(Photo by Ray Johnson)

Since 1987, Covenant Dance Studio, now operating as the non-profit Covenant Ballet Theatre of Brooklyn [CBTB] taught dancing to local area students. Recently, they have had to replace their Bay dancing shoes with Midwood ones. Lucie Santoro, Project Manager, said that the move was a welcome one, adding that the school is thriving in their new ground floor location at 2085 Coney Island Avenue. While they were not happy having to uproot themselves from the Bay, it helped them to face the fact that the face of the Bay had changed for the worse over the years. Aside from the building being in disrepair, the streets were dirty and attracted vagrants who often found a place to rest at the school's entrance. Santoro said,

Management didn't give us very long to move and we were, kind of, on the 'hot seat'. While we did look for a place in Sheepshead Bay, the rent was too high and what we did find needed so much work, with the building owners not willing to help us out with any renovation

Amongst the locations they looked at, Joanne's Discount Center at 2209 Ave X and a location above a former sweatshop at Gravesend Neck Road and East 17 St, were unsuitable. Santoro feels that local businesses are being squeezed out of Sheepshead Bay to make way for huge developments, for which there aren't enough tenants; and, as a result, community connections to the arts are being lost. She adds that while other dance schools, such as, Nika Ballet Studio and Atlantic Ballroom, Inc., still operate on Sheepshead Bay Road, the CBTB's vision and purpose in encouraging dance as a community art of performance and expression is unsurpassed. For Covenant Dance, the bay will always be home, since its founder and Artistic Director, Marla Hirokawa, still resides there. Now that the re-opening announcements and celebrations are cleared out of the way, the dancers are ready to grow in leaps and bounds--so, who knows if they won't be needing to grow right back into the bay.

(Photo by Ray Johnson)

Without any fanfare and just a skip away from the beaten path, Benny's Gourmet Pizza has opened up at the corner of Jerome Ave and East 18th Street. In Sheepshead's central drag, where DelMar's, La Sorrentina II, and Bay Pizzeria reign supreme, why should we need another dough, sauce, and cheese trio? Well, it's because this is the only one that is kosher. On the fifth day after it opened, a hot-off-the-press menu provided a sufficient number of healthy choices for your tossed-to-order salads. The dining area was clean and airy, with sidewalk seating in front of a bright, busy, outside wall mural.

Benny is the owner of Benny's Brick-Oven Pizza of Avenue M (also, on E. 18 St) in Midwood and now brings his tasty recipe to the bay arena (although, New York Magazine seems to think Ave M is in the bay). Anyone looking to get a Sheepshead Bite of this delicious crust and fresh veggies, would do well to check for the introductory discount, since a mushroom (not canned!) slice will cost you a meat-eater's price. If you happen to bring your own cup of iced coffee or some other decoction not available for purchase there, do not even think of imbibing it on premises, as you will be told that outside food is not allowed. You might be able to go unnoticed on the sidewalk with your brought-in beverage and their purchased meal, until the neighbors realize that there is a cafe right where there used to be just a simple sidewalk.

Welcome to Sheepshead Bay, Benny's Gourmet. Just some words of advice for our kosher slice--keep it clean and try not to scare us.

(Photo by Ray Johnson)

A group of friends and I went out for a middle of the night snack at the 24-hour El Greco Diner, having read that it may not be around much longer. We were enjoying the lovely summer weather on our walk home while reminiscing about our Bay, when we noticed a shopping cart filled with assorted paraphernalia being used as a night table and a person tucking himself to sleep on the sidewalk. I suppose the spot that serves as an inviting outdoor sit-down during the day is the best place to be the first on line for a fresh cup of joe at the Coffee Spot Cafe at Sheepshead & Jerome. Incidentally, calls made to the cafe clued us in that the owners and managers are not clued in or are simply highly tolerant of the situation. In any case, no one wanted to speak about it.

My first instinct was to take a picture, but then I thought – how would I feel if I didn't have a place to live and I was forced to sleep on the street? Would I like to have my photograph posted in a cyberworld newspaper? My personal answer is "no," but the journalist in me says that I might have snapped the picture right away if my camera had a flash.

Noone in our group remembered seeing area sidewalk homesteaders in the recent past. Back in the comfort of home, a quick internet search reminded me that homelessness has not come to the area for the first time, but came to the area, at least once before with the sad death of a homeless person in the winter of 2000.

Apparently, I'm not the only one taking notice. Timothy Cobb, a Sheepshead Bay resident, wrote in to Sheepshead Bites of what he says is a growing problem:

For the past several months, three homeless men have been living on the sidewalk next to the Sheepshead Bay train station at Voorhies Ave. They sleep spread out on the sidewalk, sit on broken chairs and crates in the junk and waste pile they are making larger every day. When they can stand and move they relieve themselves between the stairs and fence next to the entrance to the station, easily exposing themselves to the large number of people (children) using the station or passing by. If they can't move, you can see as they lay there the urine stains draining across the sidewalk.

They are becoming more aggressive in their panhandling, sitting and standing in front of the entrance or in the middle of the sidewalk. One man follows people along the sidewalk. They are now walking up to the cars waiting to pick up people. It's at a point now where mothers walk their children into the street to past or shielded them from the sight of these men.

Sheepshead Bay is my favorite place on earth, and it helps to have a little perspective in remembering that wherever I'm at, it's a true blessing to have a roof over my head and a place to call my own. But, it appears to me that there's a growing number in the area who lack even that. Am I alone to think this?

(Photo by Ray Johnson)

This past Saturday, Aug 2, 1010 WINS announced the memorial being held for that fateful and sad day 30 years ago when our city lost six of its bravest in the Waldbaum's fire. That day comes to remembrance many times, especially whenever I pass by Firemen's Corner at Ave Y and Ocean Ave. That particular Waldbaum's supermarket was on my family's Bay Favorites-List of Best Places to Shop. When news of the fire got around, we were told to stay away from the area where the building was smoldering and I listened. Not so, for our house guests from Canada, who wanted to see first hand what had happened. They visited the site after all was said and done and brought back with them a couple of bottles of warm "pop" (we just called it soda) to prove they had been to the site. I can only give you my ear, nose,and airwitness account, having seen and smelled the smoke dissipating for blocks around and hearing the sirens amidst the commotion. To give you a better idea of the scene that day, Steve Spak, a photographer who also chronicled the 9/11 tragedy years later, gave his eyewitness account of the events and recalls the poignant final wave of a firefighter from the roof of the burning building.

Fast forward to today and we can rest assured that the Fire Department is continually hard at work on Ocean Avenue. According to an incident report filed on July 17, 2008, their swift response to a report of smoke emanating from the G & L Orthopedic Supply at 2806 Ocean Ave, resulted in a complete resolution of the problem. The Bureau of Fire Prevention has fire safety inspections on file--one as recent as July 21, 2008 for the Staples store, indicating no violations and giving it a clean 'bay-l of health', so to speak. Additionally, Staples management has assured me that everyone who comes on board receives basic fire safety training and can always refer to the safety "binder in the breakroom".

Memorials for lost firefighters are the time to stop and give thanks. They are also perfect time to alert us all to fire safety.

Since the launch of Sheepshead Bites, we have been referring to ourselves as "we" and "ourselves" (and also "us"), even though it was just me, Ned Berke, sitting alone, tapping out pluralized pronouns to boost our ego. Yes, it's true, Sheepshead Bites runs on self-importance. And often Doritos. It's a good mix.

Alas, another ingredient has been added to the site - Ray Johnson. An incredible writer, and a resident of the Bay for more than 30 years, Ray, has already been writing for the site, will continue to post on a regular basis. Additionally, Ray will be the sole ruler of Sheepshead Bites for the next 12 days, while we I, will be out of the country. What's more, I've given Ray the right to dismiss everything I've said during training over the past few weeks, and to take the site in any direction deemed worthwhile. And, most importantly, Ray's entry to the site's roster of writers does one extraordinary and special thing above all else: it validates our right to say "we" and "us" and "ourselves" all we want without feeling guilty about misleading readers.

So, with that we say, “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.” -- Albert Pine

Readers, be nice and welcome Ray.

For our bay neighbors who can count themselves as both Russian and Jewish, Sheepshead Bites would like to introduce you to the Russian American Jewish Experience (RAJE) organization. As an organization focused on working with Russian New Yorkers, this division of Gateways, its mother agency, is committed to bringing Russian life together with Judaic life. One of its many ways of doing this is by organizing specialized birthright trips to Israel for anyone of Jewish descent. You can check their well-designed website for more information.

From RAJE's website:

"We are passionate about building a community that embraces Russian speaking Jews from all walks of life. The core of RAJE is our Fellowship Programming. Our center is continuously buzzing with the energy of new students, inspired learners and lifetime academics. Behind our doors is a staff dedicated to providing excellence in Jewish education and learning. We believe in creating an open environment that encourages people at all levels to explore their Jewish identity."

On Tuesday, August 5, 2008, from 5 to 8 p.m., everyone is invited to the local crimefighters' open house. This fun and educational event, emphasizing 'country as community', takes place all over the United States on the same day as the National Night Out so that the entire country can take one huge collective bite out of crime and drugs. Facing crime is stressful and costly, so for one night, our community can relax and have some fun under the safe and watchful eye of our local law enforcement, right in their own backyard at Coney Island Ave and Ave W.

All costs for the event are being provided free by the 61st Precinct Community Council and Auxiliaries, the Law Enforcement Explorers, and the Police Officers of the 61st Precinct, with the support of area merchants and elected officials, but donations are encouraged--so, be sure that this will be the safest night to carry your checkbook with you.

(Photo courtesy of Coney Island History Project)

...carnival barking, that is.

We love to take a bite into a little nostalgia, especially when it involves our sister neighborhood, Coney Island. How many of you can remember the days of Coney Island when it was the newborn apple of the Big Apple’s eye? Well, with all of the controversy surrounding the fate of Sheepshead Bay’s very own backyard carnival, we all could do with a little reminiscing about its history. This Saturday, August 2, as The Coney Island History Project opens up its new exhibit, you will get just that kind of opportunity. On display will be photographs of Astroland since the Albert family gave it birth. Unlike the rides at Astroland, the exhibit is free – so a megaphone will not be needed to get the crowds in and we, here, at Sheepshead Bites don’t mind putting ahold on biting so that we can start barking this one out: [begin playing ‘Over the Waves’ on the old time Wurlitzer] “Step right up...come one and come all! Coney Island is Back – and Back to the Future!”

Where: The Coney Island History Project's Exhibition Center under the Cyclone Roller Coaster, 1000 Surf Avenue, just east of 10th St.
Phone: (718) 266-0012
Web: www.coneyislandhistory.org
E-mail: info@coneyislandhistory.org

When: Saturday, August 2 - Monday, September 1
Hours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 1pm - 6pm
Open Labor Day (Mon, 9/1)