Let's Honor Our Veterans At The Carroll Park Remembrance Ceremony 2019

As in years past, the Court Street and Smith Street Business Associations and Friends of Carroll Park will be hosting a Veterans Day Remembrance Ceremony in Carroll Park this coming Monday, November 11, 2019 at 11 AM sharp in front of the Word War 1 Memorial.

Now, it seems more important than ever to come together as a community, to learn from the past, and to honor the service and sacrifice of our Veterans.

The ceremony is always deeply moving, so bring the kids and teach them a bit about the significance of this national Holiday. And perhaps, take the opportunity to introduce them to one of our neighborhood veterans in attendance.

The ceremony will be followed by a reception with light refreshments.

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Since When Has It Become Okay For Carroll Gardens To Look So Dirty?

(photo credit: Theresa Bartenope)

 (photo credit: Theresa Bartenope)

(photo credit: Theresa Bartenope)

Just before the New Year, I received an email from Carroll Gardener Theresa Bartenope, who was wondering when it became okay for our lovely neighborhood to look so dirty. The email was accompanied by photos showing trash-strewn streets.

Theresa writes:

I am a life long resident of Carroll Gardens. In fact, my three year old granddaughter represents the fifth generation of our family to live in Carroll Gardens. Needless to say, Carroll Gardens is my home and I love it! I am, perhaps, among the minority of "leftovers" who has always embraced the many ways in which our community has evolved. And though it is not the neighborhood I grew up in, it is certainly a more diverse, interesting and exciting place to live.

But of course, change does not come without some disappointment. When I was growing up in Carroll Gardens the sidewalks and streets were clean. Store and homeowners took care to keep the sidewalks and streets tidy. Residents were careful with their trash, parents taught children to toss trash into cans and everyone benefited from it. As I walk the same streets today, I see so much litter it actually breaks my heart! I wonder every day, when did it become okay for Carroll Gardens to look like this?

I could probably list at least a handful of reasons for the trash being strewn about, but the greater question is how do we remedy this problem? I have been brainstorming to come up with solutions, none of which seem easy to accomplish. I thought, just maybe, that bringing the issue to everyone's attention in a post might help. Perhaps folks will make a greater effort. Sometimes simply raising awareness helps.

I thank you for hearing me out. And again thank you for loving Carroll Gardens and for sharing you chronicles with us.

Regards,
Theresa Bartenope

I could not agree more with Theresa. When I moved here 32 years ago, local residents did seem to take more pride in keeping Carroll Gardens looking its best. Every morning, my elderly Italian neighbors were out on the sidewalk, sweeping up. It did not take long for them to let my husband and I know that the same was expected of us, the new 'kids on the block.'

These days, trash is everywhere. Personally, I find it embarrassing to walk through the neighborhood with out-of-town friends. Yes, they admire all the pretty brownstones lining the streets, but they also notice the litter.
The problem seems to have gotten worse, especially now that it is cold outside, which obviously discourages people from cleaning up in front of their property.
For the past few months, Carroll Park has been overrun by rats. No doubt, the problem is a reflection of how dirty the neighborhood has become.  The Park's Department has been baiting, but our first line of defense should be to pick up after ourselves.

Perhaps we can do something about this as a community in 2018?  Can we all make an effort to keep our streets clean, pick up after our dogs and teach our kids to put litter in its place?

 

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Anonymous Rant Against "Yuppies And Hipsters" Posted Around Carroll Gardens

This past week, a few signs like the one above have been sighted around Carroll Gardens. One such sign, protected in a plastic envelope to protect it from the elements, was taped to the bulletin board in Carroll Park.
The "old-timer vs. newcomer" controversy has been around for as long as anyone can remember.  It certainly is not specific to Carroll Gardens, but the rapid changes in our neighborhood are obviously very upsetting to many who have lived here all their lives.

Yes, over the past ten years, Carroll Gardens has lost many of its mom-and-pop shops, the real estate prices have gone through the roof and the many new bars have attracted their fair share of loud patrons.
All that is true and sad. But blaming all of this on the new residents of the area is unfair and unproductive.
Rather, it would make more sense to get involved, get to know the old-timers as well as the newcomers on the block and work together to maintain what we all love about Carroll Gardens.

Though the writer of this particular letter obviously has a right to (anonymously) express his or her opinion, the very angry tone is more than a bit disturbing.

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