Kensington, Brooklyn

Antique Row Pride of Kensington

2012-01-24T05:53:00.000-05:00

Picture Credit Lisa Tuvalo

If you live in Kensington then you know how proud the residents are of Antique Row, a stretch of shops along Howard Avenue which specialize in antique furniture, rugs, vintage toys, used books and other nostalgic objects from days gone by.

In one of those shops, The Antique Market, at 3776 Howard Avenue you can find a really fun collectible from baseball history. Wouldn’t you love to have a cover from the magazine ‘Our World’ featuring a photograph of the first African-American major league baseball player in American history, Jackie Robinson. In 1947 Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, and one year later Roy Campenella became the second black man to play for the Dodgers. The magazine cover was shot in 1948 with Robinson, Campenella, and Dodger’s manager Leo Durocher standing between them.

The cover is for sale for $185. If you would like to make inquiries about the cover, or anything else having to do with The Antique Market, call Judy Sanders at 301-942-4440.

Facebook Styled Website Matches Sabbath Guests with Hosts

2012-01-22T06:00:00.001-05:00

Looking for a nice place to have a meal on the Jewish Sabbath? Try Shabbat.com, which has a user base of about 25,000 members, 6,000 of whom are ready to play the host to strangers whose acquaintance they have only just met on the internet.

Benzion Klatzko is the founder of Shabbat.com.

“Why not show the world that we are a welcoming people? “I want to highlight the openness that we have,” he states.

Although the guests can range in religious observance from completely non-observent to “very orthodox,” there is a careful screening process which takes place before anyone is allowed to join the website.

Klatzko and a group of volunteers searches the for the prospective member on Facebook and Google before allowing anyone to join, and if everything checks out, that person can become a member, either as a host or as a guest, or even as both.

The majority of members come from Brooklyn, a city with a large concentration of Jews among its residents. Flatbush, Midwood, Kensington and other Brooklyn neighborhoods are the most popular destinations for sharing Sabbath meals.

“It’s made life a lot more interesting,” said Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein, who, with his wife Feige, have served dozens of strangers during the past year in his home in Kensington.

“Our kids started moving out; the house was getting emptier and emptier. Shabbos is supposed to be fun. We started looking around for people,” said Goldstein, who has shared his Sabbath table with visitors from as far away as France.

Some hosts prefer to only have fellow Jews for guests, but there are people from other religions also on the site.
Klatzko said that there are even Catholic priests and other non-Jews who are religion-friendly on the site.

“Our site is open to every denomination: religious, not religious, single, not single,” Klatzko said.

Recently married Mordy and Zina Genut owe their marriage to Shabbat.com. Both were recently divorced, and each one had two small children. One Sabbath they were both just looking for a meal and not necessarily a new spouse. But they met at the Sabbath meal that they both found through Sabbath.com, and were engaged two months later. They now live in Marine Park.

This is a great social scene,” said Mordy Genut, 28. “People give you food. A complete stranger. You don’t see that in the world. Most people say, ‘Get out of my house. Or I will shoot you.’ ”

Disguised Thieves Rob Elderly Women in their Homes in Brooklyn

2012-01-17T04:14:00.000-05:00

Pretending to be utility workers, two thieves were able to gain entrance into an elderly woman’s Borough Park home, stealing jewelry and cash.

Joe Rushford is the son of 90 year-old Gloria, who was at work on Tuesday while he mother was at home by herself.

“I’d like to wring their neck. I’d like to invite them out in the street here, me and them. Have some fun. You know you pick on a 90-year-old lady,” he told CBS 2′s Kristin Thorne.

“They watch the house and they prey on elderly people and it’s not going to happen again,” he added.

Robbery Suspect /Photo Credit NYPD

The police said that surveillance cameras captured a video of a man in uniform coming up to the Rushford home, with a woman joining him several minutes later. They were able to enter her house by claiming that they were there to carry out some work, but once inside they robbed her of cash, jewelry and some sensitive documents.

The pair of thieves then went to another home of 89-year-old Rose in Kensington.

Rose says that she was sitting on her front porch when what she thought was a worker for Con Edison came up to her. The man told Gloria that he was there to do some work in her house. Soon after a woman joined them; and while the woman distracted Rose, the man entered her house and robbed her.

“Oh God, I can’t take this. I didn’t sleep all night. I’m afraid,” she said. “They took all my money, took all my jewelry. Everything.”

The police have reason to believe that the suspects escaped in a four-door sedan, color green. The female suspect is about five-foot-five and weighs about 140 pounds and she has dark brown hair. The man is estimated to be about six-feet tall and has blue eyes and light brown hair.

Anyone with information should call police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.

Kensington Recording Studio Systems Two

2012-01-15T05:39:00.000-05:00

Surprisingly, Systems Two does not have a web site, but apparently there seems to be no need. This Kensington, Brooklyn based recording studio has been doing just fine without the luxury of a presence on the internet. Founder and engineer Joe Marciano puts it this way: “We’ve been blessed, literally from the first day that we opened. We just haven’t had a second to even think about putting a website together.”

Systems Two Live Room

Systems Two began 37 years ago as small room in Sheepshead Bay. From those humble beginnings as an 8-track studio the operation expanded through two recessions until it reached its present state: a giant, three-room space in the heart of Kensington, and as many argue, one of the best places for jazz recording in all of the US.

“Maybe half the people who call us want to see a website,” says Joe Marciano. System Two’s studio manager is Joe’s wife, Nancy, and according to Joe, she is “very old school.”

“She wants to get people down here: To smell this place, to see it, and to get into the vibe of it. That’s the big attraction point. As soon as we get them in here, that’s it, they’ve found a home sold.”

“Then there’s the other half of people who say ‘Hey man, you don’t have a website? That’s so hip. I had to find you. I had to look at records and ask around’.”

Marciano laughs. “Well, I don’t know if it’s hip or not, but between repeat clients and our relationships with the labels, we’ve been so fortunate and so swamped that we just never needed to build one. I mean, I’m still working with people that I first worked with 35 years ago.”

For more information Contact: systemstwo@gmail.com | (718) 851-1010

Furry Fireman’s Friend Featured as February Pin-Up

2012-01-10T06:40:00.000-05:00

Nikki Poses For The February Pin-Up

Not many in Park Slope can brag about being featured as the February pin-up in a calendar for the New Year, but Nikki sure can.

Park Slope firehouse mascot, Nikki, is a friendly, furry chow mix beauty, always ready to pose for a photo op, or just roll over and go to sleep. Nikki loves to impress the kids in the neighborhood with her specialty, stop-drop-and-roll; but her own personal favorite is riding in the fire truck, head out the window, wind blowing in her face, as she heads out to daytime calls.

“She doesn’t go when it’s late at night. She likes to sleep,” said retired Capt. Jim Wallace of the Engine Co. 220/Ladder Co. 122 house on 11th Street.

And now Nikki is going to be famous. She appears as Miss February for the 2012 Silver Shield Foundation charity calendar, which also includes three other darling doggies.

The firemen who adopted the pooch in 2006 are thrilled with Nikki’s sudden claim to fame.

“We all got a kick out of it,” Wallace said.

The calendars help to support the Silver Shield Foundation, an organization which provides for children of firefighters and police officers who are killed in the line of duty. Calendars can be purchased for $25 each from the foundation.

2012-01-08T06:58:00.000-05:00

Its official; seventeen year veteran Yankee catcher Jorge Posada is to retire from baseball this year. Although the 40 year old Posada will be sorely missed, many believe it is the right decision for him:

“It’s upsetting but he’s a lifetime Yankee,” said Boris Fridkin, 29, an accountant from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.

“It’s the best decision he could have made.”

Jorge Posada

Another fan, Humberto Perea, said that Posada was probably “One of the top catchers of all time.”

“I’m going to miss him,” said Perea, a purchasing agent from Borough Park. “Now we have to worry about who’s next. We’ve never had to worry about who’s playing catcher.”

Posada was never anything but a Yankee, which also makes a lot of fans feel nostalgic for him already.

“I’m so happy he retired as a Yankee. I couldn’t picture him playing for another team,” said Lorraine Orlando, a 43-year-old administrative assistant from Kensington, Brooklyn.

“He’s such a part of the Yankees, not seeing him in the lineup or hearing his name announced in the starting lineup is going to be weird.”

Kensington Composting and Native Plants Garden Transforms Vacant Lot

2012-01-03T06:26:00.000-05:00

When Louise Bruce moved into Kensington last spring, she saw an ugly vacant lot strewn with garbage at the corner of East 8th Street and Newkirk Avenue. Not one to let things lie, Bruce asked permission to develop the lot, which ultimately proved to be a wonderful way to help her neighbors and herself.

Today the lot has been transformed into an oasis of beauty and environmental awareness as a home to a garden of native plants and a compost center.

Brooklyn Native Plant Garden

Composting is a wonderful way to reduce trash output, but also to create a highly usable soil-like substance which is like a magic fertilizer for plants. People in the neighborhood bring their organic trash, like banana peels, coffee grounds and potato skins, to a pile in the lot. There the trash is transformed through natural processes into "compost" to be used to grow plants.

"In essence, it becomes really rich plant food," said garden volunteer Kate Grace-Mitchell. "New York City pays something like one million dollars a day to truck out garbage, a large percentage of which can be composted right here in our backyards."

Grace-Mitchell explained the importance of having a garden with native plants.

"If we don't have native plant gardens providing habitats for native insects, which pollinate our plants, our food gardens are useless. We'd love to educate the community about the importance of these less obvious things," said Grace-Mitchell. "And of course, create a nice aesthetic too."

Compost can be brought to the garden on Sundays and Thrusdays from 3pm to 6pm, and the residents are thrilled to have it.

"I've been looking for a place to compost forever," said resident Laura Helton, beaming as she dumped three large freezer bags full of compost material into a large, not-too-smelly bin. "I've been dragging my frozen kitchen scraps to Union Square for three years now."

Visit the Living Torah Museum in Kensington

2012-01-01T06:46:00.001-05:00

Terracotta Incense Burner

For those who are steeped in the study of the Bible (Torah) the Living Torah Museum brings to life objects which are mentioned but are often difficult to imagine due to the immense amount of time which has elapsed since the events described in the Bible took place.

On exhibit are many authentic ancient artifacts from the Biblical period; there are also items which are mentioned in later works from Jewish history, such as the Mishnah and the Talmud. There is also a display of the 39 special categories of activities which are prohibited on the Sabbath, illustrated in a way to make them easier to understand, with an explanation of how they were performed in ancient Israel at the time of the wandering in the desert of Sinai and the conquest of the land of Israel.

An additional exhibit depicts several of the leaders throughout Jewish history who have made an impact on the Jewish people felt even to the present day.

Located at 1601 41st street in the heart of Borough Park, Brooklyn.
For more information call (718) 851-3215 ‎

Namaste Yoga in Kensington

2011-12-27T03:48:00.001-05:00

Namaste Yoga in Kensington

Looking for a dance or yoga class close to home? There is no reason to look any further than Namaste Yoga of Kensington at 482 Coney Island Avenue. They are the first neighborhood yoga studio in Kensington, welcoming patrons to come and gain self-confidence while improving physical and mental health.

Namaste Yoga was founded by Wilhyn Larsen, a former corporate executive. She has over twenty years of experience in the arts, and brings her talent to this unique dance studio.

The studio offers a wide variety of dance classes for every level and interest, including: Belly Dance, Zumba, Pilates, Tai Chi, Cardio Dance, Turbo Kick, classes for kids, and more.

Pricing is competitive and there are often discounts and specials available. Call 347-533-6226 for more information.

Kensington Man Found Slain in Pennsylvania

2011-12-25T06:57:00.001-05:00

Cafe Owner Joshua Rubin from Kensington

Joshua Rubin, the 30-year-old owner of The Whisk Bakery Café in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, was found on November 1st in a woods right outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania. It took until this past week to identify the remains as that of Rubin.

His body had been burned after being shot and killed by a bullet wound to the head.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Mikhail Plotkin, 56, a salesman at an electronics store on the same block as the cafe.

“He was a little strange, but otherwise, he was a nice kid. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.”

Rubin was last seen leaving his home on October 31st, and his credit card was used just a few days later at the Woodbury Commons mall in Orange County, New York.

Friends and loved ones put up flyers to help locate their friend, but there efforts did not lead to any clues or further information about what happened.

Kensington Woman to Compete in the Third Annual Latke Recipe Contest

2011-12-20T03:52:00.000-05:00

Dori Fern will be competing in the Third Annual Latke Festival this coming Monday against 14 other chefs, all of whom are professionals. Dori won Edible Brooklyn’s reader recipe contest for her Double-Happiness Latkes topped with Five-Spice Duck Confit, which succeeded against 60 other submissions.

According to Edible East End editor and publisher of Edible Manhattan and Edible Brooklyn Brian Halwell, the decision to choose Fern’s recipe above the others was not easy:

“People were stretching the very definition or notion of what ingredients go into a potato pancake,” says Halweil. “We had people put in all sorts of spices and flavorings and herbs into them and using different sorts of potatoes and mixing in different root crops.”

Fern’s recipe won because it put the latkes at the center of the eating experience:

Frying Potato Latkes

“She captured not just the locavore sentiment that’s part of the magazine, but a creativeness that elevates latkes from a side dish to something that’s the focus on the meal.”

The Latke Festival is co-sponsored by Great Performances and Edible Brooklyn and will take place on Monday at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Participatory Government Continues in Kensington

2011-12-18T04:45:00.001-05:00

This past autumn New York City began a brave new experiment designed to bring citizens back into the process of democratic government and to encourage participation and autonomy. The program, known as the Participatory Budgeting Project gives people the opportunity to suggest ways they would like to see their tax dollars spent, and then to vote on those grass-roots ideas.

There were hundreds of people on hand from the four districts whose Council members are involved over the past few months who attended public assemblies to discuss their ideas on what to do with about $1 million in capital funds for each district. There are volunteer committees now debating the proposals, and voting on these proposals is expected to take place this spring.

The four Council members involved in this exciting project are Brad Lander of the 39th district which includes Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Park Slope and parts of Kensington and Borough Park; Jumaane Williams of the 45th district including Flatbush, Midwood and parts of Canarsi; Melissa Mark-Viverito of the 8th district in Harlem and the South Bronx; and Eric Ulrich the 32nd district Council member representing southwest Queens.

Brad Lander had this to say about the project:

“We are excited to put budgeting power directly in the hands of the people. Not only will next year’s budget be more democratic as a result, it will also be more effective because our constituents know best where money needs to go in our community.”

When asked what he felt was the quirkiest idea, Mr. Lander said, “Make a Gowanus Canal gondola, aptly called “The Gowandola;” create dumpster pools for hot summer days like they had on Manhattan’s East Side on Saturdays in 2010, and which first popped up in the Gowanus neighborhood.”

Lander felt the boldest idea was to create “A community center to bring together the diverse neighborhoods that make up Kensington, Brooklyn. To make the idea feasible within the $1 million budget limitation, committee members are looking for rooms in libraries or other public spaces that can be remodeled to be mini-community centers.”

Christmas Trees for Sale in Brooklyn

2011-12-13T06:16:00.001-05:00

There are many places to pick from to get a Christmas tree in the area:

• Eighth Avenue Fundraiser—Park Slope resident Tim Foley will give $10 to any of 14 area schools when someone purchases a tree from him. “I’m about doing the right thing for the neighborhood and its public schools,” Foley said, who is a father to three children who go to schools in the area, PS 230, MS 51 and Brooklyn Tech. “It’s a pay-it-forward mentality.” Last year Foley raised $2,600, and this year, together with his other tree stand on Smith and Butler Streets; he hopes to raise $6,000 to $7,000.

Trees For Sale in Brooklyn

• In Front of CVS on Ninth Street—This stand has garnered the reputation of having the largest trees available. Louis Rondin and Nichola Dubois are French Canadians who bring their trees south from Nova Scotia, selling their trees round-the-clock, in French.

• Wind Swept Farm on Union Street—These Christmas trees, from Barton, Vermont, are organically grown, and cost $10 a foot, until you get to 8 feet, when the price goes up to $15 a foot. They have other tree stands around Brooklyn and also sell maple syrup and wreaths from Vermont.

Mixed Reviews on Kensington Aerobics and Fitness

2011-12-11T05:08:00.000-05:00

The Kensington Aerobics and Fitness facility located on Caton Avenue (between 2^nd and 3^rd Streets) has been getting some extremely mixed reviews with some loving it and others feeling it is not such a good deal. However, on doing a comparative price investigation, it does seem that the deal being offered at the center really is pretty unbeatable. It is true that some of the cardio machines are not always in working order and on the gym’s upper level it is not suitable for taller people to use machinery there due to its low ceiling, but other than that, one really can get a great workout in.

People can always find something to complain about and one of the gripes is the music. Yet really this shouldn’t be such a big deal since exercisers can also bring their own music on headphones. Another criticism is that there is no option for a trial membership but one can get a pretty good idea of what is available by checking it out first. As well, at $420 a year, that’s pretty impressive.

Some people enjoy a relaxing sauna after a workout too but that has been (not-so-strategically) placed in the men’s locker room and some complain it does not really heat up adequately.

In addition, there are various classes available such as: abs, Pilates, spinning and more. there is no swimming pool but the hours are great too – Monday through Thursday, 5 am ‘til 12 midnight; Friday ‘til 10pm and Saturday and Sunday from 8am ‘til 8pm).

Children of Deceased Kensington Woman Say It Took Seven Days to Tell Them Mom Died in Hospital

2011-12-06T09:08:00.001-05:00

The son and daughter of an elderly woman, Catherine Hawa, say it took New York Community Hospital seven days to inform them of their mother’s demise.

Catherine Hawa with Family 1966

The brother and sister, Michael and Jeanette Hawa say their mother passed away on November 16th, but they were only informed of that fact on November 23rd. Jeanette says that she was preparing to visit her mother at the Midwood hospital when she received a call from someone at the hospital telling her that her mother was dead and had already been in the morgue for seven days.

Michael says that he also received a call from a hospital staff worker on the same day, telling him that his mother was dead, but offering no explanation for the delay.

“I really don’t know why we didn’t call you,” he said she told him.

Born in Indianapolis, Catherine moved to Brooklyn when she married Edward Hawa in 1946. Hawa was a well-known figure at the McCrory’s department store in downtown Brooklyn where she sold greeting cards.

Hawa lived in Kensington until the time of her death at the age of 89, on East 5th Street, and was involved in several neighborhood groups like the Friends of Kensington, a fundraising organization for the Kensington Library, of which she was the president.

Councilman Greenfield Requests MTA to Not Disrupt Friday Train Service in Brooklyn

2011-12-04T06:18:00.000-05:00

David Greenfield

Councilman David G. Greenfield of the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Midwood, Boro Park and Bensonhurst requested that the Metropolitan Transit Authority minimize upcoming service changes to his constituents which would have caused major inconveniences.

The changes also would be highly disruptive to Kensington and Flatbush residents, with a special concern for the two Fridays of December 2nd and December 9th. The service changes are due to the construction which is now in progress along the Q line, which is forcing the trains to skip over the subway stations which pass through the heart of Brooklyn’s highly concentrated Jewish populations.

The MTA had originally planned the disruptions for 10am until 3pm on the two above mentioned Fridays, skipping several of the Q line’s regular stops, including Cortelyou Road, Avenue H, Avenue J, and Avenue M. This would have meant a major inconvenience for Orthodox Jews who begin their Sabbath observance at 4:11pm for the next two weeks.

The MTA responded favorably to Councilman Greenfield’s request, and residents can expect usual service on the effected trains until further notice.

Kensington Man Loses Musical Parrot

2011-11-29T04:45:00.002-05:00

Calling all Brooklynites! Keep on the lookout for a 25 year old female parrot who will sing harmony with you, and even dance. Going by the name “Captain,” the yellow and green Amazon parrot was sitting on the shoulder of her owner, Allen Kirson, while he was biking down Ocean Parkway in Kensington last Friday when she suddenly decided to take flight.

Kirson is worried that because Captain had her wings clipped, she will not be able to escape from marauding cats and other dangers of the Brooklyn jungle-like neighborhood of Kensington.

Captain is a talented bird who has performed with Kirson at children’s hospitals and homes for senior citizens.

“She was a ham,” Kirson told 1010 WINS’ Steve Sandberg. “If I played my harmonica she would almost always start singing along with that. But her real love was singing harmony — she has perfect pitch.”

If you see Captain, please call the following number: 347-350-5914

Bikers Bearing Gifts Ride from Kensington to Coney Island

2011-11-27T04:01:00.001-05:00

For the twenty-third time in its history, Bikers for Brooklyn hosted a toy giveaway in the holiday spirit of helping the less fortunate.

The ride took place on November 19 and began in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn. They biked to their final destination, the Coney Island community Day Care center on West 27th Street, where the over 100 participants handed out gifts to the children there.

George Barker, the president of the biker’s club, explained that they hold this special event on the eve of the holidays to help give something back to kids in under-served New York City communities.

The 100 riders, including several dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, made an imposing site riding down the streets of Brooklyn on their way to deliver board games, sports equipment, stuffed animals and more.
The enthusiastic Coney Island residents were appreciative of the kind gesture.

“My son’s very happy,” said Shieshia Taylor, whose 4 year old was pleased with his new toy truck — and the chance to sit on Santa’s lap. “I didn’t know [bike clubs] did things like that.”

Shenanigans Pub in Kensington Fun Night Spot

2011-11-24T03:38:00.002-05:00

Great bartenders, cheap drinks all night long, karaoke and even a barbecue in the back, makes Shenanigans Pub at 802 Caton Avenue a unique place to relax and have a great evening out.

As Kensington continues its climb into the realm of gentrification, places like Shenanigans Pub will become more popular. This is just one more place which makes Kensington an awesome place to live.

For more information call 718-633-3689.

Brooklyn Bike Patrol Gearing Up for Beefed Up Service

2011-11-19T03:39:00.006-05:00

Jay "Rocket" Ruiz of BPP

As the Southbound F and G subway line service interruption in Kensington begins, extra patrolling by the volunteer Brooklyn Bike Patrol is getting into gear.

As was mentioned in an earlier blog post, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, (MTA) will be suspending service of its southbound F and G trains at the 15th Street-Prospect Park and the Forth Hamilton stations. Service was curtailed on November 14th, and will continue until May of next year.

The closing down of service at these stations means that people will have to get off the train either before or after the closed stations, lengthening their travel time above ground, where several attacks on women have taken place, spreading fear in the neighborhood.

Augmenting the increase in police patrols in the neighborhood is the Brooklyn Bike Patrol, whose president Jay “Rocket” Ruiz has stated that his volunteer organization will be at the F/G Seventh Avenue Station beginning last Monday night to make sure women will get home safe.

Before the suspension of service began Ruiz stated, “We are going to be out here tonight, we will be out here all week,” Ruiz said on Monday, explaining that BBP will be paying close attention to the F/G suspension.

“We will actually be out here all year long, until service is resumed at these stations.”

Beginning at 8pm each evening, Ruiz and 11 additional volunteers will be there on their bikes to escort women safely home. Women can call for an escort or they can contact BPP using e-mail, Facebook or Twitter and get volunteer to accompany her home from any of 25 different subway stations in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Park Slope, Kensington, Sunset Park, Carroll Gardens, Prospect Heights, and now, Fort Greene-Clinton Hill.

Keep these numbers handy:

•    Tel: 718-744-7592
•    E-mail: brooklynbikepatrol@gmail.com
•    Facebook: facebook.com/BROOKLYNBIKEPATROL
•    Twitter: @BKbikepatrol
•    Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 8 p.m. to midnight
•    Friday through Saturday, 8 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.

Kensington Man Survives Brighton Beach Building Collapse

2011-11-15T03:44:00.001-05:00

Oleksandr Kushch of Kensington described last week how he was knocked unconscious when the steel skeleton of the condo complex he was helping construct collapsed and woke up several moments later under a pile of rubble.

Oleksandr Kushch

Kushch, 26, explained that he was using a buffer to smooth out freshly poured concrete on the fourth floor of the partly constructed building when the accident happened.

“When I woke up, I saw all the metal beams. Everything was on top of me,” he said while recovering at his home in Kensington.

“Oh my god, I was buried,” Kushch continued. “I started digging myself out. I don’t know how I got out. ... I have two small children. I had to get out.”

One floor below two other construction workers were also injured, and one of them, Ivan Lendel, a Ukrainian immigrant, died later from his wounds.

Preliminary investigations by city officials are guessing that the building collapsed because the concrete was poured on the top floors before the bottom floors were completely fortified.

Kushch himself did not notice any problems with the way the construction was being conducted.

“I’ve worked in a lot of places in nine years. This is the way we’ve always done it. It’s easier to bring the machines down than up,” he said.

“The building was all metal, not wood. It should have held. It should have been strong,” he added.

Kensington Residents in for a Ride on F and G Lines Beginning Monday

2011-11-13T07:29:00.001-05:00

Kensington residents should take note that beginning this coming week there will be more than the usual inconveniences of traveling the city by subways.

Commuters of Kensington as well as Windsor Terrace will no longer be able to take the F and G trains to Fort Hamilton and 15th St/Prospect Park until this coming spring. The F and G trains will not be able to stop at those above mentioned stations due to ongoing work on the Culver Viaduct, which caused previous delays for northbound trains which were forced to skip those stations for five months at the beginning of this past year.

The closures will affect about 11,000 commuters. But those commuters should feel safer as, according to Brad Lander’s office the NYPD will be dedicating extra manpower to protecting the area, “particularly during the darker evening hours,” because of the well-known recent surge in sexual attacks.

Despite Lawyers' Protests Levi Aron’s Trial Will Take Place in Brooklyn

2011-11-09T08:49:00.000-05:00

Despite the protests of Levi Aron’s lawyers, the court decided on Tuesday to allow the accused murderer of the eight year old Leiby Kletzky of Boro Park to be conducted in Brooklyn.

Aron’s lawyers tried to move the trial venue to the Bronx or Suffolk County, complaining that the enormous media coverage and “propaganda campaign” orchestrated by District Attorney Charles Hynes along with the police department, had caused any prospective jurors from the area to be biased towards their client.

“The DA’s office and the police have fallen all over themselves to poison the public’s mind against the defendant,” said Howard Greenberg, one of Aron’s lawyers. “I wanted to try this case in Brooklyn in front of 12 fiercely independent jurors.”

Aron’s lawyers contend that Aron is crazy and that the confession which Aron, a Kensington resident, scrawled on a piece of paper was forced from him shortly after he was arrested in July.

Pretrial motions will take place on December 21st with the defendant appearing in court, but the trial itself, including the opening arguments are not scheduled to begin until early in 2012.

Levi Aron is accused of kidnapping, killing and then butchering the eight-year-old Hasidic Brooklyn boy in July.

Blind Man Saves Himself After Tumbling Onto Train Tracks

2011-11-03T03:15:00.001-04:00

An as yet unidentified blind man, was standing on the subway platform at the Church Avenue/McDonald Avenue Station in the Kensington section of Brooklyn, when he stepped off the platform as the G train was approaching the station.

Witnesses said the man, appearing to be in his 60s, believed the train had already arrived at the station and thought he was about to enter it, when he mistakenly stepped off the platform instead. With only seconds to spare, the man rolled away from the oncoming train and found a space under the platform to escape the train’s crushing wheels.

The incident happened at about 7am on Tuesday. Soon after the man was pulled back onto the platform by emergency responders, where witnesses noticed that the man seemed to be doing fine. He was then taken to Maimonides Medical Center, but his condition has not yet been disclosed.

One man who saw the accident, a construction worker said, “I am sure he was scared out of his mind. But I do not think he had even a cut or a bruise. He is extremely lucky.”

Kensington Resident Cari Jackson Organizes Rally for Paid Sick Leave Legislation

2011-11-01T06:47:00.002-04:00

Many New Yorkers are not aware that a huge percentage of employees in the private-sector workforce are not entitled to paid sick leave. In order to bring a solution to this problem, Kensington resident Cari Jackson, along with several others, organized a rally in mid-October, demanding legislation which would give workers in New York between five to seven accrued paid sick days each year.

More Than You Think

The estimated number of private-sector workers in New York is about 1 million, or 37%.

“Many people aren’t aware of how many New Yorkers don’t have paid sick time,” said Cari Jackson. “A million don’t have it, and even if you do, many can’t use it if their kids get sick — that puts a real burden on parents.”

Shelved Legislation

Christine C. Quinn

New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn introduced a measure in 2009 addressing this issue, but she chose to shelve it temporarily in the hopes that with an improvement in the economy the law’s chances of passing would improve. Others believe that the postponement of pushing ahead with the legislation was a way to please the business community to pave the way to a successful mayoral bid in 2013.

Public Health Issue, Too

Supporters of the legislation add that the issue is not just economic, but affects the public health of New Yorkers as well. When faced with the choice of staying home and losing money, or going to work sick, most people will go to work which poses a threat to everyone else in the work place. In addition, when workers are not able to stay home with sick children they will send their sick kids to school to avoid having their pay docked.

Good Business or Bad?

Business leaders are opposed to the sick leave legislation, stating that it could be an extra burden on business during difficult economic times. However the Bureau of Labor Statistics have data which shows that paid sick leave, on average, makes up only 1 percent of all payroll costs. Supporters of the law say this is not much of a burden for businesses to bear.

“We had to mandate a minimum wage and minimum age for work, and we have to mandate this,” Jackson later explained. “If you don’t offer paid sick time it’s just pure greed. Businesses have a responsibility to ensure the health of their employees.”

El Gaucho Offers Authentic Argentinean Cuisine

2011-10-30T03:08:00.001-04:00

Shmuel David, owner and manager of El Gaucho in the Kensington section of Brooklyn, explains that it was a long-time dream of his to “offer the kosher community the exciting experience of eating an authentic Argentinean steak.”

One of El Gaucho’s specialties includes asado (barbecue) which is a fire made on the ground or in a fire pit. The fire is encircled by metal sticks which hold the entire opened up carcass of the animal which then cooks by the heat of the fire. Shmuel David replicates this traditional cooking method in his restaurant using cutting-edge radiant grill technology by which the meat never touches a flame, but is entirely cooked by the heat of the fire. The meat is then served individually on personal sized table grills called parillas which keep the meat hot and sizzling.

El Gaucho, which has the added advantage of being Glatt Kosher, is located at 4102 18th Avenue at the corner of East 4th Street. For more information or to make reservations call 718-438-3006.

Rocky’s Pizza Best in Kensington

2011-10-25T09:33:00.002-04:00

At 474 Coney Island Avenue, right off Church Avenue is a pizza place worth remembering: Rocky’s Pizzaria Restaurant.

The menu is huge, with a choice of appetizers such as mozzarella sticks, garlic knots or hot dogs in blankets; calzones of many kinds; pasta al horno; and much more.

You are welcome to come in to eat, but if you are just hanging out at home, they are happy to deliver to your door. Rocky suggests that you go to their web site, organize your order and then call 718-854-9270, and your order will arrive in practically no time at all.

Halloween Decoration Stirs Controversy in Brooklyn

2011-10-23T05:18:00.000-04:00

Councilman Charles Barron

Halloween is not a holiday known for its respectful, conforming flavor; but for many this year’s Kensington prank went just a little bit too far.

Someone hung an obviously black-skinned scarecrow from a tree in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Kensington this week, bringing to many people’s mind a vision of an old, southern-style lynching.

The tasteless Halloween decoration was brought to the attention of City Councilman Charles Barron. In response he released a statement which said, "The scarecrow is offensive and reprehensible not only to the Black Community, but to all those who have a history of persecution and, or have been victimized by lynch mobs. The perpetrators of this horrific display are only acting out what they conceal in their hearts."

Barron added that not only was the display ‘grotesque’ it was also definitely not ‘cool.’

Barron’s opinion was not shared by everyone, however. One woman, Nicole Clemente, expressed her own feelings about the Halloween prank, "I don't think that that portrays lynching. I mean, it's Halloween, that's part of the Halloween spirit. When I see a jack-o-lantern with a scary face on, I don't get scared and think monsters are going to come get me."

Whatever the consensus on the distinctly original Halloween display, the NYPD took down the scarecrow on the grounds that the tree is city property and the law disallows all forms of decorations or signage to be hung on public property.

The perpetrator of the misdemeanor has not yet been apprehended.

Lander Calls For End to Helicoper Joy Rides

2011-10-11T05:45:00.000-04:00

A group of Brooklyn officials are calling for a ban on low-flying tourist helicopters over the city, according to reports printed in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

The demand to halt tourist helicopter flights is in response to the tragic crash of a helicopter into the East River last week which killed one passenger and seriously hurt three out of a total of five on board.

Five political figures called for the ban, including Councilman Brad Lander, Democratic representative from Kensington/Park Slope. These five had previously asked for an end to low-flying helicopter flights due to the noise pollution they create, but now the issue is even more essential, as it involves safety and life and death issues.

Councilman Brad Lander Calling Citizens to Get Involved

2011-10-09T07:45:00.000-04:00

Brad Lander and fellow councilmembers Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn), Eric Ulrich (R-Queens), and Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan) are excited over an initiative which will give residents real power to say how they want their tax money spent in their districts.

Brad Lander

It is called “Participatory Budgeting,” and Lander explains why he is so enthusiastic about the initiative:

"This is a time when faith in government is weakened; but for those of us who believe democracy is at its best when we work together as a community to solve problems, this is an opportunity to take part," explained Lander. "

The plan was first announced in September. In the next few weeks Lander’s 39th district will hold assemblies to get people involved. The first such assembly will be held in Park Slope this coming Wednesday, October 5th, at the Old First Reformed Church at 729 Carroll Street. A second assembly is planned for October 20th, at PS 58 in Carroll Gardens, both for 6:30pm.

"The idea is so novel; it's something people won't want to miss. If this works, we'll be part of something as pioneers," said Maria Pagano, Carroll Gardens resident and the President of the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association.

Lander is hoping a large contingent from his district will participate, involving Brooklynites from Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Boro Park, and Kensington.

Kensington Youthmarket a Success

2011-10-04T06:43:00.000-04:00

This spring and summer saw the opening of the Kensington-Windsor Terrace Youthmarket. The market was such a success that it was the largest revenue producing Youthmarket of all the GrowNYC markets in the network.

The good news was announced by Catherine Zinnel, the Kensington Liaison/District Director, who was appointed to her position by Councilman Brad Lander.

Due to the great success of the project here in Kensington, the initial trial period is now over and we can all expect to see the Youthmarket back next spring, perhaps in an expanded version with flowers, fresh meat and/or fish for sale.

The Youthmarket is scheduled to stay open every Saturday this season until closing day on October 29. Go see what all the excitement is about on East 5th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway from 9am to 3pm.

Summons Slowdown Eliciting Ire of Police Chief James Tuller

2011-10-02T05:32:00.000-04:00

The NYPD ticket-writing slowdown is resulting in such a huge loss of income for the city that three-star chief James Tuller wants to see his cops writing at least 15 summonses each month.

This quota, which police officials would rather call a “productivity goal” has annoyed police in return.

Moving violations, like running a red light, using a cell phone or driving without a seatbelt, have dropped by 44% during the week ending on September 11th, as compared to the same time last year. For the 28 days previously the numbers of moving violation tickets were also down by 36.3% throughout the city, as compared to last year.

The 70th Precinct, which is in Kensington, was particularly hit hard. Here, as well as in Midtown Manhattan and the 122nd Precinct in Staten Island had a 79% reduction in summonses for the above named moving violations.
Due to the pressure coming from Chief Tuller, many commanders have been placed in an awkward position. As one policeman put it,

"Most precinct commanders don't care about summons 'productivity.' Their careers are based on crime reduction," he said. "The bosses can push a precinct C.O., but you still gotta get a cop to write them."

Park Slope Fiend Attacks Again

2011-09-27T03:51:00.006-04:00

In what adds up to the eleventh such attack since March, a 29 year-old woman was approached from behind as she left the Prospect Avenue R train station at 9:05pm last Wednesday night. The attacker, who is now known as the Park Slope Sex Fiend, grabbed her breasts from behind and then ran away after she screamed.

Typical of Other Attacks

The police are convinced that this latest attack is indeed the work of the same perpetrator of the other attacks.

“The victim’s description fits with the pattern of attempted assaults,” said a police source. “And it’s typical with the other incidents. She was grabbed from behind by surprise.”

Since March the fiend, or perhaps fiends, since there are different descriptions of what the assailant looks like, has managed to rape one woman and grope ten others, frightening women from South Slope, Bay Ridge, Sunset Park and Park Slope.

Residents Respond

The latest attack comes just one day after the police told a frustrated citizenry that they are doing all they can to nab the criminal. Residents, not satisfied with the police response, have held rallies, placed ‘Wanted’ posters, and organized self-defense classes. The police say they have added patrols as of August, after the fifth attack.

A woman from Kensington said that she called Crime Stoppers after someone who fit the description of the Park Slope Fiend exposed himself to her on the subway. Unfortunately, according to the woman, the officer on the phone hung up on her.

Brooklyn Bike Patrol Take Back Brooklyn Streets

2011-09-25T07:07:00.018-04:00

Jay Ruiz of Brooklyn Bike Patrol

Park Slope, a neighborhood just a bit north of Kensington, has responded to an increase in the number of sexual assaults that have taken place there lately, with a bike patrol composed of volunteers.

Brooklyn bikers will stand at the ready when a woman emerges from the subway station and will offer to accompany her home if she does not feel comfortable walking alone at night.

Jay Ruiz, a 55 year old dispatcher for a bike messenger company, founded the group and gave it the name Brooklyn Bike Patrol. Ruiz said,

“We just want the monsters to stop already.”

The group began escorting women home last Friday.

Ruiz explained that they are not only covering the area of southern Park Slope, but the Brooklyn Bike Patrol will also be on the lookout for crimes in his own neighborhood of Prospect Heights, which has had several robberies in the recent past.

Ruiz explained his motivation: “It’s so bad to see women getting attacked. I feel like I have to do something.”
So far Ruiz has found 10 volunteers to help him cover the area from 8pm to midnight, with an emphasis on the five subway stations in the area.

What finally inspired Ruiz to take action was the “Take Back Our Streets” rally last week which was organized by women of the neighborhood.

"The cops can't be everywhere," Ruiz said. "Just give us a call and we'll have someone there."

Diversity Abounds in Kensington, Brooklyn

2011-09-20T07:12:00.000-04:00

Kensington is known as a quiet, verdant area in Brooklyn. It is only one square mile, but packed into that limited area are well over 70,000 residents. Among those residents are several well-established immigrant groups, adding to the neighborhood’s color, interest and wonderful diversity, with the neighborhood's children speaking at least 25 different languages.

Just south of Windsor Terrace, Kensington’s borders are Caton Avenue and Fort Hamilton Parkway on the North, Coney Island Avenue on the East, 18th Avenue on the south, and McDonald Avenue and 36th Street on the west.

Prices of homes are more reasonable in Kensington than in many other nearby Brooklyn neighborhoods. Gentrification is coming to Kensington, but at a much slower pace than in other areas, which should help keep the prices of homes down, while forcing residents to go elsewhere for good restaurants and other forms of entertainment.

Kensington Apartment Building

Among the diverse populations of Kensington is said to be the highest in Brooklyn. In Kensington can be found Bangladeshi and Pakistani residents; with Muslims along the eastern strip with Coney Island Avenue. An ultra-orthodox Hasidic Jewish community lives along the southern border, next to Borough Park. The main shopping is on Church Avenue, but there are many other streets with smaller commercial areas. There is easy access to the subway, which will bring you to Midtown Manhattan in about 45 minutes. Express busses get to town quicker, with a 15 minute commute to Wall Street and about 30 minutes to Midtown.

Considering everything, its nice to call Kensington home.

Bike Share Coming to Kensington and Other Parts of Brooklyn

2011-09-18T07:07:00.000-04:00

Brooklyn will soon be joining many major cities around the world that have an innovative and clever alternative means of transportation at their disposal; and that is a European style bike sharing program.

The Department of Transportation of New York City announced yesterday that Alta Bicycle Share won the contract to operate the bike system, after an evaluation of several proposals by a number of different companies specializing in creating and running such systems.

Alta Bike Share will not need any taxpayer money to run the program, and any profit they have will be shared with the city as a result of a revenue sharing agreement which is part of the deal.

Brooklynites will be able to use Alta bike share bicycles for a yearly or monthly fee, which will be made available to them at bike stations located at a large number of crucial spots around town. The idea is that riders take a bike from one station, for instance near their homes, and leave the bike at another station, perhaps near a subway stop.

Alta Bike Share published their preliminary plans for station locations. They are planning on building stations in Brooklyn stretching from Greenpoint, Kensington and Brooklyn Heights to parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant and south to Park Slope.

“Public bike sharing is a great opportunity for the city to continue moving in a greener direction through expanding mobility options for NYC residents; the initiative also promotes a healthy lifestyle,” said Council Member Letitia James (D-Fort Greene/Prospect Heights). “Also, new jobs will be created through the NYC Bike Share program, along with an increase in revenue for the city, which should make bicycle sharing a win-win program all around.”

Kensington Resident Cleans Up Flooded Passageway

2011-09-13T06:48:00.000-04:00

After days of waiting for city officials to alleviate the flooding and subsequent mess caused by the recent rains along the passageway to the Fort Hamilton Parkway F/G subway station in Kensington, one neighbor took the initiative of cleaning up the refuse. The neighbor borrowed a shovel from Sasco tools on Coney Island Avenue and a broom from Sean Casey Animal Rescue to get the job done, carefully placing the debris and trash in a neat pile for the powers-that-be to haul away as per their jobs.

The difference is huge and the entire neighborhood sends kudos to the good neighbor who made it his responsibility when no one else did to make the time and effort to help his neighbors despite there being no other reward than the satisfaction of helping out.

Ten Years Later: Kensington Families Featured in Stories About 9/11

2011-09-11T04:29:00.000-04:00

It is exactly ten years since the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center buildings, which killed almost 3,000 people and left about 3,000 children younger than 18 without a parent.

Some of those families were and/or are Kensington residents, and their stories are featured in such places as the New York Times and ESPN.

One of the stories, written by Steve Wulf for ESPN discusses the uplifting story of the Conroy family whose husband/father Kevin Conroy, was killed on September 11. The four children were taken under the wing of Bobby Valentine, former major league baseball player and manager.

The New York Times article focuses on the Vukosa family of Kensington, especially Adam and Austin, who also lost their father, Alfred, when the WTC was destroyed.

FEMA Leaves Brooklyn Off Funding List in Wake of Irene

2011-09-06T03:13:00.001-04:00

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is blowing up a storm in reaction to the decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to leave Brooklyn out of the declared region which will receive federal aid to help clean up after the mess Hurricane Irene left in her wake.

Brooklyn is the only borough of New York’s five which was left out of the FEMA declared areas, although its status can still change. In the next few days a more complete assessment of the damage inflicted by Irene on Brooklyn will be conducted, which will hopefully change Brooklyn’s status for FEMA funding.

In the meantime Markowitz is blown away by FEMA’s preliminary decision to leave Brooklyn out.

"I am absolutely dumbfounded that federal officials have excluded Kings County from a disaster declaration for public assistance," said Markowitz. "I ... hope that FEMA immediately reverses this dreadful decision and includes Brooklyn.

"In Brooklyn, hundreds of trees were knocked down; doing significant damage to cars, homes and infrastructure, and some Brooklynites remain without power. Brooklyn's low-lying 'Zone A' neighborhoods that were evacuated saw significant flooding," Markowitz added.

Markowitz also said that parts of the BQE were damaged by Irene and will need to be repaired.

Kensington Photographer Catches WTC Inside and Out and Through the Years

2011-09-04T06:19:00.003-04:00

Kensington resident and photographer Richard Massie’s photos of the World Trade Center will be featured as a special section of the autumn show “Tales of Breukelen,” which will open this month at the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (BWAC.)

The exhibition is in honor of the tenth anniversary of the destruction of the WTC on September 11th 2001, and will display views of the WTC from both inside and out using medium-format photos taken during the mid-‘70s through the ‘80s.

The photos follow the development of the towers from when they were first being built, including rare shots of their interiors while they were still under construction. Massie’s goal was to see and show the beauty of the towers at a time when not everyone viewed them with the same artistic eye.

“At the time they were considered monstrosities — they were hated at the time, and considered a boondoggle with public money,” Massie explained. “I was going to try to turn them into something artistically appreciable.”

Also included in the exhibition will be a “works-on-paper” montage which members of BWAC created to be installed in a ceremony in exactly one week, on Sunday, September 11.

You can come visit the exhibition at the BWAC gallery located in Red Hook at 499 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn.

Goodnight Irene

2011-08-30T08:00:00.010-04:00

Here is one of my favorite photos from Irene's visit to New York:

The sign on the car says "For Sale." Right.

Some more bad damage, but I guess we're lucky it wasn't any worse.

Let' hope for some drier, calmer days in the future.

Brooklyn Homebrew's Taste Competiton to Take Place In Kensington

2011-08-28T03:16:00.000-04:00

Booklyn Homebrew, together with Sycamore, will be presenting “Brooklyn Wort,” a beer tasting and brewing competition to take place in Kensington, at the Sycamore Flower Shop and Bar at 1118 Cortelyou Road.

The “Brooklyn Wort” was originally scheduled to be held on Saturday, August 27th, but due to the arrival of Hurricane Irene, it was rescheduled for September 10th.

One ticket to the event, which will be Brooklyn’s very first live homebrewed beer competition, will entitle participants to food and the tasting of 25 different beers from some of Brooklyn’s most deliciously successful home breweries. In addition to the Brooklyn’s best will also be Ballast Point, a San Diego favorite, pouring some of their incredible hand-crafted beers as well.

For more information visit Brooklyn Homebrew.

Last Week’s Record Rainfall Creates Mosquito Breeding Grounds throughout Brooklyn

2011-08-24T06:40:00.000-04:00

Kensington, the rest of Brooklyn, and all other boroughs have become a choice breeding ground for mosquitoes this summer, especially in the wake of last week’s record-breaking rainfall in New York.

Added to the unpleasantness and nuisance of buzzing and biting mosquitoes is the fear that West Nile virus is also being carried by the pesky creatures. The health department has been testing for the deadly virus, and has found it in at least 33 city zip codes in every borough excluding Manhattan. In fact, the first such case of the virus was reported last week in a 64-year old woman from Manhattan. She was hospitalized at the beginning of August and is now getting better.

One woman from Kensington, Sharon Levy, revealed that her children were bitten by mosquitoes while visiting her mother in Park Slope. She believes a small kiddie pool was most likely the source of the mosquitoes, which prefer to breed in pools of standing water.

Kensington Out of Reach? Try Childhood, Brooklyn

2011-08-21T03:37:00.000-04:00

Looking for a great place to live, raise your family; and generally enjoy life, but still keeping a little bit of your hard-earned savings in the bank? Consider what many believe is a more than satisfactory option to the pricey, and increasingly snootier neighborhoods of Kensington and Park Slope; the nearby neighborhood known as Childhood.

Named in honor of the iconic green and crayon-yellow building of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Childhood offers tree-lined streets, Brower Park and of course the museum itself, an easy way for families to pass the day during the hot summer months with their youngins’ in tow in air-conditioned, low-keyed bliss.

Quaint brownstones give the place character while the borders of Nostrand Avenue on the west, Albany Avenue to the east, Eastern Parkway along the south and Atlantic Avenue north surround a diverse and distinct neighborhood which is lacking in many of Brooklyn’s more ‘exclusive’ areas.

According to one Childhood resident the neighborhood is “quiet and it has the park (Brower) so you can come and relax and bring the kids. One child said that Childhood is “fun, the best,” when asked how he liked his neighborhood.

Can’t find something in Kensington at the price you’d like to pay? Look into Childhood. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Kensington Library to Enjoy Longer Hours Beginning in September

2011-08-18T03:38:00.004-04:00

Saturday hours are being restored to many branches of the Brooklyn Public Library system, including the Kensington branch library located at 410 Ditmas Avenue between East 4th and East 5th Streets.

Last year the Brooklyn Public Library, the fifth largest library system in the country, reacted to budget cuts by choosing to forego weekend library hours rather than lay-off union employees.

The libraries which will now be open on weekends owe their good fortune to a union-rule change which will force union employees to do basic library tasks during regular library hours instead of during overtime hours. About half of all the Brooklyn branches will benefit, bringing the number of libraries which will stay open six days a week up to 32, while the other 28 branches will still be open only five days each week.

“We are very excited to offer increased hours to our patrons at a time when they need and are using our community libraries at record levels,” said Linda Johnson, the system’s new executive director.

No libraries in the system will be open on Sundays, but the re-organization which Johnson is augmenting will add about 8 hours of service to each branch, on average, beginning on September 10th.

Not everyone is excited by the increase in library hours. The president of the Brooklyn library workers’ union, Local 1482, Eileen Muller, complained that the new schedules will make it more difficult for library staff to prepare programs and will also make it more difficult for the custodians to clean the libraries.

“It would be easier for the staff if they had that extra time in morning,” said Muller. “Unfortunately, the library is trying to make light of the work we have to do behind the scenes.”

New Mural Coming to Kensington

2011-07-28T08:09:00.000-04:00

Residents of Kensington can expect an addition of color to the neighborhood as Groundswell artists prepare to design and execute an original mural at a hazardous intersection in Kensington.

The Groundswell Community Mural Project sees itself as a “tool for social change” via the medium of art. Groundswell projects add beauty to neighborhoods; encourage local youth to become involved in the projects so that they see themselves as the vehicle for change as well as becoming transformed themselves.

Two Groundswell artists together with 10-15 young artists will commence to design a mural at 338 East 5^th Street sending a message of traffic safety at an intersection known as dangerous. The project is organized in conjunction with the New York City Department of Transportation’s Safety and Education Office and its Urban Art Program division.

Public sharing and discussion of the mural’s design will take place on July 25 at 2pm at PS 164, while community painting day is scheduled for August 9, from 11am until 2pm. The dedication ceremony for the mural will be on August 25^th at 11am at 338 East 5^th Street, the mural site.

Kletzky Fund Raises Quarter Million in One Week

2011-07-27T08:05:00.000-04:00

In less than one week the Leiby Kletzky Memorial Fund has raised almost $250,000. The Fund was created by the parents of Leiby Kletzky, Nachman and Esty, when they finished the tradition seven days of mourning, known as ‘shiva’ in Hebrew, for their eight-year-old son, whose body was found mutilated on July 13^th.

The boy was murdered by 35-year-old Kensington resident Levy Aron, and then dismembered and thrown in a dumpster 2 miles away. Part of his body was also found in Aron’s freezer.

Leiby was the only son in a family with five daughters. When the Kletzky’s announced the creation of the fund they said the money would be used to enable “acts of kindness,” especially for troubled children at risk and indigent families.

Sufjan Stevens Celebrates Brooklyn

2011-07-26T11:02:00.002-04:00

Kensington resident Sufjan Stevens has already sold out his August 2^nd benefit concert for Celebrate Brooklyn, but in case you don’t have a ticket yet for that concert you still have another chance; a second show has been added the following evening, August 3^rd.

Stevens is popular with the Brooklyn crowd, and not just because he lives here. He has produced some excellent albums which have helped to boost his growing loyal audience. One of his pieces is quite a favorite with the Brooklyn natives; a 2007 ode which was oddly dedicated to the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in the film “the BQE” which was scored with instrumental music commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music as an element of the Next Wave Festival which BAM produces.

The shows of Sufjan Stevens are much more than concerts, but are more like musical events. Stevens plays a variety of instruments, makes use of complex and elaborate lighting effects, costumes, and choreography to create a musical experience.

The summer season of free concerts is coming to an end, and what better way to end this glorious season than with an exciting concert with Sufjan Stevens.

Stevens will perform at the Prospect Park band shell at Ninth Street and Prospect Park West in Park slope in what will be the last part of the Celebrate Brooklyn concert series. August 2^nd is sold out, but there are tickets still available for August 3^rd’s show at 7pm. For more information call 718-683-5600.

Candlelight Vigil Held for Leiby Kletzky this Sunday Night

2011-07-25T10:01:00.000-04:00

Organizers are calling for all people who would like to express their solidarity and support for the family of Leiby Kletzky, who was brutally murdered and found dismembered on July 12^th, to gather in Kensington this Sunday evening at 8:30pm.

The gathering of mourners and well-wishers are asked to come to the Kensington playground of PS 230 located at McDonald Avenue at Albemarle road.

Leiby’s parents have thanked fellow New Yorkers publicly for all their support during this difficult time, and have created a memorial fund to honor the memory of their tragically murdered son.

Levi Aron Indicted for Murder of 8-Year-Old Leiby Kletzky

2011-07-21T10:33:00.002-04:00

Levi Aron, the Kensington man who confessed to murdering Leiby Kletzky last week, has been indicted for murder. Aron confessed to smothering the boy using a towel, but a police autopsy shows that Kletzky had drugs in his body at the time of his death.

Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes announced that, “He (Aron) caused the child to ingest large numbers of drugs.”

Among the drugs found in Kletzky’s corpse were Tylenol and three different types of prescription drugs, including a painkiller, a muscle relaxer and an anti-psychotic medicine, according to the autopsy report.
The city medical examiner stated that he believes the boy died of acute intoxication, and not suffocation.

Mayor and Police Commissioner Give Condolences to Kletzky Family

2011-07-19T03:20:00.000-04:00

Mayor Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly paid a ‘shiva’ call to the grieving family of murdered 8-year-old Leiby Kletzky on Monday night.

They spent about 15 minutes in the Borough Park home of the family. Mayor Bloomberg called it “one of the saddest days in the city.”

“It is very tragic,” said the mayor, “I don’t know why God sometimes does some things. The commissioner and I expressed our condolences to the parents, grandparents and siblings. There’s not a lot else we can say.”

When the police commissioner was asked about the ongoing investigation of the crime, Kelly commented that “the investigation was going slowly.”

Levy Aron, age 35, who confessed to the murder, is a resident of Kensington, an adjoining neighborhood to Borough Park. As the investigation proceeds more of Aron’s furniture has been removed from his attic apartment where he lived with his parents, including most recently the removal of seven dining room chairs and a table.

Police Continue Investigation of Gruesome Murder in Kensington

2011-07-18T08:19:00.000-04:00

For the first time in three days, since the arrest of Levi Aron for the murder of 8-year-old Leiby Kretzky, East 2^nd street, the street on which the crime was allegedly committed, has been opened to through traffic as of Saturday.

Despite the efforts to get life back to normal on this otherwise quiet Brooklyn street, the police are continuing to search Aron’s apartment for evidence which will give police and investigators a better picture of what happened on that fateful day when Leiby was abducted and murdered.

Removed from the home were a series of items including a mattress, box spring, and other bags containing more evidence.

Eight-year-old Boy Found Dead and Dismembered

2011-07-13T08:33:00.000-04:00

After what was an intensive, 36-hour search for eight-year-old Leiby Kletzky by police and volunteers throughout the Kensington, Borough Park and surrounding areas, the tragic truth became known, the ‘angelic,’ Hasidic boy was dead.

Levi Aron was arrested after police raided his Kensington home. They found the severed feet of the boy in Aron’s freezer; then the 35-year-old suspect led the police to the rest of the boy’s body, whose parts were dismembered and stuffed into an old suitcase and thrown into a dumpster next to an auto repair shop two miles away.

New York Police Department Commissioner Ray Kelly held a news conference Wednesday about the gruesome incident.

"This is every parent’s nightmare," said Kelly. "We understand that. This is what makes this case so horrific."

Kelly told the press that Aron confessed to the murder of the boy and explained to the police what happened when they asked him about the boy. Aron told the police that he had ‘panicked’ when he saw the intense search that was being conducted for Leiby, and that’s when he killed him, by first suffocating him and only afterwards dismembering him.

Boro President Markowitz Supplying Champaign at LGBT Nuptials

2011-07-11T09:45:00.000-04:00

Brooklyn LGBT couples in a hurry to tie the knot based on the new law which will go into effect on July 24^th, need go no further than the Brooklyn Borough Hall to take their vows.

Borough President Marty Markowitz has promised the alternative lifestyle couples a wedding gift: opening the doors of the Borough Hall on the first possible day they can legally wed, even though it is on a Sunday when city offices are usually shut tight.

Markowitz was a addressing a group of LGBT couples and supporters last Wednesday at a ‘Champaign toast’ in celebration of the new same-sex marriage law. “You don’t have to go to Manhattan to get married,” Markowitz said. “You can go right across the street to complete your paperwork, then you can come right back here. We’ll have some judges ready to do the ceremony for you ASAP.”

Markowitz added that the city would even supply photographers and Champaign.

Brooklyn’s Paul Bunyan Says Anger Made Him Chop Down Tree

2011-07-10T09:40:00.006-04:00

In early June a man was caught by surveillance camera chopping down a gingko tree in front of 352 East Eighth Street in Kensington in what was presumed to be a determined heist of a small child’s bicycle.

It turns out the axe murderer is 25 year-old Francisco Marxuach who admits to the deed, but claims he was not motivated by greed but by grudge.

Marxuach explained to New York Post journalists that he lived in that apartment building in the past, and the reason he cut down the 20-foot tall tree was because one of his neighbors in the building had been “very disrespectful” to him.

Judge Evelyn LaPorte of the Brooklyn Criminal Court ordered that Marxuach finish two entire days’ worth of community service. The judge also told Marxuach at his arraignment of June 11 that, as long as he stayed out of any further trouble for the next six months, the charges would be dismissed.

Shooting in Kensington Bar by Off-Duty Cop

2011-07-08T09:49:00.000-04:00

As two off-duty New York City police officers were leaving the Old Gallery Bar in Kensington, Brooklyn at 4am Thursday morning, when a third man, 21 year-old Jonathan Leduc, came over to one of the cops and asked, “What are you looking at?”

The police officer replied that he was a police officer, pulled out his shield, and said he did not want any problems. Leduc responded by saying “I don’t care who you are.” He then punched the policeman so hard in his head that the cop’s earring was knocked out.

Then Leduc called into the bar, and several additional men came running out, attacking the other officer. Then one of the men, Roberto Negron, 26, punched the policeman and grabbed him and held him in a headlock. The officer took out his gun but it fell out of his hand, and Negron got hold of the gun and started to shoot at the officer, who fled.

When the other officer heard the shots he ran to help his fellow cop. He took out his own gun, crouched down and yelled at Negron to “Drop the gun! Drop the gun!”

Instead Negron continued shooting and the officer shot and hit Negron on the side of his body and in his thigh. Negron was taken to Lutheran Medical Center where he is listed in stable condition.

Kim Royster, the NYPD Deputy Inspector related the incident, and added that the police are still investigating and no charges have yet been filed.

Glass Litters 18th Avenue in Kensington

2011-07-07T09:51:00.002-04:00

It is not known yet why, but there is a much greater amount than usual of broken glass strewn across the north side of 18^th Avenue in the Kensington section of Brooklyn.

The glass takes up at least half of the block between East 5^th Street and Ocean Parkway, making a worrisome hazard on a hot, sunny day, when the glass will not be particularly visible, creating a real and present danger to those going either barefoot or in open shoes.

Opossums and Other Critters Find Home in Kensington Vacant Lot

2011-07-06T06:57:00.000-04:00

In what Kensington residents say has been a nuisance, if not a danger, for years, a vacant lot has become a home to feral cats, rodents, and even an opossum, while the trash and other debris continue to pile up.
The lot is located on Ocean Parkway between Cortelyou Road and Ditmas Avenue, making life unpleasant for the neighbors that live close by. The residents have been complaining for years about the trash, dead trees coming dangerously close to power lines, and dropping branches which can become fire hazards if left un-tended.

The residents say the city has never taken responsibility for the mess in the lot, although they have passed the buck on to others.

Tim Fitzgerald lives directly behind the property in question.

“We [always] get the same answer: call this other agency or office or precinct,” said Fitzgerald, the owner of a condo on E. Seventh Street. “It’s a slap in the face.”

The city has, however taken action in the past. In 2008 the city fined the owner of the lot $150,000 for several violations, including not properly fencing in the area; dangerous construction conditions; illegal advertising on the plywood walls, and non-compliance with previous violations.

However, the health department insists there are no health hazards associated with the trash and debris on the property.

“How is this not a health hazard? There’s garbage everywhere,” exclaimed Michele Israel, who lives in an adjacent condo overlooking the lot.

Wrongly Accused Kensington Man Released Based on Cell Phone Records

2011-07-04T07:14:00.006-04:00

After spending eight months in prison for crimes he did not commit, Lanell Dowling was released with all charges dropped.

Dowling’s ordeal began last April, when he was identified, based on a police sketch created by the victims of four robberies at gunpoint, as the man who committed the crimes and arrested. A ‘tipster’ who had seen the police sketch informed the police of Dowling’s whereabouts, usually hanging out on Church Avenue in Kensington, where he was known by the nickname “Country.”

Jay Schwitzman, Dowling’s lawyer, who finally was able to recover his cell-phone records which proved Dowling was not at the scene of any of the crimes, said that Dowling had also passed a lie detector test, and added that there was no other evidence that Dowling had committed any of the robberies.

"It really shows how [witness] identification in general is a very dangerous process because people often misidentify," Schwitzman said.

Sixth Annual Bengali (Bangladeshi Mela) Street Fair

2011-06-30T09:12:00.002-04:00

Many people had their favorite moment at the Bengali Street Fair (Bangladeshi Mela) here in Kensington on the 26th. Some people liked the food others liked the traditional clothes. I for one liked the music. Organizers had set up a huge concert stage with performances of traditional Bengali music. But I have to admit the food was up there as well.

If youa re missing the music...I found a great website for Bengali Music!

Brooklyn Moms Resorting to Weed To Keep Calm

2011-06-27T03:34:00.000-04:00

There have been numerous NYC Blogs dealing with the reality that many Brooklyn moms smoke pot in order to deal with the stresses of life. While I have nothing against it, I am wondering what the percentages are here in Kensington and how many those women who smoke find a real difference?

Read the original article here in the Post.

Richard Easton Matchmaker: My Friend Found his True Love

2011-06-26T09:35:00.008-04:00

Richard Easton, Matchmaker New York.

I very rarely plug businesses on here (that is what Ken's List is for), but I have to say one thing about a matchmaking service for young professionals that are finding hard to meet their potential spouse.

Well, my buddy Tom is an investor and naturally was nervous meeting the wrong girl. He has had some terrible experiences with women and so he resorted to a matchmaking service, Richard Easton Matchmaker. It was a slam dunk. Within a few weeks Tom had met "Jenny." She was studying in Law School and could appreciate his drive for success and admired my friend for things other than his money. As for Tom he was ecstatic over "Jenny's" intelligence and good looks. Well, the two just got married this past weekend...congratulations.

Learning to Cook in Kensington

2011-06-23T07:38:00.000-04:00

Modeled on the popular TV show “Iron Chefs,” a new program has been developed in Kensington to teach local kids not only to cook, but to cook healthy.

The program is called, “Teen Battle Chef,” and puts the kids in competition to come up with the tastiest and most healthy food offering that they can come up with. Originality and creativity is a large part of the criteria for which team takes home the bacon, I mean prize.

The competitions are weekly events that are held at the Brooklyn Commune, a local restaurant. Each weekly the winner goes on to compete in the following week’s competition, until the winner of the final round is chosen at the end of the month. The final winners will have their recipe placed on the menu at this popular restaurant.

Veronica Guaman-Meyer is a trained chef and runs the “Teen Battle Chef” program.

"We basically took kids who had no idea about cooking or nutrition, but they were eager to learn."

ANA Meeting on Thursday (Tonight)

2011-06-23T07:06:00.000-04:00

Brad Lander, New York City Councilmember, will speak at the Albemarle Neighborhood Association meeting scheduled to be held from 7 to 8pm. Mr. Lander will be speaking about the final discussions for the New York City budget for the upcoming fiscal year; lawmaking goals; recent activities which Lander has taken to benefit the citizens of Kensington and other issues of interest to the participants. This meeting is your chance to get the information you need from the person who knows, your representative to the NYC council.

The meeting is being planned to be held outdoors, weather permitting. Come tonight to 414-415 Albermarle Road, and please bring a chair.

If there is a question of rain, please call 718-TENANTS to confirm the location. If there is rain, the meeting will be held at the Flatbush and Shaare Torah Jewish Center, 327 E. 5th Street, corner of Church Avenue. Please remember to use the groundfloor, wheelchair accessible, entrance.

The meeting is entirely free and open to everyone regardless of whether they are a member of the ANA or not. Refreshments will be served and provided by Foodtown and the ANA.

Three Hundred Trees to Grow in Brooklyn

2011-06-20T02:33:00.001-04:00

The Nets are moving to a new location in Brooklyn and with them will come three hundred new trees to beautify parks all over the borough.

Together with Lawns by Yorkshire, the Nets sponsored a green initiative this past year which they called “Threes for Trees.” The deal was that for every three-point field goal that the Nets made during their games this past season they would donate one tree. By the end of the season they had scored 459 three-pointers, which translated into 459 maple trees.

The trees will be planted this coming autumn in parks all over Brooklyn, as well as in Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey. Branch Brook Park is the place where the Nets have been playing as their temporary base until they make their move to their permanent home in Barclays Center at Prospect Heights next year. Brooklyn will get the vast majority of the trees, 300, while the remainder will be planted at the New Jersey location.

Annoyed Neighbor Paints Dogs Quiet

2011-06-19T02:29:00.000-04:00

A Kensington, Brooklyn man became so fed up with the incessant barking of his neighbor’s dogs, that he climbed to the roof of his home and shot the dogs right in their faces; with a paint-ball gun.

Twenty-six year old Daniel Lacin, originally from Switzerland, could no longer abide the non-stop yapping of his neighbor’s pit bull mixes. The dogs, a one-year-old pit bull-terrier mix named Baby, and a 3-year-old pit bull-mastiff called Birdie, were barking at nearby construction workers at about 11am last Wednesday.

I wonder if the dogs learned their lesson? I sure hope Lacin has since he was charged with injuring and torturing animals, weapon possession, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment. The owners' dog, Peter Wojcik complained to Lacin about the injuries his dogs suffered.

The real lesson here is that neighbors need to learn to live with each and respect their boundaries and please don't take the law into your own hands.

Energy Deregulation Gives New Yorkers Freedom of Choice

2011-06-18T10:41:00.000-04:00

For many Kensington, Brooklyn residents, deregulation of the utility monopoly was fraught with confusion and misunderstanding. But there is no need for this distress. Deregulation was a hard won achievement for ordinary citizens which introduced competition into the energy supply sector, and in the case of supplying our electricity and natural gas, competition is good.

Competition helps keep prices down and service quality up.

In Brooklyn there are several energy suppliers of electricity and natural gas to choose from, including:

· IDT Energy (http://www.idtenergysavings.com/)

· Columbia Utilities 1-877-7-COLUMBIA (1-877-726-5862)

· Energetix 1-800-544-0182

For a complete list of suppliers go to this link: http://www.poweryourway.com/residential_escos.asp

For a clear discussion of what energy deregulation is and how it can help you to save money, watch the video below:

Brad Lander to Speak

2011-06-18T07:04:00.004-04:00

Kensington Ginkgo Tree Felled Just to Steal a Cheap Bike

2011-06-15T02:21:00.004-04:00

Last week a group of bike thieves encountered a cheap, department store bike locked up to a ginkgo tree in the Kensington section of Brooklyn. Since the bike was locked and presumably the thieves did not have the tools to cut through the chain, they decided it was worth their own intense efforts as well as the destruction of the beautiful tree which was planted there to enhance their own Kensington neighborhood, to chop down the tree to get to the bike.

The entire episode was caught on closed circuit TV, and can be viewed on YouTube. There is a thread now on the Reddit social bookmarking site discussing whether or not the tree can or cannot grow back. But in addition to the obvious waste of a wonderful tree in a neighborhood that can certainly use some “sprucing up,” the man who began the thread on Reddit explained why he is especially hurt by this wanton destruction:

“My dad co-paid with the landlord for the foresters to plan this specific tree,” he wrote. “I don’t know if it’s actually his legally, but it’s definitely his in spirit.” Later he added, “My dad really wanted that type of tree as allegedly it’s very long lived. A legacy if you will.”

Down and Out Man Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver on Ocean Parkway

2011-06-08T09:30:00.001-04:00

Dominick Trevisano, aged 51 and father of five, was killed by a hit-and-run driver as a stumbled onto Ocean Parkway escaping from an attacker who had been beating him violently.

Mr. Trevisano was an unemployed welder who was living on the streets recently. A friend who witnessed the event said that he heard Dominick scream out in pain, staggering into the busy intersection of Avenue C and Ocean Parkway, crying, “Oh my God! I’m going to die! I’m going to die!”

After Trevisano was struck by the car, a different driver swung his car around in order to block traffic, and then called 911.

He was rushed by ambulance to Maimonides Medical Center, where he died of his wounds.

Trevisano’s sister said that the police told her that if the driver who struck Dominick had stopped and called 911 immediately, he might have lived.

"He's not a piece of dirt that you run over and leave like that," Jeannette Coppola said with bitterness. "How can they live with themselves? Come forward. Say you're sorry."

Kensington Woman Falls to Death from 10th Floor Apartment

2011-06-01T22:32:00.001-04:00

In a tragic accident an 86-year-old woman fell to her death from her 10^th-floor window as she struggled to close it.

Police and witnesses said that the elderly woman, whose identity was not immediately released, was closing the window inside her apartment on Ocean Parkway not far from Cortelyou Road when she suddenly plunged out the window and down to the sidewalk 10 stories below.

The doorman of the building discovered the body after a tenant informed him that there was a woman asleep in the front garden of the building. The woman died at the scene of the accident.

"She was an old woman - so sweet and always happy," said neighbor Yvonne Giudice. "She would smile all the time."

The woman lived together with her husband, daughter and grandchildren in the apartment.

"I cried when I first heard the news," Giudice said. "I just couldn't believe it."

The woman was well known for her kindness and lovely temperament.

"She was a sweet lady," said one neighbor, who declined to give her name. "She was just a beautiful lady."

After Long Delay Train Finally Arrives at Kensington Station

2011-05-24T08:35:00.000-04:00

Commuters to Manhattan can sigh with relief as service from the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Kensington and Windsor Terrace is finally returned after a four month hiatus.

Somehow commuters have been making-do without F trains to Manhattan and G trains to Queens; but all that will soon end when the trains roll in once again at 15^th Street-Prospect Park and Fort Hamilton Parkway.

Donna Rubens has been walking about a mile to get the train she needs from another station:

"It's exhausting," said Donna Rubens, a Brooklyn resident who walks with a cane and boards the F train on her way to Wall Street for life-long learning classes. "I'm already 80, but I feel like I'm 180."

Other commuters have been driving to more distant stations or taking busses. The MTA explained that service was disrupted since January due to ‘track configuration.’

"I was astonished, frankly, when I saw the sign that said on May 23rd full service was going to resume,” said Philip Traugott, 54, a recording producer who takes the F to Midtown. "I was very happy, and I was amazed that that actually got done on time as promised."

"Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks Should Stay Away"

2011-04-29T09:30:00.001-04:00

The real estate broker that helped turn the sleepy Ditmas Park street into a haven for coffee aficionados is discouraging two coffee giants, Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts, from opening shops on this section of Cortelyou Road.

Jan Rosenberg, honored last week for her role in the remarkable face lift of Cortelyou Road by the Brooklyn Independent Democrats, stated clearly that Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks should stay away from this newly revitalized strip. Right now there are successful mom-and-pop shops adding character to the area. Rosenberg suggested that they move instead to Foster Avenue, only three blocks away, a street with no other competition at the moment for coffee shops.

“I don’t think it’s a good thing for the strip,” Rosenberg said. “I’d much rather see them on Foster Avenue. There is no cafe to draw people there.”

Unfortunately it may already be too late for such a sensible approach to opening their businesses, since Dunkin’ Donuts already has a shop under construction on Cortelyou between Marlborough Road and the train station. And on Thursday night, at the ceremony which honored Rosenberg, the Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz mentioned that Starbucks is also planning to open a branch on that strip.

Community Board Encourages Working Together on New Park

2011-03-21T20:30:00.012-04:00

Community leaders and Community Board Representatives met on February 24 for a Listening Session to discuss each group’s vision for a redesigned Dome Playground which will be built at 38^th Street and Dahill Road.

Also in attendance were representatives from the NYC Parks and Recreation Department, on hand to listen to the various ideas which were presented.

Maggie Tobin, the Kensington representative to Community Board 12 said that the meeting was composed of an “incredibly diverse group of people, a real cross-section of Kensington.”

The Brooklyn Deputy Parks Commissioner, Martin Maher welcomed the group.

“The vision comes from you. “Everyone here is of different ages, religions, boys, girls, young, old. We will build upon this so the community can share Brooklyn together.”

The meeting was organized by Councilmember Brad Lander in conjunction with the Brooklyn Parks’ office and the Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. The 60 members of the audience were divided into four teams each of which were given an enlargement of the ground plan of the Dome Playground as a reference from which to better discuss the issues of how to best develop and utilize the new park.

CB 12 will not be meeting during the summer, from the end of June until September 27. Then there is Ramadan which will take place this year from July 31 until August 30, and then soon to follow are the Jewish holidays beginning September 28 and ending in mid-October. Review of the plans for the park will have to navigate through these obstacles, but there is good-will to make sure all the constituency has a park they can live with in the end.

YouthMarket Baby Step on Way to Full Kensington GreenMarket

2011-02-08T08:21:00.001-05:00

The community of Kensington, Brooklyn is beginning to make headway on the proposal to have a farmer’s market in the neighborhood.

Discussions have commenced with GrowNYC, the organization which oversees the largest group of farmer’s markets in the City, to see what it would take to get a farmer’s market running in Kensington.

After preliminary discussions GrowNYC has said that they will be happy to work with the community to get a Kensington greenmarket organized sometime this coming year, but they want to begin on a smaller scale. The proposal suggests starting with a limited greenmarket run by youth, or a YouthMarket. GrowNYC describes YouthMarkets as “a network of urban farm stands operated by neighborhood youth, supplied by local farmers, and designed to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to communities throughout New York City.”

Community representative Jessica Turner is excited by the idea of the YouthMarket, especially as a first step towards a full scale greenmarket. The location which is now being considered, at least to begin with, is Fort Hamilton Parkway between East 4^th and East 5^th Streets.

Supervisor of Kensington Sanitation District Sanctioned

2011-01-06T09:32:00.006-05:00

The severe snowstorm suffered by residents of New York last week challenged the Sanitation Department to the maximum. Unfortunately, not all districts met the challenge to an acceptable standard.

Councilman Brad Lander of the 39th District in Brooklyn received hundreds of complaints about the inadequacy of the snow removal from his constituents. The vast majority of complaints, however, came from Sanitation District 12, the Kensington/Borough Park neighborhoods, which is geographically only one third of Lander’s district.

By December 31st it was strikingly clear that Kensington/Borough Park were under served by snowplows, as by this date there were still many streets under snow, while the rest of District 39 was basically clear.

As a result of the failure of the supervisor of Sanitation District 12 to do his job properly, he has been sanctioned, held responsible and has been reassigned to a different district.

Kensington Kids May Attend District 22 School on Coney Island Avenue

2010-11-30T07:12:00.003-05:00

The Department of Education of New York is clearing the way to make it possible for an undisclosed number of Kensington children to attend school in District 22 on Coney Island Avenue.

The proposed new school will accept some students from District 15, which includes the Kensington area, but the number of children which will be allowed in is still uncertain. Assurances to the parents of Kensington children were made by the DOE spokesman Jack Zarin-Rosenfeld, who added that the number of children will be determined by admissions criteria and demand.

A large influx of school-age children is expected into the district when families begin to move into the newly approved housing project, the Culver El Estates, which has yet to be built.

Snow Delays Ambulance, Results in Elderly Man’s Death

2010-10-30T08:26:00.002-04:00

A 73 year-old Kensington man died while waiting for an ambulance in his Kensington home last Monday, December 27^th.

At about 12pm Joel Grossman called 911 and explained to the dispatcher that he was “not feeling well.” The operator took Mr. Grossman’s words to mean that his illness was not life-threatening, and therefore, due to the bad weather and extreme backlog of calls for emergency assistance, and ambulance was not sent immediately.

Mr. Grossman kept in touch with the 911 dispatcher, with at least two additional calls made between them. No ambulance was sent because he said that he “only felt sick.”

Unfortunately Mr. Grossman died in his Ocean Parkway home in Kensington before an ambulance could reach him.

Kensington Pumpkin Weighs in at 502 Pounds

2010-10-21T05:01:00.000-04:00

John Zambito, resident of Kensington, Brooklyn, and his wife, grew a pumpkin capable of filling more than 450 pumpkin pies on land in upstate New York. Using nothing but donkey manure and fish fertilizer, this oversized pumpkin could only be transported back into the city in time for Halloween by the removal of Zambito’s car’s backseat.

Mr. Zambito is an MTA supervisor, and will keep his giant pumpkin on display in front of his house on McDonald Avenue until Thanksgiving, when the pumpkin will be forced to succumb to the will of a chainsaw.