GerritsenBeach.net

Seba Avenue Park / Gerritsen Skate Park looks like its about 99% done, which has not gone unnoticed by neighborhood kids. They are anxious to go into the new park early and try out the jumps with their skates or bikes. Sometimes while passing the park you can see both large crowds or just a few kids enjoying the space.

Recently there has been at least one incident involving park police and kids skating in the park. Word is that the park police are wielding batons, threatening to use mace and issuing summonses to empty the park. The park is technically closed; the area is fenced off and construction materials are still on the property. Contractors won’t be able to open the park any time soon if it is already being damaged and needing constant repair. However, the park police should not need to resort to batons and mace to clear out a few kids having fun in a park.

Believe me when I say I feel for those kids who are peacefully skating at the park. I do realize that they know the park isn’t open and are fine with that. Just don’t get caught, don’t get hurt, and don’t mess anything up.

But I don’t feel for those kids who I’ve seen riding their dirt bikes and quads in the park. They should go back weeds.

Expect it to be like the stores already neighboring the right of the property.

The Annual Timmy “Tub” Girardot Pagans/Women’s Softball Game on September 29 was a huge success, bringing in close to $7,000.

On Sunday, October 21 the proceeds from the softball game were brought to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Prospect Park by Team Hope, pictured above. Local assemblyman Alan Meisel met with the 38 members of Team Hope at the Cort Club on Sunday morning to congratulate them on Gerritsen Beach’s solid representation at Prospect Park. The $7,000 donation qualifies Team Hope as a Pace Setter, which is a title reserved for those who bring in more than $2,500.

The Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk is an annual nation-wide event that has raised $230 million since it’s inaugural year in 1993. The proceeds are used for various resources provided by the American Cancer Society, including breast cancer education and research, policy advocacy and patient support. Programs like Reach to Recovery, I Can Cope, mammogram reminders and a 24-hour cancer hotline are just some of the services that the walk-a-thon dollars support.

Poor Dr Ron.

With the Manhattan beach civic association elections going to be held in November, we hear that there are two groups within the community nomination committee that are going to block Dr. Biondos re-election.

If you remember, Dr. Ron got himself in a bit of trouble within the community and mass media back in June for his comments about some beachgoers, calling them “thugs” amongst other “ideas that are in play” .

It looks like some in the community are mad as hell and are not going to take him anymore and some are aggressively acting on blocking his re-election, including a word of mouth smear campaign, and possibly through one or more petitions.

There will be a vigil for Michael J. Sandy organized by the family starting at 4:30 PM starting by Emmons Ave. & Knapp St.

There’ll be a shuttle from there to Plumb Beach.

No local elected or groups were invited - the family put the permit through 1 Police Plaza.

I found this old clip on YouTube. It was a wrestling match for the WWF held at Fun Time USA on Knapp street many years ago.

There is going to be some kind of march, from Knapp St. to the Plumb Beach rest stop, either as a memorial for Michael J Sandy or a protest against the defendants.

If you don’t know who Michael J Sandy is, he died in an robbery attempt off of the Plumb Beach rest stop and the court proceedings have been in the paper ever since.

This will be large news event if this happens.

We are unsure at this point but we are going to find out more at the 61st Precinct Community Council meeting tomorrow Tuesday, October 9th. (at the bainbridge house on Ocean Ave between Voorhies and Shore)

Coming in on our Tip Line a reader spotted this and submitted this from their cell phone.

Leons bakery has been officially replaced with Crystal Bakery.

Check out this awesome Photo by Stephen Moran (Sheepshead Bay Civic Association Treasurer)

If you look to the western side of the channel leading into Sheepshead Bay, the shoreline is beginning to extend out from Kingsborough’s shoal underwater. You can see the sandy bottom under the water.

The photo merely underscores the need for the mouth of the Bay, and Sheepshead Bay itself, to be dredged so that the navigable channels may be maintained. The Sheepshad Bay / Plumb Beach Association has worked with Assemblyman Cymbrowitz for some time in order to find out who is responsible for maintaining the channels in the Bay and at the mouth of the Bay - resulting in many agencies denying responsibility, but none claiming jurisdiction over such matters.

More on this in the SB/PBCA FORUMS - CLICK HERE!

I was searching flickr today and stumbled across a Jamaica Bay bird photographer. Hes tired of all of the no wake zone offenders and put up photos of people breaking the “unenforceable” law. All of the pictures are from the Salt Marsh Hall of Shame (Set) and were taken on August 25, 2007

PhotoJeff Comment:

This area of Gerritsen Creek is a no wake zone. This is to protect the wildlife (and plant life) here including the migratory and local birds, terrapins and fish. There are lots of places for folks to water and jet ski, etc. Some however feel it is their cultural right (no joke this is what they say) to use this part of the U.S. and N.Y.C. parks area for what ever purpose they feel. Now to be fair, for many many years this area was just an overgrown swamp. Recently however, some very wise people realized it is important to the quality of life and economy of NYC to preserve and revitalize our green spaces and waterways. This was quite a shock to some of the local residents who were accustomed to dumping in this area, blasting their motor boats around the creek, etc. Some took to this transition easily and some still resist. There are limited resources to police these areas and folks like these get to do as they wish with no consequence. Hence, my Hall of Shame. Though I doubt there will be a direct impact on these individuals I hope by putting this out there I will have some small, more general, positive effect.