Samantha LoSapio | Sheepshead Bites

With the influx of Sheepshead’s latest liquor establishments, Sheepshead Bay’s thirst for a frosty brew need not be quenched.

Senators Marty Golden (R) of Bay Ridge (aka the bar capital of Brooklyn) and Sheepshead’s Steven Cymbrowitz (D) fearing the decline of the mom-and-pop liquor store and the heightened teen accessibility to booze, united the unlikely pair in an effort to oppose Governor Paterson’s proposal to “legalize win sales in 19,000 new outlets.”

Although no one can predict how fast the Bay would be running to 7-11 for an ’85 Merlot, is there any real reason to increase the amount of places one can buy alcohol to begin with? According to the World Health Organization, 1.8 million deaths a year are attributed to alcohol usage, 1/3 of that alone being accidental. That’s not to mention the staggering rates of drunk driving in Sheepshead Bay.

With the State Liquor Authority having “only 38 inspectors statewide regulating 70,000 license holders,” Cymbrowitz notes that “To increase the inspection team’s workload by almost one-third is a recipe for disaster.”

We can already buy beer in corner stores and grocery stores have a less than humble selection of beer and prepackaged frou-frou drinks. Maybe a staggering four blocks seems like a ways away up in Albany, but down by the bay, our cup runneth over. Enough already.

A frequent refrain we hear from those who hop the train to Williamsburg and the Lower East Side is that Sheepshead Bay is a “dead” neighborhood. Wrong as they be when it comes to the growing nightlife and local economy, they may have an unfortunate and unintentional point.

According to a recent article on YourNabe.com, Sheepshead Bay has the highest death toll of all communities in Brooklyn, leading the borough with a staggering 1,292 in 2008. Only Bensonhurst came close to being as morbid with 1,289. Borough Park, Coney Island, Canarsie, Bed Stuy and East New York are the only other communities to even break the 1,000 mark.

The most concentrated of all causes? Heart disease. Already the #1 killer of women and one of the top threats to your mortality regardless of gender or locale, Sheepshead Bay’s heart disease rate is, well, heartbreaking.

February is American Heart Month, so here’s urging you to step away from the computer and take your health into your own hands. Check out these five tips for preventing heart disease from the Mayo Clinic.

And for the truly lazy, walk to your local pharmacy and re-up on those Lipitor scripts, and try to resist the big, shiny Russell Stover boxes.

Unless they’re dark chocolate.

Brooklyn-based musician and Sheepshead Bay resident Anthony Kapfer wants to sit down and get personal with you on his first solo album, A Series of Events.

Kapfer aspired to make this album “sound as sincere as possible,” wanting it to tell a story and have the listener go through the experiences with him.

The main inspiration was a break-up. This album is a bit of a departure, as he’s always been in loud rock bands. But A Series of Events is entirely acoustic at its core. Musically, Kapfer was inspired primarily by The Eels and The Beatles.

“I wanted to try and make an album with a similar vibe as Paul McCartney’s first solo album, where it’s just him at home playing songs,” he said.

Keep reading to find out more about Kapfer’s music, and to download the album for free

Nelson's Nostrand Avenue office, all packed up (Courtesy of Nelson Aide Steve Zeltser)

Nelson's new Voorhies Avenue location

Community members served by 48th District City Councilmember Michael C. Nelson will be pleased to hear that the new year also brings a new headquarters.

Previously located at 3810-A Nostrand Avenue, the office lease went up December 31, motivating Nelson’s camp to search of a new home. The councilman’s office now occupies the first floor of 1605 Voorhies Avenue – conveniently located in the heart of Sheepshead Bay.

Apart from the expired lease, another factor contributing to Nelson’s decision to relocate was to be near the center of his district, as opposed to sitting on the border of Councilman Lew Fidler’s and former Councilman Kendall Stewart’s districts. Now situated close to trains and buses, the ease of access to Councilman Nelson’s HQ has significantly increased.

The phone number remains the same, but may change as the office is set up.

“The truth is out there” may have been Fox Mulder’s motto, but it’s one the Sheepshead Bites staff will have to adopt as well.

On February 1, 1998, Sheepshead Bay resident and UFO enthusiast Alex Cavallari witnessed something he had no doubt been waiting for: Mr. Cavallari had a sighting. Yet just over a decade later, the case and the witness has all but disappeared.

Mr. Cavallari described the object as a “small orange/red colored light dot in the Eastern sky” over Nostrand Avenue, near Avenue X. Capturing it on his 35mm camera, he described it as being the size of a “basketball when viewed at arm’s length” and “appeared to be a solid mass of light.”

St. Mark's Nativity Scene From 2008 (Courtesy of Puzzler4879 via Flickr)

Growing up, the holidays held a little more weight than they do as an adult.

By the time you’re in your 20s, it’s something you’ve been trying to get out of for a while. By your 40s, it runs the risk of just being something you keep up for the kids. Beyond that, your mileage may vary.

No matter what’s going on in the world, good or bad, the holidays have always acted as an intangible placebo – we know it’s just another day, but somehow it still makes us feel better.

Assemblyman Cymbrowitz helping Madelaine Cleaners’ owner, Eric Lederman, load winter coats onto Met Council’s Machson Mobile for distribution to the needy.

Assemblyman Cymbrowitz with Madelaine Cleaners’ owner, Eric Lederman.

New York may have had a slow start entering its winter wonderland, but as the holidays approach, Sheepshead Bay’s priorities have shifted to keeping warm. Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, in league with Met Council and Madelaine Cleaner’s, are spearheading efforts this year to collect winter coats for the needy.

Noting that this year’s state of economic duress may contribute to more of us going cold this year, Sheepshead Bay’s Cymbrowitz states, “We’re in a community where most of us can afford to purchase new coats,” and urges us to “please look through your closets for coats that you will no longer wear. As long as they are wearable, Met Council will accept them and put them to very good use.”

Though last year’s collection was considerable, this year they expect not as many people will purchase new threads because of the economy. The hope is that our community’s generosity will continue, if not increase. Madelaine Cleaners’ owner Eric Lederman has expressed his desire to do “whatever it takes” to collect more coats. The bottom line is without community support, there are no coats for the less fortunate.

Want to warm some hearts this holiday season? Drop your donations off at either Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’ office at 1800 Sheepshead Bay Road or to Madelaine Cleaners at 1616 Avenue M. If you’ve gotten something sportier and trendier this season, why not make some room in your closets before spring arrives?

From left to right: Elysa Hochman, Chris Howard, and Jason Hochman

Thanks to Jason Hochman and his performing partner-slash-wife, Elysa, Sheepshead Bay now has its very own incarnation of Rodrigo y Gabriela mere feet from Emmons Avenue’s piers, harking to a blossoming music and art scene on Brooklyn’s south coast.

Brooklyn Guitar Academy opened its doors in October, specializing in Spanish flamenco and rumba, alongside a rhythmic range from classical and rock to funk and reggae. Familiar faces at local venues, the Hochman’s now offer beginner to advanced classes and private lessons from their 2770 East 16th Street location, and they have separate classes for kids, teens, and adults.

Born in Calcutta, India, Bivas Chaudhuri is an award-winning international artist whose journey to Southern Brooklyn’s waters resonates in his art.

Chaudhuri received his MFA in Painting and Print Making from Brooklyn College, studied at SVA, The Scottish Church College, The Government College of Art and Craft and the University of Calcutta. Though taught by wonderful teachers abroad, Chaudhuri notes that he had to “learn all over” once in America. No problem: he seems to be an eternal learner, serving as an art instructor and art restorer as he pursues his craft.

“One of my goals has been to blend some of the concepts and techniques of Western Painting into Indian Painting and vice-versa,” says the accomplished artist. Continue Reading »

Kingsborough Community College's Mascot, The Wave

In a short address to the crowd gathering in Kingsborough Community College’s gymnasium yesterday, President Regina Peruggi spoke about the placement of the word “community” within the school’s official title. It may have fallen upon deaf ears in the buzzing crowd, but the brief speech before KBCC’s first annual Strive to Provide Walkathon set the pace for the afternoon.

More than 600 students, staff, and faculty gathered to participate in this initial foray into scholarship fundraising, racking up $15,000 for student scholarships. Clearly, attendees gave good reason for the placement of the word “Community” in between “Kingsborough” and “College”, blowing away the initial goal of raising only $4000.

The “Rocky” theme echoed through the gym as everyone gathered to warm up. Despite the overcast day, the weather held and the 48 teams marched on. Team captains hoisted their signs high in the air as KBCC students cheered and encouraged the walkers along the path. Starting within the gym and following the seawall lining Jamaica Bay, walkers marched along the perimeter of the campus not once, but twice, before regrouping in the gym for refreshments, prizes and affirmation from KBCC’s cheerleaders. All the while, KBCC mascot, “The Wave” raced around shouting, “You can do it!” and “Keep going!”

Local businesses, such as Tasty Bagel, Maria’s Restaurant, and Kingsborough’s favorite just-round-the-corner joint Pizza Boulevard, provided door prizes to groups that had raised the most money. The big winners of the day, for both best costume and name, were Milano’s Cookies (donning chef hats and white jackets), led by faculty member Frank Milano. The Buildings and Grounds team, dressed as bees, came in with a close second. They weren’t stung by second place – they received the same prize because it was simply too hard to decide who had the better threads.

Keeping with the spirit of Kingsborough’s generosity, nobody walked home empty-handed. T-shirts and mugs were distributed to some participants while one lucky walker went home with a brand new TV, funded by a separate raffle – 100 percent of yesterday’s walkathon proceeds went directly to fund student scholarships. Every participant walked home with their very own gold medal.

Without the support of such a proactive and lively community, there would be no Kingsborough – and yesterday’s success continues to prove just the worth – beyond mere finance – of our Harvard by the Bay.

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