“It’s really a change in a way of thinking, instead of auto-centered design, we’re thinking about all roadway users.” - Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone on the Town's new Complete Streets policy

How do you feel about the Hempstead plan for the Coliseum site?

Preliminary responses

The news of the Town of Hempstead's rezoning plan for the Nassau Coliseum site has caused some viral responses. (Here's a link to Monday's e-blast with more info) We've assembled all of the comments we've received since then. The majority of the responses are negative and fear that the project was too scaled down, though many speak to the necessity of compromise between the Town's plan and the Lighthouse. Few staunch advocates have emerged, but some support the Town's autonomy. Feel free to continue emailing us or commenting on Facebook with your comments.

Negative:

I hope Hempstead town hasn't scared Wang away!

I give the greatest respect to Mr. Wang for holding his ground and the vision above his head this long. If he wasn't scared in the past he sure isn't now ;-)

Why do I get the feeling that at some point in the future I may have to go to willets point or Brooklyn to see Islander games?

I think the Town of Hempstead has put the nail in the coffin for the Coliseum revitalization plan. With a lowered density, you are not going to generate the revenue necessary for major investment, and neither will the MTA do much to improve public transit access. It's another wasted opportunity for LI development, par for the course, I guess. And yes, it's a good bet the Islanders are going to end up in Brooklyn or Queens.
Kate Murray should be removed from office spare the citizens of Nassau County her stupidity, and myopic vision....she is truly pathetic, just let her pad her pension and leave already.

Well, it's actually not a plan...it's a disaster! Who thunk it up?

Feels like it is just never going to happen. End of story!

dislike

Another epic failure for Long Island Town government planning! 500 residential units, are you kidding me? What kind of public transit improvements are going to be created at that level of density? Forget light rail, a direct LIRR connection, you'll be lucky if you get one additional bus route. And a nine story hotel, hardly an iconic landmark to draw tourists. Anyway, you are not going to need it, because I expect the Islanders to be moving out ASAP.

The only way to remedy this situation is to take development authority and move it to a regional level, or we are going to see continual economic decline.

Pretty disappointing about the Lighthouse project being effectively dead without a good alternative out there. Disheartening, frustrating, and just another reason why I hold some animosity toward Long Island. And that's the carefully worded version...

I think it is imperative that there be adjustments to this Hempstead Plan. The key for it to move forward is for the developers to make money. For without that the plan will fail when the necessary investors don't jump on board.
There has to be more available housing with more than 500 residents, there has to be "more" for the younger people to be attracted to it and there should NOT be a casino at this location.
As was stated, having a casino is not good for the students, it can attract the "wrong crowd" and it is not something that families will go for - it automatically limits the number of people who will come to the area. Yes, scale back some of the Lighthouse Project, if you must, but the restrictions being placed right now are dooming it to failure.
If they want the casino, have it out east, if at all. I, personally, am not a fan of casinos, but if it needs to be built, have it on the Shinnecock reservation, not on public land. Face it, casinos are for gamblers and it attracts a non family group. Hempstead is not the place for it, and neither is near Bellport, with all it's problems. You know the well-to-do areas don't want it, for the reasons I mentioned above. (What does that tell you) So, place it on the reservation or at a racetrack where there already is gambling.
Let's get the Lighthouse Project off the ground and start getting jobs, families and nice place to attract people going. This could be a project that launches Long Island into the 21st century.

Once again Kate Murray and the Town of Hempstead have failed to deliver any sort of progress for the residents of the Town and for Nassau County. As many of our neighbors are facing record unemployment, foreclosure, and ever increasing taxes Kate Murray and the Town of Hempstead have effectively killed a project that would have injected $3.8 billion dollars and 19,000 jobs into the local economy. Instead of just saying 'No' to development at the coliseum, they choose to string out the process for almost three years while wasting millions of dollars of taxpayer money.

Before I would support a casino at the NC site I would need a cost benefit analysis. However, I really do not believe that would show a casino in NC’s best interest. I would opt for an incubator tech park that feeds somewhat off of Hostra Univ as a better long term option for high-tech careers. Students should intern not gamble on that site.

Positive:

The Town of Hempstead did the right thing. Rechler and Wang will make all the money and leave all the burdens associated with the project to local government and local residents and taxpayers. If more development is the answer to Long Island's current woes, we'd be getting dividend checks by now.

I totally agree with Kate Murray about the colisem plan.

Other:

It's a difficult call. While all of us would like to see progress and a central "hub" for Long Island, the ecological impact is big deal to Uniondalers. I can tell you Uniondale Avenue is very difficult to cross during business hours. And there's also a concern about the available water supply.

I'm sure something can be worked out to keep all sides happy, and the Town would be willing to talk (I'm not a part of government. I just live here).

In my humble opinion a compromise must be made. It is my understanding that about 75 add’l acres are privately owned making up the total proposed Lighthouse project. Maybe even a new RFP should now go out for the redevelopment of the 77 acres of land that Nassau County owns based on the towns new zoning plan.
As far as the affordable – workforce housing component. I understand that the original proposal called for 2400 housing units but only 20% were proposed as somewhat affordable. I would like to see the county buy-in to the Community Land Trust model and if only 500 units are approved make them all 100% permanently affordable via the CLT model on NC owned land.

I agree with you that the Town and Wang are not so far apart ... that it should not be impossible to negotiate a plan that works.

I do hope they reconsider the severe limits they placed on height. Somewhere a compromise or two should get this moving again.

GreenStreet LI

GreenStreet LI offers Long Islanders simple (and free) ways to go green. The GreenStreet LI Advisory Group consists of volunteer non-profit organizations hand-selected by Newsday’s Community Affairs department to collaboratively inform and support the responsible launch and development of Newsday’s GreenStreet LI program. Members of the Advisory Group are other Long Island non-profits chosen for their dedication and expertise in local environmental, sustainability and smart growth issues.

Check out greenstreetli.com for some great tips on green living!

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.

Safer Streets coming to a place near you

The Town of Babylon announced this week that they have adopted a “complete streets” policy that aims at making roadways more pedestrian-, cyclist- and handicap- friendly. Babylon is the first municipality on Long Island and only the third statewide to adapt this type of legislation.

The policy ensures that road projects starting in 2011 incorporate designs that are advantageous to all travelers- whether it be by bicycle, automobile, wheelchair or foot. The complete streets policy calls for wider sidewalks, curb cuts and crosswalks. The streets will also be more environmentally sustainable with goals of keeping storm runoff to a minimum, having tree cover and utilizing more streetscaping.

The complete streets policy comes on the heels of a report published by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign that stated Long Island has some of the most dangerous roads in the country. In Babylon itself, there were 17 pedestrian deaths from 2006-2008.

The NY State Senate passed the statewide complete streets bill last month, but it awaits action in the Assembly.

Rails to Trails moves along

The Long Island Power Authority and Suffolk County have entered into an agreement to help establish an 11-mile hiking and biking trail between Wading River and Port Jefferson. The $9.5 million trail will be built on what formally was a rail path, and will provide cyclists and hikers a safe and accessible means of travel from Port Jefferson Train Station all the way east to Long Island’s Pine Barrons Region.

The “rails to trails” path, as it has been dubbed, will be a federally funded project, with money coming in the form of a grant from the Federal Highway Administration. The Trail will be owned by LIPA but the responsibility for developing, supervising and maintaining the trail will fall into the hands of Suffolk County.

Suffolk County Legislator Dan Losquardo said that the trail would provide a safer alternative to walking on Route 25A and would make it easier for residents to access downtown Rocky Point. He added, “This is not going to be the Indy500. This will be a small, shared use path for hiking, biking and walking.”

To that point, plans are for the trail to be around 10 feet wide, nestled between wooded areas. The trail will likely be paved in order to limit the cost as well as damage to bicycle wheels.

The proposed trail hit a minor road block back in March when County officials refused to enter into an agreement with LIPA because of the language in the proposal. The original agreement allowed for LIPA to remove the trail without the County’s consent, while the cost of replacing the trail would be handed over to the County. The new proposal, agreed upon by both parties, calls for LIPA to be more specific about a scenario that would warrant the removal of the path.

Officials are still awaiting final approval for the 9.5 million federal grant. However, Legislator Losquadro was confident when speaking about the grant to the North Shore Sun and told The Sun he was hoping it was, “Just a formality at this point."

LIRR Bay Shore station renovation

The Long Island Rail Road Bay Shore Station, which opened in 1912 and now serves approximately 1,600 customers daily, underwent a multi-phase renovation project that included replacing the station’s underpass, new platform lighting and the complete rehabilitation of the station building. The $3.6 million project was funded by the State Senate monetary allocation as well as money from the MTA LIRR Capital Improvement Program.

State Senator Owen Johnson was instrumental in obtaining funds for the work. He said, “The Bay Shore train station services many daily commuters and is a gateway during the summer months for visitors who take the train from New York City to ride the ferries to and from the Fire Island communities. We can be proud of the new improvements which show LIRR patrons that we care about their comfort and safety.”

The Station building renovations included installing new windows, doors, handicap accessible restrooms, as well as new heating, ventilation and air condition system. This went along with the aesthetically pleasing paint job given to exterior columns and waiting areas on both platforms. The last touch was installing vintage-style light posts on platforms and new perimeter lighting around the station building.

In photo, l-r: Donna Periconi, President of the Bay Shore Chamber of Commerce; Angie Carpenter, Suffolk County Treasurer; Joseph McNulty, Mayor, Village of Brightwaters; Helena Williams, President of the LIRR; Phil Nolan, Supervisor Town of Islip; Owen Johnson, NY State Senator; Steve Flotteron, Councilman Town of Islip; Tom Cilmi, Suffolk County Legislator; Gene Parrington, Councilman, Town of Islip; Phil Ramos, Assemblyman, 6th; Mitch Palley, Suffolk County Representative to the MTA Board. Not pictured: Eric Alexander, Vision Long Island

Heritage Park opens to movies, concerts and Mister Softee

The Heritage Center in Mount Sinai has kept the ball rolling with cutting edge ideas and now plays hosts to the State’s first truckless Mister Softee. You can add Mister Softee to the already impressive list of events and activities going on at the former Smart Growth Award Winning Heritage Center and surrounding Heritage Park. The list includes Koga (a combination of kickboxing and Yoga-not for the fainthearted), an outdoor movie series, a weekly farmers market and the Heritage Summerfest Concert Series. All the events are put on by the Heritage Trust, a not-for-profit group that owns and operates the park.

“Mister Softee on the Green,” which served up its first cone this May, comes equipped with an outside seating area, umbrellas and even that al-too-familiar iconic jingle playing from its loud speakers every 30 minutes. The store’s owner, John Badalamente, told the North Shore Sun he got the idea of opening up an ice cream store from his old neighborhood in Queens: “Growing up in Queens, we didn’t have a big yard and I spent a lot of time at a nearby park that looks a lot like Heritage Park.” Mister Softee on the Green also serves snacks and drinks.

More importantly, Badalamente is helping keep Heritage Park a destination and focal point for the community. “I know I’m an ice cream man, but I’m also a part of the community and part of helping it,” he said. It is the values of these community members that help ensure that Heritage Park continues to thrive and be the heart of the vibrant North Shore.

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., 7 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-Coram Rd. Open Fridays, 2 pm to 6 pm. Contact Trish Graham 631-509-0882

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 Hwy & Long Beach Rd. Open Sun., 7 a.m. to noon; through Nov. 21. Contact: Ethel Terry 631-323-3653

Portion Road Corridor zoning hearing held

On Tuesday, June 8th, the Town of Brookhaven held a Special Town Board Hearing to re-zone parts of the Portion Road Corridor in order to adhere to the Lake Ronkonkoma Land Use Plan. The Town adopted the Land Use Plan earlier this year. Rezoning needed to be done in order comply with the Lane Use Plan in areas where uses of the properties complied with the plan but the zoning did not.

The new zoning regulations help protect residential areas from inappropriate development, as well as remove the burden of a Change Zone application from property owners who want to develop their land in compliance with Lane Use Plan. The Town was successful in re-zoning 78 out of 86 parcels at the hearing. Another special hearing for similar purposes of re-zoning along Portion Road will take place later this year.

McNally looking to live the dream

John McNally, a self-proclaimed “30-something trying to make it work on the Island” recently published a column in the Times Beacon Record entitled “Imagine a Better Long Island”. McNally is an environmental program officer and communications director for the Rauch Foundation. Rauch Foundation is the convener and publisher of the Long Island Index, which provides data about the Long Island region, to promote informed public debate and sound policy making.

The column discusses the ongoing problems that face Long Islanders (high taxes, horrible traffic volumes and lack of affordable housing) and how we have done little to fix it. McNally writes of Long Island over the past 30 years, “Taxes are now higher, traffic is worse and the region's greatest export is now its bright young minds. We are, quite simply, a region in decline.”

Despite the grim outlook, McNally encourages people to think of plausible solutions to help dust Long Island off and get it back on its feet. The contest is called “Build a Better a Burb.” McNally writes,

In March, we asked designers, architects, artists and creative minds from around the world to think of our Island not as it is, but how it could be. We identified thousands of parcels of potentially developable land in and around the Island's existing downtowns and rail stations and asked them, "What if?" And the response has been incredible.

As I type, hundreds of people representing 30 countries and 24 states have registered for the contest and are submitting their concepts about what our towns could look like with a little dose of imagination — and in some cases, quite a bit. By the time you read this, a panel of judges will have selected the most intriguing of the ideas and we'll be asking you to vote on your favorite. In doing so, we hope you'll begin to look at your town just a little bit differently. A little bit more consciously. A little more creatively.

For most, the summer is a time when things slow down just a notch or two. More time with our families, more time in our towns and villages, more time at our beautiful parks and beaches. Next time you're sitting in traffic en route to one of these places, rather than get frustrated, why not dream a little bit about what could be?

What if that underutilized parking lot were actually a park? Could an apartment go above that corner convenience store? What would it take to turn your downtown into a place a young adult or retiring senior might want to live?

Long Island needs your ideas. We used to be a place that led the nation. With a little bit of imagination, we can again.

Voting is currently open for the 23 finalists! Click here to vote for your favorite. http://www.buildabetterburb.org/gallery

McNally’s full article can be viewed here.

Condos fueling Miami downtown

Downtown Miami is in the becoming a happening city and, ironically, the housing crash of 2008 is to thank. During the housing boom of 2004-2008, over 22,000 luxury units and 75 buildings were built in Downtown Miami. Now, thanks to the crash, many of those unsold condos can be rented for as little as $2700 a month.

The low rent has attracted a new demographic of young people to the downtown area. Round up a couple of roommates and you could be paying as little $900 a month for wraparound balconies, water views, access to a gym, spa, and steam room. Best of all, Downtown Miami can offer anything and everything needed to work and play.

The 7,000 condos that went unsold in Miami’s downtown are filling up and giving life to a neighborhood that previously closed after daytime. Now, year-round residents are cramming into restaurants, nightclubs and bars that didn’t exist a few years ago and enjoying a lifestyle made possible in part by developers and banks seeking to recoup losses by renting luxury dwellings until the market recovers.

Robert Geitner, a spokesman for the development authority, told Bloomberg News that it estimates the population of Miami’s urban core jumped from 40,000 to about 70,000 since the 2000 census.

Alan Ojeda, whose Rilea Group recently finished 1450 Brickell Avenue, one of three new office towers in the city’s urban core, told Bloomberg News, “Miami is turning into something that Florida has never had: a densely populated city where professionals live and work. Rilea Group’s building cost $270 million and has 35 stories, 585,000 square feet of rentable space and 1,200 parking spaces. “It’s what’s missing in Florida,” Ojeda said of the downtown. “Look, it’s 9 p.m. on a Thursday. It’s not Saturday night fever and the bars and restaurants are full.”

East End GreenFest on July 24-25th

The East End GreenFest returns to Strawberry Fields Fairgrounds in Mattituck on Saturday and Sunday, July 24th and 25th, from 10am-8pm on Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sunday. The two-day “open air” celebration of all things local and green on Long Island was voted the “Event of the Year” for the East End from the Readers of Dan’s Papers last summer.

The number of new “green” businesses on Long Island has grown enormously over the past year, ensuring this year’s GreenFest will be bigger than ever. In addition to these new entries, GreenFest 2010 will showcase 10 live local bands and entertainers on a solar powered stage, local wineries, renewable energy exhibits and hands on demonstrations, healthy and organic food, a farmers’ market, local artists and natural and hand-crafted products for sale.

A long list of exhibitors will be attending the event from many different Green walks of life including: renewable energy, green building, waste reduction, organic and natural products, natural health and beauty, green kids, green living, healthy foods and beverages, green transportation, earth-friendly fashion and local and national environmental non-profit associations.

Live local music is a central part of the weekend’s festivities with many original New York acts taking to the solar powered concert stage, including Caroline Doctorow, RBC, the Mondays, Big River Ransom, If, But, When and Black Suit Youth. An even longer list of performers will be entertaining festival goers this year including fire dancers, dance troupes, hula hoop performers, POI arts instruction and a fire eater. There will also be book signings and special guests.

As always, GreenFest asks that all attendees bring a non-perishable food item, household item or personal care product, to support the local food bank, CAST. The first 200 paid adult ticket holders each day that bring a non-perishable food item for CAST will receive a FREE GreenFest t-shirt.

Tickets are available at the gate for $3 for adults and children 12 and under are FREE. Strawberry Fields Fairgrounds is located on Route 48 in Mattituck. For more information on the East End GreenFest please visit their website.

Sustainable film series: "Fresh" on August 11

On Wednesday evening, August 11th, the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College presents their Sustainable Film Series with the 2009 film, FRESH. The 70-minute film starts at 7:30pm with networking and food starting at 7:00. Admission is free and there will be free local food, popcorn and beverages. The film will be shown at the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College in Farmingdale (directions here).

FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet. FRESH addresses an ethos that has been sweeping the nation and is a call to action America has been waiting for. Among several main characters, FRESH features urban farmer and activist Will Allen, the recipient of MacArthur’s 2008 Genius Award; sustainable farmer and entrepreneur Joel Salatin, made famous by Michael Pollan’s book The Omnivore’s Dilemma; and supermarket owner David Ball, challenging our “Wal-Mart dominated economy.”

Vision Long Island is this month's event sponsor. For more info call 516-678-5000 ext.7562 or email info@si.molloy.edu.

RFP For affordable homes in Southampton

The Southampton Community Housing and Development Corporation is working with the Long Island Housing Partnership Technical Assistance Provider to bring affordable single family housing to the Town of Southampton.

The Southampton Community Housing and Development Corporation and LIHP are currently courting potential homebuilders for nine low- to moderate-income family houses to be located in scattered locations throughout Southampton. Interested builders are invited to submit a Request For Proposal (RFP) to Vince Taldone of Southampton Community Housing and Development Corporation. Submission should be sent to 116 Hampton Road, Southampton, NY 11968. The deadline for submission is August 16th.

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.

Vision Long Island seeking interns for Fall 2010

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.

Hicksville Street Fair on Sunday

This Sunday is the Hicksville Street Fair! Come to downtown Hicksville and enjoy free rides, live entertainment including music and a magician, over 100 vendors, delicious street fair style food, local business participation, face painting, tattoos, free caricature drawings, a water slide, a rock wall and more. The first 500 kids under 10 to visit the Chamber's table get a free t-shirt! Vision is a sponsor of the festival and will be there to support the downtown revitalization.

The 8th annual event will take place from 11am-6pm at the intersection of Rt. 107 and Jerusalem Ave, at Kennedy Memorial Park near the train station. As always, the weekly farmers market will also be there. Visit the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce website for more info.

Riverhead Blues and Music Festival

The 12th edition of the Riverhead Blues and Music Festival will be taking place this Saturday and Sunday from 11am-11pm. Rain or shine, come enjoy 3 stages of great music, great food and vendors. This annual event draws all different genres of music lovers to enjoy some great sounds in Riverhead's downtown! The festival will be on two outdoor stages behind East Main Street, plus one state at the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall at 18 Peconic Avenue.

Admission is $10 for a one-day pass and $16 for a two-day pass (available only online). Children 10 and under are free. Tickets can be bought at the door. For more information, schedule, and tickets, visit their website.

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
Interns: Herb Glass, Chloe Johnson, Cody Miller, May Lee, Danielle Kane

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