STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Monteal Bell, an energetic, 46-year-old man, travels from his New Brighton home to a busy Rosebank intersection. He is well known to the community for helping commuters cross St. Mary’s Avenue and Tompkins Avenue. His motions are a cross between dancing and traffic directing, which moves people along during the morning rush hour. Bell is hard of hearing, but has no problem communicating with motorists just after sunrise every morning. When asked why he does this, he wrote: ” I just want to work every day.” Bell is handed tips here and there from car passengers, and the owner of the corner deli, Palm Grill, offers him free coffee. Mugeb Zeid, owner of the Palm Grill, says Bell is there before he opens at 7 a.m. “Bell is a funny guy and helps the people; everyone in the area knows him and seems to love him,’’ Zeid said. But mostly, he makes people smile. A reader, Chuhyon Corwin, reached out to say: “His presence, more than his traffic-directing efforts, is what compels me to reach out to you. His enthusiasm and resilience, especially on inclement-weather days, brighten my mornings. He doesn’t just guide traffic; he uplifts spirits, embodying the spirit of New York. Having called New York home for over 20 years, he reminds me of the city’s unique charm and the reasons I fell in love with it.” On a recent cold Thursday at 7:05 a.m., Bell was out there as usual, exchanging waves and smiles, setting a positive tone for everyone’s day. More feature stories on SILive Walt Disney World raises ticket prices: Here are the cheapest dates to visit After proper medical treatment, 4 year-old boy leaves Staten Island to be reunited with family in the Middle East New American Legion post named in honor of 2 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from Staten Island Comedian Zarna Garg: Breaking glass ceilings with hilarity and representation for middle-aged women Local artists gather at Everything Goes Book Cafe’s open mic night
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