“Commuters are paying more and getting less. This emergency aid will provide relief to struggling middle class straphangers.” - US Senator Charles Schumer on federal aid for transit operations

Wiedersum Associates

Wiedersum Associates Architects, PLLC is a full-service architectural firm whose innovative building designs have significantly influenced the educational, cultural, and social communities of Long Island and the metropolitan New York area for over 82 years. Their design expertise is demonstrated in the Vintage Square project in downtown Riverhead, as well as many educational facilities throughout the region. See their website for more.

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.

Should a casino be planned on Long Island?
If so, where?

Email us your thoughts or comment on Facebook!

Last week's highlights

We asked how the federal government should assist Long Island downtowns. Here are some of the responses:

Hopefully...not like they are assisting in the Gulf.

put in sewers

Infrastructure improvements... Sewers, underground utilities, transit centers, electrification of rail lines, intra-Island train improvements, connection of the 3 LIRR lines in Suffolk, possibly using CR97 for a light rail system to improve commuting within LI

Absolutely!!! The Federal Government needs to fund sewers so that downtowns can flourish.

Infrastructure upgrades and improvements, transportation (public) to connect all the Island's great downtowns.

They should restore funding for sewers to where it was a few years ago. Municiplities can not afford the cost of sewers.

federal gov, municipalities, towns, ... they all dig into the same wallet - ours. Let's work together, not push the burden to another, whatever, we the taxpayer ultimately pay!

I think to get the density needed, they need allocate funding for sewers and pedestrian/bike improvements in and around the downtowns where the growth will take place.

What about bike lanes and sidewalks so that we who live in the suburbs can travel safely into the village? And between villages. I'd bicycle to Northport to visit you and you could bicycle to Huntington to visit me. I personally don't bike to work because of some traffic safety issues but I do walk to work.

Expand the water treatment plants so more residents can tie in.

Provide tax incentives to make developers build green

Sewers. Not pretty but pretty practical.

Expanded rails and more tax incentives for people who commute without cars. The current bike incentive forces people to choose between the bike or transit. It doesn't allow the two to be mixed.

Sewers, new sewer project funding oh and did I say sewers especially in coastal communities with high density like ohhh maybe Shirley and the Mastics!

[Bike to work incentives were] passed in '09 as part of the transit bill. Cycle commuters can get $20 a month if their employer participates in the transitchek program. The problem is you have to choose between the cycling benefit or the transitchek. I would also guess that few suburban employers offer transitcheks

If it's federal money, I think it should be something that benefits the larger community, like green initiatives. If it's targetted for Long Island downtowns maybe greenbelts would give bikers their paths, add a little oxygen to the atmosphere with trees (that people keep cutting down in their yards), and create community space for all age groups.

I hope you are asking for a bike lane on 25a, them drivers!!

THE 2010 SMART GROWTH AWARDS
ARE LESS THAN ONE WEEK 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 still available

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.

Vision Long Island adds two new Board members, Richard Panchyk and Vincent Pizzulli

Vision Long Island is pleased to announce two new additions to our Board of Directors, Richard Panchyk of Hazen and Sawyer and Vincent Pizzulli of Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman. Both are long-time supporters of the Smart Growth movement. The new Board Members will add diverse perspectives to our Board, drawing from impressive backgrounds and experience. Panchyk brings his knowledge of local history and support of downtown redevelopment, as well as the expertise of his engineering firm that has been working on Long Island since 1951. Pizzulli brings his knowledge of real estate law and past experiences with municipal leadership. He served as the lead attorney on the Islandia Village Center project, which successfully created a Smart Growth project on an office zoned parcel.

Richard Panchyk – Hazen and Sawyer

Richard Panchyk is an Associate at Hazen and Sawyer, Environmental Engineers and Scientists. Hazen and Sawyer has been providing its services to Long Island’s communities since 1955, and has worked extensively on infrastructure improvement projects for various County, Town, and Village clients, focusing on sustainable drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater solutions. The firm’s Northeast Region Marketing Manager, Panchyk has been with Hazen and Sawyer for four years. He is a member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services – Long Island Chapter.

The author or editor of 18 books, Panchyk is also a dedicated local historian and has written seven books on local history, including A History of Westbury, 101 Glimpses of Long Island’s North Shore, and Forgotten Tales of Long Island. A common thread through his books is his interest in historic preservation. He has also authored an article on Levittown for the Encyclopedia of American Environmental History. His biography appears in Who’s Who in America.

Vincent Pizzulli – Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman

Vincent J. Pizzulli, Jr. is a Partner in the Real Estate Practice Group at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP, and concentrates his practice in real estate, zoning, land use and environmental law. He brings twenty six years of experience to the firm in all aspects of complex real estate and land use matters for major real estate developers, international and domestic corporations, and municipal clients. He also represents clients in Article 78 proceedings.

Mr. Pizzulli has been appointed as special counsel to both the Smithtown and Huntington Planning Boards. He has served as Smithtown Assistant Town Attorney where he was counsel to the Building Department and Code Enforcement Bureau. Additionally, he has served as a Huntington Assistant Town Attorney where he was counsel to the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board on all zoning and land use matters.

He graduated from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1979, and earned his Juris Doctor in 1982 from St. John’s University School of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of The Forum. He is admitted to practice in the state of New York.

Vic Skolnick, co-founder of Huntington's Cinema Arts Centre

Vic Skolnick, co-founder and co-director of Huntington's Cinema Arts Centre, passed away on June 9th at age 81. Skolnick was a devoted community advocate with a great spirit who loved film. The Cinema Arts Centre opened in 1973, and has since grown into one of Long Island's finest independent entertainment venues. Located in downtown Huntington, the not-for-profit serves a population that reaches far beyond the Town.

Vic's mission for the Cinema Arts Centre was to bring the best in cinematic artistry to Long Island, and use the power of film to expand the awareness and consciousness of community. It offers a great range of new, old, independent, foreign, and other specialized genre films. There are also frequent guest speakers and events.

Long Island Press has a full obituary here.

Senator Schumer joins battle for emergency mass transit funding to stave off service and job cuts

On Friday afternoon, June 11th, Keep America Moving, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Transit Worker Union WeAct and others organized a press event outside of Penn Station in NYC to urge Congress to pass a $2 billion transit aid bill that would provide about $250 million to MTA and $125 million to NJ Transit to stave off service cuts, fare hikes and layoffs. Vision Long Island’s Eric Alexander spoke at the event in support of the bill, the Public Transportation Preservation Act of 2010. "Transit operation assistance not only helps cities, but suburban areas like Long Island. In order to grow our downtowns, we need transit services in order to have transit oriented development,"  said Alexander.

Senator Schumer is a co-sponsor of the bill, along with seven Senate colleagues. The Senator spoke on the national funding crisis that is gripping transit riders and the men and women who operate and maintain transportation systems. Just as the nation is struggling to emerge from a recession, mass transit systems around America are being cut back. Massive service cuts are devastating transit in New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, San Francisco and many other locations. Supporters of the Senator’s bill believe that just the opposite is needed: a federal push to fund mass transit, which is a powerful economic engine creating jobs and access to employment. Moreover, mass transit is a green and affordable way to travel for work and leisure, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and allowing for a much smaller carbon footprint than travel by car.

Sen. Schumer pushes Livable Communities Act

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, in testimony before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, has called for passage of the Livable Communities Act, which would provide regional planning grants for Smart Growth and sustainable planning initiatives in neighborhoods throughout Long Island and New York State. The Livable Communities Act would create a competitive grant program to help communities carefully coordinate every aspect of regional planning, from housing and transportation to environmental initiatives and infrastructure programs. It would provide the necessary funding for the Intra-agency Partnership for Sustainable Communities (HUD, DOT, EPA) to be successful in creating a one-stop-shop for local governments looking for guidance on sustainable planning and how to traverse the federal bureaucracy. The bill, S.1619, provides some impressive language and statistics that support the Smart Growth movement.

“It’s about time the Federal Government step up to the plate to support better planning policy that coordinates housing, environmental and transportation initiatives to provide communities like Long Island with the tools necessary to retain a young viable population and revitalize their local economies,” Schumer said at the hearing.

Schumer also announced that he has secured a commitment from HUD, DOT and the EPA to hold a field meeting with local communities on Long Island this summer. Vision Long Island, along with Sustainable Long Island and the Hofstra University Center for Suburban Studies, are partnering with the Senator to bring this important meeting to Long Island. This initiative has the potential to transform metropolitan areas by bringing back economic competition, increased access to employment opportunities and the greater availability for transit options. The goal is to promote downtown revitalization and sustainable development throughout the area. 

Watch a video of Senator Schumer discussing the Livable Communities Act on the Senate floor here.

Patrick Foye appointed as Nassau rep on MTA Board

Patrick Foye, a recent appointee as Nassau County's deputy supervisor for economic development, is the newest member of the MTA's Board of Directors. Foye serves as the Nassau County representative to the 17-member board, a position that has been vacant since David Mack resigned last September. Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano hired Foye in February as Deputy County Executive for Economic Development. He also serves as Executive Director of the Assessment Reform Team for the County. He previously served as chairman of the Empire State Development Corporation, as well as vice chair of LIPA. Most recently, he worked alongside Ed Mangano at a law firm.

Read more at Newsday.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition coming to LI, volunteers wanted

The hit TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is coming to Long Island for a deserving family in Suffolk County. Alure Home Improvements will be leading the build and hopes to help inspire that Long island community to come together for a great cause and heartwarming experience. The exact town and family cannot be released until the door knock on Monday, June 21st. However, unlike Alure's 7 previous Home Makeovers on LI, for the first time they will be holding a Pep Rally a week before the door knock to recruit volunteers and community support. 

The Pep Rally will be this Monday, June 14th from 6:30-8:30pm at Suffolk County Sports Park, 3 Court House Dr. in Central Islip. The producer of the show will talk about how they change lives week after week, and Alure will discuss their involvement in their 8th Extreme Makeover. Those attending will hear how they can get involved and be among the first to sign up to volunteer. John Hampson of Nine Days will make a special appearance and perform their top ten hit, “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” along with a few other songs. Alure is inviting volunteers from the community interested in providing their time, support and/or resources to help ensure the success of this life-altering project. Following the pep rally, volunteers can sign up for the project, which will start a week later. Volunteers needed include food servers, general labor, clean-up workers and skilled trades like sheetrock, tape & spackle, framing, finishing carpenters and more.

More information is available on Facebook, or at Alure.com. To get involved, you can email extremelongisland@alure.com.

Historic Penn Station eagle at Hicksville LIRR station to get facelift

This past Monday, key stakeholders joined together to announce restoration plans for the 100-year-old Penn Station Eagle, now located at the Hicksville LIRR Station. The statue, which weighs 5,700 pounds, is one of 22 that adorned the original Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan. In 1965, the statue moved to Hicksville in order to make room for Madison Square Garden. The Hicksville High School Latin Club wrote an inscription below the eagle, which reads, "A Roman eagle once urban is now in Hicksville quite suburban." The restoration will repair the bird's marble beak, which seems to have fallen off.

Attendees at the press conference included Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, the Hicksville Historical Society, Northwest Civic Association and Vision Long Island's Eric Alexander. County Executive Mangano is contributing $2,500 to the restoration, using funds from the County's hotel and motel tax income fund, which is allowed to support artwork. Local groups in Hicksville will fundraise an additional $2,500.

Read more at Newsday and MSNBC.

Drama in Mineola over 9-story project

Mineola’s bi-monthly Village Board Meeting this Wednesday focused on a proposed development for a 9 story condominium building to be built on the Northwest corner of Old Country Rd. and Willis Ave. “The Winston,” by Polimeni Associates, won a Smart Growth Award in 2008.

The meeting began with its regular housekeeping items, including affirming that Mineola was and is the lead agency for this project. The main issue is that the site contains overlapping municipal jurisdictions. The Village has coordinated with the Nassau County Planning Commission to subdivide the building. However, the project is being hindered by Garden City, whose jurisdiction is applicable because the development is within 300 ft. of the City’s boundaries. The specific legislation, Nassau County Charter section 1610, is intended to promote collaboration between communities in order to coordinate land uses, planning efforts and infrastructure, especially at town and village boundaries. Garden City’s border line is just across the street on the south side of Old Country Rd.

The site is currently zoned as B3, which permits special office business, and fits into Mineola’s master visioning for its community. The project is also expected to generate significant tax revenues for the Village of Mineola. The Village Board felt this project would not only be good for Mineola, but for Garden City as well. Paul Pereira, Trustee on the Village Board, called Garden City’s efforts “obstruction for the sake of obstructing”.

Mr. Polimeni’s representative cited letters from Garden City that requested $20K to cover expenses for seeker studies to determine environmental impacts, which they would use as a way to influence zoning in Mineola and ultimately reduce the height of the building and increase setbacks. Polimeni’s attorney noted that these studies had already been conducted and Garden City had the opportunity and chose not to interject. Further, he questioned whether or not the request has precedent in past practice, and even more so, Garden City had not provided an expense list for the studies. Mineola’s attorney put the issue frankly stating that “if someone was going to shoot me, I wouldn’t buy him the bullets.”

To get the project back on track, the developer could reapply with Mineola for the subdivision of the building to be rental apartments instead of its current status as condominiums, rather than seek subdivision approval from Garden City. The developer noted that if the building was changed to rental apartments, the elevations and overall quality of the project would not be affected.

Mayor Jack Martins was concerned with how the project would be affected if it changed to rental apartments. He requested information concerning how the change would affect parking requirements, traffic, taxes and the school district to be submitted by July 7th, so the information can be reviewed before a hearing on July 14th.

Navigating the farmers market: some seasonal tips

As we prepare for downtown Hicksville to open its brand new Farmers Market on June 27th, we thought we'd give you some helpful info and tips on how to shop efficiently at your local farmers market. Remember, local food is fresher, healthier, and usually tastier; plus you'll be supporting your local economy! AARP released a 7-point list last year that is pretty useful:

1. Plan your route. Walk around the market at least twice: The first time is to scout the produce, taste samples, and decide what you want to cook; the second to do your actual shopping. Wait to buy weighty items, such as melons and potatoes, and perishables like dairy, fish, and meat, until just before you leave. Worried that something will sell out? Ask the purveyor to hold on to your purchase for last-minute pick-up.

2. Have cash in pocket. For speedy transactions carry small bills and change—and keep them in a pocket. There’s rarely room on farmers’ tables to perch your purse.

3. Double bag it. Bring a large shoulder bag for sturdy vegetables and firm fruits. Use a separate bag to carry by the handle for fragile berries, ripe fruits, and delicate greens. Have a cooler waiting in your car, if that's how you travel and you have a long trip home or other errands to run.

4. Go late and save. You may miss some coveted items, but this is the way to find bargains. As the end of market day approaches, farmers will make their own bargain packs, putting peppers or peaches into one, two, or three-dollar bags. If they don’t, you can ask (nicely) for a closing-time deal. They don’t want to haul perishable extra product back home.

5. Purchase at the crop’s peak. Want to make a blueberry pie? Don’t buy the fruit the first day you see blueberries for sale. Find out when they’ll be at their prime. Height-of-the-season produce may taste better, but it is always more abundant—and that means lower prices.

6. Ask the experts. Few people know the produce as well as the farmers who grow the greens or sprouts or squash from day one—and serve it at many of their own meals. As you shop, don’t be shy to tap into this know-how. Some questions you might ask: How do I choose a good one? When will it be ripe? How should it be stored? How long should it last? What is the best way to cook it?

7. Get how it’s grown. A local market is an opportunity to understand the impact your eating has on the earth. Pay attention to signs that say something other than “Organic,” the USDA legal language for farms that officially don’t use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Some farmers choose not to pay for the paperwork of certification. Some go beyond (such as “Biodynamic”) and some are on their way (“Transitional”). “No spray” or “pesticide free” can be confusing, misleading, or both. Ask the farmer for clarification.

Read more from AARP here. (Special thanks to Deborah Streube for providing us with this article.)

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.

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!

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.

APA-LI Arthur Kunz Memorial Scholarship Breakfast June 24th

On Thursday, June 24th, the APA Long Island Section will be holding its annual Arthur Kunz Memorial Scholarship Breakfast from 8:30-10:00am at Molloy College at Republic Airport in Farmingdale (). The featured speaker will be Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman. Neal Lewis, Executive Director of Molloy’s Sustainability Institute, will present an update on the Institute’s activities. Scholarship winners that attended the 2009 and 2010 APA National Planning Conferences will highlight their experiences. A breakfast buffet will be provided. Costs are $25 for APA members, $15 for students, and $30 for nonmembers and at the door. All net proceeds fund future scholarships for Long Island’s new planners and planning students!

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact David Berg, or at 516-827-4900 x206. You can register now online. (If paying by PayPal or credit card, please also send an email to Kathy Eiseman, Section Treasurer with your name, organization/school & member number if applicable). You can also 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. Directions are available here.

"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 received 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.

NYLCVEF hiring Director of Civic Engagement

The New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (NYLCVEF) is hiring a Director of Civic Engagement. The Director of Civic Engagement will develop and execute voter education and engagement programming to increase the civic participation of New Yorkers around environmental issues. Reporting directly to the President, s/he will create, manage and evaluate civic and environmental education initiatives designed to mobilize voters, including nonpartisan political advocacy; policy forums; leadership training; candidate debates; government accountability reports; legislative guides; polling; Web content (nylcvef.org) and e-advocacy. The Director is responsible for coordinating foundation and corporate giving to support these programs, including prospecting, soliciting and cultivating institutional supporters. S/he will represent NYLCVEF at donor meetings and public events, and will play an active role with the Board of Directors. A strong emphasis is placed on internal collaboration as well as external partnerships. The Director of Civic Engagement must build and maintain relationships with key partners, including community groups; local, statewide and national environmental and civic action not-for-profits; higher education institutions; foundations; and corporate supporters.

Qualifications include: 3 - 5 years experience in program management, ideally with an advocacy organization, foundation, state or local government or a related field; applicants with a Master’s Degree preferred; knowledge of and interest in New York politics (local and statewide), environmental issues and non-partisan electoral politics; sound understanding of the civic engagement field, organizations and systems; experience writing or managing grant proposals and/or reports; ability to manage multiple ongoing projects and use evaluation tools to gauge program effectiveness; understanding of nonprofit organizational development, budgeting and strategic planning; strong communication skills: excellent writer, active listener and consummate public speaker; experience in computers and new technologies including social networking media; and previous experience with Catalist and Drupal not required, but a plus. 

Send a cover letter and resume to jobs@nylcv.org

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.

Northport ArtWalk on Sunday: last chance!

The Northport ArtWalk is a self-guided tour of artwork displayed for sale at the many galleries, studios and eclectic venues on Northport's Main Street. Come check it out this Sunday, June 13 from 4-7pm. This is your final chance to check out the ArtWalk, which also took place on two Sundays in April and May. Pick up your maps at either of the welcome booths, located at Caffe Portofino and Copenhagen Bakery. As you walk, enjoy live music and face painting; plus meet the artists as you walk around and enjoy a great downtown! Each shop features the work of a different artist, and the art is also available for purchase.

The ArtWalk is organized by the Northport Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Northport Arts Coalition. Experience Northport's emerging and established artists in the venues that inspire them. More information is available here.

Cinema on the Bay in Port Washington

Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington present Cinema on the Bay, with its first installment this Saturday, June 12th. On four Saturday nights, June through August, the Cinema on the Bay film series takes center stage in a town-wide festival. The spotlight also shines as Yoga Life offers Sunset Yoga half hour before each movie, area shops stay open late, restaurants serve festive fare and Sunset Park transforms into an open-air marketplace. This week's film is Mamma Mia.

Yoga starts at 8:30 and the film starts at 9pm. The film play at the Town of North Hempstead Dock, 347 Main St, Port Washington. The event is free and open to all. Com check out downtown Port Washington at its best! Read more at the Port Washington Patch.

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