The
Red Hook StarªRevue
MARCH 2016
SOUTH BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
FREE
Sunny Balzano's beautiful life by George Fiala
T
his adventure started on a Tuesday. On the way to work, I stopped by the longshoreman’s union – catching up on waterfront news as well as enjoying coffee and donuts with my friends there. As I was was leaving the union office a little before 1 pm, I caught the tail end of a Leonard Lopate interview on the radio. Someone had just published a book about Sunny's Bar in Red Hook. This was big news to me! In fact, the author, Tim Sultan, was going to be reading and signing books that very evening at the Court Street Bookstore. I attended along with a Star-Revue reporter.
I can only guess they picked up a paper and thought we might be interested to write about it. They were right.
However, I am not without my own Red Hook history. Back around 1987, at the end of my marriage, I was having an especially rough day at my Boerum Hill home and felt the need to flee to a place even more depressing than me.
The adventure could have ended right there; but a few days later, a package showed up at the office.
I got into my car, armed with a Rolling Stones cassette, and headed to the very end of Van Brunt Street. What is now Fairway was then an old, abandoned warehouse surrounded by junk and debris. A decrepit cyclone fence separated the street from the water. I got out of the car to take a look. I was astonished to see the Statue of Liberty in plain view, a beacon amidst all the detritus.
I finally opened it that evening, and lo and behold, it was that book, Sunny’s Nights, sent to me by Random House.
I like to tell this story because now, all these years later, I come to that very spot every day as that’s where the
Sunny Balzano was sitting in the front row wearing an enormous hat and scarf, and made some remarks following the reading. On my way out, I left a stack of Star-Revues, in case anyone there might be further interested in our neighborhood.
ALSO INSIDE
I know that many of you reading this article will know much more about Red Hook and Sunny's, as I only took a big interest in both in 2010, when I began publishing a community newspaper here.
Osvaldo is a Red Hook hero - page 14
Star-Revue office is now located. I first heard of Sunny’s sometime after the millennium while traveling on a flight to Chicago. It was listed as one of America’s "best bars." I was surprised that a best bar could be in Red Hook. That was still when I still thought of Red Hook as a place to avoid. When I finally realized the gem of (continued on page 17)
Federal Sandy money will modernize and beautify Red Hook Houses! see page 8
Harriet Zucker rescues dogs - page 9
Red Hook's authentic Irish Bar - page 13
(artist rendering courtesy NYCHA)
Red Hook Star-Revue
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March 2016, Page 1
FREE Neighborhood Services Frank McCrea from the NYC Department of Aging is at the Miccio Center every Monday from 10 - 2 pm. He will help you solve any problem you may have dealing with any NYC agency, such as child welfare, support groups, benefits, etc. Sandy Recovery Worforce1. Services for NYCHA residents include career counseling, resume editing, interview advice, job recruitment events with Build It Back contractors, Vouchers for pre-apprenticeship, construction skills and other job training programs. 1906 Mermaid Ave, 2nd Fl; Brooklyn, 11224 Tel: (646) 927-6093 Hours: 9am to 5pm. Lots more information at http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/wf1/html/sandy_recovery/home.shtml. Karen Blondel who lives in the Red Hook Houses is always available for additional guidance. Her number is 718 809-2070 Free use of computers at the Justice Center. Not everyone has access to a desktop computer, and yet many job and educational opportunities require one. So the Justice Center offers its computers to the community for free, every Wednesday from 10 am - 1 pm, room 101. The Justice Center is on Visitation Place between Richards and Van Brunt. For more information call Sabrina Carter 718 923-8261 Brooklyn Workforce Innovations - Certificate courses in TV/Film production, woodworking and cabinet making, cable installation as well as driving lessons are available. For information stop by 621 Degraw Street (near 4th Avenue) or call 718 2372017. www.bwiny.org OpportunityNYCHA - the REES program administers the “Section 3” program. This is a HUD mandate that requires employment and other economic opportunities coming from the Federal Government to be directed towards public housing residents. NYC has a similar program requiring that 15% of the labor amount of NYCHA contracts greater than $500,000 to go NYCHA residents. Eligibility requirements, according to Karen Blondell, are that you must either be 1 - on the lease, 2 - economically disadvantaged (receiving SNAP benefits), or 3 -live withing 10 blocks of a NYCHA development. To register call the REES Hotline at (718) 289-8100. Examples of opportunities include web development, home health aide training, NYPD tutorial, NRTA Construction Training. REES conducts information sessions at the Brooklyn office
every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30am. Address: 787 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238. Red Hook Cares (Counseling and Restorative Services). Including advocacy, case management and referrals for victims of crime. Accompaniment to partner agencies and criminal justice appointments. Located at the Community Justice Center, 88 Visitation Place. To make a referrall call Laura Volz, 347 4049910 or email lvolz@nycourts.gov
SATURDAY, MARCH 5
Stronger Together services are free and prioritize Red Hook and other local NYCHA development residents. Their services include Adult Education, Job Readiness, Community Services, which include benefits counseling, legal advice, financial coaching and tax preparations. The services are free because the Red Hook Initiative, Fifth Avenue Committee, SBIDC and Brooklyn Workforce Innovations have been paid by the NY City Council to provide these services. So take advantage of them! For information call 718 8586782 or go the the Red Hook Initiative at 767 Hicks Street (at W 9th).
FRIDAY, MARCH 11
The Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills provides training and employment in the unionized construction industry. CSKILLS has placed more than 1600 New Yorkers into union apprentice programs over the past 15 years. To be considered you must be 18 years or older, be a legal citizen, HS or GED, 9th grade reading and math scores and available to attend training 5 days a week 7 hours a day. Their website is www.constructionskills. org. It looks like the best way to navigate that website is to check under apprenticeship training and choose a union program, and also to go to useful links, where you can find a whole host of other opportunities, including Helmets to Hardhats - a workforce program for veterans. The Child Place for Children with Special Needs holds a Read and Play afternoon in the Red Hook library every Monday at 1 - 2:00 pm. Kids 5 and under. Parent or guardians must accompany children, who will be able to meet, make friends and play! Red Hook Library, 7 Wolcott Street If you have a listing that you feel appropriate for this page, email george@redhookstar.com. There is no charge, as this is a free service as well!
RELIGIOUS SERVICES 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 pm-4:00 pm, Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 noon. Masses: Saturday 5:30 pm, Sunday 10:00 am, Monday - Thursday 9:30 am.
Saint Paul and Saint Agnes Parish
Church Office 234 Congress Street (718) 624-3425 Hours: M - F 830am-12 St. Agnes Church Office 433 Sackett Street, 718-625-1717 Hours: M-F 1pm-430pm Email: stpaulstagnes@gmail.com St. Agnes: Saturday 5pm Vigil Mass Sunday 9 am (English), 11:30am (Spanish) St. Paul’s: Saturday 5pm Vigil Mass Sunday 8 am & 9:30am (English); 11am (Spanish) Monday & Tuesday 8:30am (St. Paul’s) Wednesday & Thursday 8:30am (St. Agnes) Saturday 8am (St. Paul’s)
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 11:45 am (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
If your religious institution isn’t listed here, let us know by emailing info@redhookstar.com Thanks!
Artists' Talk at Kentler International Drawing Space present solo exhibitions by two artists: WORDROACH, by K. Saito and In Bold Colors, by Orlando Richards. Free and open to the public 353 Van Brunt 4 pm Bike helmet giveaway at Red Hook Initiative from 4-7 pm. Learn about bike share. Must be present to get a helmet learn how to properly fit it. Legal guardians must be present to sign a waiver for children under age 18. 767 Hicks Street
SUNDAY MARCH 13
Second Sundays at Pioneer Works is a monthly series of open studios, live music, and site-specific interventions presented by Pioneer Works the second Sunday of every month. The series showcases artists in residence along with musical performances and DJs, curated by Olivier Conan. 159 Pioneer Street 4 -10 pm
THURSDAY, MARCH 17
Irish Night at Visitation Church from 7-9:30 pm. entertainment and all the corn beef and cabbage you can eat. $40.00 per person; table for 4: $140; table for 8: $230. 98 Richards Street Growing Your Small Business - free seminar. Learn the fundamentals of business planning including entity formation, tax filing, record keeping, and more! RSVP Taiylor at 718-243-9301 CGA Training Center, 201 Columbia Street, 6 pm
SATURDAY, MARCH 26
Cajun Community Jam at Jalopy from 2-5 pm. Play the music of southwest Louisiana, Cajun and Creole. Bring your fiddle, accordion, banjo, mandolin, guitar or triangle; or sing along. Tunes are played in C & G. Open to all skill levels. Jam lead- Jesse Lége. FREE. 315 Columbia Street
TUESDAY, MARCH 29
Christian
Page 2 Red Hook Star-Revue
Happenings, etc.
The Red Hook Community Justice Center will present The Phenomenal Women Community Awards to 20+ Red Hook Women for their contributions to the Red Hook community from 5:30-8 pm. 88 Visitation Place The Gowanus Dredgers Annual meeting, generously hosted by the Fifth Avenue Committee, 621 Degraw St., 7- 8:30 pm. The meeting is open to the public to discuss and we plan our seasonal programs on the Canal, LIC, Red Hook and Staten Island. Please join us and bring ideas!
THURSDAY, MARCH 31
Join the Friends of PS 15 for a music and dance-filled evening to raise funds the PS 15 student body. The Good Fork, Hometown Barbecue, Hope & Anchor and Brooklyn Crab will be offering tasty bites for the evening. There will also be a raffle with s o m e wonderful raffle prizes. Early bird tickets through March 14 are $50; After tickets are $65. Parents are pay-what-you-can. For more info email Friendsof15gala@gmail.com
Community Telephone Numbers: Red Hook Councilman Carlos Menchaca.................. 718 439-9012 Red Hook Assemblyman Felix Ortiz...........................718-492-6334 Red Hook 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 Community 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 Brownstone Republicans...info@brownstonerepublicanclub.com NYCHA Satellite Police Precinct, 80 Dwight Street 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
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March 2016
RED HOOK DAY CARE THREATENED by Nathan Weiser
T
he Strong Place for Hope Day Care, a city funded facility located at 595 Clinton Street, is an integral and valuable day care for many parents in Red Hook that might have to close at the end of March. According to the Director of the Day Care, Olive Cosbert, Strong Place serves 100 children. Were they to shut down, the parents of those 100 children, who are between the ages of 2 - 5, would have to find an alternative. Most of the kids live in Red Hook, but some also come from Carroll Gardens, Sunset Park and Boerum Hill. Latrice Rainey, who has twins who have gone there for two years, said parents who bring their kids from outside the neighborhood do so because of Strong Place's high quality.
“They take really good care of the children,” Rainey said. “Everything is here in the facility that the children need. We depend on the day care being here.” Strong Place has been in operation for more than 40 years. The Clinton Street location opened in July 2012. It moved from Hoyt St. and Strong Place. According to Cosbert they operate two other facilities, one in Park Slope and the other in Boerum Hill. The Red Hook location is in jeopardy because the landlor is selling the building. He is frustrated that the NYC Administration for Children's Services (ACS) is not cooperating with him in making necessary repairs to the 3,000 square foot space.
© Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2012, *2014
“In November, the landlord informed me of his plan to sell, and in December, we received notification that the building was sold to the Yeshiva,” Cosbert said. “We have a 90 day clause, " she continued. This gives Strong Place three months to purchase the building, should they so wish. If the 90 days goes by and there isn't a decision to purchase the building, the day care will close. The 90 days expires on March 25. Cosbert has asked the city to purchase the building in order to keep the day care open. She hoping that officials and politicians can influence the mayor to save the much needed day care. Strong Place is conveniently located near public transportation and has everything a parent might want. There is an upstairs rooftop playground that the children play on, so they don’t have to go out into the street, according to Rainey. They have Pre-K classes,
Red Hook Star-Revue
day care classes and a kitchen where the children are fed on site. “Food is cooked for the kids, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks everyday,” Rainey said. “They have what we call our Imagination Room. In the Imagination Room, we have a full size projection TV, and they have computers for the children to learn on. They also have a gym. We basically have all of our needs right here in this building.” It is necessary that this day care stays open because the people of Red Hook need the services that it provides, according to Cosbert. “This is a cityfunded day care, so it offers help to those parents who can’t afford to pay for private services,” Cosbert said. “Also, it offers employment to people around the neighborhood.” Rainey thinks the facility is very valuable. She says that the parents need to have a place that is close for the commute back and forth to work. “This is the only day care center that is close to the trains and the buses,” Rainey said. "It is dire that parents have a place to take their children, so that they can get to work and come pick them up. It is a safe place for them to come.” The other day care option in the neighborhood is on Loraine Street, but BumbleBeesRus is full. “The neighborhood is growing, more children are being born, and you have a lot of parents that are out here struggling just to get to work and make ends meet,” Rainey said. She emphasized that they need a place to bring their children. If someone needs to work or doesn’t have relatives to care for the child then the facility can accommodate them. According to Cosbert, staying open is also vital because provide healthcare assessments and screenings, following NYC Dept. of Health guidelines. Councilman Carlos Menchaca, who represents Red Hook, is actively trying to get the day care to stay open. He attended a meeting with parents looking to save the Strong Place Day Care and has worked on their behalf to raise city awareness of the problem.
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“It is really important for us to be here to offer the kind of quality services to the families,” Cosbert added.
Restaurtant Hours: 9:30am-8:30pm
Readers can help by signing a Change. org petition, which sends a letter to the mayor. It can be found by googling "Save the Strong Place Day Care."
www.IKEA-USA.com/brooklyn Follow us on TWITTER: @IKEA_Brooklyn © Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2016
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March 2016, Page 3
RELIGIOUS NEWS BY LAURA ENG laura.eng59@aol.com.
SPREADING THE WORD
I
t is no secret that the pews in many of our local Roman Catholic churches are far from full. In the spirit of the new evangelization, Brooklyn Diocese Deanery #3 (a Deanery is a group of parishes) is continuing their annual Lenten advertising campaign in the hope of reaching those who do not attend Mass regularly but who might be interested in discovering - or rediscovering - a place of welcome in The Church. Deanery #3 is comprised of all the local parishes of Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, Cobble/Boerum Hill, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, and Downtown Brooklyn. The Deanery usually meets once a month and is led by Father Edward Doran, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo and acting Dean. Deanery #3 is fortunate enough to have the expertise of NYU Professor of Marketing and St. Charles Borromeo parishioner John O’Malley, who, together with graphic designer Eric Hebert, have been able to produce timely and effective graphic displays in coordination with DeSales Media, for the last three years. The message of the first campaign, launched at the beginning of Lent in 2014, was simply “Welcome” imposed on posters with a picture of the newly elected Pope Francis, beaming with his arm outstretched. These posters soon popped up in bus shelters and area subway stations. The second campaign, a joint venture of both Deanery #3 and neighboring Deanery #4, presented another image of the Holy Father, this time with him embracing a severely disfigured man with a message from St. Paul’s Letter to the Phillipians 1:30: “We are in this struggle together.” The 2015 campaign posters appeared on strategically chosen bus shelters. The 2016 campaign will kick-off in the next few weeks to coincide with the Easter season and once again feature an image of Pope Francis. The focus this year will be on a dual message of mercy and welcome in connection with the Extraordinary Year of Mercy which began on December 8th with the Pontiff opening the great bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica and an-
The
This was last year's ad campaign as seen at bus stops along Columbia Street.
nouncing to Catholics around the world: “We have to put mercy before judgment, and in any event God’s judgment will always be in the light of his mercy.” This year’s poster will show the Pope in the midst of a street scene and include scripture from the New Living Translation of Matthew 22:9: “Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.” And so it is the goal of the Deanery parishes that the Pope’s message will be heard and thus encourage people to visit a local church. Once there, they will hopefully find a sense of welcome, belonging, and community -- and, most of all, renewed faith. This year’s posters, as in the past, will include a link to BrooklynCatholic.org which lists all member parishes, locations and Mass schedules.
Happenings/ Upcoming Events
Congregation Mount Sinai 250 Cadman Plaza West Israeli Dance on Tuesdays, Mar. 1, 8, 15 and 22, 7:30 - 9 pm; cost is $20 for series. RSVP 718-875-9124 Isha L’Isha Women’s Group on Monday, Mar. 21 7:30 pm. Purim Celebration: Megillah Reading and Shpiel, Mar. 21 7:30 pm. (continued on next page)
Red Hook StarªRevue
481 Van Brunt Street, 8A, Brooklyn, NY 11231 FOR EDITORIAL, ADVERTISING OR EMPLOYMENT INQUIRIES, email: info@redhookstar.com, or call 718 624-5568 The Star-Revue is published by
Kimberly G. Price & George Fiala Halley Bondy, Nathan Weiser, Mary Ann Pietanza, Laura Eng, Marc Jackson and Mary Staub, contributors
Page 4 Red Hook Star-Revue
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March 2016
Religion
Interested in helping Red Hook Library grow?
(continued from previous page)
Kane Street Synagogue, 236 Kane Street Beit Midrash courses - Tuesday evenings Mar. 8, 15, 22, 29. Dinner at 6:45, class 7:30 - 9 pm. Cost is $40 per each three-week course. Email ronitjoy@ aol.com for more info. The Oratory Church of St. Boniface 109 Willoughby Street Lenten Vespers - Sundays during Lent, 4 pm. Catholic Encounters with Race, Mar. 11 potluck dinner 6 pm, presentation 7 pm Father Dennis’ Book Club, The Death of Ivan Illyich by Leo Tolstoy, Mar. 13 1 pm Card Decorating Service Project & Easter Egg Hunt, Sat., Mar. 19, 3:305:30 pm RSVP adealpiano@gmail.com. What is a Seder? Tuesday, Mar. 22, 7 PM, Newman Hall Sacred Hearts/St. Stephen Church Summit & Hicks Streets 24 Hours for the Lord, Mar. 4: Exposition and Eucharistic Adoration, 12:307 pm and 9 -10 pm; Mar. 5: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for Children, 12 -1 pm; Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. 1 - 5 pm. Day of Recollection: Discipleship and The Scandal of the Cross, Sat., Mar. 12. Palm Sunday, Mar. 20, Blessing of the palms at Court Street and 1st Place, procession to church and Mass. Reconciliation Monday, Mar. 21, Confessions heard from 3 -5:45 and from 6 -9 pm. Holy Tursday, Mar. 24 - Liturgy 8 pm Good Friday, Mar. 25 - Liturgy 3 pm, World Famous Procession through the streets of Carroll Gardens begins at 7 pm. Easter Vigil Sat., Mar. 26 at 8 pm. Easter Sunday, Mar. 27, Masses are at 10 and 11:45 am. St. Agnes Church, Hoyt & Sackett Streets Stations of the Cross, every Wednesday morning during Lent following 8:30 am Mass. Sounds on Sackett, Pianist Leon Livshin and his quartet, Mar. 12
Please come join us for the next meeting of the Friends of Red Hook Library group. Thurs, April 7, 2016 6:30 pm 7 Wolcott Street
Questions? Please contact Brian Hasbrouck
at bhasbrouck@bklynlibrary.org or just stop by.
Part of the historic Good Friday processional that runs through the streets of Carroll Gardens starting at 7 pm.
Good Friday, Mar. 25, The Lord’s Passion, 3 pm; Veneration and Stations of the Cross, 7:30 pm. Easter Vigil, Sat., Mar. 26 at 8 pm. • Easter Sunday, Mar. 27, Mass at 10 am.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 199 Carroll Street Common Call to Discipleship: Lenten Evensong, Sunday, Mar. 13, 4 pm Third Friday Supper, Mar. 18 at 6:30 - 8 pm, $15 for adults, $5 for children. St. Paul’s RC Church Court and Congress Streets St. Joseph & St. Patrick’s Annual Brunch: Sunday Mar. 13, 1:30 - 4 pm Stations of the Cross, every Friday during Lent following the 8:30 Mass (English) and at 7 pm (Spanish). Visitation BVM Church 98 Richards Street Healing Mass, Mar. 9, 7 pm (Spanish) St. Patrick’s Day, An Evening Dedicated to All Things Irish, on Thursday, Mar. 17 at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $40, table of four is $140 and table of eight is $230. No children under 18 years of age. For information, call Sister Máire at 805-300-6913 Easter Concert - “The Messiah” Sunday, Mar. 27 at 6 pm.
St. Mary Star of the Sea 467 Court Street Evening of Questions and Answers Wed., Mar. 2, 7:30 pm Stations of the Cross, Wed., Mar. 9 and Mar. 23 at 7:30 pm Day of Adoration, Wed., Mar. 16 ending with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 7:30 pm. Holy Thursday, Mar. 24, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7:30 pm.
Part of Visitation's Good Friday Procession, which begins at 1 pm at the church.
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March 2016, Page 5
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March 2016
There is a new private school in Red Hook by Mary Staub
S
itting between Red Hook Park and the Brooklyn Community Farm and just steps from IKEA and the Red Hook Houses, BASIS Independent School opened its doors in Red Hook last September on the corner of Columbia and Bay Streets. BASIS, a K-12 private school, is run by a corporation that operates charter schools in the Midwest.
newspaper. They also promised a tour.
When plans for the new school first came to light in 2013, Red Hook residents and community members were split in their opinions of the school; with community members petitioning both for and against its locating to an industrial zone in Red Hook.
“I don’t know anything about
That December, critics speaking out at a Community Board 6 meeting argued that the 1000-seat private school was inappropriate for the working-class neighborhood that surrounded it.
thing that comes to Red Hook,
Red Hook business owners worried it would obstruct traffic flow in the area and interfere with local industrial growth. In response, community supporters of the school initiated a petition on Change.org, which argued the school would bring jobs to the neighborhood, make its auditorium available to the community, and would offer a small number of local scholarships to the local community. Now, about six months after the school opened in Red Hook, where do things stand? Curiosity and questions abound. Henrietta Perkins is a resident of the Red Hook Houses who has been active in community affairs. She spoke in support of BASIS back in 2014.She showed great surprise when asked about the school in February. “I didn’t even know it had opened,” said Perkins. Two years ago, meanwhile, she had advocated alongside the plot’s landowner for approval of construction of the school because, as she said, “Why would people be against a school?”
In the meantime, it can be learned from the website that information sessions for prospective students and their families are being held on various days for distinct grade levels throughout March. At $24,000 per year, the private school costs about half as much as most
the school - I have no idea what’s going on. Usually, any-
we hear about or it is talked about. I just see the buses bringing kids and buses picking kids up.” - Lillie Marshall
Parents picking up their children at BASIS last September. (photo by George Fiala)
ed about. I just see the buses bringing kids and buses picking kids up.” Marshall had opposed the construction of the school in 2014. Natasha Campbell, of Red Hook's Summit Academy, indicated interaction between the two schools had been basically non-existent, but would be of interest. “As Executive Director of this school I
have yet to be contacted by BASIS Independent School,” said Campbell, adding, in the same breath, that she had not yet reached out to them, either. “But we welcome communication. And we would welcome opportunity to collaborate, should it arise.” While BASIS is definitely in the community, it might not yet be of the community.
other New York City private schools. It recently announced a limited High School Merit Scholarship Program based on performance and need. Videos and articles on the school blog show kindergartners learning Mandarin, and middle schoolers exploring the moon and Greece via virtual reality. While this information, and more, is available online, locals are not in the loop. Lillie Marshall, president of the Red Hook West Tenants Association, said, “I don’t know anything about the school - I have no idea what’s going on. Usually, anything that comes to Red Hook, we hear about or it is talk-
BASIS students celebrate the 100th day of classes in the Red Hook school. (photo courtesy of the BASIS Independent Brooklyn Facebook page)
Now, she has questions. She wonders about the school in general, whether indeed any Red Hook children have enrolled, and whether any rooms are ever available to locals. “This is a secret school,” said Perkins. “I never see anyone down there.” The school’s website gives some insight. Students come to the school from Battery Park City, Brighton Beach, the Upper East Side, Flushing and everywhere in between, according to their page. Buses transport children to and from the school in the mornings and afternoons. Whether local children have enrolled at the school, though, remains unclear. When contacted in February, school officials, who are currently busy with admissions for the 2016-17 term, promised to provide more insight at a later date when they had more “bandwidth” to devote to the local
Red Hook Star-Revue
www.star-revue.com
March 2016, Page 7
Best NYCHA meeting ever! by George Fiala
I
n a stunning reversal from the past, NYCHA held a great meeting last February at the Miccio Center. The purpose was to present preliminary plans for an upgrade of the Red Hook Houses using money that FEMA has granted for improving the development to better cope with future flood disasters.
ten used for more upscale groups of buildings, such as colleges or Google’s offices.
A common complaint at many prior meetings NYCHA has held since Sandy is the lack of follow-up. Residents constantly complain about dirty lobbies and elevators, leaking roofs, mold, garbage and the like, and NYCHA representatives listen defensively and promise to get things fixed. In the end, the lack of money is usually blamed for a lack of action.
In this case, however, the Sandy disaster forced them to approve the demands of New York’s legislators. Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, who opened the meeting, said that her congressional district, which includes Red Hook, Williamsburg and the Lower East Side of Manhattan, received well over a billion dollars in FEMA funds, of which Red Hook gets over $400 million.
At the February 8 meeting, this all seemed a thing of the past. Instead of having to listen to NYCHA employees who sometimes seem to talk down down to residents, this presentation was made by members of a design team noticably eager to be part of an improvement of the lives of residents. They actually referred to the development as a “campus" - a term more of-
Federal funding is what has made this all possible. Money from the Federal government has been steadily falling as conservative congresses has worked very hard to cut public spending, lower corporate taxes and eliminate government regulations.
NYCHA has done the right thing this time and hired skilled and motivated consultants to design the improvements. And they look like real improvements. They showed drawings of their plans, which include suggestions made by the community at a previous meeting. They were evidently really listening, as they ticked off a
EVERYBODY IN RED HOOK GOES TO
MARK’S RED HOOK PIZZA RISTORANTE
Participants at the meeting were shown the artist renderings. (photos by George Fiala)
number of design changes they made based upon what residents who attended a previous meeting at the Miccio Center asked for. The most important improvements involve heating and electricity. The biggest disaster following Sandy was having to endure almost five weeks without electricity and heat throughout much of the buildings because the basement boiler rooms were underwater. Since Sandy, gasoline powered temporary boilers have been providing heat. These will be replaced with two large buildings serving as central power plants for East and West. Not only will the power plants be more efficient and presumably better, but the first floors of the new buildings will be used for additional services, which could be convenience stores and laundromats. High tech computer sensors will automatically switch on gas-fired generators within ten seconds of any future blackout caused by a Con Ed failure. These improvements alone bring public housing to the 21st century - finally! But there is more. Playgrounds will be improved, roofs will be replaced, all walls damaged by floodwaters will be fixed, outside lighting will be upgraded and be more attractive and all lobbies and elevators will be renovated. Outside walls will be made water resistant. Front doors will be changed and made more secure, and new surveillance cameras will work better. These changes sound like fantasy for those used to living in buildings with
dirty lobbies and smelly elevators that don’t always run. “Lily pads” and “pods” were heard throughout the presentations. The lily pads refer to new terraces that will be built around all the buildings. They will raise the level of the grounds, serving as flood barriers. At the same time, they will upgrade the aesthetics, giving public housing residents some of the amenities that residents of luxury condo developments take for granted. It was gratifying that suggestions made by residents were actually heard and incorporated into these designs. These include a nicer walk to Smith and 9th Street, keeping Centre Mall as open space, friendlier and better lighting, the playground upgrades, and no loss of parking. A big suggestion heard was for local hiring when the construction actually begins. At the end of the meeting, Michael Rosen, recently appointed NYCHA’s Vice President for Disaster Recovery and a familiar face at meetings involving the rebuilding of the Senior Center, announced that the next NYCHA meeting at the Miccio will take the form of a job fair. Of course, Red Hook has been the recipient of many broken promises from NYCHA over the years. Councilman Carlos Menchaca, who closed the meeting, was optimistic but also promised to hold NYCHA’s feet to the fire, to make sure that this time the promises are kept. Red Hook residents will have the opportunity to be hired to improve their
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Page 8 Red Hook Star-Revue
NYCHA's Michael Rosen addresses the meeting with the project designers in the back.
www.star-revue.com
March 2016
Harriet Zucker is Red Hook canine savior by Halley Bondy
cases that interest her – usually deaf and special needs dogs. She prefers to keep rescues to around 15 dogs per year, and she remains heavily involved in each case - often well beyond the initial paperwork. “I’ll do what I can to help the owners keep the dogs,” said Zucker as we zigzagged to the AC&C to pick up Dubois’s dog. “It can be expensive, it can be difficult, so I like to stay involved. I don’t want them to give the dogs up.”
Opal Dubois with Gatsby (Bondy photo)
W
hen seasoned dog owner Opal Dubois spotted a large stray pit bull mix wandering her neighborhood in Staten Island, she was smitten. Intent on capturing him and taking him home, Dubois ran home to get a leash - but he was already gone. Dubois discovered through panicked phone calls that authorities had taken him in, and, despite her protests, he was en route to euthanasia at the Animal Care & Control Center (AC&C) in Brownsville. That’s when Dubois called the Red Hook Dog Rescue. If you’ve never heard of the Red Hook Dog Rescue, that’s not surprising. The Rescue is a deliberately small, onewoman non-profit operation starring the humble Red Hook mainstay Harriet Zucker. Though Zucker has been running the rescue for 14 years with superhuman dedication, she likes to keep a low profile. She doesn’t have a shelter location. The business is essentially a small network of volunteers, foster owners, adopters, and Zucker’s trusty Honda Element - which is full of dog stuff. She currently has 10 dogs up for adoption, including two that live in her Red Hook house. Zucker works as a set decorator for TV shows, but in her minimal free time, she picks and chooses rescue
In Dubois’s case, the shelter wouldn’t allow her to adopt the stray dog without a rescue mediator. The dog had bitten someone at the shelter, so the AC&C’s liability was too great to release him to an individual. Zucker spoke to Dubois on the phone and decided to take the case. To her, Dubois seemed highly competent and extremely passionate about the dog, unlike thousands of flaky adopters on social media. “I think people look at Facebook at night, they’re drinking wine, and they see dogs that are on the euth list” – a list of dogs being put to death imminently, hosted by the non-profit organization Urgent.
Adopters are screened
“They sometimes think with their hearts and not with their heads. You don’t have to be really experienced to adopt from me, but you have to be willing to learn and be able to accept reality if things aren’t going to work out. You have to think it through.” In a world where any information about dog shelters is drenched in emotion, Zucker is an eternal realist. She loves dogs, but she doesn't proselytize about animal rights, nor does she adamantly support dismantling kill shelters. Rather, she believes that dog owners would benefit from education and better laws. NYCHA, for example, has strict rules for pet ownership: public housing residents can only have one dog and one cat at a time. Pets above 25 pounds are forbidden, as are pit bulls, doberman pinchers, and rottweilers. Yet, almost 10,000 dogs were surrendered to AC&C last
year, and Zucker argues that these laws are part of the problem. “People give up their pets to the shelter or the street as soon as the landlord catches them breaking the rules,” she said. “There needs to be more education when it comes to owning pets. There needs to be something that supports owners and prevents dogs from going to the shelter in the first place, not just a banishment.” Zucker, a certified dog trainer, prefers rescuing street dogs over navigating the Kafka-esque shelter system, but those days are nearly gone in Red Hook. When she began rescuing 14 years ago, there were still stray dogs roaming the neighborhood. She fondly remembers working with a wild pack that lived in the former sugar factory. Thanks to Zucker, nearly all the dogs were captured and adopted before the factory was leveled in 2009. “Everyone was terrified of them,” she said. “But I was fascinated.” Yet, Zucker knows the shelter system inside and out - and the system knows her. When we arrived at AC&C to pick up Dubois’s dog, all the attendants knew her by name. They ushered her into the adoption room to scope out available dogs. The larger ones are caged in an unnerving, windowless room where the barking is deafening and constant. Zucker however seemed serene as she walked from cage to cage, assessing each dog with love. “This one is scared.” “This one can’t possibly be as old as the chart indicates.” “This one is beautiful.”
“Look at him!” Soon, shelter workers retrieved Dubois’s dog and handed him off to Zucker. He was sweet, happy, drooly and strong - so strong that it took some effort for the slim-framed Zucker to wrangle him into her car. There was no way to be sure, but Zucker guessed he was some blend of pit bull and mastiff. Either way, he was spared from euthanasia. He was going home. When we arrived in Staten Island, Dubois was thrilled to welcome the dog she’d been chasing for weeks. She patiently answered Zucker’s questions: what is his yard access? Will you help find a new owner if this doesn’t work out? Is your landlord okay with this? Do you have a crate? Will you take it slow? Will you keep in touch? What kind of training will you implement? (Hint: Zucker prefers rewards-based training over corrections or shock collars.) Dubois passed each question with flying colors. She was clearly very experienced with dogs, and she asserted that she would never give him up, ever. She named him Gatsby. Zucker was hopeful, but as always, on guard. She would stay in touch with Dubois to make sure everything was okay. Knowing Zucker, she will be there until the end of Gatsby’s life. It was a success, but Zucker’s job is never done. There will always be more abandoned dogs, more vet appointments, more grant proposals. She asserted that she needs volunteers to help with the ins and outs of the business. Most of all, however, she needs solid foster homes. “I need fosters. Good ones,” she said. “I don’t need someone who says ‘sure I’ll take your dog for a bit.’ A foster home is like a halfway house. It’s very important.”
Harriet Zucker in the shelter.
Here are just a few dogs up for adoption through Red Hook Dog Rescue. If you’re interested in adopting, volunteering, or fostering for the Red Hook Dog Rescue, visit their Facebook page for a list of dogs and further details about their needs.
These four dogs are a small sample of the animals looking for a new home. Many more, and instructions on how to adopt can be found at the Facebook page of the Red Hook Dog Rescue
Meet Kiko, a 2yearold lab mix. He is 60 pounds and housebroken. He is kidf riendly and needs a home ASAP: he is stuck in boarding and is very unhappy there.
Red Hook Star-Revue
Skylar is a 7 yearold old pocket pittie senior dog that gets little interest from adopter. Skylar is housebroken, crate trained and knows obedience commands. Skylar would prefer a home without other pets.
Chip is a 2yearold, housebroken doxie mix. He loves other small dogs, as well as cats and rabbits but he would do best in a house without small children.
www.star-revue.com
Twoyear old Olive is a 40 lb beauty who is good with kids! Olive is housebroken, crate trained, knows a ton of obedience, and is very sweet. She needs some training, but Red Hook Dog Rescue can help.
March 2016, Page 9
THE DEATH TRAPS OF RED HOOK by Halley Bondy
R
Broken, jagged parking sign posts. A few weeks ago, I noticed this bar of hazardous metal jutting out of a sidewalk on the corner of Henry and 9th Street.
ed Hook is a gorgeous neighborhood filled with charms and waterside nuance that can’t be found anywhere else in New York. Yet, it’s no secret that patches of Red Hook go underserved by the city, almost to the point of being laughable.
The remains somehow wound up on the other side of the street, alone and lost.
Many of our daily walks are riddled with peril and negligence that isn’t actually funny. That time I watched (and smelled) a dead cat slowly rot on the sidewalk for two weeks on 9th Street before someone cleaned it up -- that wasn’t funny. The utter dearth of public trash cans anywhere except for the wealthier parts of the neighborhood: not funny. The industrial warehouses that don’t de-ice their sidewalks all winter: nope.
Potholes Potholes Everywhere There are potholes all over Red Hook (and New York; let’s be fair), but some of the most egregious ones include this sidewalk monster next to the Hamilton Avenue overpass...
...and this jagged bit of awfulness on Bay Street near Smith.
The list goes on, and in some cases, it’s not just irritating or gross it’s a genuine death trap! This one is just a block away from the previous one, but at least it has some company, - the weighted trip hazards along this fence at Clinton and Hamilton.
In 2014, the Department of City Planning laid down a comprehensive strategy to improve transportation and pedestrian conditions. However, most of these improvements have yet to break ground; many of them seem far too urgent and far too easy to fix. It's one thing to add greenways or new trash routes, which is an understandably glacial process - it's quite another to fix a crumbling sidewalk, to sweep up broken glass, to put up a few signs and lights, or to issue tickets to delinquent businesses. The neglect is systemic, and the truth is, if one wants to live here which I very much do, sometimes I just gotta laugh. Here is a roundup of 9 facepalm-inducing death traps that Red Hookers face on a daily basis.
This tree stump from hell near the Henry/Lorraine bus stop. This tree stump apparently rose from the depths and destroyed an entire chunk of sidewalk at a Lorraine Street bus stop, rendering it impassable unless you’re completely able-bodied/not carrying anything. If you’re running to catch the B61, beware the stump! (And yes, that’s dog poop on top of it.)
Downed wire on Court & Lorraine The city’s (or a frustrated citizen’s) solution to a fallen, hazardous wire on Court and Lorraine was to clamp it down on the street, but it remains loose and dangling, ready to ensnare someone.
Page 10 Red Hook Star-Revue
Perhaps it will make an actual difference. But at the very least, it’s some desperately needed catharsis.
Fallen barbed wire. Barbed wire is all over Red Hook, and some properties utterly fail to maintain it. For example, the wire surrounding this pictured lot property on Hicks and Huntington has been drooping at eye level for years, threatening to blind or horribly maim school children on their way to Summit Academy Charter School. I’ve also noticed firsthand that this property consistently fails to de-ice its sidewalks in the winter, mow the grass, or clean up trash. A real class act.
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For as long as I remember, this strand of barbed wire has been dangling unassumingly on the gated property on 9th between Hicks and Henry. Don’t make any false moves on this block.
March 2016
The BQE Underpass Of course, every Red Hooker knows this contentious intersection under the BQE. It’s the corner of “can anything possibly be more filthy?” ;“where do I walk?” and “please hit me with your car.” It’s even more fun that the pedestrian lights - the only slight semblance of order here - go out of service from time to time.
Red Hook Star-Revue
The Hamilton Avenue overpass walkway. The city may have repaired the structural integrity of the Hamilton Avenue walkway, but it remains treacherous due to its insane litter pileups and lack of visibility for cyclists rounding corners. One could also argue that at night, it’s terribly dark, isolated, and terrifying - which is probably why I once encountered a streaker there, but that’s a story for a different time. (In a less funny story, a woman once told me she was robbed there at gunpoint.)
A "cheat" turn off the BQE onto Henry Street Drivers have the opportunity to take a super-dangerous shortcut from the BQE ramp straight onto Henry Street. Sure, you might kill someone who happens to be driving down Hamilton Avenue, but who wants to wait 10 extra seconds so they can turn safely at the streetlight? At one point, the city got wise and put up these weak partitions to stop the practice. But they were easily mowed down.
All over the the Battery Tunnel Entrance Everything about the Battery Tunnel entrance is a death trap, especially for pedestrians. Only the seriously brave or seriously familiar should traverse the Woodhull Street wraparound, since a car can sneak up on you from several directions and strike you dead. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the few ways in and out of Red Hook - two others are already on this list. It’s also one of the main routes to Jalopy Tavern and Phil’s Crummy Corner, so, you know, alcohol.
Got more Red Hook death traps? Do send in the comments! www.star-revue.com
March 2016, Page 11
Why is NYC delaying Gowanus Canal cleanup? by George Fiala
I
t is no secret that the Gowanus Canal has been a polluted mess for over 100 years. It should seem that everyone would be on board with a plan to repurpose the canal into a clean body of water, suitable for fishing, swimming and never be a health hazard. A nearby apartment, old or new, looking out over a bucolic, nature filled scene could be wonderful. Anyone would have to imagine this as preferable than the sight of human sewage traveling down the canal following a storm. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been given the task of managing the canal cleanup, after the Gowanus was designated a Superfund Site in 2010. There are two main pollutants that need to be cleaned up – the sewage and the toxic chemicals that were produced by nearby industry, especially the Gas Tanks that supplied natural gas for lighting and heating until the 1970s. By law, the federal government does not pay for Superfund cleanups. Instead, they determine who was responsible for the pollution and those entities pay. In Gowanus, the two largest such clients are the gas company (National Grid), and the City of NY, who has used the canal as a sewer whenever the pipes leading to the sewage treatment plant get overflow with rainwater. In addition to cleaning, the prevention of future contamination is part of the remedy. It wouldn’t make much sense for a company or municipality to pay to cleanup something only to have it become recontaminated.
such as the EPA. In June, 2014, Robert Fox of Manko, Gold responded to an EPA demand for the city to speed up progress on the retention tanks with a ten page letter full of objections - some nitpicking - some major. It attacks the EPA’s Record of Decision (ROD) issued in September 2013 which lays out plans for the canal cleanup, and was only finalized after a long public commentary period in which all objections were considered and explained in documents available on the EPA website. “The ROD remedy is based on inadequate information and lacks scientific support,” Fox writes. He calls the EPA site selection “arbitrary, capricious, not otherwise in accordance with law.” And “There is no basis under CERCLA (the Superfund Law) for requiring a 58-74%
"Since the pool has to be dug up, and the park sits on city owned property, the EPA thought it the logical place to site the tank." reduction in CSO discharges.” Because the Federal EPA is sovereign over the City, by law the City must obey the Superfund decisions. Which is why the letter concludes: “The City intends to continue to cooperate with EPA in implementation of a remedial decision that is based on sound science, in compliance
With this in mind, the EPA has directed the City of New York to build two large tanks which would temporarily hold the excess sewage until the waters subside and the path to the sewer treatment plant is clear again. One might think that two government entities might be working together for the common good. Wrong. NYC has always fought the EPA. It urged less extensive and less expensive measures which would take less time. In a 2009 news item about the city’s alternate plan, the NY Times wrote “officials in the Bloomberg administration argued that a Superfund designation could set off legal battles with the polluters and defer completion of the cleanup for decades.” Ironically, it is the City itself that has become the major litigator – threatening to delay the full scope of the cleanup in a battle over one of the retention tanks. In 2014, the city hired a Philadelphia law firm, Manko, Gold, Katcher and Fox LLP whose clients consist largely of private corporations such as chemical companies, oil and mining and utilities who are dealing with regulatory agencies
Page 12 Red Hook Star-Revue
City Councilman Brad Lander speaking at the ceremony announcing final plans for the Gowanus cleanup. Behind him is Juditgh Enck, EPA Regional Administrator, and to his right is Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez. (photo by Fiala)
with CERCLA and the NCP and on a schedule that is feasible and consistence with City procurement and other rules.” This can easily be interpreted as saying we will challenge the need for retention tanks and the EPA’s schedule for as long as necessary, including in court if need be. The EPA has required the City to place two retention tanks along the Gowanus. One would be around the middle of the canal, and the other at the north end. The controversy has
This is what it's like to actually navigate the Gowanus Canal. Once cleaned, there will be hundreds of pleasure boats traveling its length on nice days. (photo by Fiala)
been over the top, larger tank. The EPA’s position is that the logical siting would be underneath the swimming pool in Thomas Greene Park, which is close to NYCHA’s Wyckoff Gardens Housing Development, at Second Avenue and Degraw Street. The park was once a methane gas Manufacturing Plant, and a large pool of toxic coal tar sits directly under the pool, and is slowly migrating downhill towards the canal. The pool has to be dug up and the coal tar removed. The park will be closed for as long as that takes, and the EPA has ordered a temporary pool to be built in the neighborhood for as long as the park is closed. They have actually surveyed the neighborhood and found a number of potential sites for a pool. Since the pool has to be dug up, and the park sits on city owned property, the EPA thought it the logical place to site the tank. The City wouldn't have to pay for digging a hole – it is National Grid who bears responsibility for the coal tar, and they will be digging the hole. The City wouldn't have to pay a nickel for land acquisition and when all is done, it will present to the community an even better Thomas Greene Park. Instead, the City says it would rather pay upwards of $100 million and use eminent domain to seize property across the street from the park. They would likely face a drawn-out lawsuit from the current property owners. They would have to pay for digging a giant hole adjacent to the canal. The EPA worries that such a hole would damage the integrity of the bulkheads, flooding the hole and making the building of the cement tank impossible, causing further delay as another site would have to be found. Protracted negotiations between the two parties have gone long past the initial EPA deadlines – threatening the timing of the canal cleanup.
www.star-revue.com
The question Brooklynites must ask is why is the City at loggerheads with the Federal Government, whose intention is simply to create a Gowanus Canal free of poisons and sewage waste - and to keep it that way. One conclusion is that the City, despite losing the battle over the Superfund designation, is still fighting it, despite DEP's public claims to the contrary. They say that building the retention tanks would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. In the meantime, the City just announced that construction will start in May of an upgraded storm sewer system for Gowanus that will cost them only $52 million. New catchbasins will divert rainwater from the sewers and port the cleaner water into the canal, reducing the volume of rainwater flooding the sewers by 50%. In 2014, repairs were completed to the Gowanus Canal flushing tunnel. The original problem with the canal was that the water was stagnant, coming in from Gowanus Basin and ending between Butler and Douglass. The tunnel was built in 1911, connecting the north end of the canal to the waterfront at Columbia Street. That never worked too well. It is said that shippers on the canal conspired to sabotage the pumping station because the currents made it harder to operate the barges. The NYC DEP recently completed enlarged and repaired the tunnel and its associated pumps at a cost of $177 million. Perhaps the law firm of Manko, Gold, Katcher and Fox, LLP, representing New York City, will claim that the retention tanks are unnecessary, or at least not worth the cost, saying that the improved flushing tunnel, combined with the installation of new catch basins and pipes will do a good enough job.
March 2016
New energy at the Red Hook Library by George Fiala
T
he slow climb back for the Red Hook Library took a big step February with the first meeting of the Friends of the Red Hook Library. Funding for the Brooklyn Public Library has been increased the past couple of years, as Mayor de Blasio and the new City Council were able to devote some more of the city’s budget for libraries. One result was the restoration of Saturday hours. Another was the hiring of Brian Hasbrouck, who is the new Outreach Librarian for our Red Hook branch.
Hasbrouck brought together a group of interested participants, including the Star-Revue, Councilmember Carlos Menchaca, and a representative from the central branch to explain the function of Friends groups. Mike Fieni, who is the community organizer at Brooklyn's central library for all Friend’s groups (about one third of Brooklyn’s libraries have active friend’s groups), explained to the gathering what these groups can do for a local library. Friend’s groups serve as advocates for library funding. They help make the library’s case when it comes to the city budget. Government is often responsive to the people they serve, and when they see libraries that are active in the community, they will be more likely to allocate more funds. A second function is fundraising for the local branch. This can take the form of simple things such as bake and book sales. It can also include things like galas and grant requests to local institutions. These funds go into an account dedicated to the local library, and can be used to provide refreshments for library events, honorariums to bring speakers in, and in some cases to add infrastructure. For example, the Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library used funds raised at their annual book sale to build special bookshelves small enough to be used by pre-schoolers. Another very important function is to raise community awareness about things already going on at the library. The Red Hook branch is already holding regular programs including tax preparation, storytelling, homework help, and chess and Lego clubs. Not everyone in the neighborhood knows about these, and an active friends group will help get the word out. About ten Red Hooker’s showed up for this first meeting. People couldn’t wait to speak. Wally Bazemore, who was an active member of a previous Red Hook friend’s group back in the 1990’s, told about events that he worked on back then. At that time, the group brought many inspirational speakers to the library, catering to both children and adults. Other’s piped in with a slew of ideas. These included a fashion show, hosting tables at local events, trips to museums, creating a college day, career days including mentoring, SAT study groups, and even setting up a section
Red Hook Star-Revue
of the library dedicated to local history. Brian Hasbrouck said that one of the first items on his list is the creation of a book club. This club could meet at local restaurants, which would help integrate local businesses with the library as well. Carlos Menchaca was asked whether the Sunset Park library, which is in his council district as well, has a friends group. He said that indeed theirs was an active one, and he would see if he could get someone from that group to speak to Red Hook and share ideas. Head Librarian Sandra Sutton came over and welcomed the group. She reminded everyone of the various activities now taking place and looks forward to the Friends helping to promote them. The March 3 meeting was also well attended. The Friends came up with a list of possible fundraising events and Friend activities for Hasbrouck to introduce to the library administration.
Alyce Erdekian, Chris and Wally Bazemore take part in a discussion following the showing of "4 Little Girls, Spike Lee's 1997 movie about the 1963 Birmingham church bombing.
Fundraising ideas included a gala, a book sale, a trivia and a baking contest, direct solicitations from area merchants, and something called a ReadA-Thon. A monthly film viewing and discussion has already been set up by the Friends group. Other ideas mentioned included a book club, health literacy class, crossword club, sewing club, open mic, oral history events and a politics
discussion group. Brian Hasbrouck is a very tall young man who is always smiling. If you would like to add your participation to the Friends of Red Hook Library, just stop by and speak to him or to Miss Sutton. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 7, at the library at 6:30 pm. You may always email Mr. Hasbrouck at BHasbrouck@bklynlibrary.org for more information.
Rocky Sullivan's is Red Hook's authentic Irish Bar
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by Nathan Weiser
ocky Sullivan's at 34 Van Dyke Street is Brooklyn's hot spot for St. Patrick's Day, coming up on March 17. They will offer uniquely Irish foods and music for the holiday. George Kornienko, beloved barkeep for all of the nine years that Rocky's has been in Red Hook (they moved from Manhattan), St. Patrick’s Day is the busiest day of the year. “It’s the St. Patrick’s Day headquarters for Red Hook,” George said. Rocky's began serving food on after its move to the neighborhood, and quickly gained fame for its burger and also the brick oven pizzas. Bangers and mash is always on the menu, and a great Shepherd's Pie is an occasional special. "We have a nice neighborhood lunch trade," says George. “At night it becomes everybody here to see the music and to drink,” he continued. “It is always a good time. They like the live music.” They will traditionally have the radio on with Irish music and will have live music at the stage starting at 5:00 p.m. George added that the house band might play and they might get people passing through town from Ireland. They wait and see who will be around. They have not quite nailed down the menu for March 17, but there will be a Shepherd’s pie, a stew, probably a chicken curry, fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage and other specialties. In addition to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, Rocky Sullivan’s also has an Irish night every Tuesday. This is when they have English language lessons. After about 9:00 p.m. they do Irish step dancing, according to Larry Licari, a regular at the bar and a part-owner. “It is pretty good and people come for that,” Larry said. He added that more people come in better weather. After St. Patrick’s Day things will really pick up. Rocky's is also a place to watch the Mets, the Nets, the Jets and of course the Rangers.
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This bar is filled with Irish history and many significant guests have come to Rocky’s. On the wall in the back of the pew is the Irish Declaration of Independence, in addition to a lot of people on the wall. According to Larry, the Donovan Ross Society used to do live WBAI broadcasts from Rocky's back room. Another partner is Chris Byrne, founding member of Black 47. His current group, The Lost Tribe of Donegal, plays traditional Irish music every Saturday night and includes Rachel Fitzgerald, another partner in the bar. Rocky's is also a place for readings. They have hosted Pete Hamill and also the late Frank McCourt in the past. Every Sunday at 4 pm, Rocky's hosts a tradiiotional Irish Seisun - which is a traditional Irish music jam session featuring drone guitars, fiddles, Uillean pipes and maybe piano. The Irish language classes are every Thursday night. Beginning class is at 7 pm, with a more advanced class at 8 pm. St. Patrick's week will startoff on Sunday the 13th with an Irish Language Rights parade starting at the front door at 7 pm, led by kilted pipers. Irish Language Day starts at 3 pm in the back room, with Irish Language films, music and conversation.
March 2016, Page 13
LETTERS: The old days
Mark’s
Corner
BY MARK SHAMES
Why I support Hillary
M
onths ago I stated that I would vote for Hillary Clinton for President. Our New York Primary approaches in April and the contest on the Democratic Party side has tightened since I made my endorsement. This seems a good time to reaffirm my commitment and explain my evolving thoughts.
on the horizon that Bernie Sanders can achieve as effectively as Hillary Clinton. If there was a transformative moment since the New Deal and the On Summit Academy's Civil Rights Era, it came in 2007. We aid to Flint may argue as to whether opportu- Instead of bottled water would it be nities were fully exploited in that moment,but that moment has passed.
This is coming from someone who I am voting for Hillary Clinton be- actually has voted for Bernie for Presicause she among all of the candidates dent. In 2011, knowing that President is the best person to lead our country. Obama would win New York handily, While my opinion may not count for I wrote in Bernie for President to exmuch or sway many I do this because press my frustration with the status there is nothing more important on quo. My discomfort with the status the agenda. On going international cri- quo is unabated. I wish, however, ses, sluggish economic prospects and that all the focus on Bernie for Presithe recent death of a Supreme Court dent would be redirected to effectuJustice remind us that this is the case. ating progressive change at the local level. For me contributing to a sucMy candidate isn’t running this time cessful citywide progressive effort was just as a political activist and person incredibly rewarding even as I was deeply immersed in the political wadisappointed that our more local efters as the wife of a governor/presiforts failed. dent and as a junior United States Senator from New York. When those These grass roots efforts should conwere her credentials, I was pleased to tinue and be expanded. Let us match support her because I believed that the energy that Republicans have she was not only the most able but exhibited year in and year out in efalso the most progressive candidate fectively organizing to control legislatures and governorships. Perhaps in the field. when progressive Democrats are Her opponent this time is surely rheorganized locally and prove an abiltorically to her left but she remains ity to govern effectively, we will have the progressive voice with the most laid the groundwork for a Sanders indetailed knowledge of each of the isspired presidency. But not now. sues. This time around she is running with the additional credential of for- There is clearly discontent. This open mer Secretary of State. Non-partisan sore is oozing from all sides but it is accounts tell us that she understood, festering and spreading more rapidly accepted, and worked ably in the role and intensely on the right than on of junior United State Senator and ex- the left. If this election turns on recelled in her role as Secretary of State. sentment, I suspect the Republicans win. If this election is about solutions There is no one more fit to set a plauand inclusiveness, Democrats will sible policy agenda, then staff and win. A Sanders’ nomination keeps run the office than she. No one comthe focus where the Republicans parable is running in this election cywould have it. cle. At best we Democrats can expect to wage a holding action with perhaps a few incremental victories. While we Editors note: In our February issue, we referred to Nydia Velazquez's upcomare destined to push through a legis- ing primary opponent as "Supposed" lative slog real progress can be made candidate, in the headline. Mark told just by getting the courts to honor the us that he preferred the word "Invisprecedents that marry the Constitu- ible," which in retrospect is a better tion to modernity. There is nothing characterization.
Interested in helping Red Hook Library grow? Please come join us for the next meeting of the Friends of Red Hook Library group. Thursday, April 7, 2016 6:30 pm 7 Wolcott Street Questions? Please contact Brian Hasbrouck at bhasbrouck@bklynlibrary.org
Page 14 Red Hook Star-Revue
I lived in Red Hook from the early 1940s until the 1963. We lived in the “point”, on Walcott Street, two blocks from the docks. My Mother lived there almost all of her life, starting in 1905. We too lived lived in a cold water flat. A pot belly stove in the celler supplied the hot water. When the "New Deal” came along, my dad got a job with the “WPA” and on the docks as a Stevedore, working as much as twenty hours a day. Other than Joey “Ambers” the neighborhood bookie, there was no crime. The men in the neighborhood saw to that. I moved to Staten Island when they built the Verrazano bridge.- Tony Caputo
better to send them water filters that could remove the lead? - Carolina Salguero
Do you remember?
Wow. My Mom must remember this store she was born and raised on president street in 1944. erhaps you knew her. Her name was Maria Carlino.But they called her Connie or Conneta. Her parents were Angelo & Vinzenza Carlino. If you may remember the family. Please reach out to me 347 444 9867. Looking for history. - Roxanne Paulette
Change Red Hook's name
My son, missing Defontes sandwiches while at school in the Midwest, believes that a street name is not sufficient. He suggests that Red Hook be renamed ‘Defontia’. A nice article about a good man. Thanks - Paul Paddock
SHORTS:
IKEA a good place to work
FORTUNE announced that IKEA U.S. is listed on the 2016 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list. IKEA was cited for its strong culture and how it ensures that employees live the company values of humbleness, willpower, simplicity, and togetherness and enthusiasm. The company was also recognized for their “egalitarian culture” that provides part-time co-workers who work 20 hours or more per week full benefits. Additionally, if an hourly co-worker has a disagreement with a corrective action or termination, the issue can be reviewed by a panel of peers.
CGA holds events for local businesses
The Carroll Gardens Association (CGA) announced three March events that are free and open to the public. The first is called: Growing Your Small Business, and it is scheduled for Thursday March 17 at 6:00 pm at the CGA Training Center, 201 Columbia Street. Next, there will be a Legal Clinic for Small Businesses, Freelancers, and Nonprofits. Attorneys from the Brooklyn Law School will provide free 30 minutes one-on-one legal consultations to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits. The date is Wednesday, March 30 at 6 pm, at the Training Center. Finally, at 6:30 pm, Thursday, March 31, CGA will be presenting: Accessing Capital for Your Small Business. This free workshop will focus on ways to acquire affordable startup funding and loans for your small business. Representatives from a credit union and micro lender will be present to answer your questions. RSVP to Taiylor at tjones@carrollgardensassociation.com or call 718-2439301 for any of these events.
Visitation goes Irish
Visitation Church is holding what they are calling, "Irish Night," on St. Patricks Day, Thursday, March 17. I will be a celebration of all things Irish with music by Sr Máire S. Close, exAll-Ireland accordion champion.
www.star-revue.com
There will be entertainment, singing, dancing and good Irish food! This will be a chance for you to enjoy the newly renovated St. Mary's Hall in the basement of Visitation Church, 98 Richards Street. Doors open at 6.30 pm and begins 7 pm. There is a suggest donation of $40, or $140 for a table of four and proceeds go towards the continuing restoration of Visitation Parish.
Mayor want to help the Red Hook Houses with a trolley
Editors Note: This is how the mayor's press department informed the media about his recent trolley announcement, held at Red Hook's Pioneer Works. Elsewhere in the issue you will read our opinion, which is shared by many, that the trolley's main purpose is to increase the probability of more luxury condos being built along the Brooklyn/Queens waterfront. What follows is the beginning of the first of many press releases about the trolley sent to the Star-Revue that day. "Mayor Bill de Blasio today joined tenants of NYCHA’s Red Hook Houses, transit leaders, elected officials and civic groups to detail a new streetcar service: the BrooklynQueens Connector (BQX). The new transit line – the first New York City streetcar in more than fifty years – would stretch 16 miles from Astoria in Queens to Sunset Park in Brooklyn, linking together neighborhoods long underserved by public transit with some of the fastest-growing job hubs. When fully built-out, it could serve almost 50,000 passengers per day, making it one of the biggest urban streetcar systems in the nation. 'People in neighborhoods like Red Hook haven’t had the quality transit they need and deserve. This new service means opportunity for those families, and it’s also going to strengthen communities up and down the waterfront. Anyone can see the enormous growth happening here – it’s time we brought new transit to these neighborhoods for all those people and jobs,' said Mayor Bill de Blasio."
March 2016
OP ED: The Importance of Participation
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t always takes a village! I’ve learned that this applies in the formation of our families, but also in teaching government to respond faster and better. When neighbors unify and lead community projects, the outcomes are just so much better. Red Hook is a perfect example of this idea. Our community learned how to lead government decisions and processes during Superstorm Sandy. After the storm, unified residents and businesses accomplished greater and better results than government could ever muster on its own.
Red Hook Senior Center
The Senior Center on Wolcott Street proves the point. Left destroyed as floodwaters receded, the Center became just another backburner project lost in paperwork delays and agency confusion in a communication vacuum – marked with a distinct lack of any meaningful progress. In response, I began leading bi-weekly meetings to reset the entire project scope, design, budget and timeline. And that helped, but what really got the project on track was a group of organized seniors demanding one simple thing: the truth – the good, the bad, and the ugly news. They pushed, they spoke up, and held their government accountable. They also built personal relationships with individuals inside the agencies that had been previously so unresponsive to them. I learned from them, as I had observed during Sandy, that people working directly with people can break long-set cycles of impersonal and neglectful government relationships. When Ms. Martinez at the senior center and so many others worked directly with Mr. Rosen from NYCHA, things started getting done. Sure, we are still facing a disappointing delay
Red Hook Star-Revue
by Council Member Carlos Menchaca, District 38
in the opening date of the new senior center and that’s a real setback. And sure, we may face other setbacks along the way. But we face them together and overcome them with relationships where people know they are heard and respected and where people working in agencies can no longer simply look away from constituents who may have been previously nameless, faceless constituents.
Participatory Budgeting
Participatory Budgeting (PB) is another example of engaged residents using grassroots democracy to radically change the way we form government budgets. I adopted PB as I came into office with faith that it would change tired, unfair, old New York City budget habits. It has worked beyond my expectations. The ultimate goal of PB is to have the people themselves determine the budget process and ultimately drive new ways to engage government. After 5 years since PB first came to NYC, more Council Members have decided to employ PB, giving their residents the ability to determine how to allocate over $30 million dollars of capital funding in their neighborhoods.
nity better. They’ve considered among many other things, building new playgrounds, making old facilities more accessible and buying new technology for schools. Two principals guide the PB process: 1 - People know their own neighborhood’s needs and can form solutions better than anyone else. 2 - Even well-meaning government representatives cannot do the best job possible, unless residents teach them how. What I love about PB is that it brings new people into a leadership relationship with government. Many PB participants are more involved with issues and solutions than government agencies and institutions. Yet, it’s traditionally the government agencies and institutions that are operating with authority, guiding capital spending and influencing good decision making. PB participants teach government to operate better because the outcomes directly impact their own community, their families and themselves.
My goal is to continue to spread PB beyond the capital budget and to reach into the city expense budget, This month Red Hook residents will allowing residents to have an even have its third annual round of PB. greater say in the budget process. I Hundreds of our neighbors have also want to make sure that we sustain shared ideas for making our commu- the growth of PB - and our democracy - by developing neighborhood curriculums where young people can teach each other about the value of participatory democracy, while challenging an establishment that continues to hold onto power. The results: a sustainable grassroots democracy that will be shaped by the people that are directly impacted by the allocaRed Hook is lucky that our political representatives are so tion of funds year in available to the community and want to know our thoughts. and year out, genera-
www.star-revue.com
City Council Member Carlos Menchaca.
tion after generation. The increased adoption of PB in our City Council is a clear sign that our government is under revolution. Join us and become entrenched in the exciting process of determining how taxpayer dollars are spent. Voting takes place between from March 26 to April 3, 2016 at the Red Hook Initiative, Red Hook Community Justice Center, Red Hook Library, Miccio Center and at other pop-up sites throughout the NYCHA campus. Our district was the leading district in participation with 3,000 people turning out to participate in PB the first year and 6,000 the second year. Can we continue this trend and show the rest of the city how we choose to govern? I’m calling on you, Red Hook. Let’s prove that this formula for better governance does work. We wear the mantle of leadership here in Red Hook! Let’s continue to show our city and cities around the nation the power of community participation! Let’s not stop with what we did yesterday, but rather use it as a building block for what we can do today and tomorrow! Invite your friends and family to join in this exciting way of local government, by the people, for the people in the truest sense of the word.
March 2016, Page 15
NOTES AND THINGS
by George Fiala
De Blasio’s Connector
Mayor de Blasio began the next phase of his reelection campaign last month. Amidst great fanfare, he introduced the Brooklyn-Queens Connector. Back in 2006, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez allocated $300,000 of federal monies for a feasibility study for a smaller version of it that would connect Red Hook with Jay Street, Borough Hall. The result of that study, requested by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce at the urging of local trolley enthusiast Bob Diamond, was negative. It would cost at least $129 million, make Van Brunt Street even more congested, and probably cause outrage among motorists losing even more parking spaces. The consultants who did the study, however, had a grand old time traversing the country to look at other trolleys. I spoke to one of them, who told me that he himself was a trolley enthusiast and that he loved the assignment. A much less expensive transportation study was done a few years later done by a capable duo dispatched to the community from the NYC Department of City Planning. They came up with a report suggesting improvements to local streets, a fanciful rendering of a pedestrian mall under the Gowanus Expressway, commuter ferry service and other improvements including to the pedestrian bridge that’s near the tunnel. The mayor’s idea, which is actually a plan developed on behalf of some of New York’s biggest real estate companies and also the Red Hook Initiative, would cost $2.5 billion. As reported in a number of places, this money would be raised by a city bond issue, to be paid back over 30 years with additional property taxes that the city expects to receive from increased property values that a trolley would be expected to bring. It was reported that the planners also considered a new city bus route to accomplish the same transportation goal. This was estimated at costing $1 billion. That option was rejected on the basis that a bus would not increase property values – hence no possible way to pay back the bonds except using the general tax rolls. The real estate developers funding the study included Two Trees as well as Durst – both are companies with plans for luxury condo development along the waterfront. One could imagine that an East River coastline dotted with luxury condos from Astoria to Red Hook might be on the minds of the real estate community. De Blasio came to Pioneer Works for his big press announcement. Flanking the mayor was Lillie Marshall and Frances Brown of the Red Hook Houses, Jill Eisenberg of RHI and Michelle de la Uz. De la Uz is the Executive Director of the Fifth Avenue Committee, an affordable housing development corporation, once headed by Brad Lander. There were others there, including the president of Brooklyn’s Chamber of Commerce, Nydia Velazquez and Carlos Menchaca. De Blasio emphasized
Page 16 Red Hook Star-Revue
that 40,000 public housing tenants live in developments close to the proposed route, offering the underserved an easier way to get to work.
of local residents to their original idea of placing the ferry stop at the end of the windy pier extending from Van Brunt Street, they are still considering it.
De Blasio and Governor Cuomo have had much trouble working together, for whatever reason, and this plan was specifically created to avoid the need for any state approvals. That means that any connection with the subways would require a double fare, as it’s hard to believe that the governor would ever allow MTA’s necessary cooperation.
At a CB6 meeting last summer we were told that there was absolutely no way they could possibly locate a stop at the much more accessible location at the Atlantic Basin, next to the Cruise Terminal.
Borough President Eric Adams, commenting on the plan, said the “the devil is in the details.” One can imagine ads for the re-election of the mayor, possibly paid for by the Real Estate Board of NY, flashing the slick artist renderings of the Connector. It’s hard to imagine much more coming out of this dubious plan.
Senior Center
Before leaving office in 2013, Councilmember Sara Gonzalez made sure to designate $1.8 million from her budget for a new Red Hook Senior Center. It was to replace the existing center, damaged beyond repair (we are told) by the waters of Hurricane Sandy. The year 2014 went by without evidence of any work being done. Pressured by the Red Hook tenant leaders, Councilmember Carlos Menchaca forced NYCHA to confront the situation at a special meeting before lunchtime at the temporary center - the basement of the Miccio Center. It was said then that the year had been spent devising plans for the renovation of the building next door, formerly home of a Red Hook Head Start program. The plans were distributed and the renovation promised to be complete by Christmas 2015. Much of 2015 passed with still no indication of work happening. Seniors were getting edgy. More meetings were held, and, at one NYCHA told us that no contractor was willing to work for such a low sum – the low bid coming in at over $4 million. Michael Rosen, NYCHA’s new VP for Disaster Recovery, appeared at a subsequent meeting announcing that NYCHA would work around this problem by using some of their own contractors as well as tapping into some FEMA money. The new date for reopening was said to be as early as April 15 this year. Well, that’s not working either. According to NYCHA, they just discovered that the roof needs work, causing yet more delays. They just figured this out now, while they claim to have spent a year planning it all out. An August grand opening is now planned. NYCHA is the recipient of over $400 million of federal money to make the Houses more resilient. A wonderful plan was presented, as reported elsewhere in this issue. If NYCHA wants us to believe that they can handle this large project, they should do better with this much smaller one.
Ferries A recent Community Board 6 (CB6) meeting held at the Miccio, the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) presented Red Hook with an updated Red Hook commuter ferry plan. Despite the overwhelming opposition
They now say that are considering that as well, and will let us know in April what they will decide. They also added the IKEA pier as another site to study. While some consider this a victory - to
us it is fraught with uncertainty, especially knowing that EDC takes great joy in dictating policy when it comes to economic development. They can do this because they are set up that way. EDC is an agency created to make it easier for private companies to deal with the use of city-owned properties and can make quick decisions without having much government oversight. They also are a for-profit entity, which leads one to suspect that they have bigger plans for Atlantic Basin than we know about. We hope they will do the right thing for Red Hook, which if they did would set a new precedent.
Brooklyn Bridge Rotary Club gives Gift of Life by Kimberly Gail Price
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nastasia Dolmatov and her mother landed at JFK airport in the afternoon of February 20. Upon their arrival from Russia, Brooklyn Bridge Rotary met and accompanied them to the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. Eleven year old Anastasia was chosen by Gift of Life International (GOLI) to receive lifesaving heart surgery that otherwise would not have been available to her. Brooklyn Bridge Rotary Club (BBRC) is hosting her during her time here in New York. Alex Kwartioff from the Russian Gift of Life is acting as a liaison and translator for the group.
Lizzette Gonzalez with her daughter Lila and GOLI child Kevens.
GOLI is a nonprofit Rotarian-based organization and often partners with local chapters. Brooklyn Bridge Rotarian, Mark Dana reached out to them on behalf of his local chapter to arrange for Anastasia to be brought to Long Island. Upon meeting her at the airport with some of his fellow Rotarians, Dana described her as “a beautiful, bright little girl.” GOLI sponsors children around the world for corrective heart surgeries. They have 70 programs throughout the world on 5 continents. For four decades, GOLI has helped 18,000 children from 71 countries who “live in despair without hope for help.” “We remain diligent on keeping focused on the next child that needs our help,” their website reads. “The heart and soul of Gift of Life International is the children around the world who, today, are afflicted with heart disease and do not have care available to them. Over 5.5 million children are born each year with congenital heart defect, while 94% of them do not have access to treatment.” The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island has provided a “home away from home” for more than 18,000 families since opening in 1986, according to their website. “Studies show that with a family nearby, a child heals better. Not having to worry about food and lodging, a family can handle their crisis with a clearer mind and [is] able to cope with a situation.” While GOLI and the Ronald McDonald House provide the essentials, the Rotary members are the boots on the ground. They are constant companions and access the family’s needs. BBRC escorted Anastasia and her mother from the airport to the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island where they are staying. They visit with her regularly. Lizzette Muniz, Club Secretary, along with other members, brought presents to her the evening before her surgery. Wayne Muratore, President of Brooklyn Bridge Rotary, is organizing for a special luncheon for Anastasia, as well as potentially a sightseeing trip around the city before she returns home. In 2015, BBRC also sponsored another child, Kevens from Haiti, who received life-saving heart surgery through GOLI at Montefiore Hospital. The operation was successful, and Kevens returned home with the gift of life, as well as several other souvenirs from his trip to New York. Anastasia’s surgery was scheduled for Wednesday morning at 8 o’clock, March 3 at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, Long Island. The Star-Revue has not been informed of Anastasia’s surgery outcome, but details will be posted online at www.Star-Revue.com.
www.star-revue.com
March 2016
Sunny's stories will now live forever (continued from page 1)
Red Hook, I ventured into the bar but never found it my scene. I gravitated instead to the VFW, the Ice House and Rocky Sullivan’s. This was around the time that Sultan himself began parting ways with the bar (not though, with Sunny). He discovered Sunny’s in 1995, when it was only open Friday nights. By 2011 it had begun changing a bit too much for his own taste. This is not to take anything away from the current bar, which is still one of America’s best bars, and Sunny is beloved, as is Tone, who now runs it in a somewhat more professional way. While I have not become a Sunny's regular, I have still been lucky enough to get to know Sunny. He has narrated to me some of the stories recounted in the book. He was immediately kind and welcoming, making me feel at home in his place and in Red Hook as the local newspaper publisher. Sultan’s book is equally welcoming. In fact, it might be the best book ever written about our neighborhood. It works on so many levels. One gets to know the author, who spent 16 years on both sides of the bar - first as a customer, then a bartender. I know that many who read this paper love the occasional neighborhood histories that we sometimes publish. The book is full of those stories. Getting to know Sunny is an exceptional gift, and Sultan’s portrayals ring powerfully true. Sultan’s writing is as loving and friendly and warm as Sunny himself. At a certain point reading the book I realized I was reading something very special - an exquisitely told tale bordering on greatness. I chose English as my college major because I had fallen in love with F.
Scott Fitzgerald. I loved his prose and his characters - Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, Dick Diver, Amory Blaine, Anthony Patch. Afterwards, I discovered Ring Lardner, Damon Runyon, Ken Kesey and Tom Wolfe – other great American writers. Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is considered a great American novel. It has been many a writer’s dream since to write the next great American novel.
"It has been many a writer’s dream to write the next great American novel. I think this qualifies" Sunny's Night's qualifies as a novel in much the same way as Jack Kerouac's On the Road. Both are perceptively told, both are period pieces, and both are basically true stories about a slice of Americana that only someone who was part of the story could have written. Of course, the book resonates Red Hook. From now on, whenever I walk down Coffey Street towards Dwight, I’ll flash on the night when Sunny was heading to a bar on that corner and met by two men running the other way, chased by gun shots. When I catch one of those famous Red Hook sunsets, I’ll think of John McGettrick sitting with Sunny’s Uncle John in front of the bar, bathed in a golden flow, watching dust particles fluttering up and down. This is an important book. Sunny’s Nights is published by Random House and is available at BookCourt, 136 Court Street, and wherever good books are sold.
Just a few days before the meeting, Mayor de Blasio presented his proposal for trolley service along the waterfront. The trolley, if ever built at all, would cost billions and take almost a decade to finish, according to the Mayor. McGettrick says that for $350,000, Red Hook could have a bus route starting at the library, swinging over to Van Brunt, making multiple stops, and then traveling through the tunnel into Manhattan. At one time an experimental loop was tried, and a loop which included a number of stops in Manhattan before heading back to Red Hook took 28 minutes in rush hour.
Red Hook Star-Revue
Sunny’s Nights: Lost and Found at Book Court
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by Mary Staub
ook Court resembled a reunion of family last Tuesday, as a jovial crowd of about 80 gathered for a reading of Tim Sultan’s heartfelt memoir Sunny’s Nights: Lost and Found at a Bar on the Edge of the World. Stemming from Sultan’s years as a bartender at Sunny’s Bar, Red Hook’s legendary waterfront speakeasy, the book is an homage to a bar and place from a time otherwise long past and a loving portrait of the bar’s owner, Antonio Balzano, otherwise known as Sunny. Tim Sultan first came upon Sunny’s in 1995, whilst soul-searching in the neighborhood and thirsting for a drink. Family-owned and operated for more than a century, Sunny’s is known for attracting an eclectic cast of customers—from artists to dock workers, to nuns and mobsters, and anyone else in search of a far-flung place and time. When Sultan entered those doors more than twenty years ago, he immediately knew he had found a new home. What he came upon, as described in the book, is a dark room filled with maritime relics and a conglomeration of quietly drinking men, their gazes fixated upon a movie screen where a rendering of Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring was being projected. Not what Sultan had expected. He quit his office job soon thereafter to work as bartender at Sunny’s fulltime. The friendship that developed between bartender and owner, the characters Sultan encountered, and the encounters he witnessed form the backbone of this memoir.
CIVIC ASSOCIATION TALKS ABOUT TESLA, TROLLEY AND TRANSPORTATION
At the February meeting of the Red Hook Civic Association, co-President John McGettrick said that perhaps it was time to fight again for express bus service to lower Manhattan.
Author Tim Sultan at Book Court and actor Robert Cole read passages from Sunny's Nights at Book Court in Cobble Hill. (photo by George Fiala)
In fedora-style hat, white dress shirt, blazer and sneakers, Sunny himself made a striking presence at the event. Taking a front-row seat, he chuckled visibly and applauded along with the rest of the audience as Sultan and Bob Cole engaged in a dramatic reading of excerpts from the book, with Cole bringing to life Sunny’s words. Manhattan's free "Downtown Connection" buses live in the lot next at Conover and Sullivan Streets. (Fiala photo)
"There is a bus company based right here in Red Hook that is hired by the Downtown Alliance and offers free bus service," said McGettrick. According to their web site, the free buses go from the South Street Seaport to Battery Park City, making 37 stops at 10 or 15 minute intervals every day. McGettrick opined that perhaps Tesla could give us an electric bus - "that would be great publicity for them," he said. The Civic Association meets monthly at PS 15 and among other things, is responsible for Van Brunts Christmas lighting each year.
“This is not rated G,” said Sultan, before commencing. Sunny gently bubbled with laughter as Cole and Sultan revived one of the many instances where he took liberties as mixologist—presenting a burlermaker (aka boilermaker) that consisted of one-to-one parts whiskey and beer. “It’s the truth,” quietly rang forth from Sunny’s front-row seat at the end of the reading—a heartfelt, humorous tale of a distant corner of New York City where unlikely lives intersect and make a home. After a brief Q & A, Sunny took to the podium once more. He thanked the crowd for making the bar into what it is today, for bringing the past into the present and resurrecting memories from yesterday. “All of a sudden, what was yesterday is today,” said Sunny. And in a circular play on words that brought the room into laughter he continued, “I thank once again all of you for being part of what it is at the bar that is part of what it is at the bar that is... I think at this breath, if I continue to continue...” he trailed off softly with a tip of the hat as he returned to his seat. A line formed quickly, snaking along the bookstore perimeter for book purchases and signings by Sultan and Sunny. Sunny stuck around. Audiences mingled. The reunion continued.
www.star-revue.com
March 2016, Page 17
Osvaldo Miguel, a Red Hook hero by A. Corbin
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things. I show concern. I say, ‘Everything’s all right.’” He explains that such a little phrase is all they really want to hear to get on with the day.
Osvaldo Miguel is different. He takes his job seriously and unlike most, garnishes it with talent and enterprise. It is not merely to support his two teenage daughters as a single parent after losing their mother when the oldest was barely two years old. “They wanted to take them from me. It was the lowest point in my life.” He cried for two months, but he had his mother who supported his choice, “I needed them,” he said.
He prepares for the day early in the morning - very early - because I saw him heading out there at 7 am., and devoting almost 2 full hours to just sorting the mail for his route.
normous dimples you can sink golf balls into. Broad shoulders and tall. A ridiculous looking metal combat hat in rain and snow. He came into my gallery and told me, “Someone wants to rent an apartment from you.” I was startled - I barely knew him as the mail carrier. “The store next door asked me to tell you.”
“I can read people.” He looks straight into your eyes and doesn’t flinch. Some who get knocked down drag their self pity around and make sure the world knows. Others use it to their advantage as a talent. “I can read how their heart beats. I can see what kind of person you are.” When he was a kid growing up without a dad on Halsey Street in Bushwick, he wanted to be a dancer or a dentist. I asked him whether he regrets not being either. The answer came back swift and happy, “I just dance at every party, and I take care of my teeth.” You gotta laugh. He didn’t. He was serious about being brutally realistic, and yet so devil may care. I loved it. You can’t teach this stuff. Why does he have this wonderful attitude and others, especially today, struggle so with the burdens of identity? Enormous personality can get you in trouble. It’s enviable and hard to mimic - though I would think worth mimicking - and can make for envious enemies. Like the time he was in the military. First they had bunk beds where everyone became brothers. They were a unit. A family. When they moved into dorm rooms they lost that unity and envy seeped into. Because of his, okay, his incredible charm and ease with people, he got coveted assignments. They asked him how so. What could he say?
Miguel, who likes to be called by his last name, has been on the Red Hook beat for 22 years. Now he delivers from Pioneer Street to the water. He delivers to about 5,000 people and walks about 18,000 steps a day. He carries four thousand letters and three thousand magazines per day. “It can get you tired.”
He used to have the Red Hook Houses on his beat where he would deliver 97 boxes of mail per building - yes, per building! The reason was the crowding. Sometimes four families lived in one apartment. Previous to that he worked at a school bus company which I thought would be a perfect match for him. I assumed he was a driver to hold the kids in line, but playing surrogate dad as well. No, he did the maintenance and dispatch. It was a political job – one of smoothing ruffled feathers, of leadership and trying to bring the workers together as an efficient unit. He was good at it, and it lasted 10 years. So the obvious follow up question was, “Ever think of politics?” It doesn’t register. Though it does trigger a riff about politics. And an aside about not showing his deeper side. I can attest to the fact that he has one percolating just below the surface. He links people to cartoons that are pithy and demonstrate that he knows about our dark side. That we all have been there, in fact. When he lost his mother who raised him alone after his father was kicked out for beating her, Osvaldo said he had lost his best friend. He was depressed for two years. They had lived on that one wonderful street in Bush-
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wick for so long it was home to him, the mix of Hispanics, Haitians, Chinese, “...so entertaining... it was good. Loved the women there... that was good too.”
Osvaldo with his two daughters, Crystal M Miguel and Valeria Yvonne Miguel at the Red Hook Pool. (photos courtesy Miguel)
nected with social media than to us. They think we don’t understand. But we do. Keep talking till you’re blue in the face.”
But far and away, his greatest happiness are his two girls, the ones he refused to give up to his relatives, the charges that made life more complicated but worth trudging home to. I saw a little video of his younger daughter teasing Osvaldo while taking a horse and buggy ride in Central Park. No teen smiles and cajoles like that unless they feel adored.
He says he tells them to tell him anything that’s going on with them - at least something that’s going on with them. Anything to stay connected. If they don’t, he let’s them know it’s their loss because he’s that wonderful. He adds laughing, “They believe me.” Then you have to back off, he admonishes. He leaves them with the caveat, “All I tell them is don’t lie to me. You tell me the truth.”
“I do a pretty good job. Being a parent means you better be a friend.” I asked what the obstacles are. He’s no expert, he assured me, and is as confused as any of us with teens. But he’s also the first to declare that, “Because of the technology kids get more con-
I check in with him from time to time. Miguel is remarkably humble given the charisma he has. He could have a show on Late Night. I am sure you all know him and how he weaves the neighborhood together like a bee pollinating the flowers.
Opinion: We need to call a Term Out!
and it is easy to see how an office can become comfortable, and lose the zeal for internal review. This is not an excuse for overlooking the wrongful conviction and the corruption issues that for which there are continuing investigations but it should never have gotten to that point.
by Michael Racioppo
Since being sworn in on January 1st 2014 Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson 18 convictions of his predecessor, Charles “Joe” Hynes have been overturned. Those wrongful convictions highlight a need not only for criminal justice reform but signal the need for political reform in the form of term limits. Hynes was a guy who positioned himself as a tough on crime cop armed with a law degree with a big staff ready to enforce that perception. This of course deflected from the rest and more appealing part of the story. Hynes did some groundbreaking work, such as reentry programs and community courts that would’ve bolstered his progressive credentials had they been more widely advertised. Unfortunately, his office was also soft on crime in ways that make one’s stomach turn such as failing to prosecute orthodox rabbis accused of sexual abuse of children.
But he was always used to being out of his peer group. Raised by his Dominican mother, he was considered weird by other kids. They didn’t make life easy; he was the target of bullies. So he found his comfort zone among kids older by four and five years, which is a considerable age difference when you’re young. But those older kids were pretty decent to accept him – it encouraged something going on in his character development for fitting in. As a result, “I treat my customers like friends. I observe. I ask questions, like ‘How’re things?’ You don’t know how many people want you to just ask. They tell me their personal
One of the many sides of Osvaldo Miguel, Red Hooks letter carrier.
There is little that holds more power in a democracy that the discretion as to when to prosecute and what kind of deals to negotiate on pleas and sentences. Hynes tenure was 23 years
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Turnover invites the house cleaning and reexamination that is swept under the rug in a imperial D.A.’s office. The DA becomes alienated from the constituency and dismissive of proper oversight.. In this instance, Ken Thompson was finally able to engineer the unheard of defeat of an incumbent leading to the righting of some longstanding injustices. However, rather than allowing these problems to mount up New York State should set limits on the number of terms for a DA, I would suggest three terms, or perhaps a single 12 year term in line with the term we have for Supreme Court Justices. This would insulate DA’s from the worst aspects of political expediency while keeping them from burying their mistakes. Michael Racioppo is Executive Director of a local non-profit, and serves on Community Board 6 and is a board member of the Carroll Gardens Association. In his spare time he is a student of politics.
March 2016
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