Greenpoint Star Newspaper

Already with 14 other branches in Brooklyn, Investors Bank has opened up another location at 896 Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint.

Banking executives and community partners enjoyed a VIP reception on Tuesday night, despite the lack of air conditioning and a friendly visit by firefighters.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony, Domenick Cama, the bank’s chief operating officer (COO), said they will be an integral part of the community.

Results are already starting to show. According to Kendall Charter, the executive director of the Greenpoint YMCA, Investors Bank has already pledged $5,000 to the local Y for its programs.

The local bank will be run by branch manager Debbie Hootam, who grew up in East Flatbush and has 19 years in the banking industry. She said she hopes to create a community-driven atmosphere and strong relationships with local partners.

What is it? Also known as a synthetic cannabinoid, it is a combination of man-made mind-altering chemicals that are either sprayed on dried, shredded plant material so they can be smoked or are sold as liquids to be vaporized.  Because of similarities to cannabis, it’s misleadingly called “synthetic marijuana.”

What are other names? Spice, Green Giant, Scooby Snax, Black Mamba, Crazy Monkey, Crazy Clown, Dead Man Walking, Funky Money, Sexy Monkey, SinX, TenX, Twilight, Bliss, Bombay Blue, Fake Weed, Genie Zohai, Mr. Nice Guy.

What does it look like? K2 is sold in small foil packets. The packaging includes any of the numerous names the drug goes by along with bright colors and graphics.

What are the effects? Everybody reacts differently. Some say they feel similar effect of marijuana, such as elevated mood and altered perception. But K2 is more intense than marijuana and can cause anxiety, vomiting, high blood pressure, seizures, hallucinations, paranoia and suicidal thoughts.

Why is it popular? K2 is easily accessible and it is also cheap, selling for as low as $5. Many wrongly believe that it is natural and safe. It is also not detected in most standard drug screenings.

Is it dangerous? It is a new drug and the chemicals are always changing. Because of this, it makes it difficult to know how it will affect your body. It can be addictive and regular users have withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, depression and irritability.

Elected officials and park advocates have one message to the seller and potential buyers of the space intended for Bushwick Inlet Park: buyers beware.

With the countdown clock for the city’s offer slowly ticking away, advocates listed these reasons why buyers should not want the property currently owned by Norman Brodsky, owner of CitiStorage:

WARNING LABEL – This property is hazardous because:

1. It once housed operations for producing manufactured gas from BURNING COAL AND REFINING KEROSENE & PETROLEUM. The ground here will require years of testing, planning & remediation at great cost.
2. With the threat of an auction of the property, our Elected Officials will continue to demand an immediate eminent domain hearing! Mr. Brodsky refuses to negotiate with the City, so it is time for the City to taken off the gloves. Eminent domain was designed for exactly this purpose – the acquisition of land for the public good. Let the court decide how much Brodsky’s property is worth, but make it a park!
3. This property exists in a community that is completely HOSTILE & RESISTANT to stores, offices, and luxury apartments – any development on their promised waterfront park. It will ONLY welcome unadulterated OPEN SPACE on this spot. This PARK WAS A PROMISE – as mitigation against massive government-spurred overdevelopment. It’s a NO REZONE AREA. Brooklyn Community Board #1, a large coalition of our elected officials including Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Mayor de Blasio pledged to NOT support up-zoning this property.

Have a young child whom you want to be a chess champion?

Sign up for the Greenpoint Chess Camp at St. John’s Lutheran Church (155 Milton Street).

The camp offers each child over the age of 4 a chance to learn about the fun and invigorating game. Supervisors will give special attention to those with a greater commitment to chess.

In the meantime, there will also be fun alternative activities, pizza and ice cream for all. With three hours of chess a day, that adds up to 15 hours a week and 60 hours a month. Your child will be buzzing about chess in no time.

To learn more about the Greenpoint Chess Camp, click here.

If you missed last night’s screening of Ant-Man, don’t fret!

Here’s the complete calendar to Town Square’s Summer Starz 2016 free movie lineup.

Each movie takes place at Transmitter Park on Greenpoint Avenue and the East River waterfront.

Enjoy Zootopia (July 22), Pixels (July 29), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (August 5) and Inside Out (August 12) this summer!

St. Nick’s Alliance is hosting a MetroCard outreach event for seniors over the age of 65 and people with disabilities.

On Tuesday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Swinging Sixties Senior Center (211 Ainslie Street), seniors are learn more about how to get half-fare MetroCards.

If you’re interested, please bring two valid forms of ID: a driver’s license, Medicare card for a birth certificate.

For more information, call 718-963-3793.

Tomorrow at 10 a.m., volunteers will gather to help clean up Greenpoint’s beloved McGolrick Park.

The Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn and McGolrick Park Neighborhood Alliance are teaming up to host “Saturday Sweep.” On four Saturdays, starting tomorrow, you’ll get the chance to help beautify the park.

As an incentive, the two groups are giving out free swag, with conditions:

Volunteer on one Saturday – you’ll get a commemorative button. Flair!

Volunteer on two Saturdays – we’ll get you some sunnies so you can fight that litter in style.

Volunteer on three Saturdays – you’ll score a tee with our iconic statue. So many bragging rights, so little time.

Volunteer on all four Saturdays – a limited-edition McGolrick tote will be yours!

To sign up, click here.

Summer is here, and that means the North Brooklyn Boat Club is taking participants on their free public paddles!

These informal trips will take you on a tour of Newtown Creek toward the East River. Trained guides from NBBC will instruct groups to work together on a paddle, which are free and open to everyone.

Taking these trips is a great way to learn about the neighborhood and the history of the bodies of water that surround Greenpoint.

Here’s the rest of the public paddle schedule for this summer:

• Saturday, July 30 from 12 to 4 p.m.

• Saturday, August 26 from 12 to 4 p.m.

• Saturday, September 24 from 12 to 4 p.m.

The mass shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando, Florida, killed 49 people and injured more than 50 others. Many are calling it the worst shooting in U.S. history.

The tragedy took a personal turn when authorities discovered one of the 49 victims was Enrique Rios, a Williamsburg native who went to Orlando to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

Rios was a social worker who took personal care of elderly people. His mother, Gertrude Merced, described him as a loving person.

“His motto was that no matter how old they get, they should never be forgotten,” Merced said. “They have their experiences in life and they should be taken care of, always.”

Residents of Williamsburg and northern Brooklyn celebrated and honored his life at a recent vigil at Borinquen Plaza, where he was born. Read more about Rios, his life and the vigil here.

Who let the dogs out?

All of Greenpoint and Williamsburg’s dog owners can now finally rejoice after park officials opened up a dog run at East River State Park.

The dog run will be an enclosed space where your dog can run, play, exercise and mingle with other dogs. Councilman Stephen Levin allocated money to this facility as part of his participatory budgeting process a few years ago, and the state Parks and Recreation department followed through.

Now you can take your dog for a morning run, enjoy the beautiful views of the waterfront and have a great time!