BENSONHURST'S PREMIER NEWS BLOG

This is Bensonhurst Bean’s monthly blogwrap, where we highlight some of the stories that have affected Bensonhurst over the last month, as covered by both local and mainstream media.

Bensonhurst Teen Sofia Manfredi Finds Kidney Match, Donor On Web – Daily News

Concerned Landlord Answers Food Pantry’s Prayers – Daily News

Animal Care And Control Saves Cat Trapped For Days – Daily News

Splash and Dash Heists – New York Post

Another Civic Group Blasts City Plan To Remove Traffic Lanes – Brooklyn Daily

Officer Faces Charges He Abused His Authority – New York Times

Malignaggi Wins Before Controversial PPV Ending – ESPN

(source: wikipedia.org)

Cases of the infectious disease Shigellosis, or Shigella, have increased by as much as 11-fold in the Orthodox Jewish communities of Borough Park and Williamsburg, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).

There are typically 200-300 cases of the diarrheal disease – whose symptoms include loose stool, fever and vomiting – every year in New York City, out of a documented population of 8.4 million.

As reported by the website outbreaknews.com, during just the last two months there have been more than 45 reported cases in Williamsburg and Borough Park “among a population of less than 200,000.”

From outbreaknews.com

According to a Yeshiva World News report, Councilman David G. Greenfield said, “The Health Department has told us that the easiest way to prevent Shigellosis is to carefully wash hands with warm running water and soap after using the toilet or changing diapers.”

Shigellosis is an acute bacterial disease of the intestines caused by several species of the bacterium, Shigella. It is typified by loose stools, frequently containing blood and mucus (dysentery), accompanied by fever, vomiting, cramps and occasionally toxemia.

It can cause bacillary dysentery because of the invasive ability of the organism that may result ulcerations and abscesses of the intestines.

It rarely spreads to the bloodstream.

More severe complications may include convulsions in children, Reiter’s syndrome and hemolytic uremic syndrome depending on the species of Shigella implicated.

The intestinal illness is found throughout the world, with the bulk of instances, as well as deaths, occurring in children.

It commonly afflicts groups in crowded conditions where personal hygiene can be poor, such as daycare centers.

Shigella’s effects are normally felt 1-3 days after transmission. An infected person can be contagious for up to four weeks. The disease is normally transmitted orally through fecal matter.

The following is a press release from Councilman Vincent Gentile:

BAY RIDGE – On an unseasonably cold and snowy Saturday morning in late October, Councilman Vincent J. Gentile joined Royal Norwegian Deputy Consul General Henrik Width along with representatives and natives of the Farsund Municipality of Vest Agder, Norway and the Scandinavian East Coast Museum to finalize the unique “Sister City” agreement between Bay Ridge and Farsund.

Originally scheduled to take place at Leif Erickson Park, the unexpected inclement weather forced the hearty crowd to move inside to the equally apropos First Evangelical Free Church across the street.  Many of the native Norwegians in attendance said the weather was absolutely perfect – emblematic of the classic winters in Norway.

“Today we gather to recognize the Farsund Municipality of Vest Agder,” Councilman Gentile began, “a Norwegian town that wears its solidarity with Kings County proudly on its sleeve.”

“In fact, there were so many Norwegians who had come to call Bay Ridge home that native Norwegian author Siri Hustvedt said growing up she had heard so many stories about Brooklyn that she thought “everyone in Brooklyn was Norwegian!” Continue Reading »

It’s always nice to do a story on mid 20th Century celebrities from Bensonhurst. Plus, it’s easy as there’s just so many of them.

Let’s come out the the past and into the present. When asked, many in mainstream media will tell you that, with the golden post World War II era long gone, and Charles In Charge in reruns for 25 freakin’ years, the only thing coming out of Bensonhurst worth talking about these days is food.

Meanwhile, one young talent from the neighborhood is proving them all wrong.

After her band Mudville took home an Independent Music Award for the song Wicked, Marilyn Carino has released a solo album by the name of Little Genius, part of which was recorded right here in Bensonhurst.

Her music is described on her website as “torchy electronic rock, which feels like Annie Lennox just met PJ Harvey in Radiohead’s basement.” While her voice has been compared to “Nina Simone coming back from the dead to front Morcheeba.”

Her website includes a very interesting Bio. So interesting in fact that we requested a Q & A with Marilyn while putting together this post.

Until then, you can learn more about Marilyn Carino and her new album Little Genius here.

(from wikipedia.org)

Four legislators – including representatives of Southwest Brooklyn and Staten Island at the local, state, as well as federal levels – would like to convince Governor Cuomo to make local travel more affordable before expanding the 7 train to New Jersey.

State Sen. Diane Savino, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, Councilman James Oddo and U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm, who represent both boroughs, along with three additional Staten Island officials, are leading a bi-partisan response to a New York Post article that has the city and state considering a proposal to expand the 7 train – which currently runs between Queens and Manhattan – to Secaucus, N.J.

A letter from the group of pols states that funding for the project, which will come from an abandoned cross-Hudson rail project, should instead be used to prevent further toll increases on the already pricey Verrazano Bridge.

From Brooklyn Daily Eagle:

“We ask that your office look into the reports that the city and state would ask Staten Islanders to pay more at the tolls in order to make commuting into Manhattan easier,” said the letter.

“Secaucus, N.J., residents already have access to a train via NJIT into Penn Station in Manhattan, ferries to West 39th Street, and buses to the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 34th (sic) and Eighth. This is a project that is worthy of consideration in the future. Now is not the time to explore more ways to get from New Jersey to Manhattan when it’s our toll money paying for it.”

The Eagle also points out that any plans for the Verrazano also concerns Brooklyn, as New Jersey and Staten Island traffic taking Interstate 278 over the bridge also uses the Gowanus Expressway, and possibly the BQE, on the way to Manhattan.

What do you think?

Do you favor more interstate mass transit or more reasonable toll prices for drivers?

And do we really need more people from a place where Turnpike exit number trumps both God and country?

State Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis represents Assembly District 60, which includes parts of Eastern Staten Island, as well as Bay Ridge

This is probably the most sternly worded alert we’ve ever received from Notify NYC. Please take it seriously.

ALERT issued 10/29/11 at 8:00 PM. No one should enter any City Park until further notice. Heavy snow and strong wind gusts, combined with full leaves still on trees, are damaging thousands of trees in parks throughout the City. This is creating an elevated and ongoing danger of falling branches and trees. City crews are working to address the damage and will continue throughout the storm.

It sounds like a good night to stay home folks.

Here at Bensonhurst Bean, we’ve made no secret of the fact that we love the people, music and, of course, cuisine of Louisiana.

Upriver from New Orleans, the swamps and bayous became home to one very curious group.

French Canadian refugees booted out by the British from what is now Nova Scotia settled in a place that, at the time, nobody wanted to go. Amongst Malaria and alligators, they flourished in an environment many had considered uninhabitable.

They had come from Acadia and were therefore Acadian – which the local dialect jumbled to the term we use to refer to them today, Cajun.

How does this tie into Bensonhurst, you ask? Well, it really doesn’t – except for the fact that we like good, home cooked food and that’s what Cajun cooking is all about.

In this week’s edition of BK, Colleen turns the not always popular catfish into a tender, well-seasoned treat.

Staying true to the dish’s southern roots, she used corn flour for breading, as well as some Cajun spices to excite your spirits along with your palate.

Bon Appétit!

Colleen’s Cajun Fried Catfish

Ingredients:

4 catfish fillets, skin removed and cleaned (approximately 5-6 ounces)
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 tablespoons milk
1 cup corn flour
1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (I like “Slap Ya Mama“)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional)
1 quart of oil for frying  **

** Use an oil with a high smoke point such as peanut oil or canola oil.

Click Here To Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!

The New York City Council just sent out a press release announcing that “due to the high probability of inclement weather expected for tomorrow, October 29^th, the Second Annual Coney Island Children’s Halloween Parade has been cancelled.”

There is, unfortunately, no rain date for this event.

Farsund, Norway (from farsund-norway.com)

We were a bit torn in deciding whether or not to write up an event that will be happening in Bay Ridge tomorrow.

Earlier this week, the Home Reporter announced a joining of the historically Scandinavian neighborhood of Bay Ridge with a town named Farsund in the county of Vest Agder in Norway. The “sister city” ceremony will fittingly take place in Leif Ericson Park at 10 a.m.

We considered not mentioning this out of concern that our coverage of late has been too Bay Ridge-centric.

On there other hand, there’s usually a lot going on in Bay Ridge – including events sponsored by elected officials shared by both hoods.

One thing that kept bringing this blogger back to the Home Reporter article was the part that tells of a section of Farsund, right near their own Brooklyn Square, where locals plan to “recreate the look of Bay Ridge of the ‘50s and ‘60s.”

Huh?

It seems the residents of this town of 10,000 are so smitten with how Southwestern Brooklyn looked during the post WWII boom years, they’ve decided to actually model an entire neighborhood to resemble it.

I wonder if it’ll have a Hinsch’s?

Leif Ericson Park is located on 66th Street between Fort Hamilton Parkway and 6th Avenue. The ceremony will take place at 6th Avenue and 66th Street. A sunset maple tree is to be planted during the proceedings in memory of the 69 people killed during the July 22, terror attacks in Oslo and Utoya, Norway.