Star revue thanksgiving 2014

SOUTH BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

The Red Hook StarªRevue

LATE NOVEMBER 2014 FREE

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Happy Thanksgiving to our readersRED HOOK

GIVES THANKSphotos and text

by Micah B. RubinThe mouth-watering aroma of turkey, yams and stuffing filled the Joseph Mic-cio Community Center’s gym on Satur-day November 22, 2014 as Red Hookers of all ages came together to celebrate the 3rd annual Red Hook Community Thanksgiving Dinner.Organized by the Joseph Miccio Com-munity Center and Assemblyman Felix W. Ortiz, community members shared a delicious meal that included quintessen-tial Turkey-day fare, sodas, sweets and Steve’s Key lime pies.First organized ago to bring the com-munity together as they continued to recuperate from the ravages of Hurri-cane Sandy, the Center’s third annual Thanksgiving dinner has become a com-munity staple and opportunity to cele-

brate the community’s resilience.Families and friends sat together at round tables as smiling and laughing children chased each other around the room. A few kids, wearing white aprons helped serve food to hungry guests. Meanwhile, on stage in the back of the room, a group of young girls gave an impromptu perfor-mance as they showed off their gymnas-tic and dance moves. Second helpings were happily served and many guests took home an extra helping to savor the delicious meal in the com-fort of their homes.An estimated 65 people attended the event, according to the office Assembly-man Ortiz.The event’s sponsors include: Fairway Market, Ikea, MetroPlus Health Plan, Fidelis, RAICES (the Spanish Speak-ing Elderly Council) and Steve’s Key Lime Pie. “It makes me feel good to help,” said Carmen Calderon, the Director of Con-stituent Services and Special Events for Assemblyman Ortiz. “What is the true meaning of Thanksgiving but to really be grateful for what you have,” she said.

More photos page 7

Gertrude Dorf struts her stuff. At the top is Marguerite Roper - has been to all of the Thanksgiving dinners and favorite food is turkey.

Page 2 Red Hook Star-Revue www.RedHookStar.com Late November 2014

Happenings, etc.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2The 76th Precinct Community Council Meeting starts at 7:30 PM, at the 76th Precinct Station House, 191 Union Street.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4The Brooklyn Greenway Initiative will honor Marvin Schein and Sal Rusi of Liberty View Industrial Plaza for their leadership role in this endeav-or. Cocktail reception, dinner, drinks and a dessert reception will follow. Liberty View Industrial Plaza, 850 3rd Avenue, Sunset Park, Brooklyn.6 p.m - 10 pm

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6Join the launching the Red Hook HUB, a new system for sharing commu-nity information. The Ribbon Cutting will take place Saturday, Decem-ber 6th 11:30 am at the Red Hook Library. The event will include Free refreshments, prizes and a HUB demonstration! For more information visit redhookhub.org!Maker’s Market 2nd Annual Red Hook Maker’s Market, Atelier, 66 Com-merce Street. All day - also on Sunday. Here is where you can buy presents made by local artisans.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9 Gowanus CAG meeting, St. Mary Star of the Sea home, 41 First Street, 6:30 pm. The general public is invited.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15 CB6 Holiday Party to benefit Friends of Brooklyn Community Board 6, Inc. All are welcome! Time and place still to be determined.

ONGOINGStar-Revue Night Music Jams at Rocky Sullivan’s from 8 pm-12 am every Monday. Bring your instrument and jam with local musicians of all skill levels. Or come out and enjoy the show. 34 Van Dyke Street.


proudly introduces our new website

www.Star-Revue.comFor Editorial, Advertising and Help Wanted Inquiries,

email [email protected], or call 718 624-5568

The Star-Revue is published by Kimberly G. Price & George Fiala

RELIGIOUS SERVICESCATHOLICVisitation Church98 Richards St, (718) 624-1572. Office open Mon-Thursday9 am - 3 pm. Saturday mass 5 pm; Spanish mass at 7 pm. Sunday 10 am English, 12:30 pm Spanish. Community Prayer Tuesday and Thurs-day, 8 pm. Youth Group Meetings on Friday, 4:30 - 6 pm. Baptisms are held every other month. Please call to arranged for baptisms, communions and weddings. We will visit the sick upon notification.

Saint Paul and Saint Agnes Parish St. Paul’s Church - Rectory & Church Office 234 Congress Street (718) 624-3425 Hours: M - F 830am-12 St. Agnes Church Office 433 Sackett Street, 718-625-1717 Hours: M-F 1pm-430pm Email:[email protected] St. Agnes: Saturday 5pm Vigil Mass Sunday 9 am (English), 11:30am (Spanish) St. Paul’s: Saturday 5pm Vigil Mass Sunday 8 am & 9:30am (English); 11am (Spanish) Monday & Tuesday 8:30am (St. Paul’s) Wednesday & Thursday 8:30am (St. Agnes) Saturday 8am (St. Paul’s) http://stpaulstagnes.org/

Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Saint Stephen Roman Catholic Church125 Summit Street at Hicks Street [email protected] Saturday Vigil Mass 5:30pm Sunday Masses: 10am & 11:45am (Italian/English) Weekdays Masses: Tuesday Through Saturday 8:30am Confessions: Saturdays 4:45pm and by appointment. Baptisms: Every Third Sunday At 1pm. Please call the rectory one month before to make arrangements. Sick Calls: Please call the rectory to arrange for the sacrament of anointing whenever anyone is seriously ill. Marriages: Please call the rectory at least 6 months ahead for an appointment with a priest http://www.sacredhearts-ststephen.com

St. Paul’s Carroll Street 199 Carroll Street Parish Office: 718-625-4126 Sunday Mass at 10 am Weekday Morning Prayer - Mon.-Thurs. at 7:30 am Weekday masses as announced Holy Days as announced (please see the Calendar) Church open for prayer Tues. 6-8pm & Sat. 2-4pm http://stpaulscarrollst.weebly.com/

BaptistCalvary Baptist Church 773 Hicks St (718) 522-5159

JewishKane Street Synagogue 236 Kane Street, (near Tompkins Place) 718 875-1550 http://kanestreet.org/ Au-gust 29 - 30, Shabbat Shoftim Candle Lighting 7:14 PM Shabbat ends 8:17 PMFriday night services, 6:00 PM Shabbat morning services, 9:15 AM Sunday Morning Services 9:00 AM

Congregation B’nai Avraham/Chabad of Brooklyn Heights117 Remsen St., 718 596 4840 x18 www.bnaiavraham.com, www.heightschabad.

If your religious institution isn’t listed here, let us know by emailing [email protected] Thanks!

Community Telephone Numbers:Red Hook Councilman Carlos Menchaca .............718 439-9012Red Hook Assemblyman Felix Ortiz ....................718-492-6334Red Hook State Senator Velmanette Montgomery .718-643-6140Gowanus Councilman Brad Lander .....................718 499-1090Park Slope Councilman Steve Levin .....................718 875-5200CB6 District Manager Craig Hammerman ...........718 643-3027

76th Police Precinct, 191 Union StreetMain phone ....................................................718-834-3211Community Affairs ...........................................718 834-3207Traffic Safety ....................................................718 834-3226

Eileen Dugan Senior Center, 380 Court Street .......718 596-1956Miccio Community Center, 110 East 9th Street ......718 243-1528 Red Hook East Dev. Office, 62 Mill St...................718 852-6771Red Hook West Dev. Office, 55 Dwight St. ...........718 522-3880Brownstone Republicans ..... [email protected]

NYCHA Satellite Police Precinct, 80 Dwight StreetMain Phone ...................................................(718) 265-7300Community Affairs ..........................................(718) 265-7313Domestic Violence ..........................................(718) 265-7310Youth Officer ..................................................(718) 265-7314Auxiliary/Law Enforcement Coordinator .........(718) 265-7378Detective Squad ..............................................(718) 265-7327

Visitation Church is holding a Thanksgiving Mass on Thursday, November 27th at 8:00 am. Here is their Thanksgiving Prayer:

This Thanksgiving let those of us who have much and those who have little gather at the welcoming table of the Lord. At this blessed feast, may rich and poor alike remember that we are called to serve one another and to walk together in God’s gracious world. With thankful hearts we praise our God who like a loving parent denies no good thing.

“Give thanks to the LORD for he is good.” Psalm 107:1

Red Hook Star-Revue www.star-revue.com Late November 2014, Page 3

NYC DEP puts on a good Gowanus faceby George Fiala

Deputy Commissioner Angela Licata was called upon time and again to answer audience questions. (photos by Fiala)

Councilmember Brad Lander, who has been presiding over Gowanus meetings of his own, talks about the challenge of coordinating all the processes happen-ing in Gowanus.

A member of Riverkeeper asks a pertinent question about the city’s real purpose of the meeting.

A cluster of Gowanus-centric meetings were held during the middle of November. The

NYC Department of Environmental Protection hosted their own meeting in the auditorium of PS 32 on November 19.

The Gowanus Canal is a man-made ex-tension of an existing creek. The canal was created during the heyday of canal building back in the 19th century. It served the heavy industries that sprung up then as NYC was growing exponen-tially. Barges floated on the waterway, transporting raw and finished materials back and forth from nearby Erie Basin.

An unplanned and unthought of by-product of this industrialization was the intense pollution of the canal. Toxic chemicals were dumped or leached into the canal for over 100 years.

It is not only chemicals that have pol-luted the canal. Organic pollution in the form of raw sewage has bedevilied the surrounding community for many decades. Activist Buddy Scotto recalls the days (in his lifetime) when typhus and cholera were found there.

A flushing tunnel, which has worked sporadically since first built in 1911, attempts to introduce oxygenated wa-ter into the canal, killing some of the bacteria. This is not a total fix, as was pointed out by the Federal Environ-mental Protection Agency (EPA).

In spite of protests from NYC, the Gowanus was named a Superfund site in 2009, bringing the EPA to the neigh-borhood to work out a plan to not only clean up the canal but to prevent re-contamination. Sewage flows into the canal during rainstorms, when Gowa-nus sewers become overwhelmed with water, leaving them unable to take all the sewage to teh treatment plants. The EPA plan calls for the burying of two giant retention tanks that would hold the excess water/sewage until the storm subsides and the pipes can once again resume their normal duties.

Back in 2009, the city administration argued that the EPA was not needed, that the city was capable of handling the raw sewage problem itself using green methods. The Bloomberg admin-istration felt that the stigma of having a Superfund designation would retard local real estate development. They felt that a combination of sewer upgrades and “bioswales” would do as good a job and be less costly.

The city lost, and the Superfund plan proceeds.

In addition to the federal government, the Gowanus faces NY State demands to clean up the Gowanus as well. The city has actually initiated a lawsuit against the state DEC to reduce their responsibilities. This came up at the meeting, and DEP’s response was that they were simply attempting to clarify their cleanup obligations.

The fact is that ensuring a pollution free city is a tremendous challenge for the

local government. New York is a very dense area, with tremendous demands for the removal of sewage and waste. Trying to manage everything within the limits of tax revenues is a challenge for every large city. However, it is a neces-sity for public health, as public health is one of the prime responsibilities of government.

The Gowanus has been festering for many years, and it is exciting that a combination of neighborhood demands for parks and open spaces has combined with commercial interests to force gov-ernment’s hand. There are many sce-narios for a new Gowanus, which local Councilman Brad Lander has been ad-dressing in his series of Bridging Gowa-nus community sessions.

Hence this public meeting where the city presented its ideas.

Bioswales were again addressed. It was explained clearly that one of the prob-lems with storm runoff is the univer-sal paving that the real estate industry demands. In the past, most rainwater would naturally drain into the ground. Over 70% of city land has been paved over, and rain, which formerly would sink into the ground, now pools and drains into catchwater basins, which go into the sewers, causing the bottleneck.

Bioswales are specially created drains around trees, both existing and new plantings, and allow water to drain into the ground. This is one of the city plans, which they call “Green Infrastucture.” These also include requirments for new buildings to include cisterns allowing water landing on roofs to drain into the ground.

The sum of the presentation was what the city calls its “Long Term Control Plan.” While the EPA was barely men-

tioned during the meeting, it was an-nounced that they would provide the EPA with their de-cision as to the lo-cating of the reten-tion tanks by next June. Again, this is a legal requirment and so it can be assumed that DEP is not planning to sue to further delay this implementa-tion.

The tanks are de-signed to reduce Combined Sewer Overlows by at most 72%.

A combination of bioswales, a planned flushing tunnel upgrade, and additional sewer improve-ments, including a pumping station upgrade, will fur-ther reduce contamination of the canal.

A team of three DEP officials made the presentation, which included a power-point presentation with detailed maps and a summary of plans.

While Republicans like to talk of reduc-ing government regulations, this meet-ing showed that it is just such regula-tions and requirements that are forcing the restoration of a clean canal that in the long run will provide the population with more parkland and recreational choices, and businesses with more eco-nomic opportunities.

Page 4 Red Hook Star-Revue www.star-revue.com Late November 2014

EVERGREEN LIQUOR STORE INC.718 643-0739

196 Columbia Street, between Sackett & [email protected]

Mon. - Thurs. 11 am - 10:30 pm; Fri & Sat. 11 am - 11:30 pm; Sun. 1 pm - 9 pm

tea and coffee in the am, beer and wine in the pm

517 Court Street, corner West 9th (718) 522-4410www.teaffee.com www.facebook.com/Teaffee


Long time Red Hook gem holds holiday gift showsWords & Photos by Micah B Rubin

At Pier Glass and Scanlan Glass studio, globs of fiery-orange molten glass drip like honey as artists use

breath, gravity and traditional tools to create beautiful works of art.

“Glass is one of those medium that mesmerizes. It’s very seductive and just draws you in,” says Mary Ellen Buxton, cofounder of Pier Glass.

From now until mid December, the stu-dio is hosting its Annual Holiday Gift Show at their waterfront Red Hook stu-dio.

As you check out the show, ask for a live demonstration of the glass-blowing process and watch as bulbs of glass blos-som into functional or artisanal pieces.

All of the works in the show are avail-able for purchase and are Brooklyn made. The wide variety of styles on ex-hibit include (but are not limited to) beads, bowls, vases and Christmas-tree ornaments. All pieces are available for purchase and prices start at $10.

Among my favorite items in the show are upcycled Red Stripe beer bottles transformed into pint glasses and apple-sized paperweights dimpled with beads of air. If you catch their bespectacled artist in the studio, he will be happy to explain their creative process.

Even the studio’s fifteen-plus foot ceil-ing are alight with glass orbs and chan-deliers in a riot of shapes and colors that highlight the studios breadth of artisan-ship.

Pier Glass was established by the hus-band and wife team of Kevin Kutch and Mary Ellen Buxton in 1994 and quickly became a staple of the Red Hook creative community. Their work is highly sought after and is currently in the MOMA and the New Jersey State House, among other venues.

Scanlan Glass is the studio of Kevin Scanlan whose work ranges from func-tional to abstract to conceptual. Scan-lan Glass also offers private and group glass blowing lessons.

Pier Glass is located at 499 Van Brunt Street, Suite 2A 718.237.2073

The gift show began November 21st and is runs from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays until Decem-ber 14th.

481 Van Brunt Street #8A (across from Fairway) 718 624-5568 [email protected] www.Star-Revue.com


Come by and say hi!

Pier Glass is located on the pier that extends out on Van Brunt Street. The Fairway building is across the water.

All the pieces are handblown and made right on the premises. The studio itself had to undergo extensive reconstruction after being flooded during Sandy.


Nancy’s UNISEX HAIR SALON

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1 West 9th StreetRed Hook

718 488-7700718 612-6243


Pre-Thanksgiving feast at the Miccio CenterSee Story page 1 - photos by Micah B. Rubin

Eliza Mack + Eugene Muhammad

Brionna Grissom (Grey Sweater), Taylor Medina (pink shirt), Daniela Sanchez (Blue/white stripe) perform an impromptu dance.

Left: Henrietta Perkins - Volunteer. “To help my neigh-borhood, to help Felix Ortiz. I like helping people” Above: Bell Arrington enjoys her meal.

Santia Incle and Arial Gonzalez who is a volunteer. “I just wanted to get out of myself and help others in need”


Jenny belin’s Art

Our friend Jenny, who exhibits locally at the Brooklyn Collective, 212 Columbia Street, sends us this and tells us “Here is a painting for you! It was inspired by Brian De Palma’s 1976 Film adaption of Stephen King’s “Carrie”. This image is comed from he final scene of the movie...I call it “Amy Irving’s Cemetary Nightmare.” Jenny’s website is www.jennybelin.com

Van Brunt gets new lights

Yes, we know that the traditional Red Hook strings of Christmas lights just went up. Mark’s has also brightened up the strip with his new storefront signage.


George Fiala 718 624-5568 [email protected] Union Street Brooklyn, NY 11231

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Direct Marketing Services since 1988The Red Hook Star-Revue

The Hook’s Local Newspaper

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Star Theater“home of the legendary Thursday Night Jam”

481 VAN BRUNT SUITE 8A718 624-5568

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Brooklyn’s mailing company teams up with Red Hook’s NY Printing & Graphics Our clients have included: St. Ann’s Warehouse, Eastern Athletic Club, BWAC & RHI Services Offered: • Political Mailings• Non-Profit Fundraising

Letters • Postcards • Brochures & Newsletters • First Class & Standard Mail

In light of the recent second an-niversary of Superstorm Sandy on October 29th, that struck and for-ever changed our neighborhood,

we would like to provide you with an update on progress with the Red Hook NY Rising Community Reconstruction (NYRCR) Program. All of you came and worked with us through the many months of analysis and community planning to create a final Red Hook NYRCR Plan and sustainable vision for Red Hook. In March of this year the plan was published, and 8 projects iden-tified as most critical to move ahead with implementation. To download the plan, see this link: http://tinyurl.com/lb7376f

We have moved to the implementation stage of the program, and are under way to help get these 8 projects realized. The RH NYRCR Committee met with the Governor’s Office of Storm Recov-ery (GOSR), along with a representa-tive of the consulting firm HGA, who has been contracted by GOSR to help implement projects for all Communi-ties in the NY Rising Program. HGA has experience managing HUD CDBG-DR monies for various disaster recov-ery programs. The Red Hook NYRCR Committee will remain as a community liaison throughout the process to en-sure that our vision is incorporated as these projects are implemented.

Current status on a few projects

+ The Coastal Integrated Flood Protection measure (IFP) the Governor’s Office of Storm Recov-ery has applied for $4.4 million through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Fund Ad-vanced Assistance Program to secure funding for a pre-design phase. We have read through the application, and within is a community input process. The RH Committee will be working with City and State to help ensure a community vision is incorporated from the outset. We will be back in touch as soon as we have more direction on the process and stakeholder meetings.

+ The RH Micro-Grid feasibility Study for NYCHA propertyThe New York Power Authority

(NYPA) is funding and managing the study, for NYCHA, who is also their customer. The funding for this project is not coming from the NY Rising Red Hook allocation, therefore freeing up funds for our other projects. NYCHA briefly presented this project at the lat-est Sandy recovery meeting with the Red Hook Houses. Workshops to so-licit targeted feedback on initial find-ings will be held in the near future, and the NYRCR will be involved. We’re also in talks with NYCHA on how the solar-power light project can be imple-mented in coordination with their larg-er re-building efforts The Micro-Grid project was announced via press release on October 8.

+ The Financial Assistance Program / CDFIThe Committee is working closely with the Governor’s Office of Storm Recov-ery (GOSR) to create a more refined set of goals and standards for the loan. We have outlined the needs in the following categories : property owners (residen-tial + commercial), and micro-business loans. There is great interest by various private and public parties to help create this fund and we will let you know as more details are available.

+ FEMA Insurance - not a project, but an important issue that Red Hook is grappling with.For the majority of small businesses in Red Hook, the cost of flood insurance premiums through the NFIP is too pro-hibitively expensive to rationalize pay-ing for it. Until the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is reformed, it is unlikely that many small business owners will access flood insurance. The Mayor’s Office of Storm Recovery and Resiliency is in the process of advocat-ing for NFIP reforms in order to have lower premium rates offers available to building owners that implement cost-effective building mitigation methods that reduce flood risk to buildings that cannot be elevated due to their struc-tural characteristics. To voice your concerns about this issue, please email the Mayor’s Office of Storm Recovery

and Resiliency at [email protected].

FEMA will be releasing the new NYC Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) in 2016 and it’s already part of NYC Building Code. The new map will show a flood plain for NYC which is 51% greater than the current FIRM and an 83% increase of buildings within the NYC flood plain. For Red Hook, the map changes will reflect a relatively small expansion of our A (High Risk) and V (Velocity) zoning here, though overall our zone (AE = Established A zone) will remain the same. Our Base Flood Elevation (BFE), however, will increase from 8.9 to 12 feet (generally, depends on location) BFE represents the number of feet water is projected to rise in a 1% chance of flooding. This new BFE will correspond to increases in our National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) premiums which are projected to increase by 18% until we reach full-risk rates. These increases have raised much concern about the affordability of flood insurance. For more on projected premium increases, please go the the link below.

In order to protect our buildings, which overall cannot be elevated, we can uti-lize mitigation measures for making our existing buildings more resilient. NYC is asking FEMA to recognize these mea-sures by offering significant Mitigation Credits. FEMA is currently conduct-ing a study to determine a Mitigation Credit System which will hopefully in-centivize mitigation practices making our buildings safer in a flood event and, in turn, allow for significantly reduced premiums. The study is due to be com-pleted in March, 2015. As of now, how-ever, the NFIP does NOT offer signifi-cant mitigation credits. We can lobby the City to continue to seek significant a Mitigation Credit System from FEMA and, likewise, to ensure that the slated

Integrated Coastal Protections for Red Hook will mean real reductions of our NFIP premiums.

NYC is conducting two NFIP afford-ability studies, one for Multi-Family buildings, due out next summer, and the other for 1-4 family buildings, due out at the end of 2015.

A few other related updates :

The NYC Dept of City Planning re-leased an important document, Retrofit-ting for Flood Risk, which applies to all of Red Hook. This document contains a wealth of information and graphics on rebuilding, FEMA Insurance impacts. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/ret-rofitting/index.shtml

The first community emergency pre-pardness plan in NYC was created in Red Hook, called Ready Red Hook, please visit www.readyredhook.org for more information on what to do in the event of a future emergency.

We will be hosting community meet-ings in the future as the implementation gets under way, and will be in touch with more information as we have it available.

The NY Rising CRP Committee

Gita Nandan

Adam Armstrong Andrea Devening Victoria HagmanDanelle JohnsonStephen Kondaks

Isabel MiesnerIan Marvy

David MeadeJohn McGettrick

Florence NealJim Tampakis

Update from the Red Hook Rising committeespecial to the Red Hook Star-Revue

Jim Tampakis, Ian Marvy and John McGettrick working at an early NY Rising meet-ing on the second floor of PS 15. (Star-Revue file photo)


EDITORIAL:

Our Red Hook Thanks & Hopes

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

(send yours to [email protected])

Must be reading a different paperI think the Red Hook Star Revue is one of New York City’s finest community newspapers, if not the finest. Privileged as I am to serve on the board of direc-tors of the Carroll Gardens Associa-tion, your publication continually offers fresh, wholesome and quality informa-tion, enormously helpful to me in the deliberations I participate in along with the intelligent and zealous board and staff of that great organization.

I find any reading of any edition of the Red Hook Star Revue as objective as any local publication can be, but also substantive in content, which for me has always been valuable for framing questions, opinions and courses of ac-tions regarding some of the most com-pelling local issues of Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, Gowanus, Boerum Hill, etc.

I hope it stays that way.

Now that’s quite a grand concession coming from a die hard, lifetime Lower East Side resident, probably as smug as is his LES neighbors in holding strong, elitist, however groundless, pretensions about thinking they know all there is to know about anything New York –and Only Manhattan is New York.

Manhattan be warned!- Victor Papa

Victor Papa is President/Director of the Two Bridges Neighborhood Council (two-bridges.org)

Another fanRe. Intercourse is a Pioneerworks romp through current art and science

Maybe the arts escaped from New York because she felt imprisoned here.

I think your article starts a discourse on how to invite her back.

Congratulations. Franz Landspersky Brooklyn, NY 11.14.2014

Thanksgiving is the holiday of thank-fulness. This year the Star-Revue will acknowledge some things that it feels our communities might be thankful for, and at the same time we mention things that we are hopeful might happen next year. We invite readers to send us their own list which we will publish next is-sue. Send your list to [email protected]

1. We are thankful for another year of non-disastrous weather. We hope to be able to say that same thing next year.

2. We are thankful for the new law that restricts vehicles to a 25 mph speed limit throughout the neighbor-hood. We hope that the limit will be enforced.

3. We are thankful that the Van Brunt and Degraw Street constructions in

the Columbia Waterfront District are finally completed. We hope that any future road construction is done faster.

4. We are thankful that both IKEA and Fairway continue to be good neighbors and community partners. We are hopeful that other major Red Hook players will follow that lead.

5. We are thankful that Bait and Tack-le has been able to continue on at Pio-neer Street. We are hopeful that their building will be purchased by some-one who sees the importance of rea-sonable commercial rents.

6. We are thankful for the slow up-grading of businesses on Lorraine Street. We are hopeful that the Fine Fair will be reopened as something the community needs.

7. We are thankful for the slow and steady progress of the EPA in their cleanup plan for the Gowanus. We are hopeful that NYC will begin cooper-ating with the cleanup plan in a more expeditious way.

8. We are thankful for Karen Brough-ton’s continuing community work which she brings to her position with Assemblyman Felix Ortiz. We are hopeful that newly elected Assembly-woman Jo Ann Simon hires someone to do the same for Carroll Gardens.

9. We are thankful for the accumulated local wisdom that Craig Hammerman and Leroy Branch bring to Commu-nity Board 6. We are hopeful that they continue on for many years to come.

10. We are thankful for the addition of the new restaurant Kao Soy to the burgeoning Red Hook restaurant strip that includes their neighbors Kevin’s and the Grindhaus. We hope that all three continue to thrive in 2015.

11. We are thankful for all the pro-grams that Pioneer Works has been producing in the neighborhood. We are hopeful to have some time to check them out for ourselves next year.

12. We are thankful that the Container-port and Cruise Terminal have survived for another year, maintaining some mar-itime work and resisting pressure from real estate developers. We are hopeful that our local politicians move from giv-ing more than lip service to a working waterfront and actually do something to help move that concept along.

13. We are thankful that we can still see a lot of sky throughout Red Hook. We are hopeful that developers such as Estate 4 consult with us before they begin encroaching upon our horizons.

14. We are thankful for the continuing local work on behalf of NY Rising. We are hopeful that their plans begin see-ing the light of day soon.

15. We are thankful for the sense of community that inhabits our com-mercial strip. We are hopeful that all our home grown entrepreneurs who are here because they love it here will never be replaced by people who are here just for the cash.

16. We are thankful that Greg O’Connell has been able to see the seeds that he planted in the commu-nity over twenty years ago begin to blossom. We are hopeful to see him around more next year.

17. We are thankful that in this day of virtual, people still pick up, hold and even read our paper product. We are hopeful that we can publish even more pages next year.

18. We are thankful that the Red Hook Library has been able to open again on Saturdays. We are hoping that next year they start expanding their book collection.

19. We are thankful that Carlos Menchaca has had a great freshman year in the City Council. We are hop-ing for an even better sophomore year.


Mark’s Corner

BY MARK SHAMES

Holidays beckon

Thanksgiving is approaching and it is traditional to state those things for which you are thank-ful. Certainly despite disappointments in life, I have much in my life that I cherish and much

for which to be thankful.

Everything good in my life starts with my wife of forty four years. I admit that as a youth that I was drawn by her physical appearance and particularly her then raven hair and unending legs. I stayed for her ceaseless curiosity, emotional availability, empathy, and intelligence. I wish I shared all of these qualities. I am thankful that I get to spend the holiday with my sister and that her husband as made an unexpectedly fine recovery from a stroke.

I am thankful that I was born in a country of plenty, to parents who valued education, and an understanding of the past and a vision for a better future. I regret that I wasted some of that fortune. I am thankful that I haven’t squandered it all and that I have learned forgiveness in the process.

I have relied inordinately on humor to get by in life and I am thankful that even when I am alone I can still make myself laugh. The first woman I could have loved asked me whether I could ever be serious. I missed that oppor-tunity on multiple levels but having learned from that ex-perience my first date with my wife was a poetry reading. Turns out she isn’t a fan of poetry or much non-fiction for that matter.

I am thankful for my friends and hope we continue to be forgiving of each other. I am thankful for modern medi-cine and the doctors who write me life sustaing prescrip-tions.

And thank you George for the opportunity to share my simple thanks with others.

In a rare visit to Brooklyn, MIT lin-guist and political analyst Noam Chomsky joined Brooklyn for Peace in celebrating its 30th Anniversary

on November 15 at historic Plymouth Church in Brooklyn Heights. Speaking to a sell-out crowd, Professor Chomsky lauded the grass-roots group for its per-sistent work and numerous contributions to the cause of peace and justice.

Also honored at the event, were the founders of the organization - a group of parents, whose “all-day fours” at-tended Open House Nursery School in Brooklyn. Carolyn Eisenberg, one of the organizers described how these parents—many of them veterans of the civil rights and antiwar movement of the 60s—had found themselves swamped by the demands of childcare and disconnected from political events during the Reagan era, Initially a dis-cussion group, the parents shared ideas about “how to balance responsibility for your own family with responsibility to the larger society.”

In 1984, the nuclear build-up of the Reagan administration came close to home with the proposal for a home-port on Staten Island for ships carry-ing nuclear-capable cruise missile in the crowded harbor. At that point, the initial group of parents swung into action, becoming a more formal orga-nization, Brooklyn Parents for Peace. Eisenberg described how in the ensuing thirty years, the organization worked on peace and social justice issues. In the aftermath of 9-11, as hundreds of new members flocked into the group, they altered their name into the more inclu-

sive Brooklyn for Peace

BFP member Partha Banerjee intro-duced Professor Noam Chomsky as a “torchbearer of truth and the leading voice of dissent.” In accepting the Path-maker to Peace award Professor Chom-sky painted a picture of the dire times we live in. He described the collapse of our democracy, the domination of the one percent, the pillaging of the environ-ment on behalf of the energy industry’s super profits. Nevertheless, he saw hope in the potential of groups such as Brook-lyn For Peace which have been meeting and acting around the country, although often in isolation from one another.

Brooklyn For Peace is committed to eliminating war and the social injustices that are its causes through active edu-cation on international and domestic issues, we empower our community and ourselves to be a productive force in se-curing a peaceful future for generations to come by building a world where peace is the first response to conflict. We pro-mote U.S. policies based not on coer-cion and violence, but on peace, justice, democratic advancement, human rights and respect for international law. Visit brooklynpeace.org for more information or email [email protected].

Noam Chomsky honored by Brooklyn for Peace

Noam Chomsky and his wife, Valeria Wasserman Chomsky.


Columbia Waterfront boosts merchant associationby Ben Fuller-Googins

Friends of Carroll Gardens Library hold an open houseby George Fiala

Friends of the Carroll Garden’s Library has been raising funds and sponsoring activities in sup-port of the library for the past

since they were formed in 2011. A high-light has been their annual book fair, with thousands of quality books donat-ed by the community raising a tidy sum to enhance the service of the library to the community.

The Friends are responsible for regu-lar activities such as knitting classes, storytelling, senior wellness, chess and writing classes and film showings. From time to time they host local writers who will read from their books and answer questions.

Friends is a volunteer organization and are always looking for new volunteers as well as ideas. With this in mind they held an open house on Friday, Novem-ber 21. The open house brought togeth-er library officials, library staff and the volunteers, as well as local Councilman Brad Lander. Vice Preisident Tamar Smith narrated a slide presentation il-lustrating achievements of the volun-teer group.

These included the installation of smaller, child friendly bookshelves; events such as Pajama Rama, an eve-ning story time for children by the li-

brary fireplace, and maintenance of both the bulletin board outside the li-brary and a very informative facebook page and website.

We met the librarian, John Leighton. There is a large community room in the basement of the library, and we found out that any local non profit is able to use that room for their meetings simply by contacting Mr. Leighton. The library phone number is 718-596-6972.

Councilman Brad Lander came to the Open House and stayed for most of it. As usual, he divided his time at the event by both speaking and tweeting. His Participatory Budgeting programs have provided additional help for the library, including free wi-fi.

Members of the community were in-vited to submit ideas and a lively dis-cussion ensued about the need for more teen programming.

In these days of virtual living via the computer and cellphone, the Friends want to make sure that the library re-mains a place for the community to come together.

As Velmanette Montgomery said at the Red Hook Library last summer, librar-ies are a safe place for children to go to after school, and the more dynamic li-brary programming becomes, the more opportunities arise for our children to achieve their potential.

The Carroll Gardens Library is located at the corner of Henry and Union Street and is open Monday through Saturday. To become a Friends volunteer, stop by or email [email protected].

Upcoming events include a presenta-tion of Albert Finney’s movie “Scrooge,” on Friday, Dec. 19 at 3:50 pm, and the return of Pajama Rama, Tuesday, De-cember 16 from 6:15 to 7:30 pm. Par-ticipants are encouraged to bring their pj’s, blankets and teddy bears.

The library has a much larger selection of books than one can find at the Red Hook branch.

Michael Jon Fieni (wearing the red tie), community relations specialist from the central branch, was an enthusiastic attendee answering questions from Friends volunteers.

Councilmember Brad Lander takes time from his busy schedule to join the Friends. He poses here with Friends Vice President Tamar Smith. (photos by George Fiala)

Columbia Waterfront Dis-trict Merchants hosted James Mettham, the Assistant Com-

missioner of the New York City’s Small Business Services Neighborhood Devel-opment Division to their monthly meet-ing, Tuesday November 18. Mettham, who oversees the development of Mer-chant Associations and Business Im-provement Districts, facilitated a con-versation among local business owners about the benefits of incorporating into a formal Association. The meeting took place in the back room of the House of Pizza, 132 Union Street.

The owners of Brooklyn Collective and The House of Pizza and Calzone, among other participants, began the discus-sion by highlighting challenges local businesses are facing, including lim-ited parking, increasing rents, and lack of consistent foot traffic. Despite some of these obstacles, there was optimism looking forward, given recent residential

construction and the Columbia Water-front Park that will draw visitors from the expanding Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Mettham noted that many of the ingre-dients are already in place for the Mer-chants Association to grow, including technical assistance and organizing sup-port from the Carroll Gardens Associa-tion and existing programming such as the Columbia Waterfront Fall Festival and upcoming installation of holiday street lighting.

The lighting, an unprecedented col-laboration of over 30 businesses, will be installed along Columbia and Union Streets through mid-January. Incorpo-rating the Association into an indepen-dent and self-sustaining organization would enable expanded neighborhood branding, community programming, and political organizing to support the

“The lighting, an unprecedented

collaboration of over 30

businesses, will be installed

along Columbia and Union

Streets through mid-January.”

continued growth of the District’s small business community.

The group plans to hold another meet-ing in January to discuss the publica-tion of a Columbia Waterfront District Neighborhood Guide that will highlight the diversity of businesses in the commu-nity. To get involved, go to the House of Pizza and Calzone and ask for Paul.

Ben Fuller-Googins, Paul D’Agastino, a local resident, James Mettham and Buddy Scotto discuss ways to energize the local merchants (photo by George Fiala)


Red Hook gets its own business incubatorby George Fiala

Allison Reeves is an ar-chitect who has lived in Red Hook for almost 15 years. Earlier this year she

began taking on projects at her home near Coffey Park. After a while she realized that she missed the discipline of working in an office. Taking mat-ters into her own hands, she and her husband, artist Michael Prettyman, have just opened Shared Brooklyn, which they describe as “a communal office space for creative and freelance professionals.”

Shared Brooklyn occupies much of the second floor of 185 Van Dyke Street. The building itself is also occupied by Steve’s Key Lime Pie, on the first floor, and Uhuru Designs, who were forced to relocate from the Golten building when it was sold earlier this year. It overlooks Valentino Pier Park, of-fering a great view of the harbot and Statue of Liberty.

The building is owned by Robbins Cornell Box Company, who had been using it as a warehouse for their paper supply business. Brian Robbins, who did much of the the renovation work, has been able to consolidate his storage needs to other buildings, making the space available.

As a locally owned business, Shared Brooklyn has a family feel. There are a number of rental options, ranging in price from $225 to $900 per month. Rentals are made on a month to month basis, giving a new business or freelancer the option of working their way up the ladder from a communal table, to their own desk, and finally their own private office.

There are sixteen unique looking desks, four private offices, two phone booth areas, a conference room, kitchen and communal table. It has a unique and artsy feeling, due in large part to the work of Prettyman, who built much of the workspaces without using Home-Depot wood.

Rent includes utilities, use of the kitchen, a communal lounge, two private telephone areas and access to a conference room. The kitchen in-cludes a refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave.

There are four separate rental options. The least expensive option includes a workspace for ten days a month dur-

ing normal business hours. For $900 one gets a private office, 24/7 access, 8 hours of conference room time and a discount for additional time in the conference room.

Probably the most popular option will be the $475 “Permanent Desk” option. This gives an aspiring profes-sional full time use of a desk in an of-fice environment. You can set up your computer and rocket your way to suc-cess - whether your field is art or sci-ence - while telling your family and friends that you are at your own office.

Shared Brooklyn celebrated their opening with an open house on Fri-day, November 19. A healthy spread of food was donated by Sandra and The Red Hook Winery, St. John of Fort Defiance, Monica and Leisah of Home/made and Erin of Grindhaus.

A favorite was St. Jean’s deviled eggs.

Among the guests were the first two renters, Tessa Wright, a graphic art-ist, and Ben Posell, and architect and educator, who will be both be moving

“It has a unique and artsy

feeling, due in large part

to the work of Prettyman,

who built much of the

workspaces without using

Home-Depot wood.”

Warren Berke, who has been consulting for Shared Brooklyn, overlooking the brand new desk spaces. Baffling materials will be installed over the plywood providing a bit of soundproofing. (photos by George Fiala)

Tessa Wright and Ben Posell, the first two tenants, with Allison Reeves.

Allison Reeves enjoying a moment with Grindhaus’ Erin Norris.


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“ART & ANVIL LIBERTY INC” (RED HOOK) IS CURRENTLY SEEKING:• Skilled welder-fabricator experienced with wrought iron railings, fencings, gates,

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To place an ad in this section call 718 624-5568 or email [email protected].

Rates start at $30 per issue.

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New York Quarterly Meeting’s Brooklyn Quaker Meetinghouse in downtown Brooklyn, seeks a part time building superintendent to manage building’s maintenance and repair needs and supervise two full time custodians.

Candidates should have sufficient years spent in managing building maintenance. The right candidate will have good communication skills and experience in doing simple plumbing, electrical and woodworking repairs, including boilers.

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If you wish to apply, please send a resume with employment history to:

New York Quarterly Meeting, 481 Van Brunt St., Building 8, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Help Wanted at the Red Hook Star-Revue

The Star-Revue is looking for free lancers to help write our newspaper. Let us know

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Lorraine Street feast

Thanksgiving Feast at BumbleBeesRus 76 Lorraine StreetCenter Director Ms. Jessica Figuly cooked mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, and corn for the students. In addition, the parents were so generous and sent in many delicious dishes such as baked macaroni and cheese, cupcakes, macaroni salad, chicken wings, rice and beans. The students and parents had a great time at our Thanksgiving celebration.

On Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 8:00 pm at St. Paul’s Church, Gotham Per-forming Arts presents the Empire City Men’s Chorus (ECMC) December 2014 Concert Series A STABLE LAMP IS LIGHTED with Interim Artistic Direc-tor Vince Peterson with Principal Ac-companist Alden Gatt on piano.

ECMC will sing pieces a cappella, with piano accompaniment and also with our audience. Musical highlights include: Debussy’s Noel for Homeless Children; Tindley’s The Storm is Passing Over ; Whitacre’s Lux Aurumque; Standards like Loesser’s Baby, It’s Cold Outside

and classics like Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

The Empire City Men’s Chorus, found-ed in 1993 and based in New York City, is renowned for its eclectic multilin-gual repertoire of predominantly clas-sical music. ECMC consistently pres-ent concerts which boast a variety of well-known composers as well as newly commissioned works by exciting young composers. ECMC believes that cho-ral music can be a compelling artistic response to pressing issues within our communities.

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Saint Paul’s is located at 199 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Empire City Chorus at St. Pauls


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