In Bed-Stuy News This Past Week

Here's a chance to catch up on all the news highlights you may have missed throughout the week. To follow is a quick recap of what made the headlines on Bed-Stuy Patch. Even if you recognize some of the stories, feel free to review and share your feedback.

1.  Bed-Stuy's Project Regeneration (PR-G) is a teen outreach program that provides cleaning and maintenance services for Bed-Stuy residents and surrounding neighborhoods. PR-G prepares high school freshmen and shophmores for a life of responsible adulthood by engaging them in the Foot Soldiers program, where teens learn home economics and personal development, amongst other skills. Within four years, teens are expected to achieve a minimum level of annual service hours learning how to open bank accounts, strengthen family bonds, volunteer community activities and prepare for the workforce. To learn how you can get your teen involved, click .

2.  As Bed-Stuy undergoes change, some of its newcomers add a nice flavor to the existing neighborhood character. However, many residents complain about downsides, for example, the departure of long time neighbors due to rent increases, and the closing down of many of their favorite businesses-- a shift in the neighborhood’s cultural fabric. “The only thing that will preserve the authentic diversity of neighborhoods and of the city as a whole is rent controls that enable people to stay in their homes if they want to,” said Sharon Zukin, Brooklyn College Professor and author of Naked City: The Death and Life of Authentic Urban Places. What do you think about Bed-Stuy’s changing cultural fabric? See what others in the community are saying , and feel free to weigh in your thoughts.

3.  January is National Financial Wellness Month. High rates of national unemployment and record levels of foreclosures on homes due to the sub-prime loan crisis have left millions of Americans in a state of financial distress. In our three-part series, we explored best practices for , and .

4.  For the last five years, every spring, kids from all over Brooklyn have come together to play lacrosse. Lacrosse? In Brooklyn? Yes you read right. The Brooklyn Crescents Lacrosse Club is a volunteer-run community lacrosse club aimed at teaching boys and girls in grades K - 8 the sport of lacrosse, while emphasizing teamwork, character development, healthy habits and community pride. “Only in a place like Brooklyn could you have a team like ours. We represent all of New York City. Our players come from different races, religions and economic backgrounds,” said Crescents’s coach and co founder Susan Murray. Read about the Brooklyn Crescents , and see how you can involve a young person you know from Bed-Stuy.

5.  Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg came to downtown Brooklyn on Wednesday to kick off the ninth annual Tax Credit Campaign. This year, New Yorkers with children and incomes less than $41,000 and those with no children and incomes less than $31,000 can file their taxes online for free or visit a participating free tax assistance site. In Bed-Stuy, include Brooklyn Coop Federal Credit Union VITA on 1424 Fulton Street; the Food Bank for NYC - Restoration Plaza at 1406 Fulton Street; and the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation - RITE Center at 1368 Fulton Street. H&R Block also is offering discounted tax preparation for $29 with a city-sponsored coupon. Click to read more on how you can save money during tax time.