Cumberland Block Association

Block Party Recap and Photos

2011-09-26T22:47:00.001-04:00

Hi neighbors!

Thanks to everyone who came out to our 2nd annual block party on Saturday, September 10th.

Check out some photos -

Please share any you took that day as well.

Special thanks to -

Pinky for doing some extraordinary face painting for the kids. You have a real talent!
Jack and Eddie for coordinating an awesome live jazz performance and Toland for the power. So many people said that was the highlight of the day
Sabrina for baking such lovely sweet things and putting out tables
Donald for coordinating the fire truck
Ezra and Nancy for putting out the tires for kids to play in
Tokumbo and other neighbors for putting up signs to publicize the event
Any neighbor who hosted a stoop sale, invited friends, helped out, shared food and just all around appreciate the neighborhood vibe of the block party

Look out for details on our next meeting and big event - the holiday gathering. It was a great success last year - let's continue to build the block community.

Warm regards,
Sheethal

Save the date: 2nd Annual Block Party! Sat Sep 10th

2011-08-26T20:22:00.002-04:00

Cumberland Block Association

presents

Block Party!

Saturday

September 10^th

Stoop Sales

fire truck

face painting

Potluck / Bbq

music by dj steevy dee

*Call for musicians for

sunset jazz*

Invite your friends!

Questions? Suggestions? contributions?

cumberlandblock@gmail.com

cumberlandblockassociation.blogspot.com

Holiday Pot Luck Gathering wrap up

2010-12-13T23:55:00.000-05:00

Hi neighbors!

What a great turnout for our holiday pot luck gathering yesterday evening!

We welcomed new and veteran Fort Greene neighbors from 1- 70+ - sharing stories, drinking wine and sparkling cider, while munching on homemade goodies including pozole (Mexican corn soup), hot wings, mac n' cheese, gingerbread cookies and a coconut cake with marshmallow snowmen on top!

Thanks for coming out and to all who contributed to our delicious feast. And a special thanks to Howard for hosting us in his beautifully restored home.

Happy holidays and happy new year!

Warmly,
Sheethal
Cumberland Block Association

It's Official Crime is on the Rise - Bring Back the Beat

2010-11-21T15:14:00.000-05:00

There have been a couple incidents on our block recently, so please be careful and consider the request below to help deal with the issue of increased crime in the neighborhood.

Reprinted from the Fort Greene Association blog

Fort Greeners,
The 88th precinct has finally admitted to what community leaders have been saying for over two years, that crime is on the rise in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. Fort Greeners don't take issues like this sitting down, they take action. Last night at the FGA November Meeting a SRO crowd began to take action by demanding the return of Beat Cops to Fort Greene and Clinton Hill by signing and sending letters to Commission Kelly as part of our "Bring Back the Beat" campaign.

Now it's time for you to do your part. Either use the letter as a starting point for your own personalized version or download the letter and mail it to the Commissioner today. While social media and email have their place they do not replace the old analog form of the good old letter.

I ask you to take the time today to protect your neighborhood, your family, your children by participating in our Bring Back the Beat campaign.

Paul Palazzo
FGA Chair

Download the letter to print or copy and paste from below.

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly
NYC Police Department Headquarters
One Police Plaza
New York, NY 10038

November 18, 2010

Re: Bring Back Street Patrols to Fort Greene Clinton Hill

Dear Commissioner Kelly:

I am writing to you to ask support in protecting something you helped to create, the current day neighborhoods of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. Back in the early nineties you and then Mayor Dinkins initiated the Safe Streets program which initiated a precipitous decline in crime and fostered the renaissance of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. Thank you for helping to create such a vibrant neighborhood.

Fort Greene and Clinton Hill are now destination locations for both tourists and native New Yorkers. Our streets are alive with scenes of shoppers, sightseers, and increasingly young families enjoying my great neighborhood. I want these scenes to continue but they and my family are being threatened.

Crime is now on the rise in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill and the time has come again to bring back the successes of Safe Streets. What I am speaking of specifically are neighborhood foot patrols, more commonly known as the neighborhood Beat Cop.

You have been attentive to my neighborhood and I appreciate your recent additional emphasis in apprehending perpetrators of crime. As a proactive force you demonstrated the Beat Cop of the Safe Streets program was highly effective in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. Beat Cops in the early nineties not only provided a visible deterrent to crime but also became part of our neighborhood fabric. I would like to see the Police as part of my neighborhood again.

So please Commissioner Kelly help protect and strengthen what you started decades ago. Let's bring back Beat Cops to Fort Greene and Clinton Hill.

Sincerely,

BLOCK PARTY!

2010-08-30T23:59:00.002-04:00

Cumberland Block Association

presents

Block Party!

Saturday September 11^th

Schedule

Stoop Sale: 10 – 4

Kids activities: 2 – 4

Potluck dinner/Bbq: 4 – 6

(street closed 10–6 – please move cars in advance)

BRING your own chair and beverage

Needed:

· Folding tables

· BBQ grills

· DJ (if you have a sound system to play outside you qualify)

· Kids activity organizers

if you can contribute any of the above items please email

cumberlandblock@gmail.com

for info :

cumberlandblockassociation.blogspot.com

**Please print the flyer and distribute to your neighbors!**

Meeting notes from last Cumberland Block Association meeting on Thursday, August 26th

2010-08-30T23:50:00.000-04:00

Hi neighbors!

Here are notes from our last block association meeting, held at Karen and Andy's place.

Block Party

Saturday September 11th

Schedule

Stoop Sale: 10 – 4
Kids activities: 2 – 4
Potluck dinner/BBQ: 4 – 6
(street closed 10–6 – please move cars in advance)

Notes

Bring your own chair and beverage and an item to contribute for dinner
Needed: grills for BBQ, Folding tables, DJ and kids games coordinator. Please email cumberlandblock@gmail.com if you can contribute any of these items.
Annabelle will hang No Parking Signs
Tokumbo and Sheethal will distribute and hang Block Party signs
Jack will invite precinct
Tokumbo will invite Tish

Ideas welcome!

Trees pits and guards

Jack brought an application for tree guards from Marty Markowitz's office (courtesy of Peter (308))
The application is due September 17th to Marty's office
The group chose the square design displayed in the application
Sheethal has distributed a document to each owner whose property is adjacent to a tree pit. Each owner must give permission to obtain a tree guard. Please complete and sign this form and put in Sheethal's mailbox (311) asap for enclosure with application. Please print Cumberland Block Association in the space for organization name

Sewer Work

If anyone has any sewer work they need to do, please coordinate with Toland (297). He has work to do and will see if he can can the work done before they repave the street, so they don't have to rip it up

Other

Howard talked about extending the historic district in a couple areas
Howard recommended we work with the block association on Cumberland b/t Lafayette and DeKalb. We will invite them to the block party as a first step.

Please feel free to leave comments below or email cumberlandblock@gmail.com with any questions.

Aperitivos! Sponsored by The Greene Grape and The Fort Greene Park Conservancy - Thursday, May 20th at 6

2010-05-19T09:23:00.000-04:00

Please join The Cumberland Block Association, The Greene Grape and The Fort Greene Park Conservancy for Aperitivos: a sumptuous sparkling summer cocktail typical of the Veneto in Italy.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

The Greene Grape

765 Fulton St

6:30 - 8 PM

Conservancy folks will be there to talk about their upcoming season of free programming, their membership drive and volunteering.

Catch up with your neighbors on Cumberland Street and meet people from other block associations in the neighborhood.

We look forward to seeing you there!

REMINDER: BBG Gardening Clinic this Friday May 14th from 7-8 (and upcoming cocktail event at Greene Grape)

2010-05-12T17:47:00.000-04:00

Hi neighbors!

Together with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Cumberland Block Association will be hosting a gardening clinic on Friday, May 14th from 7 - 8 PM. We will meet outside of 304 Cumberland (Sabrina and Matt's house). We will discuss street tree maintenance, front garden design and plant selection, container gardening and drought resistant plants/water conservation.

Hope you can join us and please spread the word to your neighbors!

**Also, please save the date Thursday May 20th from 6:30 - 8 for a wine tasting at the Greene Grape on Fulton St. Courtesy of Greene Grape and the Fort Greene Park Conservancy, we'll be having aperitivos, a sparkling summer cocktail typical of the Veneto in Italy, which is Aperol, prosecco, soda & orange. The Fort Greene Park Conservancy will be introducing their programming to several block associations in the neighborhood. Invitation to come shortly!**

Meeting notes from last Cumberland Block Association meeting on April 29th

2010-05-03T15:48:00.007-04:00

**Please subscribe to the blog at http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=CumberlandBlockAssociation&loc=en_US to get Cumberland Block Association updates**

Hi neighbors!

Thanks to all who attended the last meeting. Welcome to our neighbors Karen and Andy, Ryan and to CBA members Pinky, Jack, Rodney, David, Tokumbo and Sheethal.

For those who could not make it, here is the agenda of items discussed. Below the list you will find an update for each:

Church on Green Ave Petition
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest
Free trees from the Arbor Day Foundation
En restaurant
294 Cumberland update
297 Cumberland update
After-labor day block party

Church on Greene Ave Petition
We all signed the petition and we distributed sheets for people to continue to get signatures. Michelle suggested we get together with other block associations in the neighborhood to obtain more signatures and hold an event with Tish and Marty Markowitz to get more community members involved. Once we have a of signatures, we could go to them with our case. Over the weekend, I was at an apartment that faces the back of the building and it looked like there were pigeons coming in and out of the open windows. At least we should look to have the building sealed.

Greenest Block contest
Our gardening clinic will be held May 14th from 7 - 8 PM outside of 304 Cumberland. We will be discussing street tree maintenance, front garden design and plant selection, container gardening and drought resistant plants/water conservation. Hope people can make it!

Free trees from the Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day foundation gives out 10 free trees when you become a member for $10 - http://www.arborday.org/Shopping/Memberships/Memberships.cfm. Please let me know if you would like to get a tree and I will place an order for the group. So far, Rodney (2), Pinky (1) and Ryan (1) would like trees.

En
A neighbor talked about noise and unneighborly behavior with En restaurant.

294 Cumberland Update

The building going up at 294 Cumberland had stopped and started work several times. Rodney gave us an update, saying that the Landmarks Commission stopped work because the windows are not inline with the rest of the block. It is not clear whether they are working on it. A neighbor has seen workers waiting outside but not doing work.

297 Cumberland Update
This house is in probate, there is a dispute amongst the heirs. It's been sealed by the Department of Health and Safety, but it's not in a good condition.

After-labor day block party
We revived the idea of having a block party. We decided to hold it on a Saturday in early September when people are back from summer vacations. Donald will look into getting the permit for us. Stay tuned for updates about block party planning. Any ideas, feel free to share in the comments.

Recycled Tulip Giveaway from the BBG

2010-04-22T18:34:00.000-04:00

I just got this email from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. I'm planning to get some tulips for our block. If anyone would like to join, shoot me an email.

Recycled Tulip Giveaway!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 | 3–6 p.m.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden

1010 Washington Avenue—Service Entrance
(Between Eastern Parkway and Empire Boulevard)

These tulips include many different kinds and colors. Bulbs with stalk and leaves for immediate planting are available to BBG GreenBridge Community Garden Alliance members, block associations entering our Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest, schools, and horticultural therapy sites. The tulips were recently uprooted from BBG displays and should bloom again in the spring of 2010. A planting tip sheet will be provided.

• Limit 60 plants per group (approximately two bags)
• Tulips are available on a first come, first served basis while they last.
• Be prepared to get dirty! These recently uprooted bulbs are covered in soil.
• You will be asked to sign in for your group.
• Rain or shine. For directions to BBG, call 718-623-7200.

The GreenBridge Team

Spring is here and the CBA is back!

2010-04-18T21:33:00.000-04:00

Hi friends!

I recently returned from my work as a Kiva Fellow in South America and am working to get the Block Association back up and running!

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1. Next Cumberland Block Association Meeting - we are planning for the week after next

Stay tuned for details. The next meeting will be likely April 28th or 29th. I am in the process of coordinating the date and location.

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2. Fort Greene Association meeting tomorrow at 7:30 (7 PM for neighborhood social)

Join us at our next scheduled Neighborhood meeting to be held on Monday April 19, 2010 -7:30PM, at Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, 85 South Oxford Street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

Fort Greene has changed but our choices for healthy food seem to be stuck in the past. At this meeting we’ll explore the Food Solutions coming to our neighborhood Come share your experiences with others and learn about efforts to provide healthy food choices to Fort Greene.

Ask questions, and get answers. Plus all the goings on in Fort Greene and don’t forget to come early and meet your neighbors with refreshments starting at 7PM.
YUMMY! ENTER OUR RECIPE – POT LUCK CONTEST

What is your favorite healthy recipe for a family of four on a budget?
Bring along your favorite designed to cost $10 or less to the meeting for the 7PM Neighborhood Mixer
and enter our Recipe – Pot Luck Contest.

Enter to win valuable prizes and share your secrets on healthy eating with your neighbors.

Come and savor what your neighbors have to offer.

As always FGA Meetings are Open to All Homeowners and Renters alike

Serving Greater Fort Greene,
Fort Greene Association

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3. Petition for Church on Greene Ave

Our neighbor Phil (thanks Phil!) has created a petition regarding the church on Greene Ave. It is dangerous and caused violations and pests in neighboring restaurants. It blocked part of the greene space creation at 7 corners and it doesn't look like anything is going to change for awhile. Please join us and sign the petition at the next meeting.

4. Fort Greene House Tour
Sunday, May 02, 2010
12:00 PM to 5:00 PM

BAM Triangle Park
30 Lafayette Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11217

The 30th Fort Greene Association House Tour is coming! The tour is held only once every two years, and this one will be even better than the last. In addition to gaining access into the splendid Victorian interiors of Fort Greene you will also get a glimpse of the backstage life of Fort Greene. Fort Greene which has become the City's hot new arts scene will swing open its doors with exclusive Artists Showings and Backstage Tours. The Tour will also feature residents who have shops, produce national magazines, and design on a global scale right from the comfort of this all inclusive neighborhood. Join us in fort Greene Brooklyn for this very special event benefiting the advocacy and programs of the all-volunteer, non-profit organization, the Fort Greene Association.

TICKETS
Advance Ticket: $20

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5. Brownstone Brooklyn Garden District 13th Annual Garden Walk

Sunday, June 6, 2010
11:00am - 5:00pm
Clinton Hill private and community gardens

Brownstone Brooklyn Garden District presents its self-guided 13th Annual Garden Walk. Spend a Sunday afternoon being inspired by the creativity of this neighborhood's urban gardeners. The stops on the tour include single, double and triple-lot city refuges. Pick up a self-guided map at the corner of Washington Avenue and Lafayette, just outside the entrance to the G train, and enter into a a wonderland that cannot be seen from the street.

This year's stroll features 15 private gardens in the historic district of Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. In addition to private gardens, many of which also feature the artwork of their creators folded into their greenery, the tour includes several vibrant community gardens, a newly planted garden entitled, Symbols, Parables and Healing, sponsored by BBGD in partnership with Teen Challenge, the drug recovery and prevention program at 444 Clinton Avenue, The Pratt sculpture Garden, green graffiti art installations and a Living-Couture Fashion Show in a neighborhood church.

All proceeds from the Garden Walk fund activities that support, encourage and facilitate local gardening, urban farming and environmental art.

Tickets are available in advance for $15 at:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/107257

and for $20 the day of the event.

Local ticket outlets will be announced shortly

Contact:
Emily Wasserman
151 Dekalb Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718 852 9283
emilywas@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1297300822&ref=profile#!/event.php?eid=115612625123494&ref=mf

Meeting notes and a temporary farewell

2009-10-02T14:57:00.004-04:00

Please click here to subscribe to the Cumberland Block Association blog

This month's meeting was great - we assembled at the LeBlanc residence at 304. We met new neighbors and caught up with friends.
Warm welcome to our new members - Annabelle (296), Steve (301) and Cori (304) and thanks to all current members for joining us!

Green Fort Greene and Clinton Hill

We had a guest speaker, Jed Marcus, from Green Fort Greene and Clinton
Hill. He spoke about several initiatives in the works to reduce the carbon footprint of the neighborhood:

Distributing compact flourescent light bulbs to local businesses to sell at cost
Bike parking
Recycling in the local parks
Tree pit expansion (please read about the tree pit survey I did on our block)
Green business initiatives
Ways to get involved with Green Fort Greene and Clinton Hill

Church on Greene Ave

We also got an update on the church on Greene Ave from Phil via email.

From Phil:

"I did speak this week with a representative of the church at 5 Greene. She was not too forthcoming, but said that they intend to start construction in October / November. Would give me no schedule on completion."

Steve volunteered to get signatures for a petition. The other day I noticed that the garbage around the front of the church lot has been cleaned up. Maybe they are making progress...if anyone knows, please share.

Atlantic Yards
We heard some news about Atlantic Yards from Sean. There is one lawsuit remaining. The situation has changed due to Mikhail Prokhorov's bid for the Nets.

Contractor recommendations
Please continue to share contractor recommendations. We can support good work and possibly get discounts for our block.

Temporary farewell

This will be my last Cumberland Block Association meeting for awhile. Steve has volunteered to maintain the blog in my absence. On a side note: if you are interested in following my stories as a Kiva Fellow in Peru and beyond, please visit http://leapwork.com or for stories by all Kiva Fellows around the world, please visit http://fellowsblog.kiva.org

See you all when I return!
Sheethal

Green FG&CH--THIS WEEKEND -- Get and give out trees +more bike racks

2009-09-17T15:11:00.001-04:00

Dear neighbors,

Apologies for the short notice, but good opportunities beckon:

Get a tree or give out trees: As part of Myrtle Avenue's fall celebration, Move About Myrtle, Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership, MillionTreesNYC and the New York Restoration Project are offering trees for planting on private property. Sunday, September 20 11-7 between Ryerson and Grand. Also, please volunteer to help give out trees -- pick a two hour slot from 10:00 a.m. on and respond to Sarah Farwell at 718.230.1689 or sarah@myrtleavenue.org. Bring a friend, bring the kids.

Bike Racks: 72 installed so far. We have a last-minute chance to request more for installation in 2009. Please send requests by Sunday night 9/20 to gilnyc@yahoo.com. I apologize for the short notice, but opportunity just knocked. Thanks to Gil Ronen.

For racks outside of schools please get a written consent from the school's principal and send a scanned copy by Tuesday night 9/22.

For each request specify an exact street address (e.g. 709 Fulton), cross streets (e.g. between St Felix and Ashland), and if the location is in front of a business then the name of the business (e.g. in front of Crunch).

The rules: Bick racks must be

On City-owned property, i.e., sidewalks, parks, school property, etc.;
On wide concrete sidewalks (minimum sidewalk width 12 feet);
Removed from the natural flow of pedestrians, usually at the curb and always away from crosswalks;
Usually a minimum of 6 feet from other street furniture (e.g., street signs, mailboxes, benches, telephones); and
Generally 13 feet from fire hydrants, and 15 feet from bus stop shelters and newsstands.
CityRacks can NOT be installed on pavers, cobblestone, brick, stone/slate slabs, custom/patterned concrete or metal grating.

Together we will do great things.

Enjoy the weekend.

Jed S. Marcus
Green Fort Greene & Clinton Hill
13 Greene Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11238

T: 718.643.6555
F: 718.643.9111

info@greenfgch.org

Next Block Association Meeting Wed Sept 30th at 6:30 PM - 304 Cumberland St

2009-09-15T13:40:00.006-04:00

Hi neighbors,

We'll have our next block association meeting:

Wednesday, September 30th at 6:30 PM at the LeBlanc residence at 304 Cumberland Street.

Please be on time so we can finish the meeting before they have to put their daughter to bed by 8PM.

To help expand our group, please ask a neighbor if they will join you. We'll have a drink and meet our neighbors, discuss block happenings and project updates.

A couple notes:

Subscribe: Please subscribe to the blog through the link below so you will get email updates. (You can unsubscribe at any time) http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=CumberlandBlockAssociation&loc=en_US
Suggestions: There is a new feedback tab on the left side of the blog. Please feel free to leave comments and suggestions there.
New York Times Fort Greene Local blog: The Cumberland Block Association is now on The NY Times Fort Greene Local's blogroll!

See you on the 30th.

Best,
Sheethal
http://cumberlandblockassociation.blogspot.com

Water main repairs on Cumberland Street

2009-09-10T20:18:00.003-04:00

What's with all the digging? Apparently the water main pipe from 309
was leaking and flooding the 311 basement, so all day today plumbers were here (and were still working when I went out for the evening). They are still working this morning but should be done later today.

They are replacing the water pipe.

Tree Pit Survey on Cumberland Street

2009-08-19T11:12:00.013-04:00

Through Green Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, Council Member Leticia James has given funds to expand 1,000 tree pits in our neighborhood.

The Brooklyn Forestry Division of the Parks and Recreation Department has a particular block survey form to use for this process that includes the following info:

Address (to determine tree location)
Tree condition
Pit type
Old pit measurements
New pit measurement (generally 10' x 5')
Pit treatment (metal guards, paving stones, raised planter, other)

Today I walked up and down our block and measured the tree pits. I also took notes on the condition of the tree and any hindrances to expanding the pits (such as gas and water valves, etc). I will submit the info to Green Fort Greene.

Hopefully this project will begin in the fall and will result in healthier trees for our block!

** If there is a tree pit treatment (such as a metal guard), the contractor will get the home owner's permission to expand the tree pit before starting the work. You can opt not to have your tree pit expanded. Please consider the health of your tree before opting out of the tree pit expansion project **

Note: I have put the tree guard project on hold until the tree pit expansion is done. Once the tree pits are uniform and give enough space for the trees to grow without pushing up the sidewalk, I will go back to completing the tree guard project. See info about that project here.

-Sheethal

Historic Ft. Greene Park In Line for Federal Funds

2009-08-18T11:15:00.001-04:00

Historic Ft. Greene Park In Line for Federal Funds

Brooklyn Eagle

08-13-2009

$300,000 Would Improve Monument Area and More

FORT GREENE – The U.S. House if Representatives approved $300,000 in funding to renovate and restore Fort Greene Park. The funds were included in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010, which now goes to the Senate.

“Fort Greene is one of the great historical landmarks in the country but, unfortunately, many areas in the park have fallen into disrepair,” said Rep. Ed Towns, whose district stretches from Fort Greene to Canarsie. “These additional funds will help restore the park’s natural beauty and directly improve the Fort Greene neighborhood.”

Towns secured $300,000 to help renovate the park’s sidewalks, restore signage and improve the landscaping around the Revolutionary War Prison Ship Martyrs Monument. The monument, located in the center of Fort Greene Park, is a memorial to the captured American soldiers who died of disease and starvation aboard rotting British prison ships in New York Harbor. Unveiled in 1908, it is actually the third monument to the martyrs.

The Fort Greene Park Conservancy has worked with the New York City Parks Department in recent years to restore the park, and is in the midst of a full restoration.

“The Conservancy is grateful to Rep. Towns’ effort on behalf of Fort Greene, and looks forward to working with him to make the best possible use of the funds to serve the citizens of Fort Greene and surrounding neighborhoods of Fort Greene Park,” said Fort Greene Park Conservancy Chairman Charles Jarden.

Fort Greene Park is located on a hill overlooking Wallabout Bay and downtown Brooklyn. It was named for Revolutionary War Gen. Nathaniel Greene. While editor of the Brooklyn Eagle, Walt Whitman pushed for the creation of the park, which opened in 1847.

Last year, at the 100th anniversary of the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, the four bronze eagles that once graced the monument (removed in the 1960s because of the threat of vandalism) were returned by the Parks Department; and the “eternal flame” on top of the monument’s Doric column, which had been dark for more than 80 years, was re-lit.

Earlier, in 2006, the Parks Department cut the ribbon on the park’s restored Visitors’ Center, which likewise had been closed for several decades.

A tribute to the prison ship martyrs is held in the park every year by the Society of Old Brooklynites. This year, on Saturday, Aug. 22, the keynote speaker will be Eagle history columnist David Weiss.

What's going on at the church on Greene Ave?

2009-08-06T20:29:00.001-04:00

I saw some workers putting up scaffolding so there must be some
renovation or demolition work beginning at the church.

Anybody know?

Traffic Calming Reset on DeKalb Avenue

2009-07-29T11:48:00.002-04:00

Fort Greeners,

You may have noticed that NYCDOT Signals has reset the signals on DeKalb Avenue between Vanderbilt and Ashland Avenue. The 25 m.p.h. progression was installed in 2001 as a Downtown Brooklyn Traffic Calming pilot program but over time some of the signals have gotten "out of synch" and the consistent progression was lost.

The purpose of creating a progression slower than the posted speed limit (also known as "signal calming") is to discourage speeding. Motorists starting from a red light will only be able to achieve a consistent speed of 25 m.p.h. Traveling faster than this will result in the motorist having to stop and wait for the next light to turn green, as he/she is ahead of the "green wave".
NYCDOT Signals has looked into this issue as there have been many concerns from the community about speeding on DeKalb Avenue. Though signal calming cannot completely prevent speeding, based its experience in other corridors NYCDOT has found that the program does work.

The FGA would be interested in hearing any observations this and other traffic and public transportation related issues. Send your comments to transit@HistoricFortGreene.org.
Serving Greater Fort Greene,
Fort Greene Association

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The Fort Greene Association, Inc., operates as a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. A copy of our latest financial report may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.

Clothing Recycle at Fort Greene Farmer's Market on Saturdays

2009-07-24T09:20:00.000-04:00

Fort Greeners,

Textiles such as clothing and linens comprise nearly 6% of residential waste in the city, adding to landfills and disposal costs.

We are pleased to report that the Council on the Environment of New York City [CENYC] is expanding textile recycling program.

Beginning August 1 the following Fort Greene park Greenmarket will accept clothing and other textiles for reuse or recycling

SATURDAY
8am-3pm, Fort Greene Park Greenmarket, Washington Park at DeKalb

How does textile recycling work? You drop off clean clothing, shoes, bedding, linens, hats, handbags, belts and other textiles in usable or non-usable condition. Donations are sorted into different grades such as cotton blend and synthetic scrap and then redistributed to markets where there is a demand for these materials, such as wearable clothing or stuffing for mattresses. For more information visit www.cenyc.org/clothing or call 212-788-7989.
Serving Greater Fort Greene,
Fort Greene Association

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The Fort Greene Association, Inc., operates as a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. A copy of our latest financial report may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.

Second Meeting - Thursday, July 9th at 7 PM

2009-07-09T21:20:00.015-04:00

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Hi neighbors,

We had our second meeting tonight at the Raible residence at 307 Cumberland. We enjoyed some refreshing white wine, brie, fresh fruit and veggies and no-pudge brownies during the meeting.

Welcome to our new members - Loise (291), David (314) and Estelita and Lilly (29 Greene)! Thanks to our members Deb and Phil (307) for hosting the meeting in their beautiful home and Rodney (310) and Sheethal (311) for their attendance.

We started with introductions. Loise told us some great stories about our block. Her parents lived in 291 since the 50's until their passing and she grew up on the block. We learned about some of our past neighbors. Thanks Loise for sharing that info with us! Please click here to access the Block Association Contact List. Please update your info if it is incorrect. If you know anyone else on the block who would be interested in joining us, please let me know.

We talked about some block happenings -

Planting at Seven Corners (intersection of Fulton, Greene and Hanson Place). Read more info about that here
Updates on Atlantic Yards
Updates on the Salvation Army building on Hanson Place
Loise asked about where to donate clothes. Sheethal suggested the Salvation Army on Flatbush. Rodney mentioned that clothes could be donated to a women's and childern's shelter on Dean between Carlton and Vanderbilt.

Block Association Projects

Click here to access to the ongoing project list

Some project updates -

Sheethal updated us on our entry into the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest. Our entry is in. Read more about that here.
Sheethal updated us on the beautification on the garage in front of 311 project that Tokumbo has been working on. John has improved the look by painting over the spray painted "No Parking" but we think we could get this to look even better.
Sheethal requested bike parking on our block. Please support this effort by adding your request for bike parking by clicking here to submit an online form through 311.
Sheethal requested a new bus shelter on Greene Ave (we still have the old one). Please help support this effort by calling 311 to request a new bus shelter on Greene Ave.
We discussed postponing the block party until next year so we would have more time to plan something good.

We also added a few new project ideas to our list -

Alleviate the mess of telephone wires in the backyards
Coordinate a block trip to the Irondale Theater in the Presbyterian Church
BAM and Mark Morris community involvement - learn about ways they are already involved or could be involved in the local schools or maybe with our block party
Resolve the parking situation in front of Mugavero Senior's Center so that when ambulances park or folks need to leave, it is more accessible

New Project Ownership

Rodney has agreed to learn about how to start a Neighborhood Watch program.
Phil and Loise will work on the Church on Greene Ave. Loise mentioned a woman named Clarissa James on South Elliot who needs a space for her daycare center. She suggested perhaps the church space could be used for that if not something else productive, instead of sitting vacant.
Dave said he would compile a list of contractors. Please submit recommendations to him or post them on that project thread.

Thanks neighbors for helping us get our projects going! If you have any thoughts for projects and/or would like to help your neighbors in their efforts, please email Sheethal at sheethalshobowale@gmail.com or sign up for an existing project on our project list.

Hope to see you at the next event or the August meeting!

NYTimes.com: The Local - Fort-Greene: Parking Dance to Resume, Simplified

2009-07-09T10:59:00.004-04:00

Check out The Local - It's local blogs and there's one for Fort Greene and Clinton
http://fort-greene.blogs.nytimes.com/

The Local - Fort-Greene: Parking Dance to Resume, Simplified
By Lily Q

Alternate-side parking regulations, suspended since May, will be back in force, though in a less onerous incarnation, on July 20.

Start your engines, ladies and gentlemen. Then turn on the air conditioning, a bit of music and leave your car in park for 15 minutes or so as you prepare to journey all the way across the street. That’s right, alternate side parking regulations are back in effect as of July 20.

(Actually don’t leave your engine running. It is illegal in New York City to idle for more than three minutes, or more than one minute near a school.)

After a two-month suspension during which street-cleaning signs were replaced, the regulations will return, though they’ll be somewhat more lenient this time around.

According to a press release from the Department of Transportation, “some daytime residential street cleaning parking restrictions are being reduced from twice a week to just once a week to ease parking for local residents.” The times of the day when certain streets are cleaned have changed, too. Be sure to read the signs.

Contractor Recommendations

2009-07-08T23:31:00.002-04:00

I've started this thread to post contractors recommendations.

Feel free to add any contractors that you like in the comments or send them to Dave at davidzalman1@gmail.com to compile.

Thanks!

Green Fort Greene&Clinton Hill --Good News + Meeting July 20

2009-07-02T12:44:00.005-04:00

A not from Jed Marcus from Green Fort Greene and Clinton Hill

Dear NY’s Greenest,

It’s wonderful to go into a holiday energized by great progress and to plan what we will do next to reduce our neighborhood’s carbon footprint and our use of non-renewable resources. Please put our next meeting on your calendar: July 20, 7:00 pm, at Irondale (in the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church) 85 South Oxford Street

The Very Good News – Greener and Cleaner

*** Thanks to Council Member Tish James, the City has allocated $130,000 for “Take Back the Pavement,” our project to expand the tree pits which are choking our mature trees. At least 330 tree pits will be expanded. Vaidila Kungys organized this project. Preliminary surveys by many volunteers got the necessary information in the right hands on short notice. More below.

*** After much encouragement by Green FG&CH, the Departments of Transportation and Parks are about to build two little parks to replace the horrid plastic and striping at 7 Corners (Fulton, South Oxford, Hanson and Greene). The roadwork will be done in July and August and the planting in the fall. See the plan here.

*** The Parks and Sanitation Departments will start recycling on a pilot basis at Fort Greene Park, Cuyler Gore Park and Underwood Playground this month. Green FG&CH volunteers Demetrios Yatrakis (arranged for storage of recyclables) and Ramon Factora (signage) have made it happen.

And You

A couple of hours working on a project will make a big difference. Come to the meeting on July 20 and see how you can help. Topic A: explore maximizing the number of tree pits “Take Back the Pavement” will expand with the City’s money. Set up the surveying and data collection for the project. Go after more money.

Topic B: Green Practices for Businesses: a group of local business owners have developed a code of green practices. We now have to take it to the streets and get many businesses to sign on. We also need graphics for several aspects of the project and a data base to track who is participating and what is working. In addition to the green practises that are ready to go, research is needed to launch more, bolder ideas.

Topic C: "No Ad" sign update. What’s next?

See you on the 20^th.

Together we will do great things.

Regards,

Jed Marcus

---

Green Fort Greene and Clinton Hill is volunteer project of your neighbors working together to reduce our neighborhoods' contribution to global warming and our use of non-renewable resources.

Next Cumberland Block Association meeting - Thursday July 9th at 7PM

2009-06-30T22:55:00.002-04:00

Hi neighbors,

We'll have our next block association meeting on Thursday, July 9th at 7 PM at the Raible residence at 307 Cumberland Street.

We'll have a drink, meet new members, and discuss block happenings and projects for the summer.

Please subscribe to the blog through the link below so you will get email updates. (You can unsubscribe at any time)
http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=CumberlandBlockAssociation&loc=en_US

Happy 4th of July weekend! Hope everyone has lots of BBQs to go to.

Best,
Sheethal http://cumberlandblockassociation.blogspot.com