The same team of agencies responsible for that first-time effort – Department of Sanitation’s Derelict Vehicles Operations Unit, NYPD’s Harbor Unit and Scuba Team, and the Parks Department – reunited last week to pull the last vessel out of the waters near the Holocaust Memorial Park, on Shore Boulevard and Amherst Street. It’s the second time these teams have ever done it, and the experience from the first effort combined with the low-tide and smaller boats made for a much faster operation.
The boat was taken to the Sanitation Department’s Floyd Bennett Field facility for dismantling and disposal.
The team also pulled out what we’ll dub a Sheepshead Mollusk, a barnacled bike that got tangled with the boat’s cables. We’re not sure what the city will do with it, but Aquaman may have a poor nephew that we can donate it to.
I knew a zombie apocalypse would come eventually, but I really thought it would be people rising from the dead. Apparently, in Sheepshead Bay, it’s sushi restaurants.
Mikado Sushi at 1734 Sheepshead Bay Road very quietly closed its doors last week, and it seemed like overnight the sign came down, the interior was renovated, and a new sign went back up. And, suddenly, a new business stood in its place: Tenda Asian Food.
It’s the second time in six months that a sushi restaurant closed down and turned into another sushi restaurant, following the Sakura-Ichiko transformation in June. It just keeps fueling dashed hopes and broken dreams that a cell phone store or pharmacy may one day move into the area.
Anywho, it’s not completely fair to say that Mikado closed down and turned into Tenda. In reality, it’s a rebranding. An employee told us that it was the same owner, but they decided to rename the place and expand the menu. In addition to sushi and Japanese offerings, patrons can now enjoy a number of Thai and Malaysian dishes, including Pad Thai and Malaysian Satay.
It’s kind of like a zombie coming back shooting lasers from its eyes. Kind of.
No need for a series of roundabout statements to get to my point. It’s the same point Ray and I have made on Sheepshead Bites for the last two holiday seasons:
Where’s the holiday lights on Sheepshead Bay Road? Where’s the music they used to play?
Well, we know there’s no Business Improvement District on the road, which usually organizes such things. And the Merchant’s Association – or whatever it was called – vanished years ago.
And now the road is empty.
Well, this year, every business you enter on Sheepshead Bay Road, Avenue Z or Emmons Avenue – mention to the store owner that you’d like to see holiday lights and music in the streets. Also tell them you want to see indications that their business is giving back to the community, and that a merchant’s association is a great first start.
The students marched and held signs, and also chanted support for the school after a cheerleading demonstration revved up the crowd.
Councilman Lew Fidler, who represents the area around the school, spoke of what he saw as a foolish decision to close a school that boasted spirit and involvement, and blasted Mayor Bloomberg and the Department of Education for the recent direction of the school system.
“Closing a school with the fight and the spirit that I see here today is about as mindless as appointing a chancellor that has no education experience,” he said. “Oh wait, they’re trying to do that, too.”
No final decision has been made yet about the school’s fate, and hearings must still be held. A decision is expected in mid-December.
Looks like Little Odessa is far from united in their perception of the Brighton Beach reality series, and television producers looking for real Russkie drama need only follow around the community’s leadership.
Following the letter earlier this week written by Russian-Speaking American Leadership Caucus’ John Lisyanskiy and signed by dozens of politicians, media personalities, advocates and business owners bashing on the upcoming Brighton Beach reality show, another Brighton Beach heavyweight is criticizing the critics for not doing their homework.
… in a wood-fueled oven at 800 degrees in just 90 seconds.
That’s the gimmick at Chipp Neapolitan Pizza (2971 Ocean Avenue), Sheepshead Bay’s newest pie-tossing eatery, and the brainchild of former The Apprentice contestant Lenny “The Russian” Veltman. It’s the first in what he hopes to be an empire of classed-up pizza joints across the nation.
“We wanted to create a modern lounge much like a Chipotle or Panera Bread store, not another take out pizza joint. Somewhere you’d go on a date, sit back with a beer or a glass of wine while eating the best pizza in the city,” said Veltman.
One for the ladies: Kristina R. is marketing her line of hand-crafted incense burners and holders, incense, soap, bath salts, body lotion and soy candles made with pure essential oils.
One for the gents: Entrepreneur Max K., through his home-based company Aylio Fitness, is selling sets of resistance bands. So if your man-thing doesn’t get off the couch, here’s an affordable way to give him a hint… or a tool to swat the flies with.
Meanwhile, photographer Rafi is doing a little holiday offer of his own. He’s giving prospective clients a free 8 x 10 photo.
Lastly, and not related to the holidays or our offer of free classifieds, The Madison Building in Midwood is now renting out its luxury apartments.
For more details and contact information on any of the above offers, head on over to our classifieds page.
Turns out, Councilman Mike Nelson is giving the thumbs up to the Bloomberg appointee. Nelson, who used to serve on the school board, is looking to Black to continue the legacy of the recently-retired Joel Klein.
“By most indications, since Klein took over, things at the schools have improved,” said Nelson’s legislative aide, Steve Zeltser. “[The councilman] trusts Bloomberg’s decisions again, so he wants to see what happens and give it a chance.”
Zeltser noted that there’s not much the City Council can do, since they have no jurisdiction over the appointment process under mayoral control of schools.
Tell that to Fidler and his merry band o’ resolution pushers, who are urging the state to deny Black a waiver required for chancellor appointees lacking education experience.
CompStat reports are produced by the New York Police Department on a weekly basis. We summarize the week’s statistics for the 61st Precinct reports every Friday. The 61st Precinct is the police command responsible for Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, Kings Highway, Homecrest, Madison, Manhattan Beach, and Gerritsen Beach.
Dredging Sheepshead Bay is expected to be included in the new plan
Southern Brooklyn communities may celebrate a major victory come December when the Department of City Planning releases its final version of the Vision 2020 plan, which outlines the city’s waterfront development goals over the next decade.
After a draft plan from the agency snubbed several communities along Brooklyn’s southern coast, City Planning is expected to embrace a slew of new proposals put forth by local community boards, said Community Board 15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo.
