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.

Borough President James Oddo is pleased to announce a partnership with NYC Department of Parks to hold a beach cleanup event in honor of World Oceans Day 2019.
 
We all know Staten Island has a litter problem, and we are working to make it better, but we can’t do it alone! Borough President Oddo and NYC Parks are issuing a call to action for Staten Islanders – civic groups, community organizations, and individuals – who are interested in cleaning up our beaches to join us at Conference House Park for a cleanup of the 3.5 miles of shoreline. This event will take place June 8, from 10am to 1 pm, rain or shine. Cooling stations and restrooms will be available.
 
“The fight to reclaim our Island from those who litter continues. We ask the public to help us, not only by not littering, but also by joining with us to help clean up the shoreline at Conference House Park on June 8th,” said Borough President Oddo. “We hope that by having a call to action for one weekend, we can enlist more Staten Islanders in this battle. I know the majority of Staten Islanders are not engaging in it, but we need the majority to help us with the litter solution in order to protect our community and our beaches.”
 
The Borough President’s Office and NYC Department of Parks will donate supplies for the cleanup efforts at Conference House Park for volunteers to safely cleanup the shoreline. In order to ensure there are enough supplies for the cleanup, please RSVP below or call Irene Maiello at (718) 816-2239.
 
The cleanup at Conference House Park will also feature tables with information from different environmental education groups and City agencies. There will also be a guided historic tour of the area available.
 
“We count on New Yorkers to help us keep our public spaces clean and green, and that includes our waterbodies and beaches,” said NYC Parks Staten Island Borough Commissioner Lynda Ricciardone. “We are proud to partner with Borough President Oddo in an effort to reduce litter across the Staten Island shoreline. Together, we can all chip in to maintain and enjoy a healthy, beautiful environment.”
 
In the event that any illicit drug paraphernalia is found, NYC Parks will have trained crew members on site to properly and safely dispose of it.

​Borough President James Oddo will sponsor a Lyme Disease Forum in May to update Staten Islanders about the prevalence of ticks and tick-borne illness on Staten Island. This free event will be held on Wednesday, May 29th from 7:00-8:30pm at the Bernikow JCC (1466 Manor Road) and coincides with May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month.
 
At this forum, The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and researchers from Columbia University 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 on Staten Island. There will also be presentations on tick precautions and removal. There will be a demonstration of how mice bait boxes—or mice “car washes”—work, one of the tick control measures that New York City is undertaking at the urging of Borough President Oddo.
 
Topics to be discussed at the event 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. A question and answer period with the audience will follow the presentations.
 
Speakers at the event include:

• Members of NYC DOHMH including Sally Slavinski, DVM, MPH, Assistant Director, Zoonotic and Vector borne Disease Unit; John Zuzworsky, Senior Vector Ecologist, Office of Vector Surveillance and Control; and Mario Merlino, Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of Veterinary and Pest Control Services
• Maria Diuk-Wasser, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Columbia University
• Christopher J. Pappas, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Manhattanville College

 
“Our quest to mitigate the growing number of Staten Islanders suffering from Lyme disease is being fought on many fronts, and educating the public about the disease and how it is spread is a vital step,” said Borough President Oddo. “The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology at Columbia University are working with us on the front lines to combat ticks and the spread of Lyme disease. It is essential Staten Islanders gain as much information as possible to be able to protect themselves.”
 
If you wish to attend the forum, please RSVP to Diane Marciuliano at (718) 816-2246 or DMarciuliano@statenislandusa.com.
 
The Borough President’s previous Lyme disease Forum in August 2016 attracted over 100 individuals.

On April 10th, Borough President James S. Oddo awarded Monsignor Peter G. Finn with the Maniscalco Award during a ceremony at the St. George Theatre. Prior to the ceremony, a small, private plaque-unveiling took place at Borough Hall, at which Cardinal Timothy Dolan gave a blessing. Monsignor Finn was then be led up Hyatt Street by Farrell High School musicians with an NYPD escort.

At the ceremony at the St. George Theatre, Monsignor Edmund Whalen gave the evening’s invocation and Father Jerome of St. Charles Parish gave the evening's benediction. Blessed Sacrament Youth Choir performed two songs for the audience. 

A reception followed in the Grand Lobby of the St. George Theatre with donated fare from the Canlon's, Denino's Pizzeria, O'Neill's Staten Island, the Staaten, and the Port Richmond High School Culinary Arts Program.

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.

“It is my pleasure and honor to be able to – with the Maniscalco Family – bestow this award on Monsignor Finn,” said Borough President Oddo. “He has been a reliable, comforting presence on Staten Island for so many of us – from Farrell grads to the community at large. He embodies all of the values that this award stands for and I’m thrilled to make him part of such an exclusive club of Staten Islanders.”

Monsignor Peter G. Finn was born and raised on Staten Island. A graduate of St. Peter’s Boys High School, he was ordained in 1965. Monsignor Finn has been the pastor of Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church since 2007.  He was the co-vicar of Staten Island with Monsignor James Dorney. Monsignor Finn was the rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, N.Y., from 2001 to 2007.  Before that, he was the pastor of St. Joseph-St. Thomas R.C. Church.  From 1983 to 1989, Monsignor Finn was the director of the Archdiocese Office of Communications.  He was also the principal of Monsignor Farrell High School, where he had been a faculty member.  Monsignor Finn was the district superintendent of schools on Staten Island.  He received a bachelor of arts from Manhattan College and a master of divinity from St. Joseph’s Seminary. He also holds degrees from Richmond Community College and Columbia University. 

Monsignor Finn has long been an active supporter of the ecumenical activities on Staten Island and the Council of Churches.  He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and the Knights of Malta.  He also serves on a number of boards, including Project Hospitality, the Staten Island Catholic Youth Organization, Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, the Seton Foundation, Archdiocese of the Ladies of Charity and the Staten Island Center for Independent Living.

“I feel honored,” said Monsignor Finn. “I knew the late Albert Maniscalo and his family. They stood for service. I am in the company of dedicated Staten Island leaders.”

Around 250 people attended the evening's ceremony. 
​
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., Lois and Richard Nicotra, and Dee Vandenburg.

​Borough President James Oddo and District Attorney Michael E. McMahon will host the Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Breakfast on Tuesday, March 26th at 9am at the Hilton Garden Inn in the Tea House Garden. The ceremony, which continues the thirteen-year commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the conflict, will honor those who served in the U.S. Armed Forced during the Vietnam War era. The breakfast will begin at 9am, with the ceremony to start at 10am. 

At the third annual breakfast, veterans will be given a symbol of appreciation by BP Oddo and DA McMahon. In addition, there will be a POW/MIA recognition ceremony. 

Staten Island residents who were active members of the military during the period from 1955 to 1975 are eligible to attend the breakfast. Veterans may be asked to provide their DD-214 as proof of service.

“Our veterans have made our freedom and way of life possible, and for this we continue to thank them,” said Borough President Oddo. “Many of our veterans who served bravely in the Vietnam War were not welcomed home properly when they returned. I am extremely thankful to all those who have dedicated their lives in service to protecting this country, and for that DA McMahon and I are happy to continue this ceremony to recognize their heroism, sacrifice, and service to our country.” 

“Today as Americans we rightfully greet those returning home from serving our nation with gratitude and praise; the same cannot be said for the men and women who served in Vietnam. Upon their return, our Vietnam vets were often met with disrespect and outright disdain. Joining with Borough President Oddo to once again give these heroes a long overdue ‘Thank You’ and ‘Welcome Home’ is a true privilege and I encourage all of our Vietnam veterans to join us for a celebration of their service both abroad and here at home,” said District Attorney Michael E. McMahon. 

Veterans wishing to attend the ceremony must RSVP to Diane Marciuliano at (718) 816-2246 or DMarciuliano@statenislandusa.com by March 18th.

​On Monday, December 11th, BP Oddo hosted the annual Borough Hall Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. At the event, carols and theatrical scenes were performed by local talents, including Al Lambert, House of Cadre, Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre, and D. Sharp Studios. Santa joined BP Oddo to light the Christmas tree and give out books to children who attended.
 
“This is a great moment for all of us to come together and celebrate the season,” said BP Oddo. “I hope all Staten Islanders have a safe and happy holiday season!”
 
The event was sponsored by Allstate, Cake Chef's Cookie Jar, the Gavel Grill, the National Lighthouse Museum, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, and the Staten Island Yankees.

On Wednesday, December 5th, BP Oddo hosted Borough Hall's annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony. At the event, students sang Hanukkah songs before participants lit the menorah and sampled traditional holiday treats.
 
“Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights, so it’s only fitting that we celebrate the joy and light in our lives at this time of year,” said BP Oddo.
 
The event was sponsored by the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island.

Borough President James S. Oddo is pleased to announce that his annual Menorah Lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, December 5th in Borough Hall, Room 125. He will also host a Christmas Tree Lighting on Monday, December 10th outside on Borough Hall Plaza (facing the Ferry terminal). Both events will begin at 6:30pm.

At the Christmas event, carols will be performed by local musical talents. Santa will join Borough President Oddo to light the Christmas tree and give out books to children who attend. The event is sponsored by Allstate, the Gavel Grill, the National Lighthouse Museum, and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.

The Menorah Lighting ceremony will feature musical performances from various community groups. The event, which celebrates the Festival of Lights, is sponsored by the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island.
 
“We invite all Staten Islanders to join us to celebrate the spirit of the season at our annual holiday lightings,” said BP Oddo.
​
Both events are open to the public.