Borough President James Oddo will host his annual Menorah Lighting ceremony via a virtual celebration on Wednesday, December 16 at 7pm. The ceremony can be viewed on Borough Hall’s webpage, here: www.statenislandusa.com/hanukkah2020.  
 
"While the holidays are different this year, we are grateful to still offer a way for all of us to come together and celebrate the spirit of the season in a safe way. We invite all Staten Islanders to join us this year for our virtual Menorah Lighting,” stated Borough President Oddo. 
 
Following a message from the Borough President, the ceremony will feature photos from past Borough Hall Menorah lightings and musical performances from songs from the Young Israel Day school students. The event, which celebrates the Festival of Lights, is sponsored by the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island.

​Borough President James Oddo will host his annual Christmas Tree Lighting via a virtual ceremony on Thursday, December 10th at 7pm. The ceremony can be viewed on Borough Hall’s webpage, here: www.statenislandusa.com/Christmas2020.  
 
"Obviously, the holidays are one more thing that will look very different this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While this is unfortunate, I'm happy to be able to present a virtual Christmas Tree Lighting and spread a little joy from the steps of Borough Hall,” noted Borough President Oddo.
 
Following a welcome message from Borough President Oddo, the ceremony will feature Borough Hall’s Christmas Tree as it was put up and lit as well as a glimpse of holiday lights from around the island – including those at local BIDs and Merchants Associations. Be sure to stick around for musical numbers from the St. George Theatre’s Christmas Show and a special message from Santa himself.
 
We invite all to our virtual Menorah Lighting next week – details to come shortly.

​Mannix Shop Rite Stores and Borough President James Oddo have partnered to bring Thanksgiving turkeys to needy families via local food pantries once again this year. The distribution took place on Tuesday, November 24th at 10am in the parking lot of Christian Pentecostal Church, located at 900 Richmond Road.
 
In total, Shop Rite has donated 800 turkeys to food banks on Staten Island. The 13 organizations participating were selected by Shop Rite and the Borough President and are certified as food banks.

City Planning asked to reject Liberty Towers project in letter signed by Staten Island electeds; 
BP Oddo issues a call to Staten Island: Draw the line. Get involved. Have your voice heard. 
 
In a strongly-worded letter, Borough President James S. Oddo, State Senators Lanza and Savino, Assembly members Cusick, Fall, Reilly, and Council members Matteo and Borelli asked Marisa Lago, Chairperson the New York City’s Department of City Planning, to reject a proposal that would permit R-7 zoning in St. George. Such zoning would pave the way for the construction of two residential towers of 26 and 27 stories respectively.  
 
Since 2016, Borough President James Oddo has been trying to get City Planning to help stop teardowns on Staten Island. They have refused, delayed, and stood in the way, even as they champion new high-density zoning to allow apartment buildings. 
 
Today, Borough President Oddo is asking Staten Island for their help to prevent City Planning from introducing R-7 zoning to Staten Island. Staten Islanders are encouraged to share their thoughts and concerns by taking five minutes to email City Planning to tell them “No” and “Enough” of them ignoring what Staten Islanders want for Staten Island, and to stop trying to force feed their idea of what Staten Island should be.
 
“It will be just the beginning. And all of it will come without addressing any of the infrastructure concerns we all share. Just as they did with the Bay Street Corridor. Hell, just like they did in the 1960’s when the built the bridge. Except this time, it will be high rise apartment buildings, not single-family homes,” noted Borough President Oddo.
 
Written comments will be accepted through November 30, 2020. They can be mailed to Olga Abinader, Director, Environmental Assessment and Review Division, New York City Department of City Planning, 120 Broadway, 31st Floor, New York, New York 10271. 
 
Email comments can also be submitted via the city’s webpage here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nycengage/contact/contact.page or emailed directly to Borough President Oddo who will forward to them to City Planning: joddo@statenislandusa.com.    

Chapter 2 New York to accept award for community service in virtual ceremony on 
November 30th
 
Borough President James S. Oddo will award Rolling Thunder Chapter 2 New York with the 2019 Maniscalco Award via a virtual ceremony on Monday, November 30th. Those wishing to join in the virtual ceremony can do so on Borough Hall’s website here: www.statenislandusa.com/Maniscalco2020.  
 
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. 
 
“Lots of folks talk a good game. Sadly, too few of them actually follow up the rhetoric with action. Rolling Thunder walks the walk. Rolling Thunder advocates on behalf of Veterans every day. They are good people. We don’t want to compliment you, we want to honor you and we want Staten Island to know what you do,” said Borough President Oddo. 
 
Incorporated in 1995, Rolling Thunder, Inc. is a class 501(c)(4) non-profit organization with over 90 chartered chapters throughout the United States and members abroad. While many members of Rolling Thunder are veterans and many ride motorcycles, neither qualification is a prerequisite. Rolling Thunder members are old and young, men and women, veterans and non-veterans. All are united in the cause to bring full accountability for Prisoners Of War (POW) and Missing In Action (MIA) of all wars, reminding the government, the media and the public by their watchwords: “We Will Not Forget.”
 
Rolling Thunder, Inc.'s major function is to publicize the POW-MIA issue by educating the public of the fact that many American Prisoners Of War were left behind after all past wars. They are dedicated to helping correct the past and to protect the future Veterans from being left behind should they become Prisoners Of War/Missing In Action. The group is committed to helping American Veterans from all wars.  
 
On Monday, November 4, 2019, Borough President Oddo joined with Rolling Thunder and Congressman Max Rose to unveil a POW/MIA Chair of Honor at Staten Island Borough Hall. The chair, provided by Rolling Thunder, will remain perpetually empty to symbolize there will always be a place at its location awaiting the POW/MIA soldiers’ return.
 
“We are tremendously grateful to the Borough President to be recognized with this award. We want to thank our community because we couldn’t be successful without the community and Veterans,” said Vinny Perno, President, Rolling Thunder Chapter 2 New York.
 
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, Francis H. Powers, Susie-Hyun Sook Beidel, Brian Laline, Reverend Hattie Smith-Davis, Joseph V. Madory, Lou Caravone, 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. Chitoor S. 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, Dee Vandenburg and Monsignor Peter G. Finn.

Free, Non-Partisan Resources from iCivics to Encourage Learning Around the 2020 Presidential Election
 
With less than a week to go until the 2020 presidential election on November 3rd, Staten Island Borough President James S. Oddo encourages educators and families to facilitate learning about the election with the non-partisan resources curated by iCivics. Using iCivics, educators and families can help students learn about the electoral process, understand the power of their vote, find ways to participate beyond the ballot box—and ultimately, engage them in our country’s democratic process, now and in the future.
 
“iCivics is a wonderful way to teach kids about our electoral process,” said Borough President Oddo.  “And parents and teachers can relax - these lessons and games are completely and refreshingly free of any partisanship whatsoever.  It teaches children to make up their own minds.”
 
iCivics, the nation’s premier non-profit civic education provider, is best known for their 20 engaging digital experiential games, along with hundreds of practical, dynamic, and standards-aligned civics lessons for K-12 classrooms. The games are ideal for classrooms, remote learning, and at-home schooling. 
 
This is not the first time the Borough President’s Office has partnered with iCivics. In June 2017, Borough President Oddo, in tandem with NYC DOE, funded professional development for Staten Island teachers – elementary, middle and high school. At that time, iCivics made their experts available for a full day of training, in order to familiarize the borough’s teachers with its digital tools, lesson plans, and curriculum. 
 
iCivics’ most popular election-focused games, Cast Your Vote and Win the White House, have been significantly upgraded ahead of the 2020 election to better reflect the public policy issues and challenges our country faces in the current moment, as well as the unique stories of a broad range of everyday people. They also offer an English-language learner version to support non-native English-speaking students. New features include an in-game glossary, image-supported concept assistance, Spanish-language mode, and voice-over for critical game content.
 
To support learning around the 2020 Election, iCivics has curated all of their election teaching resources at Election Headquarters, where educators and families will find:
 

• iCivics games, Win the White House, Cast Your Vote, Executive Command, and NewsfeedDefenders
• A Family Guide for playing Win the White House at home
• Print-and-go lessons that include simulations, vocabulary development, graphic organizers, and active participation opportunities
• Timely infographics that provide overviews of key concepts, such as gerrymandering and the peaceful transfer of power
• WebQuests to help students connect civics concepts to the real world

 
iCivics’ resources and games are best suited for students in grades 5 through 12 and are completely free with the creation of an educator or parent account on www.icivics.org.
 
“These lessons and games, like Win the White House and Cast Your Vote, are as timely as you can get,” Borough President Oddo continued.  “As far as I’m concerned, the lessons taught in iCivics should be required in schools and encouraged in homes everywhere.  It teaches kids what America is all about.”
 
About iCivics 
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor founded iCivics in 2009 to transform the field through innovative, free educational video games and lessons that teach students to be knowledgeable, curious, and engaged in civic life. Since then, iCivics has become the nation’s premier non-profit civic education provider to 7.5 million students across America. Learn more: www.icivics.org.

Starting October 29th, major roads are to be closed from 10am to 2pm on Thursdays to facilitate litter removal and tree pruning;
Staten Islanders urged to plan alternate routes on those days
 
Borough President James Oddo has joined with the NYC Parks Department and Council Member Steven Matteo to announce a schedule of cleanups along major thoroughfares. Due to safety concerns, the roadways surrounding the park perimeters will be closed for the cleanups. The dates are as follows:
 
Thursday, October 29th – Snake Hill on Richmond Hill Road from Forest Hill Road to Arthur Kill Road
Thursday, November 5th – Travis Avenue from Draper Place to Victory Boulevard
Thursday, November 11th  – Rockland Avenue from Brielle Avenue to Manor Road
Thursday, November 19th  – Forest Hill Road from Richmond Hill Road to Rockland Avenue
 
These roads will be closed from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, with a 9:45 am muster, on those dates. Motorists are advised to be aware and plan alternate routes on these dates.
 
“While it may be an inconvenience to some when these roads are closed, this cleanup is needed for these agencies to safely and quickly remove bottles, fast food wrappers, and other items from the perimeter. Unfortunately, the selfish acts of some make it necessary to take these actions. Thank you to the Parks Department for working with us to keep these thoroughfares clean, especially during such difficult budgetary times. We all must find a way to contribute or our litter problem will only continue to get worse,” noted Borough President Oddo.
 
Council Member Matteo said, “Our battle against littering and illegal dumping has been ongoing for years, but it is particularly important that we step up our efforts now, as the city has made drastic cuts to Sanitation services that threaten to erode our quality of life. Whether it is our Clean Team tackling “hot spots: across Staten Island, removing graffiti from buildings, or collaborating with the Borough President on the Fall Parks Cleanup, we will continue to fight to maintain the beauty of our borough.”
 
The cleanup efforts are made possible through collaboration with the Parks Department, NYPD, DOT, and the Department of Sanitation.

​As part of his office’s effort to acknowledge and thank Veterans for their service and sacrifice, Borough President James S. Oddo is pleased to announce his office will be recognizing local Veterans with a ‘Thank A Veteran’ live-streamed video on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11.
 
BP Oddo is inviting Veterans and family members of Veterans to participate in this initiative where their submissions will be recognized in a live-streamed video on Veterans Day 2020, as well as on Staten Island USA’s webpage. 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 relevant to awards and wars they may have served in.
 
This initiative builds on the successful ‘Thank A Veteran’ social media campaign, which called on Staten Islanders in previous years to make submissions that were posted on Borough Hall’s social media throughout the month of November to acknowledge and thank local Veterans. Any submissions provided to Borough Hall in previous years for this initiative will be included in this years’ project. Family members can check for their submissions at www.statenislandusa.com/thankaveteran.
 
“I want to encourage the community to participate to ensure the service and memories of those who served are not forgotten. I am extremely thankful to all those who have dedicated their lives in service to protecting this country,” said Borough President Oddo.
 
Entries may include both living and deceased Veterans.
 
Any information that the public wishes to share can be sent to Renee Sarno at RSarno@statenislandusa.com. Submissions will be accepted through October 23rd.