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Friday, September 9, 2016
Vol. 76, No. 35
Syosset Street Fair September 18 shines light on Jackson Avenue Hub
A NEW YEAR BEGINS
BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
The weather could not dampen the spirits of Berry Hill students who were welcomed back to school on Tuesday.
Goats help fight invasive species BY GARY SIMEONE Ten new goats are coming to the Underhill Preserve in Jericho thanks to efforts from the State’s Department of Environmental Conservation and the HOBAS (Huntington Oyster Bay Audubon Society.) The goats will help fight invasive species that have wreaked havoc on the 75 acres of undeveloped land. The animals are a mixture of Nubian and domestic stock and they will remain at the Preserve from August until mid-October. The Underhill Preserve is located at the northwest corner of County Routes 106/107 off of Jericho Turnpike. It is com-
prised of mostly fields, woods and trails and in recent years has become occupied by invasive species of plants such as mugwort, autumn olive, multiflora rose, Japanese honeysuckle and porcelain berry. These species of plants are problematic in that they reduce the habitat of native birds, butterflies and other wildlife. DEC Regional Director, Carrie Meek-Gallagher, announced in August that seven goats were brought to the land to chow down on these invasive species. The other three are expected to arrive this month. “In the past we have seen that goats See page 10
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 18 Syosset will showcase its business community and resources as well as open its downtown to pedestrians, visitors and vendors from all over. The annual Street Fair celebrates the last official days of summer and highlights Syosset’s year-round goods and services in the community as it is put together by the Syosset-Woodbury Chamber of Commerce. The Town of Oyster Bay will be providing its “showmobile” to set up music and other entertainment. While local businesses will have tables and booths, some clothing and materials vendors at the 2015 Street Fair came from as far as New Jersey and Brooklyn with their merchandise. The Syosset Public Library came back in 2015 after a few years’ hiatus. This year, Assistant Library Director Pamela Martin tells the Advance a table will be out at the fair on September 18 so the community can learn about “all the wonderful resources not only here at the library but also from your home and your mobile device.” In addition to Martin, representatives from the Syosset Public Library include Director Karen Liebman and librarians from the Adult, Teen and Children’s departments. “Come over, ask us about Creation Station with its 3-D printers, space, and equipment for creators to design and collaborate; shows, lectures and programs for children, teens and adults; Museum Passes to 25 museums and gardens; borrowing a Roku streaming stick to access NETFLIX at home; online courses (over 2,900!) to learn anything from art to web development from the library, your home, or any mobile device; borrowing preloaded eReading devices loaded with some of the lat-
est and most popular titles, and much more! The library will be raffling off prizes at Street Fair so please stop by, say hello and let us tell you what we can do for you!” Martin said. Leading up to the Street Fair, September programs at the library include an overview of the 2016 Presidential Election on Thursday, September 15 and an art lecture on Andy Warhol’s Influence on Friday, September 16. Both events start at 2 pm. Kenneth Robinson, an attorney whose office is a few blocks west of Jackson Avenue, currently serves as treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Street Fair. He was president of the Chamber a few years ago. A week before Labor Day Robinson spoke about the coming festivities and the business community overall. “There will be entertainment and music plus a number of food vendors, including an ice cream truck and usually a sausage & peppers truck. Then what we try to do is encourage our local Syosset vendors to participate in the Street Fair. Last year Stop N’ Shop was very helpful, as were many real estate companies and banks which had booths. The hospital (North Shore-LIJ Syosset) is always there,” Robinson said. Local musicians, entertainers, the Martha Merideth Studios (31 Ira Road) and iSchool of Music & Art (14 Cold Spring Road) will participate at Street Fair, presenting live dance and dramatic performances as “a centerpiece” to the day, says Robinson. As always Street Fair is a family-focused event. For children an inflatable bounce house will be set up to the west of Jackson Avenue. Popcorn, cotton candy, balloon animals, face painting, arts and crafts and other activities are planned, and ever-popular with kids See page 4
Interactive gym helps kids PAGE 8 Scenes from last year’s street fair
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