Will The Boy Scout Get His Way?

Boy Scout Thomas Fennell went before the Community Board on Monday to make a request of them: that they help him change the name of 214th Place to honor his former science teacher.

Geraldine Cilmi, who taught science at , succumbed to cancer in 2010.

Fennell made a before the board to make the case for the change in appellation. But like all things in life—and especially city governance—a moving speech doesn't assure anything.

Asked to speculate on the outcome of Fennell's request, CB 11 District Manager Susan Seinfeld said, "I’m going to generally say that a lot of people aren’t too happy with all the street re-naming."

The request will go before CB 11's Transportation Committee before it goes to a hearing before the entire Community Board. The Board is then empowered to make a recommendation to Councilman Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone, as to the best course of action.

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In some cases, the Board recommends that the person be honored in a different way than a street re-naming, according to Seinfeld.

One possible outcome could be the naming of a landmark within Crocheron Park, which abuts 214th Place. As does P.S. 41, which may have facility therein to be named for the science teacher.

There is some hope for Fennell. Several streets in Douglaston were recently granted a name change to .