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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.
It's November. Our time to leave our mark on the community before we hibernate for winter. We're busy trying to get as much outdoor work done as we can before the weather turns against us. We're harvesting. We're gathering up leaves. We're replanting. We're nesting, purging and settling in for the season. How will you leave your mark?
November is also the month dedicated to raising awareness about men's health issues. It's been renamed Movember, a portmanteau of "moustache" and "November." Across the globe men and women are busy raising funds while men let their facial hair grow. So far New Yorkers have raised over $140,000 to help.
It's our community. Make it beautiful. Keep it safe. Stay involved!
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 to a friend" 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!
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Solarize Brooklyn CB6 is a program to help residents and small businesses 'go solar' and save money. This program will provide education about solar, guidance on the process of installing solar, and group discounts from a competitively selected installer.
Solarize programs use economies of scale so that as more residents and small businesses sign up to go solar, all participants receive a greater discount. Curious about how much solar you could install on your home or business? Visit the NYC Solar Map to find out.
Solarize Brooklyn CB6 is in the process of launching (Fall 2014) and will run through the Spring of 2015. To learn more, please complete this form to be notified of the program launch and volunteer opportunities to help solarize the Brooklyn CB6 community.
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NYC's New Speed Limit 25 MPH
As of November 7, 2014, the new default speed limit for New York City will be reduced from 30 MPH to 25 MPH wherever there are no posted speed limit signs. The existing gateway signs that read "NYC LAW SPEED LIMIT 30 UNLESS OTHERWISE POSTED" will be changed to new signs that reflect the new lowered speed limit.
Some larger streets, such as limited access highways or major arterial streets, have posted speed limits of 30 MPH and above; these will remain in place while the Department of Transportation evaluates these locations. Some smaller streets where traffic calming measures have been implemented, like schools, are signed for speeds less than 25 MPH. All streets that do not have a posted speed limit will have a speed limit of 25 MPH on November 7th.
New York City is reducing its speed limit in order to make the city safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers, and help meet the City's goal of bringing traffic fatalities to zero. Data shows that driving at or below 25 MPH improves drivers' ability to avoid crashes. Pedestrians struck by vehicles traveling at 25 MPH are half as likely to die as those struck at 30 MPH.
The penalty for violating the speed limit will not change. The penalty for exceeding the speed limit for most drivers ranges from $150-600 depending on how many miles per hour over the speed limit the motorist was traveling, and how many speeding tickets the driver had previously acquired.
For more information about the City's efforts to reduce traffic fatalities and improve safety, known as Vision Zero, visit www.nyc.gov/visionzero.
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Save the Date: Annual Holiday Party
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Monday, December 15th, 6-9pm
Location: TBA
Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 at the door
Ticket price entitles you to a delicious meal, unlimited laughs and cheer. Cash bar.
(We encourage our guests to "round up" the ticket price to $50 to include a small donation for Friends of Brooklyn CB6, Inc.) All are invited! Everyone is welcome!
Every year we host a party to give our volunteer Board Members, Committee Members, family, friends and neighbors a chance to mingle in a place other than a meeting venue.
Tickets can be purchased in advance by clicking here or by sending a check made out to: "Friends of Brooklyn Community Board 6, Inc.", 250 Baltic Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201-6401. The party also serves as a fundraiser for Friends of Brooklyn CB6. To that end, we're also soliciting donations of goods and services for our fiercely competitive raffle. Sponsorship opportunities for the party are also available.
To donate a raffle prize please contact [email protected].
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 Construction Updates
DOT recently released an Important Notice announcing weekend daytime lane closures on two Gowanus Canal bridges to continue restoration of the bridges' operating mechanism. The work will take place on November 8, 9, 15, and 16. One lane will be closed on the 3rd Street Bridge from 7am until noon, and on the Union Street Bridge from noon until 5pm Through-traffic will be maintained.
When there are heavy rains and the sewer system is at capacity, a mixture of rainwater and sewage, called combined sewage, may overflow into a local waterway as a combined sewage overlow (CSO). The City's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is developing a CSO Long Term Control Plan that will identify and evaluate alternatives to improve water quality in the Gowanus Canal. DEP is also working with the EPA under the Superfund process to site and design CSO retention tanks. DEP is hosting a Public Meeting on the Gowanus CSO Long Term Control Plan on November 19th, 6-8pm at PS 32, 317 Hoyt Street (at Union Street).
In addition to DEP, National Grid is also working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), other potentially responsible parties, and the community to develop the remedy so it results in an effective cleanup of the Gowanus Canal. For its part, National Grid quickly recognized the challenge of cleaning up the Gowanus Canal and stepped up to be part of the solution. Recently, National Grid put up a website dedicated to the clean up of the Gowanus Canal.
The Lightstone Group is constructing a 700-unit residential development and public waterfront esplanade park at 363-365 Bond Street and 388 Carroll Street in Gowanus. Upcoming work includes: Remaining foundation work at 365 Bond Street, Superstructure work at 365 Bond Street, Site remediation at 363 Bond Street, Test piles at 363 Bond Street, Surveying and layout. During the fall, the community can expect increased manpower and truck deliveries during hours of operation (Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm, some weekend work will be scheduled as needed). Signs, advisories, and temporary construction barriers to guide traffic and pedestrians and promote safety. Check out their latest Construction Update. |
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Things to do in the District
Thursday, November 6, 11am-3pm
The Second Annual Fred L. Mazzilli Lung Cancer Screening Awareness Day will feature free blood pressure and spirometry screenings, giveaways, celebrity appearances and an educational lecture. Light refreshments will be served. The event will take place at the Hospital's Carrington Pavilion Atrium, located at 506 Sixth Street. Call 718.780.5367 for more information and to register. (registration required)
Sunday November 9, 4-7pm
at Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club. We're kicking off our Giving Tuesday #ChipIn fundraising events with an evening of games and you're invited. Tickets cost $25 and include a drink and hours of shuffleboard fun. Every pair of tickets we sell will raise enough money to pay for 15 meals at our soup kitchen. So grab a friend (or even better, a group of friends) and buy your tickets from the event page now.
Tuesday, November 11, 11am Veterans Day Observance Ceremony, sponsored by the Court Street Merchants Association. Location: Carroll Park, Court-President Streets.
Wednesday November 12, 2014, 6:30-8pm The Gowanus Canal Conservancy presents:The Rise & Fall of the Gowanus Canal by Joseph Alexiou. The history of the Gowanus Canal--from its natural origins as a tidal estuary to its creation as a navigable, man-made waterway and sewer--can be viewed as a microscope for following the rise and fall of the industrial age in America, as well as the city of New York. Location: FIND Furnishings 43 9th Street. Cost: $5.
Sunday, November 16, 11am-3pmThe Gowanus Canal Conservancy �Composting Gowanus! November Windrow Build. We will incorporate our monthly 8,000 lbs of food-scraps from GrowNYC into our November compost windrow. Meeting location: Salt Lot, 2 Second Ave, (between 5th St and the canal). Dress appropriately with closed-toed shoes and work clothes. Event is open to volunteers of all ages. Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. To participate email: [email protected]Sunday, November 16, 10am-7pm Software for Artists Day (S4AD) at Pioneer Works
brings together artists and developers to illustrate the many new software and hardware tools available to contemporary art practice. The day-long event will involve lectures, demonstrations, and conversations which will demystify the most sought-after technology in use today. Breakfast and refreshments will be provided. Lunch will be available for purchase from local vendors. The day will culminate with a happy hour during which participants can talk about ideas, make connections, and find collaborators. Cost: $25
Tuesday, November 18, 6:30-9pmJoin Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) and Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC) for their Benefit Bash! to support our Homeownership, Foreclosure Prevention, Eviction Prevention, Tenant Organizing and Post-Sandy assistance programs with a festive night of drinks, hors d'oeuvres, light dinner and entertainment at Union Hall in Park Slope! Tickets start at $50.
Sunday, November 23, 7-10pm
The classic sci-fi film Soylent Green will be the launching point for a discussion about criminal and food injustice. In the year 2022 New York City is crowded with the homeless and hungry. While most are barely kept alive by state-rationed soylent green, the elite live in luxury high-rises stocked with delicacies. This discussion will be facilitated by Kevin Quirolo. Limited space - please sign up by emailing [email protected] Location: Interference Archive, 131 8th Street, #4
Monday November 24, 8pm - 10pmCharred remains: Spontaneous Human Combustion & You at the Morbid Anatomy Museum This talk will explore the hot topic of spontaneous human combustion. Find out how and if this can happen to you and see images of those who have been purified by fire (and left a few remnants to show for it). Professor Karen Bachmann, who has a long-standing interest in Spontaneous Human Combustion, and who has written on the subject of human body part relics, will sift through these remains during this heavily illustrated lecture. Location: 424A 3rd Avenue, Cost: $8Thursday November 27, 9amProspect Park Track Club's Turkey Trot 5-miler. One of the biggest Brooklyn Running Events of the Year! This 5 mile spectacular is the perfect way to kick off your holiday season! 9am start time guarantees all will make it in time for turkey. Walkers Welcome. Medals to all registered finishers.
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Friends of Brooklyn Community Board 6, Inc. was established in 2003 to support 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).
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General Board Meeting
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photo by Bryan Bruchman
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6:30pm, November 12th78th Police Precinct65 6th Avenue, 4th Floor (btw Bergen/Dean Sts) Brooklyn, NY 11217
(Board members are encouraged to supply corrections to minutes.)
All posted meetings are open to the public; however, participation may be limited.
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Who's Who at #BKcb6
● Daniel M. Kummer,
Chairperson
● Thomas Miskel,
First Vice Chairperson
● Pauline Blake,
Second Vice Chairperson
● Gary Reilly,
Treasurer
● Ariel Krasnow,
Secretary
● Richard Bashner,
Waterfront/Community Development
● Paige Bellenbaum,
Human Services, Co-Chair
● Peter Fleming,
Land Use; Elections
● Glenn Kelly,
Parks/Recreation/Cultural Affairs
● Ariel Krasnow,
Housing
● Daniel M. Kummer,
Executive
● Robert Levine,
Landmarks
● Sayar Lonial,
Transportation, Co-Chair
● Rick Luftglass,
Budget;Economic Development
● Thomas Miskel,
Transportation, Co-Chair
● Gary Reilly,
Finance/Personnel & Law; Permits & Licenses
● Mark C. Shames,
Environmental Protection
● Matthew Silverman,
Public Safety
● Benjamin Solotaire,
Human Services, Co-Chair
● Suzanne Turet,
Education, Chair
● Craig Hammerman,
District Manager
● LeRoy P. Branch, Jr.
Assistant District Manager
● Liza Santiago-Sierra,
Community Associate
● Sarah N. Phillips,
Special Projects Coordinator
● Helena Miskel,
Office Volunteer ● John Parsons, Planning Fellow ● Josh Thompson, Planning Fellow
● Craig Hammerman,
Editor-in-Chief
● Sarah N. Phillips,
Managing Editor
● Thomas Diana,
Contributing Writer
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GOOD & WELFARE Do you or someone you know owe more than $1,000 in Child Support Debt? The City's Human Resources Administration is offering special incentives to help Pay It Off, available from November 12th through December 31st. Call (212) 274-6000 for more information. Congratulations to the New York City Marathoners, all of whom visited our district while running along 4th Avenue! Special shout outs to: Paul Nelson, formerly of the Prospect Park Alliance, who finished in 4:00 (running for New York Flyers). This was Paul's 51st marathon!Captain Justin Lenz, C.O. of the 76th Precinct, who finished in 4:14 (running for NYPD). Rob Underwood, member of our Youth Services Committee, who finished in 5:09 (running for the Prospect Park Track Club)
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QUICK CLICKS
PAVE Academy Charter School, located at 732 Henry Street in Community School District 15, has applied for a charter revision to appoint PAVE Schools, Inc. as the management company of the school. A public hearing will be held on November 6th. Do you Love Your Block? Show it! Citizens Committee for New York City and NYC Service invite your neighborhood group to apply for a Love Your Block Grant. Grants of up to $1,000 are awarded for block beautification projects that utilize City services from the Department of Parks & Recreation, Department of Transportation, and the Department of Sanitation. Grant deadline is November 7th.
Each year, DOT partners with community groups to present Weekend Walks - multi-block neighborhood events on commercial streets temporarily closed to vehicles and opened to walking and other activities. Business improvement districts, cultural organizations, local merchants' associations and community groups host Weekend Walks as a fun way to highlight local businesses, and neighborhood resources. If you are interested in organizing a Weekend Walk in 2015, download the Request for Expressions of Interest, complete the application and return it by November 21st.
Those accepted into the program will attend a minimum of eight training sessions at the zoo. Topics include conservation, biology, and informal learning. The application deadline is December 29th. Training begins on Jan. 18, 2015.
Through its Homebase prevention program, DHS helps keep New York City families stably housed in their homes and out of shelter. This is a vital collaborative effort with other city agencies, their partners, and their employees.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a housing crisis, download the Homebase map or visit 311 Online to locate your nearest office.
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