Food co-ops, independently run neighborhood markets that boast variety, and community control – have traditionally been identified with such wealthy/upper middle-class neighborhoods as Park Slope – what many would consider the antithesis to a neighborhood such as our Bay Ridge.
Now, local residents — who in the wake of losing one of the neighborhood’s most heavily relied supermarkets — are hoping to bringing the food co-op experience to Bay Ridge, according to this week’s Brooklyn Paper.

The idea for a Bay Ridge food co-op is the brainchild of 66yr old local resident Murray Gross, which, if successful, will join the ranks of such neighborhoods such as Park Slope, and even Flatbush, Brooklyn - who have also adopted a more microeconomic model to their marketing needs.

However, Gross himself admits that food coops have, much to their detriment, become something of exclusive status signals – as opposed to the inclusive shopping experience he hopes this will be.

“We need a decent food supply, which is something we don’t have now,” said Gross, who teaches computer science at Brooklyn College. “By pooling our resources, we can develop something that is much stronger than we would be individually,” Gross is quoted as telling the Brooklyn Paper.

While the timing of Gross’ announcement seems apt coming on the heels of the heavily relied upon Key Food supermarket closing, the food coop will unlikely replace that hulking supplier – but Gross does hope to get at least 40 participants to service the communities most basic needs.

(photo courtesy: Green Brooklyn)

In a rarely seen editorial written on behalf of the embattled Bay Ridge Methodist congregation – Robert E. Adamski, an elder with the Methodist church, defends his congregation’s decision to redevelop their property in this week’s Brooklyn Eagle.

Adamski begins by emphatically rejecting the popular talking point that the affected religious institutions — such as the Green Church’s Lutheran and Jewish neighbors of 81st street — are ‘greedy.’

“First, these institutions are not greedy and trying to make a killing. They are religious organizations that have served the community for years (and provided services exceeding the taxes they were exempted from) trying to follow their callings in serving their God and downsizing to live in their means. Is the Bay Ridge community sympathetic to their plight? No these institutions are being treated as criminals who are robbing the bank. Demonstrations, letters to the editor and politicians looking to stop their plans and thus kill them as institutions are the response by some members of the community.”

Skeptics on the sidelines of the Green Church imbroglio have long had to take with a grain of salt claims made by either side.

Methodist congregation’s claims that the structure is failing, and how much it would cost to repair, have come under scrutiny by preservationists.

Conversely, preservationists’ claims of what must be done, how much, and how much in disrepair the failing structure is – has also come under question.

Whatever the case may be, the reticence of skeptics may have been allayed in the most unlikely of ways this past week.

According to this week’s Brooklyn Paper: Victoria Hofmo – armed with less signatures than a football team has players – presented State Senator Marty Golden’s office with a petition asking him to intercede to save the structure.

On that petition were a total of 16 signatures – hardly the overwhelming support (much less the dollars) necessary to save the ailing structure.

Perhaps it is as Mr. Adamski says:

“Instead of picketing or writing letters, the community should find the buyer that wants to make the “Green Church” into an arts center… Fill these churches and contribute to their work. Then we won’t have to worry about who’s next or what will replace the church.”

Frank Powers, the retired Wall Street financier and MTA board member unanimously endorsed by the state GOP only 3 weeks ago to defend disgraced congressman Vito Fossella’s 13th district seat – has died.
His death was confirmed by his campaign manager – powers evidently died in his sleep of a heart attack. He was 67.

Powers came on the political radar as a candidate for the 13th district after every other prospective Republican candidate declined to run.

Frank Powers’ son, Brian, had been campaigning against his father for the 13th congressional seat as a Libertarian.

(photo courtesy of the Staten Island Advance)

This Sunday, June 22nd, The Sunset Ridge Waterfront Alliance will be hosting Greening the Ridge – a day-long “summer solstice celebration” at the 69th street Veteran’s Memorial Pier, from 10am to 6pm

Founded by local ferry activist and Community Board10’s newest member, Heather McCown, SRWA’s Greening the Ridge promises a day for both children and adults of information and activities dedicated to solutions on how to develop “green communities.”

Bay Ridgite switches to wind energy

During last night’s meeting of Community Board 10 – Chairman Dean Rasinya addressed what residents are calling a significant increase in outdoor drug use, and highly organized drug dealing here in Bay Ridge.
According to Susan Polaski, chairwoman of the Police and Public Safety subcommittee: ‘the number of complaints reaching [Community Board 10] is increasing at an alarming rate.’ Further noting that complaints being registered with the 68 (which are then forwarded to Brooklyn South narcotics) were not being acted on in an expeditious manner – pointing out that the people registering those complaints are fearful for their own safety, and, in many cases, that of their children and seniors.

Rasinya said the number of complaints has taken this problem to “another level,” citing a sharp rise in complaints coming from licensed bars and other establishments of people who are allegedly on, or dealing drugs – specifically along 5th avenue.

District Manager Josephine Beckmann gave a detailed list of all residential and commercial “hot spots” where this kind of activity is being concentrated.

*Board 10 District Manager Josephine Beckmann drew up a list of the alleged drug locations. “The building locations — both residential and commercial — were mentioned along with lengthy descriptions of the specific drug activity at those sites,” said Pulaski. “Four other sites mentioned were in parks and schoolyards.”

Ya know, like that dude who camps out around the corner from the grocery store on 72nd and 5th that looks like he’s strung out on heroin – just as one example.

According to Dean Rasinya, even tho borough-wide narcotics arrests are down 45%, arrests in the 68th precinct are up by 10%. All while calling on the borough narcotics command to work with the 68th precinct- who are working with 40 less officers than usually assigned.

Just two months ago, Helena De Paola, owner of Indoor Outdoor Garden on 5th evenue, had her Ridge Boulverd home broken into on a weekday morning.

Helena, thankfully, was not home at the time – the suspect was eventually arrested and taken into custody by the 68.

He was reportedly found with various drug paraphernalia, heroin, and stolen checks.

(Photo courtesy: The Brooklyn Eagle, Georgine Benvenuto)

Frances Bakery , which prior to selling their building last year was known throughout Bay Ridge for the best brick oven bread in Brooklyn — not to mention having some of the most eccentric operating hours — is being redeveloped to house the the local law offices of George P. Georgaklis and Associates. It was not, as originally reported, purchased by the adjoining tire shop.

The building in question has become one of several on that block — which include ‘Windows We Are’ and a local veterinary office — being eyed by the School Construction Authority; who, just last month, threatened to exercise the full power of eminent domain should they decide the site appropriate to build on.

Per Lefty’s scoop last May, it appears Our Saviour Lutheran Church is in fact for sale, and will likely be slated for demolition and redevelopment – confirms this week’s Brooklyn Paper.

Our Saviour’s situation parallels that of their Methodist neighbors on Ovington and 4th avenues — not to mention that of their next door neighbor, Congregation Sheiris Israel, who just last week announced their intent to sell to developers — but with little, to none of the fervent protestations which characterized the Green church imbroglio.

Rev. Craig Miller, Pastor of Our Saviour Luthern, has said the revenue generated from the pre-school is insufficient to maintain the church structure itself (with expenses hovering around 100K a year) from a congregation of about 40.

Miller’s plans, should the structure be demolished, consist of a mixed use building with some type of ground floor storefront, with residential units just above.

The monies generated from such a sale would, “[free] ourselves from the burden of these buildings… [and] focus on ministry,” according to Rev. Miller.

Contrastingly, Green Church Preservationists who have been locked in a bitter struggle with the Methodist congregation and its pastor have recently ramped up talk of an adaptive reuse of the Green Church, consisting of a performing arts space.

Which, interestingly enough, could be the perfect venue for local blogger, and former big time Hollywood movie actor Mark Brown’s production, “China the Whole Enchilada.”

Of course, if you cant wait for a bunch of people to save the Green Church and turn it into a neat adaptive reuse project – you can always catch Mark Brown’s “China the Whole Enchilada” at the NYC Fringe Festival this August 8th – 24th.

(photo courtesy: Left in Bay Ridge)

Flowers by Boragi, the old-timey 77th street florist that’s been a 3rd avenue fixture for decades, recently downsized just a few doors down to smaller accommodations.

The mystery as to what would take over such an enormous corner property has apparently been solved.

“Coming Soon: 24hr Bagel and Gourmet Deli.”

Boasting 8 more locations ‘coming soon to the tri-state area,’ doesn’t sound particularly homegrown… and what’s with the name?

Imagine saying – “I’m going to ‘24 Hour Bagel and Gourmet Deli’ to get a dozen bagels, veggie cream cheese and lox,” on a sleepy Sunday morning?

A few new Bagel stores have opened in the past year, but with mixed success.

Brooklyn Bagel on 5th avenue and 87th does a brisk trade for what’s an otherwise bagel barren section of 5th Ave.

Bagel Villa, which opened a few months back on 5th avenue and 72nd with a lot of impressive curb appeal may not be benefiting from the school, and commuter traffic they had hoped.

‘Bunch of Bagels,’ rumored to be a splinter faction of old Hot Bagels employees, also appears to be struggling to do the kind of volume their more established counterparts do.

Heather McCown, co-founder and executive director of the Sunset-Ridge Waterfront Alliance, is one of three new members appointed by Councilman Vincent Gentile to serve on Community Board 10.

It was less than a year ago that McCown began a laborious petition drive, resulting in over 1400 signatures in support of restoring ferry service to Bay Ridge’s 69th street Veterans Memorial Pier.

In that time, McCown’s peition drive has evolved into a full-fledged green movement; her grassroots non-profit, SRWA, has since expanded its mission of restoring permanent water commuter service to Bay Ridge, to revitalizing and ‘greening’ the Bay Ridge and Sunset Park waterfront communities.

June 22nd, Heather’s SRWA will be hosting “Greening the Ridge:” ‘an all-day educational and instructional festival for adults and children on how to develop Green Communities.’
(photo courtesy: Brooklyn Paper)