Borough Hopping

What an eventful day! It all started in Brooklyn at the Miss Brooklyn Organization's Flapjack Fundraiser. I went to Applebee's in the Atlantic Terminal Market to enjoy some pancakes and bacon (YUM!) while supporting the Miss Brooklyn Scholarship Organization. Besides Mallory Hagan (Miss Brooklyn 2010) and Joelle Bracco (Miss Brooklyn's Outstanding Teen 2010), joining me at the event included Claire Buffie (Miss New York 2010), Alison Stroming (Miss New York's Outstanding Teen 2010), and Hannah Wright (Miss Metropolitan 2010).


After the fundraiser, Claire, Hannah, and I headed into Manhattan to participate in the American Cancer Society's LGBT Relay for Life. Now, I have been involved with Relay for Life events for a number of years. However, this was the first Relay for Life dedicated to the LGBT community. The event took place inside the World Financial Center Atrium. We were surprised that the event was indoors instead of outdoors; usually Relay for Life takes place outside. Nevertheless, we had a great time and met some amazing people.

Miracle Jeans Day

The second annual Miracle Jeans Day is a one day Children's Miracle Network nation-wide event where employees and local businesses are invited to go casual for kids. Since I am a big advocate for the Children's Miracle Network, I organized my own Miracle Jeans Day at Silver Lake Specialized Care Center. My fellow employees and I raised donations by selling the Miracle Jeans Day button. Everyone had a blast dressing down for this great organization. We partnered up with the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System Foundation. All proceeds went to the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park. It is one of the ten Children's Miracle Network in New York.

Always Remember. Never Forget.

Where were you on September 11, 2001? I remember the devastation in New York City hitting very close to home, being only thirteen miles away from the World Trade Center. I was a freshman in high school attending my first full day of school. Emotions of excitement quickly turned to disbelief and uncertainty. At 9:15AM, my principal got on the loud speaker and said, "Attention all students. There is a reason why you are still in homeroom. There has been a terrorist attack in Manhattan. The World Trade Center has been hit by two airplanes. I have decided to end school for the day. Teachers will get you home safely." I tried to call my parents, but there was no cell phone service. No one could get in touch with loved ones. I remember seeing students crying and screaming in the parking lot, not knowing what had become of family members who were in those towers. My father was stuck in New Jersey for days because no one was allowed to travel over any bridge. Bridges were closed down, communication was disconnected, and chaos flooded the streets of Staten Island. I was the first of my family to arrive home around 10:45AM. I immediately turned on the television, and saw a scene I will never forget: a reshowing of the towers collapsing to the ground. Still in disbelief and shock, my heart stopped. I had only visited the World Trade Center once, when I was eleven years old. I remember being on the very top of the North tower with my family. The view of the city mesmerized me. I was so proud to be a New Yorker and was lucky enough to experience that moment. And now, three years later, it was gone. The only visual we had now was a thick, black cloud that made its way through the five boroughs. This black cloud lasted for several weeks. Above is a picture taken six days after the terrorist attack. It shows a Staten Island ferry pulling out of the slip at the St. George terminal. It was the first to return to services.

Today marks the ninth anniversary of the attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It's still amazing to me that it has been nine years since that horrific day in American history. Unfortunately, this year's commemoration brings more controversy than ever before. The media has spent most of its time focusing on issues surrounding the protests in favor and against a proposed Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero and a Florida pastor who plans to burn the Quran. This is not the time to focus our energy on negativity. This day is about remembrance, to pay our respects to the 2,752 victims who lost their lives. Watching the ceremony at Ground Zero this morning brought back all those emotions I had that day. However, the ceremony brings about new hope to all of us. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is under way, set to be finished next year. We have become a stronger nation, especially when faced with adversity.

Even though I did not loose any family members that day, I lost 274 fellow Staten Islanders. To honor their memory and legacy, I attended Staten Island's annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony in St. George. One Staten Islander who made an impact on my life was Lt. Charles 'Chuck' Margiotta. He was the soccer and basketball coach at my elementary school, firefighter on Staten Island, his daughter and I were altar servers and members of the same Girl Scout troop. He was off duty on September 11th. When he got word of what was going on, he joined the nearest fire station from Staten Island (Rescue 5) and headed into Manhattan. Rescue 5 was the first fire department to report to the World Trade Center. All of those men sacrificed their lives to save many others. Chuck continues to be an inspiration to me. There was not one dry eye in St. George tonight. Tears filled my eyes as I heard Chuck's name read by his daughter, Norma Jean. As the last few names were read, I noticed the two light beams representing the Twin Towers across the harbor. It was the most beautiful scene of the city skyline. It was a vision of hope for all of us who constantly replay that horrific day in our minds. If you are from New York City, you can most likely say you knew at least one person who lost their life on September 11, 2001. This will forever be a sacred day of remembrance. What we can do now is keep the memory of those 2,752 heroes alive. Because it's the remembrance that keeps the spirit alive. ALWAYS REMEMBER. NEVER FORGET.

On this tragic anniversary, we remember our fallen heroes, loved ones, friends, and neighbors. We remember the selfless sacrifice of our brave men and women in uniform. We remember those who left that fateful morning and never came home. We remember those they left behind. We remember the consuming grief and rage. We remember the response of overwhelming compassion and generosity. We remember our great city, forever a beacon of hope shining on the world. We remember all those who made New York a model of strength and unity. We remember our proud towers, standing tall reaching toward heaven. We see the empty spaces and feel an ache in our hearts.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET.

Smoking bans continue in New York City

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has spearheaded many affective smoking bans in New York City. And now, he is on the verge of undertaking another one. Mayor Bloomberg is ready to ban smoking in city parks and beaches. The mayor has proven to be a huge advocate of smoking cessation, having spent hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money into anti-smoking campaigns. He has already eradicated smoking from public buildings, subways and buses, playgrounds and recreational facilities, and bars and restaurants. Banning smoking in parks and beaches would be taking smoking cessation to the next level- the first ban to affect the outdoor environment.

Dr. Thomas A. Farley, the city health commissioner, proposed this bill to Mayor Bloomberg last September for two reasons: secondhand smoke and cigarette butt littering. Secondhand smoke, which is the mixture of smoke coming from the burning end of tobacco products, can affect your health when you breathe in the air. By being outside at a park or beach, you become more susceptible to secondhand smoke. There is also a major litter problem in our city parks and beaches. In May, I participated in Keep America Beautiful's Cigarette Litter Prevention Program where I saw first hand how the amount of cigarette butt litter was affecting Staten Island, which is known as the Borough of Parks due to its abundance of parks. Many people do not realize that cigarette butts make up one third of all litter nationwide. The city has 29,000 acres of parkland and fourteen miles of beaches. This constitutes about 14% of the city's total land area. If this ban is successful, it could be the most comprehensive health measure yet.

I can understand why this ban is necessary for the city. We need to improve the air quality by eliminating secondhand smoke. We need to clean up the environment by getting rid of cigarette butt littering. However, there is some debate about the proposed ban. There are many smokers who enjoy going to the park, sitting on a bench, and puffing away on a cigar or smoking a cigarette. They feel that the secondhand smoke outdoors does not have the same effect as the secondhand smoke in an enclosed area and that the measure may be taking smoking cessation too far. But what about the non-smokers who can still smell the smoke on that park bench? They made the decision not to smoke, so why should they have to breathe in the toxins left behind from a cigarette. Only time will tell to see if Mayor Bloomberg moves forward on this ban. From the way things look, he could be moving in the right direction.

Athena Awards Presentation

The Coalition of Staten Island Women's Organizations is a non-profit, non-partisan association made up of twenty member organizations representing two thousand members to provide a voice for women on all issues, policies, and programs affecting the community. Every August, the coalition host its annual Summer Power Lunch. The lunch includes the presentation of the Athena Awards, named for the Greek goddess of peace and wisdom. The Athena Award goes to women who personify generosity of service and courage in pursuing their ideas for the community. Four women were honored today, including my Girl Scout leader Chris Chukalas. She truly exemplifies the meaning of community service. Chris has been an active Girl Scout leader for over forty years, helping many girls like myself earn the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting- the Gold Award. She has been a mentor and friend to so many Girl Scouts on Staten Island over the years. Congratulations to her and all the honorees.

Staten Island International Dance Festival

Today I made my dance debut with Floorwork Dance Company at the fifth annual Staten Island International Dance Festival at Tappen Park. The event, sponsored by the Council of the Art and Humanities for Staten Island, gives dance troupes the opportunity to showcase different styles of dance. There was belly dancing, bollywood, contemporary, African, salsa, and hip hop. We performed a contemporary piece called Sisterhood. It is a story about trusting your sisters during hardship.

Floorwork Dance Company: Jennifer, Stephanie, Kim, and Libby

Cecilia Flores, Founder and Artistic Director

Today also was the Miss Thousand Islands Pageant. Congratulations to Kristina Ferris on a great reign and to Morgan Bocciolatt who was crowned Miss Thousand Islands 2011!

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Kick-Off Breakfast

The American Cancer Society Staten Island Region celebrated its Sweet 16 at this year's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Kick-Off Breakfast at the Staaten. Before heading to work this morning, I made an appearance to show my support for this vital cause. Joining me at the breakfast was my friend and Miss Staten Island predecessor, Melissa Robson. The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk will take place at Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island on October 17, 2010. Contact me if you are interested in donating/participating in this event.

Melissa Robson (Miss Staten Island 2008)