Mayor for the Day Event ~ Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

"Mayor for a Day" Event Announced

          Sleepy Hollow, NY, February 5, 2015 . . .  Immaculate Conception Church, 199 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY, is pleased to announce that its first "Mayor For A Day" event honoring three local community members, Nicholas Bell, Brian Doyle and Armando "Chick" Galella, will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2015, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Sleepy Hollow Village Hall and continuing at 11:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church.

          The purpose of this event is to honor a person or persons in our community who are a blessing to others and who make Sleepy Hollow the wonderful place that it is.  Immaculate Conception pastor Fr. Dany Abiakar brought the concept of this celebration to the parish with the goal of bringing the parish and community closer.  The current Mayor of Sleepy Hollow, Ken Wray, and members of the parish warmly embraced the concept.  A special “Mayor For A Day” Committee was formed consisting of parish members.  With input from the community, they selected the three honorees and prepared the program for the day, which includes a welcome at Village Hall, with presentations from Mayor Wray and other Village officials, a blessing from Fr. Abiakar at Immaculate Conception Church, and a celebratory lunch to follow at Immaculate Conception's Coda Hall for the honorees and their guests, as well as for Immaculate Conception parishioners.  The parish plans to make this an annual event. 

          The 2015 “Mayor For A Day” honors three very well-deserving individuals: Nicholas Bell, Brian Doyle and Armando "Chick" Galella.  For anyone who knows these men, it is not hard to understand why they were chosen.  Their dedication to helping our community has been demonstrated in various ways, as detailed in the below bios.  The honorees will each receive a plaque "in appreciation of (their) dedicated service to the community."  "We look forward to honoring Nick, Brian and Chick with all the pomp and circumstance our community can muster," says committee member Jennifer Green.  (Note - This is just an example of a quote that we should include, preferably from Fr. Dany.)  "We are excited that representatives from the Boy Scout's Troop 22, Sleepy Hollow High School, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Sleepy Hollow Police Department will all be on hand to make our inaugural event the type of celebration our honorees deserve." 

          The 2015 “Mayor For A Day” Committee is comprised of Fr. Dany Abiakar, Manuel Arce, Joseph Durso, Lillian Edwards, Petronella Feaster, Lisa Gonzalez, Jennifer Green and Robert Seminara.

          For more information, please contact Fr. Dany Abiakar at (email address) or 914-631-0446.

                                       Honoree Biographies

Nicholas Bell is a co-owner of Celtic Corner in Dobbs Ferry, and, along with fellow honoree, Brian Doyle, has been co-proprietor of J P Doyle’s Restaurant and Public House in Sleepy Hollow since 1999.  He is also the former head soccer coach at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, where he was inducted into the college's Athletics Hall of Fame.  In addition to being a successful restauranteur, Nick is well known in both villages for his generosity and commitment to a number of charitable causes.  Whether it is helping raise funds for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Mercy College, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the YMCA or The Foundation for the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns, Nick works both publicly and behind the scenes to give support to these important organizations. His other community activities include serving on the board of the Family YMCA at Tarrytown and supporting youth soccer in the village. 
Nick is married to Adrienne and they are the proud parents of Jack Paul Bell.

Brian Doyle, along with fellow honoree, Nick Bell, has been co-proprietor of J P Doyle’s Restaurant and Public House in Sleepy Hollow for over fifteen years. They also own Celtic Corner in Dobbs Ferry.  During this time, Brian has made a name for himself in the village not only as a successful business owner, dedicated to improving downtown Sleepy Hollow, but also as a man committed to strengthening the community as a whole.  Brian is a past co-president of the Tarrytown Sleepy Hollow Chamber of Commerce and currently sits on the Chamber’s board of directors. He also serves on the Sleepy Hollow Police Advisory Committee.  Brian's charitable works include serving as a board director for The Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Hudson Valley Chapter in Tarrytown, and supporting other local youth organizations, such as the YMCA.  Additionally, Brian is a New York City firefighter at FDNY’s Ladder 45 in Washington Heights, where he has served since 2001.  He and his wife Jennifer live in Dobbs Ferry, and are the proud parents of Caleigh Elizabeth and Michael Thomas.

Armando “Chick” Galella is a life-long resident of North Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow.  He graduated North Tarrytown High School, joined the Army in 1940, and survived the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.  He was discharged with the rank of sergeant major and later awarded the Bronze Star.  His service to country has been equaled by his service to community.  He was a Village Trustee and Deputy Mayor from 1969 to 1979.  He has been a member of Pocantico Hook and Ladder since the 1950's, and is now an Honorary Life Member.  He also served as Fire Commissioner for the Village.  During his earlier years, he was active as a Cub Scout leader and with the Tarrytown Committee for Progress, as well as being part of the fact-finding board for the General Motors Expansion Program.  Chick has been an active parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church, serving as a member of the Holy Name Society, Parish Councilman Bazaar Chairman for over 20 years, Parish Trustee and various other duties.  He is regularly invited to speak to students throughout Westchester County about his wartime experiences and the importance of good citizenship.  Some of his past honors include serving as Grand Marshall of the Sleepy Hollow Columbus Day Parade and being inducted into the Westchester County Senior Citizen Hall of Fame.  Chick and his wife Leda have been married for 67 years and have two sons, Armando Jr., and Michael, and three grandchildren.