Saturday, June 30, 2012

FINAL VINYL AT SYCAMORE BAR


Monday Night Vinyl Club
Monday, July 2nd, 8:00 p.m. to midnight

You bring it, you spin it.
DJ's choice.
Free.

This will be the last Monday Night Vinyl Club at Sycamore, and no more will be held at Double Windsor. The host is leaving town. Farewell.

Sycamore Bar
1118 Cortelyou Road, between E. 11th Street and Argyle Road
Ditmas Park
(347) 240-5850

www.sycamorebrooklyn.com
e-mail: sycamorebrooklyn @ gmail.

SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

FLYING TEAPOT DROP-IN CLASSES ON MONDAY

Special Holiday Drop-in Music and Movement Classes
Monday, July 2nd

Flying Teapot for Siblings and Mixed Ages
Recommended for ages 2 and 3 and younger siblings
11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
 
Join us for this magical class with original music and a creative spirit.  Trains and toys can be used to engage your child in comfortable ways while we expand into musical play. Songs are created out of your child's interests.  Joanne's CD, as well as traditional and multicultural music is also used.  Includes favorites like The Train Song, Potty Song, and the ever popular ball song.

Mature Babies/Toddler Flying Teapot
Recommended for walkers and age 2
3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Is your child a lover of music and movement? Encourage your child's creative expression with this magical class where songs emerge in a nurturing and joyful space.  In addition to our improvised music, songs on Joanne's CD and traditional and multicultural music is included.


Baby Flying Teapot
Recommended for birth through 14 months
4:30 pm. to 5:15 p.m.

Encourage your child's uniqueness and creativity from the very start of life. Songs emerge magically as your baby discovers, plays and interacts in class. Musical connections nurture and deepen relationships between parent/caregiver and baby and friends. Joanne's CD The Flying Teapot is used along with traditional and multicultural music. There's movement, instrument play, balls, scarves, connections and fun! You'll be amazed at your child's own expression. Joanne's vision is to create nurturing and joyful environments for babies and very young children.
 
Fee: $20 drop-in (sibling rate $5)
Location: Windsor Terrace, near Vanderbilt Playground
E-mail for details: joafree1  @  msn.com

SEAN CASEY ANIMAL RESCUE MAKES GIVING EASIER WITH PAYPAL

"Darn, I forgot to write a check to Sean Casey Animal Rescue today to help them continue their highly effective rescue and adoption work!"

You don't have to wake up in a sweat in the middle of the night anymore with that thought in your head. Now you can simplify your life--and improve your sleep--by setting up automatic monthly donations to Sean Casey Animal Rescue through PayPal.

On the rescue's Facebook page, click on "Donate Monthly via PayPal" on the right-hand side under the cover photo. Enter the maximum amount you'd like to donate each month and click on the "Automatic Billing" button. Every donation, no matter the size, is appreciated by the staff and the animals.

SCAR is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Your donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

Sean Casey Animal Rescue
153 E. 3rd Street, between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue
on the border of Windsor Terrace and Kensington
(718) 436-5163
nyanimalrescue [at] yahoo.com
 
SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

Friday, June 29, 2012

SPIRITED RALLY AGAINST DRUG CHAIN REPLACING GROCERY STORE





All photos are courtesy of Windsor Terrace Alliance.

NEXT STEPS IN THE FIGHT FOR A GROCERY STORE

HOT WITH BAD AIR: TODAY'S AND TOMORROW'S WEATHER

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for New York City for today and tomorrow during the daytime hours. The heat index is expected to reach or exceed 95 degrees both days.

Also, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an Air Quality Health Advisory through 10:00 tonight.

These conditions are dangerous to health. Avoid strenuous activity. People without air conditioning, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions are most at risk.

Cooling Centers are open today, and they'll be open again tomorrow. To find out their locations, hours and to find out more about avoiding heat illness and about the Air Quality Index, see www.bit.ly/NYCHeatAQI or call 311.

Or go directly to the online Cooling Center Finder and type in your address.

Stay cool!

Thursday, June 28, 2012

GREENWOOD PLAYGROUND SUMMER SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

The Friends of Greenwood Playground have organized two exciting months of music, singing, art, writing, gardening, movies, and more for neighborhood children.

Click here to enlarge the July calendar.


Greenwood Playground 
E. 5th Street, near Fort Hamilton Parkway and Greenwood Avenue

Twitter: FOGP1

VEGAN INDIAN COOKING CLASS

From neighbor Mukti Banerjee of Mukti's Kitchen:
This Saturday I will teach all vegan dishes!! 

If you are looking for  dishes to make that will impress your friends, these  are a superfine hit!!

I will give you all the details about how to make these dishes very yummy, we will cook together and after that the fun part -- the complete dinner. 

This is a cooking class, where you will get detailed instructions and hands-on training how to make delicious Indian food. I can assure you, that in no time you will be able to make those foods. 
Date and Time: Saturday, June 30, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Place: 816 Beverley Road, Brooklyn, NY, 11218
Menu:
Cabbage Kofta (small dumplings made of cabbage, lentils, cashews in tomato gravy) 
Spinach(Palak Chaat)--An Appetizer
Bigan Bharta( smashed eggplants with onion, ginger and cilantro and other spices)
Aloo Paratha
Cost-$50 per person
We invite you to bring a notebook, so you can take all the secrets back home with you and delight yourself and those you love. 
What you will get:

Tips and tricks about the spices that you will be using
Friendship, fun and delicious food (complete dinner)

I will teach you the nuances and secrets, where to get the masalas and how to keep the aroma intact.

You will be cooking too.

You get the printed recipe of the dishes.

It is so much fun to make them and even better to taste. Let's all have fun together:-)

Please sign up and bring your friends too.You will get a $10 discount if you bring a friend. I look forward to meet you again. Any questions, please call.

-Mukti
Cell phone: (917)-703-3998 

Email: muktiskitchen@gmail.com

NEW ART EXHIBIT AT STEEPLECHASE

"Vegan's Nightmare"
Friday, June 29th, 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Anna Starostinetskaya will begin her month-long art exhibit at Steeplechase Coffee Shop with tomorrow night's opening reception for her "Vegan's Nightmare," an ode to animals by a vegan. Steeplechase co-owner Lynn McKee provides background information on the artist and her journey.

View the art, meet the artist, drink free wine, and mingle with friends, neighbors, and strangers.

Each exhibit shown at Steeplechase is displayed for a month, with its opening reception held on the last Friday of the month.

Steeplechase Coffee Shop
3013 Fort Hamilton Parkway, between East 2nd and East 3rd streets
on the border of Windsor Terrace and Kensington
(347) 799-2640
http://www.steeplechasecoffee.com 

Open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Free Wi-Fi.
SUPPORT LOCAL, INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

ROAD RESURFACING SCHEDULED FOR OCEAN PARKWAY

A year after the Department of Transportation's last milling and paving job in Kensington (E. 3rd Street, from 18th Avenue to Fort Hamilton Parkway), the next job will begin: the Ocean Parkway Service Road southbound, from Avenue C to Ditmas Avenue, and the Ocean Parkway Service Road northbound, from 18th Avenue to Caton Avenue.

Milling will begin on the two service roads after these streets have been milled (in this order):

  • 58th Street, from 18th Street to Dead End
  • 59th Street, from 16th Avenue to Dahill Road
  • 51st Street, from Dead End to Dahill Road
  • 46th Street, from 8th Avenue to 18th Avenue
  • 44th Street, from 7th Avenue to New Utrecht Avenue
  • 43rd Street, from 9th Avenue to Dahill Road

The milling of 58th Street will begin on Monday, July 23rd.

Paving will begin about three weeks after milling starts. The numbered streets listed above will be paved first, followed by the Ocean Parkway service roads. Work is anticipated to be finished sometime in August.

The night before a block is scheduled to be milled or paved, the Department of Transportation is supposed to give car owners and drivers notice by posting tow-away/no parking signs on both sides of that block.

However, as July 23rd gets closer, we recommend that you check the Department of Transportation's Brooklyn Milling and Paving Schedule to find out the specific dates the streets will be milled and paved...just in case the signs don't get posted when they should be.

If you can't connect to the Milling and Paving Schedule page directly, go to Weekly Resurfacing Schedule and click on "Brooklyn" under "Borough Milling & Resurfacing Schedules."

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

DETECTIVE RYAN RETIRING FROM 66TH PRECINCT

Detective John C. Ryan of the 66th Precinct will retire on June 30th. He has been with the NYPD for forty-two years and has served in the 66th since 2001. In 2006, he was promoted to Detective Second Grade.


by Shimon Gifter, gifterphotos

WATCH THE PROGRESS OF NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS

The seven projects that garnered the most votes in our City Council district's experiment in participatory budgeting in March will be funded by City Councilmember Brad Lander through the city's budget for the fiscal year beginning on July 1st, at a cost of $1,040,000.

Follow the progress of those capital budget projects--and ten others that didn't receive enough votes to be funded through participatory budgeting--on Councilmember Lander's website.

Among the seven winning projects or the additional projects are the five that directly benefit Kensington and/or Windsor Terrace. They are
  • Technology: A Better Future for PS 154/PS 130 Students (in Windsor Terrace)
  • Pedestrian Hazards at the Prospect Expressway (in Kensington)
  • Kensington Library Resources and Community Space (in Kensington)
  • Ft, Hamilton F/G subway station improvements (in Windsor Terrace; used by residents of both Windsor Terrace and Kensington)
  • International Mother Language Monument (in Borough Park by its border with Kensington)
Another project specific to Windsor Terrace was added afterward, and it's currently in process: installing an ADA-accessible curb at the northeast corner of E. 2nd Street and Greenwood Avenue.

Projects that aren't specific to Kensington or Windsor Terrace but are spread throughout the district and may benefit us are
  • planting new trees,
  • installing "Next-bus" clocks for bus routes,
  • placing benches and bus shelters, and
  • adding trash cans.
For background information and more details about the projects, please see these earlier KARMABrooklyn posts:

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

RECIPES ON THE CSA BLOG

More than three dozen recipes incorporating ingredients from the Kensington/Windsor Terrace CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) have been posted on its blog over the years.

Among the dishes are Cream of Broccoli Soup, Fennel and Orange Salad, Savory Cheddar Corn Pudding, Herbed Tilapia Cakes, Raspberry Buttermilk Cake (posted today), and rhubarb soda. Several of the recipes are perfect for an I-don't-want-to-turn-the-oven-on kind of day.

FREE BUS FROM KEY FOOD TO FAIRWAY STARTS TOMORROW

Received from Catherine Zinnel, Councilmember Brad Lander's District Director.

Councilmember Lander arranged for the Fairway shuttle, but people should contact Fairway directly for any logistical questions or concerns. 
Hi everyone,

I wanted to let you know that starting tomorrow, Wednesday 6/26, Fairway supermarket is going to be running two free shuttles from the now closed Key Food store at 589 Prospect Avenue, between 10th and 11th Avenues, to the Fairway location in Red Hook. The first pick-up will be at 10am and the second will be at 1pm.


Riders will board a 40-seat school bus, have one and a half hours to shop, and have help getting groceries on and off the shuttle. Unfortunately Fairway cannot offer a handicap accessible vehicle at this time. If you have any questions about the shuttle, you can call Fairway at
347-750-1251, and speak with Viola Williams or Marcy Rosenblum.

Fairway is also willing to pick up groups of 10 or more anytime from Monday to Wednesday, 10am to 7pm, within a 5-mile radius of their Red Hook location. To make a free reservation, you can call Fairway at
347-750-1251, and speak with Viola Williams or Marcy Rosenblum.
While not a substitute for a sorely-needed local supermarket, Councilmember Lander is happy to have helped arrange a free shuttle from Windsor Terrace to Fairway, and continues to welcome involvement in the Windsor Terrace Community Grocery Carpool. If you're willing to drive a neighbor to a grocery store, or if you need a ride, please sign-up at bradlander.com/grocerycarpool or call 718-499-1090.

Catherine Zinnel
District Director - Councilmember Brad Lander

LIN HOLLYWOOD OPENS ON CHURCH AVENUE

Lin Hollywood Nail and Spa has opened for business in the store that formerly housed Amy's Nail Salon.

414 Church Avenue, between E. 4th and E. 5th streets
Kensington
(718) 438-8866

Sunday, June 24, 2012

ONE DEATH ON PROSPECT EXPRESSWAY

At 5:40 a.m. on Saturday, a driver on the eastbound Prospect Expressway lost control of the car. After the Mercedes struck a concrete median where the BQE and the Prospect Expressway intersect, it flipped over. Seventeen-year-old Shi Ying Wu of Flushing, Queens, a passenger in the back seat, suffered severe trauma to her body and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and three other passengers were treated for minor injuries at nearby hospitals.

Friday, June 22, 2012

TYPO IN PHONE NUMBER

RALLY FOR A SUPERMARKET COMBINED WITH A CANNED FOOD DRIVE 

 
Rally in Support of a Supermarket in Windsor Terrace 
Thursday, June 28th, 7:00 p.m.

Anyone who is able to hand out fliers notifying neighbors about this upcoming event should contact Ryan Lynch. Anyone wanting additional information should also contact him.

Ryan Lynch
(631) 742-7528     NOT 7628
Ryan.m.p.lynch @ gmail.com

Thursday, June 21, 2012

OCCUPY KENSINGTON GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Occupy Kensington General Assembly
Monday, June 25th, 7:00 p.m.

Join a discussion of

  • an action in support of Golden Farm workers,
  • campaigning for public space in Kensington, and
  • solidarity action against Walgreens' takeover of Windsor Terrace.

Meet on the northeast corner of Church Avenue at E. 5th Street (the El Gavilan corner).

You can RSVP on the event's Facebook page

Occupy Kensington onFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/381317025244534/ 

RALLY FOR A SUPERMARKET COMBINED WITH A CANNED FOOD DRIVE

UPDATE: TYPO IN PHONE NUMBER
(631) 742-7528     NOT 7628


Rally in Support of a Supermarket in Windsor Terrace
Thursday, June 28th, 7:00 p.m.

Faced for the first time in decades with the possibility of not having a supermarket in Windsor Terrace, residents will be holding a rally outside the just-closed Key Food to express their wish that another supermarket open there--and their disappointment that the next occupant of that building will be Walgreens.

At the rally, the neighborhood's elected representatives and community leaders will report on information gleaned from a discussion they will hold with Walgreens prior to the rally. They are Assemblymember Jim Brennan, Borough President Marty Markowitz, City, Councilmember Brad Lander, U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke, State Senators Eric Adams and Kevin Parker, and Community Board 7.

On a related note, a canned food drive is being held to benefit senior citizens in Windsor Terrace. Bring as many cans of food with you as you can spare. The drive was organized by Community Board 7.

Anyone who is able to hand out fliers notifying neighbors about this upcoming event should contact Ryan Lynch. Anyone wanting additional information should also contact him.

Ryan Lynch
(631) 742-7628
Ryan.m.p.lynch @ gmail.com

Windsor Terrace Alliance and Kensington & Windsor Terrace Neighbors (KWT Neighbors) are the co-hosts of the rally.

RALLY TO PROTEST WALGREENS

Rally to Protest Walgreens
Thursday, June 28th, 7:00 p.m.

in front of the former Key Food
Prospect Avenue and 11th Avenue

sponsored by the Windsor Terrace Alliance

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

STABBED AT DITMAS AND E. 3RD

A man was stabbed at Ditmas Avenue and E. 3rd Street on Tuesday, June 19th, at 8:48 p.m. and suffered an abdominal injury. The suspect reportedly fled on foot into 455 Ocean Parkway. The NYPD, its Emergency Service Unit (ESU), its Aviation Unit, and BSSP (Borough South Safety Patrol) all canvassed the area.

COOLING CENTERS ARE OPEN

From Notify NYC
Notification issued 6/20/12 at 2:10 PM. The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for New York City until 8:00 PM tonight. Heat Index values are forecast to be between 105 and 108 degrees. These conditions are dangerous to health. Avoid strenuous activity. People without air conditioning, older adults and people with chronic health conditions are most at risk. Cooling Centers are currently open. For more information, visit www.bit.ly/NYCHeatAQI or call 311.
New York City's Cooling Centers are open today and will be open tomorrow. To find one near where you are, type your address at http://gis.nyc.gov/oem/cc/index.htm;jsessionid=D9222AD077E8D674DD37576E23F13B4A or call 311.  

Cooling Centers may change their hours of operation, so call before you go and ask what their hours are.

Some local Cooling Centers:
Phone: (718) 686-9707
Contact: Barbara Delamadrid, Ianthee Williams
Wednesday and Thursday hours: Wednesday, 1 to 8; Thursday, 1 to 6
Extended Hours: No
Wheelchair Accessible: No 

Kensington Library
Phone: (718) 435-9431
Contact: Gladys Russo, William Lewnes
Wednesday and Thursday hours: Wednesday, 10 to 6; Thursday, 1 to 8
ExtendedHours: No
Wheelchair Accessible: No

Monday, June 18, 2012

66TH PRECINCT CRIME REPORT

In the current comp stat figures posted by the 66 Precinct on its website http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/precincts/precinct_066.shtml, #22 covering the week from May 28 through June 3, there were 28 felony complaints reported to the precinct—12% more than for the same week in 2011. Misdemeanor assault, on the other hand, was up a whopping 83.3 %. A glance at 2012’s figures for the first five months reveals a slight decrease of 3.22% in total felonies reported: from 511 Year to Date (YTD) in 2012, to 528  YTD in 2011.

Grand Larceny was the only felony category to swell in 2012—an increase of 8.7% over 2011, while YTD misdemeanors—those complaints  for petit larceny, assault, and sex crimes—have jumped anywhere from 10% to 20.8 % over 2011 YTD.

In the trending figures, i.e., those felonies reported in the last 28-day period, both robbery and assault are budding—assault by 33.3%, although all the other categories were flat or fell precipitously. Grand Larceny Auto, for example, dropped by 66.7% over 2011 YTD.

A month ago (#18 covering the week of April 30 to May 6), the total number of felony complaints for the week was 17 (a drop of almost 35% from 2011). Trending in that report’s 28–day figures was a 113.3 % jump in grand larceny over the same 28–day period in 2011. That means 32 grand larceny complaints  were filed vs 15  in that same 28-day period in 2011.

Next week, Thursday, June 21. at 7:30 p.m., the precinct will hold its final community council meeting of the season. Come meet the new Deputy Inspector, Michael Deddo, the 66 Precinct Community Affairs officers, the Shomrim, a fistful of public officials,  the locals and the regulars.  D.I. Deddo will gladly expand on precinct and Kensington crime trends and answer your questions.

And if you see a local crime, say something to us, too. We will post info about it on the blog.

Jole

SWASTIKA SPRAYED ON VAN IN KENSINGTON

Swastikas were spray-painted last night on a blue Dodge Ram maxi van and a light pole parked near 713-715 E. 2nd Street in Kensington. That's between Ditmas Avenue and Avenue F, closer to Avenue F. A passer-by called 911 to report the swastika. The NYPD and Brooklyn South Safety Patrol (Shomrin) responded.

The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating. Anyone who has information about the crime should contact NYPD Crime Stoppers online at
www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, by phone at (800) 577-TIPS (8477), or by texting CRIMES (274637), then entering TIP577.

A video is on News 12 Brooklyn's website.

This past Friday, swastikas were spray-painted on buildings and a van in Borough Park.

Educate. 

Sunday, June 17, 2012

DINNER UNDER THE STARS AT FLATBUSH JEWISH CENTER


Dinner under the Stars
Friday, June 29th, 7:00 p.m.

Sit down to a catered dairy dinner under the stars in Flatbush Jewish Center's backyard terrace.

Rain or shine.

All are welcome.

Before dinner, you're invited to attend the lively and child-friendly Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv service at 6:00 p.m., preceded by the Mincha at 5:45 p.m.

Advance registration is required for the dinner. You can register either through PayPal or by calling the synagogue office at (718) 871-5200.

Cost
Adults: before Monday, June 25th: $15. On or after Monday, June 25th: $17.
Kids under 12: free.

When you register, specify any dietary restrictions you may have.

Flatbush Jewish Center
327 E. 5th Street, corner of Church Avenue, Kensington
(718) 871-5200
Families @ flatbushjewishcenter.org

TEN WEEKS OF MAT PILATES


Ten-Week Pilates Mat Session
Tuesdays, June 26th through August 28th
7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The pilates mat sessions at My Namaste Yoga of Kensington will be led by "the fabulous Alden." Pilates is, as Namaste's website says, "A series of exercises that are done on the floor on your mat. Mat pilates classes will help you improve posture and develop core control, which is the ability to move effectively and efficiently."

Bring a neighbor, colleague, or friend with you and and save $5 per single class. The ten-week session costs $200 when paying cash or $218 when paying by credit card or check. A single class costs $25 (cash only).

Space is limited! Register by calling Namaste Yoga at (347) 533-6226 or (347) 533-6227.

Wilhyn Larsen, Owner
My Namaste Yoga of Kensington
482 Coney Island Avenue, 2nd Floor
(347) 533-6226 or (347) 533-6227
Enter On Church Avenue, Red Door/Red Stairs
Info @ mynamasteyoga.com

SUPPORT LOCAL, INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES! 

SUSPENSION OF PARKING REGULATIONS ENDS JULY 2ND


The decrease in the number of days the Sanitation Department cleans Windsor Terrace's residential streets goes into effect on Monday, July 2nd. The decrease from two days a week to one created a need to change the alternate side of the street parking signs (the ones with a broom on them) and the total suspension of alternate side parking from March 26th through July 1st. The projected "six-to-eight-week" job of sign replacement took fourteen weeks.

New street cleaning regulations will apply within these Windsor Terrace borders as of July 2nd:
  • North: 15th Street (included) from 4th Avenue to Prospect Park West. Prospect Park Southwest (included) from Prospect Park West to Park Circle. Coney Island Avenue (not included) from Park Circle to Caton Avenue
  • East: Caton Avenue (not included) from Coney Island Avenue to Fort Hamilton Parkway. Fort Hamilton Parkway (not included) from Caton Avenue to 37th Street. 37th Street (not included) from Fort Hamilton Parkway to 8th Avenue. 8th Avenue (included) from 37th Street to 61st Street.
  • South: Long Island Railroad Cut from Eighth Avenue to Fifth Avenue. 65th Street (not included) from Fifth Avenue to Fourth Avenue.
  • West: Fourth Avenue (included) from 65th Street to 15th Street.
The new regulations are shown on the map at the top of this page.

Friday, June 15, 2012

PROPOSED BIKE LANES AND SQUARE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS


Proposed Bike Lanes; Square Safety Improvements
Thursday, June 21st, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

At a joint meeting, the Transportation committees of Community Board 6 and 7 will discuss two Department of Transportation proposals for Windsor Terrace:
  1. installing an eastbound bicycle lane along 14th Street between Prospect Park West and 3rd Avenue and a westbound bicycle lane along 15th Street between Bartel-Pritchard Square and 3rd Avenue and 
  2. making various pedestrian safety improvements at the Bartel-Pritchard Square traffic circle.

The meeting will be held in Shepherd's Hall at Holy Name of Jesus Roman Catholic Church, 245 Prospect Park West, between Windsor Place and Prospect Avenue.

ONLINE AND PAPER PETITION OPPOSING WALGREENS OPENING IN WINDSOR TERRACE


What is a neighborhood without a supermarket? 

and then cites the potential answers if a drugstore moves into the Key Food space rather than a supermarket:

  • Elderly and disabled citizens will have great difficulty getting the food they need.
  • 50 Key Food workers are losing their jobs. The Walgreens representative said only 25-30 Walgreens employees would be hired and they will be minimum-wage, non-union jobs.
  • People will be less likely to move to Windsor Terrace because no one wants to move to a neighborhood without a supermarket and thus, property values may go down.
  • This might put our two drug stores out of business, creating either empty storefronts or the beginning of the chain-ification of Windsor Terrace, something most residents don't want.
These are just a few of the reasons we don't want a Walgreens at Prospect and 11th Ave.
With this petition, we are letting you know how we feel. We tell you to reconsider.
Don't come into our neighborhood! Or, if you must, make sure this location has a full grocery store! That is what the neighborhood needs. Anything less and we will boycott.
As a drug store in our neighborhood, you will fail. As a supermarket, you will succeed.

Leonora Stein, creator of the petition and owner of Babbo's Books on Prospect Park West, will be in front of Key Food tomorrow with paper petitions for people who aren't online to sign. She would appreciate getting help from the community. Call her today at Babbo's at (718) 788-3475 or tomorrow on her cell phone at (917) 209-7567, or send her an e-mail at mostconvenient @ yahoo.com.

NEIGHBORS DRIVING NEIGHBORS TO SUPERMARKETS

If you need a ride to a supermarket or a grocery store because Key Food will be closed after tomorrow -- or if you can provide a ride -- fill out the Windsor Terrace Grocery Ride Share form on City Councilmember Brad Lander's website.

The service will match up drivers and passengers (senior citizens and other neighbors) who would like to go to the same supermarket or grocery store and can go at the same time.  If you'd rather speak to a person than fill out a form, call Catherine Zinnel, Councilmember Lander's District Director, at (718) 499-1090 and tell her your responses.

The information needed from you is your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address, if you can provide a ride or need a ride, how many people you can drive, and the days and times you're available.

THE PEOPLE SPEAK TO WALGREENS


Opponents of Walgreens' plan to move into the Key Food location in Windsor Terrace filled all of the 200 chairs that had been set up for them, and another 100 to 150 people stood on the sides and lined the walls. Every one of them was there to express deep displeasure over a chain drugstore replacing the neighborhood's sole supermarket.

Dozens of people lined up to speak while the rest applauded and cheered them on. Walgreens' District Director Hien Nguyen got an earful as people told him "Windsor Terrace is a small town" and "Walgreens is too big for Windsor Terrace." Another pointedly asked "What was Walgreens thinking??" Comments were also made about the poor quality of Walgreens' merchandise.

Others talked about the economic threat Walgreens would pose to the local pharmacies, the proximity of the neighborhood to the already-existing Walgreens on Church Avenue and CVS, and how difficult it would be for elderly people to fill their grocery needs without a supermarket nearby. Even if Walgreens decides to carry a substantial amount of fresh food, a delivery service would only be available for medication.

People also expressed concern about the Key Food employees who will be losing their jobs. Praise was lavished on them for their friendliness and helpfulness, and several people suggested that Walgreens hire all of them for unionized jobs.

That won't happen for three reasons:
  1. Key Food has fifty employees. Walgreens will only be hiring twenty-five to thirty people.
  2. "Walgreens feels very strongly that labor unions do not serve the best interests of our individual employees or the company as a whole." (Our Philosophy)
  3. Walgreens is projected to open in March 2013. Key Food employees would be jobless for nine months by then.
Mr. Nguyen said that Walgreens is planning to take possession of the store in July but that it might not happen until August. The space will be renovated, but Walgreens will utilize the same footprint as Key Food and won't build additional floors.

The co-owners of Key Food weren't able to raise the money needed to meet the terms of the majority owner, the eighty- or eighty-two-year-old Sheldon Geller. Walgreens was.

The elected representatives who co-hosted the meeting--Borough President Marty Markowitz, Assemblymember Jim Brennan, and City Councilmember Brad Lander--did not have knowledge beforehand that Walgreens was going to move into that spot. Businesses are under no obligation to tell anyone--a community board, a councilmember, or anyone else--that they're closing or opening, unless a zoning variance is needed, which isn't the case here.

Several possible community actions emerged from the meeting:
  1. Prior to Walgreens opening, the community will give its input into how Walgreens should tailor the store to make up for the loss of Key Food (sell fresh fruit and vegetables and other fresh foods).
  2. When Walgreens opens, boycott it so that it'll close.
  3. Prevent Walgreens from opening. Mr. Nguyen didn't know if the deal between Key Food and Walgreens has been closed (contract signed, money paid), but he will find out. The answer could determine the next step for the community and its elected representatives, including the possibility of legal action.
Councilmember Lander  will speak with the New York City Economic Development Corporation about bringing FRESH to Windsor Terrace.
"the City has established the Food Retail Expansion to Support Health (FRESH) program. FRESH provides zoning and financial incentives to promote the establishment and retention of neighborhood grocery stores in underserved communities."

"The FRESH program is open to grocery store operators renovating existing retail space or developers seeking to construct or renovate retail space that will be leased by a full-line grocery store operator."