CITY MAY BE REQUIRED TO TRAP RACCOONS

A bill requiring the Department of Health to trap raccoons seen anywhere in New York City was introduced by the City Council last Wednesday. It was then referred to the council's Committee on Health. The bill, Int. 0319-2010, is titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York in relation to the removal of raccoons."

According to the Daily News, "the city Health Department would be encouraged to humanely release the critters. Under current guidelines, most trapped raccoons are euthanized because they can carry rabies." 

The raccoon situation has been discussed by residents at Albemarle Neighborhood Association meetings. Our City Councilmember, Brad Lander, is one of the six co-sponsors of the bill. The main sponsor is Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley of Queens.

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY/KENSINGTON WORLD'S FAIR

The internationally-popular Slavic Soul Party (turn your speakers up!) will be performing at the Kensington World's Fair! The dance band combines "fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops," to the delight of its audiences in the U.S., Serbia, Turkey, and Macedonia.

Kensington World's Fair
Sunday, October 24th, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Albemarle Road, between McDonald Avenue and Dahill Road, in front of P.S. 230 

FREE!

NEIGHBORS AND POST OFFICE MEET TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS

Several months ago, a neighbor (Catherine) asked people to send her their concerns regarding mail delivery in zip code 11218. She collected twenty-five separate complaints. Over a period of several weeks, she patiently worked her way through the postal system in an attempt to find an advocate to help us. Her patience was rewarded: representatives from USPS Consumer Affairs called a meeting at the Kensington post office to further discuss these complaints with the manager.

Attending last Wednesday's meeting, in addition to Catherine, were

• Alan Dubrow, Chairman of Community Board 12, and Heather McCormick, a member of the Albemarle Neighborhood Association, both of whom represent our neighborhood on the USPS Community Advisory Council of the Brooklyn Postmaster,
• Andrea Burrows and Archie Warner, who work in the Consumer Affairs Office of the Brooklyn Postmaster, and
• Kensington Station Manager Mike Scalise.

Everyone present agreed that the delivery and service problems in our area are real and significant. The Post Office officials seemed sincere in their commitment to make improvements.

The best course for postal customers to take is to report problems as they happen, since unknown issues can't be addressed. If you experience problems (for example, no delivery on a particular day, lost packages, etc.), here are two suggestions:

1. Call the Kensington Post Office and speak to Mike Scalise. He gave Catherine these three numbers to use:

• (718) 436-0164
• (718) 436-1082
• (718) 686-7293

2. Send an e-mail to Heather McCormick. She has set up a separate account to gather information regarding post office problems in 11218. Heather compiles the data and forwards it to the Brooklyn Postmaster's office on a regular basis. She requests that when you write you are as detailed as possible, describing the issue, the date/time, and your delivery address. The email address is: kensingtonpohelp at] aol.com.

KENSINGTON WORLD'S FAIR COMING IN OCTOBER

THE FIRST ANNUAL KENSINGTON WORLD'S FAIR
IS COMING TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!

Sunday, October 24th, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

You'll be treated to live music, dance performances, and fun and activities for the whole family. Kensington residents will be selling food from around the world and handmade crafts representing their cultures.

The Kensington World's Fair will be held on Albemarle Road, between McDonald Avenue and Dahill Road, in front of P.S. 230. Attendance is free.

Musicians and dancers whose performances are culturally based and who would like to perform are invited to call (646) 450-3515. Or send an e-mail to kworldsfair@gmail.com. Neighborhood artisans who would like to sell their handmade crafts are also invited to call.

The fair is a benefit for the P.S. 230 School Fund.

CONTACT FOR KENSINGTON P.O. PROBLEMS

Our neighbor, Heather McCormick, is the Albemarle Neighborhood Association's representative on the Brooklyn postal service's Community Advisory Council (BPCAC), a group of community volunteers who meet regularly with Brooklyn Post Office officials (including the Customer Affairs department) to resolve consumer issues throughout the borough. Heather would like to make it easier for Kensington residents to get in touch with her about their concerns and problems with the Kensington Post Office (11218) and neighborhood mail delivery.

She has set up a new e-mail address--kensingtonpohelp [at] aol.com--dedicated solely to Post Office issues, which she will check regularly. She emphasizes that the more specific you can be about your service problems--dates, times, and places where the problems have occurred--the better able she will be to get help for you.

SOHO CAFE: SAVE ON YOUR FIRST DELIVERY

Save 10% on your first delivery order
from Soho Cafe & Grill.

215 Church Avenue
between E. 2nd and E. 3rd streets
next to Rich Frog Toys

Phone: (718) 436-8800
Fax: (718) 436-8812

Breakfast lovers: breakfast is served all day!

FREE WORM BIN WORKSHOP

Worm Bin Workshop
Saturday, September 11th, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Stacy Dedring, Master Composter and President of the East 4th Street Community Garden, will be teaching a worm bin workshop at the East 4th Street Community Garden. It's free, and everyone is welcome to attend. The rain date is the next day, Sunday, September 12th, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The garden is located at 171 East 4th Street, between Caton Avenue and Fort Hamilton Parkway.

Useful information about indoor worm bin composting is on the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's website.

To learn about other events at the East 4th Street Community Garden, please see the garden's calendar.

SOME FACTS ABOUT SEAN CASEY ANIMAL RESCUE

DOG RUN DOG CANCELED

Dog Run Dog has been canceled by the promoters. A new date in spring 2011 is anticipated.

HARVEST HOOTENANNY RETURNS

Harvest Hootenanny
Saturday, October 16th, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Friends of Greenwood Playground will have another Harvest Hootenanny this year! The entertainment will include

singers

• Bargainland (with Miss Cindy),
• Miss Katie,
• Debbie Deane,
• Fati and Charles (Also known as Abbasubi, they sing children's music in Spanish.),

• dancers from Cynthia King Dance Studio, 
• arts and crafts with Private Picassos, 
• balloons with Mike Gold (The Ballooniac),
• pumpkin painting, and
• face painting.

And raffle prizes from neighborhood businesses and artisans!

Location: Greenwood Playground, E. 5th Street (between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Greenwood Avenue)

Friends of Greenwood Playground http://friendsofgreenwoodplayground.bbnow.org

JOIN DERBY FIT!

From Friends of Greenwood Playground:

We're finishing up our first session and loving it. One mom wrote "I had no idea it would be this fun when my friend talked me into it (I thought it would be some lightweight fitness instructor jumping on the latest fad!)." It's really great and you can go at your own pace. It's as challenging as you need it to be! We all leave the class pretty sore and really proud of all that we've learned.

What is roller derby, you say? It's a team-based roller skating racing game. Our brand of roller derby will not be crazy or too dangerous. It's really just a way to have fun and get fit while learning some interesting skating skills.

The first hour or so is on quad skates (sorry, no in-lines) and we learn the important skills of turning, falling, stopping, skating fast, and more! During the second part we work on strength and flexibility with land drills. Absolute beginners are welcome.

Check out the video. Girls in the Gotham Girls Roller Derby are all shapes, sizes, and ages. It's a great post-baby workout and a good way to make new friends!



You will likely need to purchase some equipment (4-wheel skates, pads, mouth guard, helmet, etc.).

ROOM IS AVAILABLE FOR OUR THURSDAY EVENING GROUP, or join the wait list for the Saturday class.

If you're interested, please e-mail .

Best,
Jasmina
on behalf of Friends of Greenwood Playground
http://www.FriendsofGreenwoodPlayground.bbnow.org

LX NEW YORK FEATURES ADOPTABLE DOGS FROM SEAN CASEY ANIMAL RESCUE

Find a loving companion at Sean Casey Animal Rescue.

153 E. 3rd Street (between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue)
Phone: (718) 436-5163
http://scarnyc.org
Open every day from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

See and read about the animals available for adoption on the Petfinder website.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S
LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES.

RESTAURANT INSPECTION SEARCH UPGRADED

The Department of Health has unveiled a new, easy-to-search restaurant inspection website. Find the results of the most recent inspection with a simple search by

• restaurant name or
• neighborhood's zip code

or an advanced search that offers these additional searches:

• alphabetical list of restaurants (restaurant names beginning with A, with B, with C, etc.),
• borough and neighborhood,
• cuisine type (ethnicity or food type), and
• inspection score.

Display the results on a map or as a list. To display them on a map, request a search that returns fewer than 100 restaurants (search by Restaurant Name or by Cuisine). When the results are displayed as a list, they can be sorted by Restaurant Name, Address, Cuisine, Most Recent Inspection Date, and Violation Points.

Since July, restaurants have been required to post a card with a letter grade corresponding to the score (total number of points) they received as a result of a sanitary inspection: 0-13 points=A, 14-27 points=B, 28+ points=C. The cards have to be easily visible to people passing by.

Inspectors check for compliance in food handling, food temperature,personal hygiene,facility and equipment maintenance, and vermin control.

"A public health hazard, such as failing to keep food at the right temperature to prevent the growth of bacteria, triggers a minimum of 7 points. If the violation cannot be corrected before the end of the inspection, the Health Department may close the restaurant until the hazard is corrected.

A critical violation, such as the presence of rodents, carries a minimum of 5 points.

A general violation, such as not properly sanitizing cooking utensils, is assigned at least 2 points."

STREET-BY-STREET PARKING REGULATIONS ONLINE

A searchable database on the New York City Department of Transportation’s website lists the parking regulations for both sides of every street in all five boroughs. The regulations are on signs that read, for example, "No Parking," "No Parking Anytime," "1 Hour Parking 8:30AM-7PM Except Sunday," and "Bus Stop." The website also provides a detailed description of the meaning of each sign.

To use the database, choose a borough from the drop-down menu, type in the street name (abbreviations are acceptable), click "Get Cross Streets," choose a cross-street from the drop-down menu, choose the other cross-street from the drop-down menu, click "Search," and scroll down the page.

Data is updated six days a week, Mondays through Saturdays. The information is taken from the New York City Department of Transportation’s sign database.

BRANCACCIO'S OPEN ONE HOUR LONGER ON SUNDAYS

Joe Brancaccio, the owner and chef at Brancaccio's Food Shop, just announced that the shop will stay open until 7:00 p.m. on Sundays. The shop's open hours are now Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The shop is closed on Tuesdays.

Brancaccio's Food Shop
3011 Fort Hamilton Parkway
between E. 2nd and E. 3rd streets
phone: (718) 435-1997
info@BrancacciosFoodShop.com (E-mail is checked nightly.)

Blog: http://brancacciosfoodshop.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=app_2915120374#!/pages/Brooklyn-NY/BRANCACCIOs-FOOD-SHOP/274075687167?ref=ts&ajaxpipe=1&__a=21

SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S
LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

KENSINGTON'S OLDEST RESIDENT

Evelyn Kozak, who turned 111 years old yesterday, moved to Kensington this year to live with her granddaughter and eight great-grandchildren, all under the age of thirteen. Her story is in today's New York Times. Ms. Kozak's secret to life? "Stay active, watch out for fatty foods and always keep a clean conscience."

RACE, RUN, WALK, OR JOG FOR THE SEAN CASEY ANIMAL RESCUE

Dog Run Dog

Saturday, September 18th, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Enjoy a race, a run, a jog, or a walk in Prospect Park while benefiting the Sean Casey Animal Rescue. "Dog Run Dog" is a 5K (one loop) or 10K (two loops) race that you can participate in with or without a dog and as an individual or as part of a team.

Sean Casey Animal Rescue has become a well-respected institution in our neighborhood. The staff lovingly cares for and rehabilitates unwanted, abandoned, or abused animals, providing them with shelter and care and preparing them for adoption or for a return to their natural habitat.

Fees for Dog Run Dog:

• 10K, Women and a Dog, $50.00
• 10K, Men and a Dog, $50.00
• 5K, Women and a Dog, $50.00
• 5K, Men and a Dog, $50.00
• Youth (under 16), Women with or without a Dog, $15.00
• Youth (under 16), Men with or without a Dog, $15.00
• 10K, Women, $35.00
• 10K, Men, $35.00
• 5K, Men, $35.00

Register by Saturday, September 4th, at 9:00 p.m. Additional information is on the DogRunDog website.

Sean Casey Animal Rescue
153 E. 3rd Street (between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue)
Phone: (718) 436-5163
http://scarnyc.org
Open every day from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

See and read about the animals available for adoption on the Petfinder website.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S
LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES.

PARENTS/CAREGIVERS GOOGLE GROUP FORMS

A Google group for Windsor Terrace and Kensington parents and caregivers has just been created. All parents and caregivers are welcome to join the group and share in this resource. Connect with others, ask questions, plan activities, find a playdate, give and get advice, share hand-me-downs, discuss schools and daycare arrangements, and talk about anything you need to discuss. Parents and caregivers for children of all ages are welcome to join by going to the KWTkids page.

INTERNET CAFE/COMPUTER STORE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS

An Internet cafe that also sells and repairs computers opened on Wednesday in the space formerly occupied by City Councilmember Bill de Blasio. Internet access at Intel-Agent Computers costs $5.00 per hour or $1.00 for ten minutes. Copies and faxes cost $.25. They also sell coffee, tea, and frappes. The store's current hours are 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., seven days a week. Sometime in the future, the hours will be changed to Mondays through Saturdays, from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Intel-Agent Computers
2907 Fort Hamilton Parkway (between E. 4th and E. 3rd streets)
(347) 763-2686

WHY THE SING-A-LONGS WERE DISCONTINUED

Sasha, co-owner of The Oak and the Iris Cafe with her husband Rodrigo, has responded to people's e-mails asking her why Yoshie's and Miss Katie's sing-a-longs will no longer be held at O&I.

She writes that Yoshie canceled his sing-a-longs because he was too busy to continue holding them.

She says that the decision to cancel Miss Katie's sing-a-longs was an unhappy one for her, and she regrets that parents feel disappointed. Miss Katie's sing-a-longs were Miss Katie's events, for which the cafe provided space. Sasha has contacted a friend of hers--the owner of Kaleidoscope (1519 10th Avenue, at the corner of 16th Street)--and her friend is willing to provide space for Miss Katie's sing-a-longs.

The sing-a-longs, Sasha explains, were attracting twenty-five children, each accompanied by a parent or caregiver and a stroller, making the cafe crowded to the point of being unsafe. At most of the sing-a-longs, the cafe's property suffered damage: in the past month, two chairs were broken, dishes were broken, books were torn, a child opened the drink refrigerator and threw bottled drinks on the floor, and cereal boxes were sent rolling around on the floor.

In addition, the cafe's regular customers weren't going to the cafe on the afternoons of the sing-a-longs. Sales during those afternoons totaled only $15. Out of the $5 per person that Miss Katie charged, the cafe received between $3 and $8. Cleaning up afterward was time-consuming for the cafe's staff. Sasha says that for two years, she tried to think of the sing-a-longs as being similar to charity events for the community, but the sing-a-longs had turned into a financial loss for the business.

For now, the cafe continues to offer a musical story time on Wednesday afternoons that is geared toward babies and one-year-olds. It's possible that a children's art class will be held at O&I, with a limit of ten children, first come first served.

The Oak and the Iris Cafe continues to welcome children. The cafe is built around families, as evidenced by the children's play area and the children's menu.

The Oak and The Iris Cafe
2826 Fort Hamilton Parkway (corner of E. 4th Street)
(718) 208-7713
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/the-oak-the-iris/menu

SING-A-LONGS DISCONTINUED

The Oak and The Iris Cafe has canceled its Monday sing-a-longs with Yoshie and its Thursday sing-a-longs with Miss Katie. The owners will explain their reason to anyone who e mails and asks. Their e-mail address is whereissasha@nyc.rr.com.

The Oak and The Iris Cafe
2826 Fort Hamilton Parkway (corner of E. 4th Street)
(718) 208-7713

http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/the-oak-the-iris/menu

APPRECIATION FOR KENSINGTON'S RESTAURANTS

Kensington gets its due in "Summer Saturdays: Kensington and Windsor Terrace." The writer highlights Brancaccio's Food Shop ("a menu made with the highest quality ingredients, yet all the dishes are super affordable"), Faro's Restaurant ("for a good restaurant that's light on your wallet"), Am-Thai Chili Basil ("the flavors they deliver are straight off the streets of Bangkok"), Shenanigan's Pub ("a more authentic neighborhood watering hole"), and Denny's Steak House ("which made the list of "real dives" in the Village Voice last year").

SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S
LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

SOCCER ON THE SIDEWALKS OF KENSINGTON

Neighbors playing a friendly game of soccer on a typical Friday night

On Friday nights, Kensington's Ecuadorian residents gather to play soccer. Despite the lack of a formal playing space, the games have thrived for the past forty years. This tradition is the subject of an article in The Brooklyn Ink.

AUTO THEFT ALERT

From Deputy Inspector John Sprague, commander of the 66th Police Precinct

These vehicles are being targeted for auto theft:

• Honda Accord and Civic
• Toyota Camry
• Dodge Caravan
• Cadillac Escalade

The 66th Precinct can help you prevent and deter auto theft by using their Crime Prevention Programs, including H.E.A.T, C.A.T., Commuter C.A.T., and Glass VIN Etching. Crime Prevention Programs are free. Register your vehicle on Tuesday, August 10th, and Thursday, August 12th, at Astoria Savings Bank, 101 Church Avenue (corner of McDonald Avenue).

If you have any questions, contact Police Officer Vaughan at (718) 851-5620.

COMMUNITY GARDENS PUBLIC HEARING

Public Hearing on Community Gardens
Tuesday, August 10th, 11:00 a.m.

The Flatbush Gardener has posted a report and a slide show from the rally and press conference held yesterday on the steps of City Hall to protest the proposed changes in an agreement that protects community gardens. A New York Times editorial says

The new rules talk mostly about transferring gardens — making them available for sale or development — and they remove the section of the 2002 agreement that creates a process for offering gardens to the city. In short, critical safeguards vanish for unprotected community gardens — those not owned by a land trust or the parks department.

The public hearing will be held at the Chelsea Recreation Center at 430 West 25th Street (between 9th and 10th avenues) in Manhattan.

Full details about the proposed changes and how you can help (phone calls, e-mail, letters) if you can't attend the rally are on the New York City Community Garden Coalition's website.

GOLDEN FARM

From a post on The Market Blog about the wonders of Golden Farm:

While Golden Farm could arguably be classified as both a green grocer and health food store because of the natural food items they carry, the competitive prices and lack of pretension lend themselves to the type of shopping experience which I hope to champion on this blog.

Golden Farm’s main asset is its selection. They carry a range of processed and packaged foods, from national brands you’ll find at Foodtown to regional organic and imported brands. Nearly two thirds of the store is produce but you should be able to complete a full shop without an issue.

Golden Farm
329 Church Avenue, at the corner of E. 4th Street
(718) 871-1009

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S
LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES.

COMMUNITY GARDENS THREATENED

New York City Community Garden Coalition
Rally and Press Conference
Wednesday, August 4th, 10:00 a.m.

From the Flatbush Gardener blog

The East 4th Street/Windsor Terrace-Kensington Veterans Memorial Community Garden is one of over 100 NYC community gardens under Parks jurisdiction. The agreement that has largely protected community gardens in NYC since 2002 expires next month. The press conference is in response to the new community gardens rules proposed by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks) and Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

The press conference and rally will be held on the steps of City Hall in Manhattan.

THIS GUY'S A CHAMP

From Sean Casey Animal Rescue:

Our featured Sean Casey Animal Rescue adoptable - Champ!

Champ is a very special five-year-old German Shepherd mix waiting to thrive in a forever home. At some point, Champ had a broken leg. He never received medical attention, but it has healed over. This is why he walks with a little wobble. But don't worry - Champ gets around just fine! He has been checked by our vet, and no treatment is needed.

Champ is a strong, obedient dog. He'd even make a good guard dog! Champ will respond to positive reinforcement training and already knows basic behaviors like "sit" and walks nicely on a leash. We are confident that he will make a steady and loving companion.

Champ would like to be the only dog in your house. Please give Champ the opportunity to be a loving member of your household! Come and visit with him and see if he is the right match for you.

Our experienced staff is available to answer your questions and guide Champ's transition to your home. Champ is neutered, dewormed, treated to prevent fleas and ticks, and is up-to-date with vaccinations.

Champ's adoption fee is $200.00. He'll get one free exam at our vet's office, one free month of pet health insurance, and a microchip.Champ can't wait to meet you!

Sean Casey Animal Rescue
153 E. 3rd Street (between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue)
Phone: (718) 436-5163
http://scarnyc.org
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NY637.html
Open every day from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S
LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES.

DANCING ON THE SIDEWALK

Youthful residents of Chester Avenue
enjoying group dancing

BED BUG RESOURCES ONLINE

If you have bed bugs in your home, you shouldn't think that it says anything about you personally or about the cleanliness of your home. It just means that bed bugs travel easily from one place to another. In New York City, bed bugs are a major problem; they've been found in apartments, houses, stores, schools, and hospitals.

If you see bed bugs anywhere,
call 311 immediately to report it!

Landlords in New York are now required by law to tell potential tenants about any previous bed bug infestations in the building. The law went into effect in June.

And a few days ago, New York City announced that it will begin an educational campaign on how to better combat bed bugs. It will also coordinate efforts between city agencies better, create a new health department task force, and establish an online bed bug portal.

Several websites have helpful information about dealing with bed bugs:

• Preventing and Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Safely: A Guide for Property Owners, Managers and Tenants
• Bed Bugs in New York City
• NYC Laws and Resources
• Bedbugger.com