Photo credit: Marla Maritzer..

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. at his Las Octavitas celebration in East Harlem on January 21, 2009. Pictured (l to r) are: Thompson; Carlos Diaz, President, Stickball Hall of Fame; and, Yolanda Sanchez, President, National Latina Caucus. View slideshow

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. held his annual “Las Octavitas” celebration on Wednesday, January 21st at the Taino Towers Crystal Room in Manhattan.

“A través de los años, Las Octavitas se ha convertido en una celebración de la importancia de la familia, de los amigos, de cultura y de comunidad,” Thompson said. “Throughout the years, Las Octavitas has become a celebration f the importance of family, friends, culture and community.”

“All of us here tonight know the importance of community. It is our sense of community that helps our neighborhoods grow safer and stronger. Community helps keep families together. Community helps young people learn about what’s important, and encourages them to reach for their dreams. Community teaches us to honor our past and embrace our future. Let us celebrate our sense of community. Let us celebrate the traditions of yesterday and the promise of tomorrow. “

At the event, Thompson honored Carlos Diaz, President of the Stickball Hall of Fame and Organizer of the World Series of Stickball. Mr. Diaz has been on the staff of East Harlem’s Metropolitan Hospital for more than 25 years where he created the Explorers’ Program, which exposes junior high school students to careers in the healthcare industry.

Diaz is very active in East Harlem, where he serves as a member of Community Planning Board 11 and on its District Service Cabinet and New York Telephone and Con Edison Advisory Committees. He also is the founding member of East 111th Street Old Timers Organization and chairs both the East Harlem Council for Community Improvement and PROGRESS Inc., a long-standing provider of technical assistance to Latino community-based organizations in New York City.

“For his passionate involvement in the life of his community and his commitment to both its welfare and its long-term success, and in recognition of his unswerving dedication to the youth of East Harlem, it is my very great pleasure to present this award of recognition to Carlos Diaz,” Thompson said.

Thompson also paid tribute to Jose “Chegui” Torres, boxing champ, writer, and activist New York’s Puerto Rican community, who died Monday morning.

“He was a man who broke barriers and served as a role model not only to the Puerto Rican community but for all New Yorkers who saw that one person could make a difference,” Thompson said.

The band, Trio Los Platinos, performed at the event.

For photographs, contact Marla Maritzer at (212) 669-2597 or mmaritz@comptroller.nyc.gov.

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