Hello, hopefully this question is allowed. I’ve always wondered why do a lot of people who have lived on the island for years always end up moving to New Jersey? Are there really any major differences? I’m just being curious. Thanks.
The forum on Climate and Environment held today at the Urban Center was a packed house. Neither of Mike DeCillis' opponents showed, which is sus 🤔 because it was absolutely a non-partisan discussion. There was a livestream on zoom and when I locate the video link to the whole thing, I'll post it in here and on the original thread as well.
At the conclusion, DeCillis said, "this discussion is important, this room is important, this community is important and... you know we already have one Congressmember who doesn't show up. We don't need another one. [Applause.] I'm here, I've been here, I'm going to be here." 🎤 💥😲 That video is available (I think) from the Staten Island BluDot acct on IG credited with one of the pics here. If not from that account, then I saw it via some of their followers and maybe they re-posted?
Most recent post: https://www.reddit.com/r/statenisland/s/rh3ZhxnqfX
Hi! I’m hoping this is an appropriate topic for this sub. I am from SI and looking to baptize my son. However, I’m wondering if anyone knows of Catholic churches on the island (particularly towards the north shore) that support the social justice/community advocacy side of Catholicism? I work in mental health and in a previous nonprofit role I was assigned a task of collecting a database of churches involved in advocacy for marginalized groups and social issues, so I know these kinds of congregations exist. Outside of nyc I’ve also worked extensively with Sisters of Mercy on advocacy for people experiencing homelessness. So I’m aware that it is possible to find these organizations, but I haven’t had much luck in finding them in Staten Island.
I was wondering if anyone had any leads or even ways to find this out. My next step would be calling people and churches directly but I don’t really have the bandwidth to interview a number of clergy and read between the lines. A friend of mine did that because he is gay and wanted a church wedding and it seemed very labor intensive! He was ultimately successful but I can’t imagine doing that work with a newborn.
Thank you for any leads, warnings, or conversation!
Long shot I know. Was anyone taught by Irish writer Frank McCourt? Was was he like as a teacher?
This week, for my Every Neighborhood in New York project, I visited Tottenville, the southernmost and westernmost point in the city. It lies farther from Midtown Manhattan than any other neighborhood in the five boroughs.
The area's first European settler, Royal Navy captain Christopher Billopp, supposedly won Staten Island for New York by sailing around it in under 24 hours. As a reward, the story goes, the Duke of York granted him 1,000 acres on the island’s southern tip, where he built a home that still stands today.
While likely apocryphal, Billopp’s real life was no less strange. Billopp was court-martialed for stealing a ship full of enslaved people, arrested for beating a man who refused to sign indenture papers, fired as Commander of the Delaware River and Bay for “extravagant speeches in public,” and later convicted in London of forging documents to collect war widows’ funds. He died in a debtors’ prison in 1725.
Three months after the Declaration of Independence, the Billopp house hosted a failed peace conference between Lord Howe, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge. Four days later, the British took Manhattan.
The house passed through many owners and later served as an inn, a multi-family residence, and even a place to manufacture rat poison. It was set to become an insecticide factory until the city stepped in and purchased the building in 1926. It was later designated a National Historic Landmark.
For much of the 19th century, Tottenville was a hotbed of oyster farming. At a time when New Yorkers were consuming an estimated one million oysters a day, none were more prized than those from Raritan Bay. It all ended when the last oyster bed closed in 1927 after the harbor had become too polluted to support them.
Though much of Staten Island was reshaped after the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge opened in 1964, Tottenville remained relatively isolated until development picked up in the 1980s.
Despite the uptick in housing and population, Tottenville still feels like a small town. With its modest Main Street and large, freestanding homes set back on generous lawns, the neighborhood moves at a slower pace.
To read more about Tottenville and other NYC neighborhoods, you can subscribe to (or just read) my newsletter here.
Anyone else hear it? Sounds like a ship horn it’s 6 am
This excellent post about a visit to Tottenville’s highlights prompted me to look through my Tottenville photos, since I missed a mention of the iconic marker of New York southernmost point, just a few minutes up the beach from Conference House Park.
But the OP of that post didn’t mention it, and I couldn’t find it on Google Maps at all.
We’d always take visitors there, and I seem to remember not seeing it once, but that was a few years ago, and I’d figured that if it had been gone it would have been replaced long ago.
What happened to it?
I took this photo in 2005, and it was available on Panoramio until Google shut that excellent service down.
Hello, I was born and raised here, but as a college history student I have recently been very into the history of the island. Specifically I have been looking for Staten Island related antiques, art, pictures, and history books to collect. I have looked on eBay and Facebook marketplace, but was wondering if anyone else knows where to look for more. I’ve been to basically every antique store on the island as well. I plan to return to the snug harbor museums too, as last time I was there I remember some art prints and things for sale in a gift shop. Any help would be appreciated, thank you.
Evening all! Tis theseason for prom and just got home with my daughter and her dress. Can anyone recommend someone in the New Dorp and surrounding area that has experience doing prom dresses? I know there are many good tailors/ seamstresses out there in all the businesses on SI. But looking for someone from personal recommendation who did a great job for their daughter's dress. Thankfully, all that's needed done is the hem on the bottom. It's solid fabric as seem with no layers or beading whatsoever. Appreciate any direction, thanks in advance!
What is up with those wheel ruts in the west shore expressway going both toward and away from Exit 5?
is it from heavy sanitation trucks? bad road design that can't handle traffic there? did something really heavy get hauled there? but then why on both sides?
it looks like DOT tried half heartedly to fill some of it with that tar they use for potholes, but it didn't do nearly enough. the whole road needs complete repaving. Just wondering what created those ruts and if they'll ever be fully fixed. maybe someone around here knows something.
I just moved to the island back in August, so I don't know the area super well yet. I'm trying to get fit and strong and all that jazz, so what are some of the good gyms on the island? Trying to avoid places like Planet Fitness that make it a pain to cancel, but also not something that's like 50 bucks a month, yknow?
Just had a ridiculous and extremely dangerous near collision between Richmond Ave and DRUMGOOLE Road East. I was making a left turn on a green light when another driver came flying through at high speed and cut around a turning car in front of him and almost slammed into me. He then yelled WTF at me!!! 😡😡😡
I had a pregnant passenger in the car and one reckless move like that could have seriously injured or killed someone. This was no mistakes. It was reckless and irresponsible driving with zero regard for others on the road. Drivers like that don’t belong on the street. Anyway, just be careful out there because not everyone is driving with common sense or basic respect.
Great 👍🏻
What's going on with the Richmond Target today? I saw a few cops outside it and it looks like no one's going inside.
No 4:40pm boat. Stuff happens. I get it. but no announcement either on what is happening. 90 degrees. Terminal packed. feels like heat is blowing from the vents. At least a hey we have an issue. Hopefully there is a 5pm or else there will be pandemonium here.
