COMPOST GIVEBACK EVENT (FREE, OUTDOORS)

 

Compost Giveback Event

Saturday, June 1st

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Get a free forty-pound bag of compost at the Newkirk Community Garden compost giveback event on Saturday, June 1st, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

 

Bags will be available on a first come, first served basis. 

 

The New York City Sanitation Department and Big Apple Compost will provide the compost.

Compost from Big Apple Compost is made from 100% New York City organics.

Big Apple is comprised of yard waste and food waste through the Department of Sanitation of New York City. We’re enrolled in the US Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Assurance Program, providing transparent compost analytics to end users.

The compost has the Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) from the Composting Council.

The program – created in 2000 – is the culmination of research and discussion by many of the leading compost research scientists in the United States. Currently this is the only compost testing program available providing this.

Location

Newkirk Community Garden

736 E. 8th Street, at Newkirk Avenue

Kensington, Brooklyn

phone: (347) 903-7297 

https://www.newkirkgarden.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1958333187626429

MET FRESH SUPERMARKET GRAND OPENING ON CHURCH AVENUE IN KENSINGTON

 

Met Fresh Supermarket Grand Opening

Friday, May 31st

9:30 a.m., noon to 3:00 p.m.

 

Met Fresh Supermarket will open on Friday, May 31st, at 302 Church Avenue at the corner of E. 3rd Street, formerly occupied by Rite-Aid.

 

The ribbon-cutting will take place at 9:30 a.m., followed by a celebration from noon to 3:00 p.m., featuring games and giveaways. 

 

The store is open seven days a week, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Met Foods is a group of independently-owned and operated supermarkets, located around the five boroughs of New York City, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.

 

From the owner, Jeneen Hamdan:

Hello Kensington, I am Jeneen and i with the help of many others am opening up a new supermarket in the neighborhood! 

 

On May 31 at 9:30 AM we will be unveiling Met Fresh of Kensington; we will have a lot of vendors giving out food and a whole new team entering the neighborhood ready to make connections with you all and bring you great foods on affordable pricing!

 

As a family owned business we pride ourselves on customer service and treating every customer with care and respect! So do not be afraid to voice your opinion! 

 

Cant wait to see you all this friday!

From the New York City Economic Development Corporation website:

Jeneen Hamdan, Owner

Ms. Hamdan started her career by working in her family’s supermarket business, learning how to manage and operate grocery businesses. Her now retired father owned two supermarkets in New York City, and Ms. Hamdan helped operate both. Most recently, she worked as an Assistant Manager in a Key Food store in Coney Island, and for the last 9 years, she has been the General Manager of a supermarket in Bay Ridge that is owned by her husband, Omar Hamdan, where she runs the store’s day-to-day operations. Ms. Hamdan will rely on her 20 years of supermarket experience to successfully own and operate the Project. 

Location

Met Fresh Supermarket

302 Church Avenue

corner of E. 3rd Street

Kensington, Brooklyn

NO G TRAINS IN AUGUST BETWEEN BEDFORD-NOSTRAND AVENUES AND CHURCH AVENUE

The signal system that the G train has used since the 1930s is going to be modernized this summer in three phases.

 

The phases:

• Phase 1, June 28th to July 5th: no G ​ trains between Court Sq and Nassau Av.
  

• Phase 2, July 5th to August 12th: no G ​ trains between Court Sq and Bedford-Nostrand Avs.

• Phase 3, August 12th to September 3rd: no G trains between Bedford-Nostrand Avs and Church Av.

In Phase 3,

• no G trains will run between Bedford-Nostrand Avenues and Church Avenue,

• no G trains will stop at Classon Avenue, Clinton-Washington Avenues, Fulton Street, Hoyt-Schermerhorn, Bergen Street, Carroll Street, Smith-9th Streets, 4th Avenue-9th Street, 7th Avenue, 15th Street-Prospect Park, Fort Hamilton Parkway and Church Avenue,
  

• F trains will continue to make all F/G stops between Bergen Street and Church Avenue.

Details about the entire project are posted on the MTA website at https://new.mta.info/article/service-changes-g-line-summer-2024.

 

LIVE MUSIC ON PORCHES THIS WEEKEND

 

From Operation Gig!

Hiko Men

Friday May 31 6:00-8:00 PM

328 Marlborough Rd Brooklyn

Hiko Men bring their beautiful and curious atmospheric rock to the porch! Featuring guitarist David Seth Moltz, percussionist Daniel Aaron Mintzer, wizard Mike Dos Santos and film guy Phil Aceto. 

Zafer Tawil

Saturday June 1 4:00-6:00 PM

336 Westminster Rd, Brooklyn

Zafer Tawil is a virtuoso on ‘oud, violin, and qanun, and a master of Arab percussion. Zafer has performed in concerts across the country, including performances with numerous musicians ranging from Sting to Arab music virtuosos Chab Mami, Simon Shaheen, Bassam Saba and George Ziadeh, to avant-garde composer/ performer Elliot Sharpe.

 

Kayla Williams

Sunday June 2 4:00-6:00 PM

121 Marlborough Rd Brooklyn

A genre bending musician, Kayla Williams strives to bridge the gap between classical, jazz, folk and bluegrass.

 

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

 

Operation Gig! provides live music performances outdoors on weekends.

 

The series, held on the porches of private houses in Ditmas Park, started in July 2020 to offer a venue where musicians could perform during the pandemic. This gives them a source of income and provides a safe space for people to gather to enjoy live music.

 

Although the performances are free, a suggested $10 donation to the musicians is more than welcome. You can donate either at the performance itself or to the tax-deductible Operation Gig Musician Guarantee Fund on GoFundMe.

 

Purchase an Operation Gig t-shirt here, and the proceeds will go to the Operation Gig Musician Guarantee Fund.

 

TWO DAYS OF FREE SPECIAL PROGRAMMING DURING OPEN GARDENS WEEKEND AT THE EAST FOURTH STREET COMMUNITY GARDEN

From The East Fourth Street Community Garden:

The East Fourth Street Community Garden is thrilled to join other gardens across the city in welcoming visitors for FREE special programming during Open Gardens weekend:

 

Saturday, June 1

 

10am – 12pm. Ukelele Workshop

The workshop is designed for adults and older kids who are keen to learn or already dabbling in playing the ukulele and would benefit from a supportive community.

 

10am – 1pm. Curbside Composting Info

Expert garden member gives out flyers and provides guidance for the community at large on how to participate in the Curbside Composting program.

 

10:30am – 12pm. Let’s Write Together

In this writing group, we will read some poems about the natural world and then write a response to them or from a suggestion offered by the group leader.

 

12pm – 1pm. Intro to Belly Dance/ShariQui Workout

Kris Amez of Iris Goddess Dance will introduce Beginning Belly Dance and Intro to ShariQui Workout techniques.

 

1pm – 3pm. Pollinator Walkabout with the Flatbush Gardener

Explore the garden’s plants and flowers, and learn how to see them in new ways with urban naturalist Chris Kreussling (aka the Flatbush Gardener). We'll "hunt" for pollinators, and other flower visitors, around the garden. As we try to identify them, we'll learn about the garden’s biodiversity and ecology.

 

3pm – 4pm. Mostacho Xprmnt

Mostacho Xprmnt is a Brooklyn-based jazz-fusion band. Bandleader Andrés Marín will be singing a mixture of stripped-down Mostacho originals and some covers alongside Dave Lowenthal and Jesse Fischer. Visit musicdribble.com/mostacho.

 

Sunday, June 2

 

10:30am – 11:15am. Self-Compassion-Focused Guided Meditation

Self-compassion mindfulness practices have been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. The practices focus on offering gentle kindness to oneself through body awareness, words, and imagery.

 

12pm – 2pm. Compost Giveaway

Big Apple Compost provides free 40 lb. bags of compost, to be distributed on a "first come, first served" basis until supplies run out. [Up to two bags per household]

 

1pm – 3pm. Intro to Storytelling with David Lawson

David will begin with a brief lecture on storytelling basics, length to be determined based on how many people are in attendance, to be followed by participants having a chance to tell a 5-10 minute story and possibly get his feedback (depending on how many people participate and how long stories run). For more information, visit David's website: dtlawson.com.

 

3pm – 4pm. Katie Curley

Katie Curley, whose music New York Music Daily has described as “one of the most distinctive sounds in country,” brings her band to the East 4th Street Community Garden. Ms. Curley will be sharing her original music, sprinkled with familiar favorites, to close out the beloved Open Gardens weekend. For more information about Katie Curley, please go to her website: katiecurley.com.

Location

East Fourth Street Community Garden

171 E. 4th Street

between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue

Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

https://eastfourthstreetgarden.tumblr.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/246036418909475

  

CITY OF YES FOR HOUSING OPPORTUNITY: COMMUNITY BOARD 7 COMMITTEES WILL DISCUSS AT A MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

 

Community Board 7

Joint Committee Meeting:

Housing Committee and Land Use & Landmarks Committee

Monday, June 3rd

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Community Board 7's Housing Committee and its Land Use & Landmarks Committee will hold a joint meeting on Monday, June 3rd, at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

Community Board 7 includes Windsor Terrace, Greenwood Heights, South Slope, and Sunset Park.

Agenda 

1. Continuing discussion on Department of City Planning's City of Yes Housing Opportunities text amendments

Attend the meeting either in person or online. If attending online, register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LK57d7EVTfCSbl9gLQ1kkg#/registration.

Or view it on the Community Board 7 YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcAZ1cECSeZI8iNyQDKuX5Q.

The proposal's illustration can be found on the Department of City Planning's website at https://www.nyc.gov/site/planning/index.page.

 

More in-depth information is on the department's City of Yes for Housing Opportunity page at https://www.nyc.gov/site/planning/plans/city-of-yes/city-of-yes-housing-opportunity.page.

 

View the annotated draft text at https://www.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans-studies/city-of-yes/housing-opportunity/annotated-zoning-text.pdf?r=1.

 

Location

Community Board 7 Office

4201 4th Avenue

entrance on 43rd Street

Sunset Park, Brooklyn

phone: (718) 854-0003

fax: (718) 436-1142

bk07 @ cb.nyc.gov

http://www1.nyc.gov/site/brooklyncb7/index.page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brooklyn-Community-Board-7/195263140637225

https://x.com/bkcb7 

https://www.instagram.com/brooklyncb7

 

WARNING: THE TOXINS FOUND IN PROSPECT PARK LAKE EVERY YEAR ARE HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS THAT AFFECT HUMANS AND ANIMALS

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Health have announced the opening of the 2024 online New York Harmful Algal Bloom System (NYHABS) interactive map. Click OK to view the map.

Every year, Harmful Algal Blooms grow in Prospect Park Lake and other bodies of fresh water. DEC is asking the public and trained algal bloom samplers to electronically send reports of HABs with photos via a simple, mobile phone-friendly form. 

Once evaluated by DEC and DOH, the reports are posted to the NYHABS page to provide easy access to inform the public about HAB locations in New York.

Most algae blooms are harmless. However, exposure to toxins and other substances from certain HABs can make humans and other mammals, birds, and fish sick.

Avoid contact with all floating mats, scum, and discolored water.

Adults, children, dogs, and other animals should not go into the lake or near the shoreline. 

Anyone who has been in contact with a HAB should rinse thoroughly with soap and water--or just with clean water, if that's all that's available at the moment.

Anyone who might have been exposed to a bloom and is experiencing any symptoms should get medical help immediately and should also contact the New York City Department of Health (DOH).

HABs have been monitored closely across New York State since 2012. In 2023, DEC’s Division of Water published an analysis of HABs titled “Detections of cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) in New York State, United States (2012–2020).”

HABs present several management challenges, and that study and other research help advance the understanding of HABs to inform sound, scientifically driven, decision-making to protect public health and the environment.

When it comes to HABs, DEC encourages New Yorkers to:

• Know It – HABs vary in appearance from scattered green dots in the water to long, linear green streaks, pea soup, or spilled green paint to blue-green or white coloration.
• Avoid It – People, pets, and livestock should avoid contact with water that is discolored or has algal scums on the surface.
• Report It –The public should report a suspected HAB through the NYHABs online reporting form available on DEC’s website. Report health concerns related to HABs to DOH at harmfulalgae@health.ny.gov, or contact your local health department.

For more information about HABs, visit DEC’s Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) webpage. You can download the HABs brochure and program guide, which includes information and links to resources regarding bloom prevention, management, and control.

 

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CLOTHING COLLECTION RETURNS TO BARTEL-PRITCHARD SQUARE GREENMARKET ON SUNDAYS

Textile collection will return on Sunday, May 26th, at the Bartel-Pritchard Square Greenmarket, located at Prospect Park West at 15th Street.

On Sundays, the greenmarket is open from May 12th through December 22nd, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; textiles will be collected during those hours.

This greenmarket is also open on Wednesdays year-round, but textiles won't be collected on Wednesdays.

From GrowNYC:

Bring all of your unwanted, gently used clothing to be collected by our partners at @‌wearablecollections. We accept all used, freshly laundered clothing as well as shoes, sneakers, accessories, hats, belts and handbags. We also accept household linens such as sheets, curtains and towels.

 

We do not accept carpeting, rugs, bath mats, comforters, pillows, large luggage, fabric or scraps of any kind, including pre-recycled insulation materials.

 

What happens to materials donated?

Clothing & Textiles are accepted by Wearable Collections staff and taken to a facility where they are sorted into different grades, with an effort to recover as much usable clothing as possible for distribution to second-hand markets. Material that is not suitable for reuse will go to recycling markets to be used as wiping rags or shredded for low grade fiber products such as insulation.

 

What Wearable Collections Accepts:

Accepted: Clean and dry clothing, paired shoes, linens, handbags, belts, and other reusable textiles.
Not accepted: fabric rolls or scraps of any size, rugs, carpeting, pillows, comforters, or luggage.

Why can’t I recycle scraps?

Due to a shift in market conditions, Wearable Collections is unable to accept large volumes of scraps for processing. Your quality donations ensure the sustainability of the textile recycling program, which recovers the portion of non-reusable material for secondary uses.

 

KENSINGTON CULTURE AT AVENUE C PLAZA: OPENING WEEKEND AND THE WEEKLY ACTIVITIES FOR JUNE (FREE, OUTDOORS)

 

 

Kensington Culture comes to Avenue C Plaza during the month of June. You're invited to participate in the free events as well as the weekly activities and practices.

Join ArtBuilt Mobile Studio and its partners every weekend and on some weekdays for free programming, arts and crafts workshops, performances, games, and more.

Location

Avenue C Plaza

at the intersection of Avenue C and McDonald Avenue

Kensington, Brooklyn

 

THREE LIVE MUSIC CONCERTS ON PEOPLE'S PORCHES THIS WEEKEND

From Operation Gig!

Miriam Elhajli
May 24 6:00-8:00 PM
462 Rugby Rd, Brooklyn, NY

"Songwriter Miriam Elhajli has carved out a distinctive sound that draws equally on jazz, 70s South American nuevo cancion and levantine sounds, reflecting her Venezuelan-Moroccan heritage. She cuts loose with an expressive, constantly mutable voice, likes fingerpicking her acoustic guitar in odd tunings and writes intriguing, thoughtfully imagistic lyrics." - New York Music Daily

 

Operation Gig Bluegrass Session w/ Melody Berger
May 25 4:00-6:00 PM
182 Argyle Rd, Brooklyn NY

The OG Bluegrass Sesh is back for another installment! Led by singer fiddler extraordinaire Melody Allegra Berger and featuring aces Sean Kiely on guitar and Max Johnson on bass and Tim Davis on keys. You'll also likely see some other special guests!

 

Alec Spiegelman's Jazz Gifts
May 26 4:00-6:00 PM
131 Buckingham Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11218

Super excited to bring another neighborhood star, Alec Spiegelman (woodwinds) to the porch with his project, Jazz Gifts.

With Koof Ibi (brass), Andrew Dimola (guitar), Scott Colberg (bass) and Jason Burger (drums). The quintet will stretch out on compositions by the band members, friends, neighbors, and/or heroes.

 

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

 

Operation Gig! provides live music performances outdoors on weekends.

 

The series, held on the porches of private houses in Ditmas Park, started in July 2020 to offer a venue where musicians could perform during the pandemic. This gives them a source of income and provides a safe space for people to gather to enjoy live music.

 

Although the performances are free, a suggested $10 donation to the musicians is more than welcome. You can donate either at the performance itself or to the tax-deductible Operation Gig Musician Guarantee Fund on GoFundMe.

 

Purchase an Operation Gig t-shirt here, and the proceeds will go to the Operation Gig Musician Guarantee Fund.

 

KATIE CURLEY: COUNTRY MUSIC IN THE GARDEN (FREE, OUTDOORS)

 

Katie Curley

Sunday, June 2nd, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

Country singer and guitarist Katie Curley and her band will perform in a free concert at the East Fourth Street Community Garden on Sunday, June 2nd, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

She will play her original music as well as familiar favorites.

 

Location

East Fourth Street Community Garden

171 E. 4th Street

between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue

Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

https://eastfourthstreetgarden.tumblr.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/246036418909475

 

FAMILY CONCERT: LIVE MUSIC AND DANCE (FREE, OUTDOORS)

The Family Concert

Sunday, June 2nd

2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

 

From Arts & Democracy:

Join us and ArtBuilt Mobile Studio on June 2 at 2pm at Avenue C Plaza to celebrate creativity in our community!

 

Featuring music and dance from 

• Brooklyn Porch Music’s The Multigenerational Playing for the Light Big Band, 
• Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts (BIPA), 
• Students from the Tomas Rodriguez Guitar Studio, 
• Singing Winds Dance with Ballet Folklórico Mariposas and Shapla, and 
• Youth Tecuani Dance with Casa Cultural.

Cosponsored by NOCD-NY.

RSVPs appreciated, though not required: tinyurl.com/TheFamilyConcert2024

Location

Avenue C Plaza

556 McDonald Avenue

at Avenue C

Kensington, Brooklyn

PRIDE PARTY AT THE CRAFT SALON (FREE)

Pride Party

Sunday, June 9th

2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

From The Craft Salon:

Join us for our second annual PRIDE PARTY! Drop in between 2 - 5 and create a sign to carry during the pride parade. All materials will be provided.

Kids ages 6 and under need to be accompanied by an adult. Ages 7 and up may be dropped off for one hour.

This is a free event but registration is required.

The Craft Salon's Pride Party will be held on Sunday, June 9th. It's open to ages 0 to 18+ and has a capacity of 45 attendees.

 

Register in advance at https://www.hisawyer.com/the-craft-salon-studio/schedules/activity-set/797221.

 

Location

The Craft Salon

625 Church Avenue

between Ocean Parkway and E. 7th Street

Kensington, Brooklyn

(917) 324-8290

dari@thecraftsalonstudio.com

https://thecraftsalonstudio.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Thecraftsalonstudio

https://www.instagram.com/thecraftsalon/

https://www.tiktok.com/@the_craft_salon_ny

 

SUPPORT LOCAL, INDEPENDENT

SMALL BUSINESSES.

RESCHEDULED: 72ND PRECINCT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME IN WINDSOR TERRACE (FREE, OUTDOORS)

 

National Night Out Against Crime

 Rescheduled for Tuesday, August 13th

4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Join the 72nd Precinct for National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, August 13th, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It was originally scheduled for August 6th, but it was rescheduled because of weather conditions.

National Night Out Against Crime is normally held annually on the first Tuesday in August. The National Association of Town Watch created the event in 1984. 

Prior to that, in the 1970s, as one facet of the Women's Liberation Movement, women engaged in their own non-governmental, grass-roots efforts, called "Take Back the Night," with the goal of protesting and deterring violence against women through their visible presence outdoors.

From the website of National Association of Town Watch:

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.

Location

Greenwood Playground

E. 5th Street

between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Greenwood Avenue

Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

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72nd Precinct Community Council

https://www.facebook.com/72nd-Precinct-Community-Council-1611883092371304

 

72nd Precinct

phone: (718) 965-6311

http://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/bureaus/patrol/precincts/72nd-precinct.page

CompStat report (crime statistics)

https://www.nyc.gov/assets/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs-en-us-072pct.pdf

X https://x.com/NYPD72Pct

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NYPD72pct