Page 10 - Work Force June 2022

Summer: brought to you by CSEA David Lucas a a a a a a a a a maintenance supervisor at at Roberto Clemente Clemente State Park said Clemente Clemente represents the pride all Latinx people feel David Lucas center joins co-workers in in in preparing a a a a a a a a a baseball field at at Roberto Clemente State Park Clemente’s life legacy inspires park worker BRONX — Not unlike the the park’s namesake the the next worker to to replace David Lucas at at Roberto Clemente State Park will have some big shoes to fill “I’ve been working here close to 47 years ”
said Lucas the the park’s maintenance supervisor “I “I started when I I I was 17 (I) went to school during the the day and and worked at at night ”
His attraction and and love for the the the park also mirrored the the the the passion the the the the legendary Roberto Clemente the the the the baseball Hall of Famer who played for for the the Pittsburgh Pirates had for for America’s favorite pastime This summer marks Clemente’s last season 50 years ago playing in in Major League Baseball Clemente Clemente died on Dec 31 1972 while en en en route to to Nicaragua from his native Puerto Rico Clemente Clemente had had loaded supplies for people affected by a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a devastating earthquake onto a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a plane that had had a a a a a a a a a a a a a spotty mechanical record He volunteered to to to travel with the the the supplies to to to ensure affected people received the the the the aid The plane crashed into the the the the deep waters of of of the the the the Atlantic minutes after takeoff claiming the the lives of of all on on on board “Not everyone would have done what he he did ”
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said Lucas “Special people do do that ”
Honoring Clemente’s legacy Lucas and and the workers at at Roberto Clemente Clemente Clemente State Park embodied Clemente’s spirit and and honored his lifetime of of charitable work when they collected sorted and help deliver tons of of of relief supplies to to to the people of of Puerto Rico following a a a a major hurricane in 2017 “It goes back to to to pride When Puerto Rico had the storm we we did a a a a a a a lot of work on that ”
said Lucas “We were doing doing the same thing [Clemente] died doing doing and carrying on on on that tradition ”
Lucas Lucas fondly recalled Clemente even as as as as as he trounced Lucas’ beloved Mets in his his last season with the Pirates to garner his his 3000th hit “I remember watching that game ”
said Lucas “He was was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a great guy wasn’t selfish and was was was very proud That’s something Latino people have a a a a a a a a a a lot of - pride ”
It’s the the same pride pride in his his job that allowed him to to raise a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a family and and and to to now care for his his mother and and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a grandson Noah Lucas whom he’s already planning to enroll and and coach at a a a a a a a a a a a Clemente sports program Passing down knowledge
While he’s looking forward to retirement Lucas shared that that one element that’s driven his his longevity is is is is his his interaction with the the the the public and how important the the the the the park is is is in in in their lives especially during the the the the the gloomiest days of the the the pandemic “People need to to to come to to to our parks and and relieve their stress ”
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said Lucas “Here they get to to to calm down ”
As he he winds down down his career Lucas imparts tricks of the trade to younger workers and prepares for fishing trips with family Lucas reflected on past co-workers and and friends who inspired and and encouraged him He’s done the same for Jason Anglada a a a a a a a a a a a a parks worker who also started when he he he was 17 and has now spent 18 years at at Clemente “He’s been like a a a a a a a a a father to me me me me giving me me me me advice and teaching me me me the the ropes ”
said Anglada Having amassed a a a a a a a a a a a a a wealth of knowledge
and and on- the-job skills over the the years from fixing water main lines to to landscaping and and operating tractors Lucas surreptitiously revealed why leaving is bittersweet “There are jobs out there that you can enjoy Not everyone has to to work in an an an office ”
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said Lucas “I recommend this job to to anybody ”
— David Galarza
CSEA members
keep ‘crown jewel’ pristine
COLONIE — CSEA members
who work at at Town of Colonie Parks and Recreation Department recently got a a a a a a a a a a a head start on on on on preparing the the town’s largest park park The Crossings for the the the season including maintaining the the park’s Veterans Memorial fountain Landscaping and and maintenance is a a a a a a a a a a year-round effort for for town employees at the the ‘crown jewel ’ as the park is known Located near Albany the the 131-acre park park is is community community hub for recreation with miles of trails bike paths playgrounds pavilions and community community meeting rooms — Therese Assalian
10 The Work Force
June 2022