Celebrating a hero: Tottenville residents host drive-by parade in honor of NYPD Detective Dominick Libretti shot in line of duty

By Kimberly | Published: February 16, 2022

Staten Islanders residents lined the streets to honor NYPD Detective Dominick Libretti with a 70-vehicle drive-by parade this weekend. Det. Libretti was shot in the line of duty on January 20, 2022. After being shot in the leg and seriously wounded, Detective Libretti still managed to shield  other cops from gunfire.

“This was definitely an emotional day for me, just knowing that I’m alive and I made it out of that house that morning,” Det. Libretti told Derek Alvez and Jessica Jones-Gorman of the Staten Island Advance. “It was a great turnout, very emotional. It made me choke up at some points just to see how many people came out for this.”

Det. Libretti is 33 and an 11-year veteran of the NYPD. He has been decorated for bravery and hopes to return to the job soon.

Posted in 9/11 Community | Comments closed

Lawyers and lobbyists fight for their slice of $3.5 billion in Afghan money seized by the Biden administration

By Kimberly | Published: February 16, 2022

Since the President’s controversial announcement that funds seized from Afghanistan’s central bank would be paid to 9/11 families who successfully sued the Taliban, law firms and lobbyists are trying to claim some of the funds for themselves, reports Lee Fang of The Intercept.

Posted in General | Comments closed

‘Running saved my life’: Matt Vilardo, who lost father on 9/11, opens specialty store for runners

By Kimberly | Published: February 15, 2022

Matt Vilardo was 14 when he ran with his father for the first time on September 10, 2001. Joseph Vilardo was killed the next day in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

Matt used running to cope with his grief and depression. Now Matt has opened an athletic store, Root Runners. The name stands for Running Over Our Troubles.

“I want to inspire people to become active through running, and I want to educate people on the benefits it has on mental illness,” he told Laurie Gordon of the Sparta Advertiser-News.

Posted in Families in the News | Comments closed