WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.

ORG Winter 2010/11

MESSAGE Enjoy Your

MARTY Brooklyn Holidays!
from

Although it feels like summer just ended, another holiday season is

here. This is the perfect time to reflect on how fortunate we are to live in
the greatest city in this magnificent nation, Brooklyn, USA.
As you enjoy this special time with your loved ones, I urge you to spare
a thought for Brooklynites who could use some holiday cheer, especially
those affected by the economic downturn. By all means, welcome the
American Ballet Theatre to Brooklyn by attending a performance of The
Nutcracker at BAM, imbibe some eggnog, play a spirited game of drei-
dle, but also look for ways you can make a difference in somebodys life.
In this issue of Brooklyn!!, you will find several examples of
Brooklynites and organizations who have given of themselves to make
Brooklyn a better place. I hope you are inspired by their stories. But
remember that making a difference can be as simple as donating provi-
sions to a food bank, donating new or gently used toys or clothes or vol-
unteering for an organization that provides hot holiday meals to those
who are alone or who cannot afford to celebrate the holidays.
I like to remember the saying there but for the grace of God go I.
Lets not forget, many of us are just two or three paychecks away from
severe financial hardship. Its wonderful seeing the faces of family and
4 Presepio, a miniature replica of the town of Bethlehem, is open to the public at the St. Athanasius Parish
friends light up when they see the perfect gift you got for them. But I
(Lower Church) in Bensonhurst. Anthony Vigilante maintains the exhibit.
have found that if you dig deep and give what you can to those in need,
it can be the most satisfying gift of all.
Once again, may you and yours have a joyous holiday season and a
happy, healthy New Year.
P.S. All of us at Borough Hall look forward to the new year and offer
hearty congratulations to Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo, Lieutenant
Governor Robert Duffy, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Attorney
General Eric Schneidermanas well as all the newly elected and reelect-
ed members of the Brooklyn delegation in Congress, the State Senate
and the Assembly.

CALLING ALL
U.S. POSTAGE PAID

SWEETHEARTS!
BROOKLYN, N.Y.
Permit No. 2350
PRSRT STD

Are you 4 The lights are

and your spouse bright in Dyker Heights
Brooklynites who come Christmas time!
have been
married 50 years

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

STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Call (718) 802-4488
to reserve a spot. 2

A Courier-Life Publication
 Winter 2010/11

BRINGING UP BABYAGAIN! COVERING THE WHITE HOUSE

Fall 2008
You raise your kids, and then your kids When Alan Rada says hes covered the White
have kids. You dont expect to be a parent House, hes not talking about the press corps, hes talk-
again, but more grandparents are these ing wallpaper. Part of a dream teamincluding
days83,946 grandparents in New York Mitchell Ehrlich and Anthony BoninoRada pa-
City according to the US Census. The rea- pered President Obamas private study, the Presidential
sons are complicated but include family cri- Dining Room and the Oval Office this past August.
sis, a bad economy and even the fact that
Rada learned the trade from his father, a profes-
in some casesgrandparents are better
sional installer for contractor Warner Krebs. Radas
4 GAMA members include, front row from equipped to provide care.
left: Victoria Chase, Patricia Bell, Barbara In 1991, the Fort Greene-based Catholic wild and wooly career also includes volunteer work
Ensley, Gale Newton and Maria Lemons; Charities Brooklyn and Queens created a at a kibbutz in 1973 at the outbreak of the Yom
Back row from left: GAMA Group Facilitator Kippur War, and time as a jewelry importer, realtor,
SaddiQa Beyah, Elaine Manatu, Jacqueline safe, welcoming embrace for grandparents,
Edwards and Florine Bruce. aunts, uncles, siblings and other caregivers teacher and night-shift security guard.
who find themselves again in a parenting In 1996, Rada and his wife opened DecoRada 4 Alan Rada of DecoRada
Wallpaper does the job right!
role. Called Grandmothers as Mothers Again (& Caregivers), or GAMA, it provides a Wallpaper Installation in their Flatbush/Midwood
place where members can share the pressures and challenges of parenting. home, employing two full- and two part-time staff. Specializing in pristine applications
I have raised my five grandchildren since they were babies, said GAMA member Vic- of wallpaper, fabric and murals, Rada is quick to pass along industry secrets. Ive been in-
toria Chase, and the groups support lets you know youre not alone when it feels like no stalling wallpaper for more than forty years and I cant stress enough the importance of
one understands the emotional, mental and physical strength it takes to raise a family at preparation before you hang paper, said Rada. Walls must be prepared meticulously for
our time of life.
good results, and I take the time to do that critical prep work.
GAMA offers other vital services like emergency food assistance, anger management
And although do-it-yourself homeowners may be able to hang simple papers them-
workshops and individualized case management. GAMA staffers provide advocacy for
their members with a network of social service agencies that offer legal advice, housing selves, many of todays wallpapers have raised or flocked patterns, or papers created from
services, after school programs, recreational activities, counseling, parenting workshops and fragile grasses, barks or metallics. These exquisiteand often costlypapers need to be
other kincare-related services. handled and applied by an expert.
Support groups in both English and Spanish are available. If you or someone you know Which is why the beautiful bark skin wallpaper that now graces the Presidential Din-
is caring for a young family member and needs some support, contact GAMA today. ing Room looks so good. When the White House beckons, who you gonna call? Brook-
To contact GAMA, call Erin Carmen, Catholic Charities Brooklyn West Community lynite Alan Rada, thats who!
Center, (718) 722-6001; or SaddiQa Beyah, Catholic Charities Dr. White Community DecoRada Wallcovering Installations, 1376 East 31st. St.; (718) 338-0645;
Center, (718) 875-8801. www.decorada.com

THE SECOND TIME AROUND 24/7 RX IN THE SLOPE

Retirement no longer has to mean the In a city that never sleeps, Brooklyns
end of a career or losing skills and expert- got the place thats been awake the
ise that took a lifetime to build. With the longest. The Neergaard Pharmacy on 5th
flood of nearly 80 million baby boomers Ave. in Park Slope opened its doors in
diving into the retirement pool and record 1888, when Brooklyn was still its own city.
numbers of workers who will reach retire- Founded by a Danish immigrant named
ment age over the next decade, there is a Julius de Neergaard, the store remained in
reservoir of talent waiting to be utilized. the de Neergaard family through three
That is where ReServe comes in. generations, until the Tomassetti family
This nonprofit organization connects purchased it in 1987. Since 1901, Neer-
experienced adults, age fifty-five and older, gaard has been open 24 hours a day, sev-
with part-time compensated service op-
en days a weekexcept for a few days
portunities. Re-serving, according to Ex- 4 ReServists David Krutchik (center) and
during World War I. 4 The Tomassetti familyLisa Tomassetti
ecutive Director Mary S. Bleiberg, de- Nathan Fuchs (right) met with Assistant DA
Today, Neergaard is the oldest inde- Sutherland, Lisas husband Thomas Sutherland,
scribes the kinds of work that people Virginia Modest at the Kings County District Rosemarie Tomassetti and Diana Tomassetti
Attorneys Office in 2008. Krutchik works as a pendently owned pharmacy in Brook- has run Neergaard Pharmacy since 1987.
pursue when they have finished their pri- marketing assistant and Fuchs served the DAs
lyn, and one of the oldest in the City
mary careers and want part-time work that office as an advocate for seniors.
will have a big social impact. and one of the few pharmacies that are open 24 hours a day. Doctors know they can send
ReServists include artists, writers, teachers, lawyers and social workers, healthcare patients here at all hours, store manager Tom Sutherland said. Neergaard is also uniquely
professionals, those in banking, advertising, government and manufacturing to name a few. set up to serve Brooklyns growing senior population, and even includes a surgical shop
These adults are matched with nonprofit organizations and public institutions that can that sells everything from walkers to wheelchairs (Neergaard also operates a 7th Ave. lo-
benefit from a ReServists talents and experience. The program offers these boomers a cation that is not open 24 hours).
chance to re-engage in the workplace and lend their talents and energies in the service of From the crash of a United Airlines jet in Park Slope in 1960 (a Neergaard employee is
their communities. More than 170 ReServists have been placed in Brooklyn nonprofits visible in the photo The New York Times ran the next day), to the attacks of September 11,
and public institutions. 2001 (Brooklynites who walked home from Manhattan queued up for masks and other
ReServist Selma Jackson, former owner of 4W Circle of Art and Enterprise in Fort supplies), Neergaard has been there through the citys most perilous times.
Greene said, ReServe attracted me because it was part-time work and it was flexible. It We endured through the Great Depression and two world wars and weve always kept
allowed me to use some of my gifts to assist community organizations. up with the times, Sutherland said. Park Slope is still the place to be.
Do you still have more in your re-serve? Neergaard Pharmacy, 454 5th Ave. Open 24 hours every day; (718) 768-0600; or visit
For more information, call: (212) 710-9221 or visit www.reserveinc.org www.neergaardpharmacies.com

WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
 Winter 2010/11

Enjoy Your
Brooklyn Holidays!
(CONTINUED FROM COVER)
PERFORMANCE/CULTURAL EVENTS
The Kings Bay Ys Chanukah Extravaganza:
Performances, menorah lighting, rides, games,
music and kosher food. FREE.
www.kingsbayy.org or call (718) 648-7703.
Dec. 5 11am-2pm.
The Marks JCH of Bensonhurst: Chanukah
Celebration at 7802 Bay Parkway. For more info:
(718) 331-6800, ext. 110. Dec. 5 at 12pm.
Brooklyn College Chorale and Conservatory
Chamber Choir: Holiday Concert at BCs
Gershwin Theater. FREE. Dec. 9 at 4:40pm.
The Mark Morris Dance Group: The Hard
Nut, at BAMs Howard Gilman Opera House.
Dec. 10-19.
Bensonhursts St. Athanasius Church:
Presepio, a miniature replica of Bethlehem,
everyday 8am3pm. Contact the church at (718)
236-0124 or Anthony Vigilante (718) 837-1682.
Begins Dec. 12.
The Brooklyn Heights Grace & Spiritus
Chorale: Community Sing, Montague St.
Promenade Tree Lighting Ceremony and
caroling. Dec. 15 at 5:30-7pm.
The 290-member Grammy-award winning
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir: Borough Hall.
FREE. Dec. 15 at 4:30pm.
Brooklyn Youth Chorus Academy: Holiday
Harmonies Concert at Our Lady of Lebanon
Church in Brooklyn Heights. Dec. 17 and 18.
Jingle Bell Jamboree: Holiday music, dancing
and sing-a-long, the Old First Reformed Church
in Park Slope, FREE (Suggested donations: $5
per child/$10 per adult). Dec. 18 at 7pm.
The American Ballet Theaters world premier of
Alexei Ratmanskys Nutcracker: BAMs Howard
Gilman Opera House. Dec. 22-Jan 2.
Fulton Street Mall Holiday: Brooklyn Ballets
Hip Hop Nutcracker. Dec. 3, 10, 17 & 21
from 12pm-4pm. Visit www.fultonstreet.org for
other events.
COME OUTSIDE!
Wild Holiday Party: Watch baboons, red pandas
and other Prospect Park Zoo inhabitants tear into
holiday presents with hidden treats. Free with admis-
sion. Every Sat/Sun in Dec. 11:30am & 3:30pm.
FIDO Bark! The Herald Angels Sing: A sing-a-
long with dog-centric lyrics, hot beverages, plus
Santa posing with your pooch! Long Meadow in
Prospect Park. FREE. Dec. 11 from 8am-10am.
Christmas Bird Count: Helps researchers track
the long-term health of bird populations.
Audubon Center in Prospect Park. Call (718)
287-3400 ext. 303 for more information.
Dec. 18 at 12pm & 3pm.
The Brooklyn Three Kings Day Parade: Starts at
Meeker and Graham in Williamsburg. Jan 9 at 2pm.
DEAR SANTA
St. Nicholas: Visits the Lefferts Historic House
in Prospect Park on Nov. 28 at 3pm. FREE.
GO SHOPPING!
Shoppers get a Brooklyn Bonus at Shop
Brooklyn merchants. Visit ishopbrooklyn.com.
Shop Brooklyn launches Brooklyn Friday, aka
Black Friday, Nov. 26.
NYCreates Seventh Annual 2010 Holiday Crafts
Fair at the Brooklyn Historical Society. Dec 8-12,
Weekdays 11am-7pm, Weekends 10am-5pm.
Brooklyn Fleas Gifted Holiday Market at
Skylight One Hanson features 100 art, jewelry,
antiques and food vendors plus a holiday tree!
www.brooklynflea.com/gifted.
Dec. 15-23, 11am-7pm.
FOR THOSE IN NEED
If you know someone in need, tell them about
the free Annual Holiday Dinner at the Park
Slope Armory, sponsored by the YM/ YWCA of
Brooklyn. Dec. 25 at 11am-5pm.
GET CRAFTY
Brooklyn Womens Exchange, Holiday Craft
Sundays, 55 Pierrepont Street, (718) 624-3435,
Dec. 5 & 12.
The Dyker Librarys Holiday Arts & Crafts
workshop at 8202 13th Ave. Call (718) 748-
6261. Dec. 23 at 3:15pm.
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT!
Menorah Lighting: Grand Army Plaza at
sundown Dec. 1-8.
Menorah Lighting: Columbus Park in front of the
State Supreme Court, at sundown Dec. 1-8.
FREE. Marty joins the lighting Dec. 2 at 5:30pm.
Fall 2008
Park Circle Menorah Lighting: Parkside Ave.
Dec. 1-8 at sundown.
Brighton Beach Menorah Lighting: Brighton
Beach/Coney Island Aves. Dec. 1-8 at sundown.
Atlantic Avenue LDC Tree lighting at the
Belarusan Church, corner of Atlantic Ave/Bond
St., FREE. Dec. 2 at 6-8pm.
Frank Seddios Annual Holiday Lights
Extravaganza on Flatlands Ave. at 93rd St. in
Canarsie begins Dec. 6 at 5pm.
Borough Hall Holiday Tree Lighting:
Dec. 7 at 5:30pm.
DUMBO Tree Lighting: The Archway under
the Manhattan Bridge. Dec. 8 at 6:30pm.
Dyker Heights Neighborhood Lights: Between
80th and 86th Streets from 10th to 13th
Avenues, begins after Thanksgiving.
CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR!
Join Marty to ring in the New Year with enter-
tainment, refreshments and New Years Eve
Fireworks at Grand Army Plaza. FREE.
Dec. 31 at 11pm.
THANK YOU VERY MULCH!
Mulch your holiday tree into healthy ground
cover. Two locations: Third St. & Prospect Park
West or Park Circle Park entrance (Prospect Park
Southwest & Parkside Ave.). For more info:
www.nycgovparks.org/services/mulchfest/mul
chfest.html Jan. 8-9.

BIG TASTE, SMALL PLACE

Abistro in Fort Greene is tiny and the tables fill
up quickly. But the sound of chopping coming from
the small kitchen means that big taste is on its way.
Ever since Senegalese Abdoul Gueye opened
Abistro in 2005, hes been drawing crowds. His
menu reflects the cuisines of Northern Africa,
France and native ethnic groups like the Wolof.
Trout, chicken, tofu or beef might end up in a
bouillabaisse or stew or be drizzled with spicy
vinaigrette. Big flavors like lemon, ginger, mustard
and cinnamon figure prominently.
Taste the Senegalese fried chicken with pineap- 4 Chef Abdoul Gueyes cuisine at
Abistro in Fort Greene
ple scented jasmine rice cakes, salsa and dijonnaise is getting big raves.
sauce and youll know its not like ordinarty fried
chicken. Its so popular both the brunch and dinner menu carry it.
Theres also black-eyed pea fritters with codfish, West African spicy trout in soy sauce
vinaigrette or Moroccan salmon with kale and couscous in peanut palm oil sauce. And
its all exquisitely presented and served with a smile.
This kind of food guarantees a chef s acclaim. Although Gueye cooked in Manhattan
for 15 years, his location of choice for his own restaurant was Brooklyn. I fell in love
with my wife, Cassandra, in Fort Greene and wanted to create something special here
that doesnt exist in Manhattan, said Gueye. In my cooking, I try to reflect all the cul-
tures that have influenced me.
Different ethnicities coming together and creating something unique? Kind of sounds
like Brooklyn, dont you think?
Abistro, 154 Carlton Ave., (btw. Myrtle/Willoughby); (718) 855-9455; Open Tues-
Thur 6-10:30pm, Fri/Sat 6-12pm, Sat/Sun for brunch 10am-3:30pm, Sun 6-9:30pm;
Reservations suggested.

WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
 Winter 2010/11

FROM THE MESS HALL TO BROOKLYNS LOOKING GOOD

THE WEDDING
Spring 2003 HALL WHERE NEW YORK CITY BEGINS
Does Brooklyn inform the way we dress? For
When Marine Captain Robert Rossicone it does. Whats more, Rossicones
Matthew Turner and Emily Grant, Brooklyn-inspired fashion sense earned him the ti-
then a second lieutenant, struck up tle 2010 Esquire Magazine Best Dressed Real
an awkward conversation in a Man Finalist.
Camp Fallujah mess hall in 2006 in First off, Rossicone is passionate about all things
Iraq, it marked the beginning of a Brooklynhe named his daughter Breuckelen after
Brooklyn love story whose pro- all. He credits Bay Ridge, where he lives and teaches,
logue was actually written in as having a gutsy, blue-collar edge that not only keeps
Brooklyn Heights. Although the the community from being sanitized but inspires
couple grew up only a half block some of his sartorial choices, like dark, work-wear
from one another and their parents denim and sturdy, well-made shoes. Also inspiring are
were acquaintances, their paths Rossicones students, whose streetwear fashions often
never crossed. In fact, it was Cap- 4 Matthew Turner and Emily Grant Turnerboth predate the Milan and Paris runway looks.
Marine captainshad to go all the way to Iraq to meet Rossicone thinks our residents dress better than
tain Turners mother who told her even though they grew up in Brooklyn Heights.
son that a friends daughter had Manhattanites because few Brooklynites were born
joined the Marines. Armed with her last name and information about her height (just over with silver spoons. That sense of frugality, said
4 Robert Rossiconewith daughter Rossicone, prevents us from buying one cookie-
six feet), Captain Turner approached Lieutenant Grant a few months later. Breuckelenis one of Esquire
After that initial encounter, they were both unsure where the relationship would go, but Magazines best dressed Real Men!
cutter look from an expensive boutique. Were
soon were talking frequently about life back in Brooklyn. At that point, I really had a prone to experiment, to match a thrift store jacket
crush on him, said Emily. But Fallujah is not a really good place to start dating, so we and custom trousers with a tie purchased on eBay. That all makes for an interesting look.
kept up a relationship that was appropriate for a combat zone. After both were trans- Men looking for fashion advice, hear this: Rossicones three must-haves include a clas-
ferred to Californias Camp Pendleton the following year, they began dating regularly. sic navy blue blazer, which goes with everything from grey flannels to jeans to khakis. Next,
Last month, the Turners were married at SS. Constantine & Helen Cathedral in a great-fitting pair of raw denim jeans. And finally, an expert tailor. Most clothing is made
Brooklyn Heights, far from the battlefields of Iraq. The reception was held at the Heights for an average fit, which few men are, so a good tailor can take an off-the-rack suit to the
Casino, where they had both taken dancing and tennis lessons, but never at the same time. next level. Rossicone says his Dyker Heights tailor makes him look like a million bucks!
And, Emily is not only a Turner now, but a captain as well. Just one question: with two So follow Rossicones lead and get yourself a classic blazer, and while youre at it, get
Captain Turners at home, who takes orders from whom? yourself a Brooklyn tailor too!

SINGING FOR YOUR SUPPER

If you long for a place in which a
50-year-old is considered youthful, and
you also want a comfortable place with
delicious food and great live music in a
mature setting, Il Posto in Bergen
Beach is for you.
Owner Tony Evangelista, manager
Nicky and Chef Ninofamed, former
executive chef of Ninos Restaurant in
Coney Island Avenue in Midwood for
35 yearsare the welcome wagon, dis-
pensing charm, efficiency and fabulous
Italian specialties. Foodies love the Nino 4 When Alfio croons, the ladies swoon!
Combo: chicken francese, veal and filet
mignon; or the mouth-watering fresh figs stuffed with fontina cheese and prosciutto.
But Il Posto also packs em in for live music and even dancing. And those who like
their pasta fagioli and fettuccini bolognese served to the tune of Pavarotti, Roy Orbison,
or other adult contemporary standards, cant wait to hear the Australian-born singing
sensation, Alfio, perform.
Alfio has an incredible voice, said Evangelista. He gets the women crying and the
men sighing just by turning a phrase. And even though he was born in Australia, hes
Italian through and through!
For 13 years, Il Posto has been drawing locals, but with Chef Nino cooking, the music
humming and the beautiful neighborhood of Bergen Beach/Mill Basin here to discover,
its no wonder folks from all over Brooklyn, Staten Island, New Jersey and even the outer
borough of Manhattan are making the trip.
Il Posto, 7409 Avenue U at E. 74th St; (718) 241-4317; Open Tues-Thurs noon-10pm,
Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Donors will receive no special access to Fri-Sat noon-11pm, Sun 1pm-9pm; There is no cover charge for the Friday night per-
City officials or preferential treatment as a result of a donation. formance but reservations are a must!

WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
 Winter 2010/11

ON THE BLOCK
r t y s
Ma Fall 2008

Photo by: Ronald L. Glassman

Photo by:Jill Hoffman

4 Marty and Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham joined Nick 4 Some of Brooklyns little rockers gathered for the Carroll Park
4 Marty, the BPs Chief of Staff Carlo Scissura (second from
Emerson, Jed Levine, Christina Keller, Board Member Jack Kamin and Summer Concert Series and joining them were (left to right), Joyce
left) and Education Policy Analyst Margaret Kelley (right of
the Brooklyn Memory Walk Volunteer Committee, as well as supporters Seares, PS 29 PTA co-president; Simmi Malhotra Degnemark,
Marty) were on hand to commend Brooklyns Community
of the Alzheimers Association of New York City who participated in the Carroll Park Summer Concert Series director/PS 29 parent; chil-
Education Council (CEC) appointees. CEC members are appoint-
2010 Memory Walk at the Coney Island Boardwalk. The event raised drens performer Audra Rox; Marty; and PS 29 parent Randi Song.
ed by Marty to help improve our Brooklyn schools.
funds for research and treatment of Alzheimers Disease, which affects
250,000 New Yorkers.

4 Edible Schoolyarda program that integrates sustainable gar-

4 For 144 years, the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Services has
been building a better Brooklyn through a comprehensive array of
social service programs. Taking note of the organizations new
name, Brooklyn Community Services (BCS), as well as its long
record of social responsibility were BCS Chair Jerrold Mulder;
Marty; Asst. Exec. Director Norma Martin; Marketing &
Photo by: Arthur Da Gaeta and the Canarsie Courier
4 Fulfilling youths hope. Marty joined Sharon Content,
founder/president of Children of Promise NYCa nonprofit that pro-
vides after school programs and summer camp for kids with incarcer-
ated parentsto celebrate the organizations one year anniversary of
serving families in Bedford Stuyvesant and beyond. Ms. Content was
also recently recognized as a recipient of Brooklyn Community
dening and cooking into the Citys public school curriculumchose
Brooklyn for its first NYC school location. Gathered at PS 216, the
Arturo Toscanini School, in Gravesend were the programs founder,
world famous chef and author Alice Waters (center); along with Edible
Schoolyard NYC Board President John Lyons; Edible Schoolyard
Executive Director Christiane Baker; PS 216 Principal Celia
Kaplinsky; award-winning actor Jake Gyllenhaal; Marty; Council
Member Domenic M. Recchia, Jr.; PS 216 students and others.

Communications Director Jill Jefferson and Board Member Dan

Ross, Wechsler Ross & Partners president. Best wishes for Exec. Foundations Brooklyn Do Gooders award.
Director Alan Goodmans full recovery!

4 Three cheers for affordable housing! The Bradford, a new residential

4 Marty joined ice cream lovers at Cold Stone Creamery in Sheepshead
Bay off Knapp Street for Make A Wish Foundations 9th annual Worlds
Largest Ice Cream Social. Cold Stone Creamery owners Eric Steinweiss
and Joseph Scuteri were glad to support efforts that help the wishes of
children with terminal illnesses come true. Marty selflessly offered to
scoop ice cream for the good cause and was even willing to sample the
waresespecially when his wife, Jamie, isnt around!
Photo by:Waleed Cope
nity were, from left, Council Member Al Vann; Julian Phillips, repre-
4 The 32nd Annual Brownstoners House Tour benefitted the
McDonald/Glee Jr. and Joan Maynard Memorial Scholarship
Funds. Celebrating the groups distinguished history of community
service to Bedford Stuyvesant were, among others, Brownstoners
President Ava Barnett, Chair Marguerita Fletcher, Co-chair Chana
Wells, and founders Brenda Fryson, Clarence Jones and Reggie
Shell. Marty was also on hand to commend the group as well as
scholarship recipient, Cathy Anne Matthews.
and retail development in Bedford Stuyvesant, will offer 105 apartments
for low- and middle-income families in the summer of 2012. Among
those celebrating this significant revitalization in the Bed Stuy commu-
senting Congress Member Ed Towns; BRP Managing Director Geoff
Flournoy; NYCHDC President Marc Jahr; HPD Commissioner Rafael
Cestero; Bed-Stuy Restoration Corp. President/CEO Colvin Grannum;
Brooklyn born and bred Goldman Sachs Chair/CEO Lloyd C.
Blankfein; Marty; BRP Managing Director Meredith Marshall; and
Carver Bancorp CEO and former HPD Commissioner Deborah Wright.

4 The 6th Annual Bed-Stuy Alive! Celebration and Tohma Y. Faulkner
Awards on Fulton St. included cultural performances and brought much
deserved recognition to community leaders. Marty joined some of the organ-
izers of the event including, from left, Robert E. Cornegy Jr; Bill Wren; Bed-
Stuy Restoration Corps Colvin W. Grannum; Brownstoners of Bed-Stuy
Founding Member Brenda Fryson; Planning Committee Chair Anna
Bloodworth; and honorees Joeletha Ferguson, Margo Lewis, Daphnee
Surpris, Eddie Freeman, Dr. Sam Pinn, Wilma E. Maynard, Minnie Laura
Jones and Laurie Cumbo.
4 Marty joined Brooklyn Borough President Emeritus
Sebastian Sam Leone (center) at Borough Hall to unveil
the 35-year-old Welcome to Brooklyn, 4th Largest City in
America sign, as celebrated in the opening sequence of
Welcome Back, Kotter, starring Brooklynite Gabe Kaplan
and John Travolta. Nino Russo, owner of Coney Islands
Gargiulos Restaurant was also present; Russo generously
loaned the sign for display at Borough Hall. Welcome Back,
Kotter co-creator/producer Alan Sacks also sent a video
greeting for the event.
4 The Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce (CACCI) met to
explore economic opportunities in Grenada. Among those gathered
were Dr. Eda Hastick; CACCI president Dr. Roy Hastick; the Prime
Minister of Grenada Tillman Thomas; Acting Secretary
International Trade/Environment Sally Anne Bagwhan Logie;
Marty; Greg Bishop, assistant commissioner DSBS; City Council
Member Jumaane Williams; and CACCI Board member Patricia
Sampson, managing director, Bank of New York Mellon. Grenada is
the birthplace of Slinger Franciso, aka the Mighty Sparrow.

WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
 Winter 2010/11
PICTURING BROOKLYN
Spring 2003
When Thomas Roma was recuperating from
a car accident, instead of feeling sorry for him-
self, he picked up a camera and started shooting.
To say that Brooklyn became his muse is an
understatement. I love everything about Brook-
lyn, said Roma. The sound of the name, the
shape on the map. From the neighborhoods to
the architecture to the width of the streets and
the people who live there, its impossible to be
bored in Brooklyn.
Photo by: Anna Roma
Despite seemingly ordinary moments and back-
drops, Romas photographs are timeless: children
playing, families worshipping; abandoned buildings,
city playgrounds and pools. All captured in the rare
4 The photographer, Thomas Roma,
as subject.
Brooklyn light andlike all great photographs
emblematic of a period but still resonant today.
Romas talent has led to two Guggenheim Fellowships, one-person exhibits at
MOMA and the International Center of Photography, teaching stints at Yale, Fordham,
Cooper Union and The School of Visual Arts and, since 1996, an appointment as direc-
tor of Photography at Columbia University School of the Arts. His next book of photo-
graphs, his twelfth, is a photographic record of Army National Guardsmen as they pre-
pare for deployment to Iraq called Dear Knights and Dark Horses.
In the Greenwood Heights home he shares with his wife, Anna, and son, Giancarlo,
Roma not only develops his own film, but designs and makes his own cameras. Inventor, ar-
tisan, renowned educator and critically-acclaimed photographer, no matter what you call
him Thomas Roma masters them all.
Visit www.thomasroma.com for more information about the photographer and to
see examples of his work.
WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
SOMETHING FISHY
WHERE NEW YORK CITY BEGINS
Did you know that along with be-
ing beautiful in a home or office,
aquariums can reduce stress and low-
er blood pressure? You may also be
surprised to learn that Brooklyn has
the oldest aquarist organization in
the country.
The Brooklyn Aquarium Society
(BAS) has been educating hobbyists
4 This tropical fish is aptly named the Peacock fish. since 1911 about freshwater and marine
fish, corals, invertebrates and plants.
Along with helping beginners establish healthy aquariums and providing a forum for
long time fish enthusiasts, BAS donates and installs aquariums in Brooklyn schools and
advances our understanding of how important it is to protect wild aquatic environments.
From monthly educational programs and lectures, to discounts and auctions, plus a web-
site that links to all sorts of fish-related information, BAS members really channel their
inner Jacques Costeau.
When the seas are threatened by global warming and many species of aquatic life are
on the verge of extinction, said BAS president Joe Graffagnino, societies like BAS offer
a ray of hope that endangered species can be bred in a captive environment and, in the
future, released into the wild. Graffagnino and BASs 300+ members look forward to
celebrating the Societys 100 year anniversary in February at its headquarters at the New
York Aquarium in Coney Island.
So if you want to experience the joy of tropical fish, from angels to zebras, or learn
more about how we can all protect aquatic life, the Brooklyn Aquarium Society can help
you get your feet wet!
Brooklyn Aquarium Society, PO Box 290610, Brooklyn, NY 11229-0011; Hotline:
(718) 837-4455; or visit www.brooklynaquariumsociety.org
 Winter 2010/11
Spring 2003
4 Brooklyns own Dancewave from Park Slope won a coveted spot
and the only invitation extended to an American groupto perform
at the prestigious Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Scotland.
Pictured in front of Aberdeen Mercat Cross were Dancewave
Company Director Diane Jacobowitz and her bonny company.
4 Oh shucks! Who better than Brooklyns own Paul Randazzo of
Randazzos Clam Barthe Pride of Sheepshead Bayto show met with students of MS 51 in Park Slope to talk about positive
Manhattan and the Grand Central Oyster Bar how the shuck its
done. Guest chef Randazzo had them clamoring for more with his
Baked Oysters on the Half Shell Italian Style at the annual
Oyster Frenzy at the Oyster Bar, an all day public event of shuck-
ing, slurping and downing our bi-valve friends.
4 Saluting our seniors! Assembly Member Peter Abbate and
Council Member Vincent Gentile continue their tradition of hosting
picnics at the Fort Hamilton Army base in tribute to Brooklyns sen-
ior citizens. Marty was thrilled to join them, as well as Assembly
Member Alec Brook-Krasny; new commander of U.S. Army
Garrison-Fort Hamilton Col. Michael Gould; Command Sergeant
Major Sylvia Laughlin and Brooklyn seniors.
4 Circle of Hope Cancer Foundations 15th Annual Walk for Hope
was dedicated to the memory of police officer Vito Mauro, who
served for 18 years in the 67th Precinct. Proceeds fund programs for
the terminally ill at Calvary Hospitals Brooklyn campus housed in
Lutheran Medical Center. Among those attending were Marty;
Congress Member Anthony Weiner; Geraldine Madonia president,
Circle of Hope; Dan Foster, Fun Run founder; Vito Maruos widow,
Ronnie Mauro; daughter Eden Mauro; Bob Turner; and Circle of
Hope secretary Anna McCormack.
WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
BROOKLYN BEAT
WHERE NEW YORK CITY BEGINS
4 Homecrest Community Services in Sheepshead Bay held its
annual Homecrest Senior Health Fair, offering health screenings
and workshops in both Chinese and English. Gathered for the event
were, among others, from left, Homecrest Board Member Lisa Eng;
Senate Finance Chair, Senator Carl Kruger; BP Asian Liaison Alice
Wong; Assembly Member Helene Weinstein; Assembly Member
Steven Cymbrowitz; Assembly Member Peter Abbate; Council
Member Michael Nelson; NYC Comptroller John Liu; Homecrest
Chair Don Lee; Executive Director Richard Kuo; Program Director
Tiphaine Tsang; and CB15 Chair Theresa Scavo.
4 Nets new coach Avery Little General Johnson (center, back row)
choices and let kids know that they can get to the next level. He
also encouraged his future fan base in Brooklyn to get ready to
cheer for future NBA champions, the Brooklyn Nets!
4 Japans love affair with all things Brooklyn is ardently repre-
sented in Tokyos Shinjuku Prefecture at the new Brooklyn Parlor,
a bar, restaurant, caf and bookstore featuring the beer and ales of
the Brooklyn Brewery and a genuine Brooklyn burger, as well as
other Brooklyn-inspired experiences. From left, Satoshi Togano, BP
manager; Rio Natsume, talent coordinator, The Blue Note and the
Cotton Club in Japan; Toby Ludwig, entertainment director of the
Seaside/MLK Summer Concert Series; and Takanori Matsuuchi,
BP manager.
4 More than 25,000 walkers came out to Prospect Park and raised
$1,070,000 in the fight against breast cancer during the annual
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk of Brooklyn NY spon-
sored by the American Cancer Society. Deputy Borough President
Yvonne Graham joined many breast cancer survivors along the walk,
which Marty also participated in. Kudos to ACSs Sally Cooper.
4 Friends and supporters of Cypress Hills Community School,
PS/IS 89 were on hand to cut the ribbon for the brand new build-
ing, considered one of NYCs first green schools and one that pro-
vides a high-tech greenhouse, science lab, art room, music suite,
1,000-sq.- ft. library, 4,000-sq.-ft. gym and cafeteria. Among those
gathered for the festivities were Principal Irene Leon; CHLDC
Executive Director Michelle Neugebauer; Senator Martin Malave
Dilanwho provided a large portion of funding; Brooklyn
Community Foundation President Marilyn Gelber; Council
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 The Borough Presidents Latino Heritage celebration brought
some of Brooklyns distinguished movers and shakers of Latino
descent. Joining the celebration were, from left, honoree Irma
Garcia, director of Athletics, St. Francis College; Martys Latino
Liaison Italia Guerrero; Deputy Borough President Yvonne
Graham; honoree Norberta Diaz of Asociacion de Mujeres de
Brooklyn; honoree Luis Garden Acosta of El Puente; and Jason
Otano, the borough presidents counsel.
4 Down south this past summer, Brooklyn really showed em that
were all that! Brooklynite Vivian Salvano, aka Mrs. Plus New York
2010, left, placed 6th in the Mrs. Division at the 2010 Miss Plus
America Pageant in Louisiana. Pictured with her are Ashley Nicole
Focer, Miss Plus America 2010; and Tiffany Braxton Belvin, Ms.
Plus New York America 2010, both from Queens. Vivian does
Brooklyn proud by not only her pageant wins, but her efforts to raise
funds for cancer research and other good causes.
4 Students from Packer Collegiate Institutethe oldest independ-
ent school in Brooklyn, located in Brooklyn Heightsvisited
Borough Hall, Brooklyns City Hall, for some face time with the BP.
Marty encourages young people to participate in the democratic
process or even enter the field of government and become the future
leaders of Brooklyn. Packer social studies teacher George Boutis
accompanied the group.
 Winter 2010/11

AUDRA ROCKS, KIDS FLOCK! SERVING THOSE IN NEED

Spring 2003
Although there arent any 5-
WITH DIGNITY
WHERE NEW YORK CITY BEGINS

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.

HELP A TREE GROW IN BROOKLYN RECIPES FOR BROOKLYNS

The storms that hit Brooklyn in March and
CULINARY SUCCESS
September felled 750 trees, with Bedford-
So how did Brooklyn become one of
Stuyvesant, Bushwick, Crown Heights,
Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Fort Greene Americas premier culinary destinations? In
and Clinton Hill hard hit. The New Brooklyn Cookbook, husband
New trees are expensive, especially dur- and wife Brendan and Melissa Vaughan of
ing challenging times. But you can help by Park Slope trace Brooklyns epicurean evo-
making a donation to the Mayors Storm lution from the opening of Al di L in

Michael Harlan Turkell

Damage Fund.
The recently appointed Brooklyn Borough
Park Commissioner, Kevin Jeffrey, and Marty
want to make sure that any contributions 4 Brooklyn Borough Park Commissioner
from Brooklynites benefit Brooklyn. Kevin Jeffrey is calling all Brooklynites to
The first thing Brooklynites see when help a tree grow in Brooklyn!
they step outside are Brooklyns beautiful
trees, said Commissioner Jeffrey. Were calling all block associations, school groups,
BIDs, community-based groups and tree lovers to send donations today!
Brooklyn contributions to the Storm Damage Fund specifically aid Brooklyns urban
forests, said Marty. Turn your green into Brooklyn green by helping replace trees on our
Brooklyn streets.
Even a Manhattan-based theater group, The Peccadillo Theater Company, is raising
funds for Brooklyn through their upcoming production of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
(visit: www.thepeccadillo.com to find out more). Thats thanks to Dyker Heights resi-
dents Marvin and Laura Reiskin, who work with Peccadillo.
As Betty Smith wrote, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and with your help, Brooklyn can
always be the borough of trees.
To make a contribution to replace Brooklyn trees, visit
www.nyc.gov/html/fund/html/donate/donate.shtml. Check the box next to Storm Dam-
age Fund, then follow directions to make donations electronically. Or you can send checks
directly to: Mayors Fund to Advance New York City, 253 Broadway, 8th Floor, New York,
NY 10007. Be sure to write Brooklyn-specific tree fund on the front of your check!
1998 to todays offering of international es-
tablishments (many participate in the an-
nual Dine in Brooklyn event), food trucks,
bakers, cheesemakers, picklers, chocolatiers
and artisanal food producers.
4 Authors Brendan and Melissa Vaughan
This unique cookbook presents colorful of Park Slope
photography, stories, interviews and more
than 70 dishes. We worked with each restaurant to choose recipes that the chefs and own-
ers were excited about and felt best represented their approach to food, said Melissa. The
result is, we hope, a balanced collection of recipes that are approachable and delicious.
Home-tested recipes include Buttermilk Channels duck meatloaf, The Good Forks
steak and eggs Korean style, Prime Meats beef sauerbraten with red cabbage and pretzel
dumplings and Vinegar Hill Houses cast-iron chicken with caramelized shallots and
sherry pan sauce. And to wash it all down, you can even brew up some American Brown
Ale from Sixpoint Craft Ale right at home!
Were thrilled to have such an incredible range of dining options just steps or a short
subway ride from home, said Brendan, and we wanted to bottle the culinary energy
thats coursed through the borough in the last decade or so.
The New Brooklyn Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from 31 Restaurants that Put
Brooklyn on the Culinary Map (William Morrow, $40). Available at Amazon.com,
Barnes & Noble and other retailers.

WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
 Winter 2010/11

BROOKLYN BEAT II
Spring 2003 WHERE NEW YORK CITY BEGINS

4 The 29th Annual Brooklyn Columbus Day Parade sponsored by

4 Doing Good in Brooklyn and beyond! Under the leadership of Marilyn Gelber,
the Brooklyn Community Foundation recognized exemplary individuals with its
Do Gooders awards, including, The Noel Pointer Foundations Chinita Pointer;
Children of Promise NYCs Sharon Content; United Puerto Rican Organization
of Sunset Parks Murad Awawdeh; Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hungers
Melony Samuels; Arab American Association of New Yorks Linda Sarsour; and
Bay Ridge activist and Shore Road Park Conservancys Chip Cafiero.
the Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Brooklyn
(FIAO) brought out members of our esteemed Italian-American com-
munityand those who wish they wereincluding parade grand
marshals Vito and Joanne Marienelli, District Leader Frank Seddio
and Joseph Andriano; as well as Judge Robert Miller; Dr. Sudha
Patel; Lina Bennardo; Assembly Member William Colton; Charles
Candela; Congress Member Mike McMahon; Marty; City Council
Member Vincent Gentile; FIAO President Frank Naccarato; Senator
Marty Golden; City Council Member Domenic M. Recchia Jr.; FIAO
Chair G. Jack Spatola and Judge Arthur Schack.
4 Plays the thing! Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined
Windsor Terrace Alliance President Lauren Collins, Public Advocate
Bill de Blasiowho allocated $1.8 million for the project when a
member of City CouncilMarty; Council Member Brad Lander;
Assembly Member James Brennan; CB7 Chair Randy Peers and
Prospect Park Alliance President Tupper Thomas to celebrate the
newly renovated Vanderbilt Street Playground in Prospect Park.

4 Kings County Hospitals renovated Cancer Care Center (CCC) offers serv-
ices in oncology, chemotherapy, surgery, medical screening, treatment and
social and psycho-social support. Ribbon cutting participants included, from
left, patient Joanne Joseph; Dr. John R. Maese, HHC Board; Auxiliary
President Mary Walters; Josephine Bolus, HHC Board; Assembly Member
Felix Ortiz; Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham; Council Member
Mathieu Eugene; KCHC COO Roslyn Weinstein; KCHC Med. Dir. Dr. Abha
Agrawal; KCHC CCC Med. Dir. Dr. Theophilus Lewis; CCC Administrator
Varina Deonarinesingh; KCHC Exec. Dir. Antonio Martin; and Congress
Member Yvette Clark.
4 At the annual Italian American Heritage & Culture Month cele-
brazione at Borough Hall, Marty honored the beloved Alaimo
Family, of Villabate Pasticceria & Bakery and Europa Restaurant.
Marty, his wife Jamie and Chief of Staff Carlo Scissurawho
served as emceejoined Emanuele and Lina Alaimo and their chil-
dren to admire and enjoy their delicious fare (not pictured Europas
Nino and Cathy Alaimo). Also honored that evening were Joseph
Esposito, chief of department, NYPD; and Jeanette (Gina) Argento,
president, Broadway Stages.
4 How sweet it is! Juniors Restaurant, Brooklyns legendary eatery,
celebrated its 60th anniversary with slices of its world famous
cheesecake selling for a mere 60 cents. Suzanne Banfield was the
winner of the Next Great Juniors Cheesecake Flavor Recipe Contest;
she won $1,800 and a coveted spot for her new cheesecake flavor on
the Juniors menu. As borough president, Marty was forced to sam-
ple cheesecake in the contest and is seen here struggling with the
demands of his office with Juniors owner, Alan Rosen.

HEALTHY COOKIN IN BROOKLYN!

Brooklyns reputation as a culinary capital
is built by our award-winning chefs and
restaurants, the growing number of organic
food markets and rooftop farms, plus prod-
ucts like cheese, honey and wine that are
made right here.
And now theres Ger-Nis Culinary &
Herb Center in Park Slope, where food
lovers, educators, farmers, chefs and restau-
rateurs come together to learn, cook, taste
and talk about food.
Ger-Nis founder Nissa Pierson is a life
long foodie, whose experiences around the
4 Nissa Pierson and tomorrows chefs at
Ger-Nis in Park Slope. globeshes lived in California, Central
America and the Northwestare reflected in
the holistic approach shes developed for growing, cooking and consuming food, something
she calls seed to mouth. To me, Brooklyn represents the diversity that I find in my travels,
said Pierson. Brooklynites also get our commitment to community and planet, and like me,
want to understand the origin of food and healthy and delicious ways to prepare it.
At Ger-Nis, fresh herbs and organic, fair-traded fruits and vegetables are the rule, and cook-
ing classes offer simple, healthy menus for children and regional cooking for adults. You can
also meet local experts like Park Slope cocktail specialist and New York Times contributor Justin
Briggs or Executive Chef Rafael Hasid, who shares his secrets for Middle Eastern treats.
Whether youre a beginner or expert, young or old, an exciting new world of food awaits
you at Ger-Nis Culinary & Herb Center.
Ger-Nis Culinary & Herb Center, 540 President Street, Suite 2E, Brooklyn, NY, 11215;
(347) 422-0037; Visit http://culinaryherbcenter.ger-nis.com/ to see a current schedule of
upcoming cooking classes and events.

WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
 Winter 2010/11

ON THE BLOCK II
r t y s
Ma Fall 2008

4 Marty was on hand to salute the latest crop of green thumbs
from the 16th annual 2010 Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest,
the residents of Vanderveer Place, between Flatbush Avenue and
East 23rd Street in Flatbush. Joining the winning residents were
Brooklyn Botanic Garden President Scot Medbury, Brooklyn
Community Foundation President Marilyn Gelber, Marty and
Greenbridge Director Robin Simmen.
4 Participants gathered for the 5th Annual Liz Padilla Memorial 5K
Run, sponsored by the Brooklyn Bar Association and the Volunteer
Lawyers Project, and in memory of the young lawyer who was killed
tragically on 5th Avenue in Park Slope while riding her bike to work in
2005. From left were David and Kathy Padilla (Lizs parents); Andrea
Bonina, president, Brooklyn Bar Association; Marty; and Jeannie
Costello, executive director, Brooklyn Volunteer Lawyers Project.
4 Here she comes! Christina Moore, aka Miss Brooklyn, was wel-
comed to Borough Hall by Marty. Ms. Moore is the reigning Miss
Brooklyn, and if all goes well for this Bensonhurst-born beauty and
she takes the New York State title like we know she will, shes on to
the Miss America pageant. Miss Brooklyn is a student at Wagner
College in Staten Island.

4 Brooklyn came out to honor the heroic Detective Feris

4 Wheres the beef? And ham, chicken, veal, lamb? For the past 80 years
the Bova family has been the source for quality meats and other items at
Bovas Meat Market on 13th Avenue in Dyker Heights. Marty joined Joseph
and Vincent Bova to help celebrate Bovas dedication to personal service
and that old-world attention to detail. Only in Brooklyn!
Jonesy Jones, who prevented an attempted robbery at Sabines
Hallway hair salon in Bedford Stuyvesant. Attending the cere-
mony were, from left, Jim Vogel, representing Senator
Velmanette Montgomery; Assembly Member Joseph Lentol;
Assembly Member Karim Camara; Assistant Chief Gerald
Nelson, commanding officer of Patrol Borough Brooklyn North;
Marty; Detective Jones and Sabine Bellevue, owner, Sabines
Hallway hair salon.
4 The Bay Ridge Community Service Center sponsored its
16th Annual Miles for Meals Walkathon to support home
delivered meals in Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton,
Bensonhurst and Bath Beach. Among those showing support
were Marty, Council Member Vincent Gentile, Assembly
Member Janele Hyer-Spencer, Senator Martin Golden; (mid-
dle row) Patricia Killen, Joan Dalton, Donna McClellan;
(front row) Rev. Paul H. Knudsen, pastor of Bethlehem
Lutheran Church, Joann Mason and Peter Killen.

4 Marty welcomed
two home grown suc-
cess stories to
Borough Hall:
award winning actor
Photo by: Ethel Tyus

and star of HBOs

Boardwalk Empire
Steve Buscemi and
the Brooklyn born
Emmy-award win-
ning Sopranos
4 Crown Heights North Associations 4th Annual House & Garden writer/producer and
Tour raises awareness about the communitys architectural and cul- Boardwalk Empire
tural treasures, as well as supports the organizations ongoing efforts. creator/exec. produc-
Pictured were CHNA members including, from left, Deborah Young, er Terence Winter.
Mr. Buscemi also 4 The ever young "Rhythm and Style Tappers performed at Our
CB8 Chair Nizjoni Granville, Veronica Nero-Reid, Consuela Lawless,
starred in HBOs Lady of Grace RC Church in Gravesend (and elsewhere) led by the
Carolyn Sanders James, Suzanne Spellen, Deborah Jackson, Valerie
The Sopranos. inimitable Betty Markowitz, Martys own Aunt Betty. The group is
Nero Reid, Diana Foster and Gail Branch Muhammad, as well as
more proof that the best time of life begins at 65. Tappers, you do
Marty, who was thrilled to join them.
Brooklyn proud!
Photo by: Photography In Style

4 From firehouse to town hall! Engine 212 in Williamsburg, aka the

4 The 2nd Annual TEAL (Tell Every Amazing Lady About Peoples Firehouse, will become a public meeting and arts space known
Ovarian Cancer) Walk brought out over 1,000 supporters and
as the Northside Town Hall and Community Center. Celebrating were
raised more than $55,000 in financial support to the Ovarian
4 St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf in Crown Heights celebrated its many whose support was critical, including, from left, Town Hall
Cancer Research Fund. Marty and Senator Martin Golden
50th Anniversary of providing comprehensive educational programs for the Board Member Paul Veneski, son of Adam Veneskia neighborhood
were honored to join TEAL founder Louisa M. McGregor, her
deaf and for those with multiple disabilities from infancy to eighth grade. leader who fought to keep the Firehouse open 30 years ago; Assembly
husband John, and children Spencer and Ashleigh. McGregor
Among those joining the festivities were director Ed McCormack, Principal Member Joseph Lentol; CB1 and Northside Board Member Del Teague
started the organization in 2008 with her sister Pamela
Maria Bartolillo and Marty, pictured with founder and first superintendent and Marty, who allocated funds for the project. Also pledging future
Esposito to raise awareness about the disease and increase
of the school, Sister Anne Behre, CSJ, as well as faculty and staff. support was Council Member Steve Levin.
funding for research and treatment.

WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
 Winter 2010/11
GOING WITH THE FLOW
Spring 2003
4 DEPs Tom Marrama keeps
Brooklyn water flowing.
You may not think about water when you
turn on the tap, but Tom Marrama sure does.
As Brooklyn borough manager for the De-
partment of Environmental Protections (DEP)
Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations, Mar-
rama makes sure that the water supply and
sewer systems operate smoothly and safely.
Marrama started with DEP 30 years ago as
a water plant operator, a hands-on job that
coupled with his experience in every borough
makes him an expert on the systems 7,000
miles of water mains and tunnels as well as the
7,400 miles of sewer lines. Maintaining our
boroughs lines is critical to daily operations
including FDNYs access to waterand the
environmental protection of waterways.
Brooklynites, you can help! Avoid using fire
hydrantsit is illegal to use them without a
WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
A Regular Brooklyn!! Feature!
SPOTLIGHT ON
SERVICE!
Meet a Brooklyn city agency manager
who improves our quality of life
every day.
sprinkler capso if you must during hot sum-
mer weather, use sprinkler caps available from
the FDNY. Another thing to avoid is pouring
household grease down the drain. As it cools it
solidifies and clogs residential lines as well as
sewer lines, ultimately causing SBUs, or sewer
back ups, something we all want to prevent.
(Pour cooking grease into a used can and dis-
card with your regular garbage.)
Even though he works under the radar, Mar-
rama loves his job. Our work may be unseen to the
public but the results sure arent, said Marrama.
Without a way for you to get water and get rid of
wastewater, the city simply cant function. Everyday
I get to use my experience to solve a new problem.
And boy, are we glad he does!
For more information about the DEP, visit
www.nyc.gov.dep
STROLLING RED HOOKS
VAN BRUNT STREET
WHERE NEW YORK CITY BEGINS
Longing for the streets of Paris, the
shops on Londons Portobello Road or
for the artisanal goods at Istanbuls
Grand Bazaar? Save the airfare and
head over to Van Brunt Street in Red
Hook. Youll discover an afternoon of
shopping, noshing and people-watching
without changing time zones!
Start with good coffee and just try to
resist a little something more from 4 A stroll down Red Hooks Van Brunt Street
Baked at 359 Van Brunt. is sure to raise your hip factor.
Pop into 388 Van Brunt and the
slightly aged-looking Erie Basin, where the ever-changing assortment of vintage engage-
ment rings, Native American silver and Art Deco and contemporary pieces make each
visit a scavenger hunt.
Drop into Red Lipstick at 390 Van Brunt and try on a frock or pick out a one-of-a-
kind sweater, scarf or other accessory.
Stop in and see printmaker Jane Buck at 392 Van Brunt at Foxy and Winston,where
she sells her handmade, silkscreened stationary, wall art and organic baby tees and onesies.
Head next door to Tiburon and pick up a Red Hook souvenir or some other must-
have tchotchke.
Dont miss Metal and Thread at 398, where the exquisitely hand wrought jewelry, fur-
niture and objet dartall of it of copper, steel, leather, enamel or fabricbring the arts
and crafts movement magnificently to life.
Pop back down to 357 and botta di vino for a special bottle of wine or even one of the
shops special wine tastings.
These are only a few of the fascinating shops and restaurants of Van Brunt St.
Visit www.redhookbrooklyn.net for more information on one of Brooklyns most
unique communities.
 Winter 2010/11

CONVENIENCE, COMFORT
AND CAREFall 2008

Photo by: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Fifteen percent of the Memorial Sloan-
Kettering Cancer Centers patients live in
Brooklyn and now they have a convenient
treatment facility to help them on the road to
a greater quality of life. The Centerwhich
has provided treatment to patients and com-
passion to families since 1884has opened
the boroughs first facility in Downtown
Brooklyn for patients currently being treated
in Manhattan. The new Brooklyn Infusion 4 Patients at the Brooklyn Infusion Center
Center is a 7,745-sq.-ft. street-level facility can receive treatment in private suites,
where innovative chemotherapy chairs
that accommodates up to 30 patients a day to include Internet-ready interactive systems.
receive chemotherapy treatment. With its cen-
tral location, it provides leading-edge chemotherapy treatment to current patients of Memori-
al Sloan-Kettering in a convenient and comfortable setting.
In taking on a project of this magnitude, many issues were brought into consideration,
primary of which was to insure a positive patient experience, efficient care delivery and
controlled healthcare costs. Cancer chemotherapy treatment typically spans a lengthy pe-
riod during which convenience and reduced wait time are critically important to patients,
said Wendy Perchick, MSKCCs director of Strategic Planning and Innovation. The use of
technology, innovation in design and streamlining the process all contribute to the success
of that objective.
In addition, the Brooklyn Infusion Center serves as a community resource and neigh-
borhood partner, providing cancer education and wellness promotion. Those interested in
seeking care may contact the Physician Referral Service at 800-525-2225.
Brooklyn Infusion Center, 557 Atlantic Avenue; MonSat 8am6pm; Or visit
www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/100011.cfm

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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 Winter 2010/11
ALL THE WORLDS A STAGE
Spring 2003
From designing stage sets for Whitney Houston,
Kiss and David Bowie, to creating unforgettable
backdrops for partiers at Studio 54, Palladium and
the Brooklyn Museum, to producing paintings,
sculptures and installations, Park Slope resident
Mark Ravitz is one reason Brooklyns known as an
incubator for the arts.
Born and bred in New York City, Ravitz moved to
Brooklyn in 1972, purchased the building he shares
with wife, Jo Beth (herself an artist) and son, Miles,
and created a space conducive to the life of a family
man and artist.
When hes not creating award-winning sets for su-
perstars or exhibits for heavy weights like IBM, Nis-
4 Artist Mark Ravitzs Park Slope
house only has eyes for you! san or AT&T, Ravitz follows his own quirky muse,
even using his 7th Avenue house as a canvas. A series
called dripsbright urethane forms that seem to ooze from the windowshave made Bennett Field. Senator Charles Schumer and Congress Member Anthony Weiner have
the building a local landmark. From images of cows and brains to the current installation
called Four Eyes, Ravitz animates his art with color and wit.
I see set design as three-dimensional painting, said Ravitz. From the beatnik 50s, hip- tact runways offer unlimited possibilities for events and gatheringsanything from
pie 60s and disco 70s, my mind and heart were opened to the variety of expression sur-
rounding me and made a formative impression upon me.
That vision is also on display in the drawings and paintings on exhibit in Ravitzs pop-
up gallery on 200 7th Avenue. His next exterior installation will be based on a series called
Hairy Nests.
You can check out Mark Ravitzs work by visiting his website:
www.MarkRavitzArtandDesign.com or stop by his studio and home at 200 7th Avenue
in Park Slope.
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THE LAST BROOKLYN FRONTIER
WHERE NEW YORK CITY BEGINS
One of Americas most unique natural
parks sits at the end of Flatbush Ave. (or the
beginning, depending on your perspective) in
the Marine Park neighborhood, a stones
throw from Kings Plaza, Nicks Lobster and
Toys R Us. Floyd Bennett Field opened in
1931 as New York Citys first municipal air-
port. Today, the National Park Service (NPS)
oversees the 1,400-acre parcel of land, part of
the Gateway National Recreation Area that
surrounds Jamaica Bay. Floyd Bennett Field
may take some effort to reach, but its worth
4 An aerial view of Floyd Bennett Field
it. Youll find bike paths, hiking trails, pristine in Marine Park.
bird-watching areas, and the only year-round
camping in the five boroughsplus the Aviator Sports and Events Center.
For the first time in 30 years, NPS is revising its general management plan for Floyd
assembled a blue-ribbon panel, with representatives from Brooklyn and Queens civic
groups, to make recommendations for the parks future. The large cleared space and in-
art/antique fairs to, as crazy as it sounds, drive-in moviesthat respect both the parks
fragile ecosystem and the needs of neighboring communities.
Its the last frontier on the Brooklyn waterfront, said Robert Pirani, vice president
for environmental programs at the Regional Plan Association, the group organizing the
advisory panel. We have a unique opportunity to connect people to a part of Brooklyn
they didnt know existed.
Gateway National Recreation Area, (718) 338-3799;
www.nyharborparks.org/visit/flbe.html. If you have suggestions regarding the future
of Floyd Bennett Field, contact Elizabeth Ernish at eernish@brooklynbp.nyc.gov
 Winter 2010/11

Fall 2008

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 Winter 2010/11
WORTH THEIR WAIT IN GOLD
Spring 2003
Name: Moon Leong
Age: 36
Restaurant: Fushimi Japanese Cuisine
and Lounge (9316 4th Avenue)
Bay Ridge
Cuisine: A modern fusion of tradi-
tional Japanese with whispers of
French cuisine.
Lives in: Sunset Park
Hails from: Malaysia
Interests/Hobbies: Moon enjoys exercising; her favorite
hangout is the gym.
Trademark: Known for her immaculately done nails,
Moon loves to adorn her tips with crystals.
Why she likes waiting tables: Moon knows her stuff
she makes sure to be well informed about the specials
and she prides herself on making great suggestions to her
customers. She gets a kick when customers return because
of the great recommendations she has made.
Favorite Dish: Grilled Chilean sea bass with bay scallops
and a sweet and spicy sauce.
Most interesting/famous person youve ever waited on:
Moons most interesting customer is the one who comes
the most often. Peter comes with his entire family and
they always order many, many items on the menu. If
Moon is working in the restaurant when Peter and his
family come, he always asks to sit in Moons section.
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WHERE NEW YORK CITY BEGINS
Name: Giovany Rivera
Age: 42
Restaurant: Queen
(84 Court Street)
Brooklyn Heights
Cuisine: Italian
Lives in: Park Slope
Hails from: Honduras
Interests/Hobbies: Giovany is a big sports en-
thusiast; he loves everything from baseball to
football to soccer.
Trademark: Giovanys middle name is friend-
ly; Giovany even learned to speak Italian so that
he could communicate better with his customers.
Why he likes waiting tables: Actually, Giovanny
serves at the bar, and the only way you can do a job
as well as Giovany for as long as he has18
yearsis if you enjoy making people feel good and
seeing them leave as happy customers. Giovany
makes sure that his customers are happy from the
time they walk in until the time they leave.
Favorite Dish: Chicken Scarpariello
Most interesting/famous person youve ever
waited on: Actor Matt Dillon and actress Sarah
Jessica Parker.
Name: Sasha Teshebaeb
Age: 23
Restaurant: Scopello Ristorante Bar
(63 Lafayette Avenue)
Fort Greene
Cuisine: Italian
Lives in: Brighton Beach
Hails from: Kyrgyzstan and Russia
Interests/Hobbies: Sasha is a foodie and enjoys eating the
best, which makes his job at Scopellos quite convenient.
Other loves are computers and travel, and of course, sports,
sports and more sports!
Trademark: Known for his practical jokes, Sasha frequently
targets his colleagues, but its all in good fun! The twinkle
in his eyes confirms his status as a funny man and an invet-
erate jokester.
Why he likes waiting tables: Scopello draws people from
everywhere, from Italy, Germany, England, France and even
farther. And thats what makes Sashas job enjoyable; he loves
meeting the variety of people that come from not only
Brooklyn, but beyond. Many come before taking in a per-
formance at BAM.
Favorite Dish: Pennette Alla Norma: pasta with eggplant,
fresh tomato and basil, topped with aged ricotta cheese
Most interesting/famous person youve ever waited on:
Al Pacino, who ordered the chicken with a straight face.
 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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 Winter 2010/11

A JUMP START FOR KIDS AND ART CUPFUL OF LOVE!

Spring 2003 WHERE NEW YORK CITY BEGINS
One of New York Citys most exciting arts program Two years ago, Josh and Nicolette
for kids is easily accessible in Cobble Hill, where artist Sampson decided to create a live/work oa-
and educator Marisa Catalina Casey is helping kids sis where friends and fellow artists could
get inspired, get creative and get to work. hang out in Williamsburg.
Casey founded Starting Artists (SA) to engage Since then, the Lovin Cup Caf and
middle and high school students in everything from Cameo Gallery has become a gathering
painting to photography to animation, as well as the place where locals enjoy a quaff, eat good
business side to art. foodincluding the popular sliders, made
I want kids to have the tools they need to be cre- from grass-fed beefand groove to every-
ative and entrepreneurial, said Casey. As a teen, I thing from pre-big band jazz and ragtime
created my own photography project that raised to free-wheelin folk and rock n roll.
money and made a difference for me and others. I Whats more, the attached Cameo Gallery
4 Gabbi Rutherford is one example want to foster that same spirit of achievement features impromptu exhibits, especially for
of how Starting Artists opens the 4 Nicolette and Josh Sampson created a
door to art for kids!
among under-performing students. up and comers who cant get representation
lovin vibe at their caf in Williamsburg.
SA afterschool programs serve kids from ages ten in the more traditional art marketplace.
to nineteen with sliding fees from $10 to $30 per afternoon. They also offer scholarships Theres a real sense of community under this roof, said Josh Sampson. People say
to students in need. the spot has a positive vibe and we really try to nurture that by welcoming the artists and
Kids blossom in a welcoming place where they can paint, draw, photograph and even musicians who make this their home away from home.
direct their own videos. At a recent photography exhibit at Papel New York on Court The vibe seems to spill out into the streets, where the couple takes community respon-
Street, SA student photographs were even for sale. sibility seriously. Along with some neighbors, theyve created Make North 6th Green,
SA showed me how to be a professional artist, said one 15-year-old participant who is and theyve planted street trees and installed benches and hope to establish a business im-
thrilled that Starting Artists exists. provement district (BID).
Maybe you can help make sure they continue to exist. SA needs new digs in Boerum Sampson credits Brooklyn with providing just the right mix for a place like the Lovin
Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Cup Caf to succeed. The best of the best live here, said Sampson, and were surround-
Red Hook, Gowanus, Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill or Ft. Greene. If you know of af- ed by so many gifted and dynamic individuals. But just like a small town, people look out
fordable or even donated space, email them at newhome@startingartist.org. for each other. So Brooklyn really gives you the best of both worlds!
Starting Artists, 211 Smith St; (718) 701-5483; email at info@startingartists.org or Lovin Cup Caf and Cameo Art Gallery, 93 N. 6th St (btw Berry/Wythe); (718) 302-
visit www.startingartists.org 1180; Open Mon-Fri 5pm-2am, Sat/Sun 11:30am-2am; www.thelovincupcafe.com

BETWEEN THE PAGES BUILDING BRIDGES

Crown Heights recently welcomed a ONE PANINI AT A TIME
new addition to its growing family of
artists, educators, activists and entrepre- Physical bridges carry us over water; the global
neursLuc Josaphat and Shara Henry, kind can help us understand other nations. Olga
the husband and wife owners of Dad- Shraer wants to build bridges with food.
dys Basement, an independent neigh- Olgas on Smith may be the only kosher, Jewish-
owned eatery in Carroll Gardens, in fact in all of
borhood bookstore that has joined
Downtown Brooklyn, but Shraer doesnt serve
Brooklyn in reversing the trend of book-
latkes, gefilte fish or any of the other familiar
store closings.
kosher food. But hear this: her food is certified
Since opening in September, Daddys
kosher and theres a rabbi on site, too.
Basement has been a non-stop hub for
Olgas fresh paninis and salads are all made without
literary activity: from author appearances, fleyshikthats Yiddish for meat. Since paninis tradi-
4 Luc Josaphat and Shara Henry, owners of
Open Mic nights, poetry jams and read- Daddys Basement in Crown Heights. tionally contain deli meats and pork, Olga replaces
ings for children. Beginning in Novem- them with innovative combinations like corn, black
ber, Daddys Basement launched an ongoing series entitled Emerging Authors partnered beans, cheddar and red onion or fennel, roasted pep-
with Medgar Evers Colleges Center for Black Literature, featuring Tanya Wright, one of pers, arugula and mozzarella. From fish burgers with
the stars of True Blood and author of Butterfly Rises; Ernessa T. Carter, author of 32 Can- chipotle aioli to vegetarian paninis, Olgas food appeals
dles; and Tiphanie Yanique, author of Escape from a Leper Colony, with more to come. In to modern tastes while still comforming to Cholov 4 Olga Shraer is taking kosher food
to the next level at Olgas on Smith.
addition, an upcoming Film Series will be kicked off by local filmmaker Bilge Ebiri. Yisroel, the strickest dairy supervision possible.
This young, dynamic couple re-energized the communitys love of the arts, making books Ive always believed that kosher was a certification
a hip thing to do and making the store a showplace for Brooklyn-based artists. When not a cuisine, said Shraer. Food can segregate if were not careful. By serving dairy as well as
asked about the name, Shara said, Years ago my father, Paul Anthony Cover Henry, redid strictly non-dairy (parve) in exciting and fresh ways, I believe I bring people together.
our basement. There he would cook, tell us stories and the funniest jokes and play a little Seventy percent of Olgas customers are observant Jews who make it a destination for
music. It became a warm and welcoming community hub. He passed away in 2001. Now kosher, while 30 percent are locals looking for fresh, tasty food close by. So if you think
we foster new traditions by creating a new place to gather. A place we can be proud of. kosher food means knishes, kasha or kugel, you havent been to Carroll Gardens, where
It certainly is! Olgas kosher food takes it to the next level!
Daddys Basement, 327 Rogers Avenue (btw Montgomery and Sullivan); (347)770- Olgas on Smith Street, 407 Smith St, (btw 4th/5th); Open Mon-Thurs 10am-
8114 or visit www.daddysbasement.webs.com 9:30pm, Fri 10am-3pm, Sun 10am-6pm, closed Sat; (347) 335-0981 or visit
www.olgasonsmith.com

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