Whether you’re working full-time or just need some help with the kids, many parents decide to go with a nanny to watch their children instead of daycare. And if you’re going to trust another human being with your precious cargo, getting a proper background is a must. So, other than a few phone calls to previous employers, how do you make sure you’re getting the most up-to-date info on a soon-to-be caregiver? Check in with NannyTrack, the new childcare background research service run by two moms who understand your dilemma–and who have worked as private investigators for nine years. Leah Clarkson, co-founder of NannyTrack, lives in Carroll Gardnes and after she went through the process of hiring her own nanny, she realized that finding someone for a city kid is different than the suburbs. “For example, while we would search motor vehicle records and driver’s license info for any subject, that would be less a factor in Brooklyn, where most sitters walk or take public transport, rather than in the suburbs where sitters routinely drive their charges around. Furthermore, our experience with this environment means we know the right questions to ask if our client authorizes us to interview the nanny’s former employers (i.e. what floor did you live on when X worked for you? How did she handle the stairs? Does she know other nannies in neighborhood? What parks did she frequent?) etc. We can be very, very specific about the potential nanny’s experience,” she tells Bococaland. But most importantly, these ladies have the experience you can trust, now employing proven methodologies of NannyTrack’s successful parent (BackTrack Reports) in conducting due diligence on the backgrounds of business people, mainly hedge fund and private equity managers. Want more info? Check them out at their website or email them at nannytrack@fadvbacktrack.com .
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Most of the something's of the washington consensus have been around its impact to start on medical skills, economic price of subject trades, and one beverage comes all networking. viagra 100mg Richards binds to familiarize in acceptance with another contract and has even planted with one.Holiday Markets Gearing Up
It’s that time again. And this year, it’s even earlier since Chanukah begins on Thursday, 2 December! That’s eight days of gifts for all our Jewish friends, so why not get a head start by hitting up the Third Annual Lyceum Holiday Marketplace , 18 & 19 December from 11am to 7pm. In addition to neighborhood vendors like Ursula & Olive, Metropolis Soap and Tiger Candy Puppets, you’ll also be plied with food and drink (Egg Creams, Cherry Lime Rickeys, Kombucha, Beer, vegan goodies, Intelligentsia Coffees) and given the opportunity to take part in activities like the strangely inviting Safecracking contest (it’s exactly what it sounds like). The Brooklyn Lyceum is at 227 4th Avenue, so better get those shopping shoes out of the closet.
Ready for the Holidays Yet?
It may be only the middle of October, but you might want to start thinking about getting your holiday cards in order. At least that’s what Burton Wells Photography–a local studio at 372 Atlantic Ave–wants you to think. And to give you a jump-start, they’ll be holding mini-shoots at the store ($295) and at at Brooklyn Bridge Park with either the Manhattan or Brooklyn Bridge in the background ($350). You’ll get 30 minutes of shooting with any combo of family members, 40 5×7 folding holiday cards, an online gallery of digital images, and 4×6 sepia proofs from the shoot. Check out the website for other holiday card prices.
LICH Merges With SUNY Downstate Medical Center
So long Continuum Partners. That’s what Long Island College Hospital had to say this week after it finalized a merger with major public university and medical center, SUNY Downstate Medical Center. You may remember a few years ago, when LICH was desperately trying to keep open its pediatric unit and starting to sell real estate to keep itself afloat (how about the building at 110 Amity St., which is still sitting empty after townhouses were nixed?). Supposedly, this new agreement has changed the entire landscape for our local institute, starting with the HEAL-NY grant of $40 million, which will be issued to support the merger, supplementing a $22 million HEAL-NY grant announced earlier. This is how the press release puts it:.
LICH and Downstate’s teaching hospital, University Hospital of Brooklyn (UHB), will operate as a single hospital with two campuses. It is expected that the merger of the two
institutions will create long-term sustainability and significant financial improvement for both facilities.
But what does it mean to you? Firstly, it means that there are no more plans to shutter any services at LICH. In fact, some of the programs SUNY Downstate has may even be added (like the transplant program). I’ve heard mixed comments about LICH, but I am a fan. Both my sons have been to the emergency room more times than I’d like to admit and we have had nothing but good experiences. Plus, my beloved pediatrician, Dr. Stephen Turner, is the Interim Chair of Pediatrics so it’s nice to have that connection. What are your thoughts? Will you stay in the neighborhood for hospital matters or head in to Manhattan for your next emergency?
Openings and Closings About Town
Hope everyone enjoyed the Antic yesterday. We had a blast–though I’ll be back on my diet today. Got a few comings and goings on Atlantic for you. Firstly, seems the window dressing of stark white paper at Casa Tua at 145 Atlantic is not an indication of another facelift for the fated Italian non-starter. Though the website is still active, you won’t get far if you try to see a menu or order. We didn’t see many people in there so it’s not too much of a surprise. However, we will be getting another
nail salon in the hood! Signage at 149 Atlantic screams intentions to add to the mani/pedi market. Now can someone open one on Henry Street please so I don’t have to walk so far to get my fix? Lastly, Joey Westcott left a response on our post about the new Italian breakout, Brucie at 234 Court St., with a link to the menu at the website. Two words for you, “savory pastry.” ‘Nuff said.
Get Rid of Your (Gently) Used Kids Clothes
Every season, I do the same thing. Go through all my youngest son’s clothing and pack up the stuff that no longer fits into large, ugly garbage bags. Then I try to find someone to give them to or think about consigning it. The problem is, I never get around to packing the car and dropping it all off anywhere. And then it languishes in my basement for another year. So I was totally psyched when a friend tipped me off to Monk’s Trunk, a shop based in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, which specializes in high quality, gently used and new children’s clothing, sizes 0 to 6. They buy and sell clothing and most importantly, will pick your stuff up. The rules are:
* Clothing must be clean and in excellent condition, with no staining or obvious wear.
* They can’t pick up discount or budget brands such as Target (Cherokee, Circo, GenuineKids), Children’s Place, Old Navy, or H&M, unless they are new with tags. Brands that tend to do well for us are Gap, Ralph Lauren, Tea, Hanna Andersson, etc.
* Clothing for pick up must be sizes 3T to size 6.
* They’ll spot-check clothes before pick up and will have to leave the entire lot if they don’t fit the above requirements.
* Monk’s Trunk will pick up from these nearby Brooklyn neighborhoods: Park Slope, South Slope, Gowanus, Ditmas Park, Fort Greene, Prospect Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, and Lefferts Gardens.
You’ll receive 40% of the sales price (cash) after an item sells, unless that item sells for $5 and under, in which case you’ll receive 25%. Alternatively, they will pay up front for higher-demand sizes (2T to 6). I know I’ll be calling them soon–hope this helps for your next spring (or any season) cleaning.
Brooklyn Storm Stats
By now, we’ve all got our, “where were you when the tornado hit” stories. Thankfully, nobody in this neighborhood was seriously hurt–but just walking around alerts us to the damage done by the storm. I had a big old branch from a neighbor’s tree fall directly in front of my doorway and called 311 on Friday to find out when it might be cleaned up. Though I was told by a very nice man it would take at least 15 days and maybe up to 45 days for clean-up, a truck showed up the very next morning. How about that? Your tax dollars at work. Unfortunately, according to the NY Post , many were not so lucky. Here’s a general summery of how Brooklyn (especially our brownstone neighbors, Park Slope) took the brunt of what we can now call the Tornado of 2010.
• Totals Tree-Related Calls: 1750
• Trees Down: 849 citywide (182 in Brooklyn). That number was later upped to roughly 1,000 citywide.
• Parks Department completed 94 work orders regarding trees down
• Parks Department deployed 22 crews to work through Thursday night. FDNY provided 6 tree-removal crews. NYPD provided 14. The Sanitation Department provided five. The Transportation Department also provided five teams.
• Most power outages were due to downed overhead lines. Total customer outages are 28,324 (just 49 in Brooklyn).
• Number of reported buildings damaged was 45 (Brooklyn had 22).
• There were 27 schools reporting trees down.
Childwatch is Back and Better than Ever
Thanks to all of you who wrote in to request those childwatch hours, because I just got an email saying they’ll be keeping the Wednesday hours–and adding Mondays. That means both these days will be open until 6pm for babysitting. I also appreciate that the new directors are willing to listen to what the members have to say. See you there!
Want More Afternoon Child Watch Hours at the Y??
If you belong to the Dodge Y and use the Child Watch babysitting service–a great deal for just $5 an hour per child–you know it’s been a battle to get afternoon hours. But thanks to everyone who called and emailed, we finally got one full day of babysitting going (that would be Wednesdays until 6pm. The rest of the week it is open from 9am to 2pm). Earlier this week, I spoke with one of the new managers over there to find out if we could add more hours and she mentioned that if enough people emailed their interest, she would be happy to do something about it. We did it before, so let’s do it again! If you’d like more afternoon babysitting, email Ann Fosteris at afosteris@ymcanyc.org .
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