.

Here is the full piece with more information:

"Working together is not in Long Islanders' DNA."

I sometimes hear that when I share with people examples of regions acting in cooperative ways to address their problems.

I've always thought that DNA idea was hooey; now I am sure of it.

Because this time my example of outstanding regional cooperation comes from right here on Long Island.

Eight Long Island towns have joined together to form a consortium aimed at making homes and buildings in the region more energy efficient. They have agreed to commit 20% of their federal energy block grants to loan funds for energy-saving retrofits to existing buildings.

Banding together in this way enables the group to apply for millions of dollars in competitive grants being offered by the U.S. Department of Energy. The cooperation (8 of the 9 eligible towns on Long Island signed on) is key, because the federal program is specifically looking for participation across municipalities and agencies. The program could bring $200 million to the Island.

It's a breakthrough not only in terms of energy efficiency but also as a model of regional cooperation. But it didn't come overnight.

It's the product of years of work, led by Clean Energy Leadership Task Force, a project of the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College.

Since 2004, the Task Force has brought town, county, and village leaders together around energy issues. The participants discuss common needs, share achievements, and learn the latest from a range of energy experts. The meetings build the knowhow and create the energy that leads to action.

One of the Task Force's first steps was to call on towns and counties to develop Energy Action Plans, outlining the steps to be taken in the coming year to improve energy efficiency. Nine towns and both counties are now issuing the plans on a yearly basis.

Spurred partly by their participation in the Task Force, Long Island's municipalities have made significant strides in energy efficiency over the past years.

More fundamentally, the task force has helped municipal leaders forge the relationships that make cooperative action happen.  The Green Homes Consortium itself began with an innovative program in Babylon. It was at a Task Force meeting that other towns learned about the Babylon program, as well as the opportunity posed by the federal grant program.

What does all this mean in terms of other regional priorities, such as downtown redevelopment and affordable housing?

That's as clear as the difference between action and inaction. Counties, towns, and villages making concrete plans to do something about affordable housing-how good does that sound?

To get it going we have to get people together. Give them the time and the framework to share their concerns, discover new perspectives, learn how such matters are being tackled elsewhere. Every known renaissance was founded on people coming together. Knowledge builds the potential and communication builds the energy that creates breakthroughs. People start thinking bigger and daring more.

Does it take time? Absolutely. That's why we need to get started.

Support Flexible Funding for Transit

Outside of Atlanta in Clayton County, GA, all "C-Tran" transit service was completely eliminated last month when the County could not afford to plug their budget deficit and decided to prioritize road paving instead. The California Bay Area's CalTrain raised fares and cut service last year, but it's not enough and officials are threatening to cut service in half this year. In New York, the MTA is facing an $800 million budget shortfall and is being forced to implement massive service cuts after last year's fare increases.

Throughout the country, transit riders and workers are facing severe service cuts, fare hikes and layoffs -a problem that disproportionately impacts low-income communities and minorities. Meanwhile, transportation ridership is at record highs: 2008 saw a 4% ridership increase over 2007, a 38% increase since 1995 and nearly triple the growth rate of the United States. There is a solution: flexible funding for transit operating assistance. 

Currently, large urban areas are barred from using federal transit dollars for operating expenses. Using capital funds for operating expenses is a last resort, but clearly we are living in a last-resort climate! Due to the current budget crisis facing transit agencies across the country, Congress has allowed a one-time exception for 10% of transit stimulus funds to be used to keep buses and trains running. Unfortunately, this short term solution is not enough. Support is building for H.R. 2746, a bill introduced by Representative Russ Carnahan of Ohio, which would allow between 30% and 50% flexibility, depending on the size of the metropolitan region. Last month, Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio introduced a similar bill in the Senate, S. 3189. 

Rep. Carnahan said, "This simple fix won't cost another dime of taxpayer dollars, but could help save thousands of transit jobs across the country, not to mention the countless workers who rely on public transportation to get to their jobs. With Senator Brown's leadership in the Senate and nearly 100 cosponsors in the House, momentum is on our side. This is the kind of common-sense jobs bill we can and must pass now."

The New York State Transportation Equity Alliance (NYSTEA) is leading the charge to support these bills. Please support these critical bills by contacting your representatives (Senators  Schumer and Gillibrand; Assembly Members  Ackerman, Bishop, Israel, King, and McCarthy) and supporting H.R. 2746 and S. 3189!

State Parks and EPF funding update

The massive proposed cuts to the New York State Environmental Protection Fund and State Parks have fueled a furious outcry from New York State residents. Based on that pressure, it seems that state leaders have decided to reconsider the cuts. 

Group for the East End has provided the following information: "The New York State Senate has adopted a budget proposal that would fund the EPF at $222 million for the coming year (maintaining last year’s funding levels), and begin a repayment process to recover nearly $500 million in EPF funds that have been transferred to other non-environmental programs over the last seven years...The New York State Assembly has a budget plan to add $25 million to the EPF and protect parks, but has not yet proposed a payback provision for past raids on the EPF and still leaves the EPF $54 million short of last year’s funding allocation." 

The State Legislature will begin intensive negotiations and any progress made could quickly be lost if public pressure is not sustained on key issues in the next few weeks.

Let the State's key officials know that you support a fully funded Environmental Protection Fund at $222 million, and that you want to see New York State Parks remain open. Be sure to thank them for all the progress that has been made to date!

E-mail Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver or e-mail Senator John Sampson - Democratic Conference Leader.

Clean Energy Opportunities for Sag Harbor: A Community Workshop this Saturday

This Saturday, April 10th from 10am-1pm at the Pierson High School Library in Sag Harbor, 725 Green presents Clean Energy Opportunities for Sag Harbor: A Community Workshop. From 10-11 you can learn about "Local Climate Leadership: The Story of Local Energy Committees," as presented by Adam Markham, President and Chief Executive Officer, Clean Air-Cool Planet. In addition, you can get an overview of “Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Historic Preservation: A Guide for Historic District Commissions,” as presented by Anne Stephenson, PhD, LEED AP, BPI Building Analyst, HERS Rater, Campus Outreach Coordinator, Clean Air-Cool Planet. Then from 11:30-1, you can learn about "Energy Efficiency for Historic Homes," as presented by Anne Stephenson.

"725 Green is an organization of people, representing every aspect of life in Sag Harbor, who are committed to protecting this exceptional place, as well as our Earth as a whole. We recognize that preservation and sustainability are good not only for the environment, but also for our health, safety and economy. For ourselves and the generations that will follow, we are committed to reducing pollution, and promoting energy efficiency, waste reduction and conservation."

All are invited to attend this exciting community workshop to improve Sag Harbor and beyond! For more information, Gigi Morris at gigimor@aol.com.

Northport ArtWalk kicks off April 11th

Starting on Sunday, April 11th from 4-7pm and continuing May 2nd and June 13th during the same hours, the Northport Chamber of Commerce and the Northport Arts Coalition are hosting a new event, Northport ArtWalk. The free event includes a self-guided walking tour of established and emerging artists at many galleries, studios and eclectic gallery-for-a-day venues in Northport's Main Street area. Enjoy possible performances, music, restaurants, antique shops, boutiques and cafes. It's a great way to check out Northport's bustling and diverse art community.

You can pick up a map at a "Welcome Booth," located at Caffe Portofino (249 Main Street) and Copenhagen Bakery (79 Woodbine Avenue). The map is also available online here. Many of the participating venues will be hosting special events for the day and everyone is welcome to attend this FREE event! For more information, see their website.

Innovation and the American Metropolis: Regional Plan Association's 20th annual Regional Assembly on April 16th

Regional Plan Association presents its 20th Annual Regional Assembly, "Innovation and the American Metropolis" on Friday, April 16th from 8am to 4pm in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria, 333 Park Avenue at 49th Street in New York City. The Regional Assembly is New York City's premiere civic event, bringing together top business, civic and academic leaders and professional planners, with municipal, state and federal officials and architectural, design and engineering firms from across the metropolitan region and the nation.

This year’s Assembly will focus on how cities can use new design and management techniques and harness emerging trends in technology and data to improve quality of life and economic competitiveness. Among the eight panels at this full-day conference are Building a Green Infrastructure, Radical Housing, America’s Energy Future, and Smart Transportation: Changing Urban Mobility. Featured speakers include Richard Ravitch, Lieutenant Governor of New York State; Richard Burdett, Centennial Professor in Architecture and Urbanism, London School of Economics and Founder and Director, LSE Cities Program; and William A. McDonough, Founder William McDonough and Partners.

Registration is $250 for non-members, $225 for members. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact rivanova@rpa.org. Visit RPA's website to register and for more information.

Long Island Business News honors top real estate and development professionals on April 27th

Long Island Business News presents the 2010 Real Estate and Development Awards, taking place on April 27th from 6-8pm at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. Many projects and companies are being honored this year that Vision has supported in the past.

For Top Smart Growth Project, Hawthorne Court in Valley Stream is being honored. Created by The Dennis Organization, the project won a 2009 Smart Growth Award for Compact Design (watch a video here). The Top Mixed-Use Project went to Four Corners in Patchogue, as developed by Tritec Real Estate Company. The project, titled New Village, also won a 2009 Smart Growth Award for a Mix of Uses (video is here). Tritec is also being honored as Commercial Developer of the Year. The company consistently plans great Smart Growth projects throughout Long Island. The award for "Rising Star in Commercial Real Estate" is going to Developer Scott Burman of The Engel Burman Group, whose company is a strong supporter of Vision's work. Top Residential Development (multi-home/units) goes to The Aqua at Long Beach, developed by The Engel Burman Group. Finally, the Residential Developer of the Year is Matt Whalen from Avalon Bay Communities. Mr. Whalen has been a friend of Vision through Avalon's affordable housing projects in communities like Coram, Glen Cove, and the current proposal in Huntington Station.

Tickets for the Awards are $75 until 4/19, and $95 thereafter and at the door. To purchase tickets visit libn.com or call 631-737-1700.

Fair Media Council's Folio Awards on April 30th

The Fair Media Council's Folio Awards began decades ago, to honor excellence in local news coverage. The award-winning entries are chosen by community leaders to provide the news media with invaluable feedback on what the news consumer truly thinks of the local news media's performance. As the news media has changed, so have the Folio Award categories. In 2009, the Fair Media Council expanded the Folio Awards, once again, to reflect the important role social media plays in shaping the way people communicate news and information. It all goes back to FMC's fundamental mission: to ensure the public gets the news they need to protect their quality of life and keep their communities vibrant.

The 2010 Folio Awards will take place on Friday April 30th from 11am-2pm at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. There will be two special receptions, the awards ceremony and a luncheon with keynote speech, plus your favorite media personalities as Folio Award presenters! The event will be taped for broadcast by Hamptons Television.

Individual tickets are $275 for members and $375 for non-members, and many sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information and registration, visit the FMC's website here 

Fair Housing’s Future in a Crisis Economy: A New Decade of Challenges on April 30th

On Friday, April 30th, Long Island Housing Services presents a forum and exhibit in honor of April as Fair Housing Month: Fair Housing’s Future in a Crisis Economy: A New Decade of Challenges. The event will take place at Touro Law Center, Central Islip from 11:30am to 2:30pm, and also celebrates 40 years of fair housing services to Long Islanders. Come to the event to learn how your awareness and support will help to "Build a Long Island of Neighbors" in this new decade!

There are two distinguished speakers. Bernard (Bernie) Kleina is a civil rights and fair housing advocate. As Executive Director of HOPE Fair Housing Center in Illinois, he promotes equal housing, lending and insurance opportunities through education, research, outreach, enforcement, training and advocacy. Prof. Okianer Christian Dark is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Howard University Law School. Her personal story as a victim of housing discrimination is used for training and education nationally by fair housing agencies, law schools and the U.S. Dept. of Justice.

The Chicago Freedom Movement Exhibit, on display at the event, is a collection of more than 50 color photographs taken by Bernard J. Kleina in Chicago in 1965-1966. The photographs are a priceless historical treasure and are the only candid color photographs of Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights activists taken in Chicago at that time. The exhibit reminds us that we still have a long way to go before we achieve what Dr. King fought for and what we are fighting for now – open and fair housing and an end to racial and ethnic segregation. The event will also honor Beth M. Wickey, Esq. - Nassau-Suffolk Law Services, Inc. LIHS’ Retiring President Harriet Spiegelman - LIHS’ Projects Facilitator. 

The cost for the program, which includes lunch, is $50. Early bird registration by April 19th is $40. Exhibit viewing is free. You can also purchase a table of 10 for $400, $350 for early birds. You can learn more and register online here. For more information, call (631) 657-5111 or email info@lifairhousing.org.

Teen Arts Festival on May 15th: teen talent sought

The Third Annual Teen Arts Festival will be held on Saturday, May 15th at The Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island in Garden City, beginning at 1:00 pm and running throughout the afternoon. The free festival is for local middle school and high school students to share their talents with each other and the community. The organizers are currently recruiting talent: musicians, artists, dancers, poets and more. Teens and their parents are invited to go online to download a registration form. Registration is due before May 7th. The Youth of Ethical Societies (Y.E.S.) Group is hosting the festival, with the theme: “YES We Do…Have A Voice,” to celebrate the often-overlooked power of young minds. The festival will feature hours of live music from classical to metal, art on display, dancing, poetry readings, interactive activities, refreshments and more throughout the Ethical Humanist Society building and grounds.

The festival is free, but donations are requested: nonperishable food items for the Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN), baby items for Ethical Friends of Children, or a monetary donation to the Ethical Humanist Society. Sponsorship opportunities are available, ranging from $25 to $500.

Immediately following the Festival will be the Y.E.S. Group’s 16th Annual Pasta Dinner, beginning at 6:00pm. The Pasta Dinner includes a tasty meal, a keynote speaker and even more live entertainment. The cost for the dinner is $10 for adults and $8 for students. The fee will be split between the speaker’s organization (TBA) and programming for the Y.E.S. Group throughout the year, including travel to the National Y.E.S. Conference in Chicago in November 2010.

The Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island is located at 38 Old Country Road, Garden City. For more information about the Teen Arts Festival, Pasta Dinner, sponsorship opportunities and more, contact Phyllis Herschlag, Office Manager at 516-741-7304, office@ehsli.org, or visit ehsli.org.

Walk/Bike conference to be held on Long Island June 7th

June 7th is the first ever Walk/Bike New York conference for Long Island: Encouraging Sustainable Movement. Creating walkable and bikeable environments requires an active collaboration of people with interests in safety, land use, economic development, transportation, education, law enforcement and health promotion. This one-day symposium is expected to draw approximately 200 attendees from various disciplines and provide participants with the tools to work together to create walkable and bikeable communities in New York State. A keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Arthur Wendel, Medical Officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Public Health and Built Environment Initiative. Topics will include Complete Streets, Safe Routes for Seniors and Youth, Education & Encouragement, Law Enforcement, Local Highlights, Funding Sources and Legislative Updates. Help make Long Island's roads safer!

The conference is a Quality Communities Symposium sponsored by the NYS Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, the NYS Department of Health, and the Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research in conjunction with the NYS Department of Transportation, NYS Department of State, New York Bicycling Coalition, Parks & Trails New York, Federal Highway Administration, NYS Association of Chiefs of Police, Inc., NYS Metropolitan Planning Organization Association and AARP.

The event will take place at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge. Early Registration fee $40 (postmarked by May 14); Late/On Site is $50. Due to limited capacity, early registration is recommended. You can register online here. For more information, contact Janine Schultz at 518-453-0291 x104 or email jschultz@itsmr.org.

S.T.R.O.N.G. Community Unity Gala on June 10th

You are cordially invited to the “Decade of S.T.R.O.N.G., Community Unity Gala,” which will be held on Thursday June 10th 2010. This momentous event is being held in part to celebrate the tenth anniversary of S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc. In addition, they will be humbly honoring a handful of outstanding individuals and organizations that have played a pivotal role in their successful journey. The gala is an excellent venue to network with like-minded individuals focused on consciously making a difference in our communities.

Ten years ago, S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc. had never envisioned to be one of the leading gang prevention/intervention agencies in our region. They only wanted to play a positive and impact role in reuniting our new generation. During that time, they had the opportunity to educate many young people on alternatives to violence and gang life, while creating opportunities for many youth who were seeking redirection and redemption.

All proceeds generated by this event will support the ongoing effort in continuing S.T.R.O.N.G.’s mission. If you have any further questions regarding this event and to get your tickets, call 516-408-3798 or email strong.gala@gmail.com.

National Endowment for the Arts seeks applications for Challenge America Fast-Track program

The National Endowment for the Arts is accepting applications through the Challenge America Fast-Track project. Challenge America Fast-Track offers support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved communities—those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics or disability. Eligibility includes non-profit organizations; state or local governments; private, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; or federally recognized Native American tribal governments. Individual awards are not to exceed $10,000.

The deadline for submission is Thursday, May 27th. For more information, contact the National Endowment for the Arts, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20506; 202-682-5700; fasttrack@arts.gov.

Vision Long Island Seeking Interns

Vision Long Island is seeking unpaid interns for Spring and Summer 2010. If you are interested in suburban/urban planning, community development, local government, or sustainability, consider working for us part time.

Our staff likes to say we "wear many hats," and interns will have to do the same. Interns will assist with planning, design, outreach, event planning, writing, research, attending meetings, reporting, photography, and more. Bring your unique skill set to the table! We are looking for energetic and conscientious individuals with an interest in suburban/urban planning from a bottom-up perspective. This is a valuable opportunity to work with great people in a small office environment and learn about the issues impacting Long Island. Strong writing skills a plus.

Note that hours, start date, and end date are all flexible. Although this is an unpaid position, we will gladly work with you to provide college credit and transportation reimbursement. We will also work with you to make sure you have a great experience that is tailored to your specific interests and skill set.

Individuals interested in learning more are encouraged to contact us at info@visionlongisland.org. Please put "Internships for 2010" in the subject heading. You are welcome to include a resume and/or letter, and please indicate if you are available in the Spring, Summer, or both.

Wine Tasting Fundraiser & Chinese Auction on Sunday

This Sunday, the Mediterranean Manor in Patchogue is hosting a Wine Tasting Fundraiser & Chinese Auction from 3:30-7:30pm. The fundraiser will benefit the March of Dimes - March for Babies. The American Dream Walk Team has organized this delightful afternoon of wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres. You will have the opportunity to taste a selection of wines from Long Island's Wine Country. The Chinese Auction and raffles allow you the chance to win fabulous prizes such as cash, wine gift baskets, gift certificates and more!

Tickets are $30 per person and $50 per couple and may be purchased with cash at the door. The Medeterranean Manor is located at 303 E. Main Street in Patchogue.

Family Fishing Festival on Saturday

This Saturday from 10am-4pm, head on over to Belmont Lake State Park in North Babylon for a Family Fishing Festival. The free community event ($6 parking fee) will include activities like fishing instruction, fish cleaning services, environmental exhibits, an inflatable slide, temporary tattoos, and a casting contest for children.

The weather looks to be great this weekend, so get outside and enjoy yourself!

SMART GROWTH NEWS

Newsletter Editor: Michelle Dutchen, Director of Communications
Contributors: Eric Alexander, Executive Director; Tara Klein, Planning Coordinator;
Tawaun Weber, Assistant Director; Elissa Ward, Director of Sustainability; Juliana Roberts Dubovsky, Planning Consultant; Chris Kyle, Program Coordinator

We strive to provide continued quality publications such as this each week. If you have any news or events that you would like to add to our newsletter, submit them to info@visionlongisland.org for consideration.

If you are interested in becoming a newsletter or news blast sponsor, please call the office at 631-261-0242 for rates and opportunities.

For more information about Vision Long Island, visit visionlongisland.org or contact us at:
24 Woodbine Ave. Suite One Northport, NY 11768.
Phone: (631) 261-0242. Fax: (631) 754-4452.
Email: info@visionlongisland.org