With demolition of the Doctors Hospital site about to begin, a new study by a pair of Columbia University researchers was released today showing that students who enter middle schools in New York City fall behind their peers in K-8 schools in Math and English achievement. To read the detailed study, titled “Stuck in the Middle: How and why middle schools harm student achievement,” by Jonah E. Rockoff and Benjamin B. Lockwood, please see http://educationnext.org/stuck-in-the-middle/.

Though the study did not definitely determine all the complicated reasons for the differences in student achievement, the researchers do believe that part of the problem is that there are simply too many students in each grade (due to the combination of students from several elementary schools) and statistically this seems to decrease achievement in middle schools in comparison with K-8 schools.

New York City Council Minority Leader James S. Oddo (R- Mid-Island), who is a strong proponent of making the new PS 48 a K-8 facility, said: “This important study provides another piece of evidence demonstrating why the new PS 48 at the Doctors Hospital site should be K-8. Along with the PS 48 PTA, I have said from day one that it should be K-8, and I will continue to advocate for this grade configuration as the construction process continues.”

Below are some selected quotes from the “Stuck in the Middle:”

“[T]he simple fact is that students who enter public middle schools in New York City fall behind their peers in K-8 schools. This is true for math and English achievement. Even more troubling, the middle school disadvantage grows larger over the course of the middle school years. With the transition into a middle school, students set out on a trajectory of lower achievement gains.”

“Even though a full explanation of the middle-school achievement gap eludes us, there does seem to be a consensus among New York City students and their parents that educational quality in the city’s public middle schools is lower than in the boroughs’ K–8 schools. We reached this conclusion after examining responses to a citywide survey of parents of children in grades K–8 and students in grades 6 and higher, which was conducted at the end of the 2006–07 and 2007–08 school years as a part of the city’s new school accountability system.”

“On average, New York City parents of students in middle schools gave their schools lower marks on measures related to education quality than parents whose children attend K–8 schools.”

“We don’t yet know whether the troubling slide in test scores for middle-school students persists through the end of high school, a question that is certainly worth studying. Unfortunately, our data do not allow us to follow the students in our study further than grade 8. If the decline does continue, middle schools not only hurt student achievement in the short term but set students up for unnecessary longer-term disadvantages.”

“Of course, it is possible that transitioning to high school could be more difficult for students who come from K–8 schools than for middle school students. If K–8 students experience a larger drop in achievement upon entering high school, that could bring the two groups of adolescents back into parity. But it is hard to recommend closing the middle-school achievement gap by bringing everybody down. The better option is to address the trouble with middle schools—or do away with them altogether.”

While the ramps fall under the jurisdiction of NYSDOT, NYCDOT usually provides maintenance on them. To that end, Council Member Oddo has been actively persuading NYSDOT and NYCDOT to work together to make the repairs of the ramps along the SIE a necessity.

After much negotiation, Council Member Oddo was recently informed by NYSDOT Regional Director Philip Eng that State DOT will perform interim work using an existing State contract in order to expedite repairs. While State DOT is currently coordinating with their contractor regarding the scope and scheduling of this much needed work, Mr. Eng believes that the interim repairs to the ramps will be completed before Labor Day.

Council Member Oddo said “As any Staten Island driver can attest, the current conditions of these ramps along the SIE are in deplorable condition. However, I am pleased that State DOT has agreed to make the much needed repairs to put these ramps back in drivable condition. This is a long overdue solution to a problem that has plagued Staten Island motorists for far too long and I commend NYSDOT for ‘just doing it’.”

Although summer is currently in full swing, back to school season will soon begin and Councilman Oddo’s office will once again be a drop location for those who wish to participate.

To participate in Operation Backpack, Staten Islanders are urged to donate a new backpack filled with school supplies and drop it off at Oddo’s office between Monday, July 26 and Friday, August 6 during normal business hours. Please be sure to attach an appropriate label specifying the grade level to the backpack. Oddo’s district office is located at 900 South Avenue, Suite 403.

Councilman Oddo, “I am continually amazed that whenever I ask Staten Islanders to donate for a good cause they respond. It doesn’t matter what it is – coats, used cell phones, backpacks and school supplies – Staten Islanders always respond. I am asking Staten Islanders to respond once again by participating in Operation Backpack. Children cannot succeed without the necessary school supplies and this drive helps the neediest of the needy succeed in school.”

Those interested in donating should simply purchase a new backpack, fill it with grade appropriate school supplies, and bring it to Councilman Oddo’s office.

Please find a list of suggested school supplies broken down by grade level below, or go to http://www.voa-gny.org/Content/Fill_A_Backpack-2113.asp to see the list of suggested supplies.

Nearly 11,000 school-age children live with their families in New York City homeless shelters. Most of these children will go back to school in September without the basic school supplies they need without help. Last year, with more than 90 community partners and hundreds of individuals participating, Operation Backpack resulted in 7,000 children with filled backpacks. This year their goal is even more ambitious: 11,000 filled backpacks.

Over the past two years Staten Islanders have dropped more than 100 filled back packs to Councilman Oddo’s office that went directly to those kids in need.

Below are the grade appropriate school supplies that should be placed in donated backpacks, along with a label indicating the grade level:

Pre-K & Kindergarten School Supplies
o Backpack*
o #2 Pencils
o Pencil Box
o Box of Crayons
o Box of Washable Markers
o Water Color Paint (set)
o Pad of Coloring Paper
o Large Pink Erasers
o Glue Sticks
o Safety Scissors
o Two-Pocket Folders
o Wide-Rule Loose-Leaf Paper
o Facial Tissues
o Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer

* A typical Pre-k/Kindergartener is 4-6 years old and needs a smaller backpack. Look for backpacks with popular characters, fun colors, and bright designs. Small backpacks tends to be about 12-14″ x 9-12″ x 5-10″.

First - Fourth Grade School Supplies

o Backpack*
o Pencil Box
o #2 Pencils
o Pens (Black Ink)
o Box of Crayons
o Box of Colored Pencils
o Box of Washable Markers
o Water Color Paint (set)
o 3-Ring Binder
o 2-Pocket Folders (3)
o Wide-Rule Loose-Leaf Paper
o Spiral Notebooks (3)
o Composition Book
o Pad of Coloring Paper
o Index Cards
o Large Pink Erasers
o Handheld Pencil Sharpener
o 5-Inch Safety Scissors
o Bottle of Glue (Elmer’s-type)
o Glue Sticks
o Book Covers (4)
o Facial Tissues
o Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer

* A typical elementary schooler is 6-10 years old and needs a smaller backpack. Look for backpacks with popular characters, fun colors, and bright designs. Small backpack tends to be about 12-14″ x 9-12″ x 5-10″.

Fifth - Eighth Grade School Supplies

o Backpack*
o Soft Pencil Case
o #2 Pencils
o Pens (Black Ink)
o Highlighters
o Box of Washable Markers
o Box of Colored Pencils
o 3-Ring Binder (2”-3”)
o Subject Dividers
o 2-Pocket Folders (5)
o Loose-leaf Paper
o Graph Paper
o Spiral Notebooks (6)
o Composition Notebook (1)
o Package of Index Cards
o Assignment Book/Weekly Planner
o Large Pink Erasers
o Pencil Sharpener
o Glue Sticks (2)
o Scissors
o Ruler (marked in inches and centimeters)
o Protractor
o Compass
o Calculator
o Book Covers (6)
* A typical middle schooler is 10-13 years old and needs a medium-sized backpack. Look for backpacks with classic colors or simple designs. A medium backpack tends to be about 16″ x 12″ x 10″.

Ninth - Twelfth Grade School Supplies

o Backpack*
o Soft Pencil Case
o #2 Pencils
o Pens in Blue, Black and Red
o Highlighters (2)
o Box of Colored Pencils
o 3-Ring Binder
o 2-Pocket Folders (6)
o Subject Dividers
o Loose-leaf Paper
o Graph Paper
o Compostion Book
o Spiral Notebooks (8)
o Package of Post-It Notes
o Package of Index Cards
o Assignment Book/Weekly Planner
o Large Pink Eraser
o Scientific Calculator
o Dictionary
o Thesaurus
o Ruler (marked in inches and centimeters)
o Mini-Stapler and Staples
o Book Covers (8)
o USB Flash Drive (Optional)
* A typical high schooler is 14-18 years old and needs a larger backpack. Look for backpacks with classic colors and sturdy builds. A large backpack tends to be about 19″ x 13″ x 10″.

Staten Island, NY – For the past four years, New York City Council Member James S. Oddo has opened his district office as a drop off location for “Operation Backpack,” the annual drive sponsored by the Volunteers of America to ensure that all schoolchildren have sufficient school supplies when they return back to school. Staten Islanders have opened their hearts and participated in this drive in droves.

Although summer is currently in full swing, back to school season will soon begin and Councilman Oddo’s office will once again be a drop location for those who wish to participate.

To participate in Operation Backpack, Staten Islanders are urged to donate a new backpack filled with school supplies and drop it off at Oddo’s office between Monday, July 26 and Friday, August 6 during normal business hours. Please be sure to attach an appropriate label specifying the grade level to the backpack. Oddo’s district office is located at 900 South Avenue, Suite 403.

Councilman Oddo, “I am continually amazed that whenever I ask Staten Islanders to donate for a good cause they respond. It doesn’t matter what it is – coats, used cell phones, backpacks and school supplies – Staten Islanders always respond. I am asking Staten Islanders to respond once again by participating in Operation Backpack. Children cannot succeed without the necessary school supplies and this drive helps the neediest of the needy succeed in school.”

Those interested in donating should simply purchase a new backpack, fill it with grade appropriate school supplies, and bring it to Councilman Oddo’s office.

Please find a list of suggested school supplies broken down by grade level below, or go to http://www.voa-gny.org/Content/Fill_A_Backpack-2113.asp to see the list of suggested supplies.

Nearly 11,000 school-age children live with their families in New York City homeless shelters. Most of these children will go back to school in September without the basic school supplies they need without help. Last year, with more than 90 community partners and hundreds of individuals participating, Operation Backpack resulted in 7,000 children with filled backpacks. This year their goal is even more ambitious: 11,000 filled backpacks.

Over the past two years Staten Islanders have dropped more than 100 filled back packs to Councilman Oddo’s office that went directly to those kids in need.

Below are the grade appropriate school supplies that should be placed in donated backpacks, along with a label indicating the grade level:

Pre-K & Kindergarten School Supplies
o Backpack*
o #2 Pencils
o Pencil Box
o Box of Crayons
o Box of Washable Markers
o Water Color Paint (set)
o Pad of Coloring Paper
o Large Pink Erasers
o Glue Sticks
o Safety Scissors
o Two-Pocket Folders
o Wide-Rule Loose-Leaf Paper
o Facial Tissues
o Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer

* A typical Pre-k/Kindergartener is 4-6 years old and needs a smaller backpack. Look for backpacks with popular characters, fun colors, and bright designs. Small backpacks tends to be about 12-14″ x 9-12″ x 5-10″.

First - Fourth Grade School Supplies

o Backpack*
o Pencil Box
o #2 Pencils
o Pens (Black Ink)
o Box of Crayons
o Box of Colored Pencils
o Box of Washable Markers
o Water Color Paint (set)
o 3-Ring Binder
o 2-Pocket Folders (3)
o Wide-Rule Loose-Leaf Paper
o Spiral Notebooks (3)
o Composition Book
o Pad of Coloring Paper
o Index Cards
o Large Pink Erasers
o Handheld Pencil Sharpener
o 5-Inch Safety Scissors
o Bottle of Glue (Elmer’s-type)
o Glue Sticks
o Book Covers (4)
o Facial Tissues
o Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer

* A typical elementary schooler is 6-10 years old and needs a smaller backpack. Look for backpacks with popular characters, fun colors, and bright designs. Small backpack tends to be about 12-14″ x 9-12″ x 5-10″.

Fifth - Eighth Grade School Supplies

o Backpack*
o Soft Pencil Case
o #2 Pencils
o Pens (Black Ink)
o Highlighters
o Box of Washable Markers
o Box of Colored Pencils
o 3-Ring Binder (2”-3”)
o Subject Dividers
o 2-Pocket Folders (5)
o Loose-leaf Paper
o Graph Paper
o Spiral Notebooks (6)
o Composition Notebook (1)
o Package of Index Cards
o Assignment Book/Weekly Planner
o Large Pink Erasers
o Pencil Sharpener
o Glue Sticks (2)
o Scissors
o Ruler (marked in inches and centimeters)
o Protractor
o Compass
o Calculator
o Book Covers (6)
* A typical middle schooler is 10-13 years old and needs a medium-sized backpack. Look for backpacks with classic colors or simple designs. A medium backpack tends to be about 16″ x 12″ x 10″.

Ninth - Twelfth Grade School Supplies

o Backpack*
o Soft Pencil Case
o #2 Pencils
o Pens in Blue, Black and Red
o Highlighters (2)
o Box of Colored Pencils
o 3-Ring Binder
o 2-Pocket Folders (6)
o Subject Dividers
o Loose-leaf Paper
o Graph Paper
o Compostion Book
o Spiral Notebooks (8)
o Package of Post-It Notes
o Package of Index Cards
o Assignment Book/Weekly Planner
o Large Pink Eraser
o Scientific Calculator
o Dictionary
o Thesaurus
o Ruler (marked in inches and centimeters)
o Mini-Stapler and Staples
o Book Covers (8)
o USB Flash Drive (Optional)
* A typical high schooler is 14-18 years old and needs a larger backpack. Look for backpacks with classic colors and sturdy builds. A large backpack tends to be about 19″ x 13″ x 10″.

]]> http://jamesoddo.com/operation-backpack-2010/feed/ http://jamesoddo.com/the-road-to-early-detection-campaign-returns-to-staten-island/ http://jamesoddo.com/the-road-to-early-detection-campaign-returns-to-staten-island/#comments Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:15:17 +0000 oddo http://jamesoddo.com/?p=716 New York City Council Minority Leader James S. Oddo (R- Mid-Island) announced today that the Road to Early Detection, a project of The Brain Tumor Foundation (BTF) will return to Staten Island to provide free brain tumor screenings in the “Bobby Murcer Mobile MRI Unit” from June 26-30. The Mobile Unit will be parked in the Staten Island Mall parking lot on the Richmond Avenue side. An extremely popular free service, there are several hundred Staten Islanders currently on the waiting list for a free screening. On Saturday, June 26 and Sunday June 27, Staten Islanders will be scanned on a first come, first served, walk in basis from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. On the remaining days, those currently on the waiting list will be contacted to schedule appointments.

• Nearly 1 million people in the United States are walking around with a brain tumor and they do not even know it – with 25,000 in New York City.
• Brain tumors are the number 1 cancer killer of children and young adults under the age of 20 and the number 2 cancer killer of males 20-39.
• Adults diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor have an 80% mortality rate in the first year of diagnosis.
• By the time people present with symptoms it is generally too late for successful treatment.

• Complete removal is the best known method for treating deadly brain tumors.
• We have grown accustomed to routinely checking for breast, colon, prostate, and other cancers.
• The only way to detect a brain tumor early is through an MRI brain scan.
• MRI brain scans are completely safe, painless, non-invasive, emit no radiation, are focused on the brain, and take less than 10 minutes.
• MRI brain scans can also detect the early signs of MS and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Whenever he drives on Staten Island , he feels it. When he attends events in the community or simply shops in a local store, constituents come up to him to ask about it. It seems as if all Staten Islanders are talking about the horrific conditions of our roads. No street is immune. For this reason, New York City Council Minority Leader James S. Oddo (R- Mid-Island) has asked NYC DOT to convene a “Road Conditions Summit” meeting to be held as soon as possible.

Oddo understands that DOT has been working hard to try and catch up after heavy winter snows led to spring showers, but this is a challenge that is not week or days in curing – but years. Bad street “seasons” beget more bad street “seasons.” That is why Oddo believes that the efforts must go beyond potholes. In a letter, dated March 30, 2010 to DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, Oddo wrote:

“Staten Islanders expect their government to have an answer for this problem. Each day chassis are rattled, patience is tried and calls for real solutions grow. Every day, more and more Islanders approach my colleagues and I asking (sometimes a bit less respectful than that) why our roads are so poor and wanting to know what we are doing to fix them. Many of our constituents have understood since they understand the role that the weather played on our streets, but they do want and expect a long-term plan to address the problem. I believe they are entitled to that.

“As you know, at a recent meeting Deputy Commissioner David Woloch, Borough President Molinaro, Council Member Vincent Ignizio, Deputy Borough President Ed Burke and I spoke about the need for immediate, mid-term, and long-term solutions…

“To improve our roads we want to use whatever political capital we have to get you more resources. We know that you need those resources to have the ability to pave more Staten Island roads. You know that I am a firm believer that the answer is in milling more roads and paving curb to curb. Last budget, the City Council’s Staten Island Delegation allocated $2 million to DOT to preserve your street resurfacing operations in our borough. This was unprecedented in our Island ’s history. The issue was that important to us then and it remains so. We are literally invested in helping you deliver drivable roads that Staten Islanders deserve and expect.

“We have already reached out to Mayor Bloomberg (see the attached letter) and his staff and Speaker Christine Quinn about the importance of securing more resources for street resurfacing. Again, we want to help you and the men and women of DOT with whatever resources we can secure from our partners in government.

“I think it is important to get those individuals within DOT specifically charged with the duties of maintaining and improving road conditions – those decision makers both locally and citywide – in the same room on Staten Island so that together we can better understand DOT’s resurfacing operation and forge an agenda for addressing what clearly is a short and long term challenge.”

Oddo notes that entrance and exit ramps on the service roads are in particularly poor shape. As he receives reports of locations that are in bad condition from constituents he forwards them to DOT, but this piecemeal approach will never bring about smooth roads. The Road Conditions Summit would help define immediate, mid-term, and longer term solutions to fix the problem instead of merely patching over it for a few months at a time.

Oddo said, “Good roads are a basic right and government not providing the basics at a time when every level of government is reaching into our pockets is a source of much anger. Other states are also dealing with the road mess left in the wake of this winter, but our problems have been continuous and pre-dated the poor winter weather and the cycle has only been worsened. With the current approach we will never get to a point where we have smooth roads.”

Below is the letter Oddo sent to DOT.

# # #

Scan.poor Roads Summit.packet

New York City Council Minority Leader James S. Oddo (R-Mid-Island), Borough President James P. Molinaro, and State Senator Andrew Lanza has been advocating on behalf of the Grasmere community about the importance of this property since 2003.  In October 2009, the Bloomberg Administration, led by Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler joined Council Member Oddo, Borough President Molinaro, and State Senator Lanza in announcing that the city has agreed to identify the Whitney Woods site as a priority for acquisition.  This marked a great victory for the Grasmere Civic Association and the residents of Grasmere who have worked hard to help make this purchase a reality.  

On January 14, 2010, Oddo, Molinaro, and Lanza sent Deputy Mayor Skyler a letter requesting the immediate commencement of the required review process that must take place prior to the acquisition. They wrote: “We reiterate that we are committed to providing the necessary capital funding over the next budget cycles to effectuate the acquisition of this environmentally sensitive and bucolic property.  Respectfully, since we are committed to providing capital funding towards this purchase, we request the commencement of the ULURP process as soon as possible so that we may begin moving the review process forward.  As you know, we currently have a willing and eager seller.” 

The Bloomberg Administration has agreed to begin the process as requested by Oddo, Molinaro, and Lanza and Tuesday’s Community Board 2 meeting marks the beginning of the process.   

Councilman Oddo said, “Long after my time in public office is over, after many of us have gone, Whitney Woods will continue to be green and untouched and providing the community of Grasmere with its own touch of nature.  We still have some work to do to complete this mission but the Bloomberg Administration has made it clear that they not only share our laudable goal, but will do all it takes to keep Whitney Woods forever green.  The commencement of the ULURP process demonstrates their commitment to see this sale through to the end and I thank Deputy Mayor Skyler for working with us and for making this issue a priority.”

Borough President Molinaro said, “This neighborhood already experiences trouble with flooding, and any new large-scale home construction would worsen the problem significantly. On behalf of the community, I thank Mayor Bloomberg and in particular Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler for moving the process forward expeditiously, and adding another important notch to our Bluebelt system.”

Senator Lanza said, “The ULURP process for Whitney Woods represents a great opportunity for us to save from development yet another of Staten Island’s natural treasures. By saving this open space, generations of Staten Islanders will be able to use, enjoy, and appreciate its splendor. I want to thank the property owner, Councilman Oddo, Borough President Molinaro, and Mayor Bloomberg for their efforts on behalf of the people of Staten Island.”

The Whitney Woods property is currently zoned R3-2, which would permit as of right all types of residential uses including single family and multiple family (including townhouses).  Due to the size of the property, zoning regulations would permit approximately 70 dwelling units to be built on the property if the city did not agree to purchase the property to keep it as open space for the Grasmere community.  Thus, this action will help preserve the natural environment of Staten Island and, at the same time, notch a victory in the continuing fight against inappropriate development.   

Oddo, Molinaro, and Lanza have committed to using their capital allocations to fully fund the purchase of the property.

They issued the following statement:

“We can’t help but wonder when it all ends.  In the past, some in government have sought to force city agencies to provide such translation services.  Now, some are seeking to put the government’s overbearing hand into private businesses by forcing them to provide such services for free to anyone who asks.  No wonder New York is considered such an unfriendly place for businesses to operate.  What’s next?  Should we also require restaurant owners to provide menus in dozens of languages for patrons upon demand?   Should we force salons to employ translators to explain how much it costs to get a hair cut in seven different languages?  Why not force private physicians to provide such free services in their offices?

“Ultimately, this bill will only create new avenues for the city to use its regulatory powers to fine and harass businesses.  Business owners know that once the government finds a new way to fine them that the government will gleefully take advantage of those opportunities to fill the city’s coffers.

“We are also voting against this bill due to the negative effects it will have on consumers.  Pharmacies will do what any other businesses would do, which is pass the additional cost onto their customers.  It is ironic in a day when our representatives in Washington are arguing about how to make health care more affordable for all that New York City will institute a new law that will have the effect of raising the cost of prescription drugs.

“While we are not generally believers in the slippery slope argument, our colleagues are starting to make us believers by endlessly proposing these counterproductive schemes.

“The fact is that businesses will provide such services even without government fiat if doing so will help their bottom line and there is a demand for it in the community.

“At a time when we as a city government have created a regulatory review panel to make our city a friendlier place for businesses we should not be taking one step forward and five steps back.

“We respectfully urge Mayor Bloomberg to veto this legislation.”

Staten Island Chain Pharmacies to Provide Translation Services

Councilman Oddo said, “This is a huge victory for the PS 48 family and I am so appreciative for the collective effort that has secured this achievement. PS 48 is one of the best schools not only on Staten Island, but in all of New York City, and their success is even more remarkable when one considers the conditions under which students and teachers operate. The infrastructure challenges at this school are huge, but the will of the professionals, parents and students who have called PS 48 home is even greater, and they have done wonderful things. Given a new, modern building with all the amenities a school today should have, including sufficient space, and the learning and growing that will take place at PS 48 will make all of us even prouder.

“We first looked at the Doctors Hospital site a few years ago and we were told ‘no.’ This year, we invited Deputy Mayor for Education Dennis Walcott to PS 48 to tour the school and showed him the problems and the possibilities. He was a man of his word and through the dogged efforts of the PS 48 family, objective analysis by the DOE and SCA, and good old common sense, the deal between DOE and Staten Island University Hospital has been struck and was be finalized by a vote of the SIUH Board on Monday, August 3, 2009.

“My appreciation also goes to my colleague, Sen. Andrew Lanza, who first joined me in calling for this acquisition a few years ago and to Council Members Vincent Ignizio and Ken Mitchell for the teamwork in our meetings with DOE and SCA, and working hand in hand to bring back as much help to Staten Island as possible. Lastly, to Anthony Ferreri for not giving up on this possibility and for being willing to get back to the table and find a way to make this work so that everyone, school children and Staten Islanders needing health care, came out winners.”

For more information:

Oddo Seeks To Relieve Overcrowded S.I. School

City buying Concord site from SIUH to erect a new PS 48; Oddo hails ‘win-win-win’

New School Building To Relieve Crowding At P.S. 48

This piece of city-owned property has long been neglected and underutilized. Several years ago, the Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries began a clean up of the site, prompting Janice and Nick Blanchard to begin their own clean-ups. As the site began to flourish, the Blanchards thought the property would be an ideal location for a passive park.

When completed next year, “Independence Park” will be a “passive” park, an oasis of green in the forefront of the community.

Councilman Oddo said, “With its historic Fourth of July parade and its unique qualities, Travis continues to maintain its ‘small town America’ atmosphere. Independence Park will continue that tradition, and provide a beautiful new place for future generations of Travis residents to enjoy.”

For more information:

Molinaro Announces Funding For Travis Park

- NY1, August 15th, 2009