SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Source: jennesy / Flickr

Gateway National Recreation Area’s Jamaica Bay Unit has lots of family-friendly Spring Break programs going on at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Fort Tilden. A schedule of events, which starts tomorrow, is below.

Schedule Of Events

• Have a Hoot with a Ranger, Saturday, March 23, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens. Junior Rangers are invited to an owl adventure. Learn about owls and their habitat through a hike and an owl pellet investigation. Anyone can come! No charge and no reservations required. Note: Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Bus Q52/53.
• Jamaica Bay Origami, Sunday, March 24, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens. Did you know that origami came from the Japanese words “Oru” meaning “to fold” and “Kami” meaning “paper”? Learn more about this relaxing art and create the animals found in and around Jamaica Bay. Anyone can come. No charge and no reservations required. Note: Bus Q52/53.
• Woodcock Watch, March 26, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens. Wait and watch in the dusk for American woodcocks and their amazing flying tricks. These birds, also known as timberdoodles, mudbats or bogsuckers, put on a spring show that’s not to be missed. Anyone can come. No charge and no reservations required. Note: Program will begin with a brief indoor presentation. Bring a flashlight. Bus Q 52/53.
• Moon Shine, Wednesday, March 27, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens. Enjoy the night as a ranger guides you along the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge trail on a full moon night. Anyone can come. No charge and no reservations required. Note: Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. You are welcome to bring a flashlight. Rain date: Thursday, March 28. Bus Q52/53.
• Spring Surprises, Thursday, March 28, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens. On this family-friendly nature walk, we will seek out some springtime surprises, including a plant that has been used as makeup, flowers that have gone to war, and birds of many kinds. Anyone can come. No charge and no reservations required. Note: We’ll have binoculars available to borrow, please bring your own if you have them. Moderate physical exertion (one mile). Bus Q52/53.
• NYC Audubon Early Spring Bird Walk, Saturday, March 30, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens. Meet at the Jamaica Bay Refuge visitor center for a hike around the ponds and uplands to look for the first birds of spring. We can expect to see ospreys, oystercatchers, ibis, great egrets, laughing gulls, and phoebes to name a few. Leader: Don Riepe. Anyone can come. Reservations required. Note: To reserve call (917) 371-8577; email: donriepe@gmail.com. Bus Q52/53.
• Creepy Crawlies, Saturday, March 30, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens. The itsy bitsy spider is fun to learn about, and the insects are too. Hear all about creepy crawlies during this interactive family-friendly program. Anyone can come. No charge and no reservations required. Note: Bus Q52/53.
• Explore the Back Woods of Fort Tilden, Sunday, March 31, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Fort Tilden, Queens. Enter the woods with American Littoral Society naturalist Mickey Maxwell Cohen to search for early spring birds, bursting buds and historic fortifications of World War II. Anyone can come. No charge and no reservations required. Note: Bus Q22/35.

If you need more information, call the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge at (718) 318-4340.

Source: Wikipedia

State Senator Marty Golden will be hosting his Annual Easter Egg Hunt for the children and families of his district, March 23 at 12:00 p.m. in Marine Park, Fillmore Avenue and Madison Place. The Easter Egg Hunt events include games, music, and activities for the whole family, as well as prizes for the children.

“I encourage all children and families to join in this fun event. The challenge is on to find the eggs hidden in the parks for a chance to win prizes. These special events in our parks are what makes our community a great place to live, work and raise a family,” Golden stated.

Golden, who sponsors the event every year, will be hosting another Easter Egg Hunt next week in the Bay Ridge section of his district.

To learn more, call Golden’s District Office at (718) 238-6044.

This is a paid announcement from the Hebrew Learning Academy Charter School, a public elementary school in Community District 22, 1340 East 29th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11210.

HLA is now recruiting students for the 2013-14 Academic Year!

75 kindergarten spaces available with limited space
through fifth grade!

Hebrew Language Academy Charter School
 A Public Elementary School in Community District 22

located at 1340 East 29th Street • Brooklyn, NY 11210 • 718-377-7200

ALL ARE WELCOME!!

Apply for your child NOW!

• Open Houses Scheduled every Tuesday!
• HLA is a dual language public school with rigorous academic instruction in grades
• Grades K through 5: Hebrew and English Language Instruction, Enriched Math for High Performing Students
• Israeli Culture and History, Chess Instruction, Community Service
• Two Teachers in Each Class
• Extended School Day and School Year

IMPORTANT DATES!!

• Application is due April 1, 2013
• Lottery will be held on April 11, 2013
• Opening Day for Students will be in August 2013

Please visit our website to download an application at WWW.HLACHARTERSCHOOL.ORG

APPLY TODAY!!

Hebrew Language Academy Charter School – A Public Elementary School in Community District 22, 1340 East 29th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11210, (718) 377-7200

The above is a paid announcement by The Hebrew Language Academy Charter School. Sheepshead Bites has not verified the claims made in this advertisement. If you own a business and would like to announce a special offer to tens of thousands of locals, e-mail us at advertising [at] sheepsheadbites [dot] com.

Source: richiebits/Flickr

Take that 30-something Park Slope stroller mommies! Sheepshead Bay kicks your ass when it comes to raising children, if you believe the study done by the Citizen’s Committee for Children of New York.

According to a News 12 Brooklyn Report, Sheepshead Bay ranked second in Brooklyn neighborhoods, behind Bay Ridge and just ahead of snooty Park Slope.

The study weighed factors that positively impact a child’s well being including the adult employment rate, median income and levels of child poverty.

But not included in the study is the fact that we’ve also got great parks, a strong school district and a slew of kids-related services. Are you a parent? What makes Sheepshead Bay so great for child-rearing?

This is a paid announcement from the Thinking Tree Learning Center, located at 2620 East 18th Street, 2nd Floor, Office #2, Brooklyn, NY 11235.

Thinking Tree Learning Center has come to Sheepshead Bay!

With a focus on education and success, backed by New York State-certified teachers, Thinking Tree is the right place for your child.

All curricula are based on the New York State Department of Education requirements. We formulate a customized curriculum for each child based on their weaknesses and strengths. We prepare your child for the city and state standardized exams.

We also have tutoring services to improve your child’s performance and help them exceed expectations as a student. We provide a fun learning environment for children and use positive reinforcement to enhance the child’s desire to learn.

Schedule your child for a free assessment today!

We are also having a Spring Recess mini-camp from March 27 to April 2. Children will participate in fun activities, trips, sports, and homework completion for any assignments due after the break. For more information, visit Thinking Tree’s website.

Thinking Tree Learning Center, 2620 East 18th Street, 2nd Floor, Office #2; (718)-872-6767.

The above is a paid announcement by Thinking Tree Learning Center. Sheepshead Bites has not verified the claims made in this advertisement. If you own a business and would like to announce a special offer to tens of thousands of locals, e-mail us at advertising [at] sheepsheadbites [dot] com.

Hurricane Sandy has created a miserable month for thousands of Southern Brooklynites. Homes were flooded, cars were destroyed, jobs were lost, and scores are still left without heat and power. While adults everywhere have been reeling from all the damage they have incurred, their children are also paying a heavy emotional price.

According to an article in the New York Daily News, children all across Coney Island, Brighton Beach, and Red Hook, living in homes without power, heat, and hot water, have become anxious, depressed, and frightened due to the radical change in their lives, and wondering when or if their misery will end.

Normally when the snow comes, it brings great elation to children everywhere, but not when they have been absent heat or power for over a week with no relief in site.

“I don’t want to live in my house anymore. I am scared. I don’t want to come back. We are literally right by the water,” told Janasia Chambers, 12, to the Daily News, “When it was snowing, it was scary.”

The Daily News cites child psychology experts who describe how fear and depression grow in children deprived of simple things we all take for granted like warm showers, fresh clean clothes, and the ability to play video games.

“The longer this persists, the more of a lasting impact it will have on kids. It will make them more fearful and more anxious,” said Alan Hilfer to the News, “[its like] a prison sentence.”

P.S. 253 in Brighton Beach (Source: Google Maps)

New York City has worked hard to reopen all public schools as quickly as possible since Hurricane Sandy battered them with flooding, blackouts, and damaged heaters and equipment, but progress has finally taken a significant step forward in recent days.

For the first time this week, students were finally able to return to their actual schools, as opposed to the replacement transfer schools located in other districts, and attendance has surged to over 90 percent according to a story by NY1. That is a massive increase for a school like Brighton Beach’s own P.S. 253, for which only 12 percent of students showed up at their temporary location in Flatbush.

Part of the problem with the temporary locations set up by the city was the lack of reliable transportation. Many parents had no access to cars or the subways in the weeks following the storm, and a citywide school bus shortage limited the amount available pickup sites.

Even in areas where the regular schools have not reopened, like for Coney Island’s P.S. 188, a return to normal school bus service yesterday helped the replacement location at P.S. 281 in Bensonhurst receive an 80 percent attendance rate. While bus service has increased, so has the chaos that ensued for parents and children trying to figure out a way to navigate to their new destinations.

“A bunch of kids screaming, a little girl screaming,” said one student to NY1. “It was confusing.”

Crowding, chaos, and confusion aside, the return to normal attendance numbers is an encouraging sign for students of Southern Brooklyn looking for any kind of normalcy.

The Shorefront Y has become the site of one of the city’s largest relief efforts, with National Guard and government agencies teaming up the Y and other local organizations to collect and distribute food, clothing and supplies to Brighton Beach’s residents in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

We just got an e-mail from Shorefront letting us know that a doctor is on-hand at the time of this writing – 12:30 p.m. – treating children who may need medical attention. Many of Brighton Beach’s residents remain without power, heat or hot water, and in such conditions, parent should have their child checked out.

The pediatrician is from Refuah Health Center, and is assisted by a mobile medical truck. They don’t know how long the truck will stay, but they are trying to treat any and all children who come before they leave. They have medicine available and can also write prescriptions.

Source: richiebits/Flickr

Our friends over at the South Marine Park branch of TD Bank (2944 Gravesend Neck Road, near Nostrand Avenue and Avenue U) informed us of a fun family event local branches are organizing tomorrow: free pumpkin painting for Halloween.

“Paint a pumpkin and take it with you!” the flier claims. The event – and the pumpkins – are free of charge.

Head to the Gravesend Neck Road branch – or one of the other branches listed below – tomorrow, October 26, between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to join the party. This is a rain or shine event.

The local TD Bank branches participating are:

• South Marine Park - 2944 Gravesend Neck Road
• Avenue U – 1602 Avenue U
• Kings Highway – 1122-1126 Kings Highway
• Midwood – 1104 Avenue J

If you’ve been on Gravesend Neck Road near East 14th Street in the past month, you may have noticed that the area is looking a lot more colorful thanks to some love from locals.

Several over-sized flower pots sporting shrubs and flowers debuted on the road in mid-June after neighbors on East 14th Street had enough of the area’s gritty appearance.

Julia Chernova and other residents of the block applied for and received a $1,000 from Citizen’s Committee for New York City’s Love Your Block grant, a city program to empower neighborhoods at the grassroots level to take things into their own hands.

With money in hand, they bought the planters,  flowers, and soil, as well as tree guards for their block on East 14th Street, between Avenue X and Gravesend Neck Road, Chernova told Sheepshead Bites.

This is the same group of residents who, along with the block’s civic-minded kids, worked hard to clean up their street, turning unused tree wells into mini gardens in April 2011. It wasn’t long before some heartless passerby damaged their hand-painted “Don’t Litter” signs, but that was fixed up right quick, and the kids were honored by local pols for their efforts.

This, folks, is how you take care of your community!