SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Last night’s concert at Asser Levy Park was like being high on nostalgia. Well, for me, anyway.

Apparently, some people in the crowd found that the only way they could cope with hearing the heavenly voices of Frankie Valli and Connie Francis was with alcohol. One man in the crowd was drunken-yellsinging out so loud when Frankie and his Four Seasons were making us swoon. But, no one said anything to him, because they all seemed to understand the emotion behind the outburst.

Still others wanted to feel even “higher” than the heights to which we were being taken by these legendary acts that they were lighting up their joints. No bother — because, when Frankie started to sing – “You’re just too good to be true. Can’t take my eyes off you. You’d be like Heaven to touch,” – everyone’s attention was completely riveted to the sound emanating from the bandshell.

The night started off with Connie Francis. This lady is an American legend who conquered the world with her multilingual crooning. Her voice and the amplification were not strong enough to overcome the chattering crowd, but when she started singing the old familiar verse of one of my most all-time favorite songs, “Evening shadows make me blue. When each weary day is through. How I long to be with you — my happiness..”, my eyes were suddenly fixated on the moon, with her voice as the only sound that existed in Brooklyn South for just those few minutes.

For those of you who, unfortunately, missed the concert: I’m sorry, so sorry. This concert, with the clear skies and these two excellent performers, was more than just a nostalgic high. It was also a natural high under the Coney Island sky.

[My apologies to you for not having any pictures. Photography is not allowed and as the media seats had already been filled by the time I wrote in to Marty Markowitz's office, I was one of  the masses who were not allowed to take photos. Although breaking the Borough President's rules wasn't much of a problem for some -- or, so I heard, anway -- when glass contraband went smashing into pieces onto the ground.]

Things get weirder by the day in NYC politics, and now it has taken a turn to the utterly bizarre.

A Sheepshead resident is calling Mayor Bloomberg a tyrant following the actions of hizzonah’s Royal Guard (a.k.a. the NYPD), who have been trying to seize the man’s antique rifle. Michael Littlejohn, a Colonial American reenactor, had a replica Revolutionary War-era flint-lock rifle custom-made by a Tennessee-based blacksmighth. The only problem is, he didn’t have a gun permit. Now he’s threatening to sue the city for taking the fight too far. Here’s an excerpt from an article in the Daily News:

“This is the last legal gun that you can have without registration in New York,” Littlejohn said. “And yet Mayor Bloomberg is driven crazy by my flintlock gun – the one that won the American Revolution.”

Littlejohn fired the first shot when he hired a Tennessee blacksmith to recreate the vintage rifle. It arrived at his Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, apartment in June – followed quickly by city cops.

Police claim it’s illegal for Littlejohn to keep the flintlock without a gun license.

Littlejohn, 50, cites the earliest American patriots as his inspiration while refusing to surrender his firearm or apply for a license.

The social worker is also clinging to a little-known exemption in the city’s strict gun laws.

The loophole allows license-free ownership of “antique firearms” – defined as rifles that require the bullet and gunpowder to be loaded separately.

Littlejohn’s rifle appears to fit the bill.

Loading the weapon, he explains, is a multistep process that takes several pokes with a ramrod and up to a minute to complete.

To fire, the rifle relies on a sharpened piece of flint that produces a spark when the trigger is pulled. That point is moot, Littlejohn says: He doesn’t own gunpowder or bullets.

That’s not enough to make the NYPD retreat.

The cops visited Littlejohn’s apartment and sat down this month with the Tennessee blacksmith who forged the rifle.

The lead detective on the case told Littlejohn’s lawyer that he had orders “from higher-ups” to pursue the case, according to an e-mail the lawyer sent to Littlejohn.

Alert: We’re taking a break from our regular Shopping Cart Series to bring you this important message: An APB has been issued for all missing shopping carts.

Sheepshead Bay resident, Stefanee Rivera,  sent us this photograph of a sign posted at the Avenue Y Super Stop and Shop store.

The sign is a simple request for shoppers to be on the alert for stray shopping carts belonging to the store.

Photographer, Lisanne Anderson, also posted her signature-style picture of a similar sign on Flickr, with a note implying that the store’s request for people to be on the lookout for stray carts might be possibly due to our Shopping Cart Series.

One store supervisor we spoke with told us that he doesn’t read our blog. So, this sign might have been generated by another member of management simply based on the number of missing shopping carts.

While, we are more than willing to offer up any information about missing, misled, lost, indentured, enslaved, kidnapped (and possibly drugged) shopping carts around our neighborhood — we’re sure not feeling responsible for making Super Stop and Shop feel responsible. It’s more than likely that there really is a problem with our streets being littered with carts that ought to be safe at home, instead.

(Photo by Stefanee Rivera)

(Photo courtesy of gkjarvis via Flickr)

Given that we’re still fuming over the coming termination of B express service, we thought we’d use another subway-themed photo. And remember: write your representatives about these cuts!

Update: Sheepshead Bites super-tipster, Arthur Borko first told us about this story this morning, and provided the attached photos. Apparently, Borko did some investigating afterwards and filled us in on a few details. He spoke to a witness to the accident, Rob Zalesh of Atlantic Bagels, who said it occured when a white van traveling west on Emmons attempted to make a left turn. The eldery driver had a green left-turn-only light. Unfortunately, the light was also green for a woman, in her mid-30s, driving in the opposite direction. Because there was an error in the light’s timing, they both had green lights and ended up colliding. While the damage to the cars looks bad, we are unaware of the condition of the drivers, or any passengers.

Original post:

It appears there was a bad accident on Emmons Avenue and Shore Boulevard around 10 o’clock this morning. We’re working to find out the details, but a reader sent these photos so you can see for yourself how bad the damage was. In the photo above, it seems like the driver was still in the car when these photos were taken, perhaps because they were injured or stuck.

Bay Improvement Group, organizers of the annual BayFest event, are getting an early start on planning next year’s festivities. The first meeting kicks off next week, and we heard that the organization’s president, Steve Barrison, wants to see bigger names here. The name he tossed out? Bruce Springsteen. Well… it’s good to dream. As for us, we’re hoping to see at least one band with connections to Sheepshead Bay, and we hope some more of our local businesses are brought into the mix. If you agree, join us at the meeting and let BIG leadership know.

Here’s the release:

BayFest2010, our 19th year, we start now.

The BIG planning meeting, sharing responsibility and time for new and old to come together, whether it’s your first BayFest or you are an old pro…
Tuesday August 4th at the Golden Gate Inn located at Knapp Street and Shore Parkway in Sheepshead Bay, right off the belt Parkway at 7:30PM we begin..
bring interested people.

WE NEED YOU TO GET INVOLVED AND ASK OTHERS TOO, TO HELP AT THIS ANNUAL PARTY FOR SHEEPSHEAD BAY AT THIS UNIQUE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL. BAYFEST IS ALWAYS THE THIRD SUNDAY IN MAY! May 16. 2010

Join us as we plan a bigger better BayFest celebration for Sheepshead Bay.
BE There Tuesday August 4th, 7:30PM at the Golden Gate Inn for this special BayFest working planning meeting.

Usually, when a 1-year-old celebrates his or her first birthday, the parents mark the occasion by a big party with loved ones and a bunch of other kids running around. Everyone gathers around the cake and unfurls the noisemakers by blowing into the birthday kid’s face as she smiles at the burning candles, not knowing what it means to make a wish. There’s usually music, food, pin-the-tail-on-donkey, and tons of fun.

But, alas, this is is my birthday, and it’s not the first ever in my life. This birthday is to mark my first full year as a blogger. My parent, Ned (hey, I’m only one year old. I can barely write much less speak and Ned sounds like Dad), being the harried single father that he is — has forgotten it’s my birthday. Continue Reading »

Ms. Rosenthal sat next to Simon Belsky. She leaned over him, nodding, as he read. He spoke as if he was citing Chaucer or Whitman, or even Holy Gospel. All the while, his gruff voice booming, Mrs. Belsky buzzed about, serving drinks and assuring the comfort of her guests. Eventually she came to rest, sitting on the floor. And seeing this scene – a righteous man preaching, an elderly woman revering, and a wife adoring – I realized that I was not going to be writing your usual political profile.

All of that, of course, is absolute literary hyperbole; a writer’s mind twisting a perfectly normal scene. But that doesn’t negate the fact that Belsky is hardly your usual politician. He is, to say the least, rough around the edges. He has taken on causes that most politicians would call esoteric at best. He eschews the conventional political process. And his language… well, he’s more sailor than politician. Continue Reading »

On Tuesday, August 4, the 61st Precinct is celebrating the 26th Anniversary of its Night Out Against Crime. The festivities will include a DJ, food, rides and amusements, and giveaways. The free event kicks off at 5:00 p.m. and lasts until 8:00 p.m. in front of the precinct.

Organizers are seeking additional items and giveaways, so if you think you can help with giveway items, raffles, or a monetary donation to help the Precinct Council, please call (718) 627-6847.

The event is sponsored by the 61st Precinct Community Council, the 61st Pct. Auxiliaries, the Law Enforcement Explorers, and the officers of the 61st Precinct, with the support of local merchants and elected officials.

When: Tuesday, Aug. 4 @ 5:00 p.m.
Where:  Coney Island Avenue and Avenue W
Cost: Free!

(Courtesy of ajohn1992a via Flickr)

Although we’ve let a few f-bombs slip in the past, we try to keep the cussing to a minimum. Unless it’s really, really warranted. That being said: Fuck the MTA.

The stooges running our beloved transit system have decided to eliminate the B train’s express service north of Kings Highway for two years. Beginning in September, the MTA will begin work on five stations the will require local service. According to amNY:

Local trains will run on express tracks but will not skip the six stops the express currently bypasses.

Running the trains local will add up to seven minutes to straphangers’ commutes and cost the MTA $960,000 for the additional local service, according to transit documents.

“It’s never a good time for this,” said Doris Ortiz, district manager for Community Board 14 in Brooklyn. “It’s an inconvenience, but it’s worth it.”

The Avenue H and Avenue M stations also will be closed on alternating sides during the two years, and riders will have to take shuttle buses on weekends during part of the work.

Somehow this doesn’t make sense to me. If it’s about repairs to stations, why would they have to add more stops? Wouldn’t they need to eliminate stops? And if work is being done every day, why should this take two years? Couldn’t they divide the work up and do it station by station, or a couple of stations at a time – instead of the whole stretch?

I apologize, but I need to curse again. The MTA blows my fucking mind with their bullshit. One of the most corrupt, inept office’s in our government that constantly gets by on systematically screwing the customers, increasing price, and degrading service.

This isn’t just whining about my commute. I don’t have a commute. I work in Sheepshead Bay and only need to take the train to see friends. This is about a serious issue about the development of our neighborhood. The B express is a vital part of our community and our city.

Thirty-minute service to midtown Manhattan makes our area a great selling point when it comes to both real estate and commercial matters. As prices go up all over northern Brooklyn, the next two years appeared – at least to me – to be a critical point for Sheepshead Bay, as our relatively low rents/home prices and speedy commute fuels continued growth in the area. Over the next two years, Sheepshead Bay ought to see boom times, with a slew of new housing options hitting the market. Without that commute, the numerous condos, apartments, houses and developments in the area will languish with low-sales volume. Developments currently under construction – or slated for construction like Station Plaza – will see their funding dry up. Work sites will become vacant lots; unmaintaned eyesores that pose a danger to neighbors’ safety and property values.

On the commercial side, the fishing fleet, party boats, restaurants and retail stores will also see sales decline, as those looking for a day or weekend out of Manhattan will not be as likely to make their way down here as the commute increases. While surely there are enough people in the area to keep many of the restaurants and retail open, they will suffer still.

That’s why I’m calling on our local leaders to do all in their power to stop it. Our politicians thrive by representing a thriving neighborhood. And they will die with a dying neighborhood.

This coming week I will call around and see where our leaders stand. But don’t wait for my updates. Call or e-mail all of your local representatives right away and tell them how important the B’s express service is to you, and to our bay. Let them know we demand at least partial express service if our bay is to succeed in these harsh economic times.

Borough President Marty Markowitz
718-802-3700 - askmarty@brooklynbp.nyc.gov

State Senator Martin J. Golden
718-238-6044 - golden@senate.state.ny.us

State Senator Carl Kruger
718-743-8610 - kruger@senate.state.ny.us

State Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz
718-743-4078 - CymbroS@assembly.state.ny.us

State Assemblyman Alan Maisel
718-968-2770 - MaiselA@ assembly.state.ny.us

City Councilman Lewis A. Fidler
718-241-9330 - LFidler@council.nyc.gov

City Councilman Michael C. Nelson
718-368-9176 - nelson@council.nyc.ny.us

CB 15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo
718-332-3008 - ascav@msn.com