14th annual Greenpoint Children’s Halloween Parade

It’s about to get spooky in Brooklyn!

This Sunday, Town Square is hosting the 14th annual Greenpoint Children’s Halloween Parade, Spooktacular Party and Zombie Nerf War.

The parade assembles at 11:30 a.m. at 176 Java Street. At noon, you’ll march down Manhattan Avenue to Norman Avenue, then loop back to Java for a spooktacular party.

For the older kids, there will be a Zombie Nerf War as well.

The parade is free to join! Be sure to put on your best costumes and have lots of fun!

Grand Street BID’s e-waste recycling

Have any electronic waste you need to dispose?

Bring your unwanted electronics, such as computers, televisions, cameras, radios and other gadgets to the Grand Street BID’s e-waste recycling event on Saturday, October 21st from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Avoid getting that annoying fine and drop off your e-waste for free!

Upcoming “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” Coming to Brooklyn…Start Your Team NOW!

At the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s, people carry flowers representing their connection to Alzheimer’s – a disease that currently has no cure.  But what if one day there was a flower for Alzheimer’s first survivor?  What if there were millions of them?   Help make that beautiful day happen by joining us for the world’s largest fundraiser to fight the disease. This year, the Brooklyn walk is scheduled for Saturday, November 4th at Kingsborough Community College, 2001 Oriental Blvd.

Help us end Alzheimer’s.  Join the fight for the first survivor!

Go to www.alz.org/nyc to start your own team and help us fight!  The end of Alzheimer’s starts with YOU!

Town Hall with Mayor de Blasio

Councilman Stephen Levin and Mayor Bill de Blasio are hosting a district-wide town hall next Wednesday, October 18th at St. Francis College in Downtown Brooklyn.

The event, starting at 6 p.m., will offer residents a chance to ask important questions about local projects, initiatives and issues.

Space is limited, so RSVP by October 16th at www.nyc.gov/cd33townhall.

Kingsland Wildflower Lecture Series continues with Annie Novak

Photo courtesy/Kingsland Wildflower

Tomorrow evening, Kingsland Wildflower is continuing its Fall Lecture Series with Greenpoint rooftop farmer and author Annie Novak.

She will discuss her new work, which “explores that emerging map with history, humor, curiosity and a vibrant visual imagination.”

Novak is the founder and director of Growing Chefs, the manager of the Edible Academy at the New York Botanical Garden and co-founded Eagle Street Rooftop Farm.

She has also authored “The Rooftop Growing Guide: How to Transform Your Roof into a Garden or Roof,” and her illustrations have been shown at the New York Botanical Garden and White Box Gallery.

The event kicks off at 6 p.m. with a green roof tour and cocktail hour, featuring Safe Flight IPA, a beer made by local brewers to raise awareness of bird collisions.

Town Square’s 10th annual Schoolfest set for October 21

Town Square is hosting its 10 annual Schoolfest on Saturday, October 21st at John Ericsson Middle School 126.

The one-of-a-kind school fair offers north Brooklyn families a chance to get to know their local public schools, private schools and enrichment providers.

The networking and informational environment allows the schools to share important information for local families.

For parents, the event can help them navigate the often-confusing process so they can make the best decisions for their children.

Here’s the schedule for the workshop by Joyce Szuflita of New York School Help:

  • 12:30 p.m. – Public School Basics: Pre-K & K
  • 1:30 p.m. – Public Middle & High School Admissions Basics
  • 2:30 p.m. – High School Deep Drive or Early Childhood Options (both tentative)

The following schools have confirmed their attendance:

  • Day Care Centers:
    • ABC Child Center/ABC Infant & Toddler Center
    • Brightside Academy
    • Bushwick improvement Society
    • Stagg Street Center for Children
    • Kiddie Academy of Williamsburg
    • North Williamsburg Y Preschool
    • Williamsburg Northside School
  • Public Elementary Schools:
    • PS 18 Edward Bush Magnet School
    • PS 23 Carter G. Woodson Elementary
    • PS 34 Oliver H. Perry
    • PS 54 The Magnet School for Environmental Science, Technology and Community Wellness
    • PS 59 William Floyd Elementary
    • PS/IS 84 Jose de Diego School
    • PS 132 The Conselyea School
    • PS 147 Isaac Remsen School
    • PS/IS 157 The Benjamin Franklin Magnet School for Civic Leadership in Health and Science
    • PS 196 Ten Eyck School
    • PS 250 George H. Lindsay
  • Public Middle Schools:
    • MS 50
    • PS/IS 84 Jose de Diego School
    • MS 126 John Ericsson Middle School
    • PS/IS 157 The Benjamin Franklin Magnet School for Civic Leadership in Health and Science
    • IS 138 Eugenio Maria de Hostos
    • Juan Morel Campos Secondary School
    • The Young Women’s Leadership School of Brooklyn
    • Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School
  • Public High Schools:
    • Juan Morel Campos Secondary School
    • Northside Charter High School
    • Progress High School
    • The Young Women’s Leadership School of Brooklyn
    • Williamsburg Charter High School
    • Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School
    • Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design
  • Independent and Parochial Schools:
    • Blue School
    • Brooklyn Apple Academy
    • Ecole Internationale de New York
    • Garden School
    • International School of Brooklyn
    • St. Joseph High School
    • The British International School
    • Williamsburg Northside Schools
  • Enrichment providers and other resources:
    • AXA Advisors
    • Brooklyn District Attorney’s office
    • Brooklyn Public Library
    • Brooklyn Solarworks
    • CityMD Urgent Care
    • CottageClass
    • Cultural Care Au Pair
    • Gotham Greens
    • Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund
    • Luna Park
    • Movers, Not Shakers!
    • National Wildlife Federation ~ Eco Schools
    • New York Life
    • NY School Help
    • NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
    • NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
    • NYC Parks GreenThumb
    • Paris Saint-Germain Academy NY
    • Puppetry Arts
    • St. Nicks Alliance
    • The Painted Cloud
    • Umoja Events and Balloon Decor
    • WellCare
    • Wildlife Conservation Society
    • Williamsburg Music Studio

City Hall comes to Brooklyn later this month

City Hall is coming to the borough of Brooklyn.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that from Monday, October 23rd to Friday, October 27th, his administration will operate out of Brooklyn Borough Hall.

It should be familiar territory, considering the mayor calls Brooklyn his home borough.

What does this mean for Brooklyn residents? The mayor typically announces a slew of projects, investments and events during these week-long initiatives.

Brooklyn residents will have access to top administration officials, who can address constituent concerns directly.

It will sure be interesting to watch. For now, mark your calendars!

Fall artist lecture series begins at Kingsland Wildflower this Saturday

The Kingsland Wildflower team is kicking off their fall artist lecture series this Saturday, October 7th at 3 p.m.

Martynka Wawrzyniak’s latest public art project, “Ziemia: Our Stories Are Written in Soil,” will take the form of a ceramic orb created out of Greenpoint clay and soil, contributed by residents from locations representative of their identities.

The project commemorates the neighborhood’s multicultural identity and will become a center for community programming.

The sculpture will sit atop the meadow garden in McGolrick Park.

Beforehand, Greenpoint historian Geoff Cobb will lead a walking tour from the Kingsland Wildflower green roof to McGolrick Park.

RSVP for this event here.

5th annual BK Story Voyager Touch-A-Truck this weekend

The 5th annual BK Story Voyager Touch-A-Truck is happening this Saturday, September 30th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event will raise funds to purchase children’s books for the BK Story Voyager, a mobile book distribution system that supports parents and students.

The Touch-A-Truck will have fun trucks, food, face painting, a bouncy house, art making and other activities.

Learn more about the BK Story Voyager here.

North Brooklyn playgrounds to receive upgrades

Three north Brooklyn playgrounds have been added to the mayor’s Community Parks Initiative, which will invest city funding into the public spaces.

Barlett Playground and Lewis Playground in Bushwick and Penn Triangle in South Williamsburg are all now due for upgrades.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver announced this week that 11 new sites will be added to the portfolio. The city has chosen parks that have received less than $250,000 over the past 20 years.

The playground renovations will now enter the design process this fall.

“When we talk about improving parks in New York City, we’re really talking about improving the lives of New Yorkers,” de Blasio said. “The Community Parks Initiative focuses on parks and neighborhoods that have faced the most historic disinvestment and serve dense, growing populations.”

“Open space equity is an important mission for us to pursue as we week to create safer and more sustainable communities to raise healthy children and families,” added Borough President Eric Adams.