Politics NY: New York’s Source for Government & Political NewsPolitics NY: New York’s Source for Government & Political News
  • Contact Us
  • Power Lists
  • Debates & Forums
  • Regions
    • Queens
    • Brooklyn
    • The Bronx
    • Manhattan
    • Staten Island
  • Videos
    • In the Community With
    • Election Debates
    • Power Players
    • Meet the Candidates
  • Opinion
  • Policy
    • Transportation
    • Education
    • Police & Safety
    • Real Estate & Housing
    • Business & Economics
    • Health
    • Immigration
  • Judicial
  • Jobs
  • Our Network
    • amNY
    • Bronx Times
    • Brooklyn Paper
    • Caribbean Life
    • Dan’s Papers
    • Gay City News
    • Long Island Press
    • Metro
    • Noticia
    • QNS
Politics NY: New York’s Source for Government & Political NewsPolitics NY: New York’s Source for Government & Political News
  • Contact Us
  • Power Lists
  • Debates & Forums
  • Regions
    • Queens
    • Brooklyn
    • The Bronx
    • Manhattan
    • Staten Island
  • Videos
    • In the Community With
    • Election Debates
    • Power Players
    • Meet the Candidates
  • Opinion
  • Policy
    • Transportation
    • Education
    • Police & Safety
    • Real Estate & Housing
    • Business & Economics
    • Health
    • Immigration
  • Judicial
  • Jobs
  • Our Network
    • amNY
    • Bronx Times
    • Brooklyn Paper
    • Caribbean Life
    • Dan’s Papers
    • Gay City News
    • Long Island Press
    • Metro
    • Noticia
    • QNS
Politics NY: New York’s Source for Government & Political NewsPolitics NY: New York’s Source for Government & Political News
  • Regions
  • Queens
  • Brooklyn
  • The Bronx
  • Manhattan
  • Staten Island
  • Videos
  • In the Community With
  • Election Debates
  • Power Players
  • Meet the Candidates
  • Policy
  • Transportation
  • Education
  • Police & Safety
  • Real Estate & Housing
  • Business & Economics
  • Health
  • Immigration
  • Our Network
  • amNY
  • Bronx Times
  • Brooklyn Paper
  • Caribbean Life
  • Dan’s Papers
  •  
  • Gay City News
  • Long Island Press
  • Metro
  • Noticia
  • QNS
  • Contact Us
  • Power Lists
  • Debates & Forums
  • Opinion
  • Judicial
  • Jobs
Accident Reports

Bellerose Manor civic leader honored with street co-naming

By Naeisha Rose Posted on October 7, 2019
2019 10 05 – Street co-naming ceremony_1905

Elected officials and civic leaders honored a revered community trailblazer with a street co-naming ceremony on Saturday at the southeast corner of Seward Avenue and 235th Street in Bellerose Manor.

The late Bernard “Barney” Aquilino was a community leader in eastern Queens for over 40 years and worked tirelessly to better Bellerose Manor and surrounding neighborhoods, according to elected officials, fellow civic leaders and family members.

In the 1970s, Aquilino joined the Rocky Hill Civic Association and shortly after became its president for more than 25 years, and was involved in it overall for 40 years, according to Councilman Barry Grodenchik’s (D-Oakland Gardens) Office.

During his time at the Rocky Hill Civic Association, Aquilino prevented the closure of the local elementary school P.S. 18 in Queens Village, he facilitated the relocation of a sanitation garage so that his neighbors could rest easy from the rumblings of garbage trucks and fought to get the U.S. Postal Service to rename his neighborhood Bellerose Manor, according to Grodenchik’s office.

“The late Bernard Aquilino did outstanding work for Bellerose Manor and for all of eastern Queens,” said Grodenchik. “I cannot think of a more appropriate way to honor a man so dedicated to his community and the borough.”

Aquilino would weed and clean public green spaces in his neighborhood, he supported local youth groups and he educated homeowners about services that they were entitled to from the government, according to Grodenchik’s office.

Close

Know What Matters

News, events, culture and more — delivered to you.
Thank you for subscribing!

“Bernard M. Aquilino dedicated his life to bettering his community through his selfless acts of community service,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. “From this day forward, all who pass through this intersection will be reminded of the tireless dedication to others exhibited by Mr. Aquilino.”

Aquilino brought a “unique vitality and strength” to his community, according to Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows).

“Bernard Aquilino was the epitome of what a civic leader should be,” said Frank Toner, the vice president of the Rocky Hill Civic Association. “The entire community benefitted from his work and dedication.”

Corey Bearak, the acting president of the North Bellerose Civic Association, remembered the impact of Aquilino’s work.

“I recall Barney Aquilino as a good man with whom I enjoyed working on many a project,” said Bearak. From moving the “sanitation garage on Winchester Boulevard under the Grand Central Parkway instead of on the Creedmoor campus next to Bellerose homes to developing, under the auspices of the Queens Civic Congress, a Civic Master Plan that guided much of the re-use of much of the Creedmoor campus, including the three public schools there.

We won some good fights.  But more than anything, Barney had integrity and set a good example for us, then-younger activists.”

Professor Steven Aquilino, Barney’s son, remembered that his father took great pride in his work.

“Second only to his love for his family, this neighborhood and the Rocky Hill Civic Association were our father’s passion,” said Prof. Aquilino. “Naming this street Bernard M. Aquilino Place is a wonderful tribute to him for all his hard work and dedication, and our family is very grateful for this honor.”

About the Author

Naeisha Rose

Naeisha Rose is a multimedia journalist and graduate of the Arts & Culture and Broadcast programs at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. She has worked as a General Assignment Reporter/Photojournalist for TimesLedger Newspapers, a Book Reviewer for Publishers Weekly and a Freelance Writer for LatinTrends Magazine.

Related Articles

  • News Site Brooklyn Brooklyn Lawmakers On The Move Oct. 12, 2018
  • Queens County City Council News Queens Lawmakers On The Move Oct. 5, 2018
  • Southeast Queens Community Gathers to Commemorate Beloved Barber
  • Queens County City Council News Queens Lawmakers On The Move Sept. 17, 2018

Jobs in New York

Add your job

  • The Center for Investigative ReportingSenior Major Gifts Officer
  • PREPREP.NETFront Desk Lobby Attendant
  • Eden ContractorSidewalk Contractor in NYC

View all jobs…

Sign up for our daily insider news roundup

Subscribe

More from Around New York

district leader
Bronx Times

Bronx man sentenced in NYCHA corruption case

Stonewall House, a residence for LGBTQ older adults, is based in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn.
Gay City News

Report suggests pathways to sustainable, lower-cost housing for LGBTQ older adults

clean path
QNS

Op-ed | New Yorkers have spoken: Clean Path NY must be a priority

53718977740_cf19e2820e_o
Brooklyn Paper

BP Weekender: 6 things to do in Brooklyn May 9-11

  • Contact Us
  • Networking Events
  • Podcasts
  • © 2025 Political Edge LLC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Sections
  • Jobs
  • Power Lists
  • Videos
  • Contact