Tuesday, May 31, 2011

"THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING" AT BABBO'S BOOKS

The Fellowship of the Ring
Four Thursdays: June 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th
8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m
Babbo's Books
In 1981, the BBC broadcast a dramatization of The Lord of the Rings in twenty-six half-hour installments. In 2002, it was released on CD.

Babbo's Books will play the CD of the 1981 BBC dramatization of The Fellowship of the Ring--the first book in the trilogy--in its entirety over the course of four evenings. Ian Holm stars as Frodo, and Gerard Murphy narrates.

On June 9th, they'll begin with the first disc, in which Frodo learns of the Ring and sets forth from Bag End.

Each segment is about 1 hour and 10 minutes long and will begin playing promptly at 8:30.

Babbo's will serve refreshments and snacks. 
A $3 donation is suggested.

Babbo's Books
242 Prospect Park West, between Windsor Place and Prospect Avenue

(718) 788-3475
http://www.babbosbooks.com
admin [at] babbosbooks.com


SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

STILL A WHOLE MESS O' GARBAGE BY ASTORIA FEDERAL

Monday afternoon
Tuesday afternoon
    
Maybe the Sanitation Department cleaned this up
after today's photo was taken.
If not, Thursday is the next collection day.

PHOTOS OF THE EXHIBIT "HONORING THEIR SACRIFICE" AT GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY

Photos of Green-wood Cemetery's free exhibit "Honoring Their Sacrifice" have been posted on Flickr by Lost in Brooklyn Studio. The exhibit, on display through Sunday, June 12th, features Civil War memorabilia.

Location: the Historic Chapel, just inside the main Arch at 25th Street and Fifth Avenue.

Hours: weekdays, noon to 4:00 p.m.; weekends, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

P.S. 230 SCHOOL FAIR AND STUDENT ART SHOW

P.S. 230 School Fair and Student Art Show
Sunday, June 5th, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The annual P.S. 230 School Fair and Student Art Show will be a day of fun for the whole family, featuring food, games, face painting, and a jumping castle. 

P.S. 230 Upper School
1 Albemarle Road, between McDonald Avenue and Dahill Road
Phone (718) 437-6135


INDIAN COOKING CLASS: THE GREAT SAMOSA, DOSA, CHAAT PARTY

The Great Samosa, Dosa, Chaat Party and Cooking Demonstration
Sunday, June 5th, 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

At The Great Samosa, Dosa, Chaat Party, Mukti Banerjee will teach participants how to make Samosa Chaat, Dosa, and Kati roll.

For this class, Mukti has picked some favorite dishes for the menu:
  • Papri Chaat--a spice blend of amchoor (dried powdered mango), asafoetida (tastes like leeks), and black or rock salt (for a smoky taste)
  • Samosa Chaat--savory stuffed pastry
  • Dosa--rice and lentil crepe with potatoes and peas
  • Kati Roll--a wrap
  • Masala Chai--spiced tea

Fee: $20 per person. Call Mukti at (917) 703-3998 to register for the class.

Mukti’s Kitchen
Beverley Road, near E. 9th Street
phone: (917) 703-3998
e-mail muktiskitchen [at] gmail.com

PASSPORTS PROCESSED AT KENSINGTON P.O. THIS SUNDAY


The Kensington Post Office will be processing passports this Sunday, June 5th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This is in additional to its regular processing hours: Mondays through Fridays, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Saturdays, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The post office will offer passport application acceptance as well as photo services.

The Kensington Post Office is located at 419 McDonald Avenue, between Church Avenue and Albemarle Road.
phone: (718) 436-0164
fax: (718) 437-2676
TTY Service for the hearing impaired: (877) 889-2457

To learn more about the process (how to apply, fees, and acceptable payment methods) and to download forms, go to the Postal Service’s website or the Department of State's website.

ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING RULES SUSPENDED THIS THURSDAY

Alternate side parking regulations will be suspended this Thursday, June 2nd, for Solemnity of the Ascension. All other parking regulations, including those for parking meters, will remain in effect.

Monday, May 30, 2011

TWO GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY WALKING TOURS


Written in Stone: Tales of Green-wood Walking Tour
Saturday, June 11th, 1:00 p.m.

The monuments and mausoleums of Green-Wood Cemetery have many fascinating stories to tell--and some of the most interesting are not about the most famous. 

Join Green-Wood Cemetery tour guide Ruth Edebohls to visit the final resting places and hear the stories of the Indian Princess, the girl who died on her 17th birthday, the heartbroken husband who waved good-bye to his wife in the morning never to see her again, the man who built "The Funny Place," an inventor and his dog, and many more.

A tourist attraction 150 years ago, Green-Wood Cemetery today still has the power to draw us and keep us coming back with its beauty, grandeur and history.

The walk may be hilly and strenuous, so wear good walking shoes.


Price: $10 for members of The Green-Wood Historic Fund / $15 for non-members. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Meeting Point: Inside the main entrance at 25th Street and 5th Avenue.


                             ======================


Moonlight Tour: Walking Tour
Saturday, June 11th, 8:30 p.m.

Armed with a flashlight and the full moon’s brilliance, fearless trekkers can explore the tombstones and catacombs with Green-Wood Cemetery historian Jeff Richman. Those inclined to believe in ghosts should look out for the spirits of cemetery residents such as Boss Tweed, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Leonard Bernstein, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Price: $10 for members of The Green-Wood Historic Fund / $20 for non-members. Reservations are recommended.

Meeting Point: Inside the main entrance at 25th Street and 5th Avenue.

LITTER BASKETS EMPTIED; TRASH KICKED TO CURB

Sometime after we posted our photos of overflowing litter baskets on Church Avenue on Saturday, the baskets got emptied. What makes this unusual is that the Sanitation Department doesn't empty baskets on Sundays or holidays, including Memorial Day. We hope we were the cause!

Unfortunately, the basket by Astoria Federal Savings got bypassed.


We assume a neighbor moved this trash
              from here                                       to here.

PHOTOS OF THE MEMORIAL DAY "GRAND PROCESSION" AT GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY

Photos of last night's Grand Procession through Green-wood Cemetery in honor of the Civil War dead have been posted on Flickr by Lost in Brooklyn Studio.

The cemetery's description of the event: "Led by cavalry, our procession will wind through our historic grounds and past more than 4,500 candlelit graves of Civil War veterans, guarded by uniformed re-enactors and serenaded by musicians and singers."

FREE MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT AT GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY

Memorial Day Concert 
Monday, May 30th, 3:00 p.m.


Melodies of the Civil War and works of Green-Wood Cemetery’s permanent residents Fred Ebb, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Leonard Bernstein, and others. The concert features the ISO Symphonic Band, founded in 1995 to sponsor talented students throughout New York City. The band is led by ISO’s founder and conductor Brian P. Worsdale.

Bring a blanket to sit on.

The concert will be held inside the main entrance to the cemetery at 25th Street at 5th Avenue.

BABY SWANS IN PROSPECT PARK

Mother swan with her five cygnets, 
born Saturday morning in Prospect Park.
Photo courtesy of Anne-Marie Titze.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

BAD ALTERNATIVES TO LITTER BASKETS

F train elevator on McDonald near Church

in front of 84 Church Avenue

LITTER BASKETS ON CHURCH AVENUE OVERFLOWING

This is what the public litter baskets on Church Avenue look like on a Saturday afternoon, two days after the Thursday garbage collection. Pick-up days are Monday and Thursday, but this coming Monday is a holiday, so the Sanitation Department won't pick up trash until Tuesday. Imagine what this mess will look like by then.


CIVIL WAR WEEKEND AT GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY

Friday, May 27, 2011

CONCERT AT DITMAS ACOUSTIC JUNE 5TH

Dina Maccabee
Myk Freedman
Sunday, June 5th, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.


Ditmas Acoustic Presents

Dina Maccabee (San Francisco)
(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dina-Maccabee-Band/173843127230)

Myk Freedman (Brooklyn)
(http://www.myspace.com/mykfreedman)

admission $10

The Sanctuary at Temple Beth Emeth
83 Marlborough Road at Church Avenue

NEW APPOINTEES TO COMMUNITY BOARD 12

Thirteen new members have been appointed to Community Board 12 (CB 12), the board's chairperson, Alan Dubrow, told attendees at last night's meeting of the Albemarle Neighborhood Association.

Annie Ferdous, Mamnunul Haq, and Akiva Kizelnik were appointed by Brad Lander, councilmember for City Council District 39, to replace Fredrick Cassera, Chaim Israel, and Abu Khalquzzam.

Mr. Lander's district covers Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Street, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, and Boro Park, although only Kensington and Boro Park fall within CB 12's boundaries.

Ms. Ferdous is a co-founder of Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts and was one of the organizers of the Kensington World's Fair. Mr. Haq is a Community Health Worker for the DREAM Project at the Center for the Study of Asian American Health at the NYU Institute of Community Health and Research and co-founded the New York Taxi Workers Alliance.

Board members are appointed for a two-year term; the term for half of the fifty board members had expired. Many of the current board members have served on the board for multiple terms. When asked how to apply for the community board, Mr. Dubrow said to file an application at the community board office or the Borough President's office. He was then asked what the qualifications are for serving on the board, and he replied "You must live or work in the neighborhood. Some is politics."

PAVILION THEATER UPDATE

"Pavilion renovations are almost done — just in time for Memorial Day," reports The Brooklyn Paper. "Park Slope’s Pavilion Cinema has finished its long-promised makeover and thorough scrubbing." The upstairs cafe with tables hasn't been completed yet.

Tickets for the eight-screen theater can be purchased online. Ticket prices for matinees (all shows before 4:00 p.m.): all tickets $8.50. Ticket prices for evenings (all shows 4:00 p.m. and after): adults $12.00, children (12 and under) $8.50, seniors (55+) $8.50

Now showing: Bridesmaids, Fast Five, The Hangover Part II, Kung Fu Panda 2, Kung Fu Panda 2 in 3D, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Something Borrowed, and Thor in 3D.

The Pavilion Theater
188 Prospect Park West, by Bartel Pritchard Square
(718) 369-0838
http://www.paviliontheater.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pavilion-Theater/179009155479986

PLANT SUNFLOWERS IN WINDSOR TERRACE


Sunflower Planting
Saturday,May 28th, 11:00 a.m.

Tomorrow is sunflower planting day at Prospect Farm. Bring gloves and drinking water with you--and gardening tools, if you have them. If you have any questions, send an e-mail to prospectfarmbk [at] gmail.com.

Prospect Farm
1194 Prospect Avenue, between Seeley and Vanderbilt streets
blog: http://prospectfarmbk.wordpress.com


F/G Train to Fort Hamilton, exit toward Prospect Avenue

MEMORIAL DAY'S PARKING RULES

Alternate side parking regulations and parking meter regulations will be suspended on Monday, May 30th, for Memorial Day.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

NAMASTE YOGA CELEBRATES SUMMER

Sent to us by Wilhyn:
Ladies and Gents!!!!
Namaste Yoga Celebrates Summer!

Another Beginners Gentle Yoga Series
(4) Wks $65.00 credit card $60 cash
Saturdays 2:45 to 4pm w/Johno
June 4th* 11th* 18th* 25th
Drop Ins (if space available $20)

Tai Chi Series

(5) Weeks $125
Sundays 2:30 to 4pm w/Teri
June 5th*12th*26th *July 10th*17th
*No Class Father's Day & July 4th*
Drop Ins $30 (if space available)

All Ages Welcomed
Males and Females, Mother and Daughters, Fathers and Sons
Call Today, Sign Up, Space Extremely Limited

Stop by for Zumba, Pilates Mat, Belly Dance, Cardio Dance and Turbokick

Wilhyn Larsen
Namaste Yoga of Kensington
482 Coney Island Avenue, 2nd Fl
Enter Church Av, red door/red stairs
Http://www.mynamasteyoga.com
(347)533-6226 or (347)533-6227
SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES! 

RACCOON ON OCEAN PARKWAY

Neighbor Steve LeVine sent us this raccoon alert:
Just saw a BIG raccoon by the garage area at 91 Ocean Parkway (between Kermit Pl. and Caton Pl.) Wednesday, 11PM
I've seen all size raccoons and this one was big. Keep an eye on your pets, especially if they go outdoors.
For safety tips for people and pets, see our blog post "What to Do with Raccoons and Other Urban Wildlife."

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

KIDS ON THE MOVE: FLAG FOOTBALL FOR GIRLS AND BOYS IN PROSPECT PARK

Flag Football in Prospect Park
for boys ages 8 to 17 and girls ages 8 to 14

Register on June 13th at Holy Name
for the September to November season.

Keep 'em moving!

NEW AT MARIA'S PIZZERIA--ICES!


Maria's Pizzeria is now serving

Refreshing Ices
mango, lemon, strawberry lemonade,
chocolate, vanilla chip,
vanilla peanut butter cup
$1.50

Chilled Cut-up Fruit
watermelon
$2.00
pineapple
$2.50
watermelon and grapes and cantaloupe and honeydew
$2.75


Maria's Pizzeria
3007 Fort Hamilton Parkway, between E. 2nd and E. 3rd streets
(718) 854-7575
Online orders from grubHub.com 

SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

EXCELLENT TURNOUT AT THE COMMUNITY BOARD MEETING

Between ten and twenty people usually attend Community Board 12 meetings. Most of them live in Borough Park, where the meetings are held, and a few travel from Kensington and Midwood. But at last night's meeting, held at P.S. 230 in Kensington, about sixty people showed up!

So many people had something they wanted to talk about during the public comment period that it lasted for forty minutes instead of the usual fifteen. Residents commented on increased crime and the slow response by police, harassment of women by groups of men congregating on sidewalks, the failure to lock up Albemarle Playground at dusk, overflowing public litter baskets, and the litter baskets at busy intersections that were removed by the Sanitation Department.

A few preventable glitches occurred.
  • We were told that we didn't have to sign the attendance sheet, which means that it doesn't show how many of us were actually there.
  • We weren't told that we had to fill out a form in order to make a comment. So, when the end of the public comment period was announced, several people called out that they hadn't had a chance to speak yet. They were then allowed to fill out the form and speak.
  • Nobody arranged to have a microphone there, so it was difficult to hear everyone's comments.
The next meeting (and the last one until September) will be on Tuesday, June 28th, at 7:00 p.m., at Amico Senior Center, 5901 13th Avenue, 3rd floor, at the corner of 59th Street. Enter on 59th Street. Take the B16 bus to 56th Street, then walk three blocks along 13th Avenue to 59th Street.

Keep making your voices heard!

Previous posts:

RALLY THURSDAY TO SAVE FIREHOUSE 220

In addition to the Wednesday, May 25th, rally to protest FDNY Engine 220 from being closed down to save the city money, a rally will be held on Thursday, May 26th. This rally will also be held at the firehouse, 530 11th Street, between 7th and 8th avenues. It begins at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

RALLY WEDNESDAY TO SAVE FIREHOUSE 220

A rally will be held tomorrow--Wednesday, May 25th--in an effort to prevent FDNY Engine 220 from being closed down to save money. The rally will be held at the firehouse, 530 11th Street, between 7th and 8th avenues, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

TASTING AT JUICE BOX WINE & SPIRITS

Tasting at Juice Box Wine & Spirits
Friday, May 27th, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Juice Box Wine & Spirits is having a tasting of gin, barrel aged gin, and whiskey, all from Breuckelen Distilling Company, an artisan distillery located in Brooklyn on 19th Street near 3rd Avenue.

The gin is made from organic New York grain. The whiskey was distilled from a mash of New York State-grown wheat and was aged in new American oak for 123 days.


Juice Box Wine & Spirits
1289 Prospect Avenue, between Greenwood Avenue and Reeve Place
(718) 871-1110

SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

MACY'S FISHING CONTEST CANCELED

Budget cuts have caused the cancellation of this year's Macy's Fishing Contest in Prospect Park. The contest was scheduled to be held from July 13th through 17th.

An annual event since 1947, Macy's Fishing Contest was open to children ages fifteen and younger. Fishing equipment was provided to participants who didn't have their own. All of the fish that were caught were released back into the water.

Monday, May 23, 2011

DON'T INCREASE THE FDNY'S RESPONSE TIME FOR A FIRE

If the firehouse at 530 11th Street, between 7th and 8th avenues, that serves "much of Park Slope & Windsor Terrace" gets closed, the response time to fires will be longer than the amount required by the national guidelines created by the National Fire Protection Association.

Sign a letter that will be sent to the mayor to protest the closing of FDNY Engine 220. You can edit the letter in any way that you like.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

FEE LOWERED FOR TAI CHI CLASSES

UPDATE: The fee for Tai Chi classes at Namaste Yoga of Kensington has been lowered to $125 for the five-week series and $30 per class for drop-ins.

SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

DOES ANYTHING NEED TO BE BETTER IN KENSINGTON?

Is Kensington getting all of the services that city agencies are supposed to be providing us with? Is the neighborhood safe enough? Clean enough? Quiet enough? Attractive enough? Too many potholes? Not enough litter cans?

At the Albemarle Neighborhood Association's meeting this Thursday, tell the chairperson of Community Board 12 what Kensington needs. It's the board's job  to insure that we get all the services we need and that we're entitled to.



NEXT SERIES OF TAI CHI CLASSES AT NAMASTE YOGA

UPDATE: The fee has been lowered to $125 for the five-week series and $30 per class for drop-ins.
 
Tai Chi Classes
Sundays, June 5th, 12th, and 26th, and July 10th and 17th, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tai Chi is an ancient art form of movement that's beneficial to health and well-being. Its movements are ideal for people with diabetes, back pain, arthritis, and osteoporosis. Tai Chi enhances the flow of energy (chi) within the meridians (energy channels). It helps increase the range of motion. Its breathing techniques help with everyday activities.

Teri Gorbea will teach a five-week series of Tai Chi classes at Namaste Yoga of Kensington that begins on Sunday, June 5th. The fee is $150 for the five-week series and $35 per class for drop-ins, if space is available. Registration is required. Register by calling Namaste Yoga at (347) 533-6226 or 6227.

My Namaste Yoga of Kensington

482 Coney Island Avenue, 2nd floor
(347) 533-6226 or (347) 533-6227
Enter On Church Avenue. Use the red door/red stairs.
Info [at] mynamasteyoga.com


SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

EVERYONE CAN SAVE WITH NYC'S NEW DISCOUNT PRESCRIPTION CARD


New York City has introduced BigAppleRx, a prescription discount program available to people living, working, or visiting New York City, regardless of age, income, citizenship, or health insurance status.

The program provides discounts on brand name and generic prescriptions and on over-the-counter medications such as smoking cessation aids and diabetic supplies, as long as you have a valid prescription for them. The city has negotiated discounts with the participating pharmacies so that you save an average of 15% on brand named and 53% on generics.

You can't use the card in combination with any other discount card or with other insurance, but you can use it to get medication that your health insurance doesn't pay for. And it can be used in combination with Medicare Part D if you're in the "donut hole" phase.

To print your free BigAppleRx card (or to copy the numbers that are on your card if you don't have a working printer), click here, and then answer the question "Where did you hear about the BigAppleRx Card?" Bring your card with you anytime you go to a pharmacy.

Click here to find pharmacies near your home, your job, or anywhere at all in the country that are participating in the program. Pharmacies are still being added to the network. Click on a pharmacy's address to link to a map showing its location. You can also call 311, or you can call (800) 697-6974 for live chat if you need help or want to ask questions. TDD/TTY service is available at (800) 662-1220 or 711.

Mail order service is also available. Click here, and then click on "Learn How" underneath "Save on Prescriptions with Our Mail Order Service!"

And there's an app for it through iTunes (compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.).

BEWARE OF DOOR-TO-DOOR MAGAZINE SALESPEOPLE

Teenagers are selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door in the neighborhood, say residents at E. 2nd by Cortelyou and E. 4th by Caton, in hopes of winning scholarships for college. Be careful because this could be a scam, even though the teenagers themselves may not be aware of that. The elderly have a reputation for being victims of scams, but people of all ages are susceptible--especially if they think they're helping someone.

Beware of emotional appeals by someone selling door-to-door. For example, the student selling magazine subscriptions using the appeal that your sale will help him/her get a college scholarship or other such rewards. If you buy from a door-to-door salesperson in your home, and the purchase is more than $25, you're protected under the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule. The Rule gives you three days to cancel your order and receive a full refund. The seller must tell you that you have a right to cancel, and give you a summary of your cancellation rights and two copies of the cancellation form. Ask to see the required cancellation notice before you agree to buy. If the salesperson doesn't have it, don't place an order. The company is breaking the law.

If you think you've been involved in a magazine subscription scam, contact your state Attorney General or local consumer protection office.

NAME THE GOSLING

Name the gosling pictured here and win "more than a little bird feed." 

The Brooklyn Paper is holding a naming contest for one of the goslings born in Prospect Park on May 7th--born despite Goosebusters' addling (coating with corn oil) of the mother's eggs, a measure intended to prevent geese from being born in the park.

The newspaper's editorial board will decide which of the submitted names it considers to be the ten best and pass them on to the Prospect Park Alliance to choose from.


Previous blog posts
Prospect Park's Geese Not Cooperating with the Authorities
More Prospect Park Geese May Get Killed
Managing Wildlife in City Parks
Killing of 250 to 400 Geese in Prospect Park

KARATE CLASSES AT GREENWOOD PLAYGROUND

UPDATE: The karate classes have been canceled because of a misunderstanding with the Parks Department.



Friends of Greenwood Playground will be offering karate classes for children and adults starting June 12th. Classes will be taught by Jeffery Weber.

The children's classes will be free, but everyone must register in advance. To register, fill out the form below and send it by mail with a check. Or mail the form and pay using PayPal.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
This summer, Friends of Greenwood Playground is introducing Karate Classes for Kids & Adults at the handball field every Sunday starting in June! Register immediately!!!Come to class with loose fitting clothes and sneakers. If you have a uniform, please do wear it! No jewelry allowed!
Pre-Karate League: Age 4-7
Learn focus and discipline through Karate in a fun environment! At this level, our instructor has designed the class to improve motor skills and increase physical coordination.
Dates: June 12, 19, 26
Time: 8:30-8:55
FREE (Must register)

Beginner Karate League: Age 8-15
For young children and beginners. Stepping drills and more advanced games are added to the karate skills curriculum along with kata (forms), partner techniques, and basic sparing.
Dates: June 12, 19, 26 (Sundays)
Time: 9:00-9:25
FREE (Must register)

Adult Karate League: Age 16 & Up - We welcome parents who want to get fit!!!
This League is appropriate for people who have never done karate and those who would like to perfect the basics. Each session features some stretching, conditioning, kihon (basic moves include stances, blocks, punches and kicks), kata (forms) and kumite (sparring). We will touch on the very first basic kata, and not engage in ANY sparring activity in this Adult Karate League.
Dates: June 12, 19, 26 (Sundays)
Time: 9:30-10:30
League Fee:  $30 (Must register)

You must register in advance. Fill out the Registration Form & Waiver, and for the Adult League, send a check for $30 payable to Friends of Greenwood Playground. We also accept PayPal payments at greenwoodfriendsfunds [at] gmail.com

Please send the completed Registration, Waiver, and a check for Adults League to: 
c/o Friends of Greenwood Playground
328 E. 5TH St. #1, Brooklyn, NY 11218.

Once we receive completed forms, we will inform you that your registration is completed. Please note that we DO NOT allow any students to attend without completing  the registration process. If you have any questions, please kindly e-mail us at karateatfogp [at] gmail.com.

Our instructor info:
Jeffrey Weber started training in the martial arts at the legendary Tokutai Dojo in Flushing under Sensei Toyotaro Miyazaki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotaro_Miyazaki). Starting from an early age of 6 years old, Mr Weber progressed to earn his black belt in the 1980’s.  During the 90’s while attending college at the University of Buffalo, Mr. Weber was active in a large campus karate class, training young adults in martial arts basics. Mr. Weber currently practices and instructs in Bayside at the NYC Shotokan Dojo ran by his colleague Sensei John Duffy (http://www.jduffyskarate.com).

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Registration/ Release and Waiver of Liability and Indemnity Agreement


Applicant Name: _____________________________________________________

Parent/ Guardian ( if minor): ____________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________

City, State Zip: _______________________________________________________

Phone: _____________________________________________________________

E-mail: _____________________________________________________________

Date of Birth: ________________________________________________________

Emergency Contact/ Relation: ___________________________________________

Emergency Phone: ____________________________________________________



Release and Waiver of Liability and Indemnity Agreement

Read Carefully Before Signing

In consideration of being permitted to participate in any way in the martial arts program indicated below and/or being permitted to enter for any purpose any restricted area, the parents and/or legal guardians of the minor participant named below agree:

The participant(s) and/or legal guardian(s) will instruct the minor participant that prior to participating in the below martial arts actively or event, he or she should inspect the facilities and equipment to be used, and if he or she believes anything is unsafe, the participant should immediately advise the officials of such condition and refuse to participate. I understand and agree that, if at any time, I feel anything to be UNSAFE; I will immediately take all precautions to be avoid the unsafe area and REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE further.

I/WE fully understand and acknowledge that:

There are risks and dangers associated with participation in martial arts events and activities which could results in bodily injury partial and/or total disability, paralysis and death.

The social and economic losses and/or damages, which could result from these risks and dangers described above, could be severe.

These risks and dangers may be caused by the action, inaction or negligence of the participant or the action, inaction or negligence of others, including, but not limited to, the Releasees named below.

There may be other risks not known to us or are not reasonably foreseeable at this time.

I/WE accept and assume such risks and responsibility for the losses and/or damages following such injury, disability, paralysis or death, however caused and whether caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the Releasees named below.

I/We HEREBY RELEASE, WAIVE, DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE the martial arts facility used by the participant, including it owners, managers, promoters, lessees of premises used to conduct the martial arts event or program, premises and event inspectors, underwriters, consultants and others who give recommendations, directions or instructions to engage in risk evaluation or loss control activities regarding the martial facility or evens held at such facility and each of them, their directors, officers, agents, employees, all for the purpose herein referred to as “Releasee”…From all liability to the undersigned, my/our personal representatives, assigns, executors, heirs and next to kin For any and all claims, demands, losses or damages and any claims or demands therefore on account of any injury, including but not limited to the death of the participant or damage to property, arising out of or relating to the events(s) caused alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the release or otherwise.

I/We HEREBY acknowledge that THE ACTIVITIES OF THE EVENT(S) ARE VERY DANGEROUS and involve the risk of serious injury and/or death and/or property damage. Each of THE UNDERSIGNED also expressly acknowledges that INJURIES RECEIVED MAY BE COMPOUNDED OR INCREASED BY NEGLIGENT RESCUE OPERATIONS OR PROCEDURES OF THE RELEASEES. 

EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED further expressly agrees that the foregoing release, waiver, and indemnity agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the law of the Province or State in which the event is conducted and that if any portion is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall, notwithstanding continue in full legal force and effect.

On behalf of the participant, and individually, the undersigned partners(s) and/or legal guardian(s) for the minor participant executes this Waiver and Release. If, despite the release, the participant makes a claim against any of the Releasees, the parents(s) and/or legal guardian(s) will reimburse the Releasee for any money which they have paid to the participant, or on his behalf, and hold them harmless.

I certify that I am in good health and have no mental or physical condition or symptoms that could interfere with my safety or the safety of others while participating in any activity, using any equipment or facilities of Greenwood Playground. I understand and agree that I alone am responsible to determine whether I am physically and mentally fit to participate, perform, or utilize the activities, programs, equipment or facilities available at Greenwood Playground, and that I am not relying on any  advice from instructor or Greenwood Playground in this regard. To the extent I have any questions or need any information about my physical or mental condition or limitations, I agree to seek professional advice from a qualified physician. 

I HAVE READ THIS RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT, AND HAVE SIGNED IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT, ASSURANCE, OR GUARANTEE BEING MADE TO ME AND INTEND MY SIGNATURE TO BE COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY TO THE GREATEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW. 

Instructor: _Jeffery Weber______________________________________ 

Signature (Parent/Guardian if minor):________________________________________ 

Date: _________________________

ELECTRONICS REPAIR RECOMMENDATION

A recommendation for an electronics repairperson:
Hi Neighbors,

Never run with a video camera. I learned the lesson the hard way during my last vacation.

I wanted to see if someone could fix my screen (unlikely) or at least get the data off of the camera. I thought this might be tricky since the camera used the touch screen as the primary navigation tool.

Thankfully, my friend Amara's husband, Zaheer Habib, is a self-taught electronics genius. Parts were difficult to procure, so he couldn't fix the screen, but he got the data off of it (all of my vacation memories!) in record time. And it was much less expensive than going to a repair shop.

Zaheer Habib can repair PC's (hardware and software), iPhones (He can jailbreak and unlock them as well as change screens, LCD's, and casings. He can also troubleshoot software issues.) and most electronic devices and appliances. He even fixed my friend's food processor.

If you give him an electronic device, it is most likely he can repair it. He doesn't have formal training, but he has an eye for electronic repair. He also accepts donations of certain devices that he can use for parts for his own projects. Pricing is reasonable and depends on the repair needed (cost of parts+labor).

English is his second language, so his wife whose first language is English usually does all the talking so he is better able to understand the nature of the repair. They can be reached at 347-666-9577.

I cannot tell you how grateful I am for Zaheer's help.  The turnaround was quick and the price very affordable. 

Do yourself a favor and give Zaheer a call next time something breaks on you or you break on it.

Best,
Jasmina

Friday, May 20, 2011

LOCAL KITTEN TWEETS

Local kitten CoCo Casey LeVine is featured in yesterday's "The Daily Kitten." CoCo lives with Steve and Maggie LeVine, who adopted her from Sean Casey Animal Rescue. Her Twitter page is a fun read.

You too can adopt a precious bundle of fur from Sean Casey Animal Rescue!

Sean Casey Animal Rescue
153 E. 3rd Street, between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue
Windsor Terrace/Kensington
(718) 436-5163
http://scarnyc.org
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NY637.html
https://www.facebook.com/SeanCaseyAnimalRescue


SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES! 

F AND G TRAINS MESSED UP THIS WEEKEND

This weekend, service on the F train between 18th Avenue and Jay Street-Metrotech and on the G train between Church Avenue and Hoyt-Schermerhorn streets will be, in the words of the MTA, "severely disrupted." Service is disrupted in both directions. The reason: work on the infrastructure.

From 11:30 p.m. on Friday, May 20, until Monday, May 23rd, at 5:00 a.m., the F and G trains will operate in two sections, and shuttle bus service will replace trains.

F trains will run in these two sections: 1. Between 179 St and Jay St-MetroTech, then via the C to Euclid Av, the last stop.
2. Between 18 Av and Stillwell Av.

G trains will run in these two sections:
1. Between Court Sq and Bedford-Nostrand Avs.
2. Between Bedford-Nostrand Avs and Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts, every 20 minutes.

More detailed explanations for commuters, including taking shuttle buses between Jay St-MetroTech and 4 Av-9 St, between Jay St-MetroTech and 18 Av, and between 4 Av-9 St and Church Av, are here.

Also this weekend, Jamaica-bound F trains will skip 14th and 23rd streets.

A summary and map that might be worth printing out and carrying with you so you don't end up who-knows-where is here.

You can also use the MTA Trip Planner to figure out how to get to your destination. The instructions incorporate the service changes.