Wednesday, February 27, 2013

OCEAN PARKWAY'S RANKING IN PEDESTRIAN DEATHS

More pedestrians were killed in traffic fatalities on Ocean Parkway than on any other road in Brooklyn during 2009 through 2011. This week's Tri-State Transportation Campaign (TSTC) 2013 report shows a total of six pedestrians killed on Ocean Parkway during 2009, 2010, and 2011--two per year. The next deadliest road in Brooklyn had five pedestrian fatalities during the three-year span.

In 2008, two pedestrians were killed on Ocean Parkway. In 2007, three were killed.

Three of the six deaths during 2009 through 2011 took place on the Kensington portion of Ocean Parkway:
  • A 68-year-old man was killed on Ocean Parkway between Cortelyou Road and Ditmas Avenue on July 15, 2009.
  • A 27-year-old woman was killed on 18th Avenue at Ocean Parkway on November 2, 2010.
  • A 51-year-old man was killed on Ocean Parkway at Beverley Road on June 7, 2011.
TSTC's recommendations for saving lives are pedestrian safety programs and additional "complete streets." The New York City Department of Transportation's "Complete Streets" are designed to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, deliveries, and buses so that they peacefully co-exist.

City Councilmember Brad Lander continues to work with the New York City  Department of Transportation on making repairs and additions to the badly damaged and dangerous nine-lane Prospect Expressway pedestrian crossing at Church Avenue, using funds awarded through Participatory Budgeting.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

THE DIRECTION OF OCCUPY KENSINGTON

The Direction of Occupy Kensington
Sunday, March 3rd, 8:30 p.m.

The discussion that began at Sunday night's General Assembly of Occupy Kensington--about the direction that Occupy Kensington will go in--will continue next Sunday. Plans for outreach will be developed.

Meeting place: 309 E. 5th Street
Kensington, Brooklyn
between Church Avenue and Albemarle Road

Monday, February 25, 2013

PUBLIC MEETING OF COMMUNITY BOARD 12 TOMORROW NIGHT

Public Meeting of Community Board 12
Tuesday, February 26th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

A G E N D A
1.     PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2.     PUBLIC SESSION
3.     ADOPTION OF MINUTES
4.     NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT – JOSEPH LEVY
5.     CHAIRMAN REMARKS – YIDEL PERLSTEIN
6.     HOUSING & BUILDINGS REPORT – RABBI GLUCK
   Group Home - 536 East 8th Street
  Day Hab – 1049 38th Street
7.     VARIANCE COMMITTEE REPORT – DAVID SCHLOMOVICH
    BSA CAL # 55-13-BZ 1690 60th Street
8.     OLD BUSINESS
9.     NEW BUSINESS
10.   ADJOURN

This meeting of Community Board 12 is open to the public. A member of the public is allowed to address the board for three minutes during the Public Session. If you have a question, comment, suggestion, or criticism about Kensington, put your name on the speaker's sign-in sheet (in addition to signing the attendance sheet, which everybody signs).

Public meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month--unless it's necessary to change them to a different Thursday--from September through June, starting at 7:00 p.m. and ending at 8:00 p.m.

The meeting location is Amico Senior Center--unless otherwise stated--at 5901 13th Avenue, on the 3rd floor. The building is at the corner of 59th Street. The entrance is on 59th Street. An elevator goes to the third floor.

Community Board 12 phone number: (718) 851-0800
fax number: (718) 851-4140
e-mail address: bk12@cb.nyc.gov 
website URL: http://www.brooklyncb12.org
Chairperson: Yidel Perlstein
District Manager: Wolf Sender

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (THEY'RE AT THE LIBRARY)


Where the Wild Things Are
Friday, March 1st, 3:30 p.m. to 5:00  p.m.

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Where the Wild Things Are, an award-winning, iconic children's picture book written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak.

The Windsor Terrace Library will have a read-aloud this Friday with special surprises; there will be ninety minutes of story time, fun activities, and free books (while supplies last) for children ages 3 to 7.

Where the Wild Things Are tells of a little boy who misbehaves at home. When his mother sends him to his bedroom without any supper, his wild imagination turns his room into a world inhabited by wild things, whose king he becomes.

Maurice Sendak, who was born in Bensonhurst, passed away last year at the age of 83.

The program will be held in the Children's Room.

Windsor Terrace Library
160 E. 5th Street, corner of Fort Hamilton Parkway
718-686-9707

Friday, February 22, 2013

LAUNDROMAT FIRE

UPDATE: The fire was in the ceiling of the laundromat. The laundromat has three ceilings: a drop ceiling made of acoustical tiles, a sheetrock ceiling above it, and a tin ceiling above that.
A fire burned today in the late afternoon inside the first-floor laundromat in a brick, two-story, mixed occupancy building at 423 Church Avenue, at the corner of E. 5th Street. Church Avenue was temporarily closed to traffic from E. 5th Street to E. 4th Street.

IT'S HIP TO BE SQUARE...DANCING


Family Hoedown/ Square Dance
Saturday, February 23rd, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

It's P.S. 154's first-ever Family Hoedown/Square Dance, complete with a live caller and a fiddler. Have fun doing contemporary dances too--from Gangnam style to Cha Cha Slide.

Boardwalk Empire's stylists have created a Western Spectacular for all to enjoy, so dance, eat, and have fun. 

Everyone is invited.
You don't need to have a connection to the school.

The suggested family donation of $10 covers the food and refreshments. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m., a half-hour before dancing begins. 

P.S. 154
1625 11th Avenue, at the corner of Sherman Street

Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Thursday, February 21, 2013

WALGREENS/KEY FOOD, RENDERING OF THEIR FUTURE HOME



The building above will be home to both Walgreens and Key Food. Walgreens will occupy about two-thirds of the building and the supermarket about one-third. Walgreens plans to build an 800 square foot glass and plastic extension to accommodate Key Food.

The opening date might be sometime in August of this year. Key Food's hours will be 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Congratulations to the Windsor Terrace activists who believed they could make this happen and succeeded!

STOP THE ADDITIONAL LOSS OF AID TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS


KENSINGTON'S POLICE PRECINCT MEETING TONIGHT

66th Precinct Community Council Meeting
Thursday, February 21st,  7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

At tonight's monthly meeting, Deputy Inspector Michael Deddo, Commanding Officer of the 66th Precinct, will update the community about the latest crimes in the area that the precinct covers and what the precinct is doing to affect the situation.

Bring any crime issues that you're aware of to Inspector Deddo's attention. Bring questions about crime in the precinct, reporting crimes, or follow-up. Learn about programs that the public can participate in.

Meeting location
Community Board 12 office
5910 13th Avenue (between 59th and 60th streets)
Boro Park, Brooklyn

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.

SUCCESS: KEY FOOD WILL OPEN IN WINDSOR TERRACE!

The former site of Key Food will be the future site of Key Food.

Walgreens, the site's leaseholder since the property's owner retired last June 30th, has decided to expand the building so that both a Walgreens and a full-service Key Food will fit into it. It appears that the neighborhood will once again have a local supermarket where people can buy fresh food.


Walgreens made the announcement after encountering more than eight months of sustained resistance by the Windsor Terrace community in the form of petitions, rallies, meetings, letter-writing, the promise of a boycott, press coverage, and the support of its elected officials.

Residents report that Walgreens had not yet begun renovating the building, which is located at 589 Prospect Avenue, between 10th and 11th avenues.

At tonight's community meeting, Walgreens' management will unveil the details of their plan and present an artist's drawings of the proposed structure. Meet Walgreens management, ask them all the questions you can think of, and offer any and all suggestions you have.


Community Meeting on Walgreens
Tonight, February 21st, at 6:30 p.m.
Shepherd's Hall in Holy Name Church
245 Prospect Park West
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Refreshments will be provided by Key Food.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

FREE WORKSHOP ON NOURISHMENT FOR NEW MOMS

Nourishment for New Moms
Wednesday, February 27th, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
 
tABLE health will present a free workshop for new mothers on "eating right and getting back into shape post pregnancy." The interactive session will include "recipe ideas and cooking demonstrations of delicious dishes that are easy to prepare." 

Babies are welcome to attend.

The amount of space is limited, but you can register in advance by clicking here. A free menu planning session will be raffled off to those who pre-register and attend.

Lark Café
1007 Church Avenue, between E. 10th and E. 11th streets.
Brooklyn, NY 11218

phone: (718) 469-0140
e-mail: info @ larkcafe.com
website: http://www.larkcafe.com
blog: http://larkcafe.wordpress.com

OSCAR NIGHT AT 773 LOUNGE


Oscar Night
Sunday, February 24th, 7:00 p.m.

Play to win. Get Oscar ballots and pick the winners. Or try to!

773 Lounge
773 Coney Island Avenue
between Cortelyou and Dorchester roads
on the border of Kensington and Ditmas Park
Brooklyn, New York

(718) 462-9746
773jaak @ gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/773Lounge

Monday, February 18, 2013

REMINDER TO MOVE YOUR CAR BY 10:00 P.M.

Boardwalk Empire is filming in Kensington tomorrow from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Get your car off of these streets by 10:00 p.m. tonight or get towed.

  • Church Avenue, between Ocean Parkway and and E. 3rd Street. 
    • Both Sides.
  • E. 5th Street, between Church Avenue and Albemarle Road. 
    • Both Sides.
  • Albemarle Road, between E. 5th Street and Ocean Parkway.
    •  South Side only.

More information is on our blog: Don't Get Towed When TV Show Takes up Neighborhood Parking Spaces.

PURIM BASH AT CHABAD OF WINDSOR TERRACE

Megillat--The Book of Esther

Annual Purim Bash at Chabad of Windsor Terrace
Saturday, February 23rd, 7:00 p.m.

Eat, drink, and celebrate. Try every flavor of Hamentash. Enjoy a lavish Purim buffet. Partake of all-you-can-drink l'chaim's (the standard Hebrew and Yiddish drinking toast, generally translated as "To life").

The Megillah reading will be at 7:00 p.m. sharp, followed by the celebration.

Special children’s entertainment.

Admission is free.

Make a reservation by Wednesday, February 20th, by sending an e-mail to wtchabad @ gmail.com or calling (646) 298-9909.

Chabad of Windsor Terrace
1266 Prospect Avenue, between Reeve Place and Greenwood Avenue
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

(646) 298-9909
wtchabad @ gmail
www.WindsorTerraceChabad.com

Sunday, February 17, 2013

OSCAR PARTY AT HAMILTON'S

Sunday, February 24th...enjoy the fun, the suspense, the cheers, and the groans of Oscar night at a party at Hamilton's. Jump into the betting pool. Play trivia with Joe the bartender. Win money, win drinks, win food. Show up in a tux or an evening gown and get a special treat.

The festivities begin with the red carpet pre-show at 7:00 p.m. ET, with Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia, and the fashion gurus. The co-hosts are Kelly Rowland, Kristin Chenoweth, Lara Spencer, and Jess Cagle.

The awards show's official starting time is 8:00 p.m., although it usually starts at about 8:30 p.m. ET. The host is Seth MacFarlane, creator of "Family Guy."

The Oscars won't be streamed online.

Hamilton's
2826 Fort Hamilton Parkway, southeast corner of E. 4th Street
Windsor Terrace, by the Kensington border Brooklyn, New York

(718) 438-0488


hamiltonbkny @ gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/hamiltons2826?ref=ts
http://hamiltonsbrooklyn.com

 



FESTIVE PURIM EVENTS AT FLATBUSH JEWISH CENTER


Purim Kids' Party
Saturday, February 23rd, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Purim Kids' Party, co-sponsored by the Windsor Terrace Y and the Flatbush Jewish Center, will be held at Flatbush Jewish Center, 327 E. 5th Street, at the corner of Church Avenue.

The evening will begin with the Megillah reading at 6:30 p.m., followed by a costume parade and a contest with prizes at 7:30, the Purim Shpiel at 7:45, and Israeli dancing and a delicious meal of baked ziti, eggplant parmesan, salad, chumus (hummus), fruit, and hamentaschen (filled, triangular cookies) at 8:00.

The party is free to Flatbush Jewish Center members. Non-members will be charged $5. 

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



Family Purim Megillah Reading
Sunday, February 24th

10:30 a.m.: Purim Party, co-sponsored by the Windsor Terrace Y and the Flatbush Jewish Center, wuill be held at the Windsor Terrace Y, with songs, games, and readalong. Free.

Windsor Terrace Y
1224 Prospect Avenue, at the corner of Vanderbilt Street
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

phone: (718) 407-6377
e-mail: info @ ywindsorterrace.org

3:00 p.m. Family Megillah Bash. FJC family megillah reading at the Flatbush Jewish Center. Family-friendly/kid-friendly, fun, dramatic megillah reading in English and Hebrew, with singalong, jokes, and costume parade. Suitable for children. Free.

4:00 p.m., Festive Community Purim Meal with live music by Noah Garfinkel at Flatbush Jewish Center. Seudah (meal) costs $15 per adult; kids are admitted for free. Co-sponsored by FJC and WTY. The meal is catered, so reservations have to be made in advance. Pay via PayPal or call the FJC office at (718) 871-5200.

For additional information, call Nadira Persaud at the Windsor Terrace Y at (718) 407-6377.

FIREHOUSE ON PROSPECT AVE. LANDMARKED

Engine Co. 240/Battalion 48 has been awarded city landmark status. The building, in continuous use for 117 years, has been designated as a city landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, which cites it as an "architecturally distinctive" firehouse.

Peter J. Lauritzen designed the two-story limestone and brick. building, located in Windsor Terrace at 1307-1309 Prospect Avenue (near Greenwood Avenue), in the Romanesque Revival style, a popular style for firehouses at the time. The firehouse, originally named Engine Co. 40/Hook & Ladder 21, went into service on January 20, 1896. It was renamed Engine Co. 240 in 1913. Battalion 48, which oversees the FDNY’s units in Windsor Terrace, Park Slope, and Borough Park, has been housed there since 1978.

Some places where you can read more about the firehouse, including its history:

FILM TONIGHT AT BABBO'S IS CANCELED

Tonight's showing of "3-Iron" at Babbo's Bookstore has been canceled because of a problem with the DVD. Apologies from Leonora, the owner of Babbo's.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

SPANISH IN THE SUMMER FOR KIDS

Open House and Carnival Celebration for Spanish-Immersion Summer Camp
Monday, February 18th, 10:30 a.m. to noon

Parents and their children ages three to seven years old are invited to One World Project's open house and carnival celebration on Monday to learn about Spanish-Immersion Summer Camp.

Each week in camp, the children "travel" to a different country by experiencing the art, games, and music of that country without leaving the camp.

More information about the camp is available on their website. Read about the camp's staff here: Founder and Executive Director Joanne Derwin; Lead Spanish Teacher Monica Paillet Zurdo; Dance, Movement and Theater Instructor Katia Castañeda Urzúa; and resident author and screenwriter Javier Peñalosa Mendoza.

An online enrollment form is also there. Fees are shown here.

RSVP to Joanne for the open house and carnival celebration at joannederwin @ gmail.com.

One World Project
36 Fuller Place
between to 10th Avenue and Howard Place and between Prospect Avenue and Windsor Place
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
(917) 749-0682

SIGN POSTED IN KENSINGTON PLAZA

The Department of Transportation recently posted this sign in Kensington Plaza laying out its ground rules.


OPEN TO PUBLIC
NYC PLAZA

BY ORDER OF THE NYC DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER

THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES ARE PROHIBITED

Unreasonable obstruction of free passage
for other pedestrians

Unreasonable obstruction of sitting areas
for other pedestrians

Camping

Storing personal belongings

Lying down

                                

Friday, February 15, 2013

PARKING RULE SUSPENSION

Alternate Side of the Street Parking (street cleaning) regulations will be suspended citywide on Monday, February 18th, for Presidents' Day, as announced by the New York City Department of Transportation and Department of Sanitation.

Parking meter regulations will remain in effect throughout the city on that day.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

GRAFFITI ON APARTMENT DOORS ON OCEAN PARKWAY

"I hate my son so I murdered him." "I hate my own brother Trayvon Martin." "I murdered my brother."

Today's New York Post reports that someone wrote on the doors of two apartments on Ocean Parkway near Kermit Place on Monday, February 4th, at about 1:30 p.m. The first statement was on one door; the second and third were on a different one, whose occupant thinks her brother might have written them.

A resident reported seeing a man in the building who he didn’t recognize. No arrests have been made.

CALL-AND-RESPONSE CHANTING AT JAYA



Kirtan with Devadas
Saturday, February 16th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Sing with others as Devadas leads a kirtan--a call-and-response chanting--accompanied by Garush. No experience is needed to join in. The suggested donation is $10. Children are welcome.

Jaya Yoga East
2902 Fort Hamilton Parkway
southwest corner of E. 4th Street
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Phone: (917) 434-6258
E-mail: namaste @ jayayogacenter.com
Website: http://www.jayayogacenter.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jayayogacenter

ASTORIA IS GUARDED AT NIGHT

A security guard has been hired to work nights in Kensington's Astoria Federal Savings at Church and McDonald. He's stationed in the vestibule, where the bank's ATMs are located. The guard began his job on Monday. 

He reports that Astoria now has a guard twenty-four hours a day--part of the time in the bank and part of the time in the vestibule.

The presence of a security guard will help people feel safer when they use an ATM during non-banking hours and will prevent people from sleeping and defecating in the vestibule.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

DON'T GET TOWED WHEN TV SHOW TAKES UP NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING SPACES



Dear Residents and Merchants,



We are currently filming scenes for the fourth season of HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire,” and we wanted to make you aware of our upcoming presence in your neighborhood.



On Tuesday, February 19th we will be filming interior scenes in your neighborhood from approximately 8AM5PM.   In order to facilitate filming, we will need to hold parking for our production vehicles beginning on Monday, February 18th.



The streets affected are as follows:

§  Church Ave btw Ocean Parkway & E 3rd St, Both Sides

§    E 5th St btw Church Ave & Albemarle Rd, Both Sides

§     Albemarle Rd. btw E 5th St & Ocean Pkwy, South Side only


Once all equipment trucks are parked, we will release any unused parking back to the public.



In order to park on these streets, we will follow the city program of utilizing the Vehicle Tow Unit (VTU) of the NYPD.  We will post No Parking signs in advance.  Please read these signs carefully.  They delineate when tow trucks will arrive to relocate any cars that remain.  There is no cost or penalty to the owners of relocated cars.



TOW TRUCKS WILL ARRIVE ON
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH @ 10PM



In the event that your car is relocated, contact one of the Parking Assistants or your local precinct.  They will tell you where your car can be found.  We urge you to pay attention to the signs to avoid any inconvenience.  This is the same program that is used for parades and other public events throughout the city. 



If you have particular concerns (scheduled deliveries, moving, construction, accessibility needs, etc.) that must be addressed, please call the Locations Department at 917/671-5250 or see a member of the Locations Department on set.



Please know that we are working in close cooperation with the Mayor’s Office of Film Theater and Broadcasting and the NYPD Film and Television Unit. We look forward to filming in your neighborhood, and will do what we can to minimize the impact of our presence in the neighborhood. 



Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.



Sincerely,

The Locations Department