On August 23rd, Marty honored Brooklyn teens at Borough Hall who participated in Brooklyn Summer H.E.A.T. (Helping Employ Ambitious Teens), a program created to encourage businesses to hire Brooklyn young people this summer. "I am thrilled that in response to massive cuts in the city's summer jobs program, more than 40 Brooklyn businesses and other organizations stepped up to provide jobs for more than 130 Brooklyn teens this summer," said Marty. "I believe that speaks volumes about the tremendous commitment of this community to our young people. I can't tell you how proud that makes me. Going to a job every single day can change a young person's life forever, so that is why this is only the beginning." Summer H.E.A.T. kicked off on July 8th and ran until August 23rd. The BP's office collaborated with youth service providers, which pre-screened and prepared teens, 16-18, for their summer jobs. Employers paid the young people at least the minimum wage, $5.15 an hour, for up to 30 hours a week over the six-week period. Awards of appreciation were also presented to the Borough President's Summer H.E.A.T. partners: Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation, represented by James Sanford; Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, represented by Zenobia Marion; and Independence Community Bank, represented by Ann Troiano. Dawn Plummer from the Crown Heights Youth Collective was also recognized on behalf of all of the youth service organizations that worked with Summer H.E.A.T. Among the many businesses that participated in the program included Independence Community Bank, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Navy Yard, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Pfizer, KeySpan, Concera Corporation, CitiPostal/CitiStorage, Brooklyn Public Library and Brooklyn Borough Hall. The program was a partnership between Brooklyn Borough Hall, the Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation, and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.fficials

On August 19th, former District 21 Superintendent Donald Weber, the BP's appointment to the Panel for Educational Policy, met with various Brooklyn elected officials at Borough Hall to listen to their views about the New York City schools system and to talk about how he plans to reach out to parents all across the borough. Mr. Weber's first priority is to convene a Brooklyn Educational Summit in the fall to make sure that parents from all over Brooklyn have a strong voice in helping to shape important policy decisions. After the summit, Mr. Weber will continue reaching out to parents across the borough by holding educational town meetings. He served for 17 years as the superintendent of School District 21 and was named the Superintendent of the Year in 1999 by the New York State Council of School Superintendents. Under his leadership, District 21's standardized test scores were continually amongst the highest in Brooklyn. Medgar Evers President and former Board of Education member Dr. Edison O. Jackson was also on hand and spoke about the changes he would like to see in the city's educational system. The elected officials who attended the meeting were Congressman Major Owens, Assemblyman Jim Brennan, Assemblyman Nick Perry, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, Councilmember Yvette Clarke, Councilmember Simcha Felder, Councilmember Domenic Recchia, Councilmember Albert Vann and Councilmember David Yassky.With our 12 fine colleges and universities, Brooklyn has always been a fantastic college town and now the rest of the country is finally catching on. Marty's alma mater, Brooklyn College, was named the most beautiful college campus in the country last week in Princeton Review's 11th annual best-colleges guide. The breathtaking Midwood campus topped the list of the 345 colleges surveyed. "It looked great when I went there and Brooklyn College looks even better today!" said Marty. The school also ranked fifth for providing the "best academic bang for your buck," and for diversity and ninth for having a "great college town." Congratulations to Brooklyn College President Dr. Christoph Klimmich for the magnificent job he's done leading the college to unprecedented heights.As the first anniversary of 9-11 is quickly approaching, Marty wanted to update Brooklynites on the various events being planned to commemorate the day and to encourage the public to let him know about additional events being planned throughout the borough. This calendar is posted on the BP's website - www.brooklyn-usa.org. Please call 718-802-3531 if you want to add your event to our list. Marty encourages everyone to support Mayor Bloomberg's 9-11 Memorial plans including a call for a moment of silence at 8:46am when the first plane struck. Bells will ring at 10:29am at religious and academic institutions across the city to commemorate the moment the second tower collapsed. Finally, at 7:30pm, there will be candlelight vigils with musical performances across the city including one by the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus in the Prospect Park bandshell.On August 22nd, Marty hosted a kickoff luncheon for the 2002 Great Irish Fair at Borough Hall. The fair will be held on Saturday, September 7th and Sunday, September 8th at Dreier Offerman Meadows in Coney Island. The 22nd Annual Great Irish Fair is dedicated to the victims of 9-11 and to all of those people who helped to rebuild our city. The honorees this year include Kaitlyn Stackpole, the daughter of FDNY Captain & 2001 honoree Timothy Stackpole, who was killed at the World Trade Center. The annual fair, which is organized by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, raises funds for Catholic Charities and is widely viewed as the world's largest Irish festival. Marty, who is the Brooklyn chair of the Loyal League of the Yiddish Sons of Erin, joked that he's the first Irish Borough President since John Hayes in 1961.Community Board 13 Chairperson Mitch Wesson, one of Brooklyn's most prominent civic leaders, lost his battle with leukemia on August 15th. "Mitch gave everything he had to make Brooklyn a better place to live and work. His death is a great loss to us all," said Marty. Mitch is survived by his wife, Rochelle, and three children. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Wesson family during this very difficult time. Marty also wanted to note with sadness the passing of Ann Levine, a State Committeewoman from the 45th Assembly District.