Officials and groups taking part in the rally are Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, the new-ish Riders Alliance, the Bay Ridge Community Council, Lutheran Family Health Centers, the Transport Workers Union and more.

We recently published an opinion that the effort to restore the B37 would be better served by including an extension to St. George, improving the poor transit connection between Brooklyn and Staten Island, but hey – any additional transit helps, and the B37 served as a key connection to businesses and organizations along Third Avenue in Sunset Park.

The rally will begin at 10:30am at 3rd Avenue and Senator Street.

The 2012 Norwegian Constitution Parade marches down Bay RIdge Avenue. (Photo: Brian Hedden/Bay Ridge Odyssey)

This coming Sunday, May 19, 2013, the Norwegian Constitution Day Parade will march through Bay Ridge, starting at 1:30pm. The parade will be on Third Avenue this year for the second year in a row.

The parade celebrates the May 17, 1814 declaration of independence from the victors of the Napoleonic Wars, that decreed that Denmark was to cede Norway to Sweeden. After a short war that was not won decisively by either side, Norway and Sweeden entered a union that allowed Norway to retain a large degree of autonomy. The union continued until 1905.

The parade traditionally marched along Fifth Avenue in years past. But last year, organizers are made the switch to Third Avenue to tackle the problem of declining attendance and to take advantage of sponsorship opportunities from the Merchants of Third Avenue association. The parade will march on Third Avenue from 81st Street to Bay Ridge Avenue/69th Street, jot over to 5th Avenue for a couple of blocks, and continue on 67th Street to 7th Avenue.

The theme for the 2013 Parade is “Sharing Our Norwegian Traditions.” Two bands from Norway, the Vansa Brass Band and Lista Trekkspillklubb (The Lista Accordion Club) will participate, along with the men’s chorus Hellvik Mannskor.

An oldie but a goodie (Image source: Joe Shlabotnik via Flickr).

If you were one of the people who got stuck in long lines last election day, then you already know that the Board of Election’s new electronic voting scanners suck. The machines, which the public was told were as “easy as 1-2-3,” instead had many voters counting the hours they had to stand in line at polling stations across the city.

Now, while your humble blogger is no expert on voting technology, my own layman’s observations last November led me to believe that the BOE had essentially turned the following two step process:

1. Wait on line to find your name on a list.
2. Wait on line at booth and vote.

into [at least] a three step process:

1. Wait to find your name.
2. Wait on line to vote.
3. Wait on yet another line and scan vote – which for many people included the additional step of waiting for a BOE employee to help scan their ballots.

But wait, it gets even better.

During this year’s competitive, potentially very close mayoral election, primaries for both Democrats and Republicans may very well result in the winner receiving less than 40 percent of the vote. And if a candidate fails to win 40 percent in their party’s primary, the Board of Elections is required by law to hold a runoff.

The problem?

According to Capital‘s Dana Rubenstein, “the Board of Elections still hasn’t mastered its not-that-new electronic voting machines, and this week testified that it lacks the money to conduct a run-off, and probably lacks the expertise to reprogram its new electronic voting machines [emphasis ours] after the original primary vote in time for a run-off two weeks later.”

The solution?

You know those archaic mechanical voting booths? The ones that worked fine, and with some minor maintenance and repairs lasted decades? Come Primary Day we may all be going back to the future – and once again pull the levers of old but understandable heavy metal dinosaurs.

And speaking of dinosaurs, State Senator Marty Golden has sponsored a bill, which has already been passed by the Senate, that would require the Board of Elections to bring back the old machines.

Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg agreed, saying “The only solution here is to bring back the old machines,” which are, according to Hizzoner, “sitting in warehouses” raring to go.

“I am sure that this is going to be a lessons-learned election,” the board’s deputy executive director Dawn Sandow recently told the City Council.

A flier from the Fourth Ave safety workshop. (Image source: NYCDOT).

If city Department of Transportation officials have their way, Fourth Avenue could soon be receiving some Herald Square-style pedestrian barricades, writes Will Bredderman for Brooklyn Paper.

The latest version of a safety proposal first unveiled at a March 21, public forum would include the following changes:

• A metal barrier similar to the once-controversial pedestrian fences along Broadway and Sixth Avenue near Herald Square in Manhattan. To prevent jaywalking, the barricade would line 86th Street halfway down the block to 87th Street, on the side nearest Third Avenue.

• Lengthen a bus stop on the side nearest Third Avenue down to 87th Street, and convert the right hand lane along those blocks to a buses-only corridor.

• Take away a lane between 95th and 101st streets on the north bound side in order to prevent drivers coming off the Belt Parkway from speeding.

• Create a new congestion-reducing lane on Fourth Avenue between 65th Street and 66th Street by moving eight parking spaces to Shore Road Drive.

• Reduce Fourth Avenue to a single lane in each direction for 13 blocks between Ovington Avenue and 86th Street by widening parking lanes, and creating a left turn bay at 75th Street.

“This is not one of our favorite things to do, but we believe it would improve safety,” said spokesman Jesse Mintz-Roth.

Mintz-Roth, who worked for advocacy group Transportation Alternatives before being hired by DOT, argued that the plan would help prevent crashes such as one that occurred on April 1, when a car struck and killed a woman crossing Fourth Avenue halfway between 86th Street and 87th Street.

“We’re looking to get drivers out of the highway mindset,” said Mintz-Roth.

CB 10 member Allen Bortnick, who has been a vocal opponent of city proposals to calm traffic on Fourth Avenue, accused Mintz-Roth of scare-mongering to promote an idea he says will just lead to more traffic jams.

“This plan stinks. This is going to create congestion at 86th and Fourth Avenue the likes of which you have never seen,” said Bortnick. “You people don’t know what you’re doing.”

But according to Bredderman, Mintz-Roth claims that computer models show the plan adding no more than a few minutes onto Fourth Avenue drive times.

“You would notice it, but it wouldn’t be a traffic jam,” Mintz-Roth replied.

Any thoughts on the proposed changes? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.

After clarifying earlier reports, NYPD officials are now alleging that Patrick Noonan, 21, and his brother Taylor Noonan, 18, were walking on Fifth Avenue when they accidentally bumped into the victim, who was a former neighbor from the same 69th Street apartment building where the Noonans still reside.

After arguing with the victim, Taylor Noonan reportedly punched him. His brother Patrick then left, only to return minutes later with a handgun, and proceeded to shoot the man in the leg.

According to Brooklyn Paper, both Noonan brothers have criminal records. Patrick was busted in June 2012 for possession of marijuana, and just one month later for impersonating a police officer. They were both arrested in March of this year for criminal possession of a weapon.

Stephen Flamhaft, the Noonans’ attorney, told reporters that both clients would plead not guilty.

The two brothers are due in court today.

Bay Ridge Vikings (Image courtesy of David Tan).

What two things do marauding Vikings and Madmen character Peggy Olson have in common? A Scandinavian background and Bay Ridge of course!

And with the recent success of the History Channel program Vikings, Scandinavian history has come into the foreground of American pop culture. What better time to learn about the notorious raiding Northmen than now?

In this world of global trade, it may prove important to learn from the fierce Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes who not only preyed on coastal European communities from the 700s to 1200s – but also navigated unknown waters to form new trade routes that would eventually spread goods and ideas throughout the world, and even traveled to North America hundreds of years before a certain Genoese explorer named Colombo.

This Saturday, May 18, at Owl’s Head Park, you’ll get a chance to learn more about both the fury and the logic of the Northmen with a replica Viking ship complete with a crew of re-enactors, historic arms and armor, exhibits by the Society for Creative Anachronism, and a multi-ethnic dance recital, in addition to the rides, games and food you’d expect at any outdoor festival.

Music will include pipers, step dancers, and Byzantium-styled compositions, as well as a guest band from Norway.

The event is sponsored by the Scandinavian East Coast Museum, which exists to tell the often overlooked story of New York’s Scandinavian immigrant community.

Co-sponors include Councilman Vincent Gentile, the Norwegian Consulate of New York,  the Brooklyn Arts Council, the 17th of May Committee, and the Bay Ridge Baptist Church.

Performance Schedule

• 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Alta Kammerkor  – Alta chamber men’s choir from Norway.
• 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lista Trekkspillklubb – Accordion band from Norway.
• 12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Entrance of re-enactors – Norsemen crew, historical arms, and the Society for Creative Anachronism.
• 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Scandinavian of the Year announced.
• 1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Harborlore – Brooklyn Arts Council.
• 2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Game – “Race of the Viking gods.”
• 2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Clann Eirann Pipers.
• 2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. The Donny Golden Irish Step Dance.
• 3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Game – “The Vikings Drop In.”
• 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Hellevik Mannskor – Men’s Choir from Norway.
• 4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Game – “The Viking Role Call.”
• 4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Young Dancers In Repertory – ethnic dancing ending in traditional choreographed May Pole Dance.

Owl’s Head Park is located at Colonial Road and 68th Street.

If illustrator Norman Rockwell were alive today, he’d probably appreciate this attempt at candid photography. Taken on February 12, by photographer David Tan, the above image shows a tired young student – either at the tail end or the beginning of a long day – napping aboard the B1 bus.

To see more of David’s thought-provoking pics, please visit his blog at dtanlog.blogspot.com.

Image source: StockMonkeys.com via Flickr.

It looks like the troubles are continuing for Third Avenue eatery Noveau.

According to public records, the owners of Noveau [8214 3rd Ave] filed for bankruptcy with the Eastern District of New York on April 26.

If you’re into the whole Miami-meets-Brooklyn vibe [and the thrill of gladiator combat], don’t jump to any conclusions about its fate just yet. In a Chapter 11, as long as an organization’s debts don’t exceed the value of its assets, the business is restructured instead of liquidated.

BAY RIDGE – Councilman Vincent J. Gentile is organizing a community-wide volunteer clean-up effort along with the local Community Boards to inspire awareness, appreciation and respect for our neighborhood and keeping it clean.

Join Councilman Gentile at two separate community events – one in Bay Ridge and one in Bensonhurst – as we all pitch in to give our neighborhoods a much deserved spring cleaning!

You can register your family, friends, employer, place of worship, group, organization or school for the event by emailing ssteinweiss@council.nyc.gov or just by showing up on the day of the event. Volunteers will be given all the tools they need to clean up our streets.

SATURDAY, MAY 11
Bensonhurst Clean Up
Co-sponsored by Assemblyman William Colton and Community Board 11

Volunteers meet at 81st Street & 18th Avenue at 10 AM

SATURDAY, MAY 18
Bay Ridge Clean Up
Co-sponsored by Community Board 10
Volunteers meet at 87th Street & 3rd Avenue at 10 AM

“The mission of this event is simple: together we’ll roll up your sleeves and clean up our streets,” Councilman Vincent J. Gentile said. “Maybe if your neighbor sees you picking up litter, it will inspire them to be more conscious of their surroundings and think twice before littering next time.”

“Everyone loves a clean neighborhood, including our visitors. Let’s return our neck of the woods to its natural beauty and truly make this a real community-wide event!”

City Councilman Vincent Gentile represents Council District 43, which includes Bay Ridge, as well as parts of Dyker Heights and Bensonhurst.

As Bay Ridge Odyssey previously reported, a series of burglaries befell Ovington Avenue residents on April 24. Now police have arrested a man they believe is responsible for the brazen break-ins.

Last Friday, May 3, Joseph Cantanzarro, age 42, was arrested and charged with five counts of burglary and one count of  criminal possession of stolen property.

According to NYPD, Cantanzarro was wanted in connection with nine robberies in Bay Ridge over the last month, including five on Ovington Avenue.

At least one victim seemed to agree with police that the suspect would be able to pull off so many burglaries in such a short time span.

“They must have been career burglars, because they were very efficient, and then they ran off,” victim David Maldonado told ABC 7.

A suitcase found in the Cantanzarro’s possession reportedly belongs to Ovington Avenue resident and victim Paola Mata. Unfortunately, it was returned to her empty.

“It was over five thousand dollars and my jewelry,” said Mata.

The thief also apparently took advantage of fire escapes, using the easily-breached point of entry to gain access to apartments like the one Gregory Leal shares with his wife.

“I have an expensive watch here, a Rolex,” said Leal, “my wife, she hide all the collection coin, now he took everything.”

And while one alleged crook is taken out of the game, carelessly unlocked windows continue to afford thieves one stop shopping. Lock those fire escape windows, dear readers!