Ye ar ! h ur Si xt O Sheepshead Bay • Brighton Beach • Marine Park • Manhattan Beach • Coney Island • Flatbush • Gerritsen Beach • Mill Basin • Bergen Beach
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Vol. 6 No. 6, Oct. 19 – 31, 2009
Also Insi de
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• Mom, t eens res cued from • Back o Bay n the sch o o l bus! • World Series qu iz • Landin g on ano ther moo • Neighb n orhood P rofiles • My Frie nd and th e IRS • Free C lassified s!
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October 19 31, 2009
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Publisher’s Notebook On the positive side… David J. Glenn
If you have followed Bay Currents over the years, you’ve probably noticed that we haven’t made any endorsements in local or national elections. This was intentional – we were concerned that any articles on candidates we presented would be viewed with skepticism, as in “You’re just reporting such and such because you don’t like (or do like) Candidate X.”
W
e’re still holding to this, but, particularly in light of our columnist, I. Friedin describing Bloomberg as every evil thing short of ax murderer (he hasn’t let up, either – see Page 22), I thought I would offer here some of the positives about the mayor. Mayor Bloomberg, despite definite blemishes, has shown himself to be very qualified. Here’s why:
The schools After the decaying schools and musical-chairs parade of chancellors under Giuliani, Bloomberg wrested control from the Board of Education that was accountable to no one, and stuck with Joe Klein, who has been an effective chancellor. He has been the only chancellor to try to stand up to the allpowerful United Federation of Teachers (although Bloomberg has undermined some of Klein’s efforts to make it easier – possible – to remove incompetent or destructive teachers). Village Voice communist Wayne Barrett -- certainly no cheerleader for Bloomberg – stresses that “it’s inarguable that the [high school] graduation rate has substantially improved” under Bloomberg and Klein. Barrett adds that charter schools in poor neighborhoods, pushed by Bloomberg and Klein and of course resisted by the UFT, “by every standard, are destroying the whispered narrative that ‘these kids can’t learn.’”
A bit of Halloween irony I noticed on Haring Street the other day a small front lawn with two items next to each other – a blue and white sign urging, “SUPPORT OUR TROOPS,” and a Halloween display of two gravestones with a Frankenstein-like monster emerging from the ground. This struck me as an ironic juxtaposition. Those who display Support Our Troops signs generally support the war effort in Iran and Afghanistan. Both wars have sent
Public health Bloomberg has clearly given a lot more than lip service to the health of New Yorkers. His smoking ban in bars and restaurants was neither very popular nor politically expedient. There reportedly are about 350,000 fewer smokers in New York than there were before the ban – whether that’s cause and effect cannot be known for sure, but it’s certainly a good sign. He’s banned trans fat in restaurants, started a diabetes prevention program, initiated a digital recording system linking doctors and patients, and Bloomberg administration programs have raised the rate of colonoscopy and other screenings.
Guns Bloomberg is despised by the National Rifle Association – that’s reason enough to re-elect him. He garnered national attention for going after 27 gun dealers in Southern states that were merrily selling guns, illegally, that were used in crimes in New York. Bloomberg also formed a Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, which 450 mayors from 40 states so far have joined. Carolyn McCarthy, the Democratic congresswoman from Long Island whose husband was murdered in the 1993 shooting on the Long Island Rail Road, says in TV ads that she endorses Bloomberg because his gun-control efforts “save lives.” Bloomberg’s critics portray the billionaire mayor as interested only in the rich. And, yes, he has showed perhaps a little favoritism toward fellow businessmen and to developers. But, as Barrett points out in the Village Voice, “the beneficiaries of his health, crime, and education initiatives are mostly poor minorities, utterly contrary to the Thompson critique that he is mayor only for the rich.” thousands of these same troops home in flag-draped coffins – to be buried under very real gravestones. I don’t know whether the homeowners who are proudly displaying these images have given this much thought, but that’s the problem. If more people started thinking less of the flag-waving, patriotic glory of our two simultaneous wars of very questionable justification, and more about the almost daily burials they cause, they might rewrite the signs to read: “Support Our Troops – Bring Them Home.”
VISIT OUR NEW HOME! Bay Currents has a new home on the Web it’s the same address,
www.baycurrents.net but it’s a decidedly different, user-friendly site. We’re still getting all the kinks out, and we’d like to hear your comments and suggestions. Call us at 347-492-4432, or e-mail: info@baycurrents.net
www.BayCurrents.net
October 19 31, 2009
Member of the New York Press Association
Suzanne H. Glenn Editor
Writers Olga Privman Christina Pisano Lara Mondrus I. Friedin Michael Schlager Amadeo Constanzo Eric Lima Heeyen Park
Patrick Hickey Jr. Sports Editor
Contributors Kerry Donelli Jacqueline Donelli Matt Lassen Dale Neseman
David J. Glenn Publisher
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Mother, daughters saved after car plunges into bay A local fisherman made quite a catch when he fished a woman and her two teen daughters from their car when it sank into Sheepshead Bay on Saturday evening, Oct. 10.
K
eith Gorman was on Pier 5 when he heard the car crash through the gate along the Emmons Avenue side of the bay near Dooley Street. “I realized that a car went on the sidewalk and into the water,” the 42-year-old fisherman told reporters. “I took my boots off and my jacket and jumped over the rail into the water.” Gorman swam to the slowly sinking car and untangled the driver, Alla Yelizarov, from her seatbelt. “She was screaming, ‘I can’t swim, I can’t swim!’” he said. “I pulled the seatbelts aside, turned the car off because the car was still running, and I pulled her out and I pushed her up onto the hood.” Another man, who remains unidentified, jumped onto the roof of the car and pulled out Yelizarov’s two daughters, Rebeca, 13, and Talya, 16. Relatives and witnesses said Yelizarov was on her way to a family birthday party at the Seaport Buffet on Emmons Avenue, and started to park at a space at the shore. She somehow lost control of the car, and the Volkswagen sedan continued into the water. Thanks to Gorman and the other rescuer, no one was hurt. Gorman dismissed suggestions he was a hero. “I had no choice but to jump in,” he said. “It was very lucky. Everyone got away with their lives.”
Nature Center opens its doors to local crafts artists By CHRISTINA PISANO pisano@baycurrents.net
An array of hand-made jewelry, crocheted scarves, and wooden toys crafted by different artists was on display earlier this month at the Salt Marsh Nature Center’s sixth annual Craft Show.
R
eggy, a 20-year-veteran of the art of stained glass and a regular participant in the annual Sheepshead Bay Craft Show on Mother’s Day, displayed a number of handmade pieces, including mezuzahs, sun catchers, and mail holders. Reggy’s collection of mezuzahs – encasements of parchment inscribed with specific prayers that posted on the doorways of Jewish homes – are on display at the Battery Park Museum and in museums throughout the country. Marilyn Lagha Keeshan, affectionately known in the art world as “The Bag Lady,” displayed for the first time at the Nature Center her unique work of hand bags, belts, and pillows, all made from recycled neck ties. She enjoys transforming unused men’s ties into bags and belts appealing to women. “It’s a nice way to recycle men’s ties. They’re beautiful and they make great silk bags,” she said. “It’s fun. I like to reuse what’s around. I’ll buy fabrics but when I find something to reuse, it’s more fun.”
Ellen Hoyt, past vice president of the Nature Center, has been instrumental in both the show and the beautification of the Center. She’s an artist in her own right; her watercolor landscapes are displayed at the Center as well as at the Brooklyn Streetcar Artists’ Group exhibit at Coney Island Hospital. “I watched the Center being built,” she said. “The city just put it up and left. So, I brought in all the beauty of the Center. With passionate people the Center and this show were formed. We’re all just passionate about the arts.”
“We want to bring a little culture to this end of Brooklyn,” she added. The craft show, Hoyt stressed, is just a small part of the variety of free activities the Salt Marsh Nature Center offers, everything from summer canoeing and movie screenings, to group mural painting and photography. This is all in addition to its key mission of offering a respite from urban life. “We don’t always realize it,” she said, “but we need the space around us without the buildings and traffic, to just be.”
Growing old in Brooklyn Moving eyes
A Bay Currents Media and PeopleSales Group special supplement and guide
If you’ve ever eaten flounder (or caught it from Sheepshead Bay or our other Atlantic shores), you likely haven’t thought much about their eyes. Flounders, or fluke, have both eyes on one side of the head. As weird as this is, they are not born that way. In their life span they undergo a metamorphosis -- one eye migrates to the other side of the body so that both can face upwards when the fish routinely lies on one side on the ocean floor. We wonder -- could this be useful for couch potatoes who don’t want to bother shifting positions?
The Belt “Grow old with me! The best is yet to be.” ~Robert Browning As baby-boomers who once may have burned draft cards now fold Medicare cards, and life expectancy in America increases with advances in medical technology, Bay Currents Media presents a special series on senior care. Starting this autumn, we will explore the details of senior centers, adult day cares, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and rehabilitation programs in Brooklyn. Whether you’re a senior, the son or daughter of one, a specialist in the field, or simply a caring member of the community, you’ll discover essential information in these vital areas. We value your suggestions. We want to help you or your loved one make the most oflife’s later chapters. Call Michael Schlager at 718-676-5434.
Page 4
The Belt Parkway is part of a highway system that wraps around Brooklyn and Queens like, well, a belt. Originally it was to be called Circumferential Parkway, but that, thankfully, was dropped. The system includes bridges, elevated roadways, and tunnels. Some historians say The Belt was necessary in the 1930s to build a highway that could transport military goods quickly around New York City in case the military woes of the 1930s escalated to war – which of course it did in the early ’40s.
October 19 31, 2009
www.BayCurrents.net
COVER STORY
Protecting Billy “This is a very important step.”
By KATERYNA STUPNEVICH stupnevich@baycurrents.net
After more than three years of struggle, Billy’s Law – requiring the Department of Education to provide bi-annual reports to the City Council concerning special needs students placed in out-of-state facilities – was finally passed by a unanimous vote of the council last week.
T
he bill, originally introduced by Councilman Vincent J. Gentile in 2006, is geared to keeping the parents of special needs students informed, and maintaining updated information about out-of-state facilities to try to prevent neglect or abuse. “[There’s still] a lot to do in terms of making the city entirely accountable for the safety of special needs students, but this is a very important step,” said Dena Libner, a spokeswoman for Gentile. The legislation is named after Vito “Billy” Albanese Jr., now a 37-year-old Bay Ridge resident, who suffered a brain injury in 1984. In 1992, his father, Vito Albanese Sr., sent Billy to an out-of-state facility for special-needs students, where he was allegedly neglected and physically abused. The elder Albanese only learned about the mistreatment of his son in 1997, when Billy was discharged. “A lot has to be done to monitor out-of-state school placements,” said Albanese, adding that the new law “is a step in the right direction on a city level.” In 2001, Albanese reached out to Gentile in an effort to protect other special-needs students who are placed in such facilities, and after four years of battle, Gentile was able to get the law passed on a state level. The law requires New York
State to assess and monitor educational facilities that serve New York residents with special needs. The state law “was a great piece of legislation,” said Albanese, “but we went to the city to have it done as another safety net, which would hold the Board [of Education] more accountable.” Libner said that although the state law was very significant, the new regulation hits closer to home. “The local bill complements the state law,” she said. “The bill is going to mandate that the New York City Council and parents of special needs students be provided with certain information.” The Department of Education will be required to present bi-annual reports to the New York City Council regarding out-of-state special-needs facilities. The reports are expected to detail the demographics of every facility that holds New York City students. They will also discuss budgets and spending of every facility, the services and treatment provided to the students, as well as any violations or investigations taking place in the facilities. The Department of Education also is required to immediately notify the parents of students in out-of-state facilities about any cases of neglect or abuse. While Gentile’s organization is thrilled with their accomplishment, Libner said on behalf of Gentile, that there’s still more work to be done. Currently, Gentile is working on removing all New York City students from the Judge Rotenberg Center, a Massachusetts facility for special needs students that reportedly uses skin shock therapy on 42 percent of their school-age students. While the facility claims that the therapy methods are safe and have shown positive results, Gentile believes their practices are abusive. “The Judge Rotenberg Center has a history of using therapy techniques that are…reprehensible,” said Libner. “There are violations in the works.”
Albanese said that Gentile is striving to remove students from the Rotenberg Center and is constantly working towards improving the conditions of special needs students in out-of-state facilities. “There’s an old saying ‘out of sight, out of mind,’” said Albanese. “We don’t want that to happen with any specialneeds students.” Bay Currents has scheduled an extensive interview with both father and son to be published in our next issue and on our website, www. baycurrents.net.
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October 19 31, 2009
Page 5
MIKE BLOOMBERG: PROGRESS. NOT POLITICS. As Mayor, Mike Bloomberg has stood up to the special interests and has led our City with the honesty and independence needed to get results for families in all ďŹ ve boroughs.
A RECORD OF RESULTS. s 4EST SCORES ARE UP AND GRADUATION RATES ARE AT record highs. s Cut crime by nearly 30%, KEEPING .9# THE SAFEST BIG CITY IN !MERICA
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE. s 4AKING ON THE -4! TO MAKE OUR SUBWAYS AND BUSES faster, safer, cleaner and more affordable. s Creating or saving 400,000 jobs, CUTTING TAXES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES EXPANDING JOB TRAINING s ! NEW discount card for prescription drugs.
“I am proud to give my endorsement to a man whose ideas, vision, skill and dedication are truly beďŹ tting of both our city’s grand history and its bright future.â€?
—Borough President Marty Markowitz
VOTE NOVEMBER 3 0AID FOR BY "LOOMBERG FOR -AYOR
Page 6
October 19 31, 2009
www.BayCurrents.net
Homecoming
Kingsborough Community College, the “College by the Sea,” held its fifth annual Homecoming Day on Sunday, Oct. 18. Despite the miserable weather, the day attracted thousands of guests including children, seniors and alumni from every decade since the 1960s, when Brooklyn’s only community college was founded. Among the festivities were a Halloween
party, clown act, and balloons for the little ones, musical performances, and addresses by KCC President Dr. Regina Peruggi and deans and administrators.
Welcoming autumn
Who better than the staff of the Salt Marsh Nature Center on Avenue U across
from Marine Park could celebrate the advent of autumn the way it should be? They brought in members of the Brooklyn Dance Center to portray everything from windtossed colored leaves to a Native American hoop dance.
At Brooklyn Center
The Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts offers music, theater, and dance for the rest of October: • Wednesday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m. The Brooklyn College Wind Ensemble performs under the direction of Emily Ross • Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 22-24, 2 p.m. The Center presents Theresa Rebeck’s “Mauritius,” • Sunday, Oct. 25, 2 p.m. Luna Negra Dance Theater with special guests Turtle Island Quartet & Paqutio D’Rivera
As we build this new section, we are offering free ads for private individuals. Call 347-492-4432.
Apartments for Rent A young visitor to the KCC homecoming party works on a crafts project BAY CURRENTS PHOTO
• MARINE PARK Extra large 2-BR basement apartment, all new rugs, freshly painted, large windows. • $1300 includes all. Call 631-499-6466
• Sunday, Nov. 8, 2 p.m. Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company, direct from Kiev, performing 16 dances ranging from light-hearted pieces of traditional Ukrainian folk dance to ritualistic mimics of warfare rituals • Sunday, Nov. 22, 3 p.m. “Of Mice and Men,” John Steinbeck’s classic tale of two migrant workers in search of the American Dream brought to the stage For tickets or more information go to BrooklynCenterOnline.org or call 718951-4500.
• SHEEPSHEAD BAY / MARINE PARK 1-BR walk-in apartment LR, eat-in kitchen, good condition. No pets, no smoking. Batchelder Street. Call 718-332-8677
Autos • 2002 Nissan Altima. Original owner. Excellent condition. Warranty available. $6,000. 718 755 7666
Come study the
Torah
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Young Israel of Bedford Bay We will welcome you in a warm, spiritual environment 8 p.m.
Free and open to members and non-members Call us about the many other programs and activities for all ages at Young Israel 2114 Brown Street (off Avenue U) Marine Park
718-332-4120
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October 19 31, 2009
Page 7
SENIOR CURRENTS
Back on the school bus By DAVID J. GLENN Bay Currents Publisher
They crowd into the school bus, ready for a trip to a supermarket. They start singing on the way, happy for the chance to get out for an afternoon. Lest you think they’re fourth-graders on a field trip, consider this: The average age is 75. The city Department for the Aging has launched the Market Ride Initiative, which provides school buses on off-hours to take the elderly from senior centers once or twice a month to the supermarket, is part of the department’s efforts to ensure that seniors have more fresh food. “”The goal is to shop for healthier foods and promote social activity as well,” said DFA Commissioner Lilliam Barrios-Paoli. The Council Senior Center on Quentin Road and East 10th Street is planning to start the monthly trips in November, taking its members to either the ShopRite on McDonald Avenue or the Pathmark on Cropsy Avenue, depending on the seniors’ preference. “I think a lot of people just like to go on the trip, even if they’re not buying food,” said Rosemary Riola, director of the center. “It’s a fun trip! One 91-year woman who has been coming to the Council center for about 10 years now, said she was looking forward to the trip. It’s not easy to get to the big supermarkets at my age, especially without a car,” she said. “And besides, it’s fun going with everyone else.” The bus trips are free to the seniors, the center and the DFA, since the drivers and fuel costs are already paid by the Department of Education.
Staying safe At Home Advocates for the elderly offer • Never let a stranger into some tips for seniors to stay safe your home. Always ex(actually, the advice is not a bad amine their identificaidea for people of any age to follow): tion badge before you al•
Practice Street Smarts • Do not display large amounts of cash when out in public • Use direct deposit for your pension and/or social security checks • Travel in groups. If you must travel alone, do not advertise the fact that you are by yourself • Work out a buddy system with a friend so you can check up on each other at least once a day • Avoid dark, deserted or isolated routes • Do not walk near walls, high bushes, or near cars • Project an image of self-confidence while you are walking • Cross the street to avoid people who make you feel uncomfortable • Know how to get where you are going ahead of time • If someone demands your money, give it up • Keep your money in several pockets – perhaps even some in your shoe -instead of one pocket • Never accept a ride from someone you do not know well
• • • • • •
low a service technician into your home Lock your home when you are there and when you are away. Keep your 1st floor windows locked Do not let people on the phone know you are alone Keep your phone by your bed at night Post all emergency numbers close to the telephone Leave a light on while you are out. Use a different light each time you are not home Leave the porch light on Know your neighbors and make sure they know you
Apartment Dwellers • Know where you can get help in a hurry • Make sure all halls have good lighting • Use the laundry room in the apartment building when other tenants are present • Look in the elevator before getting on to be sure no one is hiding inside. Get off the elevator if someone suspicious enters • If you are worried about another person waiting for the same elevator as
you, pretend you forgot something in your apartment and do not go onto the elevator
Using Transportation • Use well-lit bus stops • Sit near the bus driver • Sit on the aisle so you do not get blocked in at the window • Do not get off the bus with someone who makes you feel uncomfortable
In your car • Never pick up hitch hikers (and never be one!) • Keep your car doors locked at all times. Lock all doors upon entering and leaving your car • Check the back seat before entering your car • As you are approaching your car, take a look under the car to make sure no one is hiding under there
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Page 8
October 19 31, 2009
1-877-609-9676 www.BayCurrents.net
LOCAL PHYSICAL THERAPIST BRINGS HIS OFFICE TO THE PATIENTS For more than 22 years, thousands of elderly Brooklynites have been using a unique physical therapy service.
AN OFFICE THAT TRAVELS TO THE PATIENTS. The brainchild of Ben Weinstock PT, the service has grown primarily by word of mouth. Since graduating from Hunter College with a degree in Physical Therapy in 1987, Ben Weinstock has become an innovator in his field. Having worked at Mount Sinai-Elmhurst Hospital, Coney Island Hospital, Maimonides Hospital, and several nursing homes, he recognized an opportunity to change the way physical therapy can be provided. "Many years ago, I saw the need for physical therapy at home. Medicare patients who have trouble getting out of the house are very pleased that I can come to them," said Weinstock, who also served as a clinical instructor of physical therapy for many years. "Unlike homecare agencies, which may provide therapy but do not bring exercise equipment to the patients, I have an arsenal of portable bikes, steppers, heating pads, weights-you name it, I have it--that I bring to patients' homes." Weinstock is one of the few physical therapists in America using the portable MediGait system, a virtual reality device developed in Israel for improving the gait of people suffering from Parkinson's Disease and other neurological disorders.
FROM AN EARLY AGE, WEINSTOCK HAS HAD AN UNCANNY ABILITY TO CARE FOR THE ELDERLY. "My grandfather lived with us, and he had Parkinson's disease. So I grew up participating in the care of a sick, elderly person. His illness was the number one influence on my childhood. We were very close, but by the time I was around eight years old, our roles reversed. Instead of my grandfather helping to raise me, I started taking care of him," he said. He needed help with feeding, toileting, exercising, walking, and the like. Now that I look back, I realize that it was actually a stressful childhood helping to take care of a loved one who was deteriorating. But when I got older it made my career choice very simple: to keep helping older people."
BEN WEINSTOCK SPECIALIZES IN TREATING AN ARRAY OF COMMON CONDITIONS AND DISORDERS, INCLUDING: Arthritis Balance Disorders Diabetic Disorders Difficulty Walking
Neurological Disorders Orthopedic Conditions Osteoporosis Stroke
Unfortunately, patients often do not realize that they are also battling another problem. "Inactivity, initially caused by their disease, leads to a whole host of setbacks usually called 'the disuse syndrome' consisting of muscle atrophy, poor circulation, osteoporosis, low endurance, and loss of balance. Altogether, it puts people at very high risk for falls and fractures-extremely bad news for seniors and their loved ones." Over the years Ben Weinstock has developed a distinct expertise and well deserved reputation for treating complex cases involving multiple symptoms. "I tend to get referrals from physicians who tell me that they want me to try after many attempts at rehabilitation have failed. They know that I will do whatever I can to get people better," he said. "If the patient is losing his or her ability to walk, I will work hard to get them walking again. If they haven't walked in a long time, I'll try to get them to stand. If they can't stand, I'll work on getting them to sit. If they have pain, I'll try to minimize it. The main point is this: I give the patients hope. Working together, we can usually get at least a partial reversal of the original problem or problems." Ben Weinstock grew up in Borough Park before moving to Bensonhurst. Although he currently lives in Staten Island with his wife and three children, he admits that his heart has always belonged to Brooklyn.
You can contact Ben Weinstock at Weinstock Physical Therapy, PC phone
718-891-0780
www.BayCurrents.net
"Once I cross the Verrazano Bridge into Brooklyn, I feel like I'm home." While he's happy to practice in the borough he grew up in, the real secret of Ben Weinstock's success is simple-cusomer service. Each patient is treated by Ben personally-each treatment lasts between 45 minutes and an hour-and he communicates effectively with the patient, the patient's family, and the patient's physicians. "Even after I discharge my patients, they still call me on a regular basis, giving me updates about themselves," Weinstock said. "They always consider me to be a friend."
October 19 31, 2009
Page 9
FINANCIAL CURRENTS
‘Rainbow eyes’
Beware of security software! A new report from Symantec warns that in an increasing number of cases, security alerts that pop up when you’re on a legitimate website are fake, and instead of protecting your computer, will do the opposite – they will render your machine vulnerable to a viral invasion. “Lots of times, in fact they’re a conduit for attackers to take
over your machine,” said Vincent Weafer, Symantec’s vice president for security response. “They’ll take your credit card information, any personal information you’ve entered there and they’ve got your machine,” he said, referring to some rogue software’s ability to rope a users’ machine into a “botnet,” a network of machines taken over to send spam or worse. Symantec found 250 varieties of scam security software with legitimate sounding names like Antivirus 2010 and SpywareGuard 2008, and about 43 million attempted downloads in one year, said Weafer. “In terms of the number of people who potentially have this in their machines, it’s tens of millions,” Weafer said.
Page 10
October 19 31, 2009
By HEEYEN PARK park@baycurrents.net
Anthony Marra, Jr., 64, has a talent for depicting landscapes and other natural scenes on canvass. He uses vivid colors and powerful strokes. Oh, and he’s been virtually blind since childhood. Two of his works – Alaskan Lights and Dirt Road – are on display at the Brooklyn Streetcar Artists Group exhibit on the second floor of Coney Island Hospital, through Nov. 24. He started losing his sight after a friend he was playing with accidentally hit him on the back of the head when he was 7. His vision slowly diminished over the years, but the disability didn’t stop him from going back to school at age 55, graduating from City Tech with a degree in communications design. He became determined to be an artist when a life-drawing professor told him, “You have an unusual style.” “Art is personal expression – it’s how I see the world,” he said. “I didn’t know my brother’s art was great until the day I framed his painting and hanged it in the wall,” said his sister, Catherine. “I am proud of my brother. He has rainbow eyes.” Marra’s goal is to create art that can encourage people to take better care of the land and shores. Drawing isn’t easy for him. He’s had surgery that restored some of his vision; he uses a powerful magnifying lens to see colors in a blurry haze. “Alaskan Lights” was inspired by his brother’s descriptions of Alaska. Marra based “Dirt Road” on his trip to Vermont, when he visited friends in a rural part of the state with an environment almost untouched by modern society. Marra uses acrylics, pencil, oil, watercolor – and cosmetics. That last one is thanks to Catherine, a beauty consultant. She had some leftover makeup she didn’t have use for anymore, so she asked her brother to use it in his artwork. “It worked perfectly,” she said. Marra’s work will also be on display at the artists’ group show at the salt Marsh Nature Center Nov. 7 and 8.
www.BayCurrents.net
SPORTS CURRENTS With the Yankees in the playoffs and, as of this writing, seemingly headed for the Series – again – we thought you’d like to test your knowledge of World Series history. Good luck! 1. In the 1926 and 1928 World Series, Babe Ruth hit three home runs in one game in both series. Who was the next player to hit three home runs in one World Series game?
Mickey Lolich Bob Gibson Reggie Jackson Steve Garvey 2. World Series action brings on some intense play. Who was the first manager in history that was ejected twice in World Series action?
Walter Alston Joe Girardi Babe Ruth Bobby Cox 3. Which pitcher in the 1970s set a World Series record when he dished up his ninth World Series career home run?
Orel Hershiser Catfish Hunter Pedro Martinez John Wetteland 4. The first Major League World Series was in 1903. How
many World Series were played in a best-of-nine game format?
4 8 1 12 5. When the World Series comes around, it is time to show your best stuff. However, which pitcher while pitching in only three games in one series in 1910, set a record by walking 14 batters?
Roger Craig Sandy Koufax Greg Maddux Jack Coombs 6. Although in multiple World Series, which pitcher set a record by winning seven consecutive games that he started?
Bob Gibson Dazzy Vance Harmon Killebrew Davey Lopes 7. Which of the following retired with a career record of hitting over 25 extra bases in World Series action?
Ron Santo Ernie Banks Mickey Mantle Reggie Jackson 8. Who was the first Major League Baseball umpire to officiate in more than 10 World Series?
Bill Klem Jocko Conlin Harry Wendelstedt Al Barlick 9. The Chicago Cubs were the first team in history to be swept twice in World Series play. Who was the next team to lose two World Series, four games to none?
Cleveland Indians Los Angeles Dodgers New York Yankees Toronto Blue Jays 10. A walk-off World Series winning hit is one in the last game of the series that wins the entire series for your team. Which of the following never had a World Series walk-off hit?
Reggie Jackson Bill Mazeroski Gene Larkin Billy Martin
ANSWERS Reggie Jackson Bobby Cox Catfish Hunter 4 Jack Coombs Bob Gibson Mickey mantle Bill Klein The Yankees 10 Reggie Jackson
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October 19 31, 2009
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NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILES
Brighton Beach feasting It’s no surprise that people of various nationalities travel from all over New York City – and beyond – to Brighton Beach just to explore the delicacies its large food market has to offer.
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righton is quite well known for its assortment of kiosks, supermarkets, cafes, and fancy restaurants right by the ocean. If the beach isn’t worth journeying to “Little Odessa,’ Brighton residents will confirm that the food certainly is! While most eateries serve mainly Russian food, several cafes, such as Café Kashkar, offer an array of other ethnic delights. Café Kashkar is known by locals for its mouth-watering Uyghur menu. “I come to Brighton Beach mainly for the food,” said Artem Galperin, a 24-year-old Bensonhurst resident. “[Café] Kashkar has some of the best manti (dumplings) I have ever tried.” Galperin is also a frequent visitor of Café Glechik, a busy Russian-Ukrainian restaurant on Coney Island Avenue. “I’ve been coming here for years and I love their borscht and their pastries,” he said. “They are to die for.” But the culinary diversity doesn’t stop there. Brighton is famous for its Russian supermarkets, particularly M&I International and Brighton Bazaar. Both have a large selection of various foods – from fish, meat, and cold cuts, to cheeses, potatoes and vegetables, and even desserts. Valery Boldyrev, 52, has practically commuted from Bay Ridge to Brighton Beach for years, just to get his hands on the hot, prepared food served at the supermarkets. “I love the variety. You name it, they have it,” he said. “Whatever food you’re craving, you will find it here.” Boldyrev is also a fan of the appealing restaurants and cafes conveniently located on the boardwalk. “Restaurant Tatiana is one of my favorites,” he said. “[The restaurant] is
casual during the day, but they have entertaining shows during the night.” “Any eatery that you choose in Brighton, you will enjoy,” he added. “Try the food once; you will definitely come back for more!” - Kateryna Stupnevich
Playing in Bergen Beach While the Bergen Beach neighborhood takes up a relatively small amount of southern Brooklyn, its expansive baseball fields and AstroTurf at the edge of the waters near the Belt Parkway host a wide variety of neighborhood and school team sporting events, from after-school baseball practice to weekend football games.
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he Bergen Beach Youth Organization, established in 1950, and Millennium Development, created in 1993, sponsor sports leagues and teams for young people and adults, providing organized sports in soccer, football, and baseball. They offer a flag football league for young children and two divisions of football for older children, as well as three divisions of a soccer league for ages 3 to 12. A major part of the spring season at Bergen Beach fields belongs to the minor (age five to six) and major (age seven and older) divisions of baseball. Minor league baseball at Bergen Beach fields offers four teams, an awards ceremony, and picture day for the kids on the teams. The major league division of baseball for the BBYO offers six teams that enter into playoffs and a world series, as well as a picture day for the players. The New York Pony Softball B League offers teams at Bergen Beach fields as an instructional league of under-hand
pitching and modified rules for aged ten years and younger. Two additional leagues of softball are offered for youth up to age 18. Though the Bergen Beach Youth Organization has its own teams of baseball, many neighborhood high schools use the field for football and baseball games and practice throughout the season. In addition to providing Bergen Beach with sports activities and teams close to home, the BBYO offers after-school programs in homework help, arts & crafts, drama, dance, movies, trips, recreational activates and community service opportunities. They offer summer day programs as well as senior citizen services. Annually, BBYO celebrates the seasons with a harvest festival and holiday tree lighting, providing both culture and activity to one of Brooklyn’s smaller neighborhoods. The Bergen Beach Youth Organization is at 2335 Bergen Ave., 718- 531-6600 or BBYOyouth@aol.com. The website is www.bbyosports.com. Adults may not pay too much attention to it, but kids know all about the Bergen Beach Playground, bordered by Aves. T and N and East 71st and East 72nd streets. The site was infused with $121,000 in city money eight years ago for new safety surfacing, work on the guardrails and fences, and general upgrades. The popular playground features cheerful, multi-colored play equipment, tot swings, basketball and handball courts, and more. It’s fitting that Bergen Beach has a pleasant recreation area. In the earlier days of New York City, Bergen Beach – originally Bergen Island until a landfill connected it to the mainland in 1918 – was designed as a resort destination, complete with an amusement park, roller rink, vaudeville theater, and even a casino. But Bergen Beach couldn’t hold a lantern to nearby Coney Island, and the resort area shut down in 1920. In 1925, Manhattan developers planned to develop Bergen Beach into a combined residential-amusement area, with bathing facilities and new amusements (sound familiar, Coney Island?). But even with a $2 million investment – quite a tidy sum in 1925 – the project never took hold. - Bay Currents staff
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October 19 31, 2009
Page 13
By the Bay Currents staff
It’s just politics ACROSS 2 4 6 8 14 16 17 18 19
Speaker of the _____ Electronic voting _____ Battle of top vote-getters Campaign ______ No ____ near the polls ___ limits ___ in the ring Democratic animal GOP animal
DOWN 1 3 5 7 9 10 11 12 13 15
Each Bay Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square.
____ registration ___, not bullets Month of Election Day Bad behavior in office Desire of the voters MudPolitical contender Candidates’ _______ September ballot Large voter _____
Who was Bill Brown, anyway? The Bill Brown playground, bounded by Bedford Avenue, East 24th Street and Avenues X and Y, is a memorial to World War I veteran William A. Brown, who lived only a few blocks away at 1818 Voorhies Ave. He served with Wagon Company G of the 108th Ammunition Train, 28th Army Division. On Oct. 8, 1918, Brown died of wounds sustained on the battlefield in France. Brown is also the namesake of the Bill Brown Senior Citizens Club and the Bill Brown American Legion Post. The playground is quite popular with youngsters from P.S. 254, the Dag Hammarskjold School, and P.S. 206, the Joseph F. Lamb School.
by Matt Lassen
Page 14
October 19 31, 2009
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A breath of upstate fresh air By HEEYEN PARK park@baycurrents.net
As scenic as the waters and treecanvassed neighborhoods of the Bay area are, it’s still refreshing to hike through the woods every now and then.
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ynamic Outdoors recently hosted an Intermediate Day Hiking excursion through upstate Storm King Mountain and Black Rock Forest amid the breathtaking fall foliage overlooking the Hudson River. My friend Effie and I joined the 50 or so others on the hike through the forests and countryside, where we were pleasantly surprised to see gentle deer. We also saw turkey eagles with their expansive wings, wild cherry trees, incredibly gorgeous yellow and white flowers, and an array of mushrooms, spiders, ants, tiny caterpillars (very cute) and worms (very disgusting). Dynamic Outdoors is planning another upstate event – the High Ropes course in Adventure Park, on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 8:30 a.m. through 7 p.m. The park has nine separate courses for all ability levels. Each rope course consists of platforms that have been installed in the trees, with ropes and cables connecting them to form “bridges.� The task is to walk over the different bridges to complete the ropes that have different degrees of difficulty. �The Park staff with help you and demonstrated safety for the session. You will be able to develop skills, endurance and confidence during your time at the park,� states promotional material for the event. For more information on the High Ropes trip, call 917-622-5851 or visit: dynamicoutdoors.com.
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Page 15
STARS
IT'S IN THE
Landing on another moon It likely won’t generate the kind of global excitement that the moon landing did 40 years ago, but NASA researchers are just as eager to send an unmanned, nuclear-powered probe to the largest of Saturn’s 61 moons, Titan.
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Titan in 1655 through a new invention, the telescope – onto the frigid surface.
V H O U S E B T M A C H I N E N L R U N O F F O L V M O E A T R A I L M L S E C D B F L F P A E E L E C T I O N E E R I N G B R A N R I D A S G T E R M I T H A T I N A D O N K E Y N N D R A C G U Y T E M E L E P H A N
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“It’s very cold, but the technological challenges aren’t as big as you might think,”
T U R N O U T
October 19 31, 2009
Stofan said. “Landing in liquid is a lot more forgiving than on land.”
Answers to the Bay Sudoku from page 15
Answers to the Bay Crossword from page 15
nlike our moon, Titan actually has rain and lakes – but don’t make any plans to take a vacation there. The surface of Titan – which is about one and a half times the size of Earth’s moon – is so frigid that the lakes and rain clouds are not made of water, but of liquid methane and ethane, which normally are gases on Earth. How cold does it have to be for methane or ethane to be liquid? Consider this: If it’s any warmer than minus-259 degrees Fahrenheit, liquid methane will boil into gas. Any hotter than minus-127, ethane will boil. Temperatures on Titan average about minus-290 degrees F. So, with a toxic atmosphere and temperatures too cold to even think about, what exactly is NASA looking for? After all, there’s no chance of life in these conditions, at least nothing remotely like that on Earth. The point of the mission, actually, is in the going – to see if a spacecraft can successfully land in an extraterrestrial lake, whether it’s of water or some other liquid. “We got funded to look at the possibility of sending a lake-lander to Titan,” said Ellen Stofan, a geologist with Proxemy Research in Maryland. “Scientifically, it’s sort of a beyond obvious thing to do.” NASA plans to send three probes in its Titan Saturn System Mission. The probe won’t be the first Earth visitor to Titan. In 2005, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft successfully dropped a parachute-fitted European probe – named after Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens who discovered
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HEALTH CURRENTS As Thanksgiving approaches, thoughts will not only turn to turkey, but all the delicacies around it, including copious amounts of sweet desserts and treats. We thought this would be a good time to examine the question:
Is sugar bad for you? Sugar has been criticized by some as an unnecessary, even dangerous food substance. Others maintain it is an important and harmless source of calories. The truth lies somewhere between these arguments as with many nutrition controversies. It might help to know more about sugar so you can decide for yourself.
T
he term “sugar,” in the scientific sense, may refer to any of several forms of carbohydrates. What is commonly known as table sugar or “sucrose” is derived from sugar beets and sugar cane plants. In the refining process, juice from sugar beets or cane is extracted and converted to form crystals, known as raw sugar, or syrup (known as molasses). Brown sugar is made by spraying refined sugar with molasses. Corn syrup is commercially produced and is chemically similar to table sugar. Honey bees convert nectar from plants into honey which is also chemically similar to sucrose. Also included in this category are maple sugar and syrup from the sap of maple trees. All these sweeteners provide similar amounts of calories, sometimes referred to as “empty” calories, because they provide few additional nutrients such as vitamins or minerals. Molasses and honey may contain traces of certain nutrients, but the amounts are insignificant. Therefore, though you may choose one type of sweetener for a desirable texture or flavor, none really has any nutritional advantage over another. Since sweeteners are chemically similar, they are each handled by our bodies in much the same fashion. Sugar is an
energy source for body tissues. When we eat more sugar than the amount needed for energy, the body converts the sugar to a storage form. This stored form is used to meet energy needs and maintain blood sugar levels within a narrow range. Excess sugar is converted to fat. Consumption of sucrose in the form of table sugar has not changed significantly over the past century. However, the use of sweeteners derived from corn syrup has risen dramatically, particularly in soft drinks. Sweeteners are also “hidden” in highly processed foods such as ketchup, crackers, or salad dressing. Some sugars serve as natural preservatives, thickeners, and baking aid in foods. Sugars and most foods that contain them in large amounts supply calories but are limited in essential nutrients. Therefore, they should be used in moderation by most healthy people and sparingly by people with low calorie needs. Carbohydrates such as sugars and starches can contribute to the development of tooth decay. U.S. Dietary Guidelines include recommendations to use sugars in moderation and to increase the amount of starch and fiber, which are known as “complex carbohydrates.” Complex carbohydrates are found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. In addition to calories, these foods provide vitamins, minerals and fiber in your diet. Choose foods with the most nutrients per calorie and limit consumption of sugars that provide calories without other nutrients. Satisfy a “sweet tooth” with a piece of fruit rather than a candy bar. There is no need to eliminate sugars from your diet or to give up favorite foods, but you should be moderate in your use of sugars and sweeteners. Diets high in sugar have not been shown to cause diabetes. Refined sugar is not essential to good health, but it is not detrimental if eaten in small amounts.
‘Festival of the dead’
A traditional Irish Halloween Jack-o’-lantern from the early 20th century on display in the Museum of Country Life, Ireland.
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October 19 31, 2009
Parents who send off – or better, go with – their children on trick-or-treating, may not realize that they’re following the traditions of a pagan holiday. Halloween, which has become an American tradition heralding the fall and winter holidays to come, actually has roots in the pagan festival of Samhain, later blurred into the Christian holiday of All Saints. Samhain (pronounced sow-in or sauan), derived from Old Irish, means roughly “summer’s end.” Ancient Britons held a similar festival, known as Calan Gaeaf (pronounced kalan-geyf). It was essentially a festival of the dead. The ancient Gaels believed that the border between this world and the otherworld thinned out on Samhain, allowing spirits – both benign and evil – to pass through. The pagans took this quite seriously, and made every effort to ward off the spirits – dressing in masks and costumes to appear like harmful spirits themselves to keep them away. Samhain was also a time to take stock of food supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. Bonfires played a large part in the festivities, and youngsters would go around collecting items to throw into the fire, in what was probably the first “trick or treat” ritual. On All Hallows’ Eve, the ancient Celts would place a skeleton on their window sills to represent the dead. The “jack-o’-lantern” can be traced back to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a gambling, hard-drinking old farmer who, the legend has it, tricked the devil into climbing a tree and trapped him there. In revenge, the devil placed a curse on Jack, condemning him to forever wander the earth at night with a candle inside of a hollowed turnip.
Page 17
OPINION
‘I Was Mugged by Bloomberg!’ By I. FRIEDIN opinion@baycurrents.net
Answering the phone the other day, I was greeted by a voice shrieking, “I was just mugged by Bloomberg!� Finally calming down, my friend explained how, driving west on Avenue O, following the stream of traffic with all lights green, the light on Coney Island Avenue turned red with his car sticking out slightly into East 12 Street.
A
traffic agent approached, placed the reader on his registration sticker and then said to him, “You’re getting a summons for blocking the grid.� Noting that there was no grid in sight, he was told, “You’re blocking traffic,� all the while cars were crossing the block unobstructed. The agent ordered him to pull over while she filled in the form to record the summons; she had him waiting in a spot where his car was double parked, now obstructing the flow of traffic. At the same time, another agent across the street was doing the same to another victim. This was like musical chairs, the children’s game where, when the music stops, you sit and the one without a chair is out. When the light on Coney Island Avenue turns red, whatever cars get caught are out $115. Although one of the more outrageous incidents, you can find these traps throughout the city. And for many working poor, it is
literally taking the food out of the mouths of their children. Since the budget crisis of the 1970s when fines were placed in the general fund, each succeeding mayor has increased the frequency of tickets and the amount of the fines while denying there was a quota of summons to be fulfilled by police officers and traffic agents. We thought that Rudy Giuliani had been extremely abusive with this practice, but Mayor Bloomberg has taken it to new heights. Of course he has, since he has already anticipated the amounts and placed it into his budget. When the quota comes down, this encourages precinct captains and traffic commanders, as well as individual agents, to be overly zealous and come up with new ideas to fulfill them, thus the traps all over the city. And, since you rarely, if ever, hear of this in the major media, Mr. Bloomberg brazenly gets away with these muggings as he waltzes his way to the purchase of a third term. New York under Bloomberg is like the Wild West, where the chief honcho operates under his own law. Term limits is not the only example where he has subverted the law. This ticket blitz is immoral and abusive, placing undue hardships on those who can least afford. And let’s not forget the abuse of eminent domain. Additionally, this ticket blitz serves to make the police and traffic agents who are on the front lines into the villains, alienating them from the general populace. Bloomberg wields power as no mayor before. In business, this heartless, cutthroat way of operating is common practice; even
his snubbing of the law, as we often see, is widespread in business circles. As a public servant, it is totally out of line and extremely cruel to those struggling to make ends meet in these harsh times. The problem is that he is able to buy, bully or ignore whomever he pleases, with very few exceptions. The City Council marches to his beat, as does the major media, keeping his sins a secret to those not intimately affected. Surely, my friend’s experience was a mugging. If he were robbed by a thief, he would not have lost as much as the $115 fine. But our billionaire mayor is above the law, so rather than be punished for the crime, he will most likely be rewarded with the ability to purchase a third term so he can continue to serve the interests of his fellow billionaires and run roughshod over the general public.
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The intersection itself. The summons is for rolling through the stop sign at the end of Avenue M. As you can see, it is a calm intersection, and the sight lines dictate moving up beyond the actual sign. Local residents say there have never been accidents or any other problems.
October 19 31, 2009
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FINANCIAL CURRENTS
One man’s IRS audit - a true story By MICHAEL SCHLAGER mschlager@baycurrents.net
….
Preoccupied with running his small business, Jack Porter (an alias) was not always aware of details surrounding his finances that his accountant would mention during their occasional meetings, and he got zapped – not by a shock from a Taser, from which you can shortly recover, but by the IRS, which can inflict much longer-lasting pain. Jack was being audited.
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s a good friend I was there to listen to him, and to virtually live through it with him. Unlike a good friend, however, I asked him if I could write about it and he agreed, as long as he remained anonymous. So, Jack, is a really nice guy – a family man, hard working, ethical, moral, and liked by family and friends alike for at least the 20 years that I have known him. Befriend-
ing your accountant, however, can make it harder for him to hold your feet to the fire… and that may well have been what happened here. Oblivious to the rules his friend did not insist upon (perhaps unwilling to risk disappointing returns for his client and personal friend) Jack saved a lot of money….and now he would have to answer for it. The shock came two months ago…at perhaps the worst possible time. With two small children already, he and his wife have been expecting a third. His business has been sliding for the past year – the worst year in many given the economy, despite the hope of recovery shared by friends and others who watched the Dow Jones jump to 10,000 this past week – and he wonders when the nightmare will be over…can it really be that bad? Jack kept decent records…but what did that mean? As a rule, accountants advise you to keep every possible receipt, so that even if you can only use some of them to prove your claims, it seems more plausible.
I was with Jack when he got the letter, and I sat next to him when he made the phone call. He described his first visit with the auditor to me in detail and I’m going to relate all of it. When he first received it, Jack thought the letter was just another form to be filled out, so he just put it aside. Fortunately his accountant, Alan – a friend whom he consulted more often than he would an accountant whom he didn’t have a personal relationship with –called and told him to open it right away. The horrified expression on Jack’s face belonged to a man facing a death sentence. The IRS wrote that it was looking into everything… page, after page after page. Jack’s first thoughts, “They’re taking my savings, my house, my vacation money … I might even go to jail.” Reality slowly set in as Alan calmed him down and told him a few stories about some of his other clients, and Alan and I became friends as well, as Jack put him on speakerphone). I was surprised that Alan didn’t
mind the speakerphone, but the stories weren’t as juicy as I’d expected-they weren’t tales of how he’d miraculously helped some shady local clients walk away without paying a dime, or how he’d gotten them refunds from the IRS…-they were just stories about regular guys that we could all relate to. Alan wanted Jack to grant him Power of Attorney right away, but Jack held back, knowing that Alan was both a friend and inexperienced with audits. Jack decided to solicit advice from several sources before making a commitment. He also decided to have his bookkeeper balance his books and had Alan review her work. Once the preliminaries were out of the way the work began. – This ongoing feature will continue on our website, www.baycurrents.net, as it happens. We always appreciate your feedback – let us know what you think and ask your friends for their thoughts. We’d love to hear their stories as well. If you don’t have access to the Internet, call us at Bay Currents, 347-492-4432
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