Friends of Brooklyn Community Board 6
September 2015, Vol 6, issue 07 

Welcome to The Sixth Sense - the monthly newsletter of Brooklyn Community Board 6, serving the neighborhoods of Carroll Gardens/South Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Columbia Street Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope and Red Hook.

 


Welcome back!

Summer's nearly over and that means the days are getting shorter and shorter and shorter. We're in that steady march to the Winter Solstice, that tipping point when the days start to get longer again. And while we were spared a record-breaking scorcher this summer, we should still consider how to harness and use the sun, our most powerful alternative energy source, to live smarter.

Our Solarize BrooklynCB6 campaign is in full-swing now. The reception has been tremendous. Each one of our neighborhood workshops was extremely well-attended by property owners who were hungry to learn more about how they can convert to solar energy. And the campaign just marked a new milestone--the first household installation contract was signed. Many more are in the queue and on the verge of signing. We're so excited to have been a part of this campaign. If you're interested, there's still time to learn about it and sign up for an assessment (feature article below).

And while we've been trumpeting the benefits of solar, we also began working in earnest on the feasibility study for a Red Hook Community MicroGrid with our partners the Red Hook NY Rising Committee, Smarter Grid Solutions and IMG Rebel. Through this grant-funded initiative we are exploring how the use of solar could power critical facilities in Red Hook in the event of another catastrophe like Hurricane Sandy. A reliable microgrid could power select facilities to ensure that vital services and relief can reach the community in the event of a future emergency.

Private property owners have the chance to sign up to convert to solar through our Solarize BrooklynCB6 initiative. The Red Hook community has an opportunity to plan how solar can be used as a resiliency measure. Now, it's time to make sure that each and every government agency gets on board too. Every school building, every firehouse, every police precinct, every street light, every traffic signal, all public facilities are fair game. That will help drive our energy costs and demands downward and provide necessary redundancies so that we could live in a smarter, more sustainable and more resilient community.

If we all demand more solar in all of our public facilities it will happen. Leave no stones unturned. Let the light shine through!


Stay involved. It's our community!

Enjoy our newsletter, and please let us know what you would like to see in future editions.

 

 

P.S. If you like what you see here, please use the "Forward email" link at the bottom of the page to pass this email along to a friend or two.  There are over 104,000 residents and thousands of businesses in our district.  We'd love it if they would all sign up!
Welcome Aboard, Ty Beatty!
 
Meet Ty, our new guy.

Ty Beatty began his tenure as our new Assistant District Manager in August. He originally hails from Youngstown, Ohio and got his first taste of the public process while attending Architecture Review Board meetings with his grandfather.

After high school, Ty joined the U.S. Air Force, serving as an aircraft electrician for four years on active duty and four in the National Guard. While studying on the GI Bill, Ty was a community organizer for a non-profit in Youngstown, working on a number of progressive campaigns in Ohio.

Ty moved to Prospect Heights in the fall of 2012 and worked for Manhattan CB5 handling constituent services and providing critical technical and web support to the district office. He loves baseball, podcasts, and reading about political economy, labor, and the Rust Belt region.

Got a municipal service complaint or request for service?
You can reach Ty at adm@BrooklynCB6.org.

More Organics Collections this Fall  
 

This Fall, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Red Hook and North Park Slope will start to receive a twice weekly organic waste sanitation collection which includes food scraps, food-soiled paper, and leaf and yard waste. Central and South Park Slope began receiving this service since Spring 2014. 
 
How will it work?
Starting October 1st, the Department of Sanitation will deliver brown organics collection bins and starter kits to all single family homes and residential buildings up to nine units.
 
Participating is easy: 
  1. Collect food scraps and food-soiled paper in your kitchen.
  2.  Place food scraps into your brown organics bin.
  3. Set out brown organics bin for DSNY collection on your normal trash schedule. Set out extra yard waste next to the brown bin in lawn and leaf bags or unlined containers.
Why participate?
Collecting food scraps and yard waste helps us limit greenhouse gas emissions, achieve zero waste goals, make compost, a valuable soil amendment for gardening and agriculture, and generally contribute to a cleaner, greener City.
 
We hope that everyone will take full advantage of this expanded service. Interested in how the existing program is going? Sanitation put out a series of three reports on their organics collections program which you may find interesting.

Sanitation representatives will be presenting their expansion plans to our Environmental Protection Committee at their next upcoming meeting on Monday, September 28th if you'd like to learn more about this. Check our calendar for committee meeting details. You can also visit nyc.gov/organics.
CUNY's NYC Solar Ombudsman Jeff Irvine (left) speaking to a participant on the roof of Architectural Grille at Solarize BrooklynCB6 Gowanus Workshop

There are two more Solarize BrooklynCB6 workshops scheduled for September. At these workshops you'll be able to learn how the program works and meet the program installers, EcoMen Solar and Quixotic Systems.
 
Carroll Gardens Workshop
Tuesday, September 8, 6:30-8:30pm
St Paul's Church
199 Carroll Street

Park Slope Workshop,
co-sponsored by our partners the Park Slope Civic Council & Park Slope Neighbors
Thursday September 24, 6:30-8:30pm
Old First Reformed Church, Lower Hall
729 Carroll Street (at the corner of 7th Avenue)
 
After the workshop, you can sign-up for a free site assessment and learn about the financing options available.    
Things to do in the District 
 

Red Hook Regatta: A Collaboration Between Digital Stewards And Pioneer Works

Tuesday, September 8, 8:00pm
Medicine, Mediumship & Messages: an Illustrated Presentation. The world of medicine collided with the world of mediumship for Dr. Ian Rubenstein one morning when his dead grandfather dropped by for a chat. This strange experience stretched his world view to breaking point and sent him off on a mad dash through territory populated by mediums, psychics, poltergeists, and ghosthunters. Location: Morbid Anatomy Museum, Cost $5.

Thursday September 10, 8:00-10:00pm
The 2015-16 season of Musical Ecologies opens Thursday September 10 with harpist/composer Shelley Burgon in a program of original music for harp and electronics.  Growing out of work on her multi-channel sound and light installation The Powerful Bond, Burgon will perform a live set. Location: The Old Stone House Cost: $10

Thursday September 10, 6:30-8:30pm
Council Member Carlos Menchaca's Red Hook Participatory Budgeting Neighborhood Assembly. The neighborhood assembly is an opportunity to begin planning what capital improvements should happen in our district. For example, new school bathrooms, better wifi access, signage for the industrial business zone, or new playgrounds in the park. The community votes on which projects will go into effect. Location: Red Hook Library, 7 Wolcott Street.

Thursday, September 10 & 24, 2:00-3:00pm
New York Methodist Hospital hosts several free support groups for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.The Parkinson's Wellness and Exercise Dance Class will take place in the Wesley House, Room 6B, Location: 501 Sixth Street.

Thursday, September 10th, 7:00pm sharp
Park Slope Civic Council Annual Season Kickoff Meeting. This meeting is open to the public - members and non-members are welcome to attend. Please review our rules for presentations at meetings if you're new to the PSCC. Location: Da Nonna Rosa, Upstairs (140 7th Ave. bet. Garfield & Carroll)

Friday, September 11, 6:00pm
MAS walk: Before Brooklyn Bridge Park. Visit Brooklyn Bridge Park with architectural historian and author, Matt Postal. In the 19th and early 20th century, Brooklyn's waterfront was crowded with commercial activity. Now replaced by a lovely new park and forgotten by many New Yorkers, we'll discuss how multiple ferry lines, trolley routes, and freight facilities came together to shape the river's edge, with stops to consider how the park's design recalls the area's history, as well as the architectural development of Fulton Street, the soon to be redeveloped Empire Stores, and the former Squibb Pharmaceutical plant. This special evening tour will end near dusk when the Tribute in Light will become visible in the New York City skyline to remember 14th anniversary of 9/11. $30 adults / $20 MAS members

Saturday September 12, 10:00am-2:00pm
Annual Fall Rummage Sale at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Come down and browse our goods. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you can find and buy at bargain prices. Stock up on some good reads or pick out a new frock to wear on your fall adventures from our vintage clothing racks. We also have an eclectic collection of CDs and DVDs to choose from, and the usual knick knacks you have come to expect from sales like this. Location: 199 Carroll Street off of Clinton Street

Saturday, September 12, 12:00-5:00pm
7th Annual Columbia Waterfront Fall Festival. Come enjoy Local Food, Retail Vendors, Children's Rides, Activities, Community Garden Tour & Live Performances Throughout the Day. Location: Columbia Street & Union Street.

Sunday, September 13, 4:00-10:00pm
Second Sundays at Pioneer Works. Our monthly series of open studios, live music, and site-specific interventions presented the second Sunday of every month. The series showcases artists-in-residence along with musical performances and DJs.

Saturday, September 19, 10:00am-4:00pm
The Brooklyn Bike Jumble is a bicycle flea market where you can buy new and used bicycles, bicycle accessories, bicycle collectibles, clothing and other bicycle treasures. Bike prices start around $50 and go up from there. Times up! and Recycle a Bike and other bicycle non-profits will be there to help you test ride bikes before you buy! No bait and switch! No Craigslist sketchiness! Location:Old Stone House at Washington Park.

Sunday, September 20, 4:00pm
Red Hook Regatta. Radio controlled, 3-D printed boats complete against each otherto see who can transport the most cargo in the time allowed, and who can most expertly navigate the rough seas around Valentino Pier in collaboration with the Digital Stewards. Location:Valentino Pier

Sunday, September 27, 12:00-2:00pm
Pie making class at Court Tree Collective. Nothing says fall like apple pie. Claire's pie class will walk you through each step of making a pie from scratch.  From dough making to rolling techniques, making a classic apple filling and emphasis on lattice and crust work, this 2 hour intro class will end on a delicious note as we debrief over a slice fresh from the oven. Fee: $35.00

Sunday, September 27, 12:00-6:00pm
Atlantic Antic Festival. along Atlantic Avenue between Fourth Avenue to the waterfront in downtown Brooklyn. The mile-long festival spans four neighborhoods, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill and downtown Brooklyn, showcasing 500 craft, food and exhibition vendors together with over 100 local businesses and restaurants on the avenue.
Friends of Brooklyn Community Board 6, Inc.  was established in 2003 to support the work of Brooklyn Community Board 6 in improving the quality of life in the district.  Friends seeks to provide planning, advocacy, research and administrative resources to supplement the limited capacities and budget of the Community Board, thus enabling it to properly carry out its City Charter mandated tasks of evaluating the needs of the district and advocating on behalf of its communities.
 
Friends of Brooklyn Community Board 6, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Federal EIN 04-3780020).

Donations are welcome and are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
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General Board Meeting

photo by Bryan Bruchman
  
6:30pm, September 9th
NYPD/78th Precinct
65 6th Avenue
(btw Dean/Bergen Streets)
Brooklyn, NY 11217   

Agenda for upcoming general meeting

Draft minutes of last general meeting

(Board members are encouraged to supply corrections to minutes.)

All posted meetings are open to the public; however, participation may be limited.
Who's Who at #BKcb6

CB6 2015 Officers:
Gary G. Reilly,
Chairperson
Sayar Lonial,
First Vice Chairperson
Pauline Blake,
Second Vice Chairperson
● Jerry Armer,
Treasurer
● Ariel Krasnow,
Secretary

CB6 Committee Chairs:
● Jerry Armer,
Finance/Personnel & Law
● Richard Bashner,
Waterfront/Community Development
● Paige Bellenbaum,
Human Services, Co-Chair
● Peter Fleming,
Land Use; Elections
● Glenn Kelly,
Parks/Recreation/Cultural Affairs
● Ariel Krasnow,
Housing
● Gary G. Reilly,
Executive
● Robert Levine,
Landmarks
● Rick Luftglass,
Budget; Economic Development
● Eric McClure,
Transportation, Co-Chair
● Thomas Miskel,
Transportation, Co-Chair
● Mike Racioppo,
Permits & Licenses
● Mark C. Shames,
Environmental Protection
● Matthew Silverman,
Public Safety
● Benjamin Solotaire,
Human Services, Co-Chair
● Suzanne Turet,
Education, Chair

District Office Staff:
District Manager
Ty Beatty,
Assistant District Manager 
Community Associate 
Sarah N. Phillips,
Special Projects Manager
Office Volunteer 
 
Newsletter Production:    
● Craig Hammerman, 
Editor-in-Chief
Sarah N. Phillips,
Managing Editor 
GOOD & WELFARE

PRIMARY DAY is Thursday, September 10th. Polls are open 6:00am to 9:00pm.

Some helpful links:

NYC Primary Election Voter Guide 

 

Check if you are a registered voter in New York State 

 

Find out where to vote with the Poll Site Locator 

 

Register to vote (for the General Election on November 3rd) 



Former CB6 Board Member Deborah Buscarello was recently reappointed to join our ranks again. Congratulations, Deborah!

Welcome Captain Elliot Colon, our newest Commanding Officer for the 76th Precinct.

The Health Department will be spraying pesticides in Prospect Park and some surrounding areas to reduce mosquitoes and the risk of West Nile Virus on Wednesday, September 9th between 8:30pm and 6:00am the following morning. In case of bad weather, spraying will be delayed to September 10th.
QUICK CLICKS

DFTA's new Benefits Enrollment Project is enrolling low-income seniors into safety net benefit programs such as SNAP, SCRIE (the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program) & the Medicare Savings Program.   Project ends in November 2015, but may be extended and expanded depending upon its success. Click here for a full listing of participating senior centers or call 311.

Want to tour the SIMS Recycling Facility on the Sunset Park waterfront? Brooklyn Historic Society has organized a tour for Wednesday, October 7th from 6:30-8:00pm. Tickets required.


Pope Francis is visiting New York City on Friday, September 25th. The City is offering some free tickets for anyone interested in attending the Central Park Papal Procession. You can enter the lottery online or by calling 311.

Pratt Center for Community Development is looking to hire a Program Director for the Made in NYC initiative, which supports a vibrant manufacturing sector in New York City. Feel free to pass this employment opportunity along to interested parties.

DOT issued their Annual Bridge and Tunnel Conditions Report for 2014. Want to know how our bridges were rated? Check it out!

And DEP issued their Annual Green Infrastructure Report for 2014, while work is continuing on the construction of new distributed green infrastructure elements designed to capture and manage stormwater in the Gowanus watershed.  

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

FROM THE CB6 AREA

Available at Fairway, Pathmark, Met Foods & other fine local institutions

www.redhookstar.com
info@redhookstar.com

George Fiala
Kimberly Price
Publishers 
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