COMMUNITY BOARD 7 MONTHLY MEETING AGENDA, JUNE 2015

Community Board 7 Monthly Board Meeting

Wednesday, June 17th, 6:30 p.m.

Meeting location

Community Board 7 office

GAY GREEN-WOOD TROLLEY TOUR 2015

                           Gay Green-Wood Trolley Tour
                      Sunday, June 7th, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Kick off Brooklyn Pride Week (June 8th through 13th) in a most unique way: with an LGBT-themed trolley tour of Green-Wood Cemetery.

Tour guide Phil Desiere--who leads tours of Greenwich Village, Central Park, and other New York City sights--will illuminate stories of Green-Wood's ‘permanent residents’ who were openly gay, including "It’s Raining Men" co-author Paul Jabara, and others who were probably gay or bisexual, like Violet Oakley, a member of a "Boston marriage."

You'll also visit the final resting places of those who contributed to LGBT culture in fun, surprising ways, including Louis Comfort Tiffany, the artist and businessman whose fancy New York City atelier is the namesake of gay novelist Truman Capote’s smash hit, Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

$15 for members of Green-Wood and Brooklyn Historical Society/$20 for non-members. Purchase tickets here.

Green-Wood trolley tours are fully accessible and ADA compliant. 

A TRAFFIC SAFETY PETITION FOR CATON AVENUE

A petition posted here urges Community Board 7 (CB7) to approve the Department of Transportation's (DOT) proposal for "Caton Avenue Pedestrian Safety Improvements." The proposal aims to make conditions safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists on Caton Avenue and a few side streets.

Neighborhood resident Meema Spadola will deliver the signatures to CB7 at its next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, June 17th, at 6:30 p.m. in the board's office. Everyone is welcome to attend this public meeting.

The board itself has stated that the community's support for the proposal will be key to it getting passed, so please add your name and voice to the petition.

DOT’s proposal is posted here.

Meeting location: the Board Room of Community Board 7's office in Sunset Park at 4201 4th Avenue. The entrance is on 43rd Street.

FIG TREE POTTING WORKSHOP

 

                                Fig Tree Potting Workshop
                    Saturday, June 6th, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

In this hands-on workshop, Susan Braverman will teach you how to grow a fig tree. During the workshop, you'll pot a sapling and take it home with you.

Adults and families are welcome to attend this free event. Supplies will be provided. Click here to register.

About Susan Braverman

Susan Braverman is a Horticultural Therapist Master and founder of Urban Oasis, a rehab program that includes an inner city farm, two greenhouses and a farmers market. In a partnership between the nonprofit GreenWorks Team and Brooklyn Public Library, she has worked with neighborhood residents and people with disabilities on community gardening projects.

Windsor Terrace Library
160 E. 5th Street, corner of Fort Hamilton Parkway

Brooklyn, NY 11218
(718) 686-9707

This branch is partially accessible.

ALPACA SALE AT ARGYLE YARN SHOP

Argyle Yarn Shop Sidewalk SALE

SAVE 25% off all in stock Cascade Alpaca & Alpaca Blends including Baby Alpaca Chunky, Color Duo, Eco Duo, Eco Alpaca, Highland Duo, and Pure Alpaca Starts Thursday May 28th -- Ends Sunday May 31st *Sale applies to in stock yarn only. All sales are final.   Offer cannot be combined with any other offers

Argyle Yarn Shop

argyleyarnshop @ gmail.com 

http://argyleyarnshop.com
288 Prospect Park West
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, NY 11215

ANNUAL "A CLEAN CHURCH AVENUE" DAY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

A Clean Church Avenue Day 

Saturday, May 30th, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Volunteers are needed on Saturday, May 30th, for the annual "A Clean Church Avenue" day, organized by the Church Avenue Business Improvement District in partnership with Flatbush Development Corporation.

Enjoy the great outdoors with this fun opportunity to spruce up areas on and around Church Avenue while catching up with your fellow community members. Kids are welcome (and must be supervised by an adult).

Volunteer activities will include painting over graffiti-covered security gates in the Church Avenue BID, weeding and raking the Flatbush Reformed Church yard, and planting vegetables, herbs, and flowers at Q Gardens (located behind the Church Avenue B/Q subway station on E. 18th Street).

T-shirts will be provided to all volunteers. Immediately following the clean-up is the annual volunteer BBQ and magic show. It will be held in the backyard of a local community leader.

Meet outside Downtown Natural Market (Church Ave. and E. 17th Street​) at 9:00 a.m. to get your t-shirt and your volunteer assignment.

To register, click here or contact Katie Mirkin at KatieM @ churchavenue.org or (718) 282-2500, extension 79290.

KENSINGTON COMMUNITY BOARD AGENDA, MAY 2015

The agenda for the Community Board 12 meeting at P.S. 230 includes a report on planned safety upgrades on Caton Avenue. The Department of Transporation believes that these upgrades will improve safety for pedestrians near M.S. 839, the school that will be opening in September on Caton Avenue by E. 7th Street. 

The Committee on Environmental Protection will also give a report.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26th, at 7 p.m., in the P.S. 230 Upper School at 1 Albemarle Road.

KENSINGTON'S COMMUNITY BOARD IS GOING TO MEET IN KENSINGTON! WHAT DOES OUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEED HELP WITH?

Community Board 12 will meet in Kensington tomorrow night (rather than in its usual meeting place in Borough Park) - Tuesday, May 26th, at 7 p.m. - in the P.S. 230 Upper School at 1 Albemarle Road, between McDonald Avenue and Dahill Road.

If you have any concerns, questions, solutions, needs, or problems that you'd like the community board to address, get to the meeting before it begins so that you can sign up to speak during the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting. You'll have three minutes to present your topic.

Every neighborhood is represented by a community board. The board is a community's liaison to city agencies. The members of the all-volunteer board are appointed by the neighborhood's city councilperson and by the borough president.

Community boards are supposed to help us with 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.

The community board'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

CB 12 hasn't met in Kensington in two years. It met in Kensington in May 2011 and in May 2013. Please attend the meeting so they can see that we're interested in and care about our neighborhood.

STAND-UP COMEDY: DITMAS SNARK IN DITMAS PARK

Ditmas Snark

Saturday, June 6th, 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Snark, anyone? Ditmas Snark, a night of stand-up comedy, boasts twelve comics, including host Kenan Weaver and headliner Sheba Mason. Some of the venues that these comedians have performed in are Gotham Comedy Club, Broadway Comedy Club, Stand Up NY, and Caroline's.

The cost of a ticket is $25.00 if you purchase it directly from Temple Beth Emeth (call (718) 282-1596) or $26.87 if you purchase it online from Brown Paper Tickets using MasterCard or Visa.

Beverages (wine and soda) and refreshments are included in the admission price.

Temple Beth Emeth v'Ohr Progressive Shaari Zedek 83 Marlborough Road at Church Avenue

Ditmas Park, Brooklyn phone: (718) 282-1596

fax: (718) 282-1537

templebeth83 @ aol.com  http://www2.bethemeth.net https://www.facebook.com/TBEOPSZ 

The synagogue is located near the Church Avenue station on the B and Q subway lines and the B16 and B35 bus lines.

CLOSING: CYNTHIA KING DANCE STUDIO'S WINDSOR TERRACE LOCATION

Cynthia King has announced that the two locations of Cynthia King Dance Studio will be consolidated into the studio at 21 Snyder Avenue. The 1256 Prospect Avenue location will close.

In the following announcement, Cynthia promises that her studio's much-admired and much-appreciated performances in our neighborhood will continue.

Dear Dance Family,

We have enjoyed 13 glorious years on Prospect Avenue. Thousands of dancers have blossomed and bloomed in this studio, which has been like a second home for me, and I know for many of you, too.

As our school has grown, so have our dancers, both artistically and physically (they really listened when we told them to elongate!).

When I first visited 21 Snyder Avenue (only 20 blocks away from Prospect Avenue), I knew it was the perfect spot to call our new home. The expansive, open, column-free space was just what we needed to design and build the state-of-the-art dance center I envisioned. Completed in 2014, the 4,000 square foot space boasts sprung floors, high ceilings, a spacious lobby with large viewing windows, changing room, and versatile studio performance venue.

For me to best direct the school, we will consolidate both studios and operate exclusively out of 21 Snyder Avenue beginning this summer. Rest assured that we will remain an active and lively presence in the KWT community, performing at local schools and playgrounds.

This past year over 120 families made the move with us. The transition was smooth, and the benefits for our dancers, as I'm sure you could see in our spring production, are immeasurable. 

If you haven't seen it yet, please visit. It's spectacular, unique, and it even has outdoor space! Oh, and did I mention it's just 20 blocks away?

So here's to many more years of dancing together!

With love and gratitude,

Cynthia King

Cynthia King Dance Studio
21 Snyder Avenue, between
Brooklyn, NY 11226
(718) 521-4043
info @ cynthiakingdance.com
http://cynthiakingdance.com
https://www.facebook.com/cynthiakingdancestudio
https://twitter.com/CynthiaKingCKDS

SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR PEDESTRIANS ON CATON AVENUE WILL BE PROPOSED

Caton Avenue Pedestrian Safety Improvements

Tuesday, May 26th, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Pedestrian-vehicle conflicts.
• Lack of marked pedestrian crossings.
• Long crossing distances.
• High vehicle speeds.
• Narrow local streets with new transportation demand due to school.

Those are the issues plaguing pedestrians on Caton Avenue that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has been challenged to resolve.

Next Tuesday, DOT's Pedestrian Projects Group will make a presentation to Community Board 7's Transportation Committee about measures it believes will improve safety for pedestrians near M.S. 839, the new school on Caton Avenue by E. 7th Street.

DOT will propose the changes shown in its presentation "Caton Avenue Pedestrian Safety Improvements," initially presented to the Windsor Terrace and Kensington communities by DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg at a meeting on January 8th at P.S. 130 (summarized here).

The committee meeting is open to the public. A show of community support for the proposal could be helpful.

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

PRECINCT COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETS THIS WEEK

66th Precinct Community Council Monthly Meeting
 Thursday May 21st, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.   

Meet the 66th Precinct's Commanding Officer, Captain Kenneth Quick, at the office of Community Board 12 at 5910 13th Avenue.

Captain Quick will update the community on the latest crimes committed within the 66th Precinct and what he is doing about it. This is an opportune time to bring to his attention any crime issues you may be aware of.

The meeting is open to the public. 

community council e-mail: 66precinctcc @ gmail.com

VIDEO: P.S. 130 STUDENTS USING THE WINDSOR TERRACE LIBRARY

P.S. 130 doesn't have its own library, but its students benefit from having the Windsor Terrace branch of the Brooklyn Public Library across the street from the school. In this video, teacher Grace Loew takes her students to the library, where children's librarian Hasina Islam helps her nurture their curiosity and their love of learning.

Location

Windsor Terrace Library 

160 E. 5th Street, off Fort Hamilton Parkway 

Brooklyn, NY 11218  

(718) 686-9707 

http://www.bklynlibrary.org/locations/windsor-terrace

 

The Windsor Terrace Library is partially accessible.

 

OCEAN PARKWAY CLOSED TO TRAFFIC TOMORROW DURING MARATHON

Multiple intermittent street closures will be in effect throughout Brooklyn tomorrow, Saturday, May 16th, from approximately midnight until 3:00 p.m., because of the New York Road Runners' Brooklyn Half Marathon.

Expect road closures and traffic along the marathon's route, which begins near Prospect Park, ends near Coney Island, and includes sections of Washington Avenue, Eastern Parkway, Empire Boulevard, Flatbush Avenue, Grand Army Plaza, Ocean Avenue, Parkside Avenue, Ocean Parkway, Surf Avenue, and Stillwell Avenue.

Runners will start near the Brooklyn Museum, go past the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and around Grand Army Plaza, enter Prospect Park and loop around it, exit from the park's southwest corner onto Ocean Parkway, and finish at the Coney Island boardwalk.

Closed in our neighborhood

    Route:

• Ocean Avenue between Flatbush Avenue and Parkside Avenue
• Parkside Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Park Circle

     Route (In Prospect Park):

• West Lake Drive between East Drive and South Lake Drive
• South Lake Drive between West Lake Drive and East Lake Drive
• East Lake Drive between South Lake Drive and East Drive
• West Drive between East Drive and West Lake Drive

    Route (Continued):

• Park Circle between South Lake Drive and Ocean Parkway Entrance Ramp
• Ocean Parkway between Ocean Parkway Entrance Ramp and Surf Avenue

Route details and maps are available on the New York Road Runners website at http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2015/airbnb-brooklyn-half.

OPEN HOUSE AT ALL FIREHOUSES

FDNY Open House

Saturday, May 2nd,

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

On the 150th anniversary of the official founding of what is now the Fire Department of the City of New York, firehouses throughout the five boroughs and many EMS stations will have an open house.

Participating firehouses and EMS stations are shown on this map, including the firehouses at

• 126 Foster Avenue (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.),
• 1210 Cortelyou Road (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm.),
• 4210 12th Avenue (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm.),
• 1307 Prospect Avenue (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.), and
• 530 11th Street  (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm.).

The public is invited to take a tour, view demonstrations, learn fire and life safety tips, and explore FDNY careers.

Members of the FDNY will give away coloring books for kids, carbon-monoxide alarms, plastic fire helmets, and 150th Anniversary commemorative programs.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LONG TERM CARE PLANNING: A WORKSHOP

What You Need to Know About Long Term Care Planning
Thursday, May 7th, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Estate planning and elder law attorney Katya Sverdlov will lead a free workshop on long term care planning at the Windsor Terrace Library.

Almost three-fourths of all seniors will need long term care at some time, either in their own home or in a nursing home. Prepare for that possibility by learning how to plan for the associated costs and the decisions that will have to be made.

The important questions that Ms. Sverdlov will address include

• How much savings do you need to cover the costs of long term care?
• What are the various options for paying for long term care?
• What are the qualifications for Medicaid?
• How can you plan for Medicaid eligibility while protecting your assets?

Questions from the audience will be welcome.

Registration is recommended. Register online or by calling the library at (718) 686-9707.

About Katya Sverdlov
Prior to starting her own firm, Ms. Sverdlov worked for two prominent law firms, representing dozens of clients with issues ranging from long term care and Medicaid planning to business succession and complicated estate tax matters. She is also a Chartered Financial Analyst. 

Windsor Terrace Library

160 E. 5th Street, at Fort Hamilton Parkway

Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

(718) 686-9707

http://www.bklynlibrary.org/locations/windsor-terrace 

The library is partially accessible.