Jan. 8–14, 2016 Including Park Slope Courier, Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill Courier, Brooklyn Heights Courier, & Williamsburg Courier FREE INTEGRATEDSERVING GOWANUS, PARK SLOPE, PROSPECT HEIGHTS, WINDSOR TERRACE, BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, DUMBO, METROTECH, BOERUM HILL, CARROLL GARDENS, COBBLE HILL, RED HOOK, WILLIAMSBURG & GREENPOINT City OKs move of white kids into mostly minority school BY LAUREN GILL The city will to go ahead with a controversial plan to ex- pand a Vinegar Hill elemen- tary school zone next year to New include students from Dumbo, Photo by Louise Wateridge after a panel of public school FOOD SWAP: Locals are concerned parents voted last Tuesday to Year’s that this Key Foods at Fifth Avenue approve the scheme. will go the way of the dodo. Members of the local com- munity education council voted 6–3 in favor, despite ob- blasts! Grocery for jections from families in both neighborhoods that the educa- tion department is rushing in without considering what will new Slope happen when it pushes a bunch of wealthy white kids into a school that serves mostly mi- Key Food nority students — concerns “yes” voters said were moti- vated by fear, not what’s best complex for the kids. “When our kids go to BY COLIN MIXSON school, they’re not thinking It is almost a lock. about whether or not Johnny A developer that plans on or Shaniqua has two different erecting a new building on color skins, they’re thinking the site of Park Slope’s beloved about learning and playing,” Fifth Avenue Key Food will al- said panel member Vascilla most certainly install another Caldeira, whose kids attend grocery store in the new com- PS 20 in Fort Greene. “We have plex, according to a person the issue, we need to let go and close the project. actually let our children grow “It’s 99.9 percent certain in this environment.” to have a grocery store,” said The decision comes at the the source, who spoke to this end of four months of heated paper on condition of anonym- city-wide debate over school Jay Silverman brought his girlfriend Isabel Hanson to Coney Island for the fi rst time on New Year’s ity. segregation , sparked by the de- Eve and said it was the happiest New Year’s they have had together. For more, see page 2. This should come as wel- partment’s abrupt announce- Photo by Jordan Rathkopf come news to many locals, Continued on page 21 who have been rallying to save the market since word got out late last month that real-estate fi rm Avery Hall Investments had inked a deal to purchase Bid your Christmas tree ‘mulch’ adieu the site at Baltic Street, where it plans to build a residential BY LAUREN GILL old Christmas trees into plant food — “There are countless ways we can and commercial property. The Yuletide season is behind us, but kicks off this week. And it isn’t just a care for our parks, and Mulch Fest is one Devoted customers say the Brooklyn’s most beloved holiday tradi- great excuse to say fi r-well to your saggy of the simplest and most fun,” said parks 33-year-old Key Food is one of tion is just beginning! seasonal sapling, says a parks honcho — commissioner Mitchell Silver. the last grocery stores in the Mulch Fest — that magical time of the the 20-year-old tradition is also an easy You can donate your timber at one increasingly expensive nabe year when the parks department grinds way for you to help spruce up the city. Continued on page 13 Continued on page 13 A CNG Publication Vol. 36 No. 2 UPDATED EVERY DAY AT BROOKLYNDAILY.COM INSIDE NNN%9IFFBCPE;8@CP%:FD GL9C@J?<;9P:E>(D<KIFK<:?:<EK<IEFIK?('K?=CFFI9IFFBCPE#EP(()'( Center’s Out with the old… stage New music series hits the E. Midwood Jewish Center Brooklynites bid farewell to 2015 at Coney Island New Year’s fete By Bill Roundy idwood has a new music spot! A fiery Latin jazz band will heat things up as Mpart of a new music series at the East Midwood Jewish Center on Jan. 9. The concert marks a return of sorts for the bandleader of acclaimed Latin band Sonido Isleño, who organized a series of concerts at the Center a few years ago. “We did a jazz series a few years ago. It was good, but it was just five concerts,” said Ben Lapidus, a member of the Jewish Center. “It’s a full-time job to promote them.” This time around, the Midwood guitar player will just BY DENNIS LYNCH started the tradition last year New Year’s Eve and Day for be performing with his six-piece band, leaving the organiz- ing to fellow musician and Center member Hagai Kamil. “He really knows what he’s doing,” said Lapidus. “He’s done a lot to create a space that’s really conducive to per- forming.” The Center’s 300-person capacity Grand Ballroom Times Square for New Year’s? and once again did double em- the fi rst time in the ride’s 95- has been restored over the last few months, receiving an updated stage and sound system. “It’s 90 percent there,” said Kamil, who organized the renovations. “There are some visual things I want to do to make it even better, but it’s a really professional set-up.” Kamil, who owns the Brooklyn Music School in Park Slope, started the music series after noticing a lack of local Fugheddaboudit! cee duties, hopping back and year history, and Luna Park family-friendly events. Several of his students had moved with their families to the Midwood and Ditmas Park neigh- borhood, and were lacking in places to hear music, he said. “The students that I have — they’re looking for events,” said Kamil. “They’re moving into the neighborhood and realize there’s nothing to do here. We have the Brooklyn Thousands of revelers de- forth between the celebration gave brave — and apparently Center [For the Performing Arts] nearby, but that’s a bigger venue, and much more expensive.” Kamil used his contacts in the local music community to book bands, lining up monthly performers for the next several concerts and looking for performers who will appeal to the entire local community, not just the regulars scended on Coney Island to in Coney Island and another chill-immune — celebrants at the Jewish Center. “This is not for Jewish people — this is for everybody,” said Kamil. “I’m trying to get out of just depending on the synagogue crowd. We want to appeal to the community Latin launch: Ben Lapidus, of as a whole.” the Latin jazz band Sonido The Latin jazz band playing on Jan. 9 is part of that Isleño, will perform with ring in 2016 on New Year’s Eve, in Prospect Park. free rides on the Thunderbolt goal. Sonido Isleño have been drawing crowds for almost the rest of the six-piece on Jan. 9, in the recently- 20 years, have recorded five albums of blended Latin jazz restored Grand Ballroom of and Carribbean music, and toured across the U.S., Europe, the East Midwood Jewish and South America. Lapidus says he is looking forward to Center. Photo by Steve Schnibbe taking the Center’s stage. “It’s great to be from Brooklyn, and play in Brooklyn and the People’s Playground Coney’s freakishly talented and the B&B Carousel leading and have opportunities in Brooklyn that are not just in res- taurants or bars,” he said. “It’s a great facility and a great community.” Ben Lapidus and Sonido Isleño at the East Midwood Jewish Center [1625 Ocean Ave. between Avenues K and L in Midwood, (718) 338–3800, www.emjc.org]. Jan. 9 at 6:30 pm. $25 ($20 seniors, children free). was the place to be when the sideshow performers swal- up to midnight. clock struck midnight, accord- lowed swords and breathed Thousands gathered to Your entertainment ing to one Queens couple that fi re for the crowd’s amuse- watch the light show at the guide Page 27 did not think twice about skip- ment, and musical acts LaRose stroke of midnight. The 8,000 ping Manhattan’s million-per- Jackson, Blazes , and Priceless or so light-emitting diodes son hooplah in favor of Sodom kept spirits high leading up that cover the 250-foot tall Police Blotter ..........................8 by the Sea. to a midnight light show on Parachute Jump counted Standing O .............................16 “Times Square is kind of Photo by Jordan Rathkopf the Parachute Jump. Adams, down the last 10 seconds of Letters .................................... 24 too crazy and crowded,” said THE PLACE TO BE: Kimberly, Kay- councilman Mark Treyger 2015 and lit up in a massive la, and Layisha Pinkney were in the Tom Allon ..............................25 Jay Silverman. “My girlfriend (D–Coney Island), and the Co- “2016” down the side of the is from Australia and had right place for the Parachute Jump ney Island Alliance business tower. Fireworks completed Rhymes with Crazy ............26 never been to Coney Island ball drop on New Year’s Eve. group sponsored the show, the spectacle, and a fi re- Sports .....................................35 before, so we decided it was providing hot chocolate and breather on stage unleashed a good reason to go. It turned together — or independently food to guests. a plume of fl ames to bid fare- out to be the happiest New — ever.” Deno’s Amusement Park well to the old year and wel- Year’s Eve her and I have had Borough President Adams opened the Wonder Wheel for come the new one.