February event cancelled due to heat! Winter Jam 2012 at Prospect Park, scheduled for February 4, has been cancelled due to the crazy “winter” weather we’ve been having.
“It is simply too warm to make snow, and the long-range weather forecasts and current ground temperatures make it extremely unlikely that snow could be made,” Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe said in a written statement.
It’s been a weird year for winter weather around the country. Are you missing the snow?
The Oak & Iris has signs posted that they’ll be closed through Monday, January 30 due to “operational problems” (thanks to Amber for noticing).
The cafe has been going through some changes recently, as you may have noticed. In the fall signs went up announcing a new chef, and then earlier this month there was talk on the KWT Neighbors Yahoo Group that another new chef would be taking over.
Then recently Craigslist has a listing for the space, saying it was available for sale or rent. I spoke with owner Aleksandra “Sasha” Kameneva about the listing, and she confirmed that she was looking for someone who would take over and give the space the love that the neighborhood deserves.
“Hopefully they wouldn’t want to change it,” she said. “That they keep it for the neighborhood the same way they like it.”
Sasha explained that running the cafe, which she opened about three years ago, was too much for her alone, which is why she tried having the chef take over in the fall. But she is looking for a more suitable replacement, to keep the space to a higher standard.
“I know how important it is to the neighborhood, because I live here as well,” she said.
We’ve been unable to reach Sasha for more information about why the cafe is closed at the moment, but we look forward to seeing it back open on Monday. If you’re interested in learning more about the space, you can contact Sasha at whereissasha@nyc.rr.com.
It’s too soon to know if Winter Jam NYC 2012 will have any natural snow on the ground, but they’ll make sure there is plenty of the machine-made stuff so you can enjoy winter sports in Prospect Park. The free annual festival takes place the first Saturday of February (the one weekend the Q train work is taking a break).
You can try out winter sports like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skiing, and snowboarding for the first time, right in our backyard. Equipment is provided at no cost, or bring your own. More experienced skiers and snowboarders can register to compete in the Prospect Park Jam, hosted by Red Bull.
There will also be some vendors selling snacks at the Pride of New York Winter Market, a Zagat Warming Lounge, and information about NY state ski resorts.
Winter Jam NYC
Saturday, February 4, 11am to 4pm
Prospect Park Long Meadow (by the Picnic House)
We are outraged by the fact that employees at your store have worked for many years earning well below the minimum wage.
Furthermore, we are alarmed that your employees have been harassed and threatened for standing up for their fair wages and demanding benefits on the job.
This is why we stand behind the workers and support their lawsuit for their backpay and campaign for a contract with benefits.
We believe that all workers deserve a living wage and fair contract. Our communities support small local businesses that respect workers rights, as loyal customers we demand that your business set an example for fair labor standards.
If you feel he should pay what he owes and provide workers with basic benefits and continued protection on the job in the future, you can sign the petition here.
Additionally, there will be a community meeting tomorrow about the situation at Golden Farm. Councilmember Brad Lander will attend the meeting–today he wrote about his support of the workers, saying that “none of us want a good deal coming at the cost of a fair paycheck for the store’s staff.”
Community Meeting in Support of Workers at Golden Farms Grocery Store
Wednesday, January 25, 8:30pm
95 Sherman Street, between Terrace Place and 11th Avenue RSVP here
The second location from the people at Am Thai Kitchen on McDonald Avenue is opening this Friday, January 27 at 1003 Church Ave, just on the other side of Coney Island Avenue. At the new Am Thai Bistro, you can expect much of the same menu, though the Bistro will feature some Caribbean fusion dishes, such as “roti massaman,” or grilled roti served with chicken in massasman curry. Additional details at the Ditmas Park Blog.
Littering doesn’t stop during the winter months, so neither does the Prospect Park Litter Mob, who will be meeting tomorrow morning to clean up the Midwood section of the park.
The weather should be fairly mild, so if you are available, please consider joining their efforts. Surgical gloves are provided, so is hand sanitizer, but bring your own warm or work gloves.
The Litter Mob meets tomorrow, Tuesday, January 24 at 9am on Center Drive (directions here). Please contact Inge De Taeye at ingedetaeye [at] gmail [dot] com if you’ll be going.
The group Neighborhood Cats is presenting a free trap neuter return (TNR) workshop at the Kensington Library on Saturday, February 11. Attendees will become TNR certified, which gives you access to low-cost spay and neuter services and free trap loans.
Advance registration required, and these workshops usually fill up fast. To register email tnr@neighborhoodcats.org with the subject line “Brooklyn TNR workshop” or call 212-662-5761.
While Councilmember Brad Lander has gained some help in fixing the flooding issue at the Fort Hamilton Parkway subway entrance, his Participatory Budgeting Transit Committee has been working on ideas for capital–as in, one-time, not on-going–improvements for the entrance. They’ve sent us this information with hopes that neighbors will be able to provide additional input:
We were delighted to hear the announcement from Catherine Zinnel of Councilmember Brad Lander’s office that they were able to get various city agencies (Department of Parks, Sanitation, and Environmental Protection) to commit to cleaning up the area outside the Ft. Hamilton F/G subway entrance. We applaud the great strides that Councilmember Lander’s office has made with this recent announcement. This is indeed a triumph!
Through the newly implemented and innovative Participatory Budget process, residents of four Council Districts–including Brad Lander’s District 39–are recommending how to spend approximately $6 million of public money. (To learn more about the process, see pbnyc.org.) As part of the Participatory Budget process, we are a committee of four who, over the past few months, have been working with Mr. Lander’s staff to study how to remedy the various situations occurring outside the southern entrance of the F/G subway station at Ft. Hamilton Parkway.
Our Transit Committee would like to go beyond the much-needed maintenance of that area and achieve some structural changes that would address the fundamental issues that create the problem. For example, the pitch of the sidewalks does not adequately lead to the drainage, so we are proposing the installation of drainage trenches (about 6 inches across and run the width of the sidewalk. To prevent much of the run-off, we propose that the fencing be replaced, the ground turned over and reseeded and proper curbing built up. This will go far to eliminate the mud flats that accumulate under the overpass. In addition, we are exploring anti-slip coatings for the sidewalks because, even with clean and working drains, if there is any precipitation and when it is lower than 32 degrees, those slopes are always going to be treacherous.
We are also proposing netting barriers to the pigeons roosting spots under the overpass and better signage to identify the subway entrance.
Our committee welcomes any and all suggestions, photographs, professional opinions, observations and even personal horror stories. This will help solidify our proposal and make for a more powerful presentation in order to win funding to help this problem area. Please send your comments to fixfthamilton@gmail.com. Our community deserves a safe and clean entrance to its subway station
The City Council approved a parking legislation package yesterday that aims to make parking enforcement fairer and to eliminate excessive ticketing. The three parts are:
* Being able to cancel a ticket on the spot if you have a muni-meter receipt that’s time-stamped five minutes within the ticket’s time.
* Freezing late fees on tickets until 30 days after they’ve been issued, to give you a chance to contest them.
* Banning the city from placing parking stickers on cars that are said to be violating alternate side parking rules.
It’s those stickers that got under the nails of nearby Councilman David G. Greenfield, who wrote that legislation. The Sanitation Department has used neon stickers in cases of alternate-side parking violations since 1988, issuing about 400 each day alternative-side parking rules are in effect for street cleaning. The City Council argues that the stickers are attached even before motorists are given the chance to prove their innocence.
“Punishing drivers with these impossible-to-remove stickers is unfair and unnecessary,” said Greenfield in a statement. “New York City doesn’t employ methods of public humiliation and shame for those who violate serious crimes, yet has no problem defacing private property with neon stickers because you forgot to move your car on an alternate-side parking day.”
The bill, which keeps in place existing $45 to $60 fines for alternate-side parking violations but ends the practice of placing these stickers on the car’s rear window, received support from Council members, drivers, and the Automobile Association of America when introduced earlier this year.
The Bloomberg administration has voiced its opposition to the entire legislation package, but because it received such overwhelming support in City Council, it seems unlikely the Mayor will be able to veto it if that’s his plan.
If you’ve ever dealt with one of these stickers, you know how hard they can be to remove. The Daily News experimented with various removal liquids recently, with Windex leading the pack. What have you found works best?
A cool program is scheduled at the Kensington Library next week. On Monday, January 23, kids are invited to make masks in celebration of Chinese New Year. There will also be books available about the holiday–check out this list at the BPL site for some book suggestions (including a cookbook on making dumplings!).
Chinese New Year’s MASKerade
Monday, January 23, 3:45-5:15pm
Kensington Library
410 Ditmas Ave between East 4th & East 5th Sts
718-435-9431
Kids of all ages are invited to dance the night away with Israeli music, fancy lights, games, tasty food and more this Saturday, January 21 at the Flatbush and Shaare Torah Jewish Center. Havdalah is at 6:15pm, followed by the dance party.
Cost is $3/child (in advance) and $4/child at the door. Parents and kids under 2 are free. Sign up here for early-bird discount.
Kids Havdalah & Dance Party
Saturday, January 21, 6:15pm
Flatbush and Shaare Torah Jewish Center
327 East 5th Street at Church Ave
718-871-5200
The problem of the often-flooded pathway leading to the Fort Hamilton Parkway F/G station, which we first wrote about last March, and which we began making more noise about this fall thanks to your photos and efforts in reaching out to community leaders, has been resolved.
Catherine Zinnel, District Director for Councilmember Brad Lander, tells us that the city has made a commitment to maintain the area. She writes:
In response to your concerns we have been in touch with multiple City agencies, namely the Department of Parks, Sanitation, and Environmental Protection, and asked them to address this ongoing problem. We are happy to report that we have received a commitment from the City to maintain this area, including removal of garbage and debris year-round and removal of snow and ice during the winter months. Further, the City has cleaned the drain and drudged the attached pipe.
This should do it, but if you notice any flooding, please contact the Councilmember’s office at 718-499-1090.
The knitting and crocheting circle returns to the Kensington Library this Thursday, January 19. With support from support from the Cortelyou Friends Group, crafters at any level are welcome to drop in to the downstairs meeting room between 5:30 and 7:30pm for conversation, tips, and instruction.
The group will continue to meet on the third Thursday of the month.
Registration for this year’s TD Five Boro Bike Tour, the 40-mile loop through the city, will be done through a lottery system for the first time. Race organizers hope this will make the ability to participate more fair for everyone who’s interested.
However, if you don’t want to leave it up to chance, you can register as a VIP for $300 (which gets you breakfast, lunch, a priority start time, and more), or sign up to ride for one of 40 charities (you have to raise at least $750).
You can enter the lottery at any point starting tomorrow, January 17 at 10am through and February 7 at 5pm, and you’ll have to pay a nonrefundable $6 lottery registration fee.
If you’ve got the day off from work on Monday and you’re looking for a fun way to spend it locally, the Prospect Park Tennis Center may be the answer. They’re holding a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event where adult and junior players can spend three hours in a clinic that will help improve your moves.
The day features a fast-paced station drill that focuses on specific skills, including serve and volley, ground strokes, approach shots, and offense/defense strategies.
The clinic runs from 1 to 4pm, and costs $80. You must register in advance by filling out and faxing back the registration form to 718-972-2690. For more information, call 718-436-2500.
While riding the F train last week, one man had a pleasant interaction with a local artist–but he didn’t make a move, and he’s looking for her now on Craigslist:
…there you were, wearing a pink scarf and beige glove/mittens moved from one side to the other to sit beside me sketching in your look book communicating via symbols drawn of a brief case, glasses, a heart, and an arrow. Capturing the expression in my eyes in another drawing. I would love to have a drink with you and wish I asked you before you got off at the church avenue station.
Police are seeking the public’s help for information about a man they arrested for allegedly taking photos of a 9-year-old girl.
The 66th Precinct has charged 40-year-old David Zimmer with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment for the incident they say happened on January 2 in the hallway of a Borough Park apartment building. The NYPD is now looking for anyone who knows of any children who may have been in contact with Zimmer, a registered sex offender who was arrested in 1999 for sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl.
If you know of a child who was in contact with him, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Police say all calls are strictly confidential.
The 66th Precinct is encouraging people from all over Brooklyn to take advantage of a gun buyback program that’s coming up in Brooklyn North.
On Saturday, January 28, the 77th Precinct is hosting the program at the Bedford Central Presbyterian Church, located at 1200 Dean Street at Nostrand. The cash-for-guns program will exchange $200 bank card for operable handguns and $20 bank card for operable rifles and shotguns.
For more information, call the 66th Precinct Community Affairs Office at 718-851-5601.
Today is the deadline for the public to comment on the controversial New York State fracking issue. Councilmember Brad Lander explains:
If you’ve ever tried a bagel outside of New York, you know why ours are considered the best. Many people say the difference is the water. New York has the largest unfiltered water system in the country – but that massive source of clean water is now in danger.
Oil and gas giants are planning to start “fracking” (hydraulic fracturing) in New York – a process that involves injecting secret chemicals into the ground at high pressure to access the natural gas contained in underground rock formations. The United States Environmental Protection Agency says that fracking may be responsible for groundwater pollution in other states.
Today, I am submitting my comments to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation on their draft plans to open much of New York to fracking.
While the Cuomo Administration proposal does not technically allow for fracking within New York City’s upstate watershed, there are so many loopholes that the Marcellus shale could soon look swiss cheese – maybe tasty on a bagel, but too risky where our water is concerned. Drilling would be allowed with 1,000 feet of our water infrastructure, including the tunnels and aqueducts that bring it down to the city.
As the New York City Department of Environmental Protection has argued, natural gas well construction must be limited to no less than seven miles from NYCDEP’s underground infrastructure.
We must also hold gas and oil companies accountable for their pollution. Fracking produces large amounts of wastewater, polluted with toxins that our water treatment plants cannot process. The Cuomo Administration must ensure that our water treatment facilities do not take this toxic wastewater.
Only we can protect New York’s water. Thanks to a giveaway to Big Oil back in the Bush Administration, the EPA is barred from taking action to protect our water from fracking. So it is up to us.
The Department of Environmental Conservation told WNYC yesterday that the state has received nearly 21,000 comments already. The review that follows is expected to take several months.
Are you a local artist who would be interested in opening your home or studio one day this spring? If so, artist and neighbor Sherry Davis wants to hear from you.
She’s hoping to put together an ArtWalk, in which artists open their homes and/or studios to the public for viewing and, maybe, buying.
“Artists often have reproductions for inexpensive purchases, and the walk could be timed to coincide with Mothers Day shopping,” she writes.
The boundaries would potentially include part of Windsor Terrace (on the Kensington side of the Prospect Expressway) through Kensington to the Cortelyou Road/Ditmas area.
If you’re interested in participating, email Sherry at brooklynartistsherry@gmail.com with your name and addresses (or local studio). She’s also looking for ideas for a larger local exhibition space, as well, so feel free to contact her with ideas.
NY Communities for Change has organized a second rally to support the workers at Golden Farm, who, with support from RWDSU/UFCW Local 338, have filed a lawsuit against the owner, Sonil Kim, to gain back pay and future contracts that ensure workers receive benefits, paid sick leave, and more. From the organization:
What to do to take action?
1. Call the store at (718) 871-1009 ask to speak with Mr. Kim and let him know that you support the workers.
2. When you shop ask to speak with Mr. Kim and let him know that you support the workers.
3. Come out to the Kensington Fair Food Rally: FRIDAY JANUARY 13!
Join us for a neighborhood meeting. Save the date: January 19th at 8:30, location TBA. We will discuss how the community can best support the workers, workers will be present.
They will be meeting outside of Golden Farm on Church Ave and East 3rd Street on Friday, January 13 at 12pm. To RSVP for the rally or the neighborhood meeting, or for more information, contact Alexandra García at mgarcia@nycommunities.org.
We have contacted Mr. Kim for comment, and are waiting to hear back.
Households and small businesses are encouraged to bring unwanted or broken electronics like computers, mobile phones, and televisions to Prospect Park this Sunday, January 15 between 10am and 4pm for the Lower East Side Ecology Center’s 9th Annual “After the Holidays” e-waste event.
They do not accept home appliances such as microwaves, refrigerators, or air conditioners. A list of what is and isn’t accepted can be found here.
The drop-off point is on the other side of the park at Prospect Park West and 3rd Street.
That Amy is one lucky gal — this dude knuckles and kneads your feet into a state of higher being for nearly 20 minutes, and his other pedi skills are up there too. Word from the other massage chairs is that the ladies are just as badass.
Additionally, in the comments neighbor Thomas recommends the nail salons alongside the Church Avenue outpost of Nails by Amy, noting that “some of them charge less for men.”
Now that it’s been around for a few months, have you been, and what are your thoughts? Or do you favor the original on Church, or some other spot on that strip?
Nails By Amy
2907 Ft Hamilton Pkwy between E 3rd and E 4th
718-436-2898
The kindergarten admissions process opens today, and though the process differs from school to school, there are some standard timelines and guidelines for eligibility and admissions priorities. All students entering kindergarten in September 2012 (children born in 2007) must submit an application, even if they are applying to zoned schools.
During the application period, which runs through March 2, you should visit the schools in your zone to get a better idea of what the school is like, and to fill out an application. Be sure to see the list of required documents that you’ll need to bring with you.
You can also visit schools that you’re interested in that are outside of your zone, though priority is given to students residing within the zone. To find out which school you are zoned for, call 311 or conduct a search on the DOE site.
The best way to learn about a school is to see it first hand–and to see others, so you can compare them. Of course, advice from others can be just as helpful, so if you have some thoughts about one of our local schools that you’d like to share, please do. Maybe there is something you wish someone had told you about the school that you found out later? What has your child’s experience been? And what’s your experience been as a part of the school community?
In the meantime, here’s the contact info and open house information (if available) for elementary schools in our area:
PS 230: 1 Albemarle Road, 718-437-6135, Parent Coordinator Nadine F. Myers-Guilloteau’s email is nmyers5@schools.nyc.gov. Kindergarten open houses are scheduled for Monday, January 23 and Thursday, February 16 at 9am at 425 McDonald Ave.
This Saturday, January 14 at 1pm, the Green-Wood Historic Fund will host an afternoon with author and historian Ben Feldman at Green-Wood Cemetery for a talk and question-and-answer session, where participants will join Feldman in uncovering the long-lost stories of Green-Wood’s permanent residents.
Feldman will discuss the forgotten characters in his two books, Butchery on Bond Street and Call Me Daddy, in addition to his current research. Following the talk and Q&A session, he will lead a trolley tour to the graves of the subjects of his research.
The talk is free. Tickets for the trolley tour are $15 for Green-Wood Historic Fund members and $20 for non-members. Reservations for the trolley tour are strongly recommended and seating is limited. If the tour is not sold out in advance, walk-ups will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.
To make an online reservation or to find out more information, visit green-wood.com/toursevents or call 718-210-3080.
The temperatures this week might make it seem hard to believe, but baseball and softball seasons are right around the corner, and leagues have already begun the registration process:
78th Precinct Youth Council
Several co-ed baseball leagues for children ages 5 to 17, and softball for girls ages 8 to 15. The games are played in Prospect Park, and the season begins Saturday, April 7. They are also hosting a series of winter batting instruction days at the Cyclones’ MCU Park, as well as a winter baseball clinic at Bishop Ford High School. Register online here, or for more information, email contactus@78pyc.org.
SFX Youth Sports
Again, wide range of co-ed baseball leagues for kids ages 4 to 17, and softball for girls ages 6-17. Also playing in Prospect Park, SFX and the 78th are both part of the Prospect Park Baseball Association. Teams form in March, but registration has begun. Register online here, or call 888-SFX-1047 for more information.
Bonnie Youth Club
Pre-season tryouts have already passed, but there are still openings for experienced players between the ages of 5 and 21. Mandatory team meetings start this weekend, so contact them today if you haven’t yet. For more information, call 718-941-4698.
A new year means a new season of Brooklyn Dirt Talks at Sycamore in Ditmas Park. The first one will be on Wednesday, January 18, and it’s free to attend.
Created by Kensington’s own Cantaloupe Alone (aka Naomi Donabedian) and hosted by Meera Bhat of Prospect Farm in Windsor Terrace, the first Dirt Talk will feature John Ameroso, who is responsible for about 18 tons of produce grown in NYC a year, and who has been sowing gardens since 1976. He’s got a lot of experience as an urban farmer, so drop by to ask some questions.
We have a new beginners/gentle yoga series starting this coming Sunday, January 8 with the wonderful Amanda from 3-4:15pm. The series runs 8 weeks at a time for only $130. The gentle class will run from January thru June and yogis may continue on thru the end of June.
Saturday afternoon beginners Belly Dance Class 1:15-2:15pm. Join us and learn the art of world/belly dance moms and daughters welcomed. Pay only $15 a class per person or save and share/purchase a class card per family.
Personal Training for those in need of one on one bootcamp workouts. We work within all types of budgets and teach you the ins and outs of eating right and keeping the weight off permanently.
Neighbor Risa Johnson, who teaches art classes to kids in the area, has an opening for a couple more students in her Saturday morning class. Kids age 7 to 11 will learn in-depth multi-media methods, including painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, sculpture, and more.
The class meets on East 4th Street between Avenue C and Beverley Road on the third Saturday of each month from 10:30 to 11:30am. The cost is $20 per class.
I make an effort, a rather minor one, to keep the seed tray small. Catalogues aren't as exciting when there is no room to grow. This year, I focus. Brassicas for the fall in the garlic beds. Tomatoes, tossing out the less than stellar, trying new varieties. Herbs: cilantro, basil, fennel seed (yes!), and parsley. Snap peas and cucumbers in their place. […]
I'm back in NYC, have been for nearly a week. It's good, but there is always an adjustment when you've been away for three weeks. I read recently that gardening, itself, was nostalgic. I was surprised by this. Really? Not just modes of gardening or styles of design? Gardening itself. Maybe I am more startled by my own surprise than by the noti […]
i abandon my kvetchy moments to write about one of the most basic current joys in my life. one that was out of bounds for the past 6 years and now and then i am astonished to realize that i am, indeed, allowed to stand at my kitchen counter, peel and then consume, section by section, beautiful winter grapefruits. red […]
We always miss it, but not this time. Minneapolis has a parks district called Three Rivers. Within this district, at its most western boundary, lies a park named Gale Woods Farm. Mr. Gale donated his property to the city with the condition that it remain a working farm. These days you can see the animals being raised, watch the corn grow, and buy some of it […]
A reminder that Minnesota is a glacially formed landscape. A pit full of gravel and others that look like river stones. Its steep sides host cedar, birch, and grasses. […]
Around here, and for a stretch into Iowa, the soil is a rich, dark, almost black, earth. Not just the farmlands, but in the woods as well. It's full of carbon. What is it used for? Mostly corn, and lately, for building more and more “executive homesites.” But that is a digression. I can see that some fields have been plowed quite recently. This is unusu […]
