Hamilton Heights News

Farmer’s Market Bounty

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:03:15 -0400

I got these mini plums and peaches on Saturday at the Farmer’s Market on 145th St - they are absolutely delicious - grown in NY. If you haven’t been, you must go - Tues and Saturdays at 145th & Edgecomb/Bradhurst Avenues.

Sleepy’s Wakes Up

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:25:23 -0400

Sleepy's responds to my complaint about their idling truck and arrogant driver response)...

Good Afternoon Steven, My name is Richie Oliver. I am a Director in Sleepy's Transportation Department. I just received your complaint regarding one of our delivery contractors. Please accept my apology on behalf of Sleepy's and the delivery contactor in question. Their behavior is completely unacceptable and I will take immediate action with them. In your message, you mentioned that you have photographs of the truck and its occupants. I am very interested in seeing them. Would you be so kind as to email them to me at roliver@sleepys.com? I am also interested in obtaining a quantity of the brochure. Do you know who distributes it (DEP?)? Thank you for reporting this incident to us. We are proud of our delivery service and need to know about these incidents so that we can prevent them in the future. Please feel free to contact me if needed.

(Read the previous post to see my letter to Sleepy’s which prompted this response).

Dear Sleepy’s...

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:59:13 -0400

I just had a horrible encounter with your drivers. They were making a delivery outside my house at 147th Street and Convent Ave. The driver was sitting in his truck chatting on his cellphone. He had been there for about 10 minutes with the engine idling. I asked him if he could turn the engine off - it is illegal to idle in NYC for more than 3 minutes because it's really bad for the air. He said he would just have to start it up again - which of course is true, but not relevant. I told him I was going to call the police - he said go ahead. I did call the police. I also gave him a brochure, which I would be happy to email you about why idling is illegal here in NY. After another 5 minutes went by, he still refused to turn the engine off. When the delivery was done - he drove away and the other delivery guys started yelling obscenities at me. It was awful - and does not give your company a good image. I certainly would not want to order from a company that breaks the law, pollutes the air unnecessarily and screams curses at me. I'd be happy to send you pictures I took of the driver and the truck, including the NJ license plate. I can also send you the brochure - perhaps you need to educate your drivers who make deliveries in NY as to what the laws around idling are here. Thanks for reading this - Steven

It’s Over

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:14:50 -0400

Thank goodness the Primary Election is OVER! Now I can have my mailbox back. And my ears too.

Those trucks were really over the top - I felt like I was in a small town in Central America - and kept expecting them to start yelling - “Camarones, Camarones!” which might have been slightly more entertaining than the drone of “vote for me, I have a truck!”

This morning, my tongue is in Italy - I can’t stop eating Mozzarella, tomatoes and basil and washing it all down with tiny cups of espresso. Maybe it’s the summer goblins trying to steal my tongue before the apple harvest.

One could say I’m Cuckoo for Cafe’s!

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:55:27 -0400

A new one opened since I last wrote - and you can read all about it in Volume 3. It’s not just a cafe - it’s a kazbah! Plus an update on the Hamilton Grange Museum, A new Green Building in the area and other neighborhood tidbits. Delicious!