I heard a variety of views during recent community meetings and conversations on the proposed comfort station at Valentino Pier Park. Some expressed the strong need for a bathroom in that area while others described issues with the comfort station as proposed. Ultimately, I have decided to pull the funding from this currently proposed project. The roughly $2 million […]
Tag: Red Hook
Valentino Update, by George Fiala
A Facebook group calling themselves “People for Red Hook Public Parks” held a meeting last night at 351 Van Brunt Street, hosted, but not attended, by Victoria Hagman. It was self-described as a community meeting but a reporter for the Star-Revue was not allowed to sit and report on the goings-on. When asked why not, the answer was that the […]
Controversial plan for Valentino Pier Comfort Station, by George Fiala
UPDATED – see the end of this story. Valentino Pier park has become the latest flash point in Red Hook’s transformation from a sleepy backwater community into a destination spot. First, fences sprouted up suddenly, taking park regulars, including attendees of the Red Hook Flicks, by surprise. It turned out that the Parks Department decided to implement some repairs/improvements […]
Old Timer’s a happy day of reunion, by George Fiala
Old Timer’s Day is a once a year celebration for all those past and present who have made the Red Hook Houses their home. People from all over the country include this joyful reunion in their summer vacation plans. Normally, all gather in the comfortable Coffey park, but the park is under renovation so the fest was moved to Bush-Clinton, […]
Red Hook’s Night Out Against Crime, by George Fiala
The first time I heard about “Night Out Against Crime,” back in the 1980’s I didn’t take it seriously at all. I really didn’t know what it was about, I thought it was some kind of feelgood event that did nothing to cut down on the rampant crime that was plaguing America’s cities. I left tonight’s celebration at Coffey Park […]
The story behind the Clement Garage, by Clarissa Sauter
Walking or driving past Rapelye and Hamilton, one might never give the corner adjacent to the BQE a second glance. What most don’t know is that it was once home to Salvatore “Buddy” Scotto’s grandfather, his three garages, and his eight family building, many years before the BQE was constructed. Don Vincence Clementi, known later as Vincent, arrived in America […]
A Stand Up Performance, by Kimberly Gail Price
Anybody up for a good penis joke? In a fast paced play, Marc Spitz’s Up For Anything creates up the scenario in the opening moments to set up two hours of back to back zingers aimed at Walter Dabney, a poet with an unrelenting erection. The show opens with Walter (Ben Schneider) under a blanket with his mistress Annie (Jen […]
BASIS School to open in Red Hook this fall, by George Fiala
The BASIS Independent School received permission to run a Red Hook School at a March 25 hearing of the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA). The school, which will be located at 556 Columbia Street, is located in an IBZ manufacturing zone, and needed the approval to begin construction. They immediately announced their opening this fall, despite the fact that […]
March Happenings, by Kimberly Gail Price
Monday, March 10 A new Red Hook Writer’s group will meet for a Literary Open Mike night from 5:30-7:30 pm. Group will share and discuss readings. Writers and non-writers encouraged to attend. Submit 1-8 pages to Maria at maria.redhookpoetsandwriters@gmail.com. Star Theater, 101 Union Street. Tuesday, March 11 Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow will present an introduction to their 5 month […]
Red Hook to vote on PB projects, by Kimberly Gail Price
Forty-six proposals in District 38 have been submitted for 2014 Participatory Budgeting Process (PBP) season. Ten of those projects are in Red Hook. PBP is a process that enables community members to submit ideas for projects in their district to be funded by discretionary funds allocated by their local councilperson. Former Councilwoman, Sara Gonzalez allocated $2 million – double the […]