SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

A coalition of Turkish-American organizations forked over $40,000 yesterday to the Gerritsen Beach library (2808 Gerritsen Avenue) and Gerritsen Beach Elementary School (P.S. 277), institutions that have suffered in the five months since Superstorm Sandy rocked the community.

The donation came from Turkish-American groups, non-profits and businesses, spearheaded by Helping Hands Relief Foundation, Kimse Yokmu, Council of Turkic American Associations, Turkish Cultural Center and the Brooklyn Amity School.

Of the $40,000 donated yesterday, $30,000 is going to the Brooklyn Public Library’s Gerritsen Beach branch, one of two branches in the system that has been unable to reopen due to extensive damage. The checks were handed over during a ceremony in front of the branch. Prior to the ceremony, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke toured the facility, which has been gutted down to bare walls, floors and rafters.

“We believe that Brooklyn Public Library and P.S. 277 are invaluable resources for the community, where people of all ages will benefit tremendously in many different ways,” said Nevzat Yilmaz, president of Helping Hands Relief Foundation. “This is dedicated to building a better future for the children and families of our community, and leaves a footprint for the next generations of Turkish-Americans to take care of community facilities that serve the people.”

Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda Johnson was on-hand to receive the check, delivered by a cadre of Amity School students. She said the library would use the funds in part to rebuild the library with green technology and infrastructure.

P.S. 277 Principal Jeanne Fish said the school would use the funds to install new smartboards and laptops in classrooms.

See this story in photos: Images of the gutted library, and more from the event.

Photo by Erica Sherman

State Senator Marty Golden has scheduled two visits of the New York State Department of Financial Services’ Insurance Response Unit to aid victims in his district who were affected by Superstorm Sandy.

• Today, March 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the NYS Department of Financial Services Mobile Command Center will be in Sheepshead Bay, on the corner of Sheepshead Bay Road and Emmons Avenue.
• Tomorrow, March 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the Mobile Command Center will be outside the Gerritsen Beach Public Library, 2808 Gerritsen Avenue.

Staff will be available to assist homeowners and business owners with the following:

• City, state and federal relief programs and how to get help
• Questions about the insurance claims process in New York
• Seeking resolution on your claims with your insurer or bank
• Filing an official complaint against an insurer or bank

Anyone who can’t visit the Mobile Command Center in person can file complaints through the New York State Disaster Relief website, www.nyinsure.ny.gov or by calling the Disaster Relief Hotline, (800) 339-1759, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm.

The FDNY is sponsoring a blood drive for the New York Blood Center. It will be held at the firehouse of Engine 321 located at 2165 Gerritsen Avenue (at Avenue U) on Monday, February 4,  from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Please donate, and help save lives of fellow New Yorkers!

Photo by Erica Sherman

Just a reminder that State Senator Marty Golden will be holding another in a series of follow-up town hall meetings for those affected by Superstorm Sandy, January 24, 7:00 p.m. at Public School 277, 2529 Gerritsen Avenue.

Also, another reminder that the final day residents affected by Sandy may apply for assistance from FEMA is Monday, January 28. FEMA has a nearby Disaster Recovery Center at the Gerritsen Beach Volunteer Fire Department, 43 Seba Avenue, everyday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The following agencies have been invited to the meeting: Rapid Repairs, Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), FEMA, Department of Financial Services (Insurance), Department of Buildings, Department of Health, Department of Finance, the 61st Precinct, Department of Environmental Protection, National Grid and Con Edison.

For further information, contact Golden’s office at (718) 238-6044.

State Senator Marty Golden. Photo by Erica Sherman

State Senator Marty Golden will host two follow-up town hall meetings for those affected by Superstorm Sandy.

The first meeting will be held January 16, 7:00 p.m. at the Sheepshead Bay Yacht Club, 3076 Emmons Avenue. FEMA has a Disaster Recovery Center stationed at the Sheepshead Bay Yacht Club, everyday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The second follow-up town hall for those affected by Sandy will be held January 24, 7:00 p.m. at Public School 277, 2529 Gerritsen Avenue. FEMA also has a Disaster Recovery Center at the Gerritsen Beach Volunteer Fire Department, 43 Seba Avenue, everyday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The following agencies have been invited to both meetings: Rapid Repairs, Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), FEMA, Department of Financial Services (Insurance), Department of Buildings, Department of Health, Department of Finance, the 61st Precinct, Department of Environmental Protection, National Grid and Con Edison.

For further information, contact Golden’s office at (718) 238-6044.

Source: Facebook

Authorities have revealed the identity of the naked, burned body found on Gerritsen Beach’s shores Sunday morning as 14-year-old Shaniesha Forbes.

Forbes was reported missing on Friday, last seen at her Flatlands home on Avenue I at 8 a.m. Friday before leaving for school. Forbes was a freshman at Academy for Young Writers in East New York, according to her Facebook profile.

According to the Daily News, Forbes’ naked body was found partially burned next to the remains of a bonfire and some beer. The burns are not believed to be the cause of her death, as there was no smoke in her lungs and only her legs, arms and hands were burned.

Police have not yet ruled the death a homicide, and an autopsy was inconclusive. They have previously noted that there were no obvious signs of trauma, but are continuing to investigate.

Various reports say that Forbes had run away from home at least once before, and so police did not issue a public missing persons bulletin.

Photo: PIX11

Authorities rushed to a patch of shoreline near Gerritsen Avenue near Lois Avenue early Sunday morning, where a woman was found dead, naked and charred by fire.

Police say the victim was a young black woman in her late teens or early twenties, according to PIX11.

The body was found near the water in the nature preserve at approximately 7:15 a.m., and police were on scene for most of the day. In addition to homicide detectives, emergency services units and K-9 units were also active at the scene, and reportedly combed the shore.

Authorities had not yet identified the woman as of Sunday evening, and no identification was found near the remains.

According to the New York Post, “Parts of the victim’s body were burned, but there were no other obvious signs of trauma, and it did not appear the woman had been dead for long.”

Police are still investigating whether there was foul play. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death.

If you’re still digging out from Superstorm Sandy – and we know many residents and businesses are – there’s a town hall meeting tonight in Gerritsen Beach following up on Sandy recovery efforts.

Folks, realize that these opportunities are quickly petering out, so if you have forms you need to file, appeals you need to make, or any questions in general, get to this town hall!

To make doing so easier, the good people over at the Bay Improvement Group have finagled a school bus out of Councilman Michael Nelson. The bus will make eight stops around the hardest hit areas of Sheepshead Bay before going over to the 7:00 p.m. meeting in Gerritsen Beach.

The meeting, organized by State Senator Marty Golden, will feature officials from FEMA; the New York City Departments of Health, Finance and Buildings; the NYC Rapid Repairs Program, and the New York State Department of Financial Services.

Here’s the bus schedule, with approximate times and stop locations:

State Senator Marty Golden. Photo by Erica Sherman

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); the New York City Departments of Health, Finance and Buildings; the NYC Rapid Repairs Program, and the New York State Department of Financial Services (Insurance) will participate in a follow-up town hall meeting sponsored by State Senator Martin J. Golden.

The meeting, designed to give residents of Gerritsen Beach, Sheepshead Bay and Manahttan Beach an opportunity to discuss ongoing Sandy recovery efforts with key officials, will be held December 27 at 7:00 p.m. inside Public School 277, 2529 Gerritsen Avenue between Bijou Avenue and Channel Avenue.

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

Photos by Erica Sherman

State Senator Martin Golden and Councilman Michael Nelson are holding two separate community meetings for residents affected by Hurricane Sandy and the continued recovery efforts  in Southern Brooklyn’s hardest hit neighborhoods.

The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 28, at 7:00 p.m. at P.S. 277 at 2529 Gerritsen Avenue and is hosted by Golden.

In attendance will be New York State Financial Services Superintendent Ben Lawsky and staff, Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Nazli Parvizi and representatives of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Grid and Con Edison representatives.

“Each and every day, the people and the communities of Gerritsen Beach, Sheepshead Bay and Manhattan Beach, are making progress to fix the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy However, there is no denying that those effected still need our assistance. I continue to work with the effected families and businesses so that their lives can return to normal as soon as possible. This meeting on Wednesday will be another step forward on the road to recovery,” said Golden in a press release.

The second meeting, hosted by Councilman Michael Nelson, is on Thursday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m., at the Shorefront Y at 3300 Coney Island Avenue.

There will be representatives from Mayor Bloomberg’s office, Speaker Quinn’s office, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Buildings (DOB), the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY), the Department of Health (DOH), and representatives from various other agencies and disaster relief programs.

The meeting will consist of recovery updates and a question and answer period for residents.

Members of the community and small business owners are encouraged to attend both events so that they may attain the necessary financial and recovery assistance information post-Sandy.

According to our friends at the Sheepshead Bay – Plumb Beach Civic Association, a free shuttle bus to the Thursday meeting will depart from Brown Street and Emmons Avenue at 6:30 p.m.