News

Get to the point 5k entertains locals

Matthew Fischetti on October 18, 2022

By Billy Wood

news@queensledger.com

Greenpoint residents came out on Sunday afternoon to participate in the 28th edition of the St. Stan’s Catholic Academy Get to the Point 5K run.

The Oct. 17 event was founded by Frank Carbone, president of the pre-k3 to eighth grade catholic school. He has been involved with the school for 50 years. Carbone attended the school as a child, founded their sports program and served as a chairman of the board of directors throughout the years.

“We wanted to do a community oriented event, something that was fun and that would hopefully raise a few dollars for the school,” Carbone said. “It has just evolved into a terrific well attended event.”

Sunday’s event had an estimate of 350 people total, with about 220 runners for the 5K race and an additional 80-90 for the children’s dashes.

If you did not want to run that was not a problem either as the event had bouncy houses for the children, a clown handing out balloons and a Pikachu mascot. There were also adults and children singing along in the streets to Taylor Swift that the DJ was playing throughout the event.

The event began with the children’s dashes, which saw children from the ages of 2-12 competing.

“We give the kids a nice opportunity to compete in a very friendly setting,” Carbone continued.“And then we do a ceremony for them, to make ‘em feel special.”

When their award ceremony concluded, the adults got ready for the 5K race.The race started on Driggs Avenue and Newel Street and went throughout Greenpoint, finishing at the corner of Humboldt Street and Driggs Avenue.

“I’m looking forward to being out there and the great energy,” said Tom Meany, a member of the Prospect Park Track Club. This year was his second year participating in the event; he previously ran 10 years ago.

The 220 runners from different areas of the city and from nearby states gave everything for a good cause.

“It’s good exercise and a celebration of life,” said Meany.

Carlos Gonzalez was the first person to cross the finish line with a run time of 17:23.09. Once all of the runners crossed the finish line everyone went to the school’s auditorium for the final award ceremony and the after party where they were treated to refreshments, food, dancing, raffles and more.

This event was a hopeful step in the right direction since last year’s event was not as elaborate due to the COVID-19 pandemic; last year’s run was the first 5K race since 2019.

“It’s a nice chance for everybody to kind of reconnect, whether it’s alumni, people from the neighborhood, you know, we have people who used to live in the neighborhood who came back, or they circle it on the calendar and they can make it every couple of years they come back,” Carbone said.

Participatory budgeting kicks off in Bushwick

Matthew Fischetti on October 14, 2022

By Matthew Fischetti
mfischetti@queensledger.com

How would you spend a million dollars in your neighborhood?
That was the question posed to Bushwick residents at a joint participatory budget assembly, hosted by Council Members Sandy Nurse, who represents east Bushwick and East New York, and Jennifer Gutiérrez, who represents west Bushwick and Williamsburg, on Thursday Oct. 6th at Bushwick High School on 400 Irving Ave.

Participatory budgeting is the process where residents can have a direct say in capital projects (which include things like libraries, public spaces, parks, etc.) that cost at least $50,000 and last at least five years. The process is currently in the idea-collection phase which will last till the end of October (for district 37 they’re looking for proposals by the 17th) , proposals will be developed from then until January and voting will occur over a nine-day period in March and April, and the implementation phase starts in May. Anyone over the age of 12 can vote.
For the residents of District 37, which encompasses East Bushwick, this was the first year they were able to participate in the process. Not every councilmember chooses to opt into the program.
37-year-old Carolina Wang moved into Bushwick two years ago and visits Irving Square Park twice a day, everyday. She started an Instagram photographing the many dogs in the park, posting them to her account @Irvingsqpuppers. She attended the meeting because she wants to see improvements to the park, like a dog run, due to the increase in dog owners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We want to have a safe space for the dogs and we want to make sure that we’re responsibly sharing it with people in the park,” Wang said in an interview.
While it is the first time she has gotten involved in participatory budgeting, she said that the public assembly was helpful and made the process seem less daunting.
“I really enjoyed the information that I got. And it makes the process seem less scary,” Wang said in an interview. “And I do appreciate them [representatives from Councilwoman Sandy Nurse’s office] letting us know it’s the first time they’re doing it. It may not be perfect, but we’re just gonna do our best to do this.”
Kurt Anderson, 72, has been involved with the Cooper Street Community Association, which tries to foster greater relationships with Bushwick youth and their 83rd police precinct by organizing programming together. He recommended at the meeting that some of the money be spent to build either a bowling alley or community center, which he says the east side of Bushwick needs.
Anderson had to organize a recent fundraiser for his organization at a bowling alley in Queens because there wasn’t one located in the neighborhood.
“It’s an enjoyable sport, and everybody can come and do that. And I think it’d be a plus for the neighborhood,” he said.
40-year-old Rashid Littlejohn has gotten involved in participatory budgeting priorly as a youth leader, but he was excited to make his voice heard for the first time as a resident. He runs an organization called GunsforGrants which focuses on giving youth pathways to success away from harm and violence. Littlejohn has a few recommendations for participatory budgeting, including a turf field at P.S. 384 on 242 Cooper Street and turning the former Bushwick Economic Development Corporation on 61 Cooper Street into a community center.
“It was great to hear the voices of the community, you know, really eager to have their interests met when it comes to the funding. There’s a lot of concern that no one’s ideas gets overlooked,” Littlejohn said.
If you are interested in getting involved with participatory budgeting visit ideas.pbnyc.org or reach out to your local council member’s office.

The Cellar@42 Wine Bar and Kitchen Opens at 42 Hotel in Williamsburg

Matthew Fischetti on October 4, 2022

By Matthew Fischetti | mfischetti@queensldger.com

The Cellar@42 Wine Bar & Kitchen at 42 Hotel, a chic wine bar and restaurant within South Williamsburg’s newest hotel, has opened up to the public.

As you walk into the rustic yet modern 42 Hotel, you’ll see stairs straight ahead leading down to The Cellar, a new Williamsburg Wine Bar and Restaurant, serving wine, beer, and modern American-inspired plates. The sleek 2,500 sq. ft. space features flatscreens, lounge seating, virtual fireplaces, an 850 bottle wine cellar, tables, and a cafe.

The menu features small plates and bites to share with friends, including: Wagyu Sliders with aged cheddar and bacon-onion jam and truffle fries. They also offer handmade flatbreads including different options like Margherita, Calabrese, Crispy Chicken, & Wild Mushroom. Beyond that, they also offer wings with housemade sauces including Thai Chili, Buffalo, Hot Honey, and a dry rubbed option.

The Cellar at 42 Hotel also boasts an 850 bottle wine cellar, with a wine list that includes by the glass and bottle selections of wines from all over the globe. In terms of beer, they offer 12 draft lines with rotating craft beers plus an extensive can/bottle selection featuring local breweries like Brooklyn Brewery and SixPoint.

“The food and vibes at The Cellar were amazing during my stay,” said model / actor / influencer, Blaise French, who stayed at 42 Hotel earlier this month. “Eating wings, drinking beer, and chatting with other hotel guests while watching football at The Cellar was the highlight of my NYC trip,” said French.

The Cellar at 42 Hotel just introduced a new series of promotional programs offering discounted plates and drinks. On Mondays and Sundays they will have “Bites n’ Pints”, where drafts will only be $5, Wings are only $10 and sliders are $12. On Tuesday and Thursdays, they will be hosting Social Hour events from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., where drafts are 5$, bites are $12, and wine by the glass is $10. And on Wendesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., bites are $12 while wine by the glass is $10 for Wine Down Wendesdays.

The Cellar at 42 Hotel offers brunch every Saturday and Sunday between 10am – 3pm. Hotel guests will receive 10% OFF their brunch tab.

The Cellar Wine Bar & Kitchen is located inside 42 Hotel in Williamsburg at 426 S 5th St., Brooklyn. The Cellar can be reached via the 42 Hotel phone number: 718.494.4242

The Lady in Greenpoint: North Brooklyn’s newest spooky walking radio play

Matthew Fischetti on October 4, 2022

The map for the Lady in Greenpoint, which starts at the Pulaski Bridge and ends in McGolrick Park.

By Matthew Fischetti

mfischetti@queensledger.com

Rick Paulas always loved Greenpoint. He wanted to do a project based in the neighborhood, especially after being able to move in due to a pandemic rent discount, but after 45,000 words and over a year into a novel – it wasn’t working. While stressing about a $400 rent increase with his girlfriend at local watering hole The Palace, Paulas got the idea to convert the novel into a radio play.

And that’s how “The Lady in Greenpoint”, the new three mile walking audio play was born.

Starting at the Pulaski bridge, “The Lady in Greenpoint” takes you through Greenpoint with stops at The Astral Apartments on Franklin Street, St. Anthony’s on Manhattan Ave., as well as Capri Social Club on Calyer Street, before ending in McGolrick Park – all while delving into Greenpoint’s history amidst a spooky backdrop. The 46 chapter play, complete with charcoal drawings at each stop, follows main character Pauline as you descend deeper into the neighborhood.

“I’ve always been obsessed with ghost tours,” Paulas said in an interview, noting that he always attends the tours in whatever city he’s visiting. “It gives you history that isn’t otherwise available to you. Good ghost stories or good ghost walking tours, they take place in areas where they have a lot of old buildings.”

And Paulas thought with Greenpoint’s rich history, it would be a good fit.

Paulas said that most of the historical research stemmed from reading local history books by Geoffrey Cobb, who has published a series of books about North Brooklyn including the 2019 “Greenpoint Brooklyn’s Forgotten Past.”

“This used to be an Irish place named Murphy’s,” he explained during an interview in Capri Social Club. “The separation exists because men and women back in the olden days, workers would come in at the side door to get their breakfast.”

Author Rick Paulas at Capri Social Club, one of the stops in “The Lady in Greenpoint.”

Part of the inspiration came from a Greenwood cemetery grant program for a walking tour that he never heard back from. Once he decided to pivot from a novel, he was able to get the script done in a weekend.

“Figuring out the path was a little difficult, because three miles is a lot. But also I wanted it to be something long, I didn’t want it to be a half hour, I wanted there to be an element that you’re stuck with this for a long time,” he said.

Paulas enlisted a slew of friends to do voice acting, which include New York City based writers and journalists. They did it D.I.Y style, simply recording into their phones.

While creating a project like this could be daunting, Paulas said that he had a lot of fun learning more about audio production, working with actors and picking up charcoal drawing.

“You get the idea in your head of wanting to make something. And for something like an audio project, its not the hardest thing in the world. It takes a lot of logistics,” he said “I would hope that someones inspired to make their own thing somewhere else,it was really fun.”

“I came up writing blogs and those things are immediately disposable, the next day they’re gone. But something like this, you put it out there and hope for the best, people find it or they don’t.”

Readers who want to check out the play can find the project on https://theladyingreenpoint.mystrikingly.com. The suggested ticket price is $10, to be sent via Venmo (Rick-Paulas, last four digits: 0608) or PayPal (rickpaulas@gmail.com).

Dough Doughnuts opens in Downtown Brooklyn

Matthew Fischetti on September 14, 2022

By Brooklyn Star Staff

news@queensledger.com.

Brooklyn-based donut shop Dough Doughnuts is now expanding to Downtown Brooklyn.

Beginning on Sept. 22 Dough will be joining Time Out Market, a 21,000-square-foot waterfront food market that is home to over 20 different eateries.

“We are thrilled to join Time Out Market New York – it’s a place people visit to get a real taste of the city so it’s a perfect spot for us and our doughnuts which you get to enjoy all day long,” Steve Klein, co-owner of Dough Doughnuts, said in a statement.

To celebrate their new 55 Water Street location, Dough will have a limited release of a new exclusive flavor, the Brooklyn Blackout: a chocolate brioche doughnut filled with chocolate pudding, topped with semisweet chocolate glaze and sprinkled with chocolate cake crumbs. The new DUMBO location will also feature Bonjourno Artisanal Coffee, a roasted coffee from Western Europe, to get your caffeine fix.

Dough will also be giving out a free t-shirt or cofee mug with a purchase of sixdoughnuts.

St. Josephs University moves up 30 ranks in best colleges

Matthew Fischetti on September 14, 2022

By Brooklyn Star Staff

news@queensledger.com

St. Joseph’s University, New York was once again named one of the nation’s top universities by U.S. News & World Report, moving up 30 spots in the rankings for Regional Univerisities – North Category

The independent university founded in the Catholic tradition, landed in a 6-way tie at #48 for top universities. St. Josephs also received accolades as the #18 Best College for Veterans; #19 top university for Undergraduate Teaching in the Regional Universities – North category and #43 for Social Mobility.

“Both our recent elevation to university status and our most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings make it clear that St. Joseph’s University, New York is an institution reaching new heights with still more to do,” President Donald R. Boomgaarden said in a statement. . “These rankings are testaments to the hard work and dedication of our students, faculty and staff. I could not be more proud of all we have accomplished and more optimistic about the bright future that lies ahead.”

President Boomgaarden announced that the New York State Board of Regents had approved St. Joseph’s College’s petition to be elevated to university status, and would change its name to St. Joseph’s University, New York, this past April.

With campuses in Brooklyn, Long Island and Online, SJNY was selected to this year’s list of top Regional Universities–North based on its high graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources per students, graduate indebtedness, alumni giving and social mobility, as well as the number of veterans enrolled and eligibility in the 9/11 GI® Bill Yellow Ribbon Program.

Through its Brooklyn, Long Island and online campuses, the University offers degrees in 60 majors, special course offerings and certificates, affiliated and pre-professional programs.

Brooklyn Back To School Bash: Photos

Matthew Fischetti on September 1, 2022

By Brooklyn Star Staff

news@queensledger.com

Over 500 kids were served with new backpacks, fresh hair cuts, and more to get ready for the new school year at Atlantic Terminal on Saturday, (Credit: Ido Simantov)

Partners included Emblem Health, St. Joseph’s College, Brooklyn YWCA and the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. (Credit: Ido Simantov).

Greenpoint Ferry opening delayed again

Matthew Fischetti on August 30, 2022

By Matthew Fischetti

mfischetti@queensledger.com

After 16 months of repairs and delays, Greenpoint residents will have to hold out even longer to see their ferry service returned.

On Thursday Aug. 25, Lendlease, the private developer that owns the pier, announced that service will not return until late-October or early-November, after the company previously stated that it would open at the end of this month, due to issues with the pile work. Work on the ferry landing started in May of last year.

“Lendlease has not demonstrated the necessary urgency in returning ferry service to Greenpoint, and our community cannot trust that ferry service will return in ‘late-October/early-November’ anymore than the previous timelines that Lendlease has failed to meet,” Greenpoint Councilman Lincoln Restler said in a Thursday statement. Restler also called on the Economic Development Corporation, which oversees the NYC Ferry system, to explore alternative access at a publicly owned pier.

Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher echoed similar sentiments:“For nearly a year and a half, we have been working in good faith with Lendlease and the multiple agencies who have jurisdiction over repair work on the India Pier Ferry stop, trying to identify and resolve bureaucratic obstacles to restoring much-needed service. We are now completely out of patience. It’s clear that private entities have no place owning public transit infrastructure. The City needs to get a hold of this situation right now.”

A spokesperson for the NYCEDC said that the group “looks forward to bring NYC Ferry service back to Greenpoint as soon as Lendlease safely restores the landing.”

A source with knowledge told the Greenpoint Star that the NYCEDC will be preparing a response to the pols’ letter in the upcoming weeks.

42 Hotel opens in Williamsburg

Matthew Fischetti on August 30, 2022

By BK Star Staff

news@queensledger.com

42 Hotel, a new luxury lodging in Williamsburg officially opened its doors to the public earlier this week.

Located on 426 S 5th Street, the 60-room building features amenities like floor-to-ceiling windows, lounge chairs, JBL Bluetooth speakers and high speed internet access.

The hotel offers six different room packages, ranging from 240 to 320 square feet and handicap accessibility options.

Designed by architect Lucas Lee and interior designer Andres Escobar, the new hotel sports a self-described “rustic but modern” design, with Edison style bulbs adorning the lobby.

The hotel also features a beer and wine lounge, called the Community Lounge, where both local and international craft beers, and “Americana-inspired small plates” will be on the menu. Additionally, 42 Hotel has partnered with Brooklyn Speed Coffee to run their cafe, offering breakfast burritos and “third wave” coffee.

The lobby of 42 Hotel

“42 Hotel is excited to serve the residents and tourists of Williamsburg. Our hotel is all about ‘community,’ and we will be partnering with local businesses to provide hotel guests with a unique Williamsburg experience,” the management team said in a statement.

“We hope that guests will enjoy all of the details that our team has spent years on crafting.”

42 Hotel also offers perks like same-day laundry, access to a fitness center and conference room options for patrons.

Reservations can be made directly on their website: https://42hotel.com/

5 Rules For Small Business Grant Funding Applications in NY

webadmin on August 11, 2022

Starting a business is expensive. You have to test new products, secure inventory, research market trends, etc. There’s no shortage of costs for a startup business. But if you haven’t even started selling yet, where does the money come from?

Seasoned small business owners might have a network of financiers, but for entrepreneur rookies, securing funding before you’ve had a chance to prove yourself can be tricky.

Every new business can do with a bit more cash, but the application process for government issued small business grants involves more than putting your name on a list and waiting for a deposit. Not every grant is right for every business and understanding how grant-issuing organizations evaluate applicants is imperative to securing the financial assistance you need.

If you plan on investing the time and energy into applying to a small business grant program, it’s important to understand the options available and pick the grant that’s right for your business.

Small business grants are offered by all kinds of organizations, to all types of businesses, with a wide range of values, missions, and functions.

There’s no single set of criteria that can be applied to all grant opportunities, but generally, grant-lenders are looking for small businesses that embody their organization’s stated purpose and add value to a particular community or industry.

Small business grants are not loans, so lenders aren’t expecting to be paid back. They’re not investment capital, either so issuers aren’t expecting to own assets of your business. But that doesn’t mean that small business grants don’t come with expectations and incentives. Issuers still expect a return on their investment, just not a monetary one. Instead, organizations that provide small business owners with grants want to feel confident that your business idea contributes to their organization’s mission⁠—whether it be a common good, innovation in a particular industry, or economic growth in a specific community.

A small business grant isn’t necessarily “free money” either. Grant issuers often have stipulations about how the money can be spent, sometimes even spending the money themselves on specific resources they believe will help your business grow.

If you’re to fund a small business and looking to apply for a business grant, here are some key points to keep in mind:

Look for grants within your industry: A lot of small business grants are industry specific, so it can help narrow down your search if you focus on organizations and research institutions within your specific industry. Focusing on one industry also builds buzz around your business and can help build connections with industry figures who may be able to offer guidance and investment opportunities.
Read the eligibility requirements carefully: Read the requirements carefully and evaluate whether you qualify for the grant. If you’re unsure whether you qualify, contact someone from the organization and ask.
Make sure your business aligns with the organization’s mission: Organizations that provide small business grants do so in the hopes of achieving a specific goal they are deeply invested in. Ask yourself how your business model helps contribute to achieving this goal. If the answer is hard to find, you might want to consider applying for grants with another organization.
Know what you’ll be spending the grant money on: Have your business plan ready and know how the money will be spent. This will make the organization understand more clearly how your business aligns with their mission.

Focus your pitch on innovation and expansion: Organizations that issue small business grants typically favor business that they see as innovative, forward thinking, and on a path to growth. Focus your pitch on new technologies you might be developing, and what your business can do to help the organization with its mission.

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