No news is not good news: Courier-Life Publications Web sites displaced

Earlier this afternoon, Brooklyn Junction noticed that the Web site for Flatbush Life was down:

No one ever accused www.flatbushlife.com of being the most regularly updated website in the world. Coming from me, that doesn’t mean much these days. But gone? Say it ain’t so.

At first, the Flatbush Life Web site was responding with “404 – Not Found.” Shortly after, it was redirecting to an unfamiliar Web site: YourNabe.com. I contacted the Webmaster for courierlife.net and got this response:

www.flatbushlife.com [is] redirecting to the newly-designed www.yournabe.com. www.YourNabe.com combines the newspapers of the Courier Life publications, Times Ledger publications, and Bronx Times/ Times Reporter.

The YourNabe.com domain is owned by Courier-Life’s parent company, News Community Newspapers Holdings, Inc. Within YourNabe, there are sections for different neighborhoods. For example, the new URL for Flatbush Life is http://www.yournabe.com/flatbush/front/.

All Web sites for Courier-Life Publications‘ Brooklyn neighborhood newspapers are affected by this change:

  • Bay News
  • Bay Ridge Courier
  • Brooklyn Graphic
  • Canarsie Digest
  • Flatbush Life
  • Kings Courier
  • Park Slope Courier
  • Brooklyn Heights Courier
  • Carroll Gardens / Cobble Hill Courier
  • Fort Greene / Clinton Hill Courier

amNY profiles Flatbush

Tomorrow’s amNY includes an extensive profile of Flatbush in their City Living (real estate) section:

Good luck trying to get a straight answer on where Flatbush is. Encompassing 11 neighborhood associations, all of which can claim some stake in this emerging community, the boundaries are amorphous–something in which local civic leaders seem to take pride, given the great diversity that exists here.
New York real estate: Flatbush, amNY, May 8, 2008

In a refreshing change, the article expands the focus beyond “Ditmas Park.” A photo of a halal meat store on Coney Island Avenue illustrates the article.

While most of the recent attention has focused on the historic neighborhoods around Ditmas Park, other areas of Flatbush are thriving and on the radar for capital improvements.

One of several humming commercial strips that reflect the rich diversity of the neighborhood, Flatbush Avenue is lined with businesses catering to Dominican, Spanish, West Indian, Jamaican and Haitian populations (as well as blocks-long stretches of Pentecostal storefront churches). Indian, Pakistani and Afghan restaurants and markets occupy blocks of Coney Island Avenue. Target will be the anchor tenant in a new mall at Brooklyn Junction. And the long-closed historic Loews’ King Theater, a 1929 Art Deco movie palace ( Barbra Streisand worked the doors here as a teenager) may get a renovation.

All eyes are on the Newkirk Plaza area, one of America’s oldest pedestrian shopping malls, spruced up with decorative pavement and fencing, lighting and planters. The French bistro, Pomme de Terre, recently planted a stake near here, signaling to the rest of Flatbush that Newkirk is ready for its photo opp.

Saturday, April 26: Help cleanup a community garden in Flatbush/PLG

Via email from Anne Pope of Sustainable Flatbush:

This Saturday all are welcome to help clean up a community garden here
in the neighborhood.

Woodruff Seniors Garden Cleanup
Saturday April 26, 12-2pm
Ocean Avenue between Crooke and Woodruff Avenues
(two blocks from the Southeast entrance to Prospect Park)
[Google Map]

(I don’t know too many other details at this point — history of the
garden, future plans, etc., but will post as they become available)

Ditto what Anne says. I’m not familiar with this garden, myself.

Links

Sustainable Flatbush

Sunday, April 27: A day for trees in Flatbush

A reminder that you have two opportunities to get your green on in Victorian Flatbush this Arbor Day weekend on Sunday, April 27.

Ditmas Park West Arbor Day 2008Flyer for Sustainable Flatbush Street Tree Walking Tour

At 9:30am, meet at 458 Rugby Road to plant trees in Ditmas Park West and spruce up tree pits. Over 14 years, Ditmas Park West residents have planted 300 trees. Their long-running tree-planting program can serve as a model for other neighborhoods to green their streets.

Starting at 1pm, meet at 1414 Cortelyou Road to enjoy and learn about some of the trees in Victorian Flatbush. The Sustainable Flatbush Street Tree Walking Tour will loop through the neighborhoods of Beverley Square West and Prospect Park South. A Google Map of the tour route is available.

Related Posts

Plant Trees in Ditmas Park West
Sustainable Flatbush Street Tree Walking Tour

Links

Sustainable Flatbush
Trees New York

Sunday, April 27: Sustainable Flatbush Street Tree Walking Tour

Updated 2008.04.21: Added Google Map.


Westminster Road, Beverley Square West, looking north from Cortelyou Road
Westminster Road, Beverley Square West, looking north from Cortelyou Road

On Sunday, April 27, in celebration of Arbor Day weekend and Spring in bloom, join Sustainable Flatbush and others as we take a walking tour of one of our neighborhood’s greatest assets: our street trees.

Experience the neighborhood’s amazing wealth of street trees — including some that are more than 100 years old!

Throughout the tour, your street tree guide will:

  • Identify trees and their characteristics
  • Share interesting facts
  • Explore local tree history
  • Discuss the many ways street trees benefit the environment
  • Explain how to obtain and care for street trees

and much more!

Newly Planted Street Tree on Cortelyou Road
Newly Planted Street Tree on Cortelyou Road

Credit: Keka Marzagao
Flyer for Sustainable Flatbush Street Tree Walking Tour

WHEN:
Sunday, April 27, 2008, Arbor Day Weekend, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

LOCATION:
Tours start and finish at 1414 Cortelyou Rd, the office of NY State Assembly Members James Brennan and Rhoda Jacobs. The tour will loop through the neighborhoods of Beverley Square West and the landmarked Prospect Park South Historic District.

DIRECTIONS:
Take the Q train to Cortelyou Rd. and walk one block west (left), toward Marlborough Rd., after exiting the station.

SPECIAL DETAILS:
The tour is just about a mile in length and will take place rain or shine.
Please dress appropriately for the weather and the walk.


View Larger Map

Tree identification with Trees NY at Greening Flatbush
Tree ID, Greening Flatbush

ABOUT SUSTAINABLE FLATBUSH: Sustainable Flatbush provides a neighborhood-based forum to discuss, promote and implement sustainability concepts in Brooklyn and beyond.

Hydrant and Tree, 297 Westminster Road, Beverley Square West
Hydrant and Tree, 297 Westminster Road, Beverley Square West

Related Posts

Factoids: Street Trees and Property Values, December 2, 2007
Factoids: NYC’s Street Trees and Stormwater Reduction, November 15, 2007
Basic Research: The State of the Forest in New York City, November 12, 2007

Links

Street-Tree Walking Tour next Sunday!, Sustainable Flatbush
Trees NY

Sunday, April 27: Plant Trees in Ditmas Park West

North side of Dorchester Road between Rugby and Marlborough Roads, Ditmas Park West
North side of Dorchester Road between Rugby and Marlborough Roads, Ditmas Park West

On Sunday, April 27, Arbor Day weekend, join the residents of the Victorian Flatbush neighborhood of Ditmas Park West to:

  • Plant Trees
  • Liberate Tree Pits
  • Beautify the Neighborhood

This is Ditmas Park West’s 14th Annual Arbor Day weekend tree planting. It is well-organized and coordinated with City resources such as Parks. Even if you don’t live in Ditmas Park West, this event can provide you with ideas for organizing and mobilizing your neighbors to clean up your streets, become stewards of street trees, and build community in the process.

Arbor Day 2008

To participate, meet at 458 Rugby Road at 9:30am to join a crew. Heavy excavation will be done with power equipment. You can bring your own gardening tools, as well. Work continues for about two hours, then everyone gets a chance to share a light lunch.

Southeast corner of Dorchester Road and Rugby Road, Ditmas Park West
Southeast corner of Dorchester Road and Rugby Road, Ditmas Park West

Related Posts

Wanna Fight Crime? Plant Trees, February 1, 2008

Brooklyn Gardening Bloggers (and Blogging Gardeners)

Update 2008.07.06: Added My American Garden.
Update 2008.05.26: Added 66 Square Feet.
Update 2008.05.03: Added A Brooklyn Life.
Update 2008.04.25: Added New York City Garden.
Update 2008.04.17: Added root stock & quade.


Just a quick post to highlight some of my fellow Brooklynites who also blog about their gardens or gardening.

Brooklyn has more community gardens – about 300 – than the rest of New York City. More people live in Brooklyn (Kings County) than any of the other four boroughs of New York City. The U. S. Census estimates that 2,508,820 people live in Brooklyn as of 2006.

66 Square Feet
The Bark Tree
A Brooklyn Life
City Dirt
The Clueless Gardener
Crazy Stable
frogma
A Garden Grows in Brooklyn
My American Garden
New York City Garden
root stock & quade
The Urban Planter
ZuZu’s Petals

Here’s hoping I get to continue expanding this list.

Links

Kings County Quickfacts, U.S. Census Bureau

The Flatbush CSA

Cortelyou Road Greenmarket, July of last year. This year’s CSA pickup will be at this corner, Argyle and Cortelyou, on Tuesdays.
Greenmarket, Cortelyou Road

From Shayna Lewis, coordinator of this year’s first-ever Community Support Agriculture (CSA) for Flatbush. Until further notice, they are still accepting new members for this year.

Welcome to all the people who have just been added to the member mailing list. Thank you all for joining, we have surpassed our goal of 40 members and are continuing to grow. Special thanks to all of you who spread the word. In this email I will include some information from previous emails, so bear with me if you’ve already gotten it. Just trying to prevent confusion (mainly for myself :)…)

  1. The Options:

    Half share vs. full share and pick up vs. delivery:

    • Many of you have expressed interest in half shares. We cannot deliver half shares, but can offer them for pick up.
    • The pick up site will be on Cortelyou and Argyle. Both pick up and delivery will take place on Tuesdays, between 4pm and 9pm (possibly starting earlier, see below).
    • If you have a full share and live pretty near to the pick up place, we can deliver to your house. It is your choice. If you do want delivery, you must send me your address and be sure to be home during delivery hours or arrange with a friend or neighbor to accept your share. If it’s possible, you can also let me know if you just want it dropped off in some inconspicuous corner of your property.

  2. Pick up/delivery time:

    Some of you have suggested that earlier in the day on Tuesday would work better for you. I wouldn’t mind getting an earlier start on the deliveries, so if you could be around during the day, and are opting for delivery, please let me know.

  3. Payment:

    The cost is as follows:

    • Full Share: $400
    • Full Share plus 1 dozen eggs weekly: $460
    • Full Share plus 1/2 dozen eggs weekly: $430
    • Half Share: $200
    • Half Share plus 1 dozen eggs weekly: $260
    • Half Share plus 1/2 dozen eggs weekly: $230

    Please pay by check made out to Jorge Carmona. Mail the checks to:
    Jorge Carmona
    10039 Ziegels Church Rd.
    Breinigsville, PA 18031

  4. Send me your info:

    If you have not already, when you send a check PLEASE write me an email and let me know the following info:

    1. How much it was for.
    2. If you want delivery or not.
    3. If you do want delivery, your address, phone number, and any other pertinent information regarding the delivery.

  5. First shares:

    The first shares will arrive the first week of June. Start planning your menu…

  6. Volunteering:

    There is no work requirement for this CSA, but some people have generously offered to help out. If you are someone with some extra time on your hands, we could definitely use people for various things. Just let me know.

  7. Membership:

    We are still accepting new members (until further notice) if anyone asks you.

That’s about all for now. Definitely contact me if I’ve neglected to address an issue or question that you have. I look forward to meeting all of you! Thanks again, and be well, Shayna

The Daffodil Project is in bloom on Cortelyou Road

Cortelyou Daffodil
Cortelyou Daffodils

This evening I came home via the Cortelyou Road stop on the Q train. I wanted to stop by John’s Bakery to pick up some munchies. I had to cross the street: the Daffodils are just starting to bloom.

They’ve started on the north side of the street, as I expected. The south side has been shaded by the stores and apartment buildings until recently. The soil in the tree pits there has not been warmed by the sun which the north, unshaded side of the street has been getting.

Cortelyou Daffodils

Last fall, two dozen volunteers planted 1,000 Daffodil bulbs and 400 Crocus corms over two weekends. The Crocus are all but spent now; just a few raggedy blooms hanging on here and there. The Daffodils are just getting started.

Cortelyou Daffodils

As in past years, there’s no way to know what you’re going to get when you plant the bulbs in the Fall. I saw at least four different kinds in bloom today.

Cortelyou Daffodils

It seems a far remove from 9/11, the inspiration for the Daffodil Project. But it was very much in the consciousness of at least some of us who planted these bulbs. And certainly in the minds and hearts of my neighbors who took the initiative to request these bulbs to be planted in their neighborhood.

Related Posts

My Flickr photo set of this project
Cortelyou Crocuses!, March 6, 2008
Cortelyou Road Crocus Watch, February 4, 2008
Tree Pits are not Dumpsters, November 18, 2007
The Daffodil Project Plantings on Cortelyou Road, November 4, 2007
1,000 Daffodils for Cortelyou Road, October 27, 2007
The Daffodil Project: Grief & Gardening #5, November 26, 2006

Links

The Daffodil Project

Sustainable Flatbush featured in “A Walk Around the Blog”

BRIC, the non-profit Brooklyn arts organization which produces Brooklyn Community Access Television (BCAT), has been doing a bi-monthly series called A Walk Around the Blog, interviews with Brooklyn bloggers talking about their neighborhoods. The latest edition features Anne Pope of Sustainable Flatbush talking about, what else, Flatbush and sustainability.

I make an appearance from 1:53 to 2:54 in the video.

If you can’t see the embedded video above, or if you want to view it at a higher resolution, it’s also hosted on blip.tv.

Related posts

Greening Flatbush a success!, February 24, 2008

Links

Sustainable Flatbush
A Walk Around the Blog (Blog)
A Walk Around the Blog (Blip)
BRIC