Wednesday, November 30, 2011

WINTER FAIR: SILENT AUCTION, ENTERTAINMENT, RAFFLE, CRAFTS, AND FOOD

Winter Fair this Saturday at P.S. 154, from noon until 4:00 p.m.

Great silent auction items, from Rangers Tickets to a Private Indoor Pool Party to Summer Camp to Amusement Park Admission. Tons of gift certificates to great restaurants like Blue Ribbon Sushi.

Read the preview of auction items--almost two dozen, so far. Payment by check or credit card is accepted.

Entertainment by kids:

  • 12:15 Cruise Control Guitar School
  • 1:00 Irish Step Dancers
  • 1:30 PS 154's Band & Neil Ochoa's percussion class
  • 2:00 Cynthia King Dancers
  • 2:30 2nd Grade Capoeira Demonstration
  • 3:00 Cooking Demonstration with Barbara McGouran's cooking class 
Food : meatball heroes, ziti, and more.

$500 Apple store gift card. Raffle tickets on sale at the fair for $5 per ticket or 5 tickets for $20. The drawing will be at 3:45.

Get an all-day craft pass for $10 and let your children be crafty to their hearts' content.

It's going to be a full day!

TRASH TALK: A PANEL DISCUSSION ON TRANSFORMING NYC'S WASTE

Trash Talk: A Panel Discussion on Transforming NYC's Waste


Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 7:30 PM

at P.S. 217, 1100 Newkirk Avenue, between Coney Island Avenue and Westminster Road.


NANNY GOAT HILL CLOSED, BUT LOOKING FOR NEW LOCATION

Nanny Goat Hill Wine Bar and Kitchen has closed at its Crossroads Cafe location--but it's looking for a new home.


Dear Friends & Neighbors,

It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the closing of Nanny Goat Hill Wine Bar & Kitchen effective immediately.

Due to irreconciliable differences between ourselves and our most gracious hosts Crossroads Café, we have both agreed to end our arrangement in order to pursue our separate goals. We thank them for giving US the chance to serve all of YOU.

NGH was a true passion project born out of unique opportunity and economic necessity. It was our hope to provide a real local option for those to wine and dine in a community that so desperately needs it. No car, no trains, just the novel idea of walking to dinner with family or friends.Though short lived, I believe we were able to achieve this. We take great pride in knowing that our vision was not only viable, but so unanimously embraced.

Most of all we want to thank you for your dedicated patronage and support. It was a pleasure serving you Windsor Terrace!!.........................and with that said, NGH is actively seeking an alternate venue. If anyone has any leads, please let the guys at Juicebox know.

Until then.........WE WISH ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND PROSPEROUS HOLIDAY SEASON.

CHEERS!

THE TEAM AT NANNY GOAT HILL

MUSIC FOR AARDVARKS AT TERRACE DANCE STUDIO


The Whole New Park Slope Aardvarks, now managed by Sivan Vigder from Music for Brooklyn, expanded to Windsor Terrace a month ago. The current session of music classes began on October 31st and will end on December 17th.

The next session will run on Wednesdays from January 9th through March 4th, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Classes are for children up to four years old. They're held at Terrace Dance Studio, 273 Prospect Park West, Suite 1, at 17th Street.

Register here today and take $150 off the $345 tuition by using promo code KWT150. Classes are free for children six months old and under when they attend with a sibling who is registered.

If you have any questions, call Sivan at (347) 581-5740 or send an e-mail to info @ musicforbrooklyn.com.

EAST FIFTH STREET BURGLARY

The daytime burglary yesterday of a house on E.5th Street, between Albemarle Road and Church Avenue, netted the burglar (or burglars) computers and other items. The burglar entered through a back window, just as in the burglary on E. 4th Street.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

BROOKLYN FOOD CONFERENCE TO BE TOPIC AT PROSPECT FARM, FOLLOWED BY A WORKDAY

At Prospect Farm on Saturday, December 3rd, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., meet with organizers of the Brooklyn Food Coalition to talk about the 2nd Brooklyn Food Conference, to be held in May 2012. Learn about and contribute to the organizing efforts. All ideas are welcome.

From 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., cut wood and build a base for the new tool shed.  Bring gloves, water, and snacks.

Prospect Farm
1194 Prospect Avenue, between Seeley and Vanderbilt streets
F/G Train to Fort Hamilton, exit toward Prospect Avenue

Monday, November 28, 2011

THIS WEEK'S SABBATH EVENTS FOR KIDS AT FLATBUSH JEWISH CENTER

Flatbush Jewish Center will have two Shabbat enrichment programs for children this week: Tot Shabbat and Big Kid Minyan.

Tot Shabbat is for children ages 0-5. Sing songs, play games, listen to stories, and learn more about Shabbat and holidays. Tot Shabbat is at 11:00 a.m. in the upstairs library.

Big Kid Minyan is for children ages 6 and up. Learn about and say the morning prayers and enjoy an interactive discussion about the weekly Torah portion. Big Kid Minyan is at 11:00 a.m. in the downstairs Bet Midrash.

The children's programs are followed by Kiddush.
Everyone is welcome to join the main service, which begins at 9:00 a.m.
Flatbush & Shaare Torah Jewish Center
327 E. 5th Street, at the corner of Church Avenue
(718) 871-5200

AMAZON PARROT STILL MISSING


Ocean Parkway by Avenue F

KENSINGTON LA LECHE LEAGUE WILL MEET THIS WEEK

Kensington La Leche League
Wednesday, November 30th, 11:00 a.m.

The Kensington La Leche League will have its second meeting this Wednesday. To find out the location of the meeting, send an e-mail to hezmez @ optonline.net. The group got off to a great start earlier this month with a wide range of moms--from women expecting their first child to moms with toddlers--showing up to give and get breastfeeding support.

La Leche League International (LLLI) is a mother-to-mother breastfeeding support group that is open to all. Founded in Illinois in 1956 by seven mothers, its mission is "to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother."

LLLI is international (in sixty-eight countries), nonprofit, and nonsectarian. Mothers who are breastfeeding and women who are pregnant and are interested in breastfeeding are welcome to attend meetings. Children of all ages are welcome.

MISSING PARROT


Captain Charlene, a twenty-five-year-old parrot, flew off his owner's shoulder on Ocean Parkway on Friday. Captain is a green and yellow Amazon parrot with clipped wings. If you spot him, call (347) 350-5914.

More in the New York Post.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

SAVE FIFTY TO SIXTY-NINE PERCENT AT NAMASTE YOGA

Take unlimited yoga* classes at Namaste Yoga of Kensington for up to 69% off the regular cost through Groupon. You can take one class a day every day for a month, three months, or a year. 

 

Options:

  • $49: one month of unlimited yoga classes (67% off the $150 value).
  • $119: three months of unlimited yoga classes (69% off the $385 value).
  • $599: one year of unlimited yoga classes (50% off the $1,200 value).

*Each unlimited card is good for one style of classes. You can, for instance, buy a three-month card for yoga classes and a three-month card for Zumba classes.

Take advantage of this offer fast because the Groupon clock is ticking!

Namaste Yoga of Kensington
482 Coney Island Avenue, 2nd Floor
Enter Church Ave, red door/red stairs
www.mynamasteyoga.com
info @ mynamasteyoga.com

LAST WALK (AND SNIFF) AROUND PROSPECT PARK FOR 2011

Batman
A Sunday Walk (and Sniff) around Prospect Park
Sunday, December 4th, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

To all dogs adopted from shelters and rescues:

It's time for Adopted Dogs of NYC's final Walk and Sniff until spring. You and your adoptive parents are invited to go for a walk in Prospect Park next Sunday with other dogs and parents. Enjoy a casual leashed stroll in the park and socialize in a controlled environment while your parents exchange stories and advice about you and everyone gets exercise.


You don't need to own a dog to participate.

Meet group organizer Kate Tully and Batman by the horse statue at 9th Street and Prospect Park West. Batman (pictured above) is a black chihuahua who wears a red collar.

To sign up for the Walk and Sniff, click here and then click on "Join us!"

Saturday, November 26, 2011

DESIGNER OF THE DAY DISCOUNT AT BLACK BEAR VINTAGE AND HANDMADE

Black Bear Vintage & Handmade will take 10% off the price of any item by their featured designer of the day, starting today and continuing every day through Christmas.
Today's featured designer is Christine Dominic. To get the discount, just mention that you saw the post about her on Black Bear's Facebook page. Examples of her jewelry are on the Facebook page.
Black Bear Vintage & Handmade
469 16th Street, between Prospect Park West and 10th Avenue
phone: (718) 768-0250
blackbearbrooklyn @ gmail.com

SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!  

HOLIDAY GIFTS FROM YOUR KITCHEN: COOKING CLASS AT BROOKLYN COMMUNE

Holiday Gifts from Your Kitchen
Monday, December 5th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Learn how to make chutneys, spice blends,
compound butters, sauces, and more
at Brooklyn Commune.

$70 per person. 



Brooklyn Commune

Holiday Gifts from Your Kitchen
Where:
Brooklyn Commune
601 Greenwood Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11218

Driving Directions

When:
Monday December 5, 2011
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

This year, give thoughtful and unique gifts that come straight from the heart of your home - your kitchen! 

 Join us for another cooking class as we show you how to make delicious gift packages with a personal touch. 
 From breakfast to dinner, snacks and beverages, we'll cover fun and tasty items that will be loved by everyone on your list.

Breakfast Gift Set
Spice Rubs, Seasonings & Sauces
Beverage Mixes & Condiments
Seats are limited so register now!

Register Now!

We'll see you soon at Brooklyn Commune!
Happy Holidays and as always, Feed One Another!

Eugenie & Chris and the gang








COMPOST FOR BROOKLYN'S WINTER HOURS

Starting next Thursday, December 1st, winter drop-off hours for compost at Compost for Brooklyn will be
  • Thursdays, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and
  • Sundays, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Compost for Brooklyn is a community composting project
and native plant garden in Kensington.
 
Compost for Brooklyn 
Newkirk Avenue and East 8th Street
compostforbrooklyn @ gmail.com
www.compostforbrooklyn.org
https://www.facebook.com/compostforbrooklyn

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

WINTER FAIR COMING TO P.S. 154

P.S. 154 Winter Fair
Saturday, December 3rd, noon to 4:00 p.m. 
 
Entertainment and activities for all ages: student performances, music, craft making, and a silent auction. Each class will make a group project that will be auctioned off. Local vendors and teachers will donate goods and services. Holiday foods and festivities will be provided throughout this afternoon of fun for the whole family.
Entertainment
12:15 to 12:45: Cruise Control Guitar School
1:00 to 1:30
: Irish Step Dancers
1:30 to 2:00
: PS 154 Band and Neil Ochoa’s Percussion Class
2:00 to 2:30
: Cynthia King’s Dancers
2:30 to 3:00
: 2nd Grade Capoeira
3:00 to 3:30
: Barbara McGouran’s Cooking Class
3:45: Last bid on silent auction and Apple Store Card raffle drawn

P.S. 154
1625 11th Avenue, near Windsor Place

LAST SUNDAY TOUR OF GREEN-WOOD FOR THIS YEAR

Historic Trolley Tour: Discover Green-Wood
November 27th, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This Sunday's historic trolley tour is the final Sunday tour for the year. On the "Discover Green-Wood" tour, participants visit
  • Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel,
  • Battle Hill (the site of George Washington’s 1776 Battle of Brooklyn),
  • De Witt Clinton,
  • Leonard Bernstein,
  • Elias Howe (patented the first sewing machine; he is buried with his dog Fannie),
  • The Beard Bear bronze sculpture,
  • The Civil War Soldiers Lot with the Little Drummer Boy,
  • John MacKay of Comstock Lode (the mausoleum has heat and eletricity),
  • Henry Ward Beecher,
  • Boss Tweed,
  • ASPCA founder Henry Bergh,
  • the Green-Wood catacombs,
  • the Roosevelt Family Lot,
  • Indian Princess Do-Hum-Me Indian,
  • George C. Tilyou (founder of Steeplechase Coney Island), and
  • the Prentiss brothers (One Union, One Confederate).
The tour includes stops where participants can walk outside.

Meet tour guide Marge Raymond inside the Main Entrance at 25th Street and 5th Avenue.

The fee is $10 for members of The Green-wood Historic Fund and $15 for non-members. Seating is limited; reservations are strongly recommended.
Buy tickets by either calling (718) 210-3080 or ordering online using the Ticket Information box here.

Green-Wood Cemetery
500 25th Street
Phone: (718) 210-3080
info @ greenwoodcemetery.org

Monday, November 21, 2011

TALKING ABOUT SNAKE HANDLING


Babbo's Book Club
Friday, December 2nd, 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

The Babbo's Book Club book for December is Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia by Dennis Covington.

From the publisher (Perseus):
For New York Times reporter Dennis Covington, what began as a journalistic assignment—covering the trial of an Alabama pastor convicted of attempting to murder his wife with poisonous snakes—would evolve into a headlong plunge into a bizarre, mysterious, and ultimately irresistible world of unshakable faith: the world of holiness snake handling. Set in the heart of Appalachia, Salvation on Sand Mountain is Covington’s unsurpassed and chillingly captivating exploration of the nature, power, and extremity of faith—an exploration that gradually turns inward, until Covington finds himself taking up the snakes.
Babbo's Book Club meets on the first Friday of every month at 8:00 p.m. The books that are read alternate between fiction and non-fiction and are chosen by consensus. Babbo's Book Club is free and open to all.

Babbo's Books
242 Prospect Park West, between Windsor Place and Prospect Avenue
(718) 788 - 3475
admin @ babbosbooks.com
Please buy Babbo's Book Club books at Babbo's!

SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

BEGINNER YOGA SERIES DURING DECEMBER

 

Namaste Yoga of Kensington will offer a Beginner Yoga Series on three Sundays in December: December 4th, December 11th, and December 18th, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. $50 for the three classes. Space is limited, so call soon to sign up.

Namaste sells holiday gift certificates.

Wilhyn Larsen
Namaste Yoga of Kensington
482 Coney Island Avenue, 2nd Floor
Enter Church Ave, red door/red stairs
www.mynamasteyoga.com
info @ mynamasteyoga.com

SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

AN EVENING OF BELLY DANCING AND FUN


Come out and enjoy an evening of belly dancing and fun at Namaste Yoga’s bellybration sensation!

Bellydance performances by Namaste students and guest professional bellydancers.

Enjoy the hors d' oeuvres, light refreshments, and a glass of wine.

Time: 5 pm to 7 pm
 Date: Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

Cost: $10.00 for adults
children 10 and under free

Place: Namaste Yoga Studio,
 482 Coney Island Avenue (at Church Avenue)
Brooklyn New York

Any questions? Call Oshun at 347-515-5162 or Wilhyn at 347-533-6227.

PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND SANITATION NEEDS

The Participatory Budgeting Project's Public Safety, Public Health, and Sanitation Committee has met and posted its first report. The committee consolidated the suggestions made at the neighborhood assemblies in October to produce a list of eight items to spend $1,000,000 in capital funding on.

Public safety is always a concern, but the large number of sexual assaults this year on women in our neighborhood guaranteed it the top three spots on the list. "Street lighting" included lighting inside of, outside of, and near subway stations when it was suggested at the neighborhood assemblies.

The next three items deal with the worsening problem of garbage on sidewalks and in the streets. The number of public litter baskets has been decreasing lately as part of a Sanitation Department experiment. The department believes that merchants will be forced to stop illegally putting their business garbage in the baskets and residents will be forced to stop illegally doing that with their household garbage because there won't be room in the baskets. So far, however, fewer baskets has instead led to that garbage being placed on the ground next to the baskets.
  1. Street lighting
  2. Blue safety phones
  3. Security cameras
  4. Solar trash cans (and more trash cans in general)
  5. Permanent E-waste receptacles
  6. Permanent recycling receptacles
  7. Snow plows for narrow streets
  8. Capital project related to mosquito control (if this is possible!)
The full report is on Councilmember Brad Lander's blog here.

LOTS OF COMPOSTABLES COLLECTED

Volunteers at Kensington's Compost for Brooklyn collected 712 pounds of food scraps and 1,179 pounds of leaves from the community this weekend. This totals 1,891 pounds of food scraps and leaves that will be used as compost to nourish the soil instead of simply being garbage.
Previous posts:
Help Receive Collected Leaves

ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING SUSPENDED ON THANKSGIVING

Alternate side of the street parking rules (for street cleaning) and parking meter regulations are suspended on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th.

The next day, Friday, November 25th, isn't a holiday, so alternate side of the street parking regulations, parking meters regulations, and all other parking regulations will be in effect.

SPRING 2012 MEETING SCHEDULE FOR ALBEMARLE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION


Founded 1973

Saturday, November 19, 2011

E. 4TH STREET HOUSE BURGLED

UPDATE: The video recorder box for the security camera system was stolen. Police have recovered video from the security system of one of the victim's neighbors.

A burglar entered a house on E. 4th Street, between Albemarle Road and Church Avenue, yesterday through a back window and stole computers and the security camera.

DETECTIVE ARRESTED ON DWI

An off-duty detective was arrested near Minna Street and Dahill Road at 5:00 a.m. yesterday morning for driving while intoxicated. Serafin Resto, 31, was asleep in the driver's seat of his parked car. In the state of New York, a drunk driving charge applies if someone is in the driver's seat and the key is in the ignition; the person is considered to be in control of the vehicle.

Friday, November 18, 2011

JOLIE IS HOME!

Jolie just came home a few minutes ago! She was by Diana and Ed's back door meowing. Sean Casey told me she'd come back, and she did!

JOLIE THE CAT IS STILL MISSING

Jolie was possibly spotted on Sherman Street, between Ocean Parkway and Greenwood Avenue, on Tuesday evening.

My friends Diana's sweet, wonderful cat Jolie is missing. If you see Jolie, please send an e-mail to Diana at artemis1.dls [AT] verizon.net.
Dear Friends, 
Jolie, my spayed, female cat, apparently ran out of the house (E. 4th St. between Church and Albemarle) early this afternoon. We have a worker doing things, and although he is very careful about the cats, he obviously missed her exit.

She is 5 years old, is a pastel gray tabby with a tan belly with some white. She is probably hungry and thirsty. I hope she can find food and water that cat-friendly people put out. I looked around for her and told Sean Casey about her. Please keep an eye out for her.

Diana

Thursday, November 17, 2011

EIGHT FELONIES REPORTED IN KENSINGTON, NOVEMBER 7TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 13TH

The PIMS unit of the 66th Precinct tells us that four crimes were reported in Sector G (Caton Avenue to Beverley Road) and four  in Sector K (Beverley Road to Avenue F) during the week of November 7th through November 13th.
    Sector G
    • Burglary: November 8th, 11:00 a.m., E. 4th Street. A female stated that an unknown perpetrator(s) entered her home, possibly through a living room window that had been left open, and removed her property.
    • Burglary: November 8th, noon, along Ocean Parkway and Beverley Road. A business reported that while working, an unknown perpetrator removed tools from the business' parked truck.
    • Burglary: November 9th, 9:30 a.m., McDonald Avenue. A male stated that an unknown perpetrator(s) entered his apartment through an unknown point of entry and removed items.
    • Burglary: November 11th, 4:00 p.m., E. 2nd Street. A business reported that its truck was parked and business tools were removed from it.
    Sector K
    • Robbery: November 9th, 1:30 p.m., along E. 7th Street and Caton Avenue. A male stated that three sixteen-to-seventeen-year-old males threatened to shoot him, and they removed property from him. The perpetrators fled on foot to an unknown location.
    • Robbery: November 11th, 12:48 a.m. A male from a business reported that two males entered the location, displayed a black firearm, and removed cash from the register. The perpetrators fled westbound on Church Avenue.
    • Burglary: November 11th, 1:30 p.m., 37th Street between 12th and 13th avenues. A business reported that an unknown perpetrator entered, possibly through an unlocked front entrance, and removed an Apple I-Mac computer.
    • Robbery: November 11th, 9:01 p.m. A female reported that while walking home from a train station, an eighteen-year-old male approached and forcibly dragged her to the ground, causing an injury, and removed her cellphone. An arrest was made.

      Wednesday, November 16, 2011

      FALL BASH AT THE Y

      Fall Bash at the Indoor Playhouse at the Windsor Terrace Y
      Sunday, November 20th, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

      Free and open to the public
      Raffles, sing-a-longs, and fun

      Kings Bay Y at Windsor Terrace
      1224 Prospect Avenue, corner of Vanderbilt Street
      near the 15th Street-Prospect Park station for the F and G trains
      (718) 407-6377
      info [at] ywindsorterrace.org

      KWT CANINE WATCH: LOCAL DOGS AND THEIR HUMANS ARE IN THE NEWS


      "Residents are using crime fighting dogs to patrol the streets of Kensington and Windsor Terrace."
                                          Crime fighting dogs take the streets in Brooklyn
                                          WABC Local News


      "K9Watch isn’t a dispatch service; volunteers simply walk their pets at night as they normally would and loop around area train stations. Women who wish to be escorted home, simply have to flag down a dog. They’re easy to spot with their bright yellow bandanas."

                                        K9 cops! Windsor Terrace gets watchdogs to escort women home
                                        The Brooklyn Paper


      "you don't even need to own a dog to participate—interested volunteers are encouraged to simply walk around the neighborhood (in pairs)." 

                                           Literal Watchdogs Escort Women Home In Windsor Terrace
                                          Gothamist

      K9WaTch = Kensington Windsor Terrace Canine Watch
      walk [at] k9watch.org

      AIR YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT CRIME

      From our Inbox:
      Reminder:

      Tomorrow night, Thursday, at 7:30, will be the monthly Community Council meeting where you can come and meet your Commanding Officer of the 66 Precinct, Deputy Inspector John Sprague, and his team to express any concerns you may have. 5910 13th Ave.

      We The Community Council
           President: Marc Katz
           Vice President: Felix Burgos
           Recording Secretary: Fran Starapoli
           Treasurer: Tony Pedri
           Sergeant At Arms: Ari Weiss
           Corresponding Secretary: Mohammed J. Alam
           Assistant Secretary: Hymie Mochon

      5910 13th Avenue is between 59th and 60th streets.

      The 66th Precinct Community Council meets on the third Thursday of the month, from September through June, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All residents of the community are invited to attend meetings. For further details, call the precinct at (718) 851-5601.

      SHARING PROSPECT PARK'S DRIVES WITHOUT GETTING INJURED

      The Prospect Park Alliance Road Sharing Taskforce will hold a public meeting tonight to discuss how the various types of park users--runners, walkers, the elderly, people with their children, people with their dogs, competitive cyclists, recreational bikers, etc.--use the park drives and how they can co-exist safely. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 16th, at 6:00 p.m., in the Prospect Park Picnic House.

      Enter the Park at 5th Street and Prospect Park West. Follow the path next to the Villa, walk down the stairs, and cross the drive to the Picnic House.

      Please see "Using Prospect Park Shouldn't Be Hazardous to Your Health" for more information about this meeting.

      Tuesday, November 15, 2011

      CAT MISSING...HAVE YOU SEEN HER?


      My friend Diana's sweet, wonderful cat Jolie is missing. If you see Jolie, please send an e-mail to Diana at artemis1.dls [AT] verizon.net.
      Dear Friends, 
      Jolie, my spayed, female cat, apparently ran out of the house (E. 4th St. between Church and Albemarle) early this afternoon. We have a worker doing things, and although he is very careful about the cats, he obviously missed her exit.

      She is 5 years old, is a pastel gray tabby with a tan belly with some white. She is probably hungry and thirsty. I hope she can find food and water that cat-friendly people put out. I looked around for her and told Sean Casey about her. Please keep an eye out for her.

      Diana

      HELP RECEIVE COLLECTED LEAVES

      Compost for Brooklyn has put out a call for help for this Sunday. Compost for Brooklyn is a host site for NYC Project LeafDrop, and they're looking for fifteen volunteers.

      When: Sunday, November 20th, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
      Where: Compost for Brooklyn garden, Newkirk Avenue and East 8th Street
      What: receiving and processing bags of your neighbors' leaves for shredding and use as carbon-rich additions to the compost bins. 
      Volunteers may also help run the Compost Obstacle Course Challenge, where participants will compete as they move through different composting tasks against the clock.
      If you can volunteer, send an e-mail to compostforbrooklyn [at] gmail.com. 
      Compost for Brooklyn 
      Newkirk Avenue and East 8th Street
      compostforbrooklyn [at] gmail.com
      www.compostforbrooklyn.org

      IMPROVING KENSINGTON'S LOOK

      From Maggie Tobin, one of the co-founders of KARMABrooklyn, a member of Community Board 12, Dahill Neighborhood Association, and West Kensington Action Group, and now a Budget Delegate from Kensington for City Council District 39's experiment in Participatory Budgeting:
      If you live in the 39th District , PLEASE go to Brad Lander's blog and suggest how you would like to see a million dollars spent! DEMOCRACY WORKS WHEN YOU WORK IT!!!
      best, Maggie

      Maggie included a link to her report on the first meeting of the budget delegates on the Streets & Sidewalks Committee, "Participatory Budgeting delegate committees get to work," part of which says
      "In Kensington, we do not have a park or community center to call our own. We are a very diverse and somewhat segregated population in desperate need of a place to gather and have the opportunity to interact with one another. I would love to see a few small plazas (rather grandiose word for a smattering of benches) in the vicinity of Church Avenue. Two places in particular would be in front of Walgreens, the other would be an addition to our little green triangle at 35th and Church. Our main shopping area is in need of a complete makeover but any little help could get the ball rolling in the right direction."
      Suggestions from other delegates are enumerated in her report. This could be the start of something good!

      CELL PHONE ROBBERY

      A neighbor wrote on the KWT Neighbors listserv that a robbery occurred on Albemarle Road and E. 2nd Street on Friday, November 11th, at approximately 9:00 p.m. She says that a young woman was accosted by a young man who tried to steal her phone and her bag; he was able to get the phone.

      The robbery was interrupted by people on the street, and the thief ran away, followed by two or three friends who were on the other side of the street. The police were called.

      ASSEMBLYMEMBER BRENNAN SPEAKS AT ANA THIS WEEK

      Albemarle Neighborhood Association Meeting
      Thursday, November 17th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

      Guest speaker:
      New York State Assemblymember James Brennan
      on issues of importance to our community.

      Assemblymember Brennan is the Chair of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions. His committee has jurisdiction over laws concerning private, not-for-profit, and public corporations. It also focuses on public authorities, like the MTA and other public transportation and the State Public Service Commission (electric, gas, telephone and water utilities).

      He is also a member of the Committee on Codes--which considers issues and legislation regarding the State’s criminal and civil justice system--the Committee on Education, and the Committee on Real Property Taxation.

      He'll be happy to answer your questions about his committee work or other aspects of the Assembly and how they affect us as a community.

      Meeting location:
      Flatbush & Shaare Torah Jewish Center
      327 E. 5th Street, corner of Church Avenue
      Use the wheelchair-accessible entrance on the ground floor.

      Foodtown and ANA will provide refreshments.