Sun Kulcha

sat., jan.4

family hour: Over, under, swing, and rock as you explore our newest space at BCM at 2:00 p.m. Unlock doors on our Sensory Snake or relax and read on our fluff chair mountain This is an inclusive space that engages children of all abilities. This room provides a welcoming environment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Space is limited; availability on first come, first served basis. Admissions:$9.00 but museum members and children under 1 are free. Brooklyn Children’s Museum 145 Brooklyn Avenue (at St. Marks Avenue), Brooklyn, NY 11213.

sun., jan.5

holiday celebration: Discover the holiday of the Three Kings Day and learn its cultural connection. Create a jeweled crown to take home.Admissions:$9.00 but museum members and children under 1 are free. 145 Brooklyn Avenue (at St. Marks Avenue), Brooklyn, NY 11213.

Tues., jan.7-sun.,jan.12

performing arts: Gotham Arts Exchange returns to The Joyce to present the third season of FOCUS DANCE. FOCUS DANCE is comprised of four programs featuring eight companies: Jean Butler, doug elkins choreography, etc., Kelly Garfield Dance, Mark Haim Dance and Theater, Yvonne Rainer and Group, Vicky Shick and Dancers, Morgan Thorson, and Urban Bush Women. The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue, NYC. Tickets start at $10 and are available at 212-242-0800 or www.joyce.org.

Program A – Tues,,Jan.7

(7:30 p.m); Sun.,Jan.12 (7:30 p.m)

Vicky Shick and Dancers -Everything You See doug elkins choreography, etc. – Scott, Queen of Marys – Revival

Program B – Wednesday, Jan.8

(7:30p.m); Sat., Jan.11 (8:00p.m)

Morgan Thorson – The Thing of it Is;Keely Garfield Dance – Twin Pines (part real, part arboreal)

Program C- Thurs., Jan.9

(8:00 p.m); Sun.,Jan.12 (2:00 p.m)

Yvonne Rainer and Group -Assisted Living: Do You Have Any Money? Urban Bush Women – dark swan

Program D – Fri.,Jan.10

(8:00 p.m);Sat,Jan. 11 (2:00 p.m)

Jean Butler – Hurry;Mark Haim Dance and Theater – This Land Is Your Land (2013) – New York Premiere

wed., jan.8

nature tots: Calling all nature lovers and budding scientists! Learn about the living and nonliving things who coexist with us on planet Earth and the importance of being a steward of the environment. Meet an animal, plant or mineral from the Museum’s collection. Admissions:$9.00 but museum members and children under 1 are free. 145 Brooklyn Avenue (at St. Marks Avenue),Brooklyn, NY 11213.

thurs., jan. 9

PASTA: (Parenting a Second Time Around)/Nutrition workshops will begin in January 2014 in Brooklyn. It will provide tangible tools and techniques to assist grandparent and relative caregivers in communicating effectively in raising children as well as provide a riveting nutrition program which will provide tips on how to cook and provide healthier meals for the family. The free 16 week program is only for grandparent caregivers and relative caregivers who are currently raising their grandchild(ren) or other relative children. There will be complimentary breakfast at each site, transportation will be provided (Metrocard- Public Transportation required), free training manual and materials, Certificate of Completion (participant must adhere to participation requirements to earn the certificate) and a stipend upon completion of the program. All participants must attend the orientation. Ingersoll Community Center 177 Myrtle Avenue, Bklyn. RSVP: Samantha Johnson at 718-522-5051 ext. 5005

video game study: Do you have a child between ages 4-13 that plays video games? If so, we invite you to take a survey about video game play in your family from 3:00-5:00 p.m. The study, which is being conducted by The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop (the producers of Sesame Street), will help designers, developers, and researchers create the best games for your whole family to enjoy! Admissions:$9.00 but museum members and children under 1 are free. 145 Brooklyn Avenue (at St. Marks Avenue), Brooklyn, NY 11213.

ongoing

mon., dec.30- wed.,jan.15: Tree Collection:It may be time to take the tree down, but you can keep up the Christmas spirit by giving back to the city’s “tree-cycling” program. The Department of Sanitation will collect any Christmas tree left out on the curb. They’ll turn the trees into mulch, which will be spread among the city’s fields, parks and gardens. If you take your tree to Mulchfest on January 11 and 12, you can leave with your own bag of free mulch. Just remember to take off any lights and ornaments. To find out more information about Mulchfest locations, visit nyc.gov/parks or call 311.

Fri., Jan.1 – sat., Jan. 5, 2014

performng arts: Gotham Chamber Opera presents Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s La descente d’Orphée aux enfers, a co-production with Trinity Church, from at St. Paul’s Chapel, Broadway and Fulton, NYC. Charpentier’s 1686 opera retells the story of Orpheus who, upon learning of Eurydice’s sudden death, descends to Hades in order to convince Pluto to allow her to return with him to earth. This classic story of selfless love and the power of music to overcome death will be staged by Andrew Eggert and presented in historic St. Paul’s Chapel. Performances: Wednesday, January 1 and Friday, January 3 at 7pm; Sunday, January 5 at 5pm. Tickets are $15-$125 and are available at www.ticketcentral.com or (212) 279-4200. For more information visit www.gothamchamberopera.org.

flood relief: Donations are being accepted at the Friends of Crown Heights Center located at 671 Prospect Place in Brooklyn. Donations will also be accepted by Mirtha Colon, A Garifuna from Honduras, who operates Hondurans Against Aid out of Casa Yurumein in the Bronx. Casa Yurumein is located at 874 Prospect Ave in the South Bronx, corner of Westchester Avenue. Checks and Money orders are welcomed and should be made out to “SVG Community INC.” Anyone in the Long Island area who wishes to make a donation, but cannot drive to Brooklyn please call 347-488-4395 to arrange a drop off or to arrange for me to pick up the donation. Items needed are as follows: medical supplies,non-perishable food,clothes,shoes,candles. Monetary donation in the form of Checks or money orders made out to “SVG Community INC.”

passport application center: Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) launched a second Passport Application Center at the Kings Highway Library providing a convenient facility for Brooklyn residents and new immigrants to apply for passports. Hours are temporarily set for 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and Sunday by appointment. Saturdays are currently closed until further notice. 2115 Ocean Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11229. To make an appointment, call (718)230-2292 or (718)375-3037 ext. 128.

Featuring Home REpair: Is your boiler, water main or roof in need of fixing? Do you need major repairs done but lack the finances? Now is the best time to fix it. Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush, a not-for-profit housing organization can assist you. For more information on our Home Improvement Programs, please call (718)469-4679 or visit www.nhsofeastflatbush.org.

Foreclosure: Are you behind in your mortgage or seeking a modification? Come in for free services and assistance. We will help you as much as possible to keep your home. Referrals for free legal assistance are also available. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call (718)469-4679. Sponsored by Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush and the Center for New York City Neighborhoods, not-for-profit organizations. www.nhsnyc.org.

Home Help for disabled: If you are a disabled homeowner living in Brooklyn or have someone disabled living in your household, you may qualify for up to $5,000 in home repair grants. Repairs must be geared toward making the home accessible and convenient for the disabled person. Sponsored by Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush, a not-for-profit housing organization, and the New York State Housing Trust Corporation. For more information, please call (718) 469-4679.

Community Center: Are you looking to improve your life? Take a class at Community Learning Center: How to Write a Book or Script, Create a Resume, How to Create Wealth, Get/Keep a Spouse, Start a Business. Classes for everyone. Community Learning Center, 147-12 Archer Ave., Queens. For more information/RSVP, call (718) 291-1094.

Donations: St. Robert Bellarmine Church is joining efforts with the Diocese of Trenton to bring relief to victims in the hardest hit areas. The church has organized a sorting sub station in the parish and will be delivering donations to various locations shortly. The church is seeking donations of cardboard shipping boxes for packing or rubber bins for storage for victims. Donations are tax deductible and the church will provide you with a receipt upon request. Feel free to contact St. Robert Bellarmine Church at any time Attn: SRB Hurricane Relief Effort, 61 Georgia Rd., Freehold, NJ 07728 or srbwelcome@gmail.com, Pam Stengel (732) 580-0075, Linda Altini (917) 578-4852. Phone: (732) 462-7429 or Fax: (732) 409-3496.

Farmers Market: Seeds in the Middle is sponsoring The Crown Heights Farmers Market offering fresh fruits and vegetables, including calaloo and Caribbean favorites and accepting EBT, WIC, Snap, FMNP, Health Bucks, and Fresh Connect. The market will be operating every Thursday from 12 noon to 7:00 p.m. at Hamilton Metz Park at Albany and Lefferts avenues, Brooklyn. For more information, visit www.seedsinthemiddle.org.

If you have an event that you would like to post in Sun Kulcha, please email your submission to Caribbeanlife@cnglocal.com. All submissions are up for review by the editor.

Compiled by Natalie Y. Henry