​Borough President James S. Oddo is pleased to announce his office will be instituting a “Thank A Veteran” initiative during November. As part of his office’s effort to acknowledge and thank Veterans for their service and sacrifice, BP Oddo is inviting Veterans and family members of Veterans to participate in this campaign where they will be recognized on Staten Island USA’s webpage and social media accounts.
 
Those who wish to participate can send the following information to the Borough President’s office: a photo of the Veteran in uniform, their name, rank, branch of service and/or any other info they might want to share (limited to a sentence or two). The office will then post the information during the month of November.
 
“I want to encourage the community to participate in this program to ensure the service and memories of those who served are not forgotten. I am extremely thankful to all those who have dedicated their lives in service to protecting this country,” said BP Oddo.
 
Any information that the public wishes to share can be sent to Stephanie Slepian at SSlepian@statenislandusa.com. Submissions will be accepted through November 28.  

Borough President James S. Oddo will host “Trick or Treat Around SI,” a free Halloween event for children and their families, on Thursday, October 31st from 3 to 5 PM.  In partnership with 5 Staten Island business districts, Trick-or-Treat Around Staten Island will allow costumed children and their families across Staten Island the opportunity to trick-or-treat throughout each district at participating businesses.

In years prior, Borough President Oddo has hosted the annual “Halloween Hoopla” at Bloomingdale Park. The event has been changed this year due to the park’s closure for renovations and reconstruction.

“I am happy to once again host a special celebration that kids of all ages can enjoy,” said BP Oddo. “This year, I am looking forward to celebrating a Halloween in a new way with ‘Trick or Treat Around SI’ and welcome Staten Island families to join us for a great afternoon of Halloween fun.”

The following business development district will be participating. Each district will receive 100 trick-or-treat bags that can be picked up the locations listed below, bags will be given out on a first come, first served basis:

- Castleton Avenue Merchants Organization: Wicked Stitches (840 Castleton Avenue)
- Downtown Staten Island: Kiara's Beauty Salon (696 Bay Street)
- Forest Avenue Business Improvement District: Forest Avenue BID Office (686 Forest Avenue)
- South Shore Business Improvement District: Giovanni’s Trattoria (3800 Richmond Avenue)
- Victory Boulevard Merchants Association: Alfonso Pastry Shoppe (1899 Victory Boulevard)

Participating businesses will have a special Trick-or-Treat sign in their store window indicating that they are a sweet stop along the way. Children will receive allergy free candy (no nuts, no chocolate) so everyone can safely trick-or-treat in their neighborhood.

Click here for more information.

​Warnings by biologists that Staten Island’s forests are facing a severe threat from over-browsing and invasive species have prompted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Borough President James Oddo to partner with the College of Staten Island, the Greenbelt Conservancy and the Protectors of Pine Oak Woods to present a Forest Ecology Forum on Tuesday, November 19th, 2019. The free forum, which is open to the public, will take place at The Center for the Arts at the College of Staten Island beginning at 7pm.
 
The State DEC has documented severe damage on Staten Island’s state-owned parks and natural areas from over-browsing to the point where few new trees are surviving past the seedling stage. With fears that Staten Island’s vaunted woodlands could be experiencing its greatest threat, Borough President Oddo is encouraging Staten Islanders to attend this educational forum.
 
Dr. William McShea, Research Ecologist from the Smithsonian Institute’s Conservation Ecology Center, will be a guest speaker at the forum, along with Ken Scarlatelli, NYS DEC Regional Natural Resources Supervisor, and Dr. Susan Elbin, NYC Audubon Director of Conservation and Science. A panel discussion will follow led by the College of Staten Island’s biology and environmental science departments.
 
In presenting evidence of the damage to our forests, the goals of the forum include: raising public awareness about threats to the health and survival of forests and native wildlife; learning from leading ecologists about the cause of decline in forest health; exploring a range of remedies and how individuals and groups can help develop and implement them; and engaging Staten Island residents who care about forests and will be active voices in future management decisions.

​On Friday, October 11th, Borough President Oddo joined with Bridge Prep Executive Director Tim Castanza, Dr. Christine Cea from the New York State Board of Regents, the Bridge Prep Board of Trustees, Assemblyman Charles Fall, and members of the Bridge Builder Community to officially cut the ribbon on Bridge Prep!
 
Bridge Prep is the first public school in New York State and one of a few in the nation designed specifically to meet the needs of students with dyslexia and other language-based disabilities, a concept conceived by the team here at Borough Hall. Learn more about Bridge Prep by visiting the school's website: https://bridgeprepcharter.org/.
 
"Tim and his team are going to do miracles and open so many doors," said BP Oddo, referring to Tim Castanza, Bridge Prep's Co-Founder and Executive Director, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Michael J. Petrides Educational Complex. "Finally, there is a place for our kids to flourish."
 
Teachers use the multi-sensory approach to learning known as Orton-Gillingham, which allows students to use their individual strengths and senses to connect language to words.
 
Tim Castanza who said he has "the best job in the world,” quoted in reference of Borough President Oddo’s commitment to making this project a reality: "'One of the best gifts a leader can give is hope,’ … Thank you for backing that hope up with action."
 
Every day when these students arrive at school, they  recite their mantra to reinforce how special and amazing they are: "I am Bold. I am Bright. I am Unique." These first-grade and second-grade students are the first of countless others who will follow as this school grows.
 
Congrats to all who made Bridge Prep a reality and good luck to all of our Bridge Builder students in the first year at their new school! 

​On Wednesday, October 2nd, Borough President James S. Oddo joined with Dan Messina, President and CEO of Richmond University Medical Center, and Joe Verhey, Executive Director of the Broadway YMCA, at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church to announce Healthy Weight Your Child (HWYC), a new pilot program beginning today that will address childhood obesity on Staten Island.
 
The YMCA of the United States awarded only twenty grants to different YMCAs nationwide to implement the HWYC program. HWYC is a holistic evidence-based lifestyle-change intervention that addresses childhood obesity by empowering children and their caregivers/families through education, healthy eating, physical activity and group support.
 
According to the NYC Department of Education, 19.2% of Staten Island public school children in grades K – 8th are clinically obese. According to the Staten Island Child Wellness Initiative, 38.9% of K – 8 students across Staten Island fit the definition of being overweight or clinically obese.
 
“I want to thank our good friends and RUMC, as well as our good friends at the YMCA for allowing us to be a part of this program. When we got to Borough Hall in 2014, one of the fundamental changes we made was to put an emphasis on education and on health and wellness,” noted Borough President Oddo. “I’m so appreciative of what you all do every day, to be so passionate about healthy food and to take the platform you have to talk about the need to educate and inspire. Our audience is those who want to be inspired and those who want to know how to live a healthier life. This is going to help families on Staten Island, and this is a good thing.”
 
This pilot program is a partnership between RUMC and the Broadway YMCA facilitated by the Borough President’s Office. It consists of 25 sessions over 15 weeks that will take place at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church. Studies have shown that this program is cost-efficient and effective in reducing a child's body mass index and waist circumference, reducing sedentary behaviors, increasing physical activity and improving self-esteem.
 
“The Broadway YMCA is proud to partner with the Office of the Staten Island Borough President, RUMC and St. Mary’s Church to implement this program,” said Joe Verhey, Executive Director of the Staten Island Broadway YMCA. “Our mission is to empower youth, improve health and strengthen community, so we are thrilled to be involved in yet another program that supports families and young people in our community as they improve their health and create better habits for life.”
 
RUMC identified patients aged 7-13 years old with a 95% BMI in the clinical practice who qualified and were offered a spot in the HWYC program. One caregiver from each family will also be required to participate in these sessions. Physicians will continue to stay connected during the program and regularly perform comprehensive tests on the enrolled children, such as BMI, blood pressure, and the presence of lipids. At the same time, they will conduct a mental health assessment at the beginning and conclusion of the successful completion of the program.
 
“The number of children across Staten Island considered to be obese continues to grow at an alarming rate,” Richmond University Medical Center President and CEO, Daniel J. Messina, PhD, FACHE, said. “No matter how young a child is, obesity can cause a number of chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and liver damage. Obesity can also affect a child’s self-esteem, causing anxiety and depression. We are proud to stand with Borough President James Oddo and the YMCA as partners in the fight against childhood obesity and the encouragement of healthy lifestyles for not just the children of Staten Island, but entire families as well.”
 
While Borough President Oddo’s Director of Health and Wellness, Dr. Ginny Mantello, was working with the Broadway YMCA to identify funding sources that would help link clinical to community interventions, one of the YMCAs awarded a grants dropped out of the program. This gave an opportunity for the opportunity for the Broadway YMCA.  However, they first needed to identify a strong clinical partner. Dr. Mantello was able to identify the Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) Pediatric Clinic, which had high obesity rates. With the backing of Borough Hall, Dr. Mantello connected these two strong partners, and was able to solidify the application of the Broadway YMCA for the HWYC program.

Borough President James Oddo is pleased to announce that his office’s tourism initiative, VISIT Staten Island, has received The Tourism Excellence Award for a Public Relations Campaign from the New York State Tourism Industry Association at a ceremony held last week in Auburn, New York.

The Tourism Excellence Award for a Public Relations Campaign was presented to Jennifer Sammartino, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Colleen Siuzdak, Manager of VISIT Staten Island, during the state association’s annual meeting Friday morning among 9 other awardees throughout the state. Among those counties recognized along with Staten Island included Long Island, Central New York, the Hudson Valley, and the Finger Lakes.

With the collaboration of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and Destination St. George, VISIT Staten Island was able to receive a New York state grant last year to allocate funds for this rebranding and marketing of the borough as a destination. ThoughtMatter, a Manhattan-based branding agency, designed the brand and fully captured the essence of Staten Island as a place where people live, work, and play, with the rebranded campaign slogan of “The Unexpected Borough.”

The New York State Tourism Industry Association recognizes leaders in New York State's tourism industry who have achieved a high level of excellence and accomplishment. Individuals and organizations are selected from nominees that have demonstrated commitment, leadership, and accomplishment in the travel and tourism sector from January 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019.

“This was the right time to begin to market Staten Island as a destination,” said Borough President Oddo. “The borough has so much to offer – from history, to food, to experiences, to shopping. We have it all and the whole world is starting to get the message.”

“It’s an honor to be recognized by NYSTIA for our efforts,” said Sammartino, Deputy Chief of Staff. “With the help of our amazing partners – I LOVE NY, the SI Chamber of Commerce, Destination St. George and ThoughtMatter – we were able to create a beautiful campaign that reflects what a gem Staten Island really is.”

The New York State Tourism Industry Association brings together those who support the state’s $115 billion tourism industry as a way to increase economic development in the 62 counties of New York State. In 2018, these state-wide efforts welcomed 253 million visitors with direct spending totaling $72 billion. Although all partners focus on the visitor experience, these members also strive to improve the quality of life and pride of place for all New Yorkers.

About VISIT Staten Island:
VISIT Staten Island was created in 2009 to highlight Staten Island as a fun, family-friendly, and historical destination to visit. The initiative is managed by Staten Island Borough President James Oddo's Office of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, an office created in 2017. The VISIT Staten Island initiative was rebranded in 2018 to incentivize those travelling from Manhattan to stay on Staten Island and spend the day at one of the many cultural attractions, shops, and restaurants. The campaign, “The Unexpected Borough,” also encourages residents to explore their own backyard and take advantage of the programs and events that are found so close to home. 

Borough President James S. Oddo is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Festa Italiana at the Mount: The Biggest Columbus Day Celebration in Staten Island’s History. This year’s celebrations will take place at Mount Loretto on Friday, October 11th from 6-11pm, Saturday, October 12th from 12-11pm, and Sunday, October 13th from 12-9pm.

All are welcome to attend for a weekend of food, games, vendors, and entertainment, including live music throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. This year’s headlining entertainment includes a Saturday performance by Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses, taking the stage at 8pm. The performance is sponsored by Lois and Richard Nicotra. Rounding out the weekend on Sunday will be a live performance from Staten Island’s own Charlie Romo at 6pm, who will perform hits made famous by Italian and Italian-American musicians and/or songwriters.

Over the course of the three-day event, guests will be able to enjoy rides and attractions, carnival games, vendors, and delicious food, including a Cannoli eating contest sponsored by Mark's Bake Shoppe on Sunday.

On Saturday, there will be educational displays from local cultural groups, including the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, the National Lighthouse Museum, Casa Belvedere, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Historic Richmond Town, the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, and the St. George Theatre. More will be announced soon.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Catholic Charities to present a festival that celebrates so many aspects of Italian and Italian-American culture,” noted Borough President Oddo. “It truly will be the biggest Columbus Day celebration in our borough’s history. All are welcome to join in the fun, enjoy some tasty treats, learn about our history, and listen to world class music this Columbus Day weekend.”

Admission will be a $5 donation for adults. Children under 12 will be admitted free. Proceeds raised from the event will benefit the programs at Mount Loretto.  Parking will also be free for the event.

“It’s a privilege to join forces with my good friend and Borough President Jim Oddo,” said Vincent Ignizio, CEO of Catholic Charities of Staten Island. “We’ve made this event even bigger than last year and are looking forward to celebrating Columbus Day with the Staten Island community.”

Limited vendor and sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, visit mountloretto.org, text the word “MOUNT” to the number 313131, or call (718) 490-5023.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month! It couldn’t be easier to get your free NYPL The New York Public Library library card and take advantage of all the resources they have to offer.

You can go in at any time to your local NYPL branch to renew your card, all it takes is a photo ID and 5 minutes of your time! You can even renew online at nypl.org/librarycard.

What can you do with an NYPL library card? Browse, borrow, and read more than 300,000 e-books instantly on your phone, learn 71 different languages with Mango Languages, get ready for the TASC, GRE, and SAT exams with prep materials and practice tests, or learn something new with over 3,000 online classes and over 130,000 streaming videos.

Go get your library card. Read a book.