PSEG Long Island Celebrates
Small Business Week & Five Years
of its Popular Grant Program
In Lindenhurst
On Monday, May 1st, PSEG Long Island recognized Small Business Week, April 30th to May 6th, and celebrated the five-year anniversary of its popular Main Street Revitalization grant program.
Monday’s celebration took place at the official ribbon cutting of the most recent grant recipient: Hunter and Thief, a modern cocktail bar located in the heart of Lindenhurst’s downtown business district. The proprietors proudly opened their doors after nearly four years of pandemic-related setbacks. Hunter and Thief qualified for an $18,750 PSEG Long Island Main Street Revitalization grant. The business also qualified for another PSEG Long Island small business incentive because they renovated a building that had been vacant for more than a year.
“PSEG Long Island’s economic development grants have provided more than a million dollars to local businesses in the past five years – from the Argyle Theatre in 2018, to today, as we celebrate our most recent grant recipient, Hunter and Thief,” said David Lyons, interim president and COO of PSEG Long Island.
For the past five years, PSEG Long Island has been providing small and medium-sized businesses with grants and bill credits to support their success. PSEG Long Island’s Main Street Revitalization grants are available for businesses that complete projects to help improve the economic stability and growth of a municipality. Since 2018, the grants have supported renovation projects for nearly 50 local businesses with more than a million dollars given out. These new businesses have also created more than 900 jobs, further enhancing the local economy.
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“Congratulations to Gabrielle and Jonathan on receiving this PSEG Long Island Main Street Revival Grant. We warmly welcome Hunter and Thief to our Lindenhurst family,” said Michael A. Lavorata, mayor of the incorporated village of Lindenhurst. “As our beautiful Lindenhurst downtown business district continues to energize and revitalize, we extend our thanks to PSEG Long Island for their assistance in helping small businesses here to get started and grow.”
"Kudos to PSEG Long Island for bringing resources to local downtowns and chambers through the pandemic and beyond,” said Eric Alexander, founder of the LI Main Street Alliance. “Our Main Streets are hubs for economic and community activity and are a wise investment."
Small businesses are the backbone of our community. Making up 90% of Long Island’s companies, they contribute to the economy and workforce, and help communities thrive. Many small businesses, like Hunter and Thief, experienced hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. PSEG Long Island has provided and continues to create programs to help them thrive and recover.
To learn more about the small business support
offered by PSEG Long Island
A new $48.2 million affordable apartment development is planned for Wyandanch, Long Island Business News (LIBN) reports. The project, Alegria North, will be restricted to renters earning from 30 percent to 70 percent of the area median income, with monthly rents ranging from $1,169 to $2,500.
Levittown-based D&F Development Group plans to build this four-story, 82,000-square-foot rental building on a 1-acre site at 309 Merritt Avenue, a block from the Wyandanch Long Island Rail Road station. The development will bring 81 apartments, consisting of 41 one-bedroom units, 36 two-bedroom units, three three-bedroom units and a two-bedroom apartment for the building’ superintendent, according to LIBN. Amenities will include a laundry room, fitness center, free broadband internet access, and an interior courtyard on the second level with a recreation area for residents.
The property will have 21 apartments set aside for tenants with special needs, the outlet explains, with services provided by Concern for Independent Living and New Hour Women & Children-LI. Nine units will be accessible to persons with physical impairments and four units for people with hearing/visual impairments. Referrals and services will be provided by the Long Island Center for Independent Living, according to the developer.
Alegria North is one of twenty-seven affordable housing developments statewide to receive part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s recently announced $875 million in financing, through bonds, tax credits, and subsidies, to create or preserve 3,100 affordable, sustainable, and supportive homes across New York State. Funding for this project also includes more than $2 million in tax credits, along with money from Suffolk County.
Bay Shore Transit Oriented Development Project Moving Forward
Bay Shore has been undergoing a revitalization that is rapidly gaining momentum.
In 2020, the Town of Islip approved an application by TRITEC Development Group for 418 Class-A, luxury multifamily rental units in Downtown Bay Shore. The 10,43-acre site, located at 143 4th Avenue, is situated between the LIRR Train Station and “Main Street.”
The project, called Shoregate, has been in the works since 2018 and is expected to bolster the community’s enhancement efforts by fostering more “feet on the street” and beautifying the built environment.
During its construction phase, the project is projected to generate nearly 900 jobs with $55 million in earnings and $140 million in sales within Suffolk County. Once operational, the Project’s residents are estimated to spend nearly $13 million annually within the Town of Islip.
Along with the 418 apartments, including 84 units of workforce housing, there will be 629 parking spaces and 1,640 sq. ft. of retail space. Amenities will include fire pits and barbecues, a food-centered retail space, golf simulator, pool and pickleball courts.
Construction of the Shoregate apartments is moving along. Over the month of April, wood framing has been completed in Zones E, A & B. Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) trades continue rough-in work. Siding, insulation, drywall, masonry work, and window & rooftop installation is ongoing, as is the first-floor storefront.
More than half the luxury apartments planned for the former Touro College campus will be ready to rent by November.
Brumidi Lodge Garden Memorial Dedication in Deer Park
On Sunday, March 26, the Constantino Brumidi Lodge #2211 in Deer Park held a Memorial Park/Garden Ribbon Cutting and 9/11 Monument Unveiling Ceremony.
The Garden/Park honors and memorializes those who serve the Lodge, Order, Community and Nation – past, present and future. The 9/11 Memorial Monument honors all who made the supreme sacrifice on that fateful day.
Many hours of planning for the Garden and the Ceremony were expended, which resulted in a splendid day. The Lodge thanked the FDNY Ceremonial Unit, Paul Usak's Garden & Nursery, all of the units who attended included FDNY, DPFD, DHFD, SCPD, NYPD, USMC, Boy Scout Troupe 157, donors, CEO Daniel Calise, FDNY's Tom Richardson, Family Florist and the Town of Babylon.
Sabrina Savino, president of the lodge, stated at the dedication, “I invite you all to visit the park, which is open to the community. The monument includes a piece of steel commissioned from the World Trade Center.”
The Constantino Brumidi Lodge is community-conscious and civic-oriented. For over 50 years, it has been caring and giving to the community at large. Contributions have been given to Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts of America, St. Francis Hospital Heart Fund, North Babylon Scholarship Fund, Deer Park Fire Department, Deer Park Scholarship Fund, Bishop’s Annual Appeal, Birth Defects, Cleary School for the Deaf, Cooley’s Anemia, Boy’s Town of Italy, Garibaldi’s Meucci Museum, Commission for Social Justice, and more.
Click here to view the dedication on YouTube.com
The Town of Riverhead is announcing the opening of Food Scrap Drop-Off Site, a pilot program and the first of its kind in Long Island. Green Inside and Out, in partnership with the Long Island Organics Council, worked with the Town of Riverhead Engineering Department to utilize a $20,000 community grant from the NYS Pollution Prevention Institute to establish the first food scrap recycle program on Long Island.
“The Town of Riverhead was a natural fit for this project because its team had already conducted several successful composting pilot programs,” said Judy Greco, LIOC co-founder and steering committee member.
Modeled after successful food scrap programs in other parts of the New York State and through collaboration with the North Fork Environmental Council, the Town’s Environmental Advisory Committee and others, registered residents will now be able to bring their food scraps to drop-off site to be converted into compost.
“We want to do our part and are excited to be leading the way,” said Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar.
The drop-off site will accept vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, egg shells, bread, pasta, grains, and cut flowers (with all plastics removed). No food containers, fats, oil or grease, plastics, meat or dairy products, pet waste or cat litter will be accepted. Food scraps will be converted to compost on Town property adjacent to the drop off site.
Residents are invited to attend a ribbon-cutting taking place at May 11, 2023 at 1:00 PM at the drop-off site located at the Town’s Yard Waste facility located at 532 Young’s Avenue, in Calverton.
The drop-off location will be located at: 532 Youngs Ave., Calverton Yard Waste Facility (by E-Waste Drop-off) Hours: Thurs - Mon from 7:00 AM until 3:30 PM.
The 18th annual Bethpage Best of Long Island contest winners were announced on February 28th and Farmingdale claimed many winners, in dozens of categories.
The Bethpage Best of LI contest is a roadmap to the best, top-notch businesses and services throughout both Nassau and Suffolk counties, as chosen by residents and patrons who rely on them every single day.
Farmingdale 2023 winners include: Farmingdale Village (Best Downtown), Flower Shop of Farmingdale (Best Florist), Runners Edge (Best Sneaker Store), Chocolate Duck (Best Chocolatier/Best Cookies Custom Made/Best Bachelorette Party Venue), Elise's Nieces (Best Cookies), Chef Eric LeVine - 317 Main Street (Best Chef), Charlotte's Speakeasy (Best Nightclub), Chiddy's CheeseSteaks (Best Cheesesteak), Alibi Lounge & Speakeasy (Best Signature Cocktail/Best Whiskey Bar), Yaaas Tea (Best Bubble Tea), Gurwin Home Care Agency (Best Health Aides), Priestley Chiropractic (Best Chiropractor), Ed Mojica Installations (Best Garage Door Company), Window World of Long Island (Best Window Company), T.O.A. Asian Fusion (Best Japanese Restaurant), High Tide Taco Bar (Best Tex-Mex Restaurant), Pinelawn Memorial Park & Arboretum (Best Cemetery), Infinite Yarns (Best Hobby Store), LPS Direct (Best Office Furniture Store), Bethpage State Park Golf Course (Best Golf Course), Adventureland (Best Haunted House), Camelot Sports Management (Best Sports Management), Max Effort Training (Best Sports Training), 1888MYTUXES at Gino's Galleria (Best Men's Formal Wear), and more.
“Congratulations to all Farmingdale and Long Island 2023 Best of Long Island Winners and thanks again to all that voted,” exclaims Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand.
Port Washington Port Promenade Is Almost Here
Port Washington’s Port Promenade will be held on
Thursday, May 18 and Thursday, June 15, from 5 PM to 10 PM.
This street festival will take the best of Port Outdoors and add more activities and games for families, in order to complement the shopping, live music and, of course, outdoor dining. This year the pedestrian-only section will be on Main Street, from Port Washington Blvd to Library Drive.
Holly Byrne, Executive Director of the Port Washington Business Improvement District explains, “Port Outdoors brought the community together during a challenging time to support each other and our local businesses. Based on feedback, we are building on the success of the past 3 years by adding a family fun zone, 3 live music stages, corn-hole games and more. Of course, shop local and enjoy dining al fresco on Main Street.”
The rebranding of Port Outdoors to Port Promenade harkens back to the original Port Promenade from the 1970s and 80’s. “The whole town came out for one night for the original Port Promenade. Many residents and business owners have fond memories of these years. Giving Port Outdoors a new name is a perfect blend of the much-loved event and today’s new tradition,” notes Bobbie Polay, Executive Director of the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce and member of the event planning committee.
The event is sponsored by Precision Work, Inc and the Port Washington BID and hosted by Landmark on Main Street, Port Washington Chamber of Commerce and Residents Forward. Support from the Port Washington Police Department and the Town of North Hempstead make it possible.
Getting there is easy and it is free to attend. Take the LIRR to Port Washington and step right into the heart of the event. Free parking is available on side streets, municipal lots and at the LIRR lot. Fees for some activities may apply. The event is rain or shine. Updates and a full schedule of events for each date and a list of participating restaurants will be posted on the Try Port First App under Events or at www.portwashingtonbid.org/port-promenade. Sponsorships are also available.
7,000 Guided Hikes
The Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference has now hosted 7,000 guided hikes since its formation 45 years ago, the Long Island Times reports.
The Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference (LIGTC), established in 1978, is a unique, non-profit grassroots organization that has created more than 200 miles of hiking paths on Long Island, including three National Recreation Trails. It is dedicated to protecting open space and the scenic Greenbelt trails for all to enjoy. Leading over 200 free guided hikes each year, the conference has also donated a total of over 500,000 volunteer hours to Long Island’s parks and trails.
The trails include:
Long Island Greenbelt Trail: Follow the courses of the Nissequogue and Connetquot rivers on all or part of a 32-mile adventure from Long Island Sound to Great South Bay.
Nassau-Suffolk Trail: This 20-mile National Recreation Trail runs from Cold Spring Harbor, crossing Long Island to Massapequa Preserve watershed. Paths for mountain bikers parallel parts of this trail, and a loop in the Plainview area provides a connection with the Walt Whitman Trail.
Walt Whitman Trail: A network of linear and loop trails begins at the historic Whitman Birthplace with a 0.6-mile road walk on West Hills and Reservoir Roads. A popular 3.7-mile loop begins near the top of Reservoir Road and winds through West Hills County Park.
Long Island Seashore Trail: New York State's only Federal Wilderness Area beckons visitors to the barrier island of Fire Island National Seashore.
Pine Barrens Trail: The 47-mile route from Rocky Point to Hampton Bays traverses pristine woodlands and passes rare coastal plan ponds.
Trail maps are available through Long Island Greenbelt’s internet store or at the LIGTC office in the historic Blydenburgh – Weld house at Blydenburgh Suffolk County Park.
“We are very proud of this accomplishment and the dedication of our volunteers and members to the continuation of the Greenbelt trails and to the protection of the environment,” David Reisfield, Greenbelt president, told the Long Island Times.
“It’s wonderful that so many thousands of hikers have discovered the beauty and history of our amazing Island on our Greenbelt Trails,” stated Nancy Manfredonia, a founder of the group and longtime board member, the outlet reports.
On Tuesday, May 2nd, after months of negotiations, New York State lawmakers finalized the passage of a $229 billion budget.
This budget process, seemingly one of the most contentious in years between Long Island and Albany, came with both victories and shortfalls for Long Island.
Statewide, some of the high-profile pieces of the 2023/2024 budget include:
An amendment to New York’s bail laws to make it easier for judges to hold people accused of crimes while they await trial.
Funding to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the criminal justice system, including $100 million in aid for prosecution and defense funding across the state.
Increase in the amount the state pays to providers who care for Medicaid patients, with hospitals up 7.5% and nursing homes 6.5%.
Investments designed to improving public safety, including $105 million to upgrade the State Emergency Operations Center and $66.7 million to increase the number of State Police academy classes.
Investment in education, including $24 billion to fully fund Foundation Aid and $2.4 billion in new capital projects for SUNY and CUNY.
The minimum wage in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County, currently $15 an hour, will increase to $16 by 2024, and by 50 cents in each subsequent year until it reaches $17 by 2026. In the rest of the state, the minimum wage will hit $16 by 2026, up from the current minimum of $14.20.
$1 billion investment to transform New York's continuum of mental health care.
$1 billion to NYC to fund housing and social services for the over 50,000 asylum seekers who have arrived in the city over the past year.
$1 per pack increase on New York’s cigarette tax, the first such hike in over a decade.
$100.7 million to protect abortion access and strengthen New York State's Safe Harbor access.
$347 million for programs designed to prevent and reduce gun violence.
All-electric heating and cooking is required in new buildings shorter than seven stories by 2026, and in buildings taller than seven stories by 2029.
Looking at the budget through a Long Island lens, the most consequential issues include the environment, housing, infrastructure, small business and transportation.
In the area of climate and the environment, the 2024 budget includes:
Creation of the financial foundation that is required to support an economy-wide "Cap and Invest" program going forward (Note – the budget does not include any direction to state agencies as to how or even whether to pursue a cap-and-invest program).
$400 million to provide relief to New Yorkers experiencing high electric bills as well as lowering energy burdens through electrifications and retrofits.
Requirements for advancing zero emission construction in new buildings and requires NYPA to complete decarbonization action plans for 15 of the highest-emitting state facilities.
In addition to forthcoming investments from the historic Environmental Bond Act passed by voters in 2022, the budget includes:
$500 million in clean water infrastructure funding, bringing New York's total clean water infrastructure investment to $5 billion since 2017.
$400 million for the Environmental Protection Fund.
Authorizing Suffolk County to put a ballot referendum to the voters to implement a long-term plan to create a recurring funding source for wastewater infrastructure needs.
$200 million for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to invest in enhancing state parks.
"Over 40 local civic, chamber, environment, labor, planning and human service organizations continue to fight to lift up the voices for many communities on Long Island. The biggest challenge is for us to get our fair share of dollars from the NYS budget. This year a number of legislative items were woven in the budget and we were happy to see them out. Legislation should be properly debated during the actual legislative process."
Eric Alexander, Co-Founder, LI Lobby Coalition
The Long Island Lobby Coalition, a diverse coalition of over 100 Long Island organizations, lobbied for its agenda to Albany lawmakers this past February. The agenda not only included energy and the environment, but also economic development, housing and human services, infrastructure, transportation, and a variety of infrastructure projects.
Regarding transit, and the long-term fiscal stability of the MTA, the 2024 budget calls for:
Increasing the top rate of the Payroll Mobility Tax for the largest businesses in New York City, generating a $1.1 billion annually.
Increasing New York City's share of funding for paratransit services for two years, generating nearly $165 million annually.
$300 million in one-time State aid to address the extraordinary impact of the pandemic on MTA operating revenues.
It is important to note, suburban businesses will be exempt from this hike. This issue is a win for Long Island lawmakers and business groups who lobbied extensively to exclude the suburbs from the new tax increase.
Another win for Long Island lawmakers comes in the area of housing, where Governor Hochul was forced to eliminate her proposed “New York Housing Compact,” which would have mandated more housing near train stations and required every town to grow its housing stock by a set amount. This hotly contested proposal included a mechanism for overriding local zoning in municipalities that failed to meet housing goals.
Included in the budget is $391 million for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which offers grants to renters who fell behind during the pandemic. That new funding will go primarily to public housing residents and renters with federal Section 8 vouchers, who were left out of previous rounds of rental assistance.
Regarding economic development, an integral part of the LI Lobby Coalition’s platform, notably downtown revitalization initiatives, the 2024 budget contains $1 billion to invest in local economies, including:
$225 million in grant funding and tax credits for the Regional Economic Development Councils.
$50 million for the RESTORE New York Communities Initiative.
$400 million for the NYWORKS Economic Development Fund.
Almost $200 million for projects that support community growth and enhancement.
$100 million each to fund an additional year of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward.
“The Downtown Revitalization Program and NY Forward have afforded positive change in Long Island’s downtowns for years. It is noteworthy to see that they will continue to be part of revitalizing our downtowns, which includes not only growing our local economies, encouraging transit-oriented development, and increasing affordable housing, but also expanding pedestrian safety and complete streets,” Mr. Alexander states.
Finally, the 2024 budget includes $23.2 billion for capital projects across the state. The types of projects being funded include transportation, education, housing, healthcare and other infrastructure.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced the release of Fair Housing Matters NY, a comprehensive examination of housing segregation and discrimination in New York State. The report reveals the extent of New York's housing segregation and outlines eight primary goals aimed at eliminating the barriers that prevent too many New Yorkers from moving into the homes and neighborhoods of their choice.
The report, drafted by New York State Homes and Community Renewal's Fair and Equitable Housing Office and Office of Research and Strategic Analysis, found not only segregated housing patterns throughout New York, but also that access to community resources, poverty, and substandard housing conditions consistently fall along segregated racial and ethnic lines. The report also underscores other forms of segregation and inequitable access to resources beyond those centering on race and ethnicity. For example, older adults, those with limited English proficiencies, and those with disabilities also find themselves concentrated in areas of poverty with access to fewer community resources.
Key findings include:
Approximately one-third of New Yorkers live in highly white/nonwhite segregated counties, 44 percent living in such counties downstate.
Approximately 95 percent of Black/African American households in New York live in a county that is highly segregated between Black/African American and white households.
Two-thirds of white households own their homes, compared to only a third of Black/African American households and a quarter of Hispanic/Latinx households that own their homes.
Women and children experience poverty at higher rates in all regions of the state than men and adults.
Households containing a member with a disability are much more likely to be classified as extremely low-income.
The Fair Housing Matters NY initiative solicited input from community leaders, nonprofit organizations, housing professionals and residents on housing choice and access to housing opportunity. In addition to public surveys, which were made available in seven languages, HCR hosted a series of focus groups and resident engagement sessions to discuss fair housing issues.
As a result of this public input, the report identifies eight goals and a multitude of action items that represent the ways New York can create more access to housing through a combination of market-driven, regulatory, financial, and administrative changes:
Build upon opportunities for wealth creation through affordable home ownership.
Increase access to suitable affordable housing for those with disabilities.
Create more affordable housing with avenues for community supports.
Remove barriers to housing by addressing redlining and disinvestment in neighborhoods.
Increase access to affordable housing by addressing barriers to housing choice.
Increase access to affordable housing through fair housing education and enforcement.
Promote development of affordable housing in areas where land use and development regulations provide barriers.
Implement environmental justice principles in state-funded housing in response to climate change.
Members of the public are encouraged to read the report, review the goals and action items, and participate in a 45-day comment period that ends on June 8, 2023 by emailing fairhousingmattersny@hcr.ny.gov. HCR will finalize the report after review and incorporation of the public comments, as appropriate.
Long Island homeowners looking to play a role in reducing stormwater runoff, which is one of the leading causes of nitrogen pollution in Long Island waterways, are eligible for grants to help cover the cost and maintenance of runoff mitigation projects on their property.
The Long Island Regional Planning Council (LIRPC), in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and NEIWPCC, is introducing the Long Island Garden Rewards Program. The program will provide up to $500 to offset the expense of installing green infrastructure on their properties including rain barrels, native plantings, and rain gardens.
Rain Barrels: Rain Barrels reduce stormwater runoff by collecting and storing rainwater for homeowners to later use in their yards and gardens, also helping conserve water consumption. Barrels must be a minimum of 50 gallons and are required to have mosquito netting or screening.
Rain Gardens: Rain gardens collect rainwater from roofs, driveways and other surfaces and allow that rain to soak into the ground. Rain gardens can filter stormwater before it reaches local waterways, mitigate flooding caused by pavement and enhance your yard with low maintenance landscaping. To be eligible, a rain garden must be a minimum of 20 square feet, use native plants and be maintained for at least three years.
Native Plantings: Native plants are heartier and more resilient to local climate conditions. Native plant gardens can reduce fertilizer and pesticide usage, reduce water usage, and promote biodiversity. These native plants support a healthy ecosystem and are more resistant to local weather.
To assist with the revitalization of the meetings and events industry, New York State has allocated $25 million for the Meet In New York Grant Program.
Empire State Development's Division of Tourism will award grants to qualifying New York State event venues and lodging properties as they competitively bid on new meeting and event business. The program will subsidize a portion of negotiated client discounts, up to $2 million dollars, on meeting space rental fees and group overnight lodging rates. To capitalize on the economic impact of the program, eligible event types will be limited to those that drive tourism and visitors to New York State.
This grant:
Does not require a match
Is not a loan, and does not need to be paid back
Is open to all venues that host conferences, meetings, convention, tradeshows and events
Is for events that take place prior to 12/31/25
To be eligible for grants, applicants must:
Be incorporated in New York State, or licensed or registered to do business in New York State
Have experienced economic harm resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, as evidenced by a year-to-year decrease of at least 15% of gross receipts and/or gross wages between 2019 and 2020
Have event facilities that accommodate a minimum capacity of 50 people.
Completed applications are due by June 30, 2023. Required event completion date 12/31/2025.
For more information, please contact Ms. Man-Li Lin, Economic Development Specialist, New York District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration at Man-li.lin@sba.gov.
Modern Asian Folk Art
on Display in Westbury
Through May 27th
Through May 27th, Westbury Arts is celebrating AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Heritage Month with an exhibit by Joan Kim Suzuki, a Korean-American artist.
Suzuki’s art is told through two different series of vivid paintings—one showing the beauty of her multicultural Korean/Japanese/American heritage and the other chronicling her grandmother’s arduous journey, walking from Manchuria to Korea during World War II, with her infant son, Suzuki’s father.
The artist says her mission is to show the beauty of her multi-cultural heritage and to honor the resilience of her grandmother. “I grew up confused about my identity, not sure whether I should identify as Korean or American,” says the Jericho resident. In her youth, Suzuki frequently traveled to Korea to visit relatives. She also visited her grandfather in Japan. Her work draws from the many similarities and great differences in the Korean and Japanese cultures.
Gallery hours are: Thursdays from 12 noon until 4 pm; Fridays from 2 pm until 6 pm; Saturdays from 10 am until 2 pm. Westbury Arts is located at 255 Schenck, just off Post Avenue, in Westbury. Admission is free.
This exhibition is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by The Huntington Arts Council.
Photo courtesy of Greenport Village
2023 Greenport Cherry Blossom Festival
Greenport’s Cherry Blossom Festival, sponsored by Greenport BID and AgroCouncil, runs through the month of May.
The Cherry Blossom Festival Petal Tour follows, running through May 31st. It is a chance to connect with nature, explore the walking Village of Greenport and support small businesses in Greenport.
Free walking maps for this self-guided tour, available at the AgroCouncil information center in the lobby of the Greenporter Hotel and the AgroCouncil website, show the location of the trees, labeled by variety, as well as participating businesses, offering blossom-themed refreshments and gifts. Click here for more information.
Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (LICH) was founded in 1985 as a grassroots local advocacy effort to bring non-profits and other community partners together to unite around the cause of homelessness, seeking to expand and enhance services to meet local needs. Its mission is “To end homelessness on Long Island, and alleviate the issues associated with homelessness and poverty for homeless and at-risk persons in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.” LICH has expanded services to continually align with local community needs and approaches that evidence shows to be most effective in addressing homelessness.
Right now, LICH has two calls to action:
1. Veterans Community Garden – Starting on April 5th, community service hours are available to help with the organic vegetable garden located on the north side of Amityville Community Resource Center, 600 Albany Avenue, Amityville. The Garden Club meets Wednesdays, 4 PM to 7 PM from April through November. Email Bailey at Briekkinen@addressthehomeless.org for more information or to RSVP.
2. The Scott Martella Supply Our School Drive, May through July 26, 2023. Items needed include backpacks, folders, notebooks, pens, lunchboxes, glue sticks, binders, index cards, scissors, calculators, highlighters, hand sanitizer and more. For more information visit www.addressthehomeless.org or Facebook/backpackpirates.
Times are tough, let’s all extend a helping hand.
Port Promenade
May 18th & June 15th
Port Promenade will be held on two Thursday evenings, May 18 and June 15, from 5 PM to 10 PM. The street festival will take the best of Port Outdoors and add more activities and games for families to complement the shopping, live music and, of course, outdoor dining. This year the pedestrian-only section will be Main Street, Port Washington from Port Washington Blvd to Library Drive. The Port Washington BID organizing committee is bringing in fun activities, including corn hole, kids dance party and games. Live entertainment by local musicians will be featured on 3 different stages each evening. Of course, attendees can choose from nearly 30 participating restaurants and eateries for outdoor dining.
Saturday, May 20, 2023,
12 PM to 4:30 PM
(rain date - Sunday, May 21)
The Grand Baldwin Festival has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 12 PM to 4:30 PM (rain date - Sunday, May 21). It will be held in the Municipal Parking Lot behind the Baldwin Public Library, 2385 Grand Avenue, Baldwin.
The festival, sponsored by the Community Coalition of Baldwin, is a celebration of the Baldwin community featuring a pop-up marketplace, food vendors, musical performances, an art showcase, and various activities for all ages. It brings together all of Baldwin’s key stakeholders, including residents, business owners, non-profit organizations, and houses of worship to strengthen pride in our community and promote a vibrant business environment.
Funds raised from the festival will be used to implement community-building projects and events that bring Baldwinities together, in addition to funding scholarships for Baldwin students that give back to the community.
Each Memorial Day Weekend, East End Arts in Riverhead unleashes the creativity of the neighborhood and brings the community together for the Mosaic Street Painting Festival.
For one day, East End Arts converts the Downtown Riverhead area by the Peconic River into a celebration of the arts. It’s a day to stroll, enjoy the fresh air, watch artists in action, and participate in family-oriented activities. Music fills the air as do the enticing smells of the local food trucks.
Artists, musicians, and art lovers of all ages participate or watch as artists convert squares of the street into vibrant and moving works of art.
There’s something for everyone at this family-friendly event:
Street Painting for all ages and skill levels
Live Music
Interactive Art
Kids Zone
Craft & Artisan Vendors
Food Trucks & Local Restaurants
Fine Arts Sale
Drum Circle
Dance & Theatre performances
The event will be held on Sunday, May 28th, from 12 PM to 5 PM.
For 17 years, the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (LIHCC) honors women who are exceptional business leaders, community advocates, as well as inspirational role models. This event celebrates women in the workforce and recognizes their contribution to the Hispanic and minority communities they serve.
The 17th Annual Latina Hat Luncheon will be held on May 31st at the Crescent Beach Club in Bayville, from 11 AM to 3 PM.
To support this event and to celebrate its distinguished honorees, payment for Individual Member, Non-Member tickets and event journal advertisements are secured via credit card by calling the office at (516) 333-0105. Please RSVP by May 19, 2023.
The Canton of Lions End, in the Crown Province of Østgarðr returns to the Village Green in Farmingdale for the third annual Farmingdale Medieval History Day on Saturday June 3rd, from 10 AM to 4 PM, 361 Main Street.
The fighters and fencers, wearing medieval clothing of different centuries, will show off their prowess and their splendid armor (internal rules forbid audience participation in the fighting, but they can answer questions). Tournament participants will choose a child in the crowd to champion and token prizes will be given to the winners of the tournaments. Artisans of all sorts will display their work and give children and
their parents, hands-on time to explore their crafts. Learn how to write in the Medieval fashion and what Calligraphy entails. See how embroidery was done, see how glass beads were made in the Middle Ages. Play games that were created hundreds of years ago, but are still fun to play today.
There will also be several merchants selling items relevant to the modern Middle Ages, such as hand-made soaps. The event is FREE, intended for all ages. Rain date is June 10th.
June 11, 2023
Long Island's gay pride parade and festival will return to Huntington on June 11, six years after the event moved to Long Beach, Huntington NOW reports.
The parade will march along Gerard Street to Main Street to Heckscher Park, where the festival will be held. The Town Board is expected to take up a resolution to approve the festival at its next meeting on May 9. “Welcome home to Huntington. It’s a big town and a diverse community and we welcome everybody,” Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth told the outlet.
The festival in Heckscher Park will include music, food, a pavilion for families, and a beer and wine garden.
Please join us at 8:30 pm for a special interview with the President of Parkhurst Civic Association Aubrey Phillips...........Check it out!!!!
Please join us for a special interview with Jack Brinkley-Cook of Rove Loop............Check it out!!!
Please join usfor a special interview with Anestoria Shalkowski, Paul Gibson and Valerie Campbell from Uniondale Community Land Trust......Check it out!!!
Please join for a special interview with Lenore Paprocky the President of Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce...........Check it out!!
Long Island Main Street News
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