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Squadron Sponsors Anti-Salmonella Bill

by Claude Scales on 30. Aug, 2010 in Government, Health

State Senator Daniel Squadron, whose 25th Senate district includes Brooklyn Heights, is sponsoring a bill that, if enacted, would require all hens laying eggs for sale in New York State to be vaccinated against salmonella. This is in response to the recent outbreak of salmonella infections traced to eggs produced on farms in the Midwest, but sold in many other states. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration responded to this with new rules, but they do not include a vaccination requirement.

New York Daily News: “Requiring salmonella vaccination should be a no-brainer, and if the FDA is unwilling to take the lead, we should start here in New York,” said state Sen. Daniel Squadron (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn), who himself had a brush with salmonella in college.

“We believe it was from an undercooked omelet,” said Squadron, who was hospitalized for four days. “It is a terrible, terrible disease.”

So much for the chow at Yale.

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Refresh with Water-on-the-Go

by Caitlin Heikkila on 25. Aug, 2010 in Environment, Events, brooklyn bridge park

If you haven’t had enough water with all of the rain over the past few days, head down to Washington Street at the corner of Prospect Street today for a little refresher. The New York Department of Environmental Protection has set up water bottle refill stations all over the city, including right here in our neighborhood, for their “Water-on-the-Go” program.

The New York DEP says, “Get your fill of New York City’s great-tasting, award-winning tap water all summer long! DEP is partnering with City agencies and other local organizations to help New Yorkers stay hydrated and healthy this summer by setting up NYC Water-On-the-Go fountains at public plazas, greenmarkets and parks from July Fourth until Labor Day.”

With less than two weeks left until Labor Day, you only have two chances left (after today) to get a taste from Water-on-the-Go in Brooklyn Heights. NYC Water will be at the Borough Hall Green Market on August 31st, and at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6 on September 5th.

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Sen. Gillibrand Meets Brooklyn Journalists at Teresa’s; Vows to Fight for Federal Transit Support

by Claude Scales on 12. Aug, 2010 in Election 10, Government, Health, Seniors, Transportation

BHB photo by C. Scales

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), appointed by Governor Paterson to fill the unexpired term of Hillary Clinton, and now facing election on a statewide ballot for the first time, visited Brooklyn today and met with local journalists, including your correspondent and BHS colleague T.K. Small, at Teresa’s. She discussed several issues of interest to Brooklyn voters, including federal support for mass transit, facilitating lending to small businesses, gay and lesbian rights, health care, and government transparency. (more…)

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Silent Protest: Coffin on Hicks

by Heather Quinlan on 22. Jul, 2010 in Development, Health

video-30-0-00-03-01No, 187 Hicks St has not become a funeral parlor. See the reason for the coffin after the jump.

(more…)

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Park Officials Apologize for Noise: Give Schedule for Summer Events

by Claude Scales on 17. Jul, 2010 in Arts and Entertainment, Environment, Events, brooklyn bridge park

The Brooklyn Heights Association has forwarded communications from the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy and Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation. An open letter addressed to “Dear Neighbors”, on letterhead of the Conservancy, but co-signed by Regina Myer, President of the BBPDC, and Nancy Webster, Executive Director of the Conservancy, includes the following:

We wanted to let you know that some of the park’s summer events, most notably the Thursday evening Movies With A View series (now in its 11th year), the Saturday afternoon Bridge Culture spoken word and music series, and a special recital by the Metropolitan Opera on Tuesday, July 20, will have amplified sound. We have done our best to minimize noise spillover outside the park’s boundaries, onto the Promenade and adjoining streets. However, we ask for your patience, and your feedback, as we fine-tune the presentation of public events in our new park during its first year of operations, while you recognize the necessity of amplification for these well-attended events.

The full text of the letter is here. A full schedule of activities in the park, through mid-August, is here.

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Petunias

by Claude Scales on 10. Jul, 2010 in Brooklyn Heights, Environment, Photos

BHB photo by C. Scales

BHB photo by C. Scales

A showy display of pink and purple blossoms is found by the Montague Street entrance to the Promenade. Thanks go to Jonathan Landsman and the Promenade Partners. (Thanks also to AAR for answering your horticulturally challenged correspondent’s question: “What kind of flowers are these?”)

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Stench on Montague?

by Claude Scales on 06. Jul, 2010 in Environment

Our Heather Quinlan complains of a foul odor in the vicinity of La Traviata restaurant, between Henry and Clinton on Montague. She describes it as “like hot ammonia and trout.” Has anyone else noticed this?

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Pier 1 Domes Doomed? Our Man With Cam Investigates.

by Claude Scales on 18. Jun, 2010 in Health, Kids, Parents, Video, brooklyn bridge park

Mr. Junkersfeld takes a morning stroll to the Pier 1 playground, finds the solar fryers climbing domes fenced off, and learns their fate.

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Reminder: Electronic Recycling this Weekend

by Heather Quinlan on 04. Jun, 2010 in Environment, Events

e_recycleThis weekend, bring out your dead equipment and drop it off at the First Unitarian Church, 121 Pierrepont St. They’ll be accepting your CDs, DVDs, VCRs, USBs and the like from 10-4 on Saturday, and 12-2 on Sunday. For more information call (718) 624-5466, or click here for a list of accepted items.

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Who Knew? Changing “Sell By” Dates is Legal

by Claude Scales on 02. Jun, 2010 in Food, Government, Health

We previously noted the accusation, by an irate customer of the Key Food on Atlantic Avenue, that she bought a chicken there that proved to be spoiled, and on which the tag showing the “sell by” date had been attached over another showing a date long expired. As it turns out, selling a spoiled chicken is a violation of law, but merely changing a “sell by” date isn’t.

The Brooklyn Paper: A Brooklyn Heights Key Food that has been repeatedly accused of changing the “sell-by” date on meat is off the hook this week after the state revealed that the relabeling practice is completely legal. …

“ ‘Sell by’ dates are nothing but a tool for store managers,” said Jessica Ziehm, spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture and Markets that inspected the Key Food after Viljoen’s claims. “It’s not illegal to re-date or re-package, though they’re still required to sell safe, wholesome products. We went there and found no problems.”

In other words, a “sell by” date is not like a speed limit: it doesn’t have the force of law. A merchant may freely change it, but the burden is on the merchant to assure that the food is good when sold.

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