It was Monday morning on the 30th of August when Yonkers saw the Grand Opening of its first neighborhood pro-life pregnancy center for women and families - LIFE OPTIONS CENTER. Their Life Options motto: Where There's Life, There's Hope! Donde Hay Vida, Hay Esperanza! A fitting one with the address at 68 Palisades Avenue near Elm Street, mere blocks away from Planned Parenthood.
Tony Felicissimo welcomes the 87th District Assembly candidate Samuel L. Rivers
Theresa Bonopartis, Fr. Arthur Rojas of St. Joseph's in Yonkers, Fr. Michael Morrow
Dr. Elizabeth Rex of The Children First Foundation was on hand bearing gifts. She is happy at the opening of Life Options Center, and that Governor Chis Christy is the Governor in New Jersey. The Children First Foundation has reapplied to Christy's administration for the Choose Life license plates OK.
The Reverend James N. Hassell, Pastor of Kingdom Baptist Church gave the ceremony's opening prayer and was enthusiastically thanked for offering space on his church's property to the Center that will give women in Yonkers a friendly neighborhood locale for health and family care resources in and near the Center for women and families looking for help and real alternatives to abortion.
Rev. James
Life Options Center has been a dream long-prayed-for by Tony Felicissimo and the Advocates of Life, and made a reality thanks to the Rev. Hassell and the Kingdom Baptist Church. Tony led the day's festivities, welcoming guest speakers the Rev. Hassell, Yonkers Mayor Philip Amicone, Father Michael Morrow, Parochial Vicar at St. Eugene's Church in Yonkers, and the dynamic Rebbeca Hodges and Maryl Turchi, Co-Directors of Life Options Center. Mayor Amicone presented a Proclamation to Pastor Hassell, saying that the proclamation meant nothing in comparison with what was happening there today. All spoke briefly before the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Advocates of Life director Tony Felicissimo
Mayor Amicone speaks and presents Proclamation
Rebecca Hodges, Co-director of Life Options Center
Maryl Turchi, Co-Director, Life Options Center
Gathered in celebration
John Goff and News Channel 12
Liam McLaughlin, Mayor Amicone and John Murtaugh
A number of Yonkers public servants and candidates were on hand including Yonkers City Councilmen Dennis Shepherd and John Murtaugh, NYS Senate candidate from the 35th District Liam McLaughlin and District 93 NYS Assembly candidate Michael Ramondelli.
Well-known pro-life organizations were represented by leaders like Dr. Elizabeth Rex. Theresa Bonopartis of Good Counsel Homes' Lumina program; Barbara Meara of New York State Right to Life Committee; Tom Faranda and Judy Anderson of the Hudson Valley Coalition for Life; Richard and Marie Brand and Joy Dichiario of the Westchester-Putnam Right to Life Committee. Many friends and supporters like Vinny Restiano and Levette Bills were also there to celebrate the big opening.
The LIFE OPTIONS CENTER offers free, compassionate, confidential services that include free pregnancy tests; help with crisis pregnancies; parenting classes and health decisions mentoring; and referrals to community resources.
Walk-ins or appointments are welcomed. The hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. 68 Palisades Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10701. Call 914-620-4464.