April 2000
President’s Report
Executive Captain Walsh of the 88th Precinct
was our guest at the March 6th meeting. He spoke at length about the crime
conditions in our area, and the work police are doing to continue the downward
trend in most types of crime. The Captain reported that aside from illegal
drug activity and its related crimes, the two biggest problems in our area
are grand theft auto, and "scrappers" (people who steal articles
such as pipes, copper wire, or roof covering materials from buildings—especially
ones which are unoccupied or under construction—and sell them to scrap
dealers). He told us that these individuals often transport stolen goods
in grocery shopping carts, and they can be apprehended by police for stealing
the carts even if the source of the contents can’t be identified. Stolen
cars (as you may have noticed) are often dumped in the neighborhood for
stripping; the Captain urged residents to report them to the precinct.
Both Vice President David Conrad and I regularly represent the LPCA at the 88th Precinct Community Council meetings (open to the public, on the third Tuesday of each month, at the church on Lafayette and St. James), and will report to the Association on information relevant to the block.
Thanks to Peter Cline for his expert work in creating the LPCA web page
(on-line soon!), to David Conrad and all contributors to this newsletter,
and to all officers and members who attend our monthly meetings. To everyone
else, please join us—we need you!
—James Perry, President
Henry "Smitty" Smith
9/27/26 — 3/21/00
Lefferts Place Says Goodbye to a Good Friend
The community lost a well-loved and caring neighbor and friend on March 21, when Henry S. Smith of #66 passed away after suffering a heart attack a month earlier.
The first of three boys born to Bruno Smith, native of Trinidad, and Gregoria Clemente, native of Puerto Rico, Henry was born October 27, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York, He received his education in his father’s native Trinidad. In 1948, at the age of nineteen, he returned to New York City and began working for the Metropolitan Vacuum Cleaner Company, where he gave the Stern family fifty-one years of dedicated service and loyalty, interrupted only by his military service in 1952 and ‘53. He and his family moved to Lefferts Place in 1964, where he became a leader in the community, as well as an important moral and financial supporter of the Lefferts Place Civic Association.
Henry made a yearly pilgrimage to Trinidad, which he truly cherished. He is remembered as a man of great stamina; a pillar of strength who believed that every man should stand on his own two feet, while also reaching out to help others.
During Henry’s funeral service, held on March 25th at Saint Peter Claver Church, Father Patrick West said that Henry had told him he was thinking of joining a church men’s group when he retired. "That was a little lie," said Father West, "Because I knew Henry, and I knew that he would never retire."
Henry was a loving husband, devoted father, caring grandfather and welcomed friend. He is survived by Feline, his wife of 40 years; sons Douglas, Henry Jr., and Kenneth; daughters Evelyn and Maria; brother George; daughters-in-law Yaya and Sandie; grandchildren Candice, Jason, Shelly, Jasmine, Crystal, Marisol, Gregory, Anthony, Jordan, Elijah, Marcus, and Matthew; and a multitude of family who will carry on his memory, as will all of us who had the good fortune of knowing him.
Spring Block Beautification Campaign
Programs and projects in the works for this Spring:
• Window box kits are available from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. They include boxes, earth, and plants, and cost $17 per kit. Contact David Conrad (230-0495) to order yours. (Deadline for ordering, April 17; kits will be delivered May 13).
• The Botanical Garden will also be holding a plant sale on Wednesday and Thursday, May 3rd and 4th. Definitely worth the trip, if you like gardening!
• A block-wide cleanup day has been proposed for the first Saturday of each month. A few bags and an hour or two of our time, and Lefferts Place can begin to look like the high-class block it is! Stay tuned for details.
Uninvited Guests -- Some Kinds of Nature We Can Do Without!
Margaret Noldon and David Conrad
The Parade of Rats
No, that was not a skinny-tailed gray cat crossing the street or hiding under your car, it was a rat and it has plenty of dirty, nasty relatives that have moved to Lefferts Place between Classon and Grand, where (it goes without saying) they are highly unwelcome.
We called the health department about this problem, and they looked in their computer and informed us, much to our surprise, that Lefferts Place does not exist! Once we got that corrected, we were told that the complaint would be followed-up "in the order in which in was received." That was in October.
The Health Department needs to hear from all of Lefferts Place. Call them at (212) 788-4204. The Block Association will also be circulating partitions addressed to the City Council and the Health Department regarding the rat problem.
Tiny, But Dangerous! (Not to Mention Annoying)
Last summer, cases of West Nile Fever, a mosquito-borne disease that can cause encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain,were diagnosed in the Northeast. The city was sprayed with insecticide, and may be again this year, which is believed to be effective in reducing the mosquito population. The illness is rare, and you are unlikely to get it even if bitten, but it’s worth taking precautions anyway–after all, nobody likes sharing their blood with these greedy little buzzing pests. The Health Department’s Communicable Disease Program recommends emptying water from outside objects such as bird baths, old tires and any containers in which water accumulates and where mosquitoes may breed, and making sure that door- and window-screens do not have holes.
Let’s do what we can to keep the neighborhood exclusively for us humans and our chosen animal friends!
Fulton & Classon Update
Margaret Noldon
Our last issue reported on the problem neighborhood face due to the gathering of undesirables on the corner of Fulton and Classon Ave. A verbal complaint has been lodged with the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, leading to an investigation of the corner. Their findings have confirmed our written concerns. While OASAS ponders what action will be taken, we can help motivate them by writing to: Mr. John Perez, OASAS, 1633 Broadway 21st Fl., New York, NY 10019
Tell Mr. Perez that you are tired of methadone patients hanging out on the corner of Classon Ave and Fulton Street, selling their methadone and buying a variety of other drugs. Also send the same letter to the NYPD, 79th Precinct and demand that they clean up the corner by making arrests. The Lefferts Place Civic Association will also circulate petitions to OASAS, the police and our elected officials. Those interested in helping with this campaign, please call 636-0887.
Good And Welfare
Catherine Taylor
New Arrivals
Kamani Kevin Ano Johnson, 7 lb. 11 oz, 19 1/2 inches, born to Makini Campell and Thomas Johnson of #83 on March 10, 2000. Grandmother Aminisha Black, Brother Dakari Johnson, and all of Lefferts Place welcome Kamani to the world!
Reggie Mack of #130 is the proud grandfather of Donald Dupree Mack, born on March 2.
Osteen Patterson’s new granddaughter, Joell Tyler Hodges, was born on January 3rd.
Condolences to Mrs. Gladys Wilson of #130, on the death of her brother.
First Annual Fun Games
April 15th, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Fort Greene Park
Sponsored by the 88th Precinct Explorers and the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill Community.
Games and Events for children ages 7-14, Barbecue, Marching bands, bicycle registrations, Summer youth program registration, crime prevention services, Explorer/NYPD/Auxiliary recruitment. For more info, or to volunteer, call 718-636-6526.
Don’t Forget to Fill Out and Mail Your Census Form!
Need help? Call 636-0887
published by the
Lefferts Place Civic Association
Box 473547
Brooklyn, New York 11247
Editor: David Conrad
Layout & Design: David Conrad
Contributors: Margaret Noldon, James Perry, Catherine Taylor