PARKING REGULATION CHANGES ON NEW YEAR'S DAY

Alternate side of the street parking regulations--normally in effect on weekdays and Saturdays so that streets can be cleaned--will be suspended on Friday, January 1st, for New Year's Day.

Parking meter regulations will also be suspended.

CARD PARTY AND RAFFLE MANIA AT P.S. 154

Raffle Mania

Thursday, February 4th, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The PTA at P.S. 154 will be holding its first annual card party fund raiser, Raffle Mania. Raffle Mania is a multi-tiered, fast-paced, adult only, raffle event featuring over 300 different prizes.

This year’s prizes include:

• Walt Disney World Park Hopper tickets,
• Apple iPad,
• classes for kids at Park Slope Performing Arts, Prospect Gymnastics, Brooklyn Game Lab, Brooklyn Robot Foundry, and Cynthia King Dance Studio,
• gift certificates from: Blue Ribbon, Brunswick, Fox and the Crepe, Al Di La, Piccoli, Hamilton's, Della, and Gather,
• a weekend in the Hamptons,
• Broadway show tickets,
• Florida vacation stays,
• Singer sewing machine,
• 50/50 raffle cash prize, and
• hundreds more. 

Buy a ticket now and receive a free entry to the door prize raffle. The cost of an individual ticket is $45. Or buy a ten-person table for $400. Ticket sales will end on Tuesday, February 2nd. 

Brooklyn Brewery and Palm Bay International will provide a wine and beer open bar. Sandwiches and snacks are also included in the ticket price.
 
Tickets must be purchased in advance; no tickets will be sold at the door. Buy tickets at https://ps154.24fundraiser.com/e/site/store/1040/event_tickets/413.

All proceeds will go directly to programs funded by the PTA.

Event location
Shepherd's Hall
Holy Name of Jesus Church
245 Prospect Park West
between Prospect Avenue and Windsor Place
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Enter Shepherd's Hall through the parking lot next to the church.
 

IF FRIDAY IS YOUR TRASH COLLECTION DAY....

On Friday, January 1st, in observance of New Year’s Day, garbage, recycling, and organics will not be collected, and the streets will not be cleaned.

Instructions for residents who normally have Friday as a collection day:

• Garbage: Place your garbage at curbside after 4:00  p.m. on Friday, January 1st, for collection.

• Organic material: Place your organic material out at curbside after 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 1st, for collection.

• Recycling (paper, metal, glass, and plastic): Place your recycling material out at curbside after 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 7th, for collection.

FOOD COOP HOURS CHANGED FOR THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF THE NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY

This week, the Windsor Food Coop will be open on

• Wednesday, December 30th, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.,
• Saturday, January 2nd, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and
• Sunday, January 3rd, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

It will be closed on

• Thursday, December 31st, and
• Friday, January 1st.

Location   
Windsor Terrace Food Coop
825 Caton Avenue
corner of E. 8th Street
Windsor Terrace, across the street from Kensington

e-mail: windsorterracefoodcoop @ gmail . com
website: http://www.windsorterracefoodcoop.com 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTFoodCoop  
Instagram: https://instagram.com/windsorterracefoodcoop/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Windsor-Terrace-Food-Coop-Inc/118978878257944?sk=timeline

CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING OPTIONS: CURBSIDE COLLECTION, MULCHFEST, AND DROP-OFF

Curbside Collection

Monday, January 4th, through Friday, January 15th

Discarded Christmas trees will be picked up for recycling during the Department of Sanitation's annual Christmas tree curbside collection program. Collection will begin on Monday, January 4th, and end on Friday, January 15th.

Before putting a tree at the curb, remove the tree stand and all netting, tinsel, lights, and all other ornaments and decorations that are on it. Don't put the tree into a plastic bag. Clean, non-bagged trees will be ground into wood chips, mixed with leaves, and recycled into mulch that will be used in city parks, playing fields, and community gardens.

Mulchfest

Saturday, January 9th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 10th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

At its 20th annual Christmas tree recycling event, the Department of Parks and Recreation will turn trees into wood chips that will nourish trees and plants on city streets, in city parks and ball fields, and in community gardens.

Bring your tree to any of the thirty chipping locations throughout the five boroughs on January 9th or 10th between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Remove the tree stand, netting, tinsel, lights, and every other ornament or decoration before you bring the tree to Mulchfest.

Brooklyn will have eight chipping locations, including one at Prospect Park (Third Street at Prospect Park West) and one at Prospect Park Circle (Parkside Avenue and Prospect Park Southwest).

All thirty chipping locations are listed on the Parks Department's website. Scroll down the page and choose a borough.

The Parks Department will give you a free bag of mulch, if you want one, to use on your own trees or on street trees. The department will provide the bags.

Drop-off
Saturday, January 2nd, through Sunday, January 10th

During Mulchfest, some of the Parks Department's locations won't have chipping equipment on-site; those forty-eight locations (eleven in Brooklyn) are for tree drop-off only. Sometime after you drop yours off, it will be recycled.

Drop-off sites will accept Christmas trees during the two days of Mulchfest (January 9th and 10th) as well as every other day from Saturday, January 2nd, through Sunday, January 10th.

Before you bring your tree to a drop-off site, remove the tree stand, netting, tinsel, lights, and other ornaments and decorations.


For more information on Christmas tree collection and recycling or Mulchfest,

• see http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/about/press-releases/pr2015/12242015.shtml, or
• see http://www.nycgovparks.org/highlights/festivals/mulchfest, or
• call 311.

TERRACE PLACE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

Terrace Place Pedestrian Safety Improvements

Tuesday, January 12th, 6:30 p.m.

Plans are afoot for increasing pedestrian safety where Terrace Place, Windsor Place, and Prospect Park Southwest intersect and on 11th Avenue between McDonald Avenue and 19th Street.

Proposals for the existing problems on these streets include marking lanes, shortening the length of street crossings, adding crosswalks, and adding a turn to the traffic signal phasing.

The New York City Department of Transportation will present its proposals at a regular meeting of Community Board 7's Transportation Committee on January 12th at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be open to the public.

View a PDF of the DOT's proposal here.

Meeting location
Shepherd's Hall
Holy Name of Jesus Church
245 Prospect Park West
between Prospect Avenue and Windsor Place
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Enter Shepherd's Hall through the parking lot next to the church.

CHRISTMAS STREET-PARKING RULES

Alternate side of the street parking regulations--normally in effect on weekdays and Saturdays so that streets can be cleaned--will be suspended on Friday, December 25th, for Christmas.

Parking meter regulations will also be suspended.

SHELTER DONATIONS ON TEMPORARY HOLD

An update on donating to The Kensington, the neighborhood's new family shelter, from Catherine Barufaldi and Tracy Connor, creators of givemeshelterbk @ gmail.com--the neighborhood's conduit for donations to the families:

Thank you to everyone who donated diapers, baby clothes, etc. to the shelter during the dropoff times we designated on our email list. Donation times are ***NOW CLOSED*** (with the exception of people who registered to bring holiday gifts or food) until after the new year.

The shelter needs to identify storage space and come up with a system for handling donations, so will not be taking anything else for the moment. As more families move in over the next weeks, there will be a need for more stuff -- and you can get the details on what they need and dropoff times by sending an email to givemeshelterbk @ gmail.

The generosity from this community has been overwhelming and heart-warming. Please bear with the shelter staff as they get families settled into the facility -- and shower them with holiday love, thanks to the many donations they have already collected. THANK YOU! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

CAROLING INVITATION FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE NEW FAMILY SHELTER

 

Dear Kensington and Windsor Terrace residents,

People from the neighborhood are joining together for caroling at the new family shelter on Christmas Eve to spread good cheer to our new neighbors. Get to the shelter between 6:00 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. for the 6:30 caroling. Because of security screening, don't bring bulky bags, etc. with you.

Neighbor Deidre Struck will lead the caroling. Deidre will bring song booklets with her. Just sign up here if you'd like to participate in this joyful event and welcome our brand-new neighbors.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0848afaf2aa5fa7-caroling

The new shelter is at 385 McDonald Avenue, across from Foodtown and next to the Post Office parking lot, in the building that was formerly used as University Place.

Merry Christmas!

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF SHOWING AT FLATBUSH JEWISH CENTER

Fiddler on the Roof

Sunday, December 27th, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

See the film "Fiddler on the Roof," starring Topol and Norma Crane, at the Flatbush Jewish Center on December 27th. Popcorn and drinks will be provided. The admission fee is $5. Send an e-mail to the synagogue office at fandstjc @ verizon.net if you would like to attend. 

The musical comedy-drama is based on Sholem Aleichem's series of short stories about Tevya the Dairyman, published in 1894. The film version of the short stories is set in anti-Semitic Czarist Russia in 1905. It explores the life of a poor Jewish family with several marriageable, strong-willed daughters.

The G-rated movie, released in 1971, won three Academy Awards and two Golden Globes.

Location
Flatbush Jewish Center, Hanid Room
327 E. 5th Street
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 

TOYS FOR TOTS NIGHT AT DENNY'S

Toys for Tots

Friday, December 18th, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Join in at Denny's Pub's Annual Christmas Party and Toys For Tots night for an evening of food and drinks. Bring an unwrapped toy. $10.00 minimum.

Denny's
106 Beverley Road, corner of McDonald Avenue
Kensington, Brooklyn
(718) 435-2156

WT FOOD COOP HOURS DURING CHRISTMAS WEEK

During Christmas week, the Windsor Food Coop will be open on

• Monday, December 21st, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.,
• Tuesday, December 22nd, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and
• Wednesday, December 23rd, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

It will be closed on

• Thursday, December 24th,
• Friday, December 25th,
• Saturday, December 26th, and
• Sunday, December 27th.

Location   
Windsor Terrace Food Coop
825 Caton Avenue
corner of E. 8th Street
Windsor Terrace, across the street from Kensington

e-mail: windsorterracefoodcoop @ gmail . com
website: http://www.windsorterracefoodcoop.com 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTFoodCoop  
Instagram: https://instagram.com/windsorterracefoodcoop/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Windsor-Terrace-Food-Coop-Inc/118978878257944?sk=timeline

SHELTER IS GIVEN A CHRISTMAS TREE

The new shelter in Kensington now has a Christmas tree and decorations, courtesy of the 66th Precinct. Lieutenant Michael Andreano, formerly of that precinct, and Officer Joseph Vitella delivered the Christmas cheer to The Kensington today to help welcome its families to the neighborhood.

The Kensington houses families with children who, due to a variety of circumstances, currently find themselves without a place to live.

COAT AND TOY DRIVE FOR FAMILY SHELTER AND METHODIST HOSPITAL

Coat and Toy Drive

Monday, December 14th through Friday, December 18th

P.S. 230 is conducting a coat and toy drive this week to benefit New York Methodist Hospital's Pediatric Floor and The Kensington, the neighborhood's new family shelter.

Donate by bringing gently-used coats and new, unwrapped toys to the front desk at P.S. 230 Upper School. For more information, contact Jill Reinier, the P.S. 230 Parent Coordinator, at jreinier @ schools.nyc.gov.

Location 
P.S. 230 Upper School
1 Albemarle Road 
between McDonald Avenue and Dahill Road
Kensington, Brooklyn

HOLIDAY PARTY AT 66TH PRECINCT COMMUNITY COUNCIL MONTHLY MEETING

66th Precinct Community Council
Monthly Meeting and Holiday Party
Thursday, December 17th, 7:30 p.m.      

Meet Captain Kenneth Quick and several of his officers at this month's 66th Precinct Community Council meeting.

Captain Quick, the Commanding Officer of the Kensington - Borough Park - Midwood precinct, will update the community on the latest crimes in our neighborhood and what is being done about them.

The purpose of each precinct's Community Council is to provide a critical interface between residents and the police through regular monthly meetings. Residents have an opportunity to bring crime issues to the precinct's attention and can also find out about the many different programs available.

Community Council meetings are free and open to the public. All are welcome.

The 66th Precinct's meetings are normally held on the third Thursday of each month from September through June.

Meeting location
Office of Community Board 12
5910 13th Avenue, at 59th Street
Borough Park, Brooklyn

66th Precinct Community Council e-mail: 66precinctcc @ gmail.com.

PUBLIC SAFETY, LAND USE, EDUCATION, AND HEALTH REPORTS AT COMMUNITY BOARD 7 MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY

                      Board Meeting of Community Board 7
             Wednesday, December 16th, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Community Board 7 will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, December 16th, in the board's office. Community Board 7 represents Windsor Terrace, East Windsor Terrace, South Park Slope, Greenwood Heights, and Sunset Park.

Proposed agenda:

 1. The Pledge of Allegiance
 2. Opening of the meeting
 3. Adoption of the agenda
 4. Adoption of the Minutes of the Board Meeting of November 18, 2015
 5. Public Comment
 6. Committee Reports:
    A) Public Safety (Tabled)
        1) 2 Liquor license renewals for Love and Lust located at 225 47th Street
    B) Land Use/Landmarks
        1) Presentation by the Fifth Avenue Committee on their proposal to
            redevelop 6309 4th Avenue (including 414 & 416 63rd Street)
    C) Immigration & Education
        1) Identifying strategies for fulfilling the educational needs of CB7’s
            immigrant communities.
    D) Health & Mental Health
        1) Update on NYU/Lutheran activities
 7. Elected Officials Representatives
 8. Chairperson’s Report
 9. District Manager’s Report
10. Old Business
11. New Business
12. Public Comment
13. Adjournment 

Meeting location
Community Board 7 Board Room
4201 4th Avenue (entrance on 43rd Street)
Sunset Park, Brooklyn
phone: (718) 854-0003
fax: (718) 436-1142
communityboard7 @ yahoo.com
http://www.brooklyncb7.org

SCOTCH AND STEAK DINNER AT KRUPA GROCERY

Scotch and Steak Dinner at Krupa Grocery

Monday, December 21st, 7:00 p.m.

Krupa Grocery is throwing its first Scotch and Beefsteak Dinner, with Scotch Ambassador Simon Brooking. The three courses, six Scotches, and one beer cost $135. That price includes tax, service charge, Scotch tasting, and first beer.

Seating is communal. Tickets are limited. For tickets and more information, send an e-mail to krupagrocery @ gmail.com.

Krupa Grocery
231 Prospect Park West
between 16th Street and Prospect Avenue
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
(718) 709-7098
hello @ krupagrocery.com
http://www.krupagrocery.com
https://www.facebook.com/krupagrocery
https://www.instagram.com/krupa_grocery
https://twitter.com/krupagrocery

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING AT IHM. ANGELS TOO.

Christmas Tree and Angel Lighting

Saturday, December 12th, at about 6:00 pm.

Listen to the music of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" live tomorrow night. Immaculate Heart of Mary Church will light its trees and angels tomorrow night, immediately after the 5:00 p.m. Mass. That should be at about 6:00 p.m.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church 
2805 Fort Hamilton Parkway 
between E. 4th and E. 5th streets 
Windsor Terrace, one block from the Kensington border

website: http://www.ihmbrooklyn.org 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Immaculate-Heart-of-Mary-Roman-Catholic-Church/1432137603707177

PACKAGE THIEF ARRESTED IN WINDSOR TERRACE

P.O. Dan McGrath of the 72nd Precinct has arrested the red-scooter-riding thief who has been stealing packages from residents' front porches.

The thief had been recorded on a security camera on November 27th while stealing packages from two homes. The camera belongs to a neighbor of the victims, who live on E. 3rd Street, between Greenwood Avenue and Vanderbilt Street. 

Officer McGrath was named Police Officer of the Year in October. He can add this arrest to his list of successes.

Question: How can USPS, FedEx, UPS, or any other delivery service consider a package "delivered" when they don't give it to the addressee, to someone else in the home, or to a neighbor? 

Mail has to be put inside a mailbox, not left lying on a porch or on a lobby floor. Packages should be put someplace safe too. 

FedEx was quoted in an article as saying that handing packages to someone would make each delivery take longer. Then hire more employees so people can get properly-delivered packages!

Posted by Ryan Harvey at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn5KUIJy5fM

Posted by Ryan Harvey at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYJovT11DsU

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO ELK CAFE

Meet Santa Claus

Saturday, December 12th, noon to 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 13th, noon to 2:00 p.m.

Santa is going to take time out of his already-busy schedule to come to Brooklyn this weekend. Meet him in Elk Cafe's backyard on Saturday, Sunday, or both. Santa specified that he wants you to bring your wish list with you.

During your visit with Santa, the North Pole’s official elf photographer will take your family’s photo with Santa and e-mail you a high-resolution professional photograph. There will be holiday treats for all. And you'll get 20% off any purchase you make at Elk while you’re there visiting Mr. Claus. 

The cost for the event is $20 per family.

Event location
Elk Cafe
154 Prospect Park Southwest
between Vanderbilt and Seeley streets
across from Prospect Park's Vanderbilt Street Playground
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
(718) 853-5500
http://www.elkcoffee.com
https://www.facebook.com/elkcoffee

HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE EXTENDED IN COMMUNITY BOARD 7

Community Board 7's 28th Annual Holiday Gift Drive has been extended to December 18th.

CB 7 is collecting donations of new, unwrapped toys and clothing for needy children in the community. Items are needed for girls and for boys ranging in age from infancy to twelve years old.

The toys are distributed through local community-based organizations. 

Bring your donations to Community Board 7's office on Mondays through Fridays, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The office is at 4201 4th Avenue in Sunset Park. Enter on 43rd Street. Ring the bell on the left.

Volunteers are needed to help shop for and sort toys. If you can help, send an e-mail to the community board at bk07 @ cb.nyc.gov. 

Community Board 7 Office
4201 4th Avenue (entrance on 43rd Street)
Sunset Park, Brooklyn
phone: (718) 854-0003
fax: (718) 436-1142
e-mail: communityboard7 @ yahoo.com
website: http://www.brooklyncb7.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brooklyn-Community-Board-7/195263140637225

MISINFORMATION LEADS TO A PROTEST AGAINST THE FAMILY SHELTER

                                                                                                photo courtesy of Matthew Hall

A demonstration against the homeless families shelter that is opening across the street from Foodtown drew about seventy people tonight (Monday). Protesters handed the flier above to people passing by. The alleged "facts" in it aren't based on any information that our community has been given.

From City Councilmember Brad Lander's website:

"that shelter [in Park Slope] is larger and is for single women with histories of substance abuse and mental illness. That is not the plan for 385 McDonald Avenue, which will only shelter families with children."

From the website of CAMBA, the non-profit organization operating the shelter: 

"CAMBA’s new Family Shelter in Central Brooklyn is funded by New York City Department of Homeless Services and offers families a supportive, structured therapeutic, safe, and drug-free facility.

It provides comprehensive case management services to 64 families who are in a transitional residence program for homeless families."

The shelter is a temporary home for families with children who want to transition to a permanent home. In spite of what someone wrote on the flier, the shelter is NOT a home for the mentally ill or drug abusers or criminals of any kind, including sexual predators. It's a home for parents and their children--babies through pre-school age.

Those descriptions are designed to make us afraid of people who, for the moment, don't have a home. Maybe their rent was increased too much, maybe they got burned out of their home, maybe they lost their job, their home got foreclosed on.... We don't know each person's circumstances. We just know that they need a roof over their heads.

NO ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING FOR THE FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Alternate side of the street parking regulations--normally in effect on weekdays and Saturdays so that streets can be cleaned--will be suspended on Tuesday, December 8th, for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

All other parking regulations, including those for parking meters, will be in effect.

CHRISTMAS WREATHS AND POINSETTIAS FOR SALE BY SCOUTS THIS WEEKEND

                           Wreaths and Poinsettias for Sale
         Saturday, December 12th, and Sunday, December 13th

Immaculate Heart of Mary Cub Scout Pack and Boy Scout Troop 187 will sell Christmas wreaths and poinsettias to raise money for their activities in 2016. The 12" wreaths cost $15 and the poinsettias $12.

The Scouts will be standing in front of the church before and after all masses on Saturday, December 12th, and Sunday, December 13th--including during the tree lighting on Saturday right after the 5:00 p.m. mass.

Location
Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church
2805 Fort Hamilton Parkway
between E. 4th and E. 5th streets
Windsor Terrace - Kensington, Brooklyn
website: http://www.ihmbrooklyn.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Immaculate-Heart-of-Mary-Roman-Catholic-Church/1432137603707177

WINTER FESTIVAL AT M.S. 839, THE NEW SCHOOL ON CATON AVE.

M.S. 839 Winter Festival

Saturday, December 12th, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The family-friendly Winter Festival at M.S. 839 will feature a basketball shootout, crafts, food, karaoke, games, prizes, and a silent auction.

The public is invited to this community event. The suggested entry fee per family is $10.

Event location
M.S. 839 cafeteria and gym
713 Caton Avenue
between E. 7th and E. 8th streets
Windsor Terrace - Kensington, Brooklyn
(718) 686-2730
https://twitter.com/MS_839
http://www.ms839.org/
PTA page http://www.ms839.org/ms-839-pta

BIDDING OPEN FOR ONLINEAUCTION FOR P.S. 154

Bidding has begun for P.S. 154's annual online auction. All of the proceeds will be used to support the P.S. 154 PTA's programming, designed to provide students with a well-rounded education.

Bidding will culminate at P.S. 154's Winter Fair on Saturday, December 12th.

Bidding is open to the public.

These are just some of the twenty-five items that can be bid on. See the full list here.

• A Shoe Grows in Brooklyn: $200 gift certificate
• Prospect Park Zoo Camp: one week
• Chessboard from Chess Grandmaster Garry Kasparov
• Indian Larry Motorcycles: a behind the scenes tour
• professional makeup application and brow shaping: from a talented esthetician and makeup artist
• Adirondack Bar: $100 worth of beer, cocktails, and bar snacks
• private ice skating lessons: with U.S. national figure skating competitor and medalist
• day or night aerial tour of New York
• NY Nets: "All Access" tickets
• Hamilton's: three-course dinner with wine pairings