SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

BNA’s office inside the Chase Bank at 1002 Brighton Beach Avenue. Source: Google Maps

In an event that had to be rescheduled to a later date, the Brighton Neighborhood Association (BNA) will be hosting a “Senior Benefits” workshop at 11:00 a.m., February 22 inside BNA’s Chase Office, 1002 Brighton Beach Avenue on the corner of Coney Island Avenue (inside Chase Bank’s Community Center — just come inside, turn left, walk past the tellers, and look for the red sign).

Representatives from the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) will be conducting the meeting and BNA staff will also be on hand to answer and help address any of your housing-related issues.

The meeting will be conducted in English, with Russian and Spanish translators on hand. Light refreshments will be served. Bring your friends and neighbors!

To learn more, call (718) 891-0800, go to www.brightonbeach.com and follow BNA on Facebook.

BNA’s office is located inside the Chase Bank at 1002 Brighton Beach Avenue. Source: Google Maps

In the first of a series of three February meetings, the Brighton Neighborhood Association (BNA) will be holding a housing meeting on “Senior Benefits and Housing,” February 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at BNA’s office, 1002 Brighton Beach Avenue on the corner of Coney Island Avenue (inside Chase Bank’s Community Center — just come inside, turn left, walk past the tellers, and look for the red sign).

Roy Carmona, representing the NYC Department of Aging, will be discussing Section 8, SCRIE, DRIE, HEAP, SNAP (food stamps), as well as any housing issues and concerns you may have.

The meeting will be conducted in English and Russian. Light refreshments will be served. Bring your friends and neighbors!

To learn more, call (718) 891-0800, go to www.brightonbeach.com and follow BNA on Facebook.

Brighton Neighborhood Association Executive Director Pat Singer, left, and her staff (not pictured) have returned to their office at the Chase Bank in Brighton Beach following Superstorm Sandy. Photo by Erica Sherman

After being displaced and working from remote locations to serve their community in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, our friends at the Brighton Neighborhood Association (BNA) are back!

The social services and tenant advocacy organization officially re-opened for business today in its location at the Chase Bank, 1002 Brighton Beach Avenue on the corner of Coney Island Avenue.

Displaced from her own Brighton Beach apartment in the weeks following Sandy, BNA’s Executive Director, Pat Singer, as well as staff members Janet Veksler and Claudia Escoto, continued to reach out to the community in its time of need.

To learn more about the BNA and the work they do for the community, contact Singer at (718) 891-0800, visit www.brightonbeach.com, and “Like” BNA on Facebook.

Correction (12/18/2012): The original version of this article indicated that the BNA coordinated with Shorefront Y on Sandy relief. Shorefront Y has notified us that this was erroneous, and we have updated the article. We regret any confusion this may have caused.

The Brighton Neighborhood Association is inviting people to an instructional event tomorrow morning, September 29 at 10:00 a.m., which will educate people on how to use the new voting machines as well as how to protect the privacy of their vote.

Items and topics to be covered will include:

• How to vote with the new system
• How to protect your privacy
• What to do if your name cannot be found on the registration list
• Register to vote if you are not already registered

The event will be taking place at BNA’s office inside the Chase Bank, 1002 Brighton Beach Avenue on the corner of Coney Island Avenue. Light refreshments will be served.

To learn more, contact BNA Executive Director Pat Singer at (718) 891-0800.

Our friends over at the Brighton Neighborhood Association are celebrating the 36th Annual Brighton Jubilee, a half-mile street festival on Brighton Beach Avenue featuring, food, entertainment and tons of bargains.

Above is the flier, and below is the text of a news release the organization sent us:

36TH ANNUAL BRIGHTON JUBILEE SUNDAY, AUGUST 26TH
10AM TO 5PM…IN THE ‘RUSSIAN CAPITOL OF BROOKYN”, BRIGHTON
BEACH…ON BRIGHTON BEACH AVENUE TURNING DOWN CONEY ISLAND
AVENUE TO THE BOARDWALK….PRESENTED BY THE BRIGHTON
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

ONE OF BROOKLYN’S MOST POPULAR EVENTS IS TAKING PLACE THIS
SUNDAY FEATURING THREE STAGES OF ENTERTAINMENT….PERFORMERS

FROM DANU RUSSIAN RADIO, GREAT SOUNDS FROM FRANKIE MARRA AND
OTHER BROOKLYN BANDS INCLUDING NEPTUNE JAM. THE BROOKYN NETS
WILL BE PARTICIPATING ALONG WITH THE NEW YORK ARM WRESTLING
ASSOCIATION WHICH WILL BE HOLDING A COMPETITION FOR ‘BROOKLYN’S
STRONGEST ARM”.

THE JUBILEE FEATURES BLOCKS OF BARGAINS, GREAT FOOD,
KIDDIE RIDES, INFO TABLES INCLUDING HUMAN RESOURCES
AND HUMAN RIGHTS….

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL PAT SINGER AT
718 891-0800 (UP TO FRIDAY)

718 541-3866 (SATURDAY AND SUNDAY)
718 646-9715 (SATURDAY AND SUNDAY)

OVER 100,000 PEOPLE HAVE VISITED THIS FAIR IN PAST YEARS…
WE INVITE YOUR COVERAGE.

And don’t forget to check out our Brighton Jubilee coverage from 2011, or that from 2010, a year that we also did an audio feature, “Sounds of the Brighton Jubilee.“

SHEEPSHEAD BITES EXCLUSIVE: The city suddenly shut down a medical center in Brighton Beach in June, leaving several doctors with no place to work and no access to their medical records for as long as two weeks.

At least one local activist believes that barring doctors from their records creates a dangerous situation, and feels that the city should implement a procedure to ensure that commercial tenants of a building have the ability to reach vital information in situations such as this.

The medical center, located at 2965 Ocean Parkway, was closed June 13 by the New York City Department of Buildings for lacking a secondary means of egress, a technical term for an entrance and exit. The four-story building had only one open staircase, but, Department of Buildings regulations require an additional staircase for a building of such size in case of an emergency.

The building was locked immediately, without notifying the doctors who worked there.

Continue Reading »

Source: mRio / Flickr

A health educator from Coney Island Hospital will visit the Brighton Neighborhood Association (BNA), May 11 at 11:00 a.m. to discuss “Women’s Health” at the civic group’s headquarters, 1002 Brighton Beach Avenue, corner of Coney Island Avenue (inside Chase Bank).

Questions and concerns on women’s health issues will be addressed during the talk, including learning how to receive medical treatment if you do not have health insurance. The event will also feature a free raffle.

To learn more about this and any upcoming BNA events, contact Pat Singer at (718) 891-0800, visit www.brightonbeach.com, and “Like” BNA on Facebook.

Heroic Brighton Beach teen, Jhordan Caballero. Source: Brighton Neighborhood Association

Today is the last day Sheepshead Bites will be accepting donations on behalf of the BNA and Caballero family.

(Please note that donations made to the family or BNA through Sheepshead Bites are not tax-exempt as we are a for-profit business operating solely as a middleman.)

Following the tragic, fire-related death of young Brighton Beach hero Jhordan Caballero, and the incredible outpouring of support from our community — in particular, the Brighton Neighborhood Association, local firefighters, and Sheepshead Bites readers — Congressman Bob Turner has released a statement praising the efforts of the teen, the firefighters, and all who have reached out to his family by opening their hearts and their wallets:

“Jhordan proved himself a hero and was tragically taken too soon. He exemplifies the best of humanity. His selfless and courageous acts to save his younger brother, Renzo, and his 61-year-old neighbor, go above and beyond the call as both a brother and a Good Samaritan. We should all seek to give of ourselves, both every day and in times of great distress, as he did for the good of others.

“I would like to commend the Brighton Neighborhood Association, local firefighters of Engine 246 Ladder 169, and members of the community for their efforts to help the family of our native Brooklyn son and hero as they try to make arrangements for his funeral. These firefighters are a prime example of how seriously our first responders take their role. They not only came to this family’s rescue, but joined the efforts of the Brighton Neighborhood Association and other members of the community in their efforts to help this family honor their son and begin rebuilding their life. Your efforts to assist his family are a testament to his memory, and your willingness to lend a hand to a neighbor reminds others of the type of community that makes New York unique. May Jhordan’s memory be a blessing.”

St. Mark Roman Catholic Church hosted a mass for Jhordan Caballero.

Family and friends of Jhordan Caballero were joined by firefighters, community leaders and others at St. Mark Roman Catholic Church this morning, to give the 18-year-old a hero’s farewell.

St. Mark Roman Catholic Church offered the space and the service after hearing of the teen’s noble actions and tragic death, in which he saved his 8-year-old brother from their burning home, then rushed back into the blaze to attempt the rescue of an elderly neighbor before succumbing to the thick smoke last Friday.

After the mass, Caballero’s remains were transported to All Faiths Cemetery in Queens, where he will be buried. John J. Healey Funeral Home, Dignity Memorial held a viewing and memorial yesterday.

Sheepshead Bites readers, meanwhile, have also done this publication and this community proud. Those readers who donated through our PayPal link have sent the family nearly $1,000 to assist in their recovery, whole those who donated directly to the Brighton Neighborhood Association have contributed another $7,000.

That’s just a drop in the bucket for what this family will need to replace all their clothes, goods and furnishings in addition to finding a new home. A list of material goods they need can be found here. If you’d like to contribute financially, you can use the button below.

(Please note that donations made to the family or BNA through Sheepshead Bites are not tax-exempt as we are a for-profit business operating solely as a middleman.)

Donate now to help the Caballeros!

Local organizations, businesses and residents rallied to deliver some good news to grief-stricken Caballero family: their heroic son will receive a proper funeral without further financial burden to the family.

The Caballeros’ 18-year-old son Jhordan died Friday after saving his 8-year-old brother from their burning home, then rushed back into the blaze to attempt the rescue of an elderly neighbor before succumbing to the thick smoke.

The Brighton Neighborhood Association spent the weekend leading the charge to help the Caballeros, recent Peruvian immigrants who found themselves unable to pay the hefty fees for a proper burial. The BNA, with the help of several local businesses and the good will of neighbors, told Sheepshead Bites they’ve managed to cover the basics.

Sheepshead Bay’s own St. Mark Roman Catholic Church will dedicate a mass to Jhordan Caballero; his brother is a student at the church’s school. John J. Healey Funeral Home, Dignity Memorial, at 2005 West 6th Street will put on the viewing and memorial service, and has also worked with its partners to secure a casket, flowers and other essentials. All Faiths Cemetery at 67-29 Metropolitan Avenue, Queens, NY, 11379, is providing the plot where the heroic Caballero will finally lay at rest.

The viewing at Healey Funeral Home will take place Wednesday, February 29, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The St. Mark mass will take place on March 1 at 10 a.m.

But all is not over for the Caballero family. The fire destroyed their home and all their possessions, and they’re in need of clothing and other items to get by.

According to the BNA, the Caballeros and their 8-year-old son need the following items:

• Men’s pants, size 32 x 30
• Men’s shirts, size medium, or 15 1/2 collar
• Men’s shoes, size 9 1/2
• Women’s tops, size XL
• Women’s pants, size 14
• Women’s shoes, size 7W
• Children’s pants, size 14
• Children’s shirts, size M
• Children’s shoes, size 1

The family is also hunting for a new apartment on a modest budget. The BNA has pointed out that they have a history of on-time payments with their previous landlord. Once they find an apartment, they will need furniture, appliances, sheets, towels and other furnishings.

To meet that end, the BNA has already received hundreds of dollars from neighbors, including $500 from the FDNY Engine 246 Ladder 169, the same outfit that helped quell the flames.

If readers have any of the items above, or would like to make a financial contribution, they can contact the Brighton Neighborhood Association, 1002 Brighton Beach Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11235. You can call (718) 891-0800 or e-mail bnapsinger@aol.com if you have additional questions.

Since the BNA does not have a PayPal account, Sheepshead Bites is offering to collect credit card and PayPal donations on their behalf. You can choose the amount and use the button below to make a donation in this manner:

(Please note that donations made to the family or BNA through Sheepshead Bites are not tax-exempt as we are a for-profit business operating solely as a middleman.)