In an attempt to control the spread of West Nile Virus, annual spraying by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene occurs in certain areas throughout the five boroughs.  This year, I was completely caught by surprise and missed the notice that they sprayed on September 2, 2010 between 8pm – 6am.

Below is the link to the notice that went out.

http://nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/wnv/wnv-notice-20100902.pdf

According to the schedule and confirmation from 311 this morning, spraying is complete for Marine Park and immediate areas.

To avoid this happening to you in the future, you can contact 311 or go to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene website (http://nyc.gov/html/doh/html/wnv/wnvhome.shtml) and obtain the spray schedule for 2011.

If you feel you have suffered direct exposure to the spraying and have concerns please contact the Poison Control Center 212-764-7667.

In the event of an emergency, please call 9-1-1.

It’s that time again!!!

For all the parents in the area, here is a quick bit of information for the first couple weeks you may not know.  The first day of school is Wednesday, September 8th for New York City public schools.  Thursday and Friday September 9th and 10th school will be closed due to the Jewish holiday.  School will reopen Monday, September 13th. It seems odd that school will be open for just one day that first week, but that’s what the NYC Department of Education has set for this year.

In light of school being closed on Thursday, September 9th and Friday, September 10th, here are some FREE activities for kids.

FREE FUN, GAMES, BOOKS, MUSIC AND FRIENDS

The Mill Basin Library (718) 241-3973

2385 Ralph Ave. (and Ave N)

Thursday, September 9th @ 4pm

Teens can come play Wii sports or Wii Play with your friends.

Website:  www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM. TO DONATE CONTACT:

Brooklyn Public Library, Development Office

10 Grand Army Plaza

Brooklyn, NY 11238

Phone: 718-230-2738

Fax: 718-399-7706

FREE THEATER WORKSHOP

La Plaza Cultural Garden, (888) 374-6436

East Village, NYC (southwest corner of East 9th Street and Avenue C)

Friday, September 10th @ 2:30PM–3:30PM

La Plaza Cultural, is a unique open green space-combining a neighborhood garden, performance space and cultural center which is free to the public-serving the community for more than 25 years. 

Join Different Directions’ co-founder and Artistic Director, Rita-Jo Houston, for a free theater workshop.  Participants will engage in a variety of improvisational theatre games that use their voices, bodies and minds and finish up the workshop with a performance. We will start with some physical and vocal warm-ups and then play some games. These games may include the name game, pass the sound and “Wah!” For the second half hour we will work with a script to put on a short show. Most of all, we’ll play and have fun!!!

This workshop is open to any and all that desire to participate. Parents are required to join in with any student that is 6 years and younger.

 Web Site: www.laplazacultural.org/

FLATLANDS (WABC) — A raging fire has destroyed a row of businesses in Brooklyn.  It took hours for firefighters to get the scene under control in the Flatlands section.

The fire broke out around 1:00 Sunday morning at the corner of Flatbush and Flatlands Avenue.

Investigators said the fire started in a Chinese restaurant. It quickly spread through about a half-dozen stores.

Those businesses include a bagel store and a men’s store that has been in business for 88 years.

“We’re devastated,” Anthony Balzofiore of Mac’s Men Shop. “It’s our livelihood. It’s all we know. I’ve been working here since I’m 13 years old. So, hopefully, we can rebuild and be back somewhere in this neighborhood.”

The building, built in the early 1900s, have common rooms that pre-date fire codes.

A hardware store next door to the destroyed businesses was left virtually untouched because it had a fire wall.

Firefighters continued to hose down hot spots on Sunday morning.

 (Copyright ©2010 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

Several buildings ravaged by fire early this morning around 2am on Flatbush and Flatlands Ave.  Several stores I frequent were completely destroyed. No word yet on any injuries as it was after closing time.

More to come on this devastating fire. For now catch the video!

Organic Market 21 Inc.,  

2104 Ralph Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11234 (corner of Ave K)

(718) 531-1188

M&B Organics,   (also on Facebook)

6331 Avenue N

Brooklyn, NY 11234 (corner of E.64th St.)

(718) 251-2511

Golden Seal health Foods & Wellness Center, Inc.

1982 Flatbush Avenue (Between Kings Highway and Flatlands)

Brooklyn, NY 11234

(718) 859-3035

1 (866) 461-4391

www.goldensealhealthfoods.com

The streets of Marine Park are lined with statuesque trees and quaint homes.  The manicured lawns and newly reconstructed front yards are on every block throughout the neighborhood.  Walking down the blocks you get the feel of family and the smells of home cooked meals.  Block after block is home to hard working families, doing their best to provide better for their future generations.

Do you call Marine Park home?

Although Marine Park has changed from what it used to be, it is still a beloved community by those who live here.

What do you want to see on your next summer stroll through Maine Park?

You’ve seen them at Prospect Park, Union Square, Carroll Gardens, East New York and more. What seems to be missing in Marine Park and the surrounding area? 

Why not go green?

The green markets located all across New York City have become a movement.  These green markets offer communities access to the freshest locally grown foods including fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, breads, eggs, herbs, spices  and more.  In return the local farmers are given business and are able to continue their sustainable living efforts all across New York and surrounding areas.

GrowNYC, a hands on non-profit private organization has been serving NYC for the past 40 years.  The vision of GrowNYC is a block by block transformation to secure a healthy environment for all NYC communities and future generations.

Grow NYC not only offers great tasting, wholesome food from their greenmarkets program, there are recycling, environmental education, and community garden programs that are vital in the movement toward a clean environment and healthier NYC.

Currently, Marine Park does not have a GrowNYC greenmarket.  Similar to Park Slope or Fort Green, both residential, family oriented communities; a GrowNYC greenmarket would thrive in Marine Park.

Would you like to see a greenmarket come to the Marine Park community?

For more information on GrowNYC and how you can help better your community one block at a time please visit: http://www.cenyc.org

By Melissa M.

Have a topic you’d like to see here on the MarineParker.net?

Leave a comment or email melsroadmaptowellness@gmail.com

Last Year's Mid-Summer Festival

Saturday, August 7 and Sunday, August 8
Marine Park at Avenue U
FREE ADMISSION!!!!!

Rides, games, food & entertainment
Merchandise vendors

More info to come …

You can also call Marty Golden’s office at 718-238-6044 or the Marine Park Civic Association Hotline (MPCA) at 718-336-7343.

See you there!!

The Summer Reading 2010 program kicked off on Thursday, June 10. It is sponsored by the Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, and Queens Library

Throughout the branches, there will be giveaways throughout the summer to get our young ones to read. Game boards, game cards, bookmarks and mood pencils and more to be had!

A suggestion list according to age can be found at your local branch, and I bet your kids will be given a suggested reading list as they leave school for the summer.

The Flatlands branch, located at 2065 Flatbush Avenue have the following events scheduled so far:

Bubbles the Clown, Thursday July 15 @2:00 PM
Musical performance by Jerry Joy, Thursday, August
26 @2:00 PM

SEE YOU THERE!!!!

www.summerreading.org

There will be a car wash to benefit the Flatlands Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of America, Local Cub Pack 505 and Troop 510.

It will take place Sunday, June 20 from 10:00AM-2:00PM at the Flatlands Volunteer Ambulance Corps Headquarters located at 4623 Avenue N and Schenectady Avenue.

Exterior car wash is $5.00.

All money raised will be going towards the volunteer ambulance corps and the Boy/Cub Scout Troop.

Come out and support them and get your car washed at the same time! After all this rain and pollen, it sure could use it (I KNOW MINE CAN!)