Meeting Notes - follow ups for the 250th Planning Committee

Suffolk 250 Planning Committee Meeting Notes for 7/9/25

250th Anniversary Coordinating Committee Meeting Notes

Date: July 9, 2025

Time: 11:00 AM–12:00 PM

Location: H. Lee Dennison Building, Hauppauge / Microsoft Teams

Important takeaways:

RSVP for the Kickoff Event on August 6^th (Rain date, August 7^th)

Promote:

Use Instagram handle @longisland250
Invite LI250 as “collaborator” when posting

The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, Inc. Grant Opportunity

Interested organizations should contact Kathryn Curran at (631) 594-3990 ASAP

Join a new 250-themed Culinary Initiative subcommittee. Contact Joseph Furnari: furnari@nysenate.gov

Join a new library subcommittee. Contact Maura Feeney: mfeeney@communitylibrary.org

_________________________________________

Notes:

Attendees: 75+ representatives from historical societies, towns, libraries, and government agencies

I. Welcome and Introductions

Kristin MacKay opened the meeting, noting the increasing interest and attendance.
Use of the OWL device allowed online attendees to see and hear in-room participants.
All members introduced themselves by name and organization.
Indicated the two current subcommittees have been working hard on their respective projects.

Passport Book Committee
Celebrations Subcommittee

Both are open to new members.

III. Celebrations Subcommittee Report

A. August 6, 2025 Kickoff Event at Sagtikos Manor

Event Overview:

Time: 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
Rain date: August 7^th
Format: Press conference + public kickoff event
Key components:
Speeches from elected officials and dignitaries
Tours for press and elected officials
Public mingling and press Q&A
Reenactors including Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, William Floyd, Isaac Thompson, Sam Adams
Period music, national anthem, possible “God Bless America”
Period-appropriate food and desserts

Catering and Food Contributions:

Cornbread, lemonade, chowder (20 gallons in 1700s iron pots), George Washington cakes, Parmesan ice cream, possibly rice pudding
Staff and volunteers will serve food outdoors

Logistics:

County will provide tents, chairs, and porta-potties
Parking across the street
Rain date: August 7
The county’s communication team coordinating media outreach

Action Items:

RSVP forms distributed; organizations may bring two people and if additional space is available, we will let people know.
Madison collecting RSVP responses; also to be emailed
Contact local elected officials to encourage attendance
Finalize list of reenactors and musical components
Continue media outreach to secure press attendance
Coordinate with Hunter’s Garden Group on chowder preparation
Confirm event layout and speaking program

IV. Grant Opportunities

Presented by Paul Borowski, Grants Office:

NYS CFA Environmental Protection Fund

Due: July 31, 2025
Eligible for planning/development/improvement of historic properties
Match: 50% (75% in LMI areas)
Max: $675,000
For municipalities, nonprofits, and state agencies

Update from Paul following the meeting:

Here is the Grants Notice for the Environmental Protection Funds Grant that is due on 7/31/25:

https://parks.ny.gov/documents/grants/EPFCFAGuidanceDocument2025.pdf

Second, I reviewed the Battlefields grant from the National Park Service closer, and unfortunately, it does not apply to NFPs. Only Governments: Cities/Townships, Counties or States.

Here is the link: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/357992

Contact: Paul E. Borowski

County Executive Assistant-Finance/Head of the Grants Management Office

Office of the County Executive, Edward P. Romaine

H. Lee Dennison Building, 12^th Floor

100 Veterans Memorial Highway, P.O. Box 6100

Hauppauge, New York 11788

Office: 631-853-5718

Cell: 516-494-9990

Email: Paul.Borowski@suffolkcountyny.gov

Grants Management Office Email: grantsmanagementoffice@suffolkcountyny.gov

V. Toolkit and Resources Update

suffolk250.org Member Toolkit includes:

Meeting notes
Passport book info and submission portal
Logos and social media templates
Event map submission link
Facebook group and new Instagram page

Social Media Collaboration:

Use Instagram handle @longisland250
Invite LI250 as “collaborator” when posting
Discover Long Island has tagged LI250 in recent reels

Action Items:

Encourage all organizations to submit events to the online map
on the website; add correction request contact
Add calendar view to events map (pending from IT)
Promote use of collaborative Instagram posts

VI. Passport Book Project

Overview:

Printed and digital book with QR-coded pages for each historic location
Stamp collection-style engagement with events across Suffolk County
Register by August 30, 2025; final content due by October 15

Submission Requirements:

Organization info, address, photo (300+ DPI), 70-word caption, and URL
One entry per physical site
Must host at least one Revolutionary War–related event
Must have volunteers/staff to stamp passports
Contact Kristin MacKay with questions at Kristin.mackay@suffolkcountyny.gov

Support:

County to generate QR codes for participants
Sample stamps and resources: zazzle.com, Staples, or self-print
Instructions available via the toolkit

Action Items:

Submit entries by Aug. 30
Promote participation; goal is 100 entries (only 5 so far)
Create stamp (one per site)
Ensure linked websites are updated with event info by Oct. 15
Phyllis to continue formatting layout

VII. Gardiner Foundation Funding Opportunity

Presented by Kathryn from the Gardiner Foundation

Deadline: August 8, 2025
May match existing funds (including legislative discretionary funding)
Projects must align with DLGF grant categories
Site visit required for new applicants

Action Items:

Interested organizations should contact Kathryn Curran at (631) 594-3990 ASAP

VIII. Event Announcements & Partner Updates

Presentation by Joseph Furnari, Representing Sen. Dean Murray's Office and the Tri- Hamlet 250 Committee

Mastic Beach July 19 Countdown Event

Hosted by the Mastic Beach Property Owners Association
Food, reenactors, kids games, and community groups
Focus on William Floyd and local Revolutionary War history

William Floyd Estate Reopening

NPS aims for soft reopening in August 2025
Exhibit in development focusing on estate stewardship and legacy

Update from Lonna Castro, Library Director, Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library

& Maura Feeney, Librarian, Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library

Library Programming & Support

Mastic-Moriches-Shirley Library: Yearlong program with exhibits, drumming, metal detecting, children’s games, housewares display, 1776-themed dinner
Proposal to form a library outreach subcommittee
Patchogue and LILRC to be looped in
Restaurant partnership on themed 1776 menus

Action Items:

Form subcommittee for libraries (led by Lonna Castro, Maura Feeney, and Alyson Roselle)
Form subcommittee for culinary initiative (led by Joseph Furnari)
Reach out to Onkechaug Nation for Indigenous programming inclusion
Coordinate historical marker and cemetery program visibility with SAR

Next Meeting:

August 14, 2025, 11:00 AM at the H. Lee Dennison Building