Red Hook
Three cheers to Assemblyman “Santa” Felix Ortiz (D–Red Hook) for spreading Christmas cheer to the staff and children at the Bumblebees R Us Children Care Center in Red Hook over the holiday season.
Standing O pal Felix came down the chimney in a red suit and bellowing, “Ho, ho, ho!” before presenting the tiny-tots with gifts galore.
Staff, including teachers Ms. Patricia, Ms. Natoya, Ms. Y., Ms. Christine, Ms. Tiffany, and Ms. Lijiana were on hand to let Santa know that all the children — among them, Shawn, Sariyah, Shilah, Eriline, Anarie, Samuel, Jayden, Jade, Millieon, Aniyah, Isaiah, Mia, Emorej, Aaden, Jasiah, Millieon, Aniyah, and Isaiah — made it to the “good list” this year.
Bumblebees R Us Child Care Center [76 Lorraine St. between HIcks and Columbia streets in Red Hook, (718) 858–8111].
Borough Park
More ho, ho, ho!
Jolly, holly huzzas to Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R–Bay Ridge) for helping out Santa this year. The do-gooding pol distributed toys and goodies collected by Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, the Dimitrious and Georgia Kaloidis Parochial School, and the Salam Arabic Lutheran Church to grateful kids at the Guild For Exceptional Children to celebrate the New Year.
“It was a pleasure and a privilege to work with such great organizations to bring a little holiday cheer to the children of our community,” Malliotakis told Standing O. “I’m always overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of the residents of Brooklyn.”
Standing O is overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity, too!
The Guild for Exceptional Children, Early Childhood Education Center [1273 57th St. and 13th Avenue, (718) 435–2554].
Brooklyn Heights
Welcome to the community
The Aids Healthcare Foundation has partnered with the local non-profit organization Gay Men of African Descent to open the Men’s Wellness Center.
The facility provides testing, routine health care, vaccinations, and education on male-related topics, said Michael Camacho, regional director of the foundation.
“As a relatively new provider in the New York public health system, the foundation is excited to be partnering with such an established organization to tackle an issue that has impacted New York City, especially the black gay population,” he said. “We hope this new opportunity will be particularly beneficial for people who are living with HIV.”
The center is open Wednesdays from 5 to 8 pm. Walk-ins are welcome.
Gay Men of African Descent Center [44 Court St., Suite 1000 at Joralemon Street in Brooklyn Heights (718) 222–6300, www.freeSTDcheck.org].
Fort Greene
Quality is thy name
Here’s a shout-out to the Brooklyn Hospital Center for earning top kudos and being named Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by the Joint Commission, a leading accreditor of health care organizations in the good old U.S.A.
The hospital aced the accolades for exemplary performance in using evidence-based clinical processes that improve care for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, and surgical-care patients.
“We are honored to be recognized for our efforts to keep Brooklyn healthy,” said Hospital Center president and CEO, Dr. Richard B. Becker.
And we’re honored to give the hospital a Standing O.
The Brooklyn Hospital Center [121 DeKalb Ave. at Ashland Place in Fort Greene, (718) 250–8000].
Bay Ridge
It’s Viking kind of love
Cheers to the non-profit organization Viking Love, NYC for hosting the fifth annual Evers Family Autism Fund-raiser at the Pour House of Bay Ridge in November, benefitting the Path Family Center, which helps people through hard times.
The Path Center was founded by pediatrician Dr. Michael Gabriel to help children with allergies, asthma, and nutritional issues, and to address the community’s increasing special-needs population.
The Vikings presented a check for $12,000 to the Path Center at the Art Room in Bay Ridge last week. Now that’s a lot of Viking love.
Viking Love, NYC [112 Marine Ave. at 95th Street in Bay Ridge].
