We Ride the Lanes!
Prospect Park West Family Bike Ride

Here are this week’s top FGA Facebook and Twitter stories:

Last month the Fort Greene Assocaition [FGA] brought you a Free Tree Give Away as a warm-up to what we’re calling “Earth Month.”

This month the FGA will feature articles bursting with information about being Green in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. We’ll turn Earth Day into Earth Month. Doesn’t Mother Earth deserve it?

Fort Greene Greenmarket: One-Stop Shop for Sustainability
By Amanda Gentile

At the Fort Greene Greenmarket shoppers have their pick of fresh, healthy, seasonal and flavorful food produced by local growers. Food dollars spent on fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy here directly support family farms and sustainable growing practices.

Residents can return weekly with fruit and vegetable scraps, which can be dropped off at the Greenmarket compost stand between 8am-3pm. Material collected will be transported to a compost facility where it will be turned into a fertile soil amendment. Previously managed by volunteers the Fort Green Compost Project, GrowNYC has taken over the collection to expand the hours and offer drop-off points at 6 additional markets. Food comprises about 17% of NYC’s waste stream, but when diverted from landfills through composting, becomes a useful product that adds nutrients and improves the quality of soil for street trees, gardens and more.

In addition to greening your kitchen, this Greenmarket will take care of your closet too. A shocking 6% of NYC trash is comprised of clothing and textiles, but this material need not go to waste. GrowNYC’s weekly textile collection, operated in partnership with Wearable Collections, accepts shirts, shoes, towels, sheets and more that will be sorted for reuse or get recycled into other items such as rags and non-toxic insulation. To-date, GrowNYC has diverted nearly 1,000,000 pounds of textiles from the landfill.

Call this trifecta a “sustainability center,” set in a bustling community that thrives with farmers, neighbors, free recipes, cooking demonstrations, and more.

For more information, or get involved visit www.grownyc.org

Fort Greene Happenings

Your Fort Greene Weekend Staycation starts today! Visit our event calendar to learn what’s going on in and around Fort Greene. While you are planning your weekend out on the town, be sure to take advantage of Dine in Brooklyn’s dining deals!

Do you have an event taking place in Fort Greene you want to announce to residents and visitors? Take advantage of our free event listing service on our website by submitting your events to http://historicfortgreene.org/submit-an-event/. Please allow 5 business days for your event to be posted to the FGA’s event calendar.

Transportation Updates

State Committeewoman / District Leader Olanike “Ola” Alabi announced yesterday the NYC Transit and the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) B25 & B26 buses will now stop directly across from the Grace Agard Harewood (Fort Greene Senior) Center to accommodate the needs of the community; the paperwork is currently being processed.

Top Stories in and around Fort Greene

The Fort Greene Association (FGA) sources daily news about Fort Greene and the surrounding neighborhoods to keep you up to speed on what’s going on in our neighborhood and to highlight what makes our neighborhood so special and unique. If you are interested in receiving immediate daily updates please become a Fan of the Fort Greene Association on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter

Here are this week’s top FGA Facebook and Twitter stories:

1. Fire at Fort Greene Restaurant
2. Supermoon at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, 7:32PM, March 19, 2011
3. Hipster Trap Coming To Your ‘Hood?
4. Finally! Supermarket Coming Soon to Ashland
5. Fort Greene’s Cambodian Cuisine, Now on Wheels
6. Rosie Perez Hosts Fort Greene Festival Kick-Off Party
7. Upon the Burning of Our Store - Brooklyn Free Store
8. “That’s Brooklyn”: Starbucks CEO Dismisses Park Slope In Favor Of Bensonhurst
9. DeKalb Market Will Feature Incubator Farm, Food Vendors
10. Hawk Munches Pigeon on a Porch

Support the FGA Today!

The Fort Greene Association (FGA) is the clear strong voice of Fort Greene, getting our strength from our membership and the contributions you give. That strength gives the FGA a greater voice with elected officials and government agencies on behalf of your neighborhood concerns. Make your voice stronger by becoming a member of the Fort Greene Association today.

The FGA is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that supports and works in concert with the many other fine organizations that make our community so special and vital. Please help the FGA become stronger with your time - volunteering on a FGA committee and your tax deductible donation that will bring a full year of benefits to you and your neighborhood.

Your donation matters, please be generous making your much needed tax deductible donation to the Fort Greene Association today. To learn more about the FGA and how you can make a donation please visit http://historicfortgreene.org/join-renew/ today!

Sometimes the week gets so busy that some of the good stuff gets missed. Use the weekend to catch-up.

Free BBall Tickets

LIU Basketball advances to NEC semifinal - March 6 - 12 noon

With a convincing 90 - 75 win Thursday night in the first round of the Northeast Conference tournament, the Long Island University men’s basketball team (25 - 5) advanced to the tournament semifinal round.

The Blackbirds - in pursuit of their first NCAA berth since 1997 - will face Central Connecticut State this Sunday, March 6th at Noon in LIU’s Wellness, Recreation and Athletics Center (the WRAC).

A limited number of free tickets are available for this game. To reserve your tickets please contact Greg Fox, LIU Associate Athletics Director, at 718-488-1018 or at [email protected]

This is a great opportunity to see fantastic basketball at a family-friendly arena in right in Downtown Brooklyn.

Composting Pilot Initiative

On Saturday, March 5, GrowNYC will launch a 4-month pilot program to expand current food scrap collections from NYC households at six Greenmarkets including Fort Greene Park, and Brooklyn Borough Hall. Shoppers can drop off fruit and vegetable scraps to be transported to a compost facility where they will become a fertile soil amendment for local farming projects and other uses. This program complements the existing, ongoing Greenmarket food scrap collections conducted by our community partner

Fort Greene Greenmarket [download poster]
Saturdays, 8am-3pm
Washington Park at DeKalb
Previously managed by the Fort Greene Compost Project since October 2005.

Here are all of the locations and hours: http://www.grownyc.org/compost/locations

New Neighborhood Website

Community Board 2 is now online. Vist their new website at http://www.nyc.gov/html/bkncb2/html/home/home.shtml

Community Supported Agriculture

The Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project (MARP) is trying to gauge resident interest for bringing a Meat Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. We would appreciate your help in spreading the word!

The blog post says it all and has a link for interested residents to fill in a survey. If you have any questions contact MARP’s Kassy Nystrom at [email protected].

http://www.myrtleavenue.org/blog/index.cfm/2011/1/26/Interested-in-Joining-a-Fort-Greene-Clinton-Hill-Meat-Community-Supported-Agriculture-CSA

Summer H.E.A.T.

(Help Employ Ambitious Teens)
Every spring, high school students are faced with the challenging task of finding summer jobs. Many students want to work but find that employers are not eager to hire teens for the few months of summer. Summer H.E.A.T. reaches out to employers to help employ youth, has worked with employers to give teens a valuable experience in the workforce. For more information http://www.brooklyn-usa.org/pages/Summer_Heat/summerheat.htm

Student application due March 15

http://www.brooklyn-usa.org/pdf/summer_heat/Summer_HEAT_Application_11.pdf

Local businesses who want to participate - http://www.brooklyn-usa.org/pages/Summer_Heat/employers.htm

Free 6 week Summer Science Camp

Camp GOALS 2011- free 6-week summer science Camp for 8th and 9th grade girls in NYC public schoolsApplications available online
Visit www.intrepidmuseum.org/Education/Camps/Camp-G-O-A-L-S-.aspx to download student application, teacher recommendation and other important materials.

Important 2011 Deadlines*

· March 25 Math or science teacher recommendation due
· April 4 Student application due
· April/May (TBD) Interviews at the Museum (selected students only)
· May/June (TBD) Decisions are made and letters are sent to parents and students
· June (TBD) Parent/camper orientation aboard Intrepid Museum
· July 5 First day of camp at the Intrepid
· Aug. 12 & 13 Overnight aboard the Intrepid and last day of camp
* Dates subject to change
What Do the Intrepid Museum, Girls and Science Have in Common?
· Camp G.O.A.L.S. (Greater Opportunities Advancing Leadership and Science) for Girls is an application-based FREE six-week summer camp for current 8th and 9th grade girls from NYC public schools.
· Generously funded by the Motorola Foundation, 80-85 accepted students will build proficiency in math and science. Through our partnership with the Rutgers School of Engineering and Science Buddies, girls will experience hands-on activities and field studies focused on aeronautics, engineering, marine science, medical science and space/astronomy.

Location:
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Pier 86, West 46th Street & 12th Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Camp Hours: 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Transportation:
Each camper will be given an unlimited Metrocard to be used during camp dates only.
Lost Metrocards may not be replaced.

Lunch:
Provided by donated funds.
Contact Shay Saleem at 646-381-5168or [email protected]

Proudly supported by
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and the Motorola Foundation present a NEW Camp G.O.A.L.S. for Girls 2011 Summer Program!

Free Trees
A perfect flowering tree for you. Our next tree giveaway is March 26, 10-12. Click the tree below. Mark the date, plan your garden and spread the word.

*Rain Date Sunday March 27

HELP: Easy and fun; a little time will make a big difference. Contact Shertease Wheeler at [email protected]:

• Make 15 calls to local organizations in the next two weeks to spread the word
• Or give out leaflets at the Fort Greene or Grand Army Plaza Greenmarkets on the Saturday of your choice. Just two hours needed from you; bring a kid or a friend.
• On March 26, help people get trees home, help plant or give planting advice.

• Design graphic materials to give to the participating businesses
• Organize outreach to businesses
• Manage our business data base
• Help identify appropriate earth-friendly coffee cups and food containers and plastic wrap.

In honor of Black History Month the Fort Greene Association (FGA) produced a community collaborative art exhibit. The works of three local Fort Greene - Clinton Hill artists with ties to Pratt Institute were on display in a vacant storefront located at 395 Flatbush Avenue Extension, part of Metrotech BID. Additionally, Black History Month murals were created on the windows of local businesses in Fort Greene. “We Never Stop” inspired by the novel “Black Boy” by Richard Wright can be seen at Fort Greene SNAP, 324 Myrtle Avenue. An African textile inspired piece dedicated to Brenda Brunson-Bey can be seen at Kiki’s Pet Spa & Boutique, 239 Dekalb Avenue. If you missed out on viewing the art installation you are in luck, the New York Times Local ran a story yesterday, “Black History Month Collaborative Art Exhibit“

The works exhibited at 395 Flatbush Avenue Extension are for sale by the artists; a portion of the proceeds will be donated to fund a program created by the FGA to encourage local youth facing financial hardships to attend college.

Contact us at [email protected] to learn how you can purchase the art created by local Fort Greene - Clinton Hill artists and to support such a worthy cause.

Lastly yesterday concluded the FGA’s partnership with Fort Greene-Clinton Hill Patch for our month long Black History Month celebration honoring the contributions black men and women made in Fort Greene. Each day we’ve recognized those who’ve made significant contributions in and around Fort Greene, individuals who’ve committed selfless acts to help others as well as recognize pioneers who’ve paved the road for others.

Please take a moment to meet some of our recent Black History Month honorees:

Eva Daniels: Fort Greene’s Real Estate Agent
She was working in the neighborhood before it became all the rage in the realty scene.
http://fortgreene.patch.com/articles/eva-daniels-fort-greenes-real-estate-agent

Dahved Levy: Rockin’ the Neighborhood
With his signature phrase, “Dahved Levy, Rockin’ you! Rockin’ you!” known to millions of radio listeners around the world, has made his mark in the local Caribbean music scene.
http://fortgreene.patch.com/articles/dahved-levy-rockin-the-neighborhood

The Founder of Fort Greene Fest, Peter Tulloch started a music festival that is one of the biggest events of the summer.
http://fortgreene.patch.com/articles/the-founder-of-fort-greene-fest

Two Steps Down: A Soul Food Staple, the Mayo Family opened their popular restaurant on DeKalb Avenue in 1969
http://fortgreene.patch.com/articles/two-steps-down-a-soul-food-staple

Hiram Thomas: An Early Pioneer in Fort Greene, bought a property on Fort Greene Place, and endured the hatred of his neighbors
http://fortgreene.patch.com/articles/hiram-thomas-an-early-pioneer-in-fort-greene

Jamel Gaines Built a Creative Outlet in Fort Greene. The dancer runs a school that nurtures budding artists
http://fortgreene.patch.com/articles/jamel-gaines-built-a-creative-outlet-in-fort-greene#photo-5022004

Marian Anderson Gave a Legendary Performance at BAM
http://fortgreene.patch.com/articles/marian-anderson-gave-a-legendary-performance-at-bam#c

James Forten, A Prison Ship Survivor. The inventor, businessman and abolitionist was a captive on the ships anchored in Wallabout Bay during the Revolutionary War.
http://fortgreene.patch.com/articles/james-forten-a-prison-ship-survivor

The Joseph Brothers: Elder Statesmen of Fulton
Three brothers opened F + S Tires way back in 1985.
http://fortgreene.patch.com/articles/the-joseph-brothers-elder-statesmen-of-fulton