Brooklyn Borough President

On May 2nd, Marty kicked off his program to encourage Brooklynites of all ages to donate their time and energy to the many worthwhile local organizations and institutions that desperately need volunteers. Posters, printed in both English and Spanish, will be placed in Brooklyn cultural institutions, senior citizen centers, colleges and various other locations all across the borough. The posters were printed courtesy of Liberty Mutual. Brooklynites’ interests and experience can be matched with groups looking for all kinds of assistance. People can call 718-802-3875 or log onto www.Brooklyn-usa.org right now for more information on where to become a Brooklyn volunteer. A number of Brooklyn organizations joined with Marty at the announcement including the Brooklyn Public Library, the Diana Jones Senior Center, the Fifth Avenue Committee, Heights and Hill Community Council, New York Aquarium and the Prospect Park Alliance. The five posters were designed by Brooklyn Volunteer Albert Dungca, who created them while he was enrolled as a student at New York City Technical College and volunteered to complete the project after he graduated.

On April 29th, Steve Cohn and Judy Shapiro, co-chairs of the Brooklyn Jewish Heritage Committee, and Marty announced the winners of the Holocaust Memorial Poetry and Essay contest on Yom Hashoah, a day to remember the millions of victims of the Holocaust. The contest was open to all junior and senior high school students in Brooklyn and was sponsored by the Brooklyn Jewish Heritage Committee. The theme of the contest was: “Why should we remember the Holocaust and why is its memory meaningful today?” The top essays and poems were awarded Holocaust Remembrance Scholarships - $1000 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 for the third place winners. “I want to congratulate all the winners here today and everyone that participated in this important contest,” Marty said. “One of the ways we remember the millions we lost is by asking Brooklyn students to contemplate the horrors of the Holocaust and come to a better understanding of its meaning in today’s world. The written word is a powerful way of keeping the memory of the Holocaust and its victims alive, and it was beautifully demonstrated by these talented young Brooklynites.” Poetry Winners: 1st place – Crystal Henry – a junior at Edward R. Murrow High School (the school also gets a trophy in the student’s name and $500), 2nd place – Cari Engelmann – Abraham Lincoln High School & Kettia Johnson - Sheepshead Bay High School and 3rd place - Gabrielle Caruso – John Dewey High School & Rachel Serkin – Edward R. Murrow High School. Essay Winners: 1st place - Filan Ho – a senior at Sheepshead Bay High School (the school also gets a trophy in the student’s name and $500), 2nd place - Alyssa Chawdry – Edward R. Murrow High School & Ernie Moran - EBC Bushwick and 3rd place - Rostislav Boltyanskiy – Edward R. Murrow High School, Irina Kvasha – John DeweyHigh School and Ying Su – John Dewey High School.

MARTY CELEBRATES HAITIAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL AWARENESS WEEk

On May 2nd, Marty welcomed Brooklyn’s vibrant Haitian-American community to Borough Hall to help celebrate Haitian-American Awareness Week. Marty honored a number of Brooklynites for their important contributions to both the Haitian community and the entire borough. He also raised the Haitian flag over Borough Hall in recognition of this important occasion. “Today’s celebration pays tribute to the many achievements and contributions of Brooklyn’s Haitian-American community, as well as the many individuals and organizations that have helped make Brooklyn what it is today - the greatest place in the world to live and work,” Marty said. “The motto on the seal of Brooklyn is the same as the motto on the flag of Haiti: ‘in unity there is strength.’ Working together, there is no goal we cannot reach, no obstacle we cannot overcome.” The honorees included Dr. Mona Pervil-Ulysee from the Aesclepius Medical Society, Youth for Education and Sports founder Dr. Mathieu Eugene, Haitian Centers Council Coalition on AIDS Program Director Dr. Marie-Carmel Pierre-Louis, Reverend Philius Nicolas, Minister and President of the Evangelical Crusade of Fishers of Men, Voix and Tambours D’Haiti President Jocelyn Gay and Top City Car Service President Jean Jodel Louis. Honorable Harry F. Fouche, Consul General of Haiti and Councilmember Yvette Clarke were also in attendance. Healthfirst graciously funded the reception.

ANOTHER BROOKLYNITE MAKES ELECTION HISTORY ABROAD

Anthony Bianchi has done a lot of things in his life, but becoming an elected official in Japan is certainly a first for him and for any North American. On April 27th, he became the second Brooklynite, and first male, to win an elective office abroad and the first person of North American origin to be elected to public office in Japan by capturing a seat in the Inuyama, Japan City Council. Mr. Bianchi, who attended Xaverian High School, has worked as an English teacher there since 1988. "Brooklyn's world domination continues - first Greece and now Japan. Who knows what country a Brooklynite can try and conquer next!” Marty said. “We are so very proud of Inuyama, Japan's newest City Councilman and Brooklynite Anthony Bianchi. This kid from Bensonhurst has proved once again that you can do just about anything if you are from Brooklyn. From producing television shows to teaching English, Anthony Bianchi has done it all, and I know he's going to bring all of his energy and enthusiasm to making Inuyama a better place to live and work. I am sure in the months ahead we will find an appropriate way to honor him in another uniquely Brooklyn celebration." Last year, Athens, Greece City Councilwoman Yvette Jarvis, who grew up in Red Hook, became the first Brooklynite to win an elective office overseas. In March, Marty honored Councilwoman Jarvis at a Borough Hall ceremony.

BRAVO BROOKLYN

Two Brooklyn classmates at I.S. 228 in Gravesend were recently crowned the nation’s chess kings. Alex Lenderman and Aleksandr Pelekhaty, both 13, were named co-champions at the National Junior High Chess Championship in Orlando, FL.