Reader Zaed M., a resident of Avenue Y near East 28th Street, asked us to pass along this photo of a man he and neighbors believe to be responsible for thefts from their yards. He writes:

Attached is an image of an individual looking through my property and who had stolen a wagon that belonged to my tenant. The wagon is a low dollar item but with the increase of crimes in sheepshead bay I wanted to see if we can share the photo with other sheepshead bite readers to make them aware of this individual.

Zaed said the police have been informed, a report filed. If you recognize the person in the image, police told Zaed’s tenant, call the 61st Precinct directly at (718) 627-6611.

I spotted this sign hanging from a tree on Avenue Y and East 13th Street the other day. It was a pity I didn’t have a better camera on me.

Hopefully more stuff like this pops up around the neighborhood. It was a welcome sight to shake me from my post-accountant shell-shock. (Speaking of things to nail to a tree…)

Anyone know the story here?

Source: FSSP via Twitter

A new group has launched with the goal of expanding the services of shomrim, or Jewish civilian patrol, into a broad swath of Gravesend.

Community Safety & Security (CSS) is an affiliate of the Sephardic Community Federation, and is working on a recruitment drive to bring volunteers to the well-established Flatbush Shomrim Safety Patrol, which could begin patroling the area.

The borders of the area under consideration are Avenue I to the north, Avenue Y to the south, Coney Island Avenue to the east and McDonald Avenue to the west.

“CSS is a new organization that will work to keep our communities safe by establishing initiatives to help reduce crime and increase public safety. We hope to work with the public, law enforcement and community watch groups to achieve these goals,” said Avi Spitzer, executive director of the Sephardic Community Federation.

Spitzer said they already have a core group of volunteers, and hope to build up operations and activities over time. Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz has offered to help the group identify potential sources of funds for their project. CSS is headed by Jack Cayre, the scion of developer and real estate magnate Joseph Cayre.

CSS is not formally affiliated with Flatbush Shomrim.

Flatbush Shomrim Executive Coordinator Bob Moskowitz said that they have not started patrolling the new area, nor have they made a decision on whether or not they will.

“It’s under consideration right now. It’s not a done deal. There’s a lot of logistics involved,” Moskowitz said. “I’d like to help them out, but we have to look at it and see if we can do it. But we can’t help every community that asks us to. Right now it’s still up in the air. If it’s something that’s doable, we’d love to.”

Spitzer said the goal of CSS’s effort right now is to bolster shomrim’s manpower with volunteers from the proposed coverage area, which would provide the resources needed for patrols.

Flatbush Shomrim was founded in 1991 by now-Councilman Chaim Deutsch. Shomrim volunteers patrol the neighborhoods in marked and unmarked vehicles, calling 911 when they see an emergency, monitoring the activities of people they believe to be suspicious, and calling for other volunteers if they feel the need. They can often be the first to respond to a scene of a low-level incident, where they can make a citizen’s arrest if necessary.

Community shomrim patrols have also been the source of controversy. Critics say they can sometimes be overzealous in their duties, inflame ethnic tensions and, at times, an obstacle to police investigations within the Jewish community. Some patrols receive taxpayer funds and resources through the offices of elected officials.

If you’d like to volunteer for shomrim patrols, contact CSS at (347) 781-4679 or by email at [email protected]

The Americans shooting inside Nargis (Source: Nargis’ Facebook)

Back in October 2013, we told you about The Americans, an FX television series starring Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys and Noah Emmerich, which was shooting around and inside Nargis Cafe at 2818 Coney Island Avenue.

“You know you have an authentic central Asian restaurant when a great show about cold-war spies wants to film in your restaurant,” said Nargis’ owner and chef, Big B. “We were so happy to have the cast and crew enjoy our cuisine while they worked, and we welcome them back any time.”

Season 2 premiered last night, February 26, and it included the scene shot inside Nargis. It’s a pretty bad-ass three-minute ride, involving some Afghanis, some daggers, some head-shots and, of course, some really delicious-looking food. Nargis posted the clip on its Facebook page:

The show, which debuted last January, is set during the Cold War and is the story of two Soviet KGB officers posing as an American couple in the suburbs of Washington D.C., where they struggle to keep their cover under the gaze of their neighbor, an FBI Counter-Intelligence Agency.

I haven’t seen it yet, but now I’m looking forward to checking it out.

It’s also not the first time Nargis has graced television screens. The Cooking Channel featured their lagman soup on The Culinary Adventures of Baron Ambrosia episode, “Scent of a Baron.”

A woman attempts to pass beneath the B/Q line at Avenue Y, a daunting task.

New York City residents and business owners are required to clear their sidewalks after snow storms or face heavy fines from city authorities. But city agencies have failed to clear many public sidewalks and those abutting government property, suggesting a double standard that puts pedestrians at risk.

With 48 inches of snow falling over the course of 22 days since January 1, deadbeat landlords who’ve failed to shovel paths have become a reviled caricature in New York City. Currently, they could face fines of $150, and a local City Council member has introduced new legislation that would direct city workers to clear private sidewalks and forward the bill to the property owner.

But while city workers may one day be deployed to clear private sidewalks, Sheepshead Bites has found a number of government-owned sidewalks that those same city workers have failed to clear.

Among the worst spots this publication surveyed yesterday are the underpasses of the B/Q Brighton line, all located between East 15th Street and East 16th Street. From Sheepshead Bay Road to Kings Highway, not one of the half dozen underpasses without a subway station had clear paths shoveled on both sides of the street, and even some of those with a subway station were left uncleared. In most locations, the northern side of the street was partially shoveled, while the southern side remained untouched.

Keep reading to learn whose responsibility it is, and view the pictures of their neglect.

This is the opposite of what Marshalls looks like today. (Photo by Paypaul)

It looks like it’s discount-designer-apparel-retailer-closed day on Sheepshead Bites.

We’ve received word that Marshalls at 1623 Avenue Y is “closed until further notice.” We received the tip at approximately 10 a.m. this morning, then learned from the source that the location has suffered a broken water pipe.

Which should serve as a reminder to all of us – keep those faucet taps open a little bit to prevent freezing in this chilly weather.

The following is a paid announcement from Dom Realty Broker .

The large, two-family home at 2802 Avenue Y is a semi-detached corner property with great sun exposure. It has four bedrooms and three full bathrooms. The house has a great open floor plan with lots of windows. The large master bedroom has a walk-in closet and Jacuzzi bath. The home is made complete with a large deck, perfect for barbecues and entertaining guests.

The newly renovated property includes a one bedroom apartment perfect for renting, an investment estimated to begin bringing in $1500 a month right away. The house also has a two car garage plus driveway space. A video surveillance system and backup generator will let you sleep knowing you’re safe and prepared for anything.

Interior features

• 4 bedrooms
• 3 bathrooms
• Large kitchen
• Dining area
• Spacious living room
• Laundry room

Asking Price: $998,000

For more information about this home please contact: Boris Rudoy at Dom Realty Broker. Call (718) 407-6366 or e-mail [email protected]. Visit www.BrooklynDom.com for more listings from Dom Realty. You can view more photos of the home here.

The above is a paid announcement by Dom Realty Broker. 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: Dave Machin via Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association

There was once a time when the entirety of the NYPD gathered in Sheepshead Bay for the purposes of good ol’ fashioned fun, and also putting down a mass riot if one should so happen to break out. Sheepshead Bites reader Dave Machin sent us the picture featured above to our trusty Facebook page, capturing a priceless glimpse of this once yearly ritual.

The gathered officers, who would box, play baseball and deal cards, did so at the old Sheepshead Bay Racetrack, located on the eastern side of Ocean Avenue between Avenue X and Avenue Y. The image, from what we believe is the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, described exactly what all those vintage men and blue were up to in Southern Brooklyn. The text is a little small and blurry so I’ve transcribed it below for all to enjoy:

Back in September of 1918, the entire New York City Police Department camped out at Sheepshead Bay Racetrack, the site of the annual police games. Since only one ninth of the department could be absent at one time, each officer’s outing was 24 hours. These photographs show us one of the nine divisions on review. The day’s recreation included playing cards, games, wrestling, boxing, running and playing ball.

The FX television series The Americans is shooting around the neighborhood today, with signs posted on Avenue Z, East 7th Street, Kathleen Place, Coney Island Avenue, Avenue X and Avenue Y.

The show, which debuted in January, is set during the Cold War and is the story of two Soviet KGB officers posing as an American couple in the suburbs of Washington D.C., where they struggle to keep their cover under the gaze of their neighbor, an FBI Counter-Intelligence Agency.

It stars Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys and Noah Emmerich.

Film crews arrived this morning, with trucks taking their places around Coney Island Avenue at around 9:30 a.m., creating a small stir among neighbors. Here’s how the news unfolded in our instant chat box:

Andrey West: Yeap you absolutely right. Movie trucks are coming in

Well now we are curios witch movie

It will be fun to watch. I work right here . For the next 10 hours I will be watching things unfold out of my window!))

Michelle Renee: ITS A SHOW CALLED THE aMERICaNS

Andrey West: Are you serious?? This is so cool. Me and my wife really like the show.

And thanks to Crafty Carol and Daniel Tanner for tipping us off.

Blink Fitness, a no-frills gym, will open in December at 3827 Nostrand Avenue, the former site of Pathmark.

Readers began sending us tips about a possible gym at the location as early as a month ago, and more frequently as fencing went up at the property indicating interior work. The item came up at last week’s Community Board 15 meeting, when it was approved for a special application to allow a physical culture establishment.

They gym already lists the location on their website, noting that it will open in late December.

It replaces the second half of Pathmark, which shuttered in 2011 amid bankruptcy proceedings. Brooklyn’s first Aldi supermarket takes up the remainder of the Pathmark footprint.