Merry Christmas Everyone

The sounds of Christmas are probably some of the best sounds in the world. A familiar holiday song, a family singing a holiday favorite, my students enjoying the last day of school before the break,  Ralphie being told he’ll shoot his eye out and of course the sounds kids make when they open a present and inside is a toy they want.

Normally on holidays, I find myself taking pictures in my mind of moments I want to remember. This year, I found myself mezmorized by the sounds of the season.

Silver Bells is one of my favorite holiday song. But like many of you in Bay Ridge, I wanted to take the bell from the Salvation Army worker who rang it loudly and faithfully everyday outside of Walgreens all season.  :)

Merry Christmas!

Topics: Bay Ridge, Brooklyn | No Comments »

Peter Abbate and His Customized Christmas Cards

Peter Abbate sent out 20,000 Christmas cards to people in Vinnie Gentile’s area.  Abbate said he was unsure how much the cards cost, since he has yet to pay the bill.  Does anyone else see a problem with that?

If Peter Abbate actually did something (really ANYTHING…even one small thing)  for Bay Ridge, I don’t think anyone would mind, but sending out cards to people you have never come into contact is just tacky.

Politicians are spending money like water. Abbate has $879,638 in his reserve so he doesn’t care.

BUT WE DO.

How can we expect Abbate to work on the problem of homelessness, when he doesn’t even know how much the cards he sent out costs?

Strangely, the author of this article, Will Bredderman noted that Abbate said the cards were union made and by a particular company, yet Bredderman talked to the owner of the company and it’s been out of business for years!!!    Bredderman wrote,  “The holiday mailing, however, bears a fuzzy-looking label that appears to be a mock-up of the Allied Printing Trades union bug. The pol (Peter Abbate) insisted to the Observer the literature was union-made, and named Emerald Printing as the firm that produced it for him.  But the former owner of Emerald Printing, Clifford Luster, told the Observer that the company stopped doing business in 2008.”   LOL so Abbate doesn’t know what company printed the cards or how much they cost,  but  PETER  ABBATE WANTS TO BE MY COUNCILMAN?!

Bay Ridge deserves better.   This is Part 3 to my series – Don’t run for City Council to pad your paycheck Peter Abbate.   (Part 2: Go back to sleep Peter Abbate)

Topics: Bay Ridge, Brooklyn | No Comments »

69th Street Pier

Topics: Bay Ridge, Brooklyn | No Comments »

Happy Birthday Bay Ridge

Topics: Bay Ridge, Brooklyn | No Comments »

Yasmin Seweid Scammed NY with a Story of Hate

An 18 year old woman named Yasmin Seweid scammed NY with a story that she was victimized on the train because she was Muslim and wearing a hajib.   Many people including me believed her because why would a woman lie about something this serious?  Everyone felt terrible her because no one wants a woman, especially not a beautiful college student to suffer. Apparently this woman made up a detailed story because she didn’t want to get in trouble for getting home late.

Here’s what she posted on Facebook:

If she was 16 years old,  this would be easy to understand. But she’s an 18 year old woman who knew how this would impact people and she just didn’t care.

They are calling this a  Islamaphobia hoax.

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Crime is Up in Bay Ridge – December 2016

Mayor deBlasio can say crime is down in the city, but you and I in Bay Ridge know crime is up.  See the city’s stats:

Topics: Bay Ridge | No Comments »

Cost Plus World Market Opened in Brooklyn

I love that Cost Plus World Market is now in Brooklyn at 850 3rd Ave, Brooklyn – it’s near the large computer store, MicroCenter – 3rd Avenue between 30th and 31st Streets. I’ve ordered from World Market’s online shop for years, but I had never been in a World Market store. In the mall with World Market, there is a Bed, Bath and Beyond beyond, Buy Buy Baby, a makeup store (not Sephora, but it’s nice) Saks Off 5th outlet store, a coffee shop and a restaurant.

I can’t show you the stuff I bought because I bought gifts :)

They have a large section of decorative pillows, cookware and all types of gingerbread kits for kids.

Cute cookie jars

We had a great time shopping in this mall especially because the stores were empty!  Only bad thing – the parking lot was full even though there was hardly anyone shopping in the mall. I guess the employees like the parking.

Shopping tip: Before you go, sign up on the Cost Plus World Market website to get 15% off.

Topics: Brooklyn | No Comments »

Swans & Ducks in Brooklyn

We saw some swans and ducks so we went to the store and bought some bread to feed them. This water is across the street from Bay Academy School – 1409 Emmons Avenue in Brooklyn.

Topics: Brooklyn | No Comments »

Councilman Gentile Has Advocated for Disabled Individuals For Years

I couldn’t let the day end without writing about Mr. Gentile. I saw some headlines and I realized something isn’t right with today’s news stories.  Councilman Gentile has been an advocate for the disabled for years.

Mr. Gentile does not know us. We are residents in his district who have seen he always does the right thing for people. 

In July, when the  NYC Council discretionary budget came out, I looked online to see how Gentile spent the money. I don’t think any council person could have spent the money better.  Gentile allocated $800,000  for the Martini House. The Martini House is a home for disabled adults.  NYS wasn’t funding the Martini House, even though they asked for assistance for six years.  Councilman Gentile decided to step in to make sure that disabled adults had somewhere to live and they had the necessary accommodations (elevator, entrance ramps, wider hallways and bathrooms for the handicapped).

Gentile said: “When I walked through the Martini Residence a few months ago, the need for a complete renovation of the home was readily apparent. Most of the residents do not have family support outside of Guild for Exceptional Children.  It would be shame for the residents to have to be moved to a long term nursing home due to a lack of accessibility to the facilities in the building.” Here’s how Gentile allocated the rest of the money.

In November 2014, Gentile  made a resolution to allow disabled Veteran’s to use the HOV lane. 

In 2013, a dilapidated home in Bay Ridge was upsetting people. Vincent Gentile worked for a long time on getting the home purchased for use by a disabled veteran. The veteran decided not to live in NYC so the plans fell through.

In 2013, Gentile stood with Councilman Greenfield in getting rid of the term “mentally retarded.”   Gentile said, “It is shocking that in this day and age we are still using this term. Developmentally disabled does not mean mentally retarded, which is why we need to change this, and we need to change it now.”

In 2013, Gentile and former Councilman Domenic Recchia secured  a $1.9 million dollar grant for the Guild for Exceptional Children in Bay Ridge. The Guild for Exceptional Children is a nonprofit organization that provides educational services, living options and life skills for children and adults with developmental disabilities

In 2010, Gentile and Marty Golden fought with disabled  residents in Bay Ridge to keep the MTA from cutting service on certain bus routes.

In 2006, Vincent Gentile was a State Senator and he introduced Billy’s Law to protect developmentally disabled students who are out of state. Gentile advocated against developmentally disabled children being given shock treatments as a form of discipline in out-of-state boarding schools. (And ten years later)

I remember meeting a younger Vincent Gentile in 1995 or 1996. He spoke about at a community meeting about special education. I remember thinking that he was the most enthusiastic person I had ever met and I could tell he loved his job – helping people! 

The news headlines and Mr. Gentile’s advocacy for disabled individuals over the years don’t seem to match up. A leopard doesn’t change his spots ->Vincent  Gentile has been an advocate for the underdog for many years, whether it be the disabled, elderly, veteran’s, families, etc.  The way he votes  and distributes money is driven by how it is fair to all people.  Mr. Gentile is someone who has consistently led this community with kindness and professionalism.

Update: Online I saw Bob Capano post this on Twitter:

Capano doesn’t know what is going on in Bay Ridge because he lives in Staten Island. People know Vinnie Gentile and no one is protesting because the whole story isn’t in what the press has told us. Vinnie wouldn’t have hired this man if he was someone who would discriminate against disabled people.  Gentile has been an advocate of the disabled for years!

Strangely, Liam McCabe is the only one who retweeted Capano’s message. McCabe works at Dan Donovan’s office so he should know better than to join in with Capano’s “playing politics” posts.

February 10th – The situation is in the news here and here

Topics: Bay Ridge | No Comments »

Help for Immigrants in NYC

The first place I thought would be of help to immigrants was the NY Bar Association  212.626.7383   – they also have help for people in person – see here

And there are a lot more places that can help immigrants here as well.

Then I saw these posted online:

Topics: Brooklyn | No Comments »

Relaxing Day….With a Good Ending

This morning I wasn’t able to sleep because I was so worried about Lee. I woke up at 3:30 or 4 am and I was wide awake. I did some things around on house and then went back to sleep. When my alarm went off I was so tired and coughing so hard so I took the day off.    I slept most of the day. I’m still coughing and I guess it will take a few more days to get over this code.

And this evening Lee came home with good news :)

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Christmas Lights at Visitation Academy – Bay Ridge

Topics: Bay Ridge | No Comments »