Conference to Examine Sustainability Issues

Political and community leaders will be participating Friday in the sixth annual sustainability conference at in Bethpage State Park.

Entitled “The Many Facets of Sustainability,” the conference will feature Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone as keynote speaker.

Among the activities will be a plenary session examining the concept of sustainability, awards to several people, including former Farmingdale Mayor George Starkie, who have worked to implementing sustainable policies, and workshops on brownfield redevelopment, food access, economic growth and the green movement.

Others receiving awards will be Kevin Law, Stuart Rabinowitz and Bridget Fleming.

Also participating are:

Carrie Meek Gallagher, chief sustainability officer, Suffolk County Water Authority

Joe Gergela, executive director, Long Island Farm Bureau

Elaine Gross, president, ERASE Racism

Jody Kass, executive director, New Partners for Community Revitalization

Chris Kent, partner, Farrell Fritz, P.C.

Rabi Kieber, sustainability coordinator, US EPA Region 2

Mark Lesko, supervisor, Town of Brookhaven

Larry Levy, executive director, National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra

The conference is sponsored by Sustainable Long Island, which is based in Farmingdale.