Brooklyn Block Associations - Updates
HVSK
HSVK Block Meetings in October and November
As someone who loves detective stories, I am delighted to sometimes play detective myself. Here is the task I have. I am in possession of the minutes of the HSVK block meetings that took place in October and November. Is it possible from these to reconstruct what happened at these meetings and get some idea of the nature of this association.
First, the reader might ask what HSVK stands for. The answer is Hampton, Sterling, Virginia and Kingston. Virginia Place, Hampton Place and Kingston Avenue are parallel running north/south. Sterling Place is an east west street that connects the other three.
The first issue I want to address is attendance. In October eight people showed up and in November there were nine. Judging from my own block association and what I know of St. Marks block association, these numbers are good. Most associations have a hard core that come to virtually every meeting, but when something of great significance comes up, like a block party, more people show up and get involved. So eight or nine when there is nothing pressing is a very good showing. Also there does seem to be a central group that comes regularly. Five people came to both meetings.
Next there is the question of officers. Casey Eisenriech is listed as the treasurer, and at the November meeting she made the treasurer's report. The association has somewhere between $600 and $700 in the bank and they keep around $200 free as “petty cash.” This is a bit lower than what I know of other associations that have bank accounts in the several thousands. It was Melissa Carballo who read the minutes at both meetings, and she is listed as secretary, and it is Valerie Nero who is listed first in the attendance list, so I am guessing she is president.
The meetings get started with a prayer; this was given by B. Duncan, Minister of Prayer at one of the meetings. Neither my block association nor St. Marks does this, but the Lincoln Civic Block Association did do this back when I used to go to their meetings. My block association is divided between Christians, Jews and atheists, so it seems better not to have prayer. However, to invoke the divine could have a good effect. It puts people in a solemn mood which is conducive to good, tolerant behavior. Next comes the treasures's report, reporting on the modest sums available.
In October there was a section called Fundraiser/Grants/Events. This had some intriguing items on it. There was movie night at Valerie's house with two movies listed as possibilities, also Game Night, which might include Chess, Scrabble as well as other board games. What delightful ideas,
and what a great way to build community, to have people come together outside of block business.
In both documents upcoming events are listed. There is tree lighting in Brower Park but also a block association holiday party. And under fundraisers there are various items in need of funding – tree guards, lighting, a planter, security cameras and a lock box.
For both months there is reference to crime -- particularly the theft of packages, safety -- the police are trying to identify drug addicts and homeless people in order to remove them to shelters or rehab facilities, and trash – places on Kingston Avenue on leaving lots of trash on the sidewalks.
And then there is a section of personal information. In October, a couple has a baby and there is a list of those who are sick and shut in. In October, block residents are asked to keep “the following seniors in your thoughts and prayers.” In October we hear a resident is having a knee replacement and the next month we read that resident's leg feels better.
Then the meeting closes with another prayer.
My overall impression is the HSVK is a wonderful block association. They want to keep residents informed, they want them to participate, they are concerned with the issues of the neighborhood so that it can be clean, beautiful and safe, and they care about individual well-being. I think my block association and others I know about could learn from them.
– John DeWind with information from Valerie Nero
Lincoln Place Halloween Party, Nov. 1
Halloween parties mean many different things, and people keep coming back to them year after year. The one on Lincoln Place is a venerable tradition in which Celeste Stern has played a leading role. First of all, it is a time for families to come together. Even with very young children, parents come together and create costumes. I found several examples of babies dressed up by parents to participate in the fun. I found Eytan and Shea on the stoop of their house on Lincoln Place.
Eytan and Shea 10.1
On the same block I encountered Pascal, Alicia and their baby Felix, all three of them in costume from head to toe.
Pascal, Alicia and Felix 10.2
And older children can be found with the parents also. Further west on Lincoln I came across Jens and his daughter Sasha. She had the markings of a cat, and I decided he was dressed as a worker who could deal with toxic waste sites.
Jens and his daughter 10.3
And Shelly and Tim were there with their daughter Linden. Here they are posing with Jim Winters who had acquired a bushy head of blue hair.
Jim, Shelly, Linden and Tim 10.4
I discovered that Shelly had been planting bulbs in Brower Park earlier that day. I also had a talk with Jim about declining economic fortunes on Nostrant Avenue while Franklin Avenue seems to be in better shape. I could only agree with him as I had just written an article about that very subject in the previous issue.
Halloween is also a time to display one's artistic ingenuity. I was impressed to find a family in which the parents were dressed as bee keepers and their child and dog were bees.
Beekeepers with bees 10.5
However, Halloween is also a social occasion for children when they are older. A group of friends can assemble, go trick or treating and admire each other's costumes, sometimes under the supervision of a parent and sometimes not. I met Rose with a group of three friends working their way east on Lincoln Place with Rose's mother Ruth trailing behind.
Ruth behind Rose and three friends 10.6
And sometimes it is more fun without parents. Amy Perry's two daughters were there with a friend, roaming around, trick or treating and getting pizza that was being served in the building that belongs to the block association,
The two girls with a friend 10.7
And when I went into the building I found three servers behind the table where the pizza was being cut up into slices and passed out. Joan Marable was in the middle, Ada Potter off to the right and another woman happy to contribute her time and good spirits.
The pizza servers 10.8
In the building I met several other people I know. One was Barbara Saunders who lives on St. John's Place. She is someone who keeps track of community events and attends quite of few of them. She always asks me to send her an e-mail about anything I know about. I try my best, but really it is she who should keep me informed.
Barbara Saunders 10.9
And there I also met Kelly Burwell. He once told me, “Wherever there is food being served, I will be there.” And indeed this hungry neighbor was consuming a slice of pizza and having a drink. He told me about a certain deli that is selling cigarettes and weed to children. I was both horrified and not surprised.
Socializing among adults is also an important part of a halloween party. Coming back up Lincoln Place there were four women catching up with each other. I knew Yolanda and Celeste and there were two others as well having a great time together.
Four women on a step together 10.10
And if adults are happy to meet their friends, some people come in hopes of meeting new people, I met the Zhou family who live on Nostrand Avenue around Park Place. They wish they could be a part of a block association, but there is no such thing on the avenue. Kelly got them to give their names and address and told them we would invite them to our block association as honorary members. They seemed to be glad to make the connection.
The Zhou family 10.11
Well there were many other people at the party, and I would say it was a great success. Children banded together and got lots of candy, but more important was the expression of imagination. Who would you like to be? A princess, a superhero, a bird, a bee or maybe a witch? Someone tried out all of them, and families could do this together and meet other families. One could discuss the issues of the day and at the same time have something to eat and drink. It is a great expression of all the different aspects of being part of a community, in which one can get to know others and come to care about them and their welfare. There were lots of people from Lincoln Place there, but also lots of people who came from other streets to have fun and get to know their neighbors. It is a tradition that has gone on for years and one hopes will continue for many more.
– John DeWind
St. Marks Independent Block Association Meeting on Nov. 15
St. Marks Independent Block Association (SMIBA) held their monthly meeting in the Brooklyn Children's Museum at 10:45.
As SMIBA prepares for the winter season, neighbors came together to share updates, celebrate recent events, and plan for what’s ahead. Chaired by President Shirley Mondesir, the meeting covered warnings about safety issues, reviewed past events and looked forward to new ones.
Shirley with her dog 12.1
The meeting reflected the block’s commitment to staying safe, festive, and connected.
With the holidays approaching, members focused heavily on seasonal safety. The association
reminded residents to inspect and unplug holiday lights, avoid using real candles, keep electric
heaters away from fabrics, and check extension cords before decorating. Neighbors were also
encouraged to practice basic fire-escape planning and consider keeping a fire-suppression
blanket at home. The message was clear: enjoy the season, but do so safely.
Residents also celebrated the success of the Dog Halloween Parade, which brought
neighbors together for a fun fall tradition and had an impressive turnout! Looking ahead, the
annual Tree Lighting will take place on December 3rd from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Brower Park,
accompanied by a toy giveaway. The association hopes for strong participation and generous
support to ensure every child receives a gift.
Logo of SMIBA 12.2
Members closed the meeting by sharing final updates, including the next Community Board
meeting scheduled for December 11th at 6:00 p.m. The association ended on a note of
excitement and community pride as St. Marks Avenue heads into the holiday season.
– Anier York
