The embarrassed parks department learned the definition: “It is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.” We were squeaky wheel and we got the parks department to clean up our park. They didn’t do anything about the sprinklers yet. That might be a more involved project.
The Parks Department did release a statement to news 12 that park plumbers investigated and cleared a blockage in the drainage system last month. Officials say they will follow up immediately to investigate and attempt to clear the drainage line again.
Gerritsen Beach, PS 277 Park aka Dr. Johns Playground, has been destroyed by pure negligence of the Parks Department, they NEVER turned off the sprinklers at the park.
Soggy park leaves residents all wet
Since the onset of the summer when the Sprinklers were first turned on, they were rarely turned off for the overnight hours, leaving the water to just sit there with no drainage. Two years ago we first reported on a similar drainage issue at the park. This summer started the same way with the same leaks. However, whatever little drainage there was clogged up and left to pool in the park.
Since the water has no where to go but underneath the rubber mats, the damage, is staggering. Almost every mat is floating and/or broken as children have started to play with them.
We know that PS 277 is the school of marine biology but installing a pond is taking it to a whole new level!
Shane Blundell, 17, Boy Scouts of America Troop 396 completed his Eagle Scout Project at PS 277 on Gerritsen Avenue, Brooklyn NY. The community as well as the school will certainly benefit from the improvements he and his volunteers have made.
Shane and his small crew took down and cleaned up the old seahorse planting that used to be at PS 277. They then set up a whole new area with low-maintenance patterned brick replacing the rocks chips that were in place. They then topped it off with new molded cement in the shape of PS 277 and a seahorse.
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America. A scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than two million young men. The title of Eagle Scout is held for life, thus giving rise to the phrase “Once an Eagle, always an Eagle.”
The St. Edmunds High School Junior joined cub scouts in the first grade and became a boy scout in the fifth. He has earned a total of 38 merit badges, 17 more than the minimum 21 required towards becoming an Eagle; they include the National Conservation Badge, Mile Swim, Wilderness Survival, and the 2010 Historic Merit Badge which was only released for one year for the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts. Four vintage merit badges were released for the centennial celebration, Carpentry, Pathfinding, Tracking, and Signaling (i.e. Make a device and demonstrate the ability to send and receive a message in the International Morse Code with a complete message of not less than 35 words, at a rate of not less than 35 letters per minute.)
The idea for the project arose from discussions with his family and the PS 277 staff whom Blundell approached with the suggestion for this project. The school was all for the project – as it as it would cut most – if not all of the maintenance.
Blundell, has spent about six months working on this project but only because the brutal winter and recent weather held him back. Preparation started back in November and entailed a detailed, page plan covering all aspects, meetings with the 277 administration and local mason, Kerry Ecock. “I feel as though this project is the biggest accomplishment of my life. This project has helped my existing communication, and planning skills. The advice I have received from my Scout Master Mike Bianco has been amazing because he is always on top of things.” said Blundell.
“In 20 years, hopefully it will still be here and I will be able to look back knowing how much I accomplished,” he reflected.
The 17 year-old plans on attending SUNY Maritime in the Fall to major in Marine Engineering.
For more information about scouting, visit www.scouting.org. Alternatively within our area contact Mike Bianco or stop by the Resurrection Church basement any Tuesday night at 7:30pm
Parks was on site the other day at the Giant Hole Inside PS 277 Playground site and has determine that this is not a hole but a sinkhole caused by a broken pipe.
According to a parks spokesperson they have gone in with the camera probe and found a broken pipe, possibly a sewer pipe, that will need to be repaired before the hole can be filled.
“It is not a simple case of filling a pot hole, and will take some time”. They will have to open up the street and repair if that is the cause which will take time. Therefore, in response to the community’s concerns, they will put a temporary plywood cover on the hole itself in addition to the barricades currently around it.
There is a giant hole right in the main pathway of Dr. Johns (PS 277) playground next to PS 277. The hole became evident weeks ago after the snow melted. A simple barricade was erected around it to keep the toddlers away. It’s been weeks since the barricade and now the hole seems to be growing and everyone is wondering when this will be repaired.
Over the weekend the Department of Transportation placed new speeding signs in front of P.S. 277. The new signs explicitly spell out the new speed limit of 20MPH during arrival and dismissal times of 7-9am and 2-4pm.
Gerritsen and Channel is still scheduled to receive a flashing yellow traffic signal. There is no estimated date on installation.
A child will be killed or maimed before a traffic light is installed at the corner of Gerritsen Avenue and Channel Avenue. This corner is the morning entrance to our elementary school. We started the school year without a crossing guard assigned to the corner. When a crossing guard shows up for work, the motorists disregard her commands to stop. The mothers and children cross at great peril. The community has tried for years at no avail to protect the children. A child had to die at the hands of a motorist before a traffic light was installed at the main entrance of the school. Help save our children.
State Senator Marty Golden received approval for a flashing light at the location in the summer of 2010. Surprising amounts of traffic lights have been installed around our community but we cannot get this desperately needed one up and working. October 13, 2010 Representative Anthony Weiner wrote Brooklyn Borough Commissioner of Transportation, Commissioner Palmeiri that he secured funding (through SAFETEA-LU) for such a light in 2005 and urged him to use the money to make the neighborhood and school safe for the residents. Although a flashing light is insufficient, no work is being done to install the light.
Gerritsen Avenue is the main thoroughfare of this peninsula community. It is heavily trafficked when the children are arriving at school. The motorists are in a hurry to get to work and will not slow down for our precious little ones crossing the street. Save our children please!
Where do you think that “A” grade that PS 277 recently recieved came from? It may have a lot to do with the parents and all they do to help the school. Help them now!
Card Party tickets are on sale now for P.S. 277.
You can buy your tickets Mon-Fri 8:30 til 11:00am or Tues. & Thurs. from 3-3:30 in the PA room or you can call us 718-934-2021 and we can make arrangements to get your tixs!!
Thanks for always supporting a Great cause OUR CHILDREN!!!!
Our party will be Nov.5th at 7pm in St. Columba on Kimball st. Hope to see you there!!!
New York City public school officials on Thursday released city school report cards, the controversial documents that award each school a letter grade, with 25 percent of schools receiving A’s, 35 percent B’s, 35 percent C’s, 4 percent D’s, and 1 percent F’s.
This school’s overall score for 2009-10 is 58.5
This school did better than 75% of all Elementary schools citywide.
The October Gerritsen Beach Property Owners meeting was all about the PS 277 crossing guards But first it began with a couple of candidates running for office.
First up was Mike DiSanto who is running against Marty Golden:
Then we have Bob Turner who is running against Anthony Weiner
This is where we would usually give you the report on what the 61 reports back to the community. But the 61 has decided that they are disallowing anyone from filming them at meetings they attend. There was a bit of hullabaloo as most did not care either way but the 61 refused. Continue reading October GBPOA Meeting Roundup: PS 277 Crossing Guard Edition
Apparently people in “Garraton Beach”(watch video) are fuming mad about the lack of crossing guards & “taking away a crossing guard is really just the icing on the cake”.
I do like how they were speeding on the avenue and standing in the middle of the street to get their shots.
In years past there has always been three crossing guards for PS 277 at Allen, Bijou and Channel Avenues.
Since the beginning of this school year there has been some confusion with crossing guards not showing up and leaving Bijou and/or Channel with no one.
It took numerous calls from parents to the 61 Precinct and to PS 277 to get immediate action. Today, the 61 Precinct arrived and was a bit confused when they did not see a flashing yellow light on Channel. They had thought the yellow flashing light at Channel Avenue was already installed therefore not needing a Crossing guard at channel – which is incorrect.
Area Quickly Fills with Parents at Multiple Exits
If you know the remaining crossing guards, you know there is the good one and the crazy/bad one. The Precinct arrived and an officer briefly spoke with both Crossing Guards. Moving the good one to Channel Avenue and leaving the bad one at Bijou.
Why is this crossing guard crazy/bad? Well this is the one that many thought was just an older lady that just liked to wear the vest on sunny days with her “old lady cart”.
Crossing Guard - Stuck in the Middle
After the brief precinct visit, the bad one did not cross the dozens of children and parents at Bijou Avenue. Not only did she not cross anyone she has a major noticeable walking disability – enough where it is not-at-all appropriate to be a crossing guard.She instead crossed them multiple times AGAINST the light and because she cannot walk, she got caught in the median of the Avenue multiple times.
In the end – the bad ones mistakes may be the result of the days confusion. Her former post of Allen Avenue was very small and that may have worked with her disability but now on a full length Avenue – this is creating more of a problem.
Where was the Good One? Trying her HARDEST to slow down north bound traffic on Gerritsen Avenue with nothing but her hand.
We have been informed that the 61 is eliminating the crossing guard post at Allen Avenue leaving only the remaining two at Bijou and Channel.
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