Brooklyn's Progress
April/May 2008

Lutheran raises money for heart health
Partnering with the American Heart Association, Lutheran Healthcare launched the fourth annual “Wear Red Day” on Feb. 8. In celebration, 125 staff members and visitors wore red and together raised $1,250 in donations for the American Heart Association. Lutheran Healthcare recommends exercising daily, eating well, avoiding drugs and taking advantage of preventive screenings for better heart health. For additional tips and upcoming community events visit http://www.lutheranhealthcare.org/.

Nursing award winners
Long Island College Hospital of Brooklyn held a ceremony to honor and celebrate the recipients of the 8th annual Butson Nursing Awards. The award is given by Elizabeth Butson in the memory of Thomas, a former LICH patient.  The award recognizes the continuous excellence in patient care by LICH nurses. Nurva Wolf, Mary Campo Lewis, Charmaine Henry, Maria Socorro (Suke) Dagat, and Perpetua (Petty) Santos are this year’s award recipients. The Hospital will be celebrating 150 years, yet another feat later this year.

New rec center at Park Slope armory
A ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb. 26 marked the opening of the Park Slope Armory. The ceremony was attended by students from P.S. 10, City Council Member Bill de Blasio, Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Robert Hess, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Linda Gibbs and Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert C. Lieber. The Amory will serve as a recreation and education center as well as a women’s homeless shelter for the Park Slope Area. The $16 million project, led primarily by nonprofit organization Take the Field, includes a track and field center, gymnastics, boxing, fencing, weightlifting and martial arts. Pending final approval, the YMCA is set to manage the facility.

Methodist opens women’s health center
New York Methodist Hospital recently announced the opening of its new Institute for Women’s Health. The Institute will offer a variety of programs and services geared towards better women’s health while fostering a personal and “family centered” environment. Services being offered include gynecological care, diagnostic tests for breast and gynecological disease, a genetic testing and counseling program, fertility treatments, a prenatal care assistance program, prenatal testing, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, breast cancer and gynecologic oncology, a urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery program, and a menopause and osteoporosis program. To obtain a referral, please call 877-41-WOMAN.

Crossword fanatics descend on Brooklyn
The New York Marriott at Brooklyn Bridge welcomed the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament on Friday, Feb. 29. The competition, founded and directed by Will Shortz of The New York Times, has spent 30 of its 31 years in Connecticut. The new location hosted the largest turnout in the competition’s history.

Brooklyn’s walrus calf cuts his first teeth
Pacific walrus calf Akitusaaq, just 8 1/2 months old, has just grown in his first “teeth” at The Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium. At a mere 364 pounds, Tusaaq, as he's affectionately called, has now started on solid foods including squid and capelin in addition to his normal nursing routine. Tusaaq is the offspring of Kulusiq and Ayveq, and weighed approximately 115 pounds at birth. This pup is the first birth of a walrus in the Aquarium’s 111 year history. The pup is in the Aquarium’s Sea Cliffs exhibit with his mom, Kulusiq, and can be seen daily. Tusaaq will celebrate his first birthday on June 12 and a weekend celebration is planned in his honor.

Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service
leads forum on at-risk youth
Susan L. Taylor, editor emerita of Essence magazine and founder of the National Cares Mentoring Movement, along with Errol Louis, columnist for the New York Daily News, led Conversations with Community Leaders, a forum presented by the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service – one of Brooklyn’s first and largest providers of social services to disadvantaged children, families and adults with disabilities – about the challenges facing at-risk children and youth at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus on Mar. 13.

The event was the first in a series of important conversations with community leaders about critical issues affecting Brooklyn and other urban communities. It was attended by Brooklyn elected officials; educators; business, cultural and civic leaders; and community residents.  The event was sponsored by Long Island University, Planned Parenthood, Cakeman Raven Confectionery, and Cullen and Dykman LLP. 

To learn more about the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service, please visit http://www.bbcs.org/.

Pratt Institute to hold it 20th Annual
“Draw Until You Drop”
The Pratt Institute will hold its 20th Annual Draw-A-Thon on Friday, Apr.11. Hosted by the Foundation Art Department, the event will feature 18 models who will circulate throughout the drawing studios. At the end, the models will pose together in slow motion accompanied by African drum music. The event is geared towards providing an outlet for art students and professionals and, as such, has become a tradition in the New York art community. The institute is also offering prizes from area art stores at the close of the night. Admission is $10 in advance and $15 at the door and covers the cost of refreshments served throughout the evening. For general inquiries and reservations call 718-636-3617.