SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Pictured In Photo: Annetta Lee, Natasha Naveed, Noel Aly, Lisa La Spina, Selma Albin, Janet Kennedy, Assistant Principal, Jeanne Fish, Principal, Cherie Lang, Hillary Stackpole, Dell Coe (Photo Courtesy of Hillary Stackpole)

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz awarded a special commendation to the staff of Gerritsen Beach’s P.S. 277 (2529 Gerritsen Avenue) in a ceremony last week.

According to a press release, the school’s Parent’s Association wanted to recognize the staff for their efforts in providing relief to the children and community of Gerritsen Beach following Superstorm Sandy. So they reached out to the beep and asked him to surprise the school’s team at a morning assembly, and he honored them for their terrific work providing comfort to the community kids.

Sheepshead Bites would also like to extend a salute and warm-hearted congratulations to the staff of P.S. 277 for all their excellent work throughout the trying days of Superstorm Sandy.

The Bay Improvement Group boogied down and gave props up last Thursday night at their annual Oscars gala, when it celebrated a pack of heroes who went above and beyond to help neighbors during Superstorm Sandy.

Learn about the honorees, and view photos from the event.

Source: smikulen/Flickr

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowtiz has long dreamed of building a permanent amphitheater in Coney Island to house the popular summer concert series and now it seems that the dream will come true. According to a report in the New York Times, Markowitz and other city officials have reached a deal to build a brand spanking new $58 million music hall and theater. It will be announced at the beep’s State of the Borough address tonight.

The  5,000-seat theater will be built out of the remains of the landmarked Childs Theater, near the boardwalk’s western end. Markowitz has $48 million in his capital budget with the city pledging $10 million extra for hte project. The theater is being developed by iStar Financial.

If built, the Times describes where the theater would fit in the community and how the theater would serve a variety of events:

[T]he theater would occupy part of a building on the Boardwalk that once housed a branch of the Childs Restaurant chain and is protected by city landmark designation. The theater would also occupy an adjoining lot that has been used as an unauthorized community garden. The concerts would be run by a nonprofit operator. The theater could be used for year-round events, including graduations. There are also discussions about designing the theater so that hundreds of additional people can watch from an adjacent lawn when the weather is warm and dry.

The developer is planning to revive the 90-year-old Childs building as a restaurant, retaining the palatial facade, which is famed for its terra cotta seashell ornamentation, wide-mouthed smiling fish and Neptunes. Part of the building’s western wall would be breached to create the backstage area for the theater.

The proposed theater has faced a long stream of resistance from local synagogues and other neighbors afraid of traffic and noise. Neighbors are also not thrilled at the idea of groups like Iron Maiden blasting heavy metal riffs through the community, but Markowitz told the Times that, in the end, the theater will be a net positive.

“Change, I know, is not easy. This will bring so much joy and happiness to the people of New York and Brooklyn,” said Markowitz.

According to officials, the theater would take two years to complete.

Source: intweetion via flickr

The Coney Island boardwalk had a triumphant reopening this past Sunday as thousands of people swarmed the beloved rides and reveled in some pre-summer fun. Despite this positive step towards recovery, many Coney residents aren’t joining in the joy. Still hurting from the devastating destruction left by Superstorm Sandy, protesters demanding action were seen alongside park revelers.

According to a report by Crain’s, the reopening of Coney Island’s boardwalk and rides was a smash success and one of the biggest openings in the park’s history. The usual gaggle of Russian immigrants, dog walkers and joggers navigated a deluge of thrill-seeking roller-coaster lovers, filling the boardwalk with energy and happiness.

“Normally Palm Sunday is a day for the locals and the diehards, but we had people here from all over,” Wonder Wheel operator Steve Vouderis told Crain’s. “It feels good to be back.”

Despite all the revelry and enthusiasm expressed over the return of the rides, Coney Island’s amusement business is still not 100 percent. According to a report by the New York Daily News, Coney Island’s famed freak sideshows are still not operational and won’t be expected to return until May.

Workers need two more months to finish repairing the nearly half million dollars worth of damage inside the Coney Island Circus Sideshow theater on Surf. Ave which was under four-feet of water after the Oct. 29th disaster.

It’s the first time in 32 years since the freaks missed their opening day acts.

“We aren’t happy that we aren’t open. But we are exciting about what we are rebuilding,” said Coney Island USA founder Dick Zigun who runs the shows.

Frustration was also felt by the now long-suffering Coney Island residents, with many protesting the slow progress in restoring much needed public facilities like the library and post office and clearing piles of debris.

“We’re in an isolated peninsula here on Coney Island, and we feel that they forgot about us,” a protester told PIX 11.

Local politicians on hand for the festivities surrounding the reopening of Luna Park promised relief but stressed that time is a factor in making sure all the funds from the $60 billion Sandy aid package are distributed properly.

“Its going to take several months, but the good news is, [the bill] is both generous and flexible, and is aimed at helping people from every different walk of life who were hurt by Sandy,” Senator Charles Shumer told PIX 11.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz understood the slow pace of the federal dispersal of the approved funds, but expressed empathy with the protesters.

“I think they’re right actually,” PIX reported Markowitz saying, “but it should go must faster than its been going.”

Borough President joined the Warbasse Congregation leadership to celebrate Hannukah in December. (Source: Gabrielle Shnayderman)

The Warbasse Jewish Heritage Congregation, located inside the hard-hit Warbasse housing complex, continues to bounce back from Superstorm Sandy – this time by helping their Jewish neighbors with free food for Passover this weekend.

The congregation escaped the worst of Sandy, only taking on a few inches of water, but was without power for months after the storm. Now they’ve received a large donation that will supply 500 people with food for the holiday.

Rabbi David Okunov and volunteers will be passing out free boxed food for Passover on Sunday at 11 a.m. It is a first-come, first-serve basis. The address is 2790 West 5th Street.

The celebrated and beloved Totonno’s Pizzeria (1524 Neptune Avenue) has had a rough couple years in keeping its doors open. First they were hit by a fire in 2009, and more recently they were knocked out of commission by Superstorm Sandy. Still closed months after the storm struck, owners Cookie Cimineri and Antoinette Balzano have struggled to acquire the loans needed to reopen, according to a report by Serious Eats.

(UPDATE [January 17, 2013]: Totonno’s told New York Daily News that they vow to reopen, no matter what the odds.)

Apparently, Totonno’s is the victim of bad timing when it came to the loan application process. Totonno’s is still paying off the $200,000 in loans they took on from their 2009 fire, and because of this, the NYC Business Development Corporation’s denied the pizzeria’s $25,ooo loan request.

“They have to go by the last year,” Antoinette explained to Serious Eats, speaking of financial records and the loan application process. “For the last 2 years, we’ve been paying off the $200,000 loan from the fire.”

Totonno’s also applied for a $150,000 loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA), but have yet to hear back from them.

All hope for Totonno’s hasn’t been lost yet, as Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz took it upon himself to get the pizzeria’s NYCBDC loan request re-reviewed.

Still, the path to reopening Totonno’s again is not easy. Antoinette lamented to Serious Eats about her dealings with unreliable mold inspectors and contractors who are draining her money but not her will.

“The last [contractor], he was a con artist. My sister didn’t get 3 cents for 11 months. How do you live when you have bills to pay? A family to feed?Totonno’s doesn’t make a lot of money. It’s about passion.”

Here’s hoping the pizza gods do all they can to keeping the city’s best pizza coming out of the oven.

Source: Gabrielle Shnayderman

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz paid a visit to Warbasse Jewish Heritage Congregation this past Sunday, December 9, to help light the menorah and ring in Hanukkah for Warbasse’s first-ever Hanukkah party.

Two-hundred guests were present for the occasion at the center, which was still running on backup generators since Sandy struck late last October. The Warbasse congregation is inside the hard-hit Warbasse housing complex, which became a focal point for relief efforts after Sandy knocked out its independent generators and stranded residents as high up as 23 floors. The synagogue itself, however, was barely touched – a little holiday miracle for congregants.

Thanks to Gabrielle Shnayderman for the tip.

Correction (12/13/2012): The original version of the post indicated that the synagogue suffered extreme damage during Sandy. In fact, that was a nearby synagogue, and the Warbasse congregation only took two to three inches of water. We apologize for the confusion.

Source: Judy Baron

The Manhattan Beach Community Group, which just celebrated its 71st anniversary, took time to honor the first responders who came to aid the Manhattan Beach community before, during and after the events of Superstorm Sandy. Over 175 people showed up for the group’s 71st annual gathering, which took place this past Wednesday at Public School 195, 131 Irwin Street.

Among those honored were Captain John Chell, commander of the 61st Precinct, who received the Dana Borell Community Service Award, for his service to the community during Superstorm Sandy. Captain Chell accepted the award on behalf of his those in his command, noting their exceptional service to the community. He also paid tribute to Cy Shoenfeld, a Manhattan Beach Community Group member and the group’s liaison to the 61st Precinct, who died during the storm.

Chaim Deutsch, founder and president of the Flatbush Safety Patrol, received the Charles S. Greene Memorial Award for his service and aid to the community. While accepting the award, Deutsch paid tribute to his fellow coordinators at the patrol.

Manhattan Beach native and NYPD Sergeant Richard Taylor, the entire local Department of Sanitation garage, and Assistant Commissioner Fred Kreizman of the Mayor’s Office, were all presented with Community Service Awards for their roles in the storm’s aftermath. State Senator Marty Golden also received a Community Service Award for his service.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz was also honored with a special President’s award, and accepted the award on behalf of all elected officials helping to provide relief to the community after the storm.

Source: Lisa Willner

In commemoration of World AIDS Day, which is held every December 1, Edward R. Murrow High School is displaying international AIDS Quilts all week to students.

The displaying of the quilts has become something of a tradition at Murrow, having now entered their 19th consecutive year of display. Three of the quilts are of the international variety, coming from the Dominican Republic, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz gave a speech to students on Monday, stressing the importance of preventing HIV infection through education. Other guest speakers came on behalf of the Gibb Mansion and the Lutheran Family Health Centers, commemorating those who have passed while providing valuable facts to students about the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The event, otherwise known as the AIDS Project Foundation, is hosted by the H.E.A.R.T. Club and Global Quilts. Students are scheduled to view the quilts through their health and physical education classes.

Souce: Lisa Willner

Source: Helena F. via Yelp

Maple Lanes, the beloved Bensonhurst bowling alley that has stood at 1570 60th Street for over four decades is due to close.

At the public hearing to discuss the status of the bowling alley and the proposed construction projects to be erected in its place, Borough President Marty Markowitz put forth several suggestions that would either keep the bowling alley open for a longer period of time or create a new bowling alley in a different location to take its place.

One such suggestion on the table deals with potential overcrowding of Shell Lanes at 1 Bouck Court in Gravesend, the only bowling alley left in the nearby area.

According to the notes from the hearing, Markowitz believes that when Maple Lanes closes, patrons may come to Shell Lanes to continue league tournaments and recreational bowling. However, Shell Lanes does not have any off-street parking to accommodate an influx of people.

Continue Reading »