Star revue may 2014 by George Fiala

The MAY 2014

Red Hook StarªRevue FREE

SOUTH BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

The Red Hook Coalition - non profits working for the community

he roots of the Red Hook Coalition may be said to lie at the ornate Atlantic Avenue building that today houses Trader Joes. For many years that building was the home of the main branch of the Brooklyn’s Independence Savings Bank.

A bank moves to Red Hook Back in 1997, a local committee spearheaded by activist Wally Bazemore, was successful in getting Independence to open a Red Hook branch. Prior to that, the closest bank was the Chase at 79 Hamilton Avenue - a long walk for most Red Hookers. The Daily News wrote: “Bazemore expressed the hope that the arrival of the Independence branch would spark a commercial rebirth to Red Hook, a waterfront community dominated by a sprawling, crime-plagued housing project and isolated from surrounding neighborhoods by the elevated Gowanus Expressway.” Things didn’t work out at first. Four years later, the Times wrote: “...the economic rebirth of Red Hook never completely happened. Residents have been slow to patronize the bank, preferring instead to use a local check-cashing company or go to banks in neighborhoods near their jobs. Two years ago, bank officials estimated that the branch

by George Fiala

was losing $250,000 a year and talked of permanently closing it.” Pushed by local politicians, NY State Comptroller H. Carl McCall invested $10 million in state pension money with that branch, ensuring its profitablity. Indendence, orginally called South Brooklyn Savings Bank, was chartered as a non profit bank, and had a history of community giving. In 1998, CEO Charles Hamm decided to split off the bank’s charitable work into a separate arm. Christened the Independence Community Foundation (ICF), it was armed with both a $50 million endowment from the bank, and the services of Marilyn Gelber. Gelber, began her career as a NY City Planner specializing in low-income neighborhoods. She was Brooklyn Borough President Charles Hamm’s chief of staff for ten years. In 1994 she became the NYC Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEC). As DEC head she oversaw a landmark deal with upstate communities ensuring a long term supply of clean drinking water for the city. Gelber, a lifelong New Yorker, lives in Boerum Hill. In her new position as Executive Director of the Community Foundation, she was able to fund non profits throughout the borough - includ-

The shock of Red Hook under water spurred a host of disaster recovery and preparation activities throughout the neighborhood. (Star-Revue file photo)

ing Red Hook.

Familiar with neighborhood Gelber was familiar with Red Hook, dating back to her work as a city planner. In the 1970’s she worked on the city’s unsuccessful plan to turn a large part of Red Hook into a container port. Quoted in a 1981 NY Times article, she said ‘’Red Hook is one of the best examples I know of a neighborhood that has seen both the positive and the negative effects of government.’’ In a 2010 Brooklyn Daily Eagle piece titled “Doing Good Right Here - ReImagining Red Hook,” Gelber wrote of her experience as a grant giver.

The Red Hook Volunteers sprung up out of necessity, as volunteers who flocked to Red Hook to help after the storm needed direction. The Volunteers continue on today at 360 Van Brunt Street, as many Red Hook homeowners are still suffering.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

“Turning patches of concrete into parcels of farmland; converting a business need into an employment opportunity; encouraging low income community residents to become philanthropists; creating a second chance high school; building affordable homes for public housing residents — impossible dreams? No, real changes wrought by smart nonprofits with investments in Red Hook and supported by the Brooklyn Community Foundation.” A few years after the 2006 sale of Inde-

pendence to Sovereign Bank, the Foundation repurposed and renamed itself. It became a non-profit, so in addition to being a grant giver, it could increase the endowment by grant receiving. Renamed the Brooklyn Community Fund (BCF), Gelber remained at the helm. She finally retired in June, 2013. Local ICF grant recipients have included Added Value, Red Hook Initiative, Dance Theatre Etcetera, Cora Dance, Kentler, BWAC, Good Shepherd Services, Southwest Brooklyn IDC (SBIDC) and Falconworks.

Game changer Sandy was a disaster of epic proportions. Brooklyn is surrounded on three sides by water. Many communities were devastated. The Brooklyn Community Foundation stepped right up and created the Brooklyn Recovery Fund. Partnering with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and the Borough President Marty Markowitz, $1.5 million was raised in the first month after the storm. Among their initial, immediate disbursements were: (continued on page 3)

Red Hook StarªRevue The Happenings ª Red Hook Star Revue

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SOUTH BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

In just two short years we have grown from a novelty Table of Contents LICH Update...................... 5 Coffey Park Renov..... 11 to an institution. Particip. Budgeting............ 7 Micah on Art.............. 12

MAY 2014

BROOKLYN’S SOUTH COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

VOLUME 5 NO. 6

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THE RED HOOK PROM is back for another year! The event, a prom for adults, is produced by Pete Ascolese, the owner of Hope & Anchor, and includes DJ Robert Lux (aka DJ Body Rock) spinning ‘80s tunes and requests, food from Hope & Anchor, a photo booth, the crowning of Red Hook Queen or King (nominees include St. John Frizell, owner of Fort Defiance, Kyla McCracken, host of acclaimed variety show Smoochin Cuties, author Nahisha McCoy, Cora dancer Solomon Goodwin, and Dropsy Dousman!), a silent auction with amazing items from $5 to $5000, and the chance to get your ‘80s hair done by Elements Hair Studio, all in a REAL HIGH SCHOOL GYM decked out in style. South Brooklyn Community High School, 173 Conover Street (between Dikeman and Wolcott Streets) 7 pm 718 858 2520 for info PS 15 of Red Hook will host Puppetry Arts’ annual Red Hook Family Festival on Saturday May 3 12 noon-3 pm at 71 Sullivan Street. The event also includes the PS 15 Flea Market, juggle shows, and performances by Dancewave! PS 15 Schoolyard, Sullivan and Van Brunt 10 am - 5 pm

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SUNDAY MAY 4

Drumming Extravaganza at LittleField 101 Union Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231 Kimberly@redhookstar.com

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718 624-5568 www.RedHookStar.com

Red Hook StarªRevue SOUTH BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

The 2nd Annual Batala Birthday Party “The Carnival Project- A Celebration with BatalaNYC!” Batala was part of the recent Rolling Stones tour. Show will open with the Batala Banda band and singer Atlanta Amado Foresyth warming up the room with some well known songs by Daniela Mercury, Margareth Menezes, and more! Next, The Kings County Pipes and Drums will be joining Batala on Stage for a Cosmic Mash up of Scottish Carnival and Brazilian Carnival! The epic closer of this show brings the southern soul of New Orleans with the Lucky Chops Brass band to the stage to end the party with some Second Line. LittleField, 622 DeGraw Street, near 3rd Avenue

WEEKEND MAY 9 - 11 Cajun Fest at Jalopy

Brooklyn’s Cajun-Creole-Zydeco Festival features a weekend full of music, bonding, dancing, and good cheer. It’s a chance to learn a new song, refine a fiddle tune, dance your tail off and enjoy the rich flavor of traditional Cajun-made jambalaya. Made with authentic ingredients from Louisiana, the jambalaya will get your taste buds dancing while you play music by day and dance by night to the tunes of award-winning Cajun, Creole and Zydeco musicians. This year’s celebration includes bayouborn sounds, nonstop dancing, community jam sessions and delicious dishes served by the Jalopy Tavern. Get in on the latest Louisiana buzz from the local dancers and musicians, meet fellow lovers of Louisiana music, and find out who is going there soon. Jalopy Music Theatre, 315 Columbia Street. (718) 395-3214.

WEDNESDAY MAY 14 Extreme Kids & Cres May Soiree

Extreme Kids & Crew combats the stress and isolation faced by children with disabilities and their families through play, arts and movement programming, partnerships with cultural and therapeutic institutions, parent meet-ups and more. They are in the middle of a major fund-raising campaign, and everyone who contributes gets to take part in a funfilled night at Littlefields. There will be circus performances, music and awards presented by Rosanne Cash. Begins at 7 pm. LittleField, 622 DeGraw Street, near 3rd Avenue

SATURDAY, MAY 17

member

Kentler Benefit

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Kentler International Drawing Space celebrates twenty-four years of exhibitions. Martha Beck, founder of The Drawing Center, and Alanna Heiss and Dustin Yellin will be honored. Over 100 artists have generously donated original drawings and works on paper to help support Kentler’s vital programs including Exhibitions and Public Programs, The Kentler Flatfiles and K.I.D.S. Art Education. The 100 WORKS ON PAPER highlight the richness, diversity and innovation found in drawing and work on paper today and are on view in the gallery space until May 11. Each Ticket Holder will take home one of the artworks in the 100 WORKS ON PAPER to add to their collection. Begins at 6 pm. Kentler International Drawing Space 53 Van Brunt St, 875-2098 6 pm

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May, 2014

A network of local institutions work on Sandy relief (continued from page 1)

• Added Value - $10,000 for a pop-up farmers market to bring badly need fresh fruit and vegetables to impacted communities. • Dance Theatre Etcetera - $10,000 to hire a short term volunteer manager to assist the relief efforts of the Red Hook Coalition. • Good Shepherd Services - $10,000 for emergency cash assistance fund for Red Hook residents. • Mercy Home - $10,000 to replace destroyed equipment and food at a Red Hook group home for developmentally disabled adults. • Raices / Red Hook Senior Center $10,000 for hot dinners at NYCHA Miccio Center, plus support to retain staffer who will raise funds to repair damage sustained by the Red Hook Senior Center. • Red Hook Initiative - $10,000 for temporary external relations coordinator at this local organization which took on a key coordinating role in the days immediately after the hurricane. • Restore Red Hook - $10,000 for assistance to impacted business owners • Southwest BK Industrial Dev Corp - $10,000 to hire four organizers to manage volunteer labor.

is to create an inspiring and practical vision for the entire Red Hook community that defines a clear path toward the community’s wellness and vitality, while facilitating a process to address long term challenges and impending disasters. Committed to the fulfillment of this mission are partners in sustainable development and youth leadership (Added Value), youth empowerment (Red Hook Initiative), youth development and disaster case management (Good Shepherd Services), recovery and volunteer management (Red Hook Volunteers), business recovery and revitalization (ReStore Red Hook), and local job creation (Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation). Previously, RHC received a community-wide collaborative grant from the Brooklyn Community Foundation to allocate micro-grants to small businesses, meet immediate social service and food needs, and hire a coalition coordinator to build internal capacity and identify local employment opportunities.” Contact: Ian Marvy

BRF closed out at the end of January, leaving behind a December 2013 report called Brooklyn Communities Speak. Published last December, they included the Coalition’s accomplishments. “Among the many achieve-

The Recovery Fund created six groups in the most affected Brooklyn communities. They were named ‘community collectives’ and consisted of: • Canarsie Coalition • Red Hook Coalition • #Coney Recovers • Empower Sheepshead Recovery Coalition • Gerritsen Beach Long Term Recover Project •

This is how the BCF describes the Red Hook coalition in their literature: The Red Hook Coalition (RHC) is comprised of various communitybased organizations and social service centers, with expertise ranging from disaster case management, to industrial development, to racial and economic justice. The RHC mission

profit entity, at least as far as the StarRevue’s research could determine. All financial matters are handled by the Fund for the City of New York. The Fund is a Ford Foundation organization mandated to assist non-profits and government organizations. They perform a similar service for the Red Hook Justice Center. President Mary McCarthy, in a phone conversation with the Star-Revue, expressed an abiding admiration for the Red Hook community. In addition to their bookkeeping contributions, they offer financial grants as well.

Website

Brighton Beach Housing Colaition

All these coalitions are composed of community non profit organizations, many of them with existing relationships with the BCF. The coalitions have all been funded through BCF, holding regular meetings to achieve their postSandy goals which include creating recovery plans, building resiliency, rebuilding homes, mold remediation, and providing education and training for local residents.

The second of three public meetings held the Coalition discusses emergency planning in the event of a future disaster. The next meeting will be held at South Brooklyn Community High School, 173 Conover Street at 6 pm on May 7. (photo by George Fiala)

Dance Theatre Etcetera produces a Red Hook Fest each year. (file photo)

ments of the Red Hook Coalition and BRF-funded projects to date are: a Red Hook Summit, which brought community members together to inform the vision for long-term community recovery; $80,000 to 60 small businesses; $25,000 to support the work of Red Hook Volunteers in coordinating thousands of volunteers, who have provided mold remediation and rebuilding help in over 150 homes; repairs and mold remediation in 31 affordable housing units for 106 residents.”

Financial setup The Coalition is, by itself, not a non-

The Red Hook Coalition (RHC) still uses the domain www.redhooksummit. org, registered by Reg Flowers of Falconworks in June, 2013. The website consists of five pages, plus a link to a page which lists the grants they have received, their purpose and the amount. The Coalition has received five grants totaling $479,344. The first, for $100,000, came right after the storm and was the original impetus behind RHC. The money was made available by Gelber right when the Van Brunt Street businesses were wondering how they could afford to stay alive after losing so much in the flood. A consensus among this tight knit group of business owners that included Home/made, Fort Defiance, The Good Fork, and Bait and Tackle, was that it was vital for the continuity of the neighborhood that nobody leave.

Today RHC is a steering committee consisting of these members: Added Value, Good Shepherd Services, Red Hook Initiative, Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Corporation (SBIDC), Dance Theater Etcetera, Falconworks Artist Group, and the Red Hook Volunteers.

Community party The next grant listed on the sheet is from the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC. $12,000 was given to fund a Community Celebration. Most probably this funded the Red Hook Summit, held last summer at Pioneer Works and other locations.

The annual Harvest Festival is held at the Added Value farm every fall. (file photo)

Item 3 is a $50,000 grant from the Fund for the City of New York It was designated to fund the following: the Red Hook Volunteers, SBIDC (for a preparedness plan for businesses); and a preparedness plan for the community (used to hire Emergency Management Methodology Partners (EMMP).

ReStore Red Hook was quickly formed, spearheaded by Monica Byrne of Home/ made. They became a conduit between the money and the businesses. Initially using a local 501(c)3 corporation to accept the funding, they soon connected with The Fund for the City of NY, legitimizing everything.

SBIDC hired a Dewberry consultants, a Virginia consultant that does these things all over the country. They prepared a report and held a luncheon. The report can be found online at http:// www.sbidc.org/documents/RedHookPreparednessPlanFINAL.pdf

Restore went on to raise much more money, and were able to give out a series of grants to over 50 local businesses. ReStore Red Hook is no longer part of the Coalition, as it looks toward becomA 2011 meeting of Occupy Red Hook, a group that pre-dated Sandy but brought some future members of the Red Hook Coalition together to think about community planning ing a business oriented organization. (Star-Revue file photo).

The Red Hook Volunteers continue to help locals in fixing up flood damage. They provide free carpentry and other

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EMMP has been holding a series of planning meetings this spring which will lead to a communtiy plan.

(continued on page 19)

May, 2014 Page 3

Community Calendar CB 6 - ALL MEETINGS AT 6:30 PM

May meetings to be announced. Check the CB6 website for updates.

OTHER EVENTS: Wed April 30, 7-9:00 pm: Red Hook Civic Association, PS 15 Auditorium. All are invited to hear a set program and add what you like to the conversation. Tues May 6, 7:30-9 pm: 76th Precinct Community Council meeting at the stationhouse on Union between Hicks and Henry Sts. Wed May 7, 7:00-8:30 pm: Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association meets at the Hannah Senesh Community Day School, 342 Smith St (1st & 2nd Pl). Wed May 7, 6:00-7:30 pm: Red Hook Coalition, Community Input Meeting, South Brooklyn Community HS, 173 Conover Street, cafete Tues May 13, 6:30-7:30 pm: Red Hook West Tenant Association meets at 428 Columbia Street, 1 C Tuesday May 27, 6:30-9 pm: Gowanus CAG meeting, St. Mary Star of the Sea, 41 1st Street Wed May 28, 7-9:00pm: Red Hook Civic Association, PS 15 Auditorium. All are invited to hear a set program and add what you like to the conversation. Every Friday from 5 pm - 9 pm: Youth Basketball Instruction at the Miccio Center, 110 West 9th Street. See public service ad elsewhere in this issue for complete information.

FOR UPDATED LISTINGS GO TO www.redhookstar.com

PS 15 PATRICK F. DALY MAGNET SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

SPRING FLEA Saturday MAY 3RD FREE ADMISSION IN THE SCHOOLYARD Lillie Marshall and Phaedra Thomas at an EPA outreach meeting at PS 15.

Page 4 Red Hook Star-Revue

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May, 2014

Fodder for LICH consipiracy theorists (as well as followers of the yearlong struggle)

t presstime, the future of Cobble Hill’s Long Island College Hospital doesn’t look good.

Despite a protracted court battle that was supposed to bring some community input into the process of making sure that NY State doesn’t leave the area without a full-service hospital, it is quite possible that all medical services will cease on May 22, and everyone involved in looting a once proud institution will go unpunished.

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Healthcare Services at Long Island College Hospital and Purchase of Property Evaluation Tabulation

A complicated resolution engineered in the courtroom of Justice Harold Baynes was meant to ensure a hospital, and lessen the possibility of high rise condo development on the LICH footprint. A group chosen by the community and their representatives (called in the chart to the right the litigants), as well as a group chosen by SUNY Downstate was given the task of scoring every proposal submitted during an RFP process. Special weight was meant to be given to plans including a full service hospital. These two groups were called the Techncial Evaluators. In addition, SUNY alone evaluated the proposals based upon their opinions of the financial viability (evaluators 1-5). Then the scores were to be weighted and summed up. What happened is that a hospital proposal that included a real estate com-

Red Hook Star-Revue

ponent consisting of at least 1000 condominiums came in first. Right now, the Brooklyn Health are coming under huge scrutiny as they have no track record, seemingly operator to run a hospital, and upon winning the bid they sold 49% of their brand new corporation to

a developer experienced at converting defunct hospitals to luxury housing. Second and third place went to real estate developers who only pledge to provide a few medical offices. The only bidder that actually runs hospitals, Prime, came in fourth place.

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The scoresheet is reproduced above, and we leave it to the reader to figure out what happened, if you so choose. It remains to be seen whether Judge Baynes will actually allow LICH to close on the 22nd, however the litigants did agree to that timetable.

May, 2014 Page 5

Health Department falls short at Gowanus CAG presentation

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

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or email: info@redhookstar.com

In March, at the Gowanus CAG meeting where the NYS Department of Health (DOH) presented the draft Public Hazard Assessment (PHA), members of the CAG and the greater community raised numerous questions about the assessment. The State DOH representative in attendance gave cursory and seemingly off-the-cuff answers to many of these questions. In an effort to obtain clearer and more complete answers, the CAG has submitted the following questions for official DOH response. 1. For community cleanup days, how should we advise the community as to their risk – given the lack of specificity as to how much exposure may be too much exposure? The DOH responded that, to paraphrase, “best judgment should be used.” The CAG requests more specificity from the DOH for community event safety advisories. 2. Why is the language of the PHA so mild, given the dire warnings of the risks – from lead poisoning to cancer – that could result just from wading through canal water, let alone eating fish or swimming in the Canal? 3. What led to other DOH advisories where blanket “do not eat” advisories for fish were issued, especially compared to the specific data obtained in Gowanus fish tests? 4. What is the process for the community giving data, input, or evidence to the DOH for its ongoing review of the PHA? 5. What, specifically, restricts the DOH’s ability to study air, water, or soil health risks beyond the “bulk-

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head to bulkhead” limitations of this draft PHA? 6. The CAG raised concerns that too few signs (if any at all) were advising the community of the known health risks of the Canal. The DOH noted that “signs that are put up tend to go missing.” This, to the CAG, is an unacceptable answer. What programs, plans, and/ or policies is DOH considering to ensure that signs do not go missing or to ensure that the public is made aware of the risks? There are many signs put up in New York City, surely there is a way to make sure they stay posted. 7. How will the public be notified of the findings in the final PHA? We have heard that media, websites, and pamphlets will be used; the CAG is asking where, specifically, this information will be disseminated (e.g., what are the websites, which newspapers will have ads (and when), and where – or at what events – will DOH staff be out, in person, relaying health risks to the public). 8. Do remediation activities risk worsening the health risks associated with any of the uses of the Canal (e.g., will future dredging impact air quality?), and how does the DOH plan on updating the PHA accordingly? At the April meeting held on the 22nd, the presentation came up to further ridicule. It was disclosed that there are only eight DOH employees that make these assessments throughout the state, necessitating shoddy research and relying on unscientific assumptions.

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May, 2014

Participatory Budgeting winners announced at Red Hook Library by George Fiala

arlos Menchaca threw a community party at the library on April 15, to announce the winning results of his first Participatory Budgeting (PB) exercise. The party was held in Red Hook despite the fact that the bulk of his council district lies in Sunset Park. He said that this was only fair, as the main PB expo was held in Sunset Park. A large crowd caused a last minute

flurry of chair placing as the event had to be moved to the main floor of the library. It was originally planned to be in a smaller side room, which is where the refreshments, consisting of tamales and other home cooked foods were offered. This is the third year that NYC has experimented with this kind of community based spending. Each council member receives discretionary monies to spend for each fiscal year of their term. This money has been traditionally used to fund various institutions and groups within the respective districts. The spending was always determined by each politicians. So, for example, the local Lion’s Club might ask for funding, which would be given at the discretion

of the local council member. Under PB, the requests are made publicly at a district expo, followed by district-wide voting to pick favorite projects. The top projects are the ones that get funded. Two years ago, Brad Lander was one of a group of six that initiated PB in New York. Last year he was joined by Steve Levin. For this year, council member Sara Gonzalez promised to bring PB to District 38. During last fall’s campaign, challenger Carlos Menchaca promised to honor her promise were he to win. He followed through on the promise and so Red Hook joined in the budgeting process. The District came up with 19 projects, with six that would enrich our district. The local projects included enhanced B61 bus signage and new fitness equipment for Red Hook Park, on Halleck between Clinton and Columbia St. The above projects didn’t make it, but Red Hook did make out quite well nonetheless. PS 15 won funding for both access to technology, and air conditioning for the auditorium. The library will get $85,000 for a community garden. Menchaca’s excitement about his first Participatory Budgeting rubbed off on the crowd. He called it a historic occasion in that his district received the largest total of votes (over 3,000) of any PB process in these past three years. He also was excited about the fact that two thirds of the ballots were from Spanish

and Chinese voters. Sunset Park has NY’s largest Chinatown, and of course has always been home to a large number of Hispanics. Participatory BudCarlos had some special help to announce the winning projects. (photos by Kimberly Gail Price) get voting differs Levin’s 1981. from regular election voting in that one Lander’s winning projects include: needn’t be a US citizen. In the City Council, Menchaca is head Levin’s winning projects include: Comof the Immigration Committee, and posting enhancements at 2nd Avenue one of his big initiatives is a Munici- and 6th Street, by the Gowanus Canal; pal ID card. This would be a form of ID beautification of the front of John Jay avaialable to all New Yorkers, including HS in Park Slope; pathway repairs in undocumented ones. With so many ser- Prospect Park, and a green roof for the vices requiring picture ID cards, undoc- Windsor Terrace library. umented aliens sometimes cannot pick up their children or get a library card. Menchaca’s friend and campaign manager Ivan Luevenos showed up at the library. He now works for Speaker MarkViverito on immigration issues and upon being asked, said that a hope is that one day undocumented NYC residents might be able to vote in citywide elections. In contrast to the 38th, Brad Lander’s district brought out 2200 voters, Steve

Playground repairs at the Gowanus Houses and Wyckoff Gardens; renovations for the Gowanus Community Center and bathroom remodeling at Boerum Hill’s PS 261. The winners will be funded from the fiscal 2014/15 City Council budget, meaning that monies can be released as soon as July. Projects generally take 3 9 months for completion. There is a PB website at pbnyc.org.

Help Wanted at the Star-Revue Reporters needed for news coverage in Red Hook and her environs. Enthusiasm more important than experience. Learn on the job. Advertising positions also available. We also accept submissions from the community on topics of local interest. Call Kimberly Gail Price

718 624-5568 or email: info@redhookstar.com

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May, 2014 Page 7

EDITORIAL:

Red Hook State of Mind

n this month’s story about the Red Hook Coalition, we describe the genesis of the Coalition as being a $100,000 grant offered by the Brooklyn Community Foundation, following Sandy.

turally from places like Bensonhurst and Park Slope.

Some quick thinking community minded Red Hookers got together and formed an entity to accept the money and pass it on to businesses in need.

The people who are representing Red Hook in the Coalition, in the Civic Association, and in the NY Rising Committee are all volunteers giving generously of their time. All of them are otherwise employed - self or otherwise. We all know the stresses of paying the bills in this tough city of ours, and we owe every volunteer a big debt of gratitude.

Last month we spoke of the fact that Tish James had to pick City Councilman Carlos Menchaca, who not only represents Red Hook but a host of neighboring community, as representing us in an important part of the battle to save the Long Island College Hospital. There will be many future situations in which people from the community will be asked to step up. Red Hook is a discrete part of Brooklyn, separated from every other neighborhood by water on three sides and highways on the fourth. This separation has no doubt been a factor in a Red Hook state of mind that separates us a bit cul-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

(send yours to editor@redhookstar.com)

Reg Flowers, Artistic Director of Falconworks, is asking that the following receive wide distribution.

Dear Friends, Neighbors and Colleagues, Gowanus Bay Terminal is currently serving as a project for Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation as part of future planning for the development of their property – and for the NEXT WEEK, we have an opportunity to give input into what the community would like to see on this land. Rarely is the community given the space to express their ideas when it comes to waterfront development. It is crucial that we contrubute to these conversations because of the impact future development will have on the Red Hook community. I’m forwarding you the links from their planning team: PLEASE follow the link and make your voice heard on what you would like to see for the community! Contact information is included below if you wish to direct questions. Please also circulate this to your networks! For Red Hook Take this short five-question survey and let us know what you would want from a complete list of programs, designed specifically for your neighborhood. The survey results will be used by urban planning students for a neighborhood analysis report. Survey link: http://tinyurl.com/m3g3fdq For Business Owners in Red Hook As a business owner in Red Hook you have valuable insights in the neigh-

Page 8 Red Hook Star-Revue

It is with all this in mind that once again we put forth the idea of hiring some exceptional person to be our city manager - a full time, decently paid position.

In the course of researching our story on the Red Hook Coalition, we discovered that the outside world - especially the philanthropic world - quite impressed with our community. In other words, we have a good rep, and there is money out there for the right idea. What we envision is an office where any resident with a specific question involving life around them can go for support. This manager would be well versed in borhood. Please help urban planning students understand the business landscape of the neighborhood. This fiveminute survey will help us understand the challenges and unique opportunities of operating a business in Red Hook. All survey results will be used by urban planning students for a neighborhood analysis report.

government, and know where to go to begin solving the problem. That could be the community board, a city agency directly or through the councilman. It could be the governor or the state assemblyman. This person would end up knowing everybody and would become the go-to person connecting Red Hook with the outside world. The only vested interest that this person would have is the good of all of us. There would be no conflict with time, for that would be his/her only job. Part of the job would of course involve constant research to make sure that we never again become an underserved community, left out to dry by city or state government. This person would also be the go-to person for outside business interests looking to come into Red Hook. Of course, anybody can do whatever they want, and if they have the cash usually they do. But we have seen with both the BASIS School and the Beard Street detox facility that the community can get riled up if not consulted.

Turning that around - our proposed manager would advocate for the community. Meetings would be held to discuss proposals before it becomes too late to do anything about them. New projects would be discussed fully until some sort of local consensus is reached - and then it becomes the job of our paid advocate to do their best to see that community wishes are respected. Finally, the budget to pay for this person would also include money for communication. A completist web site, a humongous email list and regularly published newsletters distributed both electonically and by mail in both English and Spanish is essential. Democracy is best when local. The most important thing for communities is preparation against disasters, and protection against outside interests at odds with the desires of the existing residents. The Red Hook Coalition is working on a plan to protect against natural disasters. A paid Red Hook manager would help them and protect us against manmade ones as well.

Our Sycamores

Survey link: http://tinyurl.com/kbbdrfy Thank you for your time! Olivia Maria Titania Jovine Mobile (917) 545 9792 Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University, MS Urban Planning Candidate 2015

We posted the above on our Facebook pages and received two comments:

[His idea would be for an] educational and vocational facility to teach and train individuals how to convert and install alternative energy resources. ie solar panels, natural gas, electric car ports etc. It’s beneficial to everyone. In a nutshell it creates jobs and develops the community. Moves Red Hook forward. (Been saying it for years, we should be leading the industry.) - Fulla Shirts

Not impressed

This is hardly an opportunity to “make your voice heard” - all of the “choices” have already been selected and there is no place to write in a suggestion. But, I expect it to matter little. Previous GBX proposals have been toxic waste treatment, cement factory, and incinerator. My guess is that these so called “community” projects are the window dressing for the real proposal which none of us will get a vote on. As we heard at the BASIS School Planning office hearing, GBX intends to fight for its right to put toxic facilities on our waterfront. As long as they insist on that right - it is hard to take seriously their “community improvements.” - John Battis

Last month we erroneously wrote that the Sandy floodwaters were not killing our sycamores. We have since found out that indeed, many more than a few trees had died and had to be chopped down - especially on Columbia Street by the ballfields. Shown above is a Parks Department truck in the middle of taking down two more trees that died over the winter. These two were in Coffey Park, and they were chopped down last week preceding the year-long park renovation.

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May, 2014

News from the Independent Neighborhood Democrats by Mark Shames, President

That Crazy World of Politics A

nother IND general meeting is in the books. Assembly member Millman was kind enough to forego her lead position in our proceedings so that District Leader Joanne Simon could cede some of her time (theoretically) so we might hear from an additional judicial candidate for the Civil Court, to wit: Diana Szochet.

by George Fiala

Nydia insulted

The Daily News reported that Nydia Velazquez threatened to scuttle a Clinton era bill because her feathers were ruffled. Newly released historical memos dating from 1999, included emails from a Clinton aide complaining about fellow Democrat Velazquez, who was the top Democrat on the Small Business Committee. The email to White House economic advisor Gene Sperling said that Velazquez threatened to oppose a bill providing for start-up money for businesses in low-income areas because “#1 she is bothered that Gene did not return her call. #2 she is bothered that the President did not visit New York and that (Clinton) went to Watts and did not focus on the Hispanic Community enough.” Sperling urged that the staffer call her right away to ease her ruffled feathers. The bill, called the New Market’s Tax Credit Program, was passed and remained in effect until just this past January when the current do-nothing congress failed to renew it.

Repeat performance?

Last year, longtime local Council member Sara Gonzalez was surprised by the intense campaign waged against her by newcomer Carlos Menchaca. Menchaca ended up winning easily and joined a slew of other newcomers to the City Council. Menchaca was closely mentored by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez. This year State Assembly member Felix Ortiz faces re-election. He has not had a

Ceasar Zuniga showed up at Menchaca’s Participatory Budgeting gala at the Red Hook Library last month.

real race since his original election back in 1994. That might change as Carlos and presumably Nydia are backing a member of Sunset Park’s Community Board 7. Ceasar Zuniga, seen with Carlos recently at the Red Hook Library. Felix professes not to be worried, but he’s been seen a lot around the district lately.

Why can’t they save LICH?

While almost every local pol has given much lip service to LICH during its year-long travails, it doesn’t seem to add up to much, as the hospital sputters on its way to probably closure. One would think Mayor de Blasio would at least use his bully pulpit on LICH’s behalf. The fact is he hasn’t even used the word hospital when referring to the future of LICH, preferring ‘health services.’

After the candidate spoke Joanne continued with her report, including an unfortunate need to change a polling site for the June primary. She then spoke to a resolution in support of A. 08187/S. 05980 which would require that entities or individuals putting out certain campaign materials make disclosure of their identities. The resolution passed unanimously and will be found soon on our website at indbrooklyn.org.

Plug for annual dinner I then made a request on behalf of the dinner committee for active participation of our membership toward the success of our 42nd annual dinner that is to be held May 15 at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. I also reminded those assembled that Senator Squadron would be holding his 4th Annual Community Convention on Sunday at 350 Grand Street from 2 to 5 PM. We then heard from two of the candidates for the State Senate in the vacant 20th Senatorial District. Rebain

It was suspected from the beginning that Governor Cuomo had it in for LICH, and it seems that those suspicions were correct. Cuomo is very good at playing politics, and it seems he has won this battle.

Senator Montgomery praising Bellenbaum’s work in Crown Heights.

The

Red Hook StarªRevue SOUTH BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Dorancy had a family emergency and could not attend. We had the honor of hearing from Jesse E. Hamilton II, who is currently the head of his block association, the District Leader in the 43rd Assembly District and who continues to run the community office for the 20th District. He spoke to many of the pressing issues in the community. We then were graced with the presence of Demetrius Lawrence who spoke to the same set of issues and offered that his candidacy was different because he was not trained in law but was a successful businessman who was and remains a community activist.

Discussion of 9th Street shelter

member

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We then heard from Paige Bellenbaum on the issues we confront due to a growing homeless population. She spoke knowledgeably about the difficulties we face around a proposed, inappropriately conceived, shelter on West 9th Street. She spoke from her perspective as a service provider and as a local community leader at Brooklyn Community Board 6 and the Coalition for Carroll Gardens

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Paige Bellenbaum spoke eloquently concerning social service issues.

- the group fighting the current shelter proposal. We are grateful to her for taking the time out of her busy life to speak with us. We then passed a resolution with regard to the new directions in homeless policy that will also appear on our website. In the audience was State Senator Montgomery who spoke of her work with Paige in obtaining funding for a youth program. Since Paige’s professional life deals extensively with the Crown Heights community, her presence was particularly relevant with regard to Senator Montgomery’s District but also the contested 20th Senatorial District race. We then got to hear from our Assembly member Joan Millman. She spoke about a volunteer fair that she is doing with other officials. She spoke of the continuing saga at LICH, the problems surrounding the proposed West 9th Street Shelter, and the failure of the State to properly engage the community in the proposed Gowanus Historic District and the reset on that issue with a June meeting in the works. State Senator Squadron walked in late and was the last speaker. He reiterated the invitation to his Convention and spoke about elected officials uniting to continue to propose alternatives to the proposed housing near Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Under new business we heard from neighbors concerned about a proposed large rock and roll venue on their residential block off of Bond Street that may be allowed to proceed due to a loophole in the zoning code. They are before the Board of Standards and Appeals and made an appeal for any help that our elected officials may be able to provide. The meeting was then adjourned about a half hour past our usual ending time. The Independent Neighborhood Democrats is a local political club that meets monthly above the Scotto Funeral Home. For membership information see the website at indbrooklyn.com.

May, 2014 Page 9

BULLETIN BOARD BY COMMITTEE

An AIGA grant of real money gave employment last year to a group of Manhattan students to figure out what Red Hook needed. They wandered around Red Hook, speaking to various people, and decided that Red Hook needed a better way to communicate with each other. The group then spoke to the wi-fi experts at the Red Hook Initiative, and others to confab on how communication could be enhanced. Their intense research has led them to decide that Red Hook needs a bulletin board where people can post flyers. In addition, they posited the idea that a committee of important people decide which listings are more important than others, and those will receive postings above the others, and under glass. If you think we are kidding, we reprint their plan below. RED HOOK HUB FACT SHEET • The HUB is a contemporary community bulletin board system designed specifically for the residents of Red Hook. • It addresses unmet community needs, as expressed through a series of workshops and conversations ranging from Oct 2013-March 2014. • It facilitates community learning, information literacy, and social ties throughout the neighborhood. • The project was initiated by Design/ Relief, a project organized by AIGA/NY, and developed by a team of professional designers, with mentoring, feedback and assistance from the AIGA board, local stakeholders and residents, as well as teachers and students at the Pratt School of Design. (http://aigany.org/events/design-relief-an-aigany-initiative/) • HUB partners include the Library and the Red Hook Initiative’s Digital Stewards RH Wifi program, as well as the Miccio Center/ Good Shepherd Services. (http:// redhooklibrary.org/, http://rhicenter.org/ redhookwifi/, http://www.goodshepherds. org/programs/community/brooklyn/671. html) • As a part of the plan, a committee of Red Hook residents will vet, maintain and take care of the information flow and the physical installation of boards, mini boards, and digital displays. • The HUB is an experimental, temporary project lasting just under 12 months.

League head Ian Younge, Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, Brett Taylor of the Red Hook Justice Center, City Councilman Carlos Menchaca, coach, actor, and community activist Lou Sones, a representative from the 76th Precinct, Pat Sones, and real estate developer H. Lopes pose around the new sign for the Red Hook

Red Hook Little League season begins

Under the new leadership of Ian Younge of the Sayo Grays, Red Hook’s baseball season opened up on Saturday, April 26 with opening day ceremonies and a first game.

One year from the launch date, Red Hook community members and stakeholders will decide if they would like to continue, modify, expand, or end the project. • The main HUB board at Miccio Center will be approximately 6’ x 4’ weighing approximately **tk.** (sic) • The main board will be located in front of the Miccio Center and the senior center, within a disused concrete slab. • The main board will be secured in place via lock-system, yet also easily detachable in case repairs need to be made off site. • A budget will be kept in case repairs need to be made. The budget will also pay for supplies and maintenance costs for the duration of the project. • The installation of the main board will be supervised by a team of professional installers, engineers, and planners. • An email contact will be provided for fast response in case of any problems with the HUB installation. • Public workshops will take place prior to the HUB’s launch to teach Red Hook residents and community members how to engage the HUB. • An information campaign will also take place this spring to further awareness and excitement for the HUB. • The HUB will be installed between May 15 and May 30.

This year features coaches with actual minor league experience as well as a low $10 fee which includes uniforms. This is possible due to funding from Assembly Member Felix Ortiz’s office. Additional help is given by local real estate developer H. Lopes, who is donating a container which will store all the equipment between games. The Red Hook Justice Center is also continuing their role with the league. Games are played every Saturday at the Red Hook ballfields on the north side of Bay Street. It is still possible to sign up for the league, which is for those aged 9-12. For information, call Luz Gonzalez at 718-923-8203.

Felix Ortiz throwing out one of the opening balls above, Ian Younge holds up important league rules as Carlos and Felix help.

NEW ARRIVAL

Our favorite saloon keeper has recently exchanged her twin fiddles for really cute twin sons - Owen & Finnegan. These kids couldn’t possibly have better parents.

Page 10 Red Hook Star-Revue

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May, 2014

Renovation closes Coffey Park for a year by George Fiala

sers of Coffey Park have already noticed that the north end of the park has been fenced off and closed to the public. At a Parks Committee meeting of Community Board 6 on April 16, Marty Mahr, head of capital for the Parks Dept., explained that the park will be closed for a year - “demolished” - as a $2.3 million renovation is undertaken. Many in the neighborhood seemed surprised by the suddenness of the closure. The Red Hook Houses tenant associations did not seem to have advance notice, nor did the 76th Precinct, or leaders of the two big events in August that will have to be relocated - Red Hook Oldtimers Day and Red Hook Family Day. The first notice that the StarRevue had was a Community Board 6 Facebook posting on April 2. At the Parks meeting, Mahr, who came equipped with a large poster and stand which detailed the proposed renovations, explained away the lack of notice as something that “slipped through the cracks.” He told the audience that in fact, South Brooklyn has done quite well with capital funding for parks - better than other areas in Brooklyn, and that we ought not complain.

and resident of the nearby luggage factory building, got up and suggested some better placement for benches. He took notes and it is assumed he will follow this advice. Mahr answered a few questions from the committee, and then quickly packed up and left. It turns out that almost $2 million of the total $2.3 million cost came from Sara Gonzalez’s discretionary budget of 2011/12. The work took this long to begin ‘probably because of Sandy,’ remarked Mahr. “Carlos will get the credit for it,” he said, as Gonzalez is no longer in office, of course. Asked why the work couldn’t be done in phases, so that the important summer events could take place in the park, Mahr explained that would cost too much. $2.3 million is evidently not that much for this kind of renovation. The contract for this work was won by TBO SiteScapes, of Bayside, Queens in competitive bidding last year. Questions were raised about the paving

• Paving stones will be dug up, paths evened out, and then will be covered with asphalt. • Formalize the central plaza, and enlarge the tree pit, • Bringing back tables and benches • New drainage drinking

• Redo barbecue areas • Install five barbecue pits • Install paving stones in the central plaza • Clean Drains • Add eight mounted picnic tables. • Ground hydrant to water the gardens

stones. While Mahr seemed to think nothing of replacing the stones with asphalt, the small Red Hook contingent decided it would cheapen the park. “Penny wise and pound foolish,” someone said. Mahr cited expense as the reason to ‘demolish’ the stones.

which includes the pathway that extends from Pioneer Street and the playground areas, and thus will not be affected, as these parts of the park will remain open.

The dismal state of park funding was blamed for the lack of communication with the community. Committee member Judi Francis noted that at one time a full percent of the city’s budget was devoted to Parks, while today it is less than .3 percent. For many years Francis fought the privatization of Brooklyn Bridge Park, necessitated by this lack of funding.

Mahr, a brusque, no-nonsense guy, barked out the following points to explain what will happen to the park.

• Wheelchair accessible fountain area

Allison Reeves makes some suggestions to Marty Mahr of the Parks Department.

The dog run will be closed for a year.

At press time we learned that Oldtimer’s Day will be held at Clinton-Bush park this year. Family Day, a NYCHA event, has not yet been decided. The third big park event in the summer is the annual Night Out Against Crime. This utilizes the south end of the park,

These paving stones will be removed and replaced with asphalt.

SEEN AROUND TOWN

At this point, Allison Reeves, architect

Since nobody has reopened the Fire Fair, the big deli on Lorraine has redone themselves and are now a full service supermarket. The head turner above, a beautiful 1956 Chevy, was spotted across from Treasure Island Storage, on the other side of Lorraine. Finally, it takes lots of pilings to be screwed into the Red Hook ground to support a five story school. The scene at left is where the BASIS school will open this fall. A fence company showed up and in one day the park was closed off.

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May, 2014 Page 11

The Gallery Scene... by Micah B. Rubin

s the blossoming trees that line Van Brunt transform Red Hook into a vibrant living canvas, the neighborhood’s galleries and organizations listed below are following suit. Sunny spring days are a great time to check out the local art scene, and to get ready for a Red Hook Summer of Art.

Kentler Drawing Space

will be on view until June 1, 2014. 16 resident artists share Hot Wood’s space and it is worth swinging by Hot Wood to view their work – especially Bojune Kwon’s long exposure, high-energy photographs that recast iconic New York locales like Times Square and Central Park.

Kentler Drawing Space, a fixture in the neighborhood art community, will feature the work of local, national, and international artists for their upcoming 100 Works on Paper Benefit scheduled for May 17th. The exhibit features innovative drawings of more than 130 artists and attendees of the benefit will be able to take home one of the pieces. The work of artists Joan Snyder, Dustin Yellin, Alexander Gorlizki, and Ernst Benkert and neighborhood businesses will be part of a silent auction. The months of June and July will exhibit “Large and Small”, a body of work drawn from Kentler’s collection of contemporary drawing and currently under development. Kentler International Drawing Space 353 Van Brunt Street, http://www.kentlergallery.org 718.875.2098 Gallery Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 12:00 – 5:00 PM

Pioneer Works

Dedicated to creating, teaching, discussing and exhibiting art, Pioneer Works’ space is a gallery unto itself. Built in 1866, the restored former iron foundry feels like a cathedral of industry with towering, exposed beamed ceilings and cascades of light pouring through what feels like a street-block of windows. The current exhibit displays works in a wide variety of medium and two upcoming exhibits will take advantage of

Hot Wood Arts 481 Van Brunt Street, 9B (2nd Floor) http://www.hotwoodarts.com Hours: Sat – Sun 1:00 – 6:00 PM

Peninsula Art Space

May 17th is the annual 100 Works on Paper Benefit at Kentler. This is always a fund event and everyone goes home with a piece of art.

and runs through May 18th at Clover’s Fine Art Gallery, a gallery focusing on the works of artists of the Caribbean and the Caribbean diaspora. The exhibit features paintings created with watercolors, oil, and mixed media collages that delve into the surreal and impressionist space. Be sure to see Mona Haigler’s mixed media work that blends a hazy photograph of a man and woman sharing a meal onto a canvas swabbed in thick, jagged, brush strokes of oranges and yellows. And while the deep reds and nuanced textures of Calice Fyffe’s seductive work are enticing, make sure you’re ready for a lesson in female anatomy. Clover Fine Art 338 Atlantic Avenue, http://cloversfineart.com/ 718.625.2121 Gallery Hours: Tues – Sat 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (BWAC)

Red Sonja is one of the paintings on display at BWAC’s double barrelled spring show, Outer Limts/Wide Open.

the space’s expansiveness: Chico Macmurtrie’s Organic Arches II will explore shape and form through see-through inflatable arches that reshape and metamorphose throughout the day. Louise Despont’s show The Six Sided Force opens on June 15, 2014 and explores the architectural relationship between nature and human influence through creating abstract drawings on antique ledger books. Pioneer Works 159 Pioneer Street, http:// pioneerworks.org/ 718.596.3001 Gallery Hours: Wed – Sun 12:00 – 6:00 PM

Clover Fine Art

I Am Woman opened on April 25th

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With two floors brimming with art, BWAC’s latest shows inspire sensory overload. The first floor exhibit, “Wide Open,” casts a wide net of local and national artist with works flowing from the themed title. A highlight is Betsy Bannan’s Fly Over, a 26-foot wide collage of bathroom-tile sized panels, painted in earthy greens that’s amazing art and would also elevate a kitchen backsplash into the masterpiece territory. Upstairs, “Outer Limits” pushes the boundaries of fantasy and science fiction in more than 200 artists work. Throw your comfort zone aside in Dennis Sheheen’s paintings of bugs (like ants, flies) that crawl off the page in hypersatured oranges and greens. BWAC 499 Van Brunt Street, http:// bwac.org 718.596.2506/718.596.2507 Gallery Hours: Weekends 1:00 – 6:00 PM

Rhombus Space

Intimate and provocative describe

Rhombus Space, the brainchild of Katerina Lanfranco, a multitalented artist, curator, and educator who opened the gallery in September 2013 and located in the uber-creative, studio-filled Screwball Spaces building. Katerina’s latest show “Thought Bubbles,” features the work of 4 artists whose works subvert traditional symbols through comic and cartoon. “The Months”, Archie Rand’s 12-panel series – one for each month - appears poppy and bright yet challenges the viewer to reevaluate conventions like why an open chest has a brain rather than heart. Down the hall from Rhombus space, the Sweet Lorraine Gallery’s monthly exhibit rotates through the buildings pool of talented artists. Rhombus Space 183 Lorraine Street 3rd Floor, #33 http://www.rhombusspace. com/ 646.240.7903 Gallery Hours: Fri – Sun 1:00 – 5:00 PM

Peninsula’s pop up anniversary show highlights young artists like Mark Cannarioto’s Bootytongue Celebrates the Gang Ware, Kick the Mothers Out, a sculpture of scrap wood and bike tires molded into a ship sailing on a sunny day but watch out for its passengers, there’s something fearful about fanged creatures painted like African warriors. In her work, Alyssa Rapp used medical gauze and plaster in Suit (a,b) and Shell 1 & 2 (C,D) in a study of shape and texture and notes closer study of human form. Peninsula Art Space 352 Van Brunt Street, http://www.peninsulaartspace.com 917.399.5221 Gallery Hours: Thursday – Sunday 12:00 – 7:00 PM

Look North

The smooth lines and meditative sculptures at Look North gallery send my mind wondering about life in the empty Arctic. Look North focuses on the works of Inuit and Arctic culture and the current show exhibits photos and pastel works by Zaria and Rena Bass Forman. Even though these works blow a winter chill, there’s a beautiful simplicity in their austerity. Look North 275 Conover Street Suite 4E, http://www.looknorthny.com/ 347.721.3995 Gallery Hours by appointment There’s a handful of other creative spaces/organizations in the neighborhood and below are few more worth exploring: The Still House Group - http://www. enterstillhouse.com/about Sunny’s Red Hook - http://www.sunnysredhook.com/

Valley Sutra is on display at the Rhombus Space

Hot Wood Arts

The walls of Hot Wood Arts gallery are covered in a contrasty fear. There’s something unsettling about the chestnut-eyed anime girls crouched in cubes, peering out amidst a landscape of mushrooms and threatening ink spots. Created by Johee Park, the murals along with Maiko Kukichi’s leggy sculptures

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Jalopy Theater - http://www.jalopy.biz/ contact.php And galleries aren’t the only places in Red Hook to check out art. For the next few months Kevin’s Restaurant (277 Van Brunt Street http://www.mooreparties. com) is exhibiting the colorful work of abstract expressionist Ray Parker, Kevin’s father in law, as an annex to an exhibition in the Midtown 499parkavenue gallery.

May, 2014

Attention local artisans, artists and just about anyone who produces something interesting in Red Hook We would love to feature your work on July 12th in back of Ikea. There will also be opportunities to sell food. This is a community event meant to show the rest of the city how great we are. To get involved in any way, call George at 718 624-5568

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May, 2014 11:38:35 Page 13 11/20/2013 AM

MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO DROWN PINTS by Kevin McCormack

quick search online for Irish Bars in New York will reveal hundreds upon hundreds of hits across the five boroughs. But in a city and an age where having a gimmicky name and a neon shamrock hanging in the window qualifies a joint as being an ‘Irish Pub,’ it is rare to find an establishment less concerned with turning a buck off the much used concept of the Irish Public House, than one willing to sacrifice the sham-rockery to bring punters a true taste of the history and culture of Ireland, hundreds of years of which, have formed the concept of what a traditional Irish pub is. Right in the heart of Red Hook, lies one of these rare gems. In July 2007, Owner/Proprietor Chris Byrne relocated Rocky Sullivan’s from Lexington Avenue down to the cobblestones of Van Dyke Street. A veteran musician, Byrne toured for many years with renowned CelticRock outfit Black 47. From it’s inception in 1996, Rocky’s has always been more about just providing a room to down pints in. It has been host to a plethora of cultural events. Rocky’s hosts live music sessions, book and poetry readings, film screenings, language and dance classes as well as local community events and happening.

Tuesday’s a good start Foremost in it’s weekly calendar of

events, Tuesday’s Irish night, offers the newcomer the best opportunity to sample some of these cultural goings on. The events begin with the beginners’ Irish class at 7 pm in the back room, hosted by Brian Mallon. These classes are open to all, and are a fun way for people to learn a few phrases of an ancient and beautiful language. The level is taken up a gear at 8 pm as the class switches to intermediate level, but all participants are encouraged to stay

of sneaking in some mid-week exercise. At ten, Byrne and his former Black 47 cohort Andrew Harkin host a traditional Irish seisiún, where musicians of all abilities are encouraged to sit in and play along with the Irish tune sets, driven by the lush sounds of Byrne’s Uilleann Pipes and Harkin’s Bouzouki. Traditional sessions have been an integral part of Irish pub culture for hundreds of years. Typically, they tend to be informal and open; meaning that new

“The Tuesday session at Rocky’s is known for quite the opposite, with Chris and Andrew welcoming players of every ability to sit in and play” along and have a bit of craic. At 8 pm, Paul and Monica host the beginner’s Irish set dancing classes. A popular form of folk dance in Ireland, set dances, will usually revolve around a ‘set’ of four couples, repeating a number of pre-rehearsed steps. The classes are greatly enjoyable and a fun of way

musicians are free to join in. Depending on the venue and the players, some sessions can be more ‘open’ than others, with some long in the tooth players offering frosty welcomes to uninitiated and unfamiliar musicians. The Tuesday session at Rocky’s is known for quite the opposite, with Chris and Andrew welcoming players of every ability to sit in and play, and indeed, singers to sing, also predisposed to aforementioned frosty welcomes at certain sessions. A main fiddler or piper will usually lead the sessions. They will begin by “calling” a set of tunes, which is a familiar grouping of two or three tunes and players will join in, providing they know the tunes in question. Sets of tunes are generally interspersed with conversation and banter, with sessions seen as being

as much for the musicians themselves as the audience. On any given Tuesday night at Rocky’s, instruments that may show up around the front table include, fiddles, banjos, accordions, or even a bodhrán (Irish hand drum.) The tunes often being interspersed with the odd song if there is a singer is present. The music goes late, all the while George behind the bar serves up the pints. So, with the weather getting nicer now, there’s scant excuse to stay on Van Brunt. Take a walk through the cobbled streets and sample the sights and sounds of New Yorks most legitimate, and truly traditional, Irish pub.

RHI’s Jill Eisenhard honored by Crain’s

Crain’s NY is a widely read business magazine. Each year they honor people who have achieved notable success before they hit the age of 40. This is their prestigious “40 under 40” Award. Among the winners this year is our own Jill Eisenhard, founder and Executive Director of the Red Hook Initiative. Quoting from Crain’s: “In the weeks after Hurricane Sandy, the nonprofit Red Hook Initiative became a lifeline to its devastated Brooklyn neighborhood and residents, distributing supplies like coats and blankets, providing hot meals and treating nearly 300 who needed basic medical care. Two years later, founder Jill Eisenhard has trouble living down the reputation she built. “I’ve done a lot of work communicating to people that we are not an emergency relief organization,” she said. In fact, the group teaches job and college skills to some 2,500 local youths annually. It has grown exponentially since 2002, when Ms. Eisenhard started a grant-funded weekend project training local women to become health educators. For two and a half years, she juggled RHI along with her day job with the Children’s Aid Society.

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Now the nonprofit has a $2.5 million budget and 17 full-time employees, most of them local, and focuses on such skills as robotics, AV operations and network building. In Sandy’s wake, RHI volunteers built a Wi-Fi network for underserved Red Hook. “You train young people to get those skills so they can build it for the neighborhood,” Ms. Eisenhard said. “And then they can use those skills to get a job outside the neighborhood.” Indeed. A former student was recently hired to build a Wi-Fi network in Brooklyn’s Dumbo. “Jill has a way of engaging people and drawing people in,” said Paulette LoMonaco, director of youth-development agency Good Shepherd Services. Ms. Eisenhard’s work impressed one architect so much that in 2010 she offered to design the nonprofit’s new office for free. The group is now looking to expand to a nearby building.”

May, 2014

AVLEE GREEK KITCHEN a worthy successor to Joe’s Superette

hate to cook. Really. But I sure do know what tasty is and it doesn’t have to be elegantly plated nor does it have to have shaved kale, quinoa and probiotics. As Andrew Zimmern says, “If it looks good, eat it!” So one day early this past fall, I strolled by a rather modest store front on Smith Street and Second Place with a plastic white banner above the window, “AVLEE”. It has white décor which is usually a big turn off for me. To this day I still can’t figure out how you lounge on such upholstery, drop a few greasy crumbs or manage a few kids without tossing out the pillows and regretting your confusion that ‘white’ means tasteful. But at Avlee, it certainly does. As in full of taste. And, yes, he does serve kale, Horta Kale - but it is boiled and served with a classic Greek lemon vinaigrette and actually feels substantial as in you can fill up and not walk out feeling gipped. Begun by Andrew Poulos a native Brooklynite whose father was a Greek emigre, he opened his door to the public a year and a half ago offering his ancestral cuisine that was not mousaka heavy, the kind you get in diners and Two Brothers type restaurants. His is light, with a feathery crust and served with such exquisite sides as ‘Gigandes’.

by A. Corbin tremendous failures, endless wars with the Turks, infighting between states and cities, and lately extremism.” “You means the dole, too much entitlement and not enough willingness to work?” I interjected. “Well, it’s a fine line. Nothing that is extreme ever works. You have to strike a balance and there hasn’t been one. But the people who came over fifty years ago were hard workers and still are.” His father settled his growing family in a quasi Greek enclave around what is now the Barclay Center, at State and Bond Streets, before moving his family of six children to Bay Ridge, where they attended the local schools. Poulos senior, along with his brother, opened and ran the famous Promenade Restaurant at the corner of Hicks and Montague for 25 years. While so many of us as young parents with kids in the nearby schools depended on this for a wide range of easy to eat food, I don’t think that mouth watering smacking lips, rolling eyes and un-repressed grunts of gustatory joy ever broke forth. But they do at his son’s restaurant. “I studied accounting at Wagner Col-

“So what’s your favorite on the menu?” I asked, expecting him to say his whole grilled fish (Bronzino, Bream, Red Snapper) or octopus. “I adore the gigandes.” Now this happens to be mine as well. I brought Gloria, a friend of mine from Red Hook to taste them and I vaguely remember saying something I never said before, “Whatever we don’t finish, I’m taking home, Okay?” Her eyes dilated in response. These enormous white beans measuring close to an inch long are stewed for an hour then baked in homemade tomato sauce laced with dill, flat parsley, onions and, frankly, undisclosed other ingredients - which is fine with me. I once asked for a cooking lesson there, specifically to make this, but have since realized spending 6 dollars for a heaping bowlful is far more convenient. Plus I would never do it right. His family hails from a farming district known as Kalamatia, which is also code for “Greek Olive.” Forty miles from Athens, it is where his family grew grapes, raised chickens and livestock and the eponymous fruit with a pit, which we love to serve with hummus at art openings. “Describe ‘Greeks’ to me,” I asked rather directly, since Andrew was not the most loquacious subject to interview. Always immensely friendly, with a shy laugh and smile, he tended to be flat footed with descriptive adjectives. Nevertheless, he roundly answered this one, “Proud. And superstitious, very superstitious. We go back to Aristotle and everyone is proud of this but we’ve had

Red Hook Star-Revue

Softspoken owner Andrew Poulis.

lege in Staten Island. I didn’t care for it. Then I worked in the courier business for a long time. We shipped packages and documents all over the world.” But what he knew best was what his mother cooked, “Authentic, no deviation to it. There’s no such thing as cheeseburger in Greek cuisine or hummus either.” Oops, so much for that iconic coupling for gallery groupies. He and his lifelong friend, manager Peter Rogakos felt “the general public would take to it just because it’s good, vibrant and healthy food.” Which it certainly is. Like Murray Organic chicken or the tomatoes he gets from a company called ‘Lucky’ which he sourced after much hunting around. These gems are shipped from Georgia and they add serious dimension to the flavor. As for the recipes, the preparation and the costs? Well, he tried four or five ver-

Avlee Greek Kitchen is a comfortable place to bring the family or a date. If you dine alone, there’s plenty of light for reading.

sions of each item on the menu before selecting the best. As for the produce, it comes from local vendors - even the corner Farmer’s Market on Sundays - which is not exactly a cheap investment. “We need the best and the most fresh so that’s what we have to do. The costs can fluctuate 40-50% overnight and the fish can fluctuate as much as 80% in a week.” But he never adjusts for this on the menu - I still pay the same $8 for my favorite, a whole wheat pita stuffed with grilled and marinated pork, roasted eggplant, zucchini, peppers, tzatiki, lettuce tomatoes, red onions...and a fork. There is simply no way to get this thing into your mouth without an etiquette meltdown. All of this is comfortably prepared by the chef Feliz, an adopted Greek by way of endless exposure to the food. He worked for years in construction before friendship and conversations convinced him to drop the jack hammer and pick up the tongs. Always cheerful and clearly thrilled to be feeding the human race, this is a wonderful pairing of person-

alities and talents that should put Andrew’s. It vindicates his daring decision to follow his fathers footsteps. Poulos senior is still very much alive and probably extremely proud. But remember, many Greeks are superstitious. They won’t compliment you. As a result they don’t want to be caught saying anything definite, just in case it offends the Gods or mischievous sprites. Andrew laughed when he said, “A Greek doesn’t say ‘No.’ They jerk their head up with a click of the tongue. You can’t be caught with an official, “No.”Well, Andrew, here’s my official ‘Yes’, this is one grand place to eat, pure and sample. 349 Smith Street, by 1st Place; MondayThursday: 11 am – 9 pm, Friday-Saturday: 11 am-10 pm, Sunday: 11am -9pm 718 855-5125 Editor’s Note: Joe’s Superette, for the uninitiated, was a place famous for prosciutto balls. Leo, the 2nd owner, took ill and closed the shop two years ago, right before he passed away.

Senior Activities at the Carroll Gardens Library

This series is coordinated by Harriet Lipstag, and there will be light refreshments. There is no charge to attend.

Ms. Catanzaro practices child and adult therapy from her Court Street office. She has also worked in local schools, community centers and Family Court. The talk she will be giving is entitled Mind Over Mood. She will discuss

Older adults at all physical levels are invited to perform yoga, chair exercises and aerobics. For further information call the library at 718 596-6972.

On Wednesday, May 14 from 1:30 to 2:30 in the afternoon, The Senior Edge Series concludes with a lecture given by Lisa Catanzaro, L.S.C.W.

• Symptoms of SAD (Stress, Anxiety, Depression)

In addition to the above lecture, there is a continuing free program “Senior Exercise Class.” This free program runs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday moroning from 10 am - 11 am.

The Carroll Gardens Library is located at the corner of Union and Clinton Streets.

• Skills for coping with SAD • Turn loneliness into liveliness • Dealing with in-laws young and old.

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May, 2014 Page 15

READER CONTRIBUTION “Red Hook Flood Protection: to protect the low-lying neighborhood of Red Hook in Brooklyn, the State is developing a $200 million partnership with New York City to construct a comprehensive flood management system – the 1st of its kind in the nation – in the community.” January 7, 2013 Governor Cuomo press announcement.

n early January of this year, Governor Cuomo made a commitment of $200 million dollars for unique Integrated Coastal Protection (ICP) for Red Hook. In reality, Integrated Coastal Protection will probably cost from $200 to $400 million: almost as much as a proposed rehab of the Port Authority bus terminal in Manhattan (it has been thirty years or so since the last rehab, so I guess that’s due). How this shortfall will be made up is to be determined. The City & State are charging the teams competing for the design of the ICP to ensure that when there is a storm surge (Sandy) water doesn’t damage NYCHA housing infrastructure (boilers + electric feeds + meters), doesn’t compromise the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel entrance, doesn’t damage housing stock and doesn’t interrupt business and normal life. We do not know yet if there will be any one person, government entity, or

Coastal Protection update by Steven Kondaks

government appointed entity in charge that we can turn to with questions, suggestions, ideas. I hope that it will be NYC’s Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability, and that the Red Hook Rising Committee can continue to act as a conduit / liaison between us (business owners and residents) to the Design process that started with the Federal Rebuild By Design effort that is now in the jury phase. One proposal that has received a lot of attention and support is the Brooklyn Greenway Initiatives’ ideas for raised Greenways. This could be done on Beard Street. Exactly how vehicular and pedestrian traffic will negotiate a raised pathway remains to be seen. It’s going to be a balancing act. Another team working on making Red Hook more resilient is HR & A Advisors, a large and respected nation-wide consulting firm that has been deeply involved in the Red Hook Rising work. It is unclear at this point if any of their proposals will be implemented, or if another design method will be chosen. As I understand it, HR & A is presenting a multi-faceted system of flood barriers. Some barrier systems could be in the water, maybe around Fairway. Possibly a deployable system in the State owned Port Authority Atlantic Basin

Author Kondaks (r) at a NY Rising public meeting last October. (file photo)

dock area. The NYC Department of Sanitation will be responsible for any deployable system. The raised greenway could be effective in other places. The idea may be to ‘connect the dots’ - the dots being high ground that Sandy didn’t submerge, such as Coffey Street between Ferris and Conover as well as the Soccer Fields and the Ball Fields.

Floodgate on the Gowanus Over by the canal, one proposal that will

take care of flooding is a movable floodgate on the Gowanus Canal near Hamilton Avenue Bridge. This is long term strategizing - but it would great to see it happen. The upper Gowanus would also be protected by such a barrier. In the shorter term, another idea is to raise the ground floor levels inside of the Smith Street warehouses - sort of as an invisible barrier (meaning invisible from the street). Owners of these properties have yet to post reactions to this. Some of these lots are toxic waste areas that the EPA will be dealing with anyway. This solution would not protect the upper Gowanus area.

No easy fix Thru attending endless meetings and being a fly on the wall, I have learned that there will be no easy fix for Red Hook. This is because a lot of the waterfront property is privately owned. We can expect resistance to Coastal flood protection from some: Landowners, city agencies that are not with the program, Utility Companies that just do not get it and other vested interests with outmoded 20th century understanding of waterfront stewardship. We are facing a new paradigm and it is upon all of us, businesses, residents and elected officials to be on the same page in the protection of this community. At the end of the day, after much reading and attending all the meetings I could on the subjects of Red Hook and resiliency, flood mitigation, proper rebuilding, flood insurance, I know there are steps, real measures, that can be taken to protect the neighborhood. To that end, I will support any effective, real, concrete, doable project that will protect the neighborhood from natural disaster, be it surge or rainwater flooding, heat-wave, blackout or other calamity.

At South Brooklyn Community High School 173 Conover Street, 7 pm until... Page 16 Red Hook Star-Revue

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So let us not lose momentum. Now is the time for us in Red Hook to learn as much as we can and support Governor Cuomo’s commitment. The State, City and Federal Governments have all pledged resources. We can lend our support and do our share by remaining as engaged and committed ourselves to this process. I hope the Governor comes here soon to share his announcement with the community.

May, 2014

HEALTHY BY

TRACEY

8 Super Foods for your brain HEALTHY BODY EQUALS HEALTHY BRAIN.

e know eating a healthy diet is great for our bodies but did you know certain foods can affect your brain as well? I have 8 super foods that are not only good for your body and mind, but they are wonderful for your kids as well. I know it’s hard to get our kids to eat healthy these days, (I have two 4 year old boys) but below are some easy to incorporate super foods that will benefit the entire family. Hemp Seeds and Oil: Omega oils are vital to our optimal health, but are not produced naturally in the body. Omega oils have been linked to brain development, emotional and mental illness, focus and concentration issues. You can add it to soups, salads, and dips. Here’s my favorite salad dressing recipe: 2 parts hemp oil 2 parts olive oil 2 parts vinegar, Mix it up and enjoy! Avocados: Avocados have several nutrients including potassium, Vitamin C and K, calcium, folic acid, dietary fibers and sodium. They are rich in omega oils, which, as mentioned, are vital for optimal brain health. It can also regulate blood pressure, which is essential in preventing heart attacks and strokes. Some people don’t recognize avocados as a health food because of its fat content. But, the fat content in avocado is a fat that your body needs. I love avocado and here’s my favorite breakfast recipe with avocado. 2 slices of Ezekiel Bread 1 scrambled egg 1/2 of an avocado a few slices of tomato Love it!

Bananas: The natural sugar found in bananas replaces the refined sugar found in snacks that pack on the pounds, tear cells apart and leaves you feeling miserable. Bananas contain potassium which leads to proper cell and neurotransmitter health. Grab a banana the next time you have the urge for a soda or a sugary candy bar. You may feel energized for a little while with the sugary snacks but once the sugar crash hits, you’ll be feeling worse than you did prior to guzzling the sugar. Bananas are much healthier and you will not see the same negative consequences that you will with the refined sugars. Goji Berries: (a.k.a. Wolfberry)There has been a lot of talk in the medical world about the high amount of antioxidants these berries contain. Antioxidants are free radicals which can damage cells. Mounting evidence shows that antioxidants can help protect against dementia and mental decline. Goji berries are usually found in dried form or in juice. Make sure you purchase organic ones. In the U.S. you can tell they are truly organic because they will be stamped with “USDA certified organic” on the box. I’ll be honest, I don’t love them, and I’m not a big fan. But don’t take my word, you should try them for yourself and let me know what you think. Apples: Apples contain nutrients and minerals which are vital to optimal health and brain function. Apples contain water as well, which keeps the body and cells hydrated. Plus, it cures a

sweet tooth with natural sugars instead of the refined processed sugar. Apples also contain natural fibers which helps the digestive system process foods. Raw Honey: Raw honey means unpasteurized, unprocessed, unheated, untreated and 100% pure. In its original and natural form, honey is alkalizing forming and contains enzymes and nutrients similarly found in fruits. Many sources claim raw honey to be anti bacterial, anti viral, and anti fungal because of its enzymes, friendly bacteria, antioxidants and phytonutrients that are found in high quality honey. Some of these substances are also known to have anti cancer properties. A few weeks ago my son was fighting a cough, I gave him buckwheat honey. The cough was gone without having to give him a pharmaceutical alternative, I loved that! Almond Milk: You know that your body needs milk for calcium, but did you know that milk from cows is high in fat and has several unhealthy qualities. Rather than benefiting your body, moo milk can actually be harmful. Cow’s milk is artificially homogenized, which means that the calcium you are supposed to be getting is actually sucked out prior to you ever purchasing or consuming it. Regarding Vitamin D, did you know that the vitamin is actually quite sensitive to artificial light? You can only imagine what happens to vitamin D in cow’s milk after it’s in the store cooler under artificial lighting for a few days. Try Almond Milk, it’s made from crushed almonds that contains no lactose or cholesterol, it can be drunk by those who have even the most severe milk allergies. It’s very low in calories, in fact it has fewer calories than even soy milk. Be aware when buying store bought brands sometimes they contain artificial sweeteners or additives like Carrageenan, which is known to cause inflammation in the body. It’s extracted from a red seaweed, also known as Irish Moss. It is used as a thickener

and emulsifier to improve the texture of ice cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, soy milk and other processed foods. Or you could make your own Almond Milk at home. All you need to do is grind a quarter cup of almonds in a food processor and then add one cup of water and continue blending until it’s mixed well. Free Range Grain Fed Eggs: Over the past few years, there has been many confusing conversations on whether or not eggs are healthy for your body, but that’s not the issue. It’s about the kind of eggs you consume. Chickens that are cooped up and fed processed feed do not produce eggs which are as healthy as free range eggs. Caged chickens produce eggs where most of the omega 3 oil is removed, contains more cholesterol, and have fewer nutrients. Free range eggs are higher in Omega 3’s, proteins and vitamins and contain less cholesterol. Free range eggs are a much better alternative to high carbohydrate packed breakfast such as a sugary cereal and bagels. So, the next time your brain is feeling a bit foggy, your memory isn’t working, your kids are having behavioral problems or just having trouble concentrating, try out the super foods for a few days and you and your family will see dramatic improvements in your mind and overall health. Cheers to your health! Tracey is a Red Hook resident and graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She works with her clients to build and maintain healthy lifestyles. If you have comments or suggestions on a topic you would like addressed, email editor@ redhookstar.com.

101 Union Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231 718 624-5568 george@redhookstar.com www.RedHookStar.com Red Hook Star-Revue

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WAY BACK WHEN

Hours: Noon to 10:30 pm Tues. to Thurs. Noon to 11pm Friday. 4pm to 11pm Saturday & 4pm to 10:30pm Sunday.

Dec 7, 2011 Occupy Red Hook meeting at the Red Hook Initiative.

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We have been serving Brooklyn Businesses since 1988. Our clients have included:

St. Ann’s Warehouse, Eastern Athletic Club, Al Vann, BWAC & Red Hook Initiative Services Offered: • Lettershop • Political Mailings • Non-Profit Fundraising Letters • Postcards • Brochures & Newsletters • First Class & Bulk

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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This was the whiteboard in which issues discussed were written down. This early meeting featured a interesting cross section of the Red Hook community not often seen since. In case the writing is illegible, we reproduce below. By the way, this meeting occurred almost a year prior to Hurricane Sandy. Issues - transportation, ambulances can’t find addresses, community is invisible until there’s a need for a big project, different groups in Red Hook - not a single voice, food, safety, air quality, lack of information about activities/events (except George’s paper), education, housing and housing cost, mailboxes, lighting, stop and frisk, empty lots/eyesores - not turned into gardens, garbage on street, lack of work in Red Hook. Overarching themes • Government and corporations must be accountable to people, corporations are not accountable today, government is afraid of media, • Poor representation of Red Hook in government, • Don’t have a strong community base • Low voter turnout • Corporate influence in the community • Size of institutions vs. size of Red Hook.

Scott Stringer sends us a big press release

NEW YORK, NY – New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer announced today the formation of a Sandy Oversight Unit which will draw upon the Comptroller’s Audit, Contracts, Budget and Policy Units to hold government accountable in the rebuilding of New York City from Superstorm Sandy. Comptroller Stringer will hold Town Halls in the Rockaways, Breezy Point, Coney Island, Staten Island, and at other locations over the coming months to discuss program ideas and audit recommendations. “Superstorm Sandy changed the lives of millions of New Yorkers and we are still grappling with its consequences today,” Comptroller Stringer said. “It is critical to have an accounting of how government has responded to this event, and what we can do to better prepare for the future. I am announcing the creation of a Sandy Oversight Unit and as part of that Unit’s first order of business, we will be auditing all aspects of the ‘Build it Back’ program. We will ensure government works for the people while finding ways to get New Yorkers the help they need.” The Sandy Oversight Unit will be a first-of-its-kind initiative that will utilize the expertise and resources of the Comptroller’s Audit, Contracts, Budget and Policy Units. The group will focus

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on: • Reviewing how federal aid was spent on recovery and resiliency programs; • Identifying areas where controls can be strengthened to improve performance and service delivery to protect taxpayers from fraud, waste and abuse; • Monitoring the budget, milestones and status of Sandy projects; and • Proposing policy recommendations to help the City enhance its emergency preparedness capacity. At the outset, audit staff will take a comprehensive look at the ‘Build it Back’ program to determine whether the Housing Recovery Office has set goals and timetables for the delivery of services and established procedures to reduce the backlog of applications. The unit will also monitor the speed and quality of services delivered and determine whether adequate control procedures have been implemented to detect fraud. The audit will focus on the Single Family Program, since the majority of the funding was allocated to those recipients. Editor’s Note: The Build it Back program has indeed been a disappointment to many in Red Hook who are still waiting for their checks. In the meantime, the Federal Government has infuriated residents as well as Senator Schumer by proposing using funds allocated for Sandy relief for other purposes.

May, 2014

Red Hook Coalition

that someone from the Steering Committee is working on a response.

(continued from page 3)

services. There are still many in Red Hook who have not been able to return to their damaged homes. Many are still waiting for promised grants from the NYC Build It Back program. The last two items on the Grants Summary page are a $100,000 grant from the NYC Housing and Neighborhood Recover (Donors Collective); and $217,344 from the Brooklyn Community Foundation and the American Red Cross. Some of this money seems to overlap previous grants, and other goals are vague. The include: • Hiring of a RHC coordinator • Create model of disaster preparedness & community planning within Red Hook Houses • Preparedness and Recover activities for 60 adults and 75 teenagers through programs such as CoastSmart; CERT; First Responders; Trade Skills traning. • Community Resiliency Planning Summits/Resiliency Workshop 300 persons • Build a strong coalition • Enhance local disaster preparedness • Support housing and rebuilding • Create a health and wellness database/professional collaboration • Strengthen community food independence. The Coalition has hired a Coordinator. She is Pratt Alumna Sapna Advana. Advana has a background in architecture and urban planning, with special experience with the Brooklyn Waterfront. According to her Linked-in page, she was hired in December, 2013, and lists her title as Coordinator: Long Term Recovery Project.

The final public meeting of the Red Hook Coalition’s Long Term Community Recovery Plan will be from 6 pm to 7:30 pm on Wednesday, May 7 at the South Brooklyn Community High School, 173 Conover Street.

RELIGIOUS NEWS Easter egg hunt at Visitation by Sister Rosanna

EMMT’s Noel Kepler informs us that “The long-term Community Recovery Plan will be completed as a document and distributed to all community residents and elected officials who have been involved. Then, over the early summer, the Red Hook Coalition has contracted EMMP to conduct a community-wide, real-time exercise of the readiness section of the plan. It will be a fun day, where the community can come together, see the community response piece in real-time, and hopefully walk away confident in their readiness as a community, a better understanding of individual roles among community partners, and inspired to better prepare their individual households.”

Lime Shortage affects pie man

A well documented shortage of limes has put a local entrepreneur in the news. According to the NY Post, the shortage is due to a combination of problems in Mexico - bad weather, a bacteria ravaging the trees, and drug cartels hijacking trucks. Steve Tarpin, of Steve’s Key Lime Pies, isn’t buying it. In a dnaInfo article, he called it a “manufactured crisis.” Indeed, he may be right. Pictured below is Steve with a brand new shipment of limes - giving him plenty to make all his pies!

It was a very joyful day Easter Sunday at Visitation. Jesus Christ has Risen! We were celebrating with joy, ringing all kinds of bells, always a joy for the children. The church was full of pretty flowers and….colorful egg baskets by the altar. The eggs were waiting for the children. It was their day to celebrate the new life that we received from the Risen Lord. And they came. The church was full of beautiful families. Both the Spanish and the English Mass were full. Everyone came all spruced up, the children wore beautiful spring colored dresses and suits and full of expectation for their Easter baskets. The church looked like a beautiful garden filled of pretty flowers. It was a joy to see families who used to live in Red Hook and came to visit as well as new families who moved to Red Hook and came to explore. It was a jubilant atmosphere and everyone lingered after Mass to talk to their friends, to ask questions, to explore. The children all received their baskets, with eggs and little toys and were running around the church. It was a great family reunion to celebrate the joy of the Resurrection of Jesus! All are welcome to celebrate this joy every Sunday, we are happy to welcome all the people and share this moment of rebirth.

On April 16th, the Star-Revue asked Advana by email for a timeline on future Coalition projects and was told

Next fun activity at Visitation? Come to our Carnival on Saturday June 14th from 11 to 3pm. Free food, games, music and rides.

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May, 2014