Grants Will Assist Sewer Hookups
for Small Businesses
Kick Off Held In Mastic
Vision and members of the LI Main Street Alliance were out in Mastic at a press conference announcing grants that will Assist Sewer Hookups for Small Businesses.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone recently signed legislation authorizing a pilot program to provide financial assistance to small business owners in an effort to make it more affordable to connect to County sewer systems.
The program will provide grants of up the $15,000 to qualifying owners of small business properties, and the County will work with Dime Bank to provide access to low interest loans to finance the remainder of the cost of connection over time, to minimize the out of pocket to property owners.
“Just as we have worked to make the replacement of outdated septic systems and cesspools with the latest technologies affordable to homeowners, we need to ensure it is affordable for our small business owners who are still recovering from the pandemic to be able to hook up to local sewer systems,” said County Executive Bellone. “Not only will this pilot program cover at least half of the cost of hookup, but it also affords business owners with competitive interest rates to finance the rest.”
The pilot program is part of the County’s ongoing efforts to replace outdated septic systems and cesspools with sewers.
The pilot program, which will allocate $1 million for grants from the County’s the Water Quality Protection and Restoration Program Fund, is expected to begin accepting applications in the Fall of 2023 and is expecting to assist around 65 small business owners with 25 for fewer employees.
The initial $1 million will allow the County to gauge the need for additional funding, identify other potential funding sources, and evaluate what other factors may be relevant in determining how best to allocate future funding for the connection of commercial and business properties.
Vision Board, Staff and members of the LI Main Street Alliance were out with local Huntington Station residents, business and property owners at a local planning meeting aimed to guide how a $10 million DRI grant.
The newly minted Local Planning Committee, made up of municipal representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders, is leading the effort to identify projects for the Huntington Station Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
The committee was created on the heels of New York State’s announcement in January that Huntington Station will receive $10 million in funding as the Long Island winner of the sixth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). Huntington Station's DRI area focuses on the walkable downtown Huntington Station neighborhood immediately surrounding the LIRR Station and continuing south along the New York Avenue corridor. Huntington Station is seeking to re-energize its urban core and attract new opportunities to build on its vibrant, diverse and walkable downtown.
The committee met for its inaugural session on Monday, May 22nd, to learn more about community needs, as well as the limitations on what projects could pass state muster, Huntington Now reports. Residents will be surveyed and the committee will determine what it believes is most needed, with its ultimate recommendations going to the state, which will approve those that best meet state criteria, Huntington Now explains.
A crowd of about 70 Huntington residents turned out for the 8:30 AM meeting at the Huntington Station branch of the Huntington Public Library, the outlet reports. Residents were asked questions about the kinds of projects they thought the Station needed. Discussions included taking care of the homeless, supporting Black-owned restaurants or other businesses, removing state DOT traffic safety islands that were installed a few years ago, and finding improved space for the Tri-CYA center.
The committee will continue to meet about once a month over the next several months.
Photo credit: Judy Rosemarin/Ethical Friends of Children
Bringing Smiles to Children
Jansel Gomez, age 10, from Hempstead, is beaming with a giant stuffed animal he found at Ethical Friends of Children recently. Ethical Friends of Children is an outreach program of the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, established in 1985, located in Garden City.
The program assists more than 2,500 children and their families each year by providing them with clothing for children, from newborn to size 12, as well as toys and infant furniture at no cost.
“While clothing of all sizes is appreciated,” says volunteer Judy Rosemarin of Long Beach, “the greatest need at the moment is boys’ clothing, especially sizes 4 and up.”
Those interested in making contributions of clothing or gift cards, should call Ethical Friends of Children at 516-280-5526 or email efoc@ehsli.org.
The New York Times is paying some attention to the suburbs, including Long Island, as reflected in a recent article about pedestrian, bike safety and excessive speeds on local roads: Deadly Traffic in Suburbia Points to Deep-Seated Structural Problems.
“New Yorkers have long asserted their rights over cars on the city’s streets, identifying with Dustin Hoffman in ‘Midnight Cowboy’ who barks, ‘I’m walkin’ here!” at a cab that nearly hits him as he tries to cross the street,” the outlet begins. In line with its pedestrian focus, the city adopted Vision Zero in 2014, an initiative to improve street safety. Changes and redesigns came to streets, crosswalks, curbs, bike lanes and speed limits, all in an attempt to reduce traffic deaths.
However, the Times correctly points out, the street life of the suburbs was built around giving automobiles priority. The presence of high-speed, highly trafficked arterial roads that connect dozens of communities to each other and to business districts were viewed as efficient solutions, not problems. Stroads, as traffic safety advocates have coined the suburban mix between a street and a road, moved traffic efficiently across stretching distances.
The focus on getting to places as quickly as possible has started to finally give way to the notion of getting to places by automobile, bike, or on foot in the safest way possible.
Eric Alexander, director of Vision Long Island, told the outlet, suburbanites who were spending their days close to home during the pandemic were suddenly exposed to vehicles thundering through residential communities on roads as wide as highways. “You can’t have people speeding their way through, hurtling their way through neighborhoods where people are trying to shop and walk and ride a bike, go to an event, go to church or go to school.” Mr. Alexander has lobbied to slow traffic, including removing lanes and installing medians and roundabouts.
While there are statistics showing issues such as driver impairment as factors in traffic accidents, the Times points out advocates are beginning to shift the conversation and focus from the total notion of driver and pedestrian error to addressing concepts such as better design and signage.
This is a departure from decades of how city planners and engineers worked, Barkha Patel, Jersey City’s director of the Department of Infrastructure, explained to the Times. Recognizing that “people will never behave perfectly,” Ms. Patel said, Jersey City focused on a plan “designed in a way that it is forgiving. So even if there is a crash, we can design a street in a way that a crash won’t lead to someone losing their life.”
The Long Island Business News (LIBN) recently highlighted the importance of architectural design and the growth of downtown redevelopment.
In the drive to expand the diversity of housing opportunities on Long Island, LIBN reports, developers have been focusing on downtowns, aided by new zoning and community desire for revitalizing underperforming areas. Since 2006, there have been more than 16,000 apartment units approved for Long Island downtowns and there are currently more than 10,000 units going through the planning process, most located in downtown areas.
LIBN explains, this explosion of new multifamily projects has created a lot of work for the area’s leading architecture firms, who have been tasked with designing buildings that attract tenants seeking convenience and an active lifestyle.
Some of these firms include; Greenvale-based Mojo Stumer Associates, Melville-based firm Beatty Harvey Coco (BHC) Architects, and Patchogue-based bld Architecture.
“We believe a key piece to the improvement of our downtowns isn’t just the inclusion of more multifamily, but specifically having great pieces of architecture to anchor our downtowns and to improve and beautify the surrounding areas,” Joe Yacobellis, director of design for Mojo Stumer Associates, tells the LIBN. “Especially when looking at the efforts to keep young professionals and new families on Long Island and encouraging them to set down roots in our communities, exciting buildings and creatively designed facades can help our downtowns feel more familiar and dynamic to them.”
In the past 10 years, Mojo Stumer Associates has worked on about 20 Long Island multifamily projects, some of which are in development, including a $50 million mixed-use project which will bring 54 apartments over 6,600 square feet of retail space on Warner Avenue in Roslyn and a $40 million, 40-unit luxury condo building called The Rose in Great Neck.
BHC has designed dozens of multifamily buildings throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties, including The Wel in Lindenhurst, The Shipyard in Port Jefferson, Shoregate in Bay Shore, Peconic Crossing in Riverhead, several buildings in the Wyandanch Village development, and over a dozen more. Salvatore Coco, a BHC partner, tells LIBN the introduction of apartments and mixed-use developments has contributed to the current success of Long Island downtowns, and one of the biggest challenges is to make the projects appear as residential buildings, and not institutional or commercial.
Alex Badalamenti, CEO of bld Architecture, explains to the outlet, “Many people are opting for rental or condo communities which provide modern amenities and offer more flexibility for a change.” The firm is currently working on multifamily projects, totaling about 2,000 units across Long Island, including the $45 million, 54-unit Royal Blue luxury rental building in Mineola.
In addition to creating inviting living environments, Elissa Kyle, placemaking director for Vision Long Island notes, good design also helps build public trust when projects are pitched to a community. “These buildings are not just boxes that people live in or work in, they help shape the public space where social interactions happen and where people want to go and spend time, so it’s not just about their use or maybe their particular aesthetic, but creating space that’s really designed for humans on a very fundamental basis,” Ms. Kyle explains.
“If they’re designed to play well with their neighbors, then they can lift everything up around it."
Round XIII Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Initiative has been announced. Round XIII includes core capital grant and tax-credit funding combined with a wide range of programs from 10 State agencies, including $150 million in grant funds from Empire State Development, available to projects on a continuous basis.
The Councils are encouraged to support projects that advance or address strategic State priorities -including green buildings and sustainable development, child care, distressed communities, and innovative public-private partnerships; those projects, will be eligible for additional award funding.
New this year, two new micro programs will award capital grants to support New York State craft beverage manufacturers and non-profit organizations, and a new $30 million Challenge competition will award $10 million to up to three regions to implement creative solutions to tackle persistent barriers to economic growth. Also, for the first time since 2015, the Councils will be tasked with updating their strategic regional economic development plans.
The Regional Councils will score projects submitted through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA), the State's single application for State resources which includes programs from numerous agencies.
The 2023 REDC Guidebook and a list of additional resources available to REDC Members are accessible here. The CFA is available here.
The deadline for applications is Friday, July 28 at 4 p.m. Open enrollment programs are not subject to the July 28 deadline and will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis until funds are exhausted.
The Long Island Empire State Development Office will be holding open office hours both in person and via zoom where businesses can discuss their potential projects with staff. Registration is required. PleaseCLICK HEREfor more information and to register.
Long Island Empire State Development Office also will be hosting a few Consolidated Funding Application sessions across Long Island during the month of June. These sessions are currently scheduled at a few town halls in Suffolk County. Registration is required. Representatives from NYS Department of State and NYS Parks will be on hand to discuss their programs and answer questions at the town halls. Stay tuned for a date in Nassau County.
The New York Department of State is offering more than $26 million in funding to municipalities for a variety of planning, revitalization and efficiency programs, the Longs Island Business News reports.
The five programs, which include Smart Growth Community Planning and Zoning, Countywide Resiliency Planning, Brownfield Opportunity Area, Local Waterfront Revitalization and Local Government Efficiency, can all be applied for through a single application form - the Consolidated Funding Application.
$16.3 million is available through the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, which provides grants to communities to develop a vision for their waterfront. There are currently 93 fully approved LWRPs, representing 113 municipalities throughout the state.
$4 million Local Government Efficiency Grant Program incentivizes local governments to reduce the cost of municipal operations and modernize delivery of local services, limiting growth in property taxes. About $3.6 million will be awarded for implementation projects, and about $400,000 will be awarded for planning projects.
$2 million for the Smart Growth Planning and Zoning Grant Program helps communities develop comprehensive municipal-wide plans and zoning ordinances, as well as targeted area plans and zoning for downtowns, central business districts and transit-orient development districts.
$2 million for the Smart Growth Countywide Resiliency Planning Program aids in the development of countywide plans that address climate change resiliency, risks and vulnerabilities and identify strategies for planning and implementing projects in a socially, environmentally, fiscally and economically sustainable way.
$2 million for the Brownfield Opportunity Area program is available to assist the transformation of brownfield sites from liabilities to community assets, which in turn generate and support new businesses, jobs, housing and public amenities.
“New York State offers an unparalleled suite of programs that have proven to be key to our state’s economic and social resurgence after the pandemic,” Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez said in the statement to the Long Island Business News. “These five programs administered by the Department of State will provide critical funding to municipalities and local governments so they can continue to grow and improve, putting us on a path to a safer, greener and more business-friendly New York.”
For more information on these funding programs visit the DOS website at dos.ny.gov.
A new report and online data dashboard from Urban Cycling Solutions (UCS) details findings from the New York Cycling Census, an unprecedented statewide survey on biking In New York. Led by UCS, and in collaboration with the University Transportation Research Center at CUNY, the 2022 New York Cycling Census is the largest and most expansive statewide survey of cyclists ever conducted in the U.S.
Key findings from 13,740 individuals representing every county in the state include:
Mental health/wellness is one of the most important factors motivating New Yorkers to bike;
Basic bike maintenance is the most sought-after training, especially among women;
88% of respondents expressed some level of interest in bike tourism;
Lack of bike lanes and safe routes is the number one barrier to bicycling in New York State, followed by weather and fear of conflict with cars;
Nearly 90% of respondents indicated they bike just as much or more than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic;
Bike trails are the highest rated type of bicycle infrastructure in the state;
Cycling Census respondents save approximately 1,451 metric tons of CO2 in a year through their riding, the equivalent of 163,263 gallons of gasoline, and 3,601,472 miles driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle.
The Cycling Census includes a final report and an online data dashboard. The intent of these resources is to enable interested individuals and agencies to utilize the data to help inform policy and funding opportunities that get more New Yorkers bicycling safely, on road and off, and for a variety of purposes - transportation, health and mental wellness, tourism or recreation.
In addition to quantitative data, the Cycling Census yielded more than 13,000 comments from New Yorkers ranging from the need for more protected bike infrastructure to education for drivers and law enforcement. Additional comments focused on the positive impacts e bikes have had on individual riding experiences, the ability to connect biking with transit, barriers that prevent women from bicycling more, and a need for more secure parking.
The report includes a series of opportunities and next steps to consider based on the data, and qualitative insights.
Highlights include:
Streamlining coordination between local, county and state governments to facilitate complete street projects - particularly on state roadways that service as primary commercial thoroughfares and tourism corridors in New York's villages, towns and cities;
An expansion of open street events such as 'summer streets' in NYC to raise awareness of complete streets;
Subsidizing the purchase of ebikes in NYS and creating consistent regulations at the local level;
Overhauling education materials related to active transportation in the state drivers manual and state police academy curriculum to enhance cyclist safety awareness for both consumers and law enforcement.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) enhances summer Friday South Fork Commuter Connection (SFCC) service.
On Fridays, eastbound SFCC trains will depart Speonk at 6:00 AM with stops at Westhampton, Hampton Bays, Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton and Amagansett. Another train departs Hampton Bays at 8:26 AM with stops at Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Amagansett, and Montauk.
Westbound trains will depart Amagansett at 7:13 AM with stops at East Hampton, Bridgehampton, Southampton, and Hampton Bays. Another train departs Montauk at 12:56 PM stopping at Amagansett, East Hampton, Bridgehampton, Southampton, Hampton Bays, Westhampton, and Speonk.
Before the LIRR redesigned schedules for the opening of Grand Central Madison, these Friday trains would have been suspended from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Now, they will operate year-round.
Commuters using the service can park in the morning at Speonk, Westhampton, or Hampton Bays, then ride the train across the Shinnecock Canal to Southampton, Bridgehampton, Amagansett, or Montauk. At these eastern stations, shuttle buses will bring riders to and from nearby villages, hamlets and employment centers.
LIRR recommends that customers use the TrainTime app to view the train schedule and track their train in real time. SFCC trains are also listed in the Montauk Branch timetable.
Free parking is available at most stations. Restrictions apply at Bridgehampton and East Hampton stations, which are run by the Town of Southampton and Village of East Hampton, respectively.
Bikes are allowed on all SFCC trains that only operate between Speonk and Montauk. On trains that operate to or from Babylon or points west, regular bike rules apply.
Regular LIRR tickets are valid on SFCC trains. The one-way fare is $3.25, with monthly ($89) and weekly ($30.75) tickets available for most riders.
Customers riding to or from Speonk can purchase a special South Fork Commuter Connection ticket from a gray ticket machine. A one-way ticket is $3.25 and a round-trip ticket is $6.50. They are valid for 60 days including the date of sale. These tickets are available in the "MTA Away Deals" menu on the machine. These tickets cannot be bought on the TrainTime app, or at stations east of Southampton. Without it, the regular one-way fare to or from Speonk is $6.50.
For questions about train service, riders can reach out to customer service. The LIRR is also reachable via phone, on the TrainTime app, and @LIRR on Twitter.
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program designed to help low-income households meet the high cost of home energy. Applications for the 2022-2023 HEAP Cooling Assistance benefit are open now through August 31, or until funding runs out.
If you are eligible, you may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year and could also be eligible for emergency HEAP benefits if you are in danger of running out of fuel or having your utility service shut off.
Applications for Regular HEAP may be submitted online at myBenefits during the HEAP season.
Applicants age 60 and over as well as those who are permanently disabled may apply for regular HEAP by mail to:
Nassau County Office for the Aging
60 Charles Lindbergh Blvd.
Uniondale, NY 11553
Phone 516-227-7386
All others (including applicants age 60 and over or permanently disabled, with an emergency) may apply in person or by mail to:
EAC Inc.
175 Fulton Avenue
4th Floor
Hempstead, New York 11550
Phone 516-565-4327
Further information, including benefit amounts, is available through the New York State OTDA HEAP website.
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 assistance with the application process, consultations with an application advisor are available by calling 518-292-5206.
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.
Sunday, May 28th
12 PM to 5 PM
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 Freeport Nautical Mile Festival will be held on Saturday, June 3rd, from 10 AM to 6 PM. Stroll along Woodcleft Avenue and enjoy food, music, crafts, rides, games, vendors and more. The Long Island Arts Council at Freeport will have a table at this fantastic family fun festivity. Stop by and say hi.
Also mark your calendar, the Long Island Arts Council at Freeport will host its annual free Summer Concerts on the Nautical Mile on Thursday nights in July and August, 7 PM to 8:30 PM, at the Esplanade.
Festival On The Homestead
June 3rd, 10 AM til 2 PM
Central Islip Civic Council presents Festival On The Homestead, June 3rd, 10 AM to 2 PM, at 68 Wheeler Road, Central Islip. There will be a petting zoo, blacksmith, beekeeper, vendors and more.
The Central Islip Civic Council is a non-profit, community-based housing agency dedicated to improving the quality of life for all residents of Central Islip and surrounding areas for the past 50 years. The Civic Council maintains the Historic Heines Homestead buildings and grounds where they offer “A Step Back in Time” academic schoolhouse program, educational workshops, and affordable housing for families and seniors. They have an emergency food pantry for Central Islip residents with summer vegetables provided by their very own garden. They also sponsor free recreational activities, and cultural and holiday events. The grounds offer a walking trail, lovely trees, flower gardens, and a vegetable garden. During the warmer season, families can enjoy seeing chickens, turkey, sheep, and calf. They have a blacksmith shop from 1903, a one-room schoolhouse replica from 1861, and a country store which helps to provide funds that are put back into the emergency food pantry.
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. “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.
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.
The Kings Park Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 45th Annual Kings Park Day Town Fair on June 17th, from 10 AM to 4 PM, on Main Street in Kings Park.
There will be food, music, live performances, over 250 vendors, rides, games, activities, raffles, and prizes. It will be fun for the whole family.
June 24th & June 25th
12 PM til 5 PM
Our Lady of Perpetual Help will be hosting its Annual Festival on Saturday, June 24th and Sunday, June 25th, at the Lindenhurst Gazebo, from 12 PM until 5 PM.
There will be vendors, farmers market, food trucks, raffles, and so much more.
Please join us for a special interview with the owner of Pam's Jamz, Pam Ocasio.......Check it out!!
Please join us for a special interview with the president of the Peruvian chamber Misolino Silva.......Check it out!!!
Long Island Main Street News
Contributors:
Eric Alexander, Director; Tawaun Weber, Assistant Director; Elissa Kyle, Placemaking Director;
Linda Henninger, Outreach Coordinator; Jen Makaw, Communications Consultant
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