BP Oddo is excited to announce his office will once again host “Kids Day at the Carousel,” a free event for children and their families, on Saturday, June 9th from 12 to 5pm. The event will take place at the Carousel for All Children in Willowbrook Park.
 
Rides on the carousel will be sponsored by the Borough President’s office. In addition to free carousel rides, the event will feature inflatable attractions, chalk art, crafts, photo spots, and music. The New York Public Library will host story time at 1:30pm. The Rock-A-Silly band will perform from 3-4pm.
 
“It is wonderful to see families out enjoying everything our parks have to offer,” said BP Oddo. “Last year, hundreds of kids and their families came out to have a great day at the carousel, so I am happy to continue the fun this year.”
 
The event is co-sponsored by the New York Public Library.

​On Monday, May 21st, 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 26th Annual Emergency Services Recognition Ceremony honored several EMTs, paramedics, instructors and students in the emergency services community. Speakers included BP Oddo, FDNY Chief of Department James Leonard, and Dr. Glenn Asaeda, Chief Medical Director, FDNY. This event is unique to Staten Island.
 
“I want to thank the EMS community for all you do,” said BP Oddo. “You are there for us when our life is on the line. I am thankful we get to celebrate you this week, but know your efforts are appreciated every day.”
 
A full list of winners is below:
 
Emergency Medical Technician of the Year Awards
Daniel Fennell – FDNY, Station 22
Anthony Mauro – FDNY, Station 23
Willard Wright – North Shore Rescue Squad
John Jelcic – Primary Care Ambulance
Anthony Arcello – Priority One Ambulance
Stephanie Velez – Priority One Ambulance
Lindita Karpuzi – Richmond County Ambulance
Louis Raffone – Richmond University Medical Center
Manuel Rodriguez – Richmond University Medical Center
Edgar Chico – Northwell Health (SIUH)
Susan Mahony – Northwell Health (SIUH)
John Giakas – Volunteer Heart Ambulance
Michael Trollo – Volunteer Heart Ambulance
 
Paramedic of the Year Awards
Ludmila Muller – FDNY, Station 22
Latisha Miller – FDNY, Station 23
Michael A. Pombo – Primary Care Ambulance
Dennis Kalogeropoulos – Priority One Ambulance
Shawn Langleiben – Richmond County Ambulance
Jeffrey Brown – Richmond University Medical Center
Moshe Stein – Richmond University Medical Center
Robert Garzone – Northwell Health (SIUH)
William Negron – Northwell Health (SIUH)
 
Frank W. Geib Memorial EMT Student of the Year Award
Eric Berger – Staten Island Emergency Medical Training
Brandon Perez – Training Institute for Medical Emergencies and Rescue
 
EMT Instructor of the Year Award
Thomas McCarthy – Staten Island Emergency Medical Training
Ryan Moccia – Training Institute for Medical Emergencies and Rescue

On Thursday, May 17th, BP Oddo announced a partnership with the Staten Island Advance to help promote the “Own the 18” anti-litter initiative. May 18th to 20th will be this year’s “Own the 18” weekend. “Own the 18” refers to a city law that requires business and homeowners alike to clean the street in front of their store or house to a distance of 18 inches from the curb.
 
The Staten Island Advance has generously donated four orchestra tickets to a show at the St. George Theatre for one lucky winner who “owns the 18” this weekend. To enter the contest, before-and-after clean up photos can be emailed or posted to Instagram anytime from Friday, May 18th through Sunday, May 20th. There is no limit to the number of photos that can be submitted, but there will only be one entry per person. At least one before and one after photo is required.
 
To submit photos, email them to photo@siadvance.com or post them to Instagram with the hashtag #ownthe18.
 
The winner can select one of the following shows:
Melissa Etheridge, June 19, 7:30pm
Stepehn Stills & Judy Collins, June 29, 8pm
Dion, July 20, 8pm
Midtown Men, October 13, 8pm
 
“We are grateful to Brian Laline and the Staten Island Advance for partnering with us to encourage Staten Islanders to join us in fighting Staten Island’s litter woes,” said BP Oddo. “I recognize that it is not all Staten Islanders who created this problem. But though you and I may not have caused it, I’m asking that we all pitch in to solve it. And as a bonus, you might end up enjoying some great entertainment for your efforts!”

You can learn more about the contest here.

​On Thursday, May 17th, Borough President James S. Oddo awarded Dee Vandenburg with the 2017 Maniscalco Award at a ceremony in Borough Hall. The ceremony, which was rescheduled due to a snowstorm earlier this year, was followed by a reception in the main hall with fare by the Port Richmond High School Culinary Arts Program and music by the Tottenville High School Saxophone Quartet.
 
The Albert V. Maniscalco Community Service Award was established in 1986 in honor of the ninth borough president. Maniscalco's tenure from 1955 to 1965 saw the creation of the Greenbelt and the construction of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The award celebrates the civic-mindedness and tireless energy of individuals or organizations that work to help community members in need and to make Staten Island a better place.
 
“Simply stated, Dee Vandenburg is someone who gives a damn about our community. She has toiled for many years, calling out instances of when government can and must do better. I know it’s cliché, but she truly is a fighter for our community. She takes on these fights not because of any promise of a reward, but solely to improve Staten Island. She is a worthy recipient of the Maniscalco Award,” said Borough President Oddo.
 
Dee G. Vandenburg, a community leader and activist dedicated to improving Staten Island, currently serves as president of the Staten Island Taxpayers’ Association. Born on Long Island, she moved to Staten Island in 1969. Ms. Vandenburg began her long history of involvement with the local community when she moved to the former Spanish Camp, located in Annadale, and joined the fight to save the Camp from destruction. It was there that she met Lorraine Sorge, president of the Staten Island Taxpayers' Association (SITA), and Alice Ruch, SITA's general vice president. Determined to improve the quality of life for all Staten Islanders, Ms. Vandenburg joined SITA in 1996. In 2001, Ms. Vandenburg was elected president of the organization, which assists local civic associations and acts as a liaison to government on behalf of Staten Islanders.
 
Ms. Vandenburg regularly attends community meetings and has written hundreds of letters enthusiastically supporting or vehemently opposing various projects. She works closely with members of various governmental agencies and elected officials on issues relating to the environment, zoning, transportation, overdevelopment, and parks and recreation.
 
After Sandy hit, she dedicated her time on issues relating to the shoreline, serving on committees for the US Army Corps of Engineers, NY Rising, USDA Wetlands Restoration Buyout, Build It Back, and the NYC Department of City Planning.
 
In addition to her volunteer work, Ms. Vandenburg worked as a general mechanic for the MTA on the Staten Island Railway from 1989 to 2013. She previously worked in various positions at several Wall Street firms. She currently serves as a Community Construction Liaison for SI Engineering.
 
In 2008, Ms. Vandenburg received the Natural Resources Protective Association's Civic Leadership Award. State Senator Andrew Lanza awarded her the New York State Woman of Distinction Award in 2010.
 
She resides in Huguenot with her husband Rickie Smith.
 
“I don't have to like the answer; I just have to get an answer from the never-ending levels of government," Ms. Vandenburg said about her tireless work on behalf of her community.
 
Here are the past winners of the Maniscalco Award:
 
Richard E. Diamond, John L.F. Sipp, Norma D’Arrigo, Allan Weissglass, Martin Stallone, Roger E. Acker, Reverend Robert I. Gannon, Michael F. Manzulli, Michael J. Petrides, Marie G. Martino, Frank Powers, Susie Hyun Sook Beidel, Brian J. Laline, Reverend Hattie Smith-Davis, and Joseph V. Madory, Lou Caravone, Jose Joe Valentin, Nancy Passeri, retired Borough Commander Anthony Marra, Reverend Terry Troia, Senator John J. Marchi, Wendy Pellegrino, Fred Ariemma, Joanne E. Gerenser, Ph.D., Dr. S. Chitoor Govindaraj, Kathryn Krause Rooney, the Siller Family, George and Maria Esposito, the Mannix Family, the Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation, William A. Morris Jr., and Lois and Richard Nicotra.

On Friday, April 27th, Borough President James S. Oddo joined with Dennis Gonzalez, Acting Regional Director of the US Department of Health and Human Services, and representatives from NYPD and the recovery community outside the 122nd Precinct to announce the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day locations on Staten Island. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day took place on Saturday, April 28th.
 
“Staten Island is doing everything imaginable to push back against this epidemic, and I am proud to see that,” said BP Oddo. “We are doing lots of great things here, but we still need help. We need everyone to come together, law enforcement, the recovery community, elected officials, and especially the federal government.”
 
"In New York, every week, 70 people die due to a drug-related overdose," said Dennis Gonzalez. "It has to start with us, as individuals, in our homes. One way to do that is by cleaning out our medicine cabinets."
​
Chris Pancini, a former addict and recovery advocate, noted, "Through my experience of drug addiction, and the hardships of my life, this is near and dear to my heart. I know for myself that experimenting at 13 years old brought me to a really hard bottom. The first pill that I took could be removed from your medicine cabinet tonight."
 
If you missed National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, you can drop off unwanted prescription medications at the following locations throughout the year:
 

• NYPD 120th Precinct, 78 Richmond Terrace
• NYPD 122nd Precinct, 2320 Hylan Boulevard
• NYPD 123rd Precinct, 116 Main Street
• Delco Drugs, 3833 Richmond Avenue
• Super Health Pharmacy, 6400 Amboy Road
• Ocean Breeze Pharmacy, 1817 Hylan Blvd
• Randal Manor Pharmacy, 395 Forest Avenue

On Thursday, April 26th, Borough President James S. Oddo attended the groundbreaking for the reconstruction of the cross-country running trail at Clove Lakes Park with NYC Parks Staten Island Borough Commissioner Lynda Ricciardone and Assemblyman Michael Cusick.
 
The reconstruction for the state-of-the-art trail will include improvements to drainage, improvements to surface material and edging. Additions also include distance markers as well as a new start/finish line.
 
“We want Staten Islanders to have top of the line amenities, and that is what they will get with the reconstruction of these trails,” said BP Oddo. “The running community in this borough is active, engaged, and an integral part of Staten Island. When this work is completed, I hope to see Islanders of all ages taking advantage of this remarkable corner of Staten Island.”
 
The $1.9 million project was funded by Mayor Bill de Blasio and BP Oddo, with $1.5 million of the funding coming from BP Oddo’s FY 2015 capital budget. The project is expected to be completed in March 2020. 

​On Wednesday April 25th, Borough President James S. Oddo attended the Commitment to Excellence Awards Ceremony at Sector New York, the largest Coast Guard operational field command on the East Coast.
 
This ceremony was All Hands, meaning it was a total unit meeting, and among those in attendance included Admiral Zukunft, Commandant of the Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Steven Poulin, Commander, First Coast Guard District, Captain Michael H. Day, Sector Commander, Captain Jason Tama, Deputy Sector Commander, and Master Chief Marcus S. Evans, Command Master Chief.
 
The Commitment to Excellence Award Ceremony highlighted eight Coast Guard personnel members who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence through their actions within their commands. In addition to these honorees, Borough President Oddo was presented with a Meritorious Public Service Award in recognition of the long-standing relationship and steadfast support Staten Island has shown the men and women of the Coast Guard.
 
Part of this recognition included announcing that New York City officially has the designation as a Coast Guard Community – a formal title bestowed upon a community by an act of Congress for developing a unique and supportive relationship with a Coast Guard Station or Sector. The Borough President’s office played a major role in making this designation a reality.
 
“As a borough, I believe Staten Island being home to Sector New York of the US Coast Guard should instill a deep pride in our identity,” said BP Oddo. “Their work managing the security for the Ports of New York and New Jersey directly affects our safety every day. As such, I am extremely humbled to be honored with this Meritorious Public Service Award. What is important to me is not so much that the Coast Guard recognizes me – but that we recognize and appreciate them. I am committed to welcoming the Coast Guard community to our borough.”
 
Staten Island is the home to both the United States Coast Guard Sector New York and USCG Station New York. Sector New York, located on the grounds of Ft. Wadsworth, has three stations under its jurisdiction: Kings Point (at the Merchant Marine Academy), Sandy Hook and New York, which is located on Bay Street. Station New York is the largest station in the Coast Guard, with over a hundred active duty members and 10 small boats assigned.

​On Thursday, April 19th, BP Oddo joined Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza to cut the ribbon on the new Borough President’s Hall of Science at the Petrides Complex. The facility is a two-story, 15,000 square foot space, which features hands-on science exhibits and stations aimed at students from K-12. Students from across the Island will be able to use this science lab as part of their STEM curriculum.
 
BP Oddo allocated $500,000 in capital funding to turn the space into an immersive STEM learning environment. The facility includes eight science stations with different themes, including an arch bridge, Lite Brite pixy pegs, Bernoulli blower, hyperbolic-funnel, Ferrofluid Magnetoscope, water table, design challenge, and a race track. In addition, the upstairs area will serve as a "Makerspace," where students will learn science, math, and technology through hands-on activities.
 
“I’m excited to see students from across the Island experiencing hands-on STEM learning at the new Hall of Science,” said Borough President James Oddo. “This is a great transformation of a previously underutilized space at the Petrides complex, and this is an example of common sense that isn’t too common at times across government. Kevin Moran and everyone associated with this project should be proud and deserve our appreciation for willing this Hall of Science into existence. Our students are going to benefit from this living and breathing science lab.”
 
“I am thrilled that students in Staten Island will have this new opportunity to experience hands-on, innovative science instruction,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “I thank the Borough President for his partnership on this new state of the art science center and continued commitment to our students and schools.”
 
The space had been previously used to store Department of Education archives.