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For over a decade, Vision Long Island has been honoring the individuals and organizations that display true Smart Growth leadership in advancing projects, policies, regulations and initiatives. Specific focus areas include mixed-use development, affordable housing, environmental health and safety, open space and historic preservation, traffic calming and pedestrian safety, transportation enhancements, clean energy, downtown revitalization and/or community-based planning.

Vision is proud to announce this year's Honorees:

Regional Leadership Randi Dresner Schubin, Island Harvest

Regional Leadership Will Stoner, AARP

Join eight to nine hundred business, community and government leaders. Consider sponsorship with levels at $2,000, $5,000, $10,000, and $15,000. All sponsorship levels come with a table of ten tickets, banner display and logo display on all materials. Higher sponsorship levels include seats on dais at lunch, video sponsorships, journal ads, etc...

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW AVAILABLE!

Sponsorships and Journal Ad Space are available!

To RSVP or for more information, contact us at 631-261-0242 or info@visionlongisland.org

H.S. Students Provide their Solutions to LI Challenges at 2015 Youth Summit at Dowling College

Over 300 High School students from 25 school districts across Long Island converged on Dowling College in Oakdale for the 6th Annual Long Island Youth Summit last Friday to tackle the region’s thorniest issues including bullying, teen self esteemand wellness, prescription drug abuse, water quality, transportation, energy, socio economic inequality, economic development & housing, and leadership. The Wyandanch High School Jazz Band started off the morning along with remarks from Dowling College President Dr. Albert F. Inserra and Youth Summit Co-Chair Dr. Nathalia Rogers.

The morning keynote address was delivered by Dr. Errol Toulon, Deputy Commissioner of Operations at NYC Department of Corrections, and former Suffolk County Assistant Deputy Executive for Public Safety.   Dr. Toulon defined a leader as not necessarily being the most attractive, popular, best athlete or nicest person in school, but as one who accepts the responsibility to be a role model. He described his experience in a school divided by race and class in the South Bronx; divided not necessarily by fear, but by similarities. In his current role as NYC DOC Deputy Commissioner, he is tasked with overseeing an organization that has a $1.5 billion budget, 9,500 employees and 19,000 inmates daily. He left the standing room only crowd with these thoughts: “Leading is a process of growing and evolving; you must rely on everyone in your organization for success."

Dr. Toulon’s message resonated with the students as they broke out into their topic workshops that were relevant to the research papers that they had submitted.  Students were challenged to research the issue and provide solutions that they feel would be relevant to the region.

Workshop 1: Socio-Medical Topics 1: Bullying, Cyber Bullying and Social Networking:
Barry McNamara, Ph.D., Dowling College
Barbara Meyers, Psy.D., North Shore LIJ Health System
Gregory Vikingstad, Ph.D., North Shore LIJ Health System

Students discussed Bullying as relevant to their individual schools and lives. In the past, students have produced videos to display bullying in their schools as a method to raise awareness. There was a discussion of creating an awareness weekend, where peers are selected and placed into groups to show examples of bullying both face to face and online. It was also suggested that students have the ability to share their stories confidentially in order to help others relate and give a new perspective on what others are facing to let people understand the issue. One student reported that 1 in 5 kids are bullied a day, and 62% of students have witnessed bullying. In Kings Park High School conducted a survery and found that 52% of respondants said they were victims of bullying with 32% as both bully and victim.

The students discussed various ways to help their peers relate to others, and to humanize people who would bully or be bullied. The students did feel that bullying assemblies are a good tool to combat the issue, but are not effective without follow-up. One solution suggested was a "take one" box that is left with teachers where students can take a "smile" or a "pat on the back." These simple gestures can help to encourage a sense of kindness and goodwill among younger grade levels. Finally, it was suggested that classes could have a dedicated liason to report bullying activities for follow-up.

Workshop 2: Socio-Medical Topics 2: Teens and Abuse of Prescription Drugs
Dr. Lydia Gerges, North Shore LIJ Health System
Colleen Egan, LCSW, North Shore LIJ Health System

In this workshop there was discussion of the various medicines and prescription drugs that can be abused followed by discussion of videos and presentations by the participating students. There is an increase being seen in the field where people are being prescribed medication for legitimate reasons, but then begin to take the medications recreationally or sell them to peers. As body tolerance rises from abuse of the medication it becomes necessary to increase dosage and use various new methods to achieve the same effect. Should the person stops using prescription drugs they begin to feel increasingly sick physically, and desperation can lead to the usage of more dangerous drugs, such as heroin, to feed their addiction.

With prescription drug abuse on the rise, and the ease of drug use facilitated by social media, it was found that parents are in a good position to stop the abuse at home, while it is still important for students to reject peer pressure to abuse prescription drugs. One solution presented in the workshop was to implement a prescription drug turn in program where unneeded prescription drugs can be bought back. Additionally, the need for additional early education regarding the risks and consequences of prescription misuse were expressed, along with a “lockbox” concept in the home where adults can ensure that medications are locked up and out of the hands of children who may be vulnerable to misuse.

Workshop 3: Socio-Medical Topics 3: Teen Mental Health, Self-Esteem and Well Being
Denise Ingenito, LCSW, Dowling College
Carole Rutkovsky, LCSW, Slone Kettering
Danielle Berg, LCSW, CASAC, North Shore LIJ Health System
Sandy Erickson, LCSW, North Shore LIJ Health System
Louis A. Medina, LCSW, New York State Office of Children and Family Service

A robust discussion erupted among the varying medical and social work experts and the students with concerns about this topic. The focus was on awareness since this subject is not typically discussed in an open and honest manner. Such awareness can be raised by facing the issues head on at home, school, or in the work place through discussion with peers. Students also talked about a need to begin awareness programs as early as during elementary school, with some expressing regret that such programs were not available when they were younger.

Discussed solutions to the issues included educating children on the need to balance media portrayals of mental health with reality of those suffering from such disabilities. One suggestion was to use social media to spread the message in a manner similar to the recent "ALS challenge" that was so popular among young people recently. Such awareness could improve the stigma surrounding those with mental health needs while simultaneously improving the self esteem of those who help out. As a Bay Shore student noted, "You gain esteem by doing esteemable things."

Workshop 4: Environment 1: Protection of Water and Open Space and the Impact of Climate Change on Long Island
Adrienne Esposito, Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE)

Students presented and received feedback on their projects regarding clean water, the risks of nitrogen overload in the waterways, and the need for open space preservation in order to combat the issue that affects our drinking water supply, ecosystem, commercial fishing industry, and recreational opportunities. After discussions it became clear to students that protection of the water, open space, and recognizing climate change is not just an environmental issue, but one that affects the entire island on multiple levels.

Proper sewage to businesses and residents, denitrification efforts, plastic  bags, and microbead production in beauty and hygiene supplies were discussed in order to give a complete view of the issues currently affecting Long Island and to look toward possibly solutions.

Students felt that earlier education would go a long ways in helping to teach the importance of water quality, climate change, our impact on our local ecosystem, and how it affects every resident. One student mentioned connecting with companies that distribute and manufacture environmentally sensitive products, such as those with microbeads, to contribute 10% of their revenue toward measures that would counteract the product’s negative implications.

Workshop 5: Environment 2: Solid Waste
Maureen Murphy Dolan, CCE
Jordan Christensen, CCE

There was a good conversation regarding progress and possible solutions to prevent solid waste accumulation, which affects all aspects of the environment. Styrofoam is being phased out in a lot of local areas and nationwide chains. Fee for use for reusable plastic bags in some areas has been shown to change the wasteful behaviors and have a positive impact on the environment. There is the potential for companies to produce more bulk products to reduce packaging; however that would mean that the consumer would have to buy in bulk as well.

A need to produce more reliable and long lasting products to reduce the “throw away mindset” was noted. Wasteful everyday practices such as lack of accessibility to recycling opportunities were discussed in the workshop. Municipal waste issues including the different municipal regulations across Long Island were also considered.

Use and reuse of glass through proper recycling practices for dune erosion projects, paving, solar cells and countertops was a possible solution for reducing consumer waste while recycling for repurpose, with the Town of Southold being a example of a community where too much glass cannot be recycled. Some of the school districts are trying to encourage kids to recycle, but it is difficult to educate and hold the student's interest in the program. Students also spoke of an incentive program at their school where kids can write their names on a can or bottle before placing it in the recycle bin and receive rewards in the form of school credit at the end of the month. Other solutions included legislation to ban Styrofoam and plastic bags and increasing the reach of recycling centers to be better able to pick up materials for recycling.

Workshop 6: Renewable Energy
John Keating, PSEG
Tara Bono, Empower Solar
Dr. Donald DiMarzio, Northrop Grumman

Students from several schools sat down to discuss renewable energy concepts that included offshore wind platforms, solar panels, nuclear energy, proton exchange membranes, geothermal wells, and hydroelectric plants. There was a consensus that more could be done on Long Island in terms of renewable energy production and use, however cost prohibits some initiatives to move ahead. 

The students concluded that education about renewable energy is important and can help bolster additional green projects to move ahead. When asked if PSEG would look into developing offshore wind projects, it was mentioned that it would be very expensive, and as of now Long Island generates enough energy via oil and natural gas generators.
 
Students recommended to offers extending subsidies, tax breaks  and rebates to businesses and homes to use green energy options, increase research and development on Long Island for the younger workers to work on renewable energy projects here rather than in another state. The students believed that having funded programs to help communities get started on green energy initiatives would be beneficial, and that it would be best to deliver that message one community at a time for the biggest impact.

Workshop 7: Living on Long Island: Economic Development, Community, and Housing
Ronald Roel, Roel Resources, LLC
Elissa Kyle, Vision Long Island

Students participated in a discussion about the futures of their community and implementing Smart Growth principles in the redevelopment of their downtowns.  Out of the students participating in this workshop, four students were considering a major in architecture, business, tech/business and occupational therapy. Students were looking to live in a place that is communal, collaborative and social with like-minded individuals. The students felt that there wasn’t awareness of Long Island places and proposals such as LaunchPad, and that Long Island communities have seen as opposed to redevelopment. Many expressed surprise at the number of downtowns currently engages in revitalization efforts while expressing a need to raise awareness of why such efforts are necessary.

Feedback from students also included the need for certain communities loike Wantagh to improve their downtown districts with more retail options while others like Kings Park should start thinking "outside the box." Students pointed to the closing of the Kings Park hospital decades ago that has left the area struggling with few entertainment and employment options available to young people in the area. Transportation issues, such as the LIRR Port Jefferson Branch not being electrified and inconvenient were mentioned, as well as the need for biking, walking and green transportation options.

Students suggested that these issues could be tackeld by empowering individuals with opportunities that include financial and material assistance for stert ups while reducing the tax burdens and regulations that make starting a new business more difficult, both of which would help to further the process of revitalization. Having better public transportation access and an open door for younger people to be decision-makers in the process was also desired, as they felt that they should have a stake in their future if they choose to stay on Long Island.

Workshop 8: Leadership- 2015 LIYS topic “Leadership in a Divided Society”
Hon. DuWayne Gregory, Presiding Officier, Suffolk County Legislator
Dr. Errol Toulon, Deputy Commissioner of Operations at NYC Department of Corrections
Berthe Erisnor, North Shore LIJ Health System
Hon. Steven Flotteron, Councilman, Town of Islip
Dr. Nathalia Rogers, Dowling College
Eric Alexander, Vision Long Island
Tawaun Weber, Vision Long Island

In this panel students discussed issues of racism, affordable housing, financial preparedness, and the role of government in the future of Long Island. Discussion included how these challenges will affect their decision to stay on Long Island after college. The students sought a better understanding of the roles of each level of government and how to address the needs of their constituents. Some students felt that incentive programs for students may help others get more involved in their communities and local governments as well as reaching out on more social media platforms. They also felt that there was a need to reach younger children through programs promoting cultural acceptance and participation in local community at younger grade levels.

Solutions provided by the students included promotion of positive mind sets, patience and compassion, and an attitude focussed more on problem solving and less on complaining. Other students felt that a reduction in racial and economic segregation of class, race, income, gender, and geographical regions would benefit their scholastic experience and limit the amount of judgement that some receive when perusing their goals. By promoting interaction between all members of society instead of staying locked into our specific neighborhoods and communities, students felt a sence cultural tolerance and cooperation could be achieved.

The Youth Summit concluded with Awards for the best projects, overall Summit Award winner, and the Diana Coleman Scholarship Award, named in memory of Roosevelt community activist Diana Coleman who passed away earlier this year. All students who attended were finalists in the competition. Southwest Airlines also selected exemplary projects and donated round trip tickets for some award winners.

Newsday columnist Joye Brown was the featured luncheon speaker, and brought up quite a few topics and questions for the students to discuss and bring home with them. During her address she asked the students if they were aware that they could run for a seat on their school boards at 17 years of age, revealing that a vast majority of the students were unaware that they could have a voice in how their education was shaped. Ms. Brown conveyed the message that the body of decision-makers also needs to include fresh faces and ideas to make a difference. For those in the audience who showed interest in running for public office in the future, Ms. Brown reminded that elected officials (that she may not always agree with) are respected by her because “they are the ones that make the decisions and make the changes”. 

She went further to discuss some points for reflection most notable why many young people leave Long Island’s 13 colleges after graduation and how can we make sure that local youth and those “imported” for college stay with job opportunities. Ms. Brown also pointed out that racial dempographics had shifted dramatically towards diversity in recent years, with a 25% reduction of whites from the baby boomer generation versus millennials, creating an imperative to figure out ways to live and work together as a society. She then gave the students a challenge: “Diana (Coleman) got up every morning deciding what is wrong and how to fix it. You have more access to information than ever before. Use it well, you have power, keep using it well”.

"I am very excited to see so many high school students who are interested to work with each other on solutions to Long Island's problems.  This year's summit's topic was Leadership in a Divided Society.  The younger generation is much more diverse and they are bursting with ideas about how to make our society better.  I welcome their energy and enthusiasm. The Summit is a tool to empower and give voice to this new generation of future leaders," said Dr. Rogers.

You can view current and past Youth Summit archives here, or see the coverage of the annual event on FIOS1.

West Babylon Community Shares Ideas for Van Bourgondien Playground

Vision Long Island was in West Babylon this past weekend running a visioning process for the future of Van Bourgondien Park located on Albin Avenue. This community driven process is spearheaded by the efforts of Neighbors Supporting Neighbors Babylon, Inc., a Sandy recovery organization that is a part of Friends of Long Island.

A steering committee built of 16 community organizations and governmental entities including Suffolk County Legislator Kevin McCaffrey and Town of Babylon Deputy Supervisor Tony Martinez have been meeting over the past two months to gather ideas and begin the planning process. No community park, however, should be undertaken without public input by stakeholders, including area residents of all ages and organizations that currently use the property or have an interest in using it in the future. The area, owned by Suffolk County and operated and maintained by the Town of Babylon, currently has a playground, concession stand, tennis courts, multiple soccer fields and a historic home on the property.

Dozens of residents who attended on a day where the area had many other events running concurrently viewed presentations displaying examples of other park’s amenities that could be incorporated into the property, including playground options, trails, fountains, spray parks, concession stands, parking and fitness stations. Those in attendance, as well as the steering committee in previous meetings, were asked to “think big” when they were submitting ideas for the future use. Attendees then had an open session where they could discuss what their wants are for the area, as well as aspects that they would not like to see in the design proposal. Voting on the amenities followed which will allow the design teams to see what aspects of the revitalized park are most important to the residents, and what things should not be undertaken.

 The community broke into nine groups, each armed with a map and tasked to “design their park” with people that they were unaffiliated with in order to have a well rounded approach. Ideas included a new layout for parking for ease and safety, entrance and exit location changes to mitigate traffic congestion, a larger playground, repurposing the tennis courts for other activates such as bocce, shuffleboard, and deck hockey, a windmill, revitalizing the Veteran’s park and Eagle Scout project, walking trails, and a butterfly sanctuary with a tulip garden by the historic property. Many other ideas were suggested and will be taken into consideration as the community prioritized.

The steering committee will meet again shortly to review the public input, and will continue to meet as the process moves forward. Those who would like to be notified about the next public meeting or who have questions about the project are encouraged to contact Neighbors Supporting Neighbors at (631) 885-1655 or by email.

Metered Parking Coming To Bay Shore This Summer

New parking meters in downtown Bay Shore will benefit the local economy.That’s the message from Islip Town Hall. Town officials are moving forward with plans to install 48 meters governing 1,450 parking spaces.

"There were a lot of hard decisions with this. It wasn't a knee-jerk reaction," Councilman Tom Cochrane said. "This is going on four years of planning. We're trying to organize our assets and we have to manage them. We're trying to take this town to the next quarter century." Cochrane said the meters will improve customer turnover on Main Street and create revenue to repair the town-owned lots, add cameras around the LIRR station and improve lighting. Islip is facing an $11.3 million budget deficit, and that’s not including the anticipated multi-million price tag for cleaning up Roberto Clemente Park.

The meters, approved in February 2014 with a $750,000 contract to Florida-based Cale America, are slated to be installed in stages. Meters for 500 parking spaces near the trains and 250 spaces on Maple Avenue will be first before meters for 700 spaces on Main Street and in the municipal lots north and south of Main.

About 60 percent of the hamlet’s parking will remain free, town officials said.

Parking meters have become a reality in other Long Island downtowns, like Port Jefferson, Huntington and Patchogue. And like many of those communities, Bay Shore motorists will be able to connect to the new meters wirelessly. Islip officials confirmed the new system will send text messages when time is almost up and can accept payments via smartphone.

With paper receipts on dashboards a thing of the past, town employees would monitor patrons with their own hand-held devices. No decisions have been made about fines or fees for possible parking passes.

And just like other Long Island downtowns where parking meters have taken hold, some opposition has emerged for the Bay Shore system. Attorney Andrew Siben collected more than 1,000 signatures on a petition submitted to Town Hall. Siben argued potential customers will opt for other communities or the South Shore Mall if they have to worry about paying the meter and tickets.

Cochrane, however, dismissed the petition. Many of the signatures, he said, come from outside of the Bay Shore area.

The project also has support from some on Main Street. Charles Beitch, owner of Suffolk Printing, had hopes parking meters would chase away merchants and employees from the prime on-street spaces.

“The local customers that come in either for restaurants or my customers, they can’t find parking,” he said.

"Kudos to the Islip Town Board for making the tough decision to back municipal parking meters in downtown Bay Shore. While initially unpopular the meters provide revenue for parking improvements, create circulation for retail to thrive and are structured to be updated with connections to your cell phone so you can add time without travelling back to your initial spot. Meters are an important tool in the toolbox for downtown parking and have been successful in the downtowns of Huntington, Port Jefferson and Patchogue," said Vision Director Eric Alexander.

For more on this story, check out News 12 (subscription required) and CBS.

Walkability Scores High In AARP Livability Index

How livable is your neighborhood?

Several parts of Long Island were highlighted by AARP with their new Livability Index tool, unveiled Monday. The index scores communities on a scale from 0-100 based on factors like Smart Growth and walkability.

“During a lifetime, people develop deep connections to their homes and communities. Our definition of livability considers the likelihood that everyone can continue to enjoy the vibrant communities they know and love as they age,” AARP said.

The index evaluates cities, counties and states based on seven core categories: housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement and opportunity. Fed by sources like the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these results are compared against national averages.

For example, the Village of Northport earns an overall score of 52. High housing prices make the neighborhood less livable, but a strong opportunity score and solid marks in neighborhood, environment, health and engagement make the village appealing.

All scoring begins at the neighborhood level – identifying more than 200,000 neighborhoods as defined by the Census, with larger municipalities receiving a cumulative score using the averages of the neighborhoods within.

In general, New York City scored the strongest. Nassau County and western Suffolk County earned moderate scores, with weaker marks for the rest of Suffolk. However, Suffolk is one of AARP’s featured communities, as are the Towns of Brookhaven and North Hempstead and Village of Great Neck Plaza. The Village scored a robust 70, powered by strong neighborhood, transportation, environment and health marks. Both Brookhaven and North Hempstead scored identical marks of 58 with average and above average scores across the board.

AARP officials said the project is useful for residents of all ages, although it’s designed to help Americans aged 50 and older be able to stay in their homes.

“The index will help communities and people within those communities work to make their neighborhoods better,” Harrell said. “But what’s most important is, we need to make those changes now. We cannot wait to make the changes communities need,” Rodney Harrell, a housing expert at AARP’s Public Policy Institute, said.

Check out AARP for their Livability Index and the Washington Post for more coverage of the program.

Nassau County to hold Public Hearing on Five Year Plan for Community Development Programs

On Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon
LOCATION: Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building
1550 Franklin Avenue, Mineola, NY
PURPOSE: To identify fair and affordable housing and community development needs in the County.
The Nassau County Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) is the administering agency for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program, and the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program, collectively known as HUD’s Consolidated Programs. These programs are intended to support the goals of providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities primarily for low and moderate income persons.

The Nassau County OHCD is in the process of preparing its Five-Year Consolidated Plan describing the County's housing and community development needs along with a Strategic Plan for addressing those needs during the upcoming five-year period (FFY2015-2019). As part of this process NC OHCD is collecting data and input from its participating municipal consortium members, local organizations, and the general public. As an identified representative of a local civic organization you are cordially invited to attend this meeting.

A list of the current members of the Nassau Urban County Consortium is attached for your information. Should you wish to learn more about HUD’s Consolidated Programs please visit our website at: http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/1524/Office-of-Housing-and-Community-Developm

Join the Huntington Station Spring Clean-Up Round 2

Last weekend Huntington Station Happy Helpers, Friends of the HS Latin Quarter and Huntington Matters teamed up with over a hundred volunteers to clean up Huntington Stations streets and sidewalks. This Sunday at 10:00 Vision's Sustainability Director and Huntington Station resident Elissa Kyle is getting together more volunteers to clean the station sidewalks north of the train station.

Volunteers can meet at the plaza at Olive Street at 10:00 to help spruce up New York Avenue from the train station to the community garden. Help us spruce up the Station!

The 2015 Long Island Food Conference

The 2015 Long Island Food Conference on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Hofstra University will bring together hundreds of key stakeholders and members of our communities from across Long Island and the tri-state area to learn, discuss, and network about the importance of growing and promoting a sustainable local food system. 

Our 2015 conference will focus on strengthening and increasing our local food system by:

1) identifying innovative small scale growing techniques,

2) providing inspiring and educational workshops dedicated to promoting healthy and sustainable food choices, and

3) discussing ground-breaking policies and programs that help incorporate sustainable and locally grown food into our communities.

The Long Island Food Coalition is the conference organizer and includes representatives from the following organizations: Hofstra University; North Shore Land Alliance; iEat Green, and; Long Island Group  of the Sierra Club.  The Long Island Food Coalition (formerly known as the Long Island Small Farm Initiative) sponsored the 2011 and 2012 Farm Summits at SUNY Old Westbury College and Hofstra University, respectively.  These two conferences drew nearly 1,400 attendees and were very successful in bringing together a diversity of people dedicated to growing, promoting and consuming local food.

We expect nearly 1,000 participants to attend the 2015 conference, including but not limited to educators, farmers, advocates, policy regulators, parents, students, concerned citizens and non-profit organizations.

Learn more about sponsoring the conference, presenting a workshop, or volunteering.

Vision Co-Chair Trudy Fitzsimmons Honored at "Strong, Smart and Savory 2015 Awards"

Girls Incorporated® of Long Island's mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold. We provide school and community based programming that serves the unique needs of girls, ages 5-18, living in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Through community partnerships, they help girls to achieve their full potential making their future brighter.

Girls Incorporated® of Long Island is dedicated to the advocacy of gender equity for all girls in all areas of their lives. Through participation in their programs, girls learn the skills to become leaders in their communities, leading to exponential change.

Join Girls Inc of Long Island for an evening of wine and tastings from a variety of caterers, restaurants and bakeries,while we acknowledge the achievements and contributions of individuals committed to empowering girls and their communities on Long Island

2015 EVENT HONOREES:
Karen Tenenbaum, Trudy Fitzsimmons and Ellen Labita

Appliance World in Huntington, NY
Tuesday, April 28, 2015 7-9pm
Get your tickets HERE!

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ryan Attard at ryan.attard@liu.edu

Social Justice Leadership Awards Dinner

The Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island is honoring Journalist Robert Keeler, Legislator Michelle Schimel, & Activist David Sprintzen for their lifelong dedication to the betterment of humankind. Each has made significant contributions in the areas of justice, human rights, and humanitarian causes. Their work reflects the values that Ethical Humanists cherish, including the fervent desire for peace among nations, the recognition of the dignity and worth of each individual, and the obligation of each of us to work for societal change.

Contact awardsdinner@ehsli.org or the Ethical Society office at 516-741-7304 for more information or to purchase tickets.

Third Smart Growth Saturday Downtown Tours on May 9th

Fresh off of last year’s events, Vision Long Island invites you to join us in local downtowns for the third Smart Growth Saturday! Visit real places with projects underway and well managed Main Streets, showing the progress of downtown renewal across Long Island. We have chosen these communities for this event and we recognize that there are many other downtowns across Long Island doing great work and we look forward to future tours.
PORT WASHINGTON: Meeting T.B.A. at 11 am. Tour will be led by Town of North Hempstead, Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington, Port Washington BID, and the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce Tour Port Washington’s historic downtown with a vibrant mix of shops, restaurants and cultural events overlooking Hempstead Harbor

FREEPORT: Meet at Jeremy’s Ale House (239 Woodcleft Ave) at 11 am. Tour will be led by Freeport Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Freeport and will include: Nautical Mile restaurants, businesses, and a review of storm hardening and recovery post-Sandy.

NORTHPORT: Meet at Northport Historical Society (215 Main Street) at 11 am. Tour will be led by the Northport Historical Society and will include successful retail business district, restaurants, historic properties, art destinations, and waterfront park

RIVERHEAD: Meet at Summerwind Square (40 Peconic Ave) at 11 am. Tour will be led by Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter and will include: Restored Suffolk Theater, new mixed use development, Summerwind Square, Woolworth Apartments, new restaurants, farmers market, community garden, riverfront park and boardwalk

Tours will gather at 11 am for an initial presentation and will leave before 11:30. Tours are free, but RSVPs are required as space is limited. RSVP to 631-261-0242 or ea@visionlongisland.org Vision will share & invites those on tours to post photos on Twitter & Instagram #SmartGrowthSaturday

Celebrate LI’s Women At 10th Annual Latina Hat Luncheon

Join the ladies of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as they honor women making a difference on the island.

Scheduled for May 15 at The Carltun in Eisenhower Park, the 10th annual Latina Hat Luncheon is an annual ceremony to commemorate exceptional business women, community advocates and inspirational role models.

The event also provides an opportunity for networking and business exposure.

Nassau County First Lady Linda Mangano will serve as mistress of ceremonies and PIX 11 News’ Lisa Mateo will provide the keynote speech.

For more information or to attend, visit their website or call 516-333-0105. Tickets must be purchased no later than May 1st.

First Annual Suffolk County Multi-Cultural and Business Expo

New York State Assembly Member Phil Ramos and the Turkish Cultural Center of Long Island cordially invite you to participate in their Multicultural Business Expo which is designed to promote entrepreneurship, economic development, diversity, networking, sharing of business practices and innovation across all businesses and professional fields. This event founded by Dr. Suiv Lee and Prafulba Vaghela, should be of particular interest to businesses that have an interest in reaching Long Islands diverse ethnic markets. You have been selected to receive this special invitation because of your expertise and the important work your organization/Business has been engaged in.

The Multicultural Business Expo will be held on Friday, May 15, 2015 from 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm at Upsky Long Island Hotel, 110 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, Brentwood/Hauppauge, New York 11717.Representatives from the Business interest sections of Embassies of several countries will be present to provide information as to how they can facilitate the acquisition and importation of Ethnic products.  Representatives of Suffolk Counties Foreign Trade zone, USAID and several other Government agencies will be at hand to create awareness of the services they offer to local and foreign businesses.

There will be a cultural component to the Expo which will include ethnic performances   and exposition of the work of local artist. 

We hope your organization/Business will consider joining us for the Multicultural Business Expo. We invite you to reserve a booth at the Multicultural Business Expo to highlight your organization’s outstanding contributions to the Long Island business community. We expect to have businesses and consumers from a variety of fields participate in the fair.

For more information or to RSVP and reserve a booth, please contact Suiv Lee, at slee@adelphi.edu, 516.301.8476, Sadri Altinok, at altinok@optonline.net, 631.891.7511 and Prafulba Vaghela, at yacs2008@gmail.com, 516.708.3928. Thank you very much for your consideration of this request.

2015 Arthur Kunz Memorial Scholarship Breakfast

On Friday, May 15, 2015, 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM , the APA Long Island Section will hold its annual Arthur Kunz Memorial Scholarship Breakfast at Molloy College’s Suffolk Center at Republic Airport in Farmingdale (see www.molloy.edu/about-molloy/suffolk-center). A healthy breakfast buffet will be provided.

This year’s Breakfast will focus on water quality and wastewater management planning; a topic that is so critical to the economic and environmental resiliency of Long Island. The Long Island Section is pleased to offer an opportunity for Long Islanders to hear from experts from another region on how they are facing wastewater management challenges and providing solutions for improved water quality. We are very pleased to announce that Kristy Senatori and Erin Perry will be joining us from the Cape Cod Commission to discuss best practices for planners, engineers and policy makers who are responsible for and/or involved in water quality improvement initiatives.

Water Quality Management: A Coastal New England Case Study will be moderated by Sarah Lansdale, Director of Planning, Suffolk County. Featured guest speakers include Kristy Senatori, Deputy Director, Cape Cod Commission Erin Perry, Special Projects Coordinator, Cape Cod Commission.

Each year, the best and brightest of Long Island’s new and future professional planners compete for the Arthur Kunz Scholarship, which provides funds to its recipients for attendance at the annual American Planning Association National Conference. This year, the Arthur Kunz Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to three planners who were selected following a competitive process.honorees will be featured at the breakfast.

To register for this event and pay online, please visit our website at www.apalongisland.org. Or, send a check payable to “LI Section” to: Kathryn Eiseman, APA LI Section Treasurer, c/o Nelson, Pope & Voorhis, 572 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747. (If paying by check, please also send an email confirmation to Kathy Eiseman at keiseman@nelsonpopevoorhis.com). All net proceeds fund future scholarships!!

Art Mart: Call for Artists

The Greater Westbury Council for the Arts is pleased to announce an open call for artists and artisan vendors for “Westbury Art Mart.” This first annual arts market will be held Saturday, May 16, 2015 at the Piazza Ernesto Strada (at Post Avenue and Maple Avenue) in beautiful downtown Westbury from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. This is an annual event which includes an arts market of local artists and artisans, live music and entertainment, gourmet food trucks, and more. This is an open call to all artists and artisans to exhibit and sell their work.

The Greater Westbury Council for the Arts invites professional artists to submit a registration form and photos of their work for consideration for Art Mart. All artwork must be original in concept, design and execution. Arts council members may reserve a 10′ x 10′ space for $20 ($30 for non-members.) Display setup, which begins at 8:00 AM the day of the event, and removal of artwork (no earlier than 4:00 PM), will be the responsibility of the artists. Pop-up tents, tables and chairs, electricity will not be provided. All sales transactions are between the artist and purchaser and the artists are responsible for sales-tax collection and reporting. There are no commissions taken by the GWCA on sales of arts and crafts. Rain date is Sunday, May 17, 20

Artists should apply using this form. For more information contact Maureen Baranov at maureen@westburyarts.org.

Unsung Heroes Nominations Due June 5th

The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless awards the Leonard I Saltzman Unsung Hero Award at its annual Keys for the Homeless Conference each year.  Each year, two individuals are awarded this honor:  One selected directly by the Keys Conference Planning Committee, and one from nominations made by the community at large.  The purpose of the award is to recognize volunteers, direct care workers and/or other “boots on the ground” persons who go above and beyond to help homeless and at risk Long Islanders.  Eligible applicants must be involved in volunteering or working with homeless and/or at risk persons in Nassau or Suffolk Counties.

The Unsung Hero Award will be presented at the “Keys for the Homeless” conference to be held on November 13, 2015 at Touro Law Center, Central Islip.  Recipients must be present to receive the award.
Submissions must be e-mailed by June 5, 2015.

For more information, please see the attached nomination form.

Apply Now For Realtor Placemaking Grants

The National Association of Realtors calls it placemaking, but creating parts of community that are safe, inviting and accessible is definitely Smart Growth. They consider Placemaking smaller, cheaper projects than traditional Smart Growth while still improving the community.

The association is accepting applications for their Placemaking Initiative. Every year they bestow two grants valued between $500-$2,500 to support such projects.

Applications are accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis and require a current photo of the proposed place.

Visit their website or contact Holly Moskerintz for more information.

TIGER Grant Applications Due May 4th

The U.S. Department of Transportation  announced today that $500 million will be made available for transportation projects across the country under a seventh round of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program.

TIGER 2015 discretionary grants will fund capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure and will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that will have a significant impact on the nation, a region, or metropolitan area. The grant program will focus on capital projects that generate economic development and improve access to reliable, safe and affordable transportation for disconnected both urban and rural, while emphasizing improved connection to employment, education, services and other opportunities, workforce development, or community revitalization.

The Pre-Application deadline is 11:59 E.D.T. on May 4, 2015.

The Final application deadline is 11:59 E.D.T. on June 5, 2015

Eligible applicants are invited to participate in the following webinars:

• April 8: How to Compete for TIGER Discretionary Grants
• April 14: How to Compete for TIGER Discretionary Grants
• April 23: Preparing a Benefit Cost Analysis
• April 28: How to Compete for TIGER Discretionary Grants

For more information, visit http://www.dot.gov/tiger, which includes links to the Notice of Funding Availability, the 2015 Webinar Series, How to Apply, and more.

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EPA's Smart Growth Listserv is maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Sustainable Communities. To contact us, please e-mail smartgrowth@epa.gov. Learn more about smart growth at www.epa.gov/smartgrowth  

$76M in YouthBuild Grants Available to Help Disadvantaged Youth 

WASHINGTON –Achieving education and career success is a goal that’s out of reach for too many of our nation’s youth. To make this goal more accessible to at-risk youth, the U.S. Department of Labor sponsors the YouthBuild program. YouthBuild helps young people who have left school early complete high school or General Educational Development programs, as well as learn critical job skills in construction, health care, information technology and other in-demand fields. Today, the department is announcing the availability of $76 million in funding to continue or expand YouthBuild programs across the country.

“Our economy works best when we’re fielding a full team and that means making sure everyone – and especially our young people – has a shot at getting an education and finding a good job,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “Youthbuild is one of our most successful programs at providing opportunity for young people who’ve struggled in school and we’re making a real commitment with these grants today to make sure that opportunity is available to even more people.”

Grants awarded through this funding opportunity will range from $700,000 to $1.1 million each to approximately 76 organizations to provide education and employment services to disadvantaged youth in their communities.

The mission of YouthBuild aligns closely with the President Obama’s goals through the My Brother’s Keeper initiative, which seeks to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color and to ensure that all young people can reach their full potential.

This year’s funding availability is the first since the passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, signed last July. Important changes to the program under WIOA include:

• Expanding eligibility to include those who have previously dropped out of a YouthBuild program and then re-enrolled;
• removing the sequential service strategy provision;
• adding a fifth key purpose related to improving energy efficiency in buildings serving low-income and homeless individuals and families;
• increasing the percentage of grant funds that can be used to build or renovate public spaces; and
• reducing the allowable administrative costs rate

YouthBuild is a non-residential, community-based alternative education program that provides classroom instructionand occupational skills training in construction and other in-demand occupations to at-risk youth and young adults ages 16-24. Participants learn valuable skills as they build or rehabilitate housing for low-income or homeless individuals and families in their communities. Under the YouthBuild Construction Plus model, select programs may offer expanded occupational skills training in additional in-demand occupations.
For additional information on grant eligibility and how to apply for funds, visit http://www.grants.gov.

Intern with Vision Long Island!

Vision Long Island is looking for interns! 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, video and more. Bring your unique skill set to the table! We are looking for energetic and conscientious individuals with an interest in urban/suburban planning from a bottom-up perspective. This is a valuable opportunity to work with great people and learn about the issues impacting Long Island. Strong writing skills a plus.