Parks & Recreation
Next Entries »Sustainable Flatbush Presents “How to Fix Your Home and Save on Energy Bills”
Sustainable Flatbush is hosting an event and workshop on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 to present information on the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). This federally-funded program provides home improvements that reduce energy bills by an average of 32%, while at the same time improving health, safety and comfort, all at NO COST to income-eligible homeowners and tenants. Although the Weatherization Assistance Program has existed for over 30 years, it is not well-known or understood. The purpose of this event is to connect Flatbush residents with the program’s benefits.
The primary goal of the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is to help low-income families reduce energy consumption and costs. Weatherization can include some or all of the following:
- Replacing or repairing heating systems, including boilers and hot-water heaters.
- Applying superior weather-stripping and caulking.
- Installing high-efficiency cellulose insulation in walls and attics.
- Replacing inefficient appliances with Energy Star® models.
- Installing health and safety hardware, especially smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Installing low-flow shower heads, aerators, and energy-saving light bulbs.
Most importantly, Weatherization means:
- Your house or building will be warm in winter and cool in summer
- Your electric, gas, oil, and water bills will go down (an average of 32%)
- Your comfort and safety will increase
Income-qualified homeowners receive these benefits at NO COST. Weatherization not only lowers energy bills, it also benefits all Brooklynites by reducing pollution, upgrading housing stock, and decreasing New York City’s carbon footprint.
Co-sponsored by Pastor Gil Monrose’s Brooklyn Center for Quality Life and NYC Councilmember Jumaane D. Williams, the event is being held at Mt. Zion Church of God, 203 East 37th Street, between Church Avenue and Linden Boulevard, from 7 – 9 p.m. Representatives from Community Environmental Center (CEC) will be on hand to discuss details of WAP, assist participants to determine whether they qualify, and help them enroll in the program by completing the application process.
CEC, a Long Island City-based non-profit, was founded in 1994 to address the housing and energy efficiency needs of low- and middle-income communities. Through its partnership with CEC, Sustainable Flatbush is able to provide the resources to inform Brooklyn residents about subsidized opportunities to make their homes more energy efficient. Although the focus of this event is 1-4 family owner-occupied homes, information will also be available on other energy efficiency programs and subsidies.
Sustainable Flatbush, established in 2007, is a grassroots community-based organization that brings neighbors together to mobilize, educate, and advocate for sustainable living in our Brooklyn neighborhood and beyond. SF’s Energy Solutions Initiative provides information and resources to bring the benefits of energy efficiency to our community in central Brooklyn.
Refreshments will be served.
Free energy-saving lightbulbs will be available to the first 40 participants, courtesy of Beam NY
WHAT:
How to Fix Your Home and Save on Energy Bills
WHERE:
Mt. Zion Church of God
203 East 37th Street (between Church Avenue and Linden Boulevard)
Brooklyn, NY
WHEN:
Tuesday, March 8th from 7-9pm
Sustainable Flatbush Presents Third Annual “Greening Flatbush” on Sunday, February 27
“Greening Flatbush: Garden Where You Are” is an afternoon of short demonstrations and fun, practical hands-on workshops. Presentations will include:
• Start Your Own Seedlings
• How to Cultivate Edible Mushrooms in Your Apartment
• Church Avenue Communal Garden
• Flatbush Farm Share CSA
• Compost for Brooklyn!
• Gardening for Children
• Lefferts Community Food Coop
• Worm Bin Composting
• Vertical Gardening
and more! We will also have an information table featuring sustainability education opportunities specifically for youth.
“Garden is a verb,” says Chris Kreussling, director of Sustainable Flatbush’s Urban Gardens & Farms Initiative, which is sponsoring the event. “It’s not just a place you visit. It’s something you do.” The Urban Gardens and Farms Initiative is centered on modeling sustainable horticulture practices, promoting urban agriculture and food sovereignty, and building community through neighborhood gardening and beautification.
Sustainable Flatbush programs provide opportunities for residents to learn about and get involved in working toward the goal of a sustainable neighborhood, while simultaneously building community and fostering local self-sufficiency.
“Hearing about what others are already doing can inspire people to work with their neighbors to take action,” says Kreussling, who also authors the local gardening blog, Flatbush Gardener . “We want to build community through gardening.”
Snacks and coffee will be available, please bring your own mug!
WHAT:
Greening Flatbush: Garden Where You Are
WHEN:
Sunday, February 27, from 2:00 to 5:00pm
WHERE:
Flatbush YMCA, 1401 Flatbush Avenue, located near the intersections of Farragut Road and Rogers Avenue.
Take the 2 train to Newkirk Ave, or the B41 bus along Flatbush Ave.
A $5 suggested donation includes 1 raffle ticket.
Space is limited. To register, go to http://www.sustainableflatbush.org/greeningflatbush.
If you have questions about this event, please email info@sustainableflatbush.org.
To volunteer with Sustainable Flatbush, please email volunteer@sustainableflatbush.org.
CB14’s Getting Greener! Fall 2010 Street Tree Planting List Released
CB14 just received the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation Fall 2010 Street Tree Planting schedule, including the locations where new street trees will be planted in Community District 14. For your convenience, we have produced the map below to help you see if a location near you has been selected for this fall. Parks has also informed us that there will be even more trees planted in the Spring of 2011.
PS 193 Schoolyard To Playground Project Completed
CB14 has learned that, as part of the PlaNYC Schoolyards to Playgrounds initiative, the PS 193 schoolyard has opened to the public.
PS 193
2515 Avenue L
Brooklyn, NY 11210
The community-designed playground helps achieve Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC Open Space goal of bringing all New Yorkers within a 10-minute walk of a park. 164 of these playgrounds have opened to date out of 257 that will open by 2013.
Please help keep the new playground safe by respecting its rules and hours. The schoolyard is open to the public from the end of the school day until dusk on weekdays and from 8 a.m. until dusk during the weekends, holidays, and summer. The PS 193 custodial staff will be in charge of maintaining the new space. Please encourage your children and neighbors to help us keep the playground clean by picking up litter and by reviewing the rules with them. If you see any inappropriate behavior inside the playground, we ask that you call your local police precinct or 311. Violators of the rules are subject to summons and or arrest by the NYPD.
This playground is a fantastic addition to our community for learning and play. Let’s work together to keep it clean and safe for all to enjoy for many years to come.
The partners of the PlaNYC Schoolyards to Playgrounds initiative are proud to announce that PS 193 schoolyard has opened to the public.
PS 193
2515 Avenue L
Brooklyn, NY 11210
The community-designed playground helps achieve Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC Open Space goal of bringing all New Yorkers within a 10-minute walk of a park. 164 of these playgrounds have opened to date out of 257 that will open by 2013.
Please help keep the new playground safe by respecting its rules and hours. The schoolyard is open to the public from
The partners of the PlaNYC Schoolyards to Playgrounds initiative are proud to announce that PS 193 schoolyard has opened to the public.
PS 193
2515 Avenue L
Brooklyn, NY 11210
The community-designed playground helps achieve Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC Open Space goal of bringing all New Yorkers within a 10-minute walk of a park. 164 of these playgrounds have opened to date out of 257 that will open by 2013.
Please help keep the new playground safe by respecting its rules and hours. The schoolyard is open to the public from the end of the school day until dusk on weekdays and from 8 a.m. until dusk during the weekends, holidays, and summer. The PS 193 custodial staff will be in charge of maintaining the new space. Please encourage your children and neighbors to help us keep the playground clean by picking up litter and by reviewing the rules with them. If you see any inappropriate behavior inside the playground, we ask that you call your local police precinct or 311. Violators of the rules are subject to summons and or arrest by the NYPD.
This playground is a fantastic addition to our community for learning and play. Let’s work together to keep it clean and safe for all to enjoy for many years to come.
the end of the school day until dusk on weekdays and from 8 a.m. until dusk during the weekends, holidays, and summer. The PS 193 custodial staff will be in charge of maintaining the new space. Please encourage your children and neighbors to help us keep the playground clean by picking up litter and by reviewing the rules with them. If you see any inappropriate behavior inside the playground, we ask that you call your local police precinct or 311. Violators of the rules are subject to summons and or arrest by the NYPD.
This playground is a fantastic addition to our community for learning and play. Let’s work together to keep it clean and safe for all to enjoy for many years to come.
Project LeafDrop 2010 Helps New Yorkers Divert Leaves from the Trash Bin to the Compost Bin
Project LeafDrop, a lively coalition of community garden, open space and greening groups, and other community partners are dedicated to reducing usable organic materials in the City’s wastestream. They are working together to direct fallen leaves from the trash bin to the compost bin. Last year, residents throughout the City brought over 8 tons of leaves to Project LeafDrop sites…leaves that would otherwise be part of the 20,000 tons of leaves that go into the City’s already-overburdened landfills. Savvy community gardeners turned them into beautiful, rich compost and mulch for garden beds and hungry street trees. As more sites are joining the project, they expect to do even better, this year.
Project LeafDrop 2010 sites welcome neighborhood residents to bring their bagged leaves (in clear plastic or paper bags without twigs or trash!) to the following participating sites:
Sustainable Flatbush’s Church Avenue Communal Garden – Flatbush
Flatbush Ave. & Church Ave. bordered by E. 21st St. & Kenmore Terrace. Accepting leaves 11 AM – 1 PM on Saturdays: Nov. 6 and Nov. 13.
Compost for Brooklyn – Kensington/Ditmas Park
Newkirk Ave. & E. 8th St. Accepting leaves from 3 PM-6 PM on Sundays: Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, 14 and 21
kers divert leaves from the trash bin to the compost bin
Congratulations to Vanderveer Place, the Greenest Block in Brooklyn
Community Board 14 is honored and proud to announce that Vanderveer Place between Flatbush Avenue and East 23rd Street has been chosen as the Greenest Block in Brooklyn!
The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and the Brooklyn Community Foundation, along with Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, presented the Vanderveer Block Association President Olivia Avery with the award earlier this morning.
“It’s a little piece of heaven in the concrete jungle,” said Yvonne Murray, Vice President of the Block Association, beaming with pride at her verdant oasis.
Last Chance To Request Street Trees for Fall 2010 Planting Cycle
CB14 will be submitting its list for FREE street tree plantings for the Fall 2010 planting cycle by this Friday, July 30th. If you are interested in requesting that the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation plant a street tree on your block, please complete this form and submit it to us before noon, Friday, July 30th.
CB14/CB7/DOT Park Circle Walkthrough
Start Date: 2010-06-09
***WRITE AFTER HERE***
Wednesday, June 9, 2010, CB14/CB7/DOT Park Circle Walkthrough, Park Circle @ Coney Island Ave., 6PM
Representatives of the New York City Department of Transportation, in concert with CB14 and CB7, will be conducting a walkthrough of the recently implemented traffic improvements at Park Circle. Members of the public are invited to attend.
NYC TreeCycle – Mulchfest 2010
Chip in! Mulch your tree! Help NYC grow!
Saturday, January 9 and Sunday, January 10, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Bring your holiday tree to a designated city park to be recycled into mulch that will nourish plantings across the city! Remember to remove all lights and ornaments before bringing the tree to a MulchFest site.
The chipping location for CB14 is Prospect Park at Parkside Avenue and Prospect Park Southwest.
For all locations in the City of New Year and more information, visit the Mulchfest 2010 site.
Street Tree Pruning Schedule
As a result of the many inquiries to our office about tree pruning schedules, we have asked the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation for a schedule of street tree prunings in our district. The frequency for regular street tree pruning has been decreased from every 7 years to every 10 years. Click the map below to see when your block is scheduled for its next pruning.
