How Sweet It Is! Name It . . . We Got It! Where New York City Begins!

     These are just a few examples of the "Welcome to Brooklyn" signs unveiled by Marty at a ceremony on July 15th at Borough Hall. The BP and Mayor Michael Bloomberg will welcome motorists with a variety of greetings that were chosen after soliciting suggestions from Brooklynites from across the Borough. "This is a great opportunity for Brooklynites to let the world know how we feel about this incredible place that we call home. This is the most diverse, interesting, vibrant community in the world and these signs will be a constant reminder that there’s no place like Brooklyn!" said the BP. The 5-feet high by 8-feet wide signs will be placed at 11 major entry points across the borough from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and the Belt Parkway. Installation will begin this week and will be completed in August. Here are the locations for all of the signs: Brooklyn Bridge southbound exit @ Cadman Plaza West - How Sweet It Is! Manhattan Bridge southbound @ Concord Village exit - Where New York City Begins! Williamsburg Bridge exit ramps to BQE @ S. 5th Street - Name It … We Got It, Pulaski Bridge southbound midspan - Like No Other Place In The World! Gowanus Expressway eastbound @ 92nd Street - Not Just A Borough, An Experience, BQE westbound at Kosciuszko Bridge - Believe The Hype! Gowanus Expressway westbound @ Battery Tunnel toll plaza - Name it … We Got It! Belt Parkway eastbound near Verrazano Bridge - How Sweet It Is! Jackie Robinson Parkway near Miller Avenue – The Heart of America! Flatbush Avenue northwest of Marine Parkway Bridge toll plaza – How Sweet It Is! Belt Parkway east of Fountain Avenue – Home To Everyone From Everywhere!

Fun, Sun & Answered Dream for Brooklyn Kids

     On July 17th, Marty hosted Camp Brooklyn Day at Borough Hall. The Camp Brooklyn scholarship fund is sending 55 Brooklyn kids between the ages of 8 and 14 to summer camp for two weeks with the American Camping Association – New York’s Summer Camp Opportunities Provide an Edge (SCOPE) program. "My father passed away when I was nine years old, leaving my mother, two younger sisters and me to make it on our own. I was very fortunate to have a neighbor in our apartment house arrange for me to go to a sleep away camp in the mountains that summer," said the BP. Going away to camp changed my life forever. That is why it brings me such joy to be able to help give Brooklyn kids that same opportunity today. S.C.O.P.E., Bob Rozzi and everyone else associated with Camp Brooklyn did an incredible job making this program such a great success and it will be even bigger next year." The campers will be going to camps in New York or New Jersey later this month or in August. Camp Brooklyn was made possible by donations from Brook-lyn businesses, fellow Brooklynites and Borough Hall.

Marty Visits Local Teens Who Are Learning Work Is Cool!

     On July 16th, Marty visited local teens on the job who are taking part in Brooklyn Summer H.E.A.T (Helping Employ Ambitious Teens), a program created to encourage businesses to hire Brooklyn young people, ages 16-18, this summer. The BP visited Independence Community Bank, which has hired 10 Brooklyn teens for the six-week program, and Remsen Graphics to get a first hand look at these teens in action. "Massive cuts to the government’s summer jobs programs left thousands of Brooklyn teenagers without jobs and no productive alternatives," said the Borough President. "Independence Community Bank, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn Botanic Garden and many other Brooklyn businesses have really stepped to the plate by giving these teenagers the opportunity and responsibility of coming to work every day. Summer H.E.A.T. allows businesses to hire today’s youth who will become tomorrow’s workforce." More than 150 jobs have been pledged and more than 40 Brooklyn companies are participating in Summer H.E.A.T. The Summer H.E.A.T. initiative kicked off on July 8th and runs until August 23. Employers will pay young people at least the minimum wage, $5.15 an hour, for up to 30 hours a week over the six-week period.

Don’t Forget New York’s Two Favorite Concert Series

     The 24th Annual Seaside Summer Concert Series continues every Thursday Night at 7:30pm at Seaside Park at 5th Street and Surf Avenue in Brighton Beach, across the street from the New York Aquarium. July 25th is a Tribute to Motown with the Four Tops & Dennis Edwards’ Temptations. The public can bring their own chairs or they can be rented for $5 per chair.
     The 20th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Concerts are every Monday Night until August 19th at 7:30pm at Wingate Field, which is located between Winthrop Street and Kingston Avenue opposite Kings County Hospital. Teddy Pendergrass and Ashford & Simpson will be performing on July 29th with a rain date the following night. The public is encouraged to bring their own chairs because seating is limited. Performers are subject to change without notice. Call the concert hotline for updates on either concert at 718-469-1912 or 718-802-3700.

In Brief

     On July 18th, the Bank of America donated three fire trucks to honor three employees killed on 9/11. Marty attended the ceremony with Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, Buisness Services Commissioner Robert Walsh, FDNY Chaplain Rabbi Joseph Potas-nik and Bank of America CEO Kenneth Lewis. Also on July 18th, Marty and Councilmember Tracy Boyland turned the sod at a groundbreaking ceremony for Bankole Houses – affordable rental housing for low-income residents in Ocean Hill. The project is spon-sored by the Brooklyn Neighborhood Improvement Association.