In 2009, the Red Hook Art Project (RHAP,) a non-profit was founded in order to provide free visual art and music classes, as well as academic and stress management instruction to children in the neighborhood. Now, thirteen years later, RHAP is going strong and is opening up a new building on the corner of Van Brunt St. and Pioneer Street, […]
Author: Brian Abate
Addabbo workers want a piece of the pandemic pie, by Brian Abate
Healthcare workers gathered outside the Addabbo Family Health Center, 120 Richard Street on July 28th to picket as cars driving by honked in support of their cause. They chanted, “What do we want? A contract! When do we want it? Now! If we don’t get it? Shut it down! If we don’t get it? Shut it down!” “Our contract expired […]
Calabrese’s court goes back live, by Brian Abate
Red Hook’s Community Justice Center has been an important part of the neighborhood since opening on Visitation Place in 2000. I had the opportunity to get a tour of the Center and speak to Judge Alex Calabrese, attorney Edna McGoldrick, and Director of Housing and Civil Justice, Ross Joy. I got to witness some of the housing court cases that […]
Thoughts on Ukraine, by Brian Abate
Before the February 24th Russian invasion of Ukraine, I really didn’t know too much about Ukraine. Even though the war has been going on since 2014 and I have family members who are originally from Lviv (one of the biggest cities in Ukraine), I didn’t know anything about the history of the country or the gruesome details of the battles […]
Biddybros achieve big, by Brian Abate
Sports have always been an important part of the Red Hook community. Melvin Goddard has been helping kids in the neighborhood reach their potential in sports. Goddard coaches basketball players ages 6-10 on his team, the Biddybros. He has also organized flag football and softball events in Red Hook. His partner Karl Sanders, who played college basketball for St. Francis […]
ALBERT KING COMES TO RED HOOK’S MICCIO CENTER
The Brooklyn Nets held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Red Hook’s Miccio Community Center on May 4th to celebrate renovations, including new gym equipment they donated, after the center’s fitness room was damaged by Hurricane Ida in 2021. The Nets worked together with Good Shepherd Services, which runs the Miccio Center. The work was done as part of the NBA’s 75th […]
Shevchenko Expertise-a-thon for Ukraine, by Brian Abate
The Shevchenko Expertise-a-thon for Ukraine took place via Zoom on April 29th as Russia continued its attack on Ukraine. According to Halyna Hryn, who hosted the event, the Shevchenko Scientific Society has more than 400 members in different scientific fields and all money donated during the event will go towards an emergency fund for Ukraine. The Shevchenko Expertise-a-thon featured more […]
Street Soccer USA Takes Over Red Hook, by Brian Abate
Soccer players and fans gathered in Red Hook for a Street Soccer USA event on a beautiful day in the park on April 16th. Street Soccer USA’s mission is “to fight poverty and empower underserved communities through soccer,” and its goal is “to provide an alternative to the pay-to-play model of youth sports with a focus on social impact across the […]
Ribbon-cutting ceremony at long shuttered Red Hook ballfields bring the former BP to town, by Brian Abate
Members of the Red Hook community, children on little league teams (including some who play baseball for the Bonnies) and some who play soccer, and politicians (including Mayor Eric Adams) gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Red Hook Ball Fields on April 20th. Ball Fields 5-8 and Soccer Field 7 are now open to the public and leagues will […]
Lillie Marshall honored for service to Red Hook, by Brian Abate
People who know and have worked with longtime community activist and leader, Lillie Marshall, gathered at the Miccio Center to honor her on March 19th. Representative Nydia Velazquez and Councilwoman Alexa Aviles came up with the idea for the event. Marshall, who is originally from Georgia, moved to Red Hook in 1966. She served as the president of the Red […]