Big Movies For Little Kids Presents "Balto"

(Image courtesy of New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, nycgovparks.org.)

Big Movies For Little Kids, the film series for children two and up, will be screening BALTO on February 13th at 4 PM at the Cobble Hill Cinema.  Get your tickets now.

BALTO
Learn the history behind the famous statue in Central Park. This animated feature is inspired by the true tale of an Alaskan sled dog who heroically led a medicine-transporting team on a 600-mile odyssey during the winter of 1925. His story became a legend. His adventure is one you'll never forget. (1995; USA; rated G; color animation; 74 minutes)
To secure seats at Cobble Hill Cinemas, tickets may be purchased on-line at: www.cobblehilltheatre.com

BIG MOVIES FOR LITTLE KIDS

at Cobble Hill CinemasMonday, February 13th at 4pm

http://bigmoviesforlittlekids.blogspot.com

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A Moment In Time: Hatless

Hatless on Court Street

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Seeking Junior Bands To 'Open' For Carroll Park Concert Series This Summer

This summer, the beloved Carroll Park Kids Concert Series will once again delight the little ones in the neighborhood with four new shows, which will directly benefit our local public schools.
And there is something new for 2012. The organizers, Simmi, Jenara, and Kim have decided to  bring in some middle school talent to kick off the concerts.
They write:
"Carroll Park Concerts is thrilled to kick off a band contest. Here's a fabulous opportunity for middle schoolers to showcase their talents and get experience performing on stage. Carroll Park Summer Concert Series is having a contest for opening bands for our series. If you would like to enter, send us an email with music samples and adult contact information to carrollparkconcerts@gmail.com."

For more information, click here: www.carrollparkbrooklyn.org/concerts
*Please note that all information must be received by March 1st, 2012.

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Dads And Daughters Valentine's Ball At Brooklyn Children's Museum

The Brooklyn Children's Museum has come up with a very sweet way for little girls and their fathers to spend a wonderful Valentine's evening together. 

"Circle of Love” Dads & Daughters Ball

FEBRUARY 11 at 5:30pm

Be a debutante on your date with Dad (or Mom)!

"Enjoy an evening of dance led by Curious George, refreshments by Dunkin’ Donuts©, Valentine’s activities, DJ MITCH from WBLS 107.5 FM radio and dance instructor! Complete with corsage, Valentine’s Card, and keepsake photo, this is an event you won’t want to miss!"
Each little girl will receive her own corsage, Valentine's card and pose for a keepsake photo with her date.

Tickets on sale now! Separate admission ticket required, please visit www.brooklynkids.org for tickets and more information.

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Just Launched: EPA Gowanus Canal Facebook Page Photo Contest

This is cool. Environmental Protection Agency's Region 2 has launched a monthly photo and video contest on its Facebook page. I just submitted the photo above. Make sure you send in yours.
 Here are the details:
 "Please share your photos and videos here on EPA's Facebook page as we look for the Photo/Video of the Month during 2012. Photos/videos should show how conditions at the Canal are now, how the canal is being used by the community or how you see its future.
Getting things started for January 2012 is Eymond Diegel's October 2011 photo of a striped bass near the Union Street bridge. Feel free to "like" and comment on the photos and videos which are posted."

Photo credit: Eymund Diegel

January 2012 winning entry

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A Moment In Time: Balloons

Colorful balloons and toys on Court Street.

Another spring-like day in the neighborhood.

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Sad News ! Sweet Melissa Says Goodbye To Cobble Hill

photo credit Tim Reed

Sad news! I just received news from Tim over at Chemical Cake that Sweet Melissa, the patisserie on Court Street near Douglass Street, has closed its doors as of today.
Sweet Melissa has been a part of this community since 1998, starting with one storefront and then expanding into the neighboring store a few years later.  Melissa's will be missed by many.
According to a note in the window from owner Melissa Murphy, she will be combining this location with her store in Park Slope (175 7th Avenue).
She writes: "We have been a member of this community for many years, and have thoroughly enjoyed being part of your family's special occasions.  For many of you, I have made your engagement cake, your wedding cake, your baby shower cake, and your baby's Fisrt Birthday cake. Having been part of your life in this way has truly been an honor, and I look forward to being a part of many wonderful event in the future."
I suppose Park Slope is not too far to travel for Melissa's delectable baked goods, but It sure isn't the same as being able to stop by the store on Court Street.


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Assemblywoman Millman Collecting Donations For Brooklyn Family Justice Center

As in years past, Assemblywoman Joan Millman has organized a foo collectiond and toiletries donations for domestic violence victims and their families served by the Brooklyn Family Justice Center. Assemblywoman Millman’s Brooklyn office, located at 341 Smith Street, will be accepting donations through February 17th. 
Suggested items for donation include canned fruits and vegetables, powdered drinks and milk, juice boxes, peanut butter and jelly, packaged crackers, cookies, pretzels and other snacks, baby food and formula, diapers and baby wipes, shampoo and soap.

The Family Justice Center offers a wide variety of services to victims of domestic violence in the areas of housing, public assistance, criminal justice and counseling. 
It is located at 350 Jay Street on the 15th Floor. Telephone 718 250 5113.

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'Glow' Accessories Store Now Open On Court Street

GLOW has opened its doors at 306 Court Street  over the week-end.  The small, bright accessories store offers custom jewelry in every color imaginable, fun hats, scarves and handbags. They also carry every hair clip imaginable, including adorable ones for little girls.

This Glow joins two sister stores recently opened in Park Slope on 7th Avenue and one on Fifth Avenue. 

Until recently, this space was occupied by Dandelion, a woman's boutique.  Before that, it was home to Casale's/Carroll Gardens Jeweler.

Glow

306 Court Street

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

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A Moment In Time: The Banjo Player

Plucking the strings in front of D'Amico's 

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Moscot, Iconic Manhattan Eyewear Store, Now Open On Court Street, Brooklyn

Moscot, the nearly hundred year old New York City eyewear institution with flagship stores on Orchard Street and 14th Street in Manhattan, just opened in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, this week after a tasteful renovation to the old storefront at 159 Court Street.
According to its web site,  Moscot, a family business,  was started by patriarch Hyman Moscot, "who arrived from Eastern Europe via Ellis Island in 1899.  He began selling ready-made eyeglasses from a pushcart on Orchard Street on Manhattan's famed Lower East Side."

One wonders why it took so long for the Moscot family to have ventured into our fair borough.

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Wilderness Survival Training In Prospect Park

photo credit: Daniel Avila, NYC Parks & Recreation

Prospect Park can hardly be considered wilderness, but here in the city, it's the perfect place to learn a thing or two about survival skills.  The Urban Park Rangers will be teaching valuable techniques on how to stay alive if you ever get lost far from the nearest Starbuck.
Here is more:
"What would you do if you found yourself lost in the woods? Do you know how to build your own shelter, or start a fire without matches? What would you eat and where would you find water? Do you have what it takes to survive in the wild? Our Urban Park Rangers are skilled in the techniques of wilderness survival and emergency preparedness. On these fun, family friendly programs you will learn tips and tricks that will enhance your knowledge of the natural world, and might just save your life.Whether you are preparing for an extended journey through the woods or just want to be more prepared for any situation, a wilderness survival program is perfect for you. Wilderness survival programs feature hands-on activities in an outdoor setting. Emergency Preparedness provides families and individuals with helpful information on how to be ready when an emergency situation arises. All programs are family friendly, but are recommended for ages 8 years and older. Please dress appropriately for cold weather."

Click here for further information.

Wilderness Survival

Saturday, February 11, 2012

1 PM

Prospect Park Picnic House (in Prospect Park)

West Drive and Third Street., Brooklyn

(718) 421-2021 

Free

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Columbia Waterfront Residents Get Opportunity To Meet New Red Hook Container Terminal's Stevedore

On February 9th, Columbia Waterfront residents will have the opportunity to meet with Phoenix Beverage Company, the new stevedore of the Red Hook Container terminal at a community meeting to "help build and maintain a good relationship between the port and its neighborhoods."

This past fall, the beverage distributor replaced American Stevedoring, Inc. (ASI) as the group responsible for operating the Red Hook Container Terminal on behalf of the Port Authority.

This meeting has been organized by the Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association (COWNA), Congressman Jerrold Nadler and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Councilmember Brad Lander, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assemblywoman Joan Millman as well as Community Board Six.

The is an opportunity to talk with about building and maintaining a good relationship between the port and its neighborhoods.

Meet The New Stevedore!

Thursday February 9, 2012, 6:30 pm

Postgraduate Center for Mental Health

177 Columbia Street at Degraw Street

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Carroll Gardeners Enjoying Mild February 1st

Having a drink at an outside table in front of Abilene's on February 1st? Better than shoveling snow, I say.  Obviously, many Carroll Gardeners took full advantage of the balmy weather by spending some serious time outside.

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Notes On EPA's Presentation Of Gowanus Canal Feasibility Study To Members Of Community Advisory Group

Christos Tsiamis, EPA Region 2 project manager for the Gowanus Canal

Jeff Edelstein, Gowanus CAG facilitator

Brian Carr, EPA Region 2 lawyer

Victoria Hagman(l) and Natalie Loney,

EPA Region 2 Community Involvement Coordinator

Hans Hasselein, Gowanus Canal Conservancy

Eymund Diegel, Proteus Gowanus

Michelle De La Uz (l), Fifth Avenue Committee and Ludger Balan, Urban Divers

Christos Tsiamis, Environmental Protection Agency's site manager for the Gowanus Canal Superfund, presented the just-released Feasibility Study to the Community Advsiory Group (CAG) at a meeting on Monday night.
Many CAG members had also attended the EPA's presentation on the FS to the general public at PS 58 last week, so they were already quite familiar with the options available for cleaning and containing the highly toxic sludge that has been accumulating on top of the native sediment at the bottom of the canal. This allowed Tsiamis to take more time to take questions and to explain specifics, especially addressing the issue of re-contamination after the clean-up.
As Tsiamis pointed out, the Gowanus Canal cannot be cleaned effectively without eliminating the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) discharges from New York City's sewer system as well as the coal tar oozing from National Grid's three  MGP sites lining the canal. This, of course, involves a tremendous amount of co-ordinate with New York City's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which is responsible for the CSOs and with NYS Department Of Environmental Conservation (DEC)  under whose supervision National Grid will clean up the MGP sites.
"This is an issue that has to be addressed. We need to curtail those sources of contamination," Tsiamis stated.
Quite a few CAG members seemed concerned that NYC DEP has, until now, not shown a willingness to take responsibility for their part in the clean-up. After all, Farrell Sklerov, a spokesperson for DEP told the Brooklyn Paper: “The evidence clearly indicates that the primary sources [of contamination] are the former industrial plants on the canal, and not ongoing sewer overflows.”

That seems laughable since most residents of the Gowanus area have witnessed CSO events such as this one.
"The CS0s have to be dealt with so that we have a sustainable remedy. That's a statement in the Feasibility Study." Tsiamis told the CAG. "We have been in talks [with the City] about ways that can be implemented to address this particular matter." 

A meeting has been scheduled between the EPA and DEP for February 2 to discuss specific technical possibilities.
One way to control CSOs within the framework of the Superfund would be to construct a retention basin to retain discharges after heavy rains, much like the facility completed by DEP in Perdegat Basin,

As a community, we should let the City know that its denial and delay mechanisms are not going to fly in this community.

Perhaps a letter writing campaign to Mayor Bloomberg and to our own city representatives, Councilmen Brad Lander and Steven Levin, is in order?

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