NEWS FLASH: Car Plunges Into Gowanus Canal Early On Saturday Morning

Last night, Rescue helicopter landing in PS 32 Schoolyard

Car Plunges Into Gowanus: Police Helicopter

Video taken by a friend's teenage son.

****Update****

I took these photos this morning as the police got the car out of the canal. The driver apparently made it out safely. It would appear that there were no others in the car with him.

Overnight, a car plunged into the Gowanus Canal at Bond and DeGraw. I heard the helicopters overhead at about 1 AM, but then fell asleep again. Here are two accounts from readers. If you have any further information or photos, please send it to pardonmeinbrooklyn@gmail.com

Well, due to too much wine with the neighbors I missed all the excitement last night and slept through the whole thing. According to the boys a car went into the canal at Degraw around 1:00 AM. I wouldn't believe them but they have a picture of the helicopter that landed in PS 32. They said a man escaped but 2 kids were still missing. I am not sure how accurate their reporting is.

There is a car in the canal at Bond st. On my roof last night late lots of fire.cops and helicopters about 1 am or i would have called you. Police thought it crashed through barrier but not sure no evidence of that supposedly. But is is half submerged. Police divers boats all in the canal underwater lights the works. A big scene very weird to have happen now with all the attention. Cops told me not sure how it got there not sure how the call came in but it was there right in the middle, trunk popped open. Very surreal scene. When i left they were still not saying if anyone was inside. doing this remote a bit of a pain so that is all for now.

Related reading:

Car Drives Into Gowanus Canal: More Photos

Car Plunged Into The Gowanus Canal...in 1921

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Blogfest 2009 Brings Out The Best In Brooklyn

It had rained terribly hard most of that Thursday on Main Street in Dumbo

No matter. Inside the PowerHouse Arena, some very busy people were at work,
transforming this bookstore into a gathering place for Brooklyn's finest bloggers.



Chairs were set up in neat rows

Video and sound were checked one, two or three more times

Posters were hung on the windows to invite everyone to come inside

and just as the hour of 7 Pm had arrived,
the sun cleared the sky and the event began.

People filed in, said hello and mingled

Found a spot in front of the stage and waited....

for the event to begin.


And after the speeches, the films and the photos,
the "Blogs Of A Feather"
the mingling and the clapping...

It was time to eat, to drink
and to party
across the street at Galapagos' Art Space

And then, to go home, to sleep and to dream,
like this littlest of people at Blogfest 2009
and to say the next day:

"Isn't Brooklyn the Best?"

I would like to thank Louise Crawford, author of "Only The Blog Knows Brooklyn"and organizer of the event, for bringing this awesome community of bloggers together for an amazing evening.
My thanks also goes out to her team of helpers who worked incredibly hard to make this a successful event

When I first started blogging in my little back room office in late 2007, I could never have dreamt of becoming part of such an inspiring community of writers, photographers and activists. It is a pleasure to have gotten to know all of them.

Here is some more coverage of the event on other blogs. (I will be adding to this list in the next few days.)

Blogging the Brooklyn Blogfest: A Great Night Down Under the Bridges (OTBKB)

Brooklyn Blogfest Recap (Found In Brooklyn)

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

Are you guys ready for the question of the week? Because you see, it is Friday and we all need to take a break from all that serious stuff.

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

Get set, ready go!

Here it is:

Which Mom-And-Pop Store Here In the Neighborhood
Would You Really Miss If It Were To Close Its Doors?


Start The Commenting.
Can't wait to hear which stores matter most to you.

To Read and comment on past week's 'Questions Of The Week', click here

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Motherless Blogger

That's me on the left with my mother and my sister Tania (r)

My mother and I

Mothers' Day has become a very bittersweet day since my mother passed away in 2003. Sweet, because I am a mother myself and have seen my children blossom into creative, independent and interesting young adults. I am super proud of them. I will enjoy spending the day with them on Sunday.

However, there is an element of sadness to Mothers' Day since I lost mine five years ago. Though I miss my mother every day, it is especially hard on this day. I wish I could tell her about all the events that have happened since she is gone. I wish she could see my children now. And most of all, I would love to explain this crazy activity of mine, this blogging thing, which she probably would not quite understand. She would however, appreciate my outspokenness and my involvement in my community. And though she never was one to shower too much praise on me or my sister for fear of making us too 'overconfident' (it's a German thing), I know she would be super proud of me and my little family.

So here is to all of you, my motherless friends. I am sure your mothers would be proud of you as well.

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Hasker Says Good-Bye To Smith Street

Rather sad news on Smith Street. Another store closing to report. Hasker, the home decor and gift store at 333 Smith Street, between Carroll and President is closing its doors on May 31st. This message from the owners has been posted on the door:

To all of our dear friends and loyal customers: our beloved store is closing at the end of May. We have enjoyed being part of this great neighborhood and your unyielding support has meant so much to both of us. Thank you for a tremendous three years and for making Hasker part of your lives.

Please come and shop, and help us have a great final month. Lots of things on sale- and our signature wrapping is still free!

Regards,
Hassan & Kerry

The storefront was once home to the bagel store that is now Bagels By The Park, at the corner of Smith and President.
For a very short time, it became a wine and cheese bar, before it became Zipper, a gift store which preceded Hasker.

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Best Comment Of The Day!

Reader Vince, on last week's Question Of The Week :

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

I like wine and wine stores and spend a fair amount of time browsing in them as opposed to the maddening experience in most other retail stores. When I first came to the neighborhood I bought a lot of wine from the store across the street from Sam’s Restaurant. I lived across the street from there. Have you been in the store? Coming from upstate farm country it was a very different experience. The customers came in the door and into a small chamber surrounded by very thick plexi glass. It was a security device, it limited your movements, a kind of cage keeping the public out and therefore the clerk safe on the other side. It was run by a family all very friendly as long as you stayed on your side of the barrier. It struck me as having a bit of the aquarium or peep show about it. Money passed through a series of sliding doors into a tin pan with a bigger but discreet opening for the bottles. I actually got comfortable with it and would scream out to the clerk needing vintage information and tasting notes. It was big help though to know exactly what you wanted, to get in and get out as being in that space with some of the other local clientele back then was not cool.

When it was time to splurge I would make a trip up to the north heights to Marcolini Wines a wonderful store. That store front is now a restaurant and the son of the owner merged the business with the shop at the St George hotel. The father and original owner bought into a vineyard in Virginia and retired. He was a Greek man whose name was Armand He was a true connoisseur, new his burgundy’s and Barolo’s and was extremely welcoming and ready to let you taste many expensive wines that he often had open. They also had a regular Monday night unadvertised tasting in a back storage room. People actually brought wines into the store to share with him and others. It was not just about making a sale. This was in the late 70’s early 80’s and great wines although expensive, because the dollar was strong was nothing like now.

However, I have found another good place to browse wines is in peoples garbage bins on recycling day. I love looking through garbage anyway and this way I can to see what’s hot and what’s not. To my surprise down on Union St below Columbia an apartment, above what looks like an abandoned garage put its bottles out on Saturdays and wow do those guys live high. I’m always shocked to see their empties, Vosne Romanee, Mongeard-Mungneret Beaune , Chateau Margaux as all these go for near $100 a bottle easy . I really want to get invited to one of their parties and find out what they do for a living. The recycling bin is not at all a bad idea for wine recommendations, you can take my word for that.


One place I would caution you about the wine tasting notes though is Smith and Vine. You know the kind of notes I mean, the bunk generated by the store or critics that talk of apples, lavender and chocolate and crispness and honey on the tongue. Yes, these are generally total bunk but using some counter intuition I find they can tell me a lot. Wine style has gotten to be a bit too fruity for me, no structure and way to high in alcohol, just plain fat and frumpy, no real style. So it’s easy if the notes are too florid and sound more like a McDonalds happy meal I know to stay away from that one. I’ve learned that what sounds good does not always taste good. Smith and Vine, in their cool, hip irony though have really stray off the path to a place where I do not think we need to go. I swear the last time I was there they had tasting notes that used analogies about dog shit. Or maybe it was “shit eatin” and wet dogs, regardless I do not think this is the right train of thought for encouraging wine consumption. I know… irony, I understand but?? I guarantee you take a trip over there start reading their notes you will find references to all types of things you really do not need to know about before you uncork the bottle. Basically I shop all the stores think the whole culture of wine is fun or fun to make fun of depending on how I’m feeling and regardless of how I feel I love to drink it.



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Free Mother's Day Family Portrait Day In Community Gardens

Mother's Day Family Portrait Day
Sunday May 10th, 2pm - 5pm
A day of celebration for Mother's Day in the Upper West Side, East Village, and Boerum Hill pictures from our fall Family Portrait Day Featuring:

Free family portraits by professional photographers

Spring treats from the Greenmarket

Face painting

Music in the gardens

Performances in the East Village by the Grand Street Settlement’s Project Cool

The Miracle Show, a multimedia art show curated by James Woodward and Preeti Sodhi

At the following locations:
Wyckoff-Bond Garden 195 Wyckoff Ave (at the corner of Wyckoff Ave and Bond St) http://cenyc.org/openspace/mothers

East Village (Manhattan) Creative Little Garden 530 E. 6th St (btwn Ave A & B) Miracle Garden 194 East 3rd St (near Ave B) All People's Garden 293 East 3rd St (btwn Ave C & D) Upper West Side (Manhattan) Greenmarket at 77th and Columbus 77th St and Columbus Ave (in the M.S. 44 schoolyard) Boerum Hill (Brooklyn)

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Picture Of The Day: Virginia Bluebells In My Little Spring Garden

It was almost dusk when I came home last night.
As I walked through the gate into my little front yard,
the amazing blue of these Virginia bluebells
caught my eyes.
Had they been blooming when I left the house?
No matter!
I am glad I paused long enough to admire them,
for they will certainly be gone in a few days.

A Moment In Time: Stoop Sitting

After days of rain,
the clouds parted for just a few hours
and the sun made a gracious appearance.
This Carroll Gardener
profited from the temporary sunshine
by resuming his stoop sitting.

Hi J.!

Reader Manny Tries Out 'Olga's On Smith' On Opening Night

Olga's Barley

Olga's Cucumber Salad

Olga's Soup

(Photos By Manny Simone)

Yesterday, reader Manny Simone alerted us to the opening of Olga's on Smith, the new Kosher/vegan restaurant at 407 Smith Street. Manny was going to try the new place last night and I asked if perhaps, it would be possible to get an update or review of the restaurant. Well, Manny came through with a wonderful account of opening night at Olga's, complete with menu recommendations and great photos. Well done, Manny. You are a born restaurant critic. Thanks!
Read Manny's review below!

Olga’s on Smith

My fiancé and I went to check out the new Olga’s on Smith located on the less-populated stretch of Smith between 4^th and 5^th streets. It was only their second day of business so they were still working through a few kinks, but overall it was a good experience.

The space itself is clean and sleek with just a single row of tables and banquettes. We sat ourselves but no server came. Is this a restaurant? Is it a café? Is it an upscale deli? We finally walked up to the counter and Olga herself was working behind it. She was very friendly and accommodating, gave us menus and we sat down to have a look. An assortment of sandwiches were the main focus for $7, with several wholesome sides (sundried tomato pasta salad, caraway roasted potatoes, etc.) served by the half-pound for $3.75 each. There were other basics like soup for $4.50 and a build-your-own-salad-section for $7. Many of the items were vegetarian, vegan, kosher and/or gluten-free and nothing on the menu seemed to surpass $8, which was a big plus. We decided to get an assortment of sandwiches, sides, and soup to share and really get a taste of everything.

We walked back up to the counter and Olga explained that they weren’t serving sandwiches just yet but if we wanted one, they could ‘improvise something.’ I appreciated her effort, but was disappointed because the sandwiches were really the only ‘main course’ items on the menu. Not one to make a fuss, we stuck with our soup and sides.

I was surprised to see that they were still trying to figure out how to handle orders that weren’t “to-go.” The sides were weighed on an electronic deli-scale but then they realized that the weight of the dinner plate was not being considered, so they had to weigh the plate itself and then minus that from the total with the food on it in order to figure out if there was enough food (confused yet??). In addition, Olga in a warm-hearted way of being accommodating kept asking us if the portion sizes were ‘good enough.’ I don’t know about you, but I’ve never quite mastered how to eyeball a half a pound of Asian cucumber salad and all I really wanted was whatever you were supposed to get for $3.75.

After we finally got our order figured out, the food was placed on a tray cafeteria-style and we brought it back to our table. There were some definite high points: The Asian cucumber salad with mint was refreshing (and I don’t even like cucumbers), and the cous cous with garbanzo beans and tomatoes were delicious (my personal favorite). There were a few misses: a bland edamame coleslaw (does putting a few soy beans on a plate of coleslaw really make it an ‘edamame coleslaw’? The corn soup and the vegetable lasagna, though tasty, were both served luke-warm despite the disappointing fact that I could see her behind the counter putting all that food in the microwave. She ended our meal with complimentary chocolate Russian truffles, which were great, and a plate of roasted tomatoes, which were not so great.

After all the kinks are worked through, Olga’s can be a decent place for some cheap, quick, healthy food. Our entire meal for 2 came out to a total of $24. I’ll definitely be back for breakfast since they open at 7am (but how can they not serve espresso!?) and I’d like to actually try a sandwich at some point. Also, make sure to check their hours as they close at ‘dusk’ on Fridays and are not open at all on Saturdays, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath.

Despite a few wrinkles that need to be ironed out, Olga’s on Smith is a welcomed addition to south Smith Street. With a simple and fresh décor, economical and quick eats and friendly service, Olga will definitely be seeing me again.

Olga’s on Smith

407 Smith Street

(btwn 4^th and 5^th)

www.olgasonsmith.com

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When 'The East India Chemical Works Company' Made Fertilizers On The Shores Of The Gowanus

This incredible print of the East India Chemical Works Company is from the 19th century and is part of a larger advertisement booklet for a fertilizer company that was located on the shores of the Gowanus Canal.

The company was established in 1864 by H.J. Baker & Bro., Inc. A brief history on their web site indicates that:

As the Civil War draws to a close, H.J. Baker & Bro., prepares to meet peacetime demands. The company purchases the facilities of the Gowanus Chemical Works on Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal. Renaming it the East India Chemical Works, H.J. Baker begins producing America's early fertilizers. These early fertilizers were mostly low analysis organics, including specific analyses for potatoes, onions, corn and other crops.

The actual brochure is from 1906. A caption below the image reads:

Factory On Block Bounded By Smith Street, Huntington Street & Gowanus Canal Brooklyn

This would place it in the general vicinity of Public Place and the Abati warehouse at 455-458 Smith Street, which is in the process of being demolished.

The print comes courtesy of the Park Slope Gallery, which has been incredibly generous in letting me use some of their fabulous historic documents.




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Mark Your Calendar: EPA Update Meeting On Superfund On May 26th

The Waters Of The Gowanus Canal




Click Image To Enlage

As promised, Congresswomen Nydia Vélazquez and Yvette Clarke, together with Community Board 6, are bringing the EPA back to the neighborhood for a second informational meeting on the proposed Superfund Site designation of the Gowanus Canal.

Craig Hammerman, the District Manager for C.B.6 writes:

Greetings!

Congresswomen Velazquez and Clarke, together with the CB6 Executive and Public Safety/Environmental Protection/Permits&Licenses Committees, are pleased to host...

SUPERFUND FOR THE GOWANUS?
An informational update by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on a proposal to designate the Gowanus Canal and environs as a Superfund site.

Join us as we hear from EPA representatives directly to find out what a Superfund designation would mean for our community and learn more about the process used to make such a determination.

Meeting details, including a downloadable flyer for the event, are available by clicking here, or at the following link:
http://www.brooklyncb6.org/calendar/#26


Also, anyone wanting additional background on the Gowanus Superfund application, process, and directions for submitting public comment which is due by July 8, 2009, can click here, or visit the EPA website at the following link:
http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/gowanus/


Best, Craig

Craig R. Hammerman
District Manager
Brooklyn Community Board 6
250 Baltic Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201-6401

A Moment In Time: An Afternoon Chat

It was late afternoon on Court Street
and the rain had stopped temporarily.
They were listening to his every word
as he spoke and gesticulated,
intent to make his point.

Superfund Gowanus: Questions And Answers From Three Neighborhood Organizations

Members of Friends Of Bond, Carroll Gardens Coalition for Respectful Development (CORD) and Friends & Residents of Greater Gowanus (FROGG) , three neighborhood organizations, have just issued a question and answer flier regarding the proposed Gowanus Canal Superfund designation by the EPA.
All three organizations have joined forces and are working together to support the superfund designation. Here is their flier:

SUPERFUND GOWANUS

We all have questions…

WHAT IS GOING ON?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that the Gowanus Canal has been nominated as a Superfund site. The Superfund is a federally funded program that identifies and cleans up the most highly polluted sites throughout the country.

HOW DIRTY IS IT, REALLY?

For over a hundred years, countless toxic, industrial pollutants have been dumped into the Gowanus Canal. Add in the combined sewage overflow (yes, we’ve all seen it) and you get some idea of the problem. The EPA doesn’t nominate a site unless it’s absolutely necessary- it’s science, not conjecture or a popularity contest. EPA officials have already found cancer causing PCB’s and metals such as mercury and arsenic in the Gowanus Canal. While contaminants at many hazardous sites are measured in parts per million, levels of coal tar, for example, were found to be in parts per hundred in the canal sediment.

WOULD A CLEAN CANAL REMOVE THE PRESENT STIGMA AND PRESERVE OUR PROPERTY VALUES?

There may be some depreciation in property values at first but once an area is fully cleaned up, property values resurge. Let’s face it- nothing’s changed. We’ve all been living here, well aware of a contaminated body of water in our backyard. Only now, it’s finally being addressed, realistically and comprehensively. In fact, the value of our community’s health and future well-being is finally going up, not down.

WON’T A SUPERFUND CLEAN-UP TAKE MANY, MANY YEARS?

The City of NY has had decades to take action to bring the canal into compliance with the Clean Water Act of 1972. The current mayor has had 8 years and it still doesn’t meet water quality standards. Should we have confidence that the city can get us there without Superfund support?

To quote the EPA, a clean-up can take “longer than you hope and less than you fear.” Years and years of pollution and neglect will have to be undone. All the “quick fixes” that have been proposed are piecemeal at best, and would remediate parcel by parcel, leaving many areas unaddressed and still highly polluted. It may take time but with the EPA we will know that it’s being done right, by the experts, once and for all.

WHERE WILL THE MONEY COME FROM? ISN’T THE SUPERFUND BROKE?

Former and current polluters are liable to pay some of the costs. The federal budget allocates money each year for the Superfund. An additional 600 million is in the current budget allocation for sites already listed on the EPA Superfund National Priorities List.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING NOW?

The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) invited the EPA to evaluate the situation along the Canal. The DEC has been overseeing the city’s long-term planning for the Gowanus for decades and understands all the issues. The DEC was also engaged in the clean- up of Lowes, Public Place & Whole Foods, and in doing so, found the problems to be much more than they could handle without the EPA.

WHAT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND JOBS?

The goal of the EPA is simple- clean up and restore the canal. To get that task done, jobs will be produced. Once we have a clean canal, the area can develop as the community sees fit, along a healthy, viable waterway.

WHAT CAN ORDINARY CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS LIKE US DO?

There is a 90 day comment period which ends July 8^th wherein the EPA welcomes your comments- the more specific examples and experiences you include, the better. For more information, go to www.superfundgowanus.org There, you can also sign a community petition to our elected officials asking them to represent your views for a Superfund clean-up of the Gowanus. If you have more questions, CB6 will be hosting a meeting with the EPA. Find out from CB6 when and where, and come.

Friends Of Bond, CORD, FROGG May 2009

Please take a minute to sign the online Superfund Gowanus Petition Here
Let our politicians know that their constituents are in support of Superfund and that their delaying maneuvers are not supported by the community.

Click: The Superfund Gowanus Now Petiton

Please also contact our elected representatives in Washington. Here are the numbers:

Senator Chuck Shumer: 202-224-6542.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand - 202-224-4451

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke 202-225-6231

Congresswoman Nydia Valazquez 202-225-2361

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Not Much Progress At The 'Looming Tower' Of Carroll Gardens

*Construction at the Clarett site at 340 Court Street has been stopped
*Developer Bill Stein of 360 Smith Street has not resumed his Oliver House though the Board Of Standards And Appeals exempted his project from the Wide Street Text Amendment
*The Toll Brothers are "threatening" to walk away from their Gowanus Canal project should the EPA declare the canal a Superfund site

but...

the Karl Fisher-designed 'finger' at 100 Luquer Street rose to 11 stories on the fringes of the neighborhood.
And what an eyesore it is. The building towers over the neighboring townhouses like a bad joke.
Construction has been going on for quite a while. Though a few sides of the building look mostly completed, the back is still wide open. Frankly, it doesn't look as though there has been much progress since I last wrote about it back in December '08.

If this isn't a poster child for down-zoning and land-marking, I don't know what is!



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Olga's On Smith Street Now Officially Open

Reader Manny alerted me to the fact that Olga's, a new non-dairy, vegan restaurant, just opened at 407 Smith Street between 4th and 5th Streets.
Manny writes:

So, I've been keeping an eye on this possible new cafe/restaurant on Smith btwn 4th and 5th for a while now, I couldn't tell if the place was closing or opening. With Smith past 3rd St always looking like no-man's land, I was interested to see what this place was going to be. On my walk today I decided to look in and I happened to catch them on their opening day. It's a nice little restaurant called Olga's on Smith. It looks very sleek and clean and the prices don't really exceed 8 dollars. It's owned by some Jewish people and the restaurant has lots of kosher, vegan and vegetarian options (plus the fact that they're closed on Saturdays was the final hint). We talked for a bit and they were very nice and I grabbed a menu and told them that I'd stop in there sometime. I mean, healthy food for a good price a block from my apartment? Count me in! I figured you'd be interested in this and wanted to maybe throw a post on the blog to bring them some business or something. Their website is still under construction. www.olgasonsmith.com. I might even go there tonight when my fiance comes home and I'll let you know how the food is.

Manny

Manny has promised to get back to us with a review and photos of the place. Till then, I am posting a sample of Olga's menu from the restaurant's web site.

Our Food
Our food is simple and made with fresh ingredients. We have dairy as well as strictly nondairy (parve) menu items available for both takeout and sit-down meals. A lot of our dishes are vegan and we serve fish.

Sample Menu
Below are some of the many delicious dishes from our menu:
Edamame Coleslaw
Seafood Salad
Spicy Tuna Salad
Sundried Tomato Pasta Salad
Mustard Seeded Potato Salad
Spaghetti Squash with Spicy Tomato Sauce
Ratatouille
Caraway Roasted Potatoes
Crabcakes
Vegetarian Lasagna
Smoked Salmon and Mozzarella Panini
Butternut Squash Risotto
Mediterranean Tuna Stew

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Brooklyn Blogfest 2009

Brooklyn Blogfest 2009 from Blue Barn Pictures, Inc. on Vimeo.
Directed by Sharon Dowdell

********Reminder********

Save the Date:
Brooklyn Blogfest 2009
May 7th at 7 p.m.
powerHouse Arena in Dumbo

Find out why Brooklyn is the bloggiest place in America at the Fourth Annual Brooklyn Blogfest on May 7, 2009 7 p.m. at powerHouse Arena in DUMBO.

Brooklyn Blogfest 2009 is an exciting, idea-filled event for bloggers, blog readers and the blog curious curious, where you will find: Insight. Advice. Inspiration. Resources.

Here’s your chance to meet your favorite bloggers; learn about blogging; be inspired to blog.

“Where better to take the pulse of this rapidly growing community of writers, thinkers and observers than the Brooklyn Blogfest?” ~ Sewell Chan, The New York Times

This year’s event will take place on May 7, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the powerHouse Arena in DUMBO.

WHY WE BLOG will be the theme of a high-profile panel discussion. This year Brooklyn Blogfest introduces BLOGS-OF-A-FEATHER, special small-group sessions, where you can connect with other bloggers who share your interests.

Once again, there will be an opening video produced by Blue Barn Pictures and a Video tribute to Brooklyn’s photo Bloggers and the annual Shout-out: a chance to share your blog with the world!

Whether you live to blog, blog to live or are just curious about this thing called blogging, you won’t want to miss Brooklyn Blogfest 2009: the best Blogfest yet.

To find out about sponsorship opportunities for Brooklyn Blogfest, contact Louise Crawford (e:louise_crawford@yahoo.com, c: 718-288-4290).

The Details:

Fourth Annual Brooklyn Blogfest
May 7, 2009
Doors open at 7 p.m.
powerHouse Arena
37 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Admission: $10 ($5 for students and seniors)

Brooklyn Blogfest After-Party
Galapagos Art Space
16 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(right across the street from powerHouse Arena)

Cash bar and refreshments

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Kick Butts Day At P.S.29

photo credit: briancweed on Flickr

Kick Butts Day

May 06, 2009 1:00pm to 3:00pm Brooklyn Kids Race Against Smoking: Celebrate Kick Butts Day on Wednesday, May 6. Approximately 200 fourth and fifth grade students at PS 29 in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn will take an active stand against cigarette smoking. As part of a nationwide celebration of Kick Butts Day: The Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids, they will stage a multi-event track meet, play basketball, knock-out, and otherwise exercise legs and lungs in strong opposition to tobacco. Colorful banners will fly, the kids will wear self-designed T-shirts with their own anti-smoking mottos, and there will be an exciting special guest appearance by Para Olympian Mike Koehane. Mr. Koehane is a competitive long-distance runner, coach, and sports pedorthist. He won a Bronze medal running the marathon in the 2000 Sydney Paralympics. He will talk at PS 29 about his experience choosing not to smoke, and will lead warm up running drills for PS 29 students on Kick Butts Day. Kick Butts Day was created by the organization Tobacco-Free Kids to give kids a powerful way to stand up against Big Tobacco. The rain date is Friday, May 8. For more information contact Kathy Nobles at 718-330-9277.

Picture Of The Day: Uninterrupted Beauty On Baltic Street

Walking home in the rain
under my big umbrella,
I passed this uninterrupted row of brick townhouses
on Baltic Street.
I stopped long enough to take this photo
to share
its beauty
with you.

Calls To Clean And Dredge The Gowanus Canal....In 1898

This is an original etching by Henry Farrer from 1880 of a huge boat on the Gowanus waterway. It was sent to me by the Park Slope Gallery, which has a large collection of historic Brooklyn material.
I am very thankful to the gallery for allowing me to post some of these pieces on Pardon Me For Asking.
What a treat!

And speaking of the Gowanus....



More discussion of Sewer Overflow, of nasty refuse and of dredging and cleaning of the Gowanus Canal. The topic is being discussed on blogs, in news articles and local television shows.
However, this article is from 1898, more than one hundred and eleven years ago.

It was sent to me by friend and reader Cynthia who found it in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle archives of the Brooklyn Public Library.


From The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 29th 1897

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Become A Bee Watcher Volunteer

Did you know that New York City parks such as Central Park and Prospect Park contain as many as 60 different species of bees? How cool is that.
They can be found everywhere in the city. Basically, wherever there are plants there are bees.
The Great Pollinator Project seeks to gather information on the city's bees. In order to do so, volunteers in all boroughs are needed to help gather data on them.
If you would like to become a Bee Watcher and help, read on.

From the Bee Watcher web site:

Thank you for volunteering your time to help us learn about New York City’s bees. There are many ways to be a Bee Watcher.

1. Observe bee visitation at selected plants that will be distributed at our spring orientations. Conduct your observations in your own garden and submit your data online.

2. Become a Mobile Bee Watcher. Conduct your observations on flowers in your neighborhood or at selected bee gardens planted at various locations throughout New York City and submit your data online.

Any questions? Do you have other skills to share? Please email us at beewatchers@gmail.com. Thanks!

One-third of our food depends on the services of a pollinator—bee or other insect, bird, or mammal. Bees are the most important pollinators in the Northeastern U.S., and there are more than 200 species of bees that live right here in New York City. We need to protect these local pollinators that help keep our parks and green spaces healthy and beautiful, and our farmers’ markets stocked with fresh produce.

Did You Know:

• There are 4,000 bee species in North America
• There are 800 bee species east of the Rocky Mountains
• There are 423 bee species in New York State
• There are 226 bee species in New York City
• Fifty-four bee species have been identified from a suite of Bronx community gardens
• Fifty-eight bee species have been identified from Central Park
• Fifty-nine bee species have been identified from Prospect Park

In 2007, the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation and the Greenbelt Native Plant Center began the Great Pollinator Project (GPP) in collaboration with the Great Sunflower Project in San Francisco, CA. The goals of the GPP are: 1) identify which areas of New York City have good pollinator service (as determined by how quickly bees show up to pollinate flowers at various locations throughout the city); 2) increase understanding of bee distribution; 3) raise public awareness of native bees; and 4) improve park management and home gardening practices to benefit native bees. If you are interested in our local pollinators, we need your help!

More information on bees and on the project, go to http://greatpollinatorproject.org

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It's Spring Carnival Time At PS 58

P.S.58 Spring Carnival

Saturday, May 9 - 10am- 4pm
Open to the public!

The P.S. 58 PTA is having it¹s annual Spring Carnival with a day full of
music, arts & crafts, games, activities and more! Entrance, arts and crafts
activities and music are all FREE! And all other proceeds go directly to the
P.S.58 PTA which funds enrichment activities and helps to support our entire
school staff and student body. There will be a bouncy house, dunk booth,
food tables, bake sale, student art exhibition and a lot of fun for the
entire family. Come out for a great day and a great cause. Rain or shine.
If it rains, the event will be moved into the school.

Spring Carnival Entertainment:

10:15 Genki Daiko- PS58 Student Taiko Drumming
10:45 PS 58 Student Chinese Ribbon Dance
11:15 Raya Brass Band
12:15 Audra Rox
1:15 Fifth Grade PS58 Students Ballroom Dancing
1:30 Line Dancing
2:15 Xylopholks
3:15 The Ashkenazy Collective

P.S.58 School Yard, Smith Street and First Place
Nearest subway F & G- Carroll Street Station

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On BCAT's "Reporter Roundable": The Gowanus Canal Superfund

Host Brian Vines leads an interesting discussion on the Gowanus Canal and the EPA's proposed nomination of the canal as a Superfund Site on Brooklyn Independent Television's "Reporter Roundable."

Local Gowanus area residents and friend Lizzie Olesker does a great job representing her neighbors as one of the panelists. Also on the show, Joshua Verleun of Riverkeeper and Environmental Laywer Kevin Yudelson.


From "Reporter Roundable"
The EPA is considering the infamous Gowanus Canal Area for its special Superfund status. While this may help the environmental issues in the area, it will potentially take several hundred million dollars and over 30 years to complete. Host Brian Vines is joined by Gowanus resident Lizzie Olesker, environmental lawyer David Yudelson and Joshua Verleun with Riverkeeper to discuss the many angles of the Gowanus Canal controversy.






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Scenes Of A Rainy Sunday In Carroll Gardens

Scenes of a rainy day in the neighborhood

I know, I know, April showers and all, but now its May.
Wouldn't you agree, dear Reader,
that it was a miserably cold and rainy Sunday?
And there is more of the wet stuff in the forecast.
Yikes!

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Bravo! State Senator Velmanette Montgomery Supports Gowanus Superfund Designation

Bravo to State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, for being the lone voice of reason amongst our elected officials regarding the designation of the Gowanus Canal as a Superfund site.
In the letter below, which the State Senator sent to Dennis Munhall, of the U.S. EPA, she expresses her concern about the building of housing on contaminated land, especially the Public Place site, and stated that she supports the designation of the Gowanus Canal as a Superfund.
The State Senator is showing clear leadership, following her conscience for which she has earned my admiration. Let us hope that our other elected officials will follow her lead, especially her colleague in the State Senate, Daniel Squadron.

Below is Sate Senator Montgomery's letter.

Mr. Dennis Munhall

United States Environmental Protection Agency

290 Broadway

New York, NY 10007

Dear Mr. Munhall;

I would first like to thank the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for extending the comment period for the proposed Superfund designation of the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn. This issue is of critical importance and many residents and businesses wish to make considered statements. I am grateful the EPA clearly appreciates the importance of the depth of local concern.

Since one-half of the Gowanus Canal lies within the 18^th New York Senate District, the development and heath of the area, for both the current and future residents and businesses are my top priorities. While the economic development of this artery is crucial to the future of New York City sustainable, healthy development is only possible in a sustainable, healthy environment.

Much of the development proposed for the areas surrounding the Gowanus Canal, such as the Public Place project, envision much needed affordable housing with parks and playgrounds for the families living there. However I cannot in good conscience support development on contaminated land. The area must be made safe for current and future generations.

Therefore I support the cleanup of the Gowanus Canal and its designation as a Superfund site. However there are a number of questions and concerns that I would like to have addressed prior to designation.

Please describe your proposed project management plan for coordinating the City, State, and Federal remediation and reclamation efforts. Please clarify particularly:

·How will the Superfund and local operations involve the water in the canal, the accumulated sediments, and the surrounding soil? What will be the degree of remediation?

· How will the Superfund designation impact requirements for new York City to address problems stemming from Combined Sewage Overflows? To what extent will Superfund designation address the CSO repair efforts? Will the Superfund process work in partnership and hopefully expedite the efforts of the Army Corps of Engineers?

· How will contaminants be removed or remediated? Will it be by barge or truck, and how will the surrounding community be protected during the removal and transport process?

· What is the anticipated structure for ongoing community participation within the process?

· What is the anticipated funding schedule and mechanism for the cleanup?

I further request:

· An expedited schedule for the cleanup and remediation efforts.

· That the Federal government guarantee the money necessary for the cleanup effort, and not wait for the acquisition of penalty money from polluters. This community has already waited decades. It cannot wait any longer.

· An assurance that the Superfund remediation process will not interrupt current remediation programs being conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers, the City and State of New York, and others. Ideally these efforts will be optimally coordinated to speed the recovery of this contaminated area.

I thank you for your consideration and look forward to your timely response.

Sincerely,

New York State Senator Velmanette Montgomery

NYS 18^th Senate District

cc:	Honorable Nydia Velasquez, 12th New York Congressional District
	Honorable Yvette Clarke, 11th New York Congressional District
	Honorable Daniel Squadron, 25th New York Senate District
	Honorable Joan Millman, 52nd New York Assembly District
	Honorable Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of the City of New York
	Honorable Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President

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Yachting In The Gowanus Bay...In 1877

" Yacht Rendez-Vous, Gowanus Bay, Brooklyn

Yes, my friends, yachting in the Gowanus Bay...back in 1877! This beautiful hand-colored wood engraving is from the Park Slope Gallery, who has a huge collection of historic Brooklyn material.

I know it is hard to imagine, but hopefully, one day the waters of the Gowanus waterway will be clean enough so that it can be used for recreation, without fear of coming in contact with dangerous toxic materials.

To help make that a reality, make sure you sign the "Superfund Gowanus Petition."

Here is what some of our neighbors are saying on the petition about the Superfund designation of the Gowanus Canal:


As a lifelong resident of Brooklyn and a member of the historic brownstone community since 1967, I have traveled across the bridges of the Gowanus on a very regular basis. With the Industrial Revolution, and without understanding of the ramifications of the effects of chemical wastes on the health of the community, a waterway once teeming with life was reduced to a sickly green toxic mess that could give off literally poisonous fumes under certain conditions. I have been witness to the neglect of the waterway and mourned the fact that it has always had enormous potential. When repairs were made to the flushing tunnel in the 1990's, there was significant improvement, but since there was such a high degree of toxicity from the chemicals deposited over such a long period, a more comprehensive cleanup is surely necessary. The notion of further development along the canal without such a cleanup is utterly wrongheaded. The short-sightedness is mindnumbing! Let's trust scientific data, not land speculators.


The Gowanus Canal has been the victim of a combination of abuse and neglect for far too long. Although well intentioned, admirable measures have been taken, it is now painfully clear that they have been dismally inadequate. The job is simply too big, the toxins too fierce, the cross contamination too rampant. Comprehensive remediation is the only solution. The Federal Government is the only one with the tools and resources necessary to successfully tackle this environmental nightmare. We are both grateful to New York State Commissioner Grannis, of the Dept of Environmental Conservation, for recognizing the severity and scope of this problem and for being courageous enough to ring the bell and bang on the door of the US Environmental Protection Agency to ask for help.

The Gowanus Canal has a rich and colorful history. It has been polluted for well over a century. Those of us who live here haven't given up hope that one day our government will step in and use our taxes to make the waterway environmentally safe. Some attempts have been made over the years, but here we live, with a canal of toxic waste as our backyard. Please support the Superfund designation of the canal. It is time.

Until now we have heard nothing but vague assurances that the canal would be cleaned and only after the developers make their profits and we have placed people in harms way. This is exactly the wrong way to go about developing the canal corridor. First we should clean it and then develop it with confidence that no shortcuts were taken and that the area is safe for habitation. The EPA cleanup is the only way we can be sure that the emphasis will be on cleanup rather than development and a fast profit.

Please let's see the Gowanas restored to health, beauty, and public access. There is an opportunity to create and maintain is distinctive piece of green and water in our borough that will bring enjoyment far into the future. Allowing the area to be the site of even more development would deny so many of a great resource.

I have been a resident of Carroll Gardens since 1973, and I live a block and a half from the Gowanus Canal. My ancestor Adam Brouwer (12 generations ago) came to Brooklyn from Cologne in 1654 and built three tidal mills in the Gowanus wetlands. I love my neighborhood, I honor my ancestral connection to this area, and I want to see the canal returned to something resembling a clean state. The EPA must step in here, because New York City does not have the political record, the ethical will, or the financial resources to make this happen. Please make this a Superfund site and finally clean up this disgrace. Yes, EPA, Superfund me!

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Starting Monday, Kathleen Henderson Back At Carroll Park

Welcome Back, Kathleen!

I am sure lots of Carroll Gardens kids have been waiting for this moment: the return of Kathleen Henderson to Carroll Park.
As of Monday, Kathleen, the Arts and Recreation person who organizes the wonderful projects in Carroll Park during the spring and summer, is back. So stop by the park house to say hi to her.





Related Reading:

End Of The Summer Recreation Program In Carroll Park: See You In The Spring, Kathleen!

Inside Carroll Park's "Playhouse"

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Love Brooklyn? Proud Of Brooklyn? Why Not Show It!

Click Here