For Snow Removal, Gerritsen Beach Labeled: Tertiary

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With this first real impeding snow storm approaching the city I went to check on the map of street clasifacation. The sanitation department as part of pre-season preparations, street categories are reviewed and updated in accordance with the DSNY Public Street Snow Removal Classification criteria.

When you look at our area map you see a HUGE glaring yellow spot. We are third in line to get any attention.

Hopefully, this is the way it has always been. Hopefully, everything will we will see the same plowing as previous years. I just hope that last years storm is forcing us to be an afterthought. On second thought all we do have a lot of sanitation employees that live here

PRIMARY STREET – Any street that is:
A main traffic artery, main thoroughfare or a lifeline street such as highways, expressways, drives or bridges;
Feeder approaches to, and exits from bridges, tunnels, ferries, highways, airports;
All bus routes, private and city owned;
Streets which have located upon them facilities such as fire houses, police stations, hospitals, nursing homes, newspaper
plants, fuel distribution depots, transportation terminals, and schools;
All streets within CONCENTRATED food-produce, industrial, financial, theatrical-amusement, shopping, hospital or maritime (passenger and freight) areas;
All Snow Emergency Streets so designated by the Department of Transportation.

SECONDARY STREET – Any street that is:
Reasonably heavily trafficked but not a primary street;
Used as an alternate route for a primary street;
The short length of residential area streets that feed into primary streets;

TERTIARY STREETS – All other streets not heavily trafficked and not considered primary or secondary streets, including, but not limited to dead-end streets.

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City Paints STOP lines all over New Section

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It started on Aster Ct but now every block in the new section is getting stop lines. The NYC DOT painted the outline of stop lines on every block.

Crossings Painted on Aster Court

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We have no idea what makes Aster court special; but today the Department of Transportation painted stop lines and Crossings at every intersection of Aster Court.

Ice Cream U Scream Set to Close at End of Month

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Gerritsen Beach Residents are Sad to See Ice Cream U Scream Close

Owners George and Patti Smyth made the announcement on facebook the other day. Instantly customers started to leave comments of support on their facebook page. Everyone said they were sad to see one of their favorite places go.

They are set to close by the end of the year.

Channel Avenue Construction Was it a Mistake?

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Recently the Department of Transportation ripped up the top layer asphalt on Channel Avenue below Dictum Ct. (http://g.co/maps/9gs8p) it seemed odd as ALL of channel was marked for street repair. That was a few weeks ago and now there is a rumor floating around that DOT made a mistake. The story is that when the DOT was asked by residents, workers and (possibly) a supervisor had told them they had made a mistake. That they were supposed to do the “C” court (Celeste) not the “C” (Channel) avenue. They elaborated adding that there is no money to have this repaired quickly and left.

We reached out to DOT for comment specifically asking about this project and the possibility of a mistake. Although a mistake was not specifically denied it was addressed: “DOT is milling and resurfacing Channel Avenue from Celeste Court past Ebony Court, which is the project that was scheduled. It is not uncommon to repave specific sections of a roadway. The repaving part of the project is scheduled for next week.”

I only mention the rumor, because it is entirely possible for a mistake to happen, the more information about an issue that is out there the better. If there is any truth to the mistake rumor we may never find out.

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Sinkhole Forming at Dictum and Allen

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There is a massive sinkhole forming at Dictum and Allen. It started a few months ago when the fire hydrant started leaking and now day by day the drop is growing.

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Wind Damage

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Last night’s wind knocked over this tree on Plumb 1st

No Parking: Channel Ave

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Amici up for Sale

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Found on Craigslist, Amicis is up for sale for $89,000 and the property can be yours “if interested”

A Park Uprooted and Destroyed

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Vandals rip up almost a hundred trees back weeds.

This past weekend the Gerritsen Beach ball fields dugout and newly planted trees have been destroyed. Vandals ripped up and tossed around more than a hundred trees. They also severely damaged the dugout bending fence poles completely out of shape.

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For those keeping track, they did not last 30 days.

The specific area of the back weeds , formally known as woodchips, behind PS 277, is now part of the nyc million tree program. The parks department and hundreds of volunteers planted these trees no more than 30 days ago. As soon as you walk back there went you will see more than a hundred trees ripped up and tossed around. Worse yet, sitting right in the middle of all of these trees is a mural with a Gerritsen Beach little league golf outing t shirt flapping around on top of it.

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Some of the problem is the area itself the fields are very dark at night which and the dugout is not visible on a good night.The dugout is behind trees on Channel Avenue and the street lights don’t reach back there. The tree area behind the school suffers the same issues and would be almost impossible to see at night as it is uphill and behind containers.

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I guess they didn't see the sign. Clean Up or You're Out!

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$100,000 Moved to GB to Clean Weeds

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Last year, parks cleared a large patch of land across from the library to plant 2,000 plus trees. While clearing the land they discovered a berm of cement and debris. At the time, Parks promised then that they would coordinate with sanitation and just remove the debris. Months later, Parks discovered they didn’t have enough money and shelved the project.

To get the project completed Councilman Lew Fidler has moved $100,000 in discretionary funding from another parks project into this specific project to have the debris removed.

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Schools To Start Thursday Please “Drive Carefully”

As students head back to school, motorists should drive cautiously to prevent injuries and deaths among school-age children.

AAA urges drivers to:

  • Slow down near schools, bus stops and playgrounds.
  • Obey lower speed limits in school zones.
  • Stop for school buses with flashing red lights and extended stop arms.
  • Never use a handheld cell phone while driving – it’s the law.
  • Drive carefully in bad weather..

If you are walking:

Rules for Safeguarding Your Child

  1. Walk On Sidewalks: Watch out for cars pulling into, and backing out of, driveways.
  2. Walk On the Left Facing Traffic If There Are No Sidewalks: Staying to the left allows you to watch oncoming traffic and to get out of the way if necessary.
  3. Cross Only At Corners: Avoid the dangerous practice of “jaywalking.” Cross at an intersection controlled by a traffic light wherever possible.
  4. Stop And Look All Ways Before Crossing: If there’s no traffic light, wait until oncoming cars are at least a block away before crossing. A car may still be able to stop if it’s closer, but children are often badly frightened by “near” accidents.
  5. Watch For Turning Cars: Children sometimes forget to look and unintentionally walk into the side of a turning vehicle.
  6. Continue To Look Left, Right and Left Again As You Cross: It’s easy to miss an oncoming car.
  7. Avoid Crossing Between Parked Cars: It’s almost impossible for drivers to see youngsters who enter the roadway from between parked cars.
  8. Play Away From Traffic: Playgrounds, schoolyards and your own backyard are the safest places to play.
  9. Be Especially Alert In Bad Weather: Rain, snow, fog and even umbrellas can obstruct vision. Also, drivers may be unable to stop quickly. Children should wear brightly colored and retro-reflective clothing.
  10. Obey Police Officers, Adult Crossing Guards, and Traffic Signals: These “safety guardians” can greatly enhance a child’s safety when going to and from school.

FEMA is Roaming the Streets of GB Looking to Help You

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) added Brooklyn to their list of areas in need for public assistance after Hurricane Irene hit this past weekend. I saw a pair of FEMA members roaming the streets of GB and here is the run down.

Call 800-621-3362 if you need disaster assistance.

http://www.disasterassistance.gov/

“Untitled” Movie Shoot on Gerritsen Avenue

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They look as though they are filming in the library.

Who is in this project? Let’s find out!

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Area Eateries Don’t Post Results

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Gerritsen Bagels - B - Issued on 04/13/2011 - Has Grade Pending in Window

 

(Updated Below)

It has been brought to our attention that a few our area eateries are trying to skirt or are ignorant of the NYC Department of Health Grading System by not displaying their lower than A grades. The two places are Gerritsen Bagels and Victorias Pizza.

The NYC Health Department conducts unannounced inspections of every restaurant at least once a year. Inspectors check for compliance with food handling, food temperatures, personal hygiene, structure, vermin control and more.

Each violation of the regulation earns a certain number of points. At the end of the inspection, the inspector totals the points, and
the number is the restaurant’s inspection score—the lower the score, the better! Then based on that number, the restaurant will be
required to post an A, B or C grade.

Sanitary Inspection Grade

What is supposed to be posted.

GRADING SYSTEM

  • 0-13 Points = “A”
  • 14-27 Points = “B”
  • 28+ Points = “C”

Name – Grade – Date – Status

  • Bantry Bar – A – Issued on 12/23/2010 – Results Posted
  • Beach Bar – A – Issued on 01/05/2011 – Results Posted
  • Gerritsen Bagels – B – Issued on 04/13/2011 - Has Grade Pending in Window has grade in window now
  • Kiddie Beach- A – Issued on 06/13/2011 – Results Posted
  • Knapp Street Pizza – B -Issued on 06/22/2011 – Results Posted
  • Ice Cream U Scream-  A -Issued on 04/21/2011 – Results Posted
  • Tamaqua Marina – A – Issued on 02/14/2011 – Results Posted
  • VFW #107 – A – Issued on 05/09/2011 – Results Posted
  • Victorias – C -Issued on 06/01/2011 – Has Grade Pending In Window (updated below)

Victorias has scored the worst in our area (11229) and according to the DOH if they fail their next inspection they are in danger of closing. As three inspections of 28+ points = closing of the facilities. Their last inspections on 06/01/2011 resulted in 65 points and on 03/23/2011 32 points.

Update: Victorias may be requesting a hearing with the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings Health Tribunal. If true, they are allowed to post the grade pending until the end of the hearing.

The bagel store after posting this story has posted their B grade in the window.

 

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Victorias - C -Issued on 06/01/2011 - Has Grade Pending In Window

Village Voice Gerritsen Beach The Village Voice names GerritsenBeach.net as one of Gotham's best!
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Fullscreen capture 1242011 21545 PM NYTimes covers GerritsenBeach.net "Raking Muck and Reaping Wrath"