August/September 2001

 

Community Throws "Party of the Season"

Click here for pictures!


Lefferts Place outdid itself once again on August 4th, laughing off a heat wave and grim weather forecasts to host the latest in a tradition of great Summer block parties.


Events included a revival of the great old Brooklyn street game of Skelly, a volleyball/soccer tournament, bike races, and a dance performance. Artists Deb Payne and Janae Ramirez painted tattoos and faces on a long line of kids for several hours straight, while others created flowers, picture frames and other projects at the craft table, or jumped and shouted inside the giant inflated Moonwalk ride. Music was mixed by DJs The Professionals and Kenny Alleyne. Three kids’ bikes, refurbished by Bicycle Station on Vanderbilt Ave, were raffled off, as well as the cash pot in a 50/50 drawing. Engine 219 of the Fire Department arrived in the afternoon, and kids got a chance to climb aboard, talk to the firemen and see firefighting equipment close up before the engine had to race off to a fire.


And, of course, there was the legendary Lefferts Place food. Barbecues smoked all day and into the night up and down the street, stoked by first-class chefs including Mrs. Smith at #66 who laid out one of her famous feasts, Milton and the residents of #79 who ran an outdoor kitchen under their tent, Nyesha Noldon who filled passers-by with fried turkey wings and fish sandwiches, and many others who shared their delicious cooking with their neighbors.
Tara Payne, Chair of the Block Party Committee, deserves a standing ovation for her hard work and organizational skills; coordinating the planningstages, running the kids’ events, keeping the refreshments flowing, and holding her own in the heat of battle during the monster water-balloon fight.


The only cloud on the party was a fight occurring late in the day during which one of the parties involved was injured with a knife, but luckily no one was severely hurt. Baitul Nasr Inc. security staff did an excellent job of patrolling the block and keeping things safe and secure.


We look forward to doing it again next year, and in years to come.

Special thanks to all the friends, neighbors, and businesses who contributed to our party:

* Rosalind Baugham
* Bicycle Station
* Queen Cox
* Rita Crandall
* Nicole Davis
* Fire Department of New York, Engine 219
* William Jackson
* Christine Johnson
* King's Pizza & Pasta
* Kulcha Lion Records
* Linda's Beauty Salon
* Allan & Sandra McMillan
* Met Food
* Modern Nail Salon
* State Senator Velmanette Montgomery
* Richard Northern
* Leon Patterson
* Ester Patterson
* Leona Pope
* Claudette Prince
* Patricia Smith
* Kenny Smith
* Gertrude Sylvester
* Assembly Member Albert Vann
* Betty White
* Stephanie Whyte

 

PRESIDENT’S CORNER
Margaret Noldon


Let me introduce myself: I am Margaret Noldon and I live at 112 Lefferts Place. The office of President currently rests on my shoulder as a result of the resignation of James Perry. I will be running for the office of president. Elections will take place at the September 12 Association Meeting. If elected, I will try and keep the residents of Lefferts Place informed by writing this column.


I would like to dedicate the column in this issue to James Perry. James worked tireless throughout the years he held office. With his efforts the children of the block have taken many trips, have enjoyed Block Parties, Easter Egg Hunts, celebrated the Christmas Holidays and participated in Black History celebrations. We’ve had oldies dances, yard sales and graffiti clean-up days. Our park (Crispus Attucks) was painted and flowers were planted in the spring and now we have new swings. The park is being better maintained by the Parks Department and is becoming a safe place for our children to play.


James Perry was actively involved in the 88th precinct council and attended any number of meetings on behalf of Lefferts Place. Mr. Perry has been instrumental in the Association’s receiving a monetary grant from Assemblyman Roger Greene, which will be used to provide additional activities and improvements for the children and residents of Lefferts Place.


I would like to take this opportunity to thank James Perry for all that he has done on our behalf.


Thank You Mr. James Perry.


Just a Reminder: The Lefferts Place Civic Association is for all residents of Lefferts Place. So come out to the monthly meetings and get involved. We would love to have at least one member of each family attending each meeting.

Neighborhood Report

A break-in took place on Lefferts Place between Grand and Classon on Saturday, August 11, between 2:00 and 5:00 AM. Someone pried open the downstairs window bars on the house, climbed inside and stole several items including a bicycle, a toaster over, and an air conditioner. The size and weight of the stolen items indicates that more than one thief may have been involved. This burglary was committed while people were asleep in the house!


Closing street-level windows at night or when out of the house, reinforcing window bars with welded cross-pieces, and keeping an eye on our neighbors’ homes are all ways of preventing this kind of crime from happening on our block. If you have information relating to this break-in, please call the 88th Precinct at 636-6547, and ask for Detective Donaghue.

Community Calendar
Sept. 5th
Fort Greene/Clinton Hill Candidates Forum Meet, hear and speak with our local City Council candidates. The Clinton Hill Society is sponsoring this event at St. Paul's Church on Washington Avenue. For more information, call 718-522-9876.


Sept. 12
LPCA general meeting. Elections will be held for the offices of President, Vice President and Treasurer. 7:00 to 8:30 PM, at 226 Lefferts Place (at the corner of Franklin Avenue), ground floor entrance.


Sept. 18
88th Precinct Council Meeting, 7:30 PM. Location to be announced—call 718-636-6511 for more info. These monthly meetings are an excellent opportunity to get to know our local police and elected officials personally, learn about neighborhood crime trends, and voice our concerns and opinions where they can make a difference.

 

Good And Welfare
Catherine Taylor

Happy Birthday to Golden Oldies:
June: Roberta Hood, Willie May Short, and Nathaniel Tarrant.
July: Alice McKnight, Leona Pope, and Angeline O’Neill
August: Clarice Tillman, Klein Prince


Condolences to Alice McKnight of #89 and Marjorie Wilson of #56 on the loss of their brothers.


Welcome Home Roberta Hood of #130 on her return from the hospital and nursing home.


Congratulations to Angeline O’Neill’s granddaughter Solonge Herbert who graduated from James Madison High School with the Principal’s Award, and all our other June graduates! Keep moving onward and upward, and remember: A mind is a
terrible thing to waste!

Please notify C. Taylor at 130 Lefferts Place, #3N (718-857-4764) of births, graduations, marriages, anniversaries, as well as illnesses and deaths.

 

published by the
Lefferts Place Civic Association
Box 473547
Brooklyn, New York 11247
Editor: David Conrad
Layout & Design: David Conrad
Contributors: Margaret Noldon, Catherine Taylor