College of Staten Island Professor of Education Kenneth Gold was one of a handful of honored guests featured at the Staten Island FerryHawks baseball game on Thursday evening at the Staten Island University Hospital Community Park. Gold was featured as part of Jewish Heritage Night at the ballpark, with this year’s event dedicated to the “Year of the Educator.” Ceremonies were conducted prior to the FerryHawks’ showdown against the Lancaster Barnstormers.
Gold was joined alongside Dawn Gallis, Director of the Jewish Community Center’s Early Education Center, Stacey Kaplan Magnus, Family Liaison of the District 31 Superintendent Office, and Natalya Levina, Staten Island Technical High School’s Jewish Club Advisor, as honorees this year spotlighted in a pregame ceremony and celebrated throughout the evening.
“I was thrilled to be offered this honor by Lori Weintrob, Director of the Holocaust Center at Wagner College,” said Gold. “I’ve always tried to forge connections with members of the Staten Island community In my nearly 30 years of teaching at CSI. I am proud to participate in Jewish Heritage Night with the Ferryhawks.”
Opening Ceremonies also featured ceremonial first pitches thrown by Felicia Oddo Holtzman, Assistant Principal of Port Richmond High School, Lori Weintrob, Director of the Wagner College Holocaust Center, and Assemblyman Eric Dinowitz, former Special Education teacher & UFT Chapter leader.
Former Major League Baseball star Jason Marquis were also be on hand, joined by his Team Israel teammate Shlomo Lipetz, meeting and greeting fans and signing autographs. Part of Jewish Heritage Night also featured Kosher food like Mac and Cheese balls, falafel platters and vodka pasta, and blue and white cookies throughout the game.
Proceeds raised and raffles were in support of the Wagner College Holocaust Center.
The Staten Island FerryHawks dropped the game to the Barnstormers, 7-2, but are currently 17-15 and in second place in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball’s North Division standings.
