Fair Media Council: Folio Awards & Boot Camp

Media Stars, Practical Applications

The Fair Media Council operates at the intersection of media, influence and power. For 45 years, they have been holding news and media accountable while working to create an informed, media-savvy society. The more time goes on, the more important, and broadly applicable their work becomes. It’s about transparency, accountability, and credibility, as well as fostering the ability to both convey that, and recognize it when we see it.

The FMC offers clear eyed, informative commentary, and is known for quality, unscripted conversations with top influencers in news, business and technology. Members have access to a broad array of resources. Intimate educational events feature excellent presenters offering timeless wisdom and latest understandings of our constantly revolutionizing media ecosystem.

Whether it’s considering the current state of affairs or what to make of what’s coming, managing our brands, dealing with PR crises or simply learning how best to get a reporter’s attention, FMC offers thought provoking and practically useful programming. A signature project is their annual Folio Awards, which honors the best in news and other media. It’s excellent networking and always insightful. Another main event, their annual “Boot Camp” is lower key, but also kind of a big deal. 

2026 Folio Awards

The Folio Awards “recognize the best in news and media, including the exceptional work of businesses and nonprofits that are contributing toward creating a more informed public through accuracy, accountability and trust.” 

 
When: Thursday, June 11, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Garden City Hotel
Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees: Sam Champion, America’s Weather Anchor, ‘Good Morning America,’ ABC & Eyewitness News, WABC-TV; Jennifer McLogan, Reporter, CBS News New York, David Winzelberg, Reporter, Long Island Business News.
The Full List of Honorees is Here.
To Sponsor, Advertise or get Tickets: Visit the FMC Website 

FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, Northwell, Hofstra University, Montclair State University, Henry Schein, Jody Fisher PR, New York SeaGrant, Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP, Robert B. Catell, Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP, Breslin Realty, Blumenfeld Development Group and Museum of American Armor are but a few of this year’s premium supporters. Here’s your opportunity to join them. 

One thing that sets these awards apart is the community-centered aspect of the judging process. I am deeply honored to get to call FMC a patron, and to have long served among their Folio Award Judges, joining a diverse array of media experts, educators, business and community leaders. It’s an exercise in guided, multi-faceted observation and critical thinking; a process that in itself helps create a media-savvy public. 

In addition to celebrating the best of local journalism, our combined feedback serves the entire industry by setting a standard of credibility, and providing concrete examples of what the public wants and needs in its newsfeed.

It’s good stuff. Please check it out.

Summer Boot Camp & Live Media Pitch

There’s an art and a science to crafting your message in a way that the media will hear and carry it forward. This July, The Fair Media Council offers an opportunity to learn tricks of the trade, avoid common errors and make sure your pitch reaches the right audience. It’s not just good advice and practical exercise. Once schooled, you will get to literally pitch the media. 

They say there’s good reason this event sells out. It’s a golden opportunity. Every year, this event lands attendees solid coverage and starts folks on a path to building functional relationships with the media. 

When: Wednesday, July 15, 9am-noon
Where: Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center*
Sponsored by: Northwell Health, Jody Fisher PR, St. Joseph’s University and ACLD
Learn More and Purchase Tickets: Visit FMC’s website. Members get preferred pricing. 
 

*No parking fee for ticket holders. Casual dress.

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Tell Us a Tale! Northport Village Storytelling

These Northport Village Storytelling events are super fun and wonderful ways to get to know our neighbors and build community. We were thrilled to get to host one at The Firefly a few years ago and are excited every time one happens!
 
Inspired by The Moth Radio Hour, Elizabeth Alexander has been working with neighbors to craft these live story telling events, creating opportunities for the community to connect and to be inspired. There’s a beautiful story about it written by Joanne Kountourakis here in the Northport Journal. 
 
Moth-style storytelling is a genre of personal narratives about experiences that took place in the storyteller’s life. The stories are crafted, planned, and told (not read) before a live audience. It’s a wonderful art form that allows folks to connect at a very human level.
 
Follow them on Facebook, and check out their website: www.northportvillagestorytelling.com.
Basic Guidelines for Storytelling: 1. Tell story in 5-10 minutes 2. Story to be told, not read 3. Base story on theme: coincidences 4. Craft your story 5. Story must be about a personal experience. 6. No stand-up comedy acts or rants

The Theme for the Next Story Slam is SIGNS

Liz is excited to announce that the next event is on the calendar!

When: Friday, July 24th
Theme: SIGNS
Storytellers Wanted: Email northportvillagestorytelling@gmail.com
 
Additional details will be available soon!

Need Confidence? Some Pointers? Learn the Fine Art of Story Telling!

Many folks have said they would LOVE to share a tale, but are not quite sure how. Liz and Annie are here to help! They’ve been hosting live workshops on the fine art of story telling. The next one’s coming up:

When: Saturday June 13, 11:30AM – 2:30PM

Where: St. Paul’s 270 Main Street, Northport

To Register: Email northportvillagestorytelling@gmail.com

For the $20 entry, you will receive light refreshments and connection to the world through storytelling. Liz and Annie are hoping to grow the local pool of folks willing to step up to the mic at her events. Whether or not you’d like to do that, the ability to impart a fine tale is a valuable skill, and everyone says the workshops are excellent! Join them. 
Jess Sellheimer, Annie Mark, Joanne Kountourakis and Liz Alexander thoroughly enjoying the May 16th workshop. Image provided by Liz Alexander.

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Firefly Lights: May 20, 2026

Photo of the exterior of The Firefly Artists
COME. BREATHE. SAVOR
Find That Perfect Thing

We have gifts for a favorite grad, sweet little treasures and very special things. Located at 90 Main Street in beautiful downtown Northport, The Firefly is open seven days a week. We stay open until 9pm Wednesday through Saturday, and until 7pm on Sundays. For you early birds, we’re also open by 9am on the weekends.

Every purchase helps keep artists creating. We deeply appreciate your support, and are honored when our work enhances your life and that of those around you. Thank you for keeping local art alive!

 

Works below by Fireflies Kristen Memoli, Cori Forster, Tina Nadeem & Katheryn Laible

To subscribe to The Firefly Artists newsletter, please drop us a line indicating interest here.

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Coltrane Home Progress Report

Friends of the Coltrane Home receiving an eagerly awaited update on the project.

A Welcome Reunion and Tour

Among the notables who have made Long Island their home, John Coltrane wrote his masterwork in Dix Hills. After his passing, his wife Alice, who was also incredibly gifted, recorded three albums there. That ranch home, where they raised their family, is an understated treasure that folks have been working hard for many years to transform into a museum and cultural center.

Recently, some of the volunteers who have done all they can to help manifest this vision came together for a tour and progress report. It was a happy reunion of folks who found friendship through a shared love of jazz and community appreciation. 

Incredible amounts of work have been done to determine what may be restored, what should be replaced, and how the building will eventually function as a living museum, meeting place, performance center and boutique recording studio. How may they best serve young people? How can they assist musicians today in honoring these spirits? What may they do to advance the significant legacies of John and Alice Coltrane, musically, spiritually, and as folks who wished “to be a force for good?” 

Progress is Significant

The major work to the home has been structural. Prime for destruction, the home was once filled with mold and had serious foundation issues, which in turn damaged the facade. Even without that, major work would have had to be done in order to make a 1960’s ranch house suitable for museum traffic. 
 
In addition to (and often in concert with) needed repairs, have been carefully considered modifications. The basement floor was lowered to make that space usable. Steel and other required reinforcements were applied throughout. Windows were installed to simultaneously vastly improve climate control and more closely replicate what was there when the Coltranes lived there. Folks involved are delighted that the woman who took the rainbow window when the house was slated for destruction has kindly offered to bring it home. Other treasures eagerly await their return.
 
Almost as remarkable as the transformation to the home itself is the property. Once a completely overgrown mess of invasive species, the grounds are now cleared for the installation of meditation gardens in honor of Alice. We can’t wait to see them blossom! 
 
Cross your fingers. Say a prayer. There’s a bit of work to do, but with any luck the doors may open soon! 
 

Below is a gallery of our tour. Hover over the images for descriptions. Click for larger images. 

 

Ways to Get Involved

Subscribe to the John & Alice Coltrane Home newsletter for updates on construction and more! 

Of course, the mission carries the group far beyond the historic residence’s walls. The Half Hollow Hills Library, in particular, has regularly offered its downstairs theater for intimate events featuring a diversity of extraordinary talents. Can’t wait to see what they offer next! 

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Firefly Lights: May 15, 2026

Photo of the exterior of The Firefly Artists
COME. BREATHE. SAVOR
Find That Perfect Thing

We have gifts for a favorite grad, sweet little treasures and very special things. Located at 90 Main Street in beautiful downtown Northport, The Firefly is open seven days a week. We stay open until 9pm Wednesday through Saturday, and until 7pm on Sundays. For you early birds, we’re also open by 9am on the weekends.

Every purchase helps keep artists creating. We deeply appreciate your support, and are honored when our work enhances your life and that of those around you. Thank you for keeping local art alive!

Below: Works by Fireflies Andrea M. Gordon, E Craig, Jan Guarino & Tina Nadeem

To subscribe to The Firefly Artists newsletter, please drop us a line indicating interest here.

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Northport’s Little Free Flower Stand

Photo provided by the Little Free Flower Stand.

This week, we’d like to spotlight a Mother’s Day inspired delight. For the previous 5 years, a little stand in Northport Village has offered free flowers to any friendly neighbor passing by. Viewable on Instagram here, The Little Free Flower Stand offers a regularly refreshed selection of seasonal blooms. Whether it’s lilacs, daffodils, or anything else, each little bouquet offers beauty and generosity. 

Their Insta account alone is great, and updates regularly with whatever they’re doing at the stand. It’s a nice reminder of how  some Long Island people devote time to adding character to their neighborhoods and giving others a little bit of joy.

The giving often goes farther than flora as they often accept donations for local charities. Right now all donations will go to benefit the Northport Pride Fest.  

 We hope you wander over to their account and take a look for yourself.

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Huntington PUBlic Art Crawl!

The Huntington Arts & Experiences Committee Invites You to "Celebrate Creativity at the PUBlic Art Crawl!"

It’s free. It’s fun. It’s community coming together to celebrate the arts and culture all around us. Whether you are an artist of some sort, someone who appreciates that, or simply looking to connect with wonderful neighbors who like to get together and make amazing things happen, this is a wonderful event. 

There will be guided tours, live music, live painting, activities for kids of all ages, a local artists market, and exclusive village specials. Come check it out! 

Details

WHEN: Saturday, May 16, 12-5pm

HOW IT WORKS: The event is free, but folks must sign up via the following links for the 10:30 and 1:30 Mural Tours. Else, just stop by one of the event hubs – St. John’s Episcopal Church or the Huntington Arts Council – to receive the official event tote and bracelet, unlocking exclusive food and drink specials throughout the town. 

FOR MORE INFO: Visit the official website of the Huntington Public Art Crawl

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Tomorrow: Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

Photo of Randi Schubin Dresner and Steve Caputo with “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive sign provided by Steve Caputo. 

Island Harvest and our Mail Carriers are Making it Really Easy to Help!

This week, brown paper shopping bags were delivered along with the regular mail. Firefly Steve Caputo, a longtime volunteer for Island Harvest hopes you please won’t disregard it, or throw it away, but will instead fill them with food and toiletry essentials so they may be delivered to Island Harvest tomorrow. 

You see, on Saturday May 9th, 2026, The National Association of Letter Carriers and Island Harvest will carry out the nation’s largest one day food drive. 

It’s a real easy process. No need to go anywhere. No need to make any adjacent donations. All anyone on Long Island needs to do is place a bag of healthy non-perishable goods near their mailbox before their assigned mail carrier makes his regularly scheduled stop. A list of recommended donations can be found below. From there, Island Harvest receives the donation and distributes the food to over 300 food pantries across the island. There is no sign up. The mail carriers will be looking out at every stop to pick up any bagged non perishables

1 in 13 Long Islanders don’t know where their next meal is coming, and that number is growing. Last year over 600,000 meals were given out. According to their website, every donation comes from local and stays local. 

Please be a part of this. They couldn’t make it any more convenient. Just have your bag out by the mailbox by 9AM tomorrow, or at least before the mailman comes. Thanks!

For more information, visit the Island Harvest website.

List of Recommended Donations

– Canned or Dried Beans

– Peanut Butter

– Canned Fruits & Vegetables

– Low Sodium Soups

– Canned Tuna or Chicken

– Whole Grain Pasta & White Rice

– Shelf Stable Milk

– Nuts, Seeds & Dried Fruits

Household Supplies, Toiletries, & Pet Food are also welcomed. Please no Glass containers. Do check expiration dates before participating.

About Island Harvest

Island Harvest Food Bank has been leading hunger relief on Long Island since 1992. Founded in 1992, the Island Harvest Food Bank is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. We distribute fresh produce, meat and non-perishables throughout Long Island and assist thousands of Long Islanders daily through our innovative programming and network of community partners.

Grateful for Neighbors who Care

Thanks to Steve, we at the Firefly were able to deliver over 250 pounds of needed goods to people last winter. This time, folks don’t even need to come to a site like us, they just put their contribution out by their mailbox on Saturday! 

Said Steve, “Fighting hunger and food insecurity is a personal passion of mine. It is hard to imagine that almost a quarter million of our Long Island neighbors are impacted by food insecurity, not being able to afford to feed themselves or their families on a regular basis. Stamp Out Hunger is one very simple way that each of us can help to alleviate that hardship. As a volunteer photographer, I have had the privilege of witnessing the formidable coordination effort that goes into receiving, sorting, repacking and distributing the Stamp Out Hunger donations. Volunteers work over several days to get this food in and out of the warehouse and into the hands of those in need.

So please fill that brown bag (and more, if you can), and be sure to leave it by your mailbox on Saturday to help Stamp Out Hunger!”

Island Harvest Logo

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2026 Smart Growth Awards

Smart Growth Awards Logo

For over 20 years Vision Long Island has been honoring individuals, organizations, and projects that advance the growth of our downtowns and infrastructure. Specific focus areas include transit oriented development, affordable housing, environmental sustainability, traffic calming, transportation enhancements, clean energy and community based planning.

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