Four upcoming community events

LONG BEACH
Forum on community rebuilding program
The Long Beach Public Library will host a forum today for residents to learn about the state’s New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program.

The program exists to provide rebuilding and revitalization assistance to communities affected by superstorm Sandy and tropical storms Irene and Lee, its website states. The state has allocated the fund $25 million for “planning in the most affected communities,” the website states.

Today’s program will allow residents to learn about the program and how it can help Long Beach, and share ideas about what they would like to see addressed by recovery and mitigation efforts, said John Bendo, president of the West End Neighbors Civic Association, which is encouraging residents to attend.
The program runs from 7 to 9 p.m. in the library’s second-floor auditorium, at 111 W. Park Ave. in Long Beach. More information is available by visiting stormrecovery.ny.gov/community-reconstruction-program.
— Patrick Whittle

SEAFORD
Old phones can give soldiers calling cards
Sen. Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. (R-Merrick) will sponsor a cellphones-for-soldiers program Saturday to benefit American troops serving overseas.

Residents with outdated or unwanted cellphones can donate them at Seaford train station’s parking lot, on the northwest corner of Sunrise Highway and Jackson Avenue in Seaford, from 9 a.m. to noon. Residents can drive up and drop off their cellphones.

All phones collected will be sent to a cellphone recycling company, which will make a donation to the program for each phone. The donations will be used to purchase calling cards for overseas soldiers to call their loved ones in the United States, officials said.

Fuschillo’s program has raised over 160,000 minutes of calling time for soldiers and their families, officials said.

For more information, call Fuschillo’s office at 516-882-0630.
— Aisha Al-Muslim

OYSTER BAY TOWN
Refuse can be taken to disposal complex
The seventh of eight 2013 homeowners’ cleanup programs for Oyster Bay Town residents will take place Oct. 26.

Homeowners living in the town’s Solid Waste Disposal District may take unwanted, nonhazardous refuse to the town's Solid Waste Disposal Complex at 101 Bethpage-Sweet Hollow Rd. in Old Bethpage from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Proof of district residency must be shown. And those who plan to bring boats or trailers must bring proof of ownership that has to be signed over to the town. All boats must be drained of oil, gas and other fluids, and batteries must be removed.

Bushes, tree limbs, fence posts and similar items will be accepted and need not be broken into small pieces. Used tires, large metal items in excess of 4 feet, clean fill and clean broken concrete will also be accepted.

Passenger cars, vans, pickup trucks and small trailers are allowed but not six-wheel or larger vehicles.

For more information, call 516-677-5943.
— Bill Bleyer

HUNTINGTON
Long Island Fall Festival starts Friday
The Long Island Fall Festival at Huntington’s Heckscher Park kicks off its 20th anniversary on Friday and runs through Monday.

The festival, hosted by the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Huntington, will feature a carnival, blood drive, food court, a beer and wine tent and music.

Children can look forward to pony rides, a petting zoo, and pumpkin painting.

“The festival showcases what a great community Huntington is,” said Robert Bontempi, who along with Brian Yudewitz, is co-chair of the festival. “Dining, arts, theater, music — we have it all and this is a great way for people to experience it. It’s become a regional draw as it has evolved over the last 20 years.”

There also will be a battle of the bands and a baby care lounge where parents can comfortably attend to their little ones. New this year will be a sensory lounge for children with autism.

On Friday at 5:30 p.m., in memory of Larry Kushnick, Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce chairman who died in June and who was known as the father of the festival, there will be a tree and memorial plaque dedication near the Harry Chapin stage.

The event will be Friday, from 3 to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Monday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free with parking available at the Huntington Station Long Island Rail Road station and shuttle rides offered for $1 round-trip.

“We partner with a lot of people to make this a success every year,” Bontempi said. “It’s a four-day business that takes 361 days to pull together by a lot of important people” such as the chamber staff, the Town of Huntington, sponsors such as Verizon and Newsday, and the Suffolk County Police.

For more information go to www.lifallfestival.com.

On Sunday, the Sons of Italy in America Columbus Day Parade will make its way down Main Street starting at noon.
— Deborah S. Morris