Ulrich To Host Rev. Lawrence E. Lynch Memorial Triangle Renaming Ceremony
City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Belle Harbor, Breezy Point, Broad Channel, Howard Beach, Lindenwood, Neponsit, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Rockaway Park, Roxbury, South Ozone Park, West Hamilton Beach, Woodhaven) and The Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society next month will host a renaming ceremony to honor the legacy of Rev. Lawrence E. Lynch – an Irish-American priest who comforted soldiers during World War II.
Ulrich sponsored the legislation, Intro 0988-2018, to rename the triangle at Rockaway Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue after Rev. Lynch – a longtime Woodhaven resident who is revered as a WWII hero to so many.
Rev. Lynch often sought out the most dangerous battlegrounds to comfort the wounded and give dying soldiers their last rites – a Catholic ritual. On April 25, 1945, during the battle on Okinawa, Father Lynch was traveling with a soldier when a shell struck and killed him instantly. He was just 38-years-old. More than 4,000 servicemen attended mass at his graveside in Okinawa at the end of June, after victory had been secured.
“Rev. Lawrence E. Lynch was a hero who was admired by all that knew him. His compassion led him to some of the most dangerous battlegrounds, so that he could comfort dying American soldiers as they took their last breath,” said Ulrich. “It is my hope that the memorial triangle named his honor will serve as a small reminder of his brave sacrifice and that his legacy will live on forever.”
The memorial triangle renaming ceremony is slated from 10-11 a.m., Saturday, March 9 at Rockaway Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue. A St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in honor of Rev. Lawrence. E. Lynch will immediately follow at Neir’s Tavern, located at 87-48 78th Street in Woodhaven.
Addabbo, Pheffer Amato Meet With DHS & Shelter Officials About Coming Ozone Park Homeless Shelter
State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth, parts of South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Woodside, The Rockaways) and Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Broad Channel, Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach, Lindenwood, Ozone Park, the Rockaway Peninsula), along with Ciara Donley representing Councilman Eric Ulrich, met last Friday with the city’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS), Lantern Community Services (Lantern) and the local NYPD to begin the community relations with the city and the service provider of the Ozone Park Laurel Hall homeless shelter, to be located at 85-15 101st Avenue.
As Lantern, the service provider at the shelter, begins to work towards becoming a cooperative community partner, the topics discussed at the meeting were:
– 6 security officers on site at all times;
– 69 video cameras inside and outside of the facility;
– Contact with the local 102nd Pct.;
– On site case management and employment services;
– A 24 hour community number.
Lantern also stated that it intends to be present at local community meetings to introduce themselves and answer any questions regarding the shelter.
The temporary housing shelter is planning to begin welcoming single men by the end of February and over a period of time will host a maximum of 113 beds.
Addabbo Named President Of NY Conference Of Italian-American Legislators
State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D) last week was chosen by his senate and assembly colleagues to serve as President of the New York Conference of Italian-American State Legislators.
The conference is a bipartisan organization of New York State Senate and Assembly members who are actively involved in promoting and celebrating the state’s Italian-American community. The conference mission is to highlight Italian-American contributions to the state of New York in areas including literature, the arts, architecture and politics and to work to dispel negative stereotypes of Italian-Americans.
“I am honored to be chosen by my Senate and Assembly colleagues to serve as President of the New York Conference of Italian-American Legislators. New York is a huge melting pot of people from all over the world, so being able to promote other Italian-Americans, provide them valuable resources and offer college scholarships makes this opportunity even more gratifying,” Addabbo said.
Both sets of Addabbo’s grandparents immigrated to the United States from Sicily and Bari. The New York Conference of Italian-American Legislators offers scholarships to help reduce the financial burden of attending college for families who need it the most. This year the conference will be offering four scholarships totaling $10,000.
Sanders Hosts Albany Caucus Bus Trip
State Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village) last week hosted a free bus trip to Albany for his constituents so they could join him during the 48th Annual Legislative Conference of the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators.
“I am glad that you took the trip down here,” Sanders told attendees. “I am so glad to see so many friends that I know, and so glad to see so many friends that I’m getting to know. I am blessed.”
More than 100 people from the community participated and were Sanders’ guests at his State of the District Address. During his speech, Sanders discussed his new position as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banks, opportunities for MWBE contracting at JFK, the Green New Deal, an environmental bill he recently introduced, the possible legalization of recreational marijuana in New York State, which he opposes, favoring decriminalization instead, and many more issues.
Sanders also hosted two panel discussions – Banking While Black: What Can Be Done to Ensure Equality, where the discussion focused on the various roles of banking and its impact on communities of color; and JFK Mega Projects, which centered on MWBE contracting opportunities and challenges at JFK Airport.
He also co-hosted a third workshop, with Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Brooklyn), titled MWBE: Article-15A. Panelists discussed how to make the Article-15A program stronger and more sustainable as well as new legislation that may be on the horizon.
“I support the renewal of Article 15-A, which is both valuable and necessary in ensuring that state agencies establish employment and business participation goals for minorities and women,” Sanders said. “Under those conditions, we must work to ensure that the program is as effective as possible in remedying the State’s history of contracting disparities, responsive in addressing new concerns, and is legally sound.”
