Community Board 18 Meetings

Greetings All!

This is just a blurb about last night. I’ll post much more about it later or tomorrow. I went to cover my first Community Board 18 meeting of which won’t be the last as Neil and Chuck would like me to start covering them every month. CB18 meets every 3rd Wednesday at the Community Board building inside the Kings Plaza Mall garage. After seeing how their meetings are run and who comes to them I can say, without a doubt, that it’s a great an active group who get a great amount of work done for the neighborhoods they represent. I’ll comment on specifics later but as a preview I thought I would at least post that I was there last night for the whole meeting and will be reporting on it to the Canarsie Courier for next week’s issue.

Tonight’s United Canarsie South Civic Association Meeting Correction

Greetings and Good Evening All!

Originally I posted my next assignment as being at the Hebrew Educational Society for a meeting of the United Canarsie South Civic Association being held tonight at 7:30pm. However, due to a public hearing being held at the Remsen Heights Jewish Center, the UCSCA will not be holding their next meeting until February 2nd. Instead, the UCSCA will be attending the public hearing as representatives of the community along with many other community based organizations, a bunch of our politicians, consumer associations, and hopefully a great turnout of residents. The main focus will be a proposed toxic waste transfer station to be built in Canarsie. As this is a public hearing the residents of Canarsie are invited to speak out for or against the plan which was already accepted by the city legislature and DEP. Also I won’t be covering this for the paper as first planned. We had word of two separate meetings occurring today but the UCSCA has joined the public hearing instead, which was already being covered by another reporter. I will post the next event I will be reporting on soon.

The meeting is scheduled for 7pm and will be held at the Remsen Heights Jewish Center. The info is below:

Remsen Heights Jewish Center
1115 E 87TH St and Avenue K
Brooklyn, NY 11236
718-763-2244

Mill Basin Chanukah House Display Remembers Mumbai Terror Victims

Greetings All!

I know some of you probably cringed at my rhyming skills in the last post so I’ll save your brain a little undue pain and just write about the assignment I posted below.

After covering a Christmas party it was time to be with my own people for a Chanukah celebration. The Teitelbaums of Mill Basin hold an annual menorah lighting ceremony in front of their house so Neil asked me to head over for a write up and a few pictures. Since the Canarsie Courier started to write about the event it had been Neil covering it so I had his archived stories for models.

At first Neil told me to expect members of Temple Shalom as well as their rabbi and another leader of the congregation to run the ceremony but instead it was Rabbi Tomsky of the Yeshiva of Belle Harbor with a bunch of the kids and parents of that school. Rabbi Tomsky explained the 4 candles he would light then proceeded to light them. One of the teachers of his Hebrew school followed his ceremony by getting the kids into Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel and MANY other songs.

Despite the cold weather we had a good amount of people outside the Teitelbaum house. Enjoy the story and pictures from it below.

Sorry for the quality of the scan. If you are unable to view the text enough to read it then click the image to read the full article on the Canarsie Courier site.

Fillmore Avenue L Real Estate Hosts Festive Office Christmas Party

Greetings all!

In this new installment of Canarsie Courier work I had the pleasure of covering another event organized by the Avenue L Fillmore Real Estate owner Jean-Paul Ho.

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the Fillmore office not a child was quiet and either were their parents. The Christmas tree was decked out with gifts, the children watched Madagascar 2 while waiting for St. Nick. Alcohol for adults and soda for others, there were tons of children with their sisters and brothers. An Elf named Billy with a big candy cane, And Jean-Paul Ho’s wife with a Simon Says game. CollecoVision and dolls were the gifts of choice, they were a really big hit to the girls and the boys. Scroll down to the image below because you know it is time, that you’ve gotten really sick of reading my rhyme.

Due to an error by the Canarsie Courier web site designers some articles were omitted from the 12/18/08 site edition of the newspaper including my article. Therefore I hope you are able to read the scan of it. Click the image to see it bigger.

Canarsie Civic Association To Hold First Meeting of ‘09

Greetings all!

I’d like to apologize for the delay in posting my last article of the Fillmore Real Estate holiday party. I hope to have it scanned in and posted by Thursday night. Until then please have a look at my next assignment and see if you’d like to attend too.

The United South Canarsie Civic Association’s first meeting of ‘09
January 13, 2009 @ 7:30pm
The Hebrew Educational Society aka The H.E.S.
9502 Seaview Avenue (Bet. East 95th St. and St. Jude Pl.)

The United South Canarsie Civic Association holds meetings to discuss various topics of importance to the residents of Canarsie. Topics include school districts, crime, real estate zoning, neighborhood businesses, and much more. Attendees have a chance to bring their own issues to the meeting so I highly recommend joining me to see what can be accomplished when residents speak up.

Directions:

By Bus/Subway
1) L train to Rockaway Parkway then take the B42 (Just walk on. It’s free!) to Seaview Avenue and Rockaway Parkway. Cross over to the Shell gas station. Make a right and walk down past a row of stores and you’ll see a small playground setup. That’s the H.E.S. The main entrance is around the corner.
2) B42 (Just walk on. It’s free!) to Seaview Avenue and Rockaway Parkway. Cross over to the Shell gas station. Make a right and walk down past a row of stores and you’ll see a small playground setup. That’s the H.E.S. The main entrance is around the corner.
3) B17 to Rockaway Parkway and Seaview Avenue. It leaves you off at the Seaview Avenue side of an HSBC bank. Cross over to the Shell gas station. Walk straight past a row of stores and you’ll see a small playground setup. That’s the H.E.S. The main entrance is around the corner.
4) B103 to Avenue M and East 98th Street. Walk one block to Rockaway Parkway and Avenue M. Take B42 in front of the corner bodega to Seaview Avenue and Rockaway Parkway. Cross over to the Shell gas station. Make a right and walk down past a row of stores and you’ll see a small playground setup. That’s the H.E.S. The main entrance is around the corner.

Please check MTA Info for alternative routes.

By Car:
To get there in the smallest amount of time I’d suggest sticking with main streets. Rockaway Parkway and Remsen Avenue are the closest. For Rockaway Parkway you simply turn at the Shell gas station and drive down one block to East 96th Street. The H.E.S. is on the left. For Remsen Avenue you go to the end of it and you will see Canarsie Park aka Seaview Park. Make a left and drive to East 96th Street. The H.E.S. is on the right past the St. Jude Church. Flatlands Avenue is good to get to either of the roads I just mentioned.

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Held At MeadowWood At Gateway

Firstly, let me apologize for anyone waiting for my latest work to be posted this past Thursday.
Please enjoy my coverage of the MeadowWood tree lighting.

——-

Food, music, guests, VIPs, the occasion, and the location are just a handful of things that can make events memorable and successful. When I visited the MeadowWood at Gateway condominium complex in East New York, Brooklyn I immediately noticed how much fun the organizers had added to the party for the families of the complex. There was hot cocoa for everyone, a blown up bouncy moonwalk thing for the kids (sorry no clue what it’s call), free MeadowWood at Gateway bags for teens and adults, holiday music from big speakers, and much more.

Though, when it comes to events around Brooklyn, nothing says memorable more than a visit from Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. I’ve loved Marty as our president since he took the office from Howard Golden. I deemed him Brooklyn’s Ultimate Cheerleader and his flair for promoting the borough lives up to that reputation every time I see him. Whether he is in his signature all white suit on stage at Coney Island introducing a night’s free Summer concert, standing at the starting line of the Breast Cancer Walk of Prospect Park slapping five with everyone and thanking them, giving his extremely passionate speech to the graduating class of Brooklyn College every year, or from simple changes to Brooklyn such as highway signs welcoming people to Brooklyn or giving them a bon voyage, there is no one more likely to grab pompoms and stand there cheering on the people of his borough.

Imagine Marty as I will now describe and you may find it much funnier.

“I want you to close your eyes! Imagine the scene. Its 45 days from now. It’s the White House. A big crowd is around. President Obama and Mrs. Obama are there looking at a helicopter behind the crowd. There’s a little staircase leading up to the helicopter and George Bush is going up the stairs (Marty moves like he’s creeping up stairs). He stops, turns around to the crowd, and he goes like this (Marty waves slowly). The crowd goes like this (Marty waves quickly). President Obama and Mrs. Obama, of course being polite, goes like this (Marty waves slowly again). George Bush enters the helicopter, the door is closes, and the helicopter takes off. Then everyone in the crowd, President Obama, and Mrs. Obama all go like this (Marty bounces around the stage with a big smile on his face and arms raised in triumph). Hope you enjoy the rest of the story in the article and the pictures from that night.

Sorry for the quality of the scan. If you are unable to view the text enough to read it then click on the image to read the full article on the Canarsie Courier site.

Holiday House Display and Menorah Lighting Reminders

Reminder #1)

Next Tuesday night I will be heading to Mill Basin to cover a Menorah lighting ceremony. Everyone who is free is welcome to stop by! You don’t have to be Jewish to appreciate the meaning of the Menorah or the traditions and history of Chanukah so come on out and join me!. Here is the info:

Come join members of Temple Shalom, residents of Mill Basin and Old Mill Basin, the Temple Sholom Hebrew School Chorus, distinguished guests and others for the annual lighting of the Teitelbaum Family Menorah. Dan and Beth Teitelbaum have been setting up Chanukah displays in their front yard for years and try to add a new element to it each year such as last year’s giant spinning dreidels and mini-menorahs. Their prized display piece is a life-sized menorah with electric candles, which they have blessed by two rabbis. This year the menorah comes out once again and I would love to see many people, of all religions, come out to see it get blessed and lit.

Here is the info that was given to me earlier:
Tuesday December 23rd, 2008
Approximately 6pm
6222 Ave. T
(bet. Mill Ave and East 63rd St)
Old Mill Basin, Brooklyn

Directions:

By Subway/Bus:
1) Q train to Avenue U then B3 bus to Avenue U and Mill Avenue. Walk one block up Mill Avenue to Avenue T then a little down Avenue T and you’re there.
2) B47 bus to Avenue T and Mill Avenue. Walk a little down Avenue T and you’re there.
For info on how to connect to the above buses or to figure out any possible alternate routes then just go to http://tripplanner.mta.info/ and fill in your starting area and 6222 Ave. T in Brooklyn for your destination.

By Car:
Possibly the easiest route is to take the Belt Parkway to Exit 11N Flatbush Avenue NB (Northbound). DO NOT take the SB exit. It leads to Floyd Bennett Field, Marine Parkway Bridge, and Gateway National Recreation Area. If you’re on the side of the SB exit side then simply find another exit to circle around and get to the NB one you need.

If you’re not a fan of the highway or live close enough to not need it then here is a few main streets you can take:
1) Flatbush Avenue to Avenue U by the Kings Plaza. Turn left onto Avenue U and follow it down to Mill Avenue. Make another left and go one block to Avenue T.
2) Ralph Avenue straight down until you get to a fork in the road with a stop light. Stay on the left side and turn with the traffic to the left. Ralph Avenue becomes Mill Avenue. Go 2 blocks down to Avenue T.
Please consult your own map or GPS device for alternate routes.

Reminder #2)

There is still plenty of time to come to Canarsie and marvel at the bright, beautiful, and amazingly put together holiday display of the Seddio Family House. Every year Frank Seddio adds another piece to his fantastic display and hundreds nay thousands possibly flock to view it, take pictures of it, or take pictures of people by it.

Directions:

By Subway/Bus:
1) L train to Canarsie/Rockaway Parkway (End of the route in Brooklyn). Leave the station and go to the other side of the gate. Take either the B82 (which are all local) or B6 (Local) to East 92nd Street and Flatlands Avenue. Trust me you’ll know you’ve gotten to the right stop. If you want to take the B6 (Express) then simply get off at Remsen Avenue and Flatlands Avenue and walk back two blocks.
2) B82 or B6 heading towards Canarsie follow the same idea as in #1.
3) B17 to Remsen Avenue and Flatlands Avenue then walk two blocks. You’ll have no problem seeing which direction to walk.

By Car:
1) Belt Parkway to Exit 13 Rockaway Parkway.
A) Eastbound people will exit the Belt onto the Canarsie Pier traffic circle. Follow it all the way around and you’ll end up on Rockaway Parkway. Go straight down Rockaway Parkway to Flatlands Avenue. Make a Left and go to East 92nd Street.
B) Westbound people will exit the Belt onto a side street next to the Bayview Project Houses at a traffic light. Make a right onto Rockaway Parkway and head straight to Flatlands Avenue. Make a Left and go to East 92nd Street.

If you’re not a fan of the highway or live close enough to not need it then head to Flatlands Avenue and go straight down to East 92nd Street. Flatlands Avenue intersects with quite a bit of busy avenues such as Remsen, Utica, and Flatbush. You can also take Kings Highway to Avenue N then follow Avenue N straight because it changes into Flatlands Avenue.

Time To Bring Out the Menorah and Dreidels

It’s almost that time of year when candles are lit, gifts are given, spinning toys (dreidels) are played with for a chance of winning chocolate money (or hopefully the real thing), potato pancakes (latkes) with apple sauce are eaten, and families reunite. For those not of the Jewish faith, I am referring to Chanukah. Eight days of gifts, eight days of wine, eight days of fun, eight days of memories, memorials, and more.

Chanukah aka the Festival of Lights will be starting, according to www.when-is.com, on Monday December 22nd. I should know that because I am Jewish but, alas, I am not much into the beliefs of most religions so yay for Google.

With the start of this celebration comes many houses with candles shining brightly from their windows. One house in particular will have the lights shining really brightly from their front yard.

Come join members of Temple Shalom, residents of Mill Basin and Old Mill Basin, the Temple Sholom Hebrew School Chorus, distinguished guests and others for the annual lighting of the Teitelbaum Family Menorah. Dan and Beth Teitelbaum have been setting up Chanukah displays in their front yard for years and try to add a new element to it each year such as last year’s giant spinning dreidels and mini menorahs. Their prized display piece is a life-sized menorah with electric candles, which they have blessed by two rabbis. This year the menorah comes out once again and I would love to see many people, of all religions, come out to see it get blessed and lit.

Here is the info that was given to me earlier:
Tuesday December 23rd, 2008
Approximately 6pm
6222 Ave. T
(bet. Mill Ave and East 63rd St)
Old Mill Basin, Brooklyn

Real Estate and Holidays Combo Pattern Continues and a Reminder

I’ve been asked to cover the holiday party at Jean-Paul Ho’s Fillmore Real Estate on Avenue L this Saturday. I’m not quite sure yet what pictures I’m supposed to get but I’m guessing there will be a few political representatives plus Marty Cohen and his staff from the Log Cabin Fillmore Realty on Flatlands Avenue. I remember that the Fillmore on Ave L is pretty small so I’m not sure how much room I’ll have to get decent pictures but I’ll give it a go. The article and pictures will be in next week’s issue.

A reminder: The article and pictures of the MeadowWood at Gateway Tree Lighting and Holiday Party will be published in tomorrow’s issue so go pick one up to see the great people and activities of that night! Hot cocoa, free gifts, hilarious speech by Marty Markowitz, and more! Very well organized. I’ll have a little more of the background of the story such as Marty’s speech when I post the article on this blog. Until then enjoy the issue tomorrow!

Holiday Display Grand Opening Reminder

Quoted from a postcard I received from Assemblyman Alan Maisel,

I am very pleased to once again have the opportunity to invite you, your family and friends to attend the Grand Opening of Canarsie’s annual Christmas and Holiday display. I have been asked by the Seddio Family to host this year’s official opening, which will be on Sunday, December 7, 2008. The festivities will start at 5:00pm. The Seddio’s Christmas House is located at the corner of Flatlands Avenue and East 93rd Street.

Of course, this event would not be complete without an official visit from “Santa Claus,” direct from the North Pole. He will be joined by a host of costumed characters and greet each child personally as he sits on his Christmas throne at the center of the display.

We will also light a special Menorah to celebrate Hanukkah and a Kwanzaa candle as well.

Each year this display is dedicated to the memory of a local community member. This year’s display will honor the memory of James Haver, a long time Canarsie resident and community activist. Jim was very active in the Knights of Columbus, The Canarsie Lions, Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, and the Canarsie Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Have a Happy Holiday Season
Sincerely,
Alan N. Maisel
Assemblyman