See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.
By Carmine Santa Maria
Brooklyn Daily
I’m madder than a caterpillar that had a big meal, made himself a nice bed, fell asleep, and woke up in a whole new body with wings that he never asked for over the fact that no matter what I do, I can’t stop the constant change that interrupts our lives over and over and over again.
Look, you all know the ol’Screecher hates change more than anybody because, let’s face it, most of it is for the worst. Take, for instance the recent rise in the cost of a ride on my beloved Access-A-Ride, which went up right along with all those subway and bus fares! Now, it’s gonna cost me $2.50 instead of $2.25 every time I want door-to-door service to and from places my trusty steed Tornado can’t take me.
And then there’s the weather when moving from fall into winter, and then from spring into summer! It never gets better! Either it gets too cold or too hot. Again, it only gets worse!
That’s why I prefer things to stay exactly how they used to be, which, as far as I’m concerned, was better. That’s why I’ve still got my Zenith in the living room, my rotary phone on the kitchen wall, and clocks with an hour hand, minute hand, and second hand!
And that’s why I’m proud to honor my group BWECC!’s Humanitarian of the Year Brian Gotlieb, who has been around a long time and seen so many changes, but has never changed his dedication and constant service to the community — which is the way I like it.
Like any great person, Gotlieb credits his late mother, Myrna, with teaching him the importance of helping others and being active in the community.
In 1995, Gotlieb created Shorefront Toys for Tots in her memory. To date, the organization has distributed toys, games, clothing, books, and puzzles to more than 30,000 children throughout our community.
As a member of Community School Board 21, Brian focused on the issues of child safety and providing our children with a learning environment conducive to maximizing their potential. To that end he:
• Helped secure a $4.96 million Magnet School Grant for District 21’s students;
• Led the fight to provide District 21’s schools with additional school safety officers and crossing guards;
• Hosted a series of child safety programs that provided parents with free identification cards containing copies of their children’s fingerprints along with Polaroids of their children to present to law enforcement personnel in the event of an emergency;
• Initiated a district-wide reading program with the Brooklyn Cyclones and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.
Gotlieb was chairman of Community Board 13 from 2002 through 2006, and was praised for his fairness and even-handed approach.
In December of 2008, Gotlieb was named chairman of the board’s education, library, and youth services committee, where he spoke out on charter schools, the future of John Dewey High School, the re-zoning of Community School District 21, school funding, mayoral control of our public schools, the effects of PCBs in public schools, and providing needy students with free or reduced fare MetroCards.
Since 2005, Gotlieb has provided free or low-cost workshops where he taught students how to prepare for and pass the New York State Notary Public Examination.
Gotlieb, who is a graduate of the Rabbi Harry Halpern Day School and Midwood High School, received his BA from New York University, MA from the University of Florida and JD from New York Law School.
Professionally, Brian is an attorney who currently serves as an Associate with the law firm of Frekhtman & Associates.
Brian’s unbelievable record of service to others certainly justifies his receiving BWECC’s Humanitarian of the Year award. Let this Santa Claus confirm Shorefront’s Toys For Tots program, as Brian was my elf driving me around from school to school and to his Shorefront Toys For Tots.
If you want to join us when we honor Brian on Thursday April 11 at the El Caribe, contact me for reservations by e-mail, DiegoVega@aol.com.
Screech at you next week!
Read Carmine's screech every Saturday on BrooklynDaily.com. E-mail him at diegovega@aol.com.