Marty Markowitz's Publication Brooklyn!!! Winter 2010-11

8/8/2019 Marty Markowitz's Publication Brooklyn!!! Winter 2010-11

1/17

Winter 2010/11WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG

A Courier-Life Publication

MESSAGE f rom

MARTY

STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Enjoy YourBrooklyn Holidays!

4 Presepio, a miniature replica of the town of Bethlehem, is open to the public at the St. Athanasius Parish(Lower Church) in Bensonhurst. Anthony Vigilante maintains the exhibit.

B R O O K L Y N B O R O U G H

H A L L

2 0 9 J o r a

l e m o n

S t r e e

t

B r o o k

l y n ,

N Y 1 1 2 0 1

P R S R T S T D

U . S .

P O S T A G E P A I D

B R O O K L Y N

, N

. Y .

P e r m i t N o

. 2 3 5 0

T he holidays are the perfect time to leave cares behind and get inholiday spirit by sharing some special moments with family and fOf course, theres no reason to leave Brooklyn for all the pagean wonder of the season. So get out your calendars and make sure you find create tomorrows memories today in true Brooklyn style.

See page 5 for a listing, although by no means all, of the many holidayhappening throughout the borough. And no matter what you do, have a hand safe holiday season in beautiful Brooklyn!

CALLING ALLSWEETHEARTS!

Are youand your spouseBrooklynites who

have beenmarried 50 years

or more?

JoinMarty and Jamie

for aValentines Dayparty to renewyour vows and

toast loveseternal flame.

February 14, 20111pm at El Caribe

Country ClubCall (718) 802-4488to reserve a spot.

Although it feels like summer just ended, another holiday season ishere. This is the perfect time to reflect on how fortunate we are to live inthe greatest city in this magnificent nation, Brooklyn, USA.

As you enjoy this special time with your loved ones, I urge you to sparea thought for Brooklynites who could use some holiday cheer, especially those affected by the economic downturn. By all means, welcome theAmerican Ballet Theatre to Brooklyn by attending a performance of The

Nutcracker at BAM, imbibe some eggnog, play a spirited game of drei-dle, but also look for ways you can make a difference in somebodys life.

In this issue of Brooklyn!! , you will find several examples of Brooklynites and organizations who have given of themselves to makeBrooklyn a better place. I hope you are inspired by their stories. Butremember that making a difference can be as simple as donating provi-sions to a food bank, donating new or gently used toys or clothes or vol-unteering for an organization that provides hot holiday meals to those who are alone or who cannot afford to celebrate the holidays.

I like to remember the saying there but for the grace of God go I.Lets not forget, many of us are just two or three paychecks away fromsevere financial hardship. Its wonderful seeing the faces of family andfriends light up when they see the perfect gift you got for them. But Ihave found that if you dig deep and give what you can to those in need,it can be the most satisfying gift of all.

Once again, may you and yours have a joyous holiday season and ahappy, healthy New Year.

P.S. All of us at Borough Hall look forward to the new year and offerhearty congratulations to Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo, LieutenantGovernor Robert Duffy, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric Schneidermanas well as all the newly elected and reelect-ed members of the Brooklyn delegation in Congress, the State Senateand the Assembly.

4 The lights abright in Dyker Heigcome Christmas tim


2/17

WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG

Winter 2010/11

Retirement no longer has to mean theend of a career or losing skills and expert-

ise that took a lifetime to build. With theflood of nearly 80 million baby boomersdiving into the retirement pool and recordnumbers of workers who will reach retire-ment age over the next decade, there is areservoir of talent waiting to be utilized.

That is where ReServe comes in. This nonprofit organization connects

experienced adults, age fifty-five and older, with part-time compensated service op-portunities. Re-serving, according to Ex-ecutive Director Mary S. Bleiberg, de-scribes the kinds of work that peoplepursue when they have finished their pri-mary careers and want part-time work that

will have a big social impact.ReServists include artists , writers, teachers, lawyers and social workers, healthcare

professionals, those in banking, advertising, government and manufacturing to name a few. These adults are matched with nonprofit organizations and public institutions that canbenefit from a ReServists talents and experience. The program offers these boomers achance to re-engage in the workplace and lend their talents and energies in the service of their communities. More than 170 ReServists have been placed in Brooklyn nonprofitsand public institutions.

ReServist Selma Jackson, former owner of 4W Circle of Art and Enterprise in FortGreene said, ReServe attracted me because it was part-time work and it was flexible. Itallowed me to use some of my gifts to assist community organizations.

Do you still have more in your re-serve? For more information, call: (212) 710-9221 or visit www.reserveinc.org

THE SECOND TIME AROUNDIn a city that never sleeps, Brooklyns

got the place thats been awake the

longest. The Neergaard Pharmacy on 5thAve. in Park Slope opened its doors in1888, when Brooklyn was still its own city.Founded by a Danish immigrant named

Julius de Neergaard, the store remained inthe de Neergaard family through threegenerations, until the Tomassetti family purchased it in 1987. Since 1901, Neer-gaard has been open 24 hours a day, sev-en days a weekexcept for a few daysduring World War I.

Today, Neergaard is the oldest inde-pendently owned pharmacy in Brook-lyn, and one of the oldest in the Cityand one of the few pharmacies that are open 24 hours a day. Doctors know they c

patients here at all hours, store manager Tom Sutherland said. Neergaard is also set up to serve Brooklyns growing senior population, and even includes a surgthat sells everything from walkers to wheelchairs (Neergaard also operates a 7thcation that is not open 24 hours).

From the crash of a United Airlines jet in Park Slope in 1960 (a Neergaard emp visible in the photoThe New York Times ran the next day), to the attacks of Septem2001 (Brooklynites who walked home from Manhattan queued up for masks ansupplies), Neergaard has been there through the citys most perilous times.

We endured through the Great Depression and two world wars and weve alwup with the times, Sutherland said. Park Slope is still the place to be.

Neergaard Pharmacy, 454 5th Ave. Open 24 hours every day; (718) 768-0600; or visitwww.neergaardpharmacies.com

24/7 R X IN THE SLOPE

4 The Tomassetti familyLisa Tomassetti Sutherland, Lisas husband Thomas Sutherland, Rosemarie Tomassetti and Diana Tomassetti

has run Neergaard Pharmacy since 1987.

4 ReServists David Krutchik (center) and Nathan Fuchs (right) met with Assistant DAVirginia Modest at the Kings County District

Attorneys Office in 2008. Krutchik works as amarketing assistant and Fuchs served the DAs

office as an advocate for seniors.

You raise your kids, and then your kidshave kids. You dont expect to be a parentagain, but more grandparents are thesedays83,946 grandparents in New York City according to the US Census. The rea-sons are complicated but include family cri-sis, a bad economy and even the fact thatin some casesgrandparents are betterequipped to provide care.

In 1991, the Fort Greene -based CatholicCharities Brooklyn and Queens created asafe, welcoming embrace for grandparents,aunts, uncles, siblings and other caregivers

who find themselves again in a parentingrole. Called Grandmothers as Mothers Again (& Caregivers), or GAMA, it provides aplace where members can share the pressures and challenges of parenting.

I have raised my five grandchildren since they were babies, said GAMA member Vic-toria Chase, and the groups support lets you know youre not alone when it feels like noone understands the emotional, mental and physical strength it takes to raise a family a tour time of life.

GAMA offers other vital services like emergency food assistance, anger management

workshops and individualized case management. GAMA staffers provide advocacy fortheir members with a network of social service agencies that offer legal advice, housingservices, after school programs, recreational activities, counseling, parenting workshops andother kincare-related services.

Support groups in both English and Spanish are available. If you or someone you know is caring for a young family member and needs some support, contact GAMA today.

To contact GAMA, call Erin Carmen, Catholic Charities Brooklyn West CommunityCenter, (718) 722-6001; or SaddiQa Beyah, Catholic Charities Dr. White CommunityCenter, (718) 875-8801.

BRINGING UP BABYAGAIN!

4 GAMA members include, front row fromleft: Victoria Chase, Patricia Bell, Barbara Ensley, Gale Newton and Maria Lemons;

Back row from left: GAMA Group Facilitator SaddiQa Beyah, Elaine Manatu, Jacqueline

Edwards and Florine Bruce.

When Alan Rada says hes covered the WhiteHouse, hes not talking about the press corps, hes talk-ing wallpaper. Part of a dream teamincludingMitchell Ehrlich and Anthony BoninoRada pa-

pered President Obamas private study, the PresidentialDining Room and the Oval Office this past August.Rada learned the trade from his father, a profes-

sional installer for contractor Warner Krebs. Radas wild and wooly career a lso includes volunteer work at a kibbutz in 1973 at the outbreak of the YomKippur War, and time as a jewelry importer, realtor,teacher and night-shift security guard.

In 1996, Rada and his wife opened DecoRada Wallpaper Installation in their Flatbush/Midwoodhome, employing two full- and two part-time staff. Specializing in pristine appof wallpaper, fabric and murals, Rada is quick to pass along industry secrets. Ivstalling wallpaper for more than forty years and I cant stress enough the impopreparation before you hang paper, said Rada. Walls must be prepared meticulgood results, and I take the time to do that critical prep work.

And although do-it-yourself homeowners may be able to hang simple paperselves, many of todays wallpapers have raised or flocked patterns, or papers crefragile grasses, barks or metallics. These exquisiteand often costlypapers nhandled and applied by an expert.

Which is why the beautiful bark skin wallpaper that now graces the Presidenting Room looks so good. When the White House beckons, who you gonna call? lynite Alan Rada, thats who!

DecoRada Wallcovering Installations, 1376 East 31st. St.; (718) 338-0645;www.decorada.com

COVERING THE WHITE HOUSE

4 Alan Rada of DecoRadaWallpaper does the job right!


3/17


PERFORMANCE/CULTURAL EVENTS

The Kings Bay Y s Chanukah Extravaganza:Performances, menorah lighting, rides, games,

music and kosher food. FREE. www.kingsbayy.org or call (718) 648-7703.Dec. 5 11am-2pm .

The Marks JCH of Bensonhurst: ChanukahCelebration at 7802 Bay Parkway. For more info:(718) 331-6800, ext. 110.Dec. 5 at 12pm.

Brooklyn College Chorale and Conservatory Chamber Choir: Holiday Concert at BCsGershwin Theater. FREE. Dec. 9 at 4:40pm.

The Mark Morris Dance Group : The Hard Nut , at BAMs Howard Gilman Opera House.Dec. 10-19.

Bensonhursts S t. Athanasius Church:Presepio, a miniature replica of Bethlehem,everyday 8am3pm. Contact the church at (718)236-0124 or Anthony Vigilante (718) 837-1682.Begins Dec. 12.

The Brooklyn Heights Grace & SpiritusChorale: Community Sing, Montague St.Promenade Tree Lighting Ceremony andcaroling.Dec. 15 at 5:30-7pm.

The 290-member Grammy-award winningBrooklyn Tabernacle Choir: Borough Hall.FREE. Dec. 15 at 4:30pm.

Brooklyn Youth Chorus Academy: Holiday Harmonies Concert at Our Lady of LebanonChurch in Brooklyn Heights. Dec. 17 and 18.

Jingle Bell Jamboree:Holiday music, dancingand sing-a-long, the Old First Reformed Churchin Park Slope, FREE (Suggested donations: $5per child/$10 per adult).Dec. 18 at 7pm.

The American Ballet Theater s world premier of Alexei Ratmanskys Nutcracker : BAMs HowardGilman Opera House. Dec. 22-Jan 2.

Fulton Street Mall Holiday: Brooklyn BalletsHip Hop Nutcracker . Dec. 3, 10, 17 & 21from 12pm-4pm . Visit www.fultonstreet.org forother events.

COME OUTSIDE!

Wild Holiday Party: Watch baboons, red pandasand other Prospect Park Zoo inhabitants tear intoholiday presents with hidden treats. Free with admis-sion.Every Sat/Sun in Dec. 11:30am & 3:30pm .

FIDO Bark! The Herald Angels Sing: A sing-a-long with dog-centric lyrics, hot beverages, plusSanta posing with your pooch! Long Meadow inProspect Park. FREE. Dec. 11 from 8am-10am.

Christmas Bird Count: Helps researchers track the long-term health of bird populations.Audubon Center in Prospect Park. Call (718)287-3400 ext. 303 for more information.Dec. 18 at 12pm & 3pm.

The Brooklyn Three Kings Day Parade: Starts atMeeker and Graham in Williamsburg. Jan 9 at 2pm.

DEAR SANTA

St. Nicholas : Visits the Lefferts Historic Housein Prospect Park on Nov. 28 at 3pm. FREE.

GO SHOPPING!

Shoppers get a Brooklyn Bonus atShopBrooklyn merchants. Visit ishopbrooklyn.com.Shop Brooklyn l aunches Brooklyn Friday, akaBlack Friday,Nov. 26.

NYCreates Seventh Annual 2010 Holiday CraftsFair at the Brooklyn Historical Society.Dec 8-12, Weekdays 11am-7pm, Weekends 10am-5pm .

Brooklyn Fleas Gifted Holiday Market atSkylight One Hanson features 100 art, jewelry,antiques and food vendors plus a holiday tree! www.brooklynflea.com/gifted.Dec. 15-23, 11am-7pm .

FOR THOSE IN NEED

If you know someone in need, tell them aboutthe free Annual Holiday Dinner at the Park Slope Armory, sponsored by the YM/ YWCA of Brooklyn.Dec. 25 at 11am-5pm.

GET CRAFTY

Brooklyn Womens Exchange,Holiday CraftSundays, 55 Pierrepont Street, (718) 624-3435,Dec. 5 & 12. The Dyker Librarys Holiday Arts & Crafts workshop at 8202 13th Ave. Call (718) 748-6261. Dec. 23 at 3:15pm.

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT!

Menorah Lighting: Grand Army Plaza atsundown Dec. 1-8.

Menorah Lighting: Columbus Park in fronState Supreme Court, at sundown Dec. 1-8FREE. Marty joins the lighting Dec. 2 at 5

Park Circle Menorah Lighting: Parkside Dec. 1-8 at sundown.

Brighton Beach Menorah Lighting: BrigBeach/Coney Island Aves.Dec. 1-8 at sun

Atlantic Avenue LDC Tree lighting at th

Belarusan Church, corner of Atlantic AveSt., FREE. Dec. 2 at 6-8pm.

Frank Seddios Annual Holiday LightsExtravaganza on Flatlands Ave. at 93rd SCanarsie beginsDec. 6 at 5pm.

Borough Hall Holiday Tree Lighting :Dec. 7 at 5:30pm.

DUMBO Tree Lighting: The Archway uthe Manhattan Bridge. Dec. 8 at 6:30pm.

Dyker Heights Neighborhood Lights : Be80th and 86th Streets from 10th to 13thAvenues, begins after Thanksgiving.

CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR!

Join Marty to ring in the New Year with etainment, refreshments and New Years EFireworks at Grand Army Plaza . FREE.

Dec. 31 at 11pm. THANK YOU VERY MULCH!

Mulch your holiday tree into healthy groucover. Two locations: Third St. & Prospec West or Park Circle Park entrance (ProspeSouthwest & Parkside Ave.). For more in www.nycgovparks.org/services/mulchfeschfest.html Jan. 8-9.

Enjoy YourBrooklyn Holidays!

(CONTINUED FROM COVER)

Winter 2010/11

Abistro in Fort Greene is tiny and the tables fill

up quickly. But the sound of chopping coming fromthe small kitchen means that big taste is on its way.

Ever since Senegalese Abdoul Gueye openedAbistro in 2005, hes been drawing crowds. Hismenu reflects the cuisines of Northern Africa,France and native ethnic groups like the Wolof.

Trout, chicken, tofu or beef might end up in abouillabaisse or stew or be drizzled with spicy

vinaigrette. Big flavors like lemon, ginger, mustardand cinnamon figure prominently.

Taste the Senegalese fried chicken with pineap-ple scented jasmine rice cakes, salsa and dijonnaisesauce and youll know its not like ordinarty friedchicken. Its so popular both the brunch and dinner menu carry it.

Theres also black-eyed pea fritters with codfish, West African spicy trout in s

vinaigrette or Moroccan salmon with kale and couscous in peanut palm oil sauits all exquisitely presented and served with a smile. This kind of food guarantees a chef s acclaim. Although Gueye cooked in Ma

for 15 years, his location of choice for his own restaurant was Brooklyn. I fe with my wife, Cassandra, in Fort Greene and wanted to create something specthat doesnt exist in Manhattan, said Gueye. In my cooking, I try to reflect alltures that have influenced me.

Different ethnicities coming together and creating something unique? Kind oflike Brooklyn, dont you think?

Abistro, 154 Carlton Ave., (btw. Myrtle/Willoughby); (718) 855-9455; Open Tues-Thur 6-10:30pm, Fri/Sat 6-12pm, Sat/Sun for brunch 10am-3:30pm, Sun 6-9:30pm;

Reservations suggested.

BIG TASTE, SMALL PLACE

4 Chef Abdoul Gueyes cuisin Abistro in Fort Greene

is getting big raves.


4/17


Winter 2010/11

When Marine CaptainMatthew Turner and Emily Grant,then a second lieutenant, struck up

an awkward conversation in aCamp Fallujah mess hall in 2006 inIraq, it marked the beginning of aBrooklyn love story whose pro-logue was actually written inBrooklyn Heights . Although thecouple grew up only a half block from one another and their parents

were acquaintances, their pathsnever crossed. In fact, it was Cap-tain Turners mother who told herson that a friends daughter had

joined the Marines. Armed with her last name and information about her height (just oversix feet), Captain Turner approached Lieutenant Grant a few months later.

After that initial encounter, they were both unsure where the relationship would go, but

soon were talking frequently about life back in Brooklyn. At that point, I really had acrush on him, said Emily. But Fallujah is not a really good place to start dating, so wekept up a relationship that was appropriate for a combat zone. After both were trans-ferred to Californias Camp Pendleton the following year, they began dating regularly.

Last month, the Turners were married at SS. Constantine & Helen Cathedral inBrooklyn Heights, far from the battlefields of Iraq. The reception was held at the HeightsCasino, where they had both taken dancing and tennis lessons, but never at the same time.And, Emily is not only a Turner now, but a captain as well. Just one question: with twoCaptain Turners at home, who takes orders from whom?

FROM THE MESS HALL TOTHE WEDDING HALL

Does Brooklyn inform the way we dreRobert Rossicone it does. What s more, RosBrooklyn-inspired fashion sense earned himtle 2010 Esquire Magazine Best Dressed Re

Man Finalist.First off, Rossicone is passionate about alBrooklynhe named his daughter Breuckelall. He credits Bay Ridge, where he lives and tas having a gutsy, blue-collar edge that not onthe community from being sanitized but isome of his sartorial choices, like dark, wodenim and sturdy, well-made shoes. Also inspiRossicones students, whose streetwear fashiopredate the Milan and Paris runway looks.

Rossicone thinks our residents dress bettManhattanites because few Brooklynites we

with silver spoons. That sense of frugalRossicone, prevents us from buying one cutter look from an expensive boutique.prone to experiment, to match a thrift store

and custom trousers with a tie purchased on eBay. That all makes for an interestinMen looking for fashion advice, hear this: Rossicones three must-haves inclu

sic navy blue blazer, which goes with everything from grey flannels to jeans to khaa great-fitting pair of raw denim jeans. And finally, an expert tailor. Most clothing for an average fit, which few men are, so a good tailor can take an off-the-rack sunext level. Rossicone says his Dyker Heights tailor makes him look like a million

So follow Rossicones lead and get yourself a classic blazer, and while your yourself a Brooklyn tailor too!

BROOKLYNS LOOKING GOOD

4 Robert Rossiconewith daughter Breuckelenis one of Esquire

Magazines best dressed Real Men!

4 Matthew Turner and Emily Grant Turnerboth Marine captainshad to go all the way to Iraq to meet

even though they grew up in Brooklyn Heights.

If you long for a place in which a50-year-old is considered youthful, and

you also want a comfortable place withdelicious food and great live music in amature setting, Il Posto in BergenBeach is for you.

Owner Tony Evangelista, managerNicky and Chef Ninofamed, formerexecutive chef of Ninos Restaurant inConey Island Avenue in Midwood for35 yearsare the welcome wagon, dis-pensing charm, efficiency and fabulousItalian specialties. Foodies love the NinoCombo: chicken francese, veal and filetmignon; or the mouth-watering fresh figs stuffed with fontina cheese and prosciu

But Il Posto also packs em in for live music and even dancing. And those wtheir pasta fagioli and fettuccini bolognese served to the tune of Pavarotti, Roy Oor other adult contemporary standards, cant wait to hear the Australian-born sensation, Alfio, perform.

Alfio has an incredible voice, said Evangelista. He gets the women cryingmen sighing just by turning a phrase. And even though he was born in AustraItalian through and through!

For 13 years, Il Posto has been drawing locals, but with Chef Nino cooking, thhumming and the beautiful neighborhood of Bergen Beach/Mill Basin here to diits no wonder folks from all over Brooklyn, Staten Island, New Jersey and even borough of Manhattan are making the trip.

Il Posto, 7409 Avenue U at E. 74th St; (718) 241-4317; Open Tues-Thurs noon-10pm, Fri-Sat noon-11pm, Sun 1pm-9pm; There is no cover charge for the Friday night performance but reservations are a must!

SINGING FOR YOUR SUPPER

4 When Alfio croons, the ladies swoon!

Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Donors will receive no special access toCity officials or preferential treatment as a result of a donation .


5/17


Winter 2010/11

ON THE BLOCKM a r t y s

4 Marty, the BPs Chief of Staff Carlo Scissura (second fromleft) and Education Policy Analyst Margaret Kelley (right of

Marty) were on hand to commend Brooklyns Community Education Council (CEC) appointees. CEC members are appointed by Marty to help improve our Brooklyn schools.

4 For 144 years, the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Services hasbeen building a better Brooklyn through a comprehensive array of social service programs. Taking note of the organizations newname, Brooklyn Community Services (BCS), as well as its longrecord of social responsibility were BCS Chair Jerrold Mulder;

Marty; Asst. Exec. Director Norma Martin; Marketing &Communications Director Jill Jefferson and Board Member Dan

Ross, Wechsler Ross & Partners president. Best wishes for Exec. Director Alan Goodmans full recovery!

4 Marty and Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham joined Nick Emerson, Jed Levine, Christina Keller, Board Member Jack Kamin andthe Brooklyn Memory Walk Volunteer Committee, as well as supportersof the Alzheimers Association of New York City who participated in the

2010 Memory Walk at the Coney Island Boardwalk. The event raised funds for research and treatment of Alzheimers Disease, which affects 250,000 New Yorkers.

4 Some of Brooklyns little rockers gathered for the Carroll Par Summer Concert Series and joining them were ( left to right), Joyc Seares, PS 29 PTA co-president; Simmi Malhotra DegnemarkCarroll Park Summer Concert Series director/PS 29 parent; chil-drens performer Audra Rox; Marty; and PS 29 parent Randi Song

4 The 32nd Annual Brownstoners House Tour benefitted the McDonald/Glee Jr. and Joan Maynard Memorial Scholarship Funds. Celebrating the groups distinguished history of communityservice to Bedford Stuyvesant were, among others, Brownstoners

President Ava Barnett, Chair Marguerita Fletcher, Co-chair ChanaWells, and founders Brenda Fryson, Clarence Jones and Reggie

Shell. Marty was also on hand to commend the group as well asscholarship recipient, Cathy Anne Matthews.

4 The Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce (CACCI) met explore economic opportunities in Grenada. Among those gatherewere Dr. Eda Hastick; CACCI president Dr. Roy Hastick; the Prim

Minister of Grenada Tillman Thomas; Acting Secret International Trade/Environment Sally Anne Bagwhan Logie Marty; Greg Bishop, assistant commissioner DSBS; City Counc Member Jumaane Williams; and CACCI Board member Patricia Sampson, managing director, Bank of New York Mellon. Grenada isthe birthplace of Slinger Franciso, aka the Mighty Sparrow.

4 The 6th Annual Bed-Stuy Alive! Celebration and Tohma Y. Faulkner Awards on Fulton St. included cultural performances and brought muchdeserved recognition to community leaders. Marty joined some of the organ-izers of the event including, from left, Robert E. Cornegy Jr; Bill Wren; Bed-

Stuy Restoration Corps Colvin W. Grannum; Brownstoners of Bed-Stuy Founding Member Brenda Fryson; Planning Committee Chair Anna Bloodworth; and honorees Joeletha Ferguson, Margo Lewis, Daphnee Surpris, Eddie Freeman, Dr. Sam Pinn, Wilma E. Maynard, Minnie Laura Jones and Laurie Cumbo.

4 Fulfilling youths hope. Marty joined Sharon Content, founder/president of Children of Promise NYCa nonprofit that pro-vides after school programs and summer camp for kids with incarcer-ated parentsto celebrate the organizations one year anniversary of serving families in Bedford Stuyvesant and beyond. Ms. Content wasalso recently recognized as a recipient of Brooklyn Community

Foundations Brooklyn Do Gooders award.

4 Edible Schoolyarda program that integrates sustainable gar-dening and cooking into the Citys public school curriculumchos

Brooklyn for its first NYC school location. Gathered at PS 216, th Arturo Toscanini School, in Gravesend were the programs founderworld famous chef and author Alice Waters (center); along with Edible

Schoolyard NYC Board President John Lyons; Edible Schoolyar Executive Director Christiane Baker; PS 216 Principal Ce Kaplinsky; award-winning actor Jake Gyllenhaal; Marty; Counci Member Domenic M. Recchia, Jr.; PS 216 students and others.

4 Three cheers for affordable housing! The Bradford, a new residentialand retail development in Bedford Stuyvesant, will offer 105 apartments

for low- and middle-income families in the summer of 2012. Amonthose celebrating this significant revitalization in the Bed Stuy commu-nity were, from left, Council Member Al Vann; Julian Phillips, representing Congress Member Ed Towns; BRP Managing Director Geo

Flournoy; NYCHDC President Marc Jahr; HPD Commissioner RafaelCestero; Bed-Stuy Restoration Corp. President/CEO Colvin Grannum;

Brooklyn born and bred Goldman Sachs Chair/CEO Lloyd C Blankfein; Marty; BRP Managing Director Meredith Marshall; andCarver Bancorp CEO and former HPD Commissioner Deborah Wright

4 Marty joined Brooklyn Borough President Emeritus Sebastian Sam Leone (center) at Borough Hall to unveilthe 35-year-old Welcome to Brooklyn, 4th Largest City in

America sign, as celebrated in the opening sequence of Welcome Back, Kotter, starring Brooklynite Gabe Kaplanand John Travolta. Nino Russo, owner of Coney IslandsGargiulos Restaurant was also present; Russo generouslyloaned the sign for display at Borough Hall. Welcome Back,

Kotter co-creator/producer Alan Sacks also sent a video greeting for the event.

4 Marty joined ice cream lovers at Cold Stone Creamery in Sheepshead Bay off Knapp Street for Make A Wish Foundations 9th annual Worlds Largest Ice Cream Social. Cold Stone Creamery owners Eric Steinweissand Joseph Scuteri were glad to support efforts that help the wishes of children with terminal illnesses come true. Marty selflessly offered toscoop ice cream for the good cause and was even willing to sample thewaresespecially when his wife, Jamie, isnt around!

P h o t o

b y : R o n a l

d L . G l a s s m a n

P h o t o b y : W a l e e d C o p e

P h o t o b y : A r t h u r D a G a e t a a n d t h e C a n a r s i e C o u r i e r


6/17


Winter 2010/11

When Thomas Roma was recuperating froma car accident, instead of feeling sorry for him-self, he picked up a camera and started shooting.

To say that Brooklyn became his muse is an

understatement. I love everything about Brook-lyn, said Roma. The sound of the name, theshape on the map. From the neighborhoods tothe architecture to the width of the streets andthe people who live there, its impossible to bebored in Brooklyn.

Despite seemingly ordinary moments and back-drops, Romas photographs are timeless: childrenplaying, families worshipping; abandoned buildings,city playgrounds and pools. All captured in the rareBrooklyn light andlike all great photographsemblematic of a period but still resonant today.

Romas talent has led to two Guggenheim Fellowships, one-person exhibits atMOMA and the International Center of Photography, teaching stints at Yale, Fordham,Cooper Union and The School of Visual Arts and, since 1996, an appointment as direc-tor of Photography at Columbia University School of the Arts. His next book of photo-graphs, his twelfth, is a photographic record of Army National Guardsmen as they pre-pare for deployment to Iraq called Dear Knights and Dark Horses .

In the Greenwood Heights home he shares with his wife, Anna, and son, Giancarlo,Roma not only develops his own film, but designs and makes his own cameras. Inventor, ar-tisan, renowned educator and critically-acclaimed photographer, no matter what you callhim Thomas Roma masters them all.

Visit www.thomasroma.com for more information about the photographer and tosee examples of his work.

PICTURING BROOKLYN

4 The photographer, Thomas Roma,as subject.

Did you know that along wing beautiful in a home or aquariums can reduce stress aner blood pressure? You may

surprised to learn that Brooklthe oldest aquarist organizathe country.

The Brooklyn Aquarium (BAS) has been educating hosince 1911 about freshwater andfish, corals, invertebrates and pla

Along with helping beginners establish healthy aquariums and providing a folong time fish enthusiasts, BAS donates and installs aquariums in Brooklyn schadvances our understanding of how important it is to protect wild aquatic enviroFrom monthly educational programs and lectures, to discounts and auctions, plusite that links to all sorts of fish-related information, BAS members really chaninner Jacques Costeau.

When the seas are threatened by global warming and many species of aquation the verge of extinction, said BAS president Joe Graffagnino, societies like Ba ray of hope that endangered species can be bred in a captive environment anfuture, released into the wild. Graffagnino and BASs 300+ members look focelebrating the Societys 100 year anniversary in February at its headquarters at

York Aquarium in Coney Island.So if you want to experience the joy of tropical fish, from angels to zebras

more about how we can all protect aquatic life, the Brooklyn Aquarium Society you get your feet wet!

Brooklyn Aquarium Society, PO Box 290610, Brooklyn, NY 11229-0011; Hotline:(718) 837-4455; or visit www.brooklynaquariumsociety.org

SOMETHING FISHY

4 This tropical fish is aptly named the Peacock fish.

P h o t o b y : A n n a R o m a


7/17


Winter 2010/11

BROOKLYN BEAT

4 Brooklyns own Dancewave from Park Slope won a coveted spotand the only invitation extended to an American groupto performat the prestigious Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Scotland.

Pictured in front of Aberdeen Mercat Cross were DancewaveCompany Director Diane Jacobowitz and her bonny company.

4 Homecrest Community Services in Sheepshead Bay held itsannual Homecrest Senior Health Fair, offering health screeningsand workshops in both Chinese and English. Gathered for the eventwere, among others, from left, Homecrest Board Member Lisa Eng;

Senate Finance Chair, Senator Carl Kruger; BP Asian Liaison AliceWong; Assembly Member Helene Weinstein; Assembly Member

Steven Cymbrowitz; Assembly Member Peter Abbate; Council Member Michael Nelson; NYC Comptroller John Liu; HomecrestChair Don Lee; Executive Director Richard Kuo; Program DirectorTiphaine Tsang; and CB15 Chair Theresa Scavo.

4 Friends and supporters of Cypress Hills Community School, PS/IS 89 were on hand to cut the ribbon for the brand new build-ing, considered one of NYCs first green schools and one that pro-vides a high-tech greenhouse, science lab, art room, music suite,1,000-sq.- ft. library, 4,000-sq.-ft. gym and cafeteria. Among those

gathered for the festivities were Principal Irene Leon; CHLDC Executive Director Michelle Neugebauer; Senator Martin Malave Dilanwho provided a large portion of funding; BrooklynCommunity Foundation President Marilyn Gelber; Council

Member Erik Martin Dilan; Council Member Brad Lander; ParentCo-Director Maria Jaya-Vega; and many of the parents and teach-

ers who have worked so hard to make the new facility a reality.

4 Japans love affair with all things Brooklyn is ardently repre-sented in Tokyos Shinjuku Prefecture at the new Brooklyn Parlor,a bar, restaurant, caf and bookstore featuring the beer and ales of the Brooklyn Brewery and a genuine Brooklyn burger, as well asother Brooklyn-inspired experiences. From left, Satoshi Togano, BPmanager; Rio Natsume, talent coordinator, The Blue Note and theCotton Club in Japan; Toby Ludwig, entertainment director of the

Seaside/MLK Summer Concert Series; and Takanori Matsuuchi, BP manager.

4 Nets new coach Avery Little General Johnson (center, back row)met with students of MS 51 in Park Slope to talk about positivechoices and let kids know that they can get to the next level. Healso encouraged his future fan base in Brooklyn to get ready tocheer for future NBA champions, the Brooklyn Nets!

4 The Borough Presidents Latino Heritage celebration broughtsome of Brooklyns distinguished movers and shakers of Latinodescent. Joining the celebration were, from left, honoree IrmaGarcia, director of Athletics, St. Francis College; Martys Latino

Liaison Italia Guerrero; Deputy Borough President YvonneGraham; honoree Norberta Diaz of Asociacion de Mujeres de

Brooklyn; honoree Luis Garden Acosta of El Puente; and JasonOtano, the borough presidents counsel.

4 Saluting our seniors! Assembly Member Peter Abbate andCouncil Member Vincent Gentile continue their tradition of hosting

picnics at the Fort Hamilton Army base in tribute to Brooklyns sen-ior citizens. Marty was thrilled to join them, as well as Assembly

Member Alec Brook-Krasny; new commander of U.S. ArmyGarrison-Fort Hamilton Col. Michael Gould; Command Sergeant

Major Sylvia Laughlin and Brooklyn seniors.

4 Oh shucks! Who better than Brooklyns own Paul Randazzo of Randazzos Clam Barthe Pride of Sheepshead Bayto show Manhattan and the Grand Central Oyster Bar how the shuck itsdone. Guest chef Randazzo had them clamoring for more with hisBaked Oysters on the Half Shell Italian Style at the annualOyster Frenzy at the Oyster Bar, an all day public event of shuck-ing, slurping and downing our bi-valve friends.

4 Down south this past summer, Brooklyn really showed em thatwere all that! Brooklynite Vivian Salvano, aka Mrs. Plus New York

2010, left, placed 6th in the Mrs. Division at the 2010 Miss Plus America Pageant in Louisiana. Pictured with her are Ashley Nicole Focer, Miss Plus America 2010; and Tiffany Braxton Belvin, Ms. Plus New York America 2010, both from Queens. Vivian does Brooklyn proud by not only her pageant wins, but her efforts to raise funds for cancer research and other good causes.

4 More than 25,000 walkers came out to Prospect Park and raised$1,070,000 in the fight against breast cancer during the annual

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk of Brooklyn NY spon-sored by the American Cancer Society. Deputy Borough PresidentYvonne Graham joined many breast cancer survivors along the walk,which Marty also participated in. Kudos to ACSs Sally Cooper.

4 Students from Packer Collegiate Institutethe oldest independent school in Brooklyn, located in Brooklyn Heightsvisited Borough Hall, Brooklyns City Hall, for some face time with the BP. Marty encourages young people to participate in the democratic process or even enter the field of government and become the futureleaders of Brooklyn. Packer social studies teacher George Boutisaccompanied the group.

4 Circle of Hope Cancer Foundations 15th Annual Walk for Hopewas dedicated to the memory of police officer Vito Mauro, whoserved for 18 years in the 67th Precinct. Proceeds fund programs forthe terminally ill at Calvary Hospitals Brooklyn campus housed in

Lutheran Medical Center. Among those attending were Marty;Congress Member Anthony Weiner; Geraldine Madonia president,Circle of Hope; Dan Foster, Fun Run founder; Vito Maruos widow,

Ronnie Mauro; daughter Eden Mauro; Bob Turner; and Circle of Hope secretary Anna McCormack.


8/17


Winter 2010/11

Help Tom Neve feed the hungry!Reaching Out Community Se

(RCS), the nonprofit Neve founded in

sonhurst , helps feed the working pounemployed, seniors and others froRidge to Gravesend to Flatbush. Bustate and city funding shrinking and dat food pantries at an all time high, Ralready on a shoestring budgetis ffor survival.

Sanatation Dept. retiree Neve begaing hot meals out of his van to the hoin 1989. By 1992 he added emergenc

support for the working poor and low-income families. Four years later RCS offepermarket-style food pantry, and today RCS serves more than 3,400 people every

Those in need shop the pantry for a large selection of nutritious food much like market, offering families a dignified way to get the help they need. But recordunemployment have increased demand. Not long ago our clients were seniors an

mothers; now were serving people in their 30s and 40s, said Neve.Nevewho draws no salary for his ten-hour dayshas been forced to close thon Fridays and fears even more cutbacks or even closure altogether.

Is there anything greater than offering a family the blessed gift of a meal thisseason? Please find it in your heart to contribute, because RCS and needy Brookllies can really use your support.

Send contributions to Reaching Out Community Services, 7708 New Utrecht Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11214; (718) 373-4565; or visit www.rcsprograms.org and click on the Donate Now button.

SERVING THOSE IN NEEDWITH DIGNITY

4 Tom Neve needs your help to help others!

Although there arent any 5- year-olds slamming each othermosh pit-style, pint-sized rockerscan be found all over Brooklyn,

swaying to Audra Rox.Like many aspiring performers,Rox was drawn to the bright lightsof Broadway, up until the birth of her children. I needed a job so Istarted doing music for kids, saidRox. I discovered that, not only wasI good at it, but it was a joyous way to make a living. Proof that neces-sity really is the mother of invention.

It started when Rox performed in a friends Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammalsprogram, where tots explored music through song, dance and rhythm. Twelve years later, Roxhas become Pied Piper to children and infants, along with their older sibs and parents, whofollow her wherever she goes. Rox offers classes in seven different Brooklyn neighborhoods,from Bed-Stuy to Williamsburg, including theRed Hook community she calls home.

At an Audra Rox concert, youll see hordes of pogo-ing moppets with their equally cap-tivated parents bobbing to tunes like the punkish I Like to Pretend with You and thecountry-inspired I Hope Mama Says Yes!, as well as eleven other songs from Roxs funCD, I Can Do It By Myself. Rox and her band have also appeared on Nickelodeons

Jacks Big Music Show and Sesame Street .No matter where she performs, Audra Rox is parent approved, kid friendly, but most im-

portant, just downright cool! For more information about class schedules and CDs, visit the Audra Rox website at

www.audrarox.com

AUDRA ROCKS, KIDS FLOCK!

4 Audra rockin in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge!

So how did Brooklyn become one of Americas premier culinary destinations? InThe New Brooklyn Cookbook , husbandand wife Brendan and Melissa Vaughan of Park Slope trace Brooklyns epicurean evo-lution from the opening of Al di L in1998 to todays offering of international es-tablishments (many participate in the an-nual Dine in Brooklyn event), food trucks,bakers, cheesemakers, picklers, chocolatiersand artisanal food producers.

This unique cookbook presents colorfulphotography, stories, interviews and morethan 70 dishes. We worked with each restaurant to choose recipes that the chefs aners were excited about and felt best represented their approach to food, said Melisresult is, we hope, a balanced collection of recipes that are approachable and delicio

Home-tested recipes include Buttermilk Channels duck meatloaf, The Goodsteak and eggs Korean style, Prime Meats beef sauerbraten with red cabbage andumplings and Vinegar Hill Houses cast-iron chicken with caramelized shallsherry pan sauce. And to wash it all down, you can even brew up some AmericanAle from Sixpoint Craft Ale right at home!

Were thrilled to have such an incredible range of dining options just steps orsubway ride from home, said Brendan, and we wanted to bottle the culinarythats coursed through the borough in the last decade or so.

The New Brooklyn Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from 31 Restaurants that Put Brooklyn on the Culinary Map (William Morrow, $40). Available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and other retailers.

RECIPES FOR BROOKLYNSCULINARY SUCCESS

4 Authors Brendan and Melissa Vaughanof Park Slope

The storms that hit Brooklyn in March andSeptember felled 750 trees, withBedford-

Stuyvesant, Bushwick , Crown Heights ,Park Slope, Prospect Heights , Fort Greeneand Clinton Hill hard hit.

New trees are expensive, especially dur-ing challenging times. But you can help by making a donation to the Mayors StormDamage Fund.

The recently appointed Brooklyn BoroughPark Commissioner, Kevin Jeffrey, and Marty

want to make sure that any contributionsfrom Brooklynites benefit Brooklyn.

The first thing Brooklynites see whenthey step outside are Brooklyns beautifultrees, said Commissioner Jeffrey. Were calling all block associations, school groups,BIDs, community-based groups and tree lovers to send donations today!

Brooklyn contributions to the Storm Damage Fund specifically aid Brooklyns urbanforests, said Marty. Turn your green into Brooklyn green by helping replace trees on ourBrooklyn streets.

Even a Manhattan-based theater group, The Peccadillo Theater Company, is raisingfunds for Brooklyn through their upcoming production of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn(visit: www.thepeccadillo.com to find out more). Thats thanks to Dyker Heights resi-dents Marvin and Laura Reiskin, who work with Peccadillo.

As Betty Smith wrote, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and with your help, Brooklyn canalways be the borough of trees.

To make a contribution to replace Brooklyn trees, visitwww.nyc.gov/html/fund/html/donate/donate.shtml. Check the box next to Storm Dam-age Fund, then follow directions to make donations electronically. Or you can send checksdirectly to: Mayors Fund to Advance New York City, 253 Broadway, 8th Floor, New York,

NY 10007. Be sure to write Brooklyn-specific tree fund on the front of your check!

HELP A TREE GROW IN BROOKLYN

4 Brooklyn Borough Park Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey is calling all Brooklynites to

help a tree grow in Brooklyn!


9/17


Winter 2010/11

BROOKLYN BEAT II

4 Doing Good in Brooklyn and beyond! Under the leadership of Marilyn Gelber,the Brooklyn Community Foundation recognized exemplary individuals with itsDo Gooders awards, including, The Noel Pointer Foundations Chinita Pointer;Children of Promise NYCs Sharon Content; United Puerto Rican Organizationof Sunset Parks Murad Awawdeh; Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hungers

Melony Samuels; Arab American Association of New Yorks Linda Sarsour; and Bay Ridge activist and Shore Road Park Conservancys Chip Cafiero.

4 The 29th Annual Brooklyn Columbus Day Parade sponsored bythe Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Brooklyn(FIAO) brought out members of our esteemed Italian-American com-munityand those who wish they wereincluding parade grandmarshals Vito and Joanne Marienelli, District Leader Frank Seddioand Joseph Andriano; as well as Judge Robert Miller; Dr. Sudha

Patel; Lina Bennardo; Assembly Member William Colton; CharlesCandela; Congress Member Mike McMahon; Marty; City Council

Member Vincent Gentile; FIAO President Frank Naccarato; Senator Marty Golden; City Council Member Domenic M. Recchia Jr.; FIAOChair G. Jack Spatola and Judge Arthur Schack.

4 Plays the thing! Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe joinWindsor Terrace Alliance President Lauren Collins, Public Advocate

Bill de Blasiowho allocated $1.8 million for the project whenmember of City CouncilMarty; Council Member Brad Lande

Assembly Member James Brennan; CB7 Chair Randy Peers an Prospect Park Alliance President Tupper Thomas to celebrate thenewly renovated Vanderbilt Street Playground in Prospect Park.

4 At the annual Italian American Heritage & Culture Month cele-brazione at Borough Hall, Marty honored the beloved Alaimo

Family, of Villabate Pasticceria & Bakery and Europa Restaurant. Marty, his wife Jamie and Chief of Staff Carlo Scissurawhoserved as emceejoined Emanuele and Lina Alaimo and their chil-dren to admire and enjoy their delicious fare (not pictured Europas

Nino and Cathy Alaimo). Also honored that evening were Joseph Esposito, chief of department, NYPD; and Jeanette (Gina) Argento, president, Broadway Stages.

4 How sweet it is! Juniors Restaurant, Brooklyns legendary eaterycelebrated its 60th anniversary with slices of its world famoucheesecake selling for a mere 60 cents. Suzanne Banfield was thwinner of the Next Great Juniors Cheesecake Flavor Recipe Contesshe won $1,800 and a coveted spot for her new cheesecake flavor othe Juniors menu. As borough president, Marty was forced to sam

ple cheesecake in the contest and is seen here struggling with thdemands of his office with Juniors owner, Alan Rosen.

4 Kings County Hospitals renovated Cancer Care Center (CCC) offers serv-ices in oncology, chemotherapy, surgery, medical screening, treatment andsocial and psycho-social support. Ribbon cutting participants included, fromleft, patient Joanne Joseph; Dr. John R. Maese, HHC Board; Auxiliary

President Mary Walters; Josephine Bolus, HHC Board; Assembly Member Felix Ortiz; Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham; Council Member Mathieu Eugene; KCHC COO Roslyn Weinstein; KCHC Med. Dir. Dr. Abha Agrawal; KCHC CCC Med. Dir. Dr. Theophilus Lewis; CCC AdministratorVarina Deonarinesingh; KCHC Exec. Dir. Antonio Martin; and Congress

Member Yvette Clark.

Brooklyns reputation as a culinary capital

is built by our award-winning chefs andrestaurants, the growing number of organicfood markets and rooftop farms, plus prod-ucts like cheese, honey and wine that aremade right here.

And now theres Ger-Nis Culinary & Herb Center in Park Slope, where foodlovers, educators, farmers, chefs and restau-rateurs come together to learn, cook, tasteand talk about food.

Ger-Nis founder Nissa Pierson is a lifelong foodie, whose experiences around theglobeshes lived in California, CentralAmerica and the Northwestare reflected in

the holistic approach shes developed for growing, cooking and consuming food, somethingshe calls seed to mouth. To me, Brooklyn represents the diversity that I find in my travels,said Pierson. Brooklynites also get our commitment to community and planet, and like me,

want to understand the origin of food and healthy and delicious ways to prepare it.At Ger-Nis, fresh herbs and organic, fair-traded fruits and vegetables are the rule, and cook-

ing classes offer simple, healthy menus for children and regional cooking for adults. You canalso meet local experts like Park Slope cocktail specialist and New York Times contributor JustinBriggs or Executive Chef Rafael Hasid, who shares his secrets for Middle Eastern treats.

Whether youre a beginner or expert, young or old, an exciting new world of food awaits you at Ger-Nis Culinary & Herb Center.

Ger-Nis Culinary & Herb Center, 540 President Street, Suite 2E, Brooklyn, NY, 11215;(347) 422-0037; Visit http://culinaryherbcenter.ger-nis.com/ to see a current schedule of upcoming cooking classes and events.

HEALTHY COOKIN IN BROOKLYN!

4 Nissa Pierson and tomorrows chefs atGer-Nis in Park Slope.


10/17


Winter 2010/11

ON THE BLOCK IIM a r t y s

4 Marty was on hand to salute the latest crop of green thumbs from the 16th annual 2010 Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest,the residents of Vanderveer Place, between Flatbush Avenue and

East 23rd Street in Flatbush. Joining the winning residents were Brooklyn Botanic Garden President Scot Medbury, BrooklynCommunity Foundation President Marilyn Gelber, Marty andGreenbridge Director Robin Simmen.

4 Wheres the beef? And ham, chicken, veal, lamb? For the past 80 yearsthe Bova family has been the source for quality meats and other items at

Bovas Meat Market on 13th Avenue in Dyker Heights. Marty joined Josephand Vincent Bova to help celebrate Bovas dedication to personal serviceand that old-world attention to detail. Only in Brooklyn!

4 Participants gathered for the 5th Annual Liz Padilla Memorial 5K Run, sponsored by the Brooklyn Bar Association and the Volunteer Lawyers Project, and in memory of the young lawyer who was killedtragically on 5th Avenue in Park Slope while riding her bike to work in

2005. From left were David and Kathy Padilla (Lizs parents); Andrea Bonina, president, Brooklyn Bar Association; Marty; and JeannieCostello, executive director, Brooklyn Volunteer Lawyers Project.

4 Here she comes! Christina Moore, aka Miss Brooklyn, was wecomed to Borough Hall by Marty. Ms. Moore is the reigning Mi

Brooklyn, and if all goes well for this Bensonhurst-born beauty andshe takes the New York State title like we know she will, shes on the Miss America pageant. Miss Brooklyn is a student at WagneCollege in Staten Island.

4 Marty welcomedtwo home grown suc-cess stories to

Borough Hall:award winning actorand star of HBOsBoardwalk Empire

Steve Buscemi andthe Brooklyn born

Emmy-award win-ning Sopranos writer/producer andBoardwalk Empire creator/exec. produc-

er Terence Winter. Mr. Buscemi alsostarred in HBOsThe Sopranos.

4 From firehouse to town hall! Engine 212 in Williamsburg, aka the Peoples Firehouse, will become a public meeting and arts space knownas the Northside Town Hall and Community Center. Celebrating weremany whose support was critical, including, from left, Town Hal

Board Member Paul Veneski, son of Adam Veneskia neighborhooleader who fought to keep the Firehouse open 30 years ago; Assembl

Member Joseph Lentol; CB1 and Northside Board Member Del Teagueand Marty, who allocated funds for the project. Also pledging futuresupport was Council Member Steve Levin.

4 St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf in Crown Heights celebrated its50th Anniversary of providing comprehensive educational programs for thedeaf and for those with multiple disabilities from infancy to eighth grade.

Among those joining the festivities were director Ed McCormack, Principal Maria Bartolillo and Marty, pictured with founder and first superintendentof the school, Sister Anne Behre, CSJ, as well as faculty and staff.

4 Brooklyn came out to honor the heroic Detective FerisJonesy Jones, who prevented an attempted robbery at Sabines

Hallway hair salon in Bedford Stuyvesant. Attending the cere-mony were, from left, Jim Vogel, representing SenatorVelmanette Montgomery; Assembly Member Joseph Lentol;

Assembly Member Karim Camara; Assistant Chief Gerald Nelson, commanding officer of Patrol Borough Brooklyn North; Marty; Detective Jones and Sabine Bellevue, owner, Sabines Hallway hair salon.

4 The Bay Ridge Community Service Center sponsored its16th Annual Miles for Meals Walkathon to support homedelivered meals in Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton,

Bensonhurst and Bath Beach. Among those showing supportwere Marty, Council Member Vincent Gentile, Assembly

Member Janele Hyer-Spencer, Senator Martin Golden; (mid-dle row) Patricia Killen, Joan Dalton, Donna McClellan;(front row) Rev. Paul H. Knudsen, pastor of Bethlehem

Lutheran Church, Joann Mason and Peter Killen.

4 The ever young "Rhythm and Style Tappers performed at Ou Lady of Grace RC Church in Gravesend (and elsewhere) led by thinimitable Betty Markowitz, Martys own Aunt Betty. The group more proof that the best time of life begins at 65. Tappers, you d

Brooklyn proud!

4 The 2nd Annual TEAL (Tell Every Amazing Lady AboutOvarian Cancer) Walk brought out over 1,000 supporters andraised more than $55,000 in financial support to the OvarianCancer Research Fund. Marty and Senator Martin Goldenwere honored to join TEAL founder Louisa M. McGregor, herhusband John, and children Spencer and Ashleigh. McGregorstarted the organization in 2008 with her sister Pamela

Esposito to raise awareness about the disease and increase funding for research and treatment.

P h o t o

b y : P

h o t o g r a p

h y I n S t y l e

4 Crown Heights North Associations 4th Annual House & GardenTour raises awareness about the communitys architectural and cul-tural treasures, as well as supports the organizations ongoing efforts.

Pictured were CHNA members including, from left, Deborah Young,CB8 Chair Nizjoni Granville, Veronica Nero-Reid, Consuela Lawless,Carolyn Sanders James, Suzanne Spellen, Deborah Jackson, Valerie

Nero Reid, Diana Foster and Gail Branch Muhammad, as well as Marty, who was thrilled to join them.

P h o t o

b y : E

t h e l

T y u s


11/17

Longing for the streets of Paris, theshops on Londons Portobello Road orfor the artisanal goods at Istanbuls

Grand Bazaar? Save the airfare andhead over to Van Brunt Street in RedHook . Youll discover an afternoon of shopping, noshing and people-watching

without changing time zones!Start with good coffee and just try to

resist a little something more fromBaked at 359 Van Brunt.

Pop into 388 Van Brunt and theslightly aged-lookingErie Basin, where the ever-changing assortment of vintage ement rings, Native American silver and Art Deco and contemporary pieces ma

visit a scavenger hunt.Drop into Red Lipstick at 390 Van Brunt and try on a frock or pick out a one

kind sweater, scarf or other accessory.Stop in and see printmaker Jane Buck at 392 Van Brunt atFoxy and Winston

she sells her handmade, silkscreened stationary, wall art and organic baby tees andHead next door to Tiburon and pick up a Red Hook souvenir or some other

have tchotchke.Dont missMetal and Thread at 398, where the exquisitely hand wrought jewe

niture and objet dartall of it of copper, steel, leather, enamel or fabricbringand crafts movement magnificently to life.

Pop back down to 357 and botta di vino for a special bottle of wine or even onshops special wine tastings.

These are only a few of the fascinating shops and restaurants of Van Brunt St.Visit www.redhookbrooklyn.net for more information on one of Brooklyns mostunique communities.

STROLLING RED HOOKSVAN BRUNT STREET

4 A stroll down Red Hooks Van Brunt Streeis sure to raise your hip factor. You may not think about water when you

turn on the tap, but Tom Marrama sure does.As Brooklyn borough manager for the De-

partment of Environmental Protections (DEP)Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations, Mar-rama makes sure that the water supply andsewer systems operate smoothly and safely.

Marrama started with DEP 30 years ago asa water plant operator, a hands-on job thatcoupled with his experience in every boroughmakes him an expert on the systems 7,000miles of water mains and tunnels as well as the7,400 miles of sewer lines. Maintaining ourboroughs lines is critical to daily operationsincluding FDNYs access to waterand theenvironmental protection of waterways.

Brooklynites, you can help! Avoid using firehydrantsit is illegal to use them without a

sprinkler capso if you must during hot sum-mer weather, use sprinkler caps available fromthe FDNY. Another thing to avoid is pouringhousehold grease down the drain. As it cools itsolidifies and clogs residential lines as well assewer lines, ultimately causing SBUs, or sewerback ups, something we all want to prevent.(Pour cooking grease into a used can and dis-card with your regular garbage.)

Even though he works under the radar, Mar-rama loves his job. Our work may be unseen to thepublic but the results sure arent, said Marrama.Without a way for you to get water and get rid of wastewater, the city simply cant function. Everyday I get to use my experience to solve a new problem.

And boy, are we glad he does! For more information about the DEP, visit

www.nyc.gov.dep

4 DEPs Tom Marrama keeps Brooklyn water flowing.

SPOTLIGHT ONSERVICE! Meet a Brooklyn city agency manager who improves our quality of lifeevery day.

GOING WITH THE FLOW

A Regular Brooklyn!! Feature!

Winter 2010/11



12/17


Winter 2010/11

Fifteen percent of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centers patients live inBrooklyn and now they have a convenient

treatment facility to help them on the road toa greater quality of life. The Centerwhichhas provided treatment to patients and com-passion to families since 1884has openedthe boroughs first facility in DowntownBrooklyn for patients currently being treatedin Manhattan. The new Brooklyn InfusionCenter is a 7,745-sq.-ft. street-level facility that accommodates up to 30 patients a day toreceive chemotherapy treatment. With its cen-tral location, it provides leading-edge chemotherapy treatment to current patients of Mal Sloan-Kettering in a convenient and comfortable setting.

In taking on a project of this magnitude, many issues were brought into considprimary of which was to insure a positive patient experience, efficient care delcontrolled healthcare costs. Cancer chemotherapy treatment typically spans a len

riod during which convenience and reduced wait time are critically important to psaid Wendy Perchick, MSKCCs director of Strategic Planning and Innovation. Thetechnology, innovation in design and streamlining the process all contribute to theof that objective.

In addition, the Brooklyn Infusion Center serves as a community resource andborhood partner, providing cancer education and wellness promotion. Those interseeking care may contact the Physician Referral Service at 800-525-2225.

Brooklyn Infusion Center, 557 Atlantic Avenue; MonSat 8am6pm; Or visitwww.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/100011.cfm

CONVENIENCE, COMFORTAND CARE

4 Patients at the Brooklyn Infusion Centecan receive treatment in private suites,where innovative chemotherapy chairs

include Internet-ready interactive systems.

It started with Bobbie Schick,beloved grandmother and one of Borough Park s guardian angels, whoalways had a kind word or a gently-used sweater for anyone in need.

Bobbie was the most generousperson Ive ever known, said grand-son Avi Schick. She wanted to helpthe needy but with dignity. Bob-bies good deeds motivated hergrandkids, who wanted to honorher memory and continue her lega-cy of kindness.

So, eleven years ago inMidwood, Schick, wife Michal, and some cousins openebies Place. Its a unique childrens store that looks like any retailer: rows of cclothes, mothers combing racks for a new Rosh Hashanah dress or suit, and kids to try on and take their selections home.

But despite the dressing rooms, shopping bags and polite service, despite brmerchandise complete with price tags, all the clothing is free to people in need.

Growing families who are unemployed or struggling to make ends meet in tdominately Orthodox Jewish neighborhood rely on Bobbies Place for new kidseither donated by manufacturers or purchased wholesale by the Schicks.

But kids are kids, ever alert to the stigma of buying used or accepting charitybies Place takes the retail part seriously, logging and bagging items carefully at c

just minus the bill. Kids know theyre getting something new but they may not kfree. And thats the beauty and spirit of Bobbies Place.

Bobbies Place, 1243 East 14th St; (718) 677-4399; Visit www.bobbiesplace.org

A GRANDMOTHERS LEGACY

4 Bobbies Place gives kids in need the joyof picking out new clothing.


13/17


Winter 2010/11

One of Americas most unique naturalparks sits at the end of Flatbush Ave. (or thebeginning, depending on your perspective) inthe Marine Park neighborhood, a stones

throw from Kings Plaza, Nicks Lobster and Toys R Us. Floyd Bennett Field opened in1931 as New York Citys first municipal air-port. Today, the National Park Service (NPS)oversees the 1,400-acre parcel of land, part of the Gateway National Recreation Area thatsurrounds Jamaica Bay. Floyd Bennett Fieldmay take some effort to reach, but its worthit. Youll find bike paths, hiking trails, pristinebird-watching areas, and the only year-roundcamping in the five boroughsplus the Aviator Sports and Events Center.

For the first time in 30 years, NPS is revising its general management plan fBennett Field. Senator Charles Schumer and Congress Member Anthony Weineassembled a blue-ribbon panel, with representatives from Brooklyn and Queegroups, to make recommendations for the parks future. The large cleared spacetact runways offer unlimited possibilities for events and gatheringsanythiart/antique fairs to, as crazy as it sounds, drive-in moviesthat respect both thfragile ecosystem and the needs of neighboring communities.

Its the last frontier on the Brooklyn waterfront, said Robert Pirani, vice pfor environmental programs at the Regional Plan Association, the group organizadvisory panel. We have a unique opportunity to connect people to a part of Bthey didnt know existed.

Gateway National Recreation Area, (718) 338-3799;www.nyharborparks.org/visit/flbe.html. If you have suggestions regarding the futureof Floyd Bennett Field, contact Elizabeth Ernish at [email protected] v

THE LAST BROOKLYN FRONTIER

4 An aerial view of Floyd Bennett Fielin Marine Park.

From designing stage sets for Whitney Houston,Kiss and David Bowie, to creating unforgettablebackdrops for partiers at Studio 54, Palladium andthe Brooklyn Museum, to producing paintings,

sculptures and installations, Park Slope residentMark Ravitz is one reason Brooklyns known as anincubator for the arts.

Born and bred in New York City, Ravitz moved toBrooklyn in 1972, purchased the building he shares

with wife, Jo Beth (herself an artist) and son, Miles,and created a space conducive to the life of a family man and artist.

When hes not creating award-winning sets for su-perstars or exhibits for heavy weights like IBM, Nis-san or AT&T, Ravitz follows his own quirky muse,even using his 7th Avenue house as a canvas. A series

called dripsbright urethane forms that seem to ooze from the windowshave madethe building a local landmark. From images of cows and brains to the current installationcalled Four Eyes, Ravitz animates his art with color and wit.

I see set design as three-dimensional painting, said Ravitz. From the beatnik 50s, hip-pie 60s and disco 70s, my mind and heart were opened to the variety of expression sur-rounding me and made a formative impression upon me.

That vision is also on display in the drawings and paintings on exhibit in Ravitzs pop-up gallery on 200 7th Avenue. His next exterior installation will be based on a series calledHairy Nests.

You can check out Mark Ravitzs work by visiting his website:www.MarkRavitzArtandDesign.com or stop by his studio and home at 200 7th Avenuein Park Slope.

ALL THE WORLDS A STAGE

4 Artist Mark Ravitzs Park Slopehouse only has eyes for you!


14/17


Winter 2010/11


15/17

Winter 2010/11


Name: Moon Leong Age: 36Restaurant: Fushimi Japanese Cuisineand Lounge (9316 4th Avenue)Bay RidgeCuisine: A modern fusion of tradi-tional Japanese with whispers of French cuisine.

Lives in: Sunset Park Hails from: MalaysiaInterests/Hobbies: Moon enjoys exercising; her favoritehangout is the gym. Trademark: Known for her immaculately done nails,Moon loves to adorn her tips with crystals. Why she likes waiting tables:Moon knows her stuffshe makes sure to be well informed about the specialsand she prides herself on making great suggestions to hercustomers. She gets a kick when customers return becauseof the great recommendations she has made.

Favorite Dish: Grilled Chilean sea bass with bay scallopsand a sweet and spicy sauce.Most interesting/famous person youve ever waited on:Moons most interesting customer is the one who comesthe most often. Peter comes with his entire family andthey always order many, many items on the menu. If Moon is working in the restaurant when Peter and hisfamily come, he always asks to sit in Moons section.

Name: Sasha Teshebaeb Age: 23Restaurant: Scopello Ristorante Ba(63 Lafayette Avenue)Fort GreeneCuisine: ItalianLives in: Brighton BeachHails from: Kyrgyzstan and Russi

Interests/Hobbies: Sasha is a foodie and enjoys eatinbest, which makes his job at Scopellos quite conveOther loves are computers and travel, and of course, ssports and more sports! Trademark: Known for his practical jokes, Sasha freqtargets his colleagues, but its all in good fun! The twin his eyes confirms his status as a funny man and anerate jokester. Why he likes waiting tables: Scopello draws peopleeverywhere, from Italy, Germany, England, France andfarther. And thats what makes Sashas job enjoyable; hmeeting the variety of people that come from notBrooklyn, but beyond. Many come before taking in aformance at BAM.Favorite Dish: Pennette Alla Norma: pasta with eggpfresh tomato and basil, topped with aged ricotta cheeseMost interesting/famous person youve ever waitedAl Pacino, who ordered the chicken with a straight face

Name: Giovany Rivera Age: 42Restaurant: Queen

(84 Court Street)Brooklyn HeightsCuisine: ItalianLives in:Park SlopeHails from: Honduras

Interests/Hobbies: Giovany is a big sports en-thusiast; he loves everything from baseball tofootball to soccer. Trademark: Giovanys middle name is friend-ly; Giovany even learned to speak Italian so thathe could communicate better with his customers. Why he likes waiting tables:Actually, Giovanny serves at the bar, and the only way you can do a jobas well as Giovany for as long as he has18

yearsis if you enjoy making people feel good andseeing them leave as happy customers. Giovany makes sure that his customers are happy from thetime they walk in until the time they leave.Favorite Dish: Chicken ScarparielloMost interesting/famous person youve ever waited on:Actor Matt Dillon and actress Sarah Jessica Parker.

WORTH THEIR WAIT IN GOLD


16/17

Winter 2010/11


Karen Barone, former PS 204 PA president and District 20 PresidentsCouncil leader Sally Crane, one of the most active residents of BrooklynHeights John Davenport , CB7 member and former president of the 72nd

Precinct Community Council Native BrooklyniteBill Girasole, president of the Bay Ridge-Bensonhurst Preservation Alliance, Brooklyn Dreams CharterSchool chair and 13th Ave Merchants Association past president DorrisGaines Golomb , CB2 committee member, FGA member and Fort Greenepreservationist Robert Makla, long time parks and green spaces proponent as well as avid participant at CB6 and other community events Marjorie Mills, wife of Lloyd Mills, former CB17 board chair Anne ODriscoll , long timeadvocate of waterfront preservation, past president of the Sheepshead Bay Fish-ing Fleet Assoc., BIG board member and daughter/niece to the founders of thefamed Circle Line Sandy Oquendo , aka Sandy O, teacher and jazz enthu-siast who held a Jazz Jam annually before Labor Day in her Park Slope home Lucy Richards, beloved mother of Deputy Borough President Yvonne Gra-ham Sylvia Rinaldi, former Democratic district leader of the 49th AD William Bill Saunders, former State Committee member/district leader of the 57th AD Annlee Tendler , mother of NYC Transit AuthoritysGov/Community Relations director Lois Tendler Reverend Jorge Vega,founding pastor of the Iglesia Cristiana Manantial de Vida Reverend Icylee Williams, pastor of Jordans Holy Temple andMonsignor Dino Zini , for-mer pastor of Regina Pacis/St. Rosalia in Dyker Heights and St. Dominic RCChurch in Bensonhurst.

BROOKLYN MOURNS


17/17

Winter 2010/11

Crown Heights recently welcomed anew addition to its growing family of

artists, educators, activists and entrepre-neursLuc Josaphat and Shara Henry,the husband and wife owners of Dad-dys Basement, an independent neigh-borhood bookstore that has joinedBrooklyn in reversing the trend of book-store closings.

Since opening in September, DaddysBasement has been a non-stop hub forliterary activity: from author appearances,Open Mic nights, poetry jams and read-ings for children. Beginning in Novem-ber, Daddys Basement launched an ongoing series entitled Emerging Authors partnered

with Medgar Evers Colleges Center for Black Literature, featuring Tanya Wright, one of the stars of True Blood and author of Butterfly Rises ; Ernessa T. Carter, author of 32 Can-

dles; and Tiphanie Yanique, author of Escape from a Leper Colony , with more to come. Inaddition, an upcoming Film Series will be kicked off by local filmmaker Bilge Ebiri. This young, dynamic couple re-energized the communitys love of the arts, making books

a hip thing to do and making the store a showplace for Brooklyn-based artists. Whenasked about the name, Shara said, Years ago my father, Paul Anthony Cover Henry, redidour basement. There he would cook, tell us stories and the funniest jokes and play a littlemusic. It became a warm and welcoming community hub. He passed away in 2001. Now

we foster new traditions by creating a new place to gather. A place we can be proud of.It certainly is!

Daddys Basement, 327 Rogers Avenue (btw Montgomery and Sullivan); (347)770-8114 or visit www.daddysbasement.webs.com

BETWEEN THE PAGES

Physical bridges carry us over water; the globalkind can help us understand other nations. OlgaShraer wants to build bridges with food.

Olgas on Smith may be the only kosher, Jewish-owned eatery inCarroll Gardens , in fact in all of Downtown Brooklyn, but Shraer doesnt servelatkes, gefilte fish or any of the other familiarkosher food. But hear this: her food is certifiedkosher and theres a rabbi on site, too.

Olgas fresh paninis and salads are all made withoutfleyshikthats Yiddish for meat. Since paninis tradi-tionally contain deli meats and pork, Olga replacesthem with innovative combinations like corn, black beans, cheddar and red onion or fennel, roasted pep-pers, arugula and mozzarella. From fish burgers withchipotle aioli to vegetarian paninis, Olgas food appeals

to modern tastes while still comforming to Cholov Yisroel, the strickest dairy supervision possible.

Ive always believed that kosher was a certificationnot a cuisine, said Shraer. Food can segregate if were not careful. By serving dairystrictly non-dairy (parve) in exciting and fresh ways, I believe I bring people together

Seventy percent of Olgas customers are observant Jews who make it a destikosher, while 30 percent are locals looking for fresh, tasty food close by. So if ykosher food means knishes, kasha or kugel, you havent been to Carroll GardenOlgas kosher food takes it to the next level!

Olgas on Smith Street, 407 Smith St, (btw 4th/5th); Open Mon-Thurs 10am-9:30pm, Fri 10am-3pm, Sun 10am-6pm, closed Sat; (347) 335-0981 or visitwww.olgasonsmith.com

BUILDING BRIDGESONE PANINI AT A TIME

4 Olga Shraer is taking kosher foto the next level at Olgas on Smi

4 Luc Josaphat and Shara Henry, owners of Daddys Basement in Crown Heights.

One of New York Citys most exciting arts programfor kids is easily accessible inCobble Hill , where artistand educator Marisa Catalina Casey is helping kidsget inspired, get creative and get to work.

Casey founded Starting Artists (SA) to engagemiddle and high school students in everything frompainting to photography to animation, as well as thebusiness side to art.

I want kids to have the tools they need to be cre-ative and entrepreneurial, said Casey. As a teen, Icreated my own photography project that raisedmoney and made a difference for me and others. I

want to foster that same spirit of achievementamong under-performing students.

SA afterschool programs serve kids from ages tento nineteen with sliding fees from $10 to $30 per afternoon. They also offer scholarshipsto students in need.

Kids blossom in a welcoming place where they can paint, draw, photograph and evendirect their own videos. At a recent photography exhibit at Papel New York on CourtStreet, SA student photographs were even for sale.

SA showed me how to be a professional artist, said one 15-year-old participant who isthrilled that Starting Artists exists.

Maybe you can help make sure they continue to exist. SA needs new digs in BoerumHill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn,Red Hook, Gowanus, Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill or Ft. Greene. If you know of af-fordable or even donated space, email them at [email protected].

Starting Artists, 211 Smith St; (718) 701-5483; email at [email protected] orvisit www.startingartists.org

A JUMP START FOR KIDS AND ART

4 Gabbi Rutherford is one exampleof how Starting Artists opens the

door to art for kids!

Two years ago, Josh and NicoletteSampson decided to create a live/work oa-sis where friends and fellow artists couldhang out in Williamsburg .

Since then, the Lovin Cup Caf andCameo Gallery has become a gatheringplace where locals enjoy a quaff, eat goodfoodincluding the popular sliders, madefrom grass-fed beefand groove to every-thing from pre-big band jazz and ragtimeto free-wheelin folk and rock n roll.

Whats more, the attached Cameo Gallery features impromptu exhibits, especially forup and comers who cant get representationin the more traditional art marketplace.

Theres a real sense of community under this roof, said Josh Sampson. Pthe spot has a positive vibe and we really try to nurture that by welcoming the armusicians who make this their home away from home.

The vibe seems to spill out into the streets, where the couple takes communitysibility seriously. Along with some neighbors, theyve created Make North 6tand theyve planted street trees and installed benches and hope to establish a busprovement district (BID).

Sampson credits Brooklyn with providing just the right mix for a place like thCup Caf to succeed. The best of the best live here, said Sampson, and were sed by so many gifted and dynamic individuals. But just like a small town, peoplefor each other. So Brooklyn really gives you the best of both worlds!

Lovin Cup Caf and Cameo Art Gallery, 93 N. 6th St (btw Berry/Wythe); (718) 302-1180; Open Mon-Fri 5pm-2am, Sat/Sun 11:30am-2am; www.thelovincupcafe.com

CUPFUL OF LOVE!

4 Nicolette and Josh Sampson created alovin vibe at their caf in Williamsburg.

Documents

Marty Markowitz's Publication Brooklyn!!! Winter 2010-11