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The Art Room Expands Art Camp Schedule



This year's Art Camp at the The Art Room, 8710 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge, has been extended by a week, from August 5 - 9.

The additional week will be open to students ages 5 and up and will run from Monday August 5 through Friday August 9 from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM each day. Click here for more information on The Art Room's summer camp program and to download an application. For more information:
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A Nightmare Commute on the B8



On June 26, Shanghai native Karen Jhang, a jewelry designer who opened a gift shop, Mantello, at 9303 Third Avenue in Bay Ridge this year, had a brutal trip on the B8 bus.

Like other new business owners, Karen, mother of a 6-year-old, is on a tight budget, so owning a car is out. The sole proprietor commutes to work between 93rd Street and 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge and 16th Street and Cropsey
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Stars and Stripes, Third Avenue



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October 3 Deadline to Apply for Zadroga Victims Compensation Fund










If you were in the dust cloud in downtown Brooklyn or lower Manhattan on 9/11, or were involved in the cleanup and recovery at Ground Zero, lower Manhattan, Staten Island Infill, NYC Chief
Medical Examiner's Office or the barge loading piers, you may be eligible for payments from the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, established under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

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Carl V. Bini Memorial Fund Summer League



At a presser today in Clove Lakes Park in Staten Island attended by local business leaders, basketball league organizers and the families of youth participants in league activities, the Carl V. Bini Memorial Fund announced that it will replace Nike, departing after 17 years, as sponsor of the Staten Island Youth Basketball League.

The league, to be renamed the "Carl V. Bini Memorial Fund
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Timoshenko Foundation Fundraiser at Wicked Monk





The Wicked Monk, at 9510 Third Avenue in Bay Ridge, will host the 1st Annual Fundraiser for the Det. Russel Timoshenko Foundation, during the 5th Annual Det. Russel Timoshenko Memorial Motorcycle Run, on Sunday, June 30, from 4:30 to 9 PM.

The donation is $25 per person at the door.

Drink specials, raffles, a 50/50, food, and live music featuring "Sound Image", "Spoiled Rotten" and "Cryin'
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"Willy Wonka" at Fort Hamilton Army Base Theater





The Narrows Community Theater will stage Willy Wonka at the Fort Hamilton Army Base Theater, 101st Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway in Bay Ridge, on seven dates in August. (Photo ID is required for base admission.)

Performances are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays, August 16, 17, 23 and 24 at 8 PM; and Sundays, August 18 and 25, at 2 PM.

Susan Huizinga directs, with musical direction by
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Three, Two, One, Strawberries!



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Hit-and-Run Driver Who Killled Shui Yung Jiang Collared



Because an alert witness took his license number, tow truck driver James Billups, who left 68-year-old cyclist Shui Yung Jiang dying in the street at Sixth Ave. at 65th Street in Bay Ridge yesterday morning is in custody and charged with leaving the scene and failure to exercise due care.

Jiang, who lived just a few blocks away on 65th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues, was turning right
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DCA Quota System Sparks Angry Response



In response to an admission this week by Jonathan Mintz, the city's Consumer Affairs Commissioner, that his agency has a quota system for inspectors, Public Advocate Bill deBlasio, with a group of elected officials and business leaders, is calling for Mintz's resignation and an overhaul of the DCA.

deBlasio's office found that DCA inspectors are expected to fine one in every four businesses
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The Red Room Opens in Brighton Beach



The NYC Red Room, a new adult toy store opened last month on the 2nd floor at 223 Brighton Beach Avenue in Brighton Beach -- and already the #1 Google hit for "adult toys in Brooklyn" -- offers high-quality brand-name sexytime products for men and women, including lingerie, swimwear, fetish
accessories and organic handmade soaps, just a few stops away.

Available product lines include LELO,
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"Little Fugitive" on the Beach at Coney Island





On Monday, July 1, Rooftop Films will partner with the Alliance for Coney Island and NYC and Co. to present a 60th anniversary screening of "The Little Fugitive", the Coney Island Flicks on the Beach season opener.

The pre-show will begin at 7:30 PM on the beach at West
10th Street in Coney Island, with screening at sundown.

The film will be introduced by Mary Engel, the daughter of
the
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Yaakov Weingarten Gets a Subpoena from Eric Schneiderman




As reported by the Daily News and the New York Times, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has served a subpoena on Brooklyn Rabbi Yaakov Weingarten in a Brooklyn State Supreme Court lawsuit involving about 20 non-profit organizations associated with Weingarten's name.

Named as defendants in the lawsuit are Midwood resident Yaakov Weingarten, his wife, Rivka, and two Weingarten employees,
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Riders' Alliance Rallies for R Train Backup


With the R train tunnel under the East River scheduled to close for repairs on August 1, a coalition of elected officials and Brooklyn/Queens community organizations will rally on the (plaza-side) steps at Brooklyn Borough Hall at 11 AM tomorrow, Thursday, June 27, calling for a plan for Brooklyn commuters during the 14-month closure.

So far, the MTA has no plan for the hundreds of thousands of
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Bay Ridge Summer Soiree



At 6 PM on Friday, June 28, Xaverian High School, at 7100 Shore Road, will host its Bay Ridge annual Summer Soiree.

The $25 per person admission includes dinner, drinks, raffles and live music by local band "Gearth, Wind and Fireman."

For more information about Summer Soiree and the Third Annual Heroes Golf Outing, or to register online, visit the website.
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25th Annual P.O. Chris Hoban Memorial Run



At 10:30 AM on Sunday, September 15, the 25th Annual P.O. Chris Hoban Memorial Run will kick off at Xaverian High School, at 7100 Shore Road (at 71st Street) in Bay Ridge.

The Pre-Run Ceremony will start at 10 AM.

The five-mile run will also include kids' dashes and the Tina Hoban Hat Walk.

The adult entry fee is $20 in advance/$25 on the day of the event. The entry fee for teens 13-18 is $
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Bonzerooni Poopy Poo Poo, Friend of Heart.

Bonnie lived with us  for six years and eight months. I picked her up straying on the Dreen Road and she ended up staying with us. I contacted the local dog warden but no one was looking for a German Shepherd dog. I never did find out who her original keepers were despite putting posters all over the village. This man telephoned, said he preferred to remain anonymous. He said he knew where the dog had been living, said her owner was seriously ill in hospital and unlikely to recover. He said that this man had two dogs, a collie and the German Shepherd, that they were neglected and chained up all the time. He said that the German shepherd had escaped because she was starving and that he had fed her but she had got away from him. He asked me to try and get the dog a good home because she had a gentle, sweet nature. Then a woman called to the house. She knew something too. She pointed out how underweight Bonnie was and noticed that there was no hair under the chin from where her collar had chafed and rubbed her. She told me that she had a friend who worked as a postman, he knew the house where the dogs were kept and how he would have loved to rescue both of them.

So it was down to us. A week after I reported finding her I bought a dog licence for £10 and under the laws of this country she became my dog. We called her Bonnie. By this time we had bathed her for she had come to us reeking and matted with filth. She found that strange. What puzzled her more was being carefully dried and wrapped in a blanket and placed at the foot of my bed. She looked at me as if she could hardly believe it. Funny though, how quickly she got used to it.

She slept at the foot of my bed until about six months ago when she stopped being able to get down the stairs in the morning. A few times she had slipped and fallen the last few steps and it frightened her. She seemed happy enough to sleep on a sofa as long as she got her night time dog biscuit. On Sunday last as I prepared to go to bed she followed me. She was determined to go upstairs and climbed the steps, slowly, stiffly and went straight to my room. I lifted her on to the bed, gave her a bedtime treat, scratched her ears and cuddled her and we both fell happily to sleep. The next morning I helped her off the bed and she lost her footing. She managed to steady herself and I walked backwards in front of her as she descended the stairs.  I helped her down the last few steps and she didn't fall. We had the usual Monday. Zoe and family came to work in their vegetable garden and Bonnie followed us around. Later  that evening Rod and Tracey came by. Rod was bearing dog treats as always and Bonnie was well to the front of the queue for her share. That night she was happy to sleep downstairs.

The next morning I left the house early as I had planned to take Miss Evie to the seaside. I left Bonnie on the sofa with the door to the outside open so she could go to the toilet when it suited her. Something happened to her between Monday night and Tuesday evening. At supper time she couldn't stand and her breathing was laboured. She didn't want to eat. Throughout the night she became weaker and her breathing was getting more difficult. We called our vet first thing this morning and requested a home visit. We knew we were having her put to sleep. The vet came at half eleven and Bonnie was placed to rest in the garden just before midday.

My big fear for Bonnie was that her hindquarters would give up while she still had some zest for life. That didn't happen. We were blessed that her final illness was swift and that her suffering was short. Going to miss her. Bonzerooni. My pet.

And that crazy title? That was my pet name for her. I know it's completely loony but if you are like me, a fool for dogs, you'll forgive me.


And I still wonder what became of the collie from all those years ago.






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Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest at Bay Ridge Greenmarket



As you know, Southern Brooklyn has a bit of a reputation as a competitive eating destination, what with the annual Brooklyn Pizza Eating Contest and Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest.

On Saturday, June 29, at 11 AM, the Bay Ridge Greenmarket and Council Member Vinnie Gentile will take the local competitive eating scene in a new direction by sponsoring the 1st Annual Strawberry Shortcake
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The Return of Jim Crow




Today, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Shelby County v. Holder, overturned a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, the landmark civil rights law.

Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, states and localities with a history of discrimination (in green on the map at right) must seek pre-approval of changes in voting rules that could affect minorities.

The Supreme Court has now voided Section 5,
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"The Pride of Bay Ridge" Now in Sunset Park



Engine Co. 242, 9219 Fifth Avenue

The firehouse in the photo at right, at 9219 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge, looked empty and abandoned when I walked by over the weekend.

Sure enough, according to a post on the Community Board 10 website dated March 22, 2013, FDNY Engine Co. 242, "The Pride of Bay Ridge", once located at 9219 Fifth Avenue, has been moved to Engine Co. 241, at 6630 Third Avenue
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Budget Deal Will Spare McKinley Beacon Afterschool



Brooklyn Eagle Photo

At a presser attended by local elected officials today, Council Member Vinnie Gentile announced the restoration of $143.6 million in early childhood education and after-school funding citywide as part of a deal struck with the Bloomberg administration on the city's FY 2014 budget.

Saving the Beacon program at McKinleyJunior High School on Fort Hamilton Parkway was
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Gounardes to Head Bay Ridge Historical Society








At a recent annual meeting, the Bay Ridge Historical Society elected local lawyer and civic activist Andrew Gounardes president of the organization.

In a Brooklyn Daily Eagle interview, Gounardes said he was excited to lead an organization that does such great work and has become such a part of the community.

During his first term, he said, he wants to make Bay Ridge history come alive
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4th Annual Coney Island Talent Show



From 3-8 PM on the boardwalk between 10th & 12th Streets on Saturday, July 27, Thirsty Girl Productions Present will present the 4th Annual Coney Island Talent Show, hosted by The World Famous *BOB*.

Coney Island is a legendary source of talent -- of all kinds.

Categories for this year’s talent contest are:

Kids 9-12 years old
Kids 13-17 years old
Circus Freaks and Sideshow Geeks
Song
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Plant A Seed



I read this somewhere - 'Forget dusting, go outside, plant a seed.'




I took it to heart. The forgetting to dust was the easy part. I don't even feel bad about that any more, Instead I feel guilty if I don't get round to planting that seed. This month I should have sown, according to the following handy list,

Amaranth
Beetroot
Chinese cabbage
Calabrese
Carrots, early varieties
Carrots, maincrop varieties
Cauliflower
Chicory
Courgettes, marrows and pumpkins
Fenugreek
Florence fennel
French beans
Runner beans
Kohl rabi
Lettuce
Salad onions
Pak choi
Peas
Pumpkin
Radish, mooli
Sweet corn
Swede
Turnip

And so far, with just one week of June left, I've only managed to sow fennel, radishes, cabbage, lettuce, turnips and peas. At least, with dusting, there are no time restrictions. And I don't even know what amaranth is!
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FDNY EMS Mobile CPR Training Unit



According to statistics of the U.S.Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 220,000 people go into sudden cardiac arrest every year in the the United States, about 10,000 of them at work.

By the time EMS gets to the scene, the victim's chance of survival will have dropped to about 5-7%. But studies show that immediate defibrillation can result in a 60% 1-year survival rate.

The New
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Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest





The Annual Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, held every year since 1916 at Nathan's Famous, on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island, is scheduled for Thursday, July 4. Recommended time of arrival is pre-11 AM.

The free public event, sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive eating, is expected to draw around 50,000.

At noon, the 20
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Cheez Doodle Motif



Yes, it's true: I didn't know the difference between a Cheezit and a Cheez Doodle. But I do now!
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Junior Lowe Wins "B" Green Challenge



John Lowe and Kiel Costella

So far, about 25 enrollees have signed up for the ‘B’ Green Challenge, a joint Brooklyn small business energy efficiency promotion by National Grid, Barclay Center and the Brooklyn Nets.

Each month, participating businesses answer questions about the steps their business have taken to ‘B’ Green. And each month, the co-sponsors review the submissions and select a
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Chaos at LICH



As NY 1 reported yesterday, hospital operator SUNY
Downstate, violating a temporary restraining order issued in April by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Johnny Lee Baynes, is turning ambulances away and moving patients out of critical care units at Downtown Brooklyn's embattled Long Island College
Hospital.

According to NY 1 sources, two dozen doctors and other essential medical staff have
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Bensonhurst Community Cleanup



This Sunday, June 23, City Council Member Vinnie Gentile, State Assembly Member Bill Colton and Community Board 11 will co-sponsor a Community Cleanup Day in Bensonhurst.

The volunteer meetup is at 11:30 AM at the Milestone Park and Playground on 18th Avenue between 81st and 83rd Streets in Bensonhurst.

All needed tools and supplies will be provided.

To RSVP, email event planner Sara
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6th Annual Greater Bay Ridge 4th of July Picnic



Home Reporter Photo

From 11 AM to 9 PM on Thursday, July 4, the 82nd Street Field at Shore Road in Bay Ridge will be the scene of a fun-filled day of celebration.

The 6th Annual Greater Bay Ridge 4th of July Picnic will feature music, games, sprinklers, face painters, kids' rides, prizes, raffles and food -- hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages, drinks, ice cream and snacks -- galore.

Admission is
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Abe George Fundraiser at Heights Casino





At 6 PM on Wednesday, June 26, the Heights Casino, at 75 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights, will host a marquee June fundraiser -- with Rohit Desai and Pete Eikenberry -- for Democratic District Attorney candidate Abe George.

Food, drinks, and the chance to be part of what could -- outside of the mayoral election -- be the city's most important election this year.

RSVP to Luis Escobar at
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"She Always Had Good Hands"




At around 10 AM this morning, Christina Torre, daughter of Yankee great Joe Torre, was biking to work when she saw a baby hanging from the awning above the frozen yoghurt shop at 9104 Third Avenue between 91st and 92nd Streets in Bay Ridge.

Pushing aside a piece of cardboard, the intrepid one-year-old boy had crawled through a gap between an air conditioner and a window frame and out onto the
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How to Welcome a New Cat into Your Home

Are you about to introduce a new cat into your family home? If you are it is a good idea to make sure you are prepared. This article will help ensure you are, and the introduction is a happy one for both you and your cat.

While many people consider getting a kitten, other people give a home to a cat. This could be a stray cat or an abandoned cat that is looking for a new home. If you find yourself with an opportunity to adopt a cat you would do well to ensure you are prepared to welcome them into your home.

The first thing to remember is that the cat may have had bad experiences with other owners prior to coming to you. Don't expect too much from the cat to begin with, but let it know it has a home and that it doesn't need to feel scared.

Oftentimes it is best to bring the cat into your home in a carrier and just to open the door and let it come out in its own time. It can also be a good idea to restrict its movements to just one or two rooms initially. He will soon want to come out and explore, but giving him the run of the house might be too much to cope with to begin with.

Make sure you are prepared in other ways as well. For example you should buy some cat bowls for water and food, and invest in good quality food such as Purina cat food too. Purina en cat food is well balanced and will ensure your new addition is on a good diet from the beginning of his life with you.

Some cats will be very brave and affectionate right from the word go. He might creep out of his cat carrier, explore the room he is in and then hop on your lap and go to sleep until you get up to feed him some Purina cat food. This is a good sign and it means he is settling into his new surroundings. Don't worry if it doesn't happen straightaway though; it could take a while for him to settle down and trust you. This is especially the case if he has come from a bad home and distrusts humans.

The good news is he will likely respond to your good treatment of him over time. Cats are very independent but they will be happy in homes where they feel safe and loved. With Purina en cat foodat mealtimes, toys to play with and a garden to explore, your cat will be happy to settle into your home for a long time to come.

All cats have their own unique characters, and while some are quiet and relaxed, others are nosy and incredibly affectionate. Your cat will have his own little character that will start to become known over time. Get to know him as he gets to know you, and your relationship will develop in ways you may not have expected. Perhaps he will come and tell you when he is hungry, or when he wants attention. Perhaps he will always want to sleep on your lap. It's true in the end that cats own us, rather than the other way around!

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Paying the Price for Coming Forward



In 2008, Borough Park resident Sam Kellner got permission from an upstate rabbinical court to report to Brooklyn D.A. Charlie Hynes' office that his teenaged son had been sexually molested by Baruch Lebovits, a prominent local cantor and travel agent.

Kellner told prosecutors that Satmar power brokers representing Lebovits had tried to bribe him out of cooperating in the case.

When its
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Night Time Hypochondriac

In the dark of the night when the cramping in my right leg keeps me awake I find myself imagining all kind of terrible outcomes. I'm an optimistic old stick when the sun shines but the wee small hours are quite  a different matter. The best I can wish for is a blood clot, hope I can get to the hospital before I take a stroke. The worst is, of course, cancer. Morning comes, I hop out of bed, gingerly put my foot to the floor and all is well. I can practically hop, skip and dance. The day wears on, the knee starts to ache, I start to limp and by evening it's the hip and by bedtime shin, ankle  and thigh muscles are gowpin.* Paracetamol (and sometimes wine) takes care of the pain but the cramps do not ease.

Eventually, more than six weeks after the initial injury, I saw the doctor. She examined it thoroughly and pronounced it tendonitis. Says she suffers from it herself because she likes to run. Said I ought to rest more, said she ought to rest a bit more herself. We agreed it wasn't easy. I got Ibufren, a stomach pill to help me take Ibufren and a lotion. The latter two are medicines that Pearlie takes. Now we are practically twins! Twin crocks.

But I'm happier now. No more night time hypochondria. I just have to take a bit more care of myself to be able to get into this tree house. It's not quite finished yet but that isn't stopping us from picking the furniture.


A photo taken last Sunday by Hannah Banana.



And just to prove that I am actually aware of what goes on outside Cully here is a photograph of President Obama leaving Northern Ireland, taken today by my friend Brian.

* gowpin - adjective, from Ulster-Scots - throbbing with pain.


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Bushwick Restaurant Week



Partners and longtime Bushwick residents Bob Murray and Nick Gilbert, who know where to eat in their neighborhood, are tired of seeing Bushwick snubbed by Dine In Brooklyn. So they've organized their own event.

So far, more than 30 neighborhood restaurants have signed up to participate in Bushwick Restaurant Week, with more being added every day. Having DNAinfo.com, News12, Gothamist and the
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Vets Invited to Share Their Stories of "The Forgotten War"



The U.S. Department of Defense Korean War 60th Anniversary Committee has opened an online forum where Korean War Veterans and others affected by the war can submit their stories.

The DoD, knowing that the chance to document these experiences is fleeting, is coordinating projects, events and opportunities for Korean War Veterans leading up to "Heroes Remembered," a national tribute to Korean
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Digging up the Dead


The Brooklyn District Attorney's office will expand its Conviction Integrity Unit into a blue-ribbon panel tasked with reviewing 50 murder convictions linked to retired NYPD detective Lou Scarcella, the 26-year veteran whose tainted murder investigation put David Ranta in jail for 23 years.

Brooklyn D.A. Charlie Hynes is recruiting judges, attorneys and
investigators to sit on the panel,
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July in Prospect Park



A full calender of July events in Prospect Park -- and one June reminder -- from the Prospect Park Alliance:

Thursday, July 4, 1 - 4 PM. Celebrate the 237th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with your kids at Lefferts Historic House. For a $3 suggested donation, kids can don a plumed hat and sign their names to a reproduction of the Declaration that marked the
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Help with "Build It Back" Applications



State Senator Marty Golden is helping the Bloomberg administration get out the word about the "NYC Build It Back Program", offering assistance to homeowners in rebuilding their Sandy-damaged homes and businesses in hard-hit areas like Gerritsen Beach, Manhattan Beach and Sheepshead Bay.

You can download the application here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/recovery/html/home/home.shtml and call or
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Toys "R" Us/Babies "R" Us Re-Opens on Bay Parkway



The new Toys“R”Us/Babies“R”Us superstore, at 8973-95 Bay Parkway, will celebrate its grand re-opening the weekend of Friday, June 28 through Sunday, June 30.

The ribbon cutting will be at 10 AM on June 28 at 10AM at the Caesars Bay mall (next to Kohls.)

A source reports that more than 200 people a day have been trying to go into the store, not realizing that it was damaged and has been under
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Breezy at a Crossroads


The insular waterfront community of Breezy Point, devastated by fire and flood during Superstorm Sandy, is facing a hard choice: accept government funding for a much-needed double dune protection system and sacrifice its private beach, or keep the beach private and find a way to pay for the work itself.

Steven Greenberg, chair of the Breezy Point
Disaster Relief Fund, would choose the latter,
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Green Church Bulletin: P.S. 331



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Father's Day

 Bert's Dad, Johnny with Prince. Johnny's anniversary was on 2nd June. He died in 1997. Sixteen years gone. He was the kindest, sweetest man and I wish we could have had him for longer.

My father, Seamus, was a couple of months older than Johnny. They were born in 1919. Daddy got eight more years. He died on the 3rd June, 2005 making his anniversary the day after Bert's father's. They were two fine men and we miss them every day.


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68th Precinct Citizens' Patrol Recruitment Drive



The 68th Precinct is recruiting for a citizens' patrol in the area of Fifth Avenue from 70th to 79th Streets in Bay Ridge, where the NYPD has recently approved three new security cameras.

For several years now, the area has been the source of homeowner complaints about street crime.

Dr. Husam Rimawi and the Rev. Khader El-Yateem are credited with the idea for the patrol.

Members, who must be
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Fracking Hypocrites



It's euphemistically called the "Senate Majority Coalition", a wholly-Republican-owned-and-operated boondoggle that incorporates what is numerically the Democratic majority in the Senate. Don't ask.

The deal the Democrats made set Republican Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos as gatekeeper to the chamber. Only Skelos can bring a bill onto the Senate floor for a vote. Again, don't ask.

No
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Fourth of July Parade in Dyker Heights



The 108th Annual Fourth of July Parade in Dyker Heights will step off at Noon on Saturday, June 29.

Muster begins at 11:15 AM at 13th Avenue and 71st Street. The parade will then proceed to 86th Street.

The Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights communities are invited to this old-fashioned celebration of small-town American patriotism in the heart of New York City.

The parade features marching bands,
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How to Welcome a New Cat into Your Home

Are you about to introduce a new cat into your family home? If you are it is a good idea to make sure you are prepared. This article will help ensure you are, and the introduction is a happy one for both you and your cat.

While many people consider getting a kitten, other people give a home to a cat. This could be a stray cat or an abandoned cat that is looking for a new home. If you find yourself with an opportunity to adopt a cat you would do well to ensure you are prepared to welcome them into your home.

The first thing to remember is that the cat may have had bad experiences with other owners prior to coming to you. Don't expect too much from the cat to begin with, but let it know it has a home and that it doesn't need to feel scared.

Oftentimes it is best to bring the cat into your home in a carrier and just to open the door and let it come out in its own time. It can also be a good idea to restrict its movements to just one or two rooms initially. He will soon want to come out and explore, but giving him the run of the house might be too much to cope with to begin with.

Make sure you are prepared in other ways as well. For example you should buy some cat bowls for water and food, and invest in good quality food such as Purina cat food too. Purina en cat food is well balanced and will ensure your new addition is on a good diet from the beginning of his life with you.

Some cats will be very brave and affectionate right from the word go. He might creep out of his cat carrier, explore the room he is in and then hop on your lap and go to sleep until you get up to feed him some Purina cat food. This is a good sign and it means he is settling into his new surroundings. Don't worry if it doesn't happen straightaway though; it could take a while for him to settle down and trust you. This is especially the case if he has come from a bad home and distrusts humans.

The good news is he will likely respond to your good treatment of him over time. Cats are very independent but they will be happy in homes where they feel safe and loved. With Purina en cat foodat mealtimes, toys to play with and a garden to explore, your cat will be happy to settle into your home for a long time to come.

All cats have their own unique characters, and while some are quiet and relaxed, others are nosy and incredibly affectionate. Your cat will have his own little character that will start to become known over time. Get to know him as he gets to know you, and your relationship will develop in ways you may not have expected. Perhaps he will come and tell you when he is hungry, or when he wants attention. Perhaps he will always want to sleep on your lap. It's true in the end that cats own us, rather than the other way around!

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Rally to Bring Back the B37 Bus





The "Restore the B37 Bus Coalition", an alliance of residents, commuters, local businesses, community groups and elected officials, will host a rally at 11 AM tomorrow, Saturday, June 15, at Martin Luther Playground, 56th Street and 2nd Avenue (across from Lutheran Medical Center) in Sunset Park, calling on the Metropolitan Transit Authority to bring back the B37 bus.

The mass rally,
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Texting While Driving Now Worth 5 Points



As of June 1, the State Department of Motor Vehicles is imposing tougher penalties for talking on your cell phone or texting while driving.

Now, if you're convicted of using your cell phone to talk or text while driving, the DMV will add 5 points to your driving record, a 2 point increase over the old penalty.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has also directed the New York State Police and asked local law
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City Stomp at Spoke the Hub



City Stomp will play a free outdoor concert, featuring music about New York City and rocked-out children's classics, at 5 PM on Thursday, June 20, at the Old Stone House in Washington Park, 336 Third Street, between Fourth and Fifth Avenues (F/G/R to Fourth
Ave/9th St.)

City Stomp's performance is part of Spoke the Hub's 20th Annual Local Produce Festival, a month-long grassroots “greenmarket
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For Religious Right, Women's Equality Act = Abortion



The religious right, galled that New York State has fewer abortion restrictions and greater access to the
procedure than nearly any other American state, seeks to pull the abortion plank out of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed Women's Equality Act.

Perhaps to ensure access to the procedure in the event the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the Roe v. Wade decision, Cuomo's proposed legislation would
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"Astor Place Vintage" Author Stephanie Lehmann at Bookmark Shoppe



On Thursday, June 27 at 7:30 PM, author Stephanie Lehmann will be at the Bookmark Shoppe, at 8415 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge, to discuss and autograph copies of "Astor Place Vintage", her new historic novel about women and fashion in New York City, today and at the turn of the 20th century.

Reviewers have called "Astor Place Vintage" an enchanting feminist tale that moves seamlessly between New
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URBAN Tattoo Convention at Industry City





After three years in Manhattan, the URBAN Tattoo Convention, from June 28-30, is moving to Brooklyn's Industry City, at 233 37th Street in Sunset Park.

The convention celebrates tattoo as art form and showcases the work of the best tattoo artists, including, this year, the stars of reality TV series “Best Ink” and “Ink Masters.”

Tats have become mainstream over the last 20 years or so, with
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"Karen Barone Way" Street Renaming



On Wednesday, June 12 at 3:30 PM, City Council Member Vinnie Gentile will host a street renaming ceremony at the corner of 82nd Street and 15th Avenue in Dyker Heights in honor of dedicated community activist Karen Barone.

The street in front of P.S. 204 (the Vince Lombardi School) will now be known as “Karen Barone Way.”

Karen Barone gave a lifetime of service to her community, including
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5th Annual Brooklyn Waterfront Epic Ride

The Brooklyn Waterfront Epic Ride is a 40-mile bicycle tour from Williamsburg to Rockaway Beach following the route of the partly-completed Brooklyn Waterfront and Jamaica Bay Greenways.

Activists from Transportation Alternatives have been working with the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative for 10 years to build a safe, scenic path for cycling and walking along the Brooklyn waterfront. The 5-year-old
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Albanese Questions Delay in Confronting Sea Level Rise



In a speech at the Brooklyn Navy Yard today, Mayor Michael
Bloomberg announced a $20 billion 40-year plan to protect the city from climate change-driven heat and sea level rise.

Some of the changes will go into effect this year, with the rest being made over time.

A coincidentally-released report projects that over the next 40 years, New York could see double -- even triple -- the number of
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Nelly's Scones

Music night at Nellybert's and scones were served again. And once again Brendan asked for the recipe. The first time I wrote it down for him. Then I sent it in an an email. This time I'm going to blog it and link it to Facebook.

It's a cross between my mother's recipe and  a Nigella Lawson recipe. This is it. I don't know if soda bread flour is sold outside of Ireland. Probably not. Sorry about that.


Ingredients
  • 500g soda bread flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 50g butter
  • 25g lard or more butter
  • 1 egg beaten
  • enough buttermilk to make up to 300 ml when added to beaten egg

Method 
  1. Preheat oven to 220°. 
  2. Sift the dry ingredients together and rub in the butter thoroughly. 
  3. Add the milk and stir very briefly. 
  4. Knead lightly together on a floured surface.
  5. Roll and cut approx. 12 scones
  6. Bake for 10-15 minutes. 


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50 Years Later, Glass Ceiling Still Unbroken




According to an email blast from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the federal Equal Pay Act was signed into law 50 years ago today.

In 2013, women in New York State earn 84% of what their male counterparts earn. A woman, over the course of her working lifetime, will earn $500,000 less than a man, which has major implications for older women.

Cuomo's proposed Women’s Equality Act would address wage
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P.S. 170 Students Rally to Save After-School Program



From 5 – 6 PM on Thursday, June 13, elementary students at P.S. 170, at 7109 6th Ave. (between 71st and 72nd Streets) in Bay Ridge, will rally, with their parents and local City Council Member Vinnie Gentile, to save their after-school program.

Students, parents and local officials will address the rally about the impact of the proposed cuts.

The event is one of a series of rallies by New
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"Love Kills Cancer" 5K Run/Walk for Cameron King







Cameron's in the Tiara

The "Love Kills Cancer" 5K run/walk for Cameron King on Sunday, June 23 will begin at 9 AM with registration at the 69th Street Pier 9/11 Firemen's Memorial.

Cameron King is a 3-year-old girl diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia who needs a bone marrow transplant.

Cameron's parents, Eve and Christopher King, helped sponsor the "Bands for the Beach" Hurricane
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Strict Compliance



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Dollars for Daniel





No Quarter Tavern, a pirate-themed neighborhood dive at 8015 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge, will host "Dollars for Daniel", a fundraiser to help Daniel Ortiz pay for a bone marrow transplant, on Sunday June 23 at 6 PM.

Daniel has a donor match, but cost remains an obstacle.

The evening will feature Karaoke, raffles and food.

The suggested donation at the door is $5.

You can also donate online
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Pedestrians Beware



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Bay Ridge Food Co-op at Our Saviour's



The Bay Ridge Food Co-op will host its monthly membership meeting at 7 PM on Tuesday, June 11 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Preschool (at 80th St and 4th Avenue) in Bay Ridge.

Come at 6:30 PM if you'd like to find out more or to join the co-op.

On the meeting agenda are a report on the co-op's progress, with the help of its mentor The Food Trust, in developing a business plan.

The BRFC is on
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Rooftop Screens Short Films at MetroTech Commons



Rooftop Films, which screens films from a variety of genres at outdoor locations across the city each summer, is dedicating an entire week to short documentary films about New York City.

The first of three screenings will be on Wednesday, June 12 at MetroTech Commons in Downtown Brooklyn. The other two programs will be screened in Manhattan, the first at the Open Road Rooftop in the Lower East
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Edward Snowden, Who Pulled Back the Curtain



"I understand that I will be made to suffer for my actions," but "I will
be satisfied if the federation of secret law, unequal pardon and
irresistible executive powers that rule the world that I love are
revealed even for an instant."

The article from Yahoo.

The Guardian broke the story.
More from Reuters.

More from the Atlantic.

Poll: most Americans don't care if they're under
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Bay Ridge Democrats at the Bridgeview



The Bay Ridge Democrats will host their next monthly meeting at 7:30 PM on Thursday, June 13 in the back room at the Bridgeview Diner, 9011 Third Avenue in Bay Ridge.

Now that the club has endorsed a slate of candidates for the 2013 elections, the work of getting those candidates on the ballot for the September primary begins.

Club members will be going door-to-door carrying nominating
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Weed, Race and the Brooklyn D.A.



At a Democratic Leaders for
the 21st Century candidates' forum last week, Brooklyn D.A. Charlie Hynes and primary challenger Abe George hotly debated misdemeanor marijuana possession.

When Hynes asserted that his office doesn't prosecute it, George accused Hynes of either knowingly or unknowingly lying about what is happening in his office.

Hynes responded that George was “rude.”

Hynes'
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"Moms Demand Action" Gun Control Phone Bank



On Monday, June 10, from 7 PM to 9 PM, advocacy organization "Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America" will
host a phone bank at 27 Union Square West, Suite 302 (between East 15th Street and East 16th Street) in Manhattan to call constituents of local Congressional Representative Michael Grimm in Bay Ridge and Staten Island.

Callers will urge voters in Grimm's district to call his office
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Questing for Storefront, BRFC Partners with The Food Trust



In February, the Bay Ridge Food Co-op, to further its goal of opening a storefront in Bay Ridge, partnered with The Food Trust, a City Council grantee working with three other start-up co-ops.

The Food Trust partnership has so far resulted in a market survey of the Bay Ridge area that rated food outlets based on the availability of organic or local produce, grass-fed milk, sustainably-raised
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Update: CCG vs. Alan Lapes



The Coalition for Carroll Gardens, fighting a two-front war against the city's Department of Buildings and homeless housing profiteer Alan Lapes, seeks to stop a plan by Lapes and associates to place 170 homeless men in a 10-unit condo building Lapes owns at 165 West 9th Street.

Community outcry against the proposed shelter and negative coverage by the New York Times of conditions in Lapes'
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NCT Inaugurates Betty Karsh Memorial Scholarships



Sarah Rodriguez and Jessica Sparacio

At its June 6 annual meeting at Shore Hill, Bay Ridge's Narrows Community Theater presented Betty Kash Memorial Scholarships to Jessica Sparacio and Sarah Rodriguez, two graduating 8th graders chosen from among the applicants for this year’s inaugural awards.

The essays submitted by winners Jessica Sparacio, from P.S./I.S. 229, and Sarah
Rodriguez, from
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Albanese, deBlasio at Brooklyn Pride



Former Bay Ridge City Council Member and Democratic mayoral candidate Sal Albanese, who grew up in Park Slope, will join the marchers in the 17th Annual Brooklyn Pride Parade, the culmination of Pride Week in Brooklyn, at 7:30 PM tomorrow, stepping off at 5th Avenue and Sterling Place.

Democratic mayoral candidate and New York City Public Advocate Bill deBlasio will also be marching in the
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Rally for Speed Enforcement Cameras at Marty Golden's Office





As the state debates the fate of a bill authorizing a speed enforcement camera pilot program in New York City, advocacy group Transportation Alternatives will host a rally outside State Senator Marty Golden's office at 77th Street and 4th Avenue in Bay Ridge at 10 AM on Monday June 10, calling on Golden to use his influence to get the bill passed.

At the rally, TA will deliver to Golden the
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R Train Derailed by Year-Long Repair of Sandy-Damaged Tunnel



The MTA dropped the news yesterday that the Sandy-damaged tunnel that brings the R train, Bay Ridge's only subway line, into Lower Manhattan will close for repairs in August and won't re-open for over a year.

The R will run in two sections, one in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan/Queens, while the tunnel is closed.

Local City Council Member Vinnie Gentile called the move, which will affect
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Love Wanted Pet Adoption Event at Trinity Church





From 11 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, June 22 at Trinity Church, at 91st Street and 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge, local animal rescue organizations and the North Shore Animal League will co-host a "Love Wanted" pet adoption event.

Please bring ID and be prepared to pay an adoption fee.

Reaching Out Community Services will be on hand collecting non-perishable food items for humans and pets.

Make
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Hibiscus



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Prosecutorial Smackdown at the Dining Room



The three Democratic candidates for Brooklyn District Attorney clashed repeatedly over hot-button issues at a candidate forum at the Dining Room in Downtown Brooklyn on Monday night hosted by Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century (DL21C).

The 50 or so people who attended greeted Hynes with both cheers and jeers, and vocally agreed or disagreed with each candidate's points throughout the
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"Curing Kids' Cancer" Race Draws 500 Runners





The June 1 “Curing Kids’ Cancer” race in Dyker Heights, hosted by the Dyker Heights Athletic Association/St. Bernadette Knights with help from Investors Bank, drew more than 500 children, running to raise funds for the Olivia Boccuzzi Foundation.

Enza and Frank Boccuzzi of Dyker Heights started the foundation in honor of their three-year-old daughter Olivia, who lost her life to cancer in
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Erykah Badu and Brooklyn Phil at BAM



The Brooklyn Philharmonic has announced the revised program for its concert with Artist-in-Residence Erykah Badu at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on June 8 (sold out) and 9.

While the centerpiece of Badu's performance with the Brooklyn Phil remains composer Ted Hearne's take on her album "New Amerykah, Part I", rapper Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def), scheduled to open the concert, has
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Fifth Avenue Gets Third Set of Security Cams



In what City Council Member Vinnie Gentile called "a major win for public safety" in Bay Ridge, the NYPD has approved surveillance cameras for a third Fifth Avenue location, in addition to the recently-announced installations at 72nd and 76th Streets.

The third set of security cameras will be mounted at the intersection of 82nd Street and Fifth Avenue.

Gentile thanked NYPD officials who
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Eight Years

Daddy in his Sunday best. He had probably called to my house to bring the girls and I to Mass. For sure I'd never have gone if he hadn't made the effort to pick us up. Afterwards we would usually go out to Drumkeeran for Sunday lunch.

I'd say, in the photograph, that he was probably only a little bit older than I am now.

I still have that old map but I don't have him. He is eight years gone today.

Still missed. Still remembered.

Seamus.
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The Tree House Progresses

 The four beech trees

 Erecting supports

Laying the platform

It is kind of awesome. I have always wanted a tree house but lacked the trees. Then we got this place with mature beeches galore. Then we got ourselves a new friend who loves tree houses, who has the skills, the enthusiasm, the tools and the encouragement to make this dream a reality. So what if I'm nearly sixty! I'm beginning to realise that the good things that happen when we are older are what we appreciate the most. This knee, this hip is getting better for I am going to spend some time in the trees. Lucky, lucky me.
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