The Bellerose Manor community gathered over the weekend to rename Seward Avenue and 235th Street after longtime civic leader Bernard M. Aquilino.
Aquilino was the longtime president of the Rocky Hill Civic Association, and advocated on behalf of his community for more than 40 years.
Known as Barney, Aquilino joined the civic group in the 1970s and soon became president, a position he held for over 25 years.
Some of his accomplishments include preventing the city from closing PS 18, facilitating the relocation of a sanitation garage and more. He helped sustain local youth groups, educated homeowners about government services and cleaned up public spaces in the neighborhood.
Aquilino also led the fight for the U.S. Postal Service to rename his community Bellerose Manor.
The request for the street co-naming came from the Rocky Hill Civic Association, Community Board 13 and other civic groups. Councilman Barry Grodenchik introduced the bill in the City Council.