GerritsenBeach.net

GB Cares volunteers again put up Christmas lights on Gerritsen Avenue this weekend. All of the lights look great. They added a banner lights this year across Gerritsen Avenue @ Florence.

The volunteers did not appreciate the HUNDREDS of cars going 40MPH or more driving past them as they were working. They took offense to all of the speeding, so much so that they had someone dedicated to placing cones and being visible to warn drivers. They hope as much as I do that you get coal in your stocking.

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Update (12-2-08): Comments Closed

Anthony Cippola’s, who past away from a motorcycle crash in July, had his memorial removed Saturday November 29th 2008 at around 5:45pm. Family and Friends gathered to removed and clean up the site. Resurrection church happened to be letting out at the time and dozens of people were standing by watching the group remove their plaque. The memorial was eventually moved to a friends house.

The group had said they were being forced to removed to memorial because of a complaint received regarding the memorial. No real word on what the complaint actually was, and I’m not going to call the Elefterakis’s who still own the building.

This was the nicest and most well done out of all of the memorials on Gerritsen Avenue it is a shame that they had to place it on private property and that they had to remove it.

If they were like the other memorial on Gerritsen Avenue (which actually is a problem) they would just put it on public property and nobody could say anything.

Top 10 Blocks

1. Gotham Avenue (above fane) 39
2. Gotham Avenue (below fane) 39
3. Gerritsen Avenue (X and Bijou) 22
4. Gerritsen Avenue (the Point) 21
5. Gerritsen Avenue (Devon & Everrett) 20
6. Gerritsen Avenue (Channel & Devon) 19
7. Gerritsen Avenue (Everrett & Florence) 19
8. Noel Avenue (Seba & Lois) 15
9. Ira Court (Everett & Florence) 15
10. Celeste Court (Bijou & Channel) 12

The city issued 9,955,441 tickets from July 2007 to June 2008, racking in $624 million in parking fines, which amazingly is more than the city spends to run the entire Department of Transportation.

Looks like the New Section wins this contest. Serves you right for your fancy sidewalks and easily navigable blocks.

Why would Gotham be so heavily ticketed? Hopefully the 78 total tickets is a mistake for the whole avenue, but 39 is a lot to get.

Interactive online map - NYTimes

Have a happy turkey day! We’ll be too busy stuffing our face to make any posts unless we happen to fall across the keyboard in a tryptophanic haze. So if you see some that are all like al;sdkn;aj’lfdkknsm knamldmmmmmm gravy… you’ll know what’s up.

Via the Daily Gotham

Pork Pig Fidler’s Media Friends Put Lipstick On Him
by Gary Tilzer

You would never know it from the media that Council member Lewis Fiddler funds one of the city’s largest non-profit patronage operations in the city. Coming in with the third highest amount of member items in the council, with just over $700,000, Lewis Fidler, assistant majority leader and Chairman of the Youth Services Committee, said he is proud to be considered the third “biggest pig” in the council. The Councilman uses the city’s budget to provide jobs for his friends, campaign workers and to continue the illusion that a once-powerful club is still going strong.

Read more here @ the Daily Gotham

There is even another blog specifically about “Why is the Press So in Love with Lew Fidler“

The Volunteer Fireman’s Association of New York City has been notified by the insurance company that they are in receipt of a letter from NYC that the workers compensation insurance will be paid by NYC by this Friday. Even though this is past the deadline the insurance company has extended the Vollies insurance in assurance that NYC will be paying the insurance.

Therefore, there will be no lapse in workers compensation insurance for any of the NYC volunteer companies.

The Gerrittsen Beach Fire Department thanks all that have called or sent emails to the politicians telling them of the importance of this matter. I would like to acknowledge and thank Councilman Lew Fidler and his staff for all their hard work with this matter. Now the Vollies may continue to respond to all the communities medical and fire related emergencies twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and of course three hundred and sixty five days a year.

I look forward to seeing all of you at the Vollies’ Ragamuffin Parade this Thanksgiving at 10 AM. Come out and see Santa! Happy Thanksgiving to all. Thank you once again for your continuous support!
Thank you,
Joseph Shovlin

Previous Post: NYC Council May Cause NYC’s Ten Volunteer Fire Departments to Shut Down. Including our Vollies.

It appears that our Gerritsen Beach Bagel Store is suffering from constant infighting that recently reached a climax when some of the “partners” supposedly walked out. This leaves only one partner left to run the store (Pete), who has been in the store every morning by himself serving customers.

There have also been rumors that the Bagel Store might be having trouble making rent, and that people are going in and out of the store late at night. Personally, I like the bagel store and I don’t like seeing it fail because of stupid people.

This is being heavily discussed on the forums, but we will be losing the bagel store.

I know there are lines drawn in the sand about which delis are better in the area. I also know that if anyone gets burned by a deli they usually don’t go back.

Here is my best deli list (both closed and open)

1 Mike and Geards (closed)
2 New Dutch
3 Bagel Store
4 Pappa Charlies (closed)
5 Leos/Nicks/Whatever its name is this month

Sorry Sammitch Shop you never made my list. What’s your favorite/ least favorite?

Thanks Greg for sending this in!

The MTA unveiled its 2009 budget at a board meeting Thursday in Midtown.

The so-called “Doomsday Budget” will hit riders with a steep fare hike and major service cuts.

Including:

Discontinuing overnight service on the B31. Ouch!

• Increase express bus fares to $7.50 from $5.
• Raise the Access-A-Ride fare to make it twice the subway base fare - from $2 to $4, based on current prices.
• Eliminate the station customer assistants, who help riders outside toll booths. This would cut 596 positions.
• Close 29 staffed booths in stations that have more than one full-time booth. Reduce staffing to part-time in 13 additional booths.
• Impose tighter controls on E-ZPass account balances on MTA bridges and tunnels. That will result in more drivers turned away at toll gates and longer lines.