KARMABrooklyn Blog

Friday, January 9, 2015

DOT'S PRESENTATION FOR SAFER STREETS IS ONLINE: "TRAFFIC & SCHOOL SAFETY IN WINDSOR TERRACE & KENSINGTON"

At last night's highly-anticipated street safety meeting in P.S. 130, the Department of Transportation (DOT) presented the Kensington-Windsor Terrace community with a slide show that detailed several proposed improvements. The presentation is posted on DOT's website.

The meeting was particularly welcome in light of the death of Mohammad Naiem Uddin as he crossed E. 7th Street near Caton Avenue as well as continued vehicle collisions in the neighborhood and additional near misses.

A heightened awareness of the area's hazardous traffic conditions has led concerned members of the community to form two grassroots groups, Windsor Terrace Safe Streets and KWT Safe Streets.

DOT's presentation covered

city-wide improvements already implemented

reducing the speed from 30 mph to 20 mph
adding speed cameras

recently-completed KWT projects

the pedestrian refuge on Ocean Parkway

Pedestrian refuge on Ocean Parkway at Church Avenue; photo courtesy of Colin Klebanoff

daylighting on Albemarle Road (removing a parking space near an intersection to make drivers and pedestrians visible to each other)

from the DOT presentation

projects approved for KWT but not yet underway

speed bumps on Albemarle Road
curb extensions at the Church Avenue-McDonald intersection

Church Avenue-McDonald Avenue intersection

projects for KWT that require further study

increasing the Leading Pedestrian Interval (pedestrians start crossing before vehicles start moving) at E. 7th Street at Caton Avenue
speed bumps near P.S./I.S. 437; the school is currently under construction on Caton Avenue at E. 7th Street and scheduled to open in September 2015

DOT's proposals for Caton Avenue, between Ocean Parkway and Coney Island Avenue

Particular attention is being paid to cures for trouble spots near our local schools: proposed reduced speed zones, proposed street conversions, upgraded signs and parking, crossing guards, and more.

from the DOT presentation

Residents packed P.S. 130's auditorium just about to capacity to listen to the DOT's presentation and to ask DOT representatives many pointed, pressing questions afterward.

A resident's proposal to install left-turn signals at the notorious and deadly Ocean Parkway-Church Avenue intersection drew the loudest applause.

The left-turn signals would allow vehicles traveling on Church Avenue to turn left onto either the Prospect Expressway or Ocean Parkway. The point of installing the signals is to give pedestrians time to get across the roadway before vehicles make the turn.

Speakers representing the Department of Transportation were Polly Trottenberg, Commissioner; Kim Wiley-Schwartz, Assistant Commissioner of Education and Outreach; and Rob Viola, Senior Project Manager in the Traffic and Planning Division.

Commissioner Polly Trottenberg addresses the community

Thanks go to our New York City Councilmember Brad Lander and Community Board 7 for working with the community and DOT to bring about this meeting.

New York City Councilmember Brad Lander

DRIVER SURRENDERS AFTER HE HIT, KILLED, AND FLED

Prezidor Porbeni, the hit-and-run driver who struck and killed Kensington resident Guler Ugur-Yaaobi on New Year's Eve, turned himself in last night. The 28-year-old Bronx resident surrendered in the Manhattan District Attorney's office, accompanied by his lawyer.

Ms. Ugur-Yaaobi had been walking east in the crosswalk as Mr. Porbeni drove north in a black 2006 Land Rover. He had a green light.

From the Daily News:

"Prezidor Porbeni, 28, surrendered at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and driving with a suspended license. He was arraigned and held on $20,000 bail."

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

The driver of an SUV struck and fatally injured a Kensington resident at 6:10 p.m. last night on the Upper West Side. The victim, Guler Ugur-Yaaobi, had been crossing Amsterdam Avenue at West 113th Street, right outside of St. Luke's Hospital. Ms. Ugur was admitted to the hospital immediately, where she was pronounced dead.

The 44-year-old owner of Guler Ugur Photography lived at 515 E. 7th Street, near Cortelyou Road.

We send our condolences to her family and friends at this terrible time.

Two articles about Ms. Ugur's photography:

TRAFFIC STUDY UPDATE AT THIS MONTH'S COMMUNITY BOARD 7 MEETING

a typical sight on Caton Avenue

Community Board 7 Monthly Meeting

Wednesday, January 21st, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Community Board 7's Vision Zero Task Force will report to the public at this month's board meeting. This report will be welcome, in light of the death of pedestrian Mohammad Naiem Uddin, continued collisions, and more near misses within the district's boundaries.

A heightened awareness of hazardous traffic conditions in the area has led concerned members of the community to form two grassroots groups, Windsor Terrace Safe Streets and KWT Safe Streets.

As you'll see on the proposed agenda below, residents who attend board meetings are given two opportunities for public comment. Don't be shy!

The 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 on December 17, 2014
5. Public Comment
6. Committee Report: Vision Zero Task Force
7. Acknowledgement of Elected Officials & 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
e-mail: communityboard7 @ yahoo.com
http://www.brooklyncb7.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brooklyn-Community-Board-7/195263140637225

STOP SIGN INSTALLED BY P.S. 130

the new stop sign near the front of P.S. 130

the new stop sign across from the front of P.S. 130

These two stop signs have been placed on Ocean Parkway, where it intersects with Fort Hamilton Parkway by P.S. 130. This traffic safety measure should help people get across the street unharmed as they walk to and from the school and the Fort Hamilton Parkway subway station.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

SNOW ALERT ISSUED FOR FRIDAY BY SANITATION DEPARTMENT

The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has issued a Snow Alert for Friday, January 9th, at 5:00 a.m. because of the possibility of snow falling.

To prepare for snow, they load their salt spreaders with a mix of rock salt and calcium chloride, attach plows that will be used once two inches of snow has accumulated, prepare chains to put on tires, and notify supplementary personnel.

DSNY, the Office of Emergency Management, and the Department of Transportation work together on snow-clearing protocol.

Cleaning the snow and ice off of sidewalks is the responsibility of owners, tenants, or other occupants. Snow and ice shouldn't be pushed into the street or into crosswalks. Clear a path that's 3 to 4 feet wide.

At PlowNYC (maps.nyc.gov/snow), find out if you live on a primary, secondary, or tertiary street and see how much time has passed since a salt spreader or plow has worked on your street.

For information about the storm, go to the NYC Severe Weather website at www.nyc.gov/severeweather or call 311.

Be careful, and stay warm!

WT FOOD COOP SIGNS LEASE

This is getting more and more real.... The Windsor Terrace Food Coop's Board of Directors signed a lease today for the property at 825 Caton Avenue (map), near the corner of E. 8th Street. The lease is for five years, and it comes with an option for renewing for another five years.

The food coop is intended to serve Windsor Terrace and Kensington. It will be owned and operated by the full membership (300 people have joined, so far). Only members will be able to shop there.

As a member, you'll have the right to participate in discussions as well as vote on decisions, and you'll be required to share the work load by working a few hours per month (possibly two per month).

At a meeting for all members at the end of January, the coop board will outline what needs to be done to make the coop operational. The date, time, and location of the meeting will be announced as soon as possible.

But before that, the board will meet to plan the members meeting. All coop members are invited to attend the board meeting on January 14th at 7:00 p.m. in the Knights of Columbus Hall at 1511 10th Avenue (map), between Prospect Park Southwest and 16th Street in Windsor Terrace.

If you'd like to become a member, you can either

send your membership application and a $100 check to

Windsor Terrace Food Coop
147 Seeley Street
Brooklyn, NY 11218

and make the check payable to Windsor Terrace Food Coop

go to Juice Box Wine Shop at 1289 Prospect Avenue

and give them the membership application and your check

go to the food coop's website at www.WindsorTerraceFoodCoop.com

and follow the instructions to pay online to become a member.

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

Application for Membership

Windsor Terrace Food Coop

Name____________________________

Address___________________________

Phone_____________________________

Email Address__________________________

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

Windsor Terrace Food Coop
windsorterracefoodcoop @ gmail . com
http://www.windsorterracefoodcoop.com

Thanks for the information, Jack O'Connell.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

THIS BASIL IS NOT FAULTY

A big beautiful basil leaf.

From Fina Pizza Bar.

Fina Pizza

3007 Fort Hamilton Parkway

between E. 2nd and E. 3rd streets

Windsor Terrace-Kensington

(718) 854-3462

finapizzabar @ aol.com

http://www.finapizzabar.com

https://www.facebook.com/finapizzabarbrooklyn https://twitter.com/finapizzabar https://plus.google.com/114510375121487652549/about https://www.grubhub.com/nyc/fina-pizza-bar/

SPEAK OUT TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER: PUBLIC MEETING ON TRAFFIC SAFETY IN KENSINGTON AND WINDSOR TERRACE

Public Meeting on Traffic Safety

Thursday, January 8th, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

At our community's request, our New York City Councilmember Brad Lander and Community Board 7 have arranged for the commissioner of the Department of Transportation, Polly Trottenberg, to report on what the city's agencies are going to do to make our streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. Ms. Trottenberg will address the safety issues on Caton Avenue and other streets in Kensington and Windsor Terrace.

Residents have concerns about a number of local roads that have been the scene of collisions--some of them fatal--and potential trouble spots, including Fort Hamilton Parkway, Caton Avenue, Albemarle Road, McDonald Avenue, Minna Street, Dahill Road, E. 5th Street, E. 7th Street, Church Avenue, Ocean Parkway, and Prospect Expressway.

Your information about hazardous conditions and your suggestions will be welcome at the meeting.

Meeting location
P.S. 130
70 Ocean Parkway
between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue

Related KARMABrooklyn blog posts:
IN THE WAKE OF ANOTHER DEATH, A STREET SAFETY GROUP FOR KWT HAS FORMED
P.S. 130 IS SURROUNDED BY DANGEROUS STREETS AND INTERSECTIONS
PHONE CALLS FOR SAFETY AROUND P.S. 230
PETITION TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS NEAR P.S. 230
TRAFFIC SAFETY IN WINDSOR TERRACE: THE NEXT STEPS
KEEP ON TRUCKIN', BUT DO IT SOMEWHERE ELSE

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

ISRAELI DANCING CONTINUES IN 2015

Israeli Dancing

Sundays, 6:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Kick up your heels doing Israeli line dances and partner dances (men and women together) on Sundays at the Flatbush Jewish Center.

Learn basic dance steps and simple, traditional Israeli dances from 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For this beginner level instruction session, prior experience isn't required. Then stay from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for the open session for dancers at all levels.

The cost is $10 per person for an evening of dancing and kosher refreshments.

The dances are normally held every Sunday, but a session won't be held on January 25th.

RSVP at http://www.meetup.com/Brooklyn-Israeli-Dancers/events/219386098.

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

Enter the building via the ramp on E. 5th Street and take the stairs or the elevator down to the Hanid Room.

phone: (718) 871-5200
fax: (718) 871-5204
e-mail: fandstjc @ verizon.net

http://www.flatbushjewishcenter.org
https://www.facebook.com/FlatbushJewishCenter
calendar of events: http://www.flatbushjewishcenter.org/index.php?p=50

WHY BUNDLE UP OR STAY INDOORS? BECAUSE THE TEMPERATURE WILL DROP TO NINE DEGREES!

NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito

gives advice about how to stay warm.

Current temperature: It's now 21 degrees and windy. But it feels like it's 11 degrees. Tonight, it'll be 18 degrees and windy. The low temperatures and windiness will continue into tomorrow and the next day.

Tomorrow, we'll have a high of 26 degrees and it'll be windy--20 to 30 miles per hour, gusting to more than 40. At night, it'll only be 10 degrees, with a wind chill value between zero and -15 degrees.

Thursday, we'll have a high of 25 and it'll again be windy.

The National Weather Service Windchill Chart calculates what the air temperature feels like based on actual temperature and wind combinations.

So, you've got to protect yourself. Stay indoors if you can. But if you have to go out, don't wear one big, heavy layer of clothing; dress in multiple layers to stay warmer.

Check on your neighbors who might need help.

Report the loss of heat or hot water to your property manager (if you have one) and to 311.

Don't use a gas stove to heat your home.

Don't use a kerosene or propane space heater, a charcoal or gas grill, or a generator indoors or near your home.

Get more information and tips on how to stay warm from the nyc.gov website.

COP TUMBLES OFF HOOD OF COP CAR

A police officer who was riding face down, spread-eagle, on the hood of an NYPD patrol car flew off when the driver stopped the car abruptly. The driver, Officer Michael Gargano, has been suspended by the NYPD. Both officers are from Brooklyn's 70th Precinct.

Witnesses called the cops' actions "horseplay."

Officer Ahmed Shuhel suffered serious, but not life-threatening, head injuries. He was taken to Lutheran Medical Center. He too may face disciplinary action.

The incident occurred at about 7:50 a.m. on Monday on Seton Place, near Parkville Avenue, in Kensington.

Monday, January 5, 2015

OCEAN PARKWAY COLLISION VICTIM IDENTIFIED

from New York City Alerts

UPDATE: The Yeshiva World identified the decedent as Reb Yaakov Tzvi Hoffman of Borough Park. Hamodia reports that his funeral and burial took place today; he is survived by his wife and nine children.

According to CBS, police said he "had been driving a 1997 GMC south on Ocean Parkway, when he struck a 2004 Ford from behind."

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

Original post:

A driver is dead after this morning's four-car, chain-reaction collision on the southbound side of Ocean Parkway at Ditmas Avenue.

The crash occurred at around 9:30. EMS transported the so-far unidentified 66-year-old driver to Maimonides Medical Center,where he died of cardiac arrest. One other driver is in the hospital with minor injuries.

The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad will investigate.

News 12 Brooklyn has a video report on the collision.

Source: Mike Wright

FATAL ACCIDENT ON OCEAN PARKWAY

from New York City Alerts

UPDATE: The Yeshiva World has identified the decedent as Reb Yaakov Tzvi Hoffman of Borough Park.

A driver is dead after this morning's four-car, chain-reaction collision on the southbound side of Ocean Parkway at Ditmas Avenue.

The crash occurred at around 9:30. EMS transported the so-far unidentified 66-year-old driver to Maimonides Hospital,where he died of cardiac arrest. One other driver is in the hospital with minor injuries.

The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad will investigate.

News 12 Brooklyn has a video report on the collision.

Source: Mike Wright

Sunday, January 4, 2015

LEGO AT LARK

Winter Saturday Lego at Lark

Saturdays, January 10th through February 7th, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Lego instructor extraordinaire and Kensington neighbor Eleanor Rodgers informs us that she'll begin her winter Lego classes in just a few days. Eleanor has designed each Lego at Lark class to stand alone, but she will introduce themes that can also connect the classes.

Register now for either or both of these themes:

Police/Batman theme (three weeks)

January 10th: Police and Thieves. Build a police station, jail cells, police cars, and a safe for the robbers to break into.

Police and Thieves

January 17th: Batman Begins. Build the batlair, with computer array, a hi-tech cell, and the Batmobile.

Batman Begins

January 24th: The Iceman Cometh. Every hero needs a nemesis; in this class, Batman (equipped with batflyer) battles Mr freeze and his ice ray.

The Iceman Cometh

Pirate/Underwater Adventure theme (two weeks)

January 31st: Pirates. Build pirate ships and desert islands. Can the pirates find the treasure before their ship is attacked by creatures from the deep?

Pirates

February 7th: Underwater Adventure. The pirates are replaced by deep sea divers and their submarine fending off stingrays, sharks, and octopi in a bid to find sunken treasure.

Underwater Adventure

If any spaces remain available in a class, registration for drop-ins will open the week of the class.

Classes are tailored to children who are ages 4 through 8.

The cost per class is $20.00. A 10% discount is offered to those who sign up for either theme. A 15% discount is given to those who sign up for both themes (all five weeks). A sibling discount is also available.

Register now at http://kensingtonlegoclass.wordpress.com/registration.

To see the schedule for all of her classes, including these, go to http://kensingtonlegoclass.wordpress.com/when-is-it.

Class location
Lark Cafe
1007 Church Avenue
between E. 10th Street and Stratford Road
Ditmas Park, Brooklyn
(718) 469-0140
e-mail: info @ larkcafe . com
blog: http://larkcafe.wordpress.com
website: http://www.larkcafe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/LARK/280529368626056

773 LOUNGE: WHAT WAS AND WILL BE

A Night in Killarney

Saturday, January 24th, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

773 Lounge, the Irish pub that was a neighborhood fixture since its opening in 1969, is finding its way back from the disastrous fire that shut it down in November. The owners are putting on a fund raising event, "Night in Killarney," on January 24th in the gym at Church of St. Thomas Aquinas, 1501 Hendrickson Street, between Avenue N and Avenue P, near Flatbush Avenue.

Tickets can be purchased at Visions Cocktail Lounge at 752 Coney Island Avenue on Thursday, January 8th, between 4:00 p.m. and the 2:00 a.m. closing.

In addition, 773 has an online fund raiser on gofundme, with a goal of $150,000.

Check out this video from 2009 that shows what a wonderful place 773 Lounge was--and will be.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

COMPUTE IN A QUIET PLACE

Laptop Time
Mondays, beginning January 5th,

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

Writers, students, and freelancers--adults only--will be provided with a quiet space to work in the Windsor Terrace Library's meeting room every Monday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Electrical outlets will be available.

This branch is partially accessible.

The branch has an online calendar of events.

Windsor Terrace Library
160 E. 5th Street, at the corner of Fort Hamilton Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11218
(718) 686-9707
http://www.bklynlibrary.org/locations/windsor-terrace

Thursday, January 1, 2015

BATATA DELIVERS

Starting today, Batata Pita Bar delivers. The delivery hours are noon to 9:00 p.m. daily, with a $10 minimum order.

The restaurant is open Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Batata Pita Bar
3021 Fort Hamilton Parkway
between E. 2nd and E. 3rd streets
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
(347) 599-1260

Keep up with Batata on
Instagram
Google+
Facebook
http://www.batatabk.com

HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER KILLS KENSINGTON RESIDENT IN MANHATTAN

UPDATE: The driver of the 2006 Land Rover, Prezidor Porbeni, surrendered in the Manhattan District Attorney's office last night. From the Daily News: