Pelham Bay Park

The Daily Plant : Friday, December 15, 2000

PARKIE GARY CULLEN RECEIVES PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

Tuesday, December 12, 2000 Park Supervisor Gary (Fat Cat) Cullen received New York's Isaac Lieberman Award for Public Service. Mr. Cullen began as a Parks Service Worker and worked his way up to the position of Permanent Park Supervisor for Orchard Beach. He has met the increased responsibility head on, displaying exceptional management skills and a caring personality. He is commended by co-workers for his high level of professionalism and dedication to the job.

An Edgewater Park native who has frequented Orchard Beach since his childhood, Mr. Cullen is well known in the neighborhood. Residents credit him with his patience in difficult situations and his remarkable ability to forge compromise if not consensus. For his strong people skills, his co-workers describe him as a father figure. Mr. Cullen is also committed to expanding his knowledge of the area by researching its history and wildlife. He has taken photographs of area wildlife, which have been used in publications by the Urban Park Rangers. He also shares his knowledge with visitors to the Park, pointing out native birds and explaining the timing of the tides.

On July 4th 1999, Mr. Cullen rescued a young boy who was drowning off the shore of Orchard Beach. According to his co-workers, Mr. Cullen's sole concern, in spite of his exhaustion, was for the life of the child. At the emergency room, doctors affirmed that had it not been for Mr. Cullen's quick response, the boy might not have survived. Later that year, on October 31st, Mr. Cullen took charge when a man was firing a rifle towards the Orchard Beach shoreline. He alerted all his workers, nearby parks patrons, and Parks headquarters. He notified the police and monitored the situation until they arrived and arrested the man. His attention to detail and his ability to take action in crisis situations demonstrate a firm commitment to doing the job well. Congratulations Mr. Cullen, on receiving this distinguished award. Thank you for your excellent work at Parks.

By Eva (Alegria) Sanchez

FOR PARKIES: A CHANCE TO GIVE TO CHARITIES OF YOUR CHOICE

Parkies who wish to donate a small portion of their salary to charity may do so through the city's Combined Municipal Campaign, a program designed to facilitate charitable giving for city employees. Participants can contribute as little as a dollar a month to an array of charities that focus on health care, literacy instruction, youth recreation, drug counseling, job training and other issue areas. 93% of each dollar goes directly to the nonprofit. Choice runs high as far as how much money can be spent and where that money is channeled. For the answers to your questions, please call Tarice Harris, Benefits Coordinator at (212) 830-7814.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Friday, December 18, 1987)

SUNNY FUTURE IN STORE FOR FRAN AMBROSIA

The official Parks computer printout may read "Fran Ambrosia, Bronx Special Events Coordinator," but to the many at Parks who know her personally, it has always simply been "Fran."

It is a bittersweet duty to wish Fran a fond farewell-and a very sunny future. Effective Thursday, December 24, Fran, who has been with Parks since 1982 is retiring to her new home in West Palm Beach, Florida with her husband, Charles Mendola.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"It is rare indeed that people give. Most people guard and keep; they suppose that it is they themselves and what they identify with themselves that they are guarding and keeping, whereas what they are actually guarding and keeping is their system of reality and what they assume themselves to be."

James Baldwin (1924-1987)

Know Before You Go

Pelham Bay Nature Center

Pelham Bay Park