Hey, Neighbor! Pardon Me For Asking, But...

Dear Reader,

It's Friday again and you know what that means. It's time for the question of the week.
So far, I asked you what restaurant you would miss most if you ever had to move away from Carroll Gardens. Then, I inquired about your favorite neighborhood bakery, the best mozzarella , the ultimate cookie and last week, I asked you about your favorite slice of pizza in Carroll Gardens.

This week, lets move away from food and start talking wine:

So won't you please, please, please answer this question?

Ready?

Here it is:

Which Is Your Favorite Wine Store In The Neighborhood?
And Do You Have Any Wine Recommendations?

So lets hear it!

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Picture Of The Day: Dogwood And Brownstones

Dogwood and Brownstones


Can anyone tell me
if there is a lovelier place
than
Carroll Gardens
in
springtime?

Gowanus Canal Polluter Fined $750....In 1951

The Gowanus Canal 1952
Photo Credit: Brooklyn Public Library Archive

From the New York Times

$750 for polluting the waters of the Gowanus Canal nine times? Even in 1950's terms, that sounds like a rather small amount of money.

The polluter? Brooklyn Union Gas, which was responsible for polluting the Public Place site, where it operated a coal gasification plant. Brooklyn Union became Keyspan and is now National Grid.

I thought this article would interest you, dear Reader.


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Prospect Park Pedal Boat Rental Season Starts This Week-End

Sunday, May 3, 2009
Pedal Boats open for the season at Prospect Park!

Details: Cruise Brooklyn’s only freshwater Lake in a pedal boat – it’s so much fun, you won’t even notice you’re getting exercise! Rentals at Wollman Rink, near the Parkside and Ocean Ave. entrance. Free parking. Pedal Boat season runs through mid-October.

Location: Lakeside, by the Wollman Rink at Prospect Park

Cost: $15 plus tax for a one- hour rental, plus $10 refundable deposit

Pedal Boat Parties!

Celebrate a birthday by cruising Brooklyn’s only freshwater lake! Pedal Boats are so much fun, your kids won’t even notice they’re getting exercise too. Contact the Park’s Rental and Event Planning Office: (718) 287-5252 x102 or email ckuhn at prospectpark dot org

For further information, click here

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Love Brooklyn? Proud To Be From Brooklyn? Why Not Show It!

Click Here

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Picture Of The Day: A Must See On President Street

If you do nothing else
in the next few days,
make sure to pass
the corner of President and Smith Streets.
There, for just a few days,
you will see the three Red Bud trees blooming
in Carroll Park.
But hurry up.
Their amazing splendor only lasts a few days,
and then,
puff,
it is gone
till next year
at the same time.

Regarding Gowanus Superfund Designation, Our Local Pols Are Showing Incredible Lack Of Leadership

From the moment it was made public that the E.P.A. had proposed the Gowanus Canal as a Superfund site, our local politicians have shown an incredible lack of leadership and an amazing disregard for their constituents' health. Pardon me for asking, but are they collectively committing political suicide?

Since Walter Mugden, of the US EPA stated at a public forum two weeks ago that the Gowanus Canal was so severely polluted that it easily fit the criteria to be included on their list of Superfunds, our politicians have been spinning this as a "complex issue" that needs careful consideration.

Now, truly, what exactly is there to consider?
It is all rather simple, I think.

Our city government has neglected the canal for decades and has contributed to its pollution by allowing raw sewage to flow into its waters every time it rains. That makes the city one of the canal's biggest polluters. There is a half-hearted clean-up attempt being proposed by the city, but it was never going to dredge the whole canal to remove toxic materials. Even if it wanted to, New York City doesn't have the money anyway to do a thorough job. Instead, Mayor Bloomberg, with the support of our (mostly absent) City Councilmember Bill DeBlasio, had the glorious idea of opening up the Gowanus Canal area for residential use and allowing individual developers to clean their building sites (uplands only) themselves. What a concept: bring entire families to the shores of a terribly polluted waterway and hope for the best! Now that is real advocacy for one's constituents.

The NYS Dept. Of Environmental Conservation wanted to do a more thorough clean-up, but realized that it was too big and complex of a job, so they reached out to the federal government and asked for help. I tend to think that someone at DEC had a conscience and realized that our politicians were going to put people's lives at risk by having them live in apartments next to an open sewer, so they wisely brought in the EPA.

According to Walter Mugden of the EPA, it only took his agency one of its tests to determine that the Gowanus canal met the requirements for a Superfund site. More were not needed after the first reading. Yes, it is extremely toxic, probably more so than residents even imagined.
The EPA has stepped forward and has promised a comprehensive clean-up.

Now, one would think that our elected officials would say "Thank You Very Much For Your Help" to the EPA, but that is not the case. Mayor Bloomberg immediately announced that his administration didn't need any &%^$#@ help from the EPA. Councilmember DeBlasio was a little more subtle, but stated that the Feds would "just get in the way" of a Gowanus Canal clean-up. He opined that "You don't want to drink out of it, you don't want to eat fish out of it, but it is not a danger to live near it."
Well thank you, Professor DeBlasio!

But DeBlasio must have had a moment of self doubt when he wrote a letter to Lisa Jackson of the EPA in Washington DC on April 22nd 2009 to ask:

" Is part of the basis of the proposed designation that people eat fish caught at the mouth of the canal? Is there a clear causal link between the canal sediment and levels of toxins in fish caught in NY Harbor? Is there any other predicted risk to the health of the residents or workers along the banks of the Gowanus under normal living or working conditions now?"

Maybe, Mr.DeBlasio should have asked EPA these questions a long time ago, before he advocated rezoning the area to residential.

And how about our other elected officials?
Just today, it was announced that the EPA had extended the 60 day public comment period by an additional 30 days after Councilmember deBlasio, Assemblywoman Joan Millman and Congresswoman Nydia Vélazquez requested more time to consider the risks to our citizens which have not concerned them until now.
Ms. Millman explains her request to EPA by stating: "This is a complicated situation, with a sad history of neglect and inactivity."
Exactly my point, Ms. Millman!
Had these officials reached out to the EPA when they first took office, the canal might be clean already.
Now they are dragging this out even longer. Funny that the community never received more time to comment on the Toll Brothers' spot-rezoning. That was a 'complex' issue as well.

It sure feels as though this community is fighting its own politicians. Silly me, all this time, I thought that they were representing us.
I have written off deBlasio, but I sure hope the others will get off the fence soon and follow their conscience. And that includes newly-elected NY State Senator Daniel Squadron and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.





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Sign "Superfund Gowanus " Petition And Lets Finally Clean The Canal

The Superfund Gowanus petition is now up. I urge you to take a minute to sign it.
It reads:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agrees the Gowanus is an "Estuary of National Significance" and is "unbelievably highly contaminated" with tar, PCBs, sewage, lead, mercury and arsenic. The EPA has the tools to lead a comprehensive and inclusive cleanup. Our community has known for generations that this is a toxic public health hazard. Spot cleanup by developers will not achieve the job necessary for a healthy environment. Our Council Member Bill de Blasio has been quoted in the media saying the city has no plan to clean the Gowanus. It is absolutely crucial that you take the time to make your voice heard.

Join your neighbors and these supporters of a comprehensive EPA Superfund cleanup:

• United States Environmental Protection Agency
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
• The Army Corps of Engineers
• Riverkeeper
• The Sierra Club
• Columbia University’s Urban Design Lab
• Friends of Greater Gowanus (FROGG)
• Carroll Gardens Coalition for Respectful Development (CG CORD)
• Friends of Bond
• Park Slope Neighbors

Join Them!

Sign Petition here

The new Superfund Gowanus web site is also up.

Go check it out at www.superfundgowanus.org

And Get Your T-Shirt here

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Guided Tour Of Carroll Gardens 'Mom-And-Pop' Stores This Saturday

Mom & Pop Shops of Court Street

- Guided Walking Tour -

12 P.M.
SATURDAY, MAY 2nd
Starting point: Court Street Sam's Restaurant,
Corner of Baltic Street BROOKLYN

On May 2nd join guide John Heyer, as he takes us through time to explore the rich history and flavors of Carroll Gardens' Historic Mom & Pop Court Street. The Tour will stop at Court Pastry Shop, D'Amico Coffee, Scotto Wine, Caputo Bakery, Marco Polo Restaurant, Esposito Pork Store, Marietta's, Scotto Funeral Home, Caputo's Italian Specialties, Mazzone Hardware and Hanley’s Bar. You will also learn about former mom & pop shops that have closed and new additions that have contributed to the life of the commercial strip.

Many of the shops will be offering tastings, demonstrations and firsthand accounts of the life of the mom & pop shop. The tour has an approximate length of 2 hours. $20 day of event $15 with reservation before day of event $10 for students and seniors with reservation To make reservations email CourtStreet@ CarrollGardensHistory.com

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Rock On In Carroll Park This Summer

On behalf of the Committee to Improve Carroll Park, we are pleased to announce that:

THE CARROLL PARK CONCERT SERIES RETURNS ON JUNE 14th!!
Additional Concerts will be held July 15, July 29, and Aug 8. All concerts at 4 pm. Check our new and improved website for details on lineup and sponsors.
Recently highlighted in Time Out New York Kids’ Neighborhood Report, the Carroll Park Concert Series is back for Summer 2009. This delightful series of free concerts, featuring bands suitable for the whole family, returns this year with four exciting performances and lots of outdoor, community fun!

Enormous thanks to our local sponsors - please support the people who support our community. A few additional sponsors will help us complete the concert series. All sponsors will be listed on the website.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Ever wanted to work in a circus? Now is your chance.
Please join us for some fun activities to help make our concerts a success. It would be great to have 3-4 volunteers for each concert – of course you can bring your children along to help and have fun.
We need:

Volunteers who can help solicit raffle donations from neighborhood businesses and restaurants; any contacts will be well appreciated. For a great behind the scenes job, how about RUNNING the raffle project or helping solicit donations?
Volunteers dedicated to specific food, crafts and raffle tables, from 3:30-5:30 on any (or all) show days
Amateur photographers willing to take and distribute concert photos to publish on our website
Relevant websites who would like to link to our website to help spread the word on our concerts
Any and all volunteer assistance would be greatly appreciated. The concerts rely on the community, there are NO paid employees. Please reach out if you’d like to help.

TO DONATE , VOLUNTEER or JOIN OUR NEW MAILING LIST…
please contact Simmi Degnemark at simmi@alumni. duke.edu

Make your donation online using your credit card or Paypal account.
Click the “Donate Now” button on our website: www.carrollparkbrooklyn.org/ concerts

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Picture Of The Day: Fire Escape Garden

Oh! Life In Brooklyn...

A few clay pots,
four bright red geraniums
and a pale blue hydrangea
turn a fire escape into
a third floor garden.
How pretty!

Local Pastry Shops Officially Open Italian Ices Season In Carroll Gardens

Monteleone's At 355 Court Street
and....

Court Street Pastry Shop at 298 Court Street a few blocks away

90 degree weather in April prompted our local pastry shops to open Italian Ices season. Both Monteleone's and Court Street Pastry had their little side windows wide open to customers.
Now I know that there are some in the neighborhood who exclusively frequent one or the other, swearing that one makes better ices and has better cookies than the other.
I pledge no such allegiance. Any cookie and any ice is all right in my book, though I do have a favorite flavor: pistachio.

How about you, dear reader. Where do you stop for your frozen treats?

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Brooklyn Independent Television's Brooklyn Review Takes A Look At The Gowanus Superfund Site Nomination

From BROOKLYN INDEPENDENT TELEVISION'S BROOKLYN REVIEW , this look at the Gowanus Canal and the Superfund Site Designation. Featuring Walter Mugden of the US EPA and David Von Spreckelsen, Toll Brothers V.P.
Take a look. It is very interesting.


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Picture Of The Day: Bird And Blooms

Sitting amidst the blooms of my neighbor's peach tree
and the crisscrossed telephone wires,
a female cardinal takes a break
from building her nest
in my garden.

Best Reader Comment Of The Day

Comment left on Borough President Markowitz's Weighs In (???) On Gowanus Superfund Designation

No opinion? His aide John Heyer, who is running for City Council in the 39th district, mentioned cancer and miscarriages last Saturday. Then he said today he still was not afraid to live near the canal. And, a few short weeks ago, the EPA explained the toxicity of the canal thoroughly and offered to help with federal monies. And Markowitz has no opinion? Why am I not surprised? Almost sounds like DeBlasio's rhetorical BS sent out to the public today. Shame on Marty. Shame on Bill. And shame on Bloomie. These three are truly ghastly as far as electeds and Brooklyn go!!!! We need a sea change in our representation. One hopes the public can wake up and use their voting power to SuperClean these political offices! (And RINSE these guys away too).

Anonymous

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Borough President Markowitz Weighs In (???) On Gowanus Superfund Designation

BP Marty Markowitz and his staff

Do you remember, dear Reader, that I attended the Blogger Breakfast last week hosted by BP Markowitz? Over coffee and bagels, a lively discussion ensued regarding what role blogs play in covering the news in Brooklyn. Markowitz and his staff told the bloggers in attendance that he will gladly extend access to his office for information and statements.
Of course, I asked for a statement on the Gowanus Canal's nomination as a Superfund site by the EPA.
Mark Zustovich, the Borough President's Press Secretary, sent the statement to me the following day. Here it is.

“I am committed to the restoration of the Gowanus Canal into an absolute asset to Brooklyn, our economy, arts and culture scene, and the well-being of neighboring communities. Of course, a clean environment is critical to our borough’s physical and economic health, and I look forward to working with the city, state and federal government, the community and all its elected officials to find the best way to move forward and ensure that the best days of a thriving Gowanus Canal lie ahead.”

——Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz

I thought the statement was just a tad vague, so I asked Mr. Zustovich for clarification. Is the BP for or against the Superfund Designation?
Mr. Zustovich's answer:

"No opinion either way at this point – our office is looking into what the Superfund designation would mean for the Gowanus Canal and the proposed development."

So there you have it, dear reader. What do you say?



Related Reading:

Blogger Breakfast With BP Markowitz And Staff

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President Street In Spring

A glimpse at President Street in spring time by reader Alexandrea.
These lovely shots were taken between Smith and Hoyt Streets.
I especially like the photo of the cast-iron posts.
Thanks, Alexandrea.

Picture Of The Day: Gowanus Tree Blooming

In the back of an empty parking lot
near the Gowanus Canal,
a tree blooms majestically,
proving that
beauty
can be found in the most unlikely places.

90 Degrees In April Means Long Lines At Ice Cream Truck

Long Lines On Carroll Street, in front of the ice-cream vendor

A very happy ice-cream vendor

Nothing cools you off better on a very hot week-end day in April than a nice cool ice cream. The little ice cream truck in front of Carroll Park on Carrol Street was doing a brisk business over the week-end.
There was quite a line forming in front of it. It must have been terribly hard for the children, having to wait patiently for their turn.
The ice-cream seller seemed awfully pleased!

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The "Dazzle Me" After-Party

The "Dazzle Me" after-party

House Of Pizza's Grandma pie

It was a true privilege to be working on the 39th Council District's "Dazzle Me" Forum with some of my very favorite people in the neighborhood. Each and every one of them is an incredibly intelligent, extremely well spoken and inspiring individual.
The forum could not have turned out better. The audience consisted of both young and old residents, old -timers as well as new residents, and candidates who seemed to enjoy the challenge of thoughtfully selected questions.

I think we were all pleased by how the event turned out.
Afterward, we all went to House Of Pizza on Union Street for an after-party.

So my thanks go out to Rita Miller, Vince Joseph, Lucy deCarlo, my husband Glenn Kelly, Elisabeth Lind, Maryann Young, Mary Hedge, June and Stephen Negrycz, Triada Samaras, Jaqueline Raque and Jerry Miller for all their hard work.
I truly enjoyed being part of this "production."

PS: I may have to agree with Vince that the best pizza in the neighborhood is House Of Pizza's Grandma pie. To die for!

Related reading:
39th Council District Candidates Submit To Tough Questioning At 'Dazzle Me' Forum



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