BHB/Sarah Portlock
Last night we went to the Community Board 2 monthly meeting which was, as always, chock full of interesting tidbits of information and news. We will recap the highlights for you here.
Going postal: Good news! There’s a new post office in town! The USPS will open a storefront outpost in DUMBO in the near future, to alleviate overcrowding at the busy station, said Cadman Plaza Station manager George Baez. The storefront at 85 Front St., which is between Main and Washington streets, will have an automated postal center, which are the machines that process your post via credit card and without a clerk.
As for the busy Cadman Plaza branch, Baez addressed customer service complaints and said he has hired “mystery shoppers” to evaluate the clerks and general service. He also said that the stamp machines in the lobby will not be replaced — they were outdated and broken — but the two automated postal centers, which are popular, are open 24/7. And, yes, stamp prices will go up by 2 cents on May 11. Buy the Forever stamps and they’re valid, well, forever.
Get involved: District 13’s Community Education Council is looking for new members (and no, you don’t have to be a parent to apply). Call the Borough President’s office at (718) 802-3700.
Weatherize your home, simplify your life: You might be eligible for a free energy audit in your home or building — call the Community Environmental Center at (718) 784-1444 or visit www.cecenter.org. Their team comes in, figures out where you’re losing heat and cooling, and provides solutions on how to fix the drafts.
Small biz newz: The deadline to apply for the Department of Small Business Service’s Avenue NYC program is April 10. The program provides grants to community-based nonprofit organizations to create business improvement districts or otherwise prop up a neighborhood.
Skate hate: And what is with those skateboarding hooligans who take over Henry Street, in front of the dorm? One Henry Street resident wants to know! Let us know in the comments if you’ve confronted any problems here, and we’ll investigate.
Art smart: There’s a new art gallery and café opening at 338 Atlantic Ave. (near Hoyt Street), called Clover Café and Art Gallery. The grand opening will be on April 8, but the café is now open and a selected display of the owner’s private art collection.
And we’re hard at work on some other brewing neighborhood news, so stay tuned!
