​BP Oddo and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will co-sponsor a Lyme Disease Awareness Forum next month. The free event will be held on Monday, August 15th from 7-8:30pm at the Bernikow JCC (1466 Manor Road).

At this forum, physicians and scientists will present important information about Lyme disease and the black-legged ticks that are vectors for the disease. DOHMH staff will also provide statistical updates on the incidence of Lyme disease cases in New York City and will answer questions pertaining to tick precautions and removal. The New York City Parks’ Urban Park Rangers will host an education station, with specimens and informative materials. The Staten Island Museum will also present a natural sciences exhibit.

Topics discussed at the event will include basic facts about Lyme disease, symptoms and health impacts, public safety tips, precautions when exploring natural areas and do’s and don’ts on tick removal.

Speakers at the event include: Sally Slavinski, DVM, MPH, Assistant Director of the Zoonotic and Vectorborne Disease Unit at NYC DOHMH; Brian A. Fallon, MD, MPH, Director of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University; Thomas Daniels, Ph.D., Co-Director of the Vector Ecology Laboratory at Fordham University; Jordan Glaser, MD, Director of Infectious Diseases, Staten Island University Hospital Northwell Health; Deeptha Nedunchezian, MD, internal medicine and infectious disease specialist; and Ernest Visconti, MD, infectious disease specialist.

“Given the existing deer conditions on Staten Island, we all need to educate ourselves and be smart about taking steps to reduce the risk of contracting Lyme disease, which can be debilitating,” noted BP Oddo. “I want to thank Commissioner Mary Bassett at the DOHMH for partnering with us to bring these important educational resources to Staten Island.”

“Staten Island has many recreational spaces with wooded and tall grassy areas, and residents should know how to protect themselves from tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “We have worked closely with Borough President Oddo on a public awareness campaign, and we are pleased to participate in a public forum with experts who can help Staten Islanders enjoy their beautiful borough while minimizing the risk of Lyme disease.”

To RSVP for the event, call Renee Sarno at 718-816-2133 or email RSarno@statenislandusa.com.

​BP Oddo and the Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation are joining together to collect backpacks and school supplies for approximately 300 needy Staten Island children.

Donations of brand new children’s backpacks, folders, crayons, markers, non-toxic glue sticks, notebooks, #2 pencils, construction paper, and other new school supplies will be accepted. Items can be dropped off in the box in the lobby of Borough Hall (10 Richmond Terrace; entrance on Stuyvesant) from 9am to 5pm every weekday until Friday, August 26th.

“We are asking Staten Islanders to give from their hearts and donate these items to help less fortunate families in our community,” said Borough President Oddo. “For these children, starting off the school year with all the necessary school supplies will set them off on the path towards academic success. I want to thank Teddy Atlas, who always steps up to help Staten Islanders in need, for collaborating with us on this drive, which will help young students across the Island.”

“The summer is only half way over and already our foundation is getting many calls for children’s schools supplies. As always, Borough President Jimmy Oddo and his office have stepped in and began a push in our community to help us meet this request. Backpacks, books and pencils mean happier, brighter, and smarter students in our neighborhoods.  I cannot think of a better way to end the summer,” said Teddy Atlas, Director of the Foundation named for his father.

Volunteers from the Atlas Foundation will distribute the items to returning students in need.

On a recent warm evening at the College of Staten Island, Borough President Oddo and the Staten Island Performing Provider System (PPS) hosted a comprehensive session for physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals, focused on creating solutions to the substance abuse epidemic on the Island.

The session – presented to a pretty full theater - was well received and focused on not only identifying the problem in patients, but reducing stigma by integrating support and treatment into primary care offices. The presenting physicians – both with the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) – also gave examples of “unlikely” patients who were living with addiction, including a grandma who said no one would sell her heroin because no one would believe she used it. The reality is, there is no “typical addict.”

DOHMH's Drs. Jessica Kattan and Hillary Kunins both gave informative presentations on treating addiction with medication (including prescribing information), which has been shown to be more successful than treatment without medication, they said.
​
Dr. Salvatore Volpe, Director of the Staten Island PPS and Dr. Ginny Mantello, Health and Wellness Director for the BP, hosted a Q&A session after the presentations.  ​

​On Wednesday, July 13th, Borough President Oddo joined with Council Member Steven Matteo and Borough Parks Commissioner Lynda Ricciardone to announce that the funding for renovations to MacArthur Park at the Berry Houses has been finalized. The $9.3 million dollar project will fix existing drainage issues on the field, add a new synthetic turf to expand the field’s usage and renovate the basketball courts.

During his time as a Council Member, BP Oddo allocated funds to rehabilitate the fields. However, after 9/11, the funding was moved to other projects. After many years, BP Oddo was able to work with Council Member Matteo to cobble together funds from the City and FEMA to make the project a reality.

“‘The Berry’s’ are an institution in this borough and generations of Islanders have played there,” noted BP Oddo. “These upgrades have been long overdue, and we are excited to share this news. When this project is complete, scores of our fellow residents will create new memories, learn more life lessons, exercise and enjoy themselves at a new and improved Berry’s.”

Construction is expected to begin in 2018.