I voted at John Jay High School this morning. Remember JJHS voters: you have to enter through the 4th Street entrance now.

At 10AM there were about 100 people voting. I stopped at the information table for a reminder of which district I’m in and I was directed to the wrong line. The guy who was taking addresses seemed to have great difficulty hearing numbers and street names.

After waiting for about ten minutes on the wrong line I was redirected (at the information table by another person) to go to the correct line, where there was hardly a wait. The woman at that desk found my name quickly and handed me a paper ballot.

I went to one of the portable desks-on-wheels and filled out my ballot. There were no real surprises on the ballot except I wasn’t up on all the judges and just voted on the Democratic line except for Elon Harpaz on the Working Families line because I know of him and have heard that he’s a brilliant lawyer.

Leaving the school, I noticed that kids from the High School for Research were having a cake and coffee sale. Spotted at the polls: Paul Auster AND Steven Buscemi.

My vote has been counted.

Mike, bikes and ballots: Sheepshead Bites

Halloween 2010: Gerristen Beach

Election: Bushwick quiet, rowdy in Ridgewood: Bushwick BK

Halloween in Carroll Gardens: Pardon Me for Asking

Dumbo links: Dumbo NYC

Whoever smelt it, dealt it: Effed in Park Slope

The week in car crimes: The Ft. Greene Local

Voting at PS 321 seemed to be going smoothly this morning. My sister arrived at 8:30 AM and there was a large crowd of voters there.

“I went to the private voting area/writing table and filled out my ballot. I was told to check the other side of the ballot, where the charter revision questions are.

“One of the scanners seemed to be broken but the other 3 were working. I put my paper ballot in the scanner and after a few seconds the screen read: Your vote has been counted. I thought that was very nice. I walked out with a friend who said that he missed the old way of voting: pulling the curtain, pressing the levers, pulling the large stick.”

If you’ve been to any of the local polling places please let us know.

I got this from Moveon.org this morning. Maybe you did, too. It’s a helpful guide to voting.

Today, November 2nd, is Election Day! Make sure to get out and vote. Voting is pretty simple, but if you have any questions, here’s an outline of helpful information. Please share this information widely–forward this email, and post it on Facebook and Twitter.

(Reading this on your mobile phone? You can get voting info here: m.google.com/elections)

Where and when do I vote?

* Find your polling place, voting times, and other important information at http://pol.moveon.org/votinginfo2010.html, using an application developed by the Voting Information Project.

* You can also get your polling location by texting “where” to 30644 from your mobile phone.

* These resources are excellent, but not perfect, so to double-check information, you can use the Voting Information Project application to find contact information for your state or local election official.

What do I need to bring?

* Voting ID laws vary from state to state, but if you have ID, bring it. To find out the details, check out your state’s info at http://www.866ourvote.org/state.

* You can also find more information by calling or checking out the website of your state election official. Look up their contact information here: http://pol.moveon.org/votinginfo2010.html/

What if something goes wrong?

* Not on the voter list? Make sure you’re at the right polling place, then ask for a provisional ballot.

* Need legal help? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE or email help@866ourvote.org.

On your ballot

* The League of Young Voters has put together a site where groups and individuals can post do-it-yourself voter guides. Check out your state here: http://theballot.org/

How can I help get out the vote today?

* Make calls to voters right from your home: http://pol.moveon.org/2010/call/start.html

And a quote to remind us all how important it is to vote today…

“Because if everyone who fought for change in 2008 shows up to vote in 2010, we will win this election, I’m confident that we will.” –President Barack Obama

What to expect when you vote today? Check out It’s a Free Country’s General Election Guide

Even though the NYC Lab School (which favors students in District 2 in Manhattan) takes very few students from Brooklyn we decided to take a look just to torture ourselves. What torture.

Like Beacon, The Lab School is a solidly good academic institution with an excellent curriculum and engaged teachers. It is a small and selective school that, according to the principal, has a culture where learning and being smart is considered cool. They also have PSAL sports, clubs, AP classes and the opportunity to study at local colleges.

Even more, they offer excellent services for students with learning issues and the principal spoke openly about giving those students the skills and support they need through collaborative team teaching classes and special services.

In session the  school has a crowded energy and the students look happy and engaged in the classrooms. The school building is undergoing renovation so the place is a bit of a mess and seemingly too small for the number of kids (500 or so) that are there.

Continue reading High School Tour Confidential: The Lab School →

We were warned. That’s why we got to the Beacon High School tour early. When we arrived at 4:20, there were already hundreds of people on line.

Luckily they let groupings of us into the building at 4:50, when we were divided again into smaller groups (of about 40 parents and students). First there was a brief introduction by the school’s assistant principal and some words from two impressive high school seniors.

Our group then met with a math, spanish, history and science teacher in their classrooms. Their talks were brief and to the point. With each teacher there was a group of exceptional students, who also got a chance to speak and answer questions. In just about every class, students are required to present performance-based projects to a panel of teachers which seems to develop excellent public speaking skills in the students (just an anecdotal observation).

The tour was over by 5:40 and we had an excellent impression of the school. Brief and to the point. Good job, Beacon! With one caveat, when we walked outside the line had grown exponentially and there were people lined up all the way to Amsterdam Avenue and 62nd Street (and the school is on 61 Street between Amsterdam and 10th Avenue). People I knew expressed anger over the fact that this was the only tour for people from Brooklyn and they were forced to stand on line for an hour or more to see the school.

So, we were lucky to get there early because we got in and out early.

Beacon is a highly selective school (Regents exempt) with high academic standards and a rigorous curriculum. That said, it has a decidedly non-competitive atmosphere and does not rank its students. They do, however, make applicants jump through hoops to qualify for the school (portfolio, an essay, an interview that includes an essay) and there are only 1,100 kids in the entire school. It looks like they have adequate space for that number of students in their very pleasant building, which is light and somewhat airy.

Continue reading High School Tour Confidential: Beacon High School →

How’s this for a funny reason to vote from Babeland:

We’d all like a silver bullet to create jobs, fix the economy, and ensure access to affordable healthcare, but it’s not going to happen if you don’t vote. That’s why Babeland says that if you fulfill your civic duty, they’ll reward your efforts with a free Silver Bullet Vibrator.

All you have to do is tell them you voted.

If you visit their retail stores on election day, Tuesday, November 2, tell them that you voted and they’ll and they’ll give you a FREE silver bullet vibrator ($15 value), no purchase necessary.

Online: At Babeland.com, they’ll  include the silver bullet vibrator with any purchase on November 2, simply type in the code “110210” at checkout. While supplies last.

Think about advertising on OTBKB, one of the most popular hyper-local place-blogs in Brooklyn with thousands of daily hits and a devoted following of daily readers who swear by OTBKB’s stories (and recommendations) on local civics & urban life, arts and culture, food and drink, parenting (long live Smartmom!) and shopping.

The best way to do this: Take out ad. Prices available on request. If you don’t have an ad, we’re happy to design one for you.

OTBKB welcomes advertisers of all stripes including real estate, restaurants, shops, arts organizations, freelance creatives, accounting services, health and wellness, books and more.

Brownstone Brooklynites know and trust OTBKB! Its devoted readers are well educated, creative and community minded. They care about family, education, quality entertainment, the food they eat and their well being in body, mind and spirit.

A clickable banner ad, vertical skyscraper ad or a box ad, is a great way to get noticed in Brooklyn. It’s inexpensive, easy and fast. Your ad could be up within six hours. Prices available on request. Call Louise Crawford (718-288-4290) or email: louise_crawford(at)yahoo(dot)com

Here are some general election guides that might be of help tomorrow WHEN YOU GO TO VOTE!

Your general election guide: It’s a Free Country

Guide for last minute voter: Gotham Gazette

Your general election guide: It’s a Free Country

Guide for last minute voter: Gotham Gazette

Revisionist history on Nets’ effort to land Lebron: Atlantic Yards Report

Cuomo leads over Paladino but battle for NY controller tight: Daily News

Stewart’s rally in Washington: It’s a Free Country

Craig Hammerman, District Manager of Community Board 6, sent this list of civic-minded, athletic (running), and misc.(a spades tournament) things going on this month…

Free Flu Shots, Friday, November 5, 11am to 2pm, Borough Hall Rotunda, 209 Joralemon Street. First come, first served.

Moving Forward on Fourth, Saturday, November 6, 9:30am, 4th Avenue & 9th Street. Park Slope Civic Council’s walkabout featuring 4th Avenue. Reservations required.

Prospect Park Duathlon & Gotham Cup Challenge, Sunday, November 7, 7am, Prospect Park, Willink Rink area.

The ING NYC Marathon, Sunday, November 7, 8:30am to 2pm, 4th Avenue – Go Prospect Park Track Club!

Cleanup in Coffey Park with Red Hook Dog, Sunday, November 7, 9am to 10am, Coffey Park, Verona-Richards-King-Dwight Sts.

Veteran’s Day Ceremony, Thursday, November 11, 11am, Carroll Park, Smith-President-Court-Carroll Sts.

Groundswell Annual Art Auction, Thursday, December 2, 7pm to 10pm, Patron Reception 6pm to 7pm, Affirmation Arts Ltd., 523 37th Street, NYC.

Wow: Park Slope is fun on Halloween. Trick or treating on Seventh Avenue, trick or treating on side streets, haunted houses, puppet shows, you name it: Park Slope is Halloween-Central.

Last night was crazy fun for kids and adults. It was also exhausting and overwhelming for many of the youngsters as it was a long day in costume and the excitement can turn quickly into tears of meltdown and frustration from too much candy, too much walking and too many expectations.

The littlest ones seemed to be running out of steam (or in meltdown mode) just as the parade began at 6:30 on 14th Street and later turned down Third Street. But they persevere and by parade’s end seemed barely able to make it home for bedtime.

At just about the same time, the teenagers were ready for the shaving cream wars in the playground (front and back) of PS 321 and elsewhere.

At the parade, the Paprika Marching Band made joyful, percussive sounds and a floating bedbug sniffing dog, with Gersh Kuntzman’s voice booming out of it, was quite the sight and sound.

Third Street’s sidewalk and street was crammed with costumed revelers marching in the parade or watching from the sidelines.

Barrio, the Third Street Mexican restaurant with the outdoor patio, was packed with costumed eaters watching the parade while consuming margaritas and tacos.

In our front yard, there was a get-together for parents with children under two. Friends stopped by and watched from our building and I enjoyed the babies dressed as pumpkins, as fairies, as lady bugs…

That first Halloween as a parent can be quite a thrill.

As for costumes my favorite was the team of “Food Coop Walkers,” a group wearing day-glow orange Food Coop vests  pushing shopping carts, I saw a Tevye playing a violin, a wonderful jellyfish…

Waiting for No Words Daily Pix to return with his bounty of Halloween images…

The Park Slope Halloween Parade begins tonight at 6:30PM at 14th Street and 7th Ave. It will travel north to 3rd Street, then turn left, continuing down 3rd Street to end the Old Stone House (Washington Park (formerly JJ Byrne) at 5th Avenue between 3rd and 4th streets).

Earlier in the day there are a bunch of events in front of John Jay High School:

3:00pm – 6:30pm  Free Photos in front of John Jay High School

3:00pm – 3:55pm  Registration for the Costume Contest

4:00pm – 5:00pm  Costume Contest

5:00pm – 6:00pm  Musical Performance by Ethan’s Motley Rockin’ Show (also in front of John Jay)

This list of Halloween Safety Tips was published on Park Slope Parents in 2007. I was looking through some old posts and I thought this might be helpful today since today is…

Trick or Treat

Make sure kids can see out of masks or better yet, use face paints
(check to make sure they are non-toxic)

–Review street safety.

–Avoid shoes that are too big or clothing that’s too long

–Use reflective tape or carry a flashlight or glow stick

–Always trick or treat with a buddy (or adult)

–Make sure props don’t have sharp edges and swords and guns are made
from cardboard.

–Pin a piece of paper with the child’s name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case the trick-or-treater gets lost or separated from the group.

–Remember kids will be close to flames in Jack o lanterns, so use
materials that aren’t flammable or have dangling edges

At Home

–Clear stoops and sidewalks of any debris to prevent falls

–Keep Jack-o-Lanters away from doors and walkways

Treats

To ensure a safe and enjoyable trick-or-treat outing for children,
parents are urged to:

–Give children an early meal before going out.

–Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is
eaten.

–Report to the police anything that appears suspicious about treats.

–Although tampering is very rare, don’t eat anything not wrapped. When in doubt, throw it out.

-Check kids’ candy for choking hazards and keep away from small children
and pets (especially no chocolate for dogs)

Gorgeous fall day but the heat isn’t working which made for a cold wake-up at the apartment. Something’s wrong with the boiler.

Hope it gets fixed. Soon.

Today’s the day and OTBKB will keep you up to date on all the fun that you can have today. Click on read more for all the Halloween that fits to print.

Continue reading OTBKB Weekend List: Happy Halloween! →

The Charter Revision Commission, appointed by Bloomberg, is presenting two ballot questions to the voters this election day. Here’s one of them:

Question 1. Term Limits: The proposal would amend the City Charter to:

Reduce from three to two the maximum number of consecutive full terms that can b e served by elected city officials; and

Make tis change in term limits applicable only to those city officials who were first elected at or after the 2010 general election; and

Prohibit the CC from altering the term limits of elected city officials then serving in office.

Shall this proposal be adopted?

And for tomorrow: Question 2!

If you, like me, missed  last Monday evening’s presentation by the Department of Environmental Protection to the Public Safety/Environmental Protection/Permits & Licenses Committee on the ongoing Gowanus Facilities Upgrade Project, you’re in luck because Craig Hammerman, Distrcit Manager of Community Board 6 just sent me a link to a copy of the agency’s presentation which is available for viewing at the following link: http://bit.ly/apXoNw

Thanks Craig.

Looking for teachable moments? Lessons in democracy? Something to do on Election Day when the kids are home from school? How about this:

On Election Day, kids can practice voting at Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park.

Here’s how it works: The kids are off from school, right? So take them over to Lefferts House at 12PM where underage voters will mark secret ballots with the names of the candidates running in New York, and place them in a locked box. Kids and adults can learn about milestones in voting history, such as the secret ballot –called an “Australian ballot”  — first used in New York state in 1880.  Everyone is invited to enjoy a serving of Election Cake, a 19th century treat

The big moment arrives at 4 p.m. when the ballot box is opened and our unofficial election results are announced!

Directions:  Lefferts Historic House is located at the Children’s Corner, inside the Park’s Willink entrance, at the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Empire Boulevard.  By train: Q, S, or B run to Prospect Park Station.  By bus: B-16, B-41, B-43 and B-48 will bring you close to The Children’s Corner.  For further information, call Lefferts Historic House at  (718) 789-2822

Brought to you by the Feldman Family from their local weather tower.

During a Sunday outing with my 84-year-old mother she took a fall in Bryant Park. I watched it happen as if in slow motion and thought to myself, “Omigod, this is terrible.”

She may not have seen a small step when she fell flat almost on her face. She stopped her fall with her hands but managed not to hurt her hands. In fact, she wasn’t hurt at all. I chalk it up to her modern dance studies with Martha Graham and a lifetime of exercise. She also takes a balance class at the Jewish Community Center on the Upper West Side.

As soon as it happened she popped up gracefully and shouted out: “I’m okay, I’m okay!” with a big smile on her face.

Two friendly NYC police officers ran over and helped her up. They told her to sit down for a few minutes. Just in case. “You don’t know how often this happens,” one of them said.

What a near-miss. She could have broken her hip or her wrist. It could have been so much worse. Indeed, it was a wake up call to check one’s steps, to wear good shoes, to take careful steps and honor the fragility of life.

Learning to fall is, perhaps, the key.

Today, Wednesday, October 27th, President Bill Clinton will be in Brooklyn for a get out the vote rally for Democrats up and down the ballot. He will be joined by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who is running for governor of New York.

Where:

New York City College of Technology
Klitgord Center
285 Jay Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

When:

Wednesday, October 27th
Doors open: 3:00 p.m.

Joyce Szuflita, who runs NYC School Help, attended a Meet and Greet with Chancellor Klein sponsored by the District 15 Community Education Council on October 26th. Parents asked why students from Brooklyn were no longer being accepted at Millenium High School in Lower Manhattan. Here is an excerpt from her recap of that meeting. You can read the rest on Inside Schools.

Last night, schools chancellor Joel I. Klein participated in a town hall style meeting sponsored by District 15’s Community Education Council. The large crowd of parents, students and teachers that gathered inside Sunset Park Prep Academy’s auditorium grilled the chancellor on a range of topics affecting District 15 families and those citywide.

Klein opened with a brief PowerPoint presentation demonstrating rising test scores and a shrinking achievement gap. His conclusions invited considerable dissent by CEC members over how to interpret the test results. Klein also told the crowd that 2162 new seats were created recently in District 15. Both CEC members and parents questioned why District 2 has small, selective high schools that give priority to District 2 residents (Manhattan has no zoned options for high school), while in other parts of the city there are  few small, screened programs that offer in-district priority.  Some spoke of the heartbreak felt by many Brooklyn students over not being admitted to Millennium High School last year.  In previous years, Millennium, also a District 2 school, routinely accepted Brooklyn students despite its policy of giving top priority to residents of lower Manhattan.

Klein responded that the schools were zoned by the old District 2 School Board long before his tenure and that Millennium was built after 9/11 to support and revitalize the downtown neighborhoods. He voiced his interest in providing schools that are open to students citywide.

Funding was on the minds of teachers who asked where Race to the Top money was being spent, and if “high priced consultants” and charter schools had their budgets slashed as much as DOE schools.

Klein said that most funding cuts happened at central office and administrative levels and that charter programs are funded at a lower level per student than DOE schools…

Here is a semi-comprehensive list of the major events going on this Halloween in Park Slope, Prospect Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park. As the week progresses, as Halloween nears, I will add events as I hear about them. For now, here’s a lot to do. Click on read more…

Continue reading Halloween in Park Slope, Prospect Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park →

Craig Hammerman, District Manager of Community Board 6, sent me a sad note about the passing of Robert Makla, a familiar face at Community Board 6 meetings.

Always dressed to the nines, with his signature bowtie and suspenders, Robert Makla was a familiar attendee, avid supporter and eager participant at Brooklyn CB6 general meetings.  He often started off by reminding us that he was born at NY Methodist Hospital, and with the exception of serving our country oversees in the armed forces, spent his whole life living in Park Slope.

Bob’s message was often simple, and eloquently delivered.  To paraphrase…Parks are special places, where people of all races, incomes and interests mix.  They reconnect people to nature.  They feed the soul serving as inspiration to artists and dreamers, poets and planners.  They provide a source of jobs, particularly maintenance jobs, which are harder and harder to come by. Jobs, he often said, were the key to restoring a sense of pride and productivity to the least fortunate among us.  And, once park space is gone, it is not so easily replaced.  It is therefore the job of every citizen to defend, preserve and care for the wonderful green and open spaces throughout our City.  Of course, his favorite spot was his beloved Prospect Park, the crown jewel of all of New York City’s parks.

Bob’s presence was electric, his words were stirring, and he will be sorely missed.  I, for one, will especially miss his periodic call to conscience, which always seemed perfectly timed to fit into the Community Board’s 3-minute speaking limit at general meetings.

Please note the charities listed in the New York Times death notice below.

MAKLA–Robert M., of Brooklyn, NY passed away on October 14, 2010. Bob was beloved by his sisters Grace and Alice and his nieces and nephew. A tireless and inspiring advocate for the city’s parks, Bob founded several park conservation organizations to provide tree care and maintenance to the park’s natural treasures. He was known for introducing cyclists to the wonders of the city through his middle-of-the-night bike tours. Bob served in WWII and the Korean War, graduated from Princeton and Yale Law, and was an active and devoted partner at the law firm of D’Amato & Lynch. Contributions may be made to the Prospect Park Alliance, Development Office, 95 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY 11215 (designate “tree care”) or to The Tree Trust, Central Park Conservancy, 14 E. 60th St., 8th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

Did you know that term limits will be decided on Election Day? FYI: the term limits question is on the back of this year’s ballot, which you will see next Tuesday, November 2nd, WHEN YOU VOTE.

You’re voting, right?

An email from Public Advocate Bill de Blasio informs me that he has has launched an informational campaign encouraging voters to turn over their ballots and vote on term limits.

Of course you’re voting and when you do: Turn Over Your Ballot and Vote on Term Limits.

“Voters have waited two years to have their voices heard on term limits. With one week until Election Day, no one cannot take this outcome for granted,” writes Public Advocate Bill de Blasio in the press release he sent today.

You are voting, right?

I think de Blasio is doing a good thing. People might not notice that this important question is on the back of the ballot. For that reason, dozens of volunteers and staff from de Blasio’s office passed out flyers and held large-format ballots showing voters where to find the term limits question on Election Day.

“My office took to the streets this morning to make sure every voter knows to turn over their ballot and make their voice heard on term limits,” he writes.

You’re gonna vote, right?