The Liberty Democratic Association
held its 14th Anniversary Awards Dinner
at Maestro’s Caterers on Oct. 14. Honorees
included U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres; Det. Jay
Sturdivant, 49th Precinct Community
Affairs; Christine Culpepper-Ruiz,
LiUNA representative and founder of
Bronx Brigade; and Taryn Duffy, vice
president Corporate Communications
and Public Affairs at Empire City Casino.
Joseph McManus and Liberty Democratic Association Union Leadership Award recipient
Christine Culpepper-Ruiz.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, O 38 CT. 29-NOV. 4, 2021 BTR
On Wednesday, Oct. 13, The New
York Botanical Garden (NYBG) presented
the Hispanic Heritage Month
Distinguished Leadership Award
to Bronx Borough President Ruben
Diaz Jr., during its annual Fiesta de
Flores event at the Botanical Garden,
part of its Hispanic/Latinx Heritage
Month celebration of the plants and
people of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The award was an original
modillion (an ornate architectural
bracket) from the 1937 restoration
of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory,
designed by Lord & Burnham circa
1899, opened in 1902. It was presented
to the borough president in recognition
of his outstanding leadership,
commitment and contributions to the
people of the Bronx and the borough
by CEO and The William C. Steere
Sr. President Jennifer Bernstein and
Trustees Joseph A. Thompson and
Anthony Perez, on behalf of NYBG’s
staff and Board of Trustees.
Fiesta de Flores, presented in
collaboration with New York City
Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, representing
District 16 in the Bronx,
honored the cultural traditions and
botanical heritage of the people of
Latin America and the Caribbean region
through music, crafts, food and
more. Highlights included performances
by Carlos Jimenez Mambo
Quartet and Bombazo Dance Co. The
evening also featured guided tours of
Caribbean plants in the Haupt Conservatory,
a fl oral arranging demonstration,
and local vendors and artisans.
-Bronx Times
From left, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., accepts the Hispanic Heritage Month
Distinguished Leadership Award, presented to him on Oct. 13, 2021, by NYBG Trustees Joseph
A. Thompson and Anthony Perez, and CEO and The William C. Steere Sr. President Jennifer
Bernstein. Photos Jason Green
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., enjoys the festivities at the New York Botanical
Garden’s Fiesta de Flores event.
Joseph McManus, Bronx Democratic Committee vice chairman and Liberty Democratic Association
Business Woman Of The Year recipient Taryn Duffy, of Empire City Casino.
Photos Jewel Webber
Diaz Jr. honored by NYBG at
Fiesta de Flores event
Liberty Democratic Association
presents coveted awards