The auto shops between Cortelyou and Avenue C continually park and repair cars on the sidewalk.  The meters are always broken and filled with unlicensed and unregistered cars.  The No Standing zone outside of 740 CIA near Cortelyou is filled every afternoon and often with double and triple parked cars.  All this creates a traffic nightmare and presents a danger to pedestrians, many of them seniors, trying to get to the supermarket. Police efforts in response to earlier complaints have been non-existent.  Does any of this have to do with the fact that we are at the wrong end of the 66 precinct?

If you are near Brooklyn on Monday Sept 6th I would love to have you come down and check us out. The master composter (you wouldn’t believe how many awesome people are in on this project) and I will be digging and sifting to create fresh plots to plant in. Come learn how we are remediating Brooklyn’s deadly soil to grow great big vegetables for the community. Lend a hand, or a shovel if you have one.

There will be future volunteer opportunities. We will have more plots for people to grow their own vegetables if you choose to volunteer with us. Let me know if this stuff excites you or if the thought of dirt and labor makes you want to lock the door and crank the AC. Please spread the word with other gardening inclined folks too!

Digging, Sifting and Soil Remediation Round 4
Monday September 6th
9am – 4 pm
at Prospect Farm, 1194 Prospcet Ave btwn Vanderbilt and Seeley Sts.

You can join their Google Group for weekly/daily updates, like them on Facebook, or just email ProspectFarmbk@gmail.com to get in touch.

If you’ve had trouble with undelivered mail, here’s her advice:

Several months ago, I asked you to send me your concerns regarding mail delivery in 11218.  At that time, I collected 25 separate complaints.  Over the last 8 weeks, I have patiently worked my way through the system, trying to find an advocate to help us.  Now, it seems my patience has been rewarded, as folks from USPS Consumer Affairs have called a meeting at our local post office to further discuss these complaints with the manager.

[At the meeting on August 25th ] In attendance were:

Alan Dubrow, Chairman of Community Board 12 and Heather, a member of the Albemarle Neighborhood Association, both of whom represent our neighborhood on the USPS Community Advisory Council of the Brooklyn Postmaster

Andrea Burrows and Archie Warner, who work in the Consumer Affairs Office of the Brooklyn Postmaster

Kensington Station Manager Mike Scalise

We discussed the delivery issues in our area.  Everyone agrees that there are problems, and the Post Office officials seem sincere in their commitment to make improvements.   The best thing any of us can do is report problems as they happen, since unknown issues can’t be addressed.

If you experience problems (no delivery on a particular day; lost packages; etc.), here are some options:

1.      Call the local post office and speak to Mike Scalise.  He gave me three numbers to use:
•       718-436-0164
•       718-436-1082
•       718-686-7293

2.      Send an email to our neighbor Heather, who has set up a separate account to gather information regarding post office issues in 11218.  Heather compiles the data and forwards it to the Brooklyn Postmaster’s office on a regular basis.  She requests that when you write you are as detailed as possible, describing the issue, the date/time, and your delivery address.  The email address is:  kensingtonpohelp@aol.com

On Saturday Sept. 11th, I will be teaching a worm bin workshop at the East 4th Street Community Garden, and all are welcome!

When:
Saturday, September 11th at 9 a.m. (lasting approx. 1 hour)
Rain date – Sunday the 12th at 10 a.m.

Where:
East 4th Street Community Garden
171 East 4th Street (between Caton and Ft. Hamilton)

What to bring:
Your love of all things squirmy wormy!

She also sends on links to more info on worm bins and to a the garden’s events calendar.

Thanks so much for this great idea.  My office was very pleased to work with DOT on the widening of the sidewalk to promote pedestrian safety, and we would be very happy to work with the community on the idea of adding benches, street trees, and/or other features that would help transform this into a plaza.  As we have discussed, Kensington needs additional open and community space — and while this one isn’t that big, it is very well located right in the heart of the community.

We will reach out to the relevant City agencies to begin exploring this opportunity.  It is likely, of course, that we will encounter some obstacles along the way.  But we look very forward to working with you, Kensington Prospect readers, and other Kensington community members to try to make it reality.

Thank you! Now, dear neighbors – how about sharing some ideas?

The local blogger who writes Cantaloupe Alone sings the praises of a certain sweet found at the Marysienka Deli, on Church between E3rd and 4th:

I was hoping for something like the ocean in candy form, even if that would be pukescent. What I found was rum flavored candy that tastedremarkably like a sweeter egg nog, very near bubble gum flavor with a peanut finish. The texture is crispy on the outside and butterfingeryon the inside. Its good, and its the closest thing I’m getting to lobster this summer! Good job Poland creating a Christmas flavored seafood themed candy. I will seek your lobster candy from now on along side your cold cuts.