5 Things You Should Know This Week

"5 Things You Should Know" will help take the edge off of your manic Monday by giving you information to jump-start you into a productive week. Be the first to know about parking changes, traffic changes important meetings and the hottest events in Bed-Stuy:

1.     Alternate side of the street parking (street cleaning) regulations will be suspended today to facilitate snow removal. All other regulations, including parking meters, will remain in effect.

2.     Cathie Black will be sworn in today as New York City's new chancellor of public schools.

3.     There are only a few days left to catch "Carnival Masqueraders in Brooklyn: A Photographic Essay" located in the Skylight Gallery of Restoration Plaza. Since its October debut, the exhibit has been one of the Skylight Gallery's most popular this season. The collection is produced by celebrated photographer Anthony Bonair and is a 20-image photographic essay of the annual Labor Day Street Festival and Parade on Eastern Parkway, celebrating West Indian and Caribbean heritage. The exhibit concludes on Wednesday, January 5^th.

4.     Republicans will take control of the state Senate on January 5^th. Democrats – who controlled the chamber for the past two years – exceeded their $29 million legislative budget by at least $7 million. So Republicans said their first order of business is to slash payrolls by one-third, meaning at least 200 pink slips for Democratic staffers starting mid-January.

5.     Tree Recycling: Recycle your holiday tree on Saturday, January 8^th, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, at Mulchfest and have a cup of hot chocolate, cookies and spicy cinnamon tea. Park Circle (Parkside Avenue and Prospect Park Southwest).