presented by Vision Long Island and the Long Island Main Street Alliance

July 22nd, 2022

Quote(s) of the Week

	“Let’s all support our communities, while having a lot of fun in the process. Shop and play local!” - Frank Camarano, president of the Nassau Council of Chambers
	“By attending local events you support our small businesses and communities. Our communities are made up in part of a network and connection of small business, attractions and events. Locally the offerings in our downtowns and communities rival those located a plane, train, and automobile away.” - Joseph Garcia, president of the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce
	“What our businesses endured during the past few years is nothing short of some darkest days. Now, through collaboration and working together, we are bringing downtown Riverhead alive once again.” - Connie Lassandro, Riverhead Chamber of Commerce president Connie Lassandro
	"With many families choosing to stay local this summer, it's great that all of our Chambers and community organizations are offering so much to do right here in our own backyard.” - Tony Tanzi, president, Kings Park Chamber of Commerce.
	“It is vitally important, now more than ever, to shop local. Save a neighbor’s job.” - Erik Mahler, Baldwin Chamber of Commerce

LI Main Street Alliance & 40 Local Leaders Kick Off Downtown Events with 8 Press Conferences

Vision Long Island, Long Island Main Street Alliance, local Chambers of Commerce, downtown businesses, community leaders and municipal officials held a series of eight kickoff events in local downtowns on two consecutive Thursdays, June 30th and July 7th, to promote the over 200 local events that more than 70 Long Island downtowns are offering during the upcoming months. These events include music, arts, festivals, shopping, family activities, cultural activities, and more.
 
Undeniably, Long Islanders love their local business districts and shops, but Coronavirus restrictions have hurt the small business community. With recovery underway, these kickoff events reminded Long Islanders that they do not have to get on a plane or a train, but simply visit and patronize local businesses in their local communities. The coalition released an expansive list of events, while concurrently requesting New York State provide small business and economic development funds to help promote Long Island's downtowns.

“So, Long Islanders should stay local,” Eric Alexander, Director of Vision Long Island and the Long Island Main Street Alliance, stated during the press event in Riverhead. “They should support their local community. They don’t need to get on a plane. They don’t need to get on a train. They can spend their money locally.”
 
On Thursday, June 30th and July 7th, representatives from more than a dozen chambers of commerce, Vision Long Island, Long Island Main Street Alliance, small business owners and civic leaders visited downtown Baldwin, Farmingdale, Kings Park, Riverhead, the Village of Valley Stream, the Village of Hempstead, the Village of Lindenhurst and the Village of Patchogue exalting the benefits of sharing and participating in downtown events.
 
Representatives included members from the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, Baldwin Civic Association, Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce, Village of Farmingdale, Kings Park Chamber of Commerce, Riverhead Chamber of Commerce, Riverhead Business Improvement District, Town of Riverhead, Merrick Chamber of Commerce, Elmont Chamber of Commerce, Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce, Bethpage Chamber of Commerce, Smithtown Chamber of Commerce, LI Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, LI African American Chamber of Commerce, NY South Asian Chamber of Commerce, Vision Long Island, LI Main Street Alliance, Pink Tie’s Think Small Initiative, and various local small businesses.

Frank Camarano, president of the Nassau Council of Chambers, told those in attendance, “Let’s all support our communities, while having a lot of fun in the process. Shop and play local!”
 
“By attending local events you support our small businesses and communities,” Joseph Garcia, president of the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce added. “Our communities are made up in part of a network and connection of small business, attractions and events. Locally the offerings in our downtowns and communities rival those located a plane, train, and automobile away.”
 
Riverhead Chamber of Commerce president Connie Lassandro, discussing the importance of supporting local events, stated, “What our businesses endured during the past few years is nothing short of some darkest days. Now, through collaboration and working together, we are bringing downtown Riverhead alive once again.”
 
"With many families choosing to stay local this summer, it's great that all of our Chambers and community organizations are offering so much to do right here in our own backyard,” stated Tony Tanzi, president, Kings Park Chamber of Commerce.
 
“It is vitally important, now more than ever, to shop local. Save a neighbor’s job,” Erik Mahler, Baldwin Chamber of Commerce added.

A sample of just a few of the many exciting downtown events discussed during the kickoff included:
 
•         The Grand Baldwin Festival, October 1, from 12 PM to 4:30 PM, behind the Baldwin Library;
•         Music On Main, downtown Farmingdale, Main Street. Celebrate summer with outdoor music & fun, July 21, August 4, August 18;
•         Kings Park Rocks summer concert, August 4, municipal lot, East Main Street, Kings Park, 7 PM to 10 PM. Musical Moments summer concerts, Russ Savatt Park, 14 Main Street, July 1, July 15, July 29, August 12, and August 26;
•         Cardboard Boat Race, August 13, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Peconic Riverfront - downtown Riverhead. Alive on 25, music on six stages, local craft beverages, outdoor dining, artists, performers, and street vendors, Main Street, Riverhead;
•         Village of Valley Stream’s Summer Concert Series, Classic Car Shows and Farmers Market;
•         Village of Hempstead’s Men’s Appreciation Event, Mayor’s Annual Fishing Trip, and Gospel Unity Fest, August 12th;
•         Village of Lindenhurst 2022 Summer Concert Series at the Village Square Park Gazebo, June 25th through September 24th;
•         Great South Bay Musical Festival, Shorefront Park, Rider Ave. and Smith Street, Patchogue.

In closing, Mr. Alexander stated, "In addition to local organizations bringing to light some of the awesome things to do on Long Island, it is imperative that some of the money New York State spends on tourism and promotion go to local chambers of commerce. They know the community, the local organizations, they can promote it better than anyone.”

You can find a listing of downtown events here.
 
You can read News 12’s coverage here, Long Island Business News’ coverage here, the Long Island Advance’s coverage here, Riverhead News Review’s coverage here, and the LI Herald’s coverage here.

We also received front page coverage in the Smithtown News, Northport Observer and Newsday added events from the list to their news articles.

Funding Available for Local Communities

Communities across Long Island and NYS have for many years requested downtown revitalization funding that is not just geared to more development but for smaller neighborhoods as well.

To help meet that request Governor Kathy Hochul announced $200 million in funding for two major downtown revitalization initiatives—NY Forward, a new program aimed at rejuvenating NY’s smaller and rural communities, and Round 6 of the state's successful Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), each funded at $100 million. An informational brochure is available that describes both programs.      

The first five rounds of DRI provided $600 million to 59 communities for projects that are now reinvigorating downtowns throughout the State. NY Forward accelerates and expands that momentum by providing $100 million in funding, as well as capacity-building workshops and technical assistance, for the type of smaller and rural downtowns typically found in villages, hamlets and other small, neighborhood-scale municipal centers. Together, these programs will ensure that no community is left behind in the unprecedented renaissance in downtown revitalization sweeping across New York State.

Communities are strongly encouraged to provide a Letter of Intent to Apply for DRI and NY Forward by August 10th; further program materials for DRI and NY Forward will be available on July 25th. You can learn more here.

NYS Announces Opening of Restore NY Grant Program

Governor Kathy Hochul has recently announced that the Restore New York grant program will open on July 11th. This $250 million program encourages community development and neighborhood growth through the elimination and redevelopment of blighted structures.

Restore New York, administered by Empire State Development, is open to municipalities to support projects that focus on demolishing, rehabilitating and restoring residential, commercial and mixed-use buildings.

State Senator Anna M. Kaplan states, "Blighted structures are a scar on our community and a drain on local resources, so every time we can revitalize a property and get it back on the tax rolls, it's a win for all of us. The Restore New York program will combat blight and help our communities recover from the pandemic era, and I urge every municipality to learn more and apply for funds to help move New York forward."

Grants will be awarded in two rounds this year, with $100 million available in the first round and $150 million available in round two.

Funding can be used for vacant, abandoned, condemned or surplus buildings and these properties can be demolished, deconstructed, rehabilitated or reconstructed. Emphasis will be placed on projects in economically distressed communities, projects that leverage other state or federal redevelopment funds and the project's feasibility and readiness. Eligible applicants include counties, cities, towns, and villages within New York State based on the following criteria:

· Cities over 100,000 in population may apply for up to $5 million for one project. However, cities of over 1 million in population and counties therein must apply for projects in a distressed area of the city 
· Cities and villages with populations between 40,000 and 99,999 may apply for one project up to $3 million
· All other municipalities may apply for one project up to $2 million

Empire State Development may grant a limited number of special awards. Municipalities with populations of 100,000 or less and Counties with populations of 400,000 or less may apply for an additional $10 million to put toward a second separate project OR toward part of a larger project in addition to the funding limits listed above. Special projects are where the property causes severe economic injury to the community, leaving a highly visible and blighted property or properties in the central business district of a highly or moderately distressed community which has a depressing effect on the overall economic development potential of the community.

An intent to apply form must be received by ESD by August 11th, 2022. The RFP and full guidelines will be available on July 11.

You can read more detailed information on the program and requirements here.

Nassau County Police Department Foundation Announces $110,000 Contribution from FirstNet, Built with AT&T to Revitalize NCPD Safety Town

The Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) Foundation has announced a generous $110,000 contribution from FirstNet, Built with AT&T to renovate and refurbish the Nassau County Police Department’s Safety Town educational facility for elementary school children. FirstNet is the only wireless broadband network built with and for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community, and this support for Safety Town’s modernization is part of AT&T’s commitment to increasing public safety. The competition of modernizing Safety Town comes in the middle of National Safety Month, which was established by the National Safety Council to make communities and workplaces safer.

Built in 1972 and operated by the NCPD, Safety Town is an educational center and miniature village that provides children with a variety of public safety learning experiences. Each year more than 10,000 third graders from across Nassau County visit Safety Town and are taught traffic, pedestrian, and bicycle safety by NCPD Crossing Guards — first in a classroom, then through a unique “hands-on” experience using bicycles and miniature electric vehicles.

A 10-year analysis of bike accidents in Nassau County found that children who attended Safety Town were more than 10 times less likely to be involved in a bike accident than a child who did not receive training at Safety Town, demonstrating the venue’s critical role in promoting public safety.

The support from FirstNet allowed the NCPD Foundation to revitalize the aging community public safety asset, which needed a significant investment in time to recognize National Safety Month. This included removing and replacing 22 dilapidated buildings within Safety Town, adding professional landscaping throughout the campus and repairing and beautifying other critical infrastructure elements. The new and improved Safety Town was carefully planned to ensure local children can learn traffic safety for at least another 50 years.

“Safety Town is a very important piece of community training for the NCPD and at fifty years old, was in a desperate need for a renovation. I am so thankful to our Foundation and FirstNet, Built with AT&T for their generosity ensuring this revitalization occurred,” said NCPD Commissioner Patrick Ryder.

“When first responders, the First Responder Network Authority and AT&T came together to build FirstNet, advancing public safety was at the core of our mission,” said Judy Cavalieri, Vice President and General Manager, AT&T New York. “Now 5 years since its launch, that mission continues to inspire us to support initiatives and programs like Safety Town, who share a commitment to creating safer communities and keeping our kids safe. We are proud to support this program.”

Sprawl in America "is Not Good for our Climate" says former President Barack Obama

Discussing the topic of inequality and sustainable design, former two-term President Barack Obama spoked in front of a crowd of 6,000 architects at the 2022 American Institute of Architects Conference in Chicago on June 24th. President Obama spoke in a Q&A style format, hosted by AIA President Dan Hart, using his time to address the crisis of available affordable housing in America and the link between environmental issues and social justice.

Reporting on President Obama’s keynote, Architecture and design magazine dezeen noted that the former president called on architects and policymakers to tackle urban sprawl and to create livable density in American cities. “Good planning and skilled architects are needed, but this is where government policy makes a difference,” President Obama said. “Sprawl in America isn’t good for our climate, so we have to think about how we create a liveable density that allows us to take mass transit and allows us to take bicycles and foot traffic.”

President Obama asked, "How do we create affordable housing and mixed-use housing and how do we apply the principles that Jane Jacobs wrote about in opposition to Bob Moses, so that you're creating organic neighborhoods," referring to the famous battle that ensued when activist Jacobs opposed proposals by city planner Moses to build a highway through Greenwich village in 1955.

According to President Obama, the architecture of Chicago, the city he lived in while acting as an Illinois state senator and then a US senator, had contributed to inequality in the city. "Chicago, as beautiful as it is, also was a case study in ways in which, at times, architecture reinforced inequity," referencing the legacy of racist housing policies and projects such as Cabrini Green, which he said isolated people and reinforced racial segregation.

The former president believes that some of the problems found in Chicago and other major cities in the US are the result of government policy and zoning decisions, dezeen reports. “It’s not just lack of funding for affordable housing, frankly some very well-intentioned laws and regulations at the local level, often generated from the left and my own party, sometimes are inhibiting the creation of affordable housing and empowering NIMBY attitudes that make it very difficult to integrate communities,” President Obama explained. "The most liberal communities in the country aren't that liberal when it comes to affordable housing."

According to dazeen, President Obama was also critical of excesses in building culture, telling architects and designers present to "think creatively about the use of affordable materials and designs that are lower maintenance. We associate quality with how expensive it is," he said, noting that this trend was not just a problem in architecture but in capitalist society. These principles should be carried forward into other areas of the built environment, again referencing the need for more robust affordable housing initiatives. While he understands that affordable housing has to be scalable, he said there's no reason why the design of them can't reflect thoughtfulness about ways of life and aesthetics.

"And so often when we think of affordable housing, there's a notion that that stuff is a luxury that working-class folks and poor folks can't afford," President Obama stated. "But they need it more. It's more important for them to have public spaces, to have the space to help them stitch together community and places for kids to go because they may not have as many resources inside the house."

Click here to read the full dezeen article
https://www.dezeen.com/2022/06/27/barack-obama-urban-sprawl-america-aia-conference/

Deer Park Calls on Community Residents to Help Shape Vision for Future

For many years, the Deer Park community has expressed its desire for change in infrastructure, physical improvements, economic development, beautification, and Main Street corridor development. To reach these objectives the Town of Babylon has engaged Vision Long Island to facilitate a discussion with Deer Park residents and businesses in order to draft a Deer Park Vision Plan that will improve the commercial areas of Deer Park. The community driven plan will also identify strategies and funding opportunities to implement these community recommendations.

The primary areas of focus of this study includes: Deer Park Avenue, between Nicolls Road and W Bay Shore Road; Acorn Street and Long Island Avenue, between Eastern Avenue and Carll’s Place; W Bay Shore Road, between Deer Park Avenue and Weeks Road; and Commack Road, between Nicholls Road and W Bay Shore Road.

With 25 years of experience working with communities to shape and plan their future, Vision Long Island held its first community-wide meeting on Saturday, May 7th, at the Robert Frost Middle School in Deer Park. Over 200 residents and town officials & staff attended, sharing concerns, ideas and key issues to improve their community. The visioning session included: Opening Remarks; Opening Presentation; Hopes & Horrors Exercise; Questions & Answers; Design Tables; Presentation of Design Tables; and Wrap Up and Next Steps.

Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer welcomed attendees by pointing out just how special Deer Park is and always has been - with great families, schools, merchants and parks. “We have a great mix in this community,” Supervisor Schaffer explained. “We want to continue offering a great quality of life to our residents and their children. We can’t make decisions about what’s best for Deer Park without your input. That is what today is all about. This is where the hard work starts.”

The visioning event could not have happened without the hard work of the Deer Park Community Association, Concerned Citizens of Deer Park, the Deer Park Chamber of Commerce, the Deer Park Fire Department, and the Deer Park School District. The sentiment of these groups was summed up by Valerie St. Bernard, vice president of the Deer Park Community Association, “Team work makes the dream work.”

Vision Long Island’s director Eric Alexander stated “One thing I’ve learned these past two years is that you care about each other, you care about your community, you are hands on, all of your associations are active and are doing wonderful things.”

After a presentation from Vision Long Island’s Placemaking Director Elissa Kyle, community members shared ideas & priorities for their community through several exercises, including a Hopes & Horrors exercise and design tables. An example of what the attendees saw as Hopes included better parking, an entertainment hub, basic façade improvements, walkability, bike paths, beautification, housing, traffic calming, tax incentives, revitalized library and road way improvements. Horrors included high cost of living, lack of community center, illegal dumping, the Deer Park Motel, vacant storefronts, zombie homes, poor roads and the dangerous condition of Route 231.

The design exercise saw groups working from oversized aerial maps of the focus areas wherein attendees could markup what and where they would like to see change and what that change should look like. The group then chose a spokesperson to summarize and present their work to all attendees. Ideas included upgrading playgrounds, redesign of curbs and roads, beatification and cleanup of parks and businesses, including near the high school, added parking and gathering areas, especially along Long Island Avenue, added bike paths for connectivity, and safer walkability, especially along Commack Road.

Town of Huntington Votes to Restrict Public Parking for Downtown Residential Buildings

Image from Google Earth

In an effort to limit the growth of multistory apartment buildings and its effect on parking in downtown Huntington, the Town Board has recently approved measures that would prohibit developers from relying on municipal parking lots to satisfy their off-street parking requirements.

The resolution sought to clarify the rules regarding parking requirements related to converting existing multistory structures within 300 feet of municipal parking lots to residential use on the upper floors.

“We closed a loophole,” Town of Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth told Newsday, adding that the town's goal was to limit development of apartment buildings in downtowns such as Cold Spring Harbor and Huntington, which have commercial centers.

Elissa Kyle, Planning Director at Vision Long Island participate in the Town Board’s public hearing regarding this matter on May 10th. “Instead of focusing on making it harder for people to live close to shopping, restaurants, entertainment and cultural amenities,” Ms. Kyle explained, “the Town of Huntington should be focusing on making it easier for people to get to these destinations without a car. Improving sidewalks and crosswalks, adding bike lanes and utilizing the town's own bus system can help more people support our local businesses than preventing people from living close to them."

The measure was approved 4 to 1, with Councilmember Joan Cergol voting against the resolution, Newsday reports. Councilwoman Cergol told Newsday the board needs to be careful when restricting owners of buildings, especially those built before the town had zoning codes and that the amendment is essentially “tying the hands” of such historic building owners.

Click here for Newsday article
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/huntington-town-board-parking-development-multistory-apartments-nnymu7pr?fbclid=IwAR30HN02PwXBshRDrZzFmjQ4eoSgvTmeSWqSGG5rILc2AGP6nDbu3TDRd4I

Long Island Main Street News, Under Production, makes Extended Interviews with Local Leaders Available

Vision Long Island has been in the process of interviewing some of our community partners: local civics, small business/chamber friends, municipal officials and local food pantry and religious leaders. 

As part of these efforts, we have reached over half of the communities we work in and are starting now to connect to some of our friends not rooted in any one community from development, design and infrastructure professionals and environmental leaders as well.   These interviews will be pieced together into a future show titled "Long Island Main Street News," but, in the meantime, you can view an extended version of these interviews here.

Special thanks to our guests for sharing their experiences, to our friends at Pink Tie for providing access to their studio, and to Rob Comforto from Videomasters for the filming and production.

Great to have Town of Brookhaven Councilman Jonathan Kornreich in for a LI Main Street News interview.  

Councilman Kornreich shared with us the issues in his district.  He covered the efforts of preservation in his many historic business districts and the work of managing needs of residents and businesses through the Coronavirus.  

Check it out here.

Great to have on Matt Cohen from the LI Association for a LI Main Street News interview.
 
Mr. Cohen shared with us the work his organization does connecting the larger businesses on Long Island to the critical needs facing the region.  He shared with us the more open approach he has to be a support for local business and Main Street issues that are driven by local community level and larger chamber associations.   

We know Mr. Cohen for a long time in different roles and look forward to working with him in this new role.  

Check it out here.

Great to have Bryan Grimaldi from National Grid for a LI Main Street News interview.  

Mr. Grimaldi shared with us National Grid’s plan to decarbonize by 2050 to help meet NYS’s climate goals.  

Check it out here.

Great to have Jeanine Maynard from the Greater Uniondale Action Coalition in for a LI Main Street News interview.  Ms. Maynard shared with us updates on issues her community is facing and the impacts of Coronavirus as well. 

Check it out here.

We experimented with the format for our LI Main Street News show to bring in multiple guests with different perspectives on an issue.   Our first one of this type covered Cannabis Legalization which is something lots of folks are confused about and some who have strong feelings pro or con.   The three experts who joined us did a fantastic job of not only explaining the law, the benefits, the economics, the health and social risks and issues to watch for in the future. 

Kudos to small business owner Chrissy Ruggeri, Danielle Tricolla with Forcelli Deegan Terrana Law and Dr. Jeff Reynolds from Family & Children’s Association for taking the time to have the conversation.   The tone and respectful dialogue was really heartening and it was wild to see folks coming from three different angles have agreement in a number of areas.

Check it out here.

Great to have David Isaacs from PPG Traffic Solutions join LI Main Street News speaking with us about traffic calming materials for local roadways.   Mr. Isaacs shared with us the high-quality materials that can be used for long lasting and highly visible crosswalks and other treatments to increase pedestrian and bike safety. 

We recently visited projects in downtown Glen Cove and Port Washington with these materials and are looking forward to seeing them employed in other areas of the Island.   

Check it out here.

So the NYS Senate is holding a hearing with questions on the proposed Penn Station redevelopment plan.  We had Alex Washburn from the Grand Penn Community Alliance in for an interview on LI Main Street News where he provides a wealth of information on these proposals and the impact to local NYC residents and businesses.   

We are consistent that NYC folks should maintain zoning control of their neighborhoods without NYS or outside influences.   Similarly NYC planners should not be seeking to control zoning in Long Island communities.   

Check it out here.

Great to have local photographer Philana Aiken in for a LI Main Street News interview.

Ms.  Aiken shared with us the challenges and joys of running a family based photography business that serves the local community.   She has special deals tied to holidays and of course special events as well.  

Check it out here.

Great to have our friend Jim McCaffrey from the Town of Oyster Bay in for an update on Hicksville revitalization last month for an edition of LI Main Street News. 

Mr. McCaffrey shared with us the approved downtown zoning and status of new development by the train station.   He spoke about the negotiations with the MTA on their promised parking garages and other improvements that were changed with the DRI. 

Check it out here.

Check out our friend Nikki Stewart from the Witness Project who joined us for an episode of LI Main Street News.

Ms. Stewart shared with us the work she does outreaching to local communities on breast and cervical cancer prevention and detection.  Great to see their work supported by the Town of Babylon and many others.

Check it out here.

Suffolk County to Host Midway Crossing Development Meeting

Suffolk County and its partners are hosting two upcoming public meetings on the Midway Crossing Development in Ronkonkoma. Midway is a $2.8 billion mega-proposed development that could raise a convention center, hotel, sports arena and new Long Island MacArthur Airport terminal on Town of Islip-owned land.

The meetings are scheduled to take place at the Lakeland Fire Department on 7/21, from 2 PM to 8 PM. Please note that these meetings will feature the same information at both so it is not needed to attend both nights.

For more information about the project please visit www.connectli.org.

16th Annual Latina Hat Luncheon to be Held on July 27th

Founded in 1988, the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was established to serve the needs of the Long Island minority owned small business community. Through an array of networking events, members have an opportunity to make contacts necessary to help their businesses thrive. The annual Latina Hat Luncheon is one of its best attended events, where honorees receive awards based upon their work for the community and professional achievements.

The 16th Annual Latina Hat Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, from 1130 AM to 3 PM at The Crescent Beach Club, in Bayville.

With categories such as Small Businesswoman of the year, to Trustee of the Year, this event honors women who are exceptional business leaders, community advocates as well as inspirational role models. It celebrates women in the workforce and recognizes their contributions to the Hispanic and minority communities they serve.

This year’s Business Community Advocate of the Year is Vision Long Island’s own Assistant Director, Tawaun Whitty. Congratulations Tawaun and all the honorees.

To purchase tickets to this event, click here - https://lihcc.eventbrite.com. Sponsorship and event journal ad payments can be secured via credit card by calling the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce office at (516) 333-0105.

Farmingdale to Host Ikebana Workshop on May 22nd

Farmingdale Village Hosting Second Ikebana Workshop - Hiroko Uraga-Senese to Lead Flower-Arranging Session

Spring is coming and with it is another opportunity to celebrate nature by learning about the Japanese art of flower arranging known as Ikebana. The Farmingdale Village Cultural Arts Committee is pleased to host its second Ikebana workshop on May 22. This year’s workshop will be led by Hiroko Uraga-Senese, an expert in the Misho-Ryu style of Ikebana, which she studied in Japan and has taught throughout Long Island.

Ikebana is more than simply arranging flowers in a container. It is an art form, dating back to 1807, intended to encourage harmony between nature and humanity through an appreciation of flowers, seasons, and each container that is used.

The Village is offering two sessions of the workshop: one beginning at 11 AM and the other at 2 PM, both at Farmingdale Village Hall located at 361 Main Street in Farmingdale. Seating is limited to 15 participants per session, and pre-registration is required by Friday, May 13. The course fee is $25 per student, which includes the lecture, demonstration, workshop, vase, flower materials, and green foam frog to hold the flowers. Participants should bring their own scissors, and will be able to take home their arrangements after the class.

To register, mail a $25 check payable to the “Incorporated Village of Farmingdale” to Ann Rodenburg, Farmingdale Village Hall, 361 Main Street, Farmingdale, NY 11735. Registration must be completed by Friday, May 13 in order to ensure adequate materials are available. Participants should include their contact information (name, cell phone number, and email address), as well as session preference (AM or PM). For more information, contact Ms. Rodenburg at 516-249-0093, ext. 204.

East End Arts to Host 26th Annual Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival

East End Arts is hosting the 26th Annual Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival on Sunday, May 29, 2022, from 12 PM to 5 PM in downtown Riverhead and on the green at East End Arts at 133 E. Main Street.
 
Gather on the grounds of East End Arts and along the Peconic River for this day-long celebration of the arts, centering around the Street Painting Festival, fashioned after the Italian street painters "Il Madonnari", a street chalk art form dating back to the 16th century, as well as activities and entertainment for everyone. Street painting squares sponsored by businesses, families, and individuals are used as a canvas for inspirations in chalk.
 
The day’s activities include: Street Painting; Crafts Fair; Fine Arts Festival; Live Music; Drumming; Dance; Craft & Artisan Vendors; Theatre; Children's Activities & Family Fun; and Local Restaurants.
 
You can find more information here.

Department of Environmental Conservation, Climate Smart Communities Grant Program

The Climate Smart Communities Grant Program provides competitive, 50/50 matching grants to municipalities to conduct climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, including actions that are part of a strategy to achieve Climate Smart Communities certification.

Up to $12 million is available for grants of between $50,000 and $2 million for implementation projects
related to the following topics, among others:

• Reducing vehicle miles travelled (VMT)
• Reducing food waste
• Reducing hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions from refrigeration and other related equipment
• Increasing natural resiliency through restoration or preservation of wetlands and floodplains
• Reducing future flood-risk, including by relocating or retrofitting critical infrastructure; and
• Preparing for extreme weather events.

Eligibility: Any county, city, town, or village of the state of New York is eligible to apply. A municipality need not be a Climate Smart Community to be eligible for a grant.

Funding: Up to $12 million is available for grants of between $50,000 and $2 million for implementation projects. In addition, up to $2 million is available for grants of between $10,000 and $200,000 for planning, inventory and assessment projects that are aligned with certain Climate Smart Communities Certification actions in the areas of greenhouse gas mitigation, transportation, climate adaptation and land use.

Deadline: July 29, 2022 4 PM

Email: cscgrants@dec.ny.gov

Click here for more information: https://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/109181.htm

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With over 50 years of combined experience, The Gitto Group is know for building unique and long lasting relationships with their clients throughout the northeast region.