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

October 20th, 2020

Quotes of the Day

	“I have been very lucky and fortunate to have such a great staff alongside me at the Library Café for the last 20 years, because of them we have become an integral part of our Farmingdale community. Our customers, especially our regulars, have become family. Farmingdale Village Mayor, Ralph Ekstrand, has been extremely supportive of the restaurant community in Farmingdale and we thank him for all of his efforts throughout the years.” - Mike Di Troia, General Manager of the Library in Farmingdale
	“Many generations of residents go by [the Argyle] in the summer and during the holidays. It’s a real treat for me to get this done and make it look beautiful like it was years ago.” - Babylon Mayor Ralph Scordino
	“Let’s make [Main Street] more usable, more visitor friendly. The only way to do that is for us to take the lead on that.” - Greenport Mayor George Hubbard Jr.

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Watch us on YouTube

Join us on LinkedIn

View us on Instagram

Visit our website

Long Island Movie Theaters Cleared to Open on Friday

We finally had some good news this week that has been a long time coming:  The limited reopening of movie theatres.

Over 20 downtowns on Long Island have Movie theatres in or very close to their business district.  The economic benefits of these operations is tremendous when you combine the benefits to local restaurants visited either before or after shows.

The movies theaters will be allowed to reopen on Friday, October 23rd at 25% capacity, with a maximum of 50 people per screen.  Theaters will need to create assigned seating to enforce social distancing and masks will be required at all times except when seated and eating or drinking.  Theaters will need to hire staff to ensure that regulations are being enforced.  They will also need meet enhanced air filtration, ventilation, and purification standards.

Counties must have a positivity rate below 2% on a 14-day average and must not have any “cluster zones” for theaters to reopen.  Theaters in New York City are not cleared to open as of yet, but Long Island movie theaters that agree to adhere to the new regulations are cleared to open this Friday.

The LI Main Street Alliance and 30 of their members have been active in trying to get these facilities reopened for months.  Unfortunately, this move came much later than it should have, with numerous movie theaters suffering from the long shutdown.  We hope these regulations can allow them to recover some of what has already been lost.

In addition, we encourage those that feel comfortable to head out to the movies in the coming weeks and patronize these long shuttered establishments.

Movie theaters can review detailed guidelines for reopening here, summary guidelines here, and a safety plan template that they must fill out and return to NYS here.

Library Café Celebrates 20th Anniversary in Farmingdale

The Library Café, Village of Farmingdale and the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting / 20th anniversary celebration last Friday October 16th.

Vision joined the event with the Farmingdale Chamber, Village of Farmingdale Mayor  Ralph Ekstrand, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Nassau County Legislator Rose Walker, NYS Assemblyman Michael Montessano, NYS Senator Kevin Thomas, and, of course, the Library Cafe owners and staff.

The Library Café in Farmingdale Village, celebrated their 20-year anniversary throughout the whole month of October. Formerly a Real Library, the Library Cafe is offering any two appetizers from the regular menu for $20 and any two signature martinis for $20 (with the purchase of food due to New York State restrictions on food and alcohol purchases). The specials are offered at the Library Café, as well as for delivery and takeout orders.

“I have been very lucky and fortunate to have such a great staff alongside me at the Library Café for the last 20 years, because of them we have become an integral part of our Farmingdale community. Our customers, especially our regulars, have become family. Farmingdale Village Mayor, Ralph Ekstrand, has been extremely supportive of the restaurant community in Farmingdale and we thank him for all of his efforts throughout the years.” said Mike Di Troia, General Manager.

Mark Lessing, Executive Vice President of the Lessing’s Hospitality Restaurant Division, said, “Our customers who continue to be loyal to the Library Cafe for the past 20-years are incredibly special to us and we thank them for being a part of our Library Café family. We look forward to another 20-years, and longer.”

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees and myself, congratulations to Lessings Hospitality Group, Mike Di Troia and all at The Library Café, we are thrilled to commemorate the 20 year celebration and we wish them many more years of success.”

Restoration of Argyle Falls in Babylon Village Begins

The Argyle Falls installation in Babylon Village is having new life breathed into it thanks to a restoration initiative by the village.

The process has been on the radar of the Village for a while and will begin with the removal of excess paint and encapsulating a sand-blasting on the structure.  The next steps will be placing cement and giving the structure a new paint job.  The railings and spindles will all need to be removed and either replaced or repaired during the project, and the wall and stairs will be cleaned up.

The project was jump started last year when longtime Babylon resident Theresa Santmann donated $200,000 for the renovation project.  The village has begun the work in earnest to try and complete the renovation before the winter weather settles in.

Argyle Falls is an iconic water feature in Babylon that residents have enjoyed for years.  Vision Long Island is happy to see this project finally get moving after waiting years to see resolution.

“Many generations of residents go by it in the summer and during the holidays,” said Babylon Mayor Ralph Scordino. “It’s a real treat for me to get this done and make it look beautiful like it was years ago.”

You can read more at Greater Babylon.

Greenport BID Looking to Celebrate a Fun and Safe Halloween

Business owners in Greenport have been working to bring the Halloween spirit to their downtown.

Though numerous events have been cancelled in recent months, the local Business Improvement District (BID) wanted to observe the upcoming holiday and give kids a safe trick-or-treat experience.  This comes at a time when fewer families are expected to venture out for Halloween due to concerns over COVID-19.

Local store owners are being encouraged to decorate or paint their storefronts to help get into the holiday spirit.  The parklets located in the downtown will also be decorated for Halloween with local restaurants coming up with Halloween themed specials.  They should also make for great opportunities to take selfies and family photos.

The safe trick-or-treating event will take place on Saturday, October 31st, at 3 pm.  Businesses that participate will be required to follow regulations while distributing candy, such as using a gloved hand to pass out candy instead of leaving out a communal bowl.  Local students from the Greenport High School drama club will be walking around in costume as well in order to add to the Halloween feeling.

Families will also be able to opt into a scavenger hunt around the village.  The hunt will be designed so families can complete it without entering every location.  This is done so that people could still move safely around the vision while feeling comfortable and safe about the ongoing pandemic.  There will also be virtual events, such as a spooky children’s book reading and demonstrations by local merchants.

Anyone participating in the event is encouraged to use the hashtag #GreenportBIDHalloween, which could get you featured on the BID’s Instagram.  Anyone entering the downtown during the event is encouraged to dress up in costume and wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose at all times.

You can read more at the Suffolk Times.

Nightmare on Main Street Returns to Huntington

The Huntington Arts Council’s (HAC) Annual Nightmare on Main Street show is returning for its 9th year.

The annual event invites students in grades 6 to 12 from across Long Island to participate in a contest to have their Halloween-themed artwork displayed at the HAC’s Main Street Gallery located at 213 Main Street and on its website, www.huntingtonarts.org.  Winners will be on display from October 16th to November 7th.

46 pieces have been selected from the entries and can be seen right now.  The imagery ranges from strong and haunting to playful as these young artists have worked to really bring out the spirit of the holiday.

People can come to view the works of art at the HAC’s gallery, located at 213 Main Street in downtown Huntington.  The location will be open from Tuesday through Friday, 11am to 4 pm.  Social distancing and masks are required for people looking to see the display.  Please call 631-271-8423 to schedule your visit and review safety protocols for visitors, listed on the Arts Council’s website.

You can read more at TBR News Media.

Riverhead Considering Upgrades to Parking District

The Town of Riverhead is looking at an $821,000 bill for improvements to six parking lots in the town’s Public Parking District.

The Public Parking District is a special tax jurisdiction within the downtown that is funded by local business owners through a special tax.  Because of this, owners are not required to provide on-site parking but can instead rely on publicly available lots.  There are currently 136 properties within the district that pay into the tax.  Under the proposed improvement, 57 new spaces would be created in the downtown.

“The big one that we’ve been trying to do is the First Street parking lot,” said Councilman Tim Hubbard, the board liaison to the parking district. “We were able to garner some funds from the county, but those funds have just not come. It’s been a couple of years now.”

The First Street parking lot project is one of six projects that have been proposed to improve parking.  These include repairs to the entrance of the Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home lot, repair the west side of the parking lot behind Griffing Hardware, repairs to the riverfront parking lot, repairs to the parking lot between Roanoke and Griffing avenues, and lighting installation on Third Street, which is being “upgraded for public use.”

The total cost of the six projects is $821,049, according to officials.  There is some money in the parking district’s fund balance, which hasn’t been spent on much in the last couple of years.  The fund is said to hold $146,000 at the moment, which officials are suggesting they use to avoid having to bond too much money for the improvements.

You can read more at the Riverhead News-Review.

Pink Tie Delivers to Westbury and Hempstead

The Pink Tie Delivers team was out last week for their 61st and 62nd drop to the Salvation Army centers in Westbury and Hempstead.  They delivered 250 healthy prepared meals to these local pantries for distribution.

Kudos to the work of Stephanie Saintmarie in Westbury and Soon Kim in Hempstead to keep their food programs running.

The companies that participated in this drop included 1st Equity Title, Trinity Solar, National Grid, Late Night Chauffers, Vision LI, Keller Williams and Shoprite.

The Pink Tie Delivers team will be out today to a local pantry in Hicksville.

For more info on how you can take part in the doorstep donation program or join the Delivers Team, check out pinktie.org or please email us at contact@pinktie.org

LIHCC Hosting Reconnecting Zoom Network Event on October 22nd

Join us for an evening of networking and staying up to date on the latest going on in Long Island. Our speakers will present professional medical advice regarding COVID-19 and the upcoming flu season, Long Island Small Business survival guide, bringing resources to Main Street, and a Long Island SBA presentation on PPP Loan frequently ask questions about loan forgiveness.

Guest Speakers will include Dr. Hector Castro, Vision Long Island and Main Street Alliance Director Eric Alexander, and Samuel Ballena from the Long Island SBA.

The speed networking event will take place on October 22nd, beginning at 6 pm.  There will be networking groups, health, and small business presentations.  Members and non-members are both welcome.

You can register for the event here.

SBA Announces Webinars to Learn About PPP Forgiveness

Please join SBA to learn about PPP Forgiveness for loans of $50,000 and less, Form 3508S (announced on Oct. 8th), Changes of Ownership (announced on oct. 2nd), New Information (announced on August 11th and 27th, PPP Flexibility Act Seven changes of PPP (announced on June 5th), , the Most Common FAQs , the Revised PPP Forgiveness Application SBA Form 3508 with Instructions, and SBA Form 3508EZ with Instructions.

Mon. Oct.  26th at 2pm “PPP Forgiveness Application 3 Forms and Instructions”

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tfu2przssHdaQVw0GSo9yfYN6b-FVRXTn 

Thurs. Oct.  29th at 10am “PPP Forgiveness Application 3 Forms and Instructions”

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtfu6rrjgrGNz8Dd7FnADAvzfWDtmzW22_ 

Free Webinars on Supporting Education during the Pandemic on Oct 26th & Nov 2nd

The health crisis we're facing is ongoing, so teachers face a unique challenge: encouraging children to learn and connect with others while they may be experiencing stress, anxiety and loss. At the same time, staff members need to sustain their own motivation and focus while both supporting students and coping with their own concerns. Two new webinars will help you find the balance with your own emotions, your work and your family--and will provide critical self-care tools.

The presenter is David Hymowitz, a social worker with 30 years of experience who has worked with many school districts as they develop programs on social-emotional learning.

Now That We're Back: How Do We Continue to Support Students, Families and Ourselves?
Date: Monday, October 26, 2020
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m
Registration: There is no fee but pre-registration is required.
REGISTER NOW

Now That We're Back: Strategies for Program Leaders
Date: Monday, November 2, 2020
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration: There is no fee but pre-registration is required
REGISTER NOW

Trunk or Treat on October 30th

Professor’s Café in Kings Park will be holding a Trunk or Treat event on Friday, October 20th from 5 to 7 pm.

The event will be $20 per car.  There will be Candy Apples, Roasted Corn, Cotton Candy, and more!  There will also be a drive in featurette with a kid-friendly Halloween movie.

The event will be located at the Key Food Parking Lot in Kings Park.  Don’t forget to bring your candy for trick or treaters with you!

LIA Small- and Mid-Sized Business Committee Hosting Economic Impact Webinar

The Long Island Association (LIA) will be hosting a webinar on the Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on a Global, National, and Local scale.  This event will take place online Tuesday on November 10th, starting at 9 AM.

The event will feature Chief Economist Dr. John Rizzo for a presentation about the economic impacts of COVID-19.  There will be an in-depth analysis on key data about how the virus has affected economies around the globe.  There will also be a question and answer session.

You can register for this event here.

32nd Annual Keys for the Homeless Conference to take Place Virtually on November 18th

The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless is holding its 32nd Annual Keys for the Homeless Conference online this year to help bring relief to Long Island’s struggling homeless population.

This year’s event will take place on November 18th from 9 am to 3:30 virtually and will feature 14 workshop topics that address what can be done to help the most vulnerable residents in our region.  The theme for the conference is “Adapting to Changing Times: Where Do We Go From Here?”  Marc Dones, the Executive Director of National Innovation Services will be this year’s Keynote Speaker.

The Coalition is responsible for leading the region’s initiative to serve our most vulnerable and reducing barriers to housing.  With their Continuum of Care partners, they have referred more than 200 homeless households for permanent housing.  Throughout the years they have helped to guide over two hundred million dollars of US Department of Housing and Urban Development CoC funding to Long Island agencies, resulting in the development of over 2,700 units of housing for homeless persons. 

You can register to attend, become a sponsor, or exhibitor for this event here.  A full schedule of the workshops for the event is available here.

NYSERDA, Affordable Solar and Storage Predevelopment and Technical Assistance (Predevelopment Program)

The Predevelopment Program provides grants to address barriers to solar installations serving low-to-moderate income (LMI) households living in rental housing, multifamily buildings or other households not served by traditional on-site residential solar. Individual awards will not exceed $200,000. Funding to proposals through this solicitation will offset costs for predevelopment and technical assistance work needed to implement solar installations for multifamily affordable housing and/or shared solar (Community Distributed Generation) installations that benefit LMI households.

- Eligibility: Applications must be submitted by or include the documented participation of any of the following: owners, providers or managers of regulated multifamily affordable housing, community land trusts, land banks or portfolios of single-family affordable housing; local government agencies; Community Development Corporations (CDC), Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) or other community organizations providing services to LMI households and/or demonstrating an LMI constituency; and prior recipients of Predevelopment Program grants seeking to replicate and expand upon the success from a prior completed Predevelopment

Program project.

- Funding: Up to $10.65 million is available with individual awards not to exceed $200,000.
- Deadline: Continuous through December 31, 2024, or until depleted
- Contact:
Email: affordablesolar@nyserda.ny.gov
Website: www.nyserda.ny.gov/funding

New York State Accepting Applications for NY Forward Loan Fund

New York State has opened pre-applications for the New York Forward Loan Fund. Loans from this fund are available to small businesses, nonprofits, and small landlords in New York State. New York Forward loans must be fully repaid over a 5-year term with fixed annual interest rates of 3 percent for small businesses and landlords.

Small businesses may apply for the lesser of $100,000 or up to 100% of the average monthly revenues in any 3-month period from 2019 or the first quarter of 2020. This loan can be paid back over five years with first year being interest only.  However, if small businesses have received either a PPP loan or an EIDL loan from SBA, they would not be eligible to apply. NYS has set a goal of 18% of total funds under this Program for Long Island

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as industries and regions reopen however, priority for New York Forward Loans will be given to industries and regions that have been reopened. Resources are available to assist in preparing applications for small businesses, landlords and nonprofits in industries and regions that have not yet reopened.

To view more details, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, click here:

If you need technical assistance through this process, please contact an Entrepreneurial Assistance Center near you and inform the counselor that you need help for the NY Forward Loan application.  You can find your closest contact center here.

This Week's Sponsor

D&F Development Group

The D & F Development Group, LLC (The D&F Group) provides the highest quality combination of experience and knowledge to make certain that project goals are attained. They offer an entire spectrum of real estate expertise from a single source – including project development, construction and property management.

The D&F Group is proud to be among New York’s premier developers of affordable family and senior housing, working closely with a wide array of for-profit and not-for-profit partners. Yet, their diversity and extensive background enable them to provide comprehensive services relating not only to affordable housing but to all segments of the real estate marketplace. Furthermore, their versatility means they can handle all aspects of a project from inception to finalization. Depending on the specific project, they can provide any one or more of the individual areas of real estate services they offer.

The D&F Group brings agility, efficiency and dedication to each project … committed to ensuring that all budgetary, scheduling, regulatory, aesthetic and other requirements are fulfilled.