 Join us for Lunch At The St. George Plaza which will feature performances by Staten Island school bands.
Bring your lunch and enjoy our new tables and chairs. Mark your calendars for these upcoming performances:
We hope you will join us.  Borough President Vito Fossella and the Staten Island EMS Task Force recognized the important and heroic works of the Emergency Medical Services community during National EMS Week with a special breakfast and ceremony this morning in the Staaten.
The 29th Annual Emergency Services Recognition Ceremony honored several EMTS, paramedics, instructors, and students. The event is unique to Staten Island. We congratulate all the winners and thank them for everything they do for Staten Island. Here are this year’s winners: Emergency Medical Technician of the Year Awards:
 Borough President Vito Fossella presented awards to this year’s “Readers Are Leaders” Exceptional Readers during a ceremony at the Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center of Staten Island.
"Readers Are Leaders" challenged fourth-grade students in Staten Island's public, parochial and private schools to read a minimum of five books at grade level or above during a five-week period from Feb. 20 through March 24. Students then submitted a report or project on their favorite book that they read during the period. ach school picked one Exceptional Reader, who received an award from the Borough President. The program was started by then-Councilman Vito Fossella in 1996 and since its inception, fourth-grade students have read more than 780,000 books for the annual challenge. That's over 29 billion words read by Staten Island students! "Readers Are Leaders" is sponsored by Community Media of Staten Island and the Staten Island FerryHawks. Here are this year’s Exceptional Readers:
Borough President Vito Fossella Presents Michael J. Petrides Award To Outstanding High School Senior5/16/2023
 Molly Ibrahim, a senior at Tottenville High School, received the Michael J. Petrides Award from members of the Petrides family and the Michael J. Petrides Award Scholarship Committee during a ceremony last night 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. "Tonight, we highlight the young minds who have achieved a level of academic excellence that will lead them to exceptional college careers," said Borough President Fossella. "It is an honor to present the Petrides Award to a remarkable Staten Island student. Congratulations to our winner and to all the impressive nominees." Michael Petrides, the grandson of Mr. Petrides, addressed the students during the ceremony. “My grandfather was an engineer,” Mr. Petrides said. “He loved the disciplines of Math & Science because they cut to the chase. There was always an answer. What made my grandfather unique was that he was able to use his talents in these fields and apply them to help Staten Island become a better place to live.” Molly is a student in Tottenville High School's most rigorous and challenging Science Institute Program and holds the highest cumulative grade point average of 106.34%. She was recognized as an Advance Placement Scholar, the 2022 National African American Recognition Scholarship recipient, and the 2020 Mahragan El Keraza Diocese Winner. Her activities at Tottenville are countless: She has been a member of the Varsity Cross Country and Track and Field teams, along with being the Student Organization's Senior Senator, member of the Literacy Advisory Council, New York City Youth Speaker, Borough Student Advisory Council, Minds Matter Mentee, Colors for Coats Program Coordinator, Coptic Orthodox Diocese, Youth Climate Action Coalition, Games of Change Game Exchange, Future Health Professionals, and participant in the 2022 American Mathematics Competition 12B. She will be attending Brown University in the fall where she plans to pursue her studies in the medical field. Omosefe Noruwa from Curtis High School was named the second-place honoree. Anika Thakkar from St. Joseph Hill Academy was named the third-place honoree. Here is the full list of nominees: Nathaniel Amshen, CSI High School for International Studies; Omosefe Noruwa, Curtis High School; Mennah Elnaggar, Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School; Natalie Gulan, Michael J. Petrides School; Brian Gillen, Monsignor Farrell High School; Julia Guzman, Moore Catholic High School; Ceyda Topcu, New Dorp High School; Nadiya Crisano, Notre Dame Academy; Evan Randeniarachchi, Port Richmond High School; Anika Thakkar, St. Joseph Hill Academy; Joseph Dalton, Staten Island Academy; Tara Isabel Lago, Staten Island Technical High School; Benjamin Prince, Susan E. Wagner High School, and Molly Ibrahim, Tottenville High School.   St. George Celebrates Arbor Day was a collaboration between Vito, the NYC Citywide Administrative Services and the St. George Civic Association.
The group focused on the Borough Hall plaza, Paulo Park, and the surrounding area. Trees were given away for the community to enjoy and share initiatives that Vito is launching to help revitalize the area, such as Lunch at the St. George Plaza. Tables and chairs will be available daily, weather permitting, for those who would like to use the space. There will be musical performances by Staten Island school bands on select days. Schedule of those dates will be posted. DCAS put in new landscaping around Borough Hall, painted handicap ramps, repaired lighting fixtures, and power washed and deep cleaned Borough Hall and its perimeters. Special thanks to all who came out to support and help make St. George a better place to work, live, and play --- including but not limited to: Nonprofit Staten Island, On Your Mark, the National Lighthouse Museum, Community Media of Staten island and the office of the City Clerk. We would also like to say thank you to our continuous partner, the City Department of Sanitation for providing cleanup materials, helping us remove bags of litter, and helping us make our efforts a success. To join a nearby cleanup or to report a location that needs to be addressed by our team, visit our Don't Trash On Me page. The rain didn’t stop us today when Borough Hall kicked off the first performance of the new “Lunch at the St. George Plaza” series with the Susan E. Wagner High School Jazz Band – we brought the music inside!
On select dates in May and June, school bands from across the Island will perform from noon to 2 p.m. on the St. George Plaza outside of Borough Hall. Chairs and tables will be set up for your enjoyment. We want to extend our congratulations to the members of the Susan E. Wagner High School Jazz Band for being selected as one of the 15 nationwide finalists to compete in Lincoln Center's 28th annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz & Band Competition & Festival from May 11 to May 13. They are the first NYC school to be selected for the competition. We wish them the best of luck and thank them for their performance. Stay tuned for the upcoming schedule of dates and we hope you join us for “Lunch at the St. George Plaza.” Borough President Vito Fossella Weclomes Monsignor Farrell High School Soccer Champs To Borough Hall5/2/2023
Borough President Fossella welcomed the Monsignor Farrell High School 2022 varsity soccer team into Borough Hall on May 2 to congratulate them on their remarkable season which culminated in winning the CHSAA championship crown.
“I get to do great things like I am going to do today -- and that is to honor you for winning the city championship for the first time in 21 years,” said Borough President Fossella, a 1983 Farrell graduate. He said the team was carried by the spirit of Michael Bielawski, a 14-year-old Farrell soccer player who died last May. “I know last season was very special, touching and sad in some ways,” he said. “We wouldn't be here today without your guardian angel, Michael, guiding you through.” Head Coach Ed Hynes said the season was dedicated to Michael, whose family was also in attendance this morning. “We will never forget Michael,” Coach Hynes said. “We wore his number 29 on our sleeves. We have to say Michael has a lot to do with it.” Farrell President Lou Tobacco said the team showed “dedication, passion and commitment” to their sport. “Those are habits that will take you anywhere you want to go in life,” he said. “We’re very proud of you. To the parents and to the coaches, we thank you.” Borough President Fossella presented each of the students and the coaches with championship rings and Certificates of Appreciation. Borough President Vito Fossella was proud to salute Vietnam veterans during a “Night of Recognition” held by members of the North Central Kiwanis Club of Staten Island at the Staaten in West Brighton.
The evening honored 61 veterans and paid tribute to the 85 men from Staten Island who were killed in action during the Vietnam War. Each veteran was introduced by name as they entered the ballroom. “Thank you to the North Central Kiwanis Club and this honor for Vietnam veterans,” said Borough President Fossella. “This flag and the USA still stand for freedom and our common denominator. Thank God for the North Central Kiwanis Club. To all of you who served we say, ‘thank you.’ We here on Staten Island honor you every day of the year.” (Photos courtesy of Nicholas Farah) |
