Marty Markowitz's Publication Brooklyn!!! Winter 2010-11
Marty Markowitz's Publication Brooklyn!!! Winter 2010-11
Marty Markowitz's Publication Brooklyn!!! Winter 2010-11
CALLING ALL
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
SWEETHEARTS!
BROOKLYN, N.Y.
Permit No. 2350
PRSRT STD
T
or more?
BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL
he holidays are the perfect time to leave cares behind and get into the
Join
Marty and Jamie
holiday spirit by sharing some special moments with family and friends!
for a Of course, theres no reason to leave Brooklyn for all the pageantry and
209 Joralemon Street
Valentines Day
Brooklyn, NY 11201
party to renew wonder of the season. So get out your calendars and make sure you find time to
your vows and create tomorrows memories today in true Brooklyn style.
toast loves
eternal flame. See page 5 for a listing, although by no means all, of the many holiday events
February 14, 2011 happening throughout the borough. And no matter what you do, have a happy
1pm at El Caribe and safe holiday season in beautiful Brooklyn!
Country Club
A Courier-Life Publication
Winter 2010/11
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Winter 2010/11
Enjoy Your
Brooklyn Holidays!
Brooklyn Youth Chorus Academy: Holiday DEAR SANTA Menorah Lighting: Columbus Park in front of the
Harmonies Concert at Our Lady of Lebanon State Supreme Court, at sundown Dec. 1-8.
St. Nicholas: Visits the Lefferts Historic House
Church in Brooklyn Heights. Dec. 17 and 18. FREE. Marty joins the lighting Dec. 2 at 5:30pm.
(CONTINUED FROM COVER) Jingle Bell Jamboree: Holiday music, dancing
in Prospect Park on Nov. 28 at 3pm. FREE.
Fall 2008
Park Circle Menorah Lighting: Parkside Ave.
GO SHOPPING!
and sing-a-long, the Old First Reformed Church Dec. 1-8 at sundown.
PERFORMANCE/CULTURAL EVENTS Shoppers get a Brooklyn Bonus at Shop
in Park Slope, FREE (Suggested donations: $5 Brighton Beach Menorah Lighting: Brighton
Brooklyn merchants. Visit ishopbrooklyn.com.
The Kings Bay Ys Chanukah Extravaganza: per child/$10 per adult). Dec. 18 at 7pm. Beach/Coney Island Aves. Dec. 1-8 at sundown.
Shop Brooklyn launches Brooklyn Friday, aka
Performances, menorah lighting, rides, games, Black Friday, Nov. 26. Atlantic Avenue LDC Tree lighting at the
The American Ballet Theaters world premier of
music and kosher food. FREE. Belarusan Church, corner of Atlantic Ave/Bond
Alexei Ratmanskys Nutcracker: BAMs Howard NYCreates Seventh Annual 2010 Holiday Crafts
www.kingsbayy.org or call (718) 648-7703. St., FREE. Dec. 2 at 6-8pm.
Gilman Opera House. Dec. 22-Jan 2. Fair at the Brooklyn Historical Society. Dec 8-12,
Dec. 5 11am-2pm.
Fulton Street Mall Holiday: Brooklyn Ballets Weekdays 11am-7pm, Weekends 10am-5pm. Frank Seddios Annual Holiday Lights
The Marks JCH of Bensonhurst: Chanukah Extravaganza on Flatlands Ave. at 93rd St. in
Celebration at 7802 Bay Parkway. For more info: Hip Hop Nutcracker. Dec. 3, 10, 17 & 21 Brooklyn Fleas Gifted Holiday Market at
Canarsie begins Dec. 6 at 5pm.
(718) 331-6800, ext. 110. Dec. 5 at 12pm. from 12pm-4pm. Visit www.fultonstreet.org for Skylight One Hanson features 100 art, jewelry,
other events. antiques and food vendors plus a holiday tree! Borough Hall Holiday Tree Lighting:
Brooklyn College Chorale and Conservatory www.brooklynflea.com/gifted. Dec. 7 at 5:30pm.
Chamber Choir: Holiday Concert at BCs COME OUTSIDE! Dec. 15-23, 11am-7pm. DUMBO Tree Lighting: The Archway under
Gershwin Theater. FREE. Dec. 9 at 4:40pm. Wild Holiday Party: Watch baboons, red pandas FOR THOSE IN NEED the Manhattan Bridge. Dec. 8 at 6:30pm.
The Mark Morris Dance Group: The Hard and other Prospect Park Zoo inhabitants tear into
If you know someone in need, tell them about Dyker Heights Neighborhood Lights: Between
Nut, at BAMs Howard Gilman Opera House. holiday presents with hidden treats. Free with admis-
the free Annual Holiday Dinner at the Park 80th and 86th Streets from 10th to 13th
Dec. 10-19. sion. Every Sat/Sun in Dec. 11:30am & 3:30pm.
Slope Armory, sponsored by the YM/ YWCA of Avenues, begins after Thanksgiving.
Bensonhursts St. Athanasius Church: FIDO Bark! The Herald Angels Sing: A sing-a- Brooklyn. Dec. 25 at 11am-5pm. CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR!
Presepio, a miniature replica of Bethlehem, long with dog-centric lyrics, hot beverages, plus GET CRAFTY Join Marty to ring in the New Year with enter-
everyday 8am3pm. Contact the church at (718) Santa posing with your pooch! Long Meadow in
236-0124 or Anthony Vigilante (718) 837-1682. Brooklyn Womens Exchange, Holiday Craft tainment, refreshments and New Years Eve
Prospect Park. FREE. Dec. 11 from 8am-10am. Fireworks at Grand Army Plaza. FREE.
Begins Dec. 12. Sundays, 55 Pierrepont Street, (718) 624-3435,
Christmas Bird Count: Helps researchers track Dec. 5 & 12. Dec. 31 at 11pm.
The Brooklyn Heights Grace & Spiritus
the long-term health of bird populations. THANK YOU VERY MULCH!
Chorale: Community Sing, Montague St. The Dyker Librarys Holiday Arts & Crafts
Audubon Center in Prospect Park. Call (718) workshop at 8202 13th Ave. Call (718) 748-
Promenade Tree Lighting Ceremony and Mulch your holiday tree into healthy ground
caroling. Dec. 15 at 5:30-7pm. 287-3400 ext. 303 for more information. 6261. Dec. 23 at 3:15pm. cover. Two locations: Third St. & Prospect Park
Dec. 18 at 12pm & 3pm. West or Park Circle Park entrance (Prospect Park
The 290-member Grammy-award winning LIGHT UP THE NIGHT!
The Brooklyn Three Kings Day Parade: Starts at Southwest & Parkside Ave.). For more info:
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir: Borough Hall. Menorah Lighting: Grand Army Plaza at
Meeker and Graham in Williamsburg. Jan 9 at 2pm. www.nycgovparks.org/services/mulchfest/mul
FREE. Dec. 15 at 4:30pm. sundown Dec. 1-8. chfest.html Jan. 8-9.
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Winter 2010/11
ON THE BLOCK
r t y s
Ma Fall 2008
4 The 6th Annual Bed-Stuy Alive! Celebration and Tohma Y. Faulkner 4 Marty joined Brooklyn Borough President Emeritus 4 The Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce (CACCI) met to
Awards on Fulton St. included cultural performances and brought much Sebastian Sam Leone (center) at Borough Hall to unveil explore economic opportunities in Grenada. Among those gathered
deserved recognition to community leaders. Marty joined some of the organ- the 35-year-old Welcome to Brooklyn, 4th Largest City in were Dr. Eda Hastick; CACCI president Dr. Roy Hastick; the Prime
izers of the event including, from left, Robert E. Cornegy Jr; Bill Wren; Bed- America sign, as celebrated in the opening sequence of Minister of Grenada Tillman Thomas; Acting Secretary
Stuy Restoration Corps Colvin W. Grannum; Brownstoners of Bed-Stuy Welcome Back, Kotter, starring Brooklynite Gabe Kaplan International Trade/Environment Sally Anne Bagwhan Logie;
Founding Member Brenda Fryson; Planning Committee Chair Anna and John Travolta. Nino Russo, owner of Coney Islands Marty; Greg Bishop, assistant commissioner DSBS; City Council
Bloodworth; and honorees Joeletha Ferguson, Margo Lewis, Daphnee Gargiulos Restaurant was also present; Russo generously Member Jumaane Williams; and CACCI Board member Patricia
Surpris, Eddie Freeman, Dr. Sam Pinn, Wilma E. Maynard, Minnie Laura loaned the sign for display at Borough Hall. Welcome Back, Sampson, managing director, Bank of New York Mellon. Grenada is
Jones and Laurie Cumbo. Kotter co-creator/producer Alan Sacks also sent a video the birthplace of Slinger Franciso, aka the Mighty Sparrow.
greeting for the event.
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Winter 2010/11
Despite seemingly ordinary moments and back- fish, corals, invertebrates and plants.
drops, Romas photographs are timeless: children Along with helping beginners establish healthy aquariums and providing a forum for
playing, families worshipping; abandoned buildings, long time fish enthusiasts, BAS donates and installs aquariums in Brooklyn schools and
city playgrounds and pools. All captured in the rare advances our understanding of how important it is to protect wild aquatic environments.
4 The photographer, Thomas Roma,
as subject.
Brooklyn light andlike all great photographs From monthly educational programs and lectures, to discounts and auctions, plus a web-
emblematic of a period but still resonant today. site that links to all sorts of fish-related information, BAS members really channel their
Romas talent has led to two Guggenheim Fellowships, one-person exhibits at inner Jacques Costeau.
MOMA and the International Center of Photography, teaching stints at Yale, Fordham, When the seas are threatened by global warming and many species of aquatic life are
Cooper Union and The School of Visual Arts and, since 1996, an appointment as direc- on the verge of extinction, said BAS president Joe Graffagnino, societies like BAS offer
tor of Photography at Columbia University School of the Arts. His next book of photo- a ray of hope that endangered species can be bred in a captive environment and, in the
graphs, his twelfth, is a photographic record of Army National Guardsmen as they pre- future, released into the wild. Graffagnino and BASs 300+ members look forward to
pare for deployment to Iraq called Dear Knights and Dark Horses. celebrating the Societys 100 year anniversary in February at its headquarters at the New
In the Greenwood Heights home he shares with his wife, Anna, and son, Giancarlo, York Aquarium in Coney Island.
Roma not only develops his own film, but designs and makes his own cameras. Inventor, ar- So if you want to experience the joy of tropical fish, from angels to zebras, or learn
tisan, renowned educator and critically-acclaimed photographer, no matter what you call more about how we can all protect aquatic life, the Brooklyn Aquarium Society can help
him Thomas Roma masters them all. you get your feet wet!
Visit www.thomasroma.com for more information about the photographer and to Brooklyn Aquarium Society, PO Box 290610, Brooklyn, NY 11229-0011; Hotline:
see examples of his work. (718) 837-4455; or visit www.brooklynaquariumsociety.org
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Winter 2010/11
BROOKLYN BEAT
Spring 2003 WHERE NEW YORK CITY BEGINS
4 Homecrest Community Services in Sheepshead Bay held its 4 Friends and supporters of Cypress Hills Community School,
annual Homecrest Senior Health Fair, offering health screenings PS/IS 89 were on hand to cut the ribbon for the brand new build-
and workshops in both Chinese and English. Gathered for the event ing, considered one of NYCs first green schools and one that pro-
were, among others, from left, Homecrest Board Member Lisa Eng; vides a high-tech greenhouse, science lab, art room, music suite,
Senate Finance Chair, Senator Carl Kruger; BP Asian Liaison Alice 1,000-sq.- ft. library, 4,000-sq.-ft. gym and cafeteria. Among those
4 Brooklyns own Dancewave from Park Slope won a coveted spot
Wong; Assembly Member Helene Weinstein; Assembly Member gathered for the festivities were Principal Irene Leon; CHLDC
and the only invitation extended to an American groupto perform
Steven Cymbrowitz; Assembly Member Peter Abbate; Council Executive Director Michelle Neugebauer; Senator Martin Malave
at the prestigious Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Scotland.
Member Michael Nelson; NYC Comptroller John Liu; Homecrest Dilanwho provided a large portion of funding; Brooklyn
Pictured in front of Aberdeen Mercat Cross were Dancewave
Chair Don Lee; Executive Director Richard Kuo; Program Director Community Foundation President Marilyn Gelber; Council
Company Director Diane Jacobowitz and her bonny company.
Tiphaine Tsang; and CB15 Chair Theresa Scavo. Member Erik Martin Dilan; Council Member Brad Lander; Parent
Co-Director Maria Jaya-Vega; and many of the parents and teach-
ers who have worked so hard to make the new facility a reality.
4 Nets new coach Avery Little General Johnson (center, back row) 4 The Borough Presidents Latino Heritage celebration brought
4 Oh shucks! Who better than Brooklyns own Paul Randazzo of some of Brooklyns distinguished movers and shakers of Latino
Randazzos Clam Barthe Pride of Sheepshead Bayto show met with students of MS 51 in Park Slope to talk about positive
choices and let kids know that they can get to the next level. He descent. Joining the celebration were, from left, honoree Irma
Manhattan and the Grand Central Oyster Bar how the shuck its Garcia, director of Athletics, St. Francis College; Martys Latino
done. Guest chef Randazzo had them clamoring for more with his also encouraged his future fan base in Brooklyn to get ready to
cheer for future NBA champions, the Brooklyn Nets! Liaison Italia Guerrero; Deputy Borough President Yvonne
Baked Oysters on the Half Shell Italian Style at the annual Graham; honoree Norberta Diaz of Asociacion de Mujeres de
Oyster Frenzy at the Oyster Bar, an all day public event of shuck- Brooklyn; honoree Luis Garden Acosta of El Puente; and Jason
ing, slurping and downing our bi-valve friends. Otano, the borough presidents counsel.
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Winter 2010/11
year-olds slamming each other Help Tom Neve feed the hungry!
mosh pit-style, pint-sized rockers Reaching Out Community Services
can be found all over Brooklyn, (RCS), the nonprofit Neve founded in Ben-
swaying to Audra Rox. sonhurst, helps feed the working poor, the
Like many aspiring performers, unemployed, seniors and others from Bay
Rox was drawn to the bright lights Ridge to Gravesend to Flatbush. But with
of Broadway, up until the birth of state and city funding shrinking and demand
her children. I needed a job so I at food pantries at an all time high, RCS
started doing music for kids, said already on a shoestring budgetis fighting
Rox. I discovered that, not only was for survival.
I good at it, but it was a joyous way Sanatation Dept. retiree Neve began serv-
to make a living. Proof that neces- 4 Audra rockin in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge! ing hot meals out of his van to the homeless
4 Tom Neve needs your help to help others!
sity really is the mother of invention. in 1989. By 1992 he added emergency food
It started when Rox performed in a friends Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals support for the working poor and low-income families. Four years later RCS offered a su-
program, where tots explored music through song, dance and rhythm. Twelve years later, Rox permarket-style food pantry, and today RCS serves more than 3,400 people every month.
has become Pied Piper to children and infants, along with their older sibs and parents, who Those in need shop the pantry for a large selection of nutritious food much like a super-
follow her wherever she goes. Rox offers classes in seven different Brooklyn neighborhoods, market, offering families a dignified way to get the help they need. But record levels of
from Bed-Stuy to Williamsburg, including the Red Hook community she calls home. unemployment have increased demand. Not long ago our clients were seniors and single
At an Audra Rox concert, youll see hordes of pogo-ing moppets with their equally cap- mothers; now were serving people in their 30s and 40s, said Neve.
tivated parents bobbing to tunes like the punkish I Like to Pretend with You and the Nevewho draws no salary for his ten-hour dayshas been forced to close the pantry
country-inspired I Hope Mama Says Yes!, as well as eleven other songs from Roxs fun on Fridays and fears even more cutbacks or even closure altogether.
CD, I Can Do It By Myself. Rox and her band have also appeared on Nickelodeons Is there anything greater than offering a family the blessed gift of a meal this holiday
Jacks Big Music Show and Sesame Street. season? Please find it in your heart to contribute, because RCS and needy Brooklyn fami-
No matter where she performs, Audra Rox is parent approved, kid friendly, but most im- lies can really use your support.
portant, just downright cool! Send contributions to Reaching Out Community Services, 7708 New Utrecht Avenue,
For more information about class schedules and CDs, visit the Audra Rox website at Brooklyn, NY 11214; (718) 373-4565; or visit www.rcsprograms.org and click on the
www.audrarox.com Donate Now button.
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BROOKLYN BEAT II
Spring 2003 WHERE NEW YORK CITY BEGINS
4 Kings County Hospitals renovated Cancer Care Center (CCC) offers serv-
ices in oncology, chemotherapy, surgery, medical screening, treatment and 4 At the annual Italian American Heritage & Culture Month cele- 4 How sweet it is! Juniors Restaurant, Brooklyns legendary eatery,
social and psycho-social support. Ribbon cutting participants included, from brazione at Borough Hall, Marty honored the beloved Alaimo celebrated its 60th anniversary with slices of its world famous
left, patient Joanne Joseph; Dr. John R. Maese, HHC Board; Auxiliary Family, of Villabate Pasticceria & Bakery and Europa Restaurant. cheesecake selling for a mere 60 cents. Suzanne Banfield was the
President Mary Walters; Josephine Bolus, HHC Board; Assembly Member Marty, his wife Jamie and Chief of Staff Carlo Scissurawho winner of the Next Great Juniors Cheesecake Flavor Recipe Contest;
Felix Ortiz; Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham; Council Member served as emceejoined Emanuele and Lina Alaimo and their chil- she won $1,800 and a coveted spot for her new cheesecake flavor on
Mathieu Eugene; KCHC COO Roslyn Weinstein; KCHC Med. Dir. Dr. Abha dren to admire and enjoy their delicious fare (not pictured Europas the Juniors menu. As borough president, Marty was forced to sam-
Agrawal; KCHC CCC Med. Dir. Dr. Theophilus Lewis; CCC Administrator Nino and Cathy Alaimo). Also honored that evening were Joseph ple cheesecake in the contest and is seen here struggling with the
Varina Deonarinesingh; KCHC Exec. Dir. Antonio Martin; and Congress Esposito, chief of department, NYPD; and Jeanette (Gina) Argento, demands of his office with Juniors owner, Alan Rosen.
Member Yvette Clark. president, Broadway Stages.
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ON THE BLOCK II
r t y s
Ma Fall 2008
4 Marty was on hand to salute the latest crop of green thumbs 4 Participants gathered for the 5th Annual Liz Padilla Memorial 5K 4 Here she comes! Christina Moore, aka Miss Brooklyn, was wel-
from the 16th annual 2010 Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest, Run, sponsored by the Brooklyn Bar Association and the Volunteer comed to Borough Hall by Marty. Ms. Moore is the reigning Miss
the residents of Vanderveer Place, between Flatbush Avenue and Lawyers Project, and in memory of the young lawyer who was killed Brooklyn, and if all goes well for this Bensonhurst-born beauty and
East 23rd Street in Flatbush. Joining the winning residents were tragically on 5th Avenue in Park Slope while riding her bike to work in she takes the New York State title like we know she will, shes on to
Brooklyn Botanic Garden President Scot Medbury, Brooklyn 2005. From left were David and Kathy Padilla (Lizs parents); Andrea the Miss America pageant. Miss Brooklyn is a student at Wagner
Community Foundation President Marilyn Gelber, Marty and Bonina, president, Brooklyn Bar Association; Marty; and Jeannie College in Staten Island.
Greenbridge Director Robin Simmen. Costello, executive director, Brooklyn Volunteer Lawyers Project.
4 Marty welcomed
two home grown suc-
cess stories to
Borough Hall:
award winning actor
Photo by: Ethel Tyus
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CONVENIENCE, COMFORT
AND CAREFall 2008
A GRANDMOTHERS LEGACY
It started with Bobbie Schick,
beloved grandmother and one of
Borough Parks guardian angels, who
always had a kind word or a gently-
used sweater for anyone in need.
Bobbie was the most generous
person Ive ever known, said grand-
son Avi Schick. She wanted to help
the needy but with dignity. Bob-
bies good deeds motivated her
grandkids, who wanted to honor
4 Bobbies Place gives kids in need the joy
her memory and continue her lega- of picking out new clothing.
cy of kindness.
So, eleven years ago in Midwood, Schick, wife Michal, and some cousins opened Bob-
bies Place. Its a unique childrens store that looks like any retailer: rows of crisp new
clothes, mothers combing racks for a new Rosh Hashanah dress or suit, and kids anxious
to try on and take their selections home.
But despite the dressing rooms, shopping bags and polite service, despite brand new
merchandise complete with price tags, all the clothing is free to people in need.
Growing families who are unemployed or struggling to make ends meet in this pre-
dominately Orthodox Jewish neighborhood rely on Bobbies Place for new kids clothing
either donated by manufacturers or purchased wholesale by the Schicks.
But kids are kids, ever alert to the stigma of buying used or accepting charity. So Bob-
bies Place takes the retail part seriously, logging and bagging items carefully at checkout,
just minus the bill. Kids know theyre getting something new but they may not know its
free. And thats the beauty and spirit of Bobbies Place.
Bobbies Place, 1243 East 14th St; (718) 677-4399; Visit www.bobbiesplace.org
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Fall 2008
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Winter 2010/11
BROOKLYN MOURNS
Fall 2008
Karen Barone, former PS 204 PA president and District 20 Presidents
Council leader Sally Crane, one of the most active residents of Brooklyn
Heights John Davenport, CB7 member and former president of the 72nd
Precinct Community Council Native Brooklynite Bill Girasole, president of
the Bay Ridge-Bensonhurst Preservation Alliance, Brooklyn Dreams Charter
School chair and 13th Ave Merchants Association past president Dorris
Gaines Golomb, CB2 committee member, FGA member and Fort Greene
preservationist Robert Makla, long time parks and green spaces proponent as
well as avid participant at CB6 and other community events Marjorie Mills,
wife of Lloyd Mills, former CB17 board chair Anne ODriscoll, long time
advocate of waterfront preservation, past president of the Sheepshead Bay Fish-
ing Fleet Assoc., BIG board member and daughter/niece to the founders of the
famed Circle Line Sandy Oquendo, aka Sandy O, teacher and jazz enthu-
siast who held a Jazz Jam annually before Labor Day in her Park Slope home
Lucy Richards, beloved mother of Deputy Borough President Yvonne Gra-
ham Sylvia Rinaldi, former Democratic district leader of the 49th AD
William Bill Saunders, former State Committee member/district leader of
the 57th AD Annlee Tendler, mother of NYC Transit Authoritys
Gov/Community Relations director Lois Tendler Reverend Jorge Vega,
founding pastor of the Iglesia Cristiana Manantial de Vida Reverend Icylee
Williams, pastor of Jordans Holy Temple and Monsignor Dino Zini, for-
mer pastor of Regina Pacis/St. Rosalia in Dyker Heights and St. Dominic RC
Church in Bensonhurst.
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