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AMITYvIlle _____________
HERALD ReCORD
Also serving Amityville, North Amityville, Amity Harbor, Copiague, and East Massapequa
Michael Durso seeking reelecton Page 4 VOL. 129 NO. 37
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SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2024
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Babylon gets state grant for Green Homes Program Funds to help homeowners make their homes more energy effecient By CAROLYN JAMES
Photo Credit/Herald
Two families gather for a day of music. Brigitte Doerner, Keegan Doerner, Bridget Ledwell, Brendan Ledwell, Charlotte Bura, Sullivan Doerner and John Bura.
Global grooves hit home as Amityville Village hosts Music on the Porch Day By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com
Residents in Village of Amityville, towing their lawn chairs and coolers trapsed from one porch to another for an all-day celebration of local. music. The event, Play Music on the Porch Day, which is celebrated throughout the world, was held Saturday, August 31, with more than a dozen local bands and musicians participating in Amityville. This was the second year the Village sponsored the event and Amityville Mayor Dennis Siry said he was inspired to bring it to Amityville for the first time last year after his daughter, Kelly Mae, told him about her experience with this event while she was in Boston.
“When she told me about Play Music On The Porch Day it was a no-brainer for me to decide to try it here in Amityville,” he said, adding that he was shocked by how many people came out to the event the very first year. He noted, however that music is a “universal unifier. “It’s the one thing where race and religion don’t matter,” said Siry. Siry, who sings and plays the guitar, was the first performer of the day. He sang originals and songs within the country bluegrass and southern rock genre. After performing, Siry said that if he helped make everyone forget about life for a little bit, he did his job. Siry’s niece Courtney Weglinski came CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
cjames@liherald.com The Town of Babylon is the recipient of a $235,330 conservation block grant from the Department of Energy. The funds are to be used to support the town’s Long Island Green Homes program, which helps residents increase home energy efficiency while saving them money on their energy costs. “We are really excited about this, particularly since we are the only town in New York State that got it,” said Supervisor Richard Schaffer. Funds will be allocated to purchase new heat pump systems and other necessary equipment for approximately 40-50 households, with a focus on lowincome communities. Babylon is also expected to develop a new marketing plan to raise awareness of the program and better engage disadvantaged communities through printed materials, digital social media advertisements, and inperson events. The Town’s Green Homes program is self-financing residential retrofit program for upgrading the energy efficiency of existing homes exclusively in
the Town of Babylon. The program, established by former Town Supervisor Steve Bellone, enables homeowners to make their homes greener and healthier at little or no out-of-pocket cost. Most homes—even newer ones —have not been constructed to building performance standards that conserve energy, said town officials. With fuel costs at all-time highs and in a region where utility rates are among the highest in the nation, homeowners can no longer afford to waste energy. Donna and John Deodato of Babylon recently opted into the program installing a new HVAC system throughout their home and said they feel fortunate to be living in the Town of Babylon, which offers the program directly. “The process was easy, and the workmanship high quality.,” said Donna. “We got the work done and everything went very smoothly.” The savings comes through the low interest loan the program provides and the better rate PSEG provides, giving the CONTINUED ON PAGE XX