BENSONHURST'S PREMIER NEWS BLOG

Councilman David Greenfield

The following is a press release from the office of Councilman David Greenfield:

Councilman David G. Greenfield is hosting an event this week for all district homeowners who have a tax lien placed against their home for unpaid property taxes, water and sewer charges, emergency repairs or other municipal services. The city is holding a tax lien sale next month, at which time outstanding liens can be sold to third-party companies for collection. To help prevent that from happening, Councilman Greenfield is urging all homeowners with outstanding liens to attend his free public event this Thursday, April 18 from noon to 2 p.m. at his district office, 4424 16^th Avenue in Boro Park.

Thursday’s meeting will provide homeowners with the opportunity to meet directly with representatives from city agencies including the Department of Finance, Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Housing Preservation and Development to find out if they are eligible to be exempt from the lien sale, receive debt assistance or create a payment agreement. It is critical for homeowners to act before the May 16 deadline to avoid having the lien sold to a third-party company.

Once the lien is sold, the third-party company can then apply extremely high interest rates to the amount owed, along with other administrative fees. In addition, once the company places a lien on the home, it has standing as a creditor and can be paid from the proceeds of a sale or refinancing. Liens must be cleared before the home can be sold, and a homeowner is at risk of having their property foreclosed on if outstanding liens are not resolved within six months. At Thursday’s event, homeowners will have a chance to enter into a payment agreement with the city at a lower interest rate than what a third-party company generally applies. In addition, some residents including certain seniors, veterans and disabled individuals are exempt from the lien sale depending on their specific situation.

“One of my top priorities is to help residents resolve issues with the city, so I hope that all local homeowners with unpaid debts will take advantage of this opportunity. This event has proven to be invaluable in years past to the hundreds of homeowners who have resolved their outstanding New York City debt. It just takes a few minutes to meet confidentially with representatives and discuss a payment plan, so please act now before it is too late,” said Councilman Greenfield.

Homeowners are encouraged to make appointments in advance by calling Councilman Greenfield’s at (718) 853-2704. The event will take place in the second-floor ballroom directly across the hall from his district office, and residents should bring proof of identity and proof of their relationship to the property, such as the most recent recorded deed or corporation papers.

Source: mikaylakonvicka / Flickr

“Operation Seniors” — a “free night of fashion and fun” created to offer prom season assistance for high school seniors affected by Superstorm Sandy — will be held tonight, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. inside the Bay Ridge Manor, 476 76th Street.

The office of State Senator Marty Golden, who informed us about the event, says that high school seniors can choose from prom dresses, shoes, bags, and more. There will also be consultations with hairdressers and makeup artists, who will be on hand.

More than 200 dresses have been collected and the organization has received donations from The Jones Group, MAC Cosmetics, Revlon, Synderela, Coloriffics, New York Dress Company, I Love Jewelry Auctions, Charles Elias Salon, Lucky New York Salon, Marine Florist and Classie Tuxedo.

To learn more, contact Mary Beth at (917) 865-1260.

The Bensonhurst Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare. Source: Google Maps

Community Board 11 will hold its next general meeting April 11 at 7:30 p.m. inside the Bensonhurst Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare, 1740 84th Street.

For further information, call (718) 266-8800, email info@brooklyncb11.org, or go towww.brooklyncb11.org.

Source: Wikipedia

State Senator Marty Golden will be hosting his Annual Easter Egg Hunt for the children and families of his district, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. in Shore Road Park, 79th Street and Shore Road. The Easter Egg Hunt events include games, music, and activities for the whole family, as well as prizes for the children.

“I encourage all children and families to join in this fun event. The challenge is on to find the eggs hidden in the parks for a chance to win prizes. These special events in our parks are what makes our community a great place to live, work and raise a family,” Golden stated.

Golden, who sponsors the event every year, also hosted an Easter Egg Hunt last week in the Marine Park section of his district.

To learn more, call Golden’s District Office at (718) 238-6044.

The Brooklyn Philharmonic’s “Brighton Beach Series” — which will not be taking place in Brighton Beach — will feature the family workshop, “A Bad Workman Blames His Tools” at the Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst, 7802 Bay Parkway, March 3 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

A description of the event from organizers:

Russian folk music was born in a rich peasant culture, centuries ago and 5,000 miles away, by artists who created music using whatever resources were at their disposal, from wood blocks to washboards to tablespoons. Lack of proper tools held no sway over creativity of the human spirit! The remarkable and distinctive folk music they created had an enormous impact beginning with orchestral music of the 19th century and expanding on into the music of today. The public is invited to join charismatic teaching artists and Brooklyn Phil musicians in a hands-on discovery of these creative traditions.

The event is free of charge, and you can RSVP by going here. For further information, call (718) 488-5700, e-mail info@bphil.org or go to www.bphil.org.

Phil Nuzzo Conducts the Metro Chamber Orchestra. Source: Facebook

The 200th birthday of beloved Italian musical genius Guiseppe Verdi is approaching this month, and Bensonhurst’s Phil Nuzzo is leading his Metro Chamber Orchestra to celebrate the musical master’s birth, according to a press release.

Nuzzo is the artistic director of the Metro Chamber Orchestra (MCO), a group that performs both the traditional classics of Mozart and works of modern and new composers.

On February 23, the MCO will join the Brooklyn Conservatory Chorale and the Brooklyn Wind Symphony at 8 p.m. to celebrate Verdi’s life at St. Anne and the Holy Trinity located at 157 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights.

The performance will culminate for a grand finale, culling over 125 musicians from the three groups to perform the Triumphal Scene from the Verdi’s famous opera Aida.

Tickets are available for $25 through brownpapertickets.com/verdigala. Additional information may be obtained on the MCO website, www.themetrochamberorchestra.org.

The Bensonhurst Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare. Source: Google Maps

Community Board 11 will hold its next general meeting February 13 at 7:30 p.m. inside the Bensonhurst Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare, 1740 84th Street.

The scheduled agenda features a public hearing on the responses to the FY 2014 Preliminary Capital and Expense Budget Submissions.

For further information, call (718) 266-8800, email info@brooklyncb11.org, or go to www.brooklyncb11.org.

Costello as Abe Lincoln (Source: Friends of Historic New Utrecht) 

When he’s not making Oscar-nominated films or killing vampires, President Abraham Lincoln hangs out in Bensonhurst.

America’s 16th President is stopping by the Parish House of the New Utrecht Reformed Church at 18th Avenue and 84th Street on Tuesday, February 11, where he’ll share stories of his early life growing up on the frontier and discuss his views on slavery and the issues that led to the Civil War.

The president will be portrayed by Robert Costello, and, like all politicians, he’ll precede the appearance by hobnobbing with elementary-aged children during a meet-and-greet at New Utrecht High School.

“There is no greater reward than to see a look of wonder and astonishment in a child’s eyes upon meeting me or to hear from a student who at my urging has discovered enjoyment in reading,” Costello said.

Of course, Costello, as Lincoln, will fit right in as a piece of living history at New Utrecht Reformed Church. The church was founded in 1677, and the sanctuary building next to the Parish House was built in 1828. He’ll be accompanied by Civil War reenactors from the 14th Brooklyn Regiment, Company H.

More information on the February 12 evening program and on the historic, cultural and educational programs of the Friends of Historic New Utrecht is available at (718) 256-7173 and at mail@historicnewutrecht.org.

Have your questions about your property taxes answered by Hon. Kirk P. Tzanides, commissioner of the New York City Tax Commission, during a presentation and Q&A sponsored by City Councilman Vincent J. Gentile.

“How To Appeal Your Property Taxes” will be held February 11, at 7:30 p.m. inside the Our Lady of Angels (OLA) auditorium, 7320 Fourth Avenue. Parking will be available in the OLA lot — you can enter the parking lot on 74th Street.

For more information, call Councilman Gentile’s office at (718) 748-5200 extension 203.

The next Community Education Council District 21 (CEC 21) meeting will be held February 6 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Intermediate School 96 (IS 96) – Seth Low, 99 Avenue P between West 11th Street and West 12th Street.

Public comment is encouraged at this meeting. The guest speaker will be the Office of Safety and Youth Development’s Brooklyn and Staten Island Borough Safety Director Frank Jordan, who will discuss “General Response Protocols and Building Response Teams.”

Entertainment will be provided by the students of IS 96. There will also be door prizes and light refreshments.

To learn more about CEC 21, call (718) 333-3885, email cec21@schools.nyc.gov, or visit CEC 21 on the web or on Facebook.