Red Hook Star-Revue, June 2017 by George Fiala

The

Red Hook StarRevue

JUNE 2017

SOUTH BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

FREE

POSSIBLE BAR BRAWL ON BEARD by Sarah Matusek

he stretch of Beard Street that runs between Van Brunt and Conover is home to multiple families with children.

Since Sandy, new businesses have crept into the neighborhood’s special mixed use district and forced the quiet block to cope with traffic, noise, and litter. Residents now face a fresh threat: a late-night bar on their home turf. The owner of Greenpoint brewpub Keg & Lantern Brewing Company has applied for a liquor license to open a similar establishment on 158 Beard Street.

Beard Street resident Allen Glatter fears a new bar on a mostly residential block. (photo by George Fiala)

Beard Street Block Association member Allen Glatter has lived on the street for 20 years. He said the addition of another neighborhood bar this time on his own block - would be inappropriate. “We have a bar crawl as it is,” said Glatter. “Particularly during the weekends, it’s almost unbearable when you come out of your house on Saturday morning and see the garbage and the trash… When you’re woken up at 2, 3, 4 o’clock in the morning. I’m not going to tell anybody not to have a good time, but we feel [multiple bars] have a largely negative impact on our quality of life.” Brooklyn Crab, Hometown Bar-B-Q, and Sunny’s - all on-premise liquor license spots - appear to flank the block within 500 feet. “I know we’re in a special mixed use zone, but it feel (continued on page 9)

Red Hook cranes could be history by Michael Cobb

he cranes at the foot of Union Street may become history next year. The Red Hook Container Terminal (RHCT), which was built in the 1980s to handle bulk shipping, finishes its lease in 2018 and may be turned over by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PA) to the hands of real estate developers. “We’re at a crucial crossroads with the Port Authority,” said an official of the International Longshoreman’s Union (ILA), which has handled hiring and logistics on the Brooklyn waterfront for generations. “They allocated money in the form of subsidies over a five-year period, and now we are reaching the end of our agreement. We don’t know what will happen. But we have a meeting scheduled with the Port Authority soon, and we have a lot of support.” The terminal plays a large role in Brooklyn’s economy, safety, and identity, according to the Waterfront Alliance. It processes more than 40,000 containers annually and provides 1,500 jobs. A letter sent by a group of 14 elected officials including President Eric Adams and Representatives Nydia Velazquez and Jerrold Nadler makes the case that it also “serves as a hub for cross-harbor freight movement, diverting roughly 55,000 truck trips per year that contribute to congestion, pollution, and (continued on page 8)

Est4te Four unloads most of their Red Hook properties by Sarah Matusek

y the mid-19th century, the opening of the Atlantic Basin transformed Red Hook into one of the country’s busiest ports. In 2017, a new development mere blocks from the basin might earn Red Hook back its shipping hub status. But this time, the goods will be purchased with the click of a mouse. Italian developer Est4te Four sold five of its Red Hook waterfront industrial properties to a private equity firm for around

$110 million in May 2017. The warehouse spaces will be updated as dis-

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Sitex Group, a New Jersey-based firm, specializes in acquiring industrial real estate to rent out to e-commerce companies. E-commerce - the buying and selling of things online - has played a role in the decline of traditional retail for over a decade. Sitex purchased Est4te

Est4te Four planned to turn Four’s former warehousRed Hook into a fashion hub. es at 68 and 100 Ferris

Table of Contents Happenings .........................................2,3 Opinion ...........................................12,13 Religious News....................................4,5 Arts ......................................................16 Ferry Schedule .....................................10 Society News........................................23 Red Hook Star-Revue

ªRevue Red Hook Star

tribution centers for etailers (online retailers), ensuring the speedy delivery of products to New York City’s online buyers.

Street, parking lots at 44 Ferris and 219 Sullivan Street, and the warehouse at 242-300 Coffey Street. The acquisitions all fall within M2-1 zoning, a subset of manufacturing districts common to the city’s older industrial waterfronts. Est4te Four also owns 160 Imlay Street, which the company is converting into 70 luxury condos. Formerly the site of New York Dock Co., the sixstory building will reserve its first two floors for commercial space. (continued on page 9)

Balloon Pete goes metal

Star-Revue honored

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June 2017, Page 1

The

Red Hook StarRevue

481 Van Brunt Street, 8A Brooklyn, NY 11231

June Happenings

(718) 624-5568

P: Kimberly Gail Price George Fiala A E: Noah Phillips S R: Emily Kluver Nathan Weiser Sarah Matusek C: Halley Bondy, Arts Laura Eng, Religion Mary Ann Pietanza

FOR EDITORIAL, ADVERTISING OR EMPLOYMENT INQUIRIES, email info@redhookstar.com. The Red Hook Star-Revue is published monthly. Founded June 2010.

Community Telephone Numbers:

Red Hook Councilman Carlos Menchaca (718) 439-9012 Red Hook Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (718) 492-6334 State Sen. Velmanette Montgomery (718) 643-6140 Gowanus Councilman Brad Lander (718) 499-1090 Park Slope Councilman Steve Levin (718) 875-5200 CB6 District Manager Craig Hammerman (718) 643-3027 76th Police Precinct, 191 Union Street Main phone (718) 834-3211 Community Affairs (718) 834-3207 Traffic Safety (718) 834-3226 Eileen Dugan Senior Center, 380 Court Street (718) 596-1956 Miccio Center, 110 East 9th Street (718) 243-1528 Red Hook East Dev. Office, 62 Mill St (718) 852-6771 Red Hook West Dev. Office, 55 Dwight St. (718) 522-3880

The Red Hook Library (7 Wolco� Street) will be having their Friends Mee�ng from 6:30 un�l 7:30 pm. New THU. members are welcome to a�end the mee�ng.

M Shanghai String Band will be at The Jalopy Theatre at 9:00 p.m. They are a Brooklyn based folk collec�ve. M Shanghai’s concerts are known for their SAT. joy, raucous energy and in�mate subtlety. The cost is $10. Crea�ve aging: Precious Memories at the Red Hook Library from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Saturday from June 3 to July 22. 7 Wolco� Street

Experience the madcap comedy featured in NY Magazines “Best of NY: Kids” at the Waterfront Museum It is $15 for adults and $13 for kids. Pirate SUN. School with Billy Bones, 290 Conover St. 2-5 pm.

Hot Wood Arts presents their ﬁrst Wednesday’s ﬁgure drawing session from 7 - 10 p.m. at 481 Van WED. Brunt Street 9B. $10

More than 60 whisky brands from around the world come together to create a unique tas�ng, culinary THUR. and music experience. WhiskyX event includes a live concert from Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. Brooklyn Cruise Terminal 6 - 10 pm.

The Taste of Brooklyn Americana Music Fes�val at the archway under the Manha�an Bridge. Live music FRI. from 5 - 10 pm. Producer Jan Bell booked Americana bands, a mixture of folk, country, blues and jazz. The fes�val is free. The Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corpora�on sponsors Red Hook Walks This is a Van Brunt Street Fair that will go from Visita�on Street to Dikeman Street. Van Brunt Street will be closed from 4:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. for set up and clean up. Red Hook Fest begins Friday with a community dinner at the PS 15 schoolyard. The free dinner is held in conjunc�on with Red Hook Walks. The Fest con�nues Saturday, June 10 at Valen�no Pier Park with a full day of dance performances, including the Dash Ensemble, Loni London Dance Project and the Freedom Dabka Group. 2 - 7 pm

The Park Slope Farmers Market Brooklyn Makers featuring eight Etsy makers. This will SUN. be a Brooklyn Makers pop-up for local cra�ers and food makers. 4th Street oﬀ Fi�h Avenue, 10 - 5 pm

13 TUE.

Jalopy Theatre’s open mic night. Sign up in person by 9:00 p.m. Performance order will be drawn at random at 9:00. Everyone who performs will get eight minutes or two songs. There is no cover.

TUE.

For more listings, check out our online community calendar at www.star-revue.com/calendar

The Red Hook West Tenant Associa�on holds heir monthly mee�ng hosted by Lillie Marshall. tThe mee�ng will be at 428 Columbia Street tenant oﬃce room 1-C from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Atelier Roque�e hosts “Gi�s,” an evening length work-in-progress by Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance. Thur. This presenta�on of Hummel’s latest choreographic world marks her ﬁrst full collabora�on with both her professional dancers and her youth company members. 63 Commerce Street 7:30 - 9:00 pm

17 SAT.

Friends of the Red Hook Library present a Motown talent show. Dona�on is $20 which goes to the library. 7 Wolco� Street, 6:30 - 9:30 pm

“Father/Daughter Dance” for all ages at the Miccio Center. Free event is open to the public. Please wear purple and white. The dress code is to come to impress. Email Janet Andrews at janetandrews142@gmail.com to RSVP. 110 West 9th Street, 3 - 9 pm

27 TUE.

The Gowanus CAG meets at St. Mary’s Residence, 41 First Street, 6:30 - 9 pm to discuss things SuperFund related.

At Pioneer Works (159 Pioneer Street), there will be a class called Prosthe�c Processes that will serve as an ini�a�ve to radically re-imagine human embodiment. Alongside hands-on workshops, there will be conversa�on and readings from authors such as Donna Haraway and Judith Butler. The class will go from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on June 3, 17, 24 and an op�onal class on July 2.

ONGOING

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email happenings@ redhookstar.com to list your event.

Pioneer Works (159 Pioneer Street) will be hos�ng the Grand Ole Opera series from June 9 un�l July 30. The ar�sts are Willie Steward and Brent Stewart and the curator is Gabriel Florenz. The ar�sts will stage immersive theatrical installa�ons that recreate their Southern heritage and childhood experiences. The Red Hook Library, 7 Wolco� Street, has many weekly ac�vi�es: On Mondays, they have inclusive stories - a�erschool stories for ages 5-12 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Tuesdays, they have computer class from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and game night from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. On Wednesdays, they have toddler �me at 11:00 a.m., homework help from 3:00 un�l 5:30 p.m. and immigra�on legal services counseling from 10:00 a.m. un�l 4:00 p.m. For an appointment call 718-439-9012. On Thursdays, they have library lanes - virtual bowling at 10:30 a.m. and chess at 5:15 p.m. On Fridays, the library has story play at 11:00 a.m. and teen tech �me from 3:30 p.m. un�l 4:30 p.m. On Saturdays, the library has story �me from 1:00 p.m. un�l 1:30 p.m. All ages are welcome to hear favorite tales read aloud.

NYCHA Satellite Police Precinct, 80 Dwight St. Main Phone (718) 265-7300 Community Affairs (718) 265-7313 Domestic Violence (718) 265-7310 Youth Officer (718) 265-7314 Auxiliary/Law Enforcement Coordinator (718) 265-7378 Detective Squad (718) 265-7327

Page 2 Red Hook Star-Revue

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June 2017

HAPPENINGS, CON’T ONGOING

The Brooklyn Waterfront Ar�sts Coali�on BWAC (499 Van Brunt Street) has a performance series that will take place on weekend a�ernoon between 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. at BWAC. You will be able to enjoy a fantas�c variety of talented and exci�ng songwriters, musicians, authors and poets, as well as two special ﬁlm screenings. These are the performances in June: Saturday, June 3 will be Fold Crumple Crush (ﬁlm) from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Sunday, June 4 will be Brandon

Glasgow from 2:00-3:30 & Tom Fitzpatrick 4:00-5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 10 Alice & The Underground will perform from 2:00 to 3:30 and Al Lee Wyer will perform from 4:00 p.m. un�l 5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 11 Jim Petrie will perform from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., Cur�s Why will perform from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. and Stephanie Kadison & Josh Wakesberg will play from 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 17 SICC Spoken Word will take the stage from 2:00 p.m. un�l 5:00 p.m. Saturday, June 18 Jazz Founda�on will perform from 2:00 p.m. un�l 4:00 p.m.

Throughout June, The Waterfront Barge Museum (WBM) in Red Hook, Brooklyn will exhibit Deirdre Towers’ meditative, immersive installation BELL 8, named after a navigational buoy in Long Island Sound. Free and open to the public Thursdays 4-8 pm and Saturdays, 1-5 pm. On June 17, 2017, 5 until 7pm, WBM will host a Sound Bath led by Basia Blonska, world renowned flute player and sound therapy practitioner. Tickets: $15. Towers spent her childhood on a succession of small sailboats, in every form of weather, gazing at the waves slapping against the hull. After thirty years as a dancer, 18 years co-producing the Dance on Camera Festival with the Film Society of Lincoln Center, Deirdre felt compelled to share the expansive feeling one has at sea, the trance-inducing dance of wind, sun and water.

I ids and k d n a r e “ My g s to tak g a B o G packed acuate.” v e o t e v if we ha

2 E N O Z KLYN

BROO n e e r o D

She collaborated with cinematographers Nan Melville (South African), Ted Ciesielski (Polish), the late sound healer Rakel Jun (Spain). British sculptor Celia Gregory offered footage of her underwater sculptures, whose sea goddesses serve as artificial coral reefs, and footage from the marine biologist Christian Sardet, and his Plankton Chronicles. DE-CONSTRUKT [projekts] is throwing a bash of creative solidarity in support and celebration of RDJ Refugee Shelter on Saturday, June 3. RDJ is the only shelter in NYC specifically for homeless refugees. They help political, religious and other asylum seekers by providing six-month stays while they transition into a new home and culture. They connect refugees to employment, housing, legal and language resources. The evening’s art will include photography, videography and other mixed media. The exhibit will also feature refurbished furniture for shelter guests by artist Ahmed Awney. Entertainment will include musicians and spoken-word artists from all genres with themes of resistance and revolution. Musial acts will include Koyt Far Dayn Fardakht, a queer/trans anti-zionist Yiddish punk band; Fat Boy Wilson & Old Viejo Bones, who will perform folk blues; and 81ack 8astards, a hip-hop duo whose music discusses socio-political topics that affect urban and ethnic youth.

Red Hook Star-Revue

Visit NYC.gov/knowyourzone or call 311 to find out what to do to prepare for hurricanes in NYC #knowyourzone

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June 2017, Page 3

DANCE THEATRE ETCETERA PRESENTS THE 24TH ANNUAL

RED HOOK FEST

FREE MUSIC & DANCE FESTIVAL

BY LAURA ENG laura.eng59@aol.com.

Rabbi Wax Leaving Congregation Mount Sinai

WE PUSH FORWARD

SAT JUNE

Mainstage Performances by

FRI

JUNE

Community Cookout & DJ Dance Party

Climbing PoeTree The Dash Ensemble Loni Landon Dance Project The Freedom Dabka Group 2:00 -7:00 PM

in collaboration with SBIDC’s Red Hook Walks A Street Fair on Van Brunt Visitation / Dikeman 6pm – 10pm

5:30-8:30 PM PS 15 • 71 Sullivan Street

Louis Valentino Jr. Park and Pier Coffey & Ferris Streets

RedHookFest.com

Sponsored by:

The Red Hook Fest is supported, in part, by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and Council Member Carlos Menchaca as well as by the New State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Legislature. Additional support provided by The O’Connell Organization and Cornell Paper and Box Company.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES Christian River Of God Christian Center

110 Wolcott Street, 646-226-6135, Secretary, Sister Roslyn Chatman. Sunday - Family Worship 11:00 - 1:00 pm Scripture, read in English and Spanish Wednesday - At The Gate 12:00 noon, Prayer 7:00 - 7:30 pm, Bible Studies 7:00 - 8:00 pm, Thursday Prayer 7:30 - 8:30pm, Friday Youth ABLAZED Ministries 6:00 - 7:30pm, Senior Pastor, Donald Gray

Visitation Church

98 Richards Street , (718) 624-1572. Office open Mon-Thursday 9 am - 3 pm. Saturday Mass at 5:00 pm English; Sunday 10:00 am Spanish, 12:30 pm English. Community Prayer on Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00 pm. Baptisms are held every other month. Please call to arrange for Baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation and Weddings.

New Brown Memorial Baptist Church

609 Clinton Street, 718 624 4780 Pastor A.R Jamal. Sunday School at 9:30 am. Sunday Worship at 11:00 am. Bible Study -Wednesday at 7:30pm. Communion every first Sunday

Stretching Far and Wide Global Ministry, Inc.

382 Hamilton Avenue, Studio B 1-800-948-9042 Archbishop Dr. Barbara Jackman, Overseer Rev. Dr. Dwayne Barnes, Pastor Services are held every Sunday @ 10:00 am Communion every First Sunday stretchingfar.webs.com stretchingfar@aol.com

St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish

467 Court Street, (718) 625-2270 Rectory Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00 am - 11:30 am, 1:00 pm4:00 pm, Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 noon. Masses: Saturday 4:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am, Monday Thursday, 9:30 am.

Saint Paul and Saint Agnes Parish

Church Office 433 Sackett St (718) 625-1717 Hours: M-F 2 PM-5 PM. E mail: stpaulandstagnes@ gmail.com. Saint Paul, 190 Court Street - church open daily for prayer and meditation 7 am - 8 PM. Saturday Vigil Mass 5:30 PM (English), Sunday 7:45 am (English), 11 am (Spanish). St. Agnes, 433 Sackett Street Saturday Vigil Mass 4 PM (English), Sunday 9:15 am (English), 11 am (French), 12:30 PM (Spanish). M-T-TH-F-S 8:30 am St Paul’s Chapel 234 Congress St.; Wednesday 8:30 AM St Agnes.

Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Saint Stephen Roman Catholic Church

125 Summit Street at Hicks Street, (718) 596-7750, info@sacredhearts-ststephen.com Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 am, Friday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:30 pm, Sunday Masses at 8:00 am, 10:00 am, and noon (Italian/English) Weekday Masses during winter months at 8:30 am and 12:00 noon Confessions: Saturday at 4:45 pm and by appointment. Baptisms every third Sunday at 1:00 pm.

St. Paul’s Carroll Street

199 Carroll Street Parish Office: 718-625-4126 Sunday Mass at 10 am Weekday Morning Prayer - Mon.-Thurs. at 7:30 am Weekday masses as announced Holy Days as announced \Church open for prayer Tues. 6-8pm & Sat. 2-4pm http://stpaulscarrollst.weebly.com/

Jewish Kane Street Synagogue

236 Kane Street, 718 875-1550 http://kanestreet.org/ Friday night services, 6:00 PM Shabbat services, 9:15 AM Sunday Services 9:00 AM

Congregation B’nai Avraham/Chabad of Brooklyn Heights

117 Remsen St., 718 596 4840 x18 www.bnaiavraham.com, www.heightschabad.com Morning Services: Sunday: 8:45am Monday - Friday: 7:45am Holidays (during the week): 8:45am Saturday: 9:45am Evening Services: Sunday: Shabbat candle lighting time Monday - Thursday: 9:00pm Friday: Winter: 5 minutes before Shabbat candle lighting time Summer:

Congregation Mount Sinai

250 Cadman Plaza West, (718) 875-9124, Rabbi Seth Wax Friday services at 6:30 pm; Saturday Prayer and Mysticism Class at 9:00 am, services at 10:00 am followed by kiddish lunch. All are welcome.

Page 4 Red Hook Star-Revue

RELIGIOUS NEWS R

abbi Seth Wax will be ending his tenure at Congregation Mount Sinai in Cadman Plaza in July. The well-loved Rabbi has been at CMS since 2012, spending one year as an intern before becoming the full-time acting rabbi in 2013. Rabbi Wax attended Hebrew College Rabbinical School in Newton, MA after receiving his Bachelors in Art in Religion from Columbia University and a Masters of Theology in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School. He said the study of Buddhism fascinated him since he was in high school, particularly with the way that Jews have adopted Buddhist practices especially mindfulness.

Congregation Mount Sinai’s rabbi is moving on. During his study of Budwhich includes picnic dinners and didhism, Rabbi Wax learned to read verse and relevant music. Under the Sanskrit and Tibetan. After college, Bridge attracts seniors in their ninehe had plans of becoming a professor ties to young families with babies. of Buddhism, but switched gears and Shabbat programs have run the gamdecided to enter rabbinical school. ut from bluegrass to contemplative. After experiencing a period of youthIn addition to his position at CMS, ful rebellion against Judaism, he came Rabbi Wax has served as co-president to the realization that teaching and of the Brooklyn Heights Interfaith working with people - as a rabbi - was Clergy Association for the past two a perfect fit for him. years. He considers it a gift to have had Growing up in Massachusetts, Rabbi so many amazing clergy colleagues Wax attended synagogue with his nearby. Rabbi Wax was pleased to grandmother and great-grandfather recall a two-year interfaith scripture every week. While his family was very program with Plymouth Church. involved in synagogue life, he is the The program brought in members of first rabbi in his family. He comment- Dawood Mosque and also explored ed that he thinks his mother enjoys commonalities and differences in un“having a rabbi in the family.” derstanding sacred text. Upon joining CMS, Rabbi Wax re- Rabbi Wax and his wife, Dr. Elisabeth members his greatest challenge was Berger, recently welcomed their first transitioning from student to rabbi daughter named Mia. While the next and developing a rabbinic identity. step in his professional life has not yet “Figuring out how to lead an organi- been decided, Rabbi Wax is confident zation is a challenge,” reflected Rabbi that it will include a significant interWax, “but people were incredibly nice faith component. and incredibly supportive When asked what he will miss most Rabbi Wax is the type of rabbi who is about CMS, Rabbi Wax responded community minded and concerned wholeheartedly, “That’s easy, the peowith social justice. He and his con- ple!” He has built many relationships gregants attended the rally at Battery by working with - and learning from Park City this past winter in support -members of his congregation, who of refugees and immigrants. CMS has are committed to, passionate about, also hosted a variety of programs in- and love the synagogue. cluding ones on the rise of anti-SemiHis presence will undoubtedly be tism and attacks on the media. missed by the congregation as well. Among his proudest accomplish- CMS member Jeff Douglas commentments at CMS, Rabbi Wax cites build- ed, “Rabbi Wax has revitalized CMS, ing the Friday Night Shabbat Pro- brought in some young families, and gram including, “Under the Bridge@ made my Catholic wife feel as if this Brooklyn Bridge Park.” In partnership is really her synagogue… It has been with Beineinu, a NYC-based initiative said that he is responsible for resurfounded and directed by Rabbi Lau- recting the Brooklyn Heights Interrie Phillips, the program provides a faith Clergy Association. Although we monthly Shabbat for the community (continued on next page)

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June 2017

Religion

(continued from previous page)

wish him well, the congregation and I, personally, are sad that he is leaving.” Congregation Mount Sinai has 130 family units which translates to 200 members. They have recently announced that Rabbi Wax will be replaced by Rabbi Hanniel Levenson. The Religious News column wishes Rabbi Wax behatslacha, or “all the best.”

Upcoming Events

Ramadan began at sundown on Friday, May 26 and will end at sundown on Saturday, June 24. During this holy period, observant Muslims will fast during daylight hours. Ramadan concludes with the celebration of Eid alFitr (The Feast of the Breaking of the Fast). Mass of Inclusion for People with Disabilities and the Deaf on Sunday, June 4 at 10:15 am at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 5th Avenue and 60th Street, Brooklyn. A breakfast and a Special Needs Resource Fair will immediately follow the Mass. For information, call Phil Murray at (718) 875-5407. Vigil in Support of Refugees-Remembering the St. Louis to be held outside Brooklyn Borough Hall on Tuesday, June 6 at 6 pm. Jewish communities across the country will hold candlelight vigils to commemorate the anniversary of the day in 1939. The MS St. Louis began its fateful return to Europe with over 900 Jewish refugees on board after being turned away because of US immigration restrictions. Community members will honor the memory of those who died and will call on our elected official not to repeat the mistakes of the past. The program will include music and guest speakers.

First Mass of newly ordained Father Kamil Bober on Pentecost Sunday, June 4 at 12 pm. Feast of St. John the Baptist - Mass on Sunday, June 11 at noon followed by procession to Citizens of Pozzallo Club on Henry Street. Book Club will meet on June 12 at 7 pm in the Parish House to discuss The Shack by William P. Young. Feast of Corpus Christi Mass on Sunday, June 18 at 10 am followed by procession. Feast of the Sacred Heart on Friday, June 23 - Adoration from 3-6:30 pm followed by procession to Cabrini Park on President Street and Van Brunt Streets for annual outdoor Mass.

St. Agnes Church Sackett & Hoyt Streets

Young@Heart Group meets every Wednesday at 1 pm at St. Agnes Hall.

St. Ann & the Holy Trinity 157 Montague Street

Josephine Foster, Body Love and Nick Hallet in Concert on Saturday, June 3 at 8 pm. Perfect Wave and the Forum @ St. Ann’s present a very special evening of music featuring legendary singer/songwriter Josephine Foster, Body Love (Ka Baird and Michael Zerand) and vocalist Nick Hallet. Doors open at 7:30 pm; tickets are $12.

St. Mary Star of the Sea 467 Court Street

Religious Education Registration for grades 1-4. Classes will begin on Sunday, September 17. Forms are available in church rectory, and may also be downloaded from stmarystarbrooklyn.com. 112th Annual Independence Day Parade on Saturday, June 24 at 9:30 am honoring the memory of Brother Knight Detective Steven McDonald, NYPD. Parade starts at St. Paul’s Church, Congress and Court Streets and ends at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, Luquer & Court Streets.

Congregation Mount Sinai 250 Cadman Plaza West

St. Paul’s Catholic Church 234 Congress Street

Shavuot Services on Thursday, June 1 at 10 am. Yizkor at 8 am, 11:30 am and 1 pm.

13 Week St. Anthony Novena, every Tuesday at 1 pm in the chapel until June 13.

Under the Bridge@Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 1, Bridge View Lawn (by Barge Music) on Friday, June 2 at 6:30 pm. Join us for a community Shabbat celebration with live music. Challah and juice will be provided, BYO picnic. All are welcome!

St. Paul’s Church is open from 7 am-9 pm daily.

Musical Shabbat with Jeremy Schonfeld on Friday, June 9 at 6:30 pm. Rabbi Wax teams up with local musician, Jeremy Schonfeld for an evening of reflection.

Kane Street Synagogue 236 Kane Street

161st Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, June 4 honoring Ray Scheindlin who has served Kane Street in a multitude of capacities over the years: as a lay leader, as a rabbi, and as our High Holiday cantor for over 40 years. For placing ads in commemorative journal, visit kanestreet. nirsham.com/form/journal-ad.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 199 Carroll Street

Panel Discussion on Racial Justice and Reconciliation on Sunday, June 11 at 3 pm. Guest panelists include: The Rev. Flora Wilson Bridges, of Rendell Memorial Presbyterian Church in Harlem; The Rev. Marie Tatro, Vicar for Community Justice, Episcopal Diocese of Long Island; and Rabbi Hara Person of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. All are welcome.

Visitation BVM Church 98 Richards Street

Healing Mass on Wednesday, June 21 at 7 pm in Spanish and on Friday, June 30 at 7 pm in English.

Sacred Hearts/St. Stephen Summit & Hicks Street Red Hook Star-Revue

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June 2017, Page 5

Red Hook still waiting for next stop light by Sarah Matusek

ome pedestrians who cross Van Brunt Street at Pioneer Street are likely to hold their breath.

Locally known as a dangerous crossing, the busy three-way intersection has already inspired community efforts to install a traffic signal. As Red Hook gains a ferry landing this month and the neighborhood absorbs more traffic, efforts for increased street safety remain in planning stages. Data collected by NYPD Motor Vehicle Collisions shows thirteen people have been injured at the Pioneer-Van Brunt intersection due to traffic collisions since August 2015. Around noon on May 8, a car struck a 35-year-old mother and her 3-year-old daughter at the intersection. A Tesla sedan, operated by a 24-year-old company employee, was turning left off of Pioneer onto Van Brunt when it struck the girl and her mother, who told police they were crossing Van Brunt westbound. The car’s view was obscured by trucks that continuously idle at that intersection. “She sprinted out ahead of her mother, and the mother winds up being struck by the driver. The daughter tumbles into the mother, and they both fall down because the driver can’t stop quick enough,” reports Steve Farber, who lives above Bait and Tackle. He witnessed the aftermath of the collision. “By the time I looked out my window I could see the car with the mother and child basically underneath the front bumper. The mother [was] clutching the little girl in her arms, The passers-by ran down and told the mother and child not to move.” Terry Scott, of Rebuilding Together, called 911. An ambulance arrived on the scene to treat the pedestrians., who Farber said were not seriously injured. Officers Rodriquez and Alba arrived to take statements. The mother and daughter were treated at Maimonides Hospital. “We are very glad that no one was seriously injured, and we have been cooperating with the authorities who came to the scene to assist,” wrote a spokesperson for Tesla, a car dealership located four blocks from the intersection at 160 Van Brunt. “This incident did not involve a customer test drive, and we are conducting a thorough review of the incident with the Tesla employee involved.” Autopilot was not a part of the collision, Tesla confirmed. The May 8 incident is another accident that reaffirms a years-long community desire to gain a traffic signal at this intersection. “Without any doubt, at an absolute minimum, we need an all-way stop,” says Farber of the busy intersection. But he notes that the all-day idling of delivery trucks on that stretch would render stop signs useless. “If there are trucks idling there, southbound traf-

Page 6 Red Hook Star-Revue

www.star-revue.com

fic on Van Brunt will never, ever see the stop sign, so they’ll just shoot right through.” Farber is not alone in calling for stoplights at that intersection. John McGettrick, founder of the Red Hook Civic Association, has been organizing for a traffic signal at Van Brunt and Pioneer Streets for years. “We want to bring as much pressure to bear on the city for this long-overlooked hazardous traffic situation,” said McGettrick. He has been circulating a petition within the community to support the installment of a traffic signal. He estimated the petition has already received around 400 signatures. According to McGettrick, the Department of Transportation has yet to approve a stoplight at the intersection because vehicular cross-traffic data found insufficient evidence to warrant one. However, a warrant can be over-

Photo on this page and next by Steve Farber

ridden by number of accidents. “While we may not have the flow of traffic, we have the danger,” McGettrick pointed out, citing the intersection’s heavy flow of pedestrians. McGettrick says the neighborhood received its last stop light after a vehicle fatally struck a woman on Van Brunt and Wolcott Streets in 2006. “We do not need another situation like that,” says McGettrick. “This is preemptive safety, not catch-up after a tragedy, which very often happens.” McGettrick plans to send the petition as part of a traffic signal request to the Borough Commissioner in early June, coinciding with the opening of NYC Ferry’s Red Hook landing.

Ferry will add traffic

Launching June 1, the commuter ferry will undoubtedly add to the congestion at Pioneer and Van Brunt Streets. The Red Hook ferry landing at Atlantic Basin is a short walk from Van Brunt, a lively commercial street. Ferry riders are also likely to utilize Pioneer Street en route to the landing, as the road ends at Atlantic Basin. NYC Ferry boats, provided by Hornblower, can hold up to 149 passengers per trip. According to scheduling in(continued on next page)

June 2017

STOPLIGHT

(continued from previous page)

formation for the South Brooklyn route found on the NYC Ferry website, ferry riders can expect 50 boat trips daily on weekdays and 32 trips daily on weekends launching from Red Hook. NYC Ferry expects the Atlantic Basin landing to serve over 6,000 people who live within a half-mile radius of the terminal. But less than a month into the Rockaway route that launched May 1, NYC Ferry reports, ridership has more than tripled the route’s original estimate. The South Brooklyn route will operate year-round with the exception of the Governors Island stop, which only runs during summers.

Locals push for traffic signal

Red Hook resident Samantha Salvati lives a block from the Pioneer and Van Brunt intersection with her one-yearold child. She has witnessed traffic collisions at the intersection. “No one ever stops,” she says, referring to a sign that faces eastbound traffic on Pioneer Street. Salvati is a strong supporter of a traffic signal, but says she’s unaware of com-

munity efforts to install one.

turn, they take a car with them.”

Kemo Elsayd, manager of Heba Deli and Superior Market on the Southeast corner of the intersection, has seen his share of harrowing incidents at the crossing. Elsayd has communicated with neighbors, police, and other community members about securing a stoplight for years without success. “This happens a lot over here,” he says, referring to accidents. “Nobody listens.”

Though he’s heard talk of organizing for a traffic signal, Vitto says he’s unsure of how that talk is moving forward.

Elsayd recalls a bus careening into a car at the intersection a year ago, causing the car to skid up on the sidewalk and nearly crash into his store. “I’ve been hit two or three times,” says Elsayd. Wary of the accident-prone road outside his deli, Elsayd regularly accompanies an elderly friend across busy Van Brunt Street to purchase a slice at Mark’s Pizza in peace. Mark’s Pizza manager Sammy Vitto is another proponent of the traffic signal. He crosses the intersection regularly, riding his motorcycle to the pizzeria. “At this intersection? Yeah, they need a light in there. Pretty much every week there’s an accident there,” says Vitto. He notices that large trucks have a particularly hard time making turns at the cross streets. “Every time they take a

On the Southwest corner of the intersection, Omaris Martinez owns O&B Unisex Hair Salon. During her ten years at the salon, Martinez says she’s seen many accidents from her corner. “I always had the idea [that a traffic signal was needed], but I didn’t know what to do or who to turn to about it,” says Martinez. Next door to Martinez’s salon, Carmen Lorenzo owns Pioneer Street Supermarket, where she has worked for 30 years. “I think we need it,” says Lorenzo, at the mention of a stop light. When parked on Pioneer Street, her car has been bumped into multiple times. Pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers use Pioneer Street to access Pioneer Works, a non-profit cultural center located a block from the busy intersection. Events at Pioneer Works draw crowds as large as 1,800, heightening traffic in the area. Pioneer Works director Gabriel Florenz says he crosses the busy intersection multiple times a day. To him, a traffic signal is long overdue, but he

also hopes for additional crosswalks in addition to the two crosswalks that currently run parallel to Pioneer Street. Florenz worries about the addition of the NYC Ferry on June 1, located just a couple blocks away at Atlantic Basin. “We have to think about more tourists coming into this neighborhood who don’t know their way around, don’t know the streets, and that being a further hazard for more people,” he said. “It’s personal to Pioneer Works as far as making sure that people are safe who are coming and going from [the venue], but it’s also just a huge community issue.”

Bureaucratic steps

According to a Department of Transportation (DOT) spokesperson, requests to install a traffic signal are processed by the Borough Commissioner’s Office and reviewed by the office’s Signals division. These reviews can take up to 12 weeks. “Following requests, DOT uses a detailed process called an intersection control study to determine if traffic signals or multi-way stop signs are appropriate for a location -taking into consideration crash history, traffic (continued on page 9)

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Is the Red Hook Container Terminal history? (continued from page 1)

the overall impact on quality of life.” Tremendous growth has happened just north of the terminal in the last five years, with massive residential and park development on Piers 1-6. When asked whether the lease for the container terminal will be renewed next year, Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman said that they would defer to a Master Plan being worked out by Hatch, an engineering consultant group. “The five-year operating agreement with Red Hook Container Terminal LLC–and the declining level of financial support agreed to by the private tenant as part of the terms of the original agreement–will expire on September 30, 2018,” wrote Coleman to the Star-Revue. “There have been no changes to the existing operating

Llewellyn worked for six years at AECOM, a multinational engineering firm which earned $17.4 billion in revenue in 2016, and which last year rolled out a 120 page “framework” for developing Southwest Brooklyn’s waterfront. The framework would include new residential and park development in the space currently occupied by the container terminal. But Mike Stamatis, president of the terminal is optimistic that the lease will be renewed. “New York City and The Port Authority have historically been supportive of the facility,” said Stamatis at the 2017 Waterfront Conference in early May. “The value of having a working port will only continue to grow. The city seems to recognize that as evidenced by the freight tunnel being developed between New York and New Jersey, a project which frankly should have been started years ago. Failure to keep a working port would be a tremendous mistake for the local economy.”

“Without the support from the Port Authority, currently evident in their lack of a decision regarding the facility’s status, it becomes a selffulfilling prophecy and dooms the facility,” agreement between Red Hook Container Terminal LLC and the Port Authority. The ongoing Master Plan initiative is focused on all facilities in the Port of New York and New Jersey over the next 30 years, including the facilities located in Brooklyn.” When pressed about what the Port Authority might do with the real estate following the termination of the lease, Mr. Coleman said they would defer to the results of the Master Plan. Hatch announced the contract with the Port Authority in a December 20 press release on its website. “This is a flagship project for Hatch and will be key for PANYNJ as it seeks to improve the everyday flow of freight and cargo through the region and strive to meet increasing volume demand,” Damon Jericho, Hatch’s project manager wrote in the release. “Over the next 18 months, we will work to identify opportunities to maximize land use, improve operational efficiency, and increase revenue for the Port Authority.” According to the statement, Hatch’s point person for the project is Sian Llewellyn. Before working at Hatch,

Page 8 Red Hook Star-Revue

Political support On March 17, 2017, a letter was sent to Governor Cuomo requesting the renewal of the agreement and emphasizing the importance of maintaining the facility. It bore the signatures of Borough President Eric Adams, Representatives Jerrold Nadler, Nydia Velazquez, State Senators Martin Golden, Jesse Hamilton, Daniel Squadron, Velmanette Montgomery, Assembly Members Jo Anne Simon, Joseph R. Lentol, Deborah Rose, Felix Ortiz, and NYC Council Members Carlos Menchaca, and Ydanis Rodriguez.

“Congressman Nadler is our biggest advocate,” said the ILA official. “We also have great support from James Rudin, Director of Operations for the state of New York, but Mr. Rudin needs to communicate the importance of this to the governor. At the end of the day Governor Cuomo makes the call. But I’m confident that we’ll work everything out. We’re hoping to keep Red Hook, develop the 39th Street Pier in Sunset Park, and maybe eventually move further south in 10-20 years.” Tom McMahon, public relations specialist for the ILA, added that the “facility is of vital importance to the area for many reasons: the environmental benefit of getting trucks off the road, the economic benefit of jobs, and the security of a viable functional port. For example, the facility provided crucial services in delivering goods when the roads were closed during Hurricane Sandy.” McMahon cautioned that the PANYNY’s inaction on the lease renewal may doom the port regardless. “Without the support from the Port Authority, currently evident in their lack of a decision regarding the facil-

ity’s status, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and dooms the facility,” said McMahon. “The Port Authority says the facility is deteriorating, which is bound to happen without investment. The key sticking point from the Port Authority is that the service has been subsidized to the tune of $3 million per year, which we believe is small compared to places like Staten Island which raised over one billion dollars for the Bayonne Bridge.” Regarding rumors of relocating the facility to Sunset Park, McMahon said, “some argue that moving it there is cheaper, but the problem is that

there’s been no cost analysis. Some say it would cost $100 million just for dredging, and they don’t have the necessary infrastructure in place - for example cranes - nor the space that we currently have in Red Hook. Besides, the current shipping company needs to know a year in advance.” Asked about other interest in the area, McMahon stated, “There are real estate pressures across the city. There is a faction within the Port Authority that is looking to sell off unused assets. We have support, but there is still much work to do.”

CRUISE TERMINAL TO STAY

The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal opened in 2006, and is finally slated for an upgrade (Star-Revue file photo)

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced the selection of Ports America to operate both Manhattan and Brooklyn Cruise Terminals through 2029. As part of the new agreement, Ports America has agreed to invest $38.5 million in capital improvements across both terminals, strengthening New York City’s position as one of the country’s premiere cruise ports. As part of the agreements, Ports America will be responsible for vessel berthing and stevedoring, maintenance, parking, security, billing, and additional operations at both terminals. Ports America will also provide ancillary services such as event management and military and yacht dockings. Brooklyn Cruise Terminal will be receiving $15 million in capital investments, conceived through a partnership with Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, which will include an increased capacity for larger vessels, among other improvements. Borough President Adams initiated this project with a $1.2 million capital allocation in Fiscal Year 2016, and supplemented the effort with an additional $1 million grant in Fiscal Year 2017. Ports America has managed and operated the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in successful partnership with the NYCEDC for two decades, generating substantial growth in cruise volumes. “New York City’s rich maritime history must continue to inform and strengthen our current economy. Our partnership with Ports America marks continued progress in leveraging the City’s waterfront assets to create jobs, attract tourists, and drive growth in an important industry.” said NYCEDC President and CEO James Patchett. “For more than two years, my administration has been intensely focused on the revitalization of the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, and the working waterfront as a whole, envisioning a future where the port’s infrastructure and services are able to attract and accommodate the high level of tourism traffic that our borough is excited to welcome,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams. “Today, as a result of a process that began by leveraging our capital budget in FY16 and FY17 to invigorate this conversation, we are one big step closer to Brooklyn becoming a top-tier player in the global cruise industry. This $15 million investment by Ports America is a game-changer for economic development in Red Hook and our entire waterfront. I am so proud to have worked with the International Longshoremen’s Association and local stakeholders, as well as the leadership at NYCEDC, to make this a reality.” “I welcome Ports America to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. New capital (continued on page 17)

www.star-revue.com

June 2017

West Red Hook’s future changes once again (continued from page 1)

The site at 202 Coffey Street also remains an Est4te Four property. As promoted on their website, the red brick warehouse will transform into a cultural programming space that will also host high school digital media programs and community organizations. Sitex plans to utilize their new acquisition as a center for “last-mile distribution,” an industry buzzword that describes the final stop for an online purchase before traveling to the buyer.

Community braces for more truck traffic

If e-commerce distribution moves in, some locals are concerned about spikes in truck traffic. An old maritime business owner based in Red Hook spoke to locals in the distribution transportation business about the incoming businesses. “The center would potentially have a few couple hundred vans in and out every day,” he estimates. The local business owner, who asked to remain anonymous, worries about potential traffic congestion caused by warehouse reloading with 53-foot long trailers. “When they make turns, it becomes very challenging for them to navigate through our streets, and that’s not including the tractor, the part that pulls the trailer,” he says. Tractor included, a 53-foot trailer

spans over 70 feet long. Brian Milberg, a principal at Sitex, told DNAinfo that he estimates 200500 jobs could be generated from such a development project. Milberg minimizes the potential for heightened truck traffic, citing Snapple, a current warehouse tenant with an expiring lease, as already contributing to a certain level of truck traffic in the vicinity. The maritime owner suggests an alternative to trucks: utilize waterways. “Shipping over water would be preferable because it would alleviate traffic,” says the local. He suggests creating ferry landings to complete hyper-local deliveries. For now, Sitex expects shipping to occur over land as opposed to barging. According to a Sitex representative, the firm does not yet know which companies will move into their new turf. Big box stores and e-tailers are likely to move into the warehouses, which will briefly store products before being shipped to customers.

Modern industrial tenant

Significant renovation to the properties is expected. The Sitex representative stressed that the warehouse spaces will be outfitted to suit the “modern industrial tenant,” supporting light manufacturing, e-com-

Graphic by Noah Phillips

merce, and last-mile distribution.

mately drives up pricing.”

Sitex’s acquisition on the Red Hook waterfront marks the firm’s first foray into New York City limits, but unlikely its last. They plan to expand in Brooklyn and Queens, but must reckon with rising prices for industrial real estate. “Pricing for industrial properties has skyrocketed due to a dwindling supply (many warehouses are being converted to offices or retail stores),” wrote the Sitex representative in an email to the Star-Revue. “Demand from industrial tenants is increasing, which is driving rents, which ulti-

Sitex landed a $94 million acquisition loan from LoanCore Capital for the Est4te Four disposition, The Real Deal reported. Est4te Four originally bought the properties for $66 million in 2014.

FIGHT OVER BEARD STREET BAR LIKELY

to apply. The 158 Beard St. Brewing Company complied. The location is the site of former Dell’s Maraschino Cherries facility. CB6 meetings are open to the public. A schedule is available on their web site.

(continued from page 1)

As of press time, Killowen Construction had not responded to the StarRevue’s request for comment.

like we’re kind of becoming this entertainment zone with these themed establishments here,” Glatter added. According to Glatter, the proximity of bars has increasingly contributed to traffic, noise, littering, and public urination. While Beard Street residents have cooperated with such in-coming businesses in the past, Glatter feels less inclined to cooperate this time around. Commercial photography studio Red Productions Inc. sits next door to the potential brew pub location on Beard Street. “It seems like a strange place to put this kind of establishment,” wrote Steve Hellerstein, Red Productions’ owner. “I have to wonder why they want to be here. Don’t they know Red Hook goes into hibernation October through April? The local community alone is not enough to keep a place like this open. They’ll have to pull from elsewhere.”

The logistics

State Liquor Authority (SLA) received the restaurant-brewer licence application for 158 Beard Street Brewing, whose trade name is Narrow Water Brewing, on May 23. The principal associated with the application is Kieran Breen, the founder of Killowen

Red Hook Star-Revue

The sale to Sitex confirms Est4te Four’s scrapping of plans to realize Red Hook Innovation Studios, a $400 million development. The 1.2 million-square-foot constructed office space intended to court tenants of the art, tech, and fashion worlds, but Est4te Four had difficulty financing the project.

STOPLIGHT (continued from page 7)

The proposed sports bar would invade a mostly residential block. (photo by Fiala)

Construction who also owns Keg & Lantern. A representative from Killowen Construction told Glatter that Breen’s new establishment would likely resemble Keg & Lantern have a sports bar vibe. The Greenpoint brew pub, which operates every day from 11 am until 4 am, has an on-site brewery and operates with a full bar and kitchen.

June 8 meeting

New York’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Law requires a hearing for any on-premises liquor licence applicants located within 500 feet of at least three existing establishments with onpremise liquor licenses.

The public hearing for 158 Beard Street Brewing is scheduled for June 8 on the fourth floor of 317 Lenox Avenue in Manhattan. According to a notice from SLA, the June 8 hearing will include testimonies from the applicant and a representative from Brooklyn Community Board 6. CB6 must submit their official position in writing. CB6’s Permits and Licenses Committee set up a May 22 meeting open to public comment, but the meeting has been postponed. On-premise liquor license applicants must give the community board 30day advance notice of their intent

www.star-revue.com

volumes, and existing speed limit and other traffic controls in the area,” they wrote. “We then compare our data to the warrants outlined in nationally recognized guidelines to determine if installing a traffic signal or a multi-way stop is feasible.” DOT will not install a traffic signal or multi-way stop sign if data collected for the intersection control study does not meet the warrants. When this occurs, the department often pursues other ways to improve traffic conditions. Accessible pedestrian signals - buttons that emit sounds and vibrations to direct blind or low-vision individuals can be requested on traffic lights as an additional safety feature. Before introducing add-ons to the traffic light like the accessible pedestrian signal, McGettrick says he first wants to secure commitment for the traffic signal.

June 2017, Page 9

NYC FERRY’S SOUTH BROOKLYN ROUTE

Red Hook takes a big step forward by stealing a page from the past.

efore

the

source: www.ferry.nyc

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Manhattan was via ferry.

While we have been fortunate to have the Water Taxi for the past decade, it is exciting to have a new service right in the center of Red Hook in the Atlantic Basin (at the foot of Pioneer Street) The South Brooklyn Commuter Ferry route connects Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Army Terminal, Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 and Pier 6, and Wall Street. Paper and electronic ticketing are available, and passengers can board their bicycles for an extra $1. Monthly tickets are available for $121. Single rides cost $2.75, and include transfers to other ferries in the system. To purchase tickets online, go to www. ferry.nyc/ticketing-info/

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The Star-Revue captures “Ippies” award in CUNY journalism competition by Kimberly Gail Price

he Center for Community and Ethnic Media (CCEM) presented their annual Ippies Awards on Thursday, May 18, and the Red Hook Star-Revue walked away a big winner! The Ippies, named after “independent press,” are the only awards that recognize excellence in New York independent, ethnic and community journalism. CCEM was merged in 2012 with CUNY JSchool, the only public gradu-

and professional training for independent journalists. The evening began with a selection of ethnic cuisine and kosher selections, along with beer, wine, and soda. After all were fully sated, Master of Ceremonies Randall Pinkerton began the ceremony by saying, “I love sampling the food, I love sampling the food, and I look forward to dessert.” Pinkerton, who has hosted the Ippies for the past four years, worked for CBS for more than 30 years. He worked as a White House Correspondent and CBS’ Washington Bureau. He is a former adjunct Professor of Journalism at CUNY J-School, and currently an adjunct with Stony Brook University’s School of Journalism and Mississippi’s Meek school of Journalism.

“The judges said the publication was a ‘great example of what hyperlocal journalism can accomplish,’ and they noted that the community of Red Hook is lucky to have this local resource.” ate school of journalism in the Northeast. CCEM provides community based services

Jehangir Khattak and Karen Pennar, Co-Directors of CCEM, spoke about the special work that they do and the vast and immensely important work of the center. The 15th annual Ippies Awards “celebrate[s] a vital media

sector with more than 300 outlets in the New York area,” they wrote in a joint letter. The Keynote Speaker was none other Red Hook’s very own councilman, Carlos Menchaca. Since elected, he has been a “fierce ad- Noah Phillips, Kimberly Gail Price and George Fiala proudly accept the Ippies award vocate for for Best Small Circulation Newspaper. minority and in and out,” he said. “But this der 30,000) publication this immigrant rights,” as well as is what we do to push each year. The judges said the puban “activist for social justice,” other. Not just to tell the story, lication was a “great example Pinkerton said. but to tell the story that’s go- of what hyperlocal journalism Last year, Menchaca held ing to inspire people to want can accomplish,” and they hearings on the importance to learn more.” noted that the community of of the City Council’s support Red Hook is “lucky to have for community and ethnic The Red Hook Star-Revue was this local resource.” journalism. Numerous guests honored with first place in had testified at the hearing in- Best Small Circulation Publi- As publishers serving this cluding the Star-Revue’s Kim- cation, one of eight categories community, we could not be of these prestigious awards. berly G. Price. more thrilled and humbled by On their website, CCEM Menchaca gave a special this great honor. Many thanks wrote: shout out to “George and his to CCEM for all of their hard team” at the Star-Revue, say- The Red Hook Star-Revue, work and dedication to ethnic ing that “the relationship founded by co-publisher and community journalism we’ve had over time has been George Fiala, was honored as that lend so much support to up and down, left and right, the best small circulation (un- publications like ours.

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June 2017, Page 11

LETTERS:

Mike Drop:

BQX good for families

A PETITION TO NORMALCY

by Michael Racioppo

or those few of you who aren’t keeping track, the year 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary of one of the two notable (and corrupting) things about our 29th President Warren Harding’s 1920 campaign: to wit, the slogan “a return to normalcy” (normalcy being the new normality). While Harding was looking to return to the country to a pre-World War 1 mindset (a/k/a the “ the great war”) most of our countrymen and women, based on how we voted along with polling, would love to return to the normality of a pre-trumpian world. The way things are going “a return to normalcy” could very well be the recycled slogan that carries the next president the White House. I would be fine with such a rehash but please spare me any stupid red, or any color for that matter, hats declaring it. What I mean by normal in this case is continuing the progress that came to define the Obama era from healthcare to equal rights and a host of other issues. Now, there were certainly disappointments and shortcomings, but nonetheless the norm of the Obama era was always movement in a progressive direction. The Trump administration is not “normal” but the embodiment of Idiocracy. It’s as though, due to the antiquated Electoral College, America is a species that just decided,” eh, we’re not only done evolving but how about devolving instead”. However, getting back to some semblance of normalcy, as appealing as it can sound, cannot be achieved just by hibernating until the next election. It means never letting up on the fight against the Trump administration from door knocking and phone banking for campaigns to protests and fundraising. Every little bit helps and there are encouraging signs of awakening already. As I started writing this piece, a progressive, Christine Pellegrino, was elected to the New York State Assembly in a district (Southern Shore of Long Island) in which Trump beat Hillary by over 10 points. This turnaround required dedication and time from lots of people who refused to give into acceptance of the dead end path Trump wants us to go down. Pellegrino won by 23 points and we expect her to be a great ally to our local Assembly members Jo Anne Simon and Bobby Carroll. And this fall here in Brooklyn, and the city at large, we have important elections coming up. First we have the September 12th primaries and then the general election in November. As I’ve mentioned before I am a member of the independent Neighborhood Democrats (IND). IND supports citywide and local candidates for elections. You can see our endorsements at the club website – indbrooklyn.org.

I’m a mother of four young children living in Red Hook. Anyone who lives here or comes to visit knows that it’s a real struggle to get to or from Red Hook. On the weekends my husband and I take the kids to visit his family in Queens. The journey, and it is a journey, takes over 1 and half hours since I have to transfer from the bus to the train. The BQX would cut that time by at least 30 minutes each way so I’d be able to spend more time with my family. That’s why I’m excited for the Brooklyn Queens Connector, or BQX, to run in Red Hook. This proposed streetcar by Mayor de Blasio would run along the waterfront between Sunset Park and Astoria and connect neighborhoods between Brooklyn and Queens.

be great to travel to Queens from Red Hook using a modern light rail system that didn’t require a transfer. As the waterfront becomes home to more families like mine, our transportation system needs to keep up. Other cities around the world are relying on streetcars and light rail for improved transportation, why can’t we? It’s time to invest in the BQX. - Hiedi Talavera Editors Note: This letter was sent to us by Alex Joseph, of Stu Loeser & Co., the public relations firm hired by the Friends of the BQX

Need that Red Light!

We need some ticketing on Van Brunt. Speeding, double parking, parking on the sidewalk. It’s a free for all right now. - Mark Hall I totally agree we need traffic lights that street is constantly congested I cross that street every morning at 7am and it is very scary because it is congested at that time. - Denise Rivera

With four children, public transit can be hard to use. The subways have lots of stairs and the buses can mean a long wait and a bumpy ride. The BQX will operate at ground level making it easier not only for parents like me, who are using strollers and carrying children’s things, but for seniors, people with disabilities, and cyclists too. My youngest is 8 months old and it would

It is and has always been a most dangerous intersection on Van Brunt. In addition to enforcing speed limits down there which have gotten out of control; it is truly time to put a light there and actually on every corner on both Richards Streets, Van Brunt and Conover. Sometimes, I truly believe Red Hook was a much better place in the 90s. My two cents. - El Cid, Red Hook

Tunnel study announced

Greenville area of Jersey City to connect with existing rail infrastructure in Brooklyn. The Port Authority has committed up to $35 million for the study and has available up to another $35 million for further design and engineering.

Governor Cuomo and Congressman Nadler announced the issuance by the Port Authority of a RFP for consultants to conduct the Tier II Environmental Impact Study and complementary advanced planning and engineering work for a new tunnel from Jersey to Brooklyn. The study will thoroughly explore the execution of a cross-harbor freight tunnel to solve the region’s freight problem by finally connecting New York City directly to the national freight rail grid. The tunnel would run between an existing rail yard in the

Congressman Jerrold Nadler said, “The Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel project, which I have supported for more than 30 years will finally connect the New York metropolitan region to the national freight rail grid by removing trucks from our streets and diverting them to the underutilized rail network.”

Littleford

Joining a political club is the first step in participating in our political system. The club would not only welcome you as a member but also help us at the most granular level of politics- that is petitioning to be on the ballot come election time. Information about our meetings and a membership application is on the website. I don’t pretend petitioning will stop Trump in his tracks, or that it’s normal to ask strangers to sign a petition, but every little bit helps and you’ll know that you weren’t amongst those that accepted racism, sexism, cruelty to the least fortunate among us as “normal”. You’ll know that you helped in a fight that was worth winning. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer summed up the consequences by saying that it would be more ‘Fun” if Hillary Clinton won but with Trump as President and me as minority leader, that job is far more important.” if the progress we are making pushing back against Trump continues and leads to a more civic and political participation that’s a normal from which I’d never want to return. Michael Racioppo is the Executive Director of Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation and the Vice Chair of Community Board 6

The Star-Revue is looking for someone to sell Neighborhood Service classified ads. This work can be done at home by phone and e-mail.

For more information please email George@redhookstar.com Page 12 Red Hook Star-Revue

Ted has been an illustrator and cartoonist for the Baltimore Sun. See more of his work at www.tedlittleford.com.

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June 2017

COMMENTARY

borhood to a sumptuous feast upon its opening. He has also been active in Wally Bazemore’s new civic group “The Society of Red Hook,” and was a present at their recent Red Hook ballfield protest.

On politics and more

Javier Nieves held the Assembly seat for one term before being defeated by Felix Ortiz in 1994. He has run for office sporadically over the years.

Carmen Hulbert is a retired Associated Press journalist and union organizer for the NMG-CWA. She was a Bernie by George Fiala Sanders delegate in the last presidential cycle. She is running because she Sunny’s raises $65,000 Realtor.com, the building sold on April believes that the community needs a According to their website, and a story 6, 2017 for $900,000. city council leader “that will stand up that aired on WPIX-TV, Sunny’s much Council Race for the community against developers publicized campaign to raise $65,000 District 39’s city council race currently and special interests.” to help the bar purchase the building features five challengers to incumbent Chris Q. Miao is a real estate attorfrom Sunny’s family has succeeded. Carlos Menchaca. Sara Gonzalez, the ney, adjunct professor at Baruch and Tone Johannsen, who married to bar two termer who Menchaca unseated Queens Colleges, and a freelance owner Sunny Balzano, has raised four years ago, is back and has raised writer. He has served as a volunteer money from a number of events in- almost $50,000 - much of it from the for the Hotel Chinese Association of cluding an art auction. The bar has Chinese community in Sunset Park, USA. In addition to a large Hispanic also rented its interior and exterior as well as real estate interests. Her na- population, Sunset Park also includes to various movie and television pro- scent campaign at this point seems to Brooklyn’s largest Chinatown. duction companies over the years, be about raising her war chest, as she including the HBO series Boardwalk has been relatively quiet in the district. The last wild card is state assembly member Felix Ortiz, who seems to Empire, which is set in the early 20th Th e other four challengers are thus be positioning himself for a possible century. far mostly self-funded, according to challenge. However, at this late date According to Johannsen still needs their latest filings. Menchaca has been he still doesn’t seem to have decided. to raise more money. She is currently holding a series of fundraising house looking for the public to pony up an parties, some with the help of his Brooklyn Queens Connector additional $20,000 to pay for some good friend, Congresswoman Nydia Most of Red Hook has no interest in this “trolley car for the wealthy” structural repairs to the two Conover Velazquez. scheme, as was evident in a recent Street buildings, which date to 1890s. Delvis Valdes has been the most vismeeting of the Red Hook Civic AssoA Realty Collective Facebook ad in- ible contender. He is a lawyer and ciation, as well as a meeting of the Vilformed us that Johannsen sold anoth- owns rental properties in Sunset Park. lage of Red Hook, attended by trolley er property she inherited from Sunny He opened up a local campaign office opponent Eddie Bautista. - a non-habited building at 33 Dike- across from the Red Hook Houses on man Street. According to the website Lorraine Street, and treated the neigh- The Friends of the Red Hook Connec-

Red Hook Star-Revue

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tor, a “volunteer” organization funded by real estate developers looking to build on the Brooklyn Queens waterfront, has been engaged in a vigorous public relations campaign to drum up support. This is despite a leaked memo written for the mayor outlining some major obstacles to the streetcar, including a financing scheme. According to this memo - even in an ideal scenario - the BQX would not be functional until at least 2025. Nonetheless, the Friends group has placed a series of op-eds in The Daily News and other local publications by business people and residents explaining how the streetcar is essential for businesses and the poor. They even went so far as to send us a letter, purportedly from a Red Hook resident, which is printed in our letters section. The mayor has thus far been unsuccessful at portraying the Brooklyn Queens Connector as something vital for the average New Yorker. It remains evident that if any money is to be spent on improving transportation, express buses would do a better job for far less money. But the real estate industry is so intent on adding glitz to their sales machinery that Jed Walentas, developer of the Domino Sugar project in Williamsburg, has even offered to pay for some of it. Good for him and his fellow condo builders, but not so good for the small businesses and homeowners who would surely be priced out of all the new high-rise neighborhoods to be created along the waterfront route.

June 2017, Page 13

Action demanded on Red Hook ballfields

n Saturday, May 6, a group of Red Hook residents and local government officials gathered at Hicks and Lorraine Streets to discuss the condition of Red Hook’s parks - a number of which have been closed for some time due to pollution. Another baseball season has arrived and the ballfields are still closed. People are upset about the third year in a row without the local Little League or bar league softball. “A lot of people in the community just did not know anything that was happening,” City Councilman Carlos Menchaca said. “Our job is to make sure that everybody has the correct information.” Menchaca reassured residents that there is a timeline. Construction will start in 2018. “We want to make sure that every-

by Nathan Weiser

body knows that the government has been working really hard to make sure that every dollar has been allocated,” he said. “That is the power of community and that is the power that got us a fully funded project for every field.” According to a community update from EPA, “The cleanup of ball fields 5-8 and 9 under EPA oversight will involve removing all park features such as fencing, some of the trees, curbing and other structures, adding a physical and visual barrier to contaminated soil, and then covering the barrier with one foot of clean soil and natural or artificial over the entire area.”

No work visible Fields 5-8 are currently closed without any visible work being done; Field 9 is open. In an effort to not have all fields closed at once, 5-8 will be cleaned up first. Once they are reopened, Ball

Field 9 will close for cleaning. NYC Parks expects the cleanup to start in late summer 2017 and to reopen 5-8 in the fall of 2018. They estimated that Field 9 will be cleaned up by spring of 2020. The soccer field inside of the track and the four baseball fields in the back of the complex near IKEA are also currently closed for remediation. A Red Hook resident said, “I understand that they found out about this first in 2009, that there was lead. It is now eight years later. So they knew about it before 2015?” she said, referring to a “patchwork” cleanup that same year. “It was 2015 when the EPA tested,” Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez answered. “There were [lead] levels that were beyond what federal law says is admissible. Then they called the city and said there were serious

Nydia Velazquez address park concerns. (Weiser photo)

issues.” The city allocated $100 million to rebuild Red Hook’s parks. Velazquez said the comprehensive cleanup will last for years to come. Wally Bazemore, a longtime Red Hook resident and a leader of a new local group called “The Village of Red Hook” - is unhappy at what his group perceives as the slow pace of remediation. His group called the rally as he believes that city officials should be held accountable. “Pressure was put on them, so we got to keep pressure on them and keep the fire on them,” Bazemore said. “We have to support those that support our community because if we don’t we become persona non-grata.” “Anytime we have a federal, city or state hearing we have to come out and demand accountability, not only from our politicians, but ourselves. We have to raise the bar. We have to get off our behinds,” Bazemore continued.

July 15 & 16, 2017 Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

Dan Wiley, the community coordinator for Velazquez, gave some explanations about the ballfield cleanup. The remediation involves adding twelve inches of clean soil, a drainage layer and synthetic turf. He said that approvals must be sought and the allocated money must be available. This solution for cleaning the fields is long term. Menchaca requested that everyone to commit to coming to the next EPA and Parks meeting. “How many are going to come?” he asked. Woody, a Red Hook Houses resident in his 60s grew up in the neighborhood, said that a lot more people used the ballfields when he was growing up.

FIAformulae.com/NYC Official Partners

Page 14 Red Hook Star-Revue

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“This is the spring but the summer is almost here. The kids need baseball fields. You could walk over there and there would be a game here, a game there,” he said. “There would be four games at one time. This is baseball season. I don’t know what they are doing.” As of press time, a meeting with EPA and the Parks Department has not been scheduled.

June 2017

Electric car race comes to the Cruise Terminal by Nathan Weiser

he first official car race in New York City will be broadcast nationally this summer - from Red Hook. Formula E, which is a relatively new motor racing championship featureing single-seater cars powered exclusively by electricity. They are coming to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook on July 15 and 16. Formula E has races all over the world. The series was first launched in September, 2014. Ten teams will be competing, each with two drivers in a unique and exciting racing series for a new generation of motorsport fan. Other cities holding events have included Monaco, Paris, Hong Kong, Mexico City and Marrakesh, Morocco. They have previously raced in Long Beach and Miami in the US, but the focus is now on Red Hook. “We have Berlin, then New York and then we finish the year in Montreal,”

media property called “The Drive” in Sunset Park’s Industry City. Different event spaces around the city will rent out the car for several weeksbefore the race. Formula E is expecting between 15,000 and 20,000 people to attend the events on the Saturday and Sunday. Hopper said that their transportation plan is going to be a big part of their preparations. Tickets run $85 for a single race or $150 for the weekend series. Discounts are available for children and students. Agagolunteer opportunities are available during the weekend for local residents. Formula E has opportunities for people who want to get behind the scenes and see how the race operates. Opeations Manager John Henderson said that events like these cannot happen without volunteers. “They put their finger print on the event, which I think is awesome,” Henderson said. We will have volunteers helping everywhere from grandstands, to the gates, to the pits, to the emotion club, to helping in the media center. ”

“They took a look around the city to see where they could put a 1.2mile race course that would be great for broadcast. The Red Hook Cruise Terminal, already home to the Red Hook Crit, turned out to be the ideal location.” consultant Mike Hopper said at a Formula E event in Red Hook. “We are hopeful that in future seasons we are going to be able to flip that; we will have the final race in New York, which will be a great big event for us.” Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag had the original vision. He previously owned a Formula One racing team. “When it came to how do we marry electronic technology with racing and get it all around the world, Agag knew the shortcuts to it,” Hopper said. “That is what got this really started.” Agag knew he wanted to bring Formula E to New York about five or six years ago. He came back last year to figure out how to do it. They took a look around the city to see where they could put a 1.2-mile race course that would be great for broadcast. The Red Hook Cruise Terminal, already home to the Red Hook Crit, turned out to be the ideal location. “The finish line will be between the Statue of Liberty, Governors Island, New York Harbor and Downtown Brooklyn,” Hopper said. “What better way to showcase NY?” “This is really the place for us to be able to do this in New York,” Hopper said. “We realize how special it is for us to be on that ground.”

Preview

A sample Formula E car is currently being stored in a 5,000 square-foot

Red Hook Star-Revue

“Volunteers will be able to say they were part of the first motor race in NYC,” Handerson continued. “They will also get race swag, and the food will be catered for them. It will just be a great experience.”

A formula E racecar runs on electricity.

stops vary since the cars a powered by battery. “They don’t need to stop for gas,” Hopper said. “Half way through the race they pull into the pits and the driver gets out of the car and gets into a fully charged vehicle. That is how they do the pit stops in Formula E.” “We actually see this as an opportunity for more sports fans to get engaged with motorsports,” Hopper added.

“Maybe they want to bring their family and bring kids. It is a different opportunity and a different environment than you are going to have at a typical race.” The racing company wants to make sure that they create a lasting impact as long as they are here - not just on race days, but the entire year. Even though Formula E is a global brand, their vision is to come and embrace the local community.

Like all Formula E races, there will be an activation village where the race sponsors will be able to show their newest technology. The Village is outside the ticketed area and free for anyone to visit. “We are expecting a lot of people to come and see that,” Hopper said. “That is one of the areas where we think there is a lot of opportunity to get involved in local businesses. We want to learn who is in the community and what services are available.” The racing is not the only draw of the day. “What is great about Formula E is that in Formula E’s schedule each day there is an opportunity for people to meet the drivers and get autographs,” Hopper said. The ten total race teams will represent many different manufacturers. There will be BMW, Mercedes and an electric vehicle called Faraday Future. In terms of the races themselves, attendees will be able to watch the drivers practice before their races. They will practice in the morning, they will be qualifying in late morning or early afternoon and then the championship race is at about 4 pm” Hopper said. “Then you will have a champion on Saturday with points awarded. It starts all over again on Sunday. It is like having two different races.” This race is unique and different than Formula One or NASCAR because the cars a silent. It is also different than the other car racing events in that the pit

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June 2017, Page 15

OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS

EMILY KLUVER

Local Businessman makes PS 676 donation

ll around the room, students toyed with their creations. Two girls hunched over a remote-control car that stopped when a Lego flower was placed before it. A small group of students circled around another Lego construction that resembled a spinning windmill. Everywhere, Humberto Lopes (l) with Board of Education ofstudents were engaged in ficials. (photo by George Fiala) activity, as they laughed and excitedly discussed their projects.

Ollie Aarts-Coley has been announced as a Scholastic Art National Gold Medal Winner with the special distinction, “Best in Grade.” Her photograph (above), will be on display at Carnegie Hall in early June along with the other national winners. She is a student at BASIS International.

On Friday, May 19, PS 676 Red Hook Neighborhood School held an enrichment fair, where students showed off the skills they have been cultivating all year during their allocated club times each Friday. At the event, students displayed newfound talent in activities from chorus to chess to needlepoint.

SCHOOL NOTES:

One of the clubs inspired students love of learning with an unusual medium: Legos. But these are not the average children’s toys. Equipped with motion sensors, moving parts, and tablet computers, students in the club have been learning basic concepts of engineering and computer science.

PAVE Academy Charter School

“I am pleased to announce that PAVE Charter School is graduating its first full-class of Grade 8 seniors this year. Through hard-work and determination, these exceptional young men and women have earned their acceptances at some of the best and most highly competitive schools in New York and in America. Schools such as Brooklyn Tech, LaSalle Academy, Concord Academy, and Northfield Mount Herman have accepted our scholars, and often with full-scholarships. We are so very proud of our graduating class, and we know that they all have a bright and promising future ahead of them.” Darren Horn, Principal

Summit Academy Charter School

“Our senior class has proven that hard work, a growth mindset, and a positive attitude are attributes for success. They are helping to rewrite Red Hook’s history, and we are extremely proud of the way that they have represented our community. Though life has a knack for throwing roadblocks

Page 16 Red Hook Star-Revue

in our way, we are confident that our scholars are entering adulthood with the necessary skills and knowledge to overcome any obstacle. We’re counting on our scholars to help change our world for the better.” Tim Vetter, High School Assistant Principal

Public art update

In February, the city announced that a public art project would be undertaken in Red Hook to draw at-

“They absolutely love these projects,” Jennifer Konarski, the teacher in charge of the club, noted. “They especially love the ones with the iPads.” She appreciates how enriching the Lego projects have been for her students. The toys offer them a chance to troubleshoot problems and collaborate with one another to finish projects. Students began working with the Legos in back in March, after they were donated by Red Hook local and major supporter of PS 676, Humberto Lopes. “They had this beautiful room and no Legos,” Lopes explained. “I felt it was a great thing to give to them; it’s so interactive. Look how many kids are involved.” As he looked around, Lopes added, “This is a great school. I’m going to continue giving to [P.S. 676] to get it recognized.”

tention to climate change. The project will grant an artist $20,000 to design a major installation. The project is funded by the city’s Percent For Art program and must involve local youth and address climate change. In mid-May community members gathered to vote on their favorite project ideas. Nine artists were then selected to cre-

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ate more detailed proposals that they will present to the interested locals in 6-8 weeks. All community members are invited to get involved in the process. For more information and to receive future communications from the committee, email Rachel Finkelstein at rfinkelstein@cityhall.nyc. gov

June 2017

The annual Felix Awards helps disabled kids

by Nathan Weiser Extreme Kids and Crew held their fourth annual Felix Awards and benefit on May 25. Two people involved with disabilities were honored and raised oney for the organization. Extreme Kids is a space where children with disabilities, their friends, and their families, socialize, create and play. They are a community center, not a service provider. “We have been honoring writers and artists whose work shifts perception to a visibility and a life,” Eliza Factor, the board president and founder, told the crowd. “This is a way to shift from fear and pity to a more nuanced appreciation to who we really are and how diverse our world really is.” The fundraiser, which is the organization’s largest of the year, included catered food, a sensory gym with a ball pit like they have at Extreme Kids, and a band. A silent auction also raised money for Extreme Kids. At least 34 organizations donated prizes for the silent auction including Van Brunt Stillhouse, SoulCycle, Brooklyn Sluggers, Alamo Drafthouse, Brooklyn Bowl, the Guggenheim Museum, Shipwrecked Mini Golf and TESLA. Honoree Liana Finck’s artwork has appeard in the New Yorker. Many of her cartoons have to do with people with disabilities and were on diplay. “She explores the kinds of questions that the kids at Extreme Kids think about and obsess about all the time,” Factor said when introducing Finck. The second Felix Award honoree was Steve Silberman. He is the author of NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity. The kids who attend Extreme Kids and Crew come from all over the city. Families travel from the Bronx and Staten Island as well as the local area. “There are just not a lot of things like this for kids with disabilities where they can just play,” Executive Director Caitlin Cassaro said. “It is where you can play, be yourself, meet other families and come as you are. We are really about celebrating differences, and not trying to make any-

CRUISE TERMINAL (continued from page 13)

investments mean increased cruise operations in Red Hook will create jobs and be a good neighbor. Residents will be glad to hear that the new operating agreement requires zeroemissions environmental controls. I thank the NYEDC for identifying a robust operator, and for locating our new NYC Ferry dock adjacent to the Cruise Terminal. The arrival of Ports America will help the entire Atlantic Basin maritime property live up to its potential for responsible economic development,” said Menchaca. one change to be ‘normal’ because we don’t believe in that.” There were 200 people who registered to attened the Felix Awards. The award is named after Factor’s son Felix. Money raised through direct donations or through the silent auction helps support the programming throughout the year. Extreme Kids provides free membership for children with disabilities. “We have a free summer camp. We have a free after school program in Red Hook, and we have free open play every weekend in Red Hook,” Cassaro said. “We really want to make sure that families of any means are able to come and enjoy the space. We want everyone to come on equal footing as peers and enjoy the space and play with their kids.”

Set up will start as early as 10:30 am all cars must be moved from the parking lot at noon. The park will be booming, lady liberty glowing, the Key lime Pie shop will be open and the sunsets at the end of day are all major attractions with a new addition of a well curated mini flea with all types of creative vendors. Artists, collectors, hand made jewelry, natural products, unique and vintage clothing. Open to other ideas with a focus on handmade and recycling. Please contact valentinopierflea@ gmail.com for additional information as well as suggestions.

“We’re very happy that a stevedore has been selected, and we’re looking forward to building and strengthening our relationships with Ports America and the NYCEDC at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal,” said Louis Pernice, President of Local 1814.

Red Hook Flea envisioned

Two local entrepreneurs plan to rent the parking lot on the end closest to the water at 184 Van Dyke Street. The RED HOOK - Valentino Pier Summer POP-UP flea will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 12-8 pm. They are looking for 10-12 vendors. The proposed cost is $125 for a five foot table and $200 for a ten foot table per weekend. Vendors must provide all of their own displays, tables, racks, tents and chairs.

No job too big or too small

Toilets, Boilers, Heating, Faucets, Hot Water Heaters, Pool Heaters.

B & D HEATING 218 29th Street 718 625-1396

The Extreme Kids and Crew organization wants everyone to be confident and to be who they are. “It’s about feeling comfortable, being confident, and knowing that they are good,” Cassaro said. “If they need to laugh they should laugh. It is about honoring who they are and building that confidence.” A mission of the event was to raise enough money for open play in Red Hook for the month of June.

BASIS INDEPENDENT

BROOKLYN

Extreme Kids uses space in two primary public schools in Red Hook, PS 15 and PS 71. Cassaros children are PS 15 students, and she said “I believe the school is serving a really beautiful and diverse population,” Cassaro said. “They were very interested in having us there.”

Preschool–12

Apply Now for Fall 2017 Education redefined.

Our teachers?

The ones your child will never forget. It’s no secret that a great teacher’s impact goes beyond the walls of the classroom. At BASIS Curriculum Schools, passionate teachers and curious students outperform not just the schools in our city and state, but schools all over the world, in math, reading, and science.

Learn more at: basisindependent.com/redhook

At the Felix Awards fundraiser to benefit Extreme Kids and Crew. (photo by Nathan Weiser)

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June 2017, Page 17

Balloon Pete, the Glass Man by Emily Kluver

he return of summer weather brings children back onto soccer field and playgrounds. In the sunshine, the children at Carroll Park wait excitedly for Peter Waldman, known to many as Balloon Pete. Pete spends time in the park most afternoons, creating colorful latex animals and toys for the children that play there. In fact, he’s become “pretty darn famous with the four-year olds,” he says. But like so many performers and artists, there’s more to Pete than meets the eye. One morning at the end of May, settled in the dimly lit living room of his quirky little house near Red Hook’s waterfront, Pete opened up about the life behind the balloon man.

Background

As he spoke, he stood to wind up a large clock made entirely of glass. It’s one of his own pieces. In fact, art work is scattered all over his living room plastered on walls, leaning against the wall, scattered around his desk. But that’s getting too far ahead. Growing up on farms all over the Midwest, Pete has often found it hard to pinpoint exactly where “home” was. “I’m a midwestern mutt,” he jokes. “My parents kept moving and I kept finding them.” He graduated from college at Millersville University in Pennsylvania with a degree in industrial arts education and then moved around from place to place, following jobs and personal whims. In 1992, Pete decided, “ I would follow my bliss on the glassmaker’s trail.” He moved to Corning, New York, which was, as he recalls, “a sort of glass Mec-

Pete Waldman loves his work. Here he is in his Red Hook studio creating a balloon animal for our reporter. (photo by Kluver)

ca.” In 1996, Pete moved to Red Hook, following a teaching job at Urban Glass - Intro to Glassblowing. Though he’s held a number of different jobs in the area, Pete has remained in Red Hook ever since, doing this and that. From time to time, he picked up work moving large art pieces. He worked at Heller Gallery in New York for seven years before getting burnt out. He spent the next three years searching. Soon after, Pete turned to his art to make a living.

Ballooning

When the weather is nice, Pete - clad in colorful overalls and carrying a seemingly endless supply of floppy

balloons, sets up his chair in the center of the park. Children come to make their requests and leave tips in the bucket at his feet. An airplane, a cat, a dinosaur, a dog, an elephant, a heart, a sword. He can list dozens of designs in alphabetical order off the top of his head. With each request, Pete fills up a balloon and starts twisting, barely glancing at the balloons as his hands work. It’s second nature. A little girl asks Pete, “How do you do this?” He laughs and responds, “I’ve been doing this 40 years. What have you been doing?”

Pete’s passion for ballooning started early. At 14 years old, his family friend, David Sharps, visited their farm in Minnesota. He would play an integral role in Pete’s life. “David taught me ballooning, unicycling, and juggling,” Pete explained, adding, “I don’t do that anymore; it’s work. Just balloons.” As Pete travelled, his balloon passion travelled with him. He would take his talent into the street to earn money to survive on. Even today, a large percentage of his income comes from making balloons in the park and during private parties. The balloon man is outspoken, grecontinued on page 21

Supersmith launches summer education program

ccording to Roger Carmona of Kremer Pigments, light is a cookbook. Not light precisely, as in the speed of, but the perception of light, the quality of light on a table or a chair or a coaster as it’s reflected back into your eye. “I’m interested in how to mimic surfaces, how to alter light, how to control how color is received, essentially,” says Carmona. “How to think about surfaces that are protective, or surfaces that will leave specific imprints.” On Wednesday, May 10, Carmona presented at a workshop called Beer and Wood: Demonstration in Finishing Techniques at Red Hook makerspace Supersmith on Dikeman Street. The event was attended by about twenty area professionals, craftspeople, and hobbyists. Supersmith founders Natalie Shook and Zach Blaue hope that this event - and others they have scheduled throughout the summer - will further enhance the shop’s relationship to Red Hook.

Page 18 Red Hook Star-Revue

by Noah Phillips

“So many people that come through the space - through the store especially - ask if we have classes,” says Shook. “So we’re having weekly classes now. We want people to be able to enjoy the space, enjoy learning here, get new skills, and potentially become part of our community in a more regular way.” Shook says she thinks the Kremer Pigments workshop bodes well for Supersmith’s future events. “I think it was a success. It was interesting to watch people listen and realize how amazing Roger is and how incredible the information was that he was giving,” says Shook. During the demonstration, Carmona shared his specialized recipes amid vials, bottles, and jars filled with substances of all colors and consistencies made from animal, vegetable, and mineral materials. “How can I find color in vegetables, in dirt?,” says Carmona. “How can I find color in a wood-burning stove, using

Craftsmanship is key at Shook. (photo by Noah Phillips)

the soot?”

“I love color. I think about color. I’m

Carmona went in-depth into those questions and more. He digressed on topics ranging from a substance’s refractive index to best practices for boiling down cow hide, a brittle but strong way to seal wood pores.

a painter - I worry about color. And I

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think about light,” said Carmona. “Every aspect of what paint is and what color is, we’ve tried to investigate.” continued on page 21

June 2017

Laugh.

Learn.

Share.

EVERY CHILD DESERVES A HEAD START

Grow.

WHY US?

www.star-revue.com

June 2017, Page 19

Teen Photo Exhibit

On May 24, students from all around Southwest Brooklyn showed their work at Red Hook Labs, a group which promotes arts education in public schools and community centers.

Here’s a sample of some of their excellent work!

Walt Whitman at Barge Museum

by Noah Phillips

atherine Lanpher leans against the pier’s railing in front of the Waterfront Barge Museum. The Statue of Liberty is behind her in the distance. It is a beautiful Saturday evening, but slightly chilly. She takes a deep breath and reads from the paper before her: I believe in those wing’d purposes, And acknowledge red, yellow, white, playing within me, And consider green and violet and the tufted crown intentional, And do not call the tortoise unworthy because she is not something else, And the jay in the woods never studied the gamut, yet trills pretty well to me, And the look of the bay mare shames silliness out of me.

She looks up, beaming. “You could just read that once a day, and be a better person,” she says. Those words were written by Walt Whitman, a well-loved Long Islandborn poet. He celebrated birth and death, cities and nature, America and the cosmos, and everything else in between or otherwise in his poem Song of Myself. The famous poem was written and rewritten multiple times between 1855 and 1892. The evening of May 20, 29 poets, writers, musicians, and others read all 52 cantos of the poem to each other and an audience on the gently rocking wooden barge. It was a fitting venue for the reading, as both the poem and the boat bear lively testament to the eternal and heroic in America’s past and present. “I feel like I’m at a communal worship of the things that I admire about this country,” said Lanpher, who read Canto 13. “This is church for me. A communal reading of a poem? I can’t think of anything more beautiful. Especially in this setting. Whitman reminds us of what’s possible, and what’s always been meant to be for this country, if you decide to believe in the dream.”

A special comfort

The fundraiser supported the Waterfront Barge Museum, Sunny’s Bar, the American Civil Liberties Union, PEN America, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The event was organized by filmmaking team Micah Garen and Marie-Hélène

Page 20 Red Hook Star-Revue

Carleton, of Four Corners Media, a documentary production company based in the Fairway building.

Joshue Petion, 11th Grade Digital Arts and Cinema Technology High School Photo program: Red Hook Community Justice Center

Leanna Liar, 11th Grade Summit Academy Photo program: Red Hook Labs Youth Career Program

Nyasha Hunt, 10th Grade Summit Academy Photo program: Red Hook Labs Youth Career Program

“It’s exciting to have everyone get to see my work. I’ve never really had anything like it. I feel loved.”

As documentary filmmakers focusing on social issues, the duo are both quite attuned to the political climate. In addition to their films about the refugee crisis, the archeological and cultural despoiling of Iraq following the American invasion in 2003, and other conflict reports, they co-wrote American Hostage: A Memoir of a Journalist Kidnapped in Iraq and the Remarkable Battle to Win His Release. The book told the story of Garen’s kidnapping and eventual release by Shia extremists in 2004.

Robert Lopez, 8th Grade Boerum Hill School for International Studies Photo program: Red Hook Community Justice Center

Trevir Torres, 10th Grade Summit Academy Photo program: Red Hook Community Justice Center

Garen and Carleton read one canto of Song of Myself each - the others were read by nearly three dozen of their creative-minded friends and contacts, such as WNYC personality John Hockenberry, actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Hungarian writer Péter Zilahy. His book, The Last Window-Giraffe, is sometimes credited as an inspiration for the Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004.

Zoran Seba, 12th Grade Brooklyn Community High School Photo program: Red Hook Labs Youth Career Program

“We’re celebrating Walt Whitman, who was a visionary,” Carleton told the audience. “Reading on a barge is also a very Whitman-esque activity… He thought that where you read made a big difference to how you understood something. Rather than reading indoors or in libraries, he liked to go to the country or the Long Island seashore and read books.” Garen also emphasized the element of tradition in the reading. The idea for the event was born while he and Carleton were working on a documentary about funeral practices in Canada. In the course of their work, they came across a communal reading of Song of Myself in Northern Michigan. Those organizers in a small rural library , in turn, had borrowed the idea from someone else. “Celebrating art and life and ourselves is even more important in this political climate,” Garen said.

Clarence Bucaro, a musician who lives in the Columbia Waterfront District and read Canto 11, said that the audience, which contained around one hundred people, most of whom stayed for the length of the

reading, was wonderful. “It’s a lovely group of people. Anyone who’s willing to do three hours of Walt Whitman reading is pretty cool.” Lanpher agreed. “The energy’s great. People are really listening. They’re really listening. I feel like I’m at a communal worship of the things

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“[This] gave me the conﬁdence to believe that coming up in this industry is actually possible for me.”

that I admire about this country,” she said. “I think Whitman is always relevant. I think he’s more universal than [this political climate], and yet I think we derive an especial comfort from him right now. This is a man who says, ‘I take it all. I take it all; it all is me.’ ”

June 2017

Balloon Pete

continued from page 18

ing private parties.

The balloon man is outspoken, gregarious, immodest, and blunt, clearly at home in the park, which he refers to as “his domain.” Pete teases the children and they tease him in return. If a child is rude to him, Pete is rude right back. When they’re sweet, he’s outright silly. Accustomed to this role, Pete’s little lyrical rhymes roll of his tongue and make the children laugh. “Which pink do you think?” he asked one little girl in a sickly sweet voice, mimicking her gentle and high-pitched voice. “You’re silly,” she replied with a skeptical look about her. Over the years, the balloon man has seen it all and has taken to carrying balloons with him almost everywhere he goes. If a child is crying in the store, Pete makes his way over with a balloon. “It’s tough to be a superhero,” he joked. “Parents don’t understand, emotions are like freight trains. They can’t stop on a dime.” When a crying child walked up to Pete in the park, he patiently waited for her to calm down and explain what she wanted. By the time he finished, he sent her off with more smiles than tears.

off.

The artists here all knew one another,” he explained

“It’s the quieter, contemplative side of my work,” he explained, contrasting his glass with his balloons.

before adding, “I don’t want to reminisce about the

Recently, the bulk of Pete’s creative work takes place in Minnesota, where he has been able to set up a large studio space in a barn located on his parents’ farm.

But he continued, “Coming here 20 years ago, I

He travels between his home and theirs, feeding his different passions.

and watched as the neighborhood steadily gave way

“As a young boy in the garage, I got a propane torch and a little bubble of glass and blew it so thin that it popped. And the pieces fell to the ground like snow,” Pete recalled.

“I recharge my batteries in both places,” Pete mused. “I’m industrious and creative out there and here I socialize and experience the ebb and flow of energy.”

don’t want to reminisce about the past too much,”

He didn’t pick up glass work again until his time at Millersville University, when he began to study the technical arts.

Red Hook

“It’s nice to add color to the park and bring joy to people,” he reflected. Glass The same year Pete learned ballooning, something else happened that would impact the direction of his life’s work.

Over the years, he has undertaken a number of major projects. Red Hook residents will know Pete as the man who created the Red Hook sign that used to hang on the marine building. He recalls getting up on a plank set between two step ladders to try and restring the lights. “I was willing to risk my life for that sign,” he recalled.

Though he is not always in Red Hook, Pete has formed an attachment to the neighborhood he’s lived in for 20 years. “Back in the day, I used to be able to name all the people down the bar at Sunny’s.

past too much. knew this place would get overrun eventually.” He has lost friends here, gotten stuck in a rut here, to change here. However, he loves it all the same. “I he noted a second time, laughing. The glass clock Pete wound hours earlier had stopped turning. “The things I like most about Red Hook are the things that don’t change. We’re still by the water. My neighbors are still my neighbors,” Pete said with a smile. “It is my home. Red Hook is my home.”

Pete’s artistic projects range in focus. He creates large glass disks with dark blues and blacks swirled together with white to represent galaxies. He hopes that people will look at them and “contemplate where they are in the universe.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, Pete’s 40 years ballooning led him to begin playing with their forms in glass, and more recently, in iron. Another project began when he first moved to Red Hook, back when he lived with his old friend David Sharps in the Water Front Museum. Pete became inspired by a late night ride around the Statue of Liberty. He has spent the subsequent years recreating the image in different materials like glass or even dollar bills. And then there are the glass clocks. With his first one sold years ago and his second one sitting in his living room, Pete’s contemplating a third clock. The pieces, done entirely of glass, have presented Pete with an exciting challenge. Clearly proud of the work, he described the research and complete precision necessary to pull it

Red Hook Star-Revue

Supersmith, “We wanted to have him over because he’s a huge wealth of knowledge,” said Shook. Clementine was one of the first attendees to arrive for the lecture. She works in the neighborhood and was thrilled to come to the event. She used Kremer Pigments previously in her work as a dye specialist and came to the event because she’s eager to keep expanding her practical knowledge. “Every job that I have, I hope that I will continue to gain an education in making. But there’s always some disappointment because work always comes first and learning always comes second,” says Clementine. “I miss being around other people that are also curious about the same things.”

continued from page 19

slip-casting workshop as well. Supersmith has lots of other classes planned throughout the summer, including Introduction to Leather on June 4, Introduction to Mold Making and Slipcasting on June 11, and a month-long weekly boat-building course, whose students will build a boat from scratch together. “We’re going to continue developing classes that have to do with craft and skills around these core disciplines,” she adds. “We have a great group of people in our shop, and they have a lot to share.”

She’s already signed up for Supersmith’s porcelain

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June 2017, Page 21

SUMMER JOB ROUND-UP

f.a.d. T

Southwest Brooklyn offers summer job seekers ample ways to earn money while supporting their communities. From internships to full-time jobs, explore who’s hiring in your neighborhood. By Sarah Matusek.

by Halley Bondey

he popular roving market, f.a.d. (which stands for fashion, art and design) Weekend, will return to the Invisible Dog Art Center in Boerum Hill on June 10, offering locals a chance to browse handmade wares by local independent artists. The f.a.d. experience is an indoor flea market without the junk. Shoppers will find unique one-of-a-kind jewelry, confectionery, handmade ceramics, clothing, and gifts all within the confines of a lovely artistic space. The Invisible Dog Art Center run, which will take place over six weekends between June and August, will feature over 200 vendors from diverse skill backgrounds, largely hailing from New York. “We are curated to make sure that there isn’t too much overlap,” said f.a.d. founder, Jennifer Bailey. “We don’t want too much competition in the market because we want the maker community to do well. We also want to keep things fresh for the audience.” Vendors will include Tula Plants & Design from Bushwick; Home Grown Books from Prospect Heights; We Gather Textiles from Gowanus; Harlem Soap, and many more. Dani Alvarez will lead an interactive drawing session, and plenty of other makerled workshops and events are on the docket. Shilpa Iyengar owns Alterre, a New York shoe company that has sold items at f.a.d. Weekend since the market’s inception. The company’s shoes, which will be available at the Invisible Dog event, offer interchangeable features: sandals can be jazzed up, for example, by adding a strap in multiple designs and colors. The shoes are de-

signed in New York and made in Brazil using fair labor practices. Iyengar says that, through its many evolutions, f.a.d. Weekend has been a boon to the business. “People in the neighborhood are appreciative because they’re looking for unique things that are made in New York,” Iyengar said. “The market is so well-curated. I don’t think I’ve seen a vendor here who wasn’t doing something cool.” After a resounding success at the Invisible Dog Art Center last summer, f.a.d. Weekend enjoyed a brief run in St. Paul’s Church in Cobble Hill, followed by a Pacific Street space, and most recently at the Brooklyn Historical Society in Brooklyn Heights. While the atmosphere feels high-end, prices range from $3 to $300. The f.a.d. Weekend has quadrupled in clientele since its inception last year, according to Bailey, so shoppers should expect more foot traffic. “There are more people coming, and more people returning,” said Bailey. “People who come here tend to be creative and interested in where things come from. They have curious minds. That’s good for us.” The Invisible Dog event at 51 Bergen Street will take place Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am-6 pm on June 10-11, June 24-25, July 15-16, July 29-30, August 12-13 and 26-27. “We’re very excited to be back at the Invisible Dog,” Bailey said. “I live in Boerum Hill, so it’s important for me. It was a really good fit for us, and we got great reaction from the community.” Learn more about f.a.d. weekend by visiting www.fadmarket.co

BAKED

RED HOOK LOBSTER POUND

Red Hook

Beloved café Baked seeks a full-time experienced baker at its original Red Hook location. Perfect for early risers - baker shift starts at 5 am - this job cranks out Baked’s signature Americana baking from Bundt cakes to brownies. Candidates must have a pastry arts degree or certificate, a food handler’s certification, and at least two years’ experience in a professional kitchen. A part-time porter position is also available.

Can’t get enough crustaceans? Red Hook Lobster Pound seeks cashiers, line cooks, and other staff for their mobile markets. Prior experience isn’t necessary, but applicants must be able to thrive on their feet during fast-paced shifts.

Email inquiries for both positions to jobs@bakednyc.com.

Job seekers should email team@redhooklobster.com with a resume and paragraph on what qualifies you for the job.

SIXPOINT BREWERY Red Hook

CALEXICO Columbia Waterfront District Championed as Time Out’s “Best New Mexican Restaurant of 2010,” Calexico cooks up flavors inspired by the cuisine of its namesake border town. The eatery’s Red Hook location is looking for upbeat and experienced cashiers to join their team. Inquire on-site or send resumes to jobs@calexico.net.

Yes, you can even intern at a brewery. Sixpoint is searching for business, marketing and events, and finance interns to assist operations within a unique craft industry. Compensation comes in the form of school credit, free brews, and more. All applicants must be 21 years or older. Apply for these positions through the Sixpoint website, www. sixpoint.com/ careers.

AMPLE HILLS CREAMERY

CARROLL GARDENS ASS’N

Gowanus

Carroll Gardens

Calling all ice cream-loving “amployees!” Ample Hills Creamery is accepting applications for part-time seasonal scoopers and a shift manager.

For social justice devotees, Carroll Gardens Association (CGA) is hiring immediately for Tenant Organizer and Community Wealth Building interns who are passionate about affordable housing work in Southwest Brooklyn. Duties range from door-todoor renter outreach to social media maintenance. Candidates bilingual in Spanish and English are strongly preferred, but all applicants must demonstrate interest in the empowerment of low income and communities of color. While unpaid, these internships support flexible schedules. To learn more, contact Ben at bfgoogins@cganyc.org or (718) 243-9301.

For the scooper position, the creamery seeks friendly workers who can commit to nights and weekends and serve customers with patience in a fast-paced store. The shift manager - who must have an NYC Food Handler’s license - will oversee daily shop tasks and take over when the general manager is absent. Sound like you? Apply to Ample Hills Creamery via www.harri.com/Ample-Hills-Creamery

Are you hiring in Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, or Columbia Waterfront District? Let us know at sarah@redhookstar.com.

Celebrating

RED HOOK Save the Date September 16, 2017

IKEA Brooklyn

Tanner Photo

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Brooklyn, NY 11231 June 2017

Red Hook comes out for the Derby at Sunny’s by Kimberly Gail Price

he annual Run for the Roses is always an amazingly big event for such a short ordeal. The 2017 Kentucky Derby on May 6 was the 143rd running. The Churchill Downs race is often called the “greatest two minutes in sports,” and this year did not disappoint. In Louisville, a two-weeks long Kentucky Derby Festival leads up to the horse race. The festival includes Thunder Over Louisville, the largest annual fireworks display on the continent; the Royal court of five Derby princesses whom attend almost 70 events during the festival; the Great Hot Air Balloon and the Great Steamboat Races; and the Pegasus Parade, which is one of the country’s largest. Being outside of Kentucky however doesn’t keep the rest of us from placing bets, donning headgear and drinking mint juleps. From backyard

barbeques to fashion shows, the annual celebrations take all shapes. South of Conover Street, Sunny’s bar served traditional mint juleps in tin cups. Vintage Kentucky Derby glasses could be purchased for an additional $10. Amateur bettors could place money on wooden horse games for financial gain. And fancy derby hats were aplenty! As the race took off, the mint julep drinkers barely seemed to notice. But as the horses rounded the final turn, the Sunny’s crowd came to life, cheering and cursing for monies won and monies lost. In the end, favorite Always Dreaming (9-2) placed first with John Velasquez as his jockey. Velasquez also won the Kentucky Derby in 2011 on the back of Animal Kingdom. This was the fifth consecutive year the favorite has wan the Run for the Roses. Lookin At Lee (33-1), Battled of Mid-

Sunny’s fashionably dressed bartenders, including Lillie, pose for a pre-race photo. (photo by Kimberly G. Price)

way (40-1), and Classic Empire (6-1) finished second, third and fourth respectively. A $2 bet on Always Dreaming paid $11.40. The $2 exacta, or top two fin-

ishers in succession, paid $336.20. The trifecta on a $2 bet, or top three noses in consecutive order, paid out $16,594.40. The $1 superfecta - top four as they filed in - paid $75,974.50.

5th Annual Cora Prom fills gym with dancing by Kimberly Gail Price

nce upon a time, flower power met glam rock who introduced him to grunge punk. In Red Hook. On prom night. With King Carlos.

students and even Hummel herself performed for prom goers. Councilman Carlos Menchaca was honored as Prom King this year. Hummel crowned him after giving a heartfelt speech about why he was chosen.

Cora Dance’s annual fundraiser celebrated its fifth anniversary on Saturday, May 6. The first began in 2013 as a 1980s-themed prom. In 2016, the grunge of the 1990s was added. This year, hippes got their chance to dance, as a third decade - the 1970s - was also incorporated. Money raised at the annual event is used to improve infrastructure for the dance space as well as operating costs. Cora Dance moved into a new space above Red Hook Ministries in 2015. Their current studio, which has never been used for this purpose, needed multiple upgrades including new floors, windows and heating. Cora Dance is also a nonprofit that does not turn children or their families away based on an inability to pay for classes. Instead, Cora operates on a pay-what-you-can scale and subsidizes the additional costs through

Menchaca not only advocates for the community, but also organizations within the community. Through his advocacy, Cora has benefited greatly, Hummel said. The dance company has received grants from the councilman’s discretionary budget. Shannon Hummel coronates Carlos Menchaca as this year’s Pro King. (Price photo)

grants and fundraising. Red Hook Prom is their biggest event of the year. Cora’s spring fundraising campaign began that very night. This year’s prom raised $25,576 of a $30,000 goal to be raised by June 1. Popular components of the prom were back this year including spiked punch, a photo booth and a hairstylist. Munchies lined an entire wall of

South Brooklyn Community High School’s Gymnasium. At the end of the evening, Ample Hills ice cream and a cake from Baked were served. Multiple performances occurred throughout the evening. Executive Director of Cora Dance, Shannon Hummel used the opportunities to express the benefit her organization gives to the youth. Cora’s Youth Company,

After Carlos’ first dance as prom king, the silent auction was closed. But not before a 10-minute period of silence while bidders stalked their items, waiting for the closing bell. Among the loot were theater and sporting tickets, lavish vacations, jewelry and sports memorabilia. At midnight, limos lined the streets to pick up party-goers who were headed home to live happily ever after.

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Mon. - Thurs. 11 am - 10:30 pm; Fri & Sat. 11 am - 11:30 pm; Sun. 1 pm - 9 pm

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June 2017