Are you a technologist with an interest in giving back to youth interested in careers in programming and computer science? TEALS is a program funded by Microsoft and the New York City Foundation for Computer Science that helps high schools teach computer science by providing a team of trained volunteers to partner with a classroom teacher and deliver computer science to their students. TEALS will be holding an information session at the Brooklyn Public Library on Sunday, April 26 from 2:30PM to 4:00PM.

Due to the efforts of Community Board 8 relaying numerous community complaints regarding excessive filming in Prospect Heights, the Mayor's Office of Film, Theater, and Broadcasting has agreed to impose a moratorium on filming in Prospect Heights for the next six months. The moratorium will be effective beginning February 1, 2015, but will not include projects that are already contracted. 

On December 11, local elected officials and affordable housing advocates demonstrated in front of the cooperative apartment building at 230 Park Place in Prospect Heights. Assembly Member Walter Mosley, City Council Member Laurie Cumbo, and members of the Fifth Avenue Committee and the Pratt Area Community Council protested the harassment of tenant Carmen Pineiro by the co-op's board. 

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is undertaking a number of projects aimed at improving water quality in the Gowanus Canal. Several of these projects are intended to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) into the canal. CSOs are prone to occur during heavy rains when stormwater overwhelms the capacity of the local sewer system.

Because Prospect Heights is part of the watershed for the Gowanus Canal, DEP plans to install a network of bioswales to absorb stormwater. Bioswales are tree pits with a curb cut to absorb runoff.

On Tuesday, November 4, Gus Vlahavas, known to generations of Prospect Heights community members as the proprietor of Tom's Restaurant on Washington Avenue, passed away at age 76.

Founded by the Vlahavas family in 1936, Tom's is one of the neighborhood's most established businesses and cherished institutions. Many loyal customers line up around the corner on Sunday mornings for brunch, and Gus often served them cookies and orange slices while they waited. Gus' kindness and generosity of spirit were as much of a part of his restaurant as its cherry lime rickeys and vintage decor. 

There will be a wake for Gus on Sunday, November 9 from 2-4 pm and from 7-9 pm at Cobble Hill Chapels on Court Street and Dean Street in Cobble Hill. Memorial services will be on Monday, November 10 at 9:30 am at St. Constantine and Helen Church, 64 Schermerhorn Street in downtown Brooklyn.

Remembrances of Gus can be added to a memorial Facebook page.

The Department of Transportation yesterday installed three new bike corrals on Vanderbilt Avenue. The corrals had been requested by the owners of Milk Bar, Branded Saloon and Bar Chuko. A survey of almost 400 residents and business owners conducted by PHNDC found that 96% approved of the addition of the bike corrals to Vanderbilt Avenue; their installation was approved by Community Board 8 in September.

Although merchants hosting the bike corrals in front of their businesses are obligated to maintain them with plantings and keep the curb area clean, any cyclist may park there, regardless of whether he or she is a patron of the hosting merchant.

Thanks to Bar Chuko, Branded and Milk Bar for their initiative to make Vanderbilt Avenue safer and more friendly to cyclists!