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Pictured
(L-R): Paul Fogelberg, Dr. Hazem Tawfik,
Don Middleton, Ken Greenstein, Kathy Giamo (representing
County Executive Levy, Dr. Jonathan Gibralter,
Senator Charles Fuschillo, Supervisor Petrone
and Wayne Horsley (representing Supervisor Bellone).
Photo by K.S. Coley |
Dr. Jonathan C. Gibralter, president
of Farmingdale State University of New York, announced
at a press conference today that $85,000 has been awarded
to the college to fund two special projects. The funding
was secured through an exceptional example of interagency
cooperation among State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo,
Jr. (8th District), Route 110 Redevelopment
Corporation Chairman Ken Greenstein,
Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, Town of Huntington
Supervisor Frank Petrone and Town of
Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone.
The first project, the creation of a Fuel Cell Learning
Center, has received an allocation of $75,000. The second
project, the creation of a master plan to beautify the
Route 110 entrances to the campus, has received $10,000.
Dr. Gibralter said, “I am grateful to Senator
Fuschillo, County Executive Levy, and Town Supervisors
Bellone and Petrone for funding this project. Without
their support and the generosity of Route 110 Redevelopment
Corporation’s Don Middleton,
faculty like Distinguished Service Professor Dr.
Hazem Tawfik wouldn't be able to explore the
future of renewable energy. Hydrogen technology is the
future and together we will demonstrate its efficacy.”
The Fuel Cell Learning Center will be run by Dr. Tawfik
through the Institute for Research and Technology Transfer. There
are plans to create a mock model home powered by hydrogen
fuel cells. The Long Island community will be able to
learn more about this inexpensive and environmentally
friendly source of power, since the Center will be open
to the public. Farmingdale students have already worked
on a go-cart, a tractor, a radio and television set
powered by fuel cells. In addition to his support
for the Fuel Cell Center, Senator Fuschillo has been
a leader in securing funding for the Broad Hollow Bioscience
Park, a collaborative effort between Farmingdale State
and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory which is designed
to focus the growth of the bioscience industry on Long
Island. Groundbreaking for the second building is expected
this spring.
Senator Fuschillo said, “This is an excellent
opportunity to further grow this high-tech corridor
and educate the public at the same time. Farmingdale
State is a proven leader in the technology field and
this project should continue to lead to important advances
in environmentally friendly energy use.”
The master plan for the Route 110 entrances to the Farmingdale
State campus will include landscaping, irrigation, and
signage. The college, which will celebrate its 95thanniversary
in 2007, hopes to create a model for the rest of Long
Island’s industrial corridor along Route 110.
Horticulture Professor Paul Fogelberg plans to work
with an outside design company to develop the plan.
Ken Greenstein said, “The Route 110 Redevelopment
Corporation was founded by the Towns of Babylon and
Huntington to act as a coordinating agency for public,
private and civic support to bring environmentally friendly,
hi-tech business to the Route 110 corridor. This is
a fine example of our community working together to
achieve that goal.”
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