Carroll Gardens Association, Inc.

Carroll Gardens Association, Inc. (CGA) is hosting a Free Health Fair on Saturday, June 22nd, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Red Hook Recreation Center, located at 155 Bay Street. The Health Fair is being conducted in partnership with the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center and the Red Hook Recreation Center. During the Health Fair, the following free services will be offered:

• Blood Pressure Screening
• HIV Testing
• Glucose Testing
• Nutritionist
• A low-cost health insurance representative will also be present.

As this is a community event, everyone is welcome to attend. Please contact us for more information at (718) 243-9301 or send an email: info@carrollgardensassociation.com.

Carroll Gardens Association, Inc.will be offering a workshop entitled “Risk Management for Your Business and Personal Finance.” The workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013, starting at 6:30p.m. at the CGA Training Center located at 201 Columbia Street, Brooklyn 11231. The workshop will be presented by Sean Kath, Regional Vice President of Prudential. During the workshop, Mr. Kath will provide an overview on how business operators can preserve their business, protect their resources, and successfully transition to retirement. This free workshop is offered as part of a series under CGA’s Entrepreneur Assistance Program, which is underwritten by TD Bank.

If you are an existing business owner or considering entrepreneurship as a career option,  this workshop is not to be missed! This free event is open to the public and light refreshments will be served. You can register for the workshop by clicking at the link: http://carrollgardensassociation.eventbrite.com, by calling (718) 243-9301 or sending an email to Katie Wauchope: kwauchope@carrollgardensassociation.com.

Carroll Gardens Association, Inc. has been named by the Enterprise Community Partners as one of the twelve (12) organizations in the New York Metro Region to participate in the Hurricane Sandy Recovery and Rebuilding Program’s Multifamily Collaborative. As a member of the collaborative, CGA will be working with 11 other organizations to develop best practices for disaster preparedness and long-term resilience.

Together with other collaborative participants, CGA will work over the next 2 years towards developing a comprehensive disaster and response plan for the organization and its housing portfolio. Enterprise Community Partners will provide technical assistance to CGA as it assesses its housing portfolio’s vulnerability to future crises, explore innovative resilient retrofit options, and identify potential financing mechanisms to implement the recommendations. Results of the resiliency collaborative discussions will be used as guidelines that will benefit other organizations. CGA hopes to spearhead similar discussions that will involve other organizations in its community.

Carroll Gardens Association, Inc. (CGA) celebrated its 42nd Anniversary at Marco PoloRestaurant on April 11, 2013. Salvatore “Buddy” Scotto, Founder and President Emeritus of CGA received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his instrumental and invaluable community activism; Paul DiAgostino, owner of the House of Pizza & Calzone received the Small Business Leadership Award for strengthening the ties between the business community and the neighborhood; Ralph Bumbaca, Senior Vice-President at TD Bank received the Corporate Leadership Award for his business leadership and commitment to providing resources to small businesses throughout Brooklyn; and the Red Hook Community Justice Center received the Public Service Award for extending exemplary public service work to reach beyond the Justice Center and into the community.

Cynthia Gonzalez, CGA Board Chair said “Carroll gardens Association’s 42nd Anniversary Celebration was a huge success. Funds raised from the celebration will be used to further the programs that CGA offers – preserving and developing affordable housing, enforcing quality housing management practices, promoting small business economic development, and providing and linking residents to social services and resources to improve the quality of their lives.  The success of CGA’s fundraising efforts is a clear indication of the commitment of donors and friends, and demonstrates the impact that the Neighborhood Preservation Company has on transforming lives in the region.”

Salvatore “Buddy” Scotto, Community Activist and CGA Founder, receives Lifetime Achievement Award from CGA Chair Cynthia Gonzalez and Board Member Victor Papa

Ralph Bumbaca, Senior VP of TD Bank, receives Corporate Leadership Award from CGA Vice-Chair Michael L.Brown and CGA Chair Cynthia Gonzalez

Julian Adler, Director, receives Public Service Award on behalf of the Red Hook Community Justice Center from CGA Exec. Director Vilma Heramia and CGA Chair Cynthia Gonzalez

Paul DiAgostino, Owner of House of Pizza & Calzone, receives the Small Business Leadership Awardfrom CGA Chair Cynthia Gonzalez and Board Member Vlad Portnoy

Carroll Gardens Association, Inc. has joined a coalition of various community interests to keep the doors of Long Island College Hospital  (LICH) open. LICH is the nearest medical facility serving the residents of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Red Hook and Boerum Hill. We urge community residents to participate in the following activities:

Health Fair at the PAL Miccio Center: Friday, April 5th, 2013, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.            LICH doctors and nurses will be offering free health screenings to residents of the  Red Hook Community. Community leaders will be on hand to discuss ways to join in the fight to keep LICH open for care. Please stop by. Address of the PAL Miccio Center is 110 West 9th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231 (Red Hook neighborhood).

The Brooklyn March to Save Our Hospital: The march starts at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, April 7th, 2013 at Coffey Park in Red Hook (between Dwight and Verona Streets). Join the march that will wind through South Brooklyn neighborhoods and will end at Long Island College Hospital. Show your support and bring your family and friends as our community, health care providers, and elected leaders demonstrate the importance of LICH to all of us. Contact CGA Community Organizer Katie Wauchope at (718) 243-9301 if you need more posters and other materials to distribute throughout the community.

Ms. Cynthia Gonzalez is 4th from the left, front row

CGA Board Chair Cynthia Gonzalez was honored as one of the 33 Extraordinary Women of 2013 by Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes on March 21, 2013. This year is the seventh year that the Kings County District Attorney’s Office held the Annual Extraordinary Women’s event in celebration of Women’s History Month. Each of the 33 honorees serve as role models due to accomplishments in their careers and dedicated service to their communities.

Ms. Gonzalez has been honored for her dedication as Board Member to Carroll Gardens Association, Inc. and her service to Community Board 7. Ms. Gonzalez has volunteered her time selflessly to the Carroll Gardens Association for over a dozen years.  In 2002, she was named Board Secretary and then took over the helm of leadership as Board Chair in 2006.  During her tenure as Board Chair, Cynthia has overseen the fiscal recovery of the organization which has led to numerous programs for the community including a Free Computer Training Program, the Entrepreneur Assistance Program, the Homeownership Education and Counseling Program, and Free Health Fairs, among others.

Ms. Gonzalez has also served for decades on Sunset Park’s Community Board 7, fighting for improvements to her neighborhood and is a member of the New York State Advisory Council on Underage Alcohol Consumption.  She previously served as the first Hispanic Democratic State Committeewoman/District leader representing the 51^st Assembly District from 1988 – 1990. A licensed Master and Clinical Social Worker who has received numerous honors for her service including being named an Honoree at the 5^th Annual NYC Latino Task Force Scholarship Dinner in 2009 and as an Honoree of District Attorney Charles J. Hynes’ Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration in 2008.

If you are starting a business, choosing the type of legal structure is a decision that will have the biggest impact on your taxes, the amount of paperwork you are required to do, the personal liability you face and your ability to raise money. As part of its Entrepreneur Assistance Program, Carroll Gardens Association, Inc. is offering a free workshop entitled, “Choose the Right Legal Structure for your Business.”  The workshop will be held at the CGA Training Center on Wednesday, February 27^th, 2013, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The CGA Training Center is located at the Carroll Gardens Association, Inc., 201 Columbia Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231.

During this workshop, you will learn about the different types of business structures and how to find the one best suited for your business – whether Sole Proprietorship, Limited Liability Company, Partnership, C-Corporation, S-Corporation, and Cooperative. You will also learn about the advantages and disadvantages for each type of business structure, and questions to ask when hiring an accountant or an attorney for your business.

The “Choose the Right Legal Structure for your Business” Workshop will be presented by CGA Board Member James R. Grimaldi, Esq, CPA. Mr. Grimaldi, a partner at Citrin Cooperman’s New York City office, provides strategic tax planning, research and compliance services to business owners, real estate firms, family offices, not-for-profits, and high net worth individuals. As a tax attorney he also advises clients on trust and estate planning issues.

To register for this free workshop, please give us a call at (718) 243-9301. You could also send an email to Workshops@carrollgardensassociation.com.

Light refreshments will be served during the workshop.

Carroll Gardens Association, Inc. successfully launched its Homeownership Education and Counseling Program on Wednesday, January 30th, 2013, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.. A roomful of participants attended the “How to Become a Homeowner Workshop” at the CGA Training Center.  CGA Executive Director Vilma Heramia gave an introduction regarding the organization and the Homeownership Education and Counseling Program. The workshop was presented by Luigi Giunta, Home Mortgage Specialist and Albert Diaz, Renovation Specialist of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Workshop attendees enjoyed the interactive discussion and asked questions regarding their options and the different loan programs. After the presentation, participants stayed behind, continuing with the discussion, as well as inquiring about their individual credit scores.

Carroll Gardens Association, Inc. would like to thank the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation for providing a grant to help establish the Homeownership Education and Counseling Program, as well as making the event a success. CGA will provide updates regarding future workshops.

Carroll Gardens Association, Inc. will be launching its Homeownership Education and Counseling Program with the “Learn More about Becoming a Homeowner” Workshop. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, January 30^th, 2013 at the Carroll Gardens Association, Inc., from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. During this workshop, participants will learn about the following:

• What are the benefits of becoming a homeowner;
• What makes up a mortgage payment;
• What are closing costs and additional costs of homeownership;
• What role does credit play in financing a home;
• What credit qualifying guidelines do lenders consider;
• What types of loan should I consider;
• What a home mortgage consultant could do for you;
• How to finance a renovation; and
• How to choose a Realtor.

The workshop will be presented by Luigi Giunta, Home Mortgage Specialist and Albert Diaz, Renovation Specialist of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Carroll Gardens Association, Inc. received a grant from the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation to help establish the organization’s Homeownership Education and Counseling Program. The Program has the primary objectives of improving financial literacy, expanding homeownership opportunities, improving access to affordable housing and preserving homeownership.

To register for this free workshop, call (718) 243-9301 or email: Workshops@carrollgardensassociation.com.

Carroll Gardens Association, Inc. (CGA) is now accepting registrations for the 3rd Training Cycle of its Free Computer Training Program. The 3rd Training Cycle starts on January 7th and runs until February 26th, 2013, Mondays and Tuesdays only, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The upcoming training cycle focuses on Microsoft Office. This is a Beginner’s Class on Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Upon successful completion of the 7-week program, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion in Microsoft Office.

Due to limited space, registration is offered on a first come-first served basis. Since this is a completely free training program, we require that participants commit to completing the course. The Free Computer Training Program is partially funded by Council Member Brad Lander through the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD).

You could register by calling Carroll Gardens Association at (718) 243-9301 or sending the attached Computer Training Class Registration Form by email: info@carrollgardensassociation.com or fax: (718) 243-9304.