windsorterracebrooklyn

We look back, still we go on

2011-09-11T14:24:00.011-04:00

Photo by Celeste Farrell-Pereira.

Photo by LF.

Photos by A Pereira.

Summertime Is Here

2011-06-21T16:27:00.003-04:00

Save FDNY Engine Co. 220

2011-05-23T23:42:00.006-04:00

Mayor Bloomberg has placed Fire Engine Company 220 on his FDNY hit list. Join Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Councilmember Brad Lander, and Park Slope's Steve Buscemi in front of the firehouse at 530 11th Street this Wednesday, May 25 at 11AM. If you can't make the Rally, see below for other ways to get involved.

From Brad Lander's Office:

As we all found out last week, Mayor Bloomberg is proposing to close FDNY Engine 220, which is located at 530 11th Street in Park Slope. This is one of 20 FDNY companies (including 8 in Brooklyn) that the mayor is proposing to close as part of this year’s budget.

If the Bloomberg Administration is allowed to proceed with this closure, response times at fires will increase dramatically in our community. Arrival of the second truck – necessary to get water on the fire – would go from 4:08 to 5:24 (a 30% increase). Across the city, 18 of the 20 affected communities would exceed the national 4 minute standard. An extra minute to get an engine company to a fire can be the difference between life and death!

The fight to save Engine 220 begins now.

Here’s how you can help:

“Save Engine 220” morning rally: Wed, May 25 at 11 am with Steve Buscemi & Public Advocate Bill deBlasio at 530 11th Street

“Save Engine 220” evening rally: Thurs, May 26 at 7 pm with Assemblymember Jim Brennan at 530 11th Street

Email Mayor Bloomberg: Go to my website to send a message to the mayor, telling him to keep Engine 220 open.

Call Mayor Bloomberg: Register your complaint by calling 311.

Sign our petition: Stop by my office at 456 5th Ave, between 9th and 10th Street, to sign my petition. Pick up some extra copies to bring to your neighbors as well.

City-wide march & rally: I will be in touch about some upcoming city-wide rallies in support of keeping all 20 firehouses open.

I appreciate all your help in the effort to save FDNY Engine 220, and hope that you will join me in working to keep our neighborhood safe.

Brad

Unbroken But Still Unplowed

2010-12-29T08:55:00.006-05:00

Remember this joke from the Lindsay days? The Mayor has a new snow removal program: it's called July.

The last drop of snow fell on Windsor Terrace well over 50 hours ago, yet 16th Street remains unplowed.

Windsor Place wasn't plowed until about 5:30 last night and remains fairly impassable.

Yes, there was a lot of snow and wind and drifting, but there's no question that the City cheaped up in its response: very few plows were seen salting the roads on Christmas night, and nearly none the following day. Whatever the Bloomberg administration may have saved by not paying Sanitation workers to do the job they do so well, it cost the city far more in lost sales and business. And good will.

No doubt many of you have seen these pictures from Sheepshead Bites. I blame the Mayor and I blame everyone who perverted democracy by enabling his power-grabbing third term. You get what you pay for.

Take the Prospect Park West Bike Lane Survey

2010-10-18T23:51:00.005-04:00

Earlier this year, the NYC Department of Transportation changed Prospect Park West from three to two lanes of traffic and installed a separated two-way bike lane. This fall, DOT is studying the effects of these changes. They have committed to present their results to the public in early 2011.

Councilmember Brad Lander, Councilmember Stephen Levin, and Brooklyn Community Board 6 are gathering feedback on these changes, in order to provide an opportunity for resident input. Participate in this survey, which should only take 3-5 minutes, so that your opinion can be heard.

Blessing of the Animals, 2010

2010-10-18T01:33:00.004-04:00

Photo by Al Pereira.

No Rain, No Rainbows

2009-06-27T21:06:00.003-04:00

Photo by Al Pereira.

It's Always Earth Day in WT

2009-04-24T23:24:00.007-04:00

The entire student body of PS 154 took advantage of this perfect spring day by marching around the block, chanting "Save Our Earth!" (with "Shave Our Earth" a popular variation...this is grammar school, after all). Photo by Al Pereira.

Our Dear Dry Cleaner

2008-05-16T15:59:00.005-04:00

Yes, it is true that our dear dry cleaner at Eden on 10th Avenue and Windsor was found dead this morning. Most neighbors knew her as Linda; she and her husband used to run their shop where the glass store is now on Windsor before moving to the former toy store on 10th Avenue. She has been robbed before, at both locations, and the store vandalized.

This morning, concerned neighbors called the police around 8:20 am because the store was not open; the gates were down but unlocked; the front door was unlocked; the lights were off; there were clothes left on the counter; and, most worrisome, her pocket book was unattended on a side window sill. When the police didn't arrive promptly, the young woman who works with her became increasingly agitated, and a neighbor walked back to the bathroom to check. He found her body and the police were called again. They arrived within five minutes, along with the fire department and EMS. The woman was laying on her stomach with blood--not a large amount, according to one fireman--on the floor. Neighbors did not see her car, which is white. Her body was removed by the medical examiner around 3:30 pm.

If you saw anything, please contact the precinct. It is a terrible thought that one of our neighbors may have suffered any fear or pain, but it is possible to help now by straightening out exactly what happened when.

A Mysterious Visitor

2007-04-18T23:00:00.001-04:00

Rest in Peace, Sludgie. Photo by Al Pereira shows the juvenile minke whale off the 20th Street Pier.

Happy Feet

2007-03-19T03:22:00.001-04:00

At the 32nd Annual Irish-American Parade. Photos by Al Pereira.

Windsor Terrors

2006-10-31T23:36:00.000-05:00

Halloween in Brooklyn. Photos by Al Pereira.

Books and Cooks

2006-10-27T13:42:00.000-04:00

Dropped by Babbo's yesterday on its opening day. It's been quite a while since there was a book store in the neighborhood--has it been 10 years since that lady on Windsor Place, where the florist (and turtle emporium) is now--closed her shop? Anyway, Babbo's seems cozy if a bit sparse on inventory. There are new and used books for sale, two comfy chairs and art on the walls. Having read the letter the (very young) owner's mom wrote to The New York Times on Sunday, I wish her luck in fulfilling her "long-held" dream.

We also recently ate at Fez (finally). Owned by the lady from 16th Street Gourmet (which she may already have closed), it's a nice addition to the block. The owner is friendly and the food is pretty good. We were smart to get there before this cold snap and enjoyed our meal in the backyard, serenaded in turn by sparrows and a little baby in the upstairs apartment.

Blessing of the Animals

2006-10-04T23:27:00.000-04:00

Saint Francis' Feast Day.

Anyone Else Celebrating?

2006-09-20T08:03:00.000-04:00

Today on the Avenue...

2006-09-11T23:37:00.000-04:00

This war is not far away.

2006-08-25T21:57:00.000-04:00

Although we didn't know him personally, my children and I went to Immaculate Heart of Mary this morning for the funeral of Captain John McKenna. I suppose this is what "Support the Troops" means: whatever I think of the war in Iraq, I can only respect and appreciate the sacrifice of this young man, who led a most honorable life. It was a privilege to be in his presence, even in death. I also very much wanted to show my children that this war is not far away; it is here, in Windsor Terrace, in the very church in which they were baptized and made their first communions.