Sandy Survivor Gathering Reminder!

Along with sending out this reminder for the coming weekend's Sandy Survivor Gathering, which will be at 351 Van Brunt Street storefront between 4pm and 7pm June 30th, we wanted to let everyone know about the new webpage on the PortSide site.  Since we're hoping to make this a regular thing you can check this page for updates on future gatherings.  We hope to see you all there this Sunday.  Free cake and coffee!!

Sandy Survivor Gathering Part II

There's going to be another Sandy survivor gathering coming up on June 30th from 4-7pm.  Put it on your calendar!! We'll send out a reminder just before it happens also.  It will, again, be at 351 Van Brunt and we'll have cake and coffee.  If you missed the last one then this is your chance to connect with your friends and neighbors! If you'd like to help in anyway email sandy6mo@gmail.com.  You can also RSVP by emailing that same address.  Hope to see everyone there!

BWAC Event this Sunday.

There are so many great events going on at Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition. Visual art, music, film.  This Sunday you can visit and listen to their Readings in Red Hook series.  This show is for local authors to share their work with the public.  The theme for this Sunday, May 19th is "Sandy Experiences".  BWAC is located at 499 Van Brunt Street and is open weekends 1pm-6pm. Check out their site for more info.

Sandy Survivor Get Together.

Calling all Sandy survivors!  Come join us this Sunday, April 28th, to reconnect and eat cake! It'll be almost 6 months since Sandy hit us and brought both havoc and a spirit of togetherness and strength to our community.  We'd love to see you all there! You can read the flyer below for more info.


Red Hook Sandy Survivor Get Together
Sunday 4/28/13 4‐7pm (but we’ll stay longer if you are there)
351 Van Brunt

April 29 will be the six month anniversary of hurricane Sandy. Many people in Red Hook talk about re‐finding that spirit of connectedness that supported us during the dark nights and muddy days after the storm.

PortSide NewYork and Realty Collective, the non‐profit organization and real estate brokerage which teamed up to create the Sandy aid center at 351 Van Brunt Street, are opening the doors again to bring people together. Here is our invitation to you. Please pass the word:

Dear Neighbor:
 
We are coming up on 6 months since Hurricane Sandy put Red Hook under 4 feet of water or more in some cases.
 
There was a great community spirit in the days after the storm when everyone was working together to recover. We are hosting an informal open house to hear how you are doing, reconnect and celebrate the resilience of Red Hook. It would be so great to see our friends and neighbors and reconnect.

Free cake, coffee and other beverages. We are looking to arrange some other food by event time.
 
Yours truly,
Your neighbors and friends at 351 Van Brunt Street

To help with the event or post flyers, contact Kerry Quade at sandy6mo@gmail.com

Tell Your Story Today!

We want to remind everyone that the Tell Your Story Campaign in Red Hook has begun and the center is open and anyone can drop in during open hours (below).  The first 200 participants will get a $20 gift card to Fairway.

Where: Kentler International Drawing Space, 353 Van Brunt Street

When: March 2 – 5 and March 7-8, from 10am to 6pm

                Saturday March 9 is by appointment only from 9am to 12pm

Who: Anyone with a story to tell about life in Red Hook before, during and after Hurricane Sandy

Care for Red Hook Scanning Event.

Kentler International Drawing Space, at 353 Van Brunt, will be hosting "CARE for Sandy" this Sunday, February 24th from 10:30am-5:30pm.  CARE stands for Cherished Albums Restoration Effort and this organization's mission is to digitally restore photos that were damaged in Hurricane Sandy free of charge.  This particular event is offering free scanning for future restoration.  There will be more events like this one throughout the winter, so if you can't come out this weekend but have photos that were damaged you can check here for more info, including future dates.

Kevin's Reopening!

Kevin's will be reopening this weekend, after being closed for months after Sandy.  They'll have dinner on Saturday and Sunday and brunch on Sunday as well.  To celebrate their reopening they're having a party tomorrow, Friday night, and anyone can come between 5pm and 8pm.  They'll have complimentary hors d'oeuvres and cash bar until 11pm! We're so happy they are back!

New Fairway Sneak Peek!

We heard that the Red Hook Fairway would be reopening on March 1st but we'd check their facebook every once in a while to see if the date had changed.  Thankfully not! We came across this video posted yesterday. It's a sneak peek at the new (and improved!) Fairway.  We had heard (and spread) rumors about there being a new upstairs cafe.  This video sets us straight.  The cafe has been improved and there will be an all-season outdoor area, but it is in the same place.  That plus wider isles and a few other upgrades.  Check out the video and get the tour.

Tell Your Story Campaign in Red Hook!

The "Tell Your Story" Campaign has found a space!  March 2 through Saturday March 9 (with the exception of Wednesday Mar 6) Red Hook residents can drop into Kentler International Drawing Space at 353 Van Brunt Street and tell their Hurricane Sandy recovery story.  There are a few more updates for the campaign.  One being that $20 Fairway gift cards are being acquired to hand out to those who come into the "Tell Your Story Center".  There's more they have to say on that subject below.  Also, between Feb 12 and Feb 14, they will be screening social workers to be considered for the interview pool.  If you or anyone you know have a background in social work or counseling and would like to contribute your time to this project, please contact EMMP at Development@EMMP-Emergency.com with the subject line “Tell Your Story Interviewers Pool”.  And finally we've heard the screening/fundraiser will be held sometime in mid to late April.  The location in TBD.  We'll give you more updates as we get them.  In the meantime, get involved!

"Our partners at Mahila Partnership have raised money to cover the cost of the gift cards and are working toward providing hygiene kits for people coming into the center. The more we can provide for the local residents who have been without their grocery store for so long, the further their $20 gift card will go when Fairway Market re-opens March 1st. If anyone has suggestions or can help in any way with this incentive program, please feel free to contact me (nkepler@EMMP-Emergency.com) or Angela Devlen of Mahila Partnership (adevlen@mahilapartnership.org

) If you would like to make a donation for this program, you can do so at www.mahilapartnerhsip.org by indicating on your donation memo “Red Hook Recovery Project”. Donations are tax deductible and 100% of all donations will go to this project."

 

Business Legal Clinic Meeting Today.

Need to speak with a lawyer?  Today is a great opportunity for you to do so in a community meeting setting at this legal clinic coordinated by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.  Starting at 1pm and going until 5pm you can meet with attorney's to discuss FEMA ans SBA related issues as well as commercial landlord/tenant, employer responsibility, insurance, and contract issues. Meet at IKEA in the Bay Ridge Training Room on the 2nd fl. 

Gowanus Meeting with EPA.

Tonight Gowanus residents can meet with the EPA about hurricane aftermath topics, including water samples and any other questions residents and business owners may have.  NYSDEC, FEMA, and OSHA will also be represented at the meeting.   More info is below.


Monday November 26, 2012 at 6:30 pm
P.S. 32 – 317 Hoyt Street near Union Street

Thanksgivng News.

Thanksgiving for hurricane victims has come early at a handful of venues around the city.  Barclays Center hosted an early feast as did The Old Homestead.  There is also going to be a pop-up market in Red Hook with farm fresh produce for Thanksgivng.  See more info on that from their facebook page below.  And we know that this is pretty far from the city but it's a very kind offer from the Frost Valley YMCA located in Claryville, NY. "Frost Valley YMCA has set aside several weekends for families directly affected by the storm to come to the Catskills and enjoy our facility, including hot showers, home cooked meals, and warm beds free of charge. We are also offering a Thanksgiving celebration for anyone unable to have their own this year due to Hurricane Sandy."

ATTN: TODAY & TOMORROW: A POP-UP Market!
Where: the Corner of Sullivan and Richards Streets Across from PS 15!!!

If you are in Red Hook today come on down and join! Lot's of local produce from John Glebocki, and Fred Wilklow.

Yams! Collards! Kale! Brussels! 5 kinds of Potatoes!
5 Kinds of Apples, Cider so much more.

If you have SNAP (Formerly Foodstamps) and spend $5 we can provide you with $2.

00 more in coupons to expand your buying power.

If you have an appointment at Addabbo Clinic, today the doctors and nutritionists are providing coupons to increase your buying power

If you are a parent of a student at PS 15 ask for Parent Coordinator Juanita Laboy who can also provide you with market coupons to help you meet your food needs in this holiday season.

SPREAD IT!

Brooklyn Bridge Park Almost There.

Though Brooklyn Bridge Park is still recovering first from Sandy and then from the set backs caused by the Nor'easter, most of the park is now open.  They opened several of their lawns last week and have only a few section still closed to the public and those the main street playground, swing valley at Pier 6 as well as the far lawn in the southeast corner near the ferry dock.  They had a lot of volunteers right after the storm (pic above is from their facebook) and I'm sure that contributed to the fact that they were able to re-open so soon after Sandy. 

Red Hook Community Meeting Tonight!

With all that's going on it's important to regroup and discuss the issues.  This community meeting will focus on discussions about clean-up progress, relief efforts, and re-building a more storm-proof and sustainable Red Hook all around.  Come down to PS 27, at 27 Huntington Street, today at 5pm to give your input and keep informed.

Register Today for Rapid Repairs.

Starting today you can make an appointment for Rapid Repair service if your home has been badly damaged.  Bloomberg announced this program, which is in partnership with FEMA, in an effort to streamline and expedite the process of repairing homes and getting peoples power back on.  As a homeowner, you will not have to pay upfront for repairs, you will however have had to register for assistance with FEMA (DisasterAssistance.gov) and have a FEMA ID number.  To register for rapid repair you can call 311 or click here.

Hurricane Benefits Past and Future.

The pic above is of the line up at Seersucker last night and this was just at the beginning of their "Eat Pork, Help New York" hurricane benefit with all proceeds going to RHI.  In addition to pork sliders they had organic caramel corn for $3.  We hope they raised a bunch of money.  From the looks of this pic they did! A couple other area restaurants, including Arthur on Smith who were donating 10% of each bill last Saturday,  have been involved in the Red Hook hurricane efforts and we expect more to join them.  Shake Shack is offering something called a "Rally Shake" and will donate $2 to Red Cross for each one sold. 

Eat Pork Help New York Tonight!

Seersucker and Smith Canteen host this benefit for the Red Hook Initiative tonight starting at 6pm.  They'll be serving mini roast pork bbq sandwiches (four for $10).  All proceeds will be delivered to the Red Hook Initiative tomorrow morning.  RHI has made a huge impact on recovery efforts in the Red Hook area and they need your help to make an even bigger impact.  Eat some pork and give generously to the donation jar!

Post Sandy Info.

So many businesses in Red Hook were destroyed this week, including Fairway as you can see in the pic above from Time Magazine they were disposing of damaged food, not giving food away as rumors would suggest.  It's so strange the differences from one neighborhood to the next.  The Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill neighborhood has returned to normalcy for the most part.  The only signs of damage were the city workers clearing an occasional fallen tree (pic above) or branches but otherwise businesses were all open.  Kids even went trick or treating last night.  But our Red Hook neighbors are really hurting.  It's a very close-knit community in which many of our crew here at Realty Collective live and work.  There is such a pride and love for this community that we are sure everyone will pull through and help each other out but it's definitely tough right now.  Here's a very important link on storm recovery info.  Please pass it along to anyone who may need it.

Calling All Volunteers for Park Clean Up.

Just walking around our neighborhood you can imagine what parks might look like with the fallen trees and whatnot.  Cobble Hill Park above had some fallen trees and branches as you can see above.  Brooklyn Bridge Park got hit pretty hard, they were under three feet of water, and could use your help.  So, if you are home from work, as most of you are, and would like to help out the info is below.

Wed October 31 | 9 am - 12 pm and 2 pm - 5 pm
Volunteers, please join us as we begin our Hurricane Clean Up. We will concentrate our efforts on the perimeters of the park, cleaning up debris left over from flood waters. Work will take place near Main Street from 9am-12pm and on Pier 6 from 2-5pm. Wear water-resistant shoes and clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.

If you have brooms, rakes, and gloves, please bring them. While we have extras, we're hoping that eager volunteers outnumber our current supplies!

Please rsvp to sward@brooklynbridgepark.org. And stay tuned for additional clean up opportunities in the coming days and weeks.

Cobble Hill Pics.

Here are some pics of Cobble Hill from just a few hours ago.  This area fared pretty well compared to the rest of New York.  The occasional tree down, as you can see above and below one fallen on a car on Henry near Kane and several down on Baltic between Clinton and Henry.  Also an awning here and there like the one below from Court Bagels.  Unlike, Red Hook, which was completely underwater last night and probably saw the worst of Sandy in our immediate area.  We haven't been out there yet but heard that the flooding has cleared out for the most part and now people just have to worry about their flood-damaged properties, which is undoubtedly extensive.  We are both so sad for everyone that have had flooded apartments and homes but relieved that we are all safe.