STANDING Brooklyn’s Biggest Booster
BK Public Library students celebrate graduation
BY BEN VERDE
Hats off to the Brooklyn Public
Library, which held a graduation
ceremony for students of their adult
education program on Dec. 20!
The event honored 80 students
who earned their High School
Equivalency diplomas through the
library’s Adult Education Center —
providing credentials to those who
want to pursue professional careers
that require high school diplomas.
The ceremony, held at the book
lender’s Central Branch in Grand
Army Plaza, allowed the graduates
to celebrate with all the fanfare of
a high school graduation ceremony,
according to a library rep.
“Just like other high school graduates,
they get to celebrate in front
of their family and friends,” said
Fritzi Bodenheimer.
COURIER LIFE,20 DEC. 27, 2019-JAN. 2, 2020
Bodenheimer says the opportunity
to celebrate their graduation
traditionally made for an emotional
day for both students and family
members, many of whom are immigrants
and parents of school-age
children who managed to find time
to go back to school.
“Once pomp and circumstance
played a lot of people got tearyeyed,”
she said. “It’s such a big deal
for these folks to have made the next
step in their education and improving
their lives.”
Standing O! salutes the Brooklyn
Public Library, and the graduates
on the wonderful achievement!
Captain Joseph Marcellino, left, First Lieutenant Stuie Weiselberg, right, hand an award
to Steve Solomonson, middle, for his 40 years of dedicated service to the ambulance
corps. Photo courtesy of Steve Solomonson
Volunteer ambulance corps honors
legendary Courier Life photographer
BY JESSICA PARKS
Way to go Steve!
The Flatlands Volunteer Ambulance
Corps honored legendary
Courier Life photographer Steve
Solomonson at the group’s annual
holiday party on Dec. 18.
Solomonson was honored for
his lengthy 40 year tenure as a dispatcher
and designated shutterbug
at the southern Brooklyn ambulance
corps.
“That is a massive achievement,”
said Captain Joseph Marcellino,
who noted that the organiztion
itself is only 45 years old.
“There are only two other members
of the organization that have
over 40 years.”
The Brooklyn photojournalist
signed up for the ambulance corps
when he was only 16 years old in
1980, and says he’s shot thousands
of photographers of the volunteer
organization over the last four decades.
“I have documented that place
on fi lm for 40 years straight,” Solomonson
said. “I love those guys.”
The volunteer corps also honored
members who have exhibited
hard work throughout the year
— such as the best driver or dispatcher,
best team member, and
rookie awards.
Marcellino said volunteers
come from all walks of life — as
many joining not only as a way to
give back to their community, but
also as an opportunity for individuals
interested in professional careers
in the medical fi eld or emergency
services.
“For students that are in college,
it is a great opportunity to develop
career skills,” said Marcellino. “We
have had about a dozen physicians
volunteer with us, 40 nurses and
two-dozen physician’s assistants.”
Standing O! salutes the Flatlands
Volunteer Ambulance Corps
for the successful event, and the
honorees for their outstanding
service!
Students enrolled with Brookyln Public Library’s adult education program celebrated their
graduation in full cap and gown, and many were joined by their families and loved ones to
mark the occasion. Photo by Corazon Aguirre