Taking out the Christmas Tree

The National Fire Protection Association recommends prompt removal and disposal of Christmas trees, which are flammable objects, after the holidays are over. According to National Fire Protection Association statistics, 40% of Christmas tree home fires happen in January.

During citywide Christmas tree recycling event Mulchfest on Saturday and Sunday, January 10 and 11 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

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New State Laws Taking Effect on January 1

According to an email blast from State Senator Marty Golden's office, these new state laws go into effect as of January 1, 2015:

Hire a Veteran Tax Credit – Businesses will get a tax credit for hiring qualified veterans equal to 10% of the total wages during the veteran's first year of employment. The credit is increased to 15% for disabled veterans. The credit is capped at $5,000 per veteran

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On Vacation: Back December 31

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As Grimm Hangs on, the Jockeying Begins

Representative Michael Grimm (R-11th CD), who entered a guilty plea in a tax fraud case in Brooklyn Federal Court yesterday, is scheduled to be sworn in as a third-term member of Congress on January 6, 2015.

But, as Business Insider reports, polit-watchers who regard him as one of 2015's best story lines don't see Grimm still a sitting member of the House when he's sentenced on June 8, 2015 --

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After Plea, Grimm Refuses to Resign

Reuters reports that U.S. Representative Michael Grimm (R 11th CD) has refused to resign from Congress after entering a guilty plea in Brooklyn Federal District Court today. Grimm noted that he was easily re-elected to a third term in November, despite facing a 20-count federal indictment.




As part of a plea deal, Grimm signed a statement of facts admitting to hiding over $900,000 in gross

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As Ridership Soars, MTA Schools Manspreaders, Pole Riders

As subway ridership in New York City hits record numbers, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has mounted an etiquette campaign urging passengers to be more considerate.



Called "Courtesy Counts, Manners Make a Better Ride", the campaign will roll out on MTA subways and buses next month and expand to Metro-North and the Long Island Railroad in February.



While courtesy is important,

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Gentile Calls on Bay Ridge to "Go Blue" for NYPD Officers

In the aftermath of the horrific execution-style murders of on-duty NYPD officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu in Bedford-Stuyvesant on Saturday, City Council Member Vinnie Gentile has called on his district to "go blue" by wearing or displaying a blue ribbon to show support for NYPD officers.

Ramos and Liu were ambushed by deranged gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley as they sat eating lunch in their

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Christian Zaino and Angelo Bonsignore Release "The History of Dyker Heights"

According to a media release today from Dyker Heights historian Christian Zaino, an HD version of his and Angelo Bonsignore's new documentary, "The History of Dyker Heights", is now available on YouTube.



In 2013, filmmaker Bonsignore began collaborating with Zaino to turn Zaino's 2006 NYU college thesis into a documentary about their neighborhood. "The History of Dyker Heights" is the result

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Grimm Cops a Plea

Reuters reports that U.S. Representative Michael Grimm (R-11th CD) will enter a guilty plea in Brooklyn Federal Court tomorrow to resolve the array of federal tax fraud and other charges pending against him.

Grimm's trial was scheduled for February 2. According to court records, a plea hearing is now set for Tuesday afternoon. 

The 20-count indictment against Grimm charges that he hired

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Will Multi-Employer Pension Cuts Affect You?

Last week, despite hundreds of thousands of emails alerting members to the effects of an amendment that would, for the first time, cut retiree pensions, Congress passed the legislation.

The new law, as Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders put it, lets “companies renege on promises they made to their workers" by cutting current retirees' pension benefits.

To find out how your Senator and

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Richmond Choral Society Presents "Follow the Star" at Christ Church

At 4 PM on Sunday, January 11, the Richmond Choral Society, under the musical direction of Marina Alexander, will present "Follow the Star", a Holiday Celebration featuring Franz Schubert's Mass in B Major; Stephen Chatman's Carols of the Nativity; and a community sing-a-long of favorite holiday songs, at Christ Church Bay Ridge, 7301 Ridge Boulevard (@73rd Street) in Bay Ridge.

General

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Make Music Winter

Make Music New York invites you to take part in Make Music Winter, 13 participatory musical parades across the city tomorrow, Sunday, December 21, in celebration of the Winter Solstice.

Here's the Make Music Winter schedule of events (rain or shine.) Brooklyn venues bolded. Click the links for full details.

11:00 AM: Winterize at Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Christopher Dylan Herbert's

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Home Candle and Decoration Fires Peak this Month

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home fires due to holiday candles and decorations peak this month, with Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day the top three days for these fires.

Nearly half of all holiday decoration fires are caused by decorations placed too close to something hot. Nearly half of the time, the "something hot" is candles.

Christmas trees

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Year-End News from PortSide

In an end-of-the-year fundraising appeal, Red Hook waterfront advocate PortSide listed five "game-changing" accomplishments combining working waterfront, public access, community development, and economic opportunity:

Community empowerment. PortSide is helping communities plan for the future and act for themselves by providing information, services and policy advice. More...
Historic

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Christmas Music for Organ at Good Shepherd

At 1:30 PM on Sunday, December 21, Art on the Corner will present Hungarian organist and Fulbright scholar Sándor Balatoni, playing a program of German and Hungarian Christmas music for organ, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 7420 Fourth Avenue, in Bay Ridge.

The program will include Christmas-themed works by Buxetehude, Kodály, Liszt, J.S. Bach, Wálther, Gardonyi, Widor, and Balatoni.

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Family Movie Night at Uncle Louie G's

Uncle Louie G's, an ice cream parlor at 8702 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge, will host "Family Movie Night" from 6-10 PM on Saturday, December 21. (yes, I realize that Saturday is the 20th, and that the 21 is Sunday, but that's what the poster said) featuring classic Christmas cartooons like "Frosty the Snowman", "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", and more.

You're

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Ride the Trolley with Santa and His Elf

From 12 Noon to 4:30 PM on Saturday, December 20, the 86th Street Bay Ridge B.I.D. will present the final day of its four-day Second Annual Holiday Celebration, featuring free trolley rides with Santa Claus and one of his elves.

You can catch the trolley at 75th and 5th Avenue or at any city bus stop along 5th Avenue from 65th to 86th Streets in Bay Ridge.

Bring your camera.

Sponsored by

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DSNY Recruiting Emergency Snow Laborers

According to a posting in the December 18 edition of the Brooklyn Spectator, the City Department of Sanitation is now registering emergency snow removal laborers at its district garages in all of the five boroughs and at the DSNY Flatbush Yard at 2900 Flatbush Avenue.


Registrations will be accepted between the hours of 7 AM and 3 PM Monday through Friday.



The starting rate is $12 per hour

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Secretly Famous at the Lockyard

At 8 PM on Saturday, December 20, the Lock Yard, at 9221 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge, will present live music with cover band "Secretly Famous", featuring guitarist/vocalist Kris Lauricella, guest vocalist Katie Taber, and percussionist Charlie Marine, playing songs from The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, The Band, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Wilco, and more.

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Tony Travis and Friends Play Circles' Christmas Party

Tony Travis and Friends will play the Christmas Party at Circles Cafe, at at 69th Street and 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge, at 7 PM on Friday, December 19.

There will be no cover, full bar, pizza and surprises. Limited seating.

To RSVP or for more information, call Circles Cafe.

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New York Bans Hydrofracking

According to an email blast from Zephyr Teachout, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that New York State will ban the controversial, high-risk horizontal gas drilling process known as hydrofracking or "fracking'.




Teachout called the state's decision a "historic moment" and one of "the great environmental and health victories of the last decade." New York will be the first American state with

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A Golden Opportunity: See Marty in His PJs

In a media release today, State Senator Marty Golden announced that he, along with parents, friends and supporters of Pietro J. Scarso, a local 5-year-old battling Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, will don pajamas for a presser at Noon tomorrow, Thursday, December 18, launching the fundraiser “PJ’s for PJ”.

The event will take place at Pietro’s school, Stepping Stones – The Next Step, at 9321

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"Swish for Kids" Fundraiser for Frankie's Mission

Post updated to reflect change of venue. 

From 10 AM to 1:30 PM on Sunday, January 25, children's cancer organization Frankie's Mission will host the 4th Annual "Swish for Kids", a basketball benefit for children with cancer, at St. Patrick’s School, 95-11 – 4th Avenue, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

Adult survivors of childhood cancer and children who are battling cancer are invited to enjoy a

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"Holiday Harmonies" at Dyker Branch Library

At 3 PM on Friday, December 19, the Brooklyn Public Library Branch at 8202 13th Avenue (@82nd Street) in Dyker Heights will host "Holiday Harmonies", an afternoon of holiday music by Carolyn Clark and the Dyker Singers.

For more information about the event, call the branch at 718-748-6261.

For more information about the Dyker Singers, click here.

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Rowhouse Schul, Bay Ridge Avenue

According to posters on 3rd Avenue a "Car Menorah Parade" is planned for Saturday, December 20 at 6:30 PM to "spread the light" around the Bay Ridge neighborhood.

Every night from December 16 to December 23 (except for December 19, there is a 7 PM lighting of the 10-foot Menorah.

And on Sunday, December 21 at 3 PM, the Chabad is hosting a free "Chanukah Fun House", with crafts, olive oil

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Guitarist Jason Vieaux at PS 321

On Wednesday, January 21 at 7 PM, Neighborhood Classics, under the artistic direction of classical pianist Simone Dinnerstein, will present Grammy-nominated guitar virtuoso Jason Vieaux in concert at the Auditorium at P.S. 321, 180 Seventh Avenue in Park Slope.



The one-hour program, hosted by Simone Dinnerstein, will range from Bach to Pat Metheny, including guitar favorites by Spanish

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Going Begging in Republican Washington

With Republicans taking over both houses of the U.S. Congress in January, Washington polit-watchers see Mayor Bill deBlasio having zero ability to get what he wants.

They expect DeBlasio to be ignored by Congress, although the White House is expected to help him on regulations, policy and grant distribution. "The ink in Obama’s veto pen”, said New York Congressional Representative Carolyn

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Jackson Galaxy's "My Cat from Hell" Recruiting in NYC

NYC animal welfare organization Neighborhood Cats is recruiting badass felines for animal behaviorist Jackson Galaxy's popular TV series "My Cat from Hell".


The show follows Galaxy as he turns feline bad guys into happy, contented cats Whether the problem is yowling, fighting, biting, scratching, destroying furniture or other domestic mayhem, Jackson can help.



This season, in addition to

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Electronics Recycling Becomes Mandatory in New York State

Starting January 1, 2015, it will be illegal in New York State to throw your old electronics out with the trash. The State has taken a major step to reduce the amount of e-waste in its garbage stream and to up recycling rates by banning most electronic gadgets from curbside trash pickup.

Included in the ban are TVs, monitors, VCRs, computers and peripherals, printers, video game consoles, and

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Commodore Barry Club in Staten Island

On Thursday, November 13, members of the Commodore Barry Club traveled to Staten Island’s Commodore Barry Borough Hall for a celebration of Commodore Barry’s contributions to the fledgling American republic.



At Borough Hall, Club President Mary Nolan was greeted and presented with a Proclamation from Borough President James Oddo.

John Houlihan led the singing of the Irish and American

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Brooklyn Dog Training Center Expands

As of January 1, 2015, the Brooklyn Dog Training Center will relocate to 213 21st Street (between 4th and 5th Avenues) in the South Slope. The new facility is more than twice the size of the original space, with a 1,200 sq. ft. matted training floor and better amenities.

BDTC will host a community Open House from 6 PM to 9 PM on January 23. Guests can meet the trainers, explore the new

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Frank Seddio House, Canarsie

9306 Flatlands Avenue

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Cash-Strapped Borough Park Preschool Forced to Close

According to Bensonhurst Bean, a protest this week at a preschool at 1273 57th Street in Borough Park run by The Guild for Exceptional Children (GED) drew more than 50 parents, children and friends of special needs children.



One of a dwindling number of state-funded area schools serving children with developmental disabilities, the GED facility is scheduled to close on January 23, 2015, in

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Children's Holiday Art Project at the Art Room

The Art Room, a fine arts school for children at 8710 Third Avenue in Bay Ridge, is offering a special children's holiday art project for ages 4 and up on Saturday, December 13.

Your child can create while you shop or dine in the neighborhood.



Reservations are recommended, but not required. You can drop in anytime between 12:00 - 5:00 PM.

The cost is $40 for a 90-minute session, including

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A "Ring-a-Ding-Ding Christmas" at the Schnitzel Haus

From 6-9 PM on Sunday, December 14, vocalist Martin McQuade and piano accompanist Pete Sokolov will celebrate Ol' Blue Eyes' birthday and a "Ring-a-Ding-Ding" Christmas at the Schnitzel Haus,  at 7319 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge.

For more information, call 718-836-5600.

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The Brooklyn Bards at Hunter's

From 5-9 PM on Sunday, December 14, The Brooklyn Bards: Donal Nolan on tin whistle and Kiernan Hamilton on guitar and vocals, will play Irish songs and ballads at Hunter's Steak and Ale House, at 9404 4th Avenue in Fort Hamilton/Bay Ridge.

John Heffernan remembers choirmaster Aldo Bruschi, who mentored Donal Nolan and Kiernan Hamilton as choristers at St. Patrick's Church in Fort Hamilton

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Joe DMartino's "Light of Hope" Holiday Display

Joe DiMartino's "Light of Hope" Holiday Light Display, in loving memory of his wife Debra, a 9/11 victim, is open from 5-11 PM every evening at 107 Sharrotts Road (between Bloomingdale and Arthur Kill Roads) in Staten Island, through through January 4, 2015.

Called Staten Island's most spectacular outdoor holiday display, the Light of Hope is a fundraiser to support the Outpatient Children's

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Santa's Mail Box, Kaleidoscope

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From Advent through the Feast of St. Stephen at Trinity Lutheran Church

At 7 PM on Saturday, December 13, Trinity Lutheran Church, at 9020 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge, will host a Classical Christmas Concert featuring Christmas carols, traditional holiday songs, and selections from Handel's Messiah.

The suggested donation of $10 will help cover the performers' expenses.

For more information about the event, contact Roman Borgman at 410-458-8770.

Also at Trinity

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Holiday Concert at Union Church

At 5 PM on Sunday, December 14, Union Presbyterian Church of Bay Ridge, at 7915 Ridge Blvd. (@80th Street) will host a Christmas Holiday Concert, featuring Christmas carols; Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus"; and special performances by the Union Church adults' and children's choirs, a Baroque ensemble, Speed Bump, and the Highland Divas.

Adult admission is $10 per person. Children will be

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Pick up a Zipcar at the Bay Ridge Branch Library

Through a new partnership with Zipcar, the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) now offers Zipcars at its Bay Ridge, Bedford and Park Slope branches. There are two Zipcars parked at each branch -- totaling six, all named for famous literary figures.


Members of the Brooklyn Public Library who join Zipcar at www.zipcar.com/nycbpl will get $20 off their first year annual fee, plus a $25 driving credit.

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Santa Lucia Festival at First Free Evangelical Church

From 4 to 5:30 PM on Friday, December 12, Ridge Creative Center and the Scandinavian East Coast Museum will co-host the annual Santa Lucia Fest, a traditional Scandinavian holiday celebration, at First Free Evangelical Church, 66th Street and Sixth Avenue in Bay Ridge.

For a $20 donation, children can join the Lucia procession, which will be rehearsed from 3-4 PM on Thursday, December 11,

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The Bella Voce Singers Premiere "Rhythms of the R" at Good Shepherd

At 3 PM on Sunday, December 14, Art on the Corner will present “Inspire,” a choral concert by Brooklyn women’s choir the Bella Voce Singers, under the direction of Jessica Corbin, featuring the world premiere of “Rhythms of the R”, commissioned by composer and former Brooklynite Joshua Davis, at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 7420 Fourth Avenue (@75th Street) in Bay Ridge.

The

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Golden Says the System's Working

If Albany Republicans have their way, the "soup to nuts" review, called for by Governor Andrew Cuomo called for after a Staten Island jury brought back no indictment against NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo in the Eric Garner homicide, would be an empty gesture.

"You don't want to fix something that's not broken," commented Conservative Republican State Senator Martin Golden, NYPD retired, who

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Literary Potluck Supper at the Old Stone House

At 8 PM on December 18, Brooklyn Reading Works and Louise Crawford will host a Literary Potluck Supper at the Old Stone House, at 336 Third Street in Park Slope/Gowanus. (F to 4th Avenue/R to Union.)



All guests are expected to bring along a food dish to share. 



Refreshments will be served.



Literary guests include Susan Glauberman LaRosa (A Cake Bakes in Brooklyn); Blair Fell (Queer as

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Bridging New York City's Digital Divide

Broadband Internet access, called "the fourth utility" of our age, is now as central to our lives as electricity, gas and water. Yet, as reported by the Daily News and a new study by NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, tens of millions of New Yorkers still have no high-speed Internet access.



Compared to upscale, broadband-saturated Manhattan neighborhoods like Chelsea, the Village, Battery

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Gentile's Statement on Bensonhurst Brothel Sweep

In a media release this week, City Council Member Vinnie Gentile announced the arrests of 15 sex workers at nine brothels fronted as massage parlors in Bensonhurst and Dyker Heights:


Fenny Beauty, 6701 11th Avenue
Happy Beauty/Lyn Spa, 7110 20th Avenue
On Hung Beauty Center, 7303 18th Avenue
Ocean Beauty Spa, 7312 18th Avenue
Yan Yan Spa, 7901B 17th Avenue
Josomodo Spa “Happy”, 7401 New

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Winter Wonderland at St. Anselm Academy

From 11 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14, St. Anselm Catholic Academy, at 83rd Street and 4th Avenue in Bay Ridge, will present its annual Winter Wonderland, featuring a Christmas boutique, a 25-foot Christmas tree, a live Nativity scene, children's games, arts and crafts, food and refreshments, a visit from Santa Claus, and a free toy from Toyland for every child.

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Here's What I Don't Understand

Getty Images

Why did five NYPD officers go so far as to tackle an unarmed, non-violent man who was, at worst, guilty of selling loose cigarettes: a ticket?



When the obese, asthmatic Garner, face down on the concrete being throttled by Officer Daniel Pantaleo, said -- at least 10 times -- "I can't breathe", why didn't Pantaleo release the pressure on his neck? Why didn't the cops roll

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Annual Scandinavian Christmas Market at Nordic Delicacies

From 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, December 13, the Scandinavian East Coast Museum will host its annual Scandinavian Christmas Market, featuring special Christmas items and gifts, at Scandinavian specialty market Nordic Delicacies, 6909 Third Avenue in Bay Ridge.

Next-door at Circles Café , at 69th Street and 3rd Avenue, the Museum will host a "Frozen" sing-along from Noon to 1:00 PM, featuring

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Staten Island Philharmonic's "Festipalooza"

At 3 PM on Saturday, December 6, the Staten Island Philharmonic Winds, joined by Brooklyn's Dyker Singers and the Noble Martitime Collection's Helluva Choir, will present "Festipalooza", a holiday concert celebrating Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa and the Winter Solstice, at Snug Harbor Music Hall. (They'd have done Festivus, too, but it seems no one's written any music for it.)

Guest

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Children's Chorus of Bay Ridge Winter Holiday Concert

The Children’s Chorus of Bay Ridge will present its winter concert, “Holiday Songs and Sounds,” at 3 PM on December 20 at Art on the Corner, a community-based arts ministry of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd at 7420 Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge.


The suggested admission donation is $10 per family.



This interactive, family-friendly program features winter and holiday-themed songs,

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Teachout, WFP Join Forces against Cuomo and the Charter Schools Lobby

The Working Families Party, which dropped Fordham law professor Zephyr Teachout for Governor Andrew Cuomo last fall in trade for Cuomo's (failed) promise to help Democrats regain the State Senate majority, has rejoined Teachout in an effort to stop Cuomo from raising the cap on charter schools again.



Teachout warned, with Cuomo apparently trying to change education policy on the sly and on

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Stasi: It's Not about Horses; It's about Real Estate

As Daily News columnist Linda Stasi breaks it down, Mayor Bill deBlasio's drive to ban carriage horses from Central Park, which would put 300 people -- not to mention the horses -- out of work, is just a backdoor real estate deal cooked up by parking lot magnate and big-time deBlasio campaign donor Steve Nislick.

Nislick wins even if no one ever rides in the fake antique electric cars now

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Vito, Shelly in Federal Court Settlement Talks

Magistrate Judge Michael Dolinger barred the New York Post from settlement talks this week involving ex-State Assembly Member Vito Lopez and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in a lawsuit brought by two former Lopez staffers who claim that Lopez groped them and Silver covered it up.



Lawyers for the state and Kevin Mintzer, a lawyer for ex-Lopez aides Victoria Burhans and Chloe Rivera, told the

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How Does "Mayor Adams" Sound?

Described by the New York Observer as a "Mister Clean" lookalike, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams is characteristically up front about his ambition to be the city's next mayor. It's something he's dreamed about, he told the Observer, since his days as a beat cop.

A former state senator like his predecessor Marty Markowitz, Adams follows the same playbook, hamming it up at every photo op

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Brooklyn Preservation Council Meets at Scotto's

At 6:30 PM on Wednesday, December 10, the Brooklyn Preservation Council will host its monthly meeting at the Scotto Funeral Home, at 106 First Place in Carroll Gardens.



On the agenda are the Second Avenue parole center, the Sunset Park Historic District, the Carroll Gardens landmarking, and the Marylander Memorial Park Plan.



For more information, or to add a community concern to the

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Return of the Canadian Christmas Tree Guys: 3rd Avenue and 93rd Street

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Gerrymandering? There's an Algorithm for That

Gerrymandered electoral districts, like the 11th CD in Staten Island and southwest Brooklyn, have evaded legal review for at least a decade due to the open refusal by the Conservative bloc of the U.S. Supreme Court to address the partisan gerrymandering issue -- even where there is a complete disconnect between the composition of a congressional delegation and the outcome of an election.

But

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Holiday Swap Meet at Industry City

From 8-11 PM on Friday, December 19, Holes in the Wall Collective and Industry City Distillery will co-host the "Not For Sale Holiday Party", a night of cash-free gifting at City Foundary, 33 35th Street (6th floor) at Industry City in Sunset Park (D/N/R to 36th Street).


The price of admission? Something you can barter. You’re a hairdresser? Bring your shears. You make wearables, liqueurs,

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