The
Red Hook StarªRevue
AUGUST 2015
SOUTH BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
FREE
After Red Hook Walks, Van Brunt becomes an obstacle course by George Fiala
L
ess than two weeks after Van Brunt was closed to traffic for Red Hook Walks - allowing for leisurely strolling and enjoying the fruits of our business community - a huge fence on a construction site at 307 Van Brunt Street forced walkers to make their way through garbage and a truck infested street simply to get to the corner.
More problems for Red Hook parks by Nathan Weiser
A few months earlier, a construction site just south of the King Street site annoyed residents with a half week of bone shaking pile-driving. There was not much that could be done, as 311 complaints went unheard. This time residents, led by John McGettrick, made their complaints heard to a host of city agencies as well as the office of Council Member Carlos Menchaca.
edge about 307 Van Brunt, he says that “in the case of Red Hook where retail is generally not high-end yet I would agree with the approach of the developer not to have any.” McGettrick is a long time advocate of more housing in the neighborhood. He does agree that retail development will eventually be important, but without a zoning change, developers are free to build first floor residential on Van Brunt. He does not foresee any movement towards any zoning change in the near future. Susan Povich of the Red Hook Lobster Pound agrees with McGettrick. “I encourage any residential in Red Hook!” she told the Star-Revue. Monica Byrne of Roquette Catering says “I’d person-
The Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a permit to the developer, Sammy Abouzid, of Infinity Design in Caldwell, New Jersey, to block off the entire sidewalk. According to the posted building permits, the sidewalks on Van Brunt and King Streets will be fenced off until at least October 5. One of McGettrick’s complaints to city officials was the lack of proper barricading to allow pedestrians to negotiate past the construction area. Menchaca’s office made inquiries. They were told that DOT had sent an inspector who issued summonses with the threat of a stop-work order if the violations were not corrected by the beginning of August.
J
ust three weeks after the reopening of Coffey Park - following a languid 15 month renovation - Red Hook park lovers were given a fresh jolt when they learned that some or most of the Red Hook ball fields may be closed for up to three years due to lead in the soil. “The bottom line is that we want our children playing on fields that are safe,” Borough President Eric Adams said at the beginning of the EPA Meeting at the Miccio Center gymnasium on Wednesday, July 22 in reference to the lead contamination at the Red Hook ball fields. There is currently lead contamination at the historic ball fields in Red
As Red Hook continues to attract affluent home-buyers, more and more of these vacant lots will be developed. According to plans that are publicly available, 307 Van Brunt will become a three story residential building. There are other projects sprouting on Red Hook’s commercial strip, and none of them seem to include storefronts. Est4te Four’s Massimiliano Senise explains that for now, this makes sense. Without having any specific knowl-
ally prefer more commercial ground floor space along Van Brunt.” St. John Frizell, who operates Van Brunt Street’s Fort Defiance, goes further: “Generally I think that the neighborhood is better served when development on Van Brunt Street includes commercial space on the first floor. Red Hook is not a bedroom community, or at least it shouldn’t be. “ “Its main commercial corridor - Van Brunt Street - should be a bustling avenue, filled with shops that serve the needs of Red Hook locals and Brooklynites in general. That’s difficult to achieve without an unbroken string of retail shops that extends for several blocks—the kind of thing that you see in virtually every other Brooklyn neighborhood.”
BWAC’s Two Summer
Art Shows
Open Aug 1
weekends 1-6PM thru Aug 23
BWAC.ORG Gallery 718 596-2507
Red Hook Star-Revue
481 Van Brunt door 7 www.star-revue.com
August 2015, 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.
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
Free CPR Training Class at the Red Hook Public Library Help Save A Life, Learn CPR. Join us Tuesday July 14th at 6:30pm for a Free non certifying CPR Training hosted by the FDNY. Learn compression CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator. Includes hands on participation and giveaways!
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).
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
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. Free Summer Camp for Middle Schoolers. Monday thru Friday from 10 am - 5 pm. Applications are available by calling Ms. Samora at 718 858-6782, or stopping by the Red Hook Initiative, 767 Hicks St 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 The Red Hook Library offers a free Lego Club for Red Hook youngsters. It meets at the library the last Friday of the month at 4:30pm. Next meeting is Friday, June 26. Celebrating Red Hook Celebration, Saturday July 25 from noon - 10 pm. Free booths are available for Red Hook residents to exhibit and sell things they make. For more information write to Kimberly@ redhookstar.com or call 718 624-5568 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 St, (718) 624-1572. Office open Mon-Thursday 9 am - 3 pm. Saturday mass 5 pm; Spanish mass at 7 pm. Sunday 10 am English, 12:30 pm Spanish. Community Prayer Tuesday and Thursday, 8 pm. Youth Group Meetings on Friday, 4:30 - 6 pm. Baptisms are held every other month. Please call to arranged for baptisms, communions and weddings.
St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish
467 Court Street. (718) 625-2270 Rectory Hours: Monday-Thursday 9 am-11:30 am, 1 pm-4 pm, Friday 9 am- 12 noon. Masses: Saturday 5:30 pm, Sunday 10 am, Monday- Thursday 9:30 am. Religious Education grades 1,2, 3 -Register now for this September! Please visit our website for more information and to view our weekly bulletin www.stmarystarbrooklyn.com
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 info@sacredhearts-ststephen.com Saturday Vigil Mass 5:30pm Sunday Masses: 10am & 11:45am (Italian/English) Weekdays Masses: Tuesday Through Saturday 8:30am Confessions: Saturdays 4:45pm and by appointment. Baptisms: Every Third Sunday At 1pm. Please call the rectory one month before to make arrangements.
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 117 Remsen St., 718 596 4840 x18 www.bnaiavraham.com, www.heightschabad.com Morning Services: Sunday: 8:45am Monday - Friday: 7:45am Holidays (during the week): 8:45am Saturday: 9:45am Evening Services: Sunday: Shabbat candle lighting time Monday - Thursday: 9:00pm Friday: Winter: 5 minutes before Shabbat candle lighting time Summer: 7:30pm Saturday: Shabbat
If your religious institution isn’t listed here, let us know by emailing info@redhookstar.com Thanks! Page 2 Red Hook Star-Revue
TUESDAY AUGUST 4 Night Out Against Crime. See community leaders and local politicians and of course the police as they all gather in Coffey Park for the local version of this nationwide event. 4 - 7 pm
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6 Red Hook Irregulars at Cobble Hill Park - Listen to a free concert by local favorites Eric Ruff and John Jasilli, along with Phil Dunn on bass. Begins 7 pm, Clinton and Congress Sts. UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE: Come meet your local UHC Rep, we make your health our main concern! 99 Cent Dream 11am-1pm 498 Otsego Street off Lorraine Street. A public meeting will take place the evening of Thursday August 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Brooklyn Montessori School at 185 Court Street, at Bergen Street, in Cobble Hill. The meeting will include a brief presentation of the options put forth by Fortis, followed by opportunities for community feedback and discussion. All are welcome to attend.
FRI - SUN AUGUST 7 - 9
Old Timers Weekend - events in Coffey Park and the Miccio Center. The main event takes place Sunday in Coffey Park. Barbecuing and meeting old and making new friends.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
“Artists for PortSide” Nuevo Amenecer concert. Two Swiss musicians combine flamenco, chamber music, and jazz as they perform rumba, sevillana, tango, fandango and more. Atlantic Basin, 8-10:00 pm FREE
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8
TankerTours of the MARY A. WHALEN are free to the public. The ship is the last of her kind in the USA and on the National Register of Historic Places. Learn PortSide WaterStories about the crew, how a Supreme Court decision about the ship revolutionized American maritime law. The huge galley is likely bigger than your apartment kitchen, the cast iron engine is a wonder, the bell boat communication system a surprise. Also Sunday. Atlantic Basin 12 - 5 pm.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15
Christian
Congregation B’nai Avraham/Chabad of Brooklyn Heights
Happenings, etc.
Red Hook Family Day, Food, Fun, Community. Red Hook West in Coffey Park, Red Hook East in Centre Mall Noon - 6 pm, \ Barbecue in the Garden of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Games, Food and Fun - a day for the family. 3-6 pm, Visitation Church garden on Visitation Place off Richards.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18
UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE: Don’t mess a fun, information packed class with snacks, give-aways! Library, 2pm – 4pm 7 Wolcott Street.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22
Red Hook Field Day. Red Hook youth engage in fitness activities. Red Hook Stadium, 9 am - 4 pm. Produced by T.A.C.T.S online, http://www. tactsonline.org/events.html
Community Telephone Numbers: Red Hook Councilman Carlos Menchaca.................. 718 439-9012 Red Hook Assemblyman Felix Ortiz...........................718-492-6334 Red Hook State Senator 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
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August 2015
Red Hook Ballfields a leaden mess (continued from page 1)
Hook, which has caused the current closure of Ball Fields 5-8. According to Margaret Gregor, the on-scene Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Coordinator, the soil will be collected, put in a jar and shipped to a lab for analysis. When the whole process is finished on Fields 5-8 (in about a year), EPA will then move onto the remediation of Field 9.
park that have contamination not associated with the formed Columbia smelter will be under the Parks Department “NYC Parks will be conducting the remediation of Fields 5-9 under EPA oversight,” Loney said. “The other ball fields parks will be addressed, but that will not be under EPA oversight. Our involvement in the ball fields at Red Hook Park is primarily associated with the Columbia smelting.”
Field 9, a baseball field, is the other field in Red Hook where lead was found related to the historic Columbia facility; but it will remain open for now. EPA got involved because testing in April found some contamination there as well.
In March, EPA sampled a comprehensive grid along ball fields 5-8. “We actually found lead at levels that were much higher than what we had expected based on what we already knew,” Gregor said. “Our standard for lead is 400 quartz per million, and they found a level of 1,200 quartz per million at the surface, which represents a more acute threat or urgent risk that requires immediate action.”
Fields 5-8 have been closed all year and are beginning to look like a forest. NYC Parks has added fencing along the streets to cover any grassy areas. Signage along the entrances has also been added to explain why the ball fields were closed. However, there is no indication of when the cleanup will start. Lillie Marshall, President of The Tenant Association for New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) in the Red Hook West Houses, says that many people in Red Hook are disappointed with the situation. “What I understand is that the people are not pleased because they are closing too many parks at one time,” Marshall said. She thinks that part of the total amount of money that will be going towards fixing the fields should come from Sandy. “I think it is something to do with the Sandy, the Sandy relief money, because the parks are still messed up from Sandy, so this is who is supposed to be cleaning these parks up.” Kevin Jeffrey, Brooklyn Park Commissioner, says that the fields will be worked on in stages through 2018 to try to minimize disruption, but “the Parks Department and the city as a whole [are] 100 percent committed to a long-term remediation,” according to Jeffrey. This will ensure that the kids using the fields will be safe. “NYC Parks has not yet come up with the plan,” added Natalie Loney, who is the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator for Red Hook. “It will take a year or so to come up with the design. A work plan has to be approved by EPA. We do not have a fixed date.” The proposed approach is to install a demarcation layer on top of the contaminated soil. “It is going to be plastic membrane, and it will combine a physical barrier to the contamination,” Gregor said. “On top of that demarcation layer, there will be at least 12 inches of fill [soil].” To make it safe when people walk in the area, water trucks will be spraying the dust that forms during the clean up to prevent the infection of anyone in the area. Monitors will also be
Red Hook Star-Revue
Ian Younge and Heriberto Lopes hold up a banner at the opening of the 2014 Red Hook Junior Baseball League season. This year the season did not take place because the fields have been closed due to contamination. Assistant Speaker Felix Ortiz is in red, with Councilman Carlos Menchaca also smiling, wearing the glasses.
on site to detect high levels of dust. These monitors will signal alarms when at specific action levels that become unsafe and operations will be stopped. This whole process of getting rid of the lead contamination in Fields 5-8 and 9 will not be finished until 2018. The long approval process for the project and a large engineering effort will take time. “The purpose is to protect public health in the long-term,” Gregor added. According to Gregor, what led to the contamination at the Red Hook fields was that the whole area used to be a tidal marsh in the 1800s. A tidal marsh is a type of marsh that is found along coasts where the flooding characteristics are determined by the tidal movements of the adjacent sea or ocean. There was a historic secondary smelter at the corner of Hicks and Loraine Street from the late 1920s until the late 1930s. It was demolished around 1940. Shortly after, the block became the four ball fields in need of remediation.
When playing baseball or softball it is normal to slide in the dirt/soil. People can be exposed by touching contaminated soil, and then eating or touching their faces without washing their hands. Children can also be exposed to the contamination by inhaling dust on dry or windy days when dust and dirt has been kicked up into the air. It was announced that NYC Parks will be remediating Soccer Fields 1, 2 and 6 over the next several years. Lead contamination at these fields is believed to be from historic fill material, which is not related to the Columbia facility. The fill was added in the 1800s to expand the ground surface towards the Gowanus Bay. The remediation of Soccer Fields 1, 2 and 6 will be done under NYC Parks supervision. Those portions of the
Lillie Marshall, President of The Tenant Association for New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) in the
Parks and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will conduct the remaining soil sampling of the park, Soccer Field 3, and Baseball Fields 1-4, this fall.
Red Hook West Houses, says
NYC Parks found lead contamination in the Red Hook ball fields back in 2012 and soil was removed. The fields were reopened and in use until this year. Those are fields that are mainly used by children, who are more sensitive to health defects of lead, according to Gregor. “Lead can lead to neurological symptoms and cognitive deficits,” she said.
the situation.
that many people in Red Hook are disappointed with “What I understand is that the people are not pleased because they are closing too many parks at one time.”
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As part of this process, all of the grassy areas on these fields and specific park features need to be taken out, and then be reinstalled. All fences, benches, water fountains, softball diamonds, walkways and lampposts will be removed and then reinstalling after the cleanup is complete. The public will not be exposed to anything harmful during construction.
Youth baseball affected
The closure of these softball fields directly impacts the Red Hook Youth Baseball League. They have primarily used Ball Fields 5-8 and the younger kids now have nowhere to play, according to League Co-Commissioner Ian Younge. “I have over 100 kids [who] use these fields from ages 5 through 18,” Younge said. “We have been able to field some of the older teams and get them in league play, but not with the younger players.” Younge and others in his family have been using these fields for over 30 years, so he knows their condition well. Younge has had his Commissioner position for the last three years and has been involved for the last 10 years. According to Younge, when there is a rainstorm on Field 9, at least an inch or two of soil runs off each time because the field is elevated. As a result of this safety hazard - which can make it dangerous when kids slide into base - he thinks that synthetic turf should be installed after the clean up at Field 9 so that the soil will not be destroyed underneath the field. The Youth Baseball League has been run through the Justice League for the more than 15 years. The abrupt closure has created issues for the league’s normal schedule. “We are in the process of trying to make something happen clinic-wise in the month of August in the back fields,” Younge said. “At least we will have something for them this year.”
August 2015, Page 3
RELIGIOUS NEWS
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ope Francis, the spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, recently released an encylical letter entitled “Laudato Si” which translates to “Praise Be to You.” In the encyclical, released on the Feast of Pentecost, the Holy Father criticizes the many irresponsible activities which have caused a global ecological crisis.
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The Pope relies heavily on the writings of his predecessor popes and, most of all, the teachings and philosophy of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis revered nature and his prayer, Canticle of the Sun actually features the encyclical’s titular phrase, “Laudato Si.” The prayer does not merely address Roman Catholics but rather is an appeal to all people of the world to take swift action in order to turn the tide of this grave problem. Some have criticized the Pope for provocatively speaking out on what many perceive as a solely scientific issue. We asked Monsignor Guy Massie, Pastor of Sacred Hearts/St. Stephen Church, for his reaction to the encyclical. Commenting on the Pope’s “chutzpah,” Monsignor Massie feels it is totally appropriate for the Pope to speak out on the environment. “The earth is our common ground, literally and figuratively -- we all share the planet, whether we are Hindu, Muslim, Catholic, [or] atheist.” Mgr. Massie went on to say that the encyclical “brings us all to the table and opens up to further dialogue... [and that] if you believe in God as the creator, it makes sense to take care of his creation.” When asked if he would discuss “Laudato Si” with his congregation, Mgr. Massie said that he plans to order copies of the encyclical in the fall and organize a study group “with the purpose of entering into an academic discourse and to learn from each other through prepared and thoughtful discussion.” Mgr. Massie then reiterated that there should be no conflict between religion and science since both are seeking the truth. He feels that religious communities should be open to what the scientific community has to say and teach us. He summed up his feelings by noting that if “one’s faith is to believe that God is creator, then science should be viewed as our prayer book.”
Announcements
• The Diocese of Brooklyn has ordained two new auxiliary bishops. Bishop James Massa and Bishop Witold Mroziewski were elevated to the episcopacy by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio on July 20 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights. • The U.S. Episcopal Church elected it’s first African-American Presiding Bishop at their national assembly on June 27. Bishop Michael Curry of North Carolina was elected in a landslide vote and begins a nine-year term in November, leading a flock of nearly 1.9 million members. • At Sacred Hearts/St. Stephen Church,
Page 4 Red Hook Star-Revue
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Monsignor Guy Massie, pastor of Sacred Hearts/St. Stephen Church
parishioner Anthony Troiano was honored as The Knights of Columbus Knight of The Year following mass on June 12. Mr. Troiano’s good works include the founding of the Kimberly Geritano Scholarship which awarded scholarships to three students attending Catholic schools this coming fall.
Upcoming Events
Sacred Hearts/St. Stephen Church Summit & Hicks Streets
• Book Club - Next meeting to discuss The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd will be on August 24 at 7:00 pm Parish House at 108 Carroll Street. • Summer Film Festival - Saturdays at 7:30 pm in the courtyard. August 1, It Happened in Brooklyn; August 8, Happy Feet; August 15, Sister Act; August 22, West Side Story. Admission is free and food will be available for purchase. • Feast of the Assumption - Saturday, August 15 at 12 pm, an outdoor mass will be celebrated, weather permitting, in front of the church. All who attend will be treated to ice cream after the mass. St. Agnes Church Hoyt & DeGraw Streets
French Mass each Sunday at 11 am St. Mary Star of the Sea 467 Court Street • Registration for their new Religious Education Program (Grades 1, 2, & 3) is ongoing through September 10. Registration forms are available in the back of church and at the rectory, during office hours, or may be downloaded at www.stmarystarbrooklyn.com, St. Paul Episcopal Church 199 Carroll Street • Jazz@Mass returns, under the direction of renown jazz musician, Willie Martinez. “Come join us for a service where worship meets jazz in a relaxed, low mass setting inspired by the lazy days of summer, all for the glory of God!” August 2 and September 27 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon Visitation BVM Church 98 Richards Street • Wonderful Wednesday with The Flourishing Preschool - Adults and children will be planting and doing crafts every Wednesday in the Visitation Garden from 12 - 2 pm.
August 2015
Good marks for Coffey renovation
While we were the first to complain when the Coffey Park renovation took longer than expected, now that it’s done, we will also say “Nice Job.” So do most Red Hookers. We especially like the treatment given to the center of the park, which was enlarged to show off the beautiful tree, and which provides a center meeting locati0n. We expect local performers to eventually make use of it, and we would love to see a soapbox orator set up and speak there some day.
News from Bumblees R Us
Each month at the Lorraine Center, the students are going to be learning 3 new pieces of sign language. This month, we are learning how to say “more”, “all done” and “thank you”. Jessica Figuly, Center Director, Bumblebees R Us, 76 Lorraine Street, Red Hook
Red Hook Star-Revue
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August 2015, Page 5
Celebrating
Red Hook A RED HOOK PARTY!
by Kimberly Gail Price aturday, July 25 the Star-Revue and IKEA hosted all sorts of Red Hook intrigues and their creators. Celebrating Red Hook’s second annual event more than doubled its offerings and had more than 1,200 people throughout the day.
S Andi Rae Healy and Sean Kershaw, two performers who brought bands to our stage, meet between sets.
The day ended with IKEA fireworks (but the music didn’t!)
More than 70 Red Hook establishments spent the day showcases and selling their products, all from the unique and dynamic community of Red Hook. The festival offered a wide variety of goodies, wares and “fabricators,” Jason Ross from Artemas Quibble calls himself. His leather company showed off their design elements. They also offered custom made belts, which could be branded with initials.
A number of artists displayed their work.
Stacy, who creates jewelry called Brooklyn Monsters, relaxes with a friend on behind her booth. Stacy is on the right.
Stacy Sandow of Brooklyn Monsters featured her “endearing and extremely gregarious” blownglass creations on necklaces. She also brought glass red hooks strung on chains and earring hoops. Peter Waldman, better known to many as Balloon Pete, stayed cool in the shade of his tent, while creating complex and custom made balloon animals and creations that people of all ages requested. “I enjoyed it. It was a beautiful day for kids and adults alike. I’d like to see the event run for at least two days,” he said.
BERST, an R & B infused jazz quintet swayed the pier.
Noble Tree Coffee, who will be opening up a Red Hook location on the Beard Street Pier in the coming weeks, offered hot coffee freshly brewed in kettles. They also had an iced brew that was served from a “kegerator,” according to owner Nigel Hall, which is a unique process they use to keep the coffee fresh and cold. St. John Frizzel of Fort Defiance and Ben Schneider of The Good Fork served refreshing cocktails under a large canopy. They ran the special VIP catering section that drew an adult crowd throughout the day and into the night.
Noble Tree Coffee, who will be opening soon on the Beard Street Pier, served up both hot and iced coffee.
Kids are always enthusiastic listeners of music. The fest featured 8 live bands performing all day.
Craig Hammerman, District Manager for Community Board 6, attended the event. In an email, he wrote, “ I’m a sucker for a good music line-up which I was confident you would provide. All-inall it was a fabulous day. I’m sure next year’s is going to be even bigger and better!”
Thats Karen Blondel on the left and Rozz on the right!
Ron’s Southern Cooking was a big hit!
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Martine Bisagne enchanted the kids with her painting
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We provided benches which Rachel and her friends enjoyed !
August 2015
Celebrating
Red Hook Hometown Bar-B-Que sold pulled pork sandwiches topped with their signature cole slaw. Mazzat had Mediterranean selections of chicken cigars, baklava and more. Mark’s Pizza kept fresh pizzas delivered throughout the day. Kevin’s sold little neck clams and oysters. The Lobster Pound’s Big Red truck sold fresh lobster rolls. Michelle Tampakis’ Whipped Pastry Boutique served gluten-free pastries of all sorts. Bite This/ All Natural Dog Treats even offered free samples for dogs.
The Star-Revue partnered with IKEA to present the day.
George Kornienko from Rocky Sullivan’s served cold beer from kegs. Red Hook Winery sampled and served glasses of wine. Six Point also offered two different selections of their signature beer. Jeff Gorlechen of Six Point said, “The event really demonstrated the spirit of community that makes Red Hook great. All the businesses and vendors really banded together to help each other and make it a great event.” He also noted that the festival is unique because “ it focuses solely on one neighborhood and also the fact that it is in a beautiful, if underused park that is right on the water. It really makes for a spectacular setting and we should try to host more events there!”
Without a doubt, the cutest festival goer. Karen Broughton, Lorna Montalvo, and her new son Rhys.
A full day of music heightened the mood of the day, adding a blissful background accompaniment. IKEA shot off their annual fireworks while Andi Rae Healy and the Black River Bullies finished their last songs. Many thanks to our partner IKEA, and our extremely generous sponsors for helping us create this day. Without their support, none of this would be possible.
The Ice House served up some tasty dishes. Craig Hammerman and David Estrada.
Sponsors include Est4te Four, Big Dawg Party Rental, ILA Local 1814, Ridgewood Savings Bank, Brooklyn Bridge Realty and Investor’s Bank.
Nydia Velazquez came by to relax in her neighborhood.
Numerous others contributed time, energy and ideas that helped make this day so amazing. Our sincerest gratitude for all their hard work and encouragement. Coffee mugs, T-shirts and posters are on sale online at www.red-hook-star-revue.myshopify.com NY Printing and Graphics brought the whole family, including Shadow!
A chance to play Jenga drew long lines.
Tyquan Carter, left, who also performed, sold merch at his stand. Everybody knows Rocky Sullivan’s George, and on the far right is festival producer Kimberly Gail Price and the neighborhood baloonist, Pete Waldman.
Red Hook Star-Revue
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August 2015, Page 7
Shames on Thomas Greene Park
L
ast night I finally heard the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)/Parks Department presentation with regard to the proposed locations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) mandated retention tanks at the Gowanus Canal. The placement of one tank at the salt lot at 2 2nd Avenue has not raised any particular concerns. The choice of the site on private property right off the canal that the City calls the “head end” site (because it is at the head of the canal) rather than at the publicly owned Thomas Greene Park Douglas/ Degraw Pool site has led to continuing discussion. EPA seems to be arguing that since the Park/Pool site will require excavation to remove hot spots of coal tars in order to protect the Superfund remedy, that tank should be sited below the current Park/Pool site. EPA further argues that the use of public land will reduce costs. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) claims, contrary to EPA analysis, that the Park/Pool site needn’t be disturbed. It is not surprising that the EPA would seek the removal of the toxins at their source, since coal tars migrate through adjacent properties toward the canal and the EPA’s own proposed remedy for the canal requires more than just a layer of concrete in order to protect the canal bottom much less children swimming. The City seems to be rooting for the DEC, but has advanced a third way option of maintaining its placement of the tank at the canal while still having EPA order National Grid to excavate the coal tar from the Park/Pool. The City estimates this approach will half the down time for the Park/Pool from 8 years to 4 years. At the meeting I asked what if anything could be built above the proposed tank site? I didn’t expect an answer nor did I receive one. I was asked what I would like to see there? Having been raised in a tradition where I am accustomed to having questions answered with further questions, I was prepared to answer. Without much hesitation, and to the surprise of some, I stated that I would like to see Thomas Greene Park connected to the waterfront and then have the head end site incorporated into an ex-
The
“Unless our City or State were to decide to sue the EPA, a course of action not to be undertaken lightly and fraught with potential liability, and then prevail, the EPA determinations will be followed.” panded park. I am not privy to the costs involved in purchasing/taking the waterfront property and then placing the tanks and maintaining a park there and also at Thomas Greene Park. If the costs weren’t prohibitive, that would be the best result for the neighborhood.
Senior Center Blues
At the meeting we had at the PAL/Senior Center, the Monies that were left for the building next door were left by Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez. This money has been NYCHA dormant and there is not any movement next door. On May 16th, the Senior Center had a meeting regarding several issues the seniors were upset over, because they have been waiting for two and a half years only to hear repeated promises. Regarding parking, the parking will be at the storage area closer to Clinton Street, only for the seniors, during the hours that the center will be open. ONLY seniors can walk into the center by the back doors and parking will not be allowed in the backyard. This was explained at a prior meeting and Ms. Byrd never stated that the seniors will park in the backyard; she said “parking was taken care of.” Respectfully, Judith Dailey. Editors Note: This paper has heard that at the latest NYCHA board meeting, a contractor’s proposal for renovating PAL Miccio was rejected, and so there is still no date that work will begin. The contractor was asking $4 million for the work, a figure which was deemed excessive.
Red Hook Pool
Note: The Star-Revue received a copy of this letter which was sent to Liam Kavanagh at the Department of Parks.
is where manners come in. In summer jobs at pools, like the classroom, boys are interested girls and girl’s boys. Their job is a convenient way to accommodate them, while supposedly looking after those using the public facility. Training in dealing with the public, in a variety of situations could be instilled as part of their training and which would serve them well beyond their summer job experience. The Red Hook Pool has long been a treasure in this neighborhood and for Brooklyn. I hope it can again conveniently accommodate us. Yours truly, John M. Buchanan, 103 Pioneer St. Brooklyn, NY 11231
Nursing Home & Helicopters
The nursing home issue certainly requires neighborhood input. A project of that scale in our community would have far reaching consequences, not the least of which would be emergency services, given the facility will be built on a flood plain. I am more concerned about the helicopter issue. I am employed in the tourism and hospitality industry and I am a Red Hook resident. I hear the same flights others are complaining about. A bill is being proposed to ban the sightseeing flights. That will cost jobs. Plain and simple. The loss of the flights will also deprive the East River Heliport its primary source of revenue, rental from the tour companies. Who will pay for that facility? It has been a vital resource during 9/11 and Sandy. The site is used for most Presidential landings and special events.
If that is too much for the City to absorb, perhaps the City could place the tanks at its preferred site (creating a new park/pool facility above of equal or greater size as the current park and pool). This should be coordinated with the remediation of Thomas Greene Park site to reduce the time that we are without any park and pool amenity and complete the process by selling off the remediated former Thomas Greene site for development thus recouping some of its outlay.
This morning I went to the Red Hook pool in Red Hook, Brooklyn, where I have lived these last 20 years. I was told there was no lap swimming until 1PM and to come back then. This is something new, the hours that is, as I’ve been swimming there every summer. The reason given was the pool had been section off for day camps that had paid to use it. While being inconvenienced is bad enough the fact that private money can buy a public pool seems, well, unlawful.
As long as the DEC approach is rejected and the source of toxic contamination at the Thomas Greene Park/DD Pool site is expeditiously removed, while insuring that there is sufficient incentive to remediate the other MPG parcels, I personally have no other overriding preferences.
Athletes and senior citizens use the lap lanes to rejuvenate old bones. Young children use the pool to expel excess energy they are born with. The former use it to regain energy and alleviate aches and pains. This is the first time I can remember being denied access to the swim lanes. Even with the sectioned off portions of the pool are vastly underused by said day camps. The athletes and elders are forced to swim with mothers, children, teenagers all vying to frolic in the water. Along with that there are no lines on the pool bottom to guide one in navigating through the water.
Elected Officials on ULURP
Could 2 lanes be allotted to us to swim at this time of day? This could accommodate 20 people who on their own could figure out how to use the space/lanes.
Fortis Property Group, LLC was selected to purchase the LICH campus through an RFP process managed by the State University of New York, after it decided to close LICH. This process was staunchly opposed by elected officials and community organizations.
All that being said, the designation of the Gowanus Canal as a Superfund site has given the federal EPA jurisdiction over the remediation of the waterway and those ancillary things necessary in order to protect that remedy. So unless our City or State were to decide to sue the EPA, a course of action not to be undertaken lightly and fraught with potential liability, and then prevail, the EPA determinations will be followed. - Mark Shames
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Page 8 Red Hook Star-Revue
LETTERS:
I tried to talk to 3 lifeguards about this, including their supervisor Cat, who was unresponsive, rude, authoritative and referential in that I need to talk to someone else. I talked to the pool supervisor, the pool maintenance man John who were like the lifeguards in their response. Their suggestion to call 311 was done and why I am writing to you. When I mentioned the behavior of the lifeguards and staff I was told it was a summer job and they were teenagers. Well we are all people and need to learn how to get along with each other. This
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A change of flight path, perhaps out over Governors Island and the Harbor, may quiet some Red Hook complaints. I can’t take Battery Park complaints too seriously since that group wants to quiet all the ferry traffic. Get over it, BPC, you moved to the waterfront! Lets explore some options for the helicopters before causing job losses in a difficult financial climate. - Patrick NYC Council Member Brad Lander, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, NYS Senator Daniel Squadron, NYS Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, NYC Council Member Stephen Levin, Brooklyn Community Board 6, and the Cobble Hill Association issued the following statement regarding the future of the Long Island College Hospital (LICH) Site: “Local elected officials, Community Board 6, and the Cobble Hill Association are working together to involve the community in the future of the Long Island College Hospital (LICH) site.
To date, Fortis has indicated that two options exist for the redevelopment of the core LICH site: (a) an “as-of-right” option, which does not require discretionary public approvals, which would include about 400 market-rate units, and (b) a rezoning or “ULURP” option, which would roughly double the number of residential units and include affordable housing units, space for a (continued on page 10)
August 2015
EDITORIAL:
Wasting time & money
Mark’s
Corner I
I
n the five years that we have been publishing the Star-Revue, we have been to countless meetings where beleaguered public housing tenants have pointed out, complained, and begged to have their living conditions improved. From mold, to poor lighting, to cracks in walls, to broken refrigerators and rotting kitchen cabinets, broken mailboxes and front door locks, we’ve heard it all. And guess what - it didn’t cost us a penny to find this information out. All we did was to keep our ears open at meetings and to people explaining to us the conditions they had to live in. And before you think that this is ok understand that NYCHA is very strict about collecting the rent - sending out eviction notices regularly. Tenants pay 30% of their GROSS income for the rent. In the old days, before NYC declared $1900 monthly rents to be “affordable,” this was considered the norm for all of us. Another way for the average simpleton to understand the problems that public housing tenants face was to pay attention to the campaign speeches of the current mayor. Or to read Scott Stringer’s reports. Or to ask any Tenant Association president. Or to read the Daily News. For some reason, NYCHA has decided that none of these methods is enough to understand the needs of their ten-
ants. Instead, they decided to hire a trio of high-priced international consultants to hold an inane meeting at the Miccio Center, wasting our time and the city’s money to find out nothing new. Kohn, Pederson, Fox is an international design firm that builds projects in places such as Malaysia, China and South Africa. They publish a glossy annual report that defines them as “an independent firm of planners, designers, engineers and consultants working across the built environment.”
Change Happens
realize that as I age out, there is that tendency to get increasingly stuck in the past. All too often I have seen my elders inadequately tip a workman or waiter or wax nostalgic about how much better were those many things that are long gone.
ery plugged in platform, but sadly lack the energy to do any more.
I try to guard against it, but can’t imagine a day when I would tip a workman more than twenty bucks, although to avoid ridicule I do tip waiters by percentage. I always ask younger people how much to give for a wedding or other special occasions because I no longer have a clue.
Yes, I mock the attempt to make everything the perfect curation of artisanal production. McDonalds artisanal? Come on. However, I appreciate its appeal as an attempt to achieve spiritual and physical purity and if that were not enough it is a boost to the economy.
I try to hide my deep dissatisfaction with digital and cable television and a longing for elements of an analogue existence. I also admit I miss the remembered taste of tomatoes and corn and the satisfaction that such flavor could once be purchased at a reasonable price.
The branding of Brooklyn beyond the Dodgers may be lost on me, but all that being said, I admire the young, aggressive, ambitious, entrepreneurial, and flexible people I have met who are breathing life into my home borough and its name. At every opportunity I have been supportive of advancement of the tech community and our educational and research complex, and I have resolved that when I drink, I will drink our beer.
I tend to be skeptical of the Ubers and Airbnbs of this world and worry about what they will do to the employment and pay of those in these industries. This is true despite the fact that I have never been a fan of fleet owners or hospitality companies. Such services are the last places where most jobs can’t be outsourced.
Plugging in
Local leaders including Lillie Marshall and Bea Byrd attended the Community Workshop.
Their annual revenue is quoted in billions of British pounds. The third consultant for this project is OLIN. They are yet another global company. They are an architecture and design firm with government contracts throughout the US and Europe. These companies sent out a slew of youngish looking employees to facilitate what was billed as “The Red Hook (continued on page 15)
BY MARK SHAMES
Still I strive to avoid obsolescence. I awkwardly embrace modern technology. Where I once wrote long hand, since the Commodore 64 I have composed on a computer. I too often glance at my mobile device (a long outdated Galaxy 3) to check texts, emails, updates and alerts. Still I fear being a Luddite compared to the everconnected youth of the world who have more dexterous thumbs. I have succumbed to Facebook, but have eschewed all additional platforms. I have yet to tweet or re-tweet in my own right, although I have been commandeered to do so for others. I might follow reality television and be on ev-
This remnant of the old Brooklyn tries to live in the new Brooklyn, and in many ways admires the new Brooklyn. Certainly, I’ll never be part of the locavore or maker economy.
New life for Brooklyn
I was pleased to learn that the community boards have determined to take on a few people with great civic energy and engagement although they, if neuroscience is correct, may not yet have fully formed brains. It gives me hope that I may be able to hang on a while longer with my declining one. All the above is a lead in to the fact that I have attended more than a few forums of late that have at least in part touched on the future of Brooklyn. I have come away knowing that among our movers and shakers, there is a belief that in addition to maintaining our traditional strengths, we will thrive in an increasingly populated borough by mixing living, working, cultural pursuits and play all in proximity with each other. On bicycles!
Addenda
On the political scene there appears to be a hotly contested primary race for Civil Court Judge in the 6th municipal district with Isela Isaac, Esq., who apparently filed 5,000 petition signatures, challenging the incumbent. There is rumor of some reorganization of the incumbent’s campaign team. This race will be run in a small slice of Park Slope and much of Crown Heights. It will not appear on the ballots of those in Red Hook, Carroll Gardens and most of Park Slope for that matter, but it is the closest thing to a political primary race in this neck of the woods. The saga of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NYC Depart(continued on next page)
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Shames’ Corner (continued from previous page) ment of Environmental Protection with an occasional appearance from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) continues. The latest revolves around the City’s choice of a privately held site on the canal rather than using the heavily contaminated City owned park/pool site for one of its retention tanks. EPA is maintaining that the park/pool site will need to be excavated in any event to protect the Superfund remedy. If this is the case, the City may save money by using that site for its tank, since such an EPA determination would supersede a DEC decision to let sleeping toxins lie and require remediation of that site within the Superfund remedial timeframe.
Letters: (continued from page 8) public school, increased park space and more small retail opportunities. A rezoning would require review by the Community Board, Borough President, and City Planning Commission, and approval by the City Council. Both of the proposed options present development that is dramatically outof-scale with the adjacent Cobble Hill Historic District, which has a height limit of 50 feet (in each case, the tallest building Fortis proposes would be over 40 stories). In either scenario, NYU Langone will also build an approximately 108,000 sq. ft. health center at the corner of Atlantic and Hicks. We will continue to work together to ensure all of the community’s options are explored. This working group will help organize public dialogue about the options. It is not a decision-making body, and will not recommend that Fortis pursue a particular option. Rather it will organize forums where residents, businesses, and stakeholders (including the Brooklyn Heights Association and Atlantic Avenue BID, both of whom represent areas adjacent to the LICH site) can learn more about the various options, weigh in on Fortis’ potential development options, propose alternatives, and provide community feedback. All stakeholders (elected officials, the community board, community organizations, individuals, etc.) will ultimately make their own decisions about Fortis’ proposals. Over the next 2-3 months, the working group will organize several open, public meetings where Fortis will present their proposals and consider feedback, as well as several smaller meetings with stakeholders to drill-down on specific issues including: urban design, parks/ open space, retail/commercial, the health care facility, the potential public school, potential affordable housing, and traffic/parking/transit and other infrastructure concerns. A public meeting will take place the evening of Thursday August 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Brooklyn Montessori School at 185 Court Street, at Bergen Street, in Cobble Hill. The meeting will include a brief presentation of the options put forth by Fortis, followed by opportunities for community feedback and discussion. All are welcome to attend.
Page 10 Red Hook Star-Revue
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August 2015
Red Hook’s Leroy Branch moves on by Kimberly Gail Price
Above, Leroy receives honors from Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon. Middle, Leroy is hugged by District Manager Craig Hammerman, with whom he worked sideby-side for many years. Far right - Leroy receives his City Proclamation from City Councilman Brad Lander. Leroy has been Craig’s assistant at Community Board Six for many years, and has now taken a position with the Department of Transportation (so we’ll still see him around!) His party was given at the Brazen Head, run by former CB 6 member Lou Sones.
Leroy Branch, circa 1980, with former District Manager Robert Acito, while Leroy was first employed at Brooklyn CB6 as a teenager
Sue Ascolese honored at Hope and Anchor by Kimberly Gail Price
Inspiring theater at Calvary Church For one night only, Calvary Baptist Church of Red Hook hosted a spiritual play, For Better or For Worse, written, directed, and costarred in by Racquel Marie Jones. The play incorporates modern challenges of drugs, violence and irreverence to contradict the spiritual path of God. The high-energy play incorporated wildly hilarious character stereotypes that worked together to entertain, spread the word of God’s love, and in the end, teach a tragic lesson of forgiveness and mercy. Ray Hall, who is responsible for bringing the play to Red Hook, hopes he can host the traveling group again. Tickets for the event helped to fundraise for the church, while the theater company raised money to continue their work by selling shirts with bold messages like “God Over Everything” and “#Team Jesus.” - Kimberly Price
Sue Ascolese, mother of Hope & Anchor’s Pete Ascolese, gave 25 years of her career to the city’s Department of Education. She served as both a teacher and administrator in both public and private schools. Since 2006, she worked as an Administrator of Special Education, helping more than 200 schools maintain compliance with city and state regulations. She retired at the end of the 2014-15 school year. On July 15, among family and friends, Sue was awarded a Proclamation by Councilmember Carlos Menchaca’s office not only for her life of public service, but also for her volunteer efforts before, during and after Hurricane Sandy. The proclamation read, “Educators provide one of the greatest services to our society...they help to cultivate our future.” It continued, “ Upon her retirement, Sue can be proud and know that her great legacy of service will continue to resonate not only within the walls of many schools, but also within the minds of countless students, alumni and colleagues throughout the City.” The Star-Revue concurs with Menchaca’s proclamation in wishing Sue “continued happiness and success in her retirement.”
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August 2015, Page 11
Red Hook History:
Where exactly was Fort Defiance anyway? by Connor Eugene Gaudet
T
he story of the Revolutionary War redoubt, Fort Defiance has been told in the pages of this newspaper before, so while it isn’t necessarily worth retelling the story of the role it played in the early days of the Revolution, it might be worth visiting its more recent past that is, the curious tale of it’s debated location.
“One thing he did to promote historical awareness was to place markers at historically significant locations around the Borough, such as the birthplace of Winston
Van Dyke and Conover
For many years, historians were remarkably consistent in recording the Fort as having been in the approximate location of the intersection of Van Dyke and Conover Streets. These include men who were writing when the Revolutionary War was still within living memory, or just a generation or so out of it in the 1850s and 60s. Writers like Henry Stiles, Thomas Warren Fields, and Gabriel Furman, whose histories of Brooklyn are still used by academics today all agreed on this location. However, for some reason in the middle of the 20th century, people started recording the location as having been at Dwight and Beard Streets. The change occurred quietly, but it nonetheless occurred, and most books written between 1950 and 2010 are consistent in recording that as the Fort’s location. There is no point in arguing the location of the fort today - it was indeed in the proximity of Van Dyke and Conover - but why the
Churchill’s mother and the final resting place of the Marylanders who sacrificed themselves for Washington’s army during the Battle of Brooklyn.” Enlargement of section of Plan of the Battle of Long Island, Henry P. Johnston.
Streets. Kelly had been appointed Borough Historian in 1944 and was passionate about Brooklyn history. He did much to educate the community about their shared history and encourage a feeling of public ownership of Brooklyn’s rich and storied past. One thing he did to promote historical awareness was to place markers at historically significant locations around the Borough, such as the birthplace of Winston Churchill’s mother and the final resting place of the Marylanders who sacrificed themselves for Washington’s army during the Battle of Brooklyn. One speaker at the unveiling was Harry G. Hill of the Todd Shipyards Corporation Board of Directors, who praised Kelly’s “happy circumstance” of locating the historic site. What was the “happy circumstance” that ledKelly to locate this historic site? Had he found new evidence that disproved the Conover/Van Dyke location? Whatever this “happy circumstance” was, it would have to have happened sometime between August 1951 and March 1952.
Brooklyn’s Borough Historian James A. Kelly. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 22, 1951
change?
On August 27, 1952, the 176th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn, Brooklyn Borough Historian James Kelly placed a bronze plaque on the wall of a red brick building owned by the Todd Shipyards Corporation, at the corner of Dwight and Beard
Page 12 Red Hook Star-Revue
In 1951, to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle ran a series of stories that “reported” the events of the British and Hessian invasion of Long Island and the battle that followed, all in first person present tense. In the August 22 issue, an article discusses some of the American fortifications, including Fort Defiance, describing it as being “on a small Island just off shore (about at the foot of Conover and Van Brunt Streets.).” On the same page just a column or two over, is an article entitled “James A. Kelly, Boro Historian, Aids in Articles” accompanied by a photo of the man himself. The article begins, “In the preparation
of this series, the Brooklyn Eagle and the author have leaned heavily upon Borough Historian James A. Kelly.” It goes on to praise his knowledge of local history and his extensive collection of historical documents. Less than a year later, in March of 1952, Kelly announced that he would be placing the Fort Defiance plaque at Dwight and Beard Streets.
Van Dyke and running diagonal to the entrance of the Long Dock, Edner’s Spar Yard.” This diagonal piece of high ground was very likely what remained of the earth berm that had enclosed Van Dyke’s millpond, separating it from Gowanus Bay. The 1874 Naval coastal survey below closely resembles what Bruhns describes. The future location of the plaque, just offshore, is marked with a red “X”.
Daily Eagle battle While the battle at Fort Defiance, undoubtedly took place in Red Hook, the Battle over where the Fort was located began playing out in the pages of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. A month after the plaque was installed a Letter to the Editor appeared in the Eagle. George J. Bruhns had read the August 28 story about the plaque and wrote to dispute the accuracy of Kelly’s chosen location. His contentions were based not on academic studies, but on his own personal experience. Bruhns had grown up in Red Hook in the 1880s and knew exactly what the area looked like before the street grid demolished any and all physical evidence of the original landscape. Bruhns wrote, “With due respect for James A. Kelly, Borough Historian, I doubt very much that the plaque was placed where it belonged… I cannot conceive of any Army engineers erecting a fort on boggy swampland, especially at a place that would command the entrance of Buttermilk Channel. Heavy gun emplacements require solid ground.” Specifically Mr. Bruhns describes the location of Mr. Kelly’s plaque as it appeared in the 1880s, recalling, “Salt tidewater covered the land now bounded by Dwight St. to Columbia St. and from Lorraine St. to Elizabeth (Beard St) except a diagonal piece of high ground starting at Dwight and
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Enlargement of portion of NOAA map of New York Harbor and Environs, 1874.
It didn’t take Kelly long to fire back. Two weeks later, his response appeared in the same section of the Eagle, entitled, “Maps Show Fort Defiance Was Built on Solid Upland.” In it, Kelly dismisses Mr. Bruhns’ comments as “hearsay evidence” and defends his position, saying “the maps on file at the office of the County Clerk show this site to be solid upland, especially one made in 1776 from original Government surveys that shows ‘the original high and low grounds, salt marsh and shore lines in the City of Brooklyn.’” A few things seem strange about this statement, particularly the fact that no City of Brooklyn existed until 1834. Also, if the map were created in 1776, (continued on next page)
August 2015
History (continued from previous page) why would it be described as depicting the original high and low grounds, etc.? In 1776, there would have been nothing else that those things could be described as “original” in comparison to. Mr. Kelly’s use of quotation marks proved useful, as a Google search of his verbatim description provided a map on file at the New York Public Library that employs almost identical language, basically differing only in its being made from original government surveys made in 1776, rather than being made in 1776 from original government surveys. The map itself was made in 1876 and is very likely that this is the map Kelly references in his published response (see map, top right). Oddly enough, the map doesn’t show what Kelly describes at all, and actually much more closely resembles Bruhns’ description. Of course, that didn’t really matter, because Kelly had the map and Bruhns didn’t. So why would a respected civic official, and no lesser a person than the Borough Historian lie about the Fort’s location and then try to cover it up? Why not just place the plaque in the right spot? At the time, the corner of Van Dyke and Conover had a few fourstory walkups and a local watering hole. These may not have been entities willing or able to pay for a large bronze commemorative plaque.
Todd Shipyard motive? So what could possibly have been the reason Mr. Kelly wanted the plaque to be placed at Dwight and Beard Streets? Could it be that the Todd Shipyards Corporation, who owned
the building there and paid for the plaque, had something to do with it? Todd Shipyards was founded in 1916 and ran some of the largest dry docks in the world. Fitted out for iron shipbuilding and repair, they spent WWI and WWII building and repairing Navy vessels for the US military and developing other technologies for the government. After a post-war lull in the late 1940s, the Korean Conflict brought Todd Shipyards a 5-year uptick in profits, netting them $2.61 million in 1952, the year the plaque was placed. If Todd Shipyards Corporation was the only party willing and able to pay for the plaque, and they were only willing to pay if it was placed on one of their properties, perhaps Kelly saw this as a compromise worth making in order to bring to light and commemorate the brave deeds of the soldiers of Fort Defiance, even if it meant ironically changing the historical record he was trying to preserve.
Details matter We become a part of the history we preserve, just by recording it. It is important to remember that is it always worth preserving, and worth preserving correctly, because even if a detail seems insignificant or inconvenient to us at present, it is the very nature of our constantly changing world that the same detail may be crucial to future generations of historians, archaeologists and preservationists, not to mention engineers, geologists, architects, and city planners - or for that matter, the residents of the area themselves. The plaque itself disappeared many years ago, but it’s legacy has remained in the false impression it left about the fort’s location. A new plaque was created in 2012 and placed in Valentino Park, much closer to the actual location of the fort it commemorates.
The two conflicting locations of the placement of Fort Defiance.
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Molese joins with Carinesi as clubs look to the future by Mary Ann Pietanza
I
f anyone was on Court Street one Monday night last month wondering what the occasion was that required live music, food and dancing to the late hours of the night, it was a celebration of the joining of two Italian social clubs in an unprecedented move to celebrate being Italian - not just Molese or Sicilian, but Italian and Italian-American. And they’re rounding up the next generation to be a part of it all, too.
Right: Vito Parente, new president of the Van Westerhout Molesi Social Club; Left: Tony Troia, president of Carini Social Club.
The Van Westerhout Cittidini Molesi Club on Court Street and 4th Place has a new president with new goals. Vito Parente was elected to help the social
club take its first few steps from its conventional past to an advancing future. Mola di Bari is the town from which the majority of the of Italian immigrants who settled in Red Hook are from. The club’s corner garden is home to the town’s patron saint, The Addolorata, Regionally rooted in their structures as social clubs, Vito Parente’s concern for the viability of Italian Social Cubs to survive in a changed society with an aging membership led him to consider changing the role of the club to reflect contemporary ItalianAmericanism. This includes the new roles taken on by men, women and the younger generation. Tony Troia, the President of the Carinesi Social Club, named after a town in Sicily, on 17th Avenue in Bensonhurst agrees, and has partnered with Vito to help start the transition. The decision to begin this journey by combining social events between the two clubs - never before done - has proved itself in numbers. That Monday over 120 people attended the food-thriving, rocking evening, one of the largest turnouts in memory.
Still male only
Both clubs are male only, will continue to be governed by their set by-laws and will forever pay homage to their
Contest with Prize!
Reader Anneliese Semotan sent us this photo asking us -
“CAN YOU GUESS WHERE THIS LITTLE HOUSE STOOD HERE IN RED HOOK?” Well, she told us and now we know. The first two correct answers that we get emailed to us at george@redhookstar.com get a free Celebrating Red Hook t-shirt. Once we have winners, we will post the correct answer on our website at www.redhookstar.com
Page 14 Red Hook Star-Revue
Gathering of members from the Molese and Carinesi Clubs at the Molese Club on Court Street Monday, June 29, 2015.
respective home towns in Italy, but they are now mingling as members, interchangeably, inviting spouses and grown children which is a huge welcoming. So the next time you’re on Court
Street and are lured by the sounds of dreamy Italian love songs, pop, and latin music, you will be tempted to sing, clap or dance along with them. And why not? On those evenings everyone’s Italian!!!
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August 2015
Wasting Time: (continued from page 9) Houses Community Workshop.” Posters were put up all over the Houses and quite a number of curious residents came out to the meeting, which was held at the Miccio Center on a hot summer evening last July 21st. In the old days, community meetings meetings meant that the people holding the meeting would sit or stand in front of an audience, with everyone being offered a chance to let everyone speak in front of the group. These are the new days. Instead of allowing people to let everyone know what they think (which was once an important part of the democratic process), people are herded into many small groups. This not only prevents everyone to hear what everyone else has to say, which keeps meetings from becoming unscripted, but gives many more jobs for consultants.
Jenny belin’s Art Two of the facilitators who came to Miccio.
es? If so, which ones.” And: “is there adequate parking around your building?” And: “what do you like most about the open space around your home.” An answer to the last question, as illustrated in the photo at the beginning of this editorial was “I Like Grass and Trees.” We asked a woman after the meeting why they came to the meeting and what they thought of it. She told us that she came out of curiousity but would never waste her time again.
Each consultant follows a pre-arranged script in order to come up with a report containing mostly useless information that probably could have been written without going through a meeting at all. However, these meetings are very profitable for the facilitators, so they must do this.
As she said this, some of the facilitators could be seen leaving the Miccio in a shiny black Uber mini-van, no doubt returning to their shiny glass walled Manhattan offices to write up their report, letting NYCHA know that their tenants like green grass and don’t like being held up at night. For this they are paid handsomely, being the international consultants that they are.
The inane questions asked that night included things like: “Do you use the outdoor areas of the Red Hook Hous-
And then NYCHA has the nerve to complain about not having enough money to fix cracks in the walls.
Our friend Jenny, who exhibits locally at the Brooklyn Collective, 212 Columbia Street, sends us this and tells us “The image is in homage to a vintage cheeky swimsuit model.” Jenny recently made a new fan - Mary Louise Parker - who bought a series of paintings. Jenny’s website is www.jennybelin.com
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