Around Brooklyn: Best of BAMKids Film Festival features animated shorts

November 12, 2020 Editorial Staff

The Green-Wood Cemetery gates. Photo: Lore Croghan/Brooklyn Eagle

Share this:

Best of BAMKids Film Festival features animated shorts

The Best of BAMKids Film Festival 2020, a video-on-demand festival featuring a series of colorful animated kids’ shorts from around the world, will be offered from Nov. 28 to Dec. 8. Among the films on the program will be “A Chick’s Adventure” (Italy/France), “Pickle Plum Parade” (Japan), “Kippkopp in the Snow” (Hungary), “Snail the Painter” (Croatia), “Little Grey Wolfy” (Norway) and “Sam’s Dream” (France). All ticket sales help fund BAM educational programs.

Demolition progresses at site of proposed skyscraper

Demolition work is progressing at 547-589 Fulton St. in Downtown Brooklyn, the site of a proposed skyscraper. The plot was purchased for $105 million and is bordered by DeKalb Avenue to the north, Flatbush Avenue Extension to the east, Fulton Street to the south and Bond Street to the west. It’s unclear whether the tower will be for residential or commercial use, according to New York YIMBY. The developer is RedSky Capital.

Colton, others host food distribution

Assemblymember William Colton (D–Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) together with the 47th Assembly District Leader Nancy Tong, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and City Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) Monday morning co-sponsored a food distribution. “I am pleased that we were able to distribute approximately 500 boxes of fresh produce which included fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurt, sour cream, hot dogs and much more to the 25 community organizations,” he said.

Schumer, Gillibrand announce millions for Northwell Health

Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand recently announced $6,284,101.33 in federal funding for Northwell Health Inc., which has several Brooklyn locations. This funding will be used to cover the cost of 223,000 previous overtime hours for sanitization of facilities and medical care for COVID-19 patients. “I’m proud to deliver these federal funds to help cover the massive costs of increased protective measures and staffing needed to care for COVID-19 patients throughout the pandemic,” said Schumer. “We must continue to support our local hospitals and health centers as we work to slow the spread of coronavirus and recover from this health and economic crisis.”

City announces completion of Zion Plaza renovation

The city Department of Transportation and Parks Department have announced the completion of their $5.7 million expansion project for Zion Plaza in Brownsville. The project includes 5,200 square feet of pedestrian space, a new curb extension, street furniture and plantings. Zion Plaza is located at the intersection of Pitkin Avenue and East New York Avenue. At the center of the plaza is the restored Zion Park War Memorial, which dates to the era immediately after World War 1.

Nadler rips Barr on election probe

On Tuesday, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-Brooklyn-Manhattan) issued the following statement after Attorney Gen. William Barr authorized federal prosecutors to examine allegations of voting irregularities, despite no evidence no evidence of widespread fraud. “Attorney General Barr’s memo is both flawed and deeply disturbing. It is unlikely to open new legal avenues for the Trump campaign, but speaks to Barr’s dangerous and irresponsible impulse to pander to the president’s worst instincts,” she said.

Colton announces Toys for Tots drive

Assemblymember William Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) has announced his annual Toys for Tots Drive for the U. S. Marine Corps and several organizations. “My office has been helping to collect Toys for Tots on behalf of the U. S. Marine Corps for a number of years. The U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program is a perfect example that our servicemen and women are doing more than just serving our country. Any contributions are appreciated and will help millions of less fortunate children to enjoy the magic of the holidays,” he said.

Street vendors protest

More than 200 street vendors, accompanied by mariachi bands, marched across the Brooklyn Bridge on Thursday to protest the city’s restriction on street vendor permits. The march called on the city to pass Intro 1116, a proposed amendment that would expand the availability of vendor permits, create an office of street vendor enforcement, and establish a street vendor advisory board. The city permits roughly 4,000 mobile food vendor permits a year, a number that the Urban Justice Center says is arbitrary and harmful. The vendors gathered at Korean War Veterans Plaza at 11:30 a.m. before marching across the Brooklyn Bridge and holding a press conference at the Manhattan Municipal Building, according to Patch.

NYPD seeking suspect who stabbed two

Police are looking for a suspect who stabbed two people in Downtown Brooklyn last month. On Oct. 30, an unknown man got into an argument with a 30-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man across the street from 139 Flatbush Ave. The suspect then stabbed the victims several times and fled down Flatbush Avenue, police said. The victims suffered multiple lacerations to their bodies and were taken to Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in stable condition, according to published reports.

Cops seek driver in hit-run

Police are searching for the driver of a black Infiniti that hit a 60-year-old man in Cypress Hills on Nov. 4. Video taken at the scene shows the car speeding down the street near Nicholas Avenue and Etna Street before suddenly reversing in full speed, hitting a man and quickly taking off. The man was local resident Walter Stone, whose wife quickly called an ambulance. He was rushed to the hospital with scratches on his face and a broken leg, according to CBS News.

Police shoot pit bull that attacked suspects

A chase through the streets of Flatbush came to an end when a pit bull attacked and injured one of the two men who police were chasing and the cops shot the dog dead to prevent it from killing the suspect. The chase ended up at 563 East 29th St., when the man entered the back yard and the large dog started attacking him. When the second suspect tried to pull the dog off him, the dog attacked him, too. Both suspects were taken to Kings County Hospital with injuries and are now in stable condition, according to published reports. The owner of the pit bull protested and got involved in a shoving match with police, and he, too, was taken into custody, police said.

COVID rates rise in Borough Park, East NY

According to New York State data, Brooklyn had a positivity rate on Nov. 9 of 1.9 percent, a steady increase from previous days. During the past week, new cases were more than 300 a day. As far as ZIP codes are concerned, southern Brooklyn still has higher rates, with 11230 and 11219 in the lead. The Williamsburg ZIP code, 11211, and Gravesend, 11223, are slightly behind, and 11208, or East New York, is a new concern, according to BKLYNER.

Brooklyn firm specializes in flood insurance

JNR Insurance Agency, a Brooklyn company whose main customers are in Prospect Heights, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Bushwick and nearby areas, is offering flood insurance coverage. “Many people in Brooklyn ignore investing in flood insurance as such situations are not too familiar in the neighborhood. The homeowners must note that just because floods are not common in Brooklyn does not mean that they might never experience one. Turbulent weather conditions can easily result in flooding, and hence it is crucial to be prepared for it,” the company says.

Compiled by Raanan Geberer.