BURGLAR SOUGHT FOR TEN COMMERCIAL BREAK-INS

The NYPD is looking for Edwin Perez-Guzman, pictured above, who is suspected of breaking into ten commercial establishments in Kensington and Windsor Terrace since mid-October and burglarizing most of them. See Marc Torrence's article in Windsor Terrace Patch for details.

SAFETY MEETING WITH 72ND PRECINCT'S COMMUNITY POLICE

Neighborhood Safety Meeting with
72nd Precinct Neighborhood Coordination Officers
Thursday, December 7th, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Neighborhood Coordination Officers Police Officer Daniel McGrath and Police Officer Francis Ghanney, who cover Sector A of the 72nd Precinct (Greenwood Heights, Windsor Terrace, and South Slope), invite residents and business owners to a "Neighborhood Safety Meeting."

Join the officers as they update the community about neighborhood safety and crime. Meet next week on Thursday, December 7th, at 6:30 p.m.

Police Officer McGrath was recently awarded a merit promotion to the rank of detective. In 2015, he was named Police Officer of the Year.

Contact information for the officers:

• Police Officer Danny McGrath: (917) 853-2601, daniel.mcgrath @ nypd.org 
• Police Officer Francis Ghanney: (929) 343-7645, francis.ghanney @ nypd.org

Location
Marian Center
Immaculate Heart of Mary Rectory basement
2805 Fort Hamilton Parkway
between E. 4th and E. 5th streets
Windsor Terrace - Kensington, Brooklyn

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY ON DISPLAY THROUGH JANUARY 7TH

Reuben Radding Exhibit: Street Record

Saturday, December 2nd, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

An exhibit of Reuben Radding's urban street photography will open at Prospect Range Performance Hall on Saturday, December 2nd, at 6:00 p.m.

Radding says his photography is

"an improvisation, performed in long hours of wandering the New York City streets on foot, guided by the scent of great human character and fragility, poetic physical gestures of emotion or energy, explosions of life force, and human interactions which imply uncertain stories when stopped in time."

The work can be viewed through Sunday, January 7th, during Prospect Range's open hours--Saturdays and Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and by appointment. To make an appointment, call (917) 776-6834.

On the weekend of December 30th and 31st, Prospect Range will be closed.

About Prospect Range
Prospect Range is a performance/community space dedicated to the creative talents of artists, and their families, living and working in the central Brooklyn diaspora.

Since 2009, the Range has served this community of creative people, and their families through performance, exhibitions, and performing arts education.

Location
Prospect Range
1226 Prospect Avenue
between Vanderbilt Street and Reeve Place
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
(917) 776-6834
info @ prospectrange.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/prospectrange
https://twitter.com/prospectrange
http://www.prospectrange.com

NO G TRAINS BETWEEN HOYT-SCHERMERHORN STREETS AND CHURCH AVENUE THIS WEEKEND

The G train will be rerouted from Friday, December 1st, at 11:30 pm., until Monday, December 4th, at 5:00 a.m.

The G train won't make any stops between the Hoyt-Schermerhorn streets and Church Avenue stations. Trains will run every 20 minutes between Bedford-Nostrand avenues and Hoyt-Schermerhorn streets.

The G will skip these stations: Bergen Street, Carroll Street, Smith-9th streets, 4th Avenue-9th Street, 7th Avenue, 15th Street-Prospect Park, Fort Hamilton Parkway, and Church Avenue. Take the F train instead.

Transfer between the A train and the G train at Hoyt-Schermerhorn streets.

Transfer between the A train and the F train at Jay Street-MetroTech.

The G will operate in these two sections:
1. between Court Square and Bedford-Nostrand avenues and
2. between Bedford-Nostrand avenues and Hoyt-Schermerhorn streets, every 20 minutes.

Transfer at Bedford-Nostrand avenues to continue your trip.

NO F TRAINS BETWEEN CHURCH AND STILLWELL AVENUES THIS WEEKEND

From Friday, December 1st, at 11:45 p.m., until Monday, December 4th, at 5:00 a.m., F trains will follow their usual route between 179th Street and Church Avenue.

F trains won't, however, stop at any stations between Church and Stillwell avenues. Instead, free shuttle buses will provide alternate service, operating between Church and Stillwell avenues.

Transfer between F trains and shuttle buses at Church Avenue. The shuttle buses will stop at Ditmas Avenue, 18th Avenue, Avenue I, Bay Parkway, Avenue N, Avenue P, Kings Highway, Avenue U, Avenue X, Neptune Avenue, and West 8th Street. 

For direct service between Coney Island and Manhattan/Downtown Brooklyn, take the D, N, or Q train instead. 

• Transfer between D, N, and Q trains and the buses at Stillwell Avenue. 
• Transfer between Q trains and the buses at West 8th Street.
  
  

CHRISTMAS TREE PURCHASES BENEFIT SCHOOLS

When buying a Christmas tree, give an area school a financial boost. Purchase a tree from Park Slope resident Tom Foley at his tree stand in Park Slope or online. Tell Tom which school you want him to donate to, and he'll give $10 of the purchase price to that school's PTA.

A running tally will be kept on Tom's website of the amount that he'll donate to each school. Last year, he donated $13,000 to the schools.

The participating schools are

    Pre-K 280,
    P.S. 10,
    P.S. 39,
    P.S. 107,
    P.S. 118,
    P.S. 124,
    P.S. 130,
    P.S. 133,
    P.S. 154,
    P.S. 295,
    P.S. 321,
    P.S. 372,
    M.S. 51,
    M.S. 88,
    M.S. 443,
    M.S. 447,
    Brooklyn Prospect Charter School,
    Brooklyn Urban Garden School,
    Millennium Brooklyn High School, and
    St. Saviour Catholic Academy.

An extra 50% of the total amount raised will be donated if the number of trees purchased for individual schools exceeds 10% of their student body.

If the number of trees purchased for individual schools reaches 20% of the student body, the original amount raised for those schools will be doubled.

Fraser firs that are five feet tall or taller are Tom Foley's specialty. He also sells small balsam firs that are two feet to four feet, known as "Charlie Browns," and trees that are three feet to five feet.

The Fraser firs are cut just a week before Tom receives them, not months in advance.

Tom has posted care tips about the best location in your home for your tree, keeping your tree watered, and what to do with your tree after the holiday.
 
Trees, wreaths, pine roping (garland), and tree stands can be ordered online here. Fraser boughs are free.

Delivery and set-up of trees is free. Take a look at the map of the delivery area.

Tom's stand is open during these hours:

• Mondays through Thursdays, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Fridays, from 2:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and
• Saturdays and Sundays, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Location
Foley Firs
724 8th Avenue, at the corner of 8th Street
Park Slope, Brooklyn
(718) 290-3546
foleyfirs @ gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/FoleyFirs
http://www.foleyfirs.com

MAKERS MARKET THROUGH MID-DECEMBER

                                               The Makers Market
     Wednesday, November 29th, December 6th, and December 13th,
                                     6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
                       Sunday, December 17th, noon to 5:00 p.m.

A pop-up retail market of work by local artists and vendors, will be in The Lodge at Sycamore Bar for four days. The Makers Market will include Tarot reading, henna, and local crafts.

The market will be open on three Wednesdays--November 29th, December 6th, and December 13th--from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and on one Sunday--December 17th--from noon to 5:00 p.m.

Location
The Lodge
Sycamore Bar and Flower Shop
1118 Cortelyou Road
between E. 11th Street and Argyle Road
Ditmas Park, Brooklyn
(347) 240-5850
sycamorebrooklyn @ gmail . com
http://www.sycamorebrooklyn.com
https://www.facebook.com/sycamore.brooklyn
https://twitter.com/SycamoreBklyn 

G TRAIN WILL SKIP NEIGHBORHOOD STATIONS THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT

Structural improvements will cause the G train to be rerouted from Friday, November 24th, at 11:30 p.m., until Monday, November 27th, at 5:00 a.m., and from Friday, December 1st, at 11:30 pm., until Monday, December 4th, at 5:00 a.m.

The G train won't stop between Hoyt-Schermerhorn streets and Church Avenue. Trains will run every 20 minutes between Bedford-Nostrand avenues and Hoyt-Schermerhorn streets.

The G will skip the Bergen Street, Carroll Street, Smith-9th streets, 4th Avenue-9th Street, 7th Avenue, 15th Street-Prospect Park, Fort Hamilton Parkway, and Church Avenue stations. Take the F train instead.

Transfer between the A train and the G train at Hoyt-Schermerhorn streets. Transfer between the A train and the F train at Jay Street-MetroTech.

The G will operate in these two sections:
1. between Court Square and Bedford-Nostrand avenues and
2. between Bedford-Nostrand avenues and Hoyt-Schermerhorn streets, every 20 minutes.

Transfer at Bedford-Nostrand avenues to continue your trip.

COAT DRIVE ON CORTELYOU THROUGH DECEMBER 6TH

Coat Drive

Wednesday, November 29th, through Wednesday, December 6th

Donated coats keep tens of thousands of New Yorkers warm every winter. Sycamore Bar will be accepting donations of new or gently-used coats for adults and children in all styles, colors, and sizes.

Bring in a coat (or coats) on a Wednesday (November 29th and December 6th) and you'll get a pint of Lionshead on the house.

Sycamore is a participant in the 29th annual New York Cares Coat Drive. Last year, New York Cares distributed 109,000 coats to families who needed them. This year, they'd like to increase that number to 125,000.

If you can't get to Sycamore or if you don't have a coat that you can donate, you can still help put coats on needy New Yorkers. Donate $20 to purchase a new coat by texting COAT to 41444 or give online.

Sycamore's open hours are
Mondays through Thursdays, 3:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Fridays, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
Saturdays, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
Sundays, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Location
Sycamore Bar and Flower Shop
1118 Cortelyou Road
between E. 11th Street and Argyle Road
Ditmas Park, Brooklyn
(347) 240-5850
sycamorebrooklyn @ gmail . com
http://www.sycamorebrooklyn.com
https://www.facebook.com/sycamore.brooklyn
https://twitter.com/SycamoreBklyn

FREE PHOTOS WITH SANTA ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3RD

                                   Free Photos with Santa 
                 Sunday, December 3rd, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Bring your kids to Foodtown of Kensington to get their photo taken with Santa Claus. Santa and a professional photographer will visit Foodtown on Sunday, December 3rd, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Santa will be delighted to have his photo taken with all of the kids who go to see him. Free photos and digital images will be available immediately after each photo session ends.

Location
Foodtown of Kensington
382 McDonald Avenue
near Albemarle Road
Kensington, Brooklyn 

QUEER PARTY IN DECEMBER

Q-Train Queer Party
Thursday, December 7th, 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Q-Train, Ditmas Park's only queer party, will feature

• queer bingo hosted by Allegra Spread at 8 p.m.,
• DJ GoGo Gadget spinning music at 10 p.m., and
• live, late-night performances by Violent Tendency.

No cover charge.

Board the Q-Train on the first Thursday of every month.

Location
Sycamore Bar
1118 Cortelyou Road
between E. 11th Street and Argyle Road
Ditmas Park, Brooklyn
(347) 240-5850
sycamorebrooklyn @ gmail . com
http://www.sycamorebrooklyn.com
https://www.facebook.com/sycamore.brooklyn
https://twitter.com/SycamoreBklyn

ELECTION REVIEW AT OCCUPY KENSINGTON MEETING

Election Review 

Sunday, November 19th, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

From Occupy Kensington:

Join us this Sunday to discuss the recent election results and what they could mean for the fight back against Trump and for building the socialist left, both inside and outside the Democratic Party.

We'll be joined by Ethan Anderson, a Brooklyn Socialist Alternative member who spent the week before the vote in Minneapolis campaigning for Ginger Jentzen, a socialist who topped the poll in the first round with 38% but ultimately lost after second and third preferences were counted (they have ranked choice voting). https://www.socialistalternative.org/2017/11/09/historic-vote-ginger-jentzen-campaign-minneapolis/

In Brooklyn Jabari Brisport got 29% of the vote in his run against incumbent city councillor Lori Cumbo - the highest vote yet for a Green Party council candidate.

Nationally the Democrats did well and so did DSA (Democratic Socialists of America), and Bernie Sanders' Our Revolution group. https://theintercept.com/2017/11/08/a-year-after-trump-democrats-socialists-and-populists-sweep-elections/

Will this success mean an increasing shift away from fighting Trump now to focussing on the 2018 mid-terms? Is that the best way to stop the Trump administration? How do we build successful genuine community based anti-corporate candidacies? Does it matter if they are inside or outside the Democratic Party?

Come discuss all these questions and more with us this Sunday.

Location
309 E. 5th Street (private house)
between Church Avenue and Albemarle Road
Kensington, Brooklyn

GIVING GIFTS TO HOMELESS FAMILIES IN KENSINGTON

Gifts from local residents will make the winter holidays--Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa--a warmer experience for the families living in our local homeless shelter.

This is the third annual winter holiday gift drive for The Kensington Family Shelter. The local volunteers of Give Me Shelter BK have put together wish lists based on the ages of the children and the number of children, mothers, and fathers.

The hope is that each child will receive three toys.

It's also hoped that each parent will receive one gift--a fragrance, lotion, or bath and body set.

Toys can be ordered directly from the Amazon wish list at http://amzn.to/2zyAzPB.

Gifts for the parents can be ordered directly from the Target wish list at tgt.gifts/kensingtongifts or the Amazon wish list at http://amzn.to/2zt7lSG. 

If you'd rather buy gifts for the children or the adults locally or in another neighborhood or from another online vendor, mark the item on the Target or Amazon list as purchased so that it doesn't get bought twice. Mark it on Target by clicking "already purchased?" and on Amazon by clicking "Buying this gift elsewhere?" 

And if you buy a gift for an adult locally or in another neighborhood or from another online vendor, sign up at http://bit.ly/2hioqE7 under "women's perfume, lotion or bath and body set" or "men's fragrance or lotion set" to show that the gift has been purchased.

Gifts bought locally or elsewhere can be brought to the shelter or shipped there. For shipping, the address is

The Kensington
Attention: Uniquia Parker
385 McDonald Avenue
Brooklyn NY, 11218

Gifts have to be at the shelter by December 15th because volunteers will be wrapping them the next day.

Spread cheer!

PARKING RULES FOR THANKSGIVING

Next Thursday, November 23rd, on Thanksgiving Day, alternate side of the street parking regulations and parking meter regulations will both be suspended.

Parking meter regulations are only suspended on major legal holidays. Those holidays are New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

LIVE JAZZ ON CHURCH AVENUE ON TUESDAY

 Triple Paste Project playing jazz (6) in 4K

Live Jazz

Tuesday, November 21st, 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Triple Paste will be back at Church Bar playing two sets of jazz standards from the 1930s and 1940s as well as originals.

The musicians are Kensington and Windsor Terrace residents Eric Pakula on sax, Katie Down on ukulele, voice, and flute, Arnold Hammerschlag on trumpet, Leo Sidran on drums, and Arthur Kell on bass.

Triple Paste will perform at Church Bar on Tuesday, November 21st, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Church Bar menu (beer, wine, cocktails, food)

Location
Church Bar
416 Church Avenue
between E. 4th and E. 5th streets
Kensington, Brooklyn
phone (718) 435-2574
https://www.facebook.com/churchbarbk 
@churchbarbk
http://www.churchbarbrooklyn.com

F AND G TRAINS SKIPPING SOME OF OUR STATIONS THIS WEEKEND

From 9:45 p.m. on Friday, November 17th, until 5:00 a.m. on Monday, November 20th, Queens-bound F and G trains will not stop at the Fort Hamilton Parkway, 15th Street-Prospect Park, and 4th Avenue-9th Street stations because of track maintenance.

For service to these stations, take the F or G train to 7th Avenue or to Smith-9th Streets and transfer to a Coney Island-bound F train or a Church Avenue-bound G train.

For service from these stations, take the F or G train to 7th Avenue or to Church Avenue and transfer to a Queens-bound F train or G train.

WINTER BAZAAR AT P.S. 130

P.S. 130 Winter Bazaar

Saturday, December 9th, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The P.S. 130 PTA will hold its 7th annual Winter Bazaar, where local crafters and artisans sell their new and unique gifts, jewelry, crafts, and more.

Other features of this community event are

• photos with Santa,
• music every hour, including by the P.S. 130 band,
• celebrity chili cook-off,
• baked goods, and
• Scholastic Book Fair.

The chili cook-off will be judged by three special celebrity judges: Councilmember Brad Lander, Assemblymember Robert Carroll, and chef Chris Scott, a current contestant on Top Chef and chef/owner of Butterfunk Kitchen and Brooklyn Commune.

The cook-off winner will get a P.S. 130 Best Chili Trophy and a gift card to Butterfunk Kitchen. The winner will be chosen at the event, between 2:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Date: Saturday, December 9th, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location
P.S. Upper School
713 Caton Avenue
between E. 7th and E. 8th streets
Windsor Terrace - Kensington, Brooklyn

COMMUNITY BOARD 12 WILL MEET IN KENSINGTON IN NOVEMBER, NOT IN BOROUGH PARK

Community Board 12 Monthly Public Meeting

Wednesday, November 29th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Community Board 12's monthly public meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 29th, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The meeting, as always, is open to the public.

If you have any concerns, questions, solutions, needs, or problems that you'd like the community board to address, arrive at the meeting before 7:00 p.m. and sign up to speak during the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting. You'll have three minutes to present your topic.

For example, you may be concerned about any of these issues:

• pedestrian safety,
• traffic congestion,
• housing,
• land use and zoning,
• construction sites,
• outdoor lighting,
• potholes,
• sanitation,
• libraries,
• crime,
• police presence,
• graffiti,
• social services,
• rodents,
• trash collection,
• public litter baskets, or
• street and sidewalk conditions.

Ordinarily, general meetings of Community Board 12 are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month, from September through June, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Amico Senior Center.

Every neighborhood in New York City is represented by an all-volunteer community board, which serves as the neighborhood's liaison to city agencies. Board members are appointed by the neighborhood's city councilperson and the borough president.

The goal of a community board is to help resolve issues involving pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, housing, land use and zoning, outdoor lighting, potholes, sanitation, libraries, crime, police presence, social services, rodents, trash collection, public litter baskets, street and sidewalk conditions, etc.

Community Board 12's committees are

•     Planning, Zoning Variances and City Map
•     Education, Library, Cultural Affairs
•     Sanitation & Environmental Protection
•     Fire, Safety & Police
•     Health & Social Services
•     Housing & Buildings
•     Legislation
•     Parks, Capital Projects & Site Selection
•     Transportation & Franchises
•     Youth & Community Development

Meeting location
The Kensington Family Shelter
385 McDonald Avenue
between Albemarle Road and Church Avenue
Kensington, Brooklyn

Community Board 12
phone: (718) 851-0800
fax: (718) 851-4140
e-mail: bk12 @ cb.nyc.gov
website: http://www.brooklyncb12.org
https://www.facebook.com/BkCB12/ 
Chairperson: Yidel Perlstein
District Manager: Barry Spitzer

PROGRESSIVES IN SENATE DISTRICT 17, WHICH IS REPRESENTED BY SIMCHA FELDER, WILL MEET AND PLAN

General Meeting of New York Senate District 17 for Progress

Sunday, November 19th, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Learn about New York Senate District 17 for Progress' focus for the upcoming legislative session in Albany. Help the grassroots group build its strategies for promoting and lobbying on behalf of issues that are important to residents of District 17.

The neighborhoods in District 17 are Borough Park, Midwood, and Brooklyn Chinatown and parts of Sunset Park, Kensington, Bensonhurst, and Gravesend.

Since 2012, State Senate District 17 has been represented by Simcha Felder. Right after he was first elected, the registered Democrat informed his constituents that he would be caucusing with the Republicans, not with his own party. That political stance advantages the Republican Party in the Senate.

Agenda

• Ross Barkan, Democratic candidate in 2018 for State Senate District 22, will talk about the Senate's Independent Democratic Conference (IDC)--a group of eight Democratic senators who are in a coalition with the Republican senators. Barkan will also talk about running as a progressive in South Brooklyn.
• See the initial draft of the group's mission statement. This will be the last opportunity to attend a meeting, which will make you eligible to vote on the mission statement.
• Discuss what the group will focus on in the upcoming legislative session. Name the most important or immediate problems in your lives and which issues you'd want the group to focus on.
• Hear about the various projects that people in the group have been working on. Volunteer to help, if you can.

The meeting is free and open to the public and will be held on Sunday, November 19th, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Location
1016 Beverley Road
between Coney Island Avenue and Stratford Road
Brooklyn

KENSINGTON FLEA @ FJC

Kensington Flea @ FJC 

Sunday, December 3rd, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

An upcoming flea market at Flatbush Jewish Center will sell gently-used books, clothing, housewares, electronics, toys, baby items, and more. Shop there on Sunday, December 3rd, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., for holiday gifts or for gifts for yourself.

Formerly named the "Sisterhood Flea Market & Bazaar," the event is now a project of the entire Flatbush Jewish Center community. It's been renamed "Kensington Flea @ FJC." 

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

CRIME UPDATE AT THE 66TH PRECINCT COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING

Captain David A. Wall

66th Precinct Community Council Monthly Meeting
Thursday, November 16th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Meet the 66th Precinct's commanding officer, Captain David Wall, at the next meeting of the 66th Precinct Community Council. 

Captain Wall will update residents of Kensington, Borough Park, and Midwood on recent crimes in those neighborhoods. He will also provide information about what the police are doing to deter crime and arrest criminals.

This is an opportunity to bring crime-related issues to Captain Wall's attention. The meeting is free and open to the public.

In addition, you can find out about various programs that are available through the precinct.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 16th, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 
The Community Council provides the critical interface between citizens and police through regular monthly meetings. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month, from September through June. The Community Council does not meet in July or August.

Meeting location
Community Board 12 Office
5910 13th Avenue
between 59th and 60th streets
Borough Park 
(map)
B16 bus to 13th Avenue at 56th Street; return on 14th Avenue (schedule)

-------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Contact information for the 66th Precinct:
phone: (718) 851-5611 
e-mail: 66precinctcc @ gmail.com
website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/precincts/precinct_066.shtml 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYPD66Pct 
5822 16th Avenue
between 58th and 59th streets
Borough Park, Brooklyn