Brooklyn's Progress
April/May 2007

First-Ever Citywide Elementary Grade Science Curriculum
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein recently announced at Brooklyn Technical High School in Fort Greene, which had the largest number of African-American students earning passing marks in college-level biology of any school in the United States, that the New York City Department of Education will invest $30 million in classroom materials and support for schools to implement the city’s first-ever core science curriculum starting in the 2007-2008 school year for grades 3, 4, and 6. An additional $30 million is earmarked in 2008 for grades K-2, 5, 7, and 8. Building on the Mayor’s plan for $444 million in new science labs and equipment, the new citywide science curriculum will be accompanied by rigorous new standards that will help schools assess the success of their students in mastering scientific concepts and inform parents how well individual schools teach science.

Con Ed Offers Free AC Thermostats
Con Edison is offering free programmable thermostats to homeowners, religious institutions and businesses with central air-conditioning. These high-tech thermostats will allow customers in New York City and Westchester County to program their central air-conditioning systems manually or remotely via the Internet. When electricity usage is highest in our region, Con Edison will be able to adjust the thermostats to help reduce electricity consumption and ensure continuous, reliable power throughout the region. Participants also can override Con Edison’s remote programming. Qualifying customers may obtain the programmable thermostat and free installation by calling toll-free, 866-521-8600 or visiting online at http://www.coned.com/cool.

Lisa Bing Honored at Boro Hall
Borough President Marty Markowitz and Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham hosted a Women’s History Month celebration on Mar. 22 to honor some of Brooklyn’s most dedicated and accomplished women. Among the honorees was Brooklyn Chamber Member Lisa Bing, president, Bing Consulting Group, Inc. (www.ibrooklyn.com/bingconsulting). Ms. Bing, who received the Emily Roebling Business Award at the event, is a nationally recognized leader in business and executive management. Also honored were Pat Singer, Brighton Neighborhood Association founder and director, recipient of the Lucy Burns Activist Award; Gail Smith, MetroPlus Health Plan deputy executive director, recipient of the Dr. Susan Smith McKinney Humanitarian Award; Estella Jimenez, Dominican Parade and Festival founder and president, recipient of the Lady Deborah Moody Founders Award; Lynne Parkerson, Brooklyn Ballet artistic director, recipient of the Betty Smith Arts Award; and Commissioner Martha Stark, Esq., NYC Department of Finance, recipient of the Shirley Chisholm Leadership Award (see photo above).

Feminist Art Center Opens at Brooklyn Museum
On March 23, the Brooklyn Museum opened The Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, which is the first public space in the country dedicated to feminist works of art. The centerpiece of the center will be Judy Chicago's “The Dinner Party,” an iconic masterpiece that celebrates the lives of 1,038 women, some mythical and many real, whose achievements and contributions have been ignored in mainstream historical accounts. “The Dinner Party” highlights the dynamism, diversity, and power of women's lives. Those featured range from goddesses to queens to activists - from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Sojourner Truth. For more information visit http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/.

Brooklyn Celebrates 25 Years of Cherry Blossoms
In Japanese culture, the fleeting cherry blossom (sakura) is a poignant symbol of life in bloom, the arrival of spring, and the ephemeral brilliance of nature. In this spirit, visitors to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) experience the wonder of the beloved cherry blossom and become immersed in the rich culture of Japan, where the legacy of Japanese flowering cherries dates back twelve centuries. A series of seasonal events that pay tribute to the Garden's iconic collection of Japanese flowering cherry trees will take place Apr. 7 to May 6. The 25th anniversary of BBG's Cherry Blossom Festival is Saturday, Apr. 28 through Sunday, Apr. 29, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit www.bbg.org/exp/cherries or call 718-623-7333 for more information.

BAM Hosts Sundance
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and Sundance Institute will team up again this year to screen program highlights from the 2007 Sundance Film Festival at SUNDANCE INSTITUTE AT BAM. The series, which runs from May 31 through June 10, in various venues at BAM, features film, theater, musical performances, panel discussions, filmmaker Q&A sessions and other events. The series presents 21 feature films and 27 short films—handpicked by Sundance’s Director of Programming John Cooper and BAMcinematek’s curator Florence Almozini—including award-winning features and shorts fresh from the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Visit http://www.bam.org/ for the full SUNDANCE INSTITUTE AT BAM schedule. Tickets are available to the general public beginning on Saturday, April 28, at BAM.org and in person at the BAM Rose Cinemas box office, 30 Lafayette Ave.

Architects of the NYC Subway
From the day New Yorkers broke ground for the city’s first subway in 1900 until the greater part of construction was completed in the 1930s, three architects – John L. Heins, Christopher Grant LaFarge, and Squire J. Vickers – determined the aesthetics of the system. To celebrate these great architects, The New York Transit Museum is presenting consecutive exhibitions, “Architects of the New York City Subway” and “Heins & LaFarge and the Tradition of Great Public Works” at the museum’s Gallery Annex at Grand Central Terminal from Mar. 19 through Jul. 8. The exhibition features over sixty historic artifacts, architectural drawings, and vintage and contemporary photographs. For more information call 718-694-1600 or visit http://www.mta.info/mta/museum.

Prospect Park Volunteers Honored
More than 6,000 people put in over 22,000 hours volunteering in Prospect Park last year. They planted trees, assisted visitors, and helped maintain Brooklyn’s landmark Prospect Park. In March they received recognition for their goodwill at Prospect Park’s annual Volunteers Recognition Breakfast. Seven volunteers were presented with the Administrator’s Award for giving over 500 hours of service to the Park. Two volunteers received the Mary Cregg Award for over 200 hours of volunteer service in one year. The Independent Sector, a leadership forum for charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs, calculates that each hour of volunteer time in New York state is valued at $22.77 an hour. By this figure, Prospect Park’s dedicated volunteers have contributed more than $500,000 worth of time. Join Volunteers in Prospect Park (VIPP) by calling the Volunteers office at 718-965-8960 or by visiting http://www.prospectpark.org/.

OBT Honors Regina Peruggi of Kingsborough Opportunities For A Better Tomorrow, Inc. (OBT) hosted its annual gala on Mar. 22 at Grand Prospect Hall where they honored three women in celebration of the legacy of late founder Sister Mary Franciscus. The 2007 honorees were Regina S. Peruggi, president of Kingsborough Community College/CUNY; Wendy Z. Goldstein, president and CEO, Lutheran HealthCare; and Dolores Abbruscato, assistant executive director of OBT, who received the first annual Sister Mary Youth Builder Award. Headed up by Executive Director Randolph Peers (previously the vice president of economic development at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce), OBT is a 24-year old nonprofit organization based in Sunset Park, with a second location in South Williamsburg, which provides job readiness and job placement services to at-risk youths and adults. For more information visit http://www.obtjobs.org/ or call 718-369-0412.

St. Francis Hosts Basil Paterson
Andrew W. Cooper Young Journalists in Training Program will present a symposium featuring veteran activist Basil A. Paterson, Esq. The program is dedicated to the founder and publisher of The City Sun newspaper. The symposium entitled, “Speaking Truth to Power,” marks the 40th anniversary of Cooper v. Power, the landmark court case that changed the landscape of American politics. The event will take place May 1 at 1:00 pm at St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights. Register by Apr. 16 by contacting the Office of Government and Community Relations at 718-489-5405.

Kickoff for Final Season of Coney Island’s Astroland
On April 1, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined the Albert family, owners of Coney Island’s famed Astroland amusement park, to break a bottle of authentic Brooklyn chocolate egg cream against the world-famous Cyclone rollercoaster, officially signaling the beginning of the park’s 45th and final season in Coney Island. Although most of Astroland will close following this summer’s season as the City develops the plan to revitalize Coney Island, the Cyclone, which is a landmark located on City-owned property, will remain on the boardwalk to thrill and chill rollercoaster revelers for years to come. The Cyclone will celebrate its 80th year in operation on June 26.

New York Methodist Hospital Gala
New York Methodist Hospital (NYM) will honor three distinguished individuals for their outstanding service to the hospital and the Brooklyn community at the 2007 New York Methodist Hospital Board of Trustees “Candlelight Gala,” to be held on Saturday, May 5, at Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan. Kotresha Neelakantappa, M.D., chief of nephrology, Robert “Bo” Rodgers, a hospital trustee since 2003, and James T. Giorgio, Sr., president of B&G Electrical Contractors, will be honored for their commitment to New York Methodist Hospital. The “Candelight Gala” will begin with a cocktail hour at 7 p.m., followed by dinner and awards at 8 p.m. Proceeds from the evening’s festivities will benefit the renovation of the intensive care unit at NYM. For tickets or to place an ad in the commemorative journal, contact the Hospital’s Department of Development at 718-780-5342.

National Minority Cancer Awareness Week
During National Minority Cancer Awareness Week from April 15 to April 21, the American Cancer Society brought public awareness to the issue of cancer disparities within minority ethnic groups. The newest report reveals that racial minorities suffer from a lack of access to quality care and inadequate cancer treatment, which results in both late diagnosis and early death. While cancer is the leading cause of death among Asian American females, African Americans bear a particularly burdensome cancer rate and have the highest cancer deaths and shortest survival rates of all racial groups. For Latinos, although their figures are not as high, 35% are uninsured, which results in a lack of quality care. The American Cancer Society will be conducting free cancer screenings and programs to address these disparities. For information about ongoing programs visit http://www.cancer.org/.