ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
The listed local students have been recognized by their colleges or universities for the following achievements:
GRADUATIONS
York College
Of Pennsylvania
Desire James of Saint Albans – BA in Political Science.
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MEDICAL EVENTS
Brain aneurysm survivors, their families and friends attended “Brain Aneurysm Awareness Night” at the New York Islanders’ December 11 game against the Atlanta Thrashers at Nassau Coliseum. Representing other brain aneurysm survivors treated at the North Shore-LIJ Health System’s Brain Aneurysm Institute, Luisa DiMonda of Oceanside, dropped the ceremonial first puck. She credits North Shore University Hospital’s neurovascular surgeon David Chalif, M.D., and interventional neuroradiologist Avi Setton, M.D., for saving her life. For more information about the Brain Aneurysm Institute at North Shore University Hospital, call 516-562-3070 or go to: https://www.northshorelij.com/NSLIJ/Brain+Aneurysm+Center.
Brain aneurysm survivor Luisa DiMonda of Oceanside, dropped the ceremonial first puck at the New York Islanders’ December 11 game against the Atlanta Thrashers. Squaring off are Thrashers’ captain Andrew Ladd, left, and Islanders’ assistant captain Mark Eaton.
HOLIDAY EVENTS
St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus Council #5911 of Douglaston, held their annual Christmas party on December 18 in Bayside at Monahan & Fitzgerald’s. All the members that attended brought toys to be donated. Fifty toys were donated to the Jamaica Outreach Program which aids mothers and their children who are in part are victims of domestic abuse and are in shelters.
Joseph Stock, Past Grand Knight and Martin Aversa, Past Grand Knight and former chair of District Deputies left to right at the holiday party. The chair of the event was William P. Fitzgerald.
FOUNDATION GRANTS
The Verizon Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to MOUSE (Making Opportunities for Upgrading Schools and Education), a NYC nonprofit organization that empowers students to provide technical support in their schools, enhancing essential skills, building confidence and preparing them for success in the future. MOUSE teaches and supports students in managing leading-edge technical support help desks in their schools, improving the ability to use technology to enhance learning and providing a powerful, hands-on, 21st century learning experience for students. As a result of this grant from the Verizon Foundation, MOUSE will significantly increase its impact on students in more than 100 schools across the city. MOUSE will enhance its training events, which focus on project-based learning, leadership and help-desk skills, and also offer new workshops that expose students to the use of technology in real-world contexts, including robotics, animation and video-game design.
REENLISTMENTS
Major General Patrick A. Murphy, the Adjutant General, announces the recent reenlistment of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their continuing commitment to serve community, state and nation as part of the Army National Guard.
Specialist Donald Prayag from Floral Park; Sergeant 1st Class Jaggan Mithu from Richmond Hill; Staff Sergeant Mark Agard from South Richmond Hill; Sergeant William Garcia from Jamaica and Private 1st Class Emil Phillips from Queens.
APPOINTMENTS
St. John’s has appointed Joseph M. Mattone, Sr., Chair of the Board of Mattone Group, LLC., to the University’s Board of Trustees. Mattone, a St. John’s University Law School Alumnus (’55, ’94HON), was unanimously elected by his peers this past September. He served in his first capacity as St. John’s Board Trustee during a full meeting of the board at the University’s Queens campus last month. He had previously served as a founding member of St. John’s University’s Board of Governors. Mattone has been involved in real estate development since 1955, both individually and under the Mattone Group banner. He is a Senior Partner in the law firm of Mattone, Mattone, Mattone, Mattone, Mattone, Megna and Todd, a full service Queens-based law firm.
Joseph M. Mattone, Sr.
HONORS & AWARDS
John V. Daniels Jr. VFW Post No. 2813 presented Youth Essay Awards in Woodside. Youth Activities chair Vincent Renda and Commander Marvin R. Jeffcoat presented Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen Awards at St. Sebastian’s RC School 39-76 58th Street in Woodside. Ms. JoAnn Dolan St. Sebastian’s Principal led the assembly in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to kick off this year’s ceremony. St. Sebastian’s hosts this academic awards ceremony annually each December.
Photo Courtesy of Principal JoAnn Dolan
At the essay awards ceremony were Chair Vincent Renda, Antonio A. Sosa and Commander Marvin R. Jeffcoat (left to right). First place Voice of Democracy contestant Antonio A. Sosa of Manhattan Hunter Science High School in Manhattan received a Certificate, a check for $100., and a First Place medal.
TOUR GUIDE
Councilmember Mark S. Weprin recently volunteered with Big Apple Greeters, serving as a New York City tour guide to visitors Lisa Oxborough, a financial advisor, and her husband Andrew, a postman. Lisa and Andrew are from St. Neots, in Cambridgeshire, England. Big Apple Greeter is an organization that has over three hundred volunteer greeters who each year bring approximately seven thousand visitors to over one hundred neighborhoods throughout the City. The organization provides the greeters free of charge. The Greeter for a Day program, launched in 2008, matches New York elected officials, corporate leaders and celebrities with global visitors to experience New York through the eyes of real New Yorkers.
Photographs by Karen Bell
Councilmember Mark S. Weprin with Lisa and Andrew Oxborough of Cambridgeshire, England.
