SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Eliza Hittman, Bottom Center, via Facebook

Eliza Hittman, a 33-year-old filmmaker and former Edward R. Murrow Graduate, is submitting her first feature-length film, It Felt Like Love, to the Sundance Film Festival. Her film, which is a coming-of-age story about a 14-year-old girl from Gravesend, also features a slew of current Murrow students and recent graduates, according to a story in the New York Daily News.

The film has a really cool premise, especially for all us Southern Brooklynites. It focuses on the impressionable and inexperienced Lila (Gina Piersanti) and her crush on an older, tattooed Rockaways boy named Sammy, played by Ronen Rubinstein. The film follows Lila’s awkward and dangerous obsession with Sammy, as well as her desire to experience sexuality no matter what the consequences.

Hittman, a native of Flatbush, went back to her stomping grounds at Murrow to find feature players and extras.

“I wanted to pass along an opportunity for students to try something that I was interested in when I was 17 or 18,” Hittman told the Daily News. “I hope this motivates them and instills in them what’s possible in this world.”

Locals in the film include 18-year-old Andrew McCord of Sheepshead Bay and 19-year-old Jesse Cordasco of Mill Basin.

“I feel pretty lucky. If [Hittman] had never reached out to the school, none of this would have happened,” McCord said to the Daily News.

I personally can’t wait to see this film, not just because I think its going to be good, but because its exciting to see all your favorite local spots emblazoned on the silver screen. It’s fun to be that annoying guy that leaps up and shouts, “I GOT PIZZA THERE! IT WASN’T THAT GREAT!”

Best of luck to the cast and crew at Sundance. Here’s hoping It Felt Like Love becomes a big, beautiful hit.

More than 400 participants shook, danced and jumped away the calories during the Relay For Life of Bergen Beach, Mill Basin & Marine Park’s largest indoor Zumba class ever, hosted at the Aviator Sports Complex, according to Record Setter.

Organized by “Zumba Daddy,” Joseph Gillette, co-chairman of Brooklyn’s annual Relay For Life of Bergen Beach, Mill Basin & Marine Park, the event, which drew 419 participants, was held to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society.

Zumba, a Colombian fitness program involving dance and aerobic elements, incorporates hip-hop, soca, samba, salsa, merengue, mambo, martial arts, and some Bollywood and belly dance moves.

The video featured above gives you a look at the scope of the event and the joy of the zumba participants, all working out for a good cause.

“They’re here for zumba, but more importantly, the American Cancer Society,” said Gillette. “Its a successful day, a tremendous day. I couldn’t be happier.”

For more information on the Relay For Life and zumba, you can visit them on Facebook.

Source: niznoz/Flickr

More than 1,230 households are without power in Marine Park, Mill Basin and other areas, after a transformer exploded on Avenue T and Hendrickson Street.

The explosion occurred at approximately 6:40 p.m., and Con Edison has been called to the scene.

Notify NYC has issued the following report:

Con Edison is responding to a power outage in Brooklyn zip codes 11226, 11203, 11210, 11229, 11234, and 11236.  To report a loss of electric service, contact Con Edison at 1-800-75-CONED (26633) or online at http://www.coned.com.

The Con Edison power outage map gives an estimated restoration time of 1:00 p.m. December 5.

Paulie Randazzo vows to reopen the battered restaurant before Thanksgiving.

Rosemary Randazzo watched helplessly as her restaurant, the near-century-old Randazzo’s Clam Bar at 2017 Emmons Avenue, was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

Through cameras that streamed to her computer, Randazzo, 54, sat safely in her Mill Basin home and witnessed as the front doors broke and water rushed in and tormented furniture.

“The place looked like it was shaking,” Randazzo said. “It was terrible. I watched it until the electricity went.”

Randazzo’s Clam Bar, a five-generation community staple, was so badly damaged that it remains without power, heat or hot water more than two weeks later, but the owners are poised to have the neighborhood icon make a comeback in time for the holidays.

Keep reading, and see photos from inside Randazzo’s.

Although much attention has been paid locally to the problems in Gerritsen Beach and Coney Island/Seagate, few initiatives have kicked off to help those in that hard hit stretches of Sheepshead Bay, Plumb Beach, Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach.

Now, though, new collection points, recovery funds and housing initiatives have surfaced in those neighborhoods, and they’re looking for your help in helping neighbors in need:

• St. Mark Roman Catholic School: The school has kicked off a collection drive for congregants, families of students, and those who live around the institution at 2602 East 19th Street, off of Avenue Z. A list of needs can be found here. Call (718) 332-9304 for more information. (Also, school remains closed as they continue to grapple with power and heat issues.)
• Congregation Israel of Kings Bay: The synagogue is accepting donations for victims of Hurricane Sandy that are members of or live near the institution. They’re primarily seeking financial assistance.  You may bring in and/or mail checks made to: Cong Israel of Kings Bay, 3903 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11235. Please write “Hurricane Fund” on the memo line. For more information, call Rabbi Winner at (718) 934-5176 or e-mail  rabbiyw@yahoo.com. In addition to financial donations, other needs include sump pumps, mops, handymen, and those willing to open their homes to victims who’ve lost their houses, or are without heat and hot water.
• Flatbush Shomrim: In addition to extensive recovery efforts throughout Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach and Brighton Beach, the shomrim is organizing a clothing drive at 2294 Nostrand Avenue. Call (917) 710-5112. The group is also looking for people with heat and hot water to open their homes to those who do not have heat as the cold weather moves in. If you’re willing to do so, e-mail info@flatbushshomrim.org, and include how much space you have available.
• Millennium Development/Bergen Beach Youth Organization - Okay, it’s not Sheepshead Bay, but it is serving as one of few nearby warming centers for those without heat. The group is currently sorting items and distributing them as they hear of needs for specific sizes and items. Drop offs for those giving, or pick ups for those in need can go to the JM Community Center at 2335 Bergen Avenue. If you need more information, or want to make a request for assistance, call  (718) 444-0101 x 115.

We’re still waiting to hear details on other efforts, so please check back often. And, if you know of a place collecting donations or providing assistance, please leave details in the comments.

As in Manhattan Beach, Hurricane Sandy pummeled the Sheepshead Bay waterfront. We had hoped to get out take some photos and video of our own, but spent all that time sorting through the enormous volume of user-submitted items we received. And, anyway, these guys and gals captured most of the things I had planned to get photos of.

Thanks to Danil Rudoy, Jane Stern, Alex Morozov, Jewly D, Thomas LoPinto, Yelena Ostrovskaya, Emily Braunstein, Andrey, Amanda Ardito, zvi greenspan, Lev Feldman, Andrew.in.RWC, Michelle Shalmiyev, Daniel McGowan, Kristel Simmonds-Cobb, Eric Dwyer, Daniel Rubin, James Chen, Ruth Gottesman, Lev Feldman, Kelly Bridwell, ken.jets, Eugene, Allen Friedman, Dmitry Epshteyn, Michelle November, Dmitry Epshteyn, Issabella vinokurov, Mia Aginsky, Andrey Smorgunov, Mike Star, Michael Yuryev, achiko88, Skblaugrana10, Baawsman and Avtandil Tsertsvadze for the submissions.

As for me, I need to go pump my own basement out. This will be it until later in the evening or tomorrow.

Good luck, and best wishes.

[Show as slideshow]

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Macerich, the mega-sized shopping center real estate company, has just dropped a whopping $751 million dollars in purchasing the Mill Basin based Kings Plaza Mall (5100 Kings Plaza), according a report in the Wall Street Journal.

Compared to some of the more ultra modern and glitzy shopping centers that are currently in vogue across the nation, Kings Plaza falls short, however the prime location and high foot traffic made it an appealing investment.

Because of the difficulty in developing new real estate in a dense city like New York, the threat of competition from new malls is practically nil.

“They’re both in urban or semiurban environments where it would be very difficult to replicate them,” Dan Fasulo, managing director of real estate research company Real Capital Analytics, told the Wall Street Journal. “That creates tremendous scarcity value.”

Kings Plaza also generates $650 per square foot in sales annually, compared to the $370 industry average, a result of New York’s dense population. Even still, Macerich still plans to replace stores with lower revenue streams with higher-end outfits, however no details were given.

In addition to the $751 million spent on Kings Plaza, the Macerich Company also spent $500 million on the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, bringing Macerich’s investment total in the area to a staggering $1.25 billion dollars. Both units were owned by Vornado Realty Trust, who intends to leave the mall business altogether.

Source: Google Maps

New details have surfaced about the dead body found floating in Mill Basin’s waters yesterday, behind Kings Plaza.

DNAinfo reports:

Albert Gindi, 19, said he made the grim discovery while taking a break from his job at Paramount Decorators, in the strip mall abutting the marina.

“At first I saw the sneakers and that was pretty rough,” he told DNAinfo.com New York. “And then I see a belly. When I looked closer it looked like there was no head, so it’s probably like a mannequin, I thought.

“And then I’m getting closer and I see the head…after that I called 911. I was freaking out.”

The body was “not in the best shape,” according to police. Harbor Police pulled the woman in from one of the marina’s docks, eventually strapping her to a rescue board for removal.

Gindi said the woman had short hair, was wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt, and jeans.

The body was found in the marina behind the strip mall, Kings Plaza and Dolly’s Ices shop – Avenue U near East 57th Street – at approximately 3:20 p.m. Her identity remains unknown.

Source: Google Maps

Police are currently responding to a dead body found in the waters behind Kings Plaza, near East 57th Street and Avenue U, according to a scanner report.

The report came over the air at approximately 3:45 p.m. Harbor units are on the scene to remove the body. Emergency Service Units have also been requested.

This is a breaking news story and may contain inaccuracies. We will update it as more information becomes available. If anyone has more information or additional photos, please send them to tips (at) sheepsheadbites (dot) com.

Bug out, Marine Park! Bug out, Mill Basin! Bug out, Gerritsen Beach!

Who gets the bugs out? (Department of Health, Health, Health). What get’s the bugs…

Okay, I’m done. The point is, the Health Department will spray pesticide from trucks to reduce risk of West Nile virus activity in and around our coverage area tomorrow, August 23, between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., weather permitting.

The areas to be sprayed are:

• Parts of Canarsie, East Flatbush, Flatlands, Georgetown, Marine Park, Mill Island, Mill Basin, Paerdegat Basin, Spring Creek and Starrett City.
• The boundaries of spraying are Linden Boulevard, Rockaway Parkway, Ralph Avenue, Flatlands Avenue and Greenwood Road to the north; Nostrand Avenue and Gerritsen Avenue to the west; Belt Parkway to the south; and Spring Creek and 78 Street to the east.
• The zip codes affected are 11207, 11208, 11210, 11229, 11234, 11236 and 11237.

The Health Department recommends that people take the following precautions to minimize direct exposure to the pesticide:

• Stay indoors during spraying, especially if you have asthma or other respirator conditions.
• Air conditioners may remain on, but you should close the vent or choose the re-circulate function.
• Remove children’s toys, outdoor equipment, and clothes from outdoor areas during spraying. If outdoor equipment or toys are exposed to pesticides, wash them with soap and water before using again.
• Wash skin and clothing exposed to pesticides with soap and water.

In case of bad weather, spraying will be rescheduled for Monday, August 27 during the same hours.