Colton Honors Three Marks JCH Book Club Members For 80th Birthdays

Assemblyman William Colton and District Leader Nancy Tong joined the Book Lovers Club at the Marks Jewish Community House (JCH) on April 17 to present New York State Assembly Citations of Honor to three longtime members of the club who were celebrating their 80th birthdays.

Mayya Milina, Bella Baytalskaya, and Mark Chernyakovsky received plaques and flowers in honor of their milestones, and the assemblyman addressed the crowd.

“Our senior citizens are the backbone of our community,” said Colton. “Birthdays are always a celebration of life, and these seniors continue to live as exemplary citizens. They have worked hard their entire lives, often helping others along the way.”

The Book Lovers Club is part of Marks JCH’s “Golden Age” Russian Senior Center, which offers over 20 clubs for aging community members, including clubs for song lovers, Israeli dance, yoga, and Badminton.

Colton concluded the event with a reminder of how seniors contribute to the fabric of our society, particularly in southwest Brooklyn.

“Many of our seniors are war veterans who have fought courageously for our nation. It’s important that we recognize the contributions of our senior citizens to our neighborhood and society as a whole. In many instances, they have made southwest Brooklyn a better place to live, work, and raise a family,” he said. “Our seniors have given generously to our neighborhood and our country and it was a pleasure to recognize three active senior members of our community and give something back to them in return on such a special occasion.”