On Tuesday, May 21st, Borough President James S. Oddo hosted “A Conversation with the Class of 2019” in the Black Box Theater at Susan Wagner High School.  Students were asked to bring questions about issues on Staten Island that affect them and to come prepared to talk about their own experiences and where they see themselves going in the future for a personal, one-on-one conversation with the Borough President. 
 
Topics that the students were interested focused on asking for advice as to what to expect moving from their close-knit communities into the colleges of their choice and how to deal with the stress and anxiety that comes with that. They gave BP Oddo and his staff ideas about how to communicate with the younger generation to break them out of their shell and be more involved in the community.

“You all have great opportunities ahead of you, and I want you to take advantage of them,” BP Oddo said to the group of students. “I am so impressed by all of you and your passions. I hope you will take your passions and help Staten Island become a better place to live.”
 
Students from Curtis High School, Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning High School, Michael J. Petrides School, Moore Catholic High School, New Dorp High School, Port Richmond High School, St. Joseph Hill Academy, and Susan Wagner High School participated in the conversation. 

Fleet Week New York, now in its 31st year, is the city’s time-honored celebration of the sea services. It is an unparalleled opportunity for the citizens of New York and the surrounding tri-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as witness firsthand the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services.
 
Borough President James S. Oddo is pleased to take part in this Staten Island tradition and sponsor weekend entertainment for this year’s attendees. This free entertainment series will take place in Waterfront Park at USS The Sullivans Homeport Pier, behind the Urby complex in Stapleton (nearest street is Navy Pier Court) on Saturday, May 25th, and Sunday, May 26th. There will be music at the stage from 12pm-5pm both days.
 
Saturday’s Lineup:
12:00 pm – Whiskey Tango Four
1:00 pm – The Resistance
2:00 pm – The Black Ties
3:00 pm – DJ set
4:00 pm – New Born Kings
 
Sunday’s Lineup:
12:00 pm – Saints in the City
1:00 pm – Pushing 60s
2:00 pm – Spinning Bad
3:00 pm – Freepass
4:00 pm – DJ set
 
“I am grateful to be able to sponsor this weekend’s entertainment at Waterfront Park, and hope Staten Islanders take advantage of the free, exciting festivities during this year’s Fleet Week,” said Borough President Oddo. “The US Coast Guard has a very strong presence on Staten Island, and we are genuinely proud to be home to Station New York. To all of the maritime servicemen and servicewomen in our community: Staten Island appreciates you all and thanks you for your service.”
 
In addition, the following events will be happening in honor of Fleet Week 2019, per Fleet Week’s Website:
 
General Public Ship tours:
General Public Ship Tours will take place from 8am-5pm at Homeport Pier in Staten Island, as well as Pier 88 in Manhattan, on Thursday, May 23rd through Saturday, May 25th. On Sunday, May 26th, there will be General Public Ship Tours from 8am-5pm at the Homeport Pier in Staten Island, as well as at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal (in the Red Hook Community). Ship tours will not be available on Pier 88 on Sunday. On Monday, May 27th, there will be General Public Ship Tours from 8am-5pm at the Homeport Pier in Staten Island, as well as Pier 88 in Manhattan and Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Notice to guests, electronic smoking devices are prohibited. Additionally, all guests over the age of 18 will be required to show a valid photo I.D. Events are free and open to the public.
 
Tuesday, May 21st:
The 2nd Annual Helicopter Landing will take place at Miller Field (600 New Dorp Ln.) from 10am-12pm. The event will kick off with a fast rope demonstration conducted by a team of U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) members from Virginia Beach, Va. and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron NINE (HSC-9), known as the "Tridents," from Norfolk, Va. After the demonstration various helicopters will be available for tours. Additionally, spectators will be able to experience a musical performance by the U.S. Fleet Forces "Brass Band;" see various military and informational static displays including World War I Commission, Submarine Forces, Navy History and Heritage Command, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard displays, Navy EOD and Navy Diver displays; test your strength during the "Pull Up Challenge;" learn about STEM education and how it relates to today's military careers; meet military personnel; try on equipment and gear; and much more! Event is free and open to the public.
 
Wednesday, May 22nd:
The Fort Wadsworth Overlook will take place at Fort Wadsworth (210 New York Ave) from 8am-1pm. The annual event is sponsored by the Gateway National Recreation Area and the National Park Service. Spectators will be able to view participating ships as they travel through the New York Harbor during the Parade of Ships. Event is free to the public to view.
 
Alice Austen House will be holding a Fleet Week Watch Party from 10am-12pm.Watch the ship sail in like Alice did. The parade of ships travels into the New York Narrows, passing by the Alice Austen House.
 
The National Lighthouse Museum will be holding a Fleet Week Parade Review & Brunch. This excursion is planned in collaboration with the Navy League. There will be a water view of the ships in port and peruse the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Limited ticket availability. Contact Museum for information 718-390-0040.
 
Saturday, May 25th:
Spend your Memorial Day Saturday from 2pm-8pm with Staten Island Arts and Cinema Connex at 50/50 Skatepark for Wheels, Wheels, Wheels, a day-long film festival dedicated to the Wheel – from skate culture (here and abroad) to motorcycles to world-renowned DJ Bobbito Garcia’s wheels of steel. Enjoy local food and merchant vendors, short films curated by Mitchell Lovell, music spun by DJ Mike Diexverse, Bobbito’s feature documentary “Rock Rubber 45s,” and a Q&A and DJ set with Bobbito himself! We’ll be celebrating the creative culture of different kinds of wheels in this fusion festival, with shout-outs to hip hop, sneakers, and basketball too. Event is free. RSVP here.
 
“Love in Bloom”: Bring a picnic supper, blankets and chairs to Universal Temple of the Arts’ first garden production of  Love In Bloom on the South Lawn of the Great Meadow at Snug Harbor for a beautiful outdoor experience. Love In Bloom will summon the audience to explore the breadth, depth and power of love portraying a variety of artistic expressions of music, dance, visual art and poetry to convey love as the supreme emotion. The original production features notable names from stellar jazz, musical and theater productions; recognizable choreographers; dancers and creators within the arts community like Leopoldo Fleming; Karlus Trapp; Dorian Lake; Sylvester Scott;  Betty Shirley and others. Come Welcome the summer season with family and friends! Buy tickets here.

Sunday, May 26th:
Flagship Brewery (140 Minthorne Street) will host its Annual Fleet Week Music Festival from 12pm-6pm in honor of Fleet Week. Local bands are scheduled to perform. Event is free and open to the public. Click here for the event flyer.

On Monday, May 20th, Borough President James S. Oddo recognized the important and heroic works of the Emergency Medical Services community with a special ceremony in their honor during National EMS Week at the Excelsior Grand.
 
The 27th Annual Emergency Services Recognition Ceremony honored several EMTs, paramedics, instructors and students in the emergency services community. This event is unique to Staten Island.
 
“I am grateful to have the opportunity to honor the heroes in our EMS Community and am thankful we get to celebrate you this week,” said Borough President Oddo. “You are there for us when our life is on the line. Stay safe and thank you for all you do.”
 
A full list of winners is below:
 
Emergency Medical Technician of the Year Awards
Dakota Dawkins – FDNY, Station 22
John Hammel – FDNY, Station 23
Conor Trollo – North Shore Rescue Squad
Edward Santo – North Shore Rescue Squad
Dylan Falco – Priority One Ambulance
Jonathan Vukek – Richmond County Ambulance
Ari Weiss – Richmond University Medical Center
Bruce Harty – Richmond University Medical Center
David Aspiazu – Northwell Health (SIUH)
Paul Scara – Northwell Health (SIUH)
Vincent Franchi – Volunteer Heart Ambulance
Anthony Bello – Volunteer Heart Ambulance
 
Paramedic of the Year Awards
Roberto Silveira – FDNY, Station 22
Shawn Smith – FDNY, Station 23
Benjamin Adler – Priority One Ambulance
William Coyle – Richmond County Ambulance
James Terravecchio – Richmond University Medical Center
Anthony Wilkie – Richmond University Medical Center
Mikhail Kadin – Northwell Health (SIUH)
Brian Hildebrand – Northwell Health (SIUH)
 
Frank W. Geib Memorial EMT Student of the Year Award
Michael Delvin – Staten Island Emergency Medical Training
James DePaolo – Training Institute for Medical Emergencies and Rescue
 
EMT Instructor of the Year Award
Michael Dixon – Staten Island Emergency Medical Training
Gary Chin – Training Institute for Medical Emergencies and Rescue

​Borough President James S. Oddo is pleased to announce his initiatives regarding his work to improve school nutrition and wellness.
 
“Policies matter. Leadership matters. Outcomes can change. Problems can be resolved. Science, data, empathy, creativity – all play a role. Our team at Borough Hall leaves no stone unturned when it comes to finding ways to better the lives of Staten Islanders, and food policy and the role of nutrition and education in schools is no exception,” said Borough President Oddo. “Thank you to the Staten Island Child Wellness Initiative for your fight working to overcome childhood obesity on Staten Island, and thank you to our community partners for working with us on these vital initiatives to improve the lives of Staten Island students.”
 
Below is list of school nutrition and wellness initiative partnerships Borough President Oddo is working on that were announced at today’s 4th Annual Staten Island School Garden Summit:
 
Our office has partnered with the Department of Education’s Office of Food and Nutrition Services (OFNS) for a Staten Island Fresh Fruit and Vegetable of the Month Island-wide Pilot. This pilot, which will be run on Staten Island in Prek-8 Lunch Menus at participating schools, will feature a highlighted fruit or vegetable of the month from September 2019 – June 2020. Additionally, student advocates will be chosen by their school principal to represent the fruit or vegetable of the month item during their lunch period. They will circulate a card featuring a plant-based recipe including the highlighted fruit or vegetable of the month. Peer to peer has proven to be one of the best ways to deliver the nutritional education message. We are working to expand this pilot program.
 
Our office has partnered with United Activities Unlimited (UAU) to create a solution to the lack of maintenance for school gardens over the summer months. Our offices are working together to enable the Summer Youth Employment Program children to maintain the gardens while the schools are out of session. We have also facilitated communication between Brian Licata of UAU and the Snug Harbor farmers to involve their expertise in order to keep these produce gardens alive over the summer.
 
Our office has partnered with City Harvest and Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS) to work together to expand Cooking Matters at School, a 6-week hands-on cooking and nutrition program integrated into the school day curriculum. City Harvest and SI PPS have come together to fund a nutritionist and are working directly with our office to bring this course back to the classrooms with a plant-based twist on it.
 
While speaking on the Borough Presidents on NYC Food Policy panel that took place in April at Hunter College, Borough President Oddo was introduced to the company Beetbox. Beetbox fills teaching gaps in Early Education by using food as a vehicle to teach STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) and eliminates the need for teachers to prepare and plan. Teachers receive monthly learning kits which include detailed lesson plans, required materials, and fresh ingredients. Every Beetbox includes science experiments, planting, cooking, art and engineering projects, literacy, dramatic play, decomposition studies, and songs. Our office is working to fund Beetboxes for a number of schools in the 2019-2020 school-year.
 
Garden to Café is a DOE program that connects school and community gardens with school lunch meals through seasonal harvest events and educational activities. Currently the program is active in 200 schools within NYC, about 12 of which are on Staten Island. However, procurement of fresh fruits and vegetables is most difficult within this program. Our office is working with OFNS and Snug Harbor Cultural Center to see if it is possible to buy local by using Snug’s produce in the Garden to Café program and ease the burden of procurement.

On Tuesday, May 14th, Borough President James S. Oddo and members of the Petrides family and scholarship committee presented the Michael J. Petrides Student Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science to Kasey Shashaty, a student at St. Joseph Hill Academy High School.
 
The annual award is given to a graduating high school senior who excels in math and science. Each Staten Island high school is asked to submit a single nominee, from which the honoree and runner-up are selected. The award is named for Michael J. Petrides, a legendary Staten Island educator, who died in 1994.
 
Kasey Shashaty is a curious and determined student who has a deep commitment to her faith and family as the second eldest of four children. Nominated as the outstanding scholar-athlete for St. Joseph Hill for the Varsity Club Award, she also dedicates time to community service endeavors, including cooking and serving food at Project Hospitality and volunteering with the Special Olympics Club. As a member of the Hill Varsity Swim Team she placed 1st in the New York Archdiocesan championship for the past three years, in addition to being named second team All-Star for Cross Country and holding the Indoor Track school record for the 4x800 relay as a member of the Hill Varsity Track Team. Kasey, who is passionate about science and math, is a National Merit Finalist, an AP Scholar with Honors, and a member of the National Honor and the Foreign Language (French) Honor Societies. Ranked at the top of her class, Kasey maintained a full academic scholarship throughout her time at St. Joseph Hill Academy after having taken the most demanding schedule available to her. Kasey has also sought science research opportunities outside of Hill, partaking in an internship last summer at the Institute for Basic Research where she observed laboratory techniques on a wide range of disciplines and learned how to genetically engineer recombinant DNA. Kasey plans to major in biomedical engineering in college.
 
“The Petrides Award has been given to many remarkable students over the years, and this year is no exception. Congratulations to our winner and to all the impressive nominees for being the best and brightest in our community,” noted Borough President Oddo.
 
Luna Wang from Staten Island Academy was named first runner up. Adam Goudjil from CSI High School for International Studies was named second runner up.
 
A full list of nominees is below:
Adam Goudjil, CSI High School for International Studies
Allison Kahy, Curtis High School
Nicholas Thompson, Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School
Louis Lopez, Michael J. Petrides School
Erik Kaiser, Monsignor Farrell High School
Jenna Moley, Moore Catholic High School
Jessica Wallace, New Dorp High School
Julianna Meyer, Notre Dame Academy
Juan Barba, Ralph R. McKee Career & Technical High School
Sabrina Oriz, St. Joseph by the Sea High School
Kasey Shashaty, St. Joseph Hill Academy
Daniel Elkik, St. Peter’s Boys High School
Minzhi (Luna) Wang, Staten Island Academy
James Tonrey, Staten Island Technical High School
Alexis Crescitelli, Susan E. Wagner High School
Amanda Mavricos, Tottenville High School

Staten Island Borough President James S. Oddo joined with author Dr. Warren Farrell to discuss the revelations in his new book, ‘The Boy Crisis,’ how this crisis affects our entire population, and how creating a Staten Island Borough Hall Council on Boys and Men will work to address it.
 
At the press conference, Borough President Oddo announced the creation of a Staten Island Borough Hall Council on Boys and Men. This signifies the first-ever government agency attending to the ways we can prevent the boy crisis. According to Dr. Farrell, “the boy crisis resides where dads do not reside,” and that it was dad-deprived boys behind the vast majority of mass shootings, crimes, and ISIS recruits.
 
“We’re beginning to do something about it with your efforts on Staten Island,” said Dr. Farrell.
 
Borough President Oddo announced that Sen. Diane Savino has agreed to serve as his co-chair on the council. They are currently seeking members who wish to join the council.
 
The ultimate goal of this council is to create a White House Council on Boys and Men. Borough President Oddo and City Councilman Joe Borelli sent a joint letter to Lynn Patton, head of Region II of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, to ask her support in creating a national council. Anthony C. Ferreri, regional director of United States Department of Health & Human Services, has agreed to work with the Staten Island Borough Hall Council on Boys and Men to push for a White House Council on Boys and Men.
 
“This is the crossroads and the culmination of what has been 27 years of work in both our Council team and in our Borough Hall team. If you look at the common denominator throughout that work, it has been about young people,” said Borough President Oddo. “When I reached out to Dr. Warren after reading his book ‘The Boy Crisis,’ we set up a time to talk and he said to me, ‘two things, Jim, if you want to do good work on this: Would you be willing to create a Staten Island Council on Boys and Men and would you be willing to help us convince the White House to create a Council on Boys and Men?’ That is what we are doing. This is about boys and men, but this is (also) about girls and women. The sooner we get to identifying and working on the ways to help our young boys, they will grow into men who help other young boys who will grow into men who do not abuse women, but into men who lift women.”
 
“In talking to James, it makes it apparent that this is a man who doesn’t just read, I think he translates into action,” said Dr. Farrell.
 
There are 70 different metrics which demonstrate the undeniable truth that a boy crisis exists in America. A few of them include the following:

• Between the ages of 10 and 14, boys commit suicide at almost twice the rate as girls.
• Between the ages of 15 and 19, boys commit suicide at four times the rate of girls.
• Between the ages of 22 and 24, male suicide is five and six times that of females.
• More black boys between the ages of 10 and 20 are killed by homicide than by the next nine leading causes of death combined.
• While the rate of obesity amongst adolescent girls has stabilized, the rate for boys is increasing.
• Young men have gone from 61 percent obtaining a college degree to a projected 39 percent.
• Our sons are twice as likely as our daughters to be killed by accident.
• We are less likely to read to our sons.
• Women constitute 75 percent of those who seek professional help to prevent suicide; men constitute 75 percent of those who actually do commit suicide.
• Worldwide, boys are 50 percent less likely than girls to meet basic proficiency in reading, math, and science. 
• A third of boys are raised in father-absent homes. 
• In 1920, American males lived on average only one year less than females; today it is five years less.

 
Dr. Farrell is a former board member of the National Organization for Women, and who in 2009 was invited by President Barack Obama to be a leading adviser of what was planned to be a White House Council on Girls and Women.
 
To arrange an interview with Dr. Farrell, please contact Kevin McVicker at Shirley & Banister Public Affairs at (703) 739-5920 or kmcvicker@sbpublicaffairs.com.  

On Wednesday, May 8th, Borough President James S. Oddo presented awards to this year’s “Readers Are Leaders” Exceptional Readers at the Bernikow JCC. BP Oddo was joined by author and magician Mike Lane, who performed a magic show and gave out awards to students who read books from his Magic Shop series.
 
“Readers are Leaders” challenged 4th grade classes in Staten Island’s public, parochial and private schools to read a minimum of six books at grade level or above during the five-week period of February 18th – March 25th. Students then submitted a report on their favorite book that they read during the period. Each school picked one Exceptional Reader, who received an award from the Borough President.
 
Since the program was started by then-Councilman Vito Fossella in 1996, 4th graders have read more than 660,000 books for the annual challenge.
 
“As I continue to benefit from books and reading, I carry on the mission of proselytizing to kids and adults alike about the fun, power, and importance of reading,” noted BP Oddo. “I’m grateful to continue the ‘Readers Are Leaders’ tradition that has helped foster Staten Island children’s love of reading for more than 20 years. I want to congratulate all of this year’s participants and hope they continue to read and enjoy learning.”
 
This year as a partner program and expansion of the successful Readers Are Leaders, Borough President Oddo challenged 1st graders with a “Readers Are Leaders Jr.” program. The first grade was challenged to read “Mikey and the Dragons” by NYT bestselling author and former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, along with one book of their choice. Those who chose to participate received a certificate of recognition.
 
“Readers Are Leaders” is sponsored by CTV, Barnes and Noble, and the Staten Island Yankees.
 
A full list of winners is below:
Osbaldo Gutierrez, PS 1  
Georgina Pradines, PS 3
Sarah Bahnasy, PS 4
Lily Helfman, PS 6
Alexandra E. Young, PS 8
Marc Haddad, PS 11
Engie Basouny, PS 16
Frank Grimaldi, PS 23
Amanda Howley, PS 26
Bryan Fu, PS 29
Emma Chiusano, PS 30
Natalie Kutrzuba, PS 32
Brooke Payson, PS 35
Juliet DeTeresa, PS 38
Amela Perovic, PS 39
Sienna Tornquist, PS 42
Zaina Mahmood, PS 50
Eva Li, PS 52
Kirolos Dimian, PS 53
Christopher Schafer, PS 55
Leah Valenti, PS 56
Camila Neri, PS 57
Jinan Mualla, PS 69
Amberly Espinosa, PS 80
Leandra Brown, PS 861
Sophia Turpin, Gateway Academy
Brandon Medina, Holy Rosary  
Evia Lika, Notre Dame 
Mackenzie Schaming, Our Lady of Good Counsel 
Charley Errigo, Our Lady Help of Christians 
Olivia Marie Hanratty, Our Lady Queen of Peace
Valentina Bianchi, Our Lady Star of the Sea 
Ava Jichetti, Sacred Heart 
Brianna Campbell, St. Adalbert 
Christina Spagnola, St. Ann
Ronald Raiola, St. Charles 
Ava Quigley, St. Christopher
Emma Burke, St. Clare
Gabriella Romanello, St. Dorothy Academy
Alivia Schifter, St. Joseph St. Thomas   
Alexis Testaverde, St. Patrick
Bryanna Santiago Jack, St. Rita
Olivier Montas, St. Theresa
 
Magic Shop Readers
First Place: Stella Wilton, PS 56
Second Place: Brandon Medina, Holy Rosary
Third Place: Michael Bruno, PS 29, Isabella Cortes, St. Clare, and Alyssa Sheehy, St. Clare
Honorable Mention: Vincent Geller, PS 42, Amanda Howley, PS 26, and Jay Jay Luciano, St. Clare

​Borough President James S. Oddo is pleased to announce that he will host another round of free thyroid cancer screenings at Borough Hall. The screenings will take place on Wednesday, May 29th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Conference Room 125. The screenings are sponsored by HeartScan Services.
 
The rate of diagnosis of thyroid cancer has increased in recent years due to improvements to technology. In many cases, physicians cannot feel a nodule, but cancer can be detected through ultrasound screenings. The survival rate of thyroid cancer is very high when the cancer is found in early stages.
 
 “I am grateful to once again partner with HeartScan Services to provide this important service for Staten Islanders. I understand the importance of engaging in preventative measures and taking charge of your health, which is why I encourage all Staten Islanders to take advantage of these free screenings. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat,” said Borough Presdient Oddo.
 
An appointment must be made to be screened. Contact Renee Sarno at 718-816-2133 to reserve your appointment or register below.