ALL PARENTS ARE INVITED TO TONIGHT'S COMMUNITY MEETING ABOUT HIGH-STAKES TESTING

School-to-School Dialogue on High Stakes Testing

Wednesday, April 15th, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

With the approval in Albany of changes to the way teachers are evaluated, parent leaders and advocates are considering what the next steps will be.

Now is the time to address the implications of increased emphasis on high-stakes testing: the tests have an oversize impacts on the lives of students, parents, teachers, and other school staff members.

State Senator Jesse Hamilton, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, and Councilmember Brad Lander will host a community dialogue on high-stakes testing this Wednesday. They will provide information on how different school communities can organize around these issues and give updates on budgetary, legislative, and political developments.

Members of various school communities can share their strategies and perspectives because everybody's schools are affected.

For additional information, contact Paul Rothblatt in Senator Hamilton's office at (718) 284-4700.

Registration isn't required, but it's appreciated. Call (718) 284-4700 or fill out the form at tinyurl.com/schoolforum.

Old First Reformed Church
729 Carroll Street, corner of 7th Avenue
Park Slope, Brooklyn

AGENDA FOR TONIGHT'S COMMUNITY BOARD 7 MEETING, APRIL 2015

Community Board 7 Monthly Meeting

Wednesday, April 15th, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Community Board 7's monthly meeting will be held tonight in the board's office. Community Board 7 represents Windsor Terrace, East Windsor Terrace, South Park Slope, Greenwood Heights, and Sunset Park.

This is the proposed agenda for tonight's meeting:

1. The Pledge of Allegiance
2. Opening of the meeting
3. Adoption of the agenda
4. Adoption of the Minutes of the Public Hearing of March 11, 2015 (Budget)
5. Adoption of the Minutes of the Public Hearing of March 11, 2015 (Land Use)
6. Adoption of the Minutes of the Board Meeting of March 18, 2015
7. Public Comment
8. Committee Reports: Membership & Attendance, Parks, Site Selection, Transportation
9. Acknowledgment of Elected Officials & Elected Officials Representatives
10. Chairperson’s Report
11. District Manager’s Report
12. Old Business
13. New Business
14. Public Comment
15. 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

SHOW YOUR FACES TO THE NEW 66TH PRECINCT COMMANDER

66th Precinct Community Council Meeting

Thursday, April 16th, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Meet the new Commanding Officer of the 66th Precinct, Captain Kenneth Quick, at this month's 66th Precinct Community Council meeting. Introduce yourselves to him; show him the faces of the people who he's protecting.

Precinct community councils are the interface between citizens and police. At the meeting, Captain Quick will update the community on the latest crimes in our neighborhood and what the precinct is doing about crime. Bring any crime issues that you're aware of to Captain Quick's attention.

You can also find out about the many different NYPD programs available that may be of interest to you.

The meeting is open to the public.

The 66th Precinct serves Borough Park, part of Kensington, and part of Midwood. The community council meets from September through June on the third Thursday of the month, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Meeting place:
Community Board 12 office
5910 13th Avenue between 59th and 60th streets
Borough Park, Brooklyn
(718) 851-5601 (66th Precinct Community Affairs)

To get to the building, take the B16 bus to 13th Avenue and 57th Street and then walk two blocks to the building. To get home, catch the B16 on 14th Avenue.

SECOND PEDESTRIAN PLAZA POSSIBLE FOR KENSINGTON

 

Public Workshop for

Pedestrian Plaza in Kensington

Wednesday, April 29th, 7:30 p.m.

Proposed Pedestrian Plaza at

McDonald Avenue and Avenue C 

in Kensington, Brooklyn

Kensington residents have an opportunity to get a second pedestrian plaza in our neighborhood. All that we're being asked to do is go to a meeting at P.S. 179 and explain that we want it. Community support makes a difference.

In 2012, when we wanted our first pedestrian plaza, the Department of Transportation (DOT) agreed to give it to us. It's Kensington Plaza on Beverley Road, near McDonald Avenue. If residents approve a second plaza and the community board also agrees to it, DOT will build it.

The existing, unused concrete triangle on McDonald Avenue, near the intersection of Avenue C, would be the location for this new public space. DOT would provide us with moveable tables and chairs, umbrellas, and planters. The Kensington Stewards and the Neighborhood Plaza Partnership would manage the plaza and keep it clean.

Please voice your opinion at a public workshop about this addition to our neighborhood. Offer suggestions for its design and how it could be used so it would benefit the community. Show your support for it at the workshop at P.S. 179, 202 Avenue C (between E. 2nd and E. 3rd streets), on Wednesday, April 29th, at 7:30 p.m.

To arrange for physical access to the workshop, contact Emily Weidenhof at the Department of Transportation at (212) 839-4325 or eweidenhof @ dot.nyc.gov.

The Kensington Stewards is a group of volunteers who live in Kensington and got together a few years ago to work on community projects: getting Kensington Plaza built, getting metal guards put around trees on Church Avenue, planting daffodils and other flowers by the trees, and holding sidewalk clean-up days.

Neighborhood Plaza Partnership (NPP), a program of The Horticultural Society of New York, is working with The Kensington Stewards. With their professional guidance, our plaza will be clean, green, and well-managed.

 

SCHOOL-TO-SCHOOL DIALOGUE ON HIGH STAKES TESTING

School-to-School Dialogue on High Stakes Testing

Wednesday, April 15th, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

With the approval in Albany of changes to the way teachers are evaluated, parent leaders and advocates are considering what the next steps will be.

Now is the time to address the implications of increased emphasis on high-stakes testing: the tests have an oversize impacts on the lives of students, parents, teachers, and other school staff members.

State Senator Jesse Hamilton, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, and Councilmember Brad Lander will host a community dialogue on high-stakes testing this Wednesday. They will provide information on how different school communities can organize around these issues and give updates on budgetary, legislative, and political developments.

Members of various school communities can share their strategies and perspectives because everybody's schools are affected.

For additional information, contact Paul Rothblatt in Senator Hamilton's office at (718) 284-4700.

Registration isn't required, but it's appreciated. Call (718) 284-4700 or fill out the form at tinyurl.com/schoolforum.

Old First Reformed Church
729 Carroll Street, corner of 7th Avenue
Park Slope, Brooklyn

FREE FRUIT TREES STILL AVAILABLE IN KENSINGTON

Seventeen free fruit trees are still available at Kensington's Compost for Brooklyn after yesterday's tree giveaway. To qualify for a free tree, you must agree to

1. plant the tree in one of the five boroughs,
2. plant the tree in the ground of your yard and not along streets, in city parks, in containers, or on terraces, balconies or roofs, and
3. keep the tree properly watered and maintained.

When you pick up the tree, you'll also be given a planting and care guide.

Trees will be available for drop-ins on a first-come, first-served basis during open hours: Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and alternating Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (next open Saturday: April 25th).

The giveaway is through New York Restoration Project (NYRP) as part of the MillionTreesNYC initiative.

Compost for Brooklyn 
corner of Newkirk Avenue at E. 8th Street 
Kensington, Brooklyn 
compostforbrooklyn @ gmail.com  
https://twitter.com/CompostBrooklyn/ 
http://compostforbrooklyn.org/ 
https://www.facebook.com/compostforbrooklyn?fref=nf  

LET'S MAKE MUSIC, NEW YORK: FREE CONCERTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY

On the first day of summer last year, Make Music New York organized one of the biggest musical events in New York City's history: over 1,350 free outdoor concerts in an incredible array of musical genres and locations.

Thousands of musicians entertained New Yorkers on sidewalks, in streets, in parks, and in gardens throughout all five boroughs in "an eleven-hour escapade of musical creativity" (The New Yorker).

This year, the ninth annual Make Music New York returns on Sunday, June 21st, and it promises to be the biggest and best yet.

Enroll in the free program today, and Make Music New York will coordinate your concert with others in the neighborhood, secure all necessary permits, and promote your event through Metro New York, WQXR, and WNYC. From an acoustic sidewalk set-up to a full-scale amplified block party, plenty of options are available.

To get started, go to makemusicny.org/participate. All concert arrangements must be finalized by April 29th.

Questions? Send an e-mail to help @ makemusicny.org.

MUSIC SERVED WITH FRIED CHICKEN AND WAFFLES

Food and Music Outdoors

Sunday, April 12th, 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Spring fried chicken and waffles by Buttermilk Channel and music by The Bumper Crop Boys will be served up tomorrow at a backyard garden party at Sycamore Bar and Flowershop.

Buttermilk Channel is an American bistro on Court Street in Carroll Gardens. It opened in 2008. Executive Chef Ryan Angulo will be on hand to make sure you're well-fed and happy.

The Bumper Crop Boys,which started in North Dakota in 2003 and is now located in Astoria, is an Americanaish, blues, country band.

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 

http://instagram.com/sycamoreflowershopbar

EARTH DAY BOKASHI COMPOSTING WORKSHOP WITH VANDRA THORBURN (FREE)

Bokashi Composting Workshop with Vandra Thorburn

Wednesday, April 22nd, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

From Windsor Terrace Library:

Celebrate Earth Day 2015 by learning the art of bokashi composting, a truly green kitchen waste solution.

In this presentation Vandra will demonstrate how bokashi is the simplest and safest method of handling food scraps. There will be a hands-on demonstration of how easy it is to produce the fermentation bran using the original Japanese microbial inoculant, EM-1®.

In Japanese bokashi means “fermented organic matter.” Ideal for apartment dwellers and small spaces, the bokashi method uses a fermentation process in a sealed bucket—no smells, no pests, no fuss. Unlike traditional composting methods, meat, fish, cheese and cooked food waste can be composted through the bokashi process.

Take your composting to the next level with this alternative and complementary method to other types of composting! Adults and families are welcome. Registration recommended.

Winner of Brooklyn Public Library's PowerUP! 2009 Business Plan Competition Excellence Award, Vandra Thorburn is the founder and president of VOKASHI, a unique composting service. Using the bokashi method VOKASHI helps households, small offices and catering companies manage their food scraps.

This community event is free.

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

FREE CLOTHING SWAP; BRING SOME, TAKE SOME

                                  Spring Clothing Swap
                    Sunday, April 19th, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Swap with your neighbors. Bring clothes, shoes, and accessories that you no longer need or wear.  Any items left over will be donated. This is a free event that is open to the public.

If you can't attend, you can bring your clothes to YogaSole beforehand.

YogaSole
254 Windsor Place
between 10th and 11th avenues (closer to 11th)
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
(718) 541-1382
info @ yogasole.com
https://www.facebook.com/yoga.sole
http://www.yogasole.com

MUSIC FESTIVAL AT P.S. 130: JAZZ, LATIN, ROCK, R&B, APPALACHIAN, CLASSICAL, AND MORE

Local Kensington Musicians/Parents Organize Inaugural Music Festival
to Raise Funds for Music Programs at Brooklyn's PS 130

Educating Children from 17 Countries, Speaking 20 Different Languages,

This Title I School
Is the Most Ethnically & Racially Diverse School in District 15

Performers will include:

JD ALLEN, ANGI ARAMBURU, DEBBIE DEANE,

PAUL LAPLACA,  JOHN MONTAGNA, ROBBY O’SULLIVAN,

BENNETT PASTER, DON RODRÍGUEZ GÓMEZ ROSA,

ELEANOR TAYLOR & SANDRA VELASQUEZ

On Friday, April 17, 2015 the PS 130 PTA will host an inaugural Music Festival concert. The line-up will include parent performers representing the cultural diversity of our community.  Funds raised at this event will be dedicated to strengthening the music program at PS 130 including: materials and supplies for music classes, creation of private music instruction programs including scholarships, piano tuning, PA system improvements and more.

PS 130 is a public elementary school serving 708 students in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn. We educate children from 17 countries representing 20 different languages and are a Title I school with 94% of children qualifying for free lunch service. We are the most ethnically and racially diverse school in Brooklyn’s District 15.

PS130 remains dedicated to keeping music in the classroom. General music instruction, guitar, band, chorus are all offered to its students as an essential part of its mission to educate them effectively, but available resources are not adequate to fully fund these programs.  In response to this need, singer/songwriter and PS 130 parent Debbie Deane germinated the idea for this event to raise awareness of the importance of music education and to raise additional funds PS 130’s music programs.

The line-up will feature PS 130 parent performers, both professional and amateur musicians including: JD Allen, Angi Aramburu, Debbie Deane, Paul LaPlaca, John Montagna, Robby O'Sullivan, Bennett Paster, Cesar Rodriguez, Eleanor Taylor, and Sandra Velasquez.  The performers’ styles run the gamut from Appalachian to Latin; Jazz, Rock and R&B to contemporary classical.  All told, it will make for an entertaining evening of music for a great cause!

Friday, April 17th

6:30 PM

PS 130 4th Fl auditorium

70 Ocean Parkway

$10 suggested donation, Kids free

Open to the public

www.130pta.org

Kim Smith PR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, April 8, 2015

CHOCOLATE! AND OTHER NEW ITEMS WILL BE SOLD AT THE FOOD COOP, STARTING TOMORROW

New on the shelves, starting tomorrow:

• organic coffee by Intelligentsia,
• organic tea by Kilogram, and
• organic Mexican chocolate by ki’ xocolatl.

Previous additions that will continue to be stocked:

• organic 100% whole wheat elbows by Bionaturae,
• organic fire-roasted canned tomatoes by Muir Glen,
• organic blue corn tortilla chips by Garden of Eatin',
• organic salsa by Muir Glen,
• honey by Really Raw,
• milk by Organic Valley,
• half-and-half,
• cheese,
• yogurt, and
• multi-colored eggs from Dragonfly Pond Farms.

The fruit and vegetables that are available each week vary.

Open hours this week are Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Bring your own bags to carry your food home.

New members are always welcome. For instructions on how to join by mail, in person, or online, visit the coop's website. The current work requirement is 1 hour and 45 minutes per month.

Windsor Terrace Food Coop 

825 Caton Avenue, corner of E. 8th Street

windsorterracefoodcoop @ gmail . com

http://www.windsorterracefoodcoop.com

https://twitter.com/WTFoodCoop 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Windsor-Terrace-Food-Coop-Inc/118978878257944?sk=timeline

FOOD COOP OPEN THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

New on the shelves: coffee, tea, and another refrigerator so that more perishables can be stocked.

This week's shopping hours

Thursday, April 9th, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday, April 10th, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 11th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 12th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Bring bags to put your food in for carrying home.

Membership is always open. Go to the food coop's website for instructions on how to join--by mail, in person, or online. The current work requirement is 1 hour and 45 minutes per month.

Windsor Terrace Food Coop 

825 Caton Avenue, corner of E. 8th Street

windsorterracefoodcoop @ gmail . com

http://www.windsorterracefoodcoop.com

https://twitter.com/WTFoodCoop 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Windsor-Terrace-Food-Coop-Inc/118978878257944?sk=timeline

PARKING RULE SUSPENSION

Alternate side of the street parking regulations--normally in effect weekdays and Saturdays so that streets can be cleaned--will be suspended Thursday, April 9th (tomorrow), through Saturday, April 11th, for Holy Thursday (Orthodox), Good Friday (Orthodox), and Passover (the 7th and 8th days of the holiday).

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

CREATIVE AUCTION ITEMS FOR P.S. 230 PTA'S FUND RAISER

Sip into Spring Gala Auction

Saturday, April 25th, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Bid in the Sip into Spring Gala Auction--P.S. 230 PTA's fund raising auction--for goods, services, and experiences.

The price of a ticket for an evening of food, beverages, and an auction ranges from $45 to $100. The proceeds will be used to fund Arts Residencies in the visual and performing arts at the school; scholarships allow all children to participate if they wish to, no matter what their families' financial status might be.

Bidding online is also an option. 

Auction items include original artwork, a musical birthday party, an HBO Blu-ray bundle, tickets to shows, sports memorabilia, classes, meals, toys, gift certificates, consultations, jewelry, memberships, tastings, and lots more.

Event location
Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
53 Prospect Park West
between 1st and 2nd streets
Park Slope, Brooklyn

STABBING AT CHURCH AND MCDONALD

A man was stabbed at Church Avenue at McDonald Avenue at 2:43 p.m. today. EMS transported the victim to Kings County Hospital.

An active crime scene is being established. The NYPD is looking for witnesses.

The perpetrator is described as a male Hispanic, possibly Mexican, in his early 20s. He is short, and he is wearing a white shirt and a black baseball cap that is on backwards. He fled the scene on foot.

The crime took place on the sidewalk near Denny's "Steak Pub." It did not take place inside of Denny's. Reports do not indicate that the stabbing is related to Denny's in any way.

Anyone with any information can contact NYPD Crime Stoppers:

• call: (800) 577-TIPS
• website: nypdcrimestoppers.com
• text: send a text to CRIMES (274637). Type Tips577, followed by the tip information.

Kensington, Brooklyn

IHM SPRING EXTRAVAGANZA

Spring Extravaganza

Saturday, April 25th, 6:30 p.m.

Spring Extravaganza is the annual fund raiser of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Admission tickets cost $20 each. A ticket includes a light supper. Last year's meal included sandwiches, cookies, water, soda, and coffee.

No tickets will be sold at the door. There is a waiting list for tickets. The event will take place in the school gym.

For details, call Sylvia at (718) 871-1310, ext. 10.

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

FEEL THE BEAT AT THE ADIRONDACK

Sounds of Music:
Rhythm and Blues, Pop, Rock 'n' Roll, Romantic, and Soul

Thursday, October 2nd, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Every first Thursday of the month,

DJ Kyle Brown plays his vintage vinyl 45s.
at 

The Adirondack

1241 Prospect Avenue

between Greenwood Avenue and Reeve Place

Windsor Terrace

(718) 871-0100

theadirondackbar @ gmail.com 

http://www.theadirondackbar.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/The_Adirondack

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Adirondack/858246554191009

TEACHERS ARE NEEDED FOR THE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL ON CATON AVENUE

M.S. 839 is seeking founding teachers!

M.S. 839, a new middle school located at 713 Caton Avenue (corner of E. 7th Street) on the Kensington-Windsor Terrace border, is recruiting a full staff of founding teachers for the 2015-2016 school year. Do you know someone who’d be a great fit? If so, please encourage them to submit an application.

Exceptional candidates will:

Love working with middle schoolers. 

Dedicate themselves to advising a small group of students, with a focus on building growth mindsets, infusing social-emotional learning, implementing restorative practices, and connecting families to their child’s learning.

Insist on building diverse and inclusive classrooms where all students can learn from one another and thrive. 

Collaborate with colleagues to build authentic interdisciplinary units of study that culminate in exceptional student work products.

Commit to creating a student centered environment - where all students are seen, heard, and valued.

Have passions outside the classroom and be eager to share their interests with children, families and colleagues.

And most importantly 

 - an exceptional candidate will approach the challenges a new school will inevitably face with a positive outlook focused on finding solutions and solving problems!

Application instructions are contained within the individual job postings located here:
http://schools.nyc.gov/community/newschools/newschooltypes/workatanewschool/default.htm 

Best Regards, 

Michael Perlberg, New School Project Director - M.S. 839