Archive for ‘Neighborhood News’

Update on Vehicular Safety Meeting for PS 29

By , 8 February, 2012, No Comment

Last week, we showed you the result of some seriously bad driving on Kane St., near PS 29. And Monday night, residents gathered to discuss how to slow drivers down in the neighborhood. Maureen Hogan, who hosted the meeting in her home, sent me just a few details to share–and she seems optimistic that something will be done to make the area safer for everyone. Though I couldn’t be there myself, here’s what was discussed:

Chris Hrones from the DOT, presented several options, and a subgroup is planning to apply for Speed Bumps, as well as exploring the potential for other traffic calming measures. he also explained the concept of “Slow Zones” (a program that reduces speed limits from 30 mph to 20 mph and adds safety measures, such as speed bumps, within a select area), which might be a good long range goal.

Both Hrones and Paul Grudzinsky from the 76th Pct. were well versed in the many problems in our area, especially on Hicks St and various Court St “problem areas” and were very receptive to discussion of problems immediately around the school and along Kane , Clinton, Baltic and Congress streets, which suffer from motorists that drive inappropriately for circumstances.

There was a general agreement that some measures are needed to prevent future tragedy, and a willingness from our representatives and elected officials and the Police dept to work towards some measures that will accomplish this.

Hicks St traffic calming studies are already underway, but the DOT might try in short term to put up a “your speed is” radar sign, and more signage. The timing of lights requires more research.

Now, we wait, and hope some of these issues will be addressed. In the meantime, you may not want to park your car at any corners!

Northern Thai Coming to Cobble Hill’s Columbia Street

By , 6 February, 2012, 1 Comment

I’m always fascinated by how many Thai restaurants we have in the BoCoCa hood. And none have stood out enough to keep me coming back for more. So I was super, crazy-psyched to hear of the impending opening of Pok Pok Ny, a Portland, OR-based eatery featuring a James Beard awarded chef and outstanding Northern Thai street food. Known for its fish sauce chicken wings, it will open at 127 Columbia St. (in the old 5 Burro and Pit Stop space: so expect a big outdoor component). According to the Brooklyn Paper, “The new Thai joint will open by March, offering Brooklynites acclaimed dishes such as hoy thawt…and egg-and-mussel crepes inspired by street markets in Thailand.”

Traffic Safety Meeting Planned in Cobble Hill

By , 31 January, 2012, 2 Comments

Quick update on our post from earlier in the week. We received this email from Maureen Hogan, we THINK the owner of that totaled Volvo on Kane and Henry St. If you’d like your say about traffic safety, you may want to stop by 155 Kane St next Monday, 6 Feb @7pm.

Meeting to discuss need for traffic calming on our roads around PS 29.
We will have a representative from the DOT: Christopher Hrones, and P.O. Paul Grudzinski from 76Pct.
Please spread the word, and ask people to bring specifics about accidents and near misses that they have witnessed, as the classification of accidents as “side swipes” or “disobeying of traffic lights” does not tell the whole tale as to the reckless driving we have been experiencing on our streets.
Various politicians are making every attempt to come, as well.
Thanks, and hope to see many of our neighbors there! m

Safer Walk to Pier 6 Being Implemented

By , 23 January, 2012, No Comment

As much as we love Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park, we totally hate getting there. Whether walking on Columbia or Atlantic, the ramps to and from the BQE are always scaring the living stuffing out of us. And yes, there’s been some changes, but not enough to make it safe. The Brooklyn Heights Association has been working to make some fixes and recently sent out an email detailing four things they say will be implemented by the Department of Transportation to make it safe for pedestrians to cross the BQE’s northbound entrance on Atlantic Avenue–starting this spring.

Following a diagram produced by BHA President Jane McGroarty, the agency will: 1) prohibit the right turn on red at all times; 2) change the existing signals to create a dedicated pedestrian-only crossing; 3) add arrow signals to channel the left and right turning vehicles at this intersection. These improvements will make the intersection much safer, and we’re very grateful to the DOT for moving forward with the requests.
Before doing the above, the DOT plans to build up the triangular shaped “island” on Atlantic in the westbound left lane (the island is now marked with stripes just west of Hicks Street on Atlantic Avenue). Because this involves pouring concrete, it probably won’t be done before spring (2012), but “Jane’s Plan” is definitely in the works.

I know we’ll be grateful for these changes, though there’s still a lot that needs to be done.

Columbia Waterfront to Get New Park Space?

By , 17 January, 2012, 1 Comment

rendering via CHA.com

Ok, so there’s been a ton of crazy construction on Columbia St. recently, all having to do with building the Gowanus Flushing Tunnel. In fact, just a few weeks ago, the Yeung Sun Live Poultry shop collapsed because of the heavy duty work (gaining sighs of relief from many local residents). But now we’re being told it may be for the best. Tomorrow night you can join The Brooklyn Greenway Initiative and Regional Plan Association and the Cobble Hill Association to discuss the planning of a Columbia Waterfront Park–a new public open space on Columbia Street between Kane and Degraw Streets. According to the CHA, they plan on sharing preliminary renderings for the park design and gathering community feedback. Details as follows:
What: Columbia Waterfront Park Report-Back Meeting
When: Wednesday, January 18th, 2012, 6:30-8:30 PM
Where: The Union Street Star Theater, 101 Union Street
RSVP to info@brooklyngreenway.org with Columbia Waterfront Park in the subject line.

Community Chanukah Party for the Family

By , 15 December, 2011, No Comment

Chanukah and Christmas hit head on this year, but the Festival of Lights begins next Tuesday for its eight day stint–so why not start it out right by hitting The Big Gigantic Chanukah Celebration Starring Uncle Moishy? Really, it’s just a nice party at Borough Hall with Borough Prez Marty Markowitz. Come at 5pm for the Menorah Lighting, then stay for latkes, dreidle spinning, doughnuts and presents for all children who attend. “Uncle Moishy and the Mitzvah Men” will play a concert at 6pm–we hear it’s not to be missed.

Take A New Look at LICH-Now Part of Suny Downstate

By , 14 December, 2011, 1 Comment

Recently, a friend told me she schlepped all the way to an emergency room in Chelsea when her six year old broke his arm–because her pediatrician suggested it. She lives about three blocks from Long Island College Hospital. Ok, maybe LICH has not always had top notch ratings, but I’ve never had a bad experience taking my children there for care. And now that it has merged with Suny Downstate Medical Center (the new name is Downstate LICH), I felt it was time to check in with this diamond in the rough we are so lucky to have in neighborhood. When I reached out, they were happy to discuss what’s changed and what you can look forward to in its new iteration (specifically, a ramped up pediatrics department). Here is the letter I received from Debra Carey, CEO of the hospital. Whether you are a stalwart fan or would like to come back to give LICH another look, we think it’s a helpful insight into what’s been going on behind the scenes.

Downstate LICH – Back to Basics
By Debra Carey, Chief Executive Officer

I am pleased to introduce myself to you. My name is Debra Carey, and I am the Chief Executive Officer of the Downstate hospitals, which now encompasses sites in Central Brooklyn, Long Island College Hospital and Bay Ridge (a fully renovated urgent care and ambulatory surgery center, whose patients will come to LICH for inpatient care).

The BoCoCa community knows that Long Island College Hospital has had a few rocky years. Its continued existence was in doubt. Downstate Medical Center acquired the hospital – thus ensuring its future as a vital neighborhood resource. Downstate LICH, as we are now calling the hospital, remains open with all services fully intact.

We want you back at Downstate LICH when you or a family member needs emergency or hospital care. We want to assure you that your excellent community physicians are still affiliated with Downstate LICH. And we pledge: Downstate LICH is fully committed to maternal and child health services.

You don’t have to go out of the neighborhood for care. Our Pediatric and Adult Emergency Departments have capacity and will take care of you promptly and with great skill. Downstate LICH is investing millions of dollars in upgrades of medical equipment, including:
*A new CT scan in the Emergency Department
*State-of-the-art fetal monitoring equipment in the Labor & Delivery Suite
*Upgraded capabilities in the OB/GYN Ultrasound Unit
*An upgraded NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), with Board certified
*neonatologists and new equipment
*Advanced OB/GYN high-risk capabilities, such as first trimester screening, invasive prenatal diagnoses and fetal echocardiograms

We’re investing in human resources, as well. The Pediatric ER remains open, staffed by Board-certified Pediatric Emergency medicine specialists. Specialty pediatric services, such as Pediatric GI and Pediatric Endocrinology, are returning to Downstate LICH. In short, we’re going back to basics: delivering the excellent medical care you expect, right here in the community in which you reside.

Please give Downstate LICH another look. Our medical experts, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, are always available to speak at community forums such as PTA meetings or neighborhood associations. Visit us at www.downstate.edu/LICH and follow us on Facebook. Join our email list to be notified of events and screenings. And above all – do not hesitate to reach out to me at debracarey.ceo@downstate.edu.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Open House

By , 8 November, 2011, No Comment

According to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, the park attracted over 60,000 visitors on an average weekend this past summer. To celebrate, it will be premiering Brooklyn Independent Television’s (BIT) 25-minute documentary, “New York’s Next Great Park” as part of an open house on 17 November from 6:30pm to 8:00pm (at it’s new administrative offices at 334 Furman Street), to welcome and talk with community members about the park and its ongoing construction.
In addition, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Community Advisory Council will meet on 22 November from 6:30om 8:30pm at Brooklyn Borough Hall (209 Joralemon Street). The agenda includes a presentation of the responses received for the Pier 1 Hotel and Residental Development.

Charter School Coming To Cobble Hill: Yea or Nay?

By , 1 November, 2011, 1 Comment

image via Daily News

I’ve been reading about this for quite a while but wanted to see how it progressed before I reported anything on it. Eva Moskowitz, Success Charter Network CEO, is planning on bringing one of her infamous charter schools to Cobble Hill, and parents aren’t sure what to think. Using meetings and many, many, flyers to educate the community, the Success Academy Cobble Hill is on course to open in 2012, according to the website, along with schools in Bed-Stuy and Williamsburg. Here’s what the official press release says, “Both Success Academy Cobble Hill and Success Academy Williamsburg will begin with a kindergarten and first grade comprised of roughly 190 children and grow by one grade each year until the schools serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade…More than 1,500 residents in District 15 where Success Academy Cobble Hill will be located signed a petition requesting that a Success Academy come to the neighborhood.”
Having not attended any of the meetings so far, I don’t have first hand experience on the thoughts and feelings of neighborhood parents, but according to GothamSchools, protestors are coming out of the woodwork.

“Moskowitz is holding an informational session tomorrow [that was 29 Oct] to detail her plans for a new charter school that is likely to open in the affluent Cobble Hill neighborhood next year. Most of tomorrow’s protesters are parents from the neighborhood, who say they are planning to attend the meeting to tell Moskowitz that the Success Charter Network is not wanted there.Opposition is also starting to rise from another group: School leaders in the Baltic Street building where the city has proposed to house the new school. The principals say they are nervous that the charter school’s presence could derail their attempts to improve their schools.”

However, according to the Daily News, here’s why Moskowitz believes this neighborhood is perfect for one of her controversial schools.

“You’ve got a lot of schools here that aren’t working for a lot of families,” Moskowitz told the group last Wednesday night. “We see our schools as identifying talent and nurturing that talent.” Moskowitz said she became interested in putting a charter school in the Brownstone neighborhood because friends told her good neighborhood public schools are overcrowded. City Education Department officials plan to place the charter school in building on Baltic St. “So I go to neighborhoods where there is need and where there is space,” she told the group at Kash’s home. “And there’s a fair amount of space in multiple buildings in this neighborhood.”

What do you think? Would you welcome a Charter in the hood? If not, what puts you off? Would love to hear your comments and thoughts.

Yes, It’s Almost Halloween in BoCoCa

By , 27 October, 2011, No Comment

UPDATED INFO: Because of bad weather forecast for Saturday the 29th the Halloween Parade at Pierrepont Playground has been MOVED TO SUNDAY October 30th.
This weekend marks the lead-up to Halloween 2011 and there’s plenty to do in the BoCoCa hood. Between parties, parades, events and the day itself, you’re going to have to mark your calendars now to get it all in. Here’s the best round-up we could put together. Much if it comes from our friends at the Brooklyn Paper who do an amazing job of putting all this info in one place. The rest we pieced together from research, emails and shout-outs from gracious readers.

Great Pupkin Dog Costume Contest!
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No — it’s a dog dressed as a bird, or a plane, or Superman! Who cares what it is, as long as it’s a dog in a costume. Come get your fill at Fort Greene Pup’s annual Great Pupkin costume contest on Oct. 29, where owners and their four-legged friends will dress up for some trick-or-dog-treats. Registration starts at 11:30 am and judging begins at noon. A $5 donation fee is recommended, but not required. Great Pupkin Dog Costume Contest at Fort Greene Park (DeKalb and Myrtle avenues in Fort Greene) Oct. 29, at 11:30 am. Rain date on Oct. 30. Suggested donation, $5. For info, visit www.fortgreenepups.org

Halloween in Prospect Park!
Halloween events in Prospect Park begin with the Haunted Walk: from the entrance on Prospect Park Southwest and 16th streets to Lookout Hill, the park’s trail is terrorized by zombies, wolf men, witches, ghouls and goons. The haunted walk winds through the park and passes through the Haunted Carnival, where there will be plenty of Halloween-themed games, arts and crafts, and scary stories for children. Not spooky enough? Get acquainted with some very creepy crawlers at the Audubon Center — we’re talking worms, spiders and other critters of the night. And who could forget about the haunted barn, “Boo at the Zoo”? Prospect Park Halloween Haunted Walk and Carnival [Prospect Park Southwest and 16th Street entrance, (718) 965-8999], Oct. 29-30, 12 pm-3 pm. Free. For info, visit www.prospectpark.org; Boo at the Zoo at the Prospect Park Zoo [450 Flatbush Ave. between Empire Boulevard and Eastern Parkway, (718) 220-5100], Oct. 29-30, 10 am-5:30 pm. Adults $8, children (3-12) $5. For info, visit www.prospectparkzoo.com.

Ghouls and Gourds!
Take a break from freaking yourself out and stop by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which will be transformed into an only mildly terrifying landscape — there will be plenty of ghouls to go along with your gourds, and other dazzling fall flora. Come for the Cajun, Celtic and Tibetan musical performances, the Flamingo croquet, the flying flea circus and the monocle, mustache and beard booth; stay for the Halloween rumpus! Be sure to grab your own creepy coleus plant on your way out, and visit children’s book authors at the Book Barn! Ghouls and Gourds at Brooklyn Botanic Garden [1000 Washington Ave. at Eastern Parkway, (718) 623-7220]. Adults, $15. Oct. 29, noon-6 pm. For info, visit www.bbg.org

Welcome to the A-scarium!
Don’t miss out on this year’s A-scarium at Coney Island! There will be tykes in costumes, spooky shipwreck, aquatic-themed magic shows, scary storytelling, and an arts and crafts table where tots are encouraged to make their own masks — plus, a special Halloween 4-D feature, “The Curse of Skull Rock,” showing in the theater outside the aquarium entrance. The A-scarium at the New York Aquarium [Surf Avenue and W. Eighth Street, (718) 265-3474], Oct. 15–16, 22–23 and 29–30, 11 am-4:45 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults ($11 for children). For info, visit www.nyaquarium.com.

BAMboo!
Part of BAMfamily-Mon, Oct 31, 2011, 4—7pm
BAM’s 10th annual Halloween extravaganza brings out Brooklyn’s best trick-or-treaters for an afternoon of festivities featuring live music, roaming entertainers, a puppet show, games, and more! From candy giveaways to costume contests, kids of all ages can enjoy the free activities happening right in front of BAM.
In front of BAM Peter Jay Sharp Building, Lafayette Ave between Ashland Pl and St. Felix St, Free!

powerHouse Kids Halloween Party
Show off your costumes at The powerHouse Arena’s Kids Halloween Party, featuring spooky readings by Cambria Evans (Bone Soup) and Mike Rex (Runaway Mummy) along with some fun Halloween-themed activities. Sunday, October 30, 4–5 PM
The powerHouse Arena · 37 Main Street (corner of Water & Main St.) For more information, please call 718.666.3049 or rsvp: kids@powerHouseArena.com

Mister Halloween Night: A Space Odyssey
Inter-stellar outfits will be rewarded with an on-the-house drink. Think Carl Sagan, Futurama, Monkeys In Space Suits or any of multitude of ideas on the Mister Halloween Facebook page. The possibilities are as endless as the universe. Remember that the more group costumes on the spaceship, the farther and faster it’ll travel. Boarding is at 10pm. Get there soon after. It would be a shame to miss liftoff. Saturday, October 29 at Apollo 12-turn-13.
172 Classon Ave between Park and Myrtle. $15 before midnight with RSVP to mister@mistersaturdaynight.com, $20 otherwise, all astrally attired attendees get a free drink.

Cobble Hill Halloween Parade
Calling all ghouls, ghosts and goblins! The Cobble Hill Halloween Parade will be Monday October 31st at 4pm with music from Jah Pan Steel Drum Band.

Annual Halloween Parade at Pierrepont Playground
Bring your little ghouls and goblins to join in the fun and show off their best costumes! There will be balloons, face painters, a bake sale and a photographer! Saturday, October 29, 2011, in case of rain please check the website for updates (the rain date is Sunday the 30th).

Monster Mash at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
This year’s new programs include two drop in activity areas. Try a shadow puppet workshop, listen to spooky storytelling in our garden, and join the frightful fun in a terrorific scavenger hunt in the ghastly, ghoulie streets of World Brooklyn! And of course, as “darkness falls across the land”, the annual “Thriller” Dance Tribute will be in the Commons Theater. Saturday night is extra special, as we are extending the dance party until 8:30pm!
Friday October 28, 3-7:30
Tickets are available at the admission desk during museum hours. Advance tickets purchase is strongly recommended, tickets are limited.
Costumes for the entire family are strongly encouraged-no masks please.

Halloween bash at Miknic Lounge
Come part with the Miknic crew at the spooky Space // Out special Halloween party. Expect a costume contest with cash prize as well as DJ’s spinning house, disco, new wave
and Halloween favorites!
Saturday, October 29 at 8pm, 200 Columbia Street (between Degraw & Sackett)

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