The New York Times via the Brooklyn Record has the story of one cherry tree in full bloom. According to Patrick J. Cullina, the garden’s vice
president for horticulture, this early bloom isn’t a sign of a global warming-induced apocalypse.  “This isn’t of any concern to us,” Cullina told the NY Times.
“This is serendipitous. We have hundreds of other cherry trees that
will flower in the spring. It’s just a nice surprise for people who
happen to be here today.” The Times also reports that Brooklynites can still look forward to "a magic carpet of pink petals in the garden come April."
Winter Looms, but One Tree Dresses for Spring [NY Times]
Photo by Daniel Barry for The New York Times

REMEMBER THE TRANSIT STRIKE LAST YEAR?

First day of the transit strike and the Slope feels busy and
festive. The public school kids started school two hours later than
usual. The  parents I saw looked cheerful, happy for the extra hours of
sleep (if they didn’t have to schlep into the city themselves). One
friend in front of PS 321 said, "You’ve got a story for your blog
today."

My personal angle: despite the extra two hours to get ready, OSFO was still a tiny bit late for school. It did seem that a lot
of people were late or taking it slow getting to school.  The assistant
principal and the math specialist were standing at the entrance and
smiling as the kids and parents streamed in.

Seventh Avenue was packed with people as if it were a weekend. At
11:00 this morning, Grand Canyon was full of leisurely breakfast eaters
(what? brunch on a Tuesday). At 1 pm, every table at the  Park Diner on
Seventh Avenue between Berkeley and Union was full and there was barely
room for the waiters to move around.

The Slope feels like a weekend this Tuesday with no subways or buses
working in the city. Not so sure about Bloomberg’s line: "The city is
working even if the subways and buses are not." He said it this morning
crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, having spent the night on a cot at the
Department of Emergency Managment, which is in Brooklyn.

But it looks to me like people aren’t going into the office today.

The main difference between this strike and the one in 1980: we’ve got computers now and many of us can work from home.

The phenomenon of women wearing sneakers to work (keeping their
heels in their bags) started at the last transit strike. I wonder if
there will be any fashion breakthroughs this time around.

Hepcat was supposed to start a new job today. Not. He decided not
to walk to mid-town. Teen Spirit’s  school is already on vacation. Daughter
still has a few more days left before Christmas: and she really
appreciated the later start time.

Overall, it’s probably a boon to local shops and car services. I
haven’t even TRIED to call Eastern Car Service today. I wonder if
they’re jacking up the prices.

Hope not. I’d lose all respect for them if they did.

–Written on December 20th 2005

Last year I published reports from readers about the transit strike. I asked people to send me their stories via comments or email (louisecrawford@gmail.com).  I was looking for human interest, commuting
nightmares, smart solutions, bike stories, walking, car pooling,
coping. Here is one from FAMDOC. I don’t know who he is but he is a
loyal reader and commenter:

The celebratory atmosphere extended from the Slope to the Brooklyn
Bridge this morning, where walkers and bikers seemed unfazed by the
inconveniences the strike created. Midspan was Mayor Marty (Brooklyn
Borough President Marty Markowitz) on a bullhorn, telling us how great
and resilient Brooklynites are (and on the way home this evening, there
he was again, proclaiming, "welcome back to Brooklyn."

You gotta love the guy. Tireless in his enthusiasm for Brooklyn, his
website even proclaims that all he ever wanted to be was BP).

The return trip was cheeful, but far more crowded. Bikers were forced
by cops and the density of the crowd to dismount and walk. Weaving my
way back to the Slope via 3rd Ave, I realized how on my guard I must be
if I am going to live through this strike on a bicycly. Every block
presented new challenges, in the way of potholes, parked cars pulling
away from the curb unexpectedly and moving vehicles driving without
regard for pedestrians and bikers. Back home, a hot shower and a cup of
tea for my achy, previously untaxed muscles.

How long will we tolerate this? And for those of us who run our own
businesses, dependent upon customers, clients, patients, how long can
we tolerate this without going broke? In some strange way, for this
small-business owner in lower Manhattan, there are certain reminders of
mid to late September, 2001.

–posted December 2005

I finally took a look at the new I Heart Brooklyn Girls Pin-up calendar.
12 months – 12 neighborhoods – 12 scantily clad women in interesting costumes. Left to right: Miss Prospect Park, Miss Ditmas Park, Miss Bensonhurts, Miss Park Slope.

To look or buy got to iheartbrooklyngirls.com

The big vote is today — it was postponed from yesterday. Some are saying that Sheldon Silver has financial questions about the project. Here’s an excerpt from the story on Streetsblog.org

Financial questions about the project have escalated since the discovery by Norman Oder, author of the Atlantic Yards Report, that nearly half a billion dollars in projected public revenues had simply vanished from the Empire State Development Corporation’s project plan. Oder reported:

    The revised Atlantic Yards General Project Plan (GPP) issued last Friday by the ESDC contains one very significant change from the document released in July. Projected net new tax revenues have plummeted by $456 million. That’s almost a one-third decline from the $1.4 billion figure announced five months ago. That’s much more than a rounding error.

Oder was the only working journalist in New York City to notice the half billion dollar revision (though, apparently, Brooklyn Papers reporter Ariella Cohen was also working on the story which came out two days after Oder’s). His scoop was significant enough that even the New York Times deigned to give the blogger credit. In an article titled "Agency Cuts Atlantic Yards Revenue Estimate," the Times reported:

    The new estimate was included in a statement and other documents issued by the development agency on Friday, but the difference went unremarked in both the brief board meeting that preceded the approval vote and the news conference that Charles A. Gargano, the agency’s chairman, held shortly afterward. Norman Oder, a journalist who has a blog devoted to the Atlantic Yards project, noticed the change later and wrote about it yesterday.

Granted, DDDB, community organizations and good government groups have been putting lots of pressure on Silver to delay the approval. And they cite a litany of reasons why the project needs a closer look. But you’ve got to hand it to Oder. If Silver does choose to delay approval of the project, Oder’s $456 million scoop may be a reason why.

Issue Project Room is hosting a New Year’s Eve celebration in their silo on Carroll Street. I know Phil Niblock and he’s a legend in the world of avant garde music.

ISSUE Project Room
400 Carroll Street – Brooklyn, NY  11213
www.issueprojectroom.org
Telephone
718-330-0313

Sunday, December 31
new year’s eve celebration

w/
Phill Niblock
Katherine Liberovskaya
Rebecca Moore
Sarah Ibrahim; voice
Bradley Eros; visuals
Stephan Moore
Diana Slattery
Jim Pugliese Phase III

  8:00 p.m.; $30

I got this email in my inbox today:

Dear Louise,

My name is Jessica Applebaum and I’m a fellow Park Sloper.

My theatre company, One Year Lease, which is based out of Park
Slope/Windsor Terrace along with a good friend’s theatre company (also
Brooklyn based), The Sum of US, are going to be hosting a party at the
new Aussie Bar Sheepstation on New Year’s Eve. The bar is located at Fourth Avenue and Douglas Street.

The owners are kind and generous and have offered to split the door
for the New Years Event with us to aid in our upcoming Spring
productions.

I was wondering if you might consider posting a bulletin about the
party to fellow Brooklynites.

Wendy Zarganis, the woman behind About Brooklyn, has done her homework. She has the scoop on lots of Christmas and Hanukah activities in Brooklyn. Check out her list.

This from New York 1:

Rescue workers said this afternoon that a missing Brooklyn hiker may
have fallen down a steep slope as he and his companions tried to
descend Oregon’s Mount Hood.

Rescue crews found the body of one of the men in a snow cave near the summit yesterday.

He was identified as Texan Kelly James, who was declared missing
with two friends nine days ago, after they failed to descend from the
mountain.

Authorities believe the two missing men, Brooklyn lawyer Jerry
Cooke and Brian Hall of Texas, left the caves to try and descend a
cliff. Searchers found ropes and anchors but no sign of the men. They
worry that high winds may have knocked them over. Still, they say
they’re not giving up hope.

"We’re real sad about one of our results, but we still have two
missing climbers and we’re going to keep looking for them," said Hood
River County Sheriff Joe Wampler. "Our search has narrowed from
totality around Mount Hood to basically the area in which they found
the caves."

Outside Cooke’s home Monday, a makeshift memorial was set up. Neighbors say they’re not losing hope for his rescue.

"I’m sorry for what happened to him. I hope he’s OK. Listen, all
we’re hoping for is that we’re hoping he comes back," said one
neighbor.

"Really I keep praying early in the morning about the news. Once I
hear the news and the story I’m praying for him that they find him
alive," added another.

Rescue crews say avalanche warnings make a ground search difficult so they must rely on helicopter searches.

Hope dimmed for rescuers seeking a Brooklyn man and his two climbing buddies on Oregon’s Mount Hood yesterday when the body of one of the adventurers, Kelly James of Dallas, was found in a snow cave.

Searchers found a snow cave Sunday near the spot located by cell phone signals traced from James, who made a four-minute call to his family Dec. 10 just below the summit, said Jessica Nunez, a spokeswoman for the climber’s family.

The discovery was made just before sundown – a blow to rescuers who only hours earlier had what they thought was their biggest break in days.

“Our hearts are going out to the families right now,” said Capt. Mike Braibish of the Oregon National Guard. “We remain optimistic; we remain hopeful. We’re going to still collect information and we continue to proceed with this as a rescue for the two remaining climbers.”

The identity of the dead climber was not immediately released. The body was left on the mountain last night because darkness and subzero temperatures made it too dangerous to bring him down.

Rescuers will ascend the mountain this morning to recover the body and resume the search.

Crews began searching the area yesterday after a helicopter crew spotted a giant “Y” made of ropes on the mountainside and interpreted it as an SOS left by the missing mountaineers.

It was a heartening sign – one of the best in the week-long search. As families and friends waited for news, rescuers were airlifted to the cave. But it contained only equipment and a sleeping bag believed to be left by Jerry (Nikko) Cooke, 36, ofBay Ridge, and his Texas palsKelly James, 48, and Brian Hall, 37.

As searchers fanned out in the area, a second snow cave sheltering the body was found, Braibish said.

“Our climbers did get inside the snow cave and have confirmed that there is one fatality,” Braibish said.

Officials said footprints were spotted heading away from the snow cave, some tracks heading up to the summit and others heading down. But there were no other signs of the stranded men.

Sheriff’s officials said the two snow caves are in the area where James made a desperate cell-phone call to his family on Dec.9, saying he was in a snow cave. The last clue to the men’s whereabouts was a brief signal returned from James’ cell phone Tuesday.

Cooke, James and Hall began what should have been a two-day climb up the mountain on Dec. 7.

Tense family members gathered with sheriff’s officials last night and were told a climber’s body was found. The families, however, went to bed last night without knowing which of their loved ones died on the mountain.

Pacing during a morning news conference before the body was found, Hall’s father, Dwight Hall, said in a cracking voice that the families had “no reason to have other than high optimism in this operation.”

But the the three men’s relatives were riding an “emotional roller coaster,” added Frank James, Kelly James’ brother.

“The families remain prayerful,” he said.

Crews ascended the mountain beginning at 4 a.m. Pacific time on what turned out to be a clear, sunny day.

Air National Guardsmen piloted Chinook helicopters capable of flying at high elevations after wind kept rescuers from getting above 10,600 feet on Saturday.

The “Y” in the snow sent a charge through crews frustrated by days of dangerous weather conditions that limited rescue operations last week. But the abandoned cave raised questions about when the men left the signal in the snow.

“We don’t know when it was put there. It could have been there for a while,” said Sgt. Gerry Tiffany of the Hood River County sheriff’s office.

In Bay Ridge, neighbors were watching the news, praying that Cooke was among the two missing hikers still alive.

His tenant Freddy Herrera, 20, said he was “devastated and shocked” at the reversal of fortune on Mount Hood yesterday. But he remained optimistic.

“I have no doubt that Jerry will come back home alive,” he said. “They have enough food for one week.”

Colleagues of Cooke who know his fortitude were anxious as rescuers came off the mountain at sundown.

“This is extremely harsh news to receive now,” said Michael Jaffe, executive vice president of Countrywide Insurance, where Cooke works as a lawyer. “Irrespective of which of the three has unfortunately lost their life, we share the grief.”

This from New York 1:

The effort to find a Brooklyn hiker and two friends on Mount Hood in Oregon could intensify today if the weather breaks.

Rescuers are hoping for better conditions which will let them
search higher elevations. A National Guard helicopter with infrared
devices that can sense body heat has been circling the mountain. Other
helicopters are being brought in today to take rescuers closer to the
summit.

The group left behind a note saying they are equipped with fuel,
food, ropes, a shovel and insulated clothes, but they have not been
seen alive since last weekend.

A cell phone signal was picked up on Tuesday. Kelly James told his
family he was stuck in a snow cave and that New York trial lawyer Jerry
"Nikko" Cooke and Brian Hall went searching for help.

Continue reading SEARCH INTENSIFIES FOR BROOKLYN HIKER ON MT. HOOD →

I got so many responses to the Park Slope 100 and many new names. One of the many who should have been on the list was Park Sloper, Ellen Frudenheim, the author of “The Brooklyn Guidebook” (a 500 page guide to Brooklyn). She has a new book out called “Queens: What to Do, Where to GO (and how not to get lost) in New York’s Undiscovered Borough”. She is truly New York City’sguidebook guru. I got this email from her yesterday about a book signing at Community Books on Sunday December 17th.

“I’d like to invite you all to my book signing at the Community Bookstore on Seventh Avenue across from Key Food for my book signing, a glass of wine and holiday cheer! DECEMBER 17, 4-6 p.m.

The new book is Queens: What to Do, Where to GO (and how not to get lost) in New York’s Undiscovered Borough—and I will also have on sale copies of my 500 page guidebook to Brooklyn!

Please tell —or better yet, bring your friends.

A group of Brooklyn artists are selling their work to raise money to be sent to Doctors Without Borders for their work in Darfur. This sale is This is part of the big crafts fair at Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture this weekend. I know one of the artists, Tom Keough, who does masterful paintings of Park Slope streets at night. They are stirringly beautiful.

Saturday, Dec 16
11 am to 4 pm
53 Prospect Park West
between 1st Street and 2nd Street

For information, 718-768-6171 or email tomkeough@tomkeoughartist.comwww.ramonacandy.com

I heard from Sarah, someone involved with the SIT project. She wrote, “Thankyou for noticing, we put those yellow flyers up. Here is what it is about. For our college project, we are promoting a social awareness campaign in the Park Slope area entitled, “SIT HERE”. This campaign aims to address the decreasing culture of social interaction formerly known as “Stoop Culture”. We need comments…It is helpful for us to learn what the neighborhood community is thinking, so please go to the comments webpage so you can rate and comment on our progress. Also, participate in our polls: www.freewebs.com/sit_here

The Brooklyn Papers (brooklynpapers.com) had something on it last week. I haven’t seen any SIT signs for a while.

I am so loving the lights on the arch at Grand Army Plaza. I’ve heard a few complaints that it’s tacky but I love it. It feels so festive and fun. And I get a kick out of the colori changing tree of light. I know I’m going to miss the lights when they’re gone, signaling the end of the holiday season and the beginning of the winter blues. But here’s an event in early January that sounds like fun.

Trolley Ride & Winter Mixer*

When: Thursday, January 4, 2007, 6:45 PM
Where: Heart of Brooklyn Offices, 789 Washington Avenue, Prospect Heights – Brooklyn

You’re invited to an early evening endeavour in post-holiday
festivity. Heart of Brooklyn will host a mixer of after-hour office
mingling, trolley riding, and hot cider & malt wine sipping.

Arrive at Heart of Brooklyn’s 789 Washington Avenue offices at 6:45pm
on Thursday, January 4. Meet, circulate and grab your drink of choice.
At 7pm the Heart of Brooklyn Trolley will pull up outside, and Eugene
Patron of Prospect Park Alliance will host the first 30 Trolley riders
on a free, narrated ride through Prospect Park in Lights, while Heart
of Brooklyn staff host office minglers at the 789 Washington-base. The
HOB Trolley will return to the base at 7:40(ish)pm and pick up riders
for a second loop.

Because the Trolley has a 30 person capacity, the Trolley Ride &
Winter Mixer is a limited capacity event.