Long Island briefs

LAWRENCEDiscussion to center on jet noise, planes

The Town-Village Aircraft Safety Noise Abatement Committee plans to host a meeting Monday night to discuss concerns over low-flying planes and ways to control jet noise in communities near Kennedy and LaGuardia airports.

The meeting is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. at the Village of Lawrence Yacht and Country Club, at 101 Causeway in Lawrence. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Port Authority have been invited to attend.

Earlier this month, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo directed the Port Authority to study aircraft noise over Long Island and hold public hearings about the issue. Cuomo ordered the work after vetoing a bill Nov. 13 that called for the study but needed approval from New Jersey lawmakers.

Residents have also voiced concerns about a Kennedy Airport runway expansion plan that calls for the threshold -- the touchdown point -- on runway 4L/22R to be extended by 728 feet to meet new federal requirements for a "runway safety area."

Noise reduction advocates have also asked the Federal Aviation Administration to exempt Kennedy and LaGuardia airports from a proposed rule that would allow the agency to change flight procedures without conducting environmental impact studies.

New procedures from implementing the NextGen satellite-based air traffic control system could mean increased noise from landings and takeoffs, and from more aircraft flying at lower altitudes, advocates have said. For more information, call TVASNAC at 516-489-5000 ext. 3562.

UPTON

Conference to focus on natural history

A two-day conference on Long Island natural history -- expected to be the biggest regional forum of its kind this year -- will be held Dec. 6 and 7 at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Naturalists and scientists are expected to make 16 presentations on a range of topics, from the impact of superstorm Sandy to survey results for the American eel, bats and carnivorous plants of Long Island, and discussions of conservation issues impacting the eastern box turtle and the eastern tiger salamander.

The conference is sponsored by the Long Island Nature Organization, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and more than 20 environmental organizations including the Nature Conservancy, the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission, the Sierra Club, North Fork Audubon Society and the South Fork Natural History Museum.

Two field trips are also planned -- to the Old Inlet on Fire Island and to the Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

General admission to the two-day conference is $25.

For more information, go to the conference website at longislandnature.org or call Melissa Griffiths Parrott, education and outreach coordinator, Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission, at 631-655-4688.

LONG BEACH$43G approved for dead-tree removal

Long Beach has hired a Bay Shore firm to remove trees around the city that died as a result of superstorm Sandy.

The city will pay Trees R Us of Bay Shore $43,875 to cut down dead trees throughout the city, remove debris and grind the stumps, the city council decided on Nov. 10. The council awarded the contract, on which four other firms also bid, with a unanimous vote.

"As a result of superstorm Sandy, numerous trees throughout the city suffered salt water inundation and died as a result of this exposure, therefore requiring the need for them to be removed," said a resolution approved by the city council.

Trees R Us was the lowest responsible bidder for the contract, city officials said.

The city council also unanimously approved a contract to buy 180,000 grass plugs to maintain the structural integrity of its beach dunes. The plugs will be purchased from Bissett Nursery Corporation of Holtsville at a cost of $54,000, the council voted.

RIVERHEADFans of local theater cheer on its revivalIt was Diane Sawchuk's first time back at the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead since watching the premiere of the 1968 animated film "Yellow Submarine" as a teenager.

"I went there as a kid," said Sawchuk, 58, of Riverhead. "I remember the theater was darker and older with red velvet walls. I just think it's so beautiful now. They did a great job restoring it."

Sawchuk accompanied her friends to the event, "An Evening With Psychic Jeffrey Wands," co-sponsored by WALK 97.5 Radio & the Suffolk Theater on Nov. 18.

The theater, originally built in 1933, was once hailed as the "Radio City Music Hall of Long Island," but it closed in 1987 amid a shifting economy in which multiplex theaters became difficult competition. It wasn't until developer Bob Castaldi and his wife, Dianne, purchased the theater and spent years restoring it that it came alive again in March, offering dinner, drinks, comedic acts and musical performances.

"It's just a matter of getting people in here to see how beautiful the theater is," said Bob Castaldi, of Cutchogue. "The word is spreading. As you can see there are 250 to 300 people here tonight to see the show."

Castaldi has high hopes for the theater and is confident it'll become the heart of Riverhead.

"It's a very unique little theater that by chance was saved, and there aren't too many art deco theaters," he said, adding that they'll also have a celebration for New Year's Eve.

Tracy James, president of the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce, said the theater "woke up" Main Street, especially at night and on the weekends.

"The aquarium was the nucleus, and now the theater is slowly becoming the heart of downtown, shocking Main Street back to life."

LONG ISLANDMusicians cut album to help those in needInspired by the growing hunger epidemic in America, a Buffalo nonprofit has produced an album featuring favorite songs by Heart, Melissa Etheridge and other artists to benefit food banks on Long Island, and in Buffalo and Cleveland.

The 19-track album, titled "Tunes 4 Food: Redemption Day," is set to be released tomorrow in stores near Buffalo and available to those outside the area on iTunes. Long Island Cares will also sell hard copies, and the CD will be available on eBay.

Bob James is producing the $10 album, which is named after "Tunes 4 Food," a nonprofit he formed in 2009 that has veteran musicians mentor upcoming artists to incorporate philanthropy into their work. He began contacting the musicians for permission to use their songs as a response to food banks' growing demands. One-third of the proceeds will go to the Hauppauge-based Long Island Cares-The Harry Chapin Food Bank.

The CD will also feature tracks from Willie Nile, Jackson Browne, Indigo Girls, Nils Lofgren, Ani DiFranco, The Verbs, Sunny Side Players, Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band and "The Sopranos" fame, and more artists, including music students James has mentored.

Songs include a live version of Etheridge's "All We Can Really Do," Heart's "Dear Old America" and Vox One's "Apathy Isn't It," featuring spoken words of John Lennon, provided by Yoko Ono.

Paule Pachter, executive director of Long Island Cares, said the idea ties into their mission.

"The tremendous artists that are involved in this have great social consciousness," Pachter said. "For them to all agree to use their music to call attention to the hunger movement, poverty issues and reduction in the food stamp program means a great deal. It's going to help us continue the great work that we do."

For more information, visit www.tunes4food.org.

WANTAGHAnimal shelter offers free pet adoptions

The Hempstead Town Animal Shelter will offer free pet adoptions until Jan. 5 during its annual Home for the Holidays Pet Adoption Program.

All pet adoption fees will be waived during the program, which started Saturday, to give residents an opportunity to welcome a cat or dog into their homes.

Free rabies vaccinations, testing for feline AIDS/leukemia and microchipping, as well as free spaying and neutering services will be offered, town officials said.

Adopted pets will receive coupons for free exams at Baldwin Harbor Animal Hospital, a free grooming session for dogs at Jo-Mar Grooming in Floral Park, and the Dog Obedience Club of South Nassau is contributing free obedience classes, town officials said.

Residents are encouraged to bring their adopted pets back to the shelter for a Home for the Holidays event on Dec. 14, a Saturday, when the shelter will offer free photos with Santa, raffles, a bake sale and hot chocolate.

Attendees bringing toys and treats for shelter animals will be eligible for a prize.

They can also visit the shelter, at 3320 Beltagh Ave. in Wantagh, for adoption hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday from noon to 8 p.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Interested adopters can take a look at the shelter's pets by visiting toh.li/animal-shelter. For more information, call the shelter at 516-785-5220.

MATTITUCKTrains, free shuttles attract tourists

Special Long Island Rail Road trains and a free shuttle bus service across the North Fork brought at least a thousand tourists to the region over the three-day Veterans Day weekend, increasing business for wineries, local restaurants and other businesses.

"It was a test to see if people would take a free shuttle," said Steven Bate, executive director of the Long Island Wine Council. "One winery said their business was up 28 percent."

Bate spent some time at the Mattituck railroad station watching people come off the train, and said it showed there was a big potential market for such events.

His group is seeking a $285,000 grant to hold four similar events next year, two in the spring and two in the fall.

He said that of the thousand people who rode the shuttle, about half came from New York City and about a quarter from New England, getting to Long Island by ferry.

The Suffolk county executive's office, which sponsored the "Taste of the North Fork" campaign along with the East End Tourism Alliance, said the money to run the shuttle was part of a $335,000 Empire State development grant.

County Executive Steve Bellone said in a prepared statement that it was "precisely what well-designed economic development is meant to accomplish -- to drive increased economic development in ways that benefit and engage an entire community."

About half of the 40 wineries on the North Fork took part in the event, as did many area restaurants and bed-and-breakfast inns and stores in the village of Greenport.

NORTH HEMPSTEADParking rules eased to boost business

Parking restrictions have been loosened in Carle Place and New Cassel, part of a bid to encourage more business.

The Town of North Hempstead approved changes to parking rules at a board meeting last week.

In the industrial area of New Cassel, the board rescinded a local law adopted in December limiting parking on the west side of State Street to one hour between 7 a.m. and midnight Monday through Saturday. From midnight to 7 a.m. those days, there was no parking.

The new law rescinds those restrictions and just bans parking for morning hours, from midnight to 6 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

"The parking restriction was not working for the businesses," said Viviana Russell, the councilwoman who represents that area.

On Westbury Avenue, in Carle Place, some parking was allowed for 90 minutes, up from 30.

Russell said the legislation was in response to business owners in the community who "have asked for an extended time frame so their customers can patronize the businesses."