Tom Crimmins Realty Blog - Staten Island News

Celebrating 50 Years of Verrazano-Narrows

50 years ago today, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge became the first pathway from Staten Island to Brooklyn and visa versa.

"When the Verrazano opened to traffic on November 21, 1964, it was the longest cable suspension bridge in the world, edging out its West Coast rival, the Golden Gate Bridge, by a mere 60 feet. Today it remains the longest in the United States, spanning 9,865 feet. The Verrazano remains the major commuting artery connecting Staten Island to the rest of New York City, carrying nearly 200,000 drivers each day." (x)

Embrace the Culture

Historic Richmond Town will be hosting the exhibit, "Spanning the Narrows for Five Decade." The exhibit has been open since mid-August at the Staten Island Historical Society and will continue to run…

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Another Successful & Fun Spooktacular At The Staten Island Zoo

Yet another year of sold out Spooktacular fun at the Staten Island Zoo this past weekend. The jungle exhibit was turned into a Frozen theme attraction and the safari exhibit became the ever popular haunted house. Other attractions included: Zoo Family Feud, sit down show for the Wizard of Oz, a walk through Candy Land and a "Transylvania's Got Talent" show.

Tom Delese, a former toy and industrial designer, as well as retail advertising account executive at Staten Island Advance, is the mastermind behind the Souvenir Family Portrait Booth. Tom Carnesecchi, a fellow colleague of Delese's from Staten Island Advance, assisted in building the family oriented booth. The same backdrop and decorations have been used since the first year - back in 2004.

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Making An Impact In The Neighborhood: Westerleigh Improvement Society

It takes a lot to maintain one of the most desirable neighborhoods on Staten Island. The beauty of Westerleigh is courtesy of one of Staten Island’s predominant non-profit civic group.

Established in 1893, Westerleigh Improvement Society has evolved into an association with over 600 members. This makes the civic group the oldest and largest membership on Staten Island.  

What Does Westerleigh Improvement Society Do?

The association aims to address concerns in the community and preserve the beauty of Westerleigh through ongoing projects. Some of the recent projects: a street survey regarding “street pavement conditions, street signs and…

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Staten Island Makes an Impact During Suicide Prevention Month

Staten Islanders are making a difference in a charitable way for a topic and concern that seems taboo at times. September is Suicide Prevention Month and local Staten Island businesses are hosting events where proceeds go to support American Foundation for the Prevention of Suicide.

Silver Lake Golf Course had an outing on September 10th called "Strokes for Life," which Tom Crimmins Realty gave a generous donation.

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Extreme Makeover: Park Edition

Picture this: Feeling the wind blow, rustling the leaves on the sky-high trees. No obscene traffic or horrendous car horns whaling over the chirping of birds. Walking a short distance to a quiet place along freshly cut green grass and a variety of colorful flowers. 

Although a relatively small square within a big island, Westerleigh Park plays a large role in its community as the site of countless school performances, field trips, dance lessons, art exhibits, seasonal festivals, and holiday performances. (x)

Westerleigh Park has improved immensely over the years and was even featured in New York Times.

Stephanie Slepian from the Staten Island Advance reported back in November 2013 the park had $1.2 million in capital improvements:

"The…

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New Addition to the "NY Biggest Little Zoo"

The Staten Island Zoo unveiled its new $3,545,000 million Amur Leopard Exhibit last November after 12 years of planning. The exhibit is now the home to leopards - Valeri, Kolya and Fitty. Capital funds were allocated by former Mayor Bloomberg through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

The Zoo revealed it's plans back in the fall of 2012 when the Zoo celebrated its 75th anniversary. The exhibit is 4,500-square feet and three-stories tall, replicating the leopards' natural habitat. Their new home consists of: real and fake trees for climbing, heated rocks for relaxing, and a pond. The zoo now has one of the largest exhibits for Amur leopards in the country.

The Amur Leopard is the world's rarest cat and is also known as the Far…

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Sound Stages Coming to Staten Island - Speculation of Job Opportunities

Staten Island will now have something else to be proud of: home of the second largest film and tv production complex in the country - outside of Hollywood. Staten Island is no stranger to movie productions or being a backdrop in numerous films and shows. The Godfather house is located on Emerson Hill, Jim Carrey filmed Mr. Popper's Penguins in the Staten Island Zoo, and you might spot local landmarks in countless episodes of Law & Order. 

It is confirmed that the former Arthur Kill Correctional Facility will be converted to a film lot. This will be the fourth lot that the Island has seen. Fred Scott's Movie Ranch was located on Sand Land in South Beach by in the 1890s to 1914. New Brighton and Stapleton hosted Biograph Company from 1906 to 1922.…

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Staten Island Is Hit With A Second Snowstorm This Winter

New York experienced its second snowstorm since the beginning of the year.

On Tuesday, January 21: we were hit with an early blast when snow started to come down around 8 a.m. and sanitation trucks seemed to have been invisible on the streets. 

Mayor De Blasio’s spokeswoman Marti Adams claimed the city does not dispatch plows until there is two inches of accumulation.

There have been reports that a number of streets on the Island still looked unplowed as of Thursday morning. Islanders called 311 seeking assistance for untouched side street such as, Greanleaf and Delafield Avenue by Blessed Sacrament where parents drop their children off. 

According to the New York Post: The city’s 311 help line had been swamped by nearly 125,000 calls,…

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