Senator Thompson To Recognize Sixteen Upstate Leaders At The Annual Black & Puerto Rican Caucus

For Immediate Release: Friday, February 12, 2010
Contact:  Heather Zeisz | zeisz@senate.state.ny.us | 716.854.8705

Albany, NY- New York State Senator Antoine M. Thompson (Parts of Erie and Niagara Counties) and Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes will hold “The Upstate Affair” awards ceremony and reception at The Crowne Plaza Capitol Room on Saturday, February 13, 2010 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for me to be able to publicly honor this year’s recipients at the Black & Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus for their outstanding commitment and hard work for the communities that they serve,” stated Thompson.

The awards ceremony and reception is being held to recognize several upstate community leaders and stakeholders.  The awards recipients are as follows:  Honorable Van Robinson, Syracuse City Council, Honorable Willie Lightfoot, Monroe County Legislator, Honorable Robert Anderson, Niagara Falls City Council, Honorable Flora McKenzie, Lockport Alderwoman, Honorable Barbara Miller-Williams, Chair of the Erie County Legislature, Honorable Betty Calvo-Torres, Buffalo City Court Judge, Honorable Carolyn McLaughlin, Albany City Council President, Honorable Lester Freeman, Jr., Albany City Council Member,

Honorable Bill Phillips, Utica City Common Council Member, Honorable Pamela Cahill, Buffalo School Board Member, Mr. Harry Corbitt, New York State Police Superintendent, Mr. Paul Williams, Executive Director of DASNY (Dormitory Authority), Dr. Charles Anderson, Family Practice Physician, Researcher, and Community Activist, Dr. Kenneth Gayles, 1st Cardiovascular Physician of Color in WNY.

Senator Thompson will also present two awards to local business people at the awards ceremony on Sunday, February 14, 2010.  The awards will be presented to Ramon Rodriguez and Lenny Johnson.  Mr. Rodriguez is the owner and editor of Panorama Hispana Newspaper and the founder of the Hispanic Music Festival and the Latino Business Association.  Lenny Johnson is the owner of L&D Plumbing and is the President and active member of the WNY Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors and L&D Plumbing; he was also awarded the 2009 Amherst Chamber of Commerce Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship.

Other weekend festivities include a business/career/craft exhibition far and environmental and MWBE workshops on Saturday, a performance by Joe & Hidden Beach on Saturday evening along with an after concert dance.

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