Volume 5 Issue 05

Sheepshead Bay • Brighton Beach • Marine Park • Manhattan Beach • Coney Island • Flatlands • Gerritsen Beach • Mill Basin • Bergen Beach

Highlighting the Best Neighborhoods in Brooklyn

Vol. 5, No. 5, November 6 - 19, 2008

THE BAY CURRENTS PEOPLE SURVEY Page 6

Economic storm hits

Bay

Team reporting Pages 3, 5, 10

Bedbugs back at local school HONK to help kids Brooklyn boy ACES homecoming Bay Crossword Bush, Bloomberg the same EXPERIENCED AGENTS HAPPY WITH YOUR INCOME / SPLITS? Have you considered RE/MAX? “Nobody Sells More Real Estate than RE/MAX!

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Barack Obama is our new president -- make sure to pick up the next issue of Bay Currents for some predictions on how the new administration in Washington will affect us here in the Bay area.

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Member of the New York Press Association David J. Glenn Publisher Suzanne H. Glenn Editor Rachel Berger Art Director Patrick Hickey Jr. Sports Editor

Writers I. Friedin Gisele Strauch Kerry Donelli Jacqueline Donelli Amadeo Constanzo

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Page 2

Publisher’s Notebook Save two birds with one stone Barack Obama’s ascension to the presidency has been widely described as historic.

It certainly is.

But if Obama wants to have a historical impact besides being the first AfricanAmerican to be Chief Executive, he can do so by solving two key crises of the nation -- the economy and the environment -- with one set goal. You might say he can save two birds with one stone.

Just as John F. Kennedy successfully declared we would put a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s, the new

president should proclaim that we will be energy independent by 2018.

Solar panels, wind farms, water power -- all these clean, renewable, domestic alternatives to oil, coal, or nuclear are

November 6 - 19, 2008

quite doable. We have, or soon will have, the technology to do all this on a large scale. It will take the will, and the manpower to manufacture and install solar panels, wind farms, and the like. That means millions -- tens of millions -- of new jobs, at every skill level from manual labor to engineering.

I wish I could take credit for this idea, but that goes to the various cleanenergy advocates.

President-elect Obama, please Google “clean energy,” “renewable energy,” or other applicable key words, and find out more. Consult with environmental advisors.

You don’t even have to reach for the moon.

Visit us at: www.BayCurrents.net

Economic crisis strikes Bay area, too

By Patrick Hickey Jr. Bay Currents writer The economic storm that has hit the nation may not be officially labeled a recession – yet -- but Bay area merchants and shoppers, as well as college students staring into an uncertain future, can tell you: It sure feels like one.

Although many feel – actually, hope -- that the $700 billion bailout will revive the economy and forestall a depression, small businesses, the mainstay of the Bay economy, have already begun to feel the sting. “Overall, we have felt things slow up,� said Sal Taormina, owner of Pizza Boulevard, a popular eatery at the end of Oriental Boulevard in Manhattan Beach that could be doubly affected by an economic slowdown, since it heavily depends on hungry Kingsborough Community College students. “People aren’t spending as much money as they used and the cost of food is very high, so that affects things a lot.�

Taormina believes his business will survive in the long run, but he said that if things continued to get worse, he eventually would have to lay off one or two of his employees. “I’d have to let somebody go. That’s just the way it is,� he said.

It may be the way it is for large businesses as well. The coffeehouse giant Starbucks closed 600 stores and sent home more than 10,000 workers in July. Locally, though, the situation may have the opposite effect – perhaps Bay area residents are drowning their worries in caffeine. “The sales at my store in particular have been better this year than the year before,� said an employee at a Starbucks outlet in Midwood. “People come in and complain about the economy, but then they go spend five dollars on a cup of coffee.�

The Slavyanskiy Bazaar diner at 354 Kings Highway

at East 4th Street opened its doors just last month. “We feel like we have an opportunity to grow, but because of the way things are right now, things have been slower than expected,� said manager Dianna Bortnikova. “To counteract this, we’ve had to lower prices.� “I’m not spending as much as I did before,�

John Schiavone said while shopping on Kings Highway. “I don’t know what’s going to happen next, so I’m going to be very careful with my money.�

The economic crisis has not only affected buying habits, but apparently is influencing, at least in part, young people’s decisions about their futures. Some have turned from fields they’re passionate about, to what they view as more stable.

Kingsborough Community College student Olga Privman said she really wants to teach philosophy, but “I was told a few years ago that the hiring market was terrible then, and the economic situation has since gotten even worse. I only hope that it improves soon. Otherwise, I’ll have to get a degree in something dependable -- and

boring, like accounting.�

Amid all this, one industry seems to remain strong,

mainly because of a dramatic downturn in prices. Asked how the economy was affecting his job, an attendant at the BP gas station on Coney Island Avenue and Lancaster Avenue, said, “I really don’t want to say anything. I can’t.�

He was too busy to talk, anyway. Every pump in the station was being used.

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Page 3

HONK if you want to help kids

By David J. Glenn Bay Currents Publisher Ray Fiore – more commonly known as Rockin’ Ray – has no degree in social work or counseling, but he really doesn’t need one.

He and his sister, Brenda, have already given several teens the self-confidence and discipline they need to get their lives on a better track, through the HONK – Help Our Neighborhood Kids – program they’ve started in Sheepshead Bay. The 45-year-old retired carpenter and amateur-boxing advisor, and his sister, a postal worker from Bay Ridge, have set up punching bags, workout equipment, and a lounge area with a pool table, foozeball, and couches to offer area kids a place to go after school or on weekends to channel their energy – which otherwise might be directed to getting into fights.

“It keeps them out of trouble, away from fights and joining street gangs,” Fiore said as he hung up posters of famous and notso-famous amateur and pro boxers in the basement store space he rents at 2461 East 16th Street off Avenue Y. He knows of what he speaks. He grew up in “The Junction,” the area at the intersection of Flatbush and Nostrand

Avenues, which he said was “a very poor neighborhood. I always wished I had someplace to go – I couldn’t afford camp or the YMCA.” When he came upon amateur boxing, “it made me not want to fight other kids. It’s really the anti-punk drug.”

Page 4

up with Rockin’ Ray, he said.

Sam Nuzdrokh, 17, a senior at Brooklyn Tech, also plans to go to college, and likewise gives a lot of the credit to HONK. “Before, I didn’t have much confidence,” he said. “The main thing is the sportsmanship, and the discipline.”

Fiore currently has to charge $120 a month to kids who can afford it; he’s hoping to get grants or other funding to be able to take in more boys and, yes, girls, from the Sheepshead Bay, Mill Basin, and Coney Island areas.

Anyone who can help with money, equipment, or fundraising ideas, can call Rockin’ Ray at 347-439-2397.

Bryan Gonzalez practices some boxing moves at HONK. The physicality of boxing and working out is particularly important for kids today, Fiore said. “Nowadays they’re in front of a computer all the time. There are so many obese kids now.”

Bay Crossword

Answers on page 14

The world of gangs and violence can lure any young person, he said. “White, black, Hispanic – it doesn’t matter,” Fiore said as his 4-year-old daughter Amelia handed him a poster of Muhammad Ali to hang up.

Is HONK effective? Just ask the kids.

“It keeps me in shape, out of trouble,”

said 16-year-old Bryan Gonzales, a junior at Sheepshead Bay High School. “It makes you know what you’re capable of.”

He’s planning to go to college – an avenue he might not be pursuing had he not hooked

By Yitzchak Relkin Across 1. Profession 6. Tough 10. Hanks or Selleck 13. In 19. Parents 20. “Fuzzy Wuzzy ___...”

21. Medical suffix 22. Button on some old cash registers 23. Arm bones 24. Xenon, for example 26. Like most sonnets 27. Brooklyn neighborhood 29. Brooklyn neighborhood 31. Some drugs, briefly 32. Per diem 34. Major’s follower 35. Some NFL pass catchers 36. “___ be a cold day...”

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November 6 - 19, 2008

“Rockin’ Ray” points out some famous boxers on the wall to his 4-year-old daughter, Amelia.

Yitzchak Relkin is a web developer and crossword puzzle editor living in Brooklyn. To contact Yitzchak about a web site or customized crossword puzzles (for birthdays, anniversaries), email: crossword@relkin.com.

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106. Mole kin 107. Contemptible person 108. Like a judge 109. Enjoy the rink 111. Famous last words 112. Sentence part: Abbr.

113. See 7 down 114. Schick competitor 116. Applies lightly 119. Man-mouse connection

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Health Currents Health coverage is early casualty of economic crisis

By Amadeo Constanzo Bay Currents writer With any economic storm come the inevitable layoffs.

And that often means loss of health coverage.

“Given the financial damage to date, I cannot see how we can avoid a significant rise in layoffs and unemployment,” said Alan Greenspan told the House Oversight Committee on Oct. 13.

“Our company hasn’t laid off anyone yet but they will,” a local employee of American Express told Bay Currents.

“Everybody [in American Express] knows it.”

Another local worker, employed by Showtime Networks said, “They’ve laid off people earlier this year already and they’ll probably do it again.”

When asked what they would do about health insurance if they lost their job, most we interviewed said they didn’t know.

So, what should you do if you’re among the walking wounded? First, you should ask the human resources representative of the company you’re about to depart from, about health coverage under COBRA – the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. If you’re shown the door, COBRA allows you to continue with the same insurance -- but you have to pay the monthly premium yourself.

Resist the usual first reaction, “ I can’t afford that!” – it’s important to keep the insurance any way you can, at least

until you find another job or cheaper insurance. The last thing you should have to worry about while job-hunting is what would happen if you get sick.

In the meantime, you should look into New York State-sponsored health programs, such as Medicaid, Family Health Plus, Healthy New York, and Child Health Plus.

Many unemployed New Yorkers are eligible for at least one of the three programs.

Most part-time workers don’t get health care insurance, anyway, but some do, particularly par-timers who put in at least 19 hours a week at the City University of New York or at Starbucks. But these organizations are financially struggling, too, and employees may face layoffs. “They closed the Starbucks on 84th Street and 3rd Avenue [in Brooklyn] last month because of lack of business,” said a Starbucks employee in Bensonhurst. The chain already has left some 600 workers nationwide with empty cups.

If you lose your health insurance due to reduction of work hours, you may be eligible for Healthy New York.

Even if you are rejected by any of these programs, your children may still be eligible for Child Medicaid or Child Health Plus. Governor Paterson recently signed legislation expanding the eligibility criteria of Child Health Plus in New York. Your children may now be covered up to their 19th birthday even if you still have a full-time job with an income of as much as $84,000 a year.

If you currently are employed, take the preventive

BAY CURRENTS ADVERTORIAL

Questions I’ve Often Been Asked

The treatment of bladder stones has been described since antiquity. Even the Hippocratic Oath admonishes the physician not to “Cut for Stone” unless specifically trained in the art.

Cutting for stone referred to a technique first developed in India in ancient times of using a sharp blade to cut through the narrow area between a man’s anus and scrotum to enter the bladder and extract the stones.

Imagine how much agony a man would have to endure before agreeing to undergo without anesthesia to such a barbaric procedure, which carried a high mortality rate from hemorrhage and infection and was often followed, if the patient survived, by permanent complications including incontinence.

A small kidney stone or gravel can travel silently without pain, from the kidney into the bladder. From there it will most often pass out on urination. However, if the prostate is enlarged, the stone often is blocked from exiting the bladder. Then the small stone, trapped within the bladder grows to many times it original size by the precipitation of urinary salts on its surface until it can no longer fit through the outflow urinary pathway of the prostate. The stone lies undetected in the bladder until a cascade of painful symptoms with or without bleeding and infection occurs caused by the stone either obstructing the outflow of urine through the prostate or by irritation of the bladder wall.

Of historical interest is that Benjamin Franklin suffered with gout, which can cause

uric acid stones to form in the kidneys and bladder and also with urinary retention related to prostate obstruction. The practice at the time was to pass a stiff straight hollow reed, well lubricated with butter through the penis into the bladder to drain out the urine. Ben Franklin, of necessity, invented a new device, still in use today, called the flexible silk woven catheter.

This smooth flexible hollow tube was the forerunner of today’s modern catheters.

While not exactly a panacea, it did relieve the excruciating pains of thousands of men, who had been suffering with the agony of bladder stones. Today of course, we know that uric acid stones are one of the few types of stone that can be completely dissolved by making the urine alkaline with proper medication. When bladder stones are made of calcium rather than uric acid, they cannot be dissolved but may be safely and comfortably removed under anesthesia by the urologist. When a patient has symptomatic prostate enlargement and microwave thermotherapy is being considered as a possible treatment, the urologist will first make sure that there are no bladder stones. The presence of prostate stones however, which are not in contact with urine, is no contraindication to the use of microwave treatment. As a matter of fact, painful chronic prostatitis with prostate stones often responds very well to microwave thermotherapy.

If you have a question you would like answered in this column, call Dr. Okun at 718-241-6767 or E-mail Herbert@Okun.com

To advertise call 347.492.4432

To determine which state and/or city health insurance programs for which you may be eligible:

Medicaid 1-877-472-8411.

Family Health Plus 1-877-9FHPLUS Healthy NY 1-866-432-5849 Child Medicaid and Child Health Plus 1-800-698-4543

THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO TREAT YOUR URINARY AND PROSTATE

By PatrickPROBLEMS Hickey Jr.

Doctor, Doctor?

Bladder Stones and Prostate Enlargement

approach by trying to increase your value to your organization to keep your job in the first place. If you are laid off, keep a clear head; before doing anything else, make sure you and your family have at least some kind of health coverage

Men who have an enlarged prostate experience a variety of uncomfortable symptoms.

•Slow stream •Frequent urination •Getting up at night •Can’t seem to empty the bladder •Can’t get to the bathroom on time Tired of taking drugs to control these symptoms?

Unhappy with the effect of these drugs on your sex life?

Look into the one-time, non-surgical microwave prostate treatment called TherMatrx Herbert Okun, M.D., A board-certified urologist, with more than 40 years of clinical experience, is trained to offer this advanced treatment.

A single TherMatrx treatment can relieve these irritating symptoms and can reduce or eliminate the need for costly prostate medication.

•Avoid the ongoing, never-ending expense of medication.

•Avoid the side effects of drugs on your sex life.

November 6 - 19, 2008

The Benefits of TherMatrx Dose-Optimized Thermotherapy: Minimally invasive FDA Approved No Surgery No Hospitalization Performed in the doctor’s office No anesthesia Covered by Medicare, Multiplan, 1199, PHCS, GHI, Aetna, US Healthcare, and many other insurance plans.

Also offered: Advanced treatment of erectile dysfunction Call to make your appointment today

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2655 National Drive, Mill Basin, near Kings Plaza Page 5

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Just fill out this short survey and mail or e-mail it back to us.

PEOPLE SURVEY

Bay Currents People Survey 1) About how many times a month do you read Bay Currents?

2) Where do you usually pick it up?

Send the completed survey to; Bay Currents People Survey 2966 Avenue U, Suite 108 Brooklyn, NY 11229

3) Did you ever find a time when it was not there?

4) What do you enjoy the most about Bay Currents?

5) Is there anything about the paper you would like to change? How?

or e-mail it to: countme@baycurrents.net

6) Have you ever submitted articles to a newspaper or a journal?

7) Would you be interested in getting coupons for businesses in your neighborhood?

Would you prefer them in print, online, or both?

8) If we created a daily e-mail that included events and news items in your area, as well as sections of the paper that might interest you, would you regularly look at that e-mail?

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November 6 - 19, 2008

Visit us at: www.BayCurrents.net

Murder in Sheepshead Bay In a neighborhood unaccustomed to very many instances of violent crime, a man identified as a 32-year-old Turkish immigrant was stabbed to death on East 16th near Avenue Z in Sheepshead Bay at about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, police said.

The victim, identified as Gokce Kurkcu, suffered several stab wounds to his stomach, and was found dead by a passerby, police said.

His wallet and cell phone reportedly were still on him.

Police found no suspects nor determined a motive by press time.

City buys chunk of Coney The city has paid $11 million for a one-acre portion of the Wonder Wheel Amusement Park in Coney Island, a purchase that Mayor Bloomberg says is to preserve the amusement meccaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character amid competing plans for development.

The historic Wonder Wheel itself remains in the private hands of the Vourderis family.

The city already has bought the famous Cyclone roller coaster and Steeplechase Park for a total of four acres of Coney Island. Bloomberg says the city plans to acquire nine acres altogether to designate as protected parkland.

IMAX comes to the Bay If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fully enjoy a new movie unless itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the IMAX format, you no longer have to travel to Manhattan to find one.

UA Movies at Sheepshead Bay has launched the first IMAX in Brooklyn. The cutting-edge technology offers a massive screen, enveloping sound, and digital crispness.

Buying or selling?

The Bay Ridge Jewish Center presents an indoor Flea Market from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23. Flea Market Holiday gifts, old and new treasures, hand-made crafts, household items. The center is at 81 Street and 4th Avenue (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Râ&#x20AC;? train to 77 Street). Free admission, refreshments. For

more information or to sell, call 718-836-3103 or e-mail: brjc11209@aol.com.

Civic association meeting The next Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20 at the Beth-El Jewish Center of Flatbush, at the corner of Avenue T and Homecrest Avenue, with Rabbi Pearl discussing â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Neighborhood Uniting for Preservation. Also scheduled are representatives of the 61st Precinct, and an update on community issues. For more information about the meeting or joining the civic group, call 718- 934-8214

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Here are some of the places you can pick up Bay Currents in Coney Island: Key Food â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 505 Neptune Ave. Walgreens Drug Store â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 532 Neptune Ave. CVS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 512 Neptune Ave. Peggy Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s -- 1904 Surf Ave. American Suds Laundromat â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2915 Surf Ave. Community Care Pharmacy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2913 Surf Ave. Saulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pharmacy & Surgical Supply â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3514 Mermaid Ave. Major Meats â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1516 Mermaid Ave. Brooklyn Public Library (Coney Island) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1901 Mermaid Ave. Sunshine of Coney Island Deli â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2120 Mermaid Ave. Rite Aid - Mermaid Ave â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3001 Mermaid Ave. Key Food â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3485 Neptune Ave. Madeleine Jones Day Care â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3415 Neptune Ave. Circles Bistro â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2801 Coney Island Ave.

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Page 9

Senior Currents

By Gisele Strauch

Don’t let the economy get you down!

No one, except perhaps the likes of Bill Gates or Mayor Bloomberg, has been spared the effects of the financial crisis.

Bay area seniors, most of them on fixed incomes, are likely the most worried.

But seniors who are dependent on government programs to help pay their essential bills, should not be overly anxious.

No matter how many billions are given to bail out Wall Street companies, or whether John McCain or Barak Obama is our new president (this is being written before Election Day), Medicare, the “STAR” real estate rebates, the “HEAP” assistance with utility bills, and other programs for seniors, as far as we can tell now, remain solid.

And, seniors will still get a $63 raise in their Social Security benefits starting in January.

Of course, it’s still difficult for all of us to get by right now. Here are some tips to save money: 1. Go to senior centers so you can have nutritious meals at very low cost -- and enjoy the socializing and activities.

(See our list of neighborhood centers) 2. Clip coupons, and stock up on sale items that you use.

Keep track of new stores coming into your neighborhood, since they likely will offer attractive sales. Know the difference between your wants, and needs.

3. Make a precise grocery list – keep track of items that are running out. Always have at least two of each item in your cupboard. Try to stick to the list – make a weekly

menu for yourself based on the list.

4. Buy energy-saving items, such as refillable cleaning products. Return soda or other drink bottles for the deposit.

5. Do not eat out too often.

8. Do your hair based on how it looks, not on any regular schedule. Also, see if your beauty parlor has a special on certain days, and make your appointment accordingly.

9. Shut off lights and appliances when not in use.

Unplug what you can when not in use (Appliances use a surprisingly large amount of electricity even when not on).

If you are buying a new appliance, make sure it’s energyefficient.

10. Buy clothes at discount stores. Keep track of the condition of your clothes from season to season -- have separate sections in your closets and draws, so you can see what it is still good and what needs to be thrown out or donated.

11. Try to walk more if it’s not too far instead of using the bus. Maybe walk with a friend.

12. Go to the library instead of buying books. Also, there are many bookstores at which you can trade in your old books and videos for new (or different) ones.

13. Share cost-cutting tips with others, and look some up on the Internet (if you don’t have your own computer, you can use one for free at the library).

I hope this list helps you save a little. If you have any

I KNOW HOW TO WIN FOR YOU! Call me personally any time for immediate help with:

further suggestions, let me know at seniors@baycurrents.com There’s a senior center near you!

1. JAY/ HARAMA Center 2600 Ocean Avenue 718- 891- 1110 • 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Risa Erps, director This center is sponsored by the JCC of Greater Coney Island and the city Department of Aging. The center is known for the Holocaust Club that meets monthly.

JAY/HARAMA offers very low-cost breakfast and lunch, as well as monthly birthday parties. There is an array of activities and trips, and counseling, health screenings, assistance with filling out forms, and other services are offered at no charge.

2. KINGSBAY Y Senior Center 3495 Nostrand Avenue 718- 648-7703 The center offers an Alzheimer’s program, trips, lectures, and counseling. Social Service help is provided 3. National Council Of Jewish Women 1001 Quentin Road 718- 376- 8169 Four floors of activities and places to eat. Parties, drama groups, choral groups, dancing, exercise, card games, health screenings, social services, and support groups.

Continue on page 11

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November 6 - 19, 2008

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Senior Currents Continued from page 10

4. YOUNG ISRAEL OF BEDFORD BAY SENIOR CENTER 2114 Brown Street Myrna Newman, director.

Lunch, lectures, trips, parties. Health and social services provided.

5. JASA MAHATTAN BEACH 60 West End Avenue 718- 646- 1118 standard activities and meals, social services, and health screenings 6. SHOREFRONT Y 3300 Coney Island Avenue The center offers many programs for the Russian immigrant community of Brighton Beach, along with the standard activities and meals.

7. YOUNG ISRAEL OF MIDWOOD 1694 Ocean Avenue 718- 253- 7800 Sarah Klein, director In addition to the standard activities, the center offers painting, Oneg Shabbat, chair aerobics, Rabbi’s torah portion of the week. The center is known for its red and white van transportation service.

8. SENIOR LEAGUE OF FLATBUSH MIDWOOD BRANCH 1625 Ocean Avenue 718- 253- 0508 Lenore Friedman, executive director; Robin Di Lullo, site director Best known for ballroom dancing, blood pressure screenings, arts and crafts, parities with large attendance, book reviews, current events, and hotel trips along with standard activities.

9. SENIOR LEAGUE OF FLATBUSH 550 Ocean Parkway The center is known for it hearing-impaired group and English as a Second language programs for the Russian community.

I hope this list will help you find the center that’s just right for you. Bring a friend!

Bedbugs strike again at special-ed school

By David J. Glenn Bay Currents Publisher Teachers at the special-education complex at 2525 Haring Street in Marine Park may have to greet their students with, “Good morning, don’t let the bedbugs bite.”

In late October, bedbugs were found on a student and on his wheelchair, the school’s PTA president, Gloria Smith, told Bay Currents. The school sent a letter to parents notifying them of the problem, she said.

“The bedbugs reproduce incredibly quickly,” Smith said. “It really can be a problem.”

“It’s something that spreads,” a mother of a 16-year-old

autistic boy at the school told Bay Currents. “I’m worried that nothing is being done.”

“We don’t have a bedbug situation,” the school’s new principal, Annette Rose, told Bay Currents on Oct. 31.

Asked about the letter home, Rose declined any further comment and referred Bay Currents to the Department of Education’s press office.

Calls there were not returned by press time.

Smith said there was a similar problem last year, and that the DOE sent in a physician. “He said the bugs were coming in from the outside,” Smith said.

“He told us there was nothing we could do about it.”

Profile of a bedbug Bedbugs Cimex lectularius (Cimicidae) are not confined to beds. They’ve become an increasing problem of late in New York City, and can be in houses, apartments, hotels, cruise ships, dormitories, shelters, and, as we’ve seen, in schools.

Bedbugs are small, wingless insects that feed solely upon the blood of humans and other warm-blooded hosts. Certain kinds even inhabit bird nests and bat roosts and await the return of their hosts; others have adapted well to living in human residences.

The hatchlings are about the size of a poppy seed, and adults are about a quarter-inch in length. They are oval in shape and flattened from top to bottom.

Because they never develop wings, bedbugs cannot fly.

When disturbed, bed bugs actively seek shelter in dark cracks and crevices.

Bedbugs seek out people and animals, generally at night while these hosts are asleep, and painlessly sip a few drops of blood. While feeding, they inject a tiny amount of their saliva into the skin. Repeated exposures to bedbug bites during a period of several weeks or more causes people to become sensitized to the saliva of these bugs; additional bites may then result in mild to intense allergic responses.

The affected person should resist the urge to scratch the bites, since this may intensify the irritation and itching, and may lead to secondary infection. Patients usually are treated with antihistamines and corticosteroids to reduce allergic reactions and inflammation. Bedbugs are not known to transmit any infectious agents.

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Page 11

Bush and Bloomberg are two of a kind

By I. Freidin Bay Currents columnist Corruption of our democratic principles; a deadly, destabilizing invasion and prolonged occupation distracting from the real war on terror; condoning of further damage to our environment; creation of chaos in the world economy: all results of policies of the current administration in Washington. Deregulation of the economy, begun long before but significantly advanced under Bush-Cheney, has now proven once and for all that allowing the elite few at the top of the economic food chain to operate free of rules and regulations does not work.

Here in New York, things are not very different, as Mayor Mike Bloomberg has allowed his fellow billionaires to profiteer at the expense of the public. Condoning the destruction of our middle class way of life and denying the poor, he has allowed services and infrastructure to go wanting while money flows into the pockets of the ultra rich. And now he wants to subvert the voice of the people by extending mandated term limits to allow him to continue in office. “I enjoy the job”, he says and seems to feel that he has the right to purchase it for four more years. The greatest irony is his claim that he is the only one with the expertise to guide the city in this time of economic crisis – which calamity policies such as his “up-flow economics” helped to create.

Among the greatest outrages is the deal Bloomberg made with fellow billionaire Ron Lauder in order to secure another term. This is oligarchy (rule by elite, generally at the expense of the majority), plain and simple. It has been reported that those involved in charities and institutions Bloomberg supports were pressured into supporting his political ambitions, and extra pressure had been placed on members of the City Council who voted to allow him, and themselves, to run for another term.

Compounding this further is the unprecedented influence he seems to have on the major media, controlled by

corporate moguls with similar interests. When he and his cronies remind us that it’s up to the voters, remember that other candidates have to spend so much of their time seeking funding while he just plunks down his $100 million to outspend them all and purchase the election. He runs the city like a business; balance sheet first; anything but democratic.

So much for democracy in New York!

The Bush-Bloomberg system works only for the few The current financial crisis is the biggest since the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Prior to that, the economy was mostly unregulated and suffered extreme fluctuations.

During the catastrophic downturn precipitated by the Crash of 1929, the Republican Hoover administration, committed to the historical hands-off policy, watched from the sidelines as the nation, and the world, sunk deeper and deeper into depression and despair. The election of Franklin Roosevelt in 1932, with his New Deal, created policy, radical for the time, which helped those on the bottom. Rather than count on the wealth of a few trickling down, it would now, in part at least, have direct benefit to those on the bottom and middle in support of the economy. At the same time, regulations were enacted to prevent another such catastrophe. The super rich called the wealthy Roosevelt a “traitor to his class”, considering these policies to be socialism. In reality, it was capitalism with a conscience, or humanistic capitalism.

The New Deal focused on public works, education and the arts as well as enacting protective measures for the public with social security and insurance for bank accounts. It created much of the infrastructure in the nation, providing numerous jobs. Setting the table for the enormous growth of the American middle class after World War II, New Deal thought dominated our national consciousness until the War in Viet Nam discredited Lyndon Johnson, the last New Dealer in the White House. Contributions during this period of relative enlightenment included Medicare, civil rights for

minorities and women and numerous other entitlements.

Hunger was mostly eliminated in this country and relative income for the middle and lower classes rose steadily against that of the wealthy.

The beginning of the end of humanism in our system was the election of Richard Nixon in 1968, as he purged most of the remaining New Dealers out of government, continued under Ronald Reagan, and brought to its present state by Bush-Cheney. Now, while our government has been placing money before people, just about every other industrial nation has far surpassed us in providing for the well being of its citizens.

New Deal policies created no panacea. It was rife with problems. But when weighed against the alternative deregulated free for all, it is the system by which society can better serve the needs of the many. And despite the common misconception, freewheeling deregulation appropriates more money from the middle class for the rich than humanistic capitalism does for the poor as evidenced by the balance of wealth shifted to a greater degree toward the top end today while the middle sinks lower and lower. Whereas humanistic capitalism on its downside can often create frustration for the average citizen, an unregulated economy without entitlements, ala Bush and Bloomberg, will too often create extreme suffering for a wide range of the population.

In addition to the economic crisis, we now face political challenges in both nation and city. Isn’t it time our society returned humanity back into the mix? Isn’t it time to set our goals to serve all the people? Isn’t capitalism with a conscience better than the ruthless, self-indulgence that has caused the chaos we now face? Let us hope that people will get wise to what has been going on and reject the greed that has been motivating our government for much too long.

Let us once again make our nation the world leader and our city the national leader in creating the best quality of life possible for every member of society.

How the City Council Voted on Extending Term Limits Don’t forget the friends of democracy and those who sold it out -- save the thought through next year’s election!

YES (For shame!)

G. Oliver Koppell (D-Bronx) Miguel Martinez (D-Manhattan) Darlene Mealy (D-Brooklyn) Michael C. Nelson (D-Brooklyn) Christine C. Quinn (D-Manhattan) Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) Diana Reyna (D-Brooklyn) Joel Rivera (D-Bronx) James Sanders, Jr. (D-Queens) Larry B. Seabrook (D-Bronx) Helen Sears (D-Queens) Kendall Stewart (D-Brooklyn) James Vacca (D-Bronx) Peter F. Vallone, Jr. (D-Queens)

Maria del Carmen Arroyo (D-Bronx) Maria Baez (D-Bronx) Leroy G. Comrie, Jr. (D-Queens) Inez E. Dickens (D-Manhattan) Erik Martin Dilan (D-Brooklyn) Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn) Lewis A. Fidler (D-Brooklyn) Helen D. Foster (D-Bronx) Alan J. Gerson (D-Manhattan) Sara M. Gonzalez (D-Brooklyn) Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan) Melinda R. Katz (D-Queens)

Greenspan says “Oops!”

Former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan admitted his mistake in allowing financial markets to operate virtually free of regulation, leading to the current collapse.

Appointed by the Deregulation Republican Ronald Reagan in 1987, he served over 18 years, through all or parts of four administrations. This hands-off policy usually allows for an immediate rise that can last for several years, at least for the top segments of the economy. Therefore, no one, including the Democratic Clinton administration, would make a change based on the

concept that a good economy is good for the incumbent, which it surely is.

We see now however, what this short sightedness inevitably leads to.

We can equate this anarchy in the market to a society with no laws or rules; everyone doing whatever they please.

Needless to say, things would be rather chaotic and very dangerous. And this is just what occurred with our financial system.

With all the suffering this has caused for people worldwide, Greenspan says, “Oops!”

Albert Vann (D-Brooklyn) Thomas White, Jr. (D-Queens) David Yassky (D-Brooklyn)

NO (Heroes of the day!)

Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Queens) Tony Avella (D-Queens) Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn) Gale A. Brewer (D-Manhattan) Anthony Como (R-Queens) Bill de Blasio (D-Brooklyn) Mathieu Eugene (D-Brooklyn) Daniel R. Garodnick (D-Manhattan) James F. Gennaro (D-Queens)

Vincent J. Gentile (D-Brooklyn) Eric N. Gioia (D-Queens) Vincent Ignizio (R-S.I.) Letitia James (D-Brooklyn) Jessica S. Lappin (D-Manhattan) John C. Liu (D-Queens) Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan) Michael E. McMahon (D-S.I.) Rosie Mendez (D-Manhattan) Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) James S. Oddo (R-S.I.) Annabel Palma (D-Bronx) David I. Weprin (D-Queen

                         

Our columnists’ views do not necessarily reflect those of the editors and management of Bay Currents.

Page 12

November 6 - 19, 2008

Visit us at: www.BayCurrents.net

Sports Currents Brooklyn hockey ACE makes hometown debut

By Patrick Hickey Jr. Bay Currents Sports Editor If you think about, it was probably inevitable.

As pro-hockey comes to Brooklyn this month – specifically, at the Aviator Sports Center in Floyd Bennett Field – in the form of the Aces, it’s really no surprise that a key player will be a Brooklyn boy.

Forged on the Abe Stark hockey rink in Coney Island and solidified in the youth hockey leagues of Long Island, James Brannigan’s game is somewhat of legend in Brooklyn.

Turning down an opportunity to play in the Central Hockey League this season, Brannigan signed with the team a few weeks ago and is thrilled to come home where his career-- and life -- started.

“It feels really good to be able to play in front of the city I grew up in,” Brannigan told Bay Currents. “It’s very exciting.”

At 24 years old, Brannigan already has a year of pro hockey under his belt, splitting last season with the Augusta

Lynx and Columbia Inferno in the East Coast Hockey League. Before that, Brannigan spent three seasons as a fullscholarship athlete at Colorado College.

However, Brannigan’s star power was dimmed at Colorado, playing behind future American Hockey League stars Marty Sertich and Brett Sterling and former Rangers draft pick Joey Crabb.

Limited to fourth-line duty while in college, Brannigan knows he has the chance to prove himself in Brooklyn this season.

“I’m used to high pressure situations,” Brannigan, who scored 23 goals in the United States Hockey League before going to Colorado in 2004, said. “In college, my team made the frozen four and we played on ESPN. When I was in the USHL, I was like a local celebrity. I was in the newspaper and on TV all the time, so I’m ready for the atmosphere here. In college, I was hit with a bunch of injuries and I had to play behind some great players. It was tough for me, but it was the way things

work out. Here, I feel like I can contribute more than I did before. I want to show how successful I can be here this season.”

Comparing his game to that of Calgary Flames star Jarome Iginla, Brannigan seems himself fitting in perfectly with Aces coach Chris Firriolo’s high-puck pursuit game as well.

“I’m a speedy winger and a shooter,” Brannigan, whose father owns B & A Pork store on 13th Avenue in Dyker Heights, said, “I try and model my game after Alexander Ovechkin, he’s sick. I love watching him and trying to do what he does. I’m always the first fore checker in as well, the aggressor, so I think I’m going to be very comfortable here.”

It doesn’t hurt, either, that Brannigan lives just a 10-minute drive from Aviator Sports Center.

“I’m home,” said Brannigan, who grew up a Rangers fan and idolized Brian Leetch as a youngster. “I know I’m going to get a great opportunity to show what I’m made of. It’s surreal. It hasn’t really hit me yet.”

BAY CURRENTS PHOTO / Casey B. Gibson

James Brannigan

Player’s family support is no tall order

By Patrick Hickey Jr. Bay Currents Sports Editor Edon Molic isn’t your typical 14-year-old.

As a matter of fact, he’s not your typical anyone.

For starters, he’s already close to 6’4 and is looking to nab a spot on Xaverian’s highly competitive varsity basketball team, with many thinking he has what it takes to thrive with players up to four years older than him. Armed with a killer work ethic and a supportive family behind him, Molic may have a bright future in professional basketball ahead of him.

Nevertheless, even his family are still getting used to his ever-growing frame and reputation on the court.

“I’m a tall kid, so it doesn’t make me feel so bad,” his 18-year-old brother Admir, who is 6’2, said with a chuckle. “But some of my friends that he’s six or seven years younger than, he just towers over them. At least I know I can sleep at night. He’s only got a few inches on me.”

Playing through various youth leagues in Brooklyn over the past few years, Molic has gained notice for playing through some Edon Molic difficult injuries, including a fractured skull that required him to wear a facemask and an injured hand that limited his ability to shoot. Today, however, Molic is healthy and ready to prove himself in the high school basketball scene.

“I see a lot of raw talent, but he has a great work ethic,” said Molic’s former youth league coach Pat Lawler. “He’s

very polite in the gym as well. That’s the first thing I noticed about him. He’s very mature. He’s a natural leader and will lead the group huddles. On offense, he’s great.

He has an amazing jump shot and can lay up from either

BAY CURRENTS PHOTO / Ron Hatcher

side and uses both hands naturally. His defense is something that he needs to work on, but it’s something I see improving as he gets older.

That’s his only weakness now.”

Knowing that he’ll have to change his game this season

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November 6 - 19, 2008

in order to be successful, Molic isn’t above asking for help. In a show of perseverance and dedication, Molic has pledged to become a better defender this season and has done everything from watching tapes of Xaverian’s opponent this season to working on his own every day.

“I’ve been practicing a lot,” Molic said. “I asked the point guard on the team, who’s the best defensive player Xaverian has, to help me after practice. I think I’ve gotten a lot quicker because of that and I’m ready for the season.”

While this type of dedication at such a young age may surprise many, the Molic family is used to Edon’s work ethic. Often playing in more than one league at once, Edon’s mother never complained when the family had to take several buses a day to make practices and games on opposite sides of the borough. His older brother also served as a boot camp instructor at times as well, forcing his brother to not waste his talent and go out on the court, rather than play video games.

Now, a few years and a few inches later, Molic sees his true potential and doesn’t have to be told to practice every day.

His family’s support hasn’t hurt.

“The older kids in the neighborhood saw him playing when he was in the first grade and they really made him a better player,” his big brother said. “My mother and father really motivated him when he was younger and instilled a good work ethic in him. I think he’s going to be great at Xaverian.”

“People have helped me get to where I am today,” said Molic, who noted that he wants to eventually be a doctor as well as a pro basketball player. “I’m going to help them back when I can. My brother forced me to practice when I was younger and my mom gave me an opportunity to fall in love with the game. My father really helped me work on my technique. I owe them everything. I’d really like to buy them houses one day.”

Page 13

Answers to the Bay Crossword from page 4

B a y c r o s s w o rd

YESHIVA OHR ELIEZER

TEACHERS

Do you want to be where you are really needed and appreciated?

Do you want to be part of a nurturing academic environment with small classes and a supportive administration?

Then you should apply to Yeshiva Ohr Eliezer.

Call 347-204-8658 e-mail sdhagler@aol.com, or fax a cover letter and your resume to 718-336-3583.

The polls at the Kings Bay Y on Nostrand Avenue in Marine Park were not quite as crowded as at many other sites around Brooklyn, but the turnout was healthy.

BAY CURRENTS PHOTO

Have you been looking in vain for the right junior or senior high school yeshiva for your son?

PARENTS

Would you like him to be in a nurturing school with small classes, where the administration cares more about your child’s need for a comprehensive Jewish and secular education than your ability to pay?

Yeshiva Ohr Eliezer might just be the perfect fit for your son.

Call 347-204-8658 e-mail sdhagler@aol.com

Here are just a few of the places to pick up Bay Currents -- and some great coffee!

APPLE NEWSSTAND 4404 18th Avenue 718-633-5722

QUIZNOS 37 Hillel Place (at Brooklyn College)

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JOSEPH’S CARDS & GIFTS 3042 Avenue U (at Coyle Street) 718-648-0105

LAUNDROMAT & CAFE 1244 Avenue U (between 11th and 12th St)

RAJ NEWSSTAND 2811 Glenwood Road (off Flatbush Avenue)

SHAKESPEARE & CO. 14 Hillel Place (at Brooklyn College) 718-434-5326)

November 6 - 19, 2008

MILL BASIN STOP 61-22 Avenue U at Mill Avenue

STARBUCKS 33 Hillel Place (at Brooklyn College)

Visit us at: www.BayCurrents.net

Find your next employee!

Come study the Torah with us Tuesday evenings at

Young Israel of Bedford Bay

Hybrid Hiring is the latest in third-party recruiting systems.

TIME YOU GOT A HYBRID!

We will welcome you in a warm, spritual, environment 8 p.m.

Free and Open to members and non-members 2114 Brown Street (off Avenue U)

in Marine Park

What do we do?

We combine the skills of a traditional recruiter with the benefits of classified advertising at up to one third the cost! That’s a 66% savings on the cost of a hire -- and with better results!

When a third party enters the picture, everyone wins! We provide the confidentiality that many candidates request, and have the database that employers need.

Many positions will have candidates available within 48 hours (if not sooner).

718.332.4120

YARD SALE

Collectibles, furniture, clothes, fur coat, 20,000 baseball cards, 1970s and '80s comic books, Snap-on and Craftsman tools, TV set, roller-skates, knick-knacks.

Sunday, Nov. 9 Noon-5 p.m. (no early birds, please) 2163 East 73rd Street (between Avenues U and V) Bergen Beach 917-848-1675

Contact us!

Michael Schlager

347-869-5638

michaelschlager@hotmail.com

Hybrid Hiring Group Over 250 positions filled Member NAPS

Here are some more places! (If your newsstand doesn’t have it, ask for it!)

ABS DISCOUNT GROCERY 2713 Ave. U (between East 27th and 28th Streets)

CORNER MINIMART 2423 Ave. U (at Bedford Avenue)

SICILY NEWS 2155 Utica Ave. (between Avenues M and N

CAFE VERTORIS More Than a Bagel 2803 Ave. U (at East 28th Street)

To advertise call 347.492.4432

BAY STOP GROCERY 2970 Ocean Ave. (Ocean Avenue at Avenue Z)

November 6 - 19, 2008

AVENIUE U SUPERMARKET 1701 Ave. U (at East 17th Street)

Quick Stop Mini Mart & Deli, Coney Island Avenue at Avenue U

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     

          

 Privacy prevails in this sweet 1 family waterfront home offering three bedrooms, granite floors and new kitchen with stainless steel appliances.

All on glorious grounds! Two and a half lots and water lot, six boat slips. Unique, quiet and rarely available, this beauty is a must see and priced to sell! $799,000

OVERSIZED two family brick 6 1/2 over 6 1/2, over 3 1/2, hospitality suite with basement, terraces, one car garage and private drive, clean updated kitchens on quiet and private street, delivered vacant! Owner motivated! $749,000

THE YOUNGEST BIGGEST GEORGETOWN HAS TO OFFER! Semi attached 7 room (3 bdrm1 3/4 bath) over 6 room (3 bdrm, 1 3/4 bath) over 4 room (2 bdrm- occupied) and over sized studio (occupied) over a newly renovated studio. 37 year old 24 x 70 building, 37 x 100 lot, drive for 4 -6 cars, 4 year old roof, new PVC fence and 2 new boilers! $949,000 TWO FAMILY semi attached brick home features 3 bedrooms over 3 bedrooms over 1 bedroom plus studio, semi finished basement has separate entrance, 1 car garage, private driveway, 4 year old roof, all new kitchens & 1 1/2 baths + terrace all in very good condition and landlord's apt has marble & granite kitchen also in very good condition. House will be delivered vacant! $849,000

Too new for photo! Fully detached 3 bedroom duplex on a 30 X 100 lot. 2 Car garage, private drive, rear deck, pool, full bsmt w/ sep entrance. Priced to sell! $515,000

TRULY UNIQUE, one-of-a-kind ,1-family semi detached home with 3bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, amazing chef's kitchen including stainless steel appliances, five burner cook top plus island with barbecue, wood burning fireplace,2,000 square feet of Western red cedar, hospitality suite, country club backyard with red wood deck and built in spa like Jacuzzi and much more! Price reduced! $799,000 DETACHED 1 family 4 bdrm duplex boasting chef size eat in kitchen w/granite throughout, vaulted ceilings, multiple skylights, beautiful hardwood & tile floors, 2 ½ baths, huge basement with summer kitchen & sep. entrance, radiant heated floors, laundry, prestigious location & much more.

Exclusive! Properly priced $899,000 EXTRA LARGE semi detached 3 bdrm duplex in prime gated community. 1st floor features large LR & DR, kitchen & family room with fireplace. 2nd floor features huge master bdrm very large custom bath with jacuzzi and 2 additional bdrms. Finished bsmt offers 3/4 bath, laundry area and lots of living space, central air throughout, large backyard with nice deck and plenty of parking. MOVE RIGHT IN! Asking $549,000

CUSTOM WATER FRONT MINI MANSION - 6 bedrooms, master suite with luxury spa, European kitchen, Banquet size formal dining room, formal living room, parquet inlaid floors, granite 2nd story entrance, maid's quarters, 2 car garage, radiant heated driveway, security gates, in ground pool and dock. EXCLUSIVELY OURS! 3,999,000

OVERSIZED WATERFRONT property offering a custom split level home featuring three King sized bedrooms, marble jacuzzi bath, over sized family room, summer kitchen, wet bar, country club backyard, cabana, in ground pool, dock, deck and much, much more! Must see this beauty! $2,499,000 PETITE & PRETTY! 25 year guarantee on roof, new windows, tiled kitchen & baths, full finished basement completely redone 2 years ago, all new plumbing & electric, separate entrance, super landscaping in backyard with heated in ground pool, central; air & heat, new sprinkler system, Great for mother/daughter! $849,000

PRIME 1 family detached water front home boasting 4 bedrooms, 2 kitchens, 3 baths, this Royal Manor style home's special features include new dock, deck, jet ski ramp, in ground pool, 1 car garage, and private drive. Best location! $1,879,000

Buying or Selling a Home?

Then you need a NYS licensed Home Inspector. Yes – it’s true. In this market the smartest sellers are seeking the advice of a professional home inspector BEFORE they put their houses on the market.

Please allow me to explain why Brooklyn’s Best Homes LLC is the best choice for your home inspection needs.

A National Association of Home Inspectors member may be the most Created by trial version, http://www.pdf-convert.com important visitor to walk through your door… Call (646) 286-6912 Today!

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November 6 - 19, 2008

Visit us at: www.BayCurrents.net