Help rebuild Long Island on November 24th!

1) Volunteers and donations needed for Sandy cleanup!

Vision Long Island is organizing another physical clean-up crews to assist local communities damaged by heavy flooding for this Saturday, November 24th.

STEP 1 - Please let us know if you are available this Saturday by contacting ea@visionlongisland.org. Give us your cell phone so we can text you updates in the event of any changes in a local community.

STEP 2 - Sign up for one of the following communities:
LONG BEACH - 10am-5pm: Meet at the Long Beach Recreation Center - 150 West Bay Drive, Long Beach, NY 11561
LINDENHURST - 10am-5pm" Meet in the parking lot of Chateau La Mer - 845 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, NY 11757
There are volunteer opportunities in other communities such as Mastic Beach, Island Park, Sayville, and Freeport. Call 631-804-9128 or email ea@visionlongisland.org for details.
STEP 3 - Provide your own supplies needed for clean-up: Industrial bags, rakes, shovels, gloves, masks, heavy boots. We may have many of these items available but it is safer to have them ready to go just in case.

If you are unable to deliver donations directly to these local communities, they can be dropped off during business hours at:
The Sustainability Institute at Molloy College
7180 Republic Airport
E. Farmingdale, NY 11735
631-963-5454

2) Shop downtown and support Small Business Saturday!

Support your local downtown this Saturday, November 24th with Small Business Saturday.

Entering its third year, Mayor Bloomberg and American Express initiated Small Business Saturday to help boost the many small businesses that support our communities. Help support local businesses this shopping season by purchasing some of you holiday gifts in our local downtowns.

This year more than ever before, it's crucial to invest in our own downtowns as we emerge from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Check out this article on Long Island's support of Small Business Saturday in Long Island Business News. Downtown business owners including Melissa Wawrzonek from the Clipper Ship Tea Company and the Northport Village Merchants Association, Larry Kushnick from the Huntington Chamber of Commerce and Westbury's Mayor Peter Cavallaro were all interviewed for the article.

Post-Sandy cleanup update

Vision helped organize a full day of cleanups last week- thanks to the more than 100 volunteers who spent their Saturday cleaning up debris, moving moldy carpets, lugging furniture, raking oil soaked leaves and gutting basements and first floors. One of the positive parts of the day was seeing folks assist their neighbors and friends from all over lending a hand. It was also cool to see trucks from other municipalities in Long Beach - essentially lugging the massive amount of debris out which showed a real spirit of folks working together.

Special thanks to Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, community leaders in Mastic Beach, Lindenhurst, Long Beach and Island Park for taking part. Special thanks to Kohls as well for getting their folks out today. Looks like we are going to do this again this coming Saturday - let us know if you are interested in volunteering.

Speaking about last week's Smart Growth Summit, Rauch Foundation's John McNally said, "I can't thank you enough for providing us with this opportunity and to all the towns and villages across Long Island that were willing to provide Long Beach with a little bit of help. The end results are: 10 dump trucks & 2 payloaders from North Hempstead, 12 garbage trucks from Huntington, and 5 garbage trucks, 4 dump trucks, 1 backhoe, & 1 payloader from Glen Cove. It made a HUGE difference. Thank you." Read more in the Long Beach Herald here.

Post-Sandy community updates

Suffolk County Disaster Relief housing

During the weeks following Super Storm Sandy, Suffolk County, in cooperation with the American Red Cross and FEMA, has ensured that no one in Suffolk County has to go homeless. Because, the Red Cross provides disaster relief, anyone who has lost housing due to Sandy and may need emergency sheltering should call the Red Cross at 877-733-2767. For those who have lost housing for any OTHER reason, please go directly to your Department of Social Services office during business hours. After 4:30pm, please call 631-854-9100 for assistance.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano forms Economic Recovery Task Force

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano launched an Economic Recovery Task Force immediately following Hurricane Sandy to focus on the micro- and macro-economic issues resulting from the storm. The Task Force includes private and public sector leaders and business experts. The main goal is to provide clear and effective communication and assistance to businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy.

The Task Force is charged with restoring Nassau County's business economy, post-Hurricane Sandy. The committee's mission is to create jobs by providing Nassau businesses and non-profit organizations with the tools they need to restore, open, and grow in Nassau County. Businesses are encouraged to contact the Task Force and an economic development first responder will respond within 24 hours. The Task Force informs businesses as to available resources, including but not limited to: Small Business Administration Disaster Recovery Loans, power issues, insurance claims, construction and repairs, public transportation, shared work program, municipal contacts.

The Task Force, through the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency (NCIDA), is able to offer financial assistance in the form of sales-tax exemptions through the NCIDA of up to $99,000 for businesses with fewer than 100 employees to be used for furniture, fixtures, equipment and materials used for reconstruction. A business must pledge to rebuild within the county.

For more information, visit the Nassau Back in Business website, email LEADS@NassauIDA.org or call 516-571-1745.

Cedar Creek Park Disaster Relief Center

FEMA Registration Center: FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center at Cedar Creek Park is now open daily from 9am to 7pm. Applicants may go to the Center to receive guidance regarding disaster recovery aid, clarification of any written correspondence received, Housing Assistance and Rental Resource information, resolutions to problems and referrals to agencies that may provide further assistance, status of applications being processed by FEMA, as well as U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) program information.

Insurance Resource Center: The New York State Department of Financial Services is available at Cedar Creek Park daily from 8am to 8pm to offer residents advice on how to file an insurance claim for property damage from Hurricane Sandy. Representatives will also be present from several of the nation’s largest insurance companies, including: Allstate, Metlife, New York Life, Travelers, USAA and more.

Red Cross Food Distribution: The Red Cross has opened a meal distribution centers at Cedar Creek Park. Daily meals are served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Free laundry and shower facilities: Showers, as well as washers and dryers (open 9am – 6pm), are available to residents at Cedar Creek Park. Residents may utilize these facilities free of charge. Free detergent is also available.

Patchogue Village establishes the Office of Sandy Relief

Under the leadership of Mayor Paul Pontieri, the Village of Patchogue has established the Office of Sandy Relief. If you or someone you know is in need of services, please visit Village Hall where personnel are available to assess your damages and needs and make appropriate referrals. Additionally, requests for volunteers or financial grants will be recorded, investigated and submitted to the Patchogue Community Service Foundation for support.

The hours are 9 to 4:30. Go to the Community Development Agency Office which is across the hall from the Village Clerk's office.

Mail tax-deductible donations of any amount to: The Patchogue Community Service Foundation, P.O. Box 821, Patchogue, NY 11772

Lindenhurst

In Lindenhurst over 2,000 families have been wiped out with several families without insurance who are completely devastated. At least 50 homes have been condemned so far. Much of the area south of Montauk Highway remains without electricity or gas. Clean up crews are going from house to house helping clean yards, but a sundown curfew remains in effect.

The greatest needs within the community are for:
- sheet rock, spackle, tape, paint (white)
- school supplies
- Fire Department supplies: Breathing apparati.

Since many families do not have storage space for building supplies at this time, a gift card to Lowes or Home Depot can help them to get what they need as they need it. Also an adopt a family program is starting if you are interested in assisting. For more information, email Tina Gallagher at tmg226@verizon.net.

Mastic Beach

Due to Sandy, 500 homes have been condemned and another thousand damaged in Mastic Beach.

Please note that they are no longer accepting any donations at this time other than monetary or gift cards due to the impressive outpouring of generosity. They have more than enough food, clothes, and other items at this time, but will have additional needs after the New Year. If you would like to make a monetary donation to the tri-hamlet hurricane relief effort, visit their website here.

Monetary donations can be made to William Floyd Summit PO Box 191 Mastic, NY 11950.

The Lighthouse Mission is in need of donations, especially non-perishable foods.

The Lighthouse Mission
1543 Montauk Highway
Bellport, NY
631- 758-7584

Long Beach

Current estimates of damage from the storm are at $200 million in Long Beach. City officials say that nearly all of the money will be covered or reimbursed by FEMA and the federal government. With the destruction nearly 100 times what residents saw after Hurricane Irene last year, the monumental clean-up efforts are expected to take some time. FEMA typically reimburses up to 75% of costs, though after Katrina, they reimbursed up to 90%. Governor Cuomo has introduced a bill that would allow the remaining 10-25% to be covered by the federal government.

The City of Long Beach was facing a $10 million defecit before the storm and there are fears that that could increase in the wake of cleanup and rebuilding efforts. City Manager Jack Schnirman said that aside from the cleanup, he plans to hold discussions about preventing future disasters in Long Beach, especially on Reynolds Channel, the beachfront, and boardwalk. "Our goal is not too get back to where we were... Our Goal is to be stronger, safer and smarter."

Read more in the Long Beach Herald here.

Financial donations can be made online at longbeachny.gov or sent to City of Long Beach Relief, 1 West Chester St., Long Beach, NY 11561.

Island Park

Island Park suffered additional damage during the Nor'easter on top of what was damaged during Sandy. The island was hit with eight feet of water and many homes were destroyed. Island Park Village Hall has been temporarily relocated into a trailer on the parking lot of 127 Long Beach Road.

For more information, contact James Ruzicka, Mayor, Village of Island Park at info@villageofislandpark.com.

Newsday recently highlighted EmPower Solar, a renewable energy company based out of Island Park whose office, vehicles, and equipment were severely damaged in the storm's flooding. The article notes their speedy move to stay operational, working out of employees' homes and in shared office space in less damaged areas of Long Island. They also were quick to communicate with their employees and clients through social media outlets like Facebook and LinkedIn, assuring everyone that they were still able to work. Using their personal cars, employees were on the scene before many cleanup crews made it to the hardest hit areas.

EmPower CEO David Scheiren and COO Greg Sachs hope that in the rebuilding efforts, more people choose solar and alternate energy plans to supplement LIPA's grid.

Read more from Newsday here.