FIRE OUT ON VANDERBILT STREET

A fire at 651 Vanderbilt Street, between Prospect Park Southwest and Prospect Avenue, was extinguished by the Fire Department at about 3:30 this afternoon. The fire was only in apartment 2E on the second floor of a seven-story building.

HAVE A JUICY NEW YEAR

News from Juice Pedaler...

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia Remember Chia Pets? Well who knew then that Chia seeds were packed with goodness. Chia seeds taste great in juices and is now available at Juice Pedaler. Stop by on New Year's Day between 10 and 3 for a complimentary sample. Want to know more about chia? Read this article from The New York Times.

New Daily Hours: 8 am to 5 pm                                         New Year's Day Hours: 10 am to 3 pm                                        Rehydrate and Replenish with a fresh Juice.                                     Perfect after New Year's Eve!

New Years Eve Punch or New Years Day Brunch Make entertaining easier by having us prepare your fresh juice cocktail mixes. Just add bubbly and serve. Served in 1/2 gallon growlers, and accompanied with fresh  garnishes.  Pastries and more... Enjoy pastries from top NYC bakery, Ceci Cela. From croissants and muffins to mini French pound cakes, our selection changes daily. In addition to pastries, packaged foods are always available for a healthy snack. Some like it hot... There is something for everyone at Juice Pedaler.  Warm up by our fire with a cup of  Stumptown coffee or an espresso drink, or choose from our selection of teas from Republic of Tea.  We also offer hot chocolate, warm cider and chai.

JUICE JUICE JUICE and more JUICE! Start the new year off right with a juice. Healthy, tasty and so many flavors - it's a great way to start your day....or provide an alternative to caffeine for an afternoon pick-me-up. Our menu includes juices for both adults and kids and includes greens, beets, fresh squeezed OJ with carrots, our signature fennel juice, smoothies and much, much more! Juice Pedaler  -  154 Prospect Park SW between Seeley and Vanderbilt streets   -   Brooklyn, NY 11218   -   718.871.7500 https://store.juicepedalernyc.com/

MEETING TOPIC: GUN VIOLENCE

Community Board 7's Public Safety Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 8th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Board Office, 4201 4th Avenue. The entrance is on 43rd Street.

Agenda: Community response to gun violence.

The Public Safety Committee's purpose is to discuss local issues involving police, fire, emergency services and emergency preparedness (in case of natural disasters, terrorism, power outages, etc.), and other quality of life concerns.

LEND AN EAR RIGHT HERE FOR "KENSINGTON ANTHEM"

                                                                      "Kensington Anthem/They say I don't care"
                                                                      by The Nowadays

"Kensington Anthem/They say I don't care" is one of seven tracks on The Nowadays' recently-released debut album "Live at the Creamery." The Nowadays--Alex P  on vocals and guitar and Professor Coit on drums--call their music rock and roll, blues, and rockabilly.

Alex P. Wernquest and David Coit recorded the album in October 2012 at the Creamery, a studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and released it on Basement Floods Records in Kensington, Brooklyn, on October 9, 2012. 

Hear "Live at the Creamery" in its entirety here. From that page, you can also purchase and download the digital album or purchase the limited edition CD.

Alex and David are the co-owners and engineers of Basement Floods Records. As their slogan says, they do "Analog Recording in Kensington, Brooklyn," using 8-, 4-, and 2-track tape recorders.

Basement Floods Records 
403 Avenue C, between E.  4th and E. 5th streets
Brooklyn, NY 11218
(860) 287-5405
 basementfloods @ gmail.com
http://basementfloods.tumblr.com 
https://www.facebook.com/thenowadaysmusic  

GET YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLED INTO MULCH

Mulchfest Your Christmas Tree

Saturday, January 12th, and Sunday, January 13th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Recycle your Christmas tree into wood chips that will nourish street trees, street plants, and gardens. You also can take mulch away to use in your own garden or to give a helping hand to an existing street tree or plant.

Bring your tree to a designated city park; one nearby location is the Park Circle entrance to Prospect Park at Parkside Avenue and Prospect Park Southwest. The Department of Parks & Recreation has a complete list of Mulchfest chipping locations, arranged by borough, on its website.

Remove the tree stand, tinsel, lights, and ornaments from your tree before you bring it to a site.

Volunteers will be at the sites to help remove ornaments and distribute mulch. To volunteer, register online by clicking here. Altogether, 120 volunteers are needed at the sites. So far, 85 people have volunteered, and 35 more are still needed.

Drop off Your Christmas Tree

Wednesday, January 9th, through Sunday, January 13th

 

If neither day of Mulchfest is convenient for you, bring your tree (without any ornaments) to a drop-off site between Wednesday, January 9th, and Sunday, January 13th. Leave your tree with the Parks & Recreation Department there, and they'll recycle it later on.

Curbside Pick-up of Your Christmas Tree

Wednesday, January 2nd, through Saturday, January 19th

The Sanitation Department will pick up Christmas trees curbside from Wednesday, January 2nd, through Saturday, January 19th, and will mulch and recycle them. Put your discarded tree at curbside as early as possible during the collection period. Before putting it outside, remove the tree stand, tinsel, lights, and ornaments. Don't put the tree into a plastic bag.

BABBO'S BOOKS BIG SALE

Babbo's Books' Post-Christmas Sale
today (Saturday, December 29th) through Monday, December 31st

New Hardcovers: 20% off
New Paperbacks: 10% off
New Children's Books: 15% off 
Used Books: 10% off

A few of the many, many titles at Babbo's:
The Round House
Bring Up The Bodies
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie
Flight Behavior
Interview with the Vampire: Claudia's Story
Telegraph Avenue
A Hologram for the King
Motherland
Life of Pi
The Swerve
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Just Kids

Babbo's Books
242 Prospect Park West, between Windsor Place and Prospect Avenue
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
(718) 788-3475
admin @ babbosbooks.com
www.babbosbooks.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Babbos-Books/140626742636668?ref=ts

 

SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

FAMILIES BURNED OUT OF THEIR E. 3RD STREET HOMES NEED HELP

Seven families have no home and no possessions in the aftermath of Saturday night's three-alarm fire on E. 3rd Street in Kensington (between Avenue C and Cortelyou Road). The Boro Park Jewish Community Council is  collecting money on behalf of the families to help them rebuild their lives.

Make your check payable to Boro Park JCC East 3rd Street Fire Fund and mail it to

Boro Park JCC
East 3rd Street Fire Fund
4912 14th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219

All donations to the Boro Park Jewish Community Council are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

If you have any questions, call BPJCC at (718) 972-6600.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Boro-Park-Jewish-Community-Council/1291014651038921 

CHAMPAGNE TASTING

Head for Juice Box Wine and Spirits tomorrow for its 6th Annual Sparkling Spectacular. From 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., you're invited to partake of free tastings of Champagne and sparkling wine from around the globe. 

Juice Box's holiday hours through New Year's Day are

• Friday, 12/28           noon to 10 p.m.
• Saturday, 12/29     10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday, 12/30         noon to 10:00 p.m.
• Monday, 12/31        10 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, 1/1             noon to 9:00 p.m.

 

Juice Box Wine & Spirits

1289 Prospect Avenue

between Greenwood Avenue and Reeve Place

Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, NY 11218

 

(718) 871-1110

juiceboxwines @ gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Juice-Box-Wine-Spirits/119635894747177

 

PARKING EASIER ON NEW YEAR'S DAY

Regulations for alternate side of the street parking (for street cleaning) and regulations for parking meters are suspended on Tuesday, January 1, 2013, for observance of New Year’s. That's a pleasant way for car owners to start 2013!

DISTRICT ATTORNEY ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes, guest speaker

Saturday, January 19, 2012, 11:30 a.m. to noon

Rabbi David Siff invites the community to show its support for Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes' "cracking down on child sexual abuse in the ultra-Orthodox community" by attending Mr. Hynes' talk at the Flatbush Jewish Center on January 19th. The free talk will be followed by sing-along style mussaf (an additional religious service held on the Sabbath) and kiddush (a blessing to sanctify the Sabbath).

Mr. Hynes will be speaking in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.

Flatbush Jewish Center 
327 E. 5th Street, at the corner of Church Avenue 
Kensington, Brooklyn, NY 11218

phone: (718) 871-5200
fax: (718) 871-5204 
e-mail: fandstjc  @  verizon.net
http://www.flatbushjewishcenter.org
https://www.facebook.com/FlatbushJewishCenter

SMITH STREET-9TH STREET STATION PROGRESS REPORT

The MTA's most recent prediction about the rehabilitation of the Smith Street-9th Street station on the F and G subway lines is that it will be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2013.

Until then, continue substituting the Carroll Street or 4th Avenue-9th Street station for Smith-9th. Use the B57 bus for connections between the Smith Street-9th Street station and the Carroll Street station (for the F and G) and the B61 bus for connections between the Smith Street-9th Street station and the 4th Avenue-9th Street station (for the F, G, and R).

FREE YOGA CLASSES

Free Classes

Tuesday, January 1, 2013, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Jaya Yoga East will offer free classes on New Year's Day for participants at all levels.

The schedule of classes is

• 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. All levels. Teacher: Ramit Kreitner
• 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. All levels. Teacher: David Figueroa
• 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. All levels. Teacher: Kenzie Pause

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

WINDSOR TERRACE CHEF HONORED

Congratulations to chef Chris Scott, co-owner and Executive Chef at Brooklyn Commune, for being invited to cook at President Obama's inauguration!

Brooklyn Commune

601 Greenwood Avenue, at the corner of Prospect Avenue Windsor Terrace
(718) 686-1044
e-mail: feedme @ brooklyncommune.com
http://brooklyncommune.com

https://www.facebook.com/BrooklynCommune?ref=ts&v=wall

PALESTINIAN MOVIE

Movie: "Paradise Now"

Saturday, January 5th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

From Flatbush Jewish Center:

All are welcome to a showing of "Paradise Now," a provocative fictional Palestinian film about two suicide bombers during the twenty-four hours leading up to their mission. It's a chilling but fascinating look into the worldview, environment, experience, and inner struggles of contemporary Palestinians.

Cost for a pizza dinner: $7

Released in 2005. Rated PG-13. Running time: 90 minutes.

Flatbush Jewish Center
Hanid Room 
327 E. 5th Street, at the corner of Church Avenue
Kensington, Brooklyn

phone: (718) 871-5200
fax: (718) 871-5204 
http://www.flatbushjewishcenter.org
https://www.facebook.com/FlatbushJewishCenter

HAMILTON'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Hamilton's opens at 4:00 p.m. every day, as of yesterday. The kitchen opens at 5:00 p.m. 

Happy "hour" is from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Starting soon, brunch will be served.

Hamilton's
2826 Fort Hamilton Parkway, southeast corner of E. 4th Street
In Windsor Terrace, bordering Kensington.
Convenient to the F and G trains and the B16, B67, B69, and B35 buses.

(718) 438-0488

hamiltonbkny @ gmail.com http://hamiltonsbrooklyn.com

https://www.facebook.com/hamiltons2826?ref=ts

FIRE ON E. 3RD STREET IN KENSINGTON

                                                                                                                                video posted by gifter photos

About thirty fire trucks and ambulances responded to last night's three-alarm fire at 542 E. 3rd Street in Kensington, between Avenue C and Cortelyou Road. Four attached houses were involved; three of them were heavily damaged. Although the Red Cross did assist sixteen residents, no injuries were reported. Seven families have been displaced.

Initially, arson was suspected. Fire marshals opened an investigation and discovered that it was an electrical fire. The fire began on the top floor of a two-story private dwelling and spread quickly to the other houses. Neighbors reported the fire at about 11:00 p.m.

CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL IN WINDSOR TERRACE IN 2013

A charter middle school will open in School District 15 in August 2013, to be housed in Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School. Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School (BUGS) will start out with 110 6th grade students, add 100 7th graders a year later, and add 100 8th graders in the fall of 2015. 

Founded by local parents, educators, and community volunteers and granted a charter by the New York State Board of Regents in September 2011, BUGS is an autonomous, community-based project, independent of any Charter Management Organization.

The school's website explains that the school will emphasize math, science, and technology and will be dedicated to "civic engagement and the interdisciplinary study of environmental sustainability." Further, "A school that emphasizes hands-on outdoor activities enables students to apply scientific concepts and theories pertaining to the living environment in context." 

Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School

phone: (212) 437-8318

e-mail: info @ BUGSbrooklyn.org  (for inclusion in the updates database)

website: http://bugsbrooklyn.org

future address: 500 19th Street, between Prospect Park West and 10th Avenue, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

BROOKLYN INDUSTRIES OPENS NEAR KENSINGTON

The clothing and bag company Brooklyn Industries opened two days ago in Ditmas Park on Cortelyou Road. Brooklyn Industries is a regional retail chain store, with nine locations in Brooklyn and five in Manhattan as well as one in Chicago and one in Portland, Oregon.

Hours
Monday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Brooklyn Industries
1420 Cortelyou Road, corner of Marlborough Road
Brooklyn, NY 11226
(718) 282-0697 
e-mail: http://www.brooklynindustries.com/contact
http://www.brooklynindustries.com 
https://www.facebook.com/brooklynindustries
www.twitter.com/BKLNIndustries  
http://blog.brooklynindustries.com
http://brooklynindustries.tumblr.com

Take the Q train to the Cortelyou Road station. The store is located at the corner of Cortelyou and Marlborough roads.

NO CAR-MOVING ON CHRISTMAS

Alternate side-of-the-street parking regulations (for street cleaning) and parking meter regulations will be suspended on Tuesday, December 25th, for Christmas. 

On a major legal holiday, such as Christmas, stopping, standing, and parking are permitted, except in areas where stopping, standing, and parking rules (for example, "No Standing Anytime") are in effect seven days a week.

The suspension also applies on Tuesday, January 1st, for New Year's Day, also a major legal holiday.

A printable 2013 suspension calendar of alternate side parking rules and dates is on the Department of Transportation website. 

ARMED ROBBERY ON CHURCH AVE.

An armed robbery (robbery at gunpoint) took place in the 66th Precinct at 739 Church Avenue between E. 7th and E. 8th streets on Wednesday, December 19th, at 3:10 p.m. The robber is described as a black male in his mid-20s. The building houses Newgent Management and Urbanite Realty on the street level and two floors of business offices above that.

THE LATEST ON WALGREENS AND WINDSOR TERRACE

Friends of Key Food Space reports.

The situation at the former Key Food site has continued to be on the minds of many residents of Windsor Terrace. After a series of rallies and community meetings, over 5,000 signatures on the petition, both print and online media coverage, and the consistent threat of a community boycott, we wanted to offer an update of sorts. While we have nothing definitive to report yet, but are encouraged by the fact that Walgreens came to another meeting with elected officials and a few community leaders last month at Borough Hall. Walgreens is hearing what we want and need as a community, they continue to be in contact with us, and have agreed to participate in a meeting with the community to give us all an update on the plan for the space.

We are pushing for this meeting to take place in the next month and will continue in our commitment to do what we can to make this happen. Thanks for your patience and your continued dedication to this issue!

GBNW (Green Beans Not Walgreens)

Lauren Collins
Pat Maliha
Ryan Lynch
Philip Winn

http://www.greenbeansnotwalgreens.org
https://www.facebook.com/GreenBeansNotWalgreens

For information about volunteering: volunteer @ greenbeansnotwalgreens.org
For all other inquiries: info @ greenbeansnotwalgreens.org

DINNER AND A MOVIE AT FLATBUSH JEWISH CENTER

Dinner and a Movie

Monday, December 24th, 5:30 p.m.

Dinner: Chinese food
Movie: "The Band's Visit"
"A band comprised of members of the Egyptian police force head to Israel to play at the inaugural ceremony of an Arab arts center, only to find themselves lost in the wrong town." PG-13. 2007. 1 hour, 27 minutes. -- from IMDb

Cost: $10

Make a reservation by calling (718) 871-5200.

Flatbush Jewish Center 327 E. 5th Street, at the corner of Church Avenue 
Kensington, Brooklyn

phone: (718) 871-5200
fax: (718) 871-5204 
e-mail: fandstjc  @  verizon.net
http://www.flatbushjewishcenter.org
https://www.facebook.com/FlatbushJewishCenter

66TH PRECINCT COMMUNITY MEETING TONIGHT

Reminder from the 66th Precinct Community Council:

Dear Community Members:

Tonight Thursday will be the Monthly 66 precinct Community Council meeting at 5910 13th Ave. 7:30pm. You are invited to come meet Deputy Inspector Michael Deddo, the Commanding Officer of the 66 Precinct update the community on the latest crimes in our community, and what is being done about it. There is also an opportunity to bring any crime issues you may have to their attention. You can also find out about the many different programs available that may be of interest to you.

The event is open to the public so let your friends and neighbors know.

PS: COME AND JOIN US IN OUR ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY TONIGHT AFTER THE MEETING: 

All residents of the community served by the 66th Precinct are invited to attend. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m.

Meeting place: Community Board 12 office, 5910 13th Avenue, between 59th and 60th streets.

For further details, call the precinct at (718) 851-5601.

THREE MEN WANTED BY NYPD

The police have arrested two men and are looking for three others for shooting a 25-year-old Hispanic man in the 66th Precinct in Kensington near McDonald Avenue and Avenue F on Saturday, December 8th. Five men approached the victim, got into a physical fight with him, shot him in the groin, and ran westbound on Avenue F. The man was not killed. The arresting officers found a revolver at the scene.

The three men being sought are described as male Hispanics approximately 25 to 30 years old. One is wearing a blue Giants jersey with the number 22 on it, one is wearing a white Nets basketball jersey with the number 6 on it, and one is wearing dark clothing. All were wearing baseball caps.

The incident took place at 2:50 a.m. The unidentified victim was taken to a local hospital.

ELDERLY NEED VISITORS

From Selfhelp Community Services:

Selfhelp Community Services, which is located at 419 Church Avenue between E. 4th and E. 5th streets, is looking for people to visit our Holocaust survivors in their homes once a week. Our clients live all over Brooklyn, and they can be seen any day of the week and in the evening. The only restriction is that this isn't a good opportunity for families with children under 10.

I know everyone is inundated with volunteer requests, but people who responded to my appeal last year have found their relationship with their older friend very very rewarding.

 

Please contact me if you are interested, and thank you.

 

Fran Tarshish

(718) 633-1300

KENSINGTON PLAZA SUPPORTER STICKER

SING TODAY!

The Kensington Community Holiday Sing-along is today at 5 p.m. in Kensington Plaza. That's in front of the Walgreens on Beverley Road, between McDonald Avenue and E. 2nd Street.

Enjoy singing with your neighbors while drinking hot cider and cocoa and eating s'mores. Before the sing-along starts, take part in a quick, warming yoga practice.

If you have an unwanted or unneeded gently-used winter coat you're willing to donate, it will be put to good, charitable use.

The sing-along is sponsored by these neighborhood businesses: Jaya Yoga East, Denny's Pub, Fox Driving Auto School, TDS Insurance, Hair Pleasure, Friendly's, Carvel, To B Thai, Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts, Church Ave. Food Corp. Deli and Grill, and New McDonald Fruit.

TOY AND CLOTHING DRIVE FOR KIDS OF GOLDEN FARM EMPLOYEES

The work hours of several Golden Farm employees were cut in August after they voted to join a union and supported a boycott of the store. Their reduced incomes have to be spent on the necessities of life, so they would appreciate help from their neighbors in giving their kids decent presents for Christmas.

The employees and their children are

• Javier: He and his wife have 3 daughters whose ages are 1, 3, and 7.
• Antonino: He and his wife have 2-year-old twin sons, and they're expecting a girl in early 2013.
• Anastasia: The widow of Felix, who died of cancer this summer, has a 7-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son.

These kids will be so happy to get clothing and toys.

A neighbor has put a large box on her front porch for donations. Bring new or gently-used clothing and toys to 308 East 4th Street, just around the corner from Golden Farm, and put your gifts in the box.

http://goldenfarmjustice.wordpress.com
Twitter @BoycottGF #boycottGF