500 Hancock Block Stoop Sale & Block Party

 STOOP SALE SATURDAY JUNE 27                           BLOCK PARTY SATURDAY JULY 11

Greetings Neighbors,

It’s Block Party Time!  I want to thank everyone who has participated in the block clean-up and the block planting.  We had great participation for the clean-up but our beautification/planting team needs more support.   Let’s get our block together in time for our block party. 

As you may know, there is new leadership on the 500 Block Association and we are eager to meet and greet all our neighbors. We have been privileged to have had the excellent leadership of Desiree Byrd for which we are very grateful.  Ms. Byrd led the block’s beautification effort which gave us our beautiful planters, tree guards, and several new tree plantings.  Her leadership has created the annual spring clean-up and plantings, “Spring Fling,” wonderful block parties, annual school supplies’ distribution, stoop sales, and many other initiatives that have made us a warmer, friendlier and happier block.

It is our goal to continue and expand these efforts and to identify new goals with increased block participation and community outreach.  Of course I must hear from all our neighbors. My goas is for every household to be part of the block association. 

We will work hard to improve communication.  We will use email, Facebook, door postings, and word of mouth to increase participation.  Block meetings will be monthly, alternating 2^nd Saturdays and Sundays.

Dues are needed to provide money for plants, block parties, beautification, and for other services decided by the block.   Dues are $5 a month or a one-time $55 annual payment. Aware that this may be a hardship for some neighbors, any contribution would be greatly appreciated.

I am looking forward to working with everyone and I thank you for your participation and support.

All the Best,

John McAllister

President        

Next Meeting:             June 14, 3:00 pm @ 512 Hancock Street

Stoop Sale:                  June 27, 11-5pm

Block Party:                 July 11

Greetings From Our President

Greetings Neighbors,

It’s spring time and it’s time to begin our spring and summer block activities.  This was a particularly cold and snowy winter and many of us have not seen each other since last year.  With warmer and longer days, we’ll all be out and about more and will see each other soon.

You may know that there is new leadership on the 500 Block Association and we are eager to meet and greet all our neighbors. We have been privileged to have had the excellent leadership of Desiree Byrd for which we are very grateful.  Ms. Byrd led the block’s beautification effort which gave us our beautiful planters, tree guards, and several new tree plantings.  Her leadership has created the annual spring clean-up and plantings, “Spring Fling,” wonderful block parties, annual school supplies’ distribution, stoop sales, and many other initiatives that have made us a warmer, friendlier and happier block.

It is our goal to continue and expand these efforts and to identify new goals with increased block participation and community outreach.  Of course I must hear from all our members, but my goals are for every household to be part of the block association and that every block member is registered to vote.  In any event, we need all block members’ participation to have the clean, safe and beautiful block we all want.  I will be reaching out to all of you and asking you to join us and asking you all to reach out to all our neighbors.

 

We will work hard to improve communication.  We will use email, Facebook, door postings, and word of mouth to increase participation.  Block meetings will be monthly, alternating 2^nd Saturdays and Sundays.

In order to make things work better for the block, we need members to be part of the working committees which are Beautification, Block Party, Security, Youth Outreach/School Supplies Distribution, Fundraising and Communication.  Please consider participating on a committee.  This is the only way to achieve a truly successful Block Association.

On a final and important note, the block activities are funded by dues and fundraising.  We have been fortunate in the past to have received beautification grants but so far this year we have been unsuccessful. However, if every block member paid dues, we would not be dependent on outside grants.  Dues are $5 a month or a one-time $55 annual payment. Aware that this may be a hardship for some members, any contribution would be greatly appreciated.

I am looking forward to working with everyone and I thank you for your participation and support

.

All the Best,

John McAllister

President           

Next Meeting:                  April 12, 10am @ 553 Hancock Street

Block Cleanup:                  May 1

Block Party:                        July 11

We All Love a Good Party!

A Super Spring Fling for All!

Saturday, June 13, 2009, The 500 Hancock Block Association in the heart of the Bedford – Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn is in the midst of celebrating spring and welcoming summer with its annual 2009 Spring Fling held today. With a host of fun and community-building activities, neighbors and friends gathered on the block to attend gardening workshops, fire-up the barbecue, dance to the rocking music provided by the DJ, and to play games, bike, blade and commune with friends and neighbors. Blessed with dazzling sunshine for the lion share of the day, the association planted its flowerpots and landscaped their new tree pits and marveled at the beauty that the block has nurtured.

Midway through the event, Borough President Marty Markowitz joined the party and thanked the block for its beautification and development efforts. The block also thanked the Borough President for the new tree guards that were provided to the block through a grant offered by the Borough President’s office. “We were happy to provide the 500 Hancock Block Association
tree guards to add to all the work you’ve done to beautify and support your community,” said Markowitz.

“We are so pleased with the turnout of our neighbors, the joy of our children, and the beauty of our new planters and tree pits,” said Desiree Byrd, Block President. “On behalf of our block, I thank the Borough President’s office for its support of our block’s effort to beautify our block. We also thank the Independence Community Foundation and the New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods, for their grant support for our block’s beautification, safety and development efforts, ” said Byrd.

"And on behalf or our block, I want to thank Jailton owner of Landscape Design and Garden Maintenance and Nicole owner of Sustain Landscape Design for the beautiful landscape and garden work they do for the block," said Byrd.

“Finally I thank the block association for volunteering their time in organizing the Spring Fling including grant writing, event preparation and promotion, fundraising and raffle sales, food preparation, and for the generous donations of raffle gifts,” said Byrd.

The 500 Hancock Block Association has been in existence for some time and it has been especially active since 2007 with the re- commitment and energy of block members, new and old. As a result, the block has been revitalized, adding to the great charm of its Brooklyn neighborhood. Some of the achievements include new planters and new tree guards
along with landscaping, annual “Spring Fling” block parties, annual stoop sales in the fall, annual children’s Halloween and Christmas Parties, support of local business events, participation in 81st precinct community meetings and block watch trainings, participation at Community Board meetings, and monthly association meetings and monthly block-wide clean-ups.

For more information about the 500 Hancock Block Association please visit our site at http://500hancock.blogspot.com/ or email at 500hancock@gmail.com.

Celebrating Block Pride with Good, Clean Fun!

Saturday, April 18, 2009, the 500 Hancock Street Association, along with the help of Trash Talkers, a Bedford Stuyvesant grassroots organization committed to eradicating litter from Bedford Stuyvesant, took to the streets with brooms, bags and lots of good cheer. Blessed with a bright sunny day to sweep and collect litter up and down the block while cheerfully greeting neighbors, the intrepid group quickly had the block “spic and span.” “This was a terrific display of block pride and community with our neighbors now that the grim days of winter are gone, said beautification committee member, Sheila Kennedy.”

“It’s heart-warming to see our friends and neighbors gathering and to share ‘Block Pride’ and helping to beautify our block, said Desiree Byrd, block association president. With this show of support, we are positioned to win the “Greenest Block” award sponsored by Borough President Marty Markowitz. Ms. Byrd explained that the 500 Hancock Block Association’s mission is: “to beautify and secure our block; to educate and support our neighbors in maintaining their homes; and to improve our block’s quality of life.”

The Association’s fundraising efforts including dues, grant writing, and fundraising activities, has provided the block with new planters and tree guards as well as supplies and landscaping support. The Association has also provided children's activities including Halloween and Christmas parties. The Association invites the community to the next Block Pride clean-up on Saturday, May 16 2009 from 10 to 12 noon as well as to their annual “Spring Fling” block party on Saturday, June 13, 2009. For more information about the 500 Hancock Block Association and their activities please visit: http://500hancock.blogspot.com/.

Jump into Spring and Join us April 18th

Spring 2009

Spring 2009

Hey Neighbor! Newsletter

Spring Fling 2009

On June 13^th, park your cars on other blocks and get ready for fun, games, good food and fun with your neighbors. We have our 2^nd annual Spring Fling! The planning committee is planning prizes for a hoola hoop competition, "So you think you can dance on 500 Hancock" with DJ and much, much more! There will be BBQ going for the kids and we hope that Marty Markowitz, our borough president, will join us as he did last year. There is something beautiful growing on 500 Hancock and we hope that you will join us. If you would like to get involved, please contact Wendi at 347-240-5622 or email wendisaree@yahoo.com.

Are you On-line?

Well we are. In addition to monthly meetings 10 am on the first Saturday of each month (with some Sunday exceptions for those who can't make Saturdays), we also have a blog at http://500hancock.blogspot.com/. We know folks can't always make it to the meetings but, we know you are still there and we want you to know we are here too. Check out the blog for updates and stay informed.

We also have an email address where you can communicate with us when you can't make it to the meetings. Drop us a line at 500hancock@gmail.com. Though we'd prefer the chance to see you in person, we'll definitely take you any way we can. J

It's The Pits And That's A Good Thing!

You may have noticed the face lift on the block. One of those changes is the tree guards and expansion of the pits. The beautification committee has planned a couple of activities to help us get these tree pits and the block nice and pretty for the warm weather. On April 18^th, they are conducting the block clean up and have arranged a lesson on how to plant for success in the tree pits by one of our block association members. This is a special opportunity for our block association members only. Come out, meet the neighbors and learn which flowers can survive the pits, how much to water and other tips to make your tree pit beautiful up top and down below.

Block Association for Home Management Services

Have you seen the young people in fatigues, sweeping, cleaning, and dumping trash? Those are the "Foot Soldiers", a community organization which provides excellent home services like snow shoveling and trash management, while providing jobs and growth opportunities for the community's young people. Its mission to decrease teen idleness while cleaning up Bed-Stuy makes it a true community jewel and the free sample of their services have had the young people on our block helping 10 lucky block association members that attended the April meeting. Wow! Are you interested in a worry-free winter and bypassing your trash and recycling responsibilities? We are and we can all benefit from a block association special. Come out to the April 18^th clean up and sign up!