Free legal clinic in north Brooklyn this week

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The Greenpoint Housing Clinics are hosting their regularly scheduled free legal clinics on Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Greenpoint Church (136 Milton Street).

Tenants will have the opportunity to learn about their rights, speak one-on-one with counselors and housing discrimination lawyers and meet with neighbors to discuss forming tenant associations.

NAG Map Fair next week

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Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG) is hosting its map fair next Wednesday, July 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the McCarren Park Pool Community room.

The event will also unveil the group’s final ToxiCity Map, which shows the environmental conditions in Greenpoint and Williamsburg.

The organization said it will be a “science fair” type of event, with other groups presenting their own maps with information. The following groups will be at the event: Curb your Litter: Greenpoint, Ghost Bikes, Northwest Bushwick Community Group and NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation).

Free food and refreshments will be provided as well.

For more information, visit the Facebook page event here.

Investors Bank on Manhattan Ave open for business

Investors Bank Greenpoint

Already with 14 other branches in Brooklyn, Investors Bank has opened up another location at 896 Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint.

Banking executives and community partners enjoyed a VIP reception on Tuesday night, despite the lack of air conditioning and a friendly visit by firefighters.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony, Domenick Cama, the bank’s chief operating officer (COO), said they will be an integral part of the community.

Results are already starting to show. According to Kendall Charter, the executive director of the Greenpoint YMCA, Investors Bank has already pledged $5,000 to the local Y for its programs.

The local bank will be run by branch manager Debbie Hootam, who grew up in East Flatbush and has 19 years in the banking industry. She said she hopes to create a community-driven atmosphere and strong relationships with local partners.

What is K2? A Primer on Synthetic Marijuana

K2_Packaging2What is it? Also known as a synthetic cannabinoid, it is a combination of man-made mind-altering chemicals that are either sprayed on dried, shredded plant material so they can be smoked or are sold as liquids to be vaporized.  Because of similarities to cannabis, it’s misleadingly called “synthetic marijuana.”

What are other names? Spice, Green Giant, Scooby Snax, Black Mamba, Crazy Monkey, Crazy Clown, Dead Man Walking, Funky Money, Sexy Monkey, SinX, TenX, Twilight, Bliss, Bombay Blue, Fake Weed, Genie Zohai, Mr. Nice Guy.

What does it look like? K2 is sold in small foil packets. The packaging includes any of the numerous names the drug goes by along with bright colors and graphics.

What are the effects? Everybody reacts differently. Some say they feel similar effect of marijuana, such as elevated mood and altered perception. But K2 is more intense than marijuana and can cause anxiety, vomiting, high blood pressure, seizures, hallucinations, paranoia and suicidal thoughts.

Why is it popular? K2 is easily accessible and it is also cheap, selling for as low as $5. Many wrongly believe that it is natural and safe. It is also not detected in most standard drug screenings.

Is it dangerous? It is a new drug and the chemicals are always changing. Because of this, it makes it difficult to know how it will affect your body. It can be addictive and regular users have withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, depression and irritability.

TONIGHT: Bushwick Inlet Park advocates send message to buyers

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Elected officials and park advocates have one message to the seller and potential buyers of the space intended for Bushwick Inlet Park: buyers beware.

With the countdown clock for the city’s offer slowly ticking away, advocates listed these reasons why buyers should not want the property currently owned by Norman Brodsky, owner of CitiStorage:

WARNING LABEL – This property is hazardous because:

  1. It once housed operations for producing manufactured gas from BURNING COAL AND REFINING KEROSENE & PETROLEUM. The ground here will require years of testing, planning & remediation at great cost.
  2. With the threat of an auction of the property, our Elected Officials will continue to demand an immediate eminent domain hearing! Mr. Brodsky refuses to negotiate with the City, so it is time for the City to taken off the gloves. Eminent domain was designed for exactly this purpose – the acquisition of land for the public good. Let the court decide how much Brodsky’s property is worth, but make it a park!
  3. This property exists in a community that is completely HOSTILE & RESISTANT to stores, offices, and luxury apartments – any development on their promised waterfront park. It will ONLY welcome unadulterated OPEN SPACE on this spot. This PARK WAS A PROMISE – as mitigation against massive government-spurred overdevelopment. It’s a NO REZONE AREA. Brooklyn Community Board #1, a large coalition of our elected officials including Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Mayor de Blasio pledged to NOT support up-zoning this property.

Sign up for Greenpoint Chess Camp

Flickr/franlhughes
Flickr/franlhughes

Have a young child whom you want to be a chess champion?

Sign up for the Greenpoint Chess Camp at St. John’s Lutheran Church (155 Milton Street).

The camp offers each child over the age of 4 a chance to learn about the fun and invigorating game. Supervisors will give special attention to those with a greater commitment to chess.

In the meantime, there will also be fun alternative activities, pizza and ice cream for all. With three hours of chess a day, that adds up to 15 hours a week and 60 hours a month. Your child will be buzzing about chess in no time.

To learn more about the Greenpoint Chess Camp, click here.

Town Square’s Summer Starz lineup

If you missed last night’s screening of Ant-Man, don’t fret!

Here’s the complete calendar to Town Square’s Summer Starz 2016 free movie lineup.

Each movie takes place at Transmitter Park on Greenpoint Avenue and the East River waterfront.

Enjoy Zootopia (July 22), Pixels (July 29), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (August 5) and Inside Out (August 12) this summer!

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How to get half-fare MetroCards

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St. Nick’s Alliance is hosting a MetroCard outreach event for seniors over the age of 65 and people with disabilities.

On Tuesday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Swinging Sixties Senior Center (211 Ainslie Street), seniors are learn more about how to get half-fare MetroCards.

If you’re interested, please bring two valid forms of ID: a driver’s license, Medicare card for a birth certificate.

For more information, call 718-963-3793.

Come sweep McGolrick Park this weekend

Flickr/erin_can_spell
Flickr/erin_can_spell

Tomorrow at 10 a.m., volunteers will gather to help clean up Greenpoint’s beloved McGolrick Park.

The Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn and McGolrick Park Neighborhood Alliance are teaming up to host “Saturday Sweep.” On four Saturdays, starting tomorrow, you’ll get the chance to help beautify the park.

As an incentive, the two groups are giving out free swag, with conditions:

Volunteer on one Saturday – you’ll get a commemorative buttonFlair!

Volunteer on two Saturdays – we’ll get you some sunnies so you can fight that litter in style.

Volunteer on three Saturdays – you’ll score a tee with our iconic statue. So many bragging rights, so little time.

Volunteer on all four Saturdays – a limited-edition McGolrick tote will be yours!

To sign up, click here.

Public paddle schedule

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Summer is here, and that means the North Brooklyn Boat Club is taking participants on their free public paddles!

These informal trips will take you on a tour of Newtown Creek toward the East River. Trained guides from NBBC will instruct groups to work together on a paddle, which are free and open to everyone.

Taking these trips is a great way to learn about the neighborhood and the history of the bodies of water that surround Greenpoint.

Here’s the rest of the public paddle schedule for this summer:

• Saturday, July 30 from 12 to 4 p.m.

• Saturday, August 26 from 12 to 4 p.m.

• Saturday, September 24 from 12 to 4 p.m.