Category: Uncategorized

Governor Andrew Cuomo will open the new Kosciuszko Bridge on Thursday, April 27, at 7 p.m. with a light show displaying the bridge’s new high-tech LED lighting system.

This is the first show of the governor’s “Reimagining New York’s Crossings” proposal, where he will illuminate bridges as a form of public art.

The light show on the bridge will be coordinated with the Empire State lights, along with music on iHeartRadio stations.

The original Kosciuszo bridge was was built in 1939 and connects Brooklyn and Queens. The construction of the new bridge started in 2013.

This first bridge will be opened to traffic in both directions for motorists until the bridge is fully completed in 2020. The original bridge will be discarded in the summer.

There will be five lanes that will be Queens-bound, along with four Brooklyn-bound lanes. There will also be a 20-foot bike lane installed.

Employees at Bushwick’s Marte Hall were robbed and beaten at gunpoint earlier this month, according to NYPD.

Police say that on the night of April 13, a man walked into Marte Hall, located at 81 Seigel Street, and approached an employee to ask about renting the catering hall.

The man left and returned a little while later, accompanied by another man.  Both men then took out firearms and demanded money from the 29-year-old employee.

The suspects then bounded the victim with extension cords. When the employee tried to free himself, the suspects repeatedly punched and kicked him, as well as striking him in the head with the gun, cops say.

The suspects took a red and black book bag from the victim and left the catering hall on foot.

The suspect, police say, sustained numerous bruises and cuts to his head and body. He was taken to Kings County Hospital, treated, and later released.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).  The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.

An unidentified man, pictured above, broke into a commercial bakery at 289 Manhattan Avenue early Monday morning.

Police say the man snuck in through the second floor window at about 12:05 a.m.

But he left without taking anything, according to authorities. Police are still looking for the would-be burglar.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).  The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

Councilman Stephen Levin will host a party on Monday to announce the winners of this year’s participatory budgeting process.

The event will take place at Enid’s, located at 560 Manhattan Avenue, one block from the Nassau Avenue stop on the G train. It will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The participatory budgeting process takes eight months each year, drawing community input and volunteer time from residents.

More than 3,500 people have voted for their top projects, which will be announced at the party.

The Newtown Creek Alliance is hosting a series of events celebrating Earth Week.

On Saturday, April 22nd from 1 to 3 p.m., NCA is kicking off its Kingsland Wildflowers Roof and community space.

Joyann Cirigliano from Four Harbors Audubon Society will make a presentation about the importance of backyard gardens for birds. They’ll discuss ways to use native plants to attract birds.

The lecture will be followed by a tour of the roof.

See the Facebook event here.

On Sunday, April 23rd, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., NCA will host a street cleanup of the Penny Bridge near Meeker Avenue.

NCA is looking for volunteers to help accomplish tasks like trash and debris removal, planting native flora and making new paths.

Gloves, shovels, trash bags and other materials will be provided.

For more information, click here.

Cops are looking for this man, pictured above, for inappropriate and unwarranted touching on the L train in Brooklyn.

Authorities say on Friday morning, between the Bushwick Avenue and Grand Street subway stops on the L train, the suspect “rubbed his groin” up against a 29-year-old woman’s behind.

When the train arrived at Larimer Street, the man departed the train and left the station.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or for Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA (74782)

The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG) is hosting three more free soil testing workshops this spring:

• Saturday, April 22 – Greenpoint Reform Church, 136 Milton St., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Saturday, May 6 – McCarren Park Greenmarket, North 12th St. and Union Ave., 10 am. to 2 p.m.
• Saturday, May 13 – McCarren Park Greenmarket, North 12th St. and Union Ave., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The workshops are a one-stop shop for education about safe gardening and remediation support. According to NAG, community members will learn why lead contamination exists in our soil, its human health effects and simple remediation and safety techniques.

According to the Department of Health, North Brooklyn has some of the highest blood lea levels in the city. Lead gets into the soil through oil chipping paint, dust, industry and diesel truck residue from the pre-1995 era.

Learn more about it at the upcoming workshops.

NAG asks that you bring a handful of soil in a Ziplock bag to be tested.

Southside United HDFC, more commonly known as Los Sures, is celebrating 45 years of fighting for affordable housing in the outside of Williamsburg.

On Wednesday, April 26, at 6 p.m., the community group will host its annual fundraiser at Freehold Brooklyn, located at 45 South 3rd Street.

The theme of the celebration will be “Celebrating 45 years of commitment to affordable housing, community development and advocacy.

“Now more than ever, with affordable housing still being a major issue for residents of Southside Williamsburg, our organization is keenly aware of its role in stabilizing families and the community as a whole, despite the challenges we face,” said executive director Ramon Peguero. “Many organizations close down after 45 years, but we are determined to achieve even more in the next 45 years as we work diligently to meet the needs of the community.”

In addition to managing affordable housing units, Los Sures also operated a weekly food pantry, a hydroponic farm, a senior center and other services such as tax prep.

The organization also runs a museum, El Museo de Los Sures, which is a “hub of exquisite artistic expression, attracting patrons who are eager to experience diverse artworks.

Police are investigating the death of a 63-year-old man inside an East Williamsburg parking lot.

Authorities say yesterday afternoon, at about 3 p.m., officers responded to a call about a man struck by a car inside the parking lot of Decorama, a building supply company at 1233 Metropolitan Avenue.

Sources say Hou J. Li, from Coney Island, was hit by a 2005 GMC flatbed truck, driven by a 32-year-old man. He was  backing out of the parking lot when he fatally struck Li.

Police arrived to find Li unconscious and unresponsive with head trauma. EMS responded, and immediately pronounced him dead.

There are now arrests at this time. The investigation is ongoing by the NYPD’s Highway Patrol Collision Investigation Squad.