September 2011: 20 Years Ago in the Slope

From the September 2011 Civic News article, “Ten Years Ago in the Slope (…and 20 and 30, Too), September 2011.” Return to main article.

Street Vendors

At the October 3rd meeting, Civic Council President Barbara McTiernan initiated a discussion of sidewalk merchandising. She mentioned that the Borough President had held a hearing two weeks earlier regarding street vending.

McTiernan discussed the fact that there are a number of vending problems in Park Slope including those of stores that continue to violate sidewalk space laws as well as people who both sell books and live on the street.

She said that one of the questions to be addressed is whether or not there are large numbers of people selling on the streets. McTiernan pointed out that there are large numbers of vendors along Plaza Street, but that some people view this positively.

McTiernan went on to say that a full-time flea market takes place each week at P.S. 321 but because it takes place in a schoolyard, it is not a Civic Council matter. Civic Council members mentioned that there are also a large number of vendors near John Jay High School, along Fourth or Fifth streets. McTiernan said that merchants have spoken out against the vendors.

Trustee Regina Cahill said that she believes there are 3 types of vendors: 1. those who are beating the system (i.e. not paying taxes or rent); 2. book vendors and 3. people who sell “garbage”. She said that the third situation presents “more of a social service problem.”

Trustee Mort Fleischer pointed out that a market must exist for these vendors or they would not continue to sell in Park Slope.

 

Haunting Music: Band will Lead Halloween Parade

Jerri Ash, Mary Sue Geiger, Darlene Lovgren and Chair Regina Cahill have been thinking about witches and goblins all summer. It’s their job to run this year’s Sixth Annual Park Slope Halloween Parade.

Cahill says that a special musical treat is in store for children and onlookers at this year’s parade. A band will lead the crowd down Seventh Avenue from 12th Street to Flatbush Avenue, past a reviewing stand, balloons and other festive decorations. Seventh Avenue merchants will distribute treats to the children along the route while extra police protection will ensure that no tricks take place.

Children and parents should meet at 6:30 p.m. at the start of the parade route at 12th Street and Seventh Avenue.

The Halloween Parade has become a Civic Council holiday tradition with a number of children, ranging in age from pre-school up to fourth and fifth graders, participating. Regina Cahill comments that the event gives local kids “a legitimate Halloween activity” when door-to-door trick or treating is becoming less popular.

“We have a nice family atmosphere,” Cahill comments, “it’s not a formal event and children aren’t obligated to walk the entire parade route.”

Check next month’s Civic News for any last minute parade details.

Happy Birthday! Old First Church is 100 Years Young

As the Civic Council moves towards its 100th birthday, the Old First Reformed Church beats us to the punch. On September 29th, two days after the Church Sanctuary turns 100, Old First’s congregation will hold a convocation. The convocation will take place at 4:00 p.m. at the Church, located at Seventh Avenue and Carroll Street. The main speaker at the celebration will be the Reverend Doctor Canon Frederick Williams of the Church of the Intercession. Many religious and civic leaders will attend the convocation, participating in this historic event in the life of one of only three Brooklyn churches which date back to 1654 and the early Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam. All members of the Park Slope community are invited to attend.

 

 

Working Together: PSCC and John Jay High School

It may come as no surprise to Park Slopers that both of this year’s scholarship winners are John Jay High School sStudents. The Civic Council has been involved in John Jay programs in a number of ways over the years and the school has seen a number of recent improvements.

Founded in 1894 (two years before the Civic Council’s founding) as Manual Training High School for boys, the school’s name changed in 1960 to reflect a new orientation towards Criminal Justice.

The school currently offers a law and justice magnet program, funded by a with additional funding from Private Foundations. This Law and Justice Academy trains students in writing, public speaking and reasoning skills. Students who complete the academy are guaranteed admission to the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

In addition to numerous extracurricular activities, the school has a successful athletic program which includes a girls’ track team, the Tigerbelles. In 1990 the team was ranked number one in the state and number two in the U.S.

84% of John Jay’s graduates go on to college. John Jay continues to be a community-oriented school, with students living near the school having priority in admissions. That community orientation is evident in the number of activities in which both John Jay and the Council find partnership. John Jay is the site of the Council’s annual blood drive, with members of the school’s Leadership Club involved in its planning.

In recent years, John Jay has met with the problem of overcrowding. Five years ago, a Civic Council committee formed to plan a John Jay Annex to house the increasing number of students. Amanda Rhael and others worked to obtain New York City Board of Education space at 347 Baltic Street. “Operation Turnaround” was able to secure that space and the Annex opened in January of 1989.

A number of individuals from the Civic Council are currently involved with John Jay. Council Trustee Naomi Cooper is UFT Chair and librarian at John Jay. Cooper mentions that John Jay’s library has a highly sophisticated automation system and has been upgraded to include improved research facilities.

Former Council President and current trustee James Ryan taught a Junior Achievement stock market class at John Jay for several years. Fonner trustee, Mary Allman, wife of current trustee Nathaniel Allman teaches at John Jay as well.

Ryan says that the Council’s goal is to make John Jay “more of an option for area kids.” It’s no doubt that with renewed community interest, John Jay is becoming a more attractive choice for students.