Around Brooklyn: Adams holds annual menorah lighting at Borough Hall

December 11, 2020 Editorial Staff

Shell Bank Creek in Gerritsen Beach. Photo: Lore Croghan/Brooklyn Eagle

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Adams holds annual menorah lighting at Borough Hall

Borough President Eric Adams on Thursday held his annual menorah lighting at Brooklyn Borough Hall to mark the beginning of Chanukah, the Jewish festival of lights, with prominent rabbis from throughout the borough. Adams focused on the importance of upholding meaningful traditions during the holiday season while observing city, state, and federal public health guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Joining Adams were FDNY Chaplain Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, MTA Chaplain Rabbi Harry Berkovitz, Jewish Community Relations Council Rabbi Michael Miller, United Jewish Organizations Executive Director Rabbi David Niederman, Borough Park Jewish Community Center Director Rabbi Avraham Greenstein, Crown Heights Jewish Community Council Rabbi Eli Cohen, Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition Chairman Josh Mehlman and others.

BPL to hold multilingual holiday programs

The Brooklyn Public Library, with the support of Apple Bank, is hosting a series of multilingual holiday programs. These programs can be viewed at the BPL’s Facebook page. On Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m., the library is presenting a Chanukah celebration with musician Shira Kobren. On Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 10 a.m., there will be another musical Chanukah celebration with Carla, the founder of Tkiva. On Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m., join the Library on Instagram to cook up some family holiday recipes. Finally, on Monday, Dec. 21 at 2:30 p.m., celebrate Parranda Conmigo, a Puerto Rican holiday tradition.

Ground broken for Medgar Evers Prep

Ground was recently broken for a new five-story building for Medgar Evers College Preparatory School, affiliated with both the Department of Education and CUNY’s Medgar Evers College. The building will be located next to the school’s current site at 1186 Carroll St., Crown Heights, and will replace eight temporary classroom units, which are slated to be demolished. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2022, and the school should open by the start of the 2025 school year. The building will contain 22 classrooms, a supervisory office, four science labs, staff rooms and a gymnasium, according to Cityland, a land use website.

Vietnamese eatery opens in Williamsburg

Chef Eric Trans, who last worked at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, has taken over the space at 112 Harrison Place, East Williamsburg, formerly occupied by Vietnamese restaurant Falansai, which closed in September due to the pandemic. Tran has established another Vietnamese restaurant, also called Falansai, in tribute to Henry Trieu, the original Falansai’s owner, even though the menu and staff will be different. Among the items on the menu are pho, lemongrass pork skewers, vegetables in green curry, confit duck necks, “Dad’s Egg Rolls,” “Dad’s Fried Rice” and “Best Brussels Sprouts You Ever Will Eat,” according to Gothamist.

Brooklyn hotel café combines luxury, sustainability

The Osprey at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge in DUMBO combines “the luxuries of fine dining with the comfort of knowing [a patron’s] meal is crafted with sustainability in mind,” according to Forbes. Matt Erickson, president of food and beverage for SH Hotels and Restaurants, says that all 1 Hotel properties seek to buy from local suppliers who grow nutritious ingredients. Holiday menus consist of farm-to-table dishes, and The Osprey has a sustainable wine collection.

Developer unveils plans for Coney building

The developer LCOR has announced plans to build a 461-unit rental building at 1515 Surf Ave. near the Coney Island waterfront. The property will include a mix of market-rate and affordable units as well as ground-floor retail. Plans filed with the Department of Buildings call for 139 affordable units but don’t specify how they will be marketed or priced. “At LCOR, we pride ourselves on identifying sites for new development that generate opportunities for both our residents and the surrounding neighborhoods at large, and I am confident that our latest project in Coney Island fits this bill,” said David Sigman, LCOR executive vice president and principal. The building, which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and the Coney Island amusement district, is designed by Studio V Architecture.

Ortiz hails pension fund move

Assistant Assembly Speaker Felix W. Ortiz (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook) is declaring a “climate victory” after Thursday’s announcement that the NYS Comptroller’s Office has adopted a goal to transition the NYS Pension Fund portfolio to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. “As a lifelong champion of the environment, I am delighted that my initiative has become a part of New York’s progressive environmental agenda,” said Ortiz. “Today’s announcement is a win for all New Yorkers.”

New York Cares hosts coat giveaway

New York Cares, along with Pastor of The Kingdom Church Bishop Hezekiah Walker, hosted an outdoor coat giveaway event for its 32nd annual coat drive. Volunteers distributed 2,000 coats to community members in need on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 10-11 a.m. at the Kingdom Church, located at 464 Liberty Ave. in Brooklyn. Families, children and individuals will pick out warm coats for the winter season.

Affordable housing lottery opens in senior development

An affordable housing lottery is now open for BHPN Senior Residences at 1488 New York Ave., a seven-story mixed-use development in East Flatbush. The building was developed by Evangelical Crusade Christian Church and BEL Community Development and was designed by Heritage Architecture. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 58 studio apartments for seniors whose income ranges up to $45,000. Amenities include an outdoor terrace, a shared laundry room, a recreation room, a community center, medical service and adult day care.

Women’s group endorses Lander

A group of 23 progressive women in government and the nonprofit world has endorsed Brooklyn Councilmember Brad Lander for comptroller. Lander is currently running to replace Scott Stringer, who in turn is running for mayor. Lander’s opponents include Brooklyn State Sen. Kevin Parker, Manhattan State Sen. Brian Benjamin and Queens Assemblymember David Weprin, according to BKLYNER. “Brad is a supportive colleague who goes out of his way to lift up the work of others and advocate for those who are most vulnerable in our communities,” said Manhattan Councilmember Margaret Chin, one of the 23.

Building planned for Flatbush bank site

Permits have been filed for a nine-story mixed-use building at 1041 Flatbush Ave. in Flatbush. The site, located at the intersection of Duryea Place and Flatbush Avenue, is currently occupied by a two-story building used as a bank branch by Sterling Bank. The building would include 150 residences, possibly dormitories or hotel rooms, as well as 56 enclosed parking spaces and retail stores on the ground floor. Demolition permits were filed for the bank in October 2019. Nahalkumar Gandhi is listed as the owner, and Michael Kang Architect is listed as the architect of record, according to New York YIMBY.

SUNY launches online high school equivalency, college prep classes

State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras has launched SUNY’s free Online Training Center to give more New Yorkers a gateway to college — no matter where they live across the state — with high school equivalency, college prep, and employment certification programs. As phase one of Malatras’ new SUNY For All campaign to expand access to higher education, the center will prepare eligible students for college and post-COVID careers with training and success coaches to guide them. Starting today, eligible students may contact SUNY about the spring semester, which starts Feb. 1, 2021. “As New York State rebounds after the coronavirus pandemic, SUNY is providing opportunities to help more New Yorkers prepare for jobs across our state that will continue to require some post-secondary education — and we know far too many need a college degree to succeed,” said Malatras.

Compiled by Raanan Geberer.