vol 6 issue 10 by Bay Currents

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

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Vol. 6 No. 10, Jan. 1 - Jan. 15, 2010

BAY CURRENTS EXCLUSIVE

• Theate rd rips com ream munity • Too old to drive? •'Don't t ea children ch our to kill!' • Sports ar disabled e for the , too • Elitist p olicies

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Farewell to the boardwalk Famed icon to be turned into concrete Page 4

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Member of the New York Press Association Writers Kateryna Stupnevich Christina Pisano Heeyen Park Eric Lima Michael Schlager Olga Privman

David J. Glenn Publisher

Suzanne H. Glenn Editor

Arthur Melnick Associate Editor

Contributors I. Friedin Matt Lassen Dale Neseman Kelly Donelli Jacqueline Donelli

Patrick Hickey Jr. Sports Editor

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

Publisher’s Notebook David J. Glenn

Save the boardwalk! We are now watching our historic boardwalk disappear before our eyes. The Parks Department is going ahead with its plans to turn the legendary Brighton Beach and Coney Island boardwalk – built in the early 1920s to offer a haven to the even-then traffic-clogged and polluted city -- into just another part of New York’s concrete jungle. Never mind that that this will eliminate yet another jewel from the city’s infrastructure. Never mind that residents and visitors will no longer be able to easily bicycle, jog, or even push baby carriages and stroller down the boardwalk. Never mind that most residents, we can safely assume, feel this is an outrage. The Parks Department – who, as construction designer Michael Greco points out in our story on Page 4, already helped destroy the existing boardwalk by driving heavy vehicles along it – is determined to change this oceanfront treasure into a concrete-walk. We can only hope that the Parks Department will change course, and listen to people like Greco and others. -- and preserve a Brooklyn icon.

A Visit from Congress ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the House All the pols were stirring, to avoid being a louse The reps were debating all about health care, Hoping that a reform bill soon would be there; Children were at their foreclosed homes in bed, Money for them had to go for war instead; And Mamma in her ‘kerchief, and Dad in his cap, Were still in their year-long employment gap, When out in Washington there arose such a clatter, All tuned to CNN to see what was the matter; When to the public’s wondering eyes who should appear, But Nancy Pelosi, to announce an agreement was near; The bill, she said, was new, lively and quick,

VISIT OUR NEW HOME!

But they made sure that a public option the bill would lack; Since that was opposed by nearly every PAC; To Obama’s desk the bill now would head, So watered down, insurers had nothing to dread; It wasn’t quite the reform Obama had chosen, But unless it was settled, his other plans were frozen; So after signing the bill, he went straight to work, Preparing to send more boys to the Afghanistan murk; And he exclaimed as he rode Air Force One out of sight, Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” - By David J. Glenn, with apologies to Clement C. Moore

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Jan. 1 Jan. 15, 2010

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The Aquarium

The New York Aquarium in Coney Island is generally thought of as a summertime destination, but there’s still an array of goings-on even in the cold of winter. Here’s a sampling: COAT DRIVE The Aquarium has teamed up with Brooklyn Borough President’s office and New York Cares to collect new or gently used coats as part of the New York Cares Coat Drive. Bring them in until Dec. 31. ALIEN STINGERS Moon jellies, red striped sea nettles, and flower hat jellies are happy to show off their oth-

50–100 pounds of fresh fish a day! Watch them feast on herring, capelin, and squid as they work with their keepers on training behaviors. TOUCH POOL Socialize with sea life. Touch sea stars, horseshoe crabs, and other beach creatures in an open tank. You’ll also have a chance to chat with volunteers about life at the shore. With one pool outside in the Plaza area and another located inside for visits during cooler weather, this exhibit is open year-round.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts Hairspray

erworldly beauty. Play jelly games and learn jelly facts on touch screens throughout the halls. SEA LIONS AT THE AQUATHEATER What can crawl like a caterpillar, do a backbend like a gymnast, bark on cue, and dive down to 600 feet in the ocean? Meet the Aquarium’s multi-talented sea lions and their keepers at this interactive, musical training demonstration! WENDELL Meet Wendell, Brooklyn’s most famous penguin resident, and the other members of the black-footed colony during their daily feeding. You’ll also have a chance to ask the keepers questions about penguins. OCTOPUS CHATS Learn about one of our craftiest creatures during daily octopus chats. Playful and in-

telligent, Pacific octopuses have a learning curve and can use their memory skills to solve puzzles, especially when there’s a treat involved! SEA OTTER FEEDINGS Join Danny and Spanky for their daily fish feeding, then watch the otter duo play games with their keepers. A favorite is the “toy retrieve” game, when keepers toss balls into the deep waters for Danny and Spanky to bring up to the surface in exchange for a treat. It’s like ring toss for sea otters! You’ll also have a chance to ask the keepers questions about sea otters. SHARK FEEDINGS Many sharks and rays are considered picky eaters—they’ll feed only on their favorite animals, and nothing else! Some eat only plankton, some eat only seals and fish, and others eat only clams, worms, and crabs. Find out what the Aquarium’s toothy diners enjoy most at their mealtime. WALRUS FEEDINGS If the Aquarium held an eating competition, the walruses would no doubt win first place. These blubbery beauties can put away www.BayCurrents.net

Pleasantly plump Tracy Turnblad has only one desire – to dance on the “Corny Collins Show.” But she’s got obstacles to overcome – all without denting her ‘do! Don’t miss Broadway’s musical comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture and won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical More upcoming shows: • The Israel Ballet - Don Quixote Sunday, February 21 • Nat’l Dance Theater Company of Jamaica Saturday, March 6 • Nat’l Dance Theater Company of Jamaica Sunday, March 7 • Odessa Philharmonic Saturday, March 13 • David Gonzalez’s Sleeping Beauty Sunday, March 14

Children (12 & under): $8 Skate Rental: $5 Ice skating classes are available through the Steeplechase Ice Skating Center at the rink. Call 718-253-8919 for more information.

The Wollman Rink Prospect Park, Parkside Avenue and Ocean Avenue entrance, open through March 14 Every Friday is half-price admission (does not include skate rental charge, holidays excluded). Admission is $5 for adults ages 15 and up, $3 for children (14 and under) and seniors, and a skate rental is $6.50 (tax included). For more information call 718-965-8999.

BEYOND THE BAY The Brooklyn Children’s Museum The museum, at 145 Brooklyn Ave., offers its Winter Break Festival - World of Celebrations through Jan. 3, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. For more information on this and other activities and events, call 718-735-4400 or visit www.brooklynkids.org St. Ann’s Warehouse at 38 Water Street in DUMBO extended its run of “Brief Encounter,” a multi-media adaptation of the 1946 film of the same name, through Jan. 17. For ticket information call the Box Office 718.254.8779 or visit www.stannswarehouse.org.

Company XIV Snow White Through Sunday, Jan. 17

Company XIV 303 Bond Street in Caroll Gardens All shows at 3 p.m. Company XIV’s version of the classic fairy tale features opera, dance, and puppetry. The baroque opera trio Charities also joins the cast, providing haunting and beautiful arias by Handel and Bellini as well as Yiddish folk songs and original compositions. For more information visit www.companyxiv.com

Yeshiva joins cable network

Yeshivah of Flatbush High School has partnered with MSG Varsity for a first-ofits-kind initiative launched by Cablevision. Dedicated to high school sports and activities, MSG Varsity includes a multi-platform suite of services made up of a 24/7-television network, a comprehensive online destination, and a groundbreaking interactive service — all spotlighting extracurricular activities and events at local high schools. In addition to its professional productions, MSG Varsity is encouraging Brooklyn high schools to join this initiative and become co-producers of MSG Varsity’s content. Through its partnership with MSG Varsity, students and faculty at Yeshivah of Flatbush High School are trained in multimedia creation and distribution, allowing them to become active participants in telling their school’s stories. The school-generated content is then included on MSG Varsity’s television and digital platforms.

• Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band Saturday, March 20 • David Broza Sunday, March 21 • In the Mood Sunday, March 28 • Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra The Box Office is located at the George Gershwin Theatre, on Campus Road at Hillel Place – one block from the junction of Flatbush and Nostrand Avenues. For ticket information call 718-951-4500, or visit www. brooklyncenter.com.

Ice skating Abe Stark Rink The boardwalk at West 19th Street in Coney Island. Open weekends through Sunday, March 28, 2010. All information subject to change; call 718-946-6536 or 718-946-3135 for details. Skating Hours Saturday 1 – 4 p.m. Sunday 1 – 4 p.m. Adults: $8 Seniors (60 & older): $8 Jan. 1 Jan. 15, 2010

Page 3

COVER STORY BAY CURRENTS EXCLUSIVE Team Reporting

The legendary boardwalk of Brighton Beach and Coney Island will be no more. Bay Currents has learned that the city Parks Department awarded a $13.7 million contract to a San Diego company to replace all of the Brighton boardwalk and most of the Coney Island boardwalk with, to the shock of many residents and boardwalk visitors, concrete. In response to Bay Currents inquiries, Parks spokesman Phil Abramson e-mailed a short description of the plan: Funds to renovate the boardwalk were allocated this past spring as part of the federal stimulus package. Affected areas will include: West 31st to 37th Streets (using concrete decking) West 15th to Stillwell (using wood decking over concrete slabs) Ocean Parkway to Brighton 2nd Street (using concrete decking) We will seek to maintain access to the boardwalk at all times by only doing one half at a time. Abramson did not give any further information, adding only that Chief Engineer John Natoli and Therese Braddick, deputy commissioner for capital projects, were “not available for interviews.” The San Diego company, T.B. Penick & Sons, said in a Nov. 12 statement, “Work will begin immediately to demolish portions of the existing damaged wooden boardwalk; precast concrete slab units will be installed as the foundation of the 2.7-mile (4.0 km) boardwalk to strengthen and stabilize it. The boardwalk’s existing hardwood timbers will be replaced by a combination of colored and textured pre-cast concrete slabs, custom exposed aggregate and sustainably harvested hardwood wood decking. The project duration is two years, however, [subcontractor] Triton anticipates completing early in approximately fall 2010, dependent upon the weather and summer tourism.” The project will create “a secondary concrete jungle,” said Michael Greco of Bath Beach, 48, an electrician and construction designer. In addresses to the Community Board and in interviews with Bay Currents, Greco described the plan as a “boardwalk

Farewell to the Boardwalk blunder” that will “not only take away from the legacy of an American icon, but also has several flaws in design.” For one thing, textured concrete, “although appealing to the eye,” is too rough and hazardous for bicycles, baby carriages, or jogging, he said. The Parks Department’s plan to place traditional wooden planks over concrete on the portion of the boardwalk at the amusement area of Coney is also flawed, Greco said. Moisture and garbage would soon accumulate amid the spaces between the planks, rotting the wood, and the type of screws the Department plans to use -- “tapcon” screws with alternating threads -- will quickly become displaced and start sticking out of the planks, causing more of the injuries that have

already occurred in the deteriorating existing boardwalk, for which the city has been hit with millions of dollars in lawsuits. Greco suggested to Parks Department officials an alternate plan, including a 12-foot-wide exercise pat made out of shock-absorbing material, installed on each of the two sides of the boardwalk, replacing the rest of the boardwalk either with wood or simulated wood planks He said the officials looked over his plans but told him the project was already a done deal. He added that the officials suspected he was merely trying to seek a contract, but said that was not the case. “I have no ulterior motive at all,” Greco said. “I’m just concerned about Coney Island and the boardwalk.” (Copyright 2009, Bay Currents Media Group)

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Jan. 1 Jan. 15, 2010

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Marty’s theater dream rips community By KATERYNA STUPNEVICH stupnevich@baycurrents.net

Borough President Marty Markowitz’s proposed plan to transform the bandshell at Asser Levy Seaside Park into a “state-of-the-art” amphitheater is leaving a mark on more than just the recreational area – it’s tearing apart the people of the community.

he $64 million project, which would expand and modernize the old bandshell, has already caused chaos at Community Board 13 meetings and continues to fuel the fire of an on-going, unrelenting battle between elected officials and the people – even though Markowitz may tone down the plans, and the city Design Commission has postponed voting on the project. “The community board has been afraid to take any action on this, and their reasoning for this is very sad,” said Geoffrey Croft, the founder and president of NYC Park Advocates. “They’re saying that the board doesn’t have a vote on it. The community board’s function is to deal with issues in the community.” But just how much of a say does a community board have in such a development? The Livable Streets Initiative, a production of a non-profit organization called The Open Planning Project, reports that a community board’s denunciation of a land use project or a budget plan serves as a recommendation to the borough president or city council. Although the community board’s support of a proposed plan is accommodating, the final decision is ultimately left to the higher-up officials. “The community board’s function, according to the charter, is advisory,” said Marion Cleaver, chair of CB13. “We have no say on [the project].” Cleaver says the development was brought up to the board in efforts to keep the community informed on upcoming city planning, but the board members don’t get to vote for or against the project. “As a community board member, I’ve done everything within my abilities to express my concerns,” said Todd Dobrin, a CB13 appointed member. “I’ve done what I can to keep in touch with my community.” Dobrin says that although he’s a supporter of the project, he shares the concerns of the public, especially in regards to the increased traffic and noise that the development may cause. He feels that such issues need to be addressed and negotiated. “Everyone has a valid point of view,” emphasized Dobrin. “But there has to be discussions and compromise on both sides – that’s how projects get settled.” Yet many of the individuals that oppose the projected amphitheater say that the community board members are afraid to speak up against Markowitz’s plan, since he’s the one in charge of appointing the 50 members that make up the board. “They’re afraid that they’re going to be kicked off their nonpaying jobs,” said Ida Sanoff, the president of Friends of Seaside Park, a non-profit, community-based organization. “They’re afraid to speak [but] there comes a time when you just have to stand up and fight for what’s right.” In the past, community board members have faced the consequences of their actions – or rather, their oppositions. After Marty Markowitz’s “purge” of nine Community Board 6 members in 2007, allegations circulated that the removal of the appointed members was a result of their opposiwww.BayCurrents.net

Critics of the proposed amphitheater fear it will destroy the serenity of Asser-Levy Park, shown here on a peaceful winter’s day. BAY CURRENTS PHOTO

tion of the Atlantic Yards project. Whether or not CB13 members fear the same fate is yet to be determined, but for now, even supporters of the Markowitz’s plan say that the community board members need to re-evaluate their approach towards the concerns of the people. Pat Singer, president of the Brighton Neighborhood Association, says that although she has an open mind about the amphitheater project, she is less than thrilled about the actions of CB13 members. “What I do object to is how we were treated on the community board; I’m being told we don’t have a say,” said Singer. “They want us to be their puppets, but [they’re] not getting support by calling me a jerk.” Singer says that the even if Markowitz doesn’t build the amphitheater, something will change in the park because as of now, the park is a “mud hole” and needs to be fixed. “I’m not a fan of the amphitheater, but I think the mayor and the borough president will not do harm to the community,” said Mendy Sontag, president of the Sea Breeze Jewish Center. “They’re going to do what’s right for the community.” But when it comes to the community board, Sontag’s viewpoint is a little less positive. “Personally, I feel that the community board is not representing the people correctly,” he said. “It would improve if people voiced their honest opinions.” Sontag also says that Markowitz may consider “downsizing” the project. The original plan apparently included the moving of the children’s playground closer to the end of the park, in order to extend the space available for the amphitheater and the removal of most of the benches in the park. Friends of Seaside Park say that the proposed amphitheater was going to seat 8,000 people and exhibit a roof of 94-96 feet. “Every aspect of the design is a disaster. The project is too big. It will dramatically

change the usage of the park,” said Croft. “It’s one of these projects where everything is wrong about it.” Despite the popular opinions on the infrastructure of the development, Cleaver says that the idea of the “amphitheater” is largely exaggerated. “This is not going to be an amphitheater,” she said. “This is going to have removable seats, it is going to have a covering over it, but the covering is translucent.” Clever says that Markowitz has assured her that many of the common concerns, such as parking, won’t go unaddressed and will

be resolved. Markowitz himself says that the project is “not a ten-story building,” but rather a way to renovate the park and improve the recreational area. After widely open oppositions of the project, the Design Commission decided to postpone voting on the proposed design of the playground until they see the full plan, together with the amphitheater design. While some may consider the decision a step towards winning a battle, many – despite their stand on the project – feel that the important thing is to resolve the conflicts between the community board and the people. “There’s black, there’s white, but there’s also gray,” said Singer. “Compromise, sit down and talk, and look for a middle ground.”

“Asser Levy Seaside Park is soon to become one of Brooklyn’s most beautiful parks. The goal of this project is to renovate the park and ensure it is not only a welcoming eastern gateway to a revitalized Coney Island, but a place where families and residents, including those of Brightwater, Warbasse, Trump Village and Luna Park, can enjoy recreation as well as the free music and cultural programming that residents have taken pleasure in over the years—a hallmark of this park since at least the turn of the twentieth century. The park is prone to flooding, which makes it nearly unusable many days each year. Serious infrastructure improvements are needed to make it a real resource for residents—for those looking to rest on a sturdy bench, play chess, or walk or jog along beautiful paths winding through well-kept lawns and classic old-growth trees; or families with kids in search of a safe, creative playground. The new playground and its new comfort station will be world-class, designed to encourage more park usage. As part of the renovation, the antiquated bandshell will also be replaced with an open-air, seasonal, state-of-the-art one—with fully removable seats and an airy, translucent covering. This new bandshell will have no walls, no air conditioning, and is absolutely not a “ten-story building” as has been falsely claimed. Renovating it will simply allow free music to continue. Regarding concerns about parking, Council Member Dominic Recchia and I are working aggressively on mechanisms to provide the off-street parking to meet the neighborhood’s needs. With regard to the synagogues, whose leaders I have met with and will continue to meet with, they and their concerns must be respected and will be respected. I was elected to make things better for all of Brooklyn, and would never support anything that would diminish the quality of life for the immediate community surrounding Asser Levy Seaside Park. For those who enjoy walking through the park, bringing children or grandchildren to the playground or listening to live music outdoors, the experience will only be improved by this project.”

Jan. 1 Jan. 15, 2010

—Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz

Page 5

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY By KATERYNA STUPNEVICH stupnevich@baycurrents.net

As technology progresses, locals are starting to wave goodbye to televisions, and are welcoming the new trend – watching movies and shows online.

ebsites like hulu.com, dailymotion. com, and sidereel.com offer streaming videos of television shows and movies from basic networks such as ABC and NBC. Although they don’t offer shows and movies from premium channels like HBO, they do have fewer commercials, a greater variety, and longer availability. “Watching shows and movies online is so much more convenient than on TV,” said Elvera Bader, 20. “You can access these programs at any time of day and night, unlike cable which is very time-oriented.” Bader also says that most of the shows and movies that are offered online either have fewer commercials or are entirely commercial-free, and the quality of the video is usually just as good as on television. “I can watch what I want, when I want to,” she said. “It’s just another way that technology eases life.” Many entertainment channels like MTV and VH1 are jumping on the internet bandwagon and offering most of their own shows on their websites. Once episodes air on television, they can be found online with many bonus features. “(The) Internet has become the main course of life,” said Alexander Gelfand, 36.

TV online “We socialize online, we shop online, and now we watch television online. That is the only outlet you need to connect with the world.” Gelfand says that he frequently gives in to the temptation to watch shows and movies online because it’s just “all around more

convenient.” Whether it’s from the channel’s website directly or from third-party websites that offer video streaming, he says that he rarely has the time to dedicate to the good old tube. “I like the traditional method of watching televisions when I really want to take

pleasure in a nice movie,” he said. “But for quick entertainment, internet is the way to go.” Now that the internet seems to be taking over the world, and watching movies and shows online is becoming increasingly popular, people can’t help but question just how long they’ll be able to enjoy these guilty pleasures before being charged for them. Some say that it’s only a matter of time until cable companies like Comcast, Time Warner, and Cablevision decide to claim their share. “Although people pay for internet to watch programs online, sooner or later somebody will start charging per show or per movie,” predicted Bader. “Whether it’s going to be the cable companies or websites, only time will tell.” Bader says that some video streaming websites already charge a monthly subscription fee, but many of them still offer services at no cost. “Many people who pay for cable still watch movies and shows online just because of the convenience,” said Gelfand. “If you had to pay for the movies and shows, everyone would go back to the original way of entertainment – the television.” Free Television Providers: www.hulu.com www.dailymotion.com www.sidereel.com www.freetv.com www.freetube.com www.tioti.com www.dailymotion.com www.sling.com www.streamick.com www.veoh.com

Russian immigrants join the Marines – in giving toys By KATERYNA STUPNEVICH stupnevich@baycurrents.net

Toys for Tots, a U.S. Marine Corps annual toy drive aimed to provide holiday gifts for less fortunate children all around the country, joined forces with the Russian-speaking community on Nov. 14, at the New York Steak House in Sheepshead Bay.

n celebration of the restaurant’s third year in business, the owners of the New York Steak House, in collaboration with the 41st Assembly District Democrats Club, hosted the event for the first time in the Russian community. They collected financial donations and new toys that would later serve not only as holiday gifts, but as a sign of hope, to underprivileged toddlers. “There are 657 communities that participate in the toy drive,” said Raisa Chernina, founder of Be Proud foundation and a supporter to the event. “We will be the 658th community!” Elected officials, community leaders, and sponsors who attended the event said they were overjoyed to have the Russian community on board for the toy drive and they hope to collect more and more toys every year. Councilman Lewis Fidler said that nine years ago when the Community First Chapter of Toys for Tots was first presented by the 41st Assembly District Democrats Club, only 79 toys were collected. Nine years later, 4,007 toys were gathered at the toy drive. For the past three years, the Community First Chapter collected more toys than any other chapter in New York City, and now with the help of the Russian community, the organization hopes to beat their records. “As big as this event will be before the night is over, it will be bigger every year,” announced Fidler at the toy drive event. “This is a giving community, a wonderful community.” Councilmember Mike Nelson shared Fidler’s optimism, describing the toy drive as a remarkable event that allows the community to give back to children in need. “I’m glad to be a part of it,” he said. “We’ll be back here next year to enjoy ourselves.”

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Jan. 1 Jan. 15, 2010

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Midwood ‘restaurant’ feeds the hungry By CHRISTINA PISANO pisano@baycurrents.net

Soup kitchens are traditionally associated with processions of the hungry crowding city sidewalks outside centers where food is offered in a mess-hall style for free or for a very low price. The long wait draws unwanted attention from passers by, heightening the shame often associated with poverty. Masbia, meaning “satiate,” was founded in Borough Park in 2005. It became the first soup kitchen of its kind serving the hungry in a restaurant-style center, offering kosher food and a seat at a natural wood table with leafy green plants, to allow the diners some privacy. Patrons were offered entrees balanced with protein, starch, a vegetable, and dessert, as well as an array of fresh breads to complement the hot soup. With the opening of its latest location on Coney Island Avenue in Midwood, Masbia has attracted patrons from outside of the Jewish community. My Neighborhood Statistics, a report from the Mayor’s Office, mentions that Masbia’s latest kitchen has served 1.5 million patrons who received food stamps during 2008. “Since we opened, we served 50 to 80 people a night. The number is constantly rising as word of our opening travels through the grapevine,” said Alexander Rapaport, executive director of Masbia. “We have the capacity to feed over 60 people at a given time, and are open 4 to 9 p.m. five days a week, Sunday through Thursday. A person usually eats for 20 to 30 minutes, which means we can serve a few hundred a night.”

A 2009 Poverty Report by the New York State Community Action Association of the city Department of Youth and Community Development has determined that 22 percent of Brooklyn’s 2.5 million residents are victims of poverty, nearly three quarters of whom are families with children. “Although the number of people patronizing this site is far from its capacity, the ratio of families and children fed is higher than the two other Masbia sites,” said Rapaport. Though poverty continues to be a daily battle for many of Brooklyn’s residents, Masbia’s Midwood location (in addition to its storefronts in Borough Park, Williamsburg, and Queen’s Rego Park) has helped aid the hungry in a rather unconventional way, providing those in need with a quiet and private place to eat. A 49-year-old man sitting alone by a curtain-draped window in Masbia’s Midwood location illustrated that the restaurant-style seating provides the kind of dining that the poor rarely get to enjoy. “When you’re unemployed and struggling, you can’t just walk into any restaurant and share dinner with the rest of the place. Here, there’s that chance,” he said. The Young Israel synagogue of Flatbush donated toys and gold-wrapped “Hanukah

Larry Robbins, left, benefactor of the Masbia Flatbush Kitchen, and William E. Rapfogel CEO / Executive Director of Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, help dish out some of the kosher meals.

gelt” chocolate coins for children visiting the Coney Island Avenue and other Masbia centers. The visitors also were treated to a reception-style dinner, sponsored by the Council of Jewish Organizations of Flatbush. Making do as best they can with a combination of state and federal funds, and the individual donations that constitute the ma-

jority of Masbia’s income, organizers hope to one day consolidate the centers so they can supply the rest of the kitchens. “As of now, all sites are catered by local vendors,” said Rapaport. “Eventually the site on Coney Island Avenue will be operating as the central kitchen, supplying the food to all kosher soup kitchens in our network.”

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t teach our children to kill!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Here are some of the poems and carols re-written by the Granny Peace Brigade:

The Six days of Christmas By DAVID J. GLENN publisher@baycurrents.net

On the first day of Christmas my Mommy gave to me: A soldier on a shooting spree.

As shoppers this holiday season were bombarded with retailersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; admonitions to â&#x20AC;&#x153;hurry in for lastminute savingsâ&#x20AC;? and to â&#x20AC;&#x153;get them what they really want!â&#x20AC;? the Granny Peace Brigade had a different message about gift giving: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t teach our children to kill and maim!â&#x20AC;?

On the second day of Christmas my Mommy gave to me: Two toy machine guns And a soldier on a shooting spree. On the third day of Christmas my Mommy gave to me: Three armored tanks, Two toy machine guns And a soldier on a shooting spree.

n Friday afternoon, Dec. 18, a troupe of nearly two dozen members of the Granny Peace Brigade and the Raging Grannies sang revised Christmas carols condemning â&#x20AC;&#x153;war toysâ&#x20AC;? and violent video gamesÂ at the TARGET Store in Atlantic

On the fourth day of Christmas my Mommy gave to me: Four fighter jet planes, Three armored tanks, Two toy machine guns And a soldier on a shooting spree. Granny Peace Brigade protestors sing while riding the escalator with banners Photo by Phyllis Cunningham

90-year-old Molly Klopot selects a war toy at the Flatbush protest Photo by Phyllis Cunningham

ShoppingÂ Center in Flatbush and demonstrated againstÂ theâ&#x20AC;?Â toxicÂ playthings.â&#x20AC;? They filled shopping carts with toys replicating â&#x20AC;&#x153;all manner of killing machines designed to arouse the bloodlust of impressionable young children and teenagers,â&#x20AC;? as the Brigade described it, including simulated guns with repeat bullets and hand grenades. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;The grannies, who have been trying for years to

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end the destructive and immoral wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, feel these toys militarize Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s young and pave the way to more and more killing,â&#x20AC;? the Brigade stated in a press release. The seniors planned to make their way to the cashiers and then leave the carts in the store, but they were stopped by police, who ordered them out. They left peacefully, singing their own versions of popular carols. They then gave out hundreds of leaflets listing alternative toys for parents to buy rather than the â&#x20AC;&#x153;horrendous ones glorifying lethal battle.â&#x20AC;? Molly Klopot, a sprite 90-year-old, is co-founder of the New York chapter of the Brigade, which evolved from the Raging Grannies started in Canada in the 1980s. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hardly a stranger to antiwar and prounion activities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been able to touch history,â&#x20AC;? the mother of two and grandmother of four said in her nicely adorned apartment in the Mitchell-Lama complex on Neptune Avenue. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been in sit-ins and teach-ins long before they were called as such since she was a teenager in the 1930s. She proudly displays the plastic handcuffs that police placed on her wrists when she was arrested four years ago at a rally on the steps of the Army recruiting station at Times Square. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were demanding that we be enlisted instead of our children and grandchildren,â&#x20AC;? said Klopot, whose grandsons are now 15, 17, 21, and 26. She and the other grannies were charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic (although, she said, they were sitting on the steps of the recruiting station, away from any cars). They were found not guilty after a six-day trial. Klopot is at her protesting prime right now. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We grandmothers are in a very good position to be activists,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re retired, we no longer have children to take care of at home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we have the time to do these things.â&#x20AC;? She said she was disappointed with President Obama, who recently announced a surge of troops in Afghanistan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very smart, very talented, but so what? Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doing the same things Bush did,â&#x20AC;? she said. What toys did she buy for her son, now 50, when he was growing up? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Legos,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And learning toys.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;People have to change their ideology,â&#x20AC;? the nonagenarian said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It starts with the toys we give our children. We have to realize, and teach, that war is not the answer.â&#x20AC;?

Jan. 1 Jan. 15, 2010

On the fifth day of Christmas my Mommy gave to me: Five missile launchers, Four fighter jet planes, Three armored tanks, Two toy machine guns And a soldier on a shooting spree. On the sixth day of Christmas my Mommy gave to me: --- Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so sorry! These war toys are bad, they make us mad, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no fun, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sad, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cause it helps you to love brutality

Hark, the Herald Angels Sing Hark, the herald angels sing Now, at last, let freedom ring. Peace on Earth and mercy mild, Nations must be reconciled. Let us put the bombs away! Bring our troops home, now, today Wars are not for toys, or a game. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t teach our kids to kill and maim! Give the children toys of peace, Help them to learn that wars must cease.

Silent Night, Peaceful Night Silent night, peaceful night, No more guns, no more fights No more drugs for our daughters and sons, Jobs, not poverty, for everyone. Then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll sleep in peace, then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll sleep in peace. Silent night, peaceful night Love the kids in our sight. No more shooting or killing nearby, No more children afraid that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll die. Then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll sleep in peace, then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll sleep in peace. Silent night, peaceful night, Food for all, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right. Warm, bright houses and medical care, Clothes, employment, and good child care. Then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll sleep in peace, then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll sleep in peace.

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STARS

IT'S IN THE Are we really alone? By DAVID J. GLENN publisher@baycurrents.net

Despite all the accounts of UFO sightings and “alien abductions,” there is still no concrete evidence of there being anybody except little ol’ us in our galaxy (not even mentioning any of the billions of other galaxies in the universe). But more than a few scientists are active in SETI (the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence). They use huge antennas, like the ones comprising the VLA (Very Large Array) in New Mexico, to continually scan the heavens in the hopes of picking up a signal, a note in a bottle cast across the cosmic sea. As of this writing, nothing has been picked up except the natural static of the universe. But the search continues. What is the chances that there are beings light-years away on other worlds wondering if we exist? In 1961, Frank Drake , now Emeritus Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, developed an equation that bears his name, designed to give a working estimate of the probability of intelligent life on other worlds in our galaxy. It goes like this::

N = N* fp ne fl fi fc fL N* represents the number of stars in our Milky Way Galaxy Current estimates place the figure at 100 billion. fp is the fraction of stars that have planets around them. New “extrasolar” planets are being discovered very rapidly of late. Current estimates range from 20% to 50%.

ne is the number of planets per star that are capable of sustaining life. Scientists believe that to average from 1 to 5. fl is the fraction of planets in ne where life develops that’s the most uncertain – it could be anywhere from all of them to none of them. fi is the fraction of fl where intelligent life develops. Again, this can be all, some, or none. fc is the fraction of fi that communicate. That’s thought to be 10% to 20%. fL is fraction of the planet’s life during which the communicating civilizations live. This is also very uncertain. After all, we don’t even know how long we Earthlings will survive – whether we will avoid nuclear or ecological catastrophe, or will persevere to advance in extra-terrestrial communication and exploration. If all of these variables are multiplied together, the result is N, the number of communicating civilizations in the gal-

The Planetary Society The name sounds like something out of Star Trek, but it’s a product of the 20th century, not the 23rd. It was founded 25 years ago by the late, populist astronomer Carl Sagan and others to, in the words of its literature, “demonstrate — simply by its existence — that the public strongly supported planetary exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life.”

N* = the number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy: 100 billion fp = fraction of stars with planets around them: 50 % ne = number of planets per star ecologically able to sustain life: 1 fl = fraction of those planets where life actually develops: 50% fi = the fraction of fl that develops intelligent life: 20% fc = the fraction of fi that communicates: 20% fL = Portion of the planet’s life during which the communicating civilizations survives: 10,000 years N = the number of communicating civilizations in the galaxy: 1,000

axy. (Obviously, if the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth variable is placed at 0, there is no one out there trying to talk to us!) If, though, we plug in estimated fractions -- for example, estimating that each star that has planets has at least one that could support life – we can come up with a figure of, say, 1,000 stars in the Milky Way that have communicating civilizations on them (see box). If that’s the case, we can only hope that they send out the note in the bottle – and that we can find it. “But it quickly became clear,” its statement continues, “that we were going to have to do more than just exist. To achieve our goals of keeping spacecraft exploring, seeing humans walk on other worlds, and searching for signs of life in the galaxy, to our goal of political advocacy, we added sponsoring research projects, publishing a magazine and a website, holding events to celebrate exploration, and preparing for the future by educating the next generation of space explorers.”

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SENIOR CURRENTS

BAY CURRENTS ADVERTORIAL

Not for Women Only: Osteoporosis and Exercise

When are you too old to drive? By DAVID J. GLENN publisher@baycurrents.net

It’s not helpful – or even possible – to generalize about seniors getting behind the wheel. Everyone ages, and drives, differently. Some may be able to drive well into their 70s, 80s, or even beyond, while others should hand in their keys at age 60. But there are statistics that warrant attention. The elderly, statistically, are more likely to get tickets for failing to yield, improper turning, and running through red lights or stop signs — which show a declining ability to drive. Older drivers are more likely to get into accidents than are younger people (not counting teenagers, of course) and the accidents are more dangerous for them than for younger drivers. The type of car – and the type of road conditions – are a big factor, too. A senior

By BEN WEINSTOCK, P.T.

may find new cars, with dashboards resembling a jet cockpit, quite confusing. Fading road signs, worn lane lines, or wet conditions that normally wouldn’t faze an experienced driver, may be increasingly difficult for a senior to adjust to. A key problem is that gradual physical changes – slow deterioration of vision or hearing, small but accumulating changes in ability to move and react – might not be noticeable from one day to the next, but could have a tragic effect on driving. What should you or your loved one do? Fortunately for seniors, we in Brooklyn are not nearly as car-dependent as in most other locations around the state and nation. Buses and Access-A-Ride are easily available, and it’s not too expensive to take car service for short distances. For many people, especially men, it’s psychologically very difficult to give up driving. It suggests a loss of independence and selfsufficiency. But considering what really can be lost in an accident, it’s often a necessary decision to make. two car lengths. Be sure to yield the right of way in intersections. Older drivers also have a large number of accidents at intersections when making left turns. It is best to avoid them altogether by making successive right turns, going around the block or blocks to get to your destination.

Avoid distractions. In general, many accidents happen because of distractions like talking on the phone, tuning the radio, eating or drinking, reaching for something, turning your head to talk with a passenger or looking around at the scenery instead of the road. Even a few seconds of taking your mind off driving can be dangerous.

steoporosis, the “brittle bone” disease, is often thought of as affecting only elderly females. While females are at highest risk for the disease, it also affects millions of men in the United States. Anyone who smokes, drinks excessively, does not exercise, has low calcium intake, or who takes steroids for chronic medical conditions (such as asthma) is at a much higher risk of the disease. It is important to understand how bone grows. When stress is placed on joints through muscular activity, bones respond to the stress by becoming denser. Adults reach their maximum bone density when they are in their 30s. If they have been sedentary in their youth, their maximum bone density will be less than someone who has been active. Most likely the children of today who spend long hours in front of computers and video games will suffer from osteoporosis in the future due to their current lack of physical activity. Bone is strengthened not only from weight-bearing activities (such as walking) but also from exercises that strengthen specific body parts (such as isometric exercises for the extensor muscles of the back). The hips and the spine are at highest risk of osteoporosis, and osteoporosis-related fractures. A hip fracture or a spinal fracture can be devastating to an individual and is generally linked to further medical complications and a shortened lifespan. A landmark study was done in 1984 to compare

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Find the right car and any aids you Avoid uncomfortable driving situneed for driving. Choose a vehicle with ations. Many older drivers realize on their automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. Keep your car in good working condition by visiting your mechanic for scheduled maintenance. Be sure that windows and headlights are always clean. You can also see an occupational therapist for special driving aids that can help with physical problems.

Take it slow and give yourself plenty of room. If cars are passing you on both the right and left lanes, you may be driving more slowly than you used to. Move into the slow lane so others can pass you safely. Also, to avoid problems if the vehicle in front of you stops suddenly, stay back about

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various spinal exercise routines to determine what exercises should be done and what exercises should be avoided. A group of 59 post-menopausal women were divided into different groups. One group did “flexion” exercises (such as sit-ups); another group did “extension” exercises (such as arching the back); a third group did a combination of the two; and a fourth group did nothing. The results after two years: 90% of those who did the flexion exercises suffered spinal fractures; almost 70% of those who did nothing suffered fractures; about 50% of those who did flexion and extension suffered fractures… but only 16% of those who did extension exercises suffered spinal fractures. What does this mean for the average person who either has been diagnosed with osteoporosis or is at risk of developing the condition? Obviously, excessive flexion of the trunk should be avoided. All too often people join an exercise class (such as yoga, Pilates, etc.) and they bend and twist their trunks repeatedly into a flexed position. This excessive flexion places microscopic stresses on the vertebrae that may eventually result in fractures. Before you begin an exercise program, ask your doctor if a bone density test is needed. Based upon those results, a tailored exercise program should be developed by an experienced physical therapist. Ben Weinstock, PT Weinstock Physical Therapy, PC “The Physical Therapy Office That Travels to the Patient”™ (718) 891-0780

own they have to make some changes in the way they drive. For instance, you may decide to drive only during daylight hours if you have trouble seeing well in reduced light. If fast-moving traffic bothers you, consider staying off freeways, highways, and find street routes instead. You may also decide to avoid driving in bad weather, and if you are going to a place that is unfamiliar to you, it is a good idea to plan your route before you leave so that you feel more confident and avoid getting lost. Online services such as MapQuest, Google Maps, and Yahoo Maps can be very helpful.

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SPORTS CURRENTS

Sports are for the disabled, too! The Women’s Sports Foundation, founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, has taken a specific stand on the disabled participating in organized sports: (What are your views on this? Let us know at 347-492-4432 or email: sports@baycurrents.net) DO SCHOOLS HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE ATHLETIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES? POSITION: Yes. Schools must provide individuals with disabilities, male and female, with equal opportunities to participate and equal treatment in physical education, school recess, club, varsity and intramural sports programs. In order to provide equal opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in physical education and athletic programs, schools must provide reasonable accommodations as necessary to provide these students with opportunities to participate in mainstream physical education and athletic programs (programs for students without disabilities)as well as develop adapted physical education and athletic programs for students with disabilities as necessary to provide such students with a physical education or athletic program that is as effective as that provided to students without disabilities. CAN SCHOOLS DENY INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE BASED ON SAFETY CONCERNS? POSITION: No. School systems cannot assume that sports and physical activity participation with and against students with disabilities by students without disabilities is unsafe or make generalizations that students with disabilities cannot safely participate in physical education or athletics and exclude them from such programs. For example, in competition, recreation or teaching situations involving students without disabilities, a student in a wheelchair can generally participate in racing on the school track during gym class, intramural or interscholastic sports; a student who has only one leg can participate in wrestling; a student who is deaf or hard of hearing can participate in basketball; a student with diabetes may wear an insulin pump during football games. If students with disabilities are excluded from participation in an athletic activity, it must be based on an individualized assessment that inclusion of the student presents an objective risk of harm. If, for example, a student using a wheelchair is not able to remain in her or his lane during a track event, the student could be excluded from track meets based on the demonstrated safety risk she or he creates for others in the race. However, when the student can demonstrate that she or he is able to control the wheelchair enough to negate the risk of harm, the student should be allowed to participate in the program.

student to qualify with a one-handed touch or modifying the rule that requires tennis players to return the ball after no more than one bounce in order to allow a student using a wheelchair to return the ball after no more than two bounces. For example, consider Jim Abbott, who played professional baseball and had a 3.92 earned run average in his rookie year. Abbott was born with one hand, and Major League Baseball made an accommodation to its general rule that all ball players had to wear specific, league-approved gloves. DO SCHOOLS HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO CREATE ADAPTED TEAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES? POSITION: Yes. Schools must provide students with disabilities who cannot or do not wish to participate in mainstream physical education or athletic programs with adapted programs that provide students with opportunities to participate in and to receive the benefits of physical education or athletic programs. Examples of adapted athletic programs include wheelchair basketball or beep baseball. However, even if a separate adapted sports team is developed for students with disabilities, an individual student with a disability must be allowed to participate in mainstream programs for students without disabilities. For example, if a school system offered a golf program as part of its mainstream athletic program and also offered an adapted golf program, an individual student with a disability must be permitted the opportunity to participate in the mainstream program and must be offered reasonable accommodations. DO SCHOOLS HAVE AN OBGLIGATION TO CREATE ADAPTED TEAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILIITES WHEN THE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AT AN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL ARE INSUFFICIENT TO FIELD A TEAM? POSITION: Yes. Schools have the obligation and must be flexible as they develop programs that consider the interests of students with disabilities. When the numbers of students with disabilities at an individual school are insufficient to field a team, school systems may (1) develop district-wide teams as opposed to a schoolbased team in order to provide competitive experiences, (2) mix male and female students on teams together or (3) offer “allied sports” teams on which students with disabilities participate with students without disabilities. All of these

options have been used by numerous school systems. Three states have mandated selected adapted sports on a state-wide basis -- Alabama, Georgia, and Minnesota. DO PROSTHESES PROVIDE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN COMPETITION? POSITION: No. Having a missing limb and replacing that body part with a prosthesis does not give the athlete with a disability an advantage. Contrary to popular thought, prostheses do not contain technological mechanisms that make the replacement part better than a real limb. For example, an athlete running with a prosthetic limb cannot correct for a foot hitting the ground at the wrong angle like an athlete running with feet and ankles. The athlete using a prosthesis lacks feet and ankle muscles and cartilage to absorb shock, which travels through her or his stumps and into the knees, hips and backs. Athletes with legs don’t have swollen stumps or stumps that hurt and bleed. In addition, in unilateral amputee studies, results indicate that the human ankle is three times more powerful than a carbon foot, and a unilateral amputee needs to generate over 200% more power at the hips than a person without an amputation. The amputee with a prosthesis has to expend dramatically more energy than a non-amputee to run the same distance. These blades are passive devices that do not generate any powered movement; they only return a percentage of what the athlete puts into them. As technology advances, sport governing bodies need to work with the athletes to determine fair parameters for mixed competition, i.e. runners without prostheses competing alongside amputee runners. CAN SCHOOLS DENY INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THE RIGHT TO USE COMPETITION AND TRAINING FACILITIES DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT EQUIPMENT (WHEELCHAIRS, PROSTHESES) DAMAGING PLAYING SURFACES? POSITION: No. Schools cannot deny access to competition and training facilities to students who use wheelchairs or prostheses based on misconceived notions of damaging playing surfaces. Universities with athletics programs for students with disabilities report no unusual damage or wear to competition and training surfaces by wheelchairs or prostheses. In fact, the most common wear on track surfaces is caused by runners using lane one more than any other lane. Sprinting spikes are also known to cause wear and tear on track surfaces.

Only have 20 minutes a day to get into shape?

WHAT TYPES OF REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS MUST SCHOOLS MAKE TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OPPORTUNITES TO PARTICIPATE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE? POSITION: “Reasonable accommodation” means that school systems must modify existing policies, practices or rules in order to include a student with a disability. Examples of reasonable accommodations include modifying the general rule that disqualifies swimmers who fail to use a two-handed touch when they approach the pool wall to finish a race in breast stroke in order to permit a one-handed www.BayCurrents.net

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By the Bay Currents staff

ACROSS 1 4 9 11 12 13 15 17 19

“amber-like” 0 and 1 Talking machine The “M” in AM and FM radio “His master’s _____” Electrochemical cell The “V” in VHF The “U” in UHF Camera, “darkened chamber”

DOWN 1 _____ spectrum 2 Mr. ____, come here, I want you” 3 The “H” in VHF and UHF 5 The “A” in AM radio 6 The “F” in FM radio 7 Wireless telegraphy 8 American Telephone and _____ 10 “drawing with light” 14 Radio Detection And Ranging 16 Color of the Model T 18 (• • • — — — • • •)

‘H’ was enough

ans Hansen Bergen (circa 1610 – 1654), the namesake of Bergen Beach, was one of the earliest settlers of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. He acquired a sizable amount of property in what was to become Brooklyn, even though he was said to be illiterate, signing his name on deeds simply with an “H.”

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.

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Jan. 1 Jan. 15, 2010

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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

Are you a procrastinator? By Joseph Reisman biz@baycurrents.net

2009 is quickly coming to a close, and your window for some 2009 tax savings is closing with it. If you really want to save a few tax dollars, here are some year-end thoughts: Win with your Losers Do you have stock gains? Give appreciated stocks (and other investments) to someone with significant capital losses. A family member, or other, could give

An almost paper-thin laptop By DAVID J. GLENN publisher@baycurrents.net

Remember the scenes in the Harry Potter films of people in photos in books and newspapers starting to move and talk through black magic?

their individual stock or mutual funds or other investments that have appreciated in value. When sold, the new owner will have a gain on that sale, but can now offset that gain with their losses, thus eliminating any capital gains tax. Taxpayers can give up to $13,000 per year per person tax-free as part of the annual gifttax exclusion. (If you have losses, you may be able to use someone else’s gain.)

Do you have stock losses? Sell off investments with gains and offset the losses. Strategy: Sell off profitable investments and immediately repurchase them. You’ll you feed into your printer), a camera on the back, induction charger, and even a foldable carrying ring on one of its corners. This new PC is mainly plastic, which makes it rather resilient and a little flexible. It’s a decidedly multi-use device – you could switch from reading “War and Peace” to surfing the Internet to find a local pizza place. And, like the earlier XOs, the screen can work in daylight as well as at night with self-illumination. In announcing the XO-3 project, Negroponte said a key goal was to make it “extremely simple and practically frameless.” Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling hasn’t commented, but don’t be surprised if the young wizard is soon seen with the XO-3 hanging off his broomstick…

now have a capital gain for tax purposes to offset your losses, and you’ll have a new cost basis in the investment. Isn’t this tactic prohibited by the wash sale rule? No, the wash sale rule only applies when you sell an investment at a loss and repurchase the same investment within thirty days. If you’re selling an investment at a profit, the wash sale rule won’t apply.

Don’t jump. President Obama has proposed increasing the tax rate on long-term capital gains to 20%. It might be prudent to keep carrying over some capital losses to offset future capital gains. Teachers: Teachers – Don’t Forget Your $250 Tax Deduction. There is a line item deduction on the front of your tax form for $250 for these costs. You use your own money for classroom supplies and/or food for your students, so take advantage of this token gift and buy some extra supplies if you haven’t met this $250 allowance. Prepay college expenses: The rule is that if a class begins within the first three months of next year, you can take a deduction or tax credit if those expenses are paid this year. So, pay the tuition and other college expenses before December 31. NY State 529 College Plan: This is truly a gift from NY State. If you need to pay tuition, books, room, computer, etc, in January, make a contribution to this plan (max:

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Residential Energy Credits: This credit, which expired after 2007, has been reinstated. You may be able to claim a non-business energy property credit of 30% of the cost of certain energy-efficient property or improvements you placed in service in 2009. This property can include highefficiency heat pumps, air conditioners, and water heaters. It also may include energyefficient windows, doors, insulation materials, and certain roofs. The credit has been expanded to include certain asphalt roofs and stoves that burn biomass fuel. Limitation: The total amount of credit you can claim in 2009 and 2010 is limited to $1,500. Tax accountant Joseph Reisman’s practice is at 2751 Coney Island Avenue, phone 718-3321040

GoToMyPC:

Keeping tabs Well, in about a year or two, you’ll just need $75 -- no sorcery -- to come eerily close to this experience. The “XO-3,” designed by Yves Behar, founder of the San Francisco design firm fuseproject, is a laptop that’s not much thicker than a page from a newspaper or book, and comprised almost totally of the screen, with the keyboard discreetly hidden. Development of this ultra-thin PC comes from the folks who brought us the OLPC – One Laptop Per Child -- XO series of inexpensive laptops designed to carry Third World children across the digital divide. The OLPC machines, pioneered by MIT professor Nicholas Negroponte, cost about $100 and were designed to withstand the other-than-delicate treatment by children. The devices have had mixed success, with OLPC Inc. – an international, non-profit company -- facing challenges from MicroSoft, Intel, and other tech giants, and the company was hard-hit by the economic downturn in late 2008. The next XO was supposed to be a two-screen, foldable device named XO-2, but OLPC scrapped the plans in favor of the XO-3, slated to come to market by 2012. Tentative plans call for it to have an 8.5” x 11” touchscreen (the usual size of the paper

$5,000 singles/$10,000 married couples). You will receive a deduction for your contribution on the 2009 tax return, and as soon as the check clears, you can withdraw your money! Yes, this is an ‘easy’ button. Can’t itemize? Think again. Bunch your expenses this year, and fall back to the standard deduction next year. For example, prepay your mortgage and real estate taxes, double-up on charitable contributions, and stock up on your medical deductible expenses in 2009 so you can itemize these expenses on Schedule A and lower your tax burden; then, use the Standard Deduction in 2010, and back to bunching in 2011. Special Sales Tax Deduction for car purchases The purchase of a new vehicle priced up to $49,500 made before January 1, 2010, will qualify you for a special deduction of the sales and excise taxes, whether you itemize or not! Yes, restrictions do apply, so check it out on www.IRS.gov.

It’s this easy.

on Tabby Any cat owner will tell you how hard it is to keep track of these intelligent, independent creatures, particularly if they are allowed to venture outside. They are curious enough (you know the cliché) to wind up in anything from sewer drains to treetops. A Long Island man found a high-tech solution. Mark Spezio’s cat, with the lessthan-flattering name of KooKoo, had the habit of disappearing for days at a time. So Spezio decided to place a collar on the feline, outfitted with a GPS device (complete with a sort of bow-tie to go with KooKoo’s black-and-white fur). The cat-lover has even prepared a video clip about his innovation, viewable at: spectrum.ieee.org/slideshow/geek-life/handson/kookoo-the-gpsenabled-kitty We wonder of KooKoo has seen it….

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Answers to the Bay Sudoku from page 14

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Answers to the Bay Crossword from page 14

Hanukkah is a great time for kids and teens, as shown by the Hanukkah parties at the Kings Bay YM-YWHA on Nostrand Avenue and at Congregation Adath Yeshurun on Avenue N. BAY CURRENT S PHOTOS

www.BayCurrents.net

OPINION

Elitist policies By I. FRIEDIN opinion@baycurrents.net

The community boards: Weakened, intimidated… now eliminated?

umors have been swirling around the proposed charter revisions, especially pertaining to community boards, with some going as far as to see them eliminated completely. The community boards were originally established to allow local residents to have input into what happens within their neighborhoods. Appointed by the Borough President and serving at his will, however, the boards are little more than advisory committees and the members easily intimidated or pushed off the board entirely if they conflict with the powers above. This has been evidenced more than once, the greatest example being the firing of nine members if Community Board 6, including the Chair, over the Atlantic Yards project. Already crippled by massive cuts in their budgets, Mayor Bloomberg has slashed the board budgets by a further 4 percent this year and 8 percent next. It is suspected that he will push to eliminate the boards entirely when the charter is revised. Will he also push to have himself declared Mayor for Life?

Justice? Not here! Are the city’s summonses even legal? According to the Constitution of the United States, they don’t appear to be (emphasis added):

Amendment V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to

have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Article V indicates that the use of eminent domain for private use is also illegal. The fact that the law seems to be at the discretion of an elite few these days doesn’t speak very well for 21st century America.

Occasionally Bloomberg doesn’t win

s noted often in this column, the City Council only rebukes Mayor Bloomberg when they are threatened by massive protests from their constituents or others who may affect their political careers. A huge project in the Bronx invoked such a reaction recently as the Council acted against the mayor’s wishes.

The project includes several temporary jobs and fewer permanent jobs, both paying substandard wages. This elicited the wrath of the unions, who protested vehemently. The mayor’s reply was that they were sill jobs and better than no jobs (sort of like “Let them eat cake”). Council members, however, counting on union support to further their political careers, rose up in protest rather than alienate the powerful labor groups.

Brooklyn Bridge Park: parkland for developers

ayor Bloomberg now wants to take over Brooklyn Bridge Park. No surprise there -- he wants to take over everything else! For those unfamiliar with the project, Brooklyn Bridge Park was to be a worldclass park on the Brooklyn waterfront across the East River from downtown Manhattan. It was to have facilities for sports, a museum, an electric trolley running the length of the park and other amenities. One aspect of the project, previously unheard of, was that the park had to be selfsustaining, with no public funds provided for its maintenance; apparently, spending public money for the public good being a thing of the past. Even so, it was planned by community groups in partnership with government, and the facilities provided were destined to foot the bills…until someone came along with the idea to replace most of the facilities with high-rise condos (sound familiar?). This brought about a reaction from the politically active community. For several years the fight has endured. Now Mayor Bloomberg wants to step in and take over. Do you think he’ll rid the park of the condos? Not on a bet. Continued on p. 18

Summons more outrageous than ever

s if there weren’t enough predators around, spotted recently on Ocean Parkway was a Parks Department employee issuing parking tickets. When approached, he replied that this street was their territory. Indeed it is the Parks Department responsibility to maintain the median strips, which are considered parkland and within their jurisdiction, but now they have been put to work providing revenue at the public’s expense! This is not to say that those who truly are in violation do not deserve to receive a summons, but much too much effort is placed on fines as a revenue source rather than actual punishment, and the amounts are excessive (see Amendment VIII to the Constitution of the United States below). The agents who write the summons are not the only guilty parties. Since taking up the cause, we have been approached with accounts of some decisions that are truly frightening, as convincing evidence is often written off out of hand. In one case brought to our attention, a photo showing the arrow on a “No Standing” sign which was partially obliterated brought the response that the person should have found other signs on the block. The problem was that this was the only sign that applied, as the photo clearly indicated. The administrative law judges who decide these cases are political appointees. Therefore, they are more of a collection agency than a party to a truly fair hearing. www.BayCurrents.net

Jan. 1 Jan. 15, 2010

Page 17

OPINION Elitist policies Continued from p.17

Stay tuned. This fight isn’t over!

1916-style PR

Can students afford to go to school?

e hope that by the time you read this the MTA will have backed off its threat to eliminate Student Metrocards. Even presenting this is in extremely bad taste. How can any government agency openly espouse a policy that undermines the education of the city’s students? And where is our “education” mayor on this issue? The MTA is notorious for presenting a “budget of convenience”. They’re totally solvent one day and the next they’re in dire need. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has made assurances that this and other drastic cuts will never happen. We certainly are rooting for him to succeed. Adding insult to injury: No boards for the boardwalk In addition to the devastation of our beloved Coney Island, now we find that city will redo the famed boardwalk without the boards (see story, page 4). The scheduled rebuilding will consist of a concrete surface. A small section of simulated boards over the concrete in the heart of what was the amusement area will be a reminder of what was. It’s a token boardwalk for the token Coney Island they’re planning. Excuse me while I gag on this latest travesty.

athan Handwerker, who in 1916 founded the famous hot dog stand in Coney Island bearing his name, deployed men wearing surgeon’s smocks to patronize his stand to convey the message that his franks were safe (this was before the days of government inspection of meat). That -- and charging only a nickel for his dogs while his competitor Feltman’s (whom he had worked for) charged 10 cents -- made his business soar.

Publisher’s Notebook David J. Glenn

$39 million bounces around the rubber rooms The recent incident at Madison High School, with two female teachers allegedly caught undressed together in an empty classroom during school hours, goes beyond the sensationalist headlines of the Daily News and the Post. The real issue is the UFT-mandated “rubber room.” The two teachers were -- obviously justifiably -- tossed out of the school. But since they had tenure, they were sent to a “Temporary Reassignment Center,” dubbed “rubber room,” where teachers accused of misdeeds receive full taxpayerfinanced pay and benefits – averaging $71,000 a year – for doing pretty much nothing all day while their cases are “investigated.”

The problem is, these investigations take, on the average, a full year, and the rest of us, as taxpayers, must pay for what can only be described as undeserved, high-priced welfare for them. How long should it normally take to investigate an incident like the alleged one at Madison? How complicated is it to determine whether the janitor who said he saw the teachers naked in the classroom was lying? If the usual workings of the Department of Education, at the mercy of the all-powerful United Federation of Teachers union, are any guide, it will take far longer than it would in any other conceivable venue, public or private.

Lost enchantment

I got two tickets!

I’m writing regarding the recent article on www.baycurrents.net (Page 4 in this print edition) pertaining to the boardwalk at Coney Island. I have to agree with Mr. Greco. There are other cost-effective, safe and appealing measures that can be taken. Why on Earth will the Parks Department not consider alternatives? I am not a New Yorker. However, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Brighton Beach/Coney Island and experiencing all the magical, historical objects this iconic place offers. Certainly, replacing the boardwalk with concrete would take away from the enchantment. Jennifer Fuller

My brother happened to be in Brooklyn and came upon the article referring to Bloomberg and the tickets (OPINION, Vol. 6 No. 6, Oct. 19-Nov. 2, 2009) I will top your story -- My friends and I decided to spend the day in NYC from Long Island, and I decided to drive in rather than take the train. On our way in I get pulled over for “blocking the box” -- which maybe was 2 inches, clearly not a lot. There is no way not to block the box if a cab stops down the block and you get stuck. It’s tough luck and a $115 fine -- so I decide, Okay it’s a lot of money but I want to have a great day with my friends. But guess what? That’s right, on my way home – and

But let’s look at the larger picture. Anne Forte, a DOE spokeswoman, told us that on the average, there are 550 teachers in the rubber rooms at any given point, being paid an average $71,000 salary. Now, class, $71,000 times 550 equals $39,050,000. The city (read: we) are paying more than $39 million a year as hundreds of teachers facing charges ranging from ineffective teaching to serious misconduct are investigated. This, while kids have to plod along with battered old textbooks, deteriorating school buildings, and cutbacks in everything from sports to music. It’s shameful, not only because of the incredible waste of money that should go to the children, but also because it paints all teachers – the majority of whom are sincerely dedicated and effective educators – with the same brush as the turkeys who populate the rubber rooms, not to mention the more-than-a-few incompetent, lazy, or educationally harmful teachers who somehow get tenure and remain in the classroom year after year because administrators don’t relish jumping through all the UFT-imposed hoops to get rid of them. What’s the solution? It’s really up to Mayor Bloomberg. Forte said that Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein “would like to end the rubber rooms as we know it.” What’s stopping them? Bloomberg was able to do what no mayor before him was able to do – wrest control of the schools from the ineffective Board of Education and the corrupt local school boards. Now he has to show he really has the right stuff, and stand up to the UFT. Think you can take ‘em on, Mayor?

now I am so aware of the box that I wasn’t sticking out at all, and there were cars behind me -- I receive another ticket! I thought I was in the Twilight Zone or on Candid Camera or something -- this couldn’t be happening! My friends were in shock as well, because we were all so very careful not to block the damn box. When the cop came over to give me the ticket, I asked, “What is going on today – is it a blitz?” He didn’t answer. For me, it was $230 in one day! I agree that something must be done, because there is no reasoning with people on a power trip giving out tickets Next time, I’m taking the LIRR! Sheryl Long Island

The views expressed on the Opinion Page are of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or managers of Bay Currents. Page 18

Jan. 1 Jan. 15, 2010

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