"The Glen Cove Ferry Terminal will be a welcome addition to our community as we work to bring new life to our waterfront and improve connections to our downtown.  As Mayor, I am proud that this project is environmentally responsible and that it returns vacant property to productive use, providing an important economic boost to our City.  This is a significant milestone for Glen Cove and the benefits of this new form of transportation connection will be felt throughout the North Shore and the larger Long Island community" - Hon. Ralph Suozzi, Mayor of the City of Glen Cove

VHB

VHB, an engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying firm, has worked on Long Island and in the region for many years. Many of their projects support principles of Smart Growth and we thank them for their ongoing support.

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.

How should the federal government assist
Long Island downtowns?

Email us your thoughts or comment on Facebook!

Last week's highlights

We asked people how they'd be spending their Memorial Day weekend:

Going to the Memorial Day Parade in Northport Village. It's a don't miss event, very moving and it sets aside some time to remember what Memorial Day is really all about. Oh...and the beach on Sunday, definitely the beach:-) - Carol Eckert

Taking part in a Radical Bike Tour and Vegan Picnic Brunch Benefit in Greenpoint on Sunday @Noon. - Jonathan Grindell

 

Trying to build one. lol Have a great weekend everyone. - Tawaun Weber

 

Maybe lunch in Huntington Village. - Thomas D'Ambrosio

 

 

Listening to the clip-clopping sound of the Rough Riders' horses heading to the Memorial Day parade in Syosset on Split Rock Road and then attending the parade. - Rita Alexander

Parade + Memorial Service + BBQs. - James Reed

 

 

East Hampton traffic, traffic, more traffic and traffic agents! - Michael Schenkler

 

Two excellent get togethers in Northport Village today, tomorrow a celebration of a friend entering the Air Force and Monday Northport Village Memorial Day Parade with George Doll riding a horse at the lead... :) PS it was great to meet you all :) - Mary Silberstein

Manhasset has its annual Memorial Day Parade Monday! - Sue Hampton Auriemma

 

Dinner, gardening in Huntington Village. Possibly at the same time. - Patrick Whittle

 

My downtown is dead tonight... Summer season is here, so it will be quiet most of the time... If only we had sewers...- Marshal Schwartz

 

How many years have we been waiting for our downtown? I think it is about 10 years. Pretty crazy, huh? Enjoy the weekend - Beth Wahl

 

On Monday, May 31, 2010, we will be marching in our downtown Port Washington’s Memorial Day parade. - Andrew Hyman

Going to the Veteran's Memorial Day Ceremony at Bay Pines National Veteran's Cemetery in honor of ALL lost veterans of foreign wars!!! I survived Viet Nam....almost completely. War changes a man in different ways...and freedom don't come cheap. Remember that! - William DeLara

Gardening at the local train station! - Kim D'Ambrosio

Had dinner from downtown eateries on Friday night and tonight. :) - Richard Panchyk

Don't forget the parade on Monday - Caren Prommersberger

THE 2010 SMART GROWTH AWARDS
ARE LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AWAY

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano
to speak as special guest

Bethpage Federal Credit Union joins
the event as Lead Sponsor

Friday, June 18th at 11:30am

Sponsorship packages now available

Reserve your journal ad space today

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

We are pleased to announce that our keynote speaker at this year's Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano.

We would also like to extend special thanks to Bethpage Federal Credit Union, who have joined on as a lead sponsor of the 2010 Smart Growth Awards. Thank you!

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

Sponsors announced!

Lead Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Sponsors

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.

NYS selected for National Smart Growth and Drinking Water Protection Grant

This week, Governor David A. Paterson announced that New York State was chosen as one of only two states for a Smart Growth technical assistance grant to promote sustainable land use and water quality protection. The Smart Growth Leadership Institute chose New York and Missouri for this year's initiative, entitled "Aligning State Land Use and Water Quality Protection Programs." 

The program is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water. This grant is part of the "Enabling Source Water Protection Program," which assists selected states in aligning land use and drinking water source protection efforts. The project team includes the Trust for Public Land, the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, River Network and the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators. Experts from each of these organizations will work with New York's State Project Team to identify opportunities and propose new strategies to achieve source water protection goals more effectively and efficiently through sustainable land use policies. The State Project Team will be led by DOS Director of Smart Growth Planning Paul Beyer, and will include several members of the Governor's Smart Growth Cabinet and representatives from select planning and advocacy organizations.

"This grant builds on the work of my Administration's Smart Growth Cabinet, and also provides an opportunity for the State to move to the next level of sustainable land use reform," Gov. Paterson said. "This is much more than an environmental initiative – it is also a way to promote economic development and fiscal sustainability by targeting our scarce State resources toward investments that will have long-term benefits. My Smart Growth Cabinet looks forward to working with the Smart Growth Leadership Institute in making that critical link between land use and water quality."

Peter Fleischer, Executive Director of the Empire State Future, added: "Empire State Future, New York's statewide smart growth advocacy coalition, is pleased to see the continuing effort and creativity stemming from the Smart Growth Cabinet to address critical aspects of smart growth – namely the link between residential sprawl, land use and the quality of the water upon which we depend."

Verizon rolls out new alternative-energy vehicles

Verizon has introduced the first of 160 alternative energy vehicles in New York this year as part of its commitment to conserve fuel, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to improved air quality in the communities it serves. On May 21st, Verizon unveiled its five hybrid aerial-life trucks, known as bucket trucks, at their Long Island headquarters. The trucks have batteries that help power the engine and also provide the sole power for the mechanical boom that raises a four-sided platform, or "bucket," to enable a technician to work on overhead telephone lines or other equipment. In the traditional versions of Verizon's bucket trucks, the mechanical booms are powered by the trucks' gasoline or diesel engines. Heavy-duty chargers that plug into an electrical outlet are used to recharge the hybrid trucks' batteries. The batteries will be recharged at night, when power demand from the nation's grid -- generally the cleanest and most efficiently produced energy -- is low.

On an annual basis, each of Verizon's five plug-in hybrid trucks is expected to use 750 to 1,500 fewer gallons of fuel and cut greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 7 to 14 tons over the traditional models they replace. The hybrid system is also quieter than traditional models, which helps cut noise pollution. The five trucks will be based at the company's Woodbury garage and will primarily serve the northern and central areas of Nassau County.

This initiative will bring the total number of Verizon's alternative-energy vehicles to 250 in New York State and to over 1,100 throughout the country by the end of 2010.

"I applaud Verizon's initiative to add hybrid aerial trucks to its already existing fleet of alternative-energy vehicles, said Kevin S. Law, president and CEO of the Long Island Power Authority. "Earlier this year, LIPA introduced two hybrid bucket trucks into its fleet. These trucks have provided many green benefits including: improving our air quality, curbing noise pollution, increasing energy efficiency and providing financial savings for our customers."

Watch a video of the hybrid aerial lift trucks at work here.

Cuomo releases "New NY Agenda: A Plan for Action"

Andrew Cuomo, in his bid to run for Governor of New York this fall, released an outline of his plan for reforming New York through legislative policy changes entitled: The New NY Agenda: A Plan for Action.

His New York Works Plan gives employers incentive to hire unemployed workers, suggesting legislation which would establish an “emergency two year $300 million “Jobs Now” tax credit program to encourage employers to hire unemployed New Yorkers.” The legislation would give businesses tax credits, up to $3,000 per worker, for hiring NY residents who have been unemployed for at least sixty days and keeps that person employed full-time for one year at minimum. This program is expected to generate over 165,000 jobs over two years.

The plan addresses insufficient infrastructure in a region whose economic strengths rely on its roadways, railways and telecommunications systems. To streamline efficiency of infrastructure upgrades, the plan calls for the development of an “Infrastructure Bank” to coordinate spending and take advantage of federal programs that provides flexibility and efficiently take advantage of federal grants which subsidize the cost of upgrading.

Additionally, Cuomo suggests jumpstarting NY’s economy through investments in cluster economies and creating “move to NY job incentives:" - the plan proposes tax credits for companies that relocate to NY and generate lasting, sustainable jobs, with a particular focus on technical industries. He also targets workers between the ages of 20 to 35 to keep the next generation of the workforce in New York.

Vision Long Island would like to see incentives to create jobs in existing or redeveloping downtowns.

The entire agenda is available here.

KioLi Business Summit on June 11th

On Friday, June 11th, don't miss the KioLi Business Summit, where you can learn new and effective ways to grow your business and strengthen Long Island's economy. The program includes networking and registration from 11am-12:30pm, lunch, opening remarks from Dr. Nancy Rauch Douzinas of the Rauch Foundation and a keynote presentation from NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli from 12:30-1:30, breakout sessions from 1:45-2:45 and 3-4 and cocktails and networking from 4-5.

The breakout session include Turn Your Customers Into Raving Fans, Growing Sales, Business Technology/How to Get Found on Search Engines, Financial Growth in a Recession, The Green Economy, and Hiring, Training and Retraining Employees (Labor and the new economy). You should attend if you are a business owner, entrepreneur, non profit, CFO, Account Executive or HR Professional.

The Summit will take place at The Inn At New Hyde Park, 214 Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park. Registration is free. Learn more and to register here.

Glen Cove-Manhattan ferry breaks ground

On Tuesday, June 1st, Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi, joined by developers from RXR Glen Isle and local elected officials, headed the official groundbreaking for the Glen Cove ferry terminal and boat basin, as part of the broader waterfront revitalization plan.

Mayor Suozzi said, “I extend my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked with us throughout the process of securing funding and planning for this project, especially United States Senator Charles Schumer, United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and United States Congressman Peter King.  Our City appreciates the support and assistance we have received from a number of agencies and departments throughout New York State, including the Governor’s Office, and I am pleased that so many of their representatives were able to join us for this significant groundbreaking.” He also acknowledged that the project recieved a Smart Growth Award from Vision Long Island in 2008.

K. Kelly Morris, Executive Director of the Glen Cove Community Development Agency and Industrial Development Agency added, “This project has been a tremendous effort on the part of hundreds of individuals in a number of agencies in the City and throughout the State who have worked tirelessly to ensure that we were able to make it to this groundbreaking.  This has truly been a collaborative project and we are excited to begin this new chapter in Glen Cove’s history."

photo, from left: Scott Rechler (RXR), Mayor Ralph Suozzi, K. Kelly Morris (City of Glen Cove), Don Monti (Glen Isle Partners), Hon. Diane Yatauro (Nassau County Legislature), Eric Alexander (Vision Long Island)

The ferry, expected to carry some 1,600 passengers a day and reduce vehicle miles traveled by 48,000 between Glen Cove and lower Manhattan, embraces green building principle, opens the door for new tourist, entertainment and recreational opportunities for the region and brings the promise of an economc boost for the downtown, new jobs and improved transportation options.

A wide range of organizations and officials have supported the project, including: United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Highway Administration, the NYS Department of State, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the NYS Department of Transportation, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC), Nassau County agencies including the Nassau County Planning Commission, the Long Island Regional Planning Council, Vision Long Island, RXR Glen Isle, Cameron Engineering, Dvirka & Bartilucci, Chesterfield Associates, AECOM, the US Congress and Empire State Development Corporation’s Restore New York Program.

Newsday covered the groundbreaking. Read the article here. More information on the project is available on the City of Glen Cove's website here.

Shop at local farmers markets this summer

If you're looking for a way to stimulate your local economy while getting fresh food and enjoying your local downtown area, check out a farmers market near you! Here are a few that are centered in or are very close to downtowns: 

 

SUFFOLK

AMITYVILLE VILLAGE, 9/11 Memorial Park, Rt 110 South. Open Sat., 12 a.m. to noon, through November 6. Contact: Ethel Terry, 631-323-3653.

EAST HAMPTON, Nick & Toni's parking lot, 136 N. Main St. Open Fri., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., through September 24. Contact: Kate Plumb, 631-725-9133.

HUNTINGTON, Elm Street parking lot, Main Street (Route 25A). Open Sun., 7 a.m. to noon; through November 21. Contact: Ethel Terry, 631-323-3653.

ISLIP, Town Hall parking lot on Montauk Highway, Route 27A. Open Sat., 7 a.m. to noon; through November 20. Contact: Ethel Terry, 631-323-3653.

MOUNT SINAI, North Shore Heritage Park, 633 Mt. Sinai-Coroan Rd. Open Fridays, 2 pm to 6 pm.  

MONTAUK, On the Green, center of Downtown Montauk. Open Thurs., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; through October 15. Contact: Laraine Creegan 631-668-2428

NORTHPORT, Northport Village Park, Main Street. Open Sat., 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.; June 19th through Mid Nov. Contact: Northport Chamber of Commerce 631-754-3905.

PATCHOGUE, 7-Eleven store parking lot, Montauk Highway west of Route 112. Open Fri., 7 a.m. to noon; through late November. Contact: Ethel Terry 631-323-3653.

PORT JEFFERSON, parking lot next to ferry, Route 25A. Open Thur., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; through Oct. 22. Contact: Ethel Terry 631-323-3653.
RIVERHEAD, downtown next to Atlantis Marine World Aquarium, Downtown. Open Thur., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; through November 18. Contact: Ethel Terry 631-323-3653.

SAG HARBOR, Breakwater Yacht Club parking lot, Bay & Burke Streets. Open Sat., 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; through October 30. Contact Mary Woltz, 631-899-3445.

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, 85 Mill Road, Village Municipal parking. Open Sat., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; through November 21. Contact Elise Collins 631-288-1559.

NASSAU

GARDEN CITY, 101 County Seat Dr., Supreme Ct. Bldg. lot off Old Country Rd. Open Tues., 7 a.m. to 1p.m.; through Nov. 23. Contact: Ethel Terry 631-323-3653

GLEN COVE, Village Square. Open Sun., 7 a.m. to noon; through Nov. 21. Contact: Ethel Terry 631-323-3653

HEMPSTEAD VILLAGE, Christ Presbyterian Church, Fulton & Washington St., across from police station. Open Fri., 7 a.m. to noon; through Oct.. Contact: Ethel Terry 631-323-3653.

HICKSVILLE, Kennedy Memorial Park, between Jerusalem and Broadway, near the Hicksville Train Station. Sundays, June 27th-November 21st, 9am-2pm.

LOCUST VALLEY, Forest Avenue, across from post office. Open Sat., 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; November 6. Contact: Ethel Terry 631-323-3653.

LONG BEACH, Kennedy Plaza at Long Beach City Hall, 1 West Chester St.. through Nov.. Contact: Bernadette Martin 631-678-5227

NEW HYDE PARK, Long Island Medical Center lot. Open Wed., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; through Mid Nov..  Contact: Ethel Terry 631-323-3653

PORT WASHINGTON, Town Dock, Main Street. Open Sat., 7 a.m. to noon; through Oct. 31. Contact: Grassroots Environmental Education, Patti Wood, 516-883-0887.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, LIRR parking lot, corner of sunrise Hgwy & Long Beach Rd. Open Sun., 7 a.m. to noon; through Nov. 21. Contact: Ethel Terry 631-323-3653.

Federal bill proposed to save transit agencies

Support the Public Transportation Preservation Act

Earlier this week, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and others introduced a bill on the Senate floor that would rescue many of the nation's struggling transit agencies. The Public Transportation Preservation Act of 2010 would provide $2 billion across the country to help curb fare hikes and restore service cuts that have been accelerating across the country since January 2009. The MTA's share could be as much as $345 million, which could help restore recent cuts to the LIRR.

The bill language cites an American Public Transportation Association study: "Since January 1, 2009, 84 percent of transit systems have raised fares, cut service or are considering one of those actions." Other reasonings in the bill include the fact that "many low-income workers, older Americans, and people with disabilities depend on transit service to get to jobs and health care. Reduced service and higher fares can have a devastating effect on their quality of life;" and "Millions of Americans use transit every day. Reduced transit service makes it harder for workers to access jobs and puts more cars on the road, worsening already bad traffic congestion in many metropolitan areas."

Senator Schumer said, "Mass transit is the very lifeblood of Long Island, and our ability to rebuild the economy and get people back to work is linked to a fully funded and affordable system. In a time of crisis, when funding for mass transit has collapsed and caused severe service cuts, layoffs and looming fare hikes, it is essential that we take strong action to ensure that middle-class families on the Island can afford to use public transit."

Take Action on the Public Transportation Preservation Act! 

Call Senator Schumer at 631-753-0978 or Senator Gillibrand at 631-249-2825. Thank them for their leadership on this bill and reiterate how much our region relies on public transit and needs support to keep our trains and buses running. Encourage them to keep fighting for the swift passage of this bill!

Read more in Newsday or on Senator Schumer's website.

Tell lawmakers that Complete Streets and Smart Growth Public Infrastructure bills are priorities!

Vision Long Island headed to Albany in order to show our support for the Complete Streets and Smart Growth public infrastructure bills currently making their way through the New York State Senate and Assembly.  However, we can’t keep the pressure up by ourselves, so be sure and contact your local State Senator and Assemblyman in order to let them know that now is the time to pass these important and necessary bills!

Some notes on Complete Streets (S5711A): The Complete Streets Bill, S5711A, amends the state highway law, enabling safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing Complete Streets design principles. Complete Streets is a policy that ensures all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, children, seniors and individuals with disabilities are able to travel safely and conveniently on and across all roads. The legislation recognizes that bicycle and pedestrian travel are integral to New York’s transportation system, and requires that they are included in the planning and development of state, county and local transportation facilities, plans and programs. These accommodations would include, but not be limited to bicycle lanes, lane striping and paved shoulders suitable for use by bicyclists, shared road signage, crosswalks, pedestrian control signals, curb cuts and ramps. This bill would bring positive change to make our planners, both at the state and local level, consider all non-auto forms of travel as a routine part of project development as well as the planning for automobiles. It will bring more of a balance to our roads and make them safer and healthier for all users.

Some notes on Smart Growth Public Infrastructure (S5560/A8011): The State Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act, S5560/A8011, will sharply curtail the use of new public funds for projects that support or induce sprawl by redirecting some of that funding to efforts that lead to the economic revitalization of our communities. Sprawl exists in New York State in part because of public funding that prioritizes that type of development. However, there are 95 Smart Growth projects and 45 master plans, hamlet studies and vision plans of various size and scale currently underway throughout Long Island that reject sprawl and seek a more livable and sustainable system. Smart Growth has taken hold for Long Island’s local governments, businesses, advocacy groups and residents.

This bill clearly instructs state agencies and corporations to align their infrastructure planning and spending with Smart Growth criteria. The agencies would prioritize funding to the infrastructure and development plans of local governments, as well as create advisory committees that include community and environmental interests to review any proposed projects. The Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act conserves public expenditures for both services and infrastructure, promotes economic development throughout the State where it is most needed, protects open space vital to New York’s economy and helps New York State achieve its energy and climate change goals by reducing auto use.

For more information on these bills, please read Vision’s support memos for Complete Streets and Smart Growth Infrastructure.

You can read the full body of the Complete Streets bill here, and the Smart Growth Infrastructure bill here.

Contact your local State Senator and Assemblyman and tell them that now is the time to pass these important and necessary bills!

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.

East End to hold APA/AIA Conference on June 9th

On Wednesday, June 9th from 2:30-8:30pm, join fellow planners, architects, zoning and planning board members, and elected officials at the East End APA/AIA Conference at Suffolk Community College's Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center (20 East Main Street in Riverhead). The conference is a joint presentation of the Long Island Section of the NY Metro Chapter of the American Planning Association and the Peconic Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. This year's East End Planning Conference focuses on comprehensive planning, downtown revitalization and architectural guidelines as they apply to Long Island's East End communities. It includes several workshops on planning and design throughout the day.

The panel on downtown revitalization is moderated by Vision's Eric Alexander and will look at the villages of Greenport and Southampton and the Town of Riverhead and how they envision the future of their downtowns, including what has already been done and the challenges and successes. Panelists include David Nyce, Mayor of Greenport; Stan Eckstut, Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn Architects; Siamak Sami, Chair, Planning Commission for Southampton Village; Chris Kempner, Director of Community Development for Riverhead; and Victor Prusinowski, former Councilman for Riverhead.

The workshop on comprehensive plans is moderated by Michael White of the LI Regional Planning Council and panelists include Jeff Murphree, Land Management Administrator for Southampton; Thomas Wickham, former Councilmember for Southold; Bill Chaleff, Architect; Bob DeLuca, Group for the East End; and Laurie Wiltshire, Land Planning Services. The workshop discusses the components of a comprehensive plan for accommodating growth, including social equity, and their successes and failures.

The final workshop is on architectural guidelines, moderated by Anne Surchin, Architect. Panelists include Gary Jacquemin, Architect; Kyle Collins, KPC Planning Services; and Diane Mazarakis, Principal Planner for the Town of Brookhaven. The panel asks if design guidelines will lead to homogeneous design, and how they can help reinvent corridors and preserve traditional downtowns. There will also be presentations on Suffolk County's 2035 Vision Plan.

Credits for AIA and AICP certification maintenance have been requested. A light dinner is provided. APA and AIA members $20; nonmembers and at the door $25; students $15. Registration includes dinner. Save a seat by emailing: LongIslandSection@nyplanning.org and register by mailing a check payable to APA-LI Section to: APA - LI Section, c/o Kathryn Eiseman, Treasurer, Nelson, Pope & Voorhis, LLC, 572 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747.

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.

Job Fair on June 10th

Councilwoman Glenda A. Jackson, in partnership with the Huntington, East Northport and Melville Chambers of Commerce, proudly hosts the fourth annual Job Fair on Thursday, June 10th from 5-7pm at Harborfields High School. This is a great opportunity to meet employers that are hiring now at all skill levels! You'll be able to job search, network, and interview with employers. Be sure to come prepared to market yourself to employers!

Appropriate business attire is suggested. There will also be a special Resume Writing Clinic hosted by Family Service League from 4-7pm. For additional information, contact Councilwoman Jackson at (631) 351-3171. Harborfields High School is located at Taylor Avenue and Pulaski Road in Greenlawn.

NYMTC Brown Bag Lunch Presentation on the Greening of Route 347 June 16th

On Wednesday, June 16th from 12-1:15pm, join NYMTC for a brown bag lunch presentation on the Greening of Route 347. NYSDOT's Senior Policy Advisor Heather Sporn and Regional Design Engineer Mark Bocamazo will lead the special presentation.

Route 347 is the major arterial east-west roadway along the north shore of Suffolk County, picking up where the Northern State Parkway ends. Characterized by an abundance of strip malls, residential development and curb cuts, the NYSDOT has been grappling with how a suburban roadway can accommodate commuters, transit, pedestrians and bicyclists, and work with the many stakeholders in the community. NYSDOT has crafted a design aimed at environmental sustainability and consensus, a design that will soon be awarded a Vision Long Island Smart Growth award for 2010.

To attend the presentation in person, at 199 Water Street, 22nd floor in Manhattan, RSVP to Gretchen Riederer at GRiederer@dot.state.ny.us or 212-383-7258. You can also attend via webinar. Space is limited, so reserve your space here. You can also participate by phone by dialing 1-866-209-6438, Participant Code: 781594.

"The Healthcare Plan: How Does it Affect Non-Profits?" on June 25th

Save the date for Friday, June 25th, when the Suffolk Community Council welcomes members, guests and friends to their annual meeting. The meeting features "The Healthcare Plan: How Does it Affect Non-Profits?" Congressman Tim Bishop is an invited keynote speaker for the meeting. In addition, this year's recipient of the Maxine Postal Award for Human Dignity will be Greta Guarton, Executive Director of the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless.

The event will take place from 8:30-10:30am at the Sheraton Long Island Hotel (110 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge). Reservations are $40 for Council Members and $45 for Non-Members. Stay tuned for more details.

Hicksville Farmers Market opens June 27th

The Hicksville Chamber of Commerce, Hicksville Community Council and Vision kicked off the Hicksville Downtown Revitalization in January, and the first initiative is moving along quickly! We're pleased to announce the kick off of the Hicksville Farmers Market on Sunday, June 27th from 9am-2pm at Kennedy Memorial Park, between Jerusalem and Broadway, near the Hicksville Train Station. The Farmers Market will last throughout the summer and fall, every Sunday through November 21st.

The market features Long Island grown vegetables, plants and flowers; plus NY State fruit, juices and preserves, eggs, honey, cheese, artisan bread and more! They'll accept Visa, MasterCard, Debit, Snap, and EBT; plus they will participate in WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

The Farmers Market is supported by the Town of Oyster Bay, the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce, and the Hicksville Community Council.

ICLEI NYS Climate Protection Network Meeting on June 17th

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability will be hosting a New York State Climate Protection Network Meeting on Thursday, June 17th from 9:30am-3pm in four separate locations: Albany, Babylon, Bedford and Ithaca. This first annual meeting will bring New York's municipal leaders together to discuss, share, and collaborate on successful climate mitigation and energy efficiency programs. Spotlight topics include the implementation of PACE programs, EECBG-funded projects, and consortium building. The morning portion of the meeting will consist of a series of webinar presentations broadcast to all locations. After a lunch break (please bring your own lunch), ICLEI members will have the opportunity to network with peer local government staff and elected officials. 

The Babylon meeting will take place at 200 E. Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst. For more information or to RSVP, email Jamie O'Connell at jamie.oconnell@iclei.org by June 6th. 
  
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a membership association of local governments in the United States committed to advancing climate protection and sustainable development. For more information visit ICLEI's website.

USDOT offering TIGER II grants

The US Department of Transportation is offereing $600 million in TIGER II planning grants. Pre-applications are due on July 16th and final applications must be recieved by August 23rd. They are offering a free webinar on June 15th from 1-2:30pm. Join Beth Osborne, USDOT Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy along with representatives of the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Railroad Administration and Maritime Administration as they discuss the program, selection criteria, evaluations, and application process for TIGER II Planning Grants. If USDOT and HUD move forward with a joint solicitation, a representative from the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development will join this presentation.

For more information, visit the DOT's website here.

Helen Martin Scholarship for students who have experienced homelessness

The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (formerly Nassau Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless) is pleased to announce that two Helen Martin Scholarships for $1,000 each are available for students who have had personal experience with homelessness. The scholarships will be presented during the 22nd Annual Keys for the Homeless Conference on October 29, 2010.

The application includes a letter(s) of recommendation, essay, and school transcript. Completed applications must be received by Friday, June 25th, and winners will be notified by August 6th. Applicants must enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study or other licensed vocational program no later than the fall session of 2011.

For more information and to request an application form, email info@nsch.org or call (516) 742-7770.

Vision Long Island seeking interns

Vision Long Island is now seeking unpaid interns for Fall 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 Fall 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.

2010 Nassau County Strawberry Festival

The annual Strawberry Festical returns once more to Bellmore!  Hosted by the Lions and Kiwanis Club of the Bellmores, the festival will feature plenty o rides, free live entertainment and (of course) plenty of fresh strawberries and strawberry concoctions! 

Parking is free with a $2 entry fee.  Children under 5 are admitted free.  The festival is located at 2351 Jerusalem Ave on the BOCES school grounds in Bellmore and the hours are 6 to 11 on Friday, 12 to 11 on Saturday and 12 to 8 on Sunday.

Junior League of Long Island’s spring market

The Junior League of Long Island will be hosting a Spring Market in the parking lot of their thrift shop located at 1395 Old Northern Blvd in downtown Roslyn. 

The market will feature jewelry, arts and crafts and more, so come on by and search for bargains!

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