Neighborhood News Updates – Story Time and Pratt Post Office

Hi all – I had two bits of Fort Greene / Clinton Hill news I wanted to share.

First – I was at Story Time yesterday at the Clinton Hill Library and it seems that the usual woman has moved libraries and is gone for good.  They have  a stand in named Steve (I think) and he didn’t give the impression that he was going to be the permanent person in charge.  He seemed a little awkward, but everything worked out fine.  I saw another mom who was at the later session and she said Steve told her class that they might not have the funding to keep Story Time going for more than 6 weeks.  I hope this isn’t true!  It’s such an amazing resource in the neighborhood.  Yesterday there was quite a crowd!

Lots of strollers yesterday at Clinton Hill Library

Lots of strollers yesterday at Clinton Hill Library

Secondly, I also went to the Pratt Post Office on Myrtle to get the mail from my P.O. Box.  I wasn’t sure what to expect since they quietly and quickly announced their closing.  There was a truck outside that was selling stamps (no money orders, according to the postal worker).

Get your stamps here....

Get your stamps here....

They were also letting people in to use the APC machine and drop items in the big box in the foyer.  I was also allowed to walk into the actual post office and pick up my mail.  The postal worker said they decided to keep it like this until actual construction begins.  Sounds reasonable to me!  After that, she said, who knows.   Yikes….  She recommended that people with P.O. Boxes check their mail daily for now.

Pratt Post Office is Closing!

Pardon this little bit of non baby related news -

With very little fanfare (except some blog posts on Clinton Hill Blog and the Local) the Pratt Post Office is closing temporarily.  I hadn’t been able to find out much about what was going on, so I went to the post office this afternoon (located on Myrtle near Hall) to try and find out more.  There was a sign posted with the following info:

Effective Monday March 1, 2010
Pratt Station Post Office Will Be Closed Temporarily
Due to Emergency Repairs Needed to Fix
Infrastructure Problems Within the Station.

Mobile Units Will Be in Front of Pratt Station Post
Office starting Monday, March 1, 2010

-Pratt Station PO Box customers will be able to pick up their mail at the Mobile Units
-Carriers will be delivering mail from the Metro Station Post Office (47 Debevoise St; Brooklyn NY 11206)
-If customers need to hold mail – submit completed Hold Mail Cards to the Mobile Unit Retail Clerks
-Renovations will take approximately 8 to 12 weeks to complete or longer

Thank you for your cooperation during this time.

USPS Brooklyn post office

the sign in question

The sign!