Volume 6 Issue 01 by Bay Currents

Ye ar! rS ixt h Ou Sheepshead Bay • Brighton Beach • Marine Park • Manhattan Beach • Coney Island • Flatlands • Gerritsen Beach • Mill Basin • Bergen Beach

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Vol. 6, No. 1, July 29 - August 12, 2009

Cyclones’ roller-coaster

ride on the upswing Page 3

• Health reform now! • ‘Tremendous’ bank fraud • If we only knew... • A clean slate • Musical librarians • On the beach

Bay Currents is your newspaper -- you count! BAY CURRENTS PHOTO / Patrick Hickey Jr.

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Member of the New York Press Association Writers Olga Privman Christina Pisano Lara Mondrus I. Friedin Michael Schlager

David J. Glenn Publisher Suzanne H. Glenn Editor Rachel Berger Art Director Patrick Hickey Jr. Sports Editor

Contributors Kerry Donelli Jacqueline Donelli Matt Lassen Dale Neseman

Bay Currents & Margin Maker (a division of the PeopleSales Group)

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A summer of anniversaries There are several quite important anniversaries this summer. For one thing, it’s the fifth anniversary of the newspaper you are holding in your hands (or reading on a computer screen). We’re very proud of this, and we certainly want your input as we begin our sixth year as oceanfront Brooklyn’s only independent newspaper. Beyond Brooklyn, this summer also marks the 40th anniversaries of Woodstock, the first moon landing, and, on a less inspiring note, the night when Mary Jo Kopechne, Ted Kennedy’s passenger on a drive in Martha’s Vineyard, drowned off Dike’s Bridge in Chappaquiddick. All these events really had lasting

change. Woodstock changed our consciousness about war, poverty, and all the rest of humankind’s ills (although, as we’ve seen, not really alleviating very much of it). Three years before Watergate, Chappaquiddick showed us that we do indeed have to pay attention to that man behind the curtain, despite the Wizard’s warnings not to. But the moon landing, I believe, changed us most profoundly. Even though it was the result of a stupid Cold War rivalry with Russia, the step that Neil Armstrong took on July 20, 1969 was, as Carl Sagan put it, our first wading into the cosmic ocean. We set foot on a truly New World – much more so than Columbus did five centuries earlier,

Editorial:

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

special series

Growing old in

Brooklyn

To continue to be the independent and effective community newspaper we are, we need to hear from you. We want to know your concerns, opinions, suggestions, praises, and criticism.

Write to us at: letters@baycurrents.net or LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Bay Currents 2966 Avenue U, Suite 108 Brooklyn, NY 11229

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since America was only “new” to him, and Columbus was more interested in brutal conquest than in opening any new chapter in human history. The moon landing was the first stop in an inevitable journey beyond our little blue cradle in the outskirts of one galaxy among billions. We’re still being detoured by our petty conflicts and social failures on the ground, but these are just that – a detour. It’s only a question of when, not if, we travel to Mars, the other planets, and to other solar systems. Perhaps, even before this, we may finally make contact with other civilizations that may be teeming throughout the Milky Way. And, perhaps, they will show us our destiny.

Growing old has been described variously as golden, pitiful, funny, tragic, painful, calming, uplifting, depressing… Of course, it can be some or all of these things, depending on individual circumstances. But in any case, beginning one’s seventh decade of life is unquestionably a major transition. 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, starting with our next issue, will present a special

series on senior care. We will explore the details of senior centers, adult day cares, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes in southern Brooklyn. Whether you’re a senior or the son or daughter of one, you’ll find here essential information on what to look for – and watch out for – in a senior facility and how to navigate the legal and financial mazes. Tell us what you think of the series as we present it. Your suggestions are important to us. We want to help you or your loved one make the most of life’s extended postscript.

July 29 - August 12, 2009

“Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64…?”

-- The Beatles

photo by Rachel Berger

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Cover Story

Cyclones roller-coaster ride on the upside By Patrick Hickey Jr. sports@baycurrents.net Quickly amassing a 16-5 record this season, due to a more than healthy combination of hearty hitting and fiery pitching, the Brooklyn Cyclones were riding high atop the NY-Penn League Standings when their first taste of reality began to hit home. With a 2-7 record over a nine game stretch in mid-July however, the ‘Clones weren’t nearly as dominant as they were earlier in the season. Nevertheless, they believe the experience has been a productive one and one that will help them find the continuity they need to keep their lead in the McNamara Division with a hot Staten Island Yankees team behind them. Bouncing back over the past week, winning four out of seven games, it looks like the Clones are back in the driver’s seat. “We’re human,” said reliever Mike Lynn, who has rebounded marvelously after spending most of last season with arm problems, posting a 2.79 ERA through his first six appearances. “We got off to a great start, but everyone was still getting to know each other. It’s just a matter of how fast we can turn it around.” Taking the series with the Yankees this past weekend, it seems they may have been doing more than spouting clichés during the week when they were grilled about their lack of production. Getting quality pitching has always been a trademark of the team and over the past three games, the team’s pitching staff has returned to the form they had earlier in the season. After giving up 11 earned runs through his last three starts,

rotation ace Collin McHugh hurled five shutout innings to faced Tyler Vaughn, who has four hits in his first nine lead the team to a 1-0 win last Friday. Despite scattering nine at bats with the team. The Clones have also gotten hits the next day, Clones hurler Mark Cohoon gave up just pick-me-ups from former major leaguers Andy Green two runs in an 11-3 win. Making just his third start of the and 2003 MLB rookie of the year Angel Berroa, who season on Sunday, Darin have spent time over the past Gorsk threw six innings two weeks with the team on and gave up just two runs, conditioning assignments. allowing Brooklyn to While Berroa has only appeared sweep the series and get in two games with two hits, back on track. Green has been sound, hitting “I don’t think it’s .307 in seven games. Regulars too much adversity,” Sam Honeck [.323 BA, 12 RBI] said Cyclones closer and Luis Rivera [18 RBI, .310 Mike Powers, who BA] have continued their stellar has f ive saves and a play as well, giving the team stellar 1.59 ER A in just enough offense to get over nine appearances this the hump. season. “Things went While the team will our way earlier in the obviously need more offense season and we’re not down the stretch if they getting too caught up want to stay in the win in the highs and lows. column, the timely hitting We have a talented and excellent pitching are and experienced proving to be more than team and that’s enough to get them by. what’s going to shine You can doubt them all you BAY CURRENTS PHOTO / Patrick Hickey Jr. through in the end.” want, but according to the young Brandon Moore The pitching staff team, ‘they told you so.’ hasn’t been the only “We’re like a family,” said thing clicking as of late. Despite not being as explosive McHugh. “This is the most fun I’ve ever had on a pro team, as they were earlier in the season, Brooklyn has managed but it’s baseball; you’re going to win some and you’re going more timely hits, resulting in more wins. to lose some. We all get along though and we’re going to Picking up the slack on offense has been the freshkeep up what we were doing earlier in the season.

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Victim mourned, suspect arrested

As the mother and friends of a young murder victim mourned his death at the scene in Sheepshead Bay, a suspect was arrested in the slaying, police said. Miguel Saavedra, 13, of Sheepshead Bay Road, was repeatedly stabbed in his torso with a screwdriver Wednesday evening, July 15 following an argument with 19-year-old Juan Reyes of Avenue U. Reyes was arrested two days later and charged in the murder. Police said Reyes rode a bicycle to chase down the Shell Bank Junior High School student and attacked him. Saavedra died later of the wounds. “This is the worst thing that has ever happened,” one of the dozens of mourners who gathered July 17 at the crime scene on Avenue X and East 15th Street wrote in a note fastened to flowers. “He’s the best, but now he’s in God’s hands.”

Census awareness

The Jewish Community Council of Kings Bay, the Kings Bay YM-YWHA, United States Census 2010 and other groups hold a “Census 2010 Awareness Day” Friday, July 31 from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the Kings Bay Y, 3495 Nostrand Avenue (between Ave U and Ave V) for the Russian-speaking community. Participants will learn about the ease and importance of the US 2010 Census, meet community leaders, join in a voter-registration drive, get information about the elections, and receive various publications.

Tech makeover in Gravesend

The Chichester family of Gravesend has received a total home-technology make-over by writing

about the “Power to Lear n.” The family’s essay on how technology has helped them in learning at home and in school was selected as the winning submission in Cabelvision’s “Power to Learn Optimum Technology Makeover” contest. “As both a mother of a special needs child and an educator of special needs children, I witness the power of technology and the positive effect it is having on these children,” Helen Chichester said when her family was awarded a 42” HDTV, an Apple® MacBook, an iPod touch, an AirPort Express Base, a photo printer, a Flip Mino video camera, a Solio Charger, a Blue-Ray DVD player, a 6.0 DECT phone, and a digital camera.

‘Amber Alert’ for seniors

The state Assembly has passed legislation setting up an alert system harnessing federal, state and local resources to assist families of vulnerable adults in locating their missing loved ones, similar to the Amber Alert for children. “Many of our loved ones are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, dementia or other cognitive impairments and mental disabilities – which may cause adult individuals to become confused and disoriented, often leaving them susceptible to wandering,” said Assemblyman Alan Maisel. “This legislation provides the families of missing at-risk adults with a valuable resource and support system in their time of need.”

The other concerts in the park

Taking a page from Borough President Marty Markowitz’ book, Councilman Domenic Recchia Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Assemblyman Alec BrookKrasny, the Brooklyn Arts Council and neighborhood organizations are sponsoring free concerts at Asser Levy

Park this summer – on Tuesdays, not to conflict with Markowitz’ Thursday night line-ups. The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is free, and visitors are encouraged to bring chairs. Here’s the he remaining summer schedule: July 28 Rhapsody Players Mostly Motown August 11 Eddie & The Starlites Ray Rivera Jazz Sextet August 18 MAS Swing August 25 Brawner Brothers Band

Bay factoid Many of our Bay Factoids have shown that the Dutch roots of the area are very prevalent. Van Sicklen Street in Gravesend is no exception. It’s named for the 17th century Van Sicklen family, the earliest Dutch farming dynasty in the Flatbush area.

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The free Seaside Summer Concerts at Asser Levy Park kicked off July 16 as :”Brooklyn’s Salute to the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock!” and featured Creedence Clearwater (Revisited), Mountain, and John Sebastian. But the scene of mostly middle-aged people sitting on lawn

chairs was not exactly a redux of the legendary event of the summer of 1969. Perhaps the concert with The O’Jays and Gladys Knight on July 23 was a more fitting tribute -- a heavy rain provided lots of mud, just like at Yasgur’s Farm (See the open letter to

Mayor Bloomberg on Page 12).

Here’s the schedule of the remaining shows

(Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.):

July 30: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Connie Francis, and Stewie Stone August 6: Daryl Hall and John Oats August 13: Blondie, Pat Benatar, special guests: The Donnas August 20: Salsa By The Sea August 27: Donna Summer

July 29 - August 12, 2009

BAY CURRENTS PHOTO

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Not y o u r fat h er’ s lib r a r ian s instruments; James Shanahan, bass guitar, guitar, banjo, By Lara Mondrous and vocals; Stephen Stickney, 6- and 12-string guitar; mondrous@baycurrents.net Richie Araldi, drums, percussion, vocals; Matt Cole, alto If you have an image of librarians as dour old ladies and bari sax, percussion; and Harold Stern, trombone and with out-of-fashion percussion. glasses, get ready for The only two members who your preconception to are not librarians are Shanahan be shattered. and Araldi. But Shanahan’s wife Just catch a gig by is a librarian and he’s Kassab’s “Lost in the Stacks,” brother, so they let him in. a group of performers Kassab and Shanahan have who are Brooklyn been involved in music for as Public Library long as they can remember. librarians by day but They grew up surrounded by hip musicians by night. music and that their mother was “It was destiny,” said a musician. “Music was always Eileen Kassab, vocalist a natural thing to us,” Shanahan and guitarist. “We all said. “There were always fell into place and stayed guitars around the house.” into place.” During family events we would “Libraries attract have barbeques and we’d always artists,” said Sharon play music,” Shanahan said. Tidwell, who plays the Araldi met “Lost In The flute and percussion. Stacks” through Stickney while “The hours are playing in another band called conducive since we are “Riff Ratz.” not open late -- it’s an BAY CURRENTS PHOTO / Randy Duchaine “Richie fit in well when we met easy transition from “In The Stacks” him and we just stuck with him,” being a librarian.” Kassab said. “He’s also someone “Lost In The Stacks” – we get along with and that means a lot. He’s a wonderful with a performance coming up Aug. 4 near KeySpan Park bandmate and fabulous drummer,” Kassab added. in Coney Island -- started in 2004 with seven members With its full complement of nine performers, the band and eventually expanded into its current nine. In addition is able to combine different genres of music together to Kassab and Tidwell, there are Jack McCleland, guitar, smoothly and successfully. The music is uplifting and keyboards; Clyde Kerlew, vocals, guitar, and other

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energetic – listen for a few minutes and you’ll find it very hard not to dance. There is alternative rock, folk, jazz, blues, and a touch of country in every song. “We are all so different so we bring different spirits and personalities to the music,” Kassab said. “Everyone adds their flavors to what we’re doing. We have that ‘Stacks’ sound and it becomes a ‘Stacks’ production.” The musical librarians (or is it book-loving musicians?) said they are currently working on original pieces for the future, heavily influenced by Brooklyn. The lyrics of “Coney Island Cold Winter Blues,” written by Kassab, tell of a girl who loses her boyfriend to mermaids (don’t you hate when that happens?). “It just kind of came to me on a roller coaster ride,” Kassab said. Lyrics generally “just come to me, sometimes when I’m driving,” she said. “I’ll bring a tape recorder along so I don’t forget and I’ll sing, and that’s writing the words and the music at the same time.” McCleland provides the joyful melody to another Stacks original, “Brooklyn Bounce.” “Brooklyn is like the new place where art happens, artists move to Brooklyn,” McCleland said. “A lot of jazz musicians come out of Brooklyn. We have a great music scene; there are a lot of opportunities here.” “It’s very diverse, one guy will have blues playing, another will have jazz, and another will have rock,” Shanahan said. “The senior citizens in the Midwood Senior Center are real partiers, they have so much energy and are really fun to watch,” Kassab said. A good crowd always makes a difference, they all agreed. “Lost In The Stacks” performs on Tuesday, August 4, at 6 p.m. as a part of “National Night Out” at the soccer field behind Keyspan Park.

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Senior Currents You don’t have to fall!

Falls are the most common cause of injury for older adults. One out of three people over age 65 fall at least once each year. Half of the people who break a hip do not recover fully. Almost half of the people who enter nursing homes do so because of a fall. After the fall, they cannot stay at home on their own. Most falls occur in people’s own homes while they do their regular daily activities. There are many simple ways that seniors can reduce the risk of falling. Here are some suggestions: Get regular health screening and follow-up care. Make small, low-cost changes in your home—such as removing clutter and putting in grab bars.

• Exercise regularly.

Research shows that people who exercise regularly are less likely to fall. In addition, if you do fall, you are less likely to be hurt, and you are better able to get up again. Studies of older men and women show that they can improve their strength and balance with just two days a week of strength training.

• Don’t keep worrying about falling.

A fear of falling can make people more likely to fall. This is because they become less active and then their muscles get weaker.

Home Safety

The staircase

The bathroom

• Repair cracks and gaps in walkways and steps. • Put up handrails for steps. • Put a brighter light at my front door. • Replace a raised threshold with a flat one. • Paint the raised threshold a different color. • Paint the edge of the steps a different color or use textured and

You can make your home safer with simple, low-cost or free changes. You may have made some changes already.

Use this checklist to help you take a careful look around your home:

The bathroom is where most falls happen. Slippery tubs and wet floors can cause falls. So can getting in and out of the tub. Think about your own habits. Do you love to take baths? A long rubber tub mat makes the tub safer. Do you drop the soap in the shower? Try liquid soap in a plastic bottle.

colored stair tape.

• Clear steps of clutter. • Make sure the doormat is fastened down • Consider automatic lighting • Make sure no objects are on or at the bottom or top of stairways • The handrail that should be longer than the stairs • There should be contrasting color on the edge of steps, with non-skid paint.

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Carrying a load up or down the stairs • Leave one hand free to hold on. • Make sure you can still see where you are going. • Divide up big loads and make more trips.

• Put an awkward package into a basket that you can carry with one hand.

• Put a heavy package down on a step so you can rest a moment. • Ask for help!

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July 29 - August 12, 2009

Visit us at: www.BayCurrents.net

Falls can be life-threatening

Advertorial

The First of a Three-Part Series

By Ben Weinstock PT Weinstock Physical Therapy, P.C. There have been many jokes leveled about the old TV commercial featuring a senior who pleads, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.” But such falls are not a laughing matter. To an older person, suffering a serious fall can be life-threatening. It may result in hospitalization, surgery, or nursing home placement. More than 40 percent of those who fall never live independently again. Tragically, more than 13,000 people die as a result of falls each year in the U.S., usually when the fall results in a hip fracture or head trauma. In this article, we will explore the medical causes of falling and what you and your healthcare providers can do to cut your risk. Polypharmacy: Taking four or more medications significantly increases one’s risk of falling, usually due to the effects of drug interactions, which can result in low blood pressure, changes in heart rhythm, or dizziness. It is very important to keep a list of all medications that you are taking. Review the list with your primary care physician and/or pharmacist. Don’t forget

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to include over-the-counter medications too, as they may also interfere with your prescribed medications. Urinary incontinence: The inability to control your bladder may result in “running to the bathroom” which can result in a fall. Do not be embarrassed to discuss your bladder problem with your MD; often a referral to a urologist can be helpful. Vision problems: We rely upon vision for our balance. If your vision is worsening, get your eyes checked. Inner-ear disorders: In addition to vision, our inner-ears – technically, our vestibular systems -- help us to stabilize. As we age the innerear loses the ability to relay normal balance sensations to the brain. It is believed that more than half of all seniors have impaired vestibular systems, which may result in feelings of dizziness or vertigo, which can lead to falls. This is another condition that is usually treatable; consult an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Joint-position sense: In addition to vision and the vestibular system, we also balance ourselves based upon sensations from our muscle and joints. Pain, arthritis, muscle weakness, and inactivity contribute to a decrease in this sensation, which normally decreases with aging. Each of these conditions is treatable, which can boost the message from our joints to the brain. A referral to an orthopedist

and/or a physical therapist is in order. Foot problems and improper footwear: Painful and deformed feet lead to altered walking patterns, which can throw off one’s balance. Contrary to popular opinion, wearing soft “walking shoes” are not for everyone. Excessive cushioning and shock-absorption muffles the forces that our feet should normally feel while walking. Without that normal sensation, balance becomes impaired. A referral to a podiatrist may be helpful. The positive side to all this is that nearly three-quarters of falls can be reduced if seniors undergo a comprehensive fall-risk assessment. In the next issue, we will discuss how to evaluate your home environment for fall risks.

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Health Currents Bay residents want health reform By Amadeo Constanzo health@baycurrents.net The debate over reform in health-care insurance has dominated the beginning of President’s Obama term in office – just as it did during Bill Clinton’s first months in the White House. And some of the same arguments against universal health care are bandied about. It’s socialism. The government can’t handle it. It’s too expensive. Meanwhile, many in the Bay area as well as the rest of the city, state, and nation have no or little health insurance, and not infrequently have to choose between food and medicine, o face bankruptcy over medical bills. There has been some progress nonetheless. Obama provided coverage for some 11 million children nationwide under the Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act, which President Bush had vetoed. And he signed the American Recover Reinvestment Act, giving a 65 percent subsidy for people paying for insurance under COBRA (continuing insurance after leaving a job) and $19 billion to improve computerized medical records to reduce long-term health costs. But perhaps the most significant step taken so far, is the Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (H.R. 3200), which a House committee passed by a vote of 23 to 18. Many Republicans, and some Democrats, oppose me

the measure, which would significantly expand healthinsurance coverage nationwide. If a random Bay Currents survey is any indication, there is general support for HR 3200 in the Bay area. Joset told Bay currents that she would have benefited from this bill. “Before I was married, I went through a long period without health insurance,” she said. “My job wasn’t offering enough hours for me to have health insurance, and my income wasn’t low enough to qualify for Medicaid.” H.R. 3200 offers a public health insurance option and an expanded Medicaid program which would provide health insurance for individuals like Joset. Terence said he tried to purchase individual health insurance when he became self-employed. But because he had a pre-existing eye condition, the health insurance companies offered him insurance at a much higher price with a clause excluding coverage of his eye condition (which could lead to blindness). H.R.3200 would have made it illegal for health insurance companies to do this. Other provisions of H.R. 3200 include adding comprehensive prescription-drug coverage to Medicare (such as eliminating the medication coverage gap known as the “donut hole”); establishing a healthinsurance exchange enabling individuals and small businesses to compare health insurance options; placing a cap on patients’ out-of-pocket medical expenses, and prohibiting

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insurers from placing a cap on the benefits a patient may receive. Although most Brooklyn residents Bay Currents interviewed support the current health reform efforts of Obama and Democrats, Bay Currents did come across a few opponents. “We don’t need more government involvement in our lives,” said James. “We don’t want socialist healthcare. This would be another step toward socialism or dictatorship.” He said he believed the quality of healthcare would go down with universal health coverage “Quality and efficiency always go down the drain when our government gets involved,” he said. “With government involvement, we lose our ability to choose.” Actually, H.R. 3200 would allow currently available private health insurance choices to remain, in addition to the newly available public health insurance. “If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor,” Obama emphasized in his speech at the American Medical Association. “If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan.” He reiterated this at his recent press conference on health care. “We’ve talked this problem to death year after year,” Obama said. “Unless we act and act now, nothing will change. The need for reform is urgent and indisputable.”

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Page 9

A ‘clean slate’ a few subway stops away By Lara Mondrus mondrus@baycurrents.net We’ve got more than our share of aesthetics in the Bay area – the expanse of the ocean, the fishing and cruise boats along the bay, residential streets that look almost like forests with their canopies of trees, the fields of Marine Park, the Nature Center…. But we don’t have much in the way of canvass art – at least not at the current time. So it’s worth a hop on the N or D train from Coney Island to see beautiful art – at the Tabla Rasa art gallery in Sunset Park. Artists Audrey and Joseph Anastasi, operators of the family business PASCO (Photographic Apparatus Systems), founded the gallery – the first such facility in Sunset Park -- in May 2005 “‘Tabla Rasa.’ means ‘clean slate’ in Latin,” said Joseph, “and every artist can identify with this. Every artist starts off with a clean canvas. Just like in this neighborhood, we were starting off with a clean slate here.” The gallery has attracted many artists to the area since. “I’ve noticed many artists moving into this area over the last few years,” Audrey said. “Sunset Park is very hospitable to up-and-coming artists.” The artists are from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels. “We like to mix it up, by exhibiting both new artists and artists who have established careers,” Audrey said. Even though Tabla Rasa is the Anastasis’ artistic home, the exhibits they hold are usually of other artists, particularly from elsewhere in Brooklyn and from Manhattan. “We don’t normally exhibit ourselves in the gallery,” Audrey said. This summer, though, since Tabla Rasa is in between shows, the majority of paintings and sculptures on display this summer are Audrey’s and Joseph’s own work. Visitors entering the gallery immediately notice the pleasant,

modern aura. The paintings by Audrey and sculptures by Joseph complement one another perfectly. In one room, there’s a painting with an explosion above water consisting of captivating deep blues, turquoises, greens, fiery oranges and reds, and black, demonstrating the exotic colors of nature; the painting vividly stands out in both broad daylight and in the darker lights. Audrey said she was inspired by a photograph of a fire across a river, and chose her own colors. Across the room is a painting expressing the diversity of nature -- a human hand, a bird, a fish, pink flowers, a sunset, and clouds of mysterious, deep colors. Depicted in another painting are people watching a lava flow. This time Audrey was inspired by a postcard from Sicily. She chose to paint the people as black shadows watching the fire from afar, creating a sense of eeriness and mystery. Since 1990, Audrey has used an unconventional technique in her work -- using her non-dominant left hand over her right hand when creating larger paintings. “I still use my right hand for smaller paintings and in smaller spaces, but when I use my left hand, I find that everything flows more, it makes the painting livelier, and it really captures the character of something,” she said.

Joseph’s sculptures are made of natural materials, often with earth tones, which is why they match Audrey’s paintings. One particular sculpture, at the entrance, looks like a room within a room. The outside is a natural wooden brown, and on the inside is shattered glass pieced together, with the addition of a brown ruler. “Ideas just come; sometimes an object will just speak to you,” Joseph said. Another one of Joseph’s sculptures included yellow tape measures, all forming what appeared as an actual bar graph. In a sculpture by the Bay area’s very own artist Daniel Scheffer, hundreds of small pieces of paper are lined up together -- when this sculpture is looked at sideways, hundreds of profiles of faces can be seen, a creative optical illusion. The entire gallery gives visitors an insight to our surroundings, showing people, animals, and landscape in a unique, intensified way. The Anastasis welcome visitors with warm and energetic smiles. “We want people to feel that it was worth a trip,” Audrey said. “People always assume they have to go to Manhattan for art galleries.” If you’re planning to visit Tabla Rasa during the summer, -- and you should! -- the Anastasis ask you to call 718-8339100 for summer hours and directions. The next show is set for September. You don’t have to be art savvy to thoroughly enjoy what Tabla Rasa has to offer. Just one look at the art on display will make it hard to leave.

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Page 11

Opinion

If we only knew… By I. Friedin ifrieden@baycurrents.net At the last meeting of Community Board 13 local residents came out en masse to protest the proposed amphitheater in Asser Levy Park. A devastating intrusion upon their neighborhood brought this diverse group together to speak out, one after another, unified against the plan foisted upon them by Borough President Marty Markowitz with support from the mighty powers who rule our city. (Yes rule, where the public is dictated to, rather than govern according to the needs and desires of and input from the people.) It was very gratifying to see a united community working together for common cause; something too often lost these days. Perhaps most disturbing, however, was the absence of major media. Make no bones about it, this is a very significant story. The Borough President commandeers public parkland, intruding on the peace of the community, spending public money much needed for vital services, simply to fulfill his “personal dream”...while steadfastly ignoring those affected. With the community, almost to the last person, vehemently opposed, this is an issue with possible national repercussions. Shouldn’t it be a headline story throughout the major media in and beyond the metropolitan area? Yet, the only media presence was the Bay Currents and the Bay News; and the only one to give it the emphasis it deserves has been Bay Currents. Long ago it was recognized that the only way a democratic system can work is when accompanied by a free and independent press. In fact it was considered so vital that the founding fathers made sure to include it in the Bill of Rights as part of the First Amendment to the Constitution. Enforcement has included laws restricting the number of media sources (including today’s electronic media) one could own in a market. Recent years however, have seen our major media taken over by huge conglomerates, interested in their own corporate well being rather than reporting all the unbiased truth to the public. These monstrous entities have influenced the Federal Communications Commission, chipping away at the protections, culminating in the Bush Administration virtually wiping them out. Here in New York, Rupert Murdock’s News Corporation, for example, owns the Fox Network with two regular and several cable TV

stations, the Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Courier-Life Publications (parent of the Bay News), Brooklyn Papers and the Times-Ledger papers in Queens. It is also reported that he is seeking to purchase the New York Daily News, whose editorial policy is already similar to that of the Post. Even the venerable New York Times tends to be biased when reporting locally. It’s not just what is reported; it’s what is not reported that is of concern, since the Times, as far as we know, does not purposely lie; it simply omits the news it doesn’t find “fit to print,” often news that might be vital to the public interest. Today, in Mike Bloomberg’s New York, the media has displayed a glaring bias on his behalf, rarely reporting on the injustices perpetrated on the public by him or his political cronies; the Brighton Beach incursion being only one of so many instances. Many local politicos have seemingly learned from Bloomberg how to sidestep public opinion by ignoring protest and keeping unpopular issues out of the public eye. The public is therefore placed in a misinformed or uninformed limbo without the necessary information to make judgments on issues that affect them. Making matters that much worse are the huge financial resources Bloomberg has placed into misinforming the public with his campaign ads. Those who are knowledgeable can dissect these ads and identify truth from fiction, but the average voter does not have the necessary information at hand. So, for example, when Bloomberg tells you how he is expanding affordable housing, most don’t know that more affordable housing has been lost under his stewardship than under any prior administration and that his proposals are for but a small fraction of what has been lost and not nearly as affordable. And his friend, Mr. Markowitz, gets away with his invasion of Brighton Beach with few outside the area aware. What this means is that it is up to the public to find additional sources of information. People must be aware of what is going on around them. They have to insist that their local representatives be responsible to them rather than the developers and their cronies at City Hall or the myriad of agencies that seem to operate with impunity. Find the local press and bloggers writing about the city and local communities and check their credibility. And there is, of course, the Bay Currents; with its limited resources; always striving to report honestly on behalf of the communities it serves.

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You don’t have to agree – just think about it Often you’ll read something not commonly reported in the mainstream media. Do you simply ignore it? Do you trivialize its content based on its lack of attention by major news sources? Maybe you should read these more carefully and give them a bit of thought. Especially these days of corporate controlled media with its own biases, it is that much more important for the public to seek out information elsewhere and decipher it themselves. Okay, sometimes it’s one of those “flat earth” stories that you can ignore off the bat. Too often, however, vital issues are kept hidden; not completely out of sight, but in a place where they are off to the side, out of a context

where the public is able to place it in proper perspective. The Bay Currents strives to bring you the truth and how it affects you. Please read and evaluate and let us know how you feel. No one at this paper expects you to be in agreement with everything written. These pieces are meant to be provocative and make you think. In the name of democracy and free thought, we ask you to consider what is presented and submit your thoughts. An open dialogue is vital to preserve our democratic institutions and keep at bay those who would encroach upon our rights and upon our quality of life. -- I. Friedin

Our schools: How much control?

Mayor Bloomberg has been spewing insults at the state Senate for stalling and questioning his control of schools. Considering their recent actions, you have to agree they’ve been absolutely despicable. But, in this case, they happen to be right. Bloomberg likes to run things his way with no public input; with the bottom [financial] line taking precedence. What this means to the education of our children is that they are denied programs that he and his business partners deem too expensive...and parents are being purposely left out of the dialogue. This may be the way to run a business but it is definitely not the way to run an educational system or,

for that matter, a city with millions of people dependent on these decisions. True, the old Board of Education was bogged down in incompetent bureaucracy; too often more concerned with perpetuating itself than fulfilling its mission; but control by Bloomberg’s business model is worse; his real mission being the bottom line rather than educating our children. Those with the means can afford a complete education for their children in the private sector. What about those who can’t? Which is worse and how can we create a system that truly serves to provide the best free education possible for the children of our city? What do you think? -- I. Friedin

An open letter to Mayor Bloomberg I wanted to inform you of a complaint I registered with 311. On July 23, a concert featuring the O’Jays and Gladys Knight was held under the sponsorship of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz in Asser Levy Park. Despite a steady rain and slick, dangerous conditions in the park, and a sparse crowd, the concert went on as scheduled. Additionally, a group of rehabilitation patients in wheelchairs was inexplicably brought in for the concert. These vulnerable people were

left sitting in their wheelchairs in the rain for several hours during the concert. Sometimes judgments are difficult to make; however in this case it is was clear that Mr. Markowitz as the sponsor and Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Jules Spiegel should have canceled the show. I ask your office to thoroughly investigate this incident. Thank you, Dr. Abraham Fruchter Brighton Beach

Bay factoid Most people unfamiliar with the Bay area – and even a few who’ve lived here all their lives – usually have trouble spelling Voorhies Avenue. It may be a little easier if you break it down to its Dutch roots: It was named after an early settler, Steven Corte Van Voorhies. “Van” — which was later dropped – means “from,” “voor” is “before,” and “Hees” was the Old World village from which he came.

July 29 - August 12, 2009

Visit us at: www.BayCurrents.net

Financial Currents Daily Money Managers help seniors handle their finances By Joseph S Reisman JSReisman@TaxHelp1040.com. Daily money managers – part of an emerging profession in financial management -Are available to help the elderly with day-to-day financial tasks. These include ensuring that Social Security benefits are received, that there is enough money to buy groceries, pay bills, balance the checkbook, ensure that their money is deposited in their bank accounts, fill out insurance claims and ensure that the claims are paid, organize tax records and other financial paperwork, and even negotiate with creditors on their clients’ behalf. Many spend a lot of time organizing medical records for bills and for insurance. Of course, this help isn’t limited to the elderly. People of all ages don’t have the time, or the confidence, to handle their money well. But the service is particularly valuable for seniors, especially if their sons or daughters no longer live near them. Even if they’re in the same community, they are busy with their own lives and finances. There’s an added dimension – if parents start failing in their everyday activities, there’s a lot of emotion. A professional helps both the parents and the children by taking away a lot of the stress. Some seniors may feel it difficult to acknowledge that

they need help in handling their basic financial tasks. They feel that it is the beginning of their loss of independence, just as if they would by giving up driving. Actually, it may be the best way to allow seniors to retain their independence. For some, this is a much less restrictive alternative to guardianship. If, for example, someone suffered a stroke, and they can’t handle numbers as well as before, the money manager might be ideal. When the person recovers, the money manager is no longer needed. Most daily money managers charge for their services on an hourly basis, with rates ranging from $25 an hour to as much as $65 an hour. Many of these professionals also help to make sure their clients get to the doctor when they’re supposed to, and in many cases, they accompany them to the doctor. They arrange for transportation for them, and will even pick them up and take them. However, a money manager isn’t meant to take the place of an accountant or lawyer. Most daily money managers don’t have power of attorney over their clients, and therefore cannot sign checks. There is no formal training program, but many are members of the American Association of Daily Money Managers (AADMM). This organization helps its members to improve their professionalism through various

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Page 13

Twice the Advice By Jacqueline Donelli and Kerry Donelli Letter #1

Dear Twins:

I’m a 39-year-old woman who believes to have been fortunate enough to find the love of my life. “Bob” was trapped in a miserable marriage when he and I met. In fact, Bob and his wife stayed in different bedrooms. Bob only stayed in the marriage because he was afraid his wife would be vindictive and wouldn’t allow him to see his kids, though she was just as miserable as he. I suspect she stayed with him mostly because she needed the rent money and any other money he might have to contribute to the household. The point is, while we dated, Bob swore he’d never divorce his wife because he couldn’t stand not being with his children all the time. But I couldn’t take it anymore and I left him. I also immediately started dating someone else. It was then that Bob filed for divorce and separated from his wife. And, surprisingly, it worked out for the better since he was able to spend more quality time with his kids. So here’s the problem: I still want to have a child and Bob absolutely does not. I secretly feel though that I was able to persuade him to finally get a divorce so perhaps if I hang in there long enough he’ll change his mind about having children too. We fight about this constantly and so far he has showed no interest in changing his mind. We both resent this in the other but we’re both devastated when we break up over this fact. The fact is, I want children. I will not change my mind on this fact either. Should I hang in there and pray he changes his mind like he did the divorce? I’m crazy for him and I just can’t live without him.

KERRY says:

Dear Crazy for Him, I really feel for you and despite having been lucky enough to have found someone you connect with on such a profound level, I don’t envy your position one bit. In fact I feel heartbreaks in general might make the top “three most painful experiences in a life time” list. Fact is you’re almost forty. If you wait much longer you may never be able to bear children. It has been my experience that woman who have waited and missed their chances at having children have been not only despondent but also regretful. It doesn’t help your case either the fact that by the time a man hits his thirties, you pretty much get what you see; there is not going to be a significant amount of personality change. And, for the most part, men are not wishy-washy like women; they actually say what they mean and mean what they say. So I would absolutely take him at face value on this one and trust that he most definitely won’t change his mind. The only small prayer of a chance you might have would depend on YOUR actions and not his. In other words, he needs to be given an ultimatum: if he’s not interested in having a child with you, you will end this relationship and seek out a man whom shares the same desire for children. As it is, Bob is happy as a clam because right now he has his cake and is eating it too. Unless you give him an ultimatum you haven’t a chance. Be brave.

JACQUELINE says:

Dear Crazy, I agree with Kerry. Look, it’s once, maybe twice in a lifetime that we meet the loves of our lives, and that’s if we’re really lucky. I suppose you could say you are lucky enough to have spent some time rather than no time with this kind of love. (Or is it better to have never eaten chocolate and not know what you are missing?) Whichever the case, here are the facts: You are almost 40 and you still want a baby. And because you are 40, you only have so much time. Also, I can’t help but think that the Page 14

relationship is doomed over time as you turn to depression and resentment watching Bob experience the joy of raising his children while never having any of your own. I don’t see a choice in the matter but to be strong and leave Bob. You need to find someone who’s on the same page. As for Bob, you can’t control how he will react when you leave him. Maybe (but don’t count on it) he will change his mind and run back in your arms, realizing he would love nothing more then to have children with the love of his life (you are the love of his life too, remember?), or maybe he simply won’t. But if you continue to live on his terms nothing will ever change. Remember, you can live without him. You have for 39 years.

Letter #2

Dear Twins,

My best friend just broke up with a guy that I’ve secretly had a crush on for a long time - and I think he’s kind of interested in me too. But even though my friend broke up with him, she still acts like he belongs to her. (I wouldn’t dare tell her my feelings for him for fear that she might kill me!) She still drives over to his house to see where he is, or calls him to find out what he’s doing, and checks to see if he’s dating anyone, etc., etc. Do you think there’s any chance that I might be able to date this guy, and keep my friendship with my best friend? Signed, Split Decision

JACQUELINE says:

Dear Split Decision, Clearly your best friend is still head over heels over this guy and going after him will surely stifle your relationship with her. How could it not? The questions you need to ask yourself are: How important is she to you? How important is he? Is this a little schoolgirl crush or do you really dig him? It is very painful to watch someone else date the guy you’re in love with, take it from me, I’ve been there. But what is worse is it is your best friend. If you can stand it, I would lay low for a while. Wait until your friends love for this guy fizzles, or better yet, that she meets a new guy she really digs. Then make your move.

KERRY says:

Dear Split Decision, I agree. If you intend on keeping her your best friend then my advice is to stay far away from him. At this point she still has strong feelings for him. The pain of losing him coupled with the idea of you chasing after him will absolutely torment her. And there’s no way she’ll forgive you for it. Should you decide that you’re too madly in love with this guy and you’d rather forfeit the friendship, that’s fine but realize that this will not only crush her but will most definitely damage your friendship with her forever. The best thing you can do is wait it out. When time has past and she appears well over him and is well into another relationship, then and only then, would I pursue him….and with her blessing.

Letter #3

Dear Twins,

I’m a 26-year-old male who recently moved into an apartment. The second I arrived “Sara” brought over a welcoming cake. Sara and I hit it off right away. She is smart, funny and absolutely beautiful. Although, she looks sixteen, Sara is eleven years old. Sara confuses me because she finds little excuses to stop by, like bringing me my paper or asking for help with her homework, for example. Last night, she came over and I was watching TV and she decided to sit right next to me, real close. I July 29 - August 12, 2009

could tell, it’s not just me; I know we both immediately felt something. Truth is, I’ve been here 8 months now, and I can’t stop thinking about her. My feelings are growing stronger every time I see her. I am a sensitive person and I know my feelings are all wrong but what do I do about it? Rob...(bing the cradle)

KERRY says:

Dear Robbing the Cradle Adults do not have sexual attraction for children. Ones who do are called pedophiles and getting help for these individuals is imminent. Sir, your letter sends chills up my spine. So please, I urge you to read this response carefully because you are not acting like a sensitive person; you are behaving like a monster. And you are one left turn from molesting an innocent child. If you act on your feelings, this child will be ruined for life. And it may take years of therapy trying to right your wrong… if she doesn’t try to kill herself first. Show mercy on that child and get yourself help immediately. Any therapist will help you see that this child is only innocently flirting with you, like little children sometimes do. She has no idea that you take her childish ways seriously and that you intend on acting upon it. She will never enjoy what you are planning to do to her, for you are only fantasizing. Realize too that it is a loose-loose situation because not only will this destroy her but also you will go straight to jail. There IS still time to rectify this, a chance to right this, and some hope to save you if, and only if, you call a professional therapist and make an appointment right away. You do not want to be brandished a child molester.

JACQUELINE says:

Dear Rob, Jacqueline says: If Kerry hasn’t hit you over your head then I know who will. A therapist. Please don’t take this lightly. I urge you to seek guidance immediately. She has a crush on you like some young children do because she looks up to you. She does not desire you in any way. You, on the other hand, are an adult. Your desires for this child need to be understood by you through the help of a professional. Adults (with the exceptions of a pedophiles) do not have desires for children. And if you act on the “feelings” you are having, you will ruin this child. Please know by seeking professional help, you may enjoy a life with wonderful healthy relationships with other adults but without it, you will surely spend the rest of your life in jail.

Bay factoid Do you know where Dead Horse Bay is? Did you even know we had such a place?

We do. It’s an inlet just southwest of Floyd Bennett Field, named for its use in the 1850s as a site for making glue and other products from dead horses. Fittingly, the site has been reclaimed by the natural environment. Visit us at: www.BayCurrents.net

Bay Crossword 1

Techies

5 6

9 10 11

By the Bay Currents staff

15 16 17

Down

Across

2. velocity 3. keyboard type 4. _____ screen 5. computer attacker 8. collaborative results 9. ____ top 10. _____ base 12. type of disc 14. ____ top

1. arrow 6. screen _____ 7. liquid ____ display 11. opening 13. ____ line 15. ____ on 16. sick computer 17. personal computer

Answers on page 17

Bay Sudoku How to Solve Sudoku Puzzles 1. Fill the grid so that the numbers 1 through 9 appear in each row. 2. Fill the grid so that the numbers 1 through 9 appear in each column. 3. Fill the grid so that the numbers 1 through 9 appear in each 3x3 box. 4. A complete Sudoku puzzle contains the numbers 1 through 9 in every row, column, and 3x3 box.

7 8 2 5 9

Answers on page 17

7 6

2 64 1 86

1 4 2 4 9 1

6 3 2

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Clean-up at Coney nets dozens of bottles

NYPIRG staffer Roger Drew was among the young people who collected discarded bottles at Coney Island

To celebrate the signing of the “Bigger Better Bottle Law,” the New York Public Interest Research Group organized a beach clean-up in Coney Island on Friday, July 24, retrieving dozens of discarded bottles from the sand. . About 40 college students and NYPIRG staffers wore green shirts —“going green”— and picked up soda and water bottles along the boardwalk and on the beach. Bending and picking up the bottles with his hands, Chris McCall, a secondyear student at the Borough of Manhattan Community College said he had been

looking forward to this beach clean-up since he first learned about the event in June. “Not only is this a community service event, we are also raising awareness of the Bigger Better Bottle Law. Very often we think of civic engagement as a very alien concept, removed far from our everyday lives. We don’t realize how easy it is that events like the beach clean-up matters. A few people have asked me since I got here why we are picking up the bottles. I then have the chance to tell them about the new legislation,” McCall said. The Bigger Better Bottle Law, signed by

Gov. David Paterson on April 7, is to add a 5-cent deposit on water bottles, increase the handling fees to 3.5 cents, and return 80 percent of unclaimed deposits to the state’s General Fund. The BBBL is designed to reduce litter by providing financial incentives for recycling, at the same time generating some $115 million for the state. However, a recent lawsuit filed by Nestle and the International Bottled Water Association has placed the law on hold. The plaintiffs contend that the New York State-specific label requirement is unconstitutional. It is now up to the state legislature and the plaintiffs to come to a compromise in their negotiation. McCall savors the victory, despite the lawsuit. “This was a seven-year campaign, and we finally won. I know our phone calls and letters made a difference, and I’m just happy that the bill was passed. We all

worked really hard on it, and it’s time to celebrate,” McCall said. The bags of bottles that students and NYPIRG staff picked up showed that the improved recycling law is truly necessary, NYPIRG says. Within five hours, the young people collected some 60 bottles, about half of them water bottles. “The new law will really matter. If it’s true that only a quarter of the bottling market is made up by water bottles, how come we are picking up so many more water bottles than soda bottles?” said Josie Zolkind, the NYPIRG summer project coordinator at the College of Staten Island. The bottles collected were taken to a redemption center, and the nickels obtained from the soda bottle exchange will be donated to a local homeless shelter, said Jerome Furman, NYPIRG’s project coordinator at Brooklyn College.

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The city has launched a new series of Spanish-language educational TV for children. Mayor Bloomberg, Katherine Oliver, acting president of the NYC Media Group, and “V-me” CEO and President Carmen DiRienzo announced the launching of NYC TV Kids Presents V-me Niños, to be seen from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday on NYC Channel 25. The content is provided through the city’s partnership with V-me, a national Spanish-language network developed with WNET.ORG, parent of public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21 “NYC TV’s airing of this new content brings into focus our continuing efforts to deliver educational and entertaining programming that everyone can enjoy,” said Oliver. V-me Niños is part of the new NYC TV kids block that includes both animated and live action programming for children 2 to 7 years old. The V-me Niños schedule includes: • “Plaza Sésamo” – The Latin American

July 29 - August 12, 2009

version of “Sesame Street” teaches preschoolers, with animation, music and more. • “LazyTown” – The award-wining international program devoted to kids’ health inspires young viewers to move, play and eat healthy though movement, music, comedy and storytelling in a colorful, highenergy world. • “ Five Minutes More”/”Cinco Minutos Más” – Innovative shorts promote literacy, story-telling and reading aloud to children, featuring characters from Jim Henson. • “Pororo” – A curious penguin and his adorable animal friends don’t always agree, but they learn to solve problems, make choices, and help each other when it matters. • “The Baby Triplets”/ “Las Tres Mellizas Bebés” – Spain’s famous mischievous Baby Triplets combine play with language skills and social development. • “Bruno & the Banana Bunch”/”Bruno y los Banana Amigos” – A fun-loving monkey’s games and stories teach numbers, colors, shapes, and life lessons. • “Boowa & Kwala” – A lively dog and a feisty koala bear mix musical antics with gentle humor and a fondness for learning. Visit us at: www.BayCurrents.net

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

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4 nabbed in ‘tremendous’ bank fraud Four Brooklyn men, including a lawyer and a financial advisor, have been arrested on bank-fraud charges for allegedly claiming falsely that their ATM cards were used without their permission and then getting reimbursed by the bank. The four were charged with stealing $422,000 over five years, by telling various banks that their ATM cards had been lost or stolen, after they emptied their accounts with the same ATM cards, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes announced. “These defendants corrupted a law created to help fraud victims and used it to facilitate a tremendous fraud,” said Hynes. The indictment charges that the Eric Manganelli, 36; Lam Dang, 37; John Tluczek, 37; and Marzena Tluczek, 35; made false claims to more than 20 banks that unauthorized transactions were made on their accounts, totaling more than $700,000. The defendants then demanded reimbursement from the banks, which paid them more than $422,000, according to the indictment. Prosecutors say the men opened accounts and padded

them with large deposits, over the course of several months. Later, the indictment charges, they drained the accounts, with withdrawals of $500 to $1,000 per day. Once the accounts were empty, the defendants would contact the bank and say their ATM cards had been stolen or lost and that the withdrawals were unauthorized, the DA said. After the banks reimbursed the “stolen” money, the defendants would close the accounts, according to the indictment. Occasionally, large purchases were made, instead of withdrawals, but in those cases too, the cards were later reported stolen, Hynes said. In most cases, surveillance photos show the withdrawals made by people dressed in pants, jackets, and motorcycle helmets – even in the middle of the day in July – but in other cases the faces of the people taking out the cash were obscured in other ways, such as in hoods or covered by masks. The banking law the defendants are charged with exploiting, known as Regulation E of the Federal Electronic Funds Transfer Act, requires banks to reimburse fraud victims within 10 days of their reporting the fraud. After the stolen money has been reimbursed, the banks

investigate the validity of the claim, but in this case, the defendants withdrew the reimbursed funds before the banks could finish their investigations, prosecutors said. Manganelli is a lawyer, Marzena and John Tluczek have both worked at various banks, and Dang is currently employed as a financial advisor. All four are charged with using their knowledge of the law and the financial industry to further the fraud. The investigation is continuing and more arrests are possible, Hynes said.

Bay factoid Contrary to what many may think, Floyd Bennett Field was not always a military facility. It was opened in 1931 as New York City’s first municipal air field. During the ‘30s, Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes, and Wiley Post used the field in their recordbreaking flights. It wasn’t until 1941 that the field became a Navy air station. Today the field -- named in honor of the aviator who flew with Richard Byrd on 1926 over the North Pole for the first time – is part of the National Park Service.

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