Sunday, May 31, 2009

Anonymous Group Sends Slick Anti-Gowanus Superfund Mailer To Local ResidentsDear Reader,If you live in the Gowanus/Carroll Gardens neighborhood, you have most probably received the above mailer in your mailbox on Saturday from an organization called 'CleanUpGowanusNow.'Who is this mysterious organization? Who can tell. There are no names attached to the flier, nor are there any names on the web site. Only Debbie Scotto, a local developer who is...

Friday, May 29, 2009

Oh, I know that you have been waiting for this all week: it's Friday and its time for the question of the week. I hope you will weigh in by leaving your comment. So here it is....The question of the week!Get set, ready, go!Which is your favorite gourmet food store in the area?Fairway, Trader Joe's, Sahadi, Garden Of Eden or .....?For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Ask...
In a moment of pure joy,she began to skip down the sidewalk,trying to get her friend to do the sa...
Dear Reader, I hope you will take a few minutes to view this incredibly well done and informative video on the proposed Superfund Site designation for the Gowanus Canal.The members of 'Friends And Residents of Greater Gowanus', or F.R.O.G.G., urge you to support the designation.Bravo!!! Great job, Margaret, Marlene, Lisanne, Bette and Mike. I am proud of you!Sign The Superfund Now! petitionHerePlease also go to Found In Brooklyn for further informationFor...
This just in from Josh Skaller's campaign: Skaller Council Campaign Kicks Off Summer With "SkallerThon" The Josh Skaller for City Council campaign will exercise its grassroots muscle this weekend by launching "SkallerThon." On Saturday, Josh Skaller will join supporters in a bike ride through the district, starting and ending in Carroll Park; meanwhile, over 40 volunteers will knock on more than 3,000 doors. The bike ride will start and end in...
A few days ago, I received an email from reader Tamar, who wanted to know if I had noticed that Ting Hua, the Chinese restaurant at 351 Smith Street, between Carroll Street and Second Place, had closed late last week. That was news to me, so I walked by to check it out. Sure enough, the gate was rolled down during lunch time and has remained closed. A quick telephone call to the restaurant's number remained unanswered.This place was hardly one...

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Nothing could avert his eyes from the glass door at Mastellone's on Court Street,not the loud siren of a police car,not a group of loud school children.No,he was going to sitand wait,till his owner came out aga...
Louie was standing in front of Joe's Superette at 349 Smith Street. The lunchtime rush was over and he was taking a break from making those delicious sandwiches for which Joe's Deli is famous."The kids sometimes call me Louie Balls" he told me.I smiled.Of course they would. Anyone who has ever eaten the delectable Prosciutto balls, or the rice and cheese balls which are the deli's specialties, would give Louie that nickname.If you haven't had one...
I received the email below from fellow blogger Adam over on the Columbia Street waterfront. There is an important Port Authority meeting tonight that we should all know about. Read his email below.There is another important issue regarding port pollution about which I have been attempting to raise awareness on my blog - aviewfromthehook.blogspot.comI think it ties into the shared issues of livability and pollution in our neighborhoods.Regarding...
Reader comment left on:Last Night's CB6 Gowanus Superfund Meeting: The Pros Vs. The Amateurs I was glad that Bob Zuckerman asked the city's reps what exactly they meant by their flogging of the vague term "powerful incentives" to get the potentially responsible parties to willfully - nay, happily - step up to the plate and pay a portion of cleanup costs. Of course, the answer was simply that they'd possibly have to pay less IF (and ONLY if) the...
click image to enlargeJust yesterday, State Senator Daniel Squadron came out in favor of a 'Superfund Site' designation for the Gowanus Canal.Today, District 39 City Council Candidate Bob Zuckerman announced "his strong support" for the designation. That is great news.Below is the official press release from Zuckerman's office.CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE BOB ZUCKERMAN ENDORSES SUPERFUND DESIGNATION FOR GOWANUS CANALBob Zuckerman announced his strong...
Tag Sale To Benefit TheSummit Street Community GardenSaturday, May 30 from 8:30 - 2:00-ishRain Date: Sunday, May 31st.Location: Corner of Summit and Columbia Streets, BrooklynCheck out the Summit Street Community Garden Tag Sale this Saturday.It's a multi-family/neighbor tag sale. All proceeds go to benefit the Summit Street Community Garden. For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Ask...

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

In a moment of pure playfulness on Court Street,she pretended to be a child againby sitting on the little biketo make the children smi...
Walter Mugdan, US EPA Director of the Emergency and Remedial Response DivisionAngela Carpenter, EPAEPA PresentationEPA PresentationEPA PresentationFor New York City, Caswell Holloway,Chief of Staff for Deputy Mayor SchylerDan Walsh, Head of NYC Office Of Environmental RemediationThe City's Caswell Holloway, foreground, with Dan WalshCity's Alternative Plan presentationCity's Alternative Plan presentation After last night's Community Board 6's informational...
State Senator Daniel Squadron at last month's EPA Superfund meetingGreat News! Yesterday, State Senator Daniel Squadron announced that he is for the Gowanus Canal Superfund designation.Daniel Squadron and his staff had hinted last week that the State Senator was about to issue a statement regarding the EPA's proposal to include the Gowanus Canal to its list of Superfund sites. After meeting with the city as well as with the EPA, the State Senator...

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Sitting right in the door ofa bar on Smith Street,he stared at passers-by,daring anyone to ent...
Pssst! I'll let you in on a little secret, dear Reader. It is actually a lot of fun spending a long week-end right in one's own neighborhood. None of the hassles of bumper-to-bumper traffic getting out of town, none of the frustrations of getting back in... For those of you who escaped for Memorial Day week-end, let me say that it was so very nice and quiet here in Carroll Gardens. The streets were incredibly empty. Take a look at Smith Street...
Reminder**************The E.P.A. has been invited back to the community by C.B.6 to answer questions regarding the proposed Superfund Site designation for the Gowanus Canal. This will be the second time that the agency's representatives will address local residents. Last month, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke held a public information forum on the nomination. Since then, the City and our local officials have been...
Reserve Your Space Now: 130 out of 150 spaces have already been reserved.So get yours now!Have you gotten your space yet for the Carroll Gardens Flea market. They are going fast. This is one of the funnest events in Carroll Park. It is both a way to empty those cluttered closets as well as a way to meet your neighbors.Carroll Park Flea MarketSaturday, May 30st10 Am- 5 PmRain date- Sunday, May 31To reserve a space, call 718 522-5259 $ 30.00 for a...

Friday, May 22, 2009

I was late coming home,and should not have stopped,but how could I have resistedcapturing the late afternoon lightplaying on the façades of these brownstoneson Clintonon that day in M...
It is Friday again, dear Reader, so, of course, it is time to pose the question of the week. I know you have been waiting patiently all week.Won't you please, please answer this question for me: Are you ready?What is your favorite way to spend Memorial Day Week-End in the neighborhood?Where will you go, where will you eat and where will you play?For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Ask...
I wish I could have been a fly on the wall at last night's Independent Neighborhood Democrats' vote to endorse John Heier as the club's candidate. Their endorsement of the most conservative contender in the race to replace Councilman Bill DeBlasio seems to be an indication that they are a bit out of touch, to say the least. Below are the statements released by candidates Josh Skaller and Bob Zuckerman after the IND vote.Statement From City Council...
Dear Reader, please take a moment to read this excellent analysis of the Gowanus Canal by Dr. Tom Angotti, Professor of Urban Affairs and Planning at Hunter College. It is a chilling account of the many problems that plague the area.Why the Gowanus should be a Superfund site Submitted by Dr. Tom Angotti I am a Professor of Urban Affairs and Planning at Hunter College, City University of New York, and Director of the Hunter College Center for...