Around Brooklyn: Brooklyn Historical Society seeks material on pandemic

June 4, 2020 Editorial Staff

The steps of the Belt Parkway overpass. Photo: Lore Croghan/Brooklyn Eagle

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Brooklyn Historical Society seeks material on pandemic

The Brooklyn Historical Society is asking Brooklynites to submit materials related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including photos, videos and writings. “We wanted to do this project … to document the tremendous impact of COVID-19 on our daily life in Brooklyn,” Maggie Schreiner, the society’s manager of archives and special collections, said. So far the Historical Society has received about 300 submissions, which include photos of life during the pandemic, such as people wearing masks, children learning remotely and people performing do-it-yourself haircuts, according to the Brooklyn Paper.

Hikind to hold Jewish march in solidarity with Floyd family

Former Assemblymember Dov Hikind is sponsoring a march in solidarity with the family of George Floyd this Sunday at 11 a.m., starting at the corner of Ocean Parkway and Avenue J. The slogan of the March is “If He Can’t Breathe, We Can’t Be Silent.” Hikind will be joined by other members of the Jewish community.

Cast of ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ donates to Bail Fund Network

The cast of the TV show “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” has made a $100,000 donation to the National Bail Fund Network. Dan Goor, co-creator of the show, went to Twitter to make the announcement and to condemn the killing of Minneapolis resident George Floyd. Stephanie Beatriz, who stars as Det. Rosa Diaz, also made a personal donation, and urged all actors who play police officers to do the same, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Day camps in NYC will be able to open on June 29

Day camps in New York State will be allowed to open on June 29, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday, including those in New York City. Cuomo did not immediately offer any details on what cleaning, safety and distancing rules will be put into effect at the day camps. Leonard Petlakh, executive director of the Kings Bay Y, which runs the JCC Brooklyn day camp at Fort Hamilton, said he was awaiting guidance from the state and city on opening rules, according to Gothamist.

100 pastors hold peaceful protest in Bay Ridge

More than 100 pastors from 30 different denominations and thousands of members of their congregations came to Bay Ridge for a peaceful prayer march Tuesday evening. Pastor Justin Matteria from Zion NYC in Bay Ridge said the rally came together after much prayer among several pastors. “The city needs to see that the church cares about this, because God cares about justice,” he said. Others said they decided to join the march after President Donald Trump stood outside a Washington, D.C., church holding a bible minutes after authorities fired tear gas and rubber bullets nearby. The group marched from 78th Street to Barclays Center, according to PIX11.

Woman shoved to ground slams police conduct

Near the Barclays Center on Friday evening, as the Eagle reported, an NYPD shoved a female protester, knocking her to the ground. Dounya Zayer says she was not aggressive with the officer, identified later as P.O. Vincent D’Andraia. “I was already running backwards. I was trying to get out of the way, but he shoved me before I got the chance,” she said. “Them acting the way they acted isn’t helping the cause. It isn’t proving to us that they care about us,” Zayer told NBC News.

Old soda factory becomes bathhouse in Williamsburg

Travis Talmadge and Jason Goodman have converted a 1930s soda factory in Williamsburg into a luxury bathhouse, known simply as The Bathhouse, at 103 North 10th St. The space is being advertised as a location for people to look and feel their best. The baths themselves are on the lower ground floor and include two saunas, a steam room, cryotherapy booths, thermal pools and a “Float Lab” sensory deprivation tank. The facility also has a restaurant specializing in Northern and Eastern European-style dishes, according to Far Out.

Marine Park house on sale for $535K

A 1920s-era single-family home at 3622 Avenue R in Marine Park is selling for $535,000. The house was built in the Tudor style and has a massive chimney. The first floor has a small foyer, living room, dining room and kitchen, and there’s a wood-burning fireplace in the living room. The second floor has a bedroom, a bathroom, original parquet floors and stained-glass windows. The house, which has a garage, is only blocks away from the Hendrick R. Lott House, according to Brownstoner.

Protesters seek release of detainees at Sunset Park jail

Activists on Friday gathered at the Metropolitan Detention Center on Friday and demanded that Gov. Andrew Cuomo release detainees at the Metropolitan Detention Center. The protesters, who chanted, “Free them all,” were answered with bangs on the windows from inmates, who are mostly immigrants awaiting federal trials to determine their freedom. The jail, on 29th Street and Second Avenue, has the second-highest number of staffers infected with COVID-19, according to the Brooklyn Paper.

Kitchen cabinet co. moves from Brooklyn to Jersey

Major Kitchen Cabinet Inc. recently announced plans to move from 150 52nd St. in East Flatbush to 500 York St. in Elizabeth, N.J. Elberon Development Group purchased the new building in 2015, then launched a capital improvement program including a new roof, new LED lighting, new pavement and a renovated office area. A spokesperson for Elberon said Major Kitchen outgrew its Brooklyn location and was attracted to New Jersey’s “more competitive lease rates,” according to Real Estate Weekly.

Rep. Rose comments on protest violence

U.S. Rep. Max Rose (Southwest Brooklyn-Staten Island) issued the following statement about violence in protests that occurred in New York City recently: “Let’s be very clear that the majority of the protests were peaceful. We saw officers and protesters across the city kneel in solidarity. The mayhem that occurred in parts of the city was not part of the movement to ensure justice for George Floyd and other victims of police brutality.” He added that “the mayor last lost control of the situation once and for all.”

No ‘phases’ for them!

Brooklyn officials Assemblymember Simcha Eisenstein (D-Borough Park-Midwood) and Councilmember Kalman Yeger (D-Borough Park-Bensonhurst-Midwood) sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, urging the immediate and unrestricted reopening of the State of New York. Referencing the protests following the tragic death of George Floyd, they said, “The calls for mass peaceful marching without any regard for social-distancing have rendered a continued lockdown at this point ludicrous.” Furthermore, they said, “Most small business owners get it. They are aware of the need to be safe.”

One cop stabbed, two others shot in Flatbush

One officer was stabbed in the neck and two others were shot late Wednesday night at the corner of Church and Flatbush avenues in Flatbush. All three are expected to survive. Around 11:45 p.m., a man walked up to the officers, took out a knife and stabbed one of them in the neck, police said. Then, the man grabbed a gun from an officer and shot the other two. A suspect was arrested and is critical condition at Kings County Hospital, according to ABC News.

Only four RE deals in Brooklyn luxury market

Brooklyn’s luxury-home market saw only four deals last week, making this the fifth time in the past six weeks the luxury sector has seen four contracts signed. Last year, a typical week would see 20 expensive homes go into contract. Of the four, the most expensive listing was for a townhouse asking $5.15 million at 198 Warren St. in Cobble Hill. The second most expensive was for a condo at 1 Clinton St. in Brooklyn Heights, seeking $3.2 million. Overall, the four deals had asking prices totaling about $13.8 million, according to The Real Deal.

Compiled by Raanan Geberer.