LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying tribute to Carmine Santa Maria upon the
occasion of the celebration of his 31st Anniversary as President of the
Bensonhurst West End Community Council at its Golden Anniversary Gala on
March 24, 2011

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the quality and
character of life in the Empire State are greatly enriched by the faith-
ful and generous service of those who distinguish themselves in service
to their community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to pay trib-
ute to Carmine Santa Maria upon the occasion of the celebration of his
31st Anniversary as President of the Bensonhurst West End Community
Council at BWECC's Golden Anniversary Gala to be held at The Riviera in
Brooklyn on Thursday, March 24, 2011; and
WHEREAS, The Bensonhurst West End Community Council (BWECC) proudly
acts as a guardian of the community, working diligently and creatively
to improve the quality of life of the community's residents, merchants,
and children; and
WHEREAS, This year as it celebrates 50 years of service at its Golden
Anniversary Gala, the Bensonhurst West End Community Council joyfully
honors those who have distinguished themselves in service to their
community as well as those who have supported the Council and have
helped to further its efforts; and
WHEREAS, Carmine Santa Maria truly merits this high honor; and
WHEREAS, Fondly known as "The Big Screecher," Carmine Santa Maria has
been an extraordinary community leader in Bensonhurst for the past 33
years; among his many responsibilities, he is currently the President of
the Bensonhurst West End Community Council, President of the Harway
Terrace Co-op, President and Founder of the "Big Screechers," and a
member and past President of Community Education Council 21; and
WHEREAS, Carmine Santa Maria served on Community School Board 21 for
many years, beginning in 1989, and was its President the last five years
of its existence; he was also Chairman of the Borough President's Trans-
it Advisory Committee and, as such, served on the Permanent Citizens
Advisory Committee to the MTA and the New York City Transit Riders Advi-
sory Board for fifteen years, proudly representing his beloved Brooklyn;
and
WHEREAS, In addition, Carmine Santa Maria has been writing a weekly
column "Big Screechers" in the BROOKLYN GRAPHIC since 1988 and was, for
many years, the publicist for the Brooklyn Columbus Day Parade Commit-
tee; and
WHEREAS, A teacher of ballroom dancing for 55 years, Carmine Santa
Maria was trained at the Arthur Murray Dance Studios and taught at all
the major chain dance studios, as well as in the famous Catskill Moun-
tain resorts, the Concord, Grossinger's and Brown's, and for the Feder-
ation of Italian American Organizations (FIAO) of Brooklyn for the past
12 years at its Beacon Community Center at Seth Low IS 96; he also
happily taught students at PS 128 and PS 212, and offered a course for
teachers in Community School District 21; and
WHEREAS, Now a retired letter carrier, Carmine Santa Maria long ago
dedicated himself to improving the quality of life in Bensonhurst,
applying himself to community and civic activism while attending Kings-
borough Community College, where he earned an Associate in Arts degree,
working, and raising his family; and
WHEREAS, He contributed significantly to the work of Community Educa-
tion Council 21 and founded and instituted Project L.E.A.R.N. (Let's End

All Racism Now) in District 21, which became a showcase for involving
youngsters in this worthy endeavor; and
WHEREAS, Carmine Santa Maria remains District 21's and Bensonhurst's
favorite Santa Claus; for the past 22 years he has visited many schools
at Christmastime to spread holiday cheer and has also been Boy Scouts of
America Troop 20's favorite Santa at its annual Breakfast With Santa
fundraiser; and
WHEREAS, The involvement of Carmine Santa Maria with his community and
its schools has earned him numerous well-deserved honors and awards; he
is justly proud, as well, to have been installed in the Brooklyn Hall of
Fame and on the Kingsborough Community College Wall of Fame and was
greatly honored to serve as a Grand Marshal in the Brooklyn Columbus Day
Parade; and
WHEREAS, Well-known and highly regarded as an activist who knows how
to get things done and as a man able to lead others to fight for and to
protect the community, Carmine Santa Maria's expertise in dealing with
others has long been recognized as a formidable tool to secure the best
education possible for children, as well as to improve the quality of
life for the community and people he has served so well for so long; and
WHEREAS, With Carmine Santa Maria throughout have been his loving wife
of 43 years, Sharon; their son Carl and his wife Lori; their daughter
Dana and her husband Michael; and their six cherished grandchildren
Alexa, Jake, Michael, Cassandra, Vanessa and Dean; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals, such as Carmine Santa Maria, who work to meet the needs of their
community and its citizens with diligence and compassionate commitment
to improving the quality of life in the community are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute and extend its highest commendation to Carmine Santa Maria upon
the occasion of the celebration of his 31st Anniversary as President of
the Bensonhurst West End Community Council at its Golden Anniversary
Gala on March 24, 2011, noting his preeminent endeavors and outstanding
leadership; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Carmine Santa Maria.