Borough President Vito Fossella called on the New York State congressional delegation to introduce legislation to build a tent city on the National Mall in Washington, DC, in answer to a proposal to site a migrant shelter at historic Fort Wadsworth.
“We will be asking our congressional delegation from New York to introduce legislation to mandate and compel the federal government to put and build tents on the National Mall before any other federal property is used to accommodate migrants,” said Borough President Fossella during a press conference outside of Fort Wadsworth. “We think that crystalizes the issue as a federal one. The federal government should solve it before forcing the people of Staten Island and others to solve a problem that they didn't create." He recalled a recent press conference at the same site to introduce the Blue Star Families, an organization which provides resources to military families and runs a pantry at Fort Wadsworth for the active service members who live there. “The reason why they have to have that food pantry is because many of the military personnel, especially those with young families, can’t afford to feed their families or can’t afford to put diapers on their children,” Borough President Fossella said. “So, we came together as a community to let people know that if you wanted to donate, you could do so. And here we are months later and there’s a contemplation here to spend millions or billions on accommodating asylum-seekers. There’s something brutally bad about that. It’s a problem about establishing priorities -- we’re not willing to give military families a few bucks to clothe or feed their kids, but without hesitation, we are contemplating putting who knows how many asylum-seekers on the grounds of Fort Wadsworth.” While Borough President Fossella said he was sympathetic to those who want to live a better life, he called it financially unsustainable with a cost that will continue to grow. “The borders are wide open and people were coming in through Texas,” he said. “They ended up in Travis, they ended up in Tompkinsville, their ending up in Midland Beach -- and we’re fighting that, too. And now they might end up in this beautiful neighborhood." Borough President Vito Fossella Makes $45K Allocation To Sunrise Day Camp For Transportation Costs8/14/2023
Borough President Vito Fossella announced an allocation of $45,000 in discretionary funding from our office to Sunrise Day Camp to cover the transportation costs for the campers.
Sunrise Day Camp is the world’s first full-summer day camp for children with cancer and their siblings, provided completely free of charge. The Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, which is administered by the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island, is the only day camp of its kind in New York City. The camp, which is located on the grounds of Staten Island Academy, serves over 140 children every year. Activities include sports, music, arts & crafts, swimming, and other games. “For a few precious moments, kids battling cancer can just be kids and enjoy the simple pleasures of camp,” said Borough President Fossella. “Just as importantly, their siblings get to go. Maybe, they’re not the individuals with the disease or illnesses, but they are suffering, too. It also makes an important difference in the lives of their biggest cheerleaders and best friends -- their parents. There is a fear of allowing your sick child to go to camp and then there is that moment when you can finally have the freedom to say, ‘it’s going to be OK.’ We are very humbled to be able to support Sunrise Day Camp because it is life-changing in so many ways.” JCC Chief Executive Officer Orit Lender thanked Borough President Fossella for “allocating this crucial funding that has helped us provide camp services to families of children with cancer. “We get to see the impact of this funding all summer when we see the big smiles on our campers’ faces," he said. "We are so grateful for the support of elected officials in our community, as well as individual donors and sponsors who make sure we can support our campers and their families every year.” Melisa Kolenovic described how Sunrise Day Camp has helped her family cope. “When our lives were turned upside down by the devastating news of my son Orson’s diagnosis, we entered a world of uncertainty, fear, and unimaginable challenges," she said. "But in the midst of this darkness, glimmers of light emerged -- one of them was Sunrise. At Sunrise, our children find solace in knowing they are not alone in their fight. And this camp is more than just a retreat for our children, it's a lifeline for families like ours. Sunrise not only provides respite for our children but also grants us a much-needed break from the constant worry and stress that cancer has brought into our lives. We can let go of our anxieties and trust that our children are in the hands of people who understand how dark it can get through this struggle. It's an opportunity for us to recharge our spirits and find the strength to continue fighting alongside our brave little warriors. Sunrise is a testament to the power of compassion, love, and support.” Borough President Vito Fossella addressed the negative impacts the congestion pricing plan will have on Staten Island’s air quality, particularly on the North Shore where the rate of chronic respiratory illnesses are among the highest in the city.
“Make no mistake, this congestion pricing plan will not only cost you $23 to drive to Manhattan, but it will increase our traffic and further foul our already polluted air for the rest of our lives and the lives of our children and our grandchildren,’’ said Borough President Fossella during a press conference in Port Richmond, nearly a week after he announced plans to file a lawsuit against congestion pricing. He was joined at the press conference by Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton; Council Member Kamillah Hanks; Queens Assemblyman David Weprin; Dr. Philip Otterbeck, Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Richmond University Medical Center; Dr. Nicole Berwald, Medical Director at Staten Island Univeristy Hospital; the Rev. Dr. Tony Baker, pastor of St. Philips Baptist Church, and neighborhood residents. Borough President Fossella likened the health effects to those caused by the Fresh Kills landfill, which opened in 1948. He cited a federal government study which projects that "Staten Island's poor air quality will be worse, not just now, but until 2045 and beyond" due to the congestion pricing plan. “We’re here today because there’s a new group that has a new plan, which is the same as the old plan – congestion pricing," he said. "From 1948 to 2045, this new group wants to add insult to injury, intentionally polluting Staten Island’s air for a century. We won’t get fooled again.” The numbers in Port Richmond, he said, speak for themselves: From 2015 to 2017, the asthma hospitalizations among adults were worse compared to the NYC average and the rest of Staten Island; asthma hospitalizations among children under the age of 18 were worse compared to the NYC average and the rest of Staten Island; asthma ER emergency department visits among adults ages and 18 and older were worse compared to the NYC average and the rest of Staten Island, and respiratory hospitalization in adults aged 20 years and older were worse compared to the NYC average and the rest of Staten Island. “In a borough where we’ve grown up with the environmental injustice of having what was the largest garbage dump in the world, it’s disheartening that my patients should have to suffer with the increase of environmental toxins associated with congestion pricing,” said Dr. Otterbeck, an endocrinologist. On July 23, Borough President Fossella announced he was laying the foundations to file a lawsuit against congestion pricing. “In public policy, political decisions are often made that weigh the costs and benefits -- and the bottom line for people who live on Staten Island is there are no benefits to this congestion pricing plan,” during the air quality press conference. Borough President Vito Fossella Announces Inaugural Borough President's Pickleball Tournament Cup7/26/2023
As the sport grows in popularity, Borough President Vito Fossella announced that the inaugural Borough President’s Pickleball Cup Tournament will be played on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8 at the College of Staten Island.
“We all know how pickleball is exploding across the country, but especially here on Staten Island,” said Borough President Fossella during a press conference at CSI this morning. “We want this tournament to be as fun, as exciting and as enjoyable as possible.” The tournament will feature two days of mixed doubles, as well as women’s doubles and men’s doubles. Participants of any age or level can play. You can sign up as an individual or as a team. And, it offers the chance to compete on the national level. The Borough President’s Cup is part of the DUPR Waterfall Tournament, which features a “a new and innovative format that offers players 4 scheduled matches within a 4-hour period.” “It will be nonstop, one game after the other -- it’s going to be super exciting,” said Marni Chua, who is a USA Pickleball Ambassador for Staten Island, along with her husband, Ben. The two founded the Fairview Pickleballers at Fairview Park in Charleston. The winning team of each bracket in the Borough President’s Cup will receive a Platinum Ticket to play in the Road to Oasis, Waterfall Nationals, from Oct. 12 to Oct. 15 in Rockwall, Texas. Pickleball is a combination of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. In June, Borough President Fossella played pickleball when he helped cut the ribbon on the borough’s newest courts at Sklyline Playground in New Brighton. This week, students from St. Clare’s School visited Borough Hall as part of a Summer Scavenger Hunt. When Vito asked how they have been spending their summer, they said they are playing pickleball. “We are going to continue to look for and identify areas to build new pickleball courts across Staten Island to meet the demand,” said Borough President Fossella. “It’s nice to know that younger people are getting into the game -- and we need to prepare for that. This sport brings people together at all different levels and I think that’s one of the reasons why pickleball has grown so much.” Register for the Borough President’s Pickleball Cup Tournament by scanning the QR code on the flyer below above or by visiting mydupr.com. To register, you must have a DUPR account. Borough President Vito Fossella announced that he is laying the foundation for a lawsuit against the entities responsible for the implementation of congestion pricing.
“We're here to stand up and be the voice of many across Staten Island, and I believe across the state, and not to mention the region, to put the brakes on the so-called congestion pricing plan,” said Borough President Fossella during a press conference on the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Boardwalk in South Beach –- the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in the background. “We say so-called because we believe congestion pricing is really a fancy way of calling this plan what it really is and that’s a ‘driving tax’ on individuals who already paid to build and maintain the roads.” His announcement was made following a lawsuit filed by New Jersey against the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday. He spoke with Randy Mastro, the attorney who filed the lawsuit on behalf of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. “We hope that New Jersey is successful in its efforts, regardless we plan to bring our own lawsuit to address this congestion pricing plan,” he said. The congestion pricing plan will cost drivers between $9 to $23 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street and is expected to generate $15 billion over four years for MTA improvements. “As many of you know, we don’t even have a subway system,” said Borough President Fossella. “So, here we are a car-dependent community that has been left out of every major decision the MTA has laid out over the last 50-plus years and now we’re forced to pay another toll." He said residents of Staten Island, as well Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, “will be treated as tourists in this city and not as equal citizens.” The “driving tax” also comes with negative environmental impacts, he said, citing a federal government report that states “the air quality will get worse as a result of this plan.” “You’d have to be a first-class idiot to support any plan that intentionally hurts your neighbors, and your constituents, both from a financial and environmental perspective,” said Borough President Fossella. After fires at two lithium-ion battery energy storage units in Warwick, N.Y., smoldered for days last month, Borough President Vito Fossella gathered with his fellow elected officials to point out the dangers of those already built or those that are under construction on Staten Island.
“As many folks who have driven around Staten Island have come to realize in a negative way is that there are battery storage units that are popping up,” said Borough President Fossella during a press conference this morning in Great Kills where a site is under construction. "The reality is that we’re seeing that these battery storage units are being plopped right next to people’s homes, right next to their stores -- and momentarily right next to a future house of worship. We think it’s wrong. Recently in Warwick, we saw an identical situation that could be happening right behind us. There were a lot of folks who said don’t be concerned, but what happened in Warwick is Exhibit A that we should be concerned and safety should be our number one priority. Anybody who owns a home shouldn’t have to go into their backyard and see these things just a few feet from their deck or their pool -- and these things are not going away anytime soon.” To that end, Borough President Fossella announced that Council Members Joseph Borelli, David Carr and Kamillah Hanks will be introducing legislation that would require the facilities to be built at least 200-feet from any home or store. The fire in Warick was a storm-related issue that caused two new units to ignite and burn in two separate incidents on June 26, Council Member Borelli said. Council Member Borelli said a compromise needs to be worked out with city authorities to address the makeup of the battery storage systems, where they can be sited and how far they can be from residential neighborhoods. “These are actual dangers that aren’t being addressed,” said Council Member Borelli, who has been open-minded about new energy sources for Staten Island. “If water can get into the system and cause a fire that can smolder for a week in Warwick, N.Y., it can happen here.” Borough President Vito Fossella welcomed Taxi & Limousine Chief of Operations Anthony Moran into Borough Hall yesterday to commend him on his quick-thinking and heroic actions which saved the life of a motorist in distress on the Staten Island Expressway on June 22.
Using his training and intuition as a former probation officer, along with the help of bystander, Mr. Moran immediately jumped into high gear by grabbing a hammer from his car, smashing the rear window, pulling the driver from his SUV and immediately administering CPR. Without a moment’s hesitation for his own safety, he averted what could have been a tragedy. In the days of a 24/7 news cycle and viral social media posts, Borough President Vito Fossella said bystanders will often choose to use their cellphones to record incidents, whether good or bad, rather than stepping in to help. Then, there are people like Mr. Moran. “You always hope there is a knight in shining armor, somebody who will jump into action to save a life and do something heroic,” said Borough President Fossella. “There are a lot of options you can take when you see something like that, but this man did what we hope everybody would do if our loved one was in that type of accident. So, we wanted to call attention to it and highlight it in a world of bad news that we have heroes among us, there are people who do the right thing. On behalf of half-million people on Staten Island, we want to say that we appreciate what you did and we respect you for it.” Mr. Moran described his actions with humility. He was flagged down by a woman on the Staten Island Expressway, near Bradley Avenue, who told him there was a man unresponsive in a car up ahead. With the car still in drive, Anthony broke the window, put it in park, pulled him out and began chest compressions. “Within two to three minutes of starting CPR, he started to cough and to sit up,” said Mr. Moran. “We told him to hang in there.” Later that night, Mr. Moran received a call from the driver’s father saying his son was recovering and thanked him for saving his son’s life. The driver recounted that he was allergic to dairy and grabbed a power drink at the gym that he didn’t realize contained dairy as an ingredient. He remembers blacking out and waking up in the hospital. It was in the hospital that he learned about how his life was saved. “I can’t believe someone actually did this for me and they don’t even know me,” he said. “Humanity is amazing. I can’t even express how grateful I am to you just for being there in the right time and the right place and stopping what you had to do that day. We all live a busy life, but what you did for me that day really means a lot and I hope whoever sees this can still have faith in humanity and understand that there are people out there like you.” Borough President Vito Fossella congratulated the eight players from the Park Hill Youth Soccer Team for bringing home the trophy in the citywide 2023 New York City Soccer Initiative Community Cup Tournament.
“We read something very positive that you guys did in the city championship -- and we thought it would be nice to say congratulations,” said Borough President Fossella as he welcomed the players, their coaches and their parents into his Borough Hall office. These are our Staten Island champs:
The Park Hill team shutout Chinatown, 5-0, in the tournament which was played at the Triborough Bridge Playground in Queens on Sunday, July 2. “It was intimidating, challenging and rewarding, but it was fun, not only because we won, but because we tried our hardest,” said Juan Gonzalez. Coach Michael Fakih said the team returned to the tournament this year after taking a loss last year. “It was pretty hard for us, but we told them we are going back to get some revenge and put Staten Island on the map and we did just that,” said Coach Michael Fakih. “It was very nice.” Vito commended the team for not giving up. “This is an important life lesson,” Vito said. “Last year, you got beaten badly and one option is to give up, but like your coaches said, ‘try harder, try better’ and even though you were intimidated and afraid, you brought the trophy home. The point is you didn’t give up. We're very proud of you. You put Staten Island on the map like you set out to do. We hope you have a great summer.” Nominations are currently being accepted for The Patrick F. Daly Award.
This award is presented to two educators who exemplify the values of fallen principal Patrick Daly, who was gunned down 31 years ago in Red Hook, Brooklyn, while searching for a student who had left the school building. Anyone who wishes to nominate a teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal or principal may do so. The award will be given in Mr. Daly’s memory, honoring his legacy of service to the community, his steadfast commitment to his students and his leadership. Nominations will be accepted until Sept. 30. Fill out the nomination form on the Borough Hall website: Borough President Vito Fossella announced the first-ever Staten Island High School League Basketball Championship for Girls during a press conference in the gym at the Michael J. Petrides School.
There will be 13 high school teams participating in the tournament next season. “I think it’s going to be great and I hope the girls here will enjoy it,” said Borough President Fossella. "It’s about not just the game itself, but about meeting others. Even though you may attend Notre Dame Academy, it’s important that you have friends at Moore, or Susan Wagner, or New Dorp, for example. It’s about coming together as a community, but making it fun and allowing you all to shine.” For many years, there has been a championship tournament for high school boys, which was often attended by players from the girls’ teams. "A few months back, right in this gym on a cold and blustery night, I remember coming to the championship game and this place was packed and rocking," he said. "It speaks to the popularity of the championship process and of the game itself. It’s just a fun, joyous occasion that we need for the girls, too.” The players were called to the podium to say a few words. “This is very exciting to do it for the girls,” said Danielle Willamsen, who who will be a a senior at St. Joseph-by-the Sea in the coming academic year. “Knowing the boys had this all these years, it’s exciting for us. Especially as a senior to go out with a bang like this. I’m sure it’s going to be a great atmosphere and I can’t wait." Borough President Vito Fossella congratulated the students of P.S. 58 who won the junior Mayor’s Cup trophy in the Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs Challenge earlier this month.
Mia Chung, Queenie Gao, Layla Leitner, Olivia Sopeltseva and Katherine Wong are members of the Girls Who Code Club at P.S. 58. In May, the team won the qualifying boroughwide round of the Minecraft Education Challenge at Wagner College to advance to the finals at the Intrepid Museum. “You have made Staten Island proud, you have made your families proud and you have made your teachers proud,” said Borough President Fossella as he welcomed the students into his office at Borough Hall this morning. The Minecraft Education Challenge asked students to build "a safe, connected, resilient, and sustainable borough that moves NYC forward without leaving anyone behind." Tottenville High School had also won the boroughwide challenge for the grade 6-12 division to advance to the citywide finals. Olivia said she had her fingers crossed behind her back as the winners were announced. “When they said Staten Island, I jumped out of my chair,” she said. The students selected as “Exceptional Readers” in this year’s Readers Are Leaders Challenge were treated to an on-field experience at the Staten Island FerryHawks game on Saturday.
They took a group photo with Frankie the FerryHawk, stood on the field for the singing of the “Star-Spangled Banner” and welcomed the players as they ran in from the dugout to their positions. “Readers Are Leaders" challenged fourth-grade students in Staten Island's public, parochial and private schools to read a minimum of five books at grade level or above during a five-week period from Feb. 20 through March 24. Students then submitted a report or project on their favorite book that they read during the period. Each school picked one “Exceptional Reader,” who received an award from Vito last month. The program was started by then-Councilman Vito Fossella in 1996 and since its inception, fourth-grade students have read more than 780,000 books for the annual challenge. That's over 29 billion words read by Staten Island students! The challenge was sponsored by Community Media of Staten Island and the FerryHawks. As part of the expansion of the Highway Emergency Local patrol program, Borough President Vito Fossella was on hand to help cut the ribbon on two new trucks which will offer free roadside emergency assistance to motorists in distress during peak weekday travel hours on the Staten Island Expressway.
The expansion into Staten Island was announced today by Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams. The HELP trucks, which will be staffed by trained and certified civilian employees of the NYPD, will patrol both directions of the SIE between Lily Pond Avenue and the Goethals Bridge from 6 a.m.to noon and from 2 p.m. through 8 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays to assist motorists who have mechanical difficulties or have been involved in minor accidents. “Today marks a day where Staten Island joins the other boroughs in receiving adequate relief while experiencing vehicular distress traveling on the Staten Island Expressway,” said Borough President Fossella. “As Staten Islanders, we know the frustration when there is an incident of a vehicle breakdown or even a minor accident on the expressway. The entire flow of traffic on the Island is affected and its impact can disseminate throughout local neighborhood streets. The new HELP truck will not only provide aid to the motorist in need but also will also help those who are sitting in traffic as a result of the incident. We thank Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, and the NYPD for expanding the HELP truck program to Staten Island.” Vito stood with Assemblyman Michael Tannousis and Council Member David Carr to condemn the burning of an American flag outside of a Midland Beach home on June 14.
“We hear all the stories in other parts of the city and state where things happen and there are no consequences,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference. “Well, on Staten Island, when these things happen there needs to be a consequence. You will get caught and you’re going to pay the price. Let’s all remember that we live in the greatest country in the world and the flag represents that.” They were also joined by Bob and Linda Ollis, the parents of Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis. "We must stand with the flag because of the sacrifices of people like Michael Ollis and because of those wearing the uniform on the frontlines today," Vito said Borough President Vito Fossella named Anthony Aquaro, 102-year-old World War II veteran and NYC's oldest living firefighter, and his wife of 79 years, Gloria, as honorary “Borough Presidents of the Day” at an intimate gathering in his office. Mr. Aquaro served in the United States Navy during World War II from 1942 to 1945. He and Gloria married in 1944 while he was on leave. After the war, he was a firefighter with Engine Co. 69 in Brooklyn for 26 years. Noting the coincidence that the ceremony took place on D-Day, Borough President Fossella called Anthony and Gloria two of the “greatest from the greatest generation.” “Anthony served not only his country during the war, but he served his city as a firefighter,” said Borough President Fossella. “So, he wears two hats of service -- and that tradition is being carried out by his colleagues here in the Fire Department. We just thought it would be wonderful to take a moment to honor these two individuals and what they represent – family, faith, country, service. This touches our hearts. Anthony and Gloria, you really are role models for us.” When Mr. Aquaro was called upon to speak, he said he was at “a loss for words.” “In my wildest dreams, I never thought this could happen to me,” Mr. Aquaro said. “I can’t tell you how I feel so deep in this heart of mine to the people who got involved in this, particularly Vito. Thank you so much. I appreciate it.” The couple also took a few moments to watch the Tottenville High School Symphonic Band who were performing as part of our Lunch At The St. George Plaza Concert Series. To Anthony and Gloria Aquaro, we say thank you for inspiring us. Borough President Vito Fossella commended officials at the City Department of Transportation and the City Department of Environmental Protection for their swift action and teamwork to resolve a dangerous roadway condition along Arthur Kill Road that was a longtime constituent concern.
He was joined by Borough DOT Commissioner Roseann Caruana and Nicholas Barbaro and Michael Sullivan from the DEP's Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations during a press conference at the site this morning. The stretch of Arthur Kill Road between Bloomingdale Road and Sharrots Road had been plagued by dangerous potholes that caused hazardous driving conditions. Borough Hall was alerted to the quality-of-life issue. A DOT crew assessed the street, temporarily remediated the area, and then milled, paved and completed the project in about a month. To help improve the drainage and alleviate flooding, the DEP installed eight catch basins and approximately 800 feet of 24-inch concrete re-enforced piping. "When we brought this to their attention, they jumped on it," said Borough President Fossella. "Not only do you see the results of what they did in resurfacing the road, but they fixed an underlying condition that had existed for years. This is a great example of how problems can be solved and improvements can be made by city agencies working together." Join us for Lunch At The St. George Plaza which will feature performances by Staten Island school bands.
Bring your lunch and enjoy our new tables and chairs. Mark your calendars for these upcoming performances:
We hope you will join us. Borough President Vito Fossella and the Staten Island EMS Task Force recognized the important and heroic works of the Emergency Medical Services community during National EMS Week with a special breakfast and ceremony this morning in the Staaten.
The 29th Annual Emergency Services Recognition Ceremony honored several EMTS, paramedics, instructors, and students. The event is unique to Staten Island. We congratulate all the winners and thank them for everything they do for Staten Island. Here are this year’s winners: Emergency Medical Technician of the Year Awards:
Borough President Vito Fossella presented awards to this year’s “Readers Are Leaders” Exceptional Readers during a ceremony at the Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center of Staten Island.
"Readers Are Leaders" challenged fourth-grade students in Staten Island's public, parochial and private schools to read a minimum of five books at grade level or above during a five-week period from Feb. 20 through March 24. Students then submitted a report or project on their favorite book that they read during the period. ach school picked one Exceptional Reader, who received an award from the Borough President. The program was started by then-Councilman Vito Fossella in 1996 and since its inception, fourth-grade students have read more than 780,000 books for the annual challenge. That's over 29 billion words read by Staten Island students! "Readers Are Leaders" is sponsored by Community Media of Staten Island and the Staten Island FerryHawks. Here are this year’s Exceptional Readers:
Borough President Vito Fossella Presents Michael J. Petrides Award To Outstanding High School Senior5/16/2023
Molly Ibrahim, a senior at Tottenville High School, received the Michael J. Petrides Award from members of the Petrides family and the Michael J. Petrides Award Scholarship Committee during a ceremony last night
The annual award is given to a graduating high school senior who excels in math and science. Each Staten Island high school is asked to submit a single nominee, from which the honoree and runner-up are selected. The award is named for Michael J. Petrides, a legendary Staten Island educator who died in 1994. "Tonight, we highlight the young minds who have achieved a level of academic excellence that will lead them to exceptional college careers," said Borough President Fossella. "It is an honor to present the Petrides Award to a remarkable Staten Island student. Congratulations to our winner and to all the impressive nominees." Michael Petrides, the grandson of Mr. Petrides, addressed the students during the ceremony. “My grandfather was an engineer,” Mr. Petrides said. “He loved the disciplines of Math & Science because they cut to the chase. There was always an answer. What made my grandfather unique was that he was able to use his talents in these fields and apply them to help Staten Island become a better place to live.” Molly is a student in Tottenville High School's most rigorous and challenging Science Institute Program and holds the highest cumulative grade point average of 106.34%. She was recognized as an Advance Placement Scholar, the 2022 National African American Recognition Scholarship recipient, and the 2020 Mahragan El Keraza Diocese Winner. Her activities at Tottenville are countless: She has been a member of the Varsity Cross Country and Track and Field teams, along with being the Student Organization's Senior Senator, member of the Literacy Advisory Council, New York City Youth Speaker, Borough Student Advisory Council, Minds Matter Mentee, Colors for Coats Program Coordinator, Coptic Orthodox Diocese, Youth Climate Action Coalition, Games of Change Game Exchange, Future Health Professionals, and participant in the 2022 American Mathematics Competition 12B. She will be attending Brown University in the fall where she plans to pursue her studies in the medical field. Omosefe Noruwa from Curtis High School was named the second-place honoree. Anika Thakkar from St. Joseph Hill Academy was named the third-place honoree. Here is the full list of nominees: Nathaniel Amshen, CSI High School for International Studies; Omosefe Noruwa, Curtis High School; Mennah Elnaggar, Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School; Natalie Gulan, Michael J. Petrides School; Brian Gillen, Monsignor Farrell High School; Julia Guzman, Moore Catholic High School; Ceyda Topcu, New Dorp High School; Nadiya Crisano, Notre Dame Academy; Evan Randeniarachchi, Port Richmond High School; Anika Thakkar, St. Joseph Hill Academy; Joseph Dalton, Staten Island Academy; Tara Isabel Lago, Staten Island Technical High School; Benjamin Prince, Susan E. Wagner High School, and Molly Ibrahim, Tottenville High School. St. George Celebrates Arbor Day was a collaboration between Vito, the NYC Citywide Administrative Services and the St. George Civic Association.
The group focused on the Borough Hall plaza, Paulo Park, and the surrounding area. Trees were given away for the community to enjoy and share initiatives that Vito is launching to help revitalize the area, such as Lunch at the St. George Plaza. Tables and chairs will be available daily, weather permitting, for those who would like to use the space. There will be musical performances by Staten Island school bands on select days. Schedule of those dates will be posted. DCAS put in new landscaping around Borough Hall, painted handicap ramps, repaired lighting fixtures, and power washed and deep cleaned Borough Hall and its perimeters. Special thanks to all who came out to support and help make St. George a better place to work, live, and play --- including but not limited to: Nonprofit Staten Island, On Your Mark, the National Lighthouse Museum, Community Media of Staten island and the office of the City Clerk. We would also like to say thank you to our continuous partner, the City Department of Sanitation for providing cleanup materials, helping us remove bags of litter, and helping us make our efforts a success. To join a nearby cleanup or to report a location that needs to be addressed by our team, visit our Don't Trash On Me page. The rain didn’t stop us today when Borough Hall kicked off the first performance of the new “Lunch at the St. George Plaza” series with the Susan E. Wagner High School Jazz Band – we brought the music inside!
On select dates in May and June, school bands from across the Island will perform from noon to 2 p.m. on the St. George Plaza outside of Borough Hall. Chairs and tables will be set up for your enjoyment. We want to extend our congratulations to the members of the Susan E. Wagner High School Jazz Band for being selected as one of the 15 nationwide finalists to compete in Lincoln Center's 28th annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz & Band Competition & Festival from May 11 to May 13. They are the first NYC school to be selected for the competition. We wish them the best of luck and thank them for their performance. Stay tuned for the upcoming schedule of dates and we hope you join us for “Lunch at the St. George Plaza.” Borough President Vito Fossella Weclomes Monsignor Farrell High School Soccer Champs To Borough Hall5/2/2023
Borough President Fossella welcomed the Monsignor Farrell High School 2022 varsity soccer team into Borough Hall on May 2 to congratulate them on their remarkable season which culminated in winning the CHSAA championship crown.
“I get to do great things like I am going to do today -- and that is to honor you for winning the city championship for the first time in 21 years,” said Borough President Fossella, a 1983 Farrell graduate. He said the team was carried by the spirit of Michael Bielawski, a 14-year-old Farrell soccer player who died last May. “I know last season was very special, touching and sad in some ways,” he said. “We wouldn't be here today without your guardian angel, Michael, guiding you through.” Head Coach Ed Hynes said the season was dedicated to Michael, whose family was also in attendance this morning. “We will never forget Michael,” Coach Hynes said. “We wore his number 29 on our sleeves. We have to say Michael has a lot to do with it.” Farrell President Lou Tobacco said the team showed “dedication, passion and commitment” to their sport. “Those are habits that will take you anywhere you want to go in life,” he said. “We’re very proud of you. To the parents and to the coaches, we thank you.” Borough President Fossella presented each of the students and the coaches with championship rings and Certificates of Appreciation. Borough President Vito Fossella was proud to salute Vietnam veterans during a “Night of Recognition” held by members of the North Central Kiwanis Club of Staten Island at the Staaten in West Brighton.
The evening honored 61 veterans and paid tribute to the 85 men from Staten Island who were killed in action during the Vietnam War. Each veteran was introduced by name as they entered the ballroom. “Thank you to the North Central Kiwanis Club and this honor for Vietnam veterans,” said Borough President Fossella. “This flag and the USA still stand for freedom and our common denominator. Thank God for the North Central Kiwanis Club. To all of you who served we say, ‘thank you.’ We here on Staten Island honor you every day of the year.” (Photos courtesy of Nicholas Farah) |
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March 2024
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