8/8/2019 The WelcomeToWhitestone Group's Year End Letter!

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11-02 Clintonville Street. Whitestone, NY 11357

Phone: 718.673.5861 / 718.757.8546 Fax: 347.732.0387

E-mail:WTW11357@aol.com

Friday, December 31st, 2010

Hello Everyone,

Back in September of 2009, I contacted, then Council Member, Tony Avella with an idea to form a community

fundraising project to replace the aging Welcome To Whitestone sign on Francis Lewis Boulevard. Councilman Avellawas very helpful in connecting me with the appropriate City agencies responsible for supervising the project. The lead

agency, The NYC Department of Parks contacted Councilman Avella with a letter stating that I have been authorized to

replace the sign.

The next step was to raise the funds needed to replace the WTW sign. The total cost of this project (sign,

installation, permits, etc.) was $5,500. I then reached out to the local Whitestone business community to a see if there

was interest in helping me with this project. As a business owner myself, I found a commonality in all business owners

that I spoke with. We all want to do good for the community and thus, The WelcomeToWhitestone Group was born!

The WelcomeToWhitestone Group is a non-profit business supported community relations group that produces and

promotes fundraising events throughout the year that benefit the town of Whitestone.

Since then,www.WelcomeToWhitestone.comhas been deemed The Official Site for the Town of Whitestone.

Within that time, I have developed relationships with local political leaders, community groups, business owners and of

course the fine folks of Whitestone!

The WelcomeToWhitestone Group has been well received due to our involvment with events that we have

produced or participated in throughout the year such as:

The Inauguration of Dan Halloran to the NYCCouncil.

WTW t-shirt sales at Walgreens for fundraising. Whitestones First Poetry Contest. WTW Graffiti Removal Projects. Local community groups monthly meetings. Recognized by NY1 for Community Excellence. 109thPolice Precincts National Night Out. 109th Precinct Community Council parties &

events.

Guest Speaker at WABC-TV Town Hall Meeting College Point Street Fair. Monthly WTW Business Member Meetings. Bayside Historical Society Dancing With The Stars

Of Bayside.

Created a volunteer group for teens VolunTeenz. Dan Hallorans First Town Hall Meeting. Clinton Democratic Club Meetings Paul Vallone. Halloween Festival Bowne Park Sal Bacarella &

Graden Works.

Whitestone Volunteer Ambulance VolunteerBanners.

Family Fun Day at the Armory Troops returningfrom Iraq and Afghanistan.

Santa Claus at DABBYSFundraiser for St. MarysHospital for Children.

A Salute to Senator Frank Padavan Dee Richards. Raised Necessary funds to replace WTW Sign

Spring of 2011.

mailto:WTW11357@aol.commailto:WTW11357@aol.commailto:WTW11357@aol.comhttp://www.welcometowhitestone.com/http://www.welcometowhitestone.com/http://www.welcometowhitestone.com/http://www.welcometowhitestone.com/mailto:WTW11357@aol.com

8/8/2019 The WelcomeToWhitestone Group's Year End Letter!

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I wish to thank the following people for their ongoing support and dedication to The WelcomeToWhitestone Group:

My Family and Friends, Councilman Dan Halloran, Senator Frank Padavan, Chrissy Voskerichian, Vana Partridge, John

Mulvey, Kevin ODonnell, Sal Bacarella & the staff of Gaden Works, Vince Paladino, Senator-Elect Tony Avella,

Assemblyman-Elect Ed Braunstein, Paul Vallone, Angela Sculti, Steve Behar, Connor Adam Sheets, Jason Antos, Leigh

Remizowski, Claudia Filomena, Rocco Vertuccio, Eric Goetz, Josh Schneps, David Strauss, Marlene Cody and Everyone at

the Greater Whitestone Taxpayers Association, Bob Doda, Evan Rantzaklis, Joe and Sal Graci, Gary Bonelli and Ralph

Cefalo as well as all the local businesses who have supported The WelcomeToWhitestone Group.

As 2010 comes to an end, I look back at all we have accomplished and now moving ahead to the new year, The

WelcomeToWhitestone Group, with the help from our friends and associates, will continue our efforts to Support,

Promote and Improve our Community!

Have a Happy New Year!

Devon OConnor

The WelcomeToWhitestone Group

www.WelcomeToWhitestone.com