Introducing Rich Goldstein

Rich Goldstein has joined the Lighthouse team for the summer of 2009. Here is his take on last Friday night's draft party at the Coliseum.

The Islanders’ 2009 NHL Draft Party was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. By the end of the night, the atmosphere in the now aging Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum had filled with hope for a new beginning for the once proud franchise. The more than 10,000 fans at the Coliseum cheered with a deafening roar as the Islanders selected the people’s choice John Tavares to be the savior of the team. I was also able to do my part and have some meaningful discussions with fans about the future of the Lighthouse project and Long Island. Without a doubt this will be a night I will never forget.

Even though the night was perfect, I have to admit I was a little frightened to attend the draft party as one of the volunteers. Many friends and family members who were hardcore Islanders fans warned me that there would be a massive riot if the team did not select OHL superstar center John Tavares with the first overall pick. I may have to agree with them because whenever pictures of Matt Duschene or Victor Hedman popped up on the Jumbo-tron the crowd booed and hissed with such anger and disgust. The fans wanted Tavares and only Tavares, anything less would have sent the crowd into an uproar and the riot may have come to fruition. However, Islanders owner Charles Wang and GM Garth Snow did not disappoint us and chose Tavares, causing pandemonium at the Coliseum as the crowd erupted in excitement.

My role at the draft party was to spread the word and gain support for Charles Wang’s Lighthouse Project. I had a great time walking through the stands talking to a wide variety of Islander fans and encouraging them to let their voices be heard about the project. Almost all the people I spoke to completely supported the Lighthouse and all of its efforts to get the necessary approval to start building. I ran into two elder men who had been Islander fans since the inaugural 1972-73 season and they were adamant in their support for this project. One of the men even said “Those politicians need to get their heads on straight, how can you not support a new arena that is going to be privately funded? This whole process is ridiculous.” I also remember talking to a young couple with two small children who were saying that they could not afford living on Long Island anymore if there was nothing for their children to look forward to when they grow up. This conversation really stayed with me because even though I am only in college now, I could not help but think about my future and if I could start my own family here without this project in place. Sadly, my answer would be no.

My conversations with people in the stands were not only of a serious nature. I had a great time talking to people about the big three draft prospects of Tavares. Hedman and Duschene and everyone had their own opinions on all of them. All the people I spoke to were having a great time and enjoying the atmosphere. As it turned out, the draft party was a very joyous event where all New York Islanders fans could celebrate the dawn of a new era for the franchise and hopefully the start of a new dynasty.

Thank you, Rich.

Stay tuned to the www.lighthouseli.com for the supporter clips we filmed at our booth. They were excellent, and thank you to all who participated.

-Katrina

The international supporters

I just read this message on the "I support the Lighthouse at Long Island" group page on Facebook. It is from a gentleman named Daniel Oppliger:

Go ahead and make that Lighthouse happen ! I cross my finger's from over the ocean (Zurich/Switzerland) for you guys.
Looking forward to our next trip to Hempstead next January :-) with a big group of this time around 100 persons or even more (last time in march 09 we were 55 crazy-swiss-hockey-fans)
http://www.fanreise.ch/index.php?DE&sid=288&art=c

I remember when he was at one of our games last season. Very big hockey fans (and travelers!) and they are looking forward to visiting the Islanders at the Lighthouse in the near future.

Thanks Dan!

Also, an editorial in Newsday today based off the Senator Schumer press conference discusses the possibility of getting federal funding for better roads for Nassau. Becuase of the Lighthouse project, and the economic boon it will create, the federal government will be looking to spend infrastructure dollars. Click here to read all about it.

The last line of the piece says: "Improved transportation is the road to a new suburbia."

I could not have said it better myself.

Have a great July 4th. And remember, at 10:30 a.m. on July 7 at Town Hall, the Town of Hempstead will vote to determine the completeness of the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statment. Try to be there.

-Katrina

The Charles Schumer press conference at the Coliseum

It was interesting, and certainly exiting. The Senator pulled up in a black town car, and Charles Wang, Scott Rechler, Tom Suozzi, Kate Murray and Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby met him at the podium.

(The complete video is available on the Lighthouse website. Click here.)

But there were a few things that struck me about this press conference.

1. This is happening. The federal government, by way of the support of one of the most powerful Senators in the United States, is behind us.

2. I felt relieved. All the principals were there, they all spoke, and they all sounded committed.

3. What's next? How do we keep moving this as quickly as it needs to be going?

What's next is July 7. At 10:30 a.m. at Town Hall, the Town Board will vote to determine the completeness of the DGEIS. Be there if you can.

-Katrina

Islanders Draft Party Liveblog

Hey everyone, this is Paul and I'll be running the liveblog of the Islanders Draft Party!

From this post I'll be running the Liveblog of tomorrow's Islanders Draft Party, giving a new perspective on what should be an exciting day and keeping you posted on all the latest news from the party floor.

The liveblog will start tomorrow at 5:30 PM. Stay tuned!

THE LIVEBLOG IS UNDER WAY!

Live blogging

One very cool thing the Lighthouse team will be doing from the Islanders draft party at the Coliseum tomorrow is live blogging. Paul Squire will be in the Blog Box with other Islanders bloggers to bring you the Lighthouse action. Be sure to be tuned in to the Light Post at 5:30 p.m. when we get it all going.

-Katrina

Lighthouse team will have draft party fun too!!

Good afternoon all. We sent this eblast out today.

June 25, 2009

Draft time is always an exciting time for hockey fans. This year, Long Island is the center of the action, as the New York Islanders have the first overall pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft. There has been a lot of attention surrounding the team at this time regarding who of the top prospects will wear the orange and blue next year. Make sure you are prepared for the draft by checking out www.nhl.com for the multimedia coverage of the prospects, the draft and everything NHL, which is all powered by NeuLion. For all the Islanders coverage including exclusive coverage of Islanders draft picks check www.newyorkislanders.com.

The Lighthouse team will be at Nassau Coliseum for the draft party with opportunities for fans to directly interact with the project:

-Sign up with a team of three for Lighthouse Jeopardy to win a prize. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!! Hurry, it’s first come first serve!!!

-Stop by the Lighthouse station on the arena floor to share your Lighthouse stories and tell us why you want to Meet Me @ the Lighthouse. We will be taping these comments and you could be in the next Lighthouse video or commercial.

Visit our social networking station to let your friends and followers know that you support the Lighthouse and about what is happening at the draft party. Sign up to become a Lighthouse supporter and write a letter to the elected officials in Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead to let them know where you stand.

This excitement surrounding the future of Long Island’s only major league professional sports team coincides with an important series of events related to the approval of the Lighthouse project.

At 10:30 a.m. on July 7, 2009 the Town of Hempstead board will vote on a resolution related to the completeness of the Lighthouse Development Group’s Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement. Once this resolution has been passed, public hearings will be scheduled, and the final zoning approvals will be just around the corner.

In recent weeks, the approval process of the Lighthouse project has received significant media attention. But remember, the project has gotten this far because of your support for Long Island’s future. By continuing to support the project at these meetings, you are sending a message that Long Island needs the project now.

We have made great progress getting the message out about the project by using our website, Facebook, Twitter, and the blogosphere, which have all undergone recent updates and facelifts. The official website of the Lighthouse project, www.lighthouseli.com has a new splash page and many other new features. Check it out.

If you haven’t already, follow the Lighthouse on Twitter @Lighthouse_LI and join the “I support the Lighthouse at Long Island” group on Facebook.

We look forward to seeing you in the coming weeks.

Suburbia?

If you live on Long Island, it's where you think you live. Suburbia. When you look up the definition of suburbia, you get this:
1. suburbs collectively.
2. suburbanites collectively.
3. the social or cultural aspects of life in suburbs.

All true, but not very descriptive. When you look up suburb, here is what you will find:
1. a district lying immediately outside a city or town, esp. a smaller residential community.
2. the suburbs, the area composed of such districts.
3. an outlying part.

Again, all true, and all applicable to Long Island.

But this definition does not provide an explanation. It does not detail what types of homes are in suburbia, or what kind of people are in suburbia. It is merely a geographic definition.

Long Island can redefine suburbia. By using smart growth and mixed use development Long Island can become a suburbia of more than just geography.

Here are two quick articles from Long Island Business News I came across this afternoon:
Durso: Labor and Business must focus on our future

Schumer speaks at Smart Growth Summit

And one from The Community Alliance Blog, which features a repost of a LetThereBeLight(house) by Nick.
A special comment from the folks at LetThereBeLighthouse

-Katrina