Scores of residents littered the complex grounds of 289 Wortman Avenue in East New York Brooklyn on August 5, where food, music, and festivities filled the annual Family Day, co-hosted by the Linden Houses Tenant Association, the Stanley Avenue Preservation, and the C+C Apartment Management.
A Community Awards Ceremony also honored those who have supported the tenant association and the Linden Houses community throughout the years, during the hours-long merrymaking that kicked off at noon.
Wayne Wright, Keron Alleyne, Casper Harold, James Yearwood, Yasmin Cornelius, Loretta Marshall, Diana Ross, Jackelyn Briggs, Sandra Bumpers, Councilman Charles Barron, Tawana Myels, Mark Johnson, and others, were honored.
A Certificate from the office of Mayor Eric Adams was presented to Ross Sloan, while representatives of NYS Senator Roxanne Persaud delivered Certificates and shared resources.
City Council Member-elect, Chris Banks and Assembly Member Nikki Lucas were on hand to address residents and hand out Certificates.
Wearing a Tee shirt with the message – “Every Community Has a Story Welcome to Ours, President Carol Barnes presented Certificates from the Tenants Association and thanked elected officials for their service to the community. She also applauded Pastor Ransome for starting a pantry service in the neighborhood.
“I want to thank pastor Ransom who comes out twice a month and gives food and vegetables to residents, without him that wouldn’t be possible, said Barnes.
Trinidadian-born Pastor Micah J. Ransome who founded “Out of the Walls Ministries Inc. blessed the festivities, by saying, “I thank you God, and I praise you for Linden houses. I pray for healing and for health.
“What a blessing it is to be here to celebrate Linden Family Day with you. Each year we come out we see the pantry growing, and we see many good things happening.
“We pray for togetherness God, we pray that you would move through this place and continue to do the wonderful work that you’re doing to bless this facility, he said, and later told Caribbean Life he started the pantry in 2019 at the start of the coronavirus to fill a need.
“We had no place to worship so we ended up having to come into the community and since there was a need we started a pantry service and delivered prepared meals to seniors.”
He said the delivery grew from 25 residents to 250. Additionally, the ministry does evangelistic work. He has been giving back to the family day for the last four years.
“I grew up here and raised my family in this community. I have four children and seven grandchildren who live here. They all went to away to college and came back to the community,” he said adding that the neighborhood is a flourishing good place to live.
“It’s getting better so never mind what you might hear,” he said of the Linden Houses, sharing that the twelve buildings in the community have recently been renovated inside and outside.
Representatives of the Neighborhood Safety Initiatives, Andrew Ceneus, Danielle Hendricks, and Kareem Whyte were on hand to engage residents with issues affecting the community.
Celebrants also enjoyed Hotdogs, hamburgers, tacos from East Coast Street Tacos food truck, Ice Slushies, and popcorn. “Evans The Barber” was on hand to donate fashionable haircuts, while the young clown painted the faces of the little ones. Deejay Cross Over spun the latest hits.
The celebration will continue with the Taco Backyard comedy series Part 4, (laugh, eat, enjoy) will be on stage on August 31, at 900 New Jersey Avenue. (347-702-9485). Doors open at 6:30pm.
