Mumps Outbreak Nearby in Crown Heights

Parents with kids on alternative vaccine schedules may want to think twice before delaying the MMR vaccine: a recent outbreak of mumps among Orthodox Jewish men has hit Crown Heights, just north of us across Empire. The Daily News reports:

The mumps epidemic started last summer at a camp for Orthodox Jewish boys in Sullivan County after an 11-year-old boy was diagnosed with the disease. He had recently returned from England, where 4,000 people were hit with the mumps.

Kids in New York City caught the mumps at camp, then brought them back home to mommy and daddy. At first the disease was concentrated in Borough Park, but it has since spread to other Orthodox enclaves. Read: Crown Heights.

In response to the epidemic, the NYC Health Department is now offering free vaccinations for adults. Info here.

Crime Prevention Meeting on Monday, February 15, 9:30 am

Some parents in the neighborhood have set up a meeting with Vinnie Martinos, the 71st Precinct Community Affairs Officer, to talk about things they can do to prevent crime. If you're interested in attending, email Nicole Fabri Zandoli for details: nicole (dot) fabri at clearenergybrokerage.com.

Hanging Out on Snow Day

A snowman is perched on a tree in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, N.Y., February, 10, 2010. Near the Audubon Center and Oriental Pavilion, in the Concert Grove area. (Photo by Nazmin B. Gordon; see also: closeup!)

Charter School Hearing Postponed

Due to the coming snowpocalypse, all NYC public schools are closed tomorrow and that includes meetings to be held at those schools. The public hearing on the Lefferts Gardens Charter School has been pushed back to February 22. When a time for the meeting is announced, we'll post it here.

Get some salt on the streets tonight and stay warm. 

Obama Gives $28 Million in Stim Funds to Nostrand Avenue Bus Project

Remember when we told you about the bus rapid transit project slated for Nostand Avenue? Well, Streetsblog is now reporting that the Obama Adminstration's 2011 budget includes $28 million to make the dream a reality:

Nostrand Avenue SBS would ply the B44 corridor in Brooklyn, a route where ridership is already high, demand is higher, and bus service is currently the most unreliable in the city... The FTA's announcement should help turn this project into reality. "That funding helps assure everybody that the project is going to move forward in these difficult times," said Joan Byron of the Pratt Center for Community Development, which has been a major advocate for bus rapid transit in New York.  Byron highlighted the fact that the design for the route is still very much an open question and that secure funding will make the public outreach process more effective.

More here from Streetsblog. (Photo: NYCDOT)

Previously:
PLG buses lose again; Nostrand Merchants protest bus upgrade

Update to Nostrand Avenue bus service

Developer Resumes Building at 185 Ocean

Brownstoner tells us that 185 Ocean Avenue--the giant hole in the ground where PlanetPLG HQ used to be--is back in action.

[A] check of DOB records shows that the site passed an audit in December and was reissued a New Building permit early last month. The permit's for a 22,000-square-foot, eight-story residential building. Should fit in nicely next to the recently landmarked Ocean on the Park Historic District.

Rumor has it that Henry Herbst is still planning to resume building his gigantic tower on Lincoln Road in the next couple of years as well (at least, that's what he's been telling people). We'll see....

(Photo: Brownstoner)