Electronic Recycling Day In Carroll Gardens

Friends Of Carroll Park is hosting an electronics recycling event this Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in front of the Rite Aid on the northeast corner of the park. Come by to responsibly dispose of your obsolete electronics.
Lower East Side Ecology Center accepts electronics from households and small businesses (less than 50 employees, please call ahead) as well as not-for-profits. They do not accept home appliances such as microwaves, refrigerators, or air conditioners.  A list of acceptable materials can be found here The electronic waste recycling program is made possible by Tekserve. We would like to thank the Friends of Carroll Park for hosting this event.

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This Week-End, Baby & Kids Clothing Swap At ArtsCetera On Smith

The Baby and Kids Clothing Swap is always a great event in the neighborhood. It's organized and hosted by friend Nanette De Cillis at her wonderful ArtsCetera on Smith Street. If you have kids, you need to be there.

Baby And Kids Clothing Swap

Saturday, October 1sth

9 AM to 4 PM

Sunday, October 2nd

9 AM to Noon

WHY SWAP? 

•Less clutter

•Less new consumption

•Allows kids to share

•Helps those less fortunate

•More closet space

•Free clothes, shoes, toys, books & accessories

• It's FUN, FUN, FUN!!

•If you don’t want to swap, you can also drop off your items. . . .and Thank You!!

COST: $10 suggested entry fee for families, and at least a grocery sized bag of items.

ArtsCetera Studio 

212 Smith Street between Baltic and Butler *

www.artscetera.com

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Changing With The Times Since 1934 : Carroll Gardens Wines And Liquors

Back in 1934, the NYS State Liquor Authority issued liquor license number 58 to a business at 427 Court Street.  It was the 58th such license handed out after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.

The business was called T.Scotto Liquor Store, Inc, and belonged to one of three Scotto cousins (the other two cousins were Buddy Scotto's father, owner of the funeral parlor, and Leo Scotto, the original owner of the wine store at 318 Court Street.)

Today, it is one of the oldest functioning wine and liquor stores still operating at its original location, though its owner and name were changed in 1984, when Philip Friello bought the business from Mr. Scotto.  Walk into Carroll Gardens Wines & Liquors, as it is now known, and Mr. Friello is ready to advise you on your choice of wine.  Want a bottle of bourbon?  He can chose the right one for you as well.  It's clear he knows his stuff and that he enjoys interacting with his customers.

Originally from Bay Ridge, Friello married a woman who had grown up on DeGraw Street.  After their marriage, they lived on Sackett Street for a while, but then moved to Long Island.  Friello commuted back and forth to Carroll Gardens for a few years.  In 2000, he moved the family back to Brooklyn. He seems to be happy to be back.  "Brooklyn is special.  It's close enough to the city, and there is a bit of everything here." 

Since Friello has owned Carroll Gardens Wine & Liquors,  the neighborhood and the clientele have changed. He has adjusted his business to reflect those chances.  Just recently, the interior was renovated "from top-to-bottom and in the middle" with a section of the original tin left in place to pay tribute to the past.  "You have to change with the times" Friello says. "Otherwise you become obsolete, a dinosaur. When I first took over, it was more of a  4 litre jug of Gallo or Carlo Rossi kind of thing.  Now, its more boutiquey.  These days, we carry a vast selection of wines from all over the place, from California to Argentina. And we carry specialty bourbons, gins and vodkas."

One thing hasn't changed though.  Throughout all the years he has owned the liquor store, the quality and "the heart" of the people has stayed constant.  He remembers all those get-well cards and gift baskets he received from his customers when he had hip replacement surgery.  "It makes you feel as though you count"  he says, sitting behind his counter. "I want to convey that sense to all my customers."  

There is a good chance that the business may stay in the family for another generation.  Friello's daughter Alexandra, nephew Anthony and friend Randy are helping to run the store and learning about wines.  They seem to like it.

And there is another continuity.  Some of his new customers are children of former ones.

And so,  lets raise a glass of wine to Friello and hope that his store will be at the same location for the next 77 years.

Carroll Gardens Wines & Liquors

427 Court Street

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Best Comment Of The Day: Is It OK?

Anonymous has left the following comment on the post "Community to DEP's Commissioner Strickland: Water Quality Improvement Plan Doesn't Go Far Enough":

The EPA R[emedial] I[nvestigation] data, compared with Army Corp benthic study, show that the DEP is dumping about six-inches of sludge into the upper canal each year. Even if we accept their model prediction to reduce sediment sludge from CSO's by 34%, that leaves us with an annual accumulation of about four-inches of sludge. The Superfund cleanup will be a major investment into the canal.

Is it OK to continue dumping that much sludge on top of the clean canal base? The DEP needs a plan that keeps this gunk inside their pipes and not at the bottom of the canal.

.

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Community to DEP's Commissioner Strickland: Water Quality Improvement Plan Doesn't Go Far Enough

Most of last night's Gowanus Superfund Community Advisory Group's general meeting was dedicated to a discussion with NYC's Department Of Environmental Protection and the agency's role in the clean-up of the polluted waterway.

Commissioner Carter Strickland was on hand to give a presentation on DEP's Gowanus Canal Water Quality Improvement plan, which aims to control the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) by upgrading the Gowanus Facilities. The $140 million upgrade to the wastewater pumping station at the head of the Canal is currently under way and will supposedly reduce CSOs by 34% and significantly reduce 'floatables'. It will also increase the pumping capacity from 20 million gallons a day to 30 MGD.

In addition, the agency is planning on dredging to control odors.

DEP is in the early stages of evaluating projects such as High Level Storm Sewers (HLSS), which could divert stormwater run-off from the combined sewer system and thereby result in fewer CSO events. HLSS will be designed for the 96-acre area bounded by 1st Place, 4th Avenue, State Street and 3rd Avenue. DEP believes that these HLSS will capture 50% of the drainage area runoff.

Commissioner Strickland also mentioned that New York City is investing $735 million in its city-wide Green Infrastructure plan, which will control runoff from 10% of impervious surfaces. "We are searching constantly for better ways. To find cost effective solutions" he stated.

After the presentation, members of the CAG engaged Commissioner Strickland in a brief question and answer session. It was apparent from some of the questions that many felt that that the DEP was still lacking the will to actually do what was needed to really improve water quality. As Marlene Donnelly of Friends And Residents Of Greater Gowanus pointed out, the DEP is still relying on rainfall data from 1988, a historically dry year in which rainfall totaled 40". However, in the last 10 years, the area has seen an average of 60" of rainfall a year. "Your model is not adequate" Donnelly pointed out. "Looking into the future, we need a model that is based on real rainfall."

Steven Miller, another CAG member, criticized DEP for not exploring and investing in gray infrastructure and for not including retention basins in their plan.

Another member pointed out that $735 million was a lot to spend on NYC's Green Infrastucture plan to manage a mere 10% of rainfall.

Member Lizzy Olesker expressed it best when she said that she was disappointed by the presentation and the lack of transparency. The DEP was still not engaging with the community, she felt. "What is it? A lack of political will?"

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Picture Of The Day: Coney Island Parachute Jump

Occasionally, I post photos taken by others. This great shot of Coney Island's Parachute Jump was captured by photographer Max Kelly.

Larger prints are available through his web site here.

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Pink Pepper, Court Street's Newest Boutique, Now Open

There was quite a bit of speculation going on in the neighborhood about what would be opening at 201 Court Street, the former NCH Studio.  The name on the new awning simply indicated that the new place would be called Pink Pepper.  Was it a food store?  A new restaurant?  None of the above, as I found out yesterday as I walked past.

Pink Pepper is actually a new women's wear and accessories boutique.  Looks pretty swanky.

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A Moment In Time: On The Roof

I almost did not see her up there on the roof, amongst the vents and the chimneys. She was looking towards downtown.

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New DEP Commissioner Strickland To Attend Tonight's Gowanus CAG Meeting

The EPA Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group will meet at its general meeting tonight, Tuesday, September 27 at PS 58, 330 Smith Street from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

NYC Department of Environmental Protection's Commissioner Carter Strickland will be attending the meeting with members of his staff.

This will be the community's first opportunity to speak to the new Commissioner on his agency's activities as they relate to the Gowanus Canal.

Mayor Bloomberg appointed Strickland as commissioner of NYC DEP in August '11. He was previously DEP's Deputy Commissioner for Sustainability and was a principal architect of Bloomberg's City’s Green Infrastructure Plan.

There will be a question -and-answer period with members of the CAG.

Also on the agenda is a vote on a motion for the CAG to request TASC assistance (Technical Assistance Services for Communities). EPA has received a request from a community member, but has indicated that the formal request must come from the CAG.

As always, the community at large is invited to attend the meeting.

To access all documents relating to the Gowanus CAG, click here.

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Picture Of The Day: Sun Setting Over Carroll Gardens

After a hazy day, the sun made a brief appearance over Carroll Gardens' rooftops.

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Saying "I Do" On The Shores Of The Gowanus Canal

The Gowanus Canal as a backdrop for a wedding ceremony? Why not? It may not be Venice, but our very own industrial waterway has its own charm, no?

Proving that the canal can be a terrifically romantic place, Ariana Souzis and Joel Hamburger got married at the Gowanus Grove at 400 Carroll Street in front of friends and family this past Saturday. After the ceremony, the newlyweds climbed into a beautifully decorated canoe navigated by Eymund Diegel of the Gowanus Dredgers. They were rowed a ways on the canal to the Union Street Bridge, where they were successfully dropped off and regained terra firma by climbing up the stairs to the street.

Why wed on the shores of the Gowanus? Apparently Joel had proposed to Ariana on the Union Street bridge and the place obviously holds a lot of meaning for the two.

A bit unusual, yes, but it looked like a lovely ceremony.

Congratulations to the newlyweds.

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This Afternoon, Season Premiere Of Big Movies For Little Kids

This afternoon, after school, take the kids to see Charlie Chaplin in "The Circus." Not only will they enjoy it, so will you.

BIG MOVIES FOR LITTLE KIDS

Monday, September 26th

at 4pm Cobble Hill Cinemas

Season Premiere!

Charlie Chaplin’s THE CIRCUS

In order to evade police who suspect him of being a thief, the tramp ducks into a circus tent and acts as if he is part of the show. The cops follow and try to apprehend him, with hilarious results. The crowd goes wild, believing all this was planned ahead of time. The scenes in which the tramp is pursued through a hall of mirrors, trapped inside a lion's cage and forced to double for the missing tightrope walker are among Chaplin's best! (USA; 1928; not rated; black and white; silent with intertitles; running time: 71 minutes)

At Cobble Hill Cinemas Time: 4pm (every other Monday, following the public school calendar)Ages: 2 and up (all ages welcome)

Location: Cobble Hill Cinemas, 265 Court Street @ Butler Street, BrooklynSubway: F train to Bergen Street

Cost: $7.00 per person (as per theater policy, all walkers need a ticket)

To secure seats at Cobble Hill Cinemas, tickets may be purchased on-line at:www.cobblehilltheatre.com

For the complete fall schedule and more information:

www.bigmoviesforlittlekids.blogspot.com.

See you at the movies!

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Best Comment Of The Day: From Joey...Also From Henry Street

Joey - also from Henry Street has left the following comment on the post ""Go Sit On Your Own Stoop!": John Khoury's Stories Of Growing Up In Brooklyn In The 1970s":

Hey Anonymous,

In 10 minutes, I can call at least 25 people who will not only vouch for every recollection and personality recounted in John's book, we can introduce you to them!

You can wonder all you want, but John John's "memoir" is spot on in almost every detail of the life we experienced growing up during the 1970's on Henry Street - in South Brooklyn.

One day in 1973, in Carroll Park, playing on the see-saws, when Carroll Park had see-saws (and kick-ass monkey bars!), I broke my leg. With no adults around, my brother and best friend Mario, practically dragged me to Long Island College Hospital. I was 8. I didn't call my parents because I thought I'd get in trouble. It was indeed a different time.

We would spin tops, play fist, stoop ball- when a rare open parking spot permited it- skelly and ring-a-levio in the streets to keep us busy. I still own a pimple ball!

As John mentioned, it wasn't Disneyland, but we didn't know any better. Looking back, we wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Katia, thanks for allowing John the opportunity to tell his story. He captures that period of time perfectly and I am happy he put it out there.

I only wish he would have mentioned how Nicky Neck would spit at you though the hole in his throat when we ranked on him.

Ahh, good times!

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It Doesn't Take a Hurricane To Cause Flooding In Gowanus Area

Proposed Whole Foods Store on Third Street, just feet away from this intersection.

This is what Third Street looked like this afternoon after about 2" of rain. A Gowanus resident sent me these photos taken at the Third Street Bridge, just feet away from where Whole Foods is planning to building its Gowanus store.

The resident writes:

It doesn't take a hurricane to flood things around here. Traffic is backed up on Third Street as cars try to "navigate" the lakes on the street. The lake on the east side of the bridge formed before the one on the west side. This is the same street that Whole Foods wants to add significant additional car trips per day to while at the same time adding to the flooding problems in the area.

Good point. And may I just add that Third Street is this neighborhood's Hurricane Coastal Evacuation route to Park Slope? What a joke!

At least Community Board 6 will be following up with the Office of Emergency Management to ask that traffic be re-routing to Smith Street in case of flooding. Can you imagine what traffic mess that will create in an evacuation?

From CB6's The Sixth Sense

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