Friends of Brooklyn Community Board 6
June 2016, Vol 7, issue 06     
Welcome to The Sixth Sense - the monthly newsletter of Brooklyn Community Board 6, serving the neighborhoods of Carroll Gardens/South Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Columbia Street Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope and Red Hook.


See that little round button to the right that says "Donate to Friends"? That clickable link will bring you to a place where you can make a donation to the Friends of Brooklyn CB6, Inc. And since our Friends group is a bona fide 501-c-3 non-profit organization, donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Not only does our Friends group provide this handy-dandy monthly electronic newsletter to fill you in on Brooklyn CB6 general meetings and happenings taking place throughout the district, but we also provide additional services to the community in the form of facilitating access to competitively priced solar energy, helping to explore resiliency planning in Red Hook, and acting as a non-profit funding conduit for artists, local neighbors, and other special interest groups who are working to improve the social welfare of our district every single day. We generally provide support to the Community Board in research, planning, advocacy and organizing for the social welfare of our district.

Did you know that our Community Board has a City-funded budget to the tune of roughly $210,000? That is the total budget which must pay for the salaries, equipment, and supplies to run our district office. Our district serves over 104,000 residents, thousands of businesses, dozens of non-profit organizations, and supports the work of thousands and thousands of municipal employees charged with keeping our district safe, clean and attractive for the people who live, work and visit here.

Every dollar raised by our Friends group is used to supplement the Community Board's scant budget. If every single one of our residents donated $2 a year, we would double our operating budget. These additional resources are used to help keep the office current in terms of technology, pays for auxiliary staff, and provides supplemental supplies and equipment. We have also successfully obtained many grants which have funded studies of our district such as the Gowanus Brownfield Opportunity Area study, the Gowanus Industrial Business Improvement District investigation, the Solarize Brooklyn CB6: Here Comes Solar campaign, and other initiatives that would not have otherwise been possible.

Normally, non-profits wait until the end of the year to solicit donations for their organization. At that time we compete with all of the other wonderful, worthwhile organizations who are also providing essential services to our district. So we're trying something a little different and rolling out an early appeal for donations. Every bit helps. Please consider making your tax deductible donation to Friends of Brooklyn CB6, Inc. today. Just click the blue "Donate to Friends" button. And, thank you for your consideration and support!

Stay active and engaged. It's our community! 


Enjoy our newsletter, and please let us know what you would like to see in future editions.

P.S. If you like what you see here, please use the "Forward email" link at the bottom of the page to pass this email along to a friend or two.  There are over 104,000 residents and thousands of businesses in our district.  We'd love it if they would all sign up!

 
Rooftop Solar Information Session
Tuesday, June 29th, 6:30pm
Carroll Gardens Association
201 Columbia St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Speaker:
  • Solar One's Here Comes Solar,
    who will educate you on the ins & outs of purchasing a traditional solar array. HCS signs up clusters of households and businesses to install solar using economies of scale. 
Are you solar-curious? Missed out on signing up last season? This event is for you.

------
Our Solarize 2: Sun for All Partners:

Sustainable CUNY has launched their The NYC Shared Solar Portal that connects interested customers with viable host sites built by trusted installers.

Solar One's Here Comes Solar (HCS)
HCS signs up clusters of households and businesses to install solar using economies of scale. Learn about your solar cost savings and your building's solar potential.


Photos from Solar Sunday: Open Houses in May lead by Here Comes Solar's Angelica





Red Hook Emergency Check In Program
Storm-Proof Red Hook is a new initiative designed to create a check-in support system for Red Hook seniors, medically fragile residents, and people with disabilities in times of crisis.

Our goals are twofold: we want to bridge the gap between residents who may be isolated and need extra assistance in an emergency and advanced medical care/support, and we also want to build local health knowledge in everyday, non-crisis times.

Please come to the first public meeting/open forum to discuss on Wednesday, June 22, from 6:30-8:30 pm, at the Miccio Center to find out more about how you can get involved. We are looking for both Red Hook-based volunteers, as well as volunteers from surrounding neighborhoods like Carroll Gardens, Gowanus and Park Slope, to collaborate with us in a series of design-led workshops to share your feedback and ideas. We are looking specifically for volunteers who this initiative may ultimately serve-seniors, residents who have a medical condition, and people with disabilities, as your feedback and involvement is crucial. We are also looking for residents who are interested in taking a leadership role in supporting their neighbors.

About the creators of this initiative: Aran Baker is a design strategist and urban practitioner. She holds an MS in Design and Urban Ecologies from Parsons School of Design, and also teaches a course about climate change and resiliency at Parsons. Matthew Kraushar is a combined MD/PhD candidate at Rutgers-RWJMS-Princeton Physician Scientist Program, and helped organize a voluntary medical relief effort in Red Hook in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Public Meeting/Open Forum
June 22, 6:30-8:30pm
Miccio Center Cafeteria
110 West 9th Street
Take the Street Fair Survey!


Street fairs are annual community events that offer neighbors and visitors an opportunity to purchase food, goods and services. The Mayor's Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management wants to hear from you. Whether or not you have visited these community events, your opinion matters!

Share your thoughts about street fairs by June 30th at  nyc.gov/streetfairsurvey
Join A Brooklyn CB6 Committee
Now is the time of year that Brooklyn CB6 invites the public to apply to join one of our standing committees for our upcoming annual 2016-17 session. Individuals who would like to serve on a committee may apply online or request a form from our district office, and return it to us by the end of June.

Appointments are for a one-year term beginning September 1st. Notification letters are sent out in August.

Committees that are open for public membership include:
* Economic/Waterfront/Community Development & Housing
* Environmental Protection/Permits & Licenses
* Landmarks/Land Use
* Parks/Recreation/Cultural Affairs
* Transportation/Public Safety
* Youth/Human Services/Education

Please do not apply to join a committee if you anticipate possible scheduling conflicts. And if you're not sure if you're ready to make the commitment, all of our committee meetings are open to the public anyway, so feel free to starting attending meetings at your convenience.

To learn more about what our committees do, and find out when they meet (they all meet on regular fixed nights), please visit the Committees section of our website.
What Do those Sprayed Lines Mean?

Photo by  Susan Catherine

Have you ever wondered what those colorful hieroglyphics are for, dotting our streets and sidewalks, then often fading away? These lines, arrows and other shapes indicate the presence of infrastructure below ground for construction or maintenance workers to keep track of, so they can avoid damaging our critical services. 

Here's the color key:

Red electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables
Orange telecommunication, alarm, signal, cables, or conduit 
Yellow natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or other gaseous or flammable material 
Green sewers and drain lines
Blue drinking water 
Purple reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry lines
Pink temporary survey markings, unknown/unidentified facilities
White proposed excavation limits or route

Just because your street is marked, does not always mean digging is confirmed. Often the lines are placed there for planning purposes only. If you are curious to know if any permits have been issued for work where you see the lines, use DOT's handy Online Active Street Construction Permits Tool. If you don't find answers there, contact CB6 Assistant District Manager Ty Beatty (adm@brooklyncb6.org) to see if he can do some digging to find you an answer. 

To learn the history of how we have a uniform marking system, read this article on Smithsonian.com
Things to do in the District

  Smith Street Stage, The Tempest,  Photography by  Chris Montgomery

May various dates
ArtLab Gowanus is a popup structure on the Whole Foods Esplanade that will host monthly site-specific FREE art workshops. The "lab" is a steel-framed pop-up structure that provides flexible workspace for groups and individuals. Sedums will inhabit the green roof; the floor will additionally feature a watershed mural. The structure thus becomes an educational opportunity itself while it hosts other workshops.Check out the Gowanus Canal Conservancy’s website for descriptions, dates and times.

Thursday June 2, 7-10 pm
Based on last year's rousing success, ArtWorks is back in 2016 bigger and better! Join us to celebrate the arts and artists in the Gowanus neighborhood, AND TAKE HOME ONE PIECE OF ORIGINAL ARTWORK from a Gowanus artist. All while supporting the critical mission of Arts Gowanus to promote, support and advocate for local artists and a sustainable arts community in the Gowanus neighborhood. Enjoy drinks, delicious appetizers, and desserts. Meet artists and art lovers. And support the work of Arts Gowanus. Location:Gowanus Loft. $270

Saturday, June 4, 7pm-10pm
JJ Byrne Swings Benefit Party: Dinner, Drinks & Dancing in the Park (for grownups only). To sustain gardens, play and recreation in JJ Byrne Playground & Washington Park. $65 Location: J.J. Byrne Playground, 344 5th Avenue.

Saturday, June 4, 2 & 4pm
The Waterfront Museum is excited to present an exhibition and multimedia performance piece titled "Embodiment" aboard the Waterfront Museum's historic barge in Red Hook. In her paintings and performance art, French-born, Brooklyn-based Stephanie Corne transforms the traditional canvas workspace into a multi-dimensional stage, painting her subjects in real time. The show offers a provocative and intimate performance, the painting of dancers "into" beautiful large-size canvases.

Tuesday, June 7 doors 7pm, show 8pm
Punderdome® is New York City's wild & crazy monthly pun competition created and hosted by comedian Jo Firestone and her "Rodney Dangerfield impersonator" alleged dad, Fred. Part of New York's comedy landscape since 2011, the Punderdome® has been a regular fixture at Littlefield since 2012. The first 18 individuals/duos to sign-up at the door have a chance to participate in competitive spontaneous pun-making. Pun-masters are determined by the "Human Clap-O-Meter" who "accurately and scientifically" assesses levels of audience applause. "Mystery Box" prizes are awarded to the top two competitors. Warning for the faint of heart: the 'Dome is THE spectator sport, it gets loud - decide to attend at your own risk! $10

Wednesday June 8-26 at 7:30pm
This June, Smith Street Stage will present its seventh annual installment of the Shakespeare in Carroll Park series with Shakespeare's swan song, The Tempest, a darkly comic story of magic, romance, revenge and forgiveness. Smith Street Stage Artistic Director Beth Ann Hopkins directs this year's production. Performances run from in Brooklyn's Carroll Park. All performances are free to the public.

Wednesday June 8, 6:30pm
Mold in Red Hook Houses: Storytelling. Join the Affordable Red Hook Campaign to listen to stories about mold issues in the Red Hook Houses and how we can come together to take action. Location: Red Hook Initiative, 767 Hicks Street Brooklyn NY 11231. Questions: contact Ben at 917-225-9988 or email bfgoogins@carrollgardensassociation.com

June 9-11
Dance Theatre Etcetera's 23rd Annual Red Hook Fest! Red Hook Fest features an exciting lineup of dance companies and bands, including Meta and the Cornerstones and Max Pollak/RumbaTap, plus more than 100 youth performers. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Every year the harbor-side neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn comes together for a summer jump-off. The Red Hook Fest features a global lineup of extraordinarily talented bands and dance companies, plus free activities for all ages like kayak rides in New York Harbor, face-painting, and an interactive scavenger hunt.

Saturday, June 11, all day
Brooklyn Pride. Street Festival: 5th Avenue, 3rd-9th Streets, 11:00am-5:00pm. Kid's Space at the Old Stone House, 11:00am-5:00pm. Twilight Parade: Douglass to 9th Streets, 7:00pm.

Wednesday, June 15, 6pm-8pm
Gowanus Dredgers Meeting. Join us to discuss needs of and priorities for the Gowanus Canal, Bay and Watershed, in the context of the larger NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary.This is an opportunity to discuss lessons learned and upcoming challenges, and how they relate to needs across the Harbor & Estuary. The discussion will inform NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Program's 2017 Action Agenda, which will guide how HEP uses its funding, programmatic, and research capacities to carry out our shared goals. It will also inform the ongoing Gowanus Greenscape planning process for a vibrant open space network centered on the Canal.Snacks will be provided! Please RSVP to ensure we have enough snacks and seats: Andrea - andrea [at] gowanuscanalconservancy.org or 718.541.4378 Location: 543 Union (enter via Alley)

Sunday, June 19, 12-6pm
Park Slope's annual Seventh Heaven Street Fair. From Flatbush Avenue to 18th Street. Food-Crafts-Rides-Antiques-Art.

Wednesday June 22, 6:30pm
Southwest Brooklyn Tenants' Union General Meeting. SBTU brings together residents and allies to address housing issues as a community. We meet the 4th Wednesday of every month, all are welcome! Location: Carroll Gardens Association, 201 Columbia Street Brooklyn NY 11231Questions: contact Ben at 917-225-9988 or email bfgoogins@carrollgardensassociation.com

Thursday June 23, 6:30pm
Film Screening and Discussion of My Brooklyn. Join the Affordable Red Hook Campaign to watch the documentary My Brooklyn and discuss how we can organize for equitable development in Red Hook. Location: Miccio Center, 110 West 9th Street Brooklyn NY 11231. Questions: contact Ben at 917-225-9988 or email bfgoogins@carrollgardensassociation.com

Friday, June 24th, 7pm
Psychedelics and Death: A Brief Introduction, with Dr. Neal Goldsmith Ph.D. The concept and at times the actuality of death always attends the psychedelic experience. This lecture will provide a brief overview of the many ways in which death influences the psychedelic experience. It will also offer a recontextualization of that relationship, providing a broader conceptual umbrella for the various ways in which death infuses and informs the psychedelic mindset, in ways which better resonate with the modern worldview. Admission: $12 Location: Morbid Anatomy Museum, 424 Third Avenue.
Tickets Here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2539561

July & August, 8:30pm
Red Hook Flicks Presents Summer Movies on The Pier. Free movies on the water and under the watch of Lady Liberty. Red Hook Flicks are shown at the Valentino Park & Pier on the waterfront. FREE. Schedule TBA.

Remembering Inspector Michael Ameri
 
We join the community in mourning the death of former 78th Precinct Commanding Officer Michael Ameri. Our condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and those who are grieving his loss.
Friends of Brooklyn Community Board 6, Inc.  supports the work of Brooklyn Community Board 6 in improving the quality of life in the district.  Friends seeks to provide planning, advocacy, research and administrative resources to supplement the limited capacities and budget of the Community Board, thus enabling it to properly carry out its City Charter mandated tasks of evaluating the needs of the district and advocating on behalf of its communities.
 
Friends of Brooklyn Community Board 6, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Federal EIN 04-3780020).

Donations are welcome and are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
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  hashtag: #BKcb6
General Board Meeting

photo by Bryan Bruchman
  
6:30pm, June 8
Prospect Park YMCA
357 9th Street, 7th Floor
(between 5th/6th Avenues)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
 

(Board members are encouraged to supply corrections to minutes.)

All posted meetings are open to the public; however, participation may be limited.
Who's Who at #BKcb6

CB6 2016 Officers:
Sayar Lonial,
Chairperson
Mike Racioppo,
First Vice Chairperson
Pauline Blake,
Second Vice Chairperson
● Jerry Armer,
Treasurer
● Ariel Krasnow,
Secretary

CB6 Committee Chairs:
● Jerry Armer,
Finance/Personnel & Law
● Richard Bashner,
Waterfront/Community Development
● Paige Bellenbaum,
Human Services
● Peter Fleming,
Land Use; Elections
● Glenn Kelly,
Parks/Recreation/Cultural Affairs
● Ariel Krasnow,
Housing
Sayar Lonial,
Executive
● Robert Levine,
Landmarks
● Rick Luftglass,
Budget; Economic Development
● Eric McClure,
Transportation, Co-Chair
● Thomas Miskel,
Transportation, Co-Chair
● Mike Racioppo,
Permits & Licenses
● Mark C. Shames,
Environmental Protection
● Matthew Silverman,
Public Safety
● Suzanne Turet,
Education
● Robert Underwood,
Youth Services

District Office Staff:
District Manager
Ty Beatty ,
Assistant District Manager 
Community Associate 
Sarah N. Phillips,
Special Projects Manager
Office Volunteer 
 
Newsletter Production:    
● Craig Hammerman, 
Editor-in-Chief
Sarah N. Phillips,
Managing Editor 
QUICK CLICKS
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden wants to understand the impacts of the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest and how to make it better. If your block has ever participated in the contest, please consider completing BBG's 10-minute survey . Questions? Call (718) 623-7209 or email

CitiBike, which is due to expand the NYC Bike Share program here in the district is hiring. Jobs are currently available as drivers, customer service agents and group sales representatives. Seasonal work is also available. Click here for more information.
 
The Department of Parks & Recreation is looking to hire lifeguards for their 2016 swim season! Parks' beaches open each Memorial Day weekend and are open through Sunday, September 13. Pools are open from late June through Labor Day. Lifeguards work 48 hours each week and first-year lifeguards will earn a minimum of $13.57 an hour, for a weekly salary of over $650.00. Think you're whistle worthy? Find out how to join.

Last autumn, Prospect Park Track Club started a Grants Program to support running projects in Brooklyn. The program considers requests up to $1,000 from a variety of organizations, such as community groups, educational programs, and after-school clubs.So far, we've given over $5,000 to worthy causes around the borough, and we're ready to give more. Our third round of funding - for fall programs - is open until Thursday, June 16 at 5:00 p.m. The application form is available on our website at pptc.org/grants. 

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

FROM THE CB6 AREA

Available at Fairway, Pathmark, Met Foods & other fine local institutions

www.redhookstar.com
info@redhookstar.com

George Fiala
Kimberly Price
Publishers 
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