SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

177 MacKenzie after it was fully demolished Monday afternoon (Photo by Ray Johnson)

Leland Bodenmiller, his wife, and their three children are breathing much easier, as the Department of Buildings granted a quick 20-minute reprieve to enter their condemned home and retrieve personal possessions.

The demolition of 177 MacKenzie Street took enough stress off the Bodenmiller’s home that, with the addition of braces, building inspectors gave the green light to a quick in-and-out rescue operation.

“It was a great effort to get things out of the house and onto the lawn in 15 or 20 minutes,” said Leland. “We had to run and grab .. Whatever we have used recently, we grabbed.”

Bodenmiller said the family was able to snatch clothing, computers, photos, his wife’s wedding dress, some smaller furniture, and their son’s engineering books – among other things.

The 20 minutes “really opened it up. Precious things that were personal to us [were recovered],” he said. “We weren’t able to get some things, but we’re happy about what we got.”

Some valuables left behind include televisions, china and crystals from their wedding 35 years ago, a telescope, organ, and larger furniture.

But the Bodenmillers may have another chance. The DOB has given the landlord a one-week deadline to demolish the property since it’s no longer in immediate danger of collapsing, though it’s still condemned. Bodenmiller is hopeful the DOB may give them one more opportunity to get into the house.

“It’s like the weather,” Bodenmiller said. “Yesterday it was rainy and dreary and we couldn’t get in the house. Now it’s sunny and beautiful and we’re very happy we go to go inside.”

177 MacKenzie Street in Manhattan Beach Get Demolished

On Monday, March 15, Jacqulyn Bodenmiller should have been relaxing in advance of her marriage to Bittman Rivas in two weeks. Instead, she stood in the rain outside of her family’s home on MacKenzie Street. The family of five, and Rivas, watched helplessly as their home of 27 years was fenced up and prepped for demolition.

Almost all of their possessions were still locked inside the house, destined to be crushed by a huge mechanical claw.

On top of their home sprawled a three-story wooden frame, once a neighboring stalled construction site at 177 MacKenzie Street. During Saturday’s storm, the building slammed into the Bodenmiller’s home with a thunderous boom and shoved their house off its own foundation. Over the course of the next two days, the FDNY and the DOB inspected the home, declared it in “emergency condition” and an immediate threat. The family’s home could collapse under the weight at any time, according to city officials, and so they began demolishing both 177 MacKenzie Street and the Bodenmiller’s home at 181 MacKenzie Street.

The Bodenmillers are tenants without renters insurance. The American Red Cross put them up in a Sunset Park hotel for the time being, and they’re moving fast to secure an apartment in the area. But all their clothes and other possessions are trapped inside the house, except a few choice items Jacqulyn’s mother, Irine, was able to grab in a brief opportunity.

“It was the saddest part,” said Rivas. “Her mother had the opportunity and she grabbed the veil, wedding rings, and other wedding jewelry. She didn’t grab a thing of her own, just things for the wedding.”

Read more about the structure’s history, who’s to blame, and for photos of the demolition

We just received these photos of a small sailboat slamming into the Ocean Avenue footbridge, near the Manhattan Beach side. We’re not sure yet what happened or if there’s any damage. But from the looks of it, the boat somehow became unanchored and drifted with the storm’s choppy waves, eventually hitting the bridge. Please leave any info you have in the comments. We’ll update you as we find out more. (Photos and tips courtesy of nolastname)

UPDATE (6:55 p.m.): I’ve been out of the ‘hood all day, and now I’m getting reports that the wind and rain are incredibly bad and doing a lot of damage. Reportedly, the marina is overflowing and water is splashing onto the sidewalks and the bridge. Gusts are also taking down signs in the area.

Perhaps most importantly, the wind has taken out power, phone, and cable lines in a few spots. Please be careful and stay inside! It goes without saying, but downed power lines can be very dangerous.

Please take photos/video of damage and send it over to us. More importantly, be safe!

Miss Brooklyn Keelie Sheridan in Sheepshead Bay

Last week, we told you about Miss Brooklyn (and Manhattan Beach resident), Keelie Sheridan, shopping at the Nostrand Avenue Salvation Army store. That was after Brokelyn interviewed the contestant winner about her frugal ways.

This week, just a short while before she crowns this year’s winner, Keelie sat down with us to tell us about her life, as well to answer the burning question we all had after her ‘Miss Brokelyn’ interview: Is it really possible to be a struggling college student, gorgeous beauty pageant winner, broke actress, and live in Manhattan Beach? We already know the answer is ‘yes’ — but it was so much fun doing the investigation.

Find out more about Miss Brooklyn 2009 Keelie Sheridan

Courtesy of Brokelyn

Did you know Miss Brooklyn lives in Manhattan Beach? Yup, and the Brooklyn beauty is a real cheapskate, too. Apparently, the 23-year-old student needs to scrimp and save every penny, which is the reason she got involved in pageantry in the first place.  She’s earned around $1000  in scholarships and garnered sponsors that keep her well-stocked.

Miss Brooklyn, a.k.a. Keelie Sheridan, gave a Q&A to Brokelyn about wearing the tiara, saving money by shopping at Sheepshead Bay’s Salvation Army, and how to get involved with pageantry.

A water pipe break on Hastings Street near Oriental Boulevard is spurring the NYC-DEP to turn off water to homes and buildings on several Manhattan Beach blocks this evening.

Girard Street, Hastings Street, and Irwin Street will not have water from approximately 4 p.m. to midnight. The DEP expects to finish repairs during the 8-hour shut off period.

P.S. 195, located on Irwin Street, will be closed after classes today. After-school activities are cancelled, as is the Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Association’s Town Hall meeting with Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. The meeting is rescheduled for Monday, April 19.

UPDATE: This meeting has been postponed until April 19 due to a broken water pipe that has shut down the public school for the evening.

From the Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Association:

Town Hall Meeting

Please join us Monday March 1st 2010 @ 8:00pm in Public School 195

As we welcome the newly elected NYC Public Advocate – Mr. Bill de Blasio – to Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn.

The Public Advocate has graciously accepted our invitation to conduct a Town Hall Meeting with questions and answers regarding any concerns we have regarding NYC government and it policies and how it affects our neighborhood.

There are numerous concerns that have arisen over the last few months in: crime, public transportation, education, quality of life services, real estate taxes, homeowner insurance terminations, and much more.
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From the Manhattan Beach Community Group:

Our meeting this Wednesday night, Feb. 24, 8 PM at PS 195 will have a special NYC Finance speaker. Hear why your property assessments may be unfair and what you can do about it. All are welcome.

When: Tonight, February 24 @ 8:00 p.m.
Where: P.S. 195, 131 Irwin Street in Manhattan Beach.
Contact: (718) 200-1845

Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Association has invited principals from the community’s schools to come and speak at tonight’s February meeting about education issues. Those coming are Arthur Forman, principal of P.S. 195; Marie Timo, the principal of Bay Academy; and Joseph Zaza, the principal of Leon Goldstein High School. Though all three schools are in relatively good shape, it’s still a good opportunity to pick the brains of local leaders in education about all the madness our school system is going through, including closures and the rising influence of charters.

When: Tonight, February 1 @ 8 p.m.
Where: P.S. 195 @ 131 Irwin Street

The Manhattan Beach Community Group is featuring Principal Forman of P.S. 195 who will speak about changes in the Department of Education and other issues at tonight’s meeting.

Principal Forman is expected to talk about the effects of budget cuts at area schools, and may also talk about last night’s decision to close 19 city schools. If you have young children, this may be a good opportunity to pick the mind of an education insider.

When: Tonight, January 27 @ 8:00 p.m.
Where: P.S. 195, 131 Irwin Street in Manhattan Beach.
Contact: (718) 200-1845