​Borough President James Oddo is pleased to open up nominations for an official poet laureate for Staten Island.
 
“It’s time that Staten Island had its own Poet Laureate who can foster a greater appreciation for the art of reading and writing poetry,” said BP Oddo. “I am excited at the prospect and look forward to adding this voluntary position to our team at Borough Hall.”
 
The appointment of Staten Island Poet Laureate will be an unpaid, volunteer position, appointed for a 4-year term by the Borough President, based on the recommendation of a selection committee.
 
Candidates for the position must reside on Staten Island and have recognition as a poet, as well as a demonstrated commitment to using the position for community outreach and projects that promote poetry and/or literacy on the Island.
 
A committee of literary and arts “experts” from the local community will make their recommendations to the Borough President who will ultimately select the Poet Laureate.
 
Nominations should be sent to Jennifer Sammartino at jsammartino@statenislandusa.com. Please include a CV or resume and 3-4 examples of the nominee’s literary works. The nomination period is open until April 12th at 5 PM.  

​The Staten Island Borough President’s Office is sponsoring a volunteer program to welcome tourists at the St. George Ferry Terminal for another year. The Ferry Terminal Kiosk volunteer program will provide exposure to hundreds of tourists each day from May through October.
 
The ideal candidate has excellent communication skills, a willingness to learn, and enthusiasm about marketing Staten Island and New York City as a destination. Volunteers will be responsible for fostering interest in Staten Island by providing information regarding local attractions, bus routes, nearby eateries, and thoughtfully answering other tourist inquiries. Training will be provided that covers the aforementioned topics. 
 
The booth will be open from Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am to 6pm, with three 2-hour shifts daily and at least three volunteers for each shift. Scheduling is flexible. Volunteers will be responsible for addressing queries in a friendly manner and must have a presentable and professional appearance while operating the booth. Volunteers will also be responsible for opening and setting up the kiosk each morning and securely closing it in the evening, as well as keeping all the materials stocked.
 
Volunteers will be given the opportunity to expand interpersonal skills by interacting with a diverse and curious audience and be awarded a Certificate of Completion—a great addition to a resume—for their work.
 
Tourism is a $66 billion industry in New York City. The Staten Island Ferry is one of the most visited attractions in New York City, with over 1.5 million tourists riding the Ferry each year.
 
“Staten Island is sure to see a major uptick in tourism. There has been a lot of buzz about our borough in the media, both locally and internationally. We at Borough Hall know this is going to be an important economic driver, and we are excited to be able to assist in that effort with this kiosk that helps direct tourists,” said Borough President James Oddo. “Our goal is to connect tourists to the wonderful cultural attractions Staten Island has to offer, providing directions, information on where they can eat, shop, and stay. Staten Island is open for business in every way possible.”
 
Applications for the volunteer positions are currently being accepted. All inquiries should be made by April 1. For more information, contact Colleen Siuzdak at the Staten Island Borough President’s Office of Tourism and Cultural Affairs at csiuzdak@statenislandusa.com or 718-816-2057.

​Borough President James Oddo and District Attorney Michael E. McMahon will host the Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Breakfast on Tuesday, March 26th at 9am at the Hilton Garden Inn in the Tea House Garden. The ceremony, which continues the thirteen-year commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the conflict, will honor those who served in the U.S. Armed Forced during the Vietnam War era. The breakfast will begin at 9am, with the ceremony to start at 10am. 

At the third annual breakfast, veterans will be given a symbol of appreciation by BP Oddo and DA McMahon. In addition, there will be a POW/MIA recognition ceremony. 

Staten Island residents who were active members of the military during the period from 1955 to 1975 are eligible to attend the breakfast. Veterans may be asked to provide their DD-214 as proof of service.

“Our veterans have made our freedom and way of life possible, and for this we continue to thank them,” said Borough President Oddo. “Many of our veterans who served bravely in the Vietnam War were not welcomed home properly when they returned. I am extremely thankful to all those who have dedicated their lives in service to protecting this country, and for that DA McMahon and I are happy to continue this ceremony to recognize their heroism, sacrifice, and service to our country.” 

“Today as Americans we rightfully greet those returning home from serving our nation with gratitude and praise; the same cannot be said for the men and women who served in Vietnam. Upon their return, our Vietnam vets were often met with disrespect and outright disdain. Joining with Borough President Oddo to once again give these heroes a long overdue ‘Thank You’ and ‘Welcome Home’ is a true privilege and I encourage all of our Vietnam veterans to join us for a celebration of their service both abroad and here at home,” said District Attorney Michael E. McMahon. 

Veterans wishing to attend the ceremony must RSVP to Diane Marciuliano at (718) 816-2246 or DMarciuliano@statenislandusa.com by March 18th.