Check out: Why Skateboarding Should be Taught in School

NEW YORK (WABC) — A New York City high school is now offering a skateboarding class for credit, one of a wide range of quirky physical education electives available to students.
The skateboarding elective is offered as a gym class to 9th and 10th graders at East Side Community High School. It began in February as an after school program but has since morphed into a for-credit pursuit.
The district also offers yoga classes at some schools as well as the Brazilian martial art capoeira at Lehman High School in the Bronx.
One Department of Education official says there has been a shift from the usual fare of basketball or volleyball to “an overall culture of fitness.”
High school students are required to complete at least seven semesters of physical education.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=6510662

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What: Insomniac Boarders Society Part 1: Movie Night and Haiti Benefit

Prospect Park Rip

When: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 6:30 PM
612 16th St 16th street entrance to west Lake Drive in the park
Brooklyn, NY 11215
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Finally the first Ride of the Insomniac Boarders Society, and it has a cause!

On Wednesday, jan 20th, we will be meeting in Prospect Park to hang out and slide for an hour or so, before heading to a local Cafe for movie night.

At 8 p.m. (roughly) Vox Pop, a very cool local coffee shop and venue will be showing a documentary, Poto Mitan: Haitian Women, Pillars of the Global Economy (2009, 50min). They will also be collecting money for the Haiti support group Partners in Health, which has been operating in Haiti for over 20 years and runs many Hospitals and Clinics throughout the country. (Donation is not required to join this event)

Just before 8 oclock, after meeting up in prospect we will bomb the 16th st hill and head down to vox pop a short 10 block ride from the park. We will head down E12th St till we get to 1022 Cortelyou Rd, where the cafe is.

Sorry for the late notice, but anyone who can come out tomorrow night should come ride a bit and then support a very worthy cause, organization and cafe.

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Vox Pop Cafe is at 1022 Cortelyou Rd. @ Stratford Rd in Ditmas Park. Q train to Cortelyou
http://voxpopcafe.com/ for more info, or 718-940-2084

With this in mind, in addition to our meager effort with this event, computers and phones available at the cafe/ community space may be used by anyone attempting to contact loved ones in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas. Vox is also drop-off point for medical supplies, clothes, etc. being collected by Action Now for Malik Fraternity Inc. (info on facebook)

**feel free to forward on this info to anyone who might find it useful**
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Learn more here:
http://www.meetup.com/LongboardingNYC/calendar/12364124/

My name is Dane C. Reiley, I am the Co-Founder and Executive Producer of LOOSEWORLD. We are a NYC based Artistic Cooperative that specializes in film production and live events.

Next week LOOSEWORLD is teaming up with philly phenomenon Chiddy Bang to film the music video for their newest single The Opposite of Adults. We are looking for a group of skaters to feature in the video. While we are looking for skaters (as well as BMXers and Breakdancers) of every age and race, we are looking specifically for One 8 to 15 year old Black Male and One 8 to 15 year old White Male.

They will be casting these roles by the weekend, so time is definitely of the essence.

Here are some details:
All talent will be needed for ONE FULL DAY during the span of January 24th through Wednesday, 27th. Final schedule will be disclosed upon selection. Shooting will take place in Manhattan’s LES. Talent must be able to provide their own reliable transportation.

2010 NYC Skateboarding Event:

Ladies Night!!! Free Skating!

Doesn’t matter how good you are, come hang out with us and skate. Or learn to skate.

Know somebody who wants to learn how to ride a skateboard or longboard this year?

For a limited time, you can buy a $50 Gift Certificate, good for One Private Skateboarding Lesson or Longboarding Lesson (Reg $65!) – equipment rental included!

Is it last minute? Looking for a gift for that special New York City skateboarder?

Simply click the paypal button below and then Print out the gift certificate or email it to that special someone.

Feel free to contact us, if you have any questions.

Skateboarding Lesson for Christmas

Unique and adventurous.

Print it out of Email It! For a limited time, (Until Jan 2, 2010) you can buy a $50 Gift Certificate, good for One Private Skateboarding Lesson or Longboarding Lesson (Reg $65!) – equipment rental included! Kids or Adults will appreciate this gift. Gift Certificate is good for two years!

Is it last minute? Looking for a gift for that special New York City skateboarder?

Simply click the paypal button below and then Print out the gift certificate or PDF and email it to that special someone.

Feel free to contact us, if you have any questions.

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Map of the Staging Plan

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Brooklyn Banks 1

“Brooklyn Banks 1″ shows the area that will be closed for the 4 years after they paint the overpasses. Everything to the left of the red line will be behind a temporary wall(the line goes all the way to Rose street- that is the closed road between the big banks and the small banks) This will pretty much make the actual “banks” unrideable because as we all know it is very difficult to ride them from such an extreme angle.

Brooklyn Banks 2

Shows that the upper banks area will be pretty much rideable up until the end of the steel flatbar.

Timeline of approx dates:

Jan 15th (Approx 4-6 months) – both overpasses that go over the banks area will be covered and
painted. Virtually the entire banks area from Pearl to Rose streets will be closed and off limits.

Once overpasses are painted(approx summer 2010)- the north ramp (ramp furthest away from the bridge itself) will be uncovered and the area that is not used for staging will be open

2014- entire banks area will be open again.

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This is the official statement from DOT:

The Brooklyn Bridge is in urgent need of rehabilitation, and this project is slated to begin in 2010 and expected to finish in 2014. During this time, a portion of the Brooklyn Banks will be closed for use by the contractor. When the storage area is established, more than half of the area currently used as a skatepark will be available for public use.

The scope of work for this project also includes painting, which is expected to begin in the winter of 2010. During painting work, the park will be closed to provide the space required for painting operations. After the painting work in this area is complete, anticipated for mid 2010, the park will be reopened with the exception of the storage area. The park will completely reopen when the rehabilitation is completed. DOT has been working closely with Steve Rodriguez, spokesperson for the Brooklyn Banks and the communities that use it, to share this space without compromising the vital reconstruction of the Brooklyn Bridge.

The person to contact for future complaints/issues/info is:

Sabrina Lau AICP
Planner II I Community Outreach for the Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklynbridgeoutreach@gmail.com

Please Get Involved right now! Here’s what you can do:

Tell the city how important it is to you.

This is the person who needs to hear your concerns about the Brooklyn Banks closing. Do not just sit back and hope that enough people will get involved. No matter who you are, please take a minute to express your own feelings. Regardless of what happens down there the more people that contact him the better chance we have of making sure that any work done near/at skate spots is done in a manner that keeps the community that uses the space in mind.

Sabrina Lau AICP
Planner II I Community Outreach for the Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklynbridgeoutreach@gmail.com

A free Sample Letter.

[Your Name]
[Street Address]
[City, ST ZIP Code]

December 1, 2009
Press Secretary
NYC Department of Transportation
New York City, New York

Dear Seth Solomonow:

I am a resident of New York City, and I am writing to express my concern about the long term closing of the park known as Brooklyn Banks. It is my understanding that the park will be used to a staging ground for heavy machinery during the much-needed rehabilitation of the Brooklyn Bridge. Doing this will destroy the brick surface that makes this place unique. Furthermore, if even some small part of the space can be left opened, then I am asking the Department of Transportation to allow us to continue using the park. I understand the need to ensure human life is protected. However, as citizens of this New York City, we deserve the opportunity to be involved in the process, to ensure that opportunities to preserve history, are considered. Please give us the consideration we deserve.

The space has been enjoyed by a committed community of enthusiasts for nearly thirty years now. It has been destroyed before, but was restored thanks to the efforts of leaders in the extreme sports community, in conjunction with New York City officials. You may not know this, but almost every other historical place has been taken away from us and never given back. For that reason, the Brooklyn Banks a landmark. It is an endangered icon that represents the cultural and economic influence of New York City’s urban youth. In the last 30 years, this park has attracted locals and tourists, filmers and photographers, skateboarders, bmxers, inliners, and so many more.

All we are asking for is consideration. There must be some way to compromise. Please allow our community to be a part of the process.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Volcom NYC presents Andy Kessler Art Show

Saturday December 12th, 2009 8PM – Midnight
Sunday, Decmeber 13th, 2009 11AM – 7 PM
446 Broadway (Between Grand & Howard)
18 to get in, 21 to drink

Where the Ladies At!
Saturday October 31, 2009

Meet a bunch of girls who rip. Check it out. Skate Like a Girl presents Where the Ladies At! in partnership with the Skirtboarders and Girls Riders Organization. Tricks 4 Treats, a skateboarding Halloween event in Brooklyn’s Park Slope, featuring girl skaters! Oct 31 12-4pm in [...]