Cobble Hill
Happiness is a warm blanket. Lots of happiness was delivered to the NICU at the hospital when the sisters of Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority visited. The “soros,” (as the sisters are known), collected blankets from clubs and then delivered the hand-crocheted covers to the mothers of infants that are in the NICU. “The wonderful NICU staff cares for the babies’ medical needs, but a hug while wrapped in a soft warm blanket is important to these babies as well,” said Debra Carey, CEO of the hospital. Standing O sends lots of hugs too!
Long Island College Hospital [339 Hicks St. and Atlantic Avenue in Cobble Hill (718) 780-1000].
Bay Ridge
Tigers roar
The boys of the boards have taken the title yet again. The Tigers, who hail from Bay Ridge Prep, this year’s JV Boys Basketball Champs, played to the advantage of their home court and slam dunked their way into history by defeating Evangel Christian School, to the cheers from their hometown crowd. After the Tigers had a nine-point lead at the end of halftime, Coach Riley told his team “Focus on the third and fourth quarters, because now the real game begins,” And the boys did just that to clinch the game 51-47.
Bay Ridge Prep [8101 Ridge Blvd. between 81st and 82nd streets in Bay Ridge (718) 833-9090].
Crown Heights
Great grant it’s a gift
Three cheers to Council members Mathieu Eugene (D-Flatbush) and Darlene Mealey (D-East New York) for presenting 3.5 million buckeroos, on behalf of the Brooklyn delegation, to Kings County Hospital Center for a brand spanking new “linear accelerator” (don’t know what it is, but it’s tre costly). “I am proud to secure this funding for the hospital, and serve as an advocate for healthcare throughout the borough,” said our pal Councilman Eugene.
Kings County Hospital Center [451 Clarkson Ave. between Albany and New York avenues in Crown Heights, (718) 245-3325].
Red Hook
Feed the NEED
Childhood obesity is the number one concern today and FitSpin has the cure — NEEDS (Nutrition, Exercise, Education and Diversity of Skills). The non-profit initiative provides a boot camp for children and teaches them to get back on track and eat healthy and keep their bodies in shape. Owner and personal trainer Sara Connolly and her staff promote activity and moderation. “We take them to McDonalds, we tell them ‘you can eat this but not every day, and in moderation.’ I teach them a lifestyle, not a diet.” “Our mission is to help fight the obesity epidemic, by battling the unhealthy tendencies,” Sara added. FitSpin has an open-door policy, and no child is ever turned away, with free or low cost classes for children, NEEDS is easy on the pocket. FitSpin also offers a wide range of activities, from personal training to spinning, yoga, Zumba, and pilates programs for adults. According to Sara, “fees for the adult sessions ‘feeds’ the NEEDS program.”
FitSpin [360 Van Brunt St. between Wolcott and Sullivan streets in Red Hook, (718) 246-8300].
Bensonhurst
Bully, bully, no more
Cheers to the girls at Bishop Kearney HS for standing up to the bullies and supporting programs that boost self-image (much like Standing O), like “PS I Love You Day” and “Operation Beautiful.” On Feb. 10, the students wore purple in honor of the first Love day, which was started by a teen in West Islip in honor of her deceased dad and then kept the love flowing by following it up on Feb. 13, by hosting “Operation Beautiful.” After the school day ended, members of the Self Image Club, under the direction of Maureen Moses, school nurse, placed personal notes of affirmation on every student’s locker. “Operation Beautiful,” was started by Caitlin Boyle, a student in North Carolina, who wrote Post-it notes to fellow students to make them realize they are all beautiful. Standing O is posting this all over town: the girls at Bishop Kearney HS are not only beautiful, but caring and kind, too.
Bishop Kearney HS [2202 60th St. at Bay Parkway in Bensonhurst, (718) 236-6363].
Reach reporter Joanna DelBuono at jdelbuono@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2523.
