A Message from Vision Long Island...

We are pleased to report that the 12th Annual Smart Growth Awards was a special event for all of us working to maintain and create great places on Long Island.  The attendance was the largest we have ever had and the energy in the room was spectacular.
The stage full of Sandy volunteers or the tributes to the many leaders and projects were all highlights.

We would like to thank all of the communities, businesses, public officials and sponsors who made the event a success but more importantly thanks for all you do each day to advance Smart Growth on LI.

Vision LI Board of Directors
Keith Archer - Harras, Bloom & Archer, David Berg - Cameron Engineering, Richard Bivone - RMB Drafting / Long Island Business Counci, Eliot Bloom - Law Office of Eliot Bloom, Lionel Chitty - Hicksville Chamber of Commerce, John Durso - Local 338, Trudy Fitzsimmons - Leadership Huntington, Peter Florey - D&F Development, Robert Fonti - VJMCO / Long Island Business Council, Matt Frank - RXR Realty, Larry Gargano - Greenview Properties, Bishop Harrison Hale - Harrison Hale Community Action, Patrick Halpin - Institute for Student Achievement, John Keating - National Grid, Richard Kessel, John Kominicki - Long Island Business News, Dr. Richard Koubek - Jobs with Justice, Steven Krieger - Engel Burman, Alex Latham - ADL III Architecture, David Leno - Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, Neal Lewis - Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, Jorge Martinez - American Transit Insurance, Bruce Migatz - Albanese & Albanese, Richard Panchyk - Hardesty & Hanover, Vincent Pizzulli - Forchelli Curto Deegan, Michael F. Puntillo - The Jobco Organization, Maria Rigopoulos - Mill Creek Residential Trust, Dr. Nathalia Rogers - Dowling College, Larry Rosenbloom - Zyscovich Architects, Keith Samaroo - PS&S, Robert Scheiner - H2M Architects, Joy Squires - Huntington Conservation Board, Ronald Stein - Good Harvest Financial, Edward Thompson - Molloy College, John Trotta - Posillico, William Tuyn - Greenman Pedersen

Vision Long Island Staff
Eric Alexander, Tawaun Weber, Elissa Kyle, Christopher Kyle, Lucrecia Ayala, Elisabeth Muehlemann, Donald Schug, Jake Palant, Luke Mazzotta

12th Annual Smart Growth Awards celebrates Long Island's progress and local leadership

Over 700 Long Islanders gather to honor those who have gone above and beyond to advance Smart Growth on Long Island

The 12th Annual Smart Growth Awards took place on Friday, June 14th from 11:30am to 2:00pm at the Huntington Hilton in Melville. With over 700 attendees, including guests speakers and Award winners from all across Long Island, this year’s event honored diverse groups and individuals from various sectors that have shown leadership in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and exemplify Smart Growth principles.

This year’s honorees were: US Congressman Peter King for his efforts in the passage of the Sandy relief bill and the transportation bill, Post-Sandy Rebuilding Volunteers for their rebuilding efforts and support for Sandy victims across the island, “Yes We Can!” Center of New Cassel, Joy Squires of the Huntington Conservation Board, for her efforts in preserving open space, Lavena Sipes of the Courtney Sipes Memorial Foundation and Mark Mancini of the Greater Smithtown Chamber of Commerce, 7Bus for providing alternative, clean transportation, Central Islip Coalition of Good Neighbors & Islip Councilman Steve Flotteron for the Central Islip Revitalization, D&F Development and the Greater Hempstead HDFC for the Linden Knolls project, LaunchPad in Mineola and Peter Goldsmith of LISTnet for mix of uses, the Connect Long Island project and Republic Station in Farmingdale for smart planning, and LIPA’s Clean Energy Programs for stimulating investment in clean, renewable energy investment on the island.

The event opened with the singing of the National Anthem by the talented Shardae Hale of the Cornerstone Church of God in Christ, which received a standing ovation, and an opening prayer from her father Bishop Harrison Hale. Vision’s Executive Director Eric Alexander introduced the honorees this year, followed by a short film of each honored person or project and a brief speech by the honorees.

The event featured Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano who spoke on the importance of growing economic centers such as the Nassau Hub in a way that leans towards Smart Growth. He also expressed an appreciation for the Smart Growth movement on Long Island and the need to continue pushing for those ideals in local municipalities across the island. Vision Long Island Board President Ron Stein also spoke, calling for a moment of silence for the passing of Larry Kushnick, a local lawyer who was at the forefront of the Smart Growth movement and many other community causes.

Next up Don Monti of Renaissance Downtowns spoke on the new Destination Long Island program that his company is hoping to use as a way to engage a younger generation on what is needed to keep them local. Bill Tuyn of Greenman Pedersen also spoke to promote the upcoming CNU conference in Buffalo.

The Smart Growth Awards featured an assortment of elected officials from multiple levels of government, including:
NYS Assembly, Hon. Ed Ra, Hon. Michaele Solages, Hon. Andrew Raia, Hon. Alfred Graf
Nassau County, Hon. Ed Mangano, Nassau County Executive, Hon. George Maragos, Comptroller, Legislator Dave Denenberg, Legislator Robert Troiano, Legislator, Carrie Solages
Suffolk County Hon. Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Executive, Legislator Rob Calarco, Legislator Tom Cilmi
Town of North Hempstead, Supervisor, Jon Kaiman, Councilwoman Viviana Russell, Councilwoman Dina DeGiorgio
Town of Babylon, Supervisor, Rich Schaffer, Town of Babylon, Janice Tinsley Colbert,
Town of Huntington, Supervisor, Frank Petrone, Councilman Mark. Cuthbertson, Councilman Susan Berland
Town of Brookhaven, Supervisor, Ed Romaine, Councilman Connie Kepert, Receiver of Taxes Lou Marcoccia
Town of Hempstead, Councilman Edward A. Ambrosino
Town of Islip, Councilman Steve Flotteron
Town of Smithtown, Councilman Edward Werheim, Councilman Robert Creighton
Villages, Deputy Mayor Jorge Martinez, Village of Freeport, Mayor Robert Kennedy, Village of Freeport, Mayor Jean Celender, Village of Great Neck Plaza, Mayor Peter Cavallaro, Village of Westbury, Mayor Ralph Eckstrand, Village of Farmingdale, Mayor Alan Dorman, Village of Islandia

The Smart Growth Awards honor individuals and organizations taking leadership in advancing Smart Growth projects, policies, regulations and initiatives. The event highlights the efforts of leaders in government, private sector, and the community that exemplify Smart Growth principles in such areas as transportation, mix of land uses, housing options, open space preservation, clean energy, compact design, revitalization, sense of place, and planning.

Smart Growth favors mixed-use, mixed-income development that is attractive and strategically designed to enhance the greater area. Smart Growth reduces traffic by making transit, walking, and biking realistic and pleasant options, thereby contributing to community health, safety, and vitality. It embraces clean energy and sustainability by design. It focuses on infill, redevelopment, and open space preservation in order to create more livable places conducive to a variety of transit options.

Thank you to all our event sponsors:

A Special Thanks to our Filmmakers:

THEM Media Inc. is a multi-disciplinary integrated media company producing content for television networks, advertising agencies, film studios and record labels. THEM was founded by Executive Producer Tony Harding in 2006 as a 21st-Century production company set to address the changes, challenges and overlaps in the advertising arena, television programming and new media landscapes. Tony Harding’s vision was to merge exceptional talent from diverse media backgrounds to become, together, a powerful multi faceted production boutique. THEM offers an innovative blend of creative production, development, new media and programming. THEM’s diverse portfolio of media projects includes television programs, commercials, music videos, feature films, branded entertainment and branded content for the web and mobile devices.

THEM Media’s company culture is to challenge conventional thought, provide clients with innovative concepts in a collaborative and inclusive environment and aggressively deliver cutting edge solutions. The company’s versatile think tank talent roster is comprised of accomplished directors, ad savvy creatives and seasoned producers, who embrace Harding’s “can do” philosophy and always find innovative ways to enable clients to achieve their objectives.

Congratulations to this year's distinguished honorees:

Creating a Mix of Uses: LISTnet & LaunchPad Long Island

Pictured (Left to Right): Peter Goldsmith - LISTnet, Andrew Hazen - LaunchPad Mineola, Richard Foster- LauchPad Mineolea, Ron Stein - Vision Long Island

The award for “Mix of Uses” went to LaunchPad Long Island, a project started by local entrepreneurs and co-founders Andrew Hazen and Richard Foster, a space for independent startups and small firms, and LISTnet for their work to make LaunchPad a reality.

LISTnet was created to promote Long Island as one of the national centers of excellence for Software and Technology solutions through the facilitation of collaborations between local companies, establishing forums and events for the exchange of information, improving the quantity of the labor force and partnering with companies that provide the High technology Centers necessary for the growth of L.I. software and technology companies.

Mr. Goldsmith recently re-located his offices to LaunchPad, bringing along the COMETS program, a hi-tech business accelerator that was also spearheaded by LISTnet. This program will also help create opportunities for those who are co-working in or leasing space from LaunchPad Mineola.

LaunchPad opened its doors in February of this year. Just a short walk away from the Mineola train station and a 30 minute ride from New York City, the business incubator allows for startup companies to rent and share office space for low prices and work in a social environment to promote creativity. The facility spans across three floors and all 12,000 square feet of a Mineola building that most recently housed a law firm and deli, the latter became the LaunchPad Café. The duo has invested $100,000 in the space which includes: chalkboard walls and glass desks, conference and meeting rooms,a lounge with plasma-screen TV, and ping pong, foosball and pool tables.

They have committed $250,000 for a seed fund that will help grow LaunchPad local startups. Their community companies include a local, high tech catering/vending business, a local news aggregator and original news source destination, a startup which provides college students with the knowledge to start and run their own businesses, and many more. About 10 start-up groups have been accepted to start using the space, but there are about 50 more applications lined up. About 20 companies moved from Brooklyn spaces, into the Mineola space.

President and CEO of LISTnet, Peter Goldsmith, accepted the award for his company, and both Andrew Hazen and Richard Foster accepted for LaunchPad, who emphasized the key factor of their success: transportation.

Watch the FILM herE

Transportation Choices: 7Bus

(Left Picture): Speaking Michael Schoolman- 7Bus (Right Picture): Michael Schoolman - 7Bus, Bill Schoolman - 7Bus, Ron Stein- Vision Long Island

The award for “Transportation Choices” went to Seven Bus, previously known as BoltBus, for providing alternative transportation for Suffolk to Manhattan commuters.

In December, BoltBus added Long Island to its bus service network. Long Island Bolt has been making 14 daily round trips to New York City from Ronkonkoma, Riverhead, and Melville each weekday and about eight or nine roundtrips on weekends, making stops on the Third Avenue at 40th and 59th Streets. The weekday morning and evening commuter are the fastest selling tickets, costing anywhere between $7 to $15.

On Friday June 7th, Classic Coach, operator of the local BoltBus routes, announced that it will break away from Bolt Bus and rebrand itself as 7Bus. The new service will offer monthly commuter rates, add additional stops, and continue to offer all of the same amenities previously offered by Bolt Bus.

The new 7Bus line will provide on-board amenities such as comfortable leather seats, extra legroom, free Wi-Fi and power outlets. Passengers have online access to 7Bus where they can book their tickets.  

Watch the FILM herE

Revitalizing Communities: "Yes We Can" Community Center

(Left Picture): Speaking North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman (Right Picture): North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, North Hempstead Councilwoman Viviana Russell, Ron Stein - Vision Long Island

The award for “Revitalizing Communities” went to the “Yes We Can” Community Center, located in New Hempstead on 141 Garden Street,  for providing a great, much-needed space for the community of New Cassel.

The center is a state-of-the art, 60,000 square-foot facility which features two NBA-size basketball courts, a fitness center, game room, dance and television studios, an internet café, and a multi-purpose rental space. The community center is a platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified structure featuring rooftop solar panels, grade-level solar trees, electric vehicle recharging stations and geothermal heating and cooling. The success of this project took commitment, hard work, and a lot of patience from the members of the community and its leaders.

The award was accepted by Supervisor of the Town of North Hempstead Jon Kaiman, who was happy to see the fruition of the project, mentioning that it had been a “long time coming.”

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Housing Choices: Linden Knolls

Pictured: (Top Left) Peter Florey - D&F Development (Top Right) Miles Merritt - Greater Hempstead Housing Development Community Foundation (Bottom) Peter Florey - D&F Development, Miles Merritt- Greater Hempstead Housing Development Community Foundation, Ron Stein- Vision Long Island

The award for “Housing Choices” went to Linden Knolls Residence, which has played an important role in the revitalization of the Village of Hempstead and will provide much need housing to the community.

This project is a five story building which will comprise of a total of 100 apartments consisting of 10 one bedroom units, 85 two bedroom units and 5 three bedroom units.  It is an affordable Family Housing Project with 4% Tax Credits (NYS HCR), plus $18.25M Tax Exempt Bonds, with State of New York Mortgage Agency Mortgage Insurance Fund Credit Enhancement, plus conventional financing $8.4. The full basement will be designed as a social center, child development center, wellness center, community laundry area, a workout room, management office and space for office rental. 

The design includes a CCTV System covering all exterior entrances, halls, elevators and common areas.  In addition, the site will house an exterior playground, outdoor patios and on site parking. Each living room will receive a bay window to create a open and bright atmosphere to each unit.

Peter Florey of the D&F Development Group and Miles Merritt of the Greater Hempstead Housing Development Community Foundation accepted the award, ensuring that with the recent improvements and revitalizations, the Village of Hempstead is “coming back strong.”

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Walkability: Smithtown Main Street

Pictured: (Top Left) Mark Marcini- Greater Smithtown Chamber of Commerce (Top Right) Lavena Sipes- Courtney Sipes Memorial Foundation (Bottom) Lavena Sipes- Courtney Sipes Memorial Foundation, Mark Marcini- Greater Smithtown Chamber of Commerce, Ron Stein- Vision Long Island

For their efforts and successes in the revitalization of Main Street in Smithtown, the award for “Walkability” went to Lavena Sipes of the Courtney Sipes Memorial Foundation and Mark Mancini of the Greater Smithtown Chamber of Commerce.

Lavena Sipes, the mother of Courtney Sipes, founded Smithtown Residents for a Safer Main Street and The Courtney Sipes Memorial Foundation was not easily knocked down by the tragic loss her daughter. Lavena was inspired to protect the safety of pedestrians and all users of the road. Mark Mancini of the Smithtown Chamber of Commerce, motivated by the hopes that his children could cross safely on Main Street, created the drawing concepts for Smithtown on his own time. He developed a drawing that included the wishes and wants of the Smithtown residents. The design included brick sidewalks, center islands, turning lanes, a new public sewer line, and underground utilities. For the past five years, Mark has talked and planned with everyone in the community in hopes of making a better, safer Main Street.

Together, along with the support from the residents and local officials and organizations, have made great revitalization strides and the project is now moving along. Some of the changes to Main Street include reducing eastbound traffic to one lane and installing left turn lanes in several intersections, multiple painted lanes to make left turns, markings to extend and re-paint the crosswalk at Lawrence Avenue, and markings to paint a median, which has improved traffic and created an area of refuge.

Both Lavena Sipes and Mark Mancini accepted the award. Mark emphasized the importance of pedestrian safety and its affect on the local economy. Lavena Sipes reminded the audience that “it is our collective drive and determination” which will keep stop further accidents and pedestrian fatalities.

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Clean Energy: LIPA Clean Energy Programs

Pictured: (Top Left) John McMahon - LIPA (Top Right) Neal Lewis - LIPA (Bottom): Neal Lewis - LIPA Trustee, Matthew Cordaro - LIPA Trustee, Demma Deleon - LIPA Trustee, Michael Deering, John McMahon, LIPA Chairman, Jeff Greenfield - LIPA Trustee, John Franchesina - LIPA, Lisanne Altmann - LIPA, Dan Zaweski - LIPA, Linda Schwantner - LIPA, Ron Stein - Vision Long Island, Eric Alexander - Vision Long Island

The award for “Clean Energy” went to the Long Island Power Authority’s Clean Energy Programs which help maximize electricity savings, environmental benefits, and provide economic benefits to homes, businesses, and schools all across Long Island.

LIPA’s Clean Energy Programs offer a multitude of Residential, Non-Residential, and All Sector program options for customers. These programs are all aimed at both lowering energy consumption as well as emissions, providing cleaner, more stable energy for customers.

The program options were designed to maximize electricity savings, environmental benefits, net economic benefits to Long Island, minimize electric rate impacts, and cost effectively address peak load capacity needs. LIPA has made a commitment to bring clean, sustainable energy options to its customers and help reduce dependence on fossil fuels in order to meet all future energy needs.

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Revitalizing Communities: Central Islip Park 

Pictured (Left to Right): Islip Town Councilman Steve Flotteron, Amparo Sadler - Central Islip Coalition of Good Neighbors, Deborah Cavanaugh - Central Islip Coalition of Good Neighbors, Deborah Rotunda - Central Islip Coalition of Good Neighbors, Ron Stein - Vision Long Island

The award for “Revitalizing Communities” went to the Honorable Steve Flotteron and the Central Islip Coalition of Good Neighbors. A decade long journey of various roadblocks and town hall meetings resulted in a brand new park for the community of Central Islip.

After several surveys, lists, and tracing paper designs the result was a park which would feature a great lawn, walking/biking trails, exercise stations, historic displays, picnic areas, a skate park, volleyball courts, soccer fields, a fountain/spray park, a bandshell, games like bocce ball, shuffleboard tables and chess tables, benches, concessions, restrooms, a playground, a koi pond, and even more. There will be an exterior gate with road improvements to the surrounding streets. The project will be implemented in three phases.

It was a project that took a lot of hard work and dedication from elected officials, groups and organizations, and of course, the local residents.

Councilman Steve Flotteron of the Town of Islip, Amparo Sadler, Debbie Cavanagh, and Debbie Rotunda from the Central Islip Coalition of Good Neighbors accepted the award.

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Environmental and Historic Preservation: Joy Squires

Pictured (Top Left) - Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone (Top Right) Margo Myles - Town of Huntington Open Space Coordinator, Joy Squires - Huntington Conservation Board, (Bottom) Huntington Town Councilwoman Susan Berland, Ron Stein - Vision Long Island, Margot Myles - Town of Huntington Open Space Coordinator, Huntington Town Councilman Mark Cuthbertson

The award for “Environmental and Historic Preservation” went to Joy Squires, for her work in creating and maintaining great open spaces in her community.

For years, Joy has been an advocate for the preservation of parks and recreational open spaces, representing Huntington’s environmental issues on the Suffolk County Council on Environmental Quality. She serves as Chairperson of the Huntington Conservation Board and the Town of Huntington's Environmental Open Space Committee. Joy is also president of the NYS Association of Conservation Commissions whose mission is to promote the wise use of the State’s natural resources through education and action. As president of NYSACC, she is involved in speaking with a united voice in matters of environmental planning and protection, by encouraging and supporting sound environmental policies and actions locally and throughout New York State.

Joy has helped preserve and attain acres and acres of great natural spaces that have provided communities with a clean, open environments. Her work on the various boards and committees has helped her Town and the various residents, groups, villages, and natural resources that reside within in it.  She has helped lead the Town of Huntington's in parkland purchase, improvements, and management which resulted in neighborhood enhancement programs that invite citizens to take part in the preservation of their local parks and trails.

Joy Squires accepted her award, thanking and bringing on stage her colleague and friend Margo Myles and acknowledged the people in her community who have helped make these projects possible.

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Certainty: Connect Long Island & Republic Station

Pictured (Top Left): Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer (Top Right): Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (Bottom): Eric Alexander - Vision Long Island, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Ron Stein - Vision Long Island

The award for “Certainty” went to Connect Long Island, an initiative which aims to attract, develop, and retain workforce talent for Suffolk County and the region, while also improving the local economy, and Republic Station in Farmingdale.

Connect Long Island calls for new transportation infrastructure that connects Suffolk’s valuable assets such as great educational and research facilities and major infrastructure improvements already in process, including the Long Island Railroad’s Double Track project, with vibrant downtown developments and innovation zones. These changes are designed to attract, retain and grow clusters of businesses around existing and enhanced transportation corridors, research institutions and municipal land. The Route 110 Bus Rapid Transit System would be Long Island’s first north-south mass transit connection and would greatly improve access to the area, creating new opportunities while also easing traffic congestion.

Republic Station, originally opened in 1940, was a stop along the Ronkonkoma Branch located near Republic Airport in Farmingdale and utilized by the employees of a local aircraft and aerospace manufacturing company. Once the factory was gone in 1986, the Long Island Rail Road station was closed down due to an exponential decline in ridership. While it had served the company for many years, with the factory shut down the station was deemed unnecessary.

Now, as part of the Double Track Project, a project to install a second track between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma, the blighted Republic Station will be rebuilt to anchor a mixed-use transit hub. The plan applies smart, sustainable land use practices and transit-oriented development in East Farmingdale and will implement a new north-south transit bus system along the Route 110 corridor.

Watch the FILM herE

Regional Leadership: U.S. Congressman Peter King

Pictured (Left to Right): US Congressman Peter King, Northport Village Trustee Tom Kehoe accepting on Congressman King's behalf, who could not attend due to a scheduled vote in Washington D.C.

This year’s award for “Regional Leadership” went to Congressman Peter King for successfully delivering federal relief for Hurricane Sandy to the Northeast region and for his efforts in the passage of the Federal Transportation bill last year. Despite opposition from his party, Congressman King came forward to remind us that in times of disaster New York has been one of the first to step up and provide assistance to those in need. For Representative King, showing regional leadership and support in a time of need was more important than worrying about politics or ideologies. Additionally, Representative King worked tirelessly to get the federal transportation bill, HR 4348, passed in the House of Representatives last year.

Northport Trustee Tom Kehoe accepted the award on his behalf, acknowledging King’s battle for money while other legislators refused after Sandy and his work as a proponent of East Side Project.

Watch the FILM herE

Regional Leadership: Superstorm Sandy Volunteers

Pictured (Top Left): Sol Marie Alfonso - Jones - Long Island Community Foundation (Top Right): Rich Cantwell - Friends of Freeport (Middle): Amy Castiglia Speaking

For their hard work, efforts, and support in the wake of disaster, the award for “Regional Leadership” went to the organizations, businesses, and hundreds of volunteers of Superstorm Sandy.

Community groups, both new and existing, and volunteers from all over the island stepped up to help the victims of Sandy and affected communities. After Vision Long Island’s summit, requests were made from communities for assistance. Vision Long Island was able to gather over 100 volunteers the weekend following the summit. Months later, Vision has had over 500 hundred volunteers who have donated their time to come out on weekends to help the devastated homes and communities.  Simultaneously, many community groups were building their own base with the philosophy of “Pay It Forward.” Over 150 homes were ripped out and 30 homes were rebuilt.

Many municipalities provided mutual aid-type services to the impacted communities, sending sanitation workers, trucks, and other resources to help these communities become once again habitable.

Many businesses showed their support by providing charging stations, meals and cleaning supplies for the volunteers and victims of the storm. Some went so far as to provide housing for displaced families or even financial support in the form of grants.

Rich Cantwell of Friends of Freeport, Amy Castiglia of Lindy Manpower, John McNally of Friends of Long Beach and Jon Seibert of the Mastic-Shirley Jubilee Recovery Center/COAD accepted the award and were joined onstage by a large crowd of volunteers from various organizations. Sol-Marie Alfonso Jones of the Long Island Community Foundation, also an honoree, was presented with a hammer and a crowbar, signed by all the volunteers, as a thanks for providing the volunteer groups with much needed recovery grants. The volunteers received a standing ovation from the audience.

Watch the FILM herE

Here are some supporting remarks from the event:

US Congressman Peter King said, “I’ve been in Congress for several major storms, the main one being Katrina. We appropriated 11 billion dollars in 10 days and another 54 billion dollars within 6 or 7 days so I assumed it would be roughly the same with this but then we started seeing the resistance. We were almost made to feel like beggars as if we were asking for something unprecedented. It was jarring to see that. I went to the house floor and demanded that action be taken.

“What I tried to do in terms of trying to keep the transportation funding coming to NY was basically pressure saying I wouldn’t vote for other bills unless we get fair treatment. We’re not looking for any gifts. We’ve had some big wins. We had a big win on transportation and a big win on Sandy but those wins could’ve been massive defeats. None of those wins would’ve happened if not for strong lobbyists coming from Long Island.”

Rich Cantwell from Friends of Freeport said, “Immediately after the storm we saw the absolute devastation. The floodwaters receding people walking around deer in the headlights. We weren’t impacted like others so we just wanted to do what we could even if it was just a matter of asking ‘what do you need."

Jon Siebert of the Mastic Beach Co-Ad said, “To rebuild a village takes a whole village and it takes a lot of people who care.”

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman said, "The Revitalizing Communities Award is a very fitting honor as our North Hempstead 'Yes We Can' Community Center has been the defining icon of New Cassel's ongoing multi-million dollar revitalization.  What was once a dream for the residents of New Cassel, is now a reality that is helping unite a community that longed for a facility such as this one for decades."

Joy Squires of the Huntington Conservation Board said, “The preserve land you have to work with your town board with private and public organizations. Be systematic, so many people say it’s up to all of them, but it’s up to all of us.”
 
Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said, “Joy is well-deserving of this award. For more than 35 years, she has been instrumental in helping the Town maintain its status as a leader in preserving open space. She has been a driving force in helping to create and implement key Town environmental stewardship activities, such as open space protection, park stewardship, trails initiatives, and the Town’s STOP Program and recycling of household hazardous waste.  As the long-term chair of the Conservation Board and only chair of the Environmental Open Space Committee, Joy’s volunteer activities have provided environmental input and guidance for the betterment of Huntington residents."

Lavena Sipes fromt he Courtney Sipes Memorial Foundation said, “I created a facebook group, we’re Smithtown residents for a Safer Main Street. We started a petition out of the facebook group and gained over 3,800 signatures. Mark added his designs to the group and it really began a community discussion on what could be done.”

Mark Mancini from the Greater Smithtown Chamber of Commerce said, “The DOT took a lot of what we presented that day and went back and came up with a plan to have a single lane with a striped area for an island in the middle. It’s improved traffic and at the same time made it an area of refuge. You don’t have businesses thriving without the ability for people to cross safely and I look at some of the families and the tragedy that has occurred, and the only thing that goes through me is I don’t want to see another family go through what they’ve gone through.”

Micheal Schoolman from 7Bus said, The Long Island Expressway is the second most congested roadway in the United States. Mass transportation of buses occurs in all the areas around New York City apart from Long Island. A bus is a wonderful asset, it’s a way of connecting the island."

Amparo Sadler from the Central Islip Coalition of Good Neighbors said, “A park would bring pride to the community for the simple reason that it’s ours. We’re even thinking about selling bricks so that people can say ‘oh there goes my brick, there goes the bench that we raised money for.’ We’re hoping it brings out the best in people. We’re working towards the betterment of Central Islip.”

Peter Florey from D&F Development said, “We design our buildings with a mind towards as much open space. We also like building in areas where there is sufficient public transportation. It will add new families who will shop in the downtown. 50% of the contractors and workers will be members of the communities who will work with us to see the project finished.”

Andrew Hazen from LaunchPad Long Island said, “Transportation is definitely key to the launch pad model and anywhere else we’re looking we really need transportation, because in order to create that community you have to be able to draw from different areas.”

Richard Foster from LaunchPad Long Island said, “The companies can only grow if they get the right talented people. Talented people are going to come when they see the jobs are there, the environment is there, and there is action and excitement. Towns like Mineola have exactly that.”

LIPA Chief Operating Officer John McMahon said, “LIPA is honored to receive this award in recognition for our hard work and commitment to a clean energy future. These programs help our customers become more energy efficient, which helps reduce peak load and our carbon footprint, and continues to provide green jobs on Long Island.”

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said, “Where do we want to be in twenty years? Do we still want to be fighting traffic every single day; struggling to make ends meet; and losing the fight to keep young adults on Long Island? Or do we want to solve the transportation, housing and economic challenges that confront us today?  To do so, we have to start with innovative planning and effective implementation.  I thank Vision Long Island for finding “Connect Long Island” worthy of recognition as the Smart Growth Planning Award recipient.  The “Connect Long Island” initiative aims to create new mass-transit connections between major roadways, Long Island Rail Road stations and transit-oriented downtowns to relieve traffic congestion, increase mobility, and spur economic growth. 

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano said, “My administration is working tirelessly to put people back to work by attracting new businesses and ensuring current employers stay and grow in Nassau County.  In partnership with the IDA, I have created and retained over 19,000 private sector jobs. Together, we have revitalized hundreds of acres of former defense industry property into state-of-the art movie and television studios. With four great proposals for the Coliseum site, we will reinvigorate the Hub and create new jobs for our residents."

Check out our event and media links:

The event journal is available online here.

View the article on Smart Growth Awards winner 7Bus for Transportation

View the article on Smart Growth Award winners Lavena Sipes and Mark Mancini for Smithtown Main Street

View the article on Smart Growth Award winner Joy Squires from the Huntington Conservation Board.

View the article on Smart Growth Award winners Sandy Volunteers

2013 Smart Growth Awards event photos:

Pictured (Left to Right): Eric Alexander - Vision Long Island, Hon. Ed Mangano - Nassa County Executive, Ron Stein - Vision Long Island

Michael Saletti - Greenman Pedersen, Hon. Jean Celender - Glen Neck Plaza Mayor, Hon. Steve Flotteron - Town of Islip, Kerry Leislie - Town of Islip, Dave Geneway - Town of Islip

Pictured (Left to Right): Alex Latham - ADL III Architecture, Bill Tuyn - Greenman Pedersen, Bruce Migatz - Albanese & Albanese, Dr. Nathalia Rogers - Dowling College, Hon. Robert Creighton - Town of Smithtown

Pictured (Left to Right): Ralph Bisceglia - American Transit Insurance, Hon. Jorge Martinez - Village of Freeport, Joseph Persaud - American Transit Insurance, Lloyd Clement - American Transit Insurance, Greg Cherrie - American Transit Insurance

Pictured (Left to Right): Hon. Ed Ambrosino - Town of Hempstead, John Byrne, Hon. Carrie Solages - Nassau County Legislature, Alex Kushnir - National Grid

Pictured (Left to Right): Michael Ryan - Landtek, Eric Alexander - Vision Long Island, Matthew Cordaro - LIPA, Lionel Chitty - Hicksville Chamber of Commerce

Pictured: Sandy Support, Massapequa Style

Pictured (Left to Right): Andrew Zucaro - Zucaro Construction, Eric Alexander - Vision Long Island, Eric Rubenstein – Ruskin Moscou Faltishek

Pictured: Friends of Freeport

Pictured (Left to Right): Irwin Krasnow - AREA Real Estate, Hon. Lou Marcoccia - Town of Brookhaven, Susan Gentile Hackett - Suffolk Theatre, Michael Schoolman - 7Bus, Karen Harding - THEM Media

Pictured (Left to Right): Eric Alexander - Vision Long Island, Steve Hearl - H2M, Greater Hempstead Redevolopment Corp.

Pictured: Friends of Freeport

Pictured (Left to Right): Eric Alexander - Vision Long Island, Mitch Garber - Caithness Energy, Bettina Fantal-Pinckombe, Annie McClelland - Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Pictured (Left to Right): Courtney Bynoe - Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, Linda Mitchell - Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, Robert Bontempi - Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce

Pictured (Left to Right): Bill Stroh - Greenman-Pedersen, Diana Soldano - Lockwood, Kessler & Bartlett, Bill Barrett - Greenman-Pedersen

Save the Date for the 12th Annual Smart Growth Summit on Friday, November 22nd!

Register today! Sponsorships are available!

[ ] Visionary ($15,000) [ ] Leader ($10,000) [ ] Gold Sponsor ($5,000) [ ] Sponsor ($2,000) [ ] ___ seats ($125/person)
Method of Payment: [ ] Check enclosed [ ] Check sent (faxed replies only) [ ] Pay at the door [ ] Credit Card

Attendee Name(s): ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Affiliation:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________City, State, Zip: ___________________________________

Email: _______________________________________ Phone: ____________________________ Fax: ________________________

Credit Card: [ ] Visa [ ] MasterCard [ ] American Express Name, as it appears on card: ____________________________________

Credit Card Number: __________________________________________________ Expiration Date: ___________________________

To RSVP or for more information please contact 631-261-0242, info@visionlongisland.org or fax 631-754-4452.