From The New York Shitty Inbox: Something Neat!

Some might recall that not terribly long ago I was contacted by a very nice fellow named Geoff. He is not only a Greenpoint resident and school teacher (!)*, but he calls north Brooklyn history his hobby and to this end he has a web site and is publishing a book.

Upon his applying for and receiving a tour guide license, Geoff was kind enough to invite me on a tour! I had a wonderful time and learned a lot. It was at this time he told me had had been contacted by and in fact did a radio interview for a station in Norway! The subject: (who else?) Dirck the Norman, the namesake of our very own Norman Avenue! This has found its way online and for your listening pleasure here and here. Give ’em a listen!

*At none other than the lovely and historic Erasmus Hall which apparently is endangered. Geoff writes:

I teach American history at the High School for Service and Learning I teach at the once prestigious Erasmus Campus. Streisand, Ralph from the Happy Days program, Beverly Sills the opera singer and a lot of other famous people went here. We have the original 1787 building in our court yard. It is falling apart and I have a petition to try and save it. Please sign it and if you could mention it on your blog it would be great. I spoke to the Director for preservation in the city government. He said that even though the building is on the National Register for historic places it can still be condemned. We cannot let that happen, hence my petition (which you can view and sign here— Ed. Note).

Gladly, Geoff!