Local Open Space Planning: A Guide to the Process, Cori Fay Traub and Charles Morrison. (Albany: 1997) Published by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, this very valuable guide to the open space program as it applies in New York State should be required reading in every school, library and village hall. It explains the need for open space and the tax benefits, with selected case examples and appendices. Call Francis Sheehan Jr., Director of National Resources Planning for copy; 518-457-4208.

“Bayview Colony: Carl Fisher’s Contribution to Cow Neck,” George L. Williams, Published in the Journal of the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society, Fall 1999 (pages 23 to 33). This is an important, well-researched article about the 23-acre Bayview Colony that Carl Fisher developed in Port Washington. For copies, send a check in the amount of $5.50 to the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society, 336 Port Washington Blvd, Port Washington, NY11050, and specify for Journal, Fall 1999.

Growing Greener: Putting Conservation into Local Plans and Ordinances,
Randall Arendt. (Washington DC: 1999) Published by the Natural Lands Trust, American Planning Association and the American Society of Landscape Architecture. This book offers a hands-on approach for local planning officials who are considering using zoning as an effective conservation tool. To order, write Island Press, PO Box 7, Dept 2 PR, Coveto, California, 95428. (800-828-1302.) Price $42.50.

Preserving American Mansions and Estates, William C. Shopsin, AIA. (New York 1994) Published by McGraw-Hill. Preservationist William Shopsin uses dozens of case studies of successful estate conversions and innovative design concepts to illustrate techniques for the adaptive reuse of these remarkable properties from the American mansion and country house era – many on Long Island. Available at SPLIA Cold Spring Harbor Gallery, 631-367-6295. Price $ 49.95.

Changing New York: The Architectural Scene, Christopher Gray. (New York, 1992) Published by Dover Publication, Inc., 31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501. This fascinating book reprints many of Christopher Gray’s “Streetscapes” columns published between 1987 and 1989 in The New York Times–some are in Brooklyn and Queens. Available from Dover or from SPLIA Cold Spring Harbor Gallery, 631-367-6295. Price paperbound $12.95.

Five Sisters: The Langhornes of Virginia, James Fox. (New York: 2000) Published by Simon & Schuster, Rockefeller Center, 1230 Avenue of The Americas, New York, NY. Written by one of the family members, this book includes information about a pioneer Long Island aviator, Peter Brooks, and his wife, Aline Rhoni. It will be of interest to Long Islanders because Aline Rhoni, who was an artist, painted the 106-foot Roosevelt Field mural depicting the pre-Lindbergh history of aviation on Long Island that is currently in storage awaiting restoration for the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Available from Borders Books, 2130 Nesconset Hwy., Stony Brook, NY 11790 (631-979-0500). Price $30.00.

Commack: A Beautiful Place, Commack Public Education, 100 Years 1899-1999, Bradley L. Harris. (Commack: 2000) Published by Union Free School District #10, Commack, New York 11725. This chronicle includes mention of the Long Island Motor Parkway, fire watchtowers and fire wardens in nearby Pine Barrens, Lady Suffolk (1833 to 1855) the famous race horse, Henry O. Havemeyer “The Sugar King.” There is also a side-bar with a discussion on how Commack should be pronounced: to be correct it should sound like “comic” as in “comicbook.” For copies call Debbie Virga, (631-493-3793). Price $10.00.