• New SSG Michael H. Ollis Ferry Launched in Panama City, FL.

    November 17, 2019 Author: Dave
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    Governor Ron DeSantis at Eastern Shipbuilding for Ferry Launch
    SSG Michael H. Ollis Ferry Launched on 15 November 2019

    By Erik Bascome | tbascome@siadvance.com

    STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The newest member of the Staten Island Ferry fleet is one step closer to making the iconic trip across the bay.

    The first of three new ferryboats — the SSG Michael H. Ollis — was launched into the water in Panama City, Fla., Friday for the first time.

    The Ollis boat is named after the late Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, a New Dorp native who died at age 24 while saving a Polish soldier in Afghanistan.

    The new storm-resilient vessels, being built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc., will replace the John F. Kennedy, Andrew J. Barberi and the Samuel I. Newhouse boats, and will be more capable of operating in a wide range of weather conditions and locations.

    The ships were modeled after the John F. Kennedy boat, popular for its outdoor promenades and extended foredecks.

    The new ship, expected to be delivered to New York Harbor in August 2020, was previously scheduled to arrive in in fall 2019, with the vessel originally set to be commissioned and put in service in early 2020.

    However, the Florida shipyard, operated by Eastern Shipbuilding, where the newest Staten Island Ferry vessels are under construction, was badly damaged by Hurricane Michael last October, delaying the arrival of the new boats.

    The Department of Transportation (DOT) has yet to provided information as to when the SSG Michael Ollis will be commissioned.

    The second new boat, the Sandy Ground, was originally scheduled to arrive in the New York Harbor in summer 2020, with the third new boat, which remains nameless, initially scheduled to arrive in spring 2021. The DOT has not provided updated timelines for either ship.

    Local Coverage of the Launch from Panama City, FL that was presided over by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis:
    https://www.wjhg.com/content/news/Governor-Ron-DeSantis-participates-in-Eastern-Shipbuillding-Group-boat-launch-565006172.html.

    Governor Ron DeSantis Joins Eastern Shipbuilding Group for the Launch of the SSG Michael H. Ollis
    Governor Ron DeSantis at Eastern Shipbuilding for Ferry Launch

  • PS 56 teams up with Operation Ollis to send supplies to military

    November 2, 2019 Author: Dave
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    PS 56
    PS 56 Teaming up with SSG Ollis Foundation to send supplies to military down range.

    REPUBLISHED from SI Advance.

    By Annalise Knudson | aknudson@siadvance.com

    STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — As Veteran’s Day approaches, students and staff at PS 56, Rossville, are teaming up with the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation’s Operation Ollis to send supplies to military overseas.

    The school has partnered with the family of Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis — who lost his life at age 24 protecting a Polish soldier from an explosion in 2013 during his third deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan — to thank the military for Veteran’s Day, according to Principal Philip J. Carollo.

    Last year, Ollis posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross, which highlights courageous behavior and bravery against enemy attack, and is the second highest rank — falling right under the Congressional Medal of Honor.

    Families are dropping off items to PS 56 to be sent to soldiers overseas, and care kits will be assembled by students and staff so that each kit has a few items needed by a soldier — from Michael Ollis’ favorite snack, beef jerky, to phone cards for soldiers to call home. Students are also making cards and notes for soldiers, as well.

    PS 56 is collecting new and unused items through Veteran’s Day, which is Nov. 11.

    Those items include:

    • Phone cards
    • Visa and MasterCard gift cards
    • Personal hygiene items: wet wipes, body wipes, disposable razors, deodorant, floss, toothbrushes, feminine products, etc.
    • Socks
    • Current magazines and books
    • Posters and calendars
    • Movies, music CDs, iPods, small earphones
    • USB devices
    • Beef jerky
    • Candy (non-perishable), hard candy, breath mints, gum
    • New UV protection sunglasses
    • Playing cards