​Borough President Oddo is pleased to announce the entertainment schedule for this year’s Festa Italiana at the Mount: The Biggest Columbus Day Celebration in Staten Island’s History. The festival will take place at Mount Loretto on Friday, October 6th from 5-11pm, Saturday, October 7th from 1-11pm, and Sunday, October 8th from 4-9pm.

The opening night will feature a “decades concert” that showcases music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Local bands Airtite, Illegally Blind and Radio Daze will perform. 

Saturday’s entertainment includes local artists Charlie Romo, Vinnie Medugno, and Alex Leonard, who will all perform hits made famous by Italian and Italian-American musicians and/or songwriters. Throughout the day, there will also be performances by the Susan Wagner High School Marching Band, Candice Guardino and her Italian Bred Comedy Show, the Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre Company, and the Giglio Band. Alfonso’s Bakery will also be sponsoring their Second Annual Cannoli eating contest. 

All of this will lead up to the returning headliner, Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses, who will take the main stage at 6:30pm on Saturday. The performance is sponsored by Lois and Richard Nicotra.
Rounding out the weekend on Sunday, there will be a live performance by the Italian-American Band R3, as well as performances by local musicians.

Over the course of the three-day event, guests will be able to enjoy delicious food, rides and attractions, carnival games, and vendors. On Saturday, there will be educational displays from local cultural groups, including the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, the National Lighthouse Museum, NYC Compost Project/Snug Harbor, Historic Richmond Town, Capodanno Lodge, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, and the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Catholic Charities to present a festival that celebrates so many aspects of Italian and Italian-American culture,” noted BP 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.”

Additional sponsors include Senator Diane Savino, Broadway Stages, Richmond University Medical Center, Mark Tranchina/Vanderbilt/Grand Oaks/South Fin, Project One, Gerald Peters Gold Mine Jewelers, HealthFirst, and the Italian American Women of Staten Island. 
 
“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 year and are looking forward to celebrating Columbus Day with the Staten Island community.” 
 
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.

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.

​On Thursday, September 28th, BP Oddo presented the Patrick F. Daly Award to two outstanding Staten Island educators in a ceremony at Borough Hall. The award is named for fallen principal Patrick Daly, who was gunned down 25 years ago while en route to a student’s home. This year’s award went to Paul Martuccio, principal of P.S. 13, and Wilson Mohr, a teacher at Pathways to Graduation.
 
The Patrick F. Daly Award was established shortly after Mr. Daly’s death to honor his legacy of service to the community, a steadfast commitment to his students, and his leadership. The award has not been given in several years, but at the urging of the Daly family, Borough President Oddo decided to reinstate it to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Mr. Daly’s death. After carefully considering all the nominations of exemplary educators submitted by the public, members of the Daly family and Borough President Oddo’s staff selected Mr. Martuccio and Mr. Mohr to receive the award.
 
“In the past several months, I’ve met so many people who knew and respected Mr. Daly,” noted BP Oddo. “He truly left a lasting legacy in Staten Island and Brooklyn. It’s a great thing to remember a remarkable man and use his memory to honor two other wonderful exucations.”
 
At the ceremony, Mr. Daly’s son and nephew Pat Daly and David Pascarella spoke about their memories of him. Red Hook resident Wally Bazemore talked about Mr. Daly’s lasting impact on the community.
 
“He gave so much to our community. It’s not the same without him. Thank you for giving us your native son,” Mr. Bazemore said of Patrick Daly.
 
In addition, Christine Dooley, Principal at Pathways to Graduation, spoke about Mr. Mohr and Valerie Panzella, Assistant Principal at P.S. 13, described Mr. Martuccio’s accomplishments.
 
Paul Martuccio has 18 years of experience in the field of education. He began as a Special Education teacher at P.S. 18 before becoming an Assistant Principal at P.S. 21. He currently serves as principal of P.S. 13. Mr. Martuccio’s emphasis on teamwork has been a positive influence on staff as well as students. He has instituted numerous programs to support students and staff, including a mindfulness program that teaches staff and students how to relieve stress and calm themselves. In addition, he has created visual and performing arts programs, as well as a physical education program and a before-school morning academy at no cost to families. Mr. Martuccio’s commitment also extends to the students’ parents and families. He has built a community where parents feel welcome by encouraging open communication between parents and their child’s teacher, ensuring there are capable translators on hand to engage families who are non-English speaking. In addition to his work at P.S. 13, Mr. Martuccio was selected by the Superintendent of District 31 to facilitate a principal’s professional learning group.
 
A devoted teacher, Wilson Mohr has spent 37 years in the school system as a teacher and supervisor at I.S. 49, as a summer school teacher at I.S. 51, and as a camp teacher at P.S. 5, P.S. 6, and P.S. 42. Currently, Mr. Mohr is teaching TASC level classes at Pathways to Graduation at the St. George Hub. He has assisted in the pilot for a new TASC programming and scheduling model, affording the students even more testing opportunities. Though his immediate aim is to help his students pass the TASC exam, he teaches with the ultimate goal of inspiring a love of mathematics in all his students. As a companion to student advocacy, he has worked diligently to expand educational experiences inside and outside the classroom. To this end, he has undertaken the task of organizing field trips and experiences that are both informative and entertaining. Mr. Mohr has an enthusiasm for personal and professional growth and development, which helps his students figure out what their next steps are and what they can achieve.
 
Following the ceremony, BP Oddo unveiled a plaque honoring the recipients that will permanently hang in Borough Hall. A short reception followed with refreshments by the Port Richmond High School Culinary Department and music by the Susan E. Wagner High School Jazz Ensemble. Special thanks to CTV and the St. George Theatre for their participation in making the evening special.

On Wednesday, September 27th, BP Oddo joined with Council Member Joe Borelli to test ride a fast ferry route from the Tottenville Marina to lower Manhattan. Developers from South Shore building projects have proposed the route, which runs about 45 minutes each way. The ferry service would shave time off of South Shore residents’ commutes, which often run two hours each way.

The developers have been talks with Seastreak, which runs ferries from New Jersey to Manhattan and did the test run. The route looped around the bottom of the borough, coming up the East Shore under the Verrazano Bridge, bypassing heavy vehicle traffic. It docked in Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan.

BP Oddo, who has been an advocate for fast ferry service, noted that he is open to private sector service since Staten Island has been left out of the City’s NYC Ferry service.
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"We have to take advantage of being an island, and one of those things is waterboard transportation," he said. "If the City of New York continues to neglect us, we have to go to the private sector to see if we could work out some arrangement that is good for the people of Staten Island. It really is unconscionable that the borough with the least amount of transit options is the last one on line. I have no indication that there is a plan coming down the road. It really impossible for me to believe that this could play out with any other borough.”
 
Check out a video from the ferry ride below:

On Tuesday, September 26th, BP Oddo joined with Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) to urge Staten Island businesses and organizations to take part in the hospital’s “Stop the Bleed” training program. This free program, available to Staten Island businesses and organizations, aims to train as many people as possible in the community in bleeding control, essentially increasing the pool of first responders for bleeding emergencies. SIUH trained members of the Borough President’s staff on how to use hands, dressings, and tourniquets to stop bleeds and save lives in case of an emergency situation.

Trainings are usually 60-90 minutes, and SIUH will conduct the bleeding control training program with any agency/organization where there is potential for large amounts of casualties free of charge in order to protect the resident of Staten Island.
 
At the training, BP Oddo also announced that he has allocated funding for the purchase of 65 trauma first aid kits to be supplied to trainees. He is also in discussions with Council Member Matteo about possible legislation requiring these kits in certain public places.

“This is very important work SIUH is doing,” said BP Oddo. “It is unfortunate that such training is necessary, but we know that it is in today’s world.  Just as we did with AEDs, we need to get these kits into the hands of New Yorkers and get them trained.”  

“We're totally behind the effort to train people to be first responders,” noted Dr. Michael Bernstein, Chair of Surgery at SIUH. “We're here to provide support to the community and put our resources behind any members of the community who are willing to learn these crucial lifesaving skills.”
 
To get more information or to sign up for upcoming trauma training, call the Trauma Division at SIUH at 718-226-1267 or visit bleedingcontrol.org. 

​In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Borough President James Oddo is pleased to announce a partnership with the technology company Uber to offer free transportation to and from breast cancer screening appointments during the entire month of October for any woman who needs a ride.
 
Those who want to participate in the program must call the Borough President’s office for a single use code that can be entered into the Uber app to claim their free ride to and from the appointment. Women must provide their name, contact information, and the date and location of their screening to be eligible. Women should call (718) 816-2198 to receive the code.
 
“I want to eliminate all barriers that are stopping women from getting screened,” said Borough President Oddo. “I’m pleased to partner with Uber on this program, which will make it easier for women to get to and from their necessary appointments. Now there’s absolutely no excuse for not getting screened. We know that mammograms are important preventative measures for women. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. Despite recommendations to the contrary from some organizations, experts continue to emphasize the importance of mammograms in detecting breast cancer. Thank you to Uber for being a good corporate partner and working with us to improve women’s health in our borough. I urge Staten Island women to get screened in the month of October and to take advantage of this free program if they need a ride.”
 
“Access to transportation should never be a barrier to receiving care,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Uber General Manager for Northeast U.S. and Canada. “Uber is honored to work with the Borough President to offer all Staten Island women a reliable way to get to and from their appointments, and we encourage all residents to take advantage of these free rides during Breast Cancer Awareness month.”
 
In addition to the free rides, BP Oddo is sponsoring his fourth round of free mobile mammography screenings this year. The screenings will take place on Tuesday, October 3rd. The mobile mammography van will be at the Beacon Christian Community Health Center (2079 Forest Avenue) from 9:30am to 4:30pm. There will also be a van at Hylan Plaza Parking Lot in New Dorp (near CVS) from 9:00am to 12:00pm and at Bricktown Commons (Michael's Parking Lot) in Charleston from 1:30pm to 4:30pm.
 
The screenings will be available to eligible women ages 40 and older who have not had a mammogram in the past year. All insurance plans will be accepted, and co-pays and deductibles will be waived. The mammograms will be free to uninsured women.
 
An appointment must be made to get screened on October 3. To make an appointment at Beacon Christian Community Health Center, call (877) 628-9090. To make an appointment at the Bricktown Commons or Hylan Plaza locations, call (800) 564-6868. Since all screenings in October are included in this announcement, the screenings scheduled for October 3 are eligible for the free Uber ride. Women should simply call the Borough President’s office at 718-816-2198 after making their appointment for the code for the free ride or to receive a free ride to screening appointments throughout the rest of the month.
 
The October 3 screenings are sponsored by the New York State Cancer Services Program, the Cancer Services Program of Staten Island, and the American-Italian Cancer Foundation. 

On Thursday, September 21st, BP Oddo announced that the era of the infamous Midland Motor Inn, a transient hotel that plagued the Midland Beach community for decades before a July 22, 2015 fire, is now over.
 
The Midland Motor Inn had operated as a transient hotel, which is a non-conforming use under current zoning regulations. Since the July 22, 2015 fire it has been closed.  Since the fire, and for a continuous period of more than two years, the active operation of the non-conforming use (as a transient hotel) was discontinued. Under the city’s zoning laws, the existing building and land can now only be used for a CONFORMING use. This means that it can no longer be used as a transient hotel.
 
A transient hotel includes living or sleeping for transient occupancy; permits daily rentals; and provides 24-hour desk service, including housekeeping, telephone, or bellhop service, etc.  The existing zone permits various residential uses but specifically excludes transient hotels.
 
BP Oddo said, “This is great news for the Midland Beach community, and indeed all of Staten Island. Residents were forced to endure the operation of this facility and all the ills it brought to the community for what seemed like an eternity.  Despite my best efforts as a City Council Member and Borough President to shut this place down, the facility continued to give rise to many of the ills that plagued the community. I am hopeful that the property will be used for some good in the future, though practically any use would be better than its prior use. What is clear is that a transient hotel, like the Midland Motor Inn, will not be permitted to operate there in the future. For far too long, like Jason Voorhees in the Friday the 13th movies, it stubbornly refused to die; but now since its operation was discontinued for so long it is dead.”
 
Some used that would be permitted under the Zoning Resolution include: residences (as part of a mixed use building), community facilities, such as doctor’s offices, schools, nursing homes, houses of worship, retail stores, and similar uses

On Wednesday, September 20th, BP Oddo announced his new “Thank A Veteran” initiative. 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 be involved in this social media program.
 
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 to its social media accounts and on StatenIslandUSA.com during the month of November.
 
“I am extremely thankful to all those who have dedicated their lives in service to protecting this country,” said BP Oddo. “I want to encourage the community to participate in this program to ensure the service and memories of those who served are not forgotten.”
 
Any information that the public wishes to share can be sent to Alexey Chandler at achandler@statenislandusa.com. Submissions will be accepted through November 1st. 

On Wednesday, September 13th, Borough President Oddo joined with NYC Parks Staten Island Borough Commissioner Lynda Ricciardone, Council Member Steve Matteo, and representatives from FDNY to announce a total budget allocation of $460,000 from the Mayor’s Office for phragmites removal. Phragmites are an invasive species that pose a great wildfire risk.

This funding will pay for the ongoing mowing and management of phragmites in Ocean Breeze and Great Kills parks. This initiative is part of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) for the East Shore of Staten Island. The CWPP was developed in 2010 by an interagency team—consisting of NYC Parks, NYC DEP, NPS, NYS DEC, FDNY, and elected officials—to protect East Shore citizens, homes and infrastructure from wildfire. The plan was abandoned for a short after Hurricane Sandy, but was reinvigorated at the urging of BP Oddo.

“I am very pleased to see this phragmite management program expanding further along the East Shore,” said Borough President Oddo. “My office has made it a priority to advocate for this preventative measure to protect Staten Islanders from as much danger and damage as possible. Thank you to the administration for funding this important safety program.”

“Those outside the Eastern Shore of Staten Island might be surprised to learn that such a wildfire risk exists in New York City,” said Commissioner Ricciardone. “But residents of the Eastern Shore are all too aware of the dangers they face. Our goal is to keep these folks safe by getting rid of the Phragmites and making room for native plants that are more resistant to wildfire.”
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There will be a 100-foot wildfire buffer created around the perimeter of fields overgrown with phragmites. Creating this buffer allows native plants, which do not pose such a fire risk, to regrow and reduce the risk of wildfires. Mowing will begin in late 2018.