Midwood
Romeo Edmead has been blind since he was two, but has it ever stopped him? No siree. Standing O pal Romeo just took the ride of his life on a tandem bike. Along with his sighted partner Felix Mayr-Harding, the pair pedaled to raise vision awareness and fund raise for Lighthouse International, a leading non-profit dedicated to helping people overcome the challenges of vision loss. Romeo also practices judo and participates in Achilles, an organization for running marathons and biking, and has already completed the five five-borough bike tour. Standing O can’t complete one. “I love the Giants and would love to go to a Super Bowl someday,” he said. We have no doubt he will — if the Giants can only hold up their end of the bargain.
Sunset Park
Ten years strong…
Three cheers to Calvary Hospital on marking 10 years at Lutheran Medical Center. The Center marked the milestone with a conference on Palliative Care, Hospice and End of Life Services that was open to health care professionals and the public as well as the publisher of our sister publication, The Brooklyn Paper, Celia Weintrob. Calvary has made a significant difference in the quality of life by providing end of life care to over 4,000 patients, At home nursing service in their Home Hospice program and guiding family members through bereavement support groups.
Calvary Satellite [150 55th St. between First and Second avenues in Sunset Park, (718) 518-2300].
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More balloons
It was 30 years ago today, the US Balloon Company first took flight. From a little cart that sold silver balloons to the multi-million dollar business it is today, president Michael Isaacs has lovingly guided his mylar and latex creations through the currents and winds of time. Long may you bobble and bend in the breeze.
US Balloon Company [140 58th St. at First Avenue in Sunset Park, (718) 759-3761].
Park Slope
Millennium for the millennium
Welcome Millennium Brooklyn HS. Lucky ninth graders started off on their road to higher education this September in a new high school in an old building, John Jay HS. “We’d been planning all summer long,” said principal and Standing O pal Lisa Gioe. “It’s wonderful to finally be up and running.” And what’s even more wonderful is that Craig Hammerman, that dashing district manager of Community Board 6, was elected PTA president. “It’s like witnessing the birth of a star,” he said. “The staff and students are creating incredible energy.” Academics include a rigorous program with emphasis on exploratory learning, college prep, afterschool programs, PSAL sports and an ASD NEST Program for higher functioning students with autism spectrum disorders. Millennium Brooklyn HS [237 Seventh Ave. between Fourth and Fifth streets in Park Slope, (718) 832-4333].
Bay Ridge
Is there an app in the house?
Professor Patricia Cholewka, a nursing technology expert at City Tech, has steered her nursing students into the 21st century and beyond by developing and implementing a new teaching model that prepares students for the techno-revolution in patient care. Cholewka was reading a series of mobile apps that Merck had launched that helped patients manage different conditions, when the lightbulb went off. “I phoned Merck after reading, ‘Your health? Merck has an app for that,’” Cholewka told us. Thanks to the conversation a private-public partnership for a work study pilot started this past fall and three students from the bachelor’s degree nursing program were chosen, two from Canarsie — Ebony Boyd and Kevin Vassal. The students engage in research and experiemnts with Merck learning what is involved in implementing and managing health care IT. “This is exactly what I had envisioned for my students to supplement their coursework. My students will train to fully engage in the unfolding digital era.” Cholewka explained. Now that’s using your apps.
Borough Wide
Red, white and true
Standing O salutes our veterans — past, present and future — Thank you for the sacrifices you have made for the sake of our freedom. And we don’t just say that on Veterans Day, but every day.
Reach reporter Joanna DelBuono at jdelbuono@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2523.
