The
Red Hook StarªRevue SOUTH BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
LATE AUGUST, 2014
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LENZ IN FOCUS: Justin leads the 76th by Harrison Neuhaus
“I
’m a little out there,” says the Captain. “I’ll just walk up and start talking to people. A lot of times when I’m dressed like this,” pointing to his slacks and dress shirt, “people don’t seem to recognize me... they’ll say hello but I don’t think they put two and two together.”
police assignments would take him from the Upper West Side of Manhattan to East New York, as well as a return to the military with two deployments to Iraq, before finally landing him at the 76th. His last job before becoming Captain was working Narcotics in East New York, where he spent three and a half years between 2010 and 2013.
Living in Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, or Red Hook, chances are you’ve encountered police officers from the local 76th precinct. But you may have also met the man in charge without even realizing it.
This past September he was surprised with the news that he would be transferred to take command of his own precinct. Though this is his first time policing in Brooklyn, he raves that the neighborhood is “beautiful and pleasant to work in.”
Those who have been approached by the fit grey-haired man in plainclothes may not have given it much thought, thinking he’s just another friendly neighbor. But in and out of the uniform, he’s the man responsible for the safety of the area. Though he’s only been Captain of the 76th for about 10 months, Justin Lenz is already making a difference. Crime is significantly down, while there has been an increase in arrest activity. However, the past year has also shown a reduction in civilian complaints against officers; all types of complaints were down last quarter by 67%. “It sends me a message that our cops are acting in a professional way… it’s a fragile line, but somewhere we’re getting it right.”
Military background Lenz grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, and began his career in public service by enlisting in the military. In 1983, he recalls, just after the US invasion of Grenada, Lenz became a paratrooper for the army. Though he was stationed in Italy for a while, a “great assignment” that didn’t involve much except training, he began considering police work after returning. “In 1987 I was home on leave,” he recounts. His friends had joined the police department and he remembers, “they were all telling these great cop stories. I figured I could do that, and I decided to leave the army to become a cop.” Working first as a correctional officer on Riker’s Island for 13 months, Lenz joined the NYPD in October 1990. His
Today Lenz still remains in the physical shape one would expect of a military man. His sharp eyes often fix in an intense gaze past his long nose, almost like a hawk, but his demeanor is more neighborly than intimidating. He speaks with a commanding, but unmistakably amiable voice, and has a personality fitting of the Brooklyn cop archetype.
A great community to work in Though he commutes from Bellmore in Nassau County each day, the Captain seems glad to be working in this community. Unlike his home in Long Island, he finds the neighborhood very close, both in terms of the community bonds and the physical living space. For his job, this has a clear advantage – neighbors know each other well, and everything is relatively close by. In any case, he claims the mark of a good job is “when you can walk out of the place you work and go get a coffee or something to eat.” As an athlete, he says it’s also a great neighborhood to run in. He often does races in Long Island, including the Ocean-to-Sound relay, and says that he goes to Arizona every other year for the Phoenix half-marathon. Having recently run the Long Island half, Lenz is training now for the New York Marathon in November – his first full 26.2 mile race since 2006. As the Commanding Officer, Lenz has gotten to know the neighborhood fairly well, and for all its unique qualities he finds it somehow familiar. “There’s a lot of similarities between the Upper West
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Captain Justin Lenz of the 76th Police Precinct (photo by George Fiala)
Side and Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, and Red Hook,” he explains. “When you really look at it in terms of commercial, residential, housing developments – one really mirrors the other.” He’s introduced his family to his workplace, too. Lenz says his wife of 24 years and his two college-aged children have
always encouraged him in his life and career. “You couldn’t ask for a more supportive family,” he beams, and they’ve visited the neighborhood with him on several occasions. He’s brought his family to Brooklyn for fireworks twice this year, under very different circum(continued on page 6)
MUSIC FESTIVAL TO ROCK RED HOOK CONTAINERPORT by George Fiala
A somewhat shocking press release reached our inbox last month: NEW YORK, NY (July 28, 2014) – Escape Music Festival, a highly anticipated live electronic and indie rock music festival, is proud to announce its first interactive concert experience October 11 – 12 at Pier 9 in Brooklyn, N.Y. The festival plans to showcase 30 performances and attract a crowd of more than 16,000 people over the course of two days. Featured artists include Placebo and Yeasayer, along with Ra Ra Riot, Bakermat, ASTR, Tesla Boy, Basecamp and Follow Me, as well as DJ sets by The Crystal Method, Neon Indian and STRFKR. Last July 4th, the containerport was opened up for Phoenix Beverage and Local 1814 members to enjoy the fireworks. In 2012 there was a big Katy Perry concert during Fleet Week for the military and their families. Aside for those few instances, the containerport, bound (continued on page 4)
The
Red Hook Star Revue ª
Happenings, etc. AUGUST 22
proudly introduces our new website
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Come by Jalopy at 315 Columbia Street for a night of live music. Tall County will open the set with their all-string take on folk rock, while Carte Blanche Jazz Band will follow up with their classic jazz sounds. $10 covers you for the night, which is set to begin at 9:00pm.
AUGUST 23
Help Wanted at the Red Hook Star-Revue Reporters needed for news and arts coverage in Red Hook and her environs. Enthusiasm more important than experience. Learn on the job. Full and part-time positions available. Call us
Red Hook Readiness Training Day will be held on Saturday the 23rd at the Miccio Center from 9:30am to 4:00. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, and all ages of residents and locals will have the opportunity to be certified in disaster preparation. To register, email development@ emmp-emergency.com or call (510)-764-3667. The 20th Annual Nicholas Heyward, Jr. Day of Remembrance will take place at Nicholas Naquan Heyward, Jr. Park on Wyckoff between Smith and Hoyt. The gathering, in memory of the 13-year-old boy shot and killed by a police officer two decades ago, will bring the community together in celebration of Nicholas’ birthday. The event will be held from 1:00pm8:00pm. Join the party to support Red Hook Volunteers! The disaster relief group is raising money this summer with a party bash at 360 Van Brunt Street, starting at 10:00pm. $20 covers entry, food, and drink.
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AUGUST 26
Red Hook Flicks presents the neighborhood film choice of the summer: On The Waterfront! Stop by at Valentino Pier at 8:30 to catch the free movie. In case of rain, swing by Atelier Roquette for the viewing, located at 63 Commerce Street.
SEPTEMBER 6
Pork lovers in Red Hook will have the opportunity to try specialties from 25 NYC chefs at this year’s Pig Festival. The $75 entrance tickets include unlimited access to dishes carved from nearly 80 locally sourced hogs, craft beers catered by Sixpoint, wines and ciders from NY State, and live music. The event will run from 11:30am-4:30pm, and children under 12 enter for free.
AREA CHURCHES
PS 15 PTA PRESENTS
THE RED HOOK FALL FLEA Saturday October 4th, 2014, 10am to 5pm Located in the PS 15 School Yard on Van Brunt Street between Wolcott & Sullivan Red Hook’s local community school PS 15’s PTA will be hosting our annual flea market. Come and find that missing treasure, browse, chat, eat, and enjoy the many activities available. The day promises to be a joy-filled celebration of the unique community of Red Hook. Sellers of all stripes include: VINTAGE, NEW AND USED CLOTHING & FURNITURE, JEWELRY, HAND CRAFTS, BOOKS, DVDS, TOYS AND LOTS OF LOCAL EATS AND SWEETS!
Activities for the whole family throughout the day. Enjoy the popular PTA POT LUCK and TREATS! Bounce House, Arts and MORE! ALL VENDOR APPLICATIONS MUST BE PAID BY AUGUST 31. for applications please email: ps15flea@gmail.com Page 2 Red Hook Star-Revue
Saint Paul and Saint Agnes Parish St. Paul’s Church - Rectory & 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 9am (English), 11:30am (Spanish) St. Paul’s: Saturday 5pm Vigil Mass Sunday 8am & 9:30am (English); 11am (Spanish) Monday & Tuesday 8:30am (St. Paul’s) Wednesday & Thursday 8:30am (St. Agnes) Saturday 8am (St. Paul’s) http:// stpaulstagnes.org/ 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. Sick Calls: Please call the rectory to arrange for the sacrament of anointing whenever anyone is seriously ill. Marriages: Please call the rectory at least 6 months ahead for an appointment with a priest http://www.sacredheartsststephen.com 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 (please see the Calendar) Church open for prayer Tues. 6-8pm & Sat. 2-4pm http:// stpaulscarrollst.weebly.com/ Christ Church 326 Clinton Street 718 624 0083 cchfcobblehill@aol.com Regular services are held each Sunday: 10:30am Morning Prayer 11am High Mass 5:30 pm Evensong 6pm Mass Daily services are: 12 Noon Tuesday - Friday: Mid-Day Prayers 6pm Tuesday: Mass * 12:15pm Wednesday: Mass 6:30pm Wednesday: Evening Prayer 9am Friday: Mass * Mass is celebrated on all Holy Days as announced. Religious Education Sunday, 9:45 am * Confessions are held by appointment. http://cchf.tripod.com/ Calvary Baptist Church 773 Hicks St (718) 522-5159 Visitation Church 98 Richards St, (718) 624-1572
www.RedHookStar.com
August, 2014
Red Hook’s farm in rebuilding mode this year by Diehl Edwards
U
nder the leadership of Ian Marvy, the Red Hook Community Farm has been a recognized pioneer in the urban farming movement. The farm has been a community hub for nearly fifteen years, providing educational programs, service learning sessions, and partnering with dozens of organizations in the neighborhood and citywide. But in 2012, the seawater that Sandy threw over Red Hook, damaged the farm as well, almost fatally. With the help of disaster relief funds, the farm is operating, but is still recovering. Adding to
tionship.” The change in leadership doesn’t perturb the Assemblyman. “I look forward to continuing the same relationship with the new executive director, whomever they choose.” The farm is still operating, giving local youth summer jobs, as in years past. On a recent busy Saturday, Corey Blant, Youth Empowerment Coordinator, spoke about the farm. “The kids did all this. I mean, the city built the concrete walls, but the kids built the beds,” and with a staff of only 14 teenagers, the football field sized garden is a considerable achievement. David Buckel, the Compost Coordinator, gave a current diagnosis of the farm, which as in much or Red Hook begins with Sandy. The hurricane rocked the field, flooding several feet, submerging everything that couldn’t float and crashing what it picked up against the chain link fence bordering Sigourney Street.
Sandy damage devastating
Ian Marvy at last year’s opening of the NYCHA farm on Walcott St.
that disaster, Marvy has stepped down as Executive Director earlier this year. The circumstances of that are unclear, but the first job handed to interim executive director Dart Westphal is the restoration of Added Value’s non profit legal status.
Leadership in transition
“I collapsed right there in the middle of the rows,” Buckel says, almost choking up when recalling his first impression of the devestation. “The soil was so salty afterwards we couldn’t grow weeds.” But, as wrenching a blow as the storm was to this center of community, the restoration efforts afterwards held that center. Youth involvement had more work than ever to do, and with sub-
Caleb Crawford, a CSA Core Member, spoke about the serious implications of losing Marvy and the gaps that now have to be filled. “There’s institutional knowledge we just don’t have,” he said. There hasn’t been much outreach during this interim period. Restaurants on Van Brunt Street, have been left out of the loop. They lament not receiving a share of the harvest since Sandy. Not that this has left bad blood. Sohui Kim, chef and restaurateur of the Good Fork, looks forward to the day when the farm is back on its feet and its vegetables are back on their menu.
Compost buckets.
What they can’t provide they supplement with vegetables from a nearby farm on Long Island, but all the bok choy, basil, turnips, radishes, peppers, and greens are grown right here in Red Hook. They even have two beehive boxes and a pumpkin patch, foreshadowing the Harvest Fair, which is scheduled for October 18.
Red Hook local and first-time CSA
stantial investment from the city, they have been able to remake the farm in a fashion that better utilizes its space and The Union Street increases its yield potential.
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process of being brought up to a proper acidity level. With last year’s resources being spent almost exclusively on rebuilding infrastructure, this year the farm is able to supply 30 neighborhood families with weekly cartons of produce through their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).
The new farm structure’s potential yield is promising, and the amount of energy being put into recovery is inspiring. The primary goal of empowering and educating community youth has been maintained. But no one is saying the recovery is complete.
A 24-inch concrete floodwall was inadding soilThursday depth for theJam” plant “stalled, home of the legendary Night roots, making tall crops like corn more wind resistant. The community-composting center (now the largest in the city) has a new sifting house powered Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, who has The Hook’spanels Local Newspaper by two large solar planted on the helped the farm receive NY State grants Bay street side, facing the sunrise to the over the years, praised Marvy’s leadereast. ship. “He was always involved, always called me... We had a very good rela- New soil was provided and is in the But the lack of transparency has left partners close to the inner circle wondering what’s in store for this year. And with the major transition in leadership, that is something of an open question.
While the farm may not be quite as lush as years past, it is well on the way to recovery.
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member of the CSA, Dodo, commented on her experience this year. “They are struggling,” she said, noting she’d received late and incorrect information in some CSA bulletins. As for the produce, she remarked that while it isn’t enough to feed a family, it is a fine nutritional supplement. “The food looks great, but it is not a whole harvest.” Despite this mild criticism, she’s noted that she does see organized action. Despite the dual setbacks of Sandy and the Marvy’s loss, everyone anticipates next year to be one of greater success. Through the use of organic sulfur, the new soil’s pH level will be cultivated back to its pre-Sandy state. Better soil means more production and that means expanded CSA and youth involvement. Volunteer and job opportunities still exist - for more information stop by the farm, which is right by IKEA, any Saturday morning. For information on becoming a member of the CSA, go to www.redhookcsa.com.
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MUSIC FESTIVAL INVADES THE NEIGHBORHOOD
(continued from page 1)
by strict homeland security rules since 9/11, has provided very little use for non-shipping activities. The idea of 16,000 visitors to the Columbia Waterfront District was surprising - and we found very few in the neighborhood who knew about it. We stopped in and asked around - some were stunned, while others went to check their smartphones to see who would be playing. It was news to the Greenway Inititiave, whose office is across the street. We asked the local politicians at the Night Out Against Crime with the same response. An article in dbaInfo quoted promoter, Merrit Quirk, as saying ““I see Red Hook in a very similar light to where Williamsburg was 10 to 15 years ago.” Despite the fact that the Escape Music Festival was already selling non-refundable early-bird tickets, the Port Authority told us that a contract between the promoter and the Port Authority was not yet finalized. On August 6th, CB 6 District Manager Craig Hammerman was invited to the pier for a meeting with the promoter, the Port Authority, the terminal operator and the 76th precinct. Hammerman came well prepared with questions and asked for a fact sheet which could be presented to the community. Reached at press time, Hammerman told us that the fact sheet would be forthcoming any day, and would be available to the public. According to Hammerman, the Port Authority has every right to rent out the containerport. The role of the Community Board is to be the go between to make sure that neighborhood concerns are addressed. Port Authority spokesperson Steve Coleman told us that the pier is open for events “to anyone who can pay the fee and all associated costs.” The fee for the two days is $30,000. Security costs are probably more, as the promoter will be
paying for both local and Port Authority police. The Red Hook Crit, a bicycle event that takes place every March at the Cruise Terminal, has chosen not to use the cruise terminal shed because of the high cost they would have to pay for Port Authority security. American Stevedoring, a company owned by Sal Catucci, had been the ter-
minal operator until forced out by the Port Authority in 2011. Since then, the terminal has been run by The Red Hook Container Terminal, LLC. (RHCT). Phoenix Beverage - the beer distributor that operates on Pier 7 and 11 holds the stevedore license, and the company is run by port veteran Mike Stamatis. RHCT was set up quickly to ensure continuing maritime operations. The Port Authority more or less guaranteed with subsidies that RHCT would not lose money. Those subsidies were only guaranteed for a limited time. In addition, container activity is down, in part due to the slowdown of the European economy. In order to increase revenues, RHTC has been looking at additional revenue opportunities. Renting to garbage and other trucks on the terminal is one way they are raising revenues. This concert is another. At the recent meeting, Hammerman asked whether this October concert is a precursor to more non-shipping activities at the pier. His point was that the community would prefer a working waterfront. He was told that this was the Port Authority would like this as well. There will be a public meeting on this topic at CB 6 in September. The Star-Revue will keep readers informed in the newspaper and at its website www.star-revue.com
Community Telephone Numbers: Red Hook Councilman Carlos Menchaca..............718 439-9012 Red Hook Assemblyman Felix Ortiz.....................718-492-6334 Gowanus Councilman Lander..............................718 499-1090 Park Slope Councilman Levin...............................718 875-5200 CB6 District Manager 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
Lillie Marshall and Phaedra Thomas at an EPA outreach meeting at PS 15.
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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 www.star-revue.com
late August, 2014
Old Timer’s a happy day of reunion
O
ld Timer’s Day is a once a year celebration for all those past and present who have made the Red Hook Houses their home. People from all over the country include this joyful reunion in their summer vacation plans. Normally, all gather in the comfortable Coffey park, but the park is under renovation so the fest was moved to BushClinton, or T-Park.
This year marked 30 years of Red Hook Oldtimers. The main event took place Sunday, August 9th, and was preceded by various gatherings around town, including a 80’s disco dance party at nearby SRB’s. It went from 10 pm to 4 am on Saturday, and was a possible reason for Sunday’s late-gathering crowd. The Old Timers maintain a Facebook page called Red Hook Old Timers Day where people stay in touch with the old neighborhood. A related page is the Red Hook Project’s Alumni, whose mission statement states: “
by George Fiala into Coffey Park. This year, the park was unavailable, as a somewhat controversial park reconstruction has closed it for a year. There was some discussion about holding it in the stadium, but in the end T-Park was preferred by the Parks Department and the organizers held it there. Heat turned out to be a problem as the large paved park proved a bit uncomfortable, and many more people spent the day outside the park and across the street, taking advantage of the shady trees.
Police as behaved as old-timers
As in years past there was a large police presence, however this year the police for the most part were friendly participants, rather than stony looking onlookers. This is in part due to the more relaxed, community based policing favored by the new captain, Justin Lenz.
Red Hook Old Timer’s Day 2014
“You know who you are! You grew up in RED HOOK PROJECTS; Peyton Place, Poor Block, Junkie Paradise, The New Projects, Sal’s, West 9th, Lorraine Street, The Bakery, Clinton Street, Flag Pole, Slide Time, Welfare Island, Chavis Block, 811, Paradise, or the Point, etc. You collected cleansing tops from your mother’s cabinet to play Skelly’s, Double-dutch was a 3-hour game, Coco Levio was an all day event, and in the summer, the Johnny pump was as good as the Pool!, the PAL Miccio was your after school program, or if you brought your shoes from Fred Braun’s you were uppity! And don’t forget the Center Party’s...!” The feeling is very much like a college reunion. Happily surprised people are seen hugging all day as old friends and neighbors find each other and catch up. “You lived on the first floor at 21 Mill!” “Last time I saw you you were a little girl!,” and things like that. For some, Old Timer’s Day might be called survivors day. The 1970’s and 80’s were tough times, with drug dealing and gang wars that went way out of hand, ending with the sad death of PS 15’s beloved principal Patrick Daly. I spoke to people who joined the military to escape the neighborhood gangs, and others who spent all their free time at the Red Hook ballfields, using sports as their way out. I met Lorenzo Boston, who told me that in addition to being the first black to move into the Red Hook Houses, back in the 1940’s, he organized martial arts groups, and used sports and music to inspire local youths into seeking a non-criminal life. In a way, Old Timer’s Day returned to its roots this 30th year by holding the affair in T-Park, and across the street in the back of the Red Hook Pool. It began as an informal gathering in just that location. As it got bigger, it moved
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Community a big word at Captain Lenz’s precinct (continued from page 1)
stances: once for 4th of July, and once in February. “I had them out here for the fireworks for the Super Bowl,” he explains, and quickly adds that “it was ungodly frigid. You know, it was good… but it was cold.”
A community partner As the police captain, Lenz wants to maintain a safe and comfortable community. Thus far it seems he’s been mostly successful. He’s had to deal with very little negative feedback, and has even gotten positive feedback from neighbors. He remembers a recent call he got from a mother in the community – her young son had been playing with a ball on the sidewalk, and when it rolled out into the street a patrolling officer got out of his car to hand it back to the kid. The mother felt compelled to call Lenz and thank him for the officer’s professionalism, but he felt it was unnecessary. “I appreciate the call, don’t get me wrong,” he says, “but people videotape us all the time doing great work and no one ever knows about it.” In another minor disturbance recently, police were called as a crowd was leaving a bar around closing time. “It was 4:03 am and everyone was coming out of the bar. What do you expect? Everyone was being loud and boisterous.” But within three minutes of the police arriving, everyone dispersed and no arrests were made. He later found out that people had been videotaping the officers from a window across the street without them knowing. Though he figures that this is just another example of the kind of good work they do every day, Lenz did use the opportunity to address his officers. After congratulating them for their effective policing, he used the case as proof that “you never know who’s watching.” However, he sees this as a positive thing. “If you go to work every day thinking the whole world is watching how you interact with people, it steps up the professionalism.” Of course the captain and the community have certain expectations of their officers, but Lenz has hopes and expectations of the community, too.
“The entire system is based on what the community believes are its issues when it comes to quality of life.” This is why he says communication between the police and the community is so important. “I want to know about crime… I can’t solve it if I don’t know about it.” To an extent, the communication he describes does exist. He happily admits, “there’s the dedicated members of the community that come to every community meeting, the activists that are really involved in the issues that affect the neighborhood, that guys like me get to meet all the time. They’re not afraid to tell me when they think we’ve screwed up and something needs to be fixed. I love to have that rapport.”
Though the police are still looking for ballistic and DNA evidence to confirm their suspicions, they’ve pieced a story together already. Purportedly, the April incident involved the shooting of two brothers in Red Hook. Though arrests were made, witnesses later recanted their testimony leaving the police to continue searching for hard evidence. In the July episode, a former friend of one of the brothers was present. Rumor was that this acquaintance was becoming friendly with the April shooter. In what was likely an act of vengeance, the brothers opened fire.
The two were arrested and the gun was recovered that same night. When the 78th precinct conducted a search warAnd that raprant the port is effective. n e x t When the residay they dents communif o u n d cate with the poanother. lice, the problems Witnessare often taken es were care of. Whether working making comwith the plaints, or better police and yet as witnesses, helped the police rely identify on community who was members to adinvolved, dress their probthough lems. Unlike his they later previous assignencounment, working tered the Narcotics in East similar New York, Lenz problem says that in this of recantneighborhood ed statethere are typiments. cally a number of Lenz giving out the ‘Cop of the Month’ award at a Regardcooperative wit- recent Precinct Council Meeting. less, “we nesses for any crime. He says that most were immediately able to connect the of the quality-of-life crimes, things like story to a previous shooting on April car break-ins, are only a handful of peo- 22nd in Red Hook,” the Captain proudple, anyway. “We continuously arrest ly explained. “Literally, by the time I them,” he explains, “and when they’re came to work the next day I had the full in jail all the complaints go down.” story, which is like television-show policing!”
Example of police work
He points to the recent shooting in Gowanus as a perfect example of this type of communication. The incident took place on July 30th and involved a shooting in a basketball game turned ugly, possibly in an act of revenge for a Red Hook shooting on April 22nd.
Unfortunately, things don’t always go so smoothly. He explains that a lot of the time people will come to meetings that “are only there for something negative.” Hopefully their concern is addressed, he adds, but Lenz says they typically never come to another meeting after that.
Still, Lenz remains largely satisfied with the direction of the department. The only change he says he’d want is more officers. Several have been transferred out of the 76th for promotions and new assignments, but no one has been assigned to fill in their place. Even though the overall crime numbers for the neighborhood are very good Lenz says more cops could mean a bike unit and greater foot patrol, which he believes would foster better interaction with the community on a daily basis. “In a neighborhood that’s really residential and closeknit like this, it would be great to have cops walking around.” One solution to both further community interaction and new officers lies in the local kids. The 76th precinct runs an Explorer program for youth age 1420. Lenz says he’s absolutely looking for more high school students with an interest in policing to get involved with the program, since it’s practically a form of scouting. “We constantly have them here in the station house… it’s a great opportunity for them to have an inside look at what really happens inside a police station.” However, the program is presenting its own problems. Though applications are readily available online to be printed out and filled in, the number of applicants is low. According to a demographic survey from juvenile justice, Lenz says that the percentage of children eligible for the program is relatively low compared to other commands. Not only that, but the program is only partially subsidized by the police department, so kids who are both eligible and interested have to pay a fee to be involved. But what these considerations make clear is that Captain Lenz wants to put the community first. With all his emphasis on interaction and communication, Lenz wants to make sure people feel the statistics that indicate a positive trend in neighborhood safety. “That’s the whole key to success: collaborating with as many different groups and as many different people as possible, getting our message out there – sometimes you do it through will of personality,” he says sincerely. “And that’s what to me has always made this job kind of fun.”
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FA I R WAY M A R K E T. C O M Red Hook Star-Revue
www.star-revue.com
late August 2014, Page 7
EDITORIAL:
Staying vigilant on community issues
T
here are three neighborhood institutions in peril. One, the Long Island College Hospital is on life support, and only a miracle will save it now. Barring a major miracle, LICH is gone. The second is the Red Hook library. There is a plan to subdivide the library to provide rehearsal space for city artists. The third is our working waterfront namely the Cruise Terminal and the Containerport. The terminal operator is faced with declining revenues and is forced to seek additional ways to bring income in from the containerport. This is why they have rented space to garbage trucks alongside Degraw Street, and also why they are allowing a promoter to hold a two day concert on Pier 9A. For now, the concert is a one-shot affair, and the garbage trucks will be moved to a less annoying place, but unless something changes, there will be more and more non shipping uses made of the piers. The Cruise Terminal is down to 17 days where a ship is in port each year. This is hardly enough to support the operation, much less the $20 million capital expense invested to allow the ships to plug into the electric grid rather than run their engines while in port (Shore Power). A lesson can be learned from the LICH experience. When the state announced plans to shut the hospital, the unions who employ nurses and other hospital workers mounted a campaign to save the hospital. They were joined by the leaders of local neighborhood associations in a much reported series of court cases. Protests were held on a pretty regular basis, and we spent many days running down to the hospital to take pictures and report. Things heated up when the public advocate used the issue to boost his mayoral campaign, and many local politicians showed their faces as well. As it turned out, neither the mayor, nor
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
(send yours to editor@redhookstar.com)
Star-Revue shortage
Folk are coming in asking for your paper. Do you think you can increase our supply. Folk are reading, Good News!! In addition, I’m hoping we can get Saturday hours for the fall wouldn’t hurt to mention it in your upcoming article. More folk are coming in, I have no doubt that your newsworthy articles are great for library business. Thank You, Sandra, Red Hook Library
Heights needs love too
I am glad to hear the BPL is listening to Red Hook. Now it needs to listen to Brooklyn Heights and stop its library destruction plan. Marsha Rimler
Libraries as libraries
Amen, Red Hook Star Revue! We need our libraries as libraries. . If the library folks can’t figure out how to program for literacy, fire them and start again. The blackmail tactics of the library leaders –
Page 8 Red Hook Star-Revue
our city council or state legislatures had the power to change the LICH game plan. That power centered at the head of NY state, which is why you might have seen a number of posters around town asking where the hell is Governor Cuomo. Our governor would love to be US pres-
ident, and the only way he would have changed his mind about the hospital was if the closing would have caused him some political damage. There were very few neighborhood people at the LICH protests, hardly anybody from Red Hook, which probably has the most to lose. With few protestors, the major media choose to cover things elsewhere, and thus the governor got away unscathed. Carlos Menchaca likes to tell audiences that community involvement is the most important aspect of a democracy. An office holder is emboldened to act when he knows that the people he is elected to represent are behind an issue. Showing up at neighborhood meetings, and following up with letters and phone calls and more meetings is more important than anyone realizes. It took a bit of a while, but even a president who had won a landslide victory was brought down by public opinion back in 1974. Just because a bunch of us gave the li-
brary bigwigs a piece of our mind last month doesn’t mean that the library executives will give up on their plan. They have professional strategists working for them, figuring out ways in which to turn us around and inside out.
and think that’s what we should have. While the park is a wonderful looking thing, especially the new basketball courts on Pier 2, the space is shared by luxury housing, much of it still planned or just going up.
BerlinRosen is the public relations firm that gave us Dante’s hair. They advise
The advantage of maintaining maritime activity in our neck of the woods is that luxury housing is at least delayed. In the meantime, there are some well paying union jobs, there remains the opportunity to develop Brooklyn as a port of call, bringing us tourist dollars as well as a convenient departure point for some of us wanting to take a cruise.
the mayor on all his major initiatives, including UPK and paid sick leave. They are representing the Brooklyn Public Library in their endeavor to allow Spaceworks to start chopping up the system. Red Hook is their guinea pig. They are learning from us, and what they learn here they will start using in bigger Brooklyn libraries. At this point it is most important to let the City Council know how we feel. This means writing letters and calling Councilmember Menchaca. Some of our readers are in the districts of Levin and Lander - they should know about this as well. The choice is to sit back and let things happen, or to take active part in the world around us. The phone numbers of our elected representatives are printed on page four of every issue of the StarRevue. Carlos Menchaca reads his emails. You can reach him at menchaca@me.com. Some of us look at Brooklyn Bridge Park
The Red Hook Containerport is the last working facility in Brooklyn or Manhattan. It has the ability to reduce truck traffic. Goods meant for the city can be unloaded here instead of having to be trucked in from New Jersey or elsewhere. The nascent barging operation, sending containers from Brooklyn to Elizabeth and back also has the potential to cut down on trucking. At one point, the Federal Government subsidized barging just for this reason. When that stopped, the Port Authority stepped in with financial help. The PA is under pressure to cut subsidies, which then puts pressure on the stevedore to increase revenues. The best way to increase revenues is to increase the number of container ships coming here to unload. This is something else that our politicians should know about from us. Do we want luxury condos on our shores, or do we give a working waterfront another, and a better, shot. Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, and State Senator Velmanette Montgomery are advocates of working waterfronts. Tell them to put their money where their mouths are... email Dan Wiley who works for Nydia at daniel.wiley@ mail.house.gov. Velmanette’s email is montgome@senate.state.ny.us.
take this dance studio or not have air conditioning in your library – was the absolute wrong thing to do. The dance lady would be better off looking for funding from the Arts Council than from the SpaceWorkswolf-in-sheep-clothing operators. Bottom line: The city should put 1% of its budget into its libraries and its parks – we wouldn’t have these horrible privatization situations if our politicians mandated the 1%. Politicians, stand up for what is right! Is 1% too much for the 99% who need our parks as parks and our libraries as libraries? Enough of private public partnerships. - Judi Simon
Rabble Rousing
You say the real villain is our tax policy, which I agree with, so why sensationalize and try to sow division in the neighborhood with politically loaded words like ‘colonialism’? Neighbors can have differing opinions without the need to reduce it to Us vs Them. Focus on the real issue, which is lack of funding for public libraries and parks, and leave the rabble rousing out of it, it serves no one well. - Allison Reeves
www.star-revue.com
late August, 2014
Mark’s
Corne r That Crazy World of Politics by George Fiala
Paige Bellenbaum, who was running for State Committee/District Leader to replace Jo Ann Simon, who is running for Assembly, was taken off the ballot last month due to an error in her filing certificate. As she says on her website: “It is with sadness that I inform you I am no longer a candidate for female district leader in the 52nd Assembly District. My campaign trusted the experts to appropriately file my petitions with the required cover sheet and unfortunately for human error this sheet was omitted, thus not allowing my name to appear on the ballot. Since this was my first time running for office I trusted the experts. Lesson learned.” There is still a chance that she could be nominated to the position, as nobody else is running. The Kings County Democratic Leader (a position formerly held by Vito Lopez, and now by former Lopez ally Frank Seddio, will do the appointing. Seddio is supporting Simon to replace Joan Millman in the 52nd AD assembly district. Bellenbaum and Pete Sikora, running against Simon, were both endorsed by the Working Families Party (WFP), and had been running together. They were both endorsed by the trio of local politicians supporting Sikora - Lander, Levin and Squadron. The filing foul-up has spawned some conflicting rumors. Someone in the Simon camp speculated to us that for some reason the WFP fouled up her petition on purpose. Hoping to be nominated by Seddio, Bellenbaum proposed switching her support to Simon, who Seddio is backing. The story continues that upon hearing of this, Brad Lander gave Paige a severe tongue lashing. In response we heard that there would be no reason to misfile the petition, and it was an unfortunate mistake made by politicians running for office for the first time. as Paige herself admitted. Simon has been offering the appointment in order to secure Paige’s support, which she would love. The Brad story may have been exaggerated to provide cover for Paige to switch sides. We reached out to Sikora who told us that no matter who Bellenbaum ends up supporting, he would like to see her appointed female District Leader. PS - one of Bellenbaum’s signature issues, a law mandating post-partum depression screening of new mothers, was signed by the governor on August 4th.
Nydia and Felix
In our last issue, we insinuated that Nydia’s support for Felix Ortiz in the 52nd District was not exactly wholehearted. Ortiz, who first attained office around the same time that Nydia was
Red Hook Star-Revue
first elected Congresswoman, is facing a significant challenger for the first time since 1996. Caesar Zuniga is a Mexican American, member of Community Board 7, and has been seen around town with Carlos Menchaca, who defeated a long-time incumbent last year. The Ortiz campaign claimed that despite her professed support, they had no statement, nothing in writing from Nydia that they could use in their campaign. So on Friday, August 8th, Nydia showed up at their campaign office, took Ortiz to the Sunset Park, posed with him, and dashed off the following statement: “Felix has always been there for us, fighting for working families. Now we must be there for him.”
Carlos’ Budget
The other day WNYC’s Brian Lehrer show featured a segment about City Council grants. A reporter for dnaInfo has created a database of grants given out by each Councilman. The document was shared on the WNYC website. So we went to look at how Carlos has allocated funding this year. His district includes many ethnic concentrations, and thus were grants given to Chinese, Jewish, Italian and Arab community organizations. There was also a healthy distribution of funds to LGBT organizations, many of them citywide. Of course Sunset Park groups received the lion share of attention, Sunset Park being the largest part of his district. We have compiled a list of grants of interest to local readers of this paper. One might note that of the seven steering members of the Red Hook Coalition, only Added Value and the Red Hook Volunteers failed to receive funding in this cycle. These groups are listed in red. Brooklyn Arts Council, Inc. ........................$40,000 Brooklyn Community Board # 6 ....................3,500 Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, Inc. ................5,000 Carroll Gardens Association, Inc. .................5,000 Cora, Inc. ......................................................5,000 Dance Theatre Etcetera, Inc. ........................8,000 Extreme Kids and Crew, Inc. ........................3,500 Extreme Kids and Crew, Inc. ........................5,000 Falconworks Artists Group, Inc. ....................7,000 Friends of Firefighters, Inc. ...........................3,500 Brooklyn School for Collaborative Studies ...5,000 Fund for the City of New York, Inc. ...............5,000 Fund for the City of New York, Inc. Center for Court Innovation ..........................5,000 Fund for the City of New York, Inc. Center for Court Innovation ..........................5,000 Good Shepherd Services, Inc .......................7,000 Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Inc. ..............7,500 Groundswell Community Mural Project, Inc. .4,500 Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, Inc. ...........3,500 Neighbors Helping Neighbors Inc. ................7,500 Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow ...........10,000 Participatory Budgeting Project, Inc. ............7,000 Red Hook Initiative, Inc. ..............................17,000 Redhook West Resident Association ............3,500 Waterfront Museum, The ..............................5,000 Make the Road New York .............................7,500 Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation ...................................................8,000
BY MARK SHAMES
W
e ask far too much of our average politician and perhaps not enough of ourselves. Governing isn’t easy and I grant that each official honestly believes that they will govern better then any alternative. Please understand that they, like the rest of us, want to obtain or retain their employment and the prerogatives that go with it. Unlike the rest of us, they may have to gain not only the approval of a political boss, but then must go out and gain the support of the majority of the people who vote in their district. That is where the real trouble begins, particularly in a primary race. Primary voters are among the most opinionated and annoying in any given community. I should know because I am one of those annoying people. We don’t just say, “Hey, I am voting for you because I think you are smart, resourceful and empathetic and I trust you to weigh all the variables and do what is best”. No, instead we assume that they have the most venal motives while we demand adherence to specific policy agendas. Such agendas are often self-contradictory, impossible to achieve and at odds with the agendas of other important and powerful interests and other communities, but so what the heart wants what it wants. This brings me to the Wednesday August 13, 2014 New York Times editorial discussing and supporting the intention of the current administration to add a middle income affordable housing component to the housing previously proposed at the edge of Brooklyn Bridge Park near Pier 6. I disagree with the Times that because the original deal had a housing component that the final product must have one. I agree with the progressive elements in the community that it would be better to raise sufficient funds through tax revenues to support all of our public needs including public spaces, however, tax increases for such purposes are not even a remote option at this time. The idea of a surcharge on real estate taxes in Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill to support the park, something like what is done in a Business Improvement District, had been floated at one time and was a non-starter. If there were to be a call for such an increase, it most likely would be originating from the same pro-equality folks at City Hall who are advancing the current park plan and clearly that is not happening. So then what? Our local elected officials remain unanimous in support of the park. Aren’t we all? They are, also, in lock step in opposition to the plan to fund its continuing operations. Yes, even those that I support and those for whom I have personal affection must swim with that current. They know full well that in local civic life there are no neutral references to residential development, we always are decrying over-development and, of course, we all oppose OVER-development. There are no references to condominiums only LUXURY condominiums and we want no more of those built unless we ourselves are in the market. Even if there were alternative revenue streams, it would not preclude the administration from considering residential units at this site. It might be cause for a further discussion at City Hall as to how many more affordable housing units they could add to the same envelope. The one thing that I am sure of is if there is to be high-rise housing at the entrance to the park, then such housing ought to have an affordable housing component.
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late August 2014, Page 9
Local fundraising out west
Brooklyn-based cyclists Lisa Herman (left), 60, and Hannah, 26, her daughter, stopped along the Oregon coast while biking in the 1,500-mile Investors Bank Bike 4 Friendship cycling tour. Lisa and Hannah, who just completed the journey, traveled with nine women from Seattle to Los Angeles to raise funds for the Friendship Circle organization that assists special needs children. This is the second summer in a row that Lisa, who is a teacher, biked in this long-distance fundraiser. Last year, she pedaled from Miami to New York City. Inspired to live an active life even though she was born with just one lung, Hannah, who is also a teacher, joined this year’s tour and cycled for most of the distance.
Page 10 Red Hook Star-Revue
FAIRWAY MARKET TO HOST SHOPPING NIGHT TO BENEFIT FRIENDS OF FIREFIGHTERS INC. ON WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20TH The Brooklyn Heights (“Hill Street”) Fire Department Engine 224 placed first in the Fairway Firefighter Food FaceOff on July 30th, and so to honor their dedication, bravery and great grilling skills, Fairway is hosting a Shopping Night for their charity, Friends of Firefighters, on Wednesday, August 20th from 4 to 10 pm in the Red Hook store (480 Van Brunt Street). The Engine 224 competed against Red Hook Engine 279 Ladder 131, Brooklyn Heights Engine 205 Ladder 118, and Red Hook Engine 202 Ladder 101, in Fairway’s fourth annual grilling competition and won a $500 gift card to use for their firehouse, and a special Shopping Night that will give 25% of all sales from registered customers who shop between 4 and 10 pm to the Friends of Firefighters. The Friends of Firefighters Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation that began as a community-based group in response to the events of September 11, 2001. Friends of Firefighters is dedicated to addressing the physical, mental health, and wellness needs of New York City’s firefighters and their families by providing long-term support and services through confidential counseling, wellness services, and other assistance. To participate in the Shopping Night, Fairway customers can simply register at an in-store table to receive the form that they’ll present to the cashier when they’re checking out.
Red Hook Coalition winds down
Earlier this year we received an email from Red Hook Coalition Coordinator Sapna Advani, in response to a question about their plans. She referred us to the chart above, saying: “As I have mentioned earlier, the Red Hook Coalition has committed to several initiatives in the grant proposals and has complete intentions to address the items listed in those grants. When we have information to share on those initiatives, we will definitely post them on the website. Note that the Coalition has received no new funding for new projects.”
www.star-revue.com
late August, 2014
Red Hook Rising Update by the Red Hook Rising Committee, Gita Nandan, Co-Chair ver the past year a committee of local residents was formed to work with the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery to create a road to recovery post-Sandy. Red Hook was selected as one of ten NYC neighborhoods to participate in the NY Rising Community Reconstruction program. The goal was to create a plan that will help foster a more sustainable Red Hook and help our neighborhood be prepared for future events. Over the past year regular Committee meetings were held and four public meetings to gather ideas and discuss the best solutions for Red Hook. Through this community led process, over 50 projects were identified as a part of this Resilience Plan and 8 Proposed Projects were highlighted as recommendations for immediate funding. All recommended projects are now moving forward into the implementation phase. There is an allocated funding source through the CBDG funds of $3 million. The committee will be continuing on through the implementation phase to help provide a community voice in the process, and to ensure that the projects are realized in a manner that aligns with our vision. The firm of HGA has been hired through the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (a consulting firm based in New Orleans yet with extensive New York City experience), to facilitate implementation for all NY Rising Proposed Projects in Plans across the state. Implementation will happen in various phases, and will take up to two or more years. So, while this is exciting there is a lot more work to be done to help bring these projects to life. Red Hook Proposed Projects include:
O
• • • • • • • •
Relief center network Emergency backup generator for health and social services provider Resiliency construction workforce training Local financial assistance program for small businesses, start-ups and homeowners/ tenants Solar-powered emergency lights for Red Hook Houses stairwells Red Hook Houses microgrid feasibility study New ferry landing at or near Atlantic Basin Red Hook drainage study
In addition to the above Proposed Projects, the Red Hook NYRCR Community has drafted principles to guide the development of the $200 million partnership between the State and the City of New York to construct a comprehensive flood management system to protect Red Hook. This Integrated Flood Protection System would reduce risk for much of the Community and is critical to the overall safety of this evolving neighborhood. If you have any questions or comments, please send an email to rising@redhookstar.com, and the Star-Revue will forward us your concerns. We also maintain a website, www.redhookcrzp@wordpress.com
Borough President comes to Miccio Center
On Wednesday, August 6, 2014, youth at Good Shepherd Services’ Miccio Community Center participated in the launch of Knockout Obesity’s, “KO Program.” The combination of boxing drills and nutrition lessons was created by Brooklyn restaurateur, Dimitrios Verteouris, who founded the charity after he lost 82 pounds in three months. Joining him for the launch were professional boxing trainer, Gary Stark, Jr., and Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams. There’s always something good going on at Rocky’s of Red Hook!! Tuesday Night is Irish Language Night Beginning Irish at 7 Advanced at 8 Taught by Brian Mallon Irish Traditional Music Sundays at 4, Tuesdays at 9 MONDAYS ARE NOW
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late August 2014, Page 11
I
Hawaiian treat comes to Brooklyn by Mary Ann Pietanza
f you’ve ever been to Hawaii, you most likely would have had the opportunity to sample a most exceptional and flavorful appetizer called poke. Pronounced pok-eh, the word literally means the slicing or cutting of raw, fresh fish into bite-size pieces. Made with the fewest of ingredients, but with the greatest of skill, Hawaiians have long prepared it at home and for lu/au and other celebrations. Consisting of raw sushi-grade yellowfin tuna (or other fish), limu (seaweed) roasted ground kukui nuts and sea salt, it is a culinary delight among Hawaiians.
that anymore, because poke has arrived on the east coast, and Brooklyn is its prime destination.
So much so, in fact, that a contest is held each year to select the best poke among amateur and professional chefs with as much as a hundred varieties. Long steeped in traditional preparation, it has been modernized from its original recipe to include scallions, sesame oil, soy and even chile pepper. It’s not surprising, then, that poke made its way across the Pacific to the west coast of the United States where largely food-loving Californians have been enjoying it for some time now. I, myself, have relatives in California and can honestly say I look forward to the times I could visit and feast on poke with them. But it seems I may not have to travel 3,000 miles to do
Discovered poke in San Diego
It goes without saying that poke can be found, at best, on a handful of Manhattan’s finest Japanese menus, but Chef DiMartini has managed to bring it to the forefront of our borough’s food-obsessed, culinary-crazed food emporium, Smorgasburg. And people are happy to see him there. Tourists and residents familiar with poke, and newcomers who are curious, are all too eager to give it a try. He passes the test each time, with flying colors. Brooklyn born, and trained at the French Culinary Institute, Chef DiMartini has had a particular craving for poke ever since he returned from a family trip to San Diego last year. Recognizing the simplicity of its fragrant ingredients, and possessing the skills to properly rub, salt and slice the tuna, he began to make poke himself, and then, took it a step further to share it with the rest of us foodies looking for a fresh new item to gloat over. “It’s quite a rare thing when a niche goes unfilled in New York City, especially in the culinary world,” says Chef DiMartini, “and what more of a fitting
Chef DiMartini serving up Poke at Smorgasburg Williamsburg.
place to start a Hawaiian culinary revolution than in Brooklyn, and at its celebrated craft food festival of Smorgasburg.” You can find him and his team of “East Coast Poke” (which he prefers to be pronounced the phonetic poke, as in “Coke”) at Smorgasburg Williamsburg (and occasionally Brooklyn Bridge Park) serving up the best poke this side of Hilo! His super fresh Hawaiian ahi yellowfin is combined with a soy and sesame dressing, seaweed, crushed macadamia nuts (to substitute the unattainable kukui nut) scallions and the slightest touch of chile pepper -
a delectable combination that bursts heavenly on the palate.- and is a perfect reprieve from the summer heat. He points out that poke was a practical and easy way of preparing raw fish in a warm, semi-tropical climate when refrigeration was unavailable. In keeping with the Hawaiian tradition of serving poke, he offers the choice of rice with each purchase. “We are a culture that lovingly embraced the lu’au, the lei, and hula dancing. Yet somehow this iconic dish has eluded us....until now,” Chef DiMartini is proud to say.
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Page 12 Red Hook Star-Revue
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Velmanette throws Albany staffer a Red Hook farewell.
Mayor comes to RHI
Bill De Blasio showed up at RHI earlier this month for a press event to mark the beginning of hurricane season in NY. He honored the emergency preparedness planning of the Red Hook Coalition by giving out preparedness bags and speaking about Sandy and how we are working to prepare for a future event. Red Hook native Nancy Santiago has headed Velmanette Montgomery’s Albany State Senate office for over two decades. For her retirement, Montgomery threw her a local party in back of the Fairway Market. Among the guests were Irene Van Slyke who has headed the Brooklyn office of the State Senator; Judith Daly, who is a family friend and former baby-sitter; and many friends and political supporters.
Nancy Santiago with her son and his family.
Red Hook Star-Revue
Fairway has been presenting live jazz for free every Saturday and Sunday from 6 pm - 8 pm. You can still catch it this weekend, as the program ends Labor Day weekend. The outdoor cafe provides barbecue chicken and ribs and fresh lobsters to go with the music and the scenic view at the Fairway dining area in the rear of the store.
Felix Ortiz with Tony Plana
Noted actor Tony Plana operates a non profit that teaches very young children English using theater. He is bringing this program to PS 15 and Felix is helping him.
www.star-revue.com
late August 2014, Page 13
Page 14 Red Hook Star-Revue
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late August, 2014
Fairway hosts Firefighters Cookoff for charity
Night Out Against Crime a Community Affair
Star-Revue Classifieds Auctions
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• Demolition and waste removal • Violation removals • Landmark Preservation contractor
Jim & Debbie Buscarello PHONE: (718) 852-5364 Fax: (347) 935-1263 www.jabusbuildingcorp.com jabusbuildingcorp@gmail.com HIC License #0883902 Trade Waste License #1135
Sebastian, Florida Beautiful 55+ manufactured home community. 4.4 miles to the beach, Close to riverfront district. Pre-owned homes starting at $35,000. New models available. 772-581-0080, www.beach-cove. com
Vacation Rentals
OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800638-2102. Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com
Wanted
CASH for Coins! Buying ALL Gold & Silver. Also Stamps & Paper Money, Entire Collections, Estates. Travel to your home. Call Marc in NY 1-800-9593419
Your Ad Here Call 718 624-5568 ask for Kimberly
Licensed Electrical Contractors Commercial • Residential • Industrial Free Estimates
Violations Removed All Types of Wiring Emergency Service EMERGENCY SERVICE 137 King Street Brooklyn, NY 11231 Fax: (718) 935-0887
www.star-revue.com
Vito Liotine (718) 625-1995 (718) 625-0867 aliotine@aol.com
No job too big or too small
Toilets, Boilers, Heating, Faucets, Hot Water Heaters,
Pool Heaters.
B & D HEATING 507 Court Street 718 625-1396 late August 2014, Page 15
Page 16 Red Hook Star-Revue
www.star-revue.com
late August, 2014