Throggs Neck BID Dedicates Community Service Tree
The Throggs Neck Business Improvement District, under the auspices of Bob Jaen, TN BID director, held a dedication ceremony at a recently planted
spruce tree on Saturday, January 16 at DeRosa O’Boyle Triangle at Dewey and E. Tremont avenues. Councilman Mark Gjonaj, the Bronx Parks Department,
and the Throggs Neck BID dedicated the tree to Ben Randazzo a longtime community activist and former chief-of-staff for Assemblyman Michael R.
Benedetto, in honor of all the First Responders and countless victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. Randazzo, of Locust Point, passed away over fi ve years ago
doing what he enjoyed most, running the Annual Throggs Neck Halloween Parade. For 11 years, he single-handedly organized the Annual Throggs Neck
Tree Lighting at the site.
(L-r) Christian and Andrew Marano look on as their father, John Marano, a community
activist who has taken on the yearly Throggs Neck tree lighting tradition since
Randazzo’s passing and Bob Jaen (r) thank Luca Salamone for the attractive patriotic
art piece he created. Photo by John Marano
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 26 AN. 22-28, 2021 BTR
Representatives of the Randazzo family, the Throggs Neck BID, along with the Emergency
Services who display American fl ag art piece created by local resident Luca
Salamone. Photo by John Marano
(L-r) Councilman Mark Gjonaj, Marie Randazzo (wife), Frank Randazzo (son), John Marano
and Assemblyman Michael R. Benedetto hold sign dedicating the Community Service
Tree to Ben Randazzo. Photo by John Marano
Luca Salamone (c) holds another wooden plaque he created to honor First Responders.
Photo by John Marano