BayC

Sheepshead Bay • Brighton Beach • Marine Park • Manhattan Beach • Coney Island • Flatbush • Gerritsen Beach • Mill Basin • Bergen Beach

It’s your newspaper – you count! Vol. 6 No. 10, Jan. 1 - Jan. 15, 2010

• Theater dream rips community• Too old to drive?•'Don't teach our children to kill!'• Sports are for the disabled, too• Elitist policies

Also

Insi

de:

Farewell to the Farewell to the boardwalkboardwalk

FreeFree

Famed icon to be Famed icon to be turned into concreteturned into concrete

BAY CURRENTS EXCLUSIVE

TO BUY - 3.5% DOWN

OPEN HOUSE - SUNDAY 12-6 pmOPEN HOUSE - SUNDAY 12-6 pmNEW

CONDOS

call 718-732-3899 x 8001www.3165Emmons.com

RENT W/OPTIONRENT W/OPTIONONLY 3.5% DOWNFHA LOAN

$8,000TAX CREDIT

SELLER PAYSCLOSING FEES

Aaron IVATOROVREAL ESTATE BROKER

718-732-3899 x 8001www.AaronBroker.com

Residential · Commercial · Investments

SHORT SALEMUST

SELLONLY 3.5% DOWNS E L L E R P A Y SC L O S I N G F E E S

Aaron IvatorovCERTIFIED DISTRESSED EXPERT· Residential · Commercial ·

· Investments ·

718-732-3899 x 8001www.AaronBroker.com

NEED A WEBSITE?

Call us! Bay Currents Media

718-676-5434

Page 4

Page 2 Jan. 1 � Jan. 15, 2010 www.BayCurrents.net

Publisher’s NotebookDavid J. Glenn

VISIT OUR VISIT OUR

NEW HOME!NEW HOME!

Bay Currents has a new home on the Bay Currents has a new home on the

Web - it’s the same address,Web - it’s the same address,

www.baycurrents.net www.baycurrents.net

BUT IT’S A DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT, USER-BUT IT’S A DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT, USER-

FRIENDLY SITE. WE’D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR FRIENDLY SITE. WE’D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR

SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT YOU’D LIKE TO SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT YOU’D LIKE TO

SEE ON IT. CALL US AT 347-492-4432, OR SEE ON IT. CALL US AT 347-492-4432, OR

E-MAIL: [email protected]: [email protected]

Contact Us!Mail: 2966 Avenue U, Suite 108

To find out more about our results-driven creative advertising programs,

contact 347-869-5638 or e-mail: [email protected]

Bay Currents & Margin Maker

(a division of the PeopleSales Group)

have now partnered to develop the newspaper to the fullest for you, OUR READERS.

Brooklyn, New York 11229

Editorial: 347.492.4432 Sales: 718.676.5434

E-mail: [email protected]: www.baycurrents.net

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Join the family of

Bay Currents advertisers!

Call 718.676.5434

Write to us at: [email protected] or

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Bay Currents

2966 Avenue U, Suite 108 Brooklyn, NY 11229

To continue to be the independent and effective

community newspaper we are, we need to hear from you.

We want to know your concerns, opinions, suggestions, praises,

and criticism.

Member of the New York Press AssociationWriters

Kateryna StupnevichChristina Pisano

Heeyen ParkEric Lima

Michael SchlagerOlga Privman

ContributorsI. Friedin

Matt LassenDale NesemanKelly Donelli

Jacqueline Donelli

ADVERTISINGBay Currents

& Margin Maker

Save the boardwalk!We are now watching our historic board-

walk disappear before our eyes.Th e Parks Department is going ahead with

its plans to turn the legendary Brighton Beach and Coney Island boardwalk – built in the early 1920s to off er a haven to the even-then traffi c-clogged and polluted city -- into just an-other part of New York’s concrete jungle.

Never mind that that this will eliminate yet another jewel from the city’s infrastructure. Never mind that residents and visitors will no longer be able to easily bicycle, jog, or even push baby carriages and stroller down the boardwalk. Never mind that most residents, we can safely as-sume, feel this is an outrage.

Th e Parks Department – who, as construc-tion designer Michael Greco points out in our story on Page 4, already helped destroy the existing boardwalk by driving heavy vehicles along it – is determined to change this ocean-front treasure into a concrete-walk.

We can only hope that the Parks Depart-ment will change course, and listen to people like Greco and others.

-- and preserve a Brooklyn icon.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the HouseAll the pols were stirring, to avoid being a louse

The reps were debating all about health care,Hoping that a reform bill soon would be there;

Children were at their foreclosed homes in bed,Money for them had to go for war instead;

And Mamma in her ‘kerchief, and Dad in his cap,Were still in their year-long employment gap,

When out in Washington there arose such a clatter,All tuned to CNN to see what was the matter;

When to the public’s wondering eyes who should appear,But Nancy Pelosi, to announce an agreement was near;

The bill, she said, was new, lively and quick,

And designed to help everyone who’d get sick

But they made sure that a public option the bill would lack;Since that was opposed by nearly every PAC;

To Obama’s desk the bill now would head,So watered down, insurers had nothing to dread;

It wasn’t quite the reform Obama had chosen,But unless it was settled, his other plans were frozen;

So after signing the bill, he went straight to work, Preparing to send more boys to the Afghanistan murk;

And he exclaimed as he rode Air Force One out of sight,Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

- By David J. Glenn, with apologies to Clement C. Moore

A Visit from Congress

David J. GlennPublisher

Suzanne H. GlennEditor

Arthur MelnickAssociate Editor

Patrick Hickey Jr.Sports Editor

Design by Design-ER

www.BayCurrents.net Jan. 1 � Jan. 15, 2010 Page 3

The AquariumTh e New York Aquarium in Coney Island

is generally thought of as a summertime des-tination, but there’s still an array of goings-on even in the cold of winter. Here’s a sampling:

COAT DRIVETh e Aquarium has teamed up with Brook-

lyn Borough President’s offi ce and New York Cares to collect new or gently used coats as part of the New York Cares Coat Drive. Bring them in until Dec. 31.

ALIEN STINGERSMoon jellies, red striped sea nett les, and

fl ower hat jellies are happy to show off their oth-

erworldly beauty. Play jelly games and learn jelly facts on touch screens throughout the halls.

SEA LIONS AT THE AQUATHEATERWhat can crawl like a caterpillar, do a

backbend like a gymnast, bark on cue, and dive down to 600 feet in the ocean? Meet the Aquarium’s multi-talented sea lions and their keepers at this interactive, musical training demonstration!

WENDELLMeet Wendell, Brooklyn’s most famous

penguin resident, and the other members of the black-footed colony during their daily feeding. You’ll also have a chance to ask the keepers questions about penguins.

OCTOPUS CHATSLearn about one of our craft iest creatures

during daily octopus chats. Playful and in-

telligent, Pacifi c octopuses have a learning curve and can use their memory skills to solve puzzles, especially when there’s a treat involved!

SEA OTT ER FEEDINGSJoin Danny and Spanky for their daily fi sh

feeding, then watch the ott er duo play games with their keepers. A favorite is the “toy re-trieve” game, when keepers toss balls into the deep waters for Danny and Spanky to bring up to the surface in exchange for a treat. It’s like ring toss for sea ott ers! You’ll also have a chance to ask the keepers questions about sea ott ers.

SHARK FEEDINGSMany sharks and rays are considered

picky eaters—they’ll feed only on their fa-vorite animals, and nothing else! Some eat only plankton, some eat only seals and fi sh, and others eat only clams, worms, and crabs. Find out what the Aquarium’s toothy diners enjoy most at their mealtime.

WALRUS FEEDINGSIf the Aquarium held an eating competi-

tion, the walruses would no doubt win fi rst place. Th ese blubbery beauties can put away

50–100 pounds of fresh fi sh a day! Watch them feast on herring, capelin, and squid as they work with their keepers on training be-haviors.

TOUCH POOLSocialize with sea life. Touch sea stars,

horseshoe crabs, and other beach creatures in an open tank. You’ll also have a chance to chat with volunteers about life at the shore. With one pool outside in the Plaza area and another located inside for visits during cooler weather, this exhibit is open year-round.

Brooklyn Center for the

Performing ArtsHairspray

Pleasantly plump Tracy Turnblad has only one desire – to dance on the “Corny Collins Show.” But she’s got obstacles to overcome – all without denting her ‘do! Don’t miss Broad-way’s musical comedy phenomenon that in-spired a major motion picture and won eight Tony Awards, including Best MusicalMore upcoming shows:• Th e Israel Ballet - Don QuixoteSunday, February 21• Nat’l Dance Th eater Company of JamaicaSaturday, March 6• Nat’l Dance Th eater Company of JamaicaSunday, March 7• Odessa PhilharmonicSaturday, March 13• David Gonzalez’s Sleeping BeautySunday, March 14

• Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz BandSaturday, March 20• David BrozaSunday, March 21• In the MoodSunday, March 28• Irvin Mayfi eld and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

Th e Box Offi ce is located at the George Gershwin Th eatre, on Campus Road at Hil-lel Place – one block from the junction of Flatbush and Nostrand Avenues. For ticket information call 718-951-4500, or visit www.brooklyncenter.com.

Ice skatingAbe Stark Rink

Th e boardwalk at West 19th Street in Co-ney Island. Open weekends through Sunday, March 28, 2010.

All information subject to change; call 718-946-6536 or 718-946-3135 for details.

Skating HoursSaturday 1 – 4 p.m.Sunday 1 – 4 p.m.Adults: $8Seniors (60 & older): $8

Children (12 & under): $8Skate Rental: $5Ice skating classes are available through the

Steeplechase Ice Skating Center at the rink. Call 718-253-8919 for more information.

The Wollman RinkProspect Park, Parkside Avenue and Ocean

Avenue entrance, open through March 14Every Friday is half-price admission (does

not include skate rental charge, holidays ex-cluded).

Admission is $5 for adults ages 15 and up, $3 for children (14 and under) and seniors, and a skate rental is $6.50 (tax included).

For more information call 718-965-8999.

BEYOND THE BAYTh e Brooklyn Children’s MuseumTh e museum, at 145 Brooklyn Ave., of-

fers its Winter Break Festival - World of Cele-brations through Jan. 3, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily.

For more information on this and other activities and events, call 718-735-4400 or visit www.brooklynkids.org

St. Ann’s Warehouse at 38 Water Street in DUMBO extended its run of “Brief Encoun-ter,” a multi-media adaptation of the 1946 fi lm of the same name, through Jan. 17.

For ticket information call the Box Of-fi ce 718.254.8779 or visit www.stannsware-house.org.

Company XIVSnow WhiteTh rough Sunday, Jan. 17

Company XIV303 Bond Street in Caroll GardensAll shows at 3 p.m.Company XIV’s version of the classic

fairy tale features opera, dance, and puppetry. Th e baroque opera trio Charities also joins the cast, providing haunting and beautiful arias by Handel and Bellini as well as Yiddish folk songs and original compositions.

For more information visit www.compa-nyxiv.com

Yeshiva joinscable network

Yeshivah of Flatbush High School has partnered with MSG Varsity for a fi rst-of-its-kind initiative launched by Cablevision. Dedicated to high school sports and activi-ties, MSG Varsity includes a multi-platform suite of services made up of a 24/7-television network, a comprehensive online destina-tion, and a groundbreaking interactive ser-vice — all spotlighting extracurricular activi-ties and events at local high schools.

In addition to its professional produc-tions, MSG Varsity is encouraging Brooklyn high schools to join this initiative and be-come co-producers of MSG Varsity’s con-tent. Th rough its partnership with MSG Varsity, students and faculty at Yeshivah of Flatbush High School are trained in multi-media creation and distribution, allowing them to become active participants in telling their school’s stories. Th e school-generated content is then included on MSG Varsity’s television and digital platforms.


877-636-8392

Do you suffer from embarrassing symptoms like gas, bloating, cramps, or diarrhea? Lactagen® was developed and clinically tested by a team of leading medical and scientific specialists to help people struggling with Lactose Intolerance. Try our 38-day program today!

Receive $20 off Lactagen® today by calling 877-636-8392 and saying the phrase "I Want Dairy Again".**Code name must be used for offer to be applied

$149.95

For more information on Lactagen® and other Ritter Nutrition products call today.

COVER STORYBAY CURRENTS EXCLUSIVE Team Reporting

Th e legendary boardwalk of Brighton Beach and Coney Island will be no more.

Bay Currents has learned that the city Parks Department awarded a $13.7 million contract to a San Diego company to replace all of the Brighton boardwalk and most of the Coney Island boardwalk with, to the shock of many residents and boardwalk visitors, concrete.

In response to Bay Currents inquiries, Parks spokes-man Phil Abramson e-mailed a short description of the plan:

Funds to renovate the boardwalk were allocated this past spring as part of the federal stimulus package.

Aff ected areas will include:West 31st to 37th Streets (using concrete decking)West 15th to Stillwell (using wood decking over concrete slabs)Ocean Parkway to Brighton 2nd Street (using concrete deck-

ing)We will seek to maintain access to the boardwalk at all times

by only doing one half at a time.Abramson did not give any further information, adding

only that Chief Engineer John Natoli and Th erese Braddick, deputy commissioner for capital projects, were “not available for interviews.”

Th e San Diego company, T.B. Penick & Sons, said in a Nov. 12 statement, “Work will begin immediately to demol-ish portions of the existing damaged wooden boardwalk; precast concrete slab units will be installed as the foundation of the 2.7-mile (4.0 km) boardwalk to strengthen and sta-bilize it. Th e boardwalk’s existing hardwood timbers will be replaced by a combination of colored and textured pre-cast concrete slabs, custom exposed aggregate and sustainably harvested hardwood wood decking. Th e project duration is two years, however, [subcontractor] Triton anticipates com-pleting early in approximately fall 2010, dependent upon the weather and summer tourism.”

Th e project will create “a secondary concrete jungle,” said Michael Greco of Bath Beach, 48, an electrician and con-struction designer.

In addresses to the Community Board and in interviews with Bay Currents, Greco described the plan as a “boardwalk

blunder” that will “not only take away from the legacy of an American icon, but also has several fl aws in design.”

For one thing, textured concrete, “although appealing to the eye,” is too rough and hazardous for bicycles, baby car-riages, or jogging, he said.

Th e Parks Department’s plan to place traditional wooden planks over concrete on the portion of the boardwalk at the amusement area of Coney is also fl awed, Greco said. Mois-ture and garbage would soon accumulate amid the spaces between the planks, rott ing the wood, and the type of screws the Department plans to use -- “tapcon” screws with alternat-ing threads -- will quickly become displaced and start stick-ing out of the planks, causing more of the injuries that have

already occurred in the deteriorating existing boardwalk, for which the city has been hit with millions of dollars in lawsuits.

Greco suggested to Parks Department offi cials an alter-nate plan, including a 12-foot-wide exercise pat made out of shock-absorbing material, installed on each of the two sides of the boardwalk, replacing the rest of the boardwalk either with wood or simulated wood planks He said the offi cials looked over his plans but told him the project was already a done deal. He added that the offi cials suspected he was merely trying to seek a contract, but said that was not the case. “I have no ulterior motive at all,” Greco said. “I’m just concerned about Coney Island and the boardwalk.”

(Copyright 2009, Bay Currents Media Group)

Farewell to the Boardwalk

Come study the

Torah with us Wednesday evenings at

Young Israel

of Bedford BayYoung Israel

of Bedford Bay

We will welcome you in a warm, spiritual environment 8 p.m.

Free and open to members and non-members

2114 Brown Street (off Avenue U) Marine Park

718-332-4120

Call us about the many other programs and activities for all ages at Young Israel


By KATERYNA [email protected]

Borough President Marty Markowitz’s proposed plan to transform the bandshell at Asser Levy Seaside Park into a “state-of-the-art” amphitheater is leaving a mark on more than just the recreational area – it’s tearing apart the people of the community.

The $64 million project, which would ex-pand and modernize the old bandshell, has already caused chaos at Community

Board 13 meetings and continues to fuel the fi re of an on-going, unrelenting batt le be-tween elected offi cials and the people – even though Markowitz may tone down the plans, and the city Design Commission has post-poned voting on the project.

“Th e community board has been afraid to take any action on this, and their reasoning for this is very sad,” said Geoff rey Croft , the founder and president of NYC Park Advo-cates. “Th ey’re saying that the board doesn’t have a vote on it. Th e community board’s func-tion is to deal with issues in the community.”

But just how much of a say does a com-munity board have in such a development?

Th e Livable Streets Initiative, a produc-tion of a non-profi t organization called Th e Open Planning Project, reports that a com-munity board’s denunciation of a land use project or a budget plan serves as a recom-mendation to the borough president or city council. Although the community board’s support of a proposed plan is accommodat-ing, the fi nal decision is ultimately left to the higher-up offi cials.

“Th e community board’s function, ac-cording to the charter, is advisory,” said Mar-ion Cleaver, chair of CB13. “We have no say on [the project].”

Cleaver says the development was brought up to the board in eff orts to keep the community informed on upcoming city planning, but the board members don’t get to vote for or against the project.

“As a community board member, I’ve done everything within my abilities to ex-press my concerns,” said Todd Dobrin, a CB13 appointed member. “I’ve done what I can to keep in touch with my community.”

Dobrin says that although he’s a support-er of the project, he shares the concerns of the public, especially in regards to the increased traffi c and noise that the development may cause. He feels that such issues need to be ad-dressed and negotiated.

“Everyone has a valid point of view,” em-phasized Dobrin. “But there has to be discus-sions and compromise on both sides – that’s how projects get sett led.”

Yet many of the individuals that oppose the projected amphitheater say that the com-munity board members are afraid to speak up against Markowitz’s plan, since he’s the one in charge of appointing the 50 members that make up the board.

“Th ey’re afraid that they’re going to be kicked off their nonpaying jobs,” said Ida Sanoff , the president of Friends of Seaside Park, a non-profi t, community-based orga-nization. “Th ey’re afraid to speak [but] there comes a time when you just have to stand up and fi ght for what’s right.”

In the past, community board members have faced the consequences of their actions – or rather, their oppositions.

Aft er Marty Markowitz’s “purge” of nine Community Board 6 members in 2007, alle-gations circulated that the removal of the ap-pointed members was a result of their opposi-

tion of the Atlantic Yards project. Whether or not CB13 members fear the same fate is yet to be determined, but for now, even supporters of the Markowitz’s plan say that the commu-nity board members need to re-evaluate their approach towards the concerns of the people.

Pat Singer, president of the Brighton Neighborhood Association, says that al-though she has an open mind about the am-phitheater project, she is less than thrilled about the actions of CB13 members.

“What I do object to is how we were treated on the community board; I’m being told we don’t have a say,” said Singer. “Th ey want us to be their puppets, but [they’re] not gett ing support by calling me a jerk.”

Singer says that the even if Markowitz doesn’t build the amphitheater, something will change in the park because as of now, the park is a “mud hole” and needs to be fi xed.

“I’m not a fan of the amphitheater, but I think the mayor and the borough president will not do harm to the community,” said Mendy Sontag, president of the Sea Breeze Jewish Center. “Th ey’re going to do what’s right for the community.”

But when it comes to the community board, Sontag’s viewpoint is a litt le less positive. “Personally, I feel that the commu-nity board is not representing the people cor-rectly,” he said. “It would improve if people voiced their honest opinions.”

Sontag also says that Markowitz may con-sider “downsizing” the project.

Th e original plan apparently included the moving of the children’s playground closer to the end of the park, in order to extend the space available for the amphitheater and the removal of most of the benches in the park. Friends of Seaside Park say that the proposed amphitheater was going to seat 8,000 people and exhibit a roof of 94-96 feet.

“Every aspect of the design is a disaster. Th e project is too big. It will dramatically

change the usage of the park,” said Croft . “It’s one of these projects where everything is wrong about it.”

Despite the popular opinions on the in-frastructure of the development, Cleaver says that the idea of the “amphitheater” is largely exaggerated. “Th is is not going to be an am-phitheater,” she said. “Th is is going to have removable seats, it is going to have a covering over it, but the covering is translucent.”

Clever says that Markowitz has assured her that many of the common concerns, such as parking, won’t go unaddressed and will

be resolved. Markowitz himself says that the project is “not a ten-story building,” but rath-er a way to renovate the park and improve the recreational area.

Aft er widely open oppositions of the project, the Design Commission decided to postpone voting on the proposed design of the playground until they see the full plan, to-gether with the amphitheater design. While some may consider the decision a step to-wards winning a batt le, many – despite their stand on the project – feel that the important thing is to resolve the confl icts between the community board and the people.

“Th ere’s black, there’s white, but there’s also gray,” said Singer. “Compromise, sit down and talk, and look for a middle ground.”

Marty’s theater dream rips community

“Asser Levy Seaside Park is soon to become one of Brooklyn’s most beautiful parks. Th e goal of this project is to renovate the park and ensure it is not only a welcoming eastern gateway to a revitalized Coney Island, but a place where families and residents, including those of Brightwater, Warbasse, Trump Village and Luna Park, can enjoy recreation as well as the free music and cultural programming that residents have taken pleasure in over the years—a hallmark of this park since at least the turn of the twentieth century.

Th e park is prone to fl ooding, which makes it nearly unusable many days each year. Seri-ous infrastructure improvements are needed to make it a real resource for residents—for those looking to rest on a sturdy bench, play chess, or walk or jog along beautiful paths winding through well-kept lawns and classic old-growth trees; or families with kids in search of a safe, creative playground.

Th e new playground and its new comfort station will be world-class, designed to en-courage more park usage. As part of the renovation, the antiquated bandshell will also be replaced with an open-air, seasonal, state-of-the-art one—with fully removable seats and an airy, translucent covering. Th is new bandshell will have no walls, no air conditioning, and is absolutely not a “ten-story building” as has been falsely claimed. Renovating it will simply allow free music to continue. Regarding concerns about parking, Council Member Dominic Recchia and I are working aggressively on mechanisms to provide the off -street parking to meet the neighborhood’s needs. With regard to the synagogues, whose leaders I have met with and will continue to meet with, they and their concerns must be respected and will be respected.

I was elected to make things bett er for all of Brooklyn, and would never support any-thing that would diminish the quality of life for the immediate community surrounding Asser Levy Seaside Park. For those who enjoy walking through the park, bringing children or grandchildren to the playground or listening to live music outdoors, the experience will only be improved by this project.”

—Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz

Critics of the proposed amphitheater fear it will destroy the serenity of Asser-Levy Park, shown here on a peaceful winter’s day.

BAY CURRENTS PHOTO


BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

Russian immigrants join the Marines – in giving toysBy KATERYNA [email protected]

Toys for Tots, a U.S. Marine Corps annual toy drive aimed to provide holiday gifts for less fortunate children all around the country, joined forces with the Russian-speaking community on Nov. 14, at the New York Steak House in Sheepshead Bay.

In celebration of the restaurant’s third year in business, the owners of the New York Steak House, in collaboration with the 41st Assembly District Democrats Club, hosted the event for the fi rst time in the Russian community. Th ey collected fi nancial donations and new toys that would later serve not only as holi-

day gift s, but as a sign of hope, to underprivileged toddlers.“Th ere are 657 communities that participate in the toy drive,” said Raisa Chernina,

founder of Be Proud foundation and a supporter to the event. “We will be the 658th com-munity!”

Elected offi cials, community leaders, and sponsors who att ended the event said they were overjoyed to have the Russian community on board for the toy drive and they hope to collect more and more toys every year.

Councilman Lewis Fidler said that nine years ago when the Community First Chapter of Toys for Tots was fi rst presented by the 41st Assembly District Democrats Club, only 79 toys were collected. Nine years later, 4,007 toys were gathered at the toy drive.

For the past three years, the Community First Chapter collected more toys than any other chapter in New York City, and now with the help of the Russian community, the organization hopes to beat their records.

“As big as this event will be before the night is over, it will be bigger every year,” an-nounced Fidler at the toy drive event. “Th is is a giving community, a wonderful commu-nity.”

Councilmember Mike Nelson shared Fidler’s optimism, describing the toy drive as a remarkable event that allows the community to give back to children in need. “I’m glad to be a part of it,” he said. “We’ll be back here next year to enjoy ourselves.”

By KATERYNA [email protected]

As technology progresses, locals are starting to wave goodbye to televisions, and are welcoming the new trend – watching movies and shows online.

Websites like hulu.com, dailymotion.com, and sidereel.com off er stream-ing videos of television shows and

movies from basic networks such as ABC and NBC. Although they don’t off er shows and movies from premium channels like HBO, they do have fewer commercials, a greater variety, and longer availability.

“Watching shows and movies online is so much more convenient than on TV,” said Elvera Bader, 20. “You can access these pro-grams at any time of day and night, unlike cable which is very time-oriented.”

Bader also says that most of the shows and movies that are off ered online either have fewer commercials or are entirely com-mercial-free, and the quality of the video is usually just as good as on television.

“I can watch what I want, when I want to,” she said. “It’s just another way that tech-nology eases life.”

Many entertainment channels like MTV and VH1 are jumping on the internet band-wagon and off ering most of their own shows on their websites. Once episodes air on tele-vision, they can be found online with many bonus features.

“(Th e) Internet has become the main course of life,” said Alexander Gelfand, 36.

“We socialize online, we shop online, and now we watch television online. Th at is the only outlet you need to connect with the world.”

Gelfand says that he frequently gives in to the temptation to watch shows and mov-ies online because it’s just “all around more

convenient.” Whether it’s from the channel’s website directly or from third-party websites that off er video streaming, he says that he rarely has the time to dedicate to the good old tube.

“I like the traditional method of watch-ing televisions when I really want to take

pleasure in a nice movie,” he said. “But for quick entertainment, internet is the way to go.”

Now that the internet seems to be tak-ing over the world, and watching movies and shows online is becoming increasingly popular, people can’t help but question just how long they’ll be able to enjoy these guilty pleasures before being charged for them. Some say that it’s only a matt er of time until cable companies like Comcast, Time War-ner, and Cablevision decide to claim their share.

“Although people pay for internet to watch programs online, sooner or later somebody will start charging per show or per movie,” predicted Bader. “Whether it’s going to be the cable companies or websites, only time will tell.”

Bader says that some video streaming websites already charge a monthly subscrip-tion fee, but many of them still off er services at no cost.

“Many people who pay for cable still watch movies and shows online just because of the convenience,” said Gelfand. “If you had to pay for the movies and shows, every-one would go back to the original way of en-tertainment – the television.”

Free Television Providers:www.hulu.comwww.dailymotion.comwww.sidereel.comwww.freetv.comwww.freetube.comwww.tioti.comwww.dailymotion.comwww.sling.comwww.streamick.comwww.veoh.com

TV online


By CHRISTINA [email protected]

Soup kitchens are traditionally associated with processions of the hungry crowding city sidewalks outside centers where food is of-fered in a mess-hall style for free or for a very low price. Th e long wait draws unwanted att ention from passers by, heightening the shame oft en associated with poverty.

Masbia, meaning “satiate,” was founded in Borough Park in 2005. It became the fi rst soup kitchen of its kind serving the hungry in a restaurant-style center, off ering kosher food and a seat at a natural wood table with leafy green plants, to allow the diners some privacy. Patrons were off ered entrees bal-anced with protein, starch, a vegetable, and dessert, as well as an array of fresh breads to complement the hot soup.

With the opening of its latest location on Coney Island Avenue in Midwood, Masbia has att racted patrons from outside of the Jew-ish community. My Neighborhood Statistics, a report from the Mayor’s Offi ce, mentions that Masbia’s latest kitchen has served 1.5 million patrons who received food stamps during 2008.

“Since we opened, we served 50 to 80 people a night. Th e number is constantly ris-ing as word of our opening travels through the grapevine,” said Alexander Rapaport, ex-ecutive director of Masbia. “We have the ca-pacity to feed over 60 people at a given time, and are open 4 to 9 p.m. fi ve days a week, Sunday through Th ursday. A person usually eats for 20 to 30 minutes, which means we can serve a few hundred a night.”

A 2009 Poverty Report by the New York State Commu-nity Action Association of the city Department of Youth and Community Development has determined that 22 percent of Brooklyn’s 2.5 million resi-dents are victims of poverty, nearly three quarters of whom are families with children.

“Although the number of people patronizing this site is far from its capacity, the ratio of families and children fed is higher than the two other Masbia sites,” said Rapaport.

Th ough poverty con-tinues to be a daily batt le for many of Brooklyn’s resi-dents, Masbia’s Midwood location (in addition to its storefronts in Borough Park, Williamsburg, and Queen’s Rego Park) has helped aid the hungry in a rather un-conventional way, providing those in need with a quiet and private place to eat.

A 49-year-old man sitt ing alone by a cur-tain-draped window in Masbia’s Midwood location illustrated that the restaurant-style seating provides the kind of dining that the poor rarely get to enjoy.

“When you’re unemployed and strug-gling, you can’t just walk into any restaurant and share dinner with the rest of the place. Here, there’s that chance,” he said.

Th e Young Israel synagogue of Flatbush donated toys and gold-wrapped “Hanukah

gelt” chocolate coins for children visiting the Coney Island Avenue and other Masbia cen-ters. Th e visitors also were treated to a recep-tion-style dinner, sponsored by the Council of Jewish Organizations of Flatbush.

Making do as best they can with a com-bination of state and federal funds, and the individual donations that constitute the ma-

jority of Masbia’s income, organizers hope to one day consolidate the centers so they can supply the rest of the kitchens.

“As of now, all sites are catered by local vendors,” said Rapaport. “Eventually the site on Coney Island Avenue will be operating as the central kitchen, supplying the food to all kosher soup kitchens in our network.”

Midwood ‘restaurant’ feeds the hungry

Come Visit our Newly Renovated Dining RoomElegant-dining quality at neighborhood diner prices!We also serve wine, beer, and liqueur on premises

Free delivery within a 3-mile radius!

717 Kings Highway (at East 8th Street)

718.998.3750

We specialize in Catering!Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Larry Robbins, left, benefactor of the Masbia Flatbush Kitchen, and William E. Rapfogel CEO / Executive Director of Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, help dish out some of

the kosher meals.


� Print � Postage� Click

Your Desktop

Post Off ice™

Print official U.S. postage right from your PC and printer. Never go to the Post Office™ again!

Print exact postage and address in one step.

The fastest, easiest way to send letters and packages.

Save up to 80% compared to a postage meter.

$100 Offer4-week trial plus

www.stamps.com/2009

To get the offer, you MUST enter the promo code print7

By DAVID J. [email protected]

As shoppers this holiday season were bombarded with retailers’ admonitions to “hurry in for last-minute savings” and to “get them what they really want!” the Granny Peace Brigade had a different message about gift giving: “Don’t teach our children to kill and maim!”

On Friday aft ernoon, Dec. 18, a troupe of nearly two dozen members of the Granny Peace Brigade and the Rag-

ing Grannies sang revised Christmas carols condemning “war toys” and violent video games at the TARGET Store in Atlantic

Shopping Center in Flatbush and demon-strated against the” toxic playthings.” Th ey fi lled shopping carts with toys replicating “all manner of killing machines designed to arouse the bloodlust of impressionable young children and teenagers,” as the Bri-gade described it, including simulated guns with repeat bullets and hand grenades. “Th e grannies, who have been trying for years to

end the destructive and immoral wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, feel these toys mili-tarize America’s young and pave the way to more and more killing,” the Brigade stated in a press release.

Th e seniors planned to make their way to the cashiers and then leave the carts in the store, but they were stopped by police, who ordered them out. Th ey left peacefully, singing their own versions of popular carols.

Th ey then gave out hundreds of leafl ets listing alternative toys for parents to buy rather than the “horrendous ones glorifying lethal batt le.”

Molly Klopot, a sprite 90-year-old, is co-founder of the New York chapter of the Brigade, which evolved from the Raging Grannies started in Canada in the 1980s. She’s hardly a stranger to antiwar and pro-union activities.

“I’ve been able to touch history,” the mother of two and grandmother of four said in her nicely adorned apartment in the Mitchell-Lama complex on Neptune Avenue. She’s been in sit-ins and teach-ins long before they were called as such since she was a teenager in the 1930s.

She proudly displays the plastic hand-cuff s that police placed on her wrists when she was arrested four years ago at a rally on the steps of the Army recruiting station at Times Square. “We were demanding that we be enlisted instead of our children and grandchildren,” said Klopot, whose grand-sons are now 15, 17, 21, and 26. She and the other grannies were charged with dis-orderly conduct and obstructing traffi c (al-though, she said, they were sitt ing on the steps of the recruiting station, away from any cars). Th ey were found not guilty aft er a six-day trial.

Klopot is at her protesting prime right now. “We grandmothers are in a very good position to be activists,” she said. “We’re retired, we no longer have children to take care of at home – we have the time to do these things.”

She said she was disappointed with President Obama, who recently announced a surge of troops in Afghanistan. “He’s very smart, very talented, but so what? He’s do-ing the same things Bush did,” she said.

What toys did she buy for her son, now 50, when he was growing up? “Legos,” she said. “And learning toys.”

“People have to change their ideology,” the nonagenarian said. “It starts with the toys we give our children. We have to real-ize, and teach, that war is not the answer.”

Here are some of the poems and carols re-writ-ten by the Granny Peace Brigade:

The Six days of ChristmasOn the fi rst day of Christmas my Mommy gave to me:A soldier on a shooting spree.

On the second day of Christmas my Mommy gave to me:Two toy machine gunsAnd a soldier on a shooting spree.

On the third day of Christmas my Mommy gave to me:Th ree armored tanks,Two toy machine gunsAnd a soldier on a shooting spree.

On the fourth day of Christmas my Mommy gave to me:Four fi ghter jet planes,Th ree armored tanks,Two toy machine gunsAnd a soldier on a shooting spree.

On the fi ft h day of Christmas my Mommy gave to me:Five missile launchers,Four fi ghter jet planes,Th ree armored tanks,Two toy machine gunsAnd a soldier on a shooting spree.

On the sixth day of Christmas my Mommy gave to me:--- I’m so sorry! Th ese war toys are bad, they make us mad, it’s no fun, it’s sad,‘Cause it helps you to love brutality

Hark, the Herald Angels Sing

Hark, the herald angels singNow, at last, let freedom ring.Peace on Earth and mercy mild,Nations must be reconciled.Let us put the bombs away!Bring our troops home, now, todayWars are not for toys, or a game. Don’t teach our kids to kill and maim!Give the children toys of peace, Help them to learn that wars must cease.

Silent Night, Peaceful Night

Silent night, peaceful night,No more guns, no more fi ghtsNo more drugs for our daughters and sons,Jobs, not poverty, for everyone.Th en we’ll sleep in peace, then we’ll sleep in peace.

Silent night, peaceful nightLove the kids in our sight.No more shooting or killing nearby,No more children afraid that they’ll die.Th en we’ll sleep in peace, then we’ll sleep in peace.

Silent night, peaceful night,Food for all, that’s what’s right.Warm, bright houses and medical care,Clothes, employment, and good child care.Th en we’ll sleep in peace, then we’ll sleep in peace.

“Don’t teach our children to kill!’

Granny Peace Brigade protestors sing while riding the escalator with banners

Photo by Phyllis Cunningham

90-year-old Molly Klopot selects a war toy at the Flatbush protest

Photo by Phyllis Cunningham


1229 Avenue Y (off East 12th Street) Suite 5C • Phone 718-368-2322 • Fax 718-368-3938 • mairalaw.com


Despite all the accounts of UFO sightings and “alien ab-ductions,” there is still no concrete evidence of there being anybody except litt le ol’ us in our galaxy (not even mention-ing any of the billions of other galaxies in the universe).

But more than a few scientists are active in SETI (the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence). Th ey use huge an-tennas, like the ones comprising the VLA (Very Large Array) in New Mexico, to continually scan the heavens in the hopes of picking up a signal, a note in a bott le cast across the cosmic sea.

As of this writing, nothing has been picked up except the natural static of the universe. But the search continues.

What is the chances that there are beings light-years away on other worlds wondering if we exist? In 1961, Frank Drake , now Emeritus Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, developed an equa-tion that bears his name, designed to give a working estimate of the probability of intelligent life on other worlds in our gal-axy. It goes like this::

N = N* fp ne fl fi fc fLN* represents the number of stars in our Milky Way Gal-

axy Current estimates place the fi gure at 100 billion.fp is the fraction of stars that have planets around them.

New “extrasolar” planets are being discovered very rapidly of late. Current estimates range from 20% to 50%.

ne is the number of planets per star that are capable of sustaining life. Scientists believe that to average from 1 to 5.

fl is the fraction of planets in ne where life developsthat’s the most uncertain – it could be anywhere from all

of them to none of them.fi is the fraction of fl where intelligent life develops.Again, this can be all, some, or none.fc is the fraction of fi that communicate.Th at’s thought to be 10% to 20%.f L is fraction of the planet’s life during which the com-

municating civilizations live.Th is is also very uncertain. Aft er all, we don’t even

know how long we Earthlings will survive – whether we will avoid nuclear or ecological catastrophe, or will per-severe to advance in extra-terrestrial communication and exploration.

If all of these variables are multiplied together, the result is N, the number of communicating civilizations in the gal-

axy. (Obviously, if the third, fourth, fi ft h, or sixth variable is placed at 0, there is no one out there trying to talk to us!)

If, though, we plug in estimated fractions -- for example, estimating that each star that has planets has at least one that could support life – we can come up with a fi gure of, say, 1,000 stars in the Milky Way that have communicating civili-zations on them (see box).

If that’s the case, we can only hope that they send out the note in the bott le – and that we can fi nd it.

The Planetary SocietyTh e name sounds like something out of Star Trek, but

it’s a product of the 20th century, not the 23rd.It was founded 25 years ago by the late, populist astrono-

mer Carl Sagan and others to, in the words of its literature, “demonstrate — simply by its existence — that the public strongly supported planetary exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life.”

“But it quickly became clear,” its statement continues, “that we were going to have to do more than just exist. To achieve our goals of keeping spacecraft exploring, seeing humans walk on other worlds, and searching for signs of life in the galaxy, to our goal of political advocacy, we added sponsoring research projects, publishing a magazine and a website, holding events to celebrate exploration, and prepar-ing for the future by educating the next generation of space explorers.”

IT'SIT'S IN THE STARS Are we really alone? N* = the number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy: 100

billionfp = fraction of stars with planets around them: 50 %ne = number of planets per star ecologically able to sus-

tain life: 1fl = fraction of those planets where life actually devel-

ops: 50% fi = the fraction of fl that develops intelligent life: 20%fc = the fraction of fi that communicates: 20%f L = Portion of the planet’s life during which the com-

municating civilizations survives: 10,000 years N = the number of communicating civilizations in the

galaxy: 1,000


Catering for All OccasionsDine In • Take Out • DeliveryNow serving pizza by the slice all day!Ask us about our other two locations!Free Convenient Parking

6610 Avenue U, Key Food Shopping Center in Mill Basin

718-251-8030



SENIOR CURRENTS

I feel safe. I am protected. I have Life Alert®.

When

ALONEI am home

One touch of a button sends help quickly in the event of a medical emergency, fall, home invasion, fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.

For a FREE brochure call:

1-877-609-9676

Now we have two systems available:

Life Alert Classic for seniors

Life Alert 50+ for people 50+

New! Your choice of help buttons

I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!

®


It’s not helpful – or even possible – to generalize about seniors getting behind the wheel. Everyone ages, and drives, differently. Some may be able to drive well into their 70s, 80s, or even beyond, while others should hand in their keys at age 60.

But there are statistics that warrant att en-tion.

Th e elderly, statistically, are more likely to get tickets for failing to yield, improper turning, and running through red lights or stop signs — which show a declining ability to drive. Older drivers are more likely to get into accidents than are younger people (not counting teenagers, of course) and the acci-dents are more dangerous for them than for younger drivers.

Th e type of car – and the type of road conditions – are a big factor, too. A senior

may fi nd new cars, with dashboards resem-bling a jet cockpit, quite confusing. Fading road signs, worn lane lines, or wet conditions that normally wouldn’t faze an experienced driver, may be increasingly diffi cult for a se-nior to adjust to.

A key problem is that gradual physical changes – slow deterioration of vision or hearing, small but accumulating changes in ability to move and react – might not be no-ticeable from one day to the next, but could have a tragic eff ect on driving.

What should you or your loved one do?Fortunately for seniors, we in Brooklyn

are not nearly as car-dependent as in most other locations around the state and nation. Buses and Access-A-Ride are easily available, and it’s not too expensive to take car service for short distances.

For many people, especially men, it’s psy-chologically very diffi cult to give up driving. It suggests a loss of independence and self-suffi ciency.

But considering what really can be lost in an accident, it’s oft en a necessary decision to make.

When are you too old to drive?

By BEN WEINSTOCK, P.T.

Osteoporosis, the “britt le bone” dis-ease, is oft en thought of as aff ecting only elderly females. While females

are at highest risk for the disease, it also af-fects millions of men in the United States. Anyone who smokes, drinks excessively, does not exercise, has low calcium intake, or who takes steroids for chronic medical con-ditions (such as asthma) is at a much higher risk of the disease.

It is important to understand how bone grows. When stress is placed on joints through muscular activity, bones respond to the stress by becoming denser. Adults reach their maximum bone density when they are in their 30s. If they have been sedentary in their youth, their maximum bone density will be less than someone who has been ac-tive. Most likely the children of today who spend long hours in front of computers and video games will suff er from osteoporosis in the future due to their current lack of physical activity. Bone is strengthened not only from weight-bearing activities (such as walking) but also from exercises that strengthen specifi c body parts (such as iso-metric exercises for the extensor muscles of the back).

Th e hips and the spine are at highest risk of osteoporosis, and osteoporosis-related fractures. A hip fracture or a spinal fracture can be devastating to an individual and is generally linked to further medical com-plications and a shortened lifespan. A land-mark study was done in 1984 to compare

various spinal exercise routines to determine what exercises should be done and what exercises should be avoided. A group of 59 post-menopausal women were divided into diff erent groups. One group did “fl exion” ex-ercises (such as sit-ups); another group did “extension” exercises (such as arching the back); a third group did a combination of the two; and a fourth group did nothing. Th e re-sults aft er two years: 90% of those who did the fl exion exercises suff ered spinal fractures; almost 70% of those who did nothing suf-fered fractures; about 50% of those who did fl exion and extension suff ered fractures…but only 16% of those who did extension ex-ercises suff ered spinal fractures.

What does this mean for the average person who either has been diagnosed with osteoporosis or is at risk of developing the condition? Obviously, excessive fl exion of the trunk should be avoided. All too oft en people join an exercise class (such as yoga, Pilates, etc.) and they bend and twist their trunks repeatedly into a fl exed position. Th is excessive fl exion places microscopic stresses on the vertebrae that may eventu-ally result in fractures.

Before you begin an exercise program, ask your doctor if a bone density test is needed. Based upon those results, a tailored exercise program should be developed by an experienced physical therapist.

Ben Weinstock, PTWeinstock Physical Th erapy, PC

“Th e Physical Th erapy Offi ce Th at Travels to the Patient”™

(718) 891-0780

Not for Women Only: Osteoporosis and Exercise

BAY CURRENTS ADVERTORIAL

Fi nd the right car and any aids you need for driving. Choose a vehicle with automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. Keep your car in good working condition by visiting your mechan-ic for scheduled maintenance. Be sure that windows and headlights are always clean. You can also see an occupational therapist for special driving aids that can help with physical problems.

Take it slow and give yourself plen-ty of room. If cars are passing you on both the right and left lanes, you may be driving more slowly than you used to. Move into the slow lane so others can pass you safely. Also, to avoid problems if the vehicle in front of you stops suddenly, stay back about

two car lengths. Be sure to yield the right of way in intersections. Older drivers also have a large number of accidents at intersections when making left turns. It is best to avoid them altogether by making successive right turns, going around the block or blocks to get to your destination.

Avoid distrac-tions. In general, many accidents hap-pen because of distrac-tions like talking on the phone, tuning the ra-dio, eating or drinking, reaching for something, turning your head to talk with a passenger or looking around at the scenery instead of the road. Even a few seconds of taking your mind off driving can be dangerous.

Avoid uncomfortable driving situ-ations. Many older drivers realize on their own they have to make some changes in the way they drive. For instance, you may decide to drive only during daylight hours if you have trouble seeing well in reduced light. If fast-moving traffi c bothers you, consider staying off freeways, highways, and fi nd street routes instead. You may also decide to avoid driving in bad weather, and if you are going to a place that is unfamiliar to you, it is a good idea to plan your route before you leave so that you feel more confi -dent and avoid gett ing lost. Online services such as MapQuest, Google Maps, and Yahoo Maps can be very helpful.

Source: HelpGuide.org


The Women’s Sports Foundation, founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, has taken a specific stand on the disabled participating in organized sports: (What are your views on this? Let us know at 347-492-4432 or email: [email protected])

DO SCHOOLS HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PRO-VIDE ATHLETIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVI-DIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES?

POSITION: Yes. Schools must provide individuals with disabilities, male and female, with equal opportuni-ties to participate and equal treatment in physical educa-tion, school recess, club, varsity and intramural sports programs.

In order to provide equal opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in physical education and athletic programs, schools must provide reasonable accommodations as necessary to provide these students with opportunities to participate in mainstream physical education and athletic programs (programs for students without disabilities)as well as develop adapted physical education and athletic programs for students with disabilities as necessary to provide such stu-dents with a physical education or athletic program that is as eff ective as that provided to students without disabilities.

CAN SCHOOLS DENY INDIVIDUALS WITH DIS-ABILITIES THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE BASED ON SAFETY CONCERNS?

POSITION: No. School systems cannot assume that sports and physical activity participation with and against students with disabilities by students without disabilities is unsafe or make generalizations that students with dis-abilities cannot safely participate in physical education or athletics and exclude them from such programs.

For example, in competition, recreation or teaching situ-ations involving students without disabilities, a student in a wheelchair can generally participate in racing on the school track during gym class, intramural or interscholastic sports; a student who has only one leg can participate in wrestling; a student who is deaf or hard of hearing can participate in basketball; a student with diabetes may wear an insulin pump during football games. If students with disabilities are exclud-ed from participation in an athletic activity, it must be based on an individualized assessment that inclusion of the student presents an objective risk of harm. If, for example, a student using a wheel-chair is not able to remain in her or his lane during a track event, the stu-dent could be excluded from track meets based on the demonstrated safety risk she or he creates for oth-ers in the race. However, when the student can demonstrate that she or he is able to control the wheelchair enough to negate the risk of harm, the student should be allowed to participate in the program.

WHAT TYPES OF REASON-ABLE ACCOMODATIONS MUST SCHOOLS MAKE TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OPPORTU-NITES TO PARTICIPATE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE?

POSITION: “Reasonable ac-commodation” means that school systems must modify existing pol-icies, practices or rules in order to include a student with a disability.

Examples of reasonable accom-modations include modifying the general rule that disqualifi es swim-mers who fail to use a two-handed touch when they approach the pool wall to fi nish a race in breast stroke in order to permit a one-handed

student to qualify with a one-handed touch or modifying the rule that requires tennis players to return the ball aft er no more than one bounce in order to allow a student using a wheelchair to return the ball aft er no more than two bounces. For example, consider Jim Abbott , who played professional baseball and had a 3.92 earned run average in his rookie year. Abbott was born with one hand, and Major League Baseball made an accommodation to its general rule that all ball play-ers had to wear specifi c, league-approved gloves.

DO SCHOOLS HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO CRE-ATE ADAPTED TEAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES?

POSITION: Yes. Schools must provide students with disabilities who cannot or do not wish to participate in mainstream physical education or athletic programs with adapted programs that provide students with op-portunities to participate in and to receive the benefi ts of physical education or athletic programs.

Examples of adapted athletic programs include wheel-chair basketball or beep baseball. However, even if a separate adapted sports team is developed for students with disabili-ties, an individual student with a disability must be allowed to participate in mainstream programs for students without disabilities. For example, if a school system off ered a golf pro-gram as part of its mainstream athletic program and also of-fered an adapted golf program, an individual student with a disability must be permitt ed the opportunity to participate in the mainstream program and must be off ered reasonable accommodations.

DO SCHOOLS HAVE AN OBGLIGATION TO CREATE ADAPTED TEAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILIITES WHEN THE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AT AN INDIVID-UAL SCHOOL ARE INSUFFICIENT TO FIELD A TEAM?

POSITION: Yes. Schools have the obligation and must be fl exible as they develop programs that consider the interests of students with disabilities.

When the numbers of students with disabilities at an in-dividual school are insuffi cient to fi eld a team, school systems may (1) develop district-wide teams as opposed to a school-based team in order to provide competitive experiences, (2) mix male and female students on teams together or (3) of-fer “allied sports” teams on which students with disabilities participate with students without disabilities. All of these

options have been used by numerous school systems. Th ree states have mandated selected adapted sports on a state-wide basis -- Alabama, Georgia, and Minnesota.

DO PROSTHESES PROVIDE AN UNFAIR AD-VANTAGE IN COMPETITION?

POSITION: No. Having a missing limb and replac-ing that body part with a prosthesis does not give the ath-lete with a disability an advantage.

Contrary to popular thought, prostheses do not contain technological mechanisms that make the replacement part bett er than a real limb. For example, an athlete running with a prosthetic limb cannot correct for a foot hitt ing the ground at the wrong angle like an athlete running with feet and an-kles. Th e athlete using a prosthesis lacks feet and ankle mus-cles and cartilage to absorb shock, which travels through her or his stumps and into the knees, hips and backs. Athletes with legs don’t have swollen stumps or stumps that hurt and bleed. In addition, in unilateral amputee studies, results indicate that the human ankle is three times more power-ful than a carbon foot, and a unilateral amputee needs to generate over 200% more power at the hips than a person without an amputation. Th e amputee with a prosthesis has to expend dramatically more energy than a non-amputee to run the same distance. Th ese blades are passive devices that do not generate any powered movement; they only return a percentage of what the athlete puts into them. As technol-ogy advances, sport governing bodies need to work with the athletes to determine fair parameters for mixed competition, i.e. runners without prostheses competing alongside ampu-tee runners.

CAN SCHOOLS DENY INDIVIDUALS WITH DIS-ABILITIES THE RIGHT TO USE COMPETITION AND TRA INING FACILITIES DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT EQUIPMENT (WHEELCHAIRS, PROSTHE-SES) DAMAGING PLAYING SURFACES?

POSITION: No. Schools cannot deny access to com-petition and training facilities to students who use wheel-chairs or prostheses based on misconceived notions of damaging playing surfaces.

Universities with athletics programs for students with disabilities report no unusual damage or wear to competition and training surfaces by wheelchairs or prostheses. In fact, the most common wear on track surfaces is caused by runners using lane one more than any other lane. Sprinting spikes are also known to cause wear and tear on track surfaces.

SPORTS CURRENTS

Only have 20 minutes a dayto get into shape?

Endorsed byChuck Norris &Christie Brinkley

Call now for this special offer:

1.877.647.3482

Try Total Gym!30 Day Trial

Only $4995

Sports are for the disabled, too!


By the Bay Currents staff

ACROSS 1 “amber-like” 4 0 and 1 9 Talking machine 11 Th e “M” in AM and FM radio 12 “His master’s _____” 13 Electrochemical cell 15 Th e “V” in VHF 17 Th e “U” in UHF 19 Camera, “darkened chamber”

DOWN1 _____ spectrum 2 Mr. ____, come here, I want you” 3 Th e “H” in VHF and UHF 5 Th e “A” in AM radio 6 Th e “F” in FM radio 7 Wireless telegraphy 8 American Telephone and _____ 10 “drawing with light” 14 Radio Detection And Ranging 16 Color of the Model T 18 (• • • — — — • • •)

by Matt Lassen

Each Bay Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing.Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces.Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square.

‘H’ was enough

Hans Hansen Bergen (circa 1610 – 1654), the namesake of Bergen Beach, was one of the earliest sett lers of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. He acquired a sizable amount of property in what was to

become Brooklyn, even though he was said to be illiterate, signing his name on deeds simply with an “H.”


BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

GoToMyPC lets you instantly work on your office computer from any Internet connection, with complete access to your email, programs and files. The automatic setup takes just minutes, and there’s no hardware needed. Just click and take your office with you wherever you go.

FREE 30-Day Trial gotomypc.com | promo code: AD19

GoToMyPC:It’s this easy.

By Joseph [email protected]

2009 is quickly coming to a close, and your window for some 2009 tax savings is closing with it. If you really want to save a few tax dollars, here are some year-end thoughts:

Win with your LosersDo you have stock gains?Give appreciated stocks (and other in-

vestments) to someone with signifi cant capi-tal losses.

A family member, or other, could give

their individual stock or mutual funds or other investments that have appreciated in value. When sold, the new owner will have a gain on that sale, but can now off set that gain with their losses, thus eliminating any capital gains tax.

Taxpayers can give up to $13,000 per year per person tax-free as part of the annual gift -tax exclusion.

(If you have losses, you may be able to use someone else’s gain.)

Do you have stock losses?Sell off investments with gains and off set

the losses. Strategy: Sell off profi table investments

and immediately repurchase them. You’ll

now have a capital gain for tax purposes to off set your losses, and you’ll have a new cost basis in the investment.

Isn’t this tactic prohibited by the wash sale rule? No, the wash sale rule only applies when you sell an investment at a loss and re-purchase the same investment within thirty days. If you’re selling an investment at a prof-it, the wash sale rule won’t apply.

Don’t jump.President Obama has proposed increas-

ing the tax rate on long-term capital gains to 20%. It might be prudent to keep carrying over some capital losses to off set future capi-tal gains.

Teachers: Teachers – Don’t Forget Your $250 Tax Deduction.

Th ere is a line item deduction on the front of your tax form for $250 for these costs. You use your own money for classroom supplies and/or food for your students, so take ad-vantage of this token gift and buy some extra supplies if you haven’t met this $250 allow-ance.

Prepay college expenses: Th e rule is that if a class begins within the fi rst three months of next year, you can take a deduc-tion or tax credit if those expenses are paid this year. So, pay the tuition and other college expenses before December 31.

NY State 529 College Plan: Th is is truly a gift from NY State. If you need to pay tu-ition, books, room, computer, etc, in Janu-ary, make a contribution to this plan (max:

$5,000 singles/$10,000 married couples). You will receive a deduction for your contri-bution on the 2009 tax return, and as soon as the check clears, you can withdraw your money! Yes, this is an ‘easy’ butt on.

Can’t itemize? Th ink again. Bunch your expenses this year, and fall back to the standard deduction next year. For example, prepay your mortgage and real estate taxes, double-up on charitable contributions, and stock up on your medical deductible expens-es in 2009 so you can itemize these expenses on Schedule A and lower your tax burden; then, use the Standard Deduction in 2010, and back to bunching in 2011.

Special Sales Tax Deduction for car purchases

Th e purchase of a new vehicle priced up to $49,500 made before January 1, 2010, will qualify you for a special deduction of the sales and excise taxes, whether you itemize or not! Yes, restrictions do apply, so check it out on www.IRS.gov.

Residential Energy Credits:Th is credit, which expired aft er 2007, has

been reinstated. You may be able to claim a non-business energy property credit of 30% of the cost of certain energy-effi cient prop-erty or improvements you placed in service in 2009. Th is property can include high-effi ciency heat pumps, air conditioners, and water heaters. It also may include energy-effi cient windows, doors, insulation materi-als, and certain roofs. Th e credit has been ex-panded to include certain asphalt roofs and stoves that burn biomass fuel. Limitation: Th e total amount of credit you can claim in 2009 and 2010 is limited to $1,500.

Tax accountant Joseph Reisman’s practice is at 2751 Coney Island Avenue, phone 718-332-1040

Are you a procrastinator?

An almost paper-thin laptop


Remember the scenes in the Harry Pott er fi lms of people in photos in books and newspapers starting to move and talk through black magic?

Well, in about a year or two, you’ll just need $75 -- no sorcery -- to come eerily close to this experience.

Th e “XO-3,” designed by Yves Behar, founder of the San Francisco design fi rm fuseproject, is a laptop that’s not much thicker than a page from a newspaper or book, and comprised almost totally of the screen, with the keyboard discreetly hidden.

Development of this ultra-thin PC comes from the folks who brought us the OLPC – One Laptop Per Child -- XO series of inexpensive laptops designed to carry Th ird World children across the digital di-vide.

Th e OLPC machines, pioneered by MIT professor Nicholas Negroponte, cost about $100 and were designed to withstand the other-than-delicate treatment by chil-dren. Th e devices have had mixed success, with OLPC Inc. – an international, non-profi t company -- facing chal-lenges from MicroSoft , Intel, and other tech giants, and the company was hard-hit by the economic down-turn in late 2008.

Th e next XO was supposed to be a two-screen, foldable device named XO-2, but OLPC scrapped the plans in favor of the XO-3, slated to come to market by 2012. Tentative plans call for it to have an 8.5” x 11” touch-screen (the usual size of the paper

you feed into your printer), a camera on the back, induction charger, and even a foldable carrying ring on one of its corners.

Th is new PC is mainly plastic, which makes it rather resilient and a litt le fl ex-ible. It’s a decidedly multi-use device – you could switch from reading “War and Peace” to surfi ng the Internet to fi nd a local pizza place. And, like the earlier XOs, the screen can work in daylight as well as at night with

self-illumination.In announcing the

XO-3 project, Negro-ponte said a key goal was to make it “ex-tremely simple and practically frameless.”

Harry Pott er au-thor J. K. Rowling hasn’t commented, but don’t be surprised if the young wizard is soon seen with the XO-3 hanging off his broomstick…

Keeping tabs

on TabbyAny cat owner will tell you how hard

it is to keep track of these intelligent, inde-pendent creatures, particularly if they are al-lowed to venture outside. Th ey are curious enough (you know the cliché) to wind up in anything from sewer drains to treetops.

A Long Island man found a high-tech solution. Mark Spezio’s cat, with the less-than-fl att ering name of KooKoo, had the habit of disappearing for days at a time. So Spezio decided to place a collar on the fe-line, outfi tt ed with a GPS device (complete with a sort of bow-tie to go with KooKoo’s black-and-white fur).

Th e cat-lover has even prepared a video clip about his innovation, viewable at: spec-trum.ieee.org/slideshow/geek-life/hands-on/kookoo-the-gpsenabled-kitt y

We wonder of KooKoo has seen it….


An

sw

ers

to

th

e B

ay S

ud

oku

fro

m p

ag

e 1

4A

ns

we

rs t

o t

he

Ba

y C

ros

sw

ord

fro

m p

ag

e 1

4

49.99only

1.866.771.4912www.CesarOffer3.com

LIMITED TIME OFFER!30 DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE!

FREE SHIPPING!

3-DISC SET + BONUS DVD

FREE!THE ESSENTIAL TOOLKITTips To Keep Your Dog Happy & Healthy

THE ESSENTIALTOOLKIT

MASTERING LEADERSHIP

SPECIAL OFFER

33

ond2Entertainm

ent ProducedbyMPH Entert

ainment and Emery/Sumner Productions for Cesar Millan, Inc. ©

2007Ce

MASTERING LEADERSHIP PEOPLE TRAINING SGOD ROF

oonnnnndddddd222222EEEEEEnnnnntttteeerrrttttaaaaaiiinnnnmm

eennttt PPPPrrrroooddddduuuuucccedbyMPH EEnntert

ainment and Emery/Sumner Productions for CCesar Millan, Inc. ©

2007Ce

MASTERING LEADERSHIPP PEOPLE TRAINING SGGODROF

YOUR DOG

CAN GO FROM

How can you get your dog toPULLING, BARKING, CHEWING & BEING AGGRESSIVE?STOP

Stars like Oprah, Will Smith, Nicholas Cage and Scarlett Johansson rely on Cesar when they need help with their dogs. Now, America’s most sought-after dog behavior expert, NY Times best selling author and host of TV’s “Dog Whisperer”, shares his expertise with you on this break-through DVD series.

CESAR MILLAN the “DOG WHISPERER”the answer is

“IʼVE DEDICATED MY LIFE TO TEACHING PEOPLE A BETTER WAY OF UNDERSTANDING THEIR DOGS.” - CESAR MILLAN

CESAR MILLAN’S DVD SERIES“MASTERING LEADERSHIP”

LEARN HOW TO GET CONTROL OF YOUR DOG:How to eliminate bad behaviors How to set boundaries and limitations How to change aggressive behavior How to choose a dog for your lifestyle

THIS TO THIS

Hanukkah is a great time for kids and teens, as shown by the Hanukkah parties at the Kings Bay YM-YWHA on Nostrand Avenue and at Congregation Adath Yeshurun on Avenue N.BAY CURRENT S PHOTOS

Draidel, draidel, draidel, I made it out of…


OPINION

By I. [email protected]

The community boards:Weakened, int imidated…now el iminated?

Rumors have been swirling around the proposed charter revisions, especially pertaining to community boards, with

some going as far as to see them eliminated completely.

The community boards were origi-nally established to allow local residents to have input into what happens within their neighborhoods. Appointed by the Borough President and serving at his will, however, the boards are little more than advisory committees and the members easily intimidated or pushed off the board entirely if they conflict with the powers above. This has been evidenced more than once, the greatest example being the firing of nine members if Community Board 6, including the Chair, over the At-lantic Yards project.

Already crippled by massive cuts in their budgets, Mayor Bloomberg has slashed the board budgets by a further 4 percent this year and 8 percent next. It is suspected that he will push to eliminate the boards entirely when the charter is revised. Will he also push to have himself declared Mayor for Life?

Summons more outrageous than ever

As if there weren’t enough predators around, spott ed recently on Ocean Parkway was a Parks Department

employee issuing parking tickets. When approached, he replied that this street was their territory. Indeed it is the Parks Depart-ment responsibility to maintain the median strips, which are considered parkland and within their jurisdiction, but now they have been put to work providing revenue at the public’s expense!

This is not to say that those who truly are in violation do not deserve to receive a summons, but much too much effort is placed on fines as a revenue source rather than actual punishment, and the amounts are excessive (see Amendment VIII to the Constitution of the United States below).

Th e agents who write the summons are not the only guilty parties. Since taking up the cause, we have been approached with accounts of some decisions that are truly frightening, as convincing evidence is oft en writt en off out of hand. In one case brought to our att ention, a photo showing the arrow on a “No Standing” sign which was par-tially obliterated brought the response that the person should have found other signs on the block. Th e problem was that this was the only sign that applied, as the photo clearly indicated.

Th e administrative law judges who de-cide these cases are political appointees. Th erefore, they are more of a collection agency than a party to a truly fair hearing.

Justice? Not here!Are the city’s summonses even legal?

According to the Constitution of the Unit-ed States, they don’t appear to be (emphasis added):

Amendment VNo person sh all be held to answer for a

capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same of-fence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, with-out due process of law; no r shall private prope rty be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VIIn all criminal prosecutions, the accused

shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the Stat e and district where in the crime shall have been committ ed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be in-formed of the natur e and cause of the accu-sation; to be confr onted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to

have the Assistance of Counsel for his de-fense.

Amendment VIIIn Suits at co mmon law, where the value

in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be other-wise re-examined in any Court of the Unit-ed States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIIIExcessive bail shall not be required, nor

excessive fi nes imposed, nor cruel and un-usual punishments infl icted.

Article V indicates that the use of emi-nent domain for private use is also illegal. Th e fact that the law seems to be at the dis-cretion of an elite few these days doesn’t speak very well for 21st century America.

Occasional lyBloomberg doesn’t win

As noted oft en in this column, the City Council only rebukes Mayor Bloom-berg when they are threatened by

massive protests from their constituents or others who may aff ect their political careers. A huge project in the Bronx invoked such a reaction recently as the Council acted against the mayor’s wishes.

Th e project includes several temporary jobs and fewer permanent jobs, both paying substandard wages. Th is elicited the wrath of the unions, who protested vehemently. Th e mayor’s reply was that they were sill jobs and bett er than no jobs (sort of like “Let them eat cake”). Council members, however, counting on union support to further their political careers, rose up in protest rather than alienate the powerful labor groups.

Brooklyn Bridge Park: parkland for developers

Mayor Bloomberg now wants to take over Brooklyn Bridge Park. No sur-prise there -- he wants to take over

everything else! For those unfamiliar with the project,

Brooklyn Bridge Park was to be a world-class park on the Brooklyn waterfront across the East River from downtown Manhatt an. It was to have facilities for sports, a muse-um, an electric trolley running the length of the park and other amenities.

One aspect of the project, previously unheard of, was that the park had to be self-sustaining, with no public funds provided for its maintenance; apparently, spending public money for the public good being a thing of the past. Even so, it was planned by community groups in partnership with gov-ernment, and the facilities provided were destined to foot the bills…until someone came along with the idea to replace most of the facilities with high-rise condos (sound familiar?). Th is brought about a reaction from the politically active community. For several years the fi ght has endured. Now Mayor Bloomberg wants to step in and take over. Do you think he’ll rid the park of the condos? Not on a bet.

Elitist policies

Continued on p. 18


1916-style PR

Nathan Handwerker, who in 1916 founded the famous hot dog stand in Coney Island bearing his name, deployed men wearing surgeon’s smocks to patronize his stand to convey the message that his franks were safe (this was before the days of government inspection of meat). Th at -- and charging only a nickel for

his dogs while his competitor Feltman’s (whom he had worked for) charged 10 cents -- made his business soar.

OPINION

The views expressed on the Opinion Page are of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or managers of Bay Currents.

Lost enchantmentI’m writing regarding the recent article on www.bayc-

urrents.net (Page 4 in this print edition) pertaining to the boardwalk at Coney Island.

I have to agree with Mr. Greco. Th ere are other cost-eff ec-tive, safe and appealing measures that can be taken. Why on Earth will the Parks Department not consider alternatives?

I am not a New Yorker. However, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Brighton Beach/Coney Island and experienc-ing all the magical, historical objects this iconic place off ers. Certainly, replacing the boardwalk with concrete would take away from the enchantment.

Jennifer Fuller

I got two tickets!My brother happened to be in Brooklyn and came upon

the article referring to Bloomberg and the tickets (OPIN-ION, Vol. 6 No. 6, Oct. 19-Nov. 2, 2009)

I will top your story -- My friends and I decided to spend the day in NYC from Long Island, and I decided to drive in rather than take the train.

On our way in I get pulled over for “blocking the box” -- which maybe was 2 inches, clearly not a lot. Th ere is no way not to block the box if a cab stops down the block and you get stuck. It’s tough luck and a $115 fi ne -- so I decide, Okay it’s a lot of money but I want to have a great day with my friends. But guess what? Th at’s right, on my way home – and

now I am so aware of the box that I wasn’t sticking out at all, and there were cars behind me -- I receive another ticket! I thought I was in the Twilight Zone or on Candid Camera or something -- this couldn’t be happening! My friends were in shock as well, because we were all so very careful not to block the damn box.

When the cop came over to give me the ticket, I asked, “What is going on today – is it a blitz?”

He didn’t answer. For me, it was $230 in one day!I agree that something must be done, because there is no

reasoning with people on a power trip giving out ticketsNext time, I’m taking the LIRR!

SherylLong Island

Publisher’s NotebookDavid J. Glenn

Th e recent incident at Madison High School, with two female teachers allegedly caught undressed together in an empty classroom during school hours, goes beyond the sen-sationalist headlines of the Daily News and the Post.

Th e real issue is the UFT-mandated “rubber room.”Th e two teachers were -- obviously justifi ably -- tossed out

of the school. But since they had tenure, they were sent to a “Temporary Reassignment Center,” dubbed “rubber room,” where teachers accused of misdeeds receive full taxpayer-fi nanced pay and benefi ts – averaging $71,000 a year – for doing prett y much nothing all day while their cases are “in-vestigated.”

Th e problem is, these investigations take, on the average, a full year, and the rest of us, as taxpayers, must pay for what can only be described as undeserved, high-priced welfare for them.

How long should it normally take to investigate an inci-dent like the alleged one at Madison? How complicated is it to determine whether the janitor who said he saw the teach-ers naked in the classroom was lying?

If the usual workings of the Department of Education, at the mercy of the all-powerful United Federation of Teachers union, are any guide, it will take far longer than it would in any other conceivable venue, public or private.

But let’s look at the larger picture. Anne Forte, a DOE spokeswoman, told us that on the average, there are 550 teachers in the rubber rooms at any given point, being paid an average $71,000 salary. Now, class, $71,000 times 550 equals $39,050,000. The city (read: we) are paying more than $39 million a year as hundreds of teachers facing charges ranging from ineffective teaching to seri-ous misconduct are investigated. This, while kids have to plod along with battered old textbooks, deteriorating school buildings, and cutbacks in everything from sports to music.

It’s shameful, not only because of the incredible waste of money that should go to the children, but also because it paints all teachers – the majority of whom are sincerely dedi-cated and eff ective educators – with the same brush as the turkeys who populate the rubber rooms, not to mention the more-than-a-few incompetent, lazy, or educationally harm-ful teachers who somehow get tenure and remain in the classroom year aft er year because administrators don’t relish jumping through all the UFT-imposed hoops to get rid of them.

What’s the solution? It’s really up to Mayor Bloomberg. Forte said that Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein “would like to end the rubber rooms as we know it.”

What’s stopping them? Bloomberg was able to do what no mayor before him was able to do – wrest control of the schools from the ineff ective Board of Education and the cor-rupt local school boards.

Now he has to show he really has the right stuff , and stand up to the UFT.

Th ink you can take ‘em on, Mayor?

$39 million bounces around the rubber rooms

Stay tuned. Th is fi ght isn’t over!

Can students afford to go to school?

We hope that by the time you read this the MTA will have backed off its threat to eliminate Student Me-trocards. Even presenting this is in extremely bad

taste. How can any government agency openly espouse a policy that undermines the education of the city’s students?

And where is our “education” mayor on this issue?Th e MTA is notorious for presenting a “budget of conve-

nience”. Th ey’re totally solvent one day and the next they’re in dire need. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has made as-surances that this and other drastic cuts will never happen. We certainly are rooting for him to succeed.

Adding insult to injury: No boards for the boardwalkIn addition to the devastation of our beloved Coney Is-

land, now we fi nd that city will redo the famed boardwalk without the boards (see story, page 4). Th e scheduled re-building will consist of a concrete surface. A small section of simulated boards over the concrete in the heart of what was the amusement area will be a reminder of what was. It’s a token boardwalk for the token Coney Island they’re planning.

Excuse me while I gag on this latest travesty.

Elitist policiesContinued from p.17


Custom Cabinet Refacing and Kitchen

Remodeling

HURRY! Offer ends 06/13/09. CALL NOW:

1-888-366-6134

OFFER CODE: 808-D1-CK-09-KITS

TM ®

TM ®

®

‡

+

NO PAYMENTS, NO INTEREST

FOR 12 MONTHS

Documents

BayC