Around Brooklyn: Widow Jane bourbon grows in popularity

February 2, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Widow Jane Distillery. Photo courtesy of Widow Jane Distillery

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Widow Jane bourbon grows in popularity

Market Watch, a financial website, recently publicized Widow Jane Decadence Bourbon. Although the name sounds like a character from the Beverly Hillbillies, Widow Jane is a Brooklyn-made brand of bourbon that was founded in 2012 and whose sales grew by 50 percent last year. Lisa Wicker, president and head distiller of Widow Jane, says, “This is bourbon with serious depth, structure and complexity, but with an amazingly creamy rich finish.” In other whiskeys, the company uses a proprietary variety of corn, called Baby Jane, to produce them.

Brooklyn Nets sign Norvel Pelle

The Brooklyn Nets have officially signed free agent Norvel Pelle, a 27-year-old shot-blocking forward who played 24 games with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2019-20 season. The news was reported by Forbes. Pelle had to continue to test negative for Covid-19 before joining the Nets. Pelle averaged 2.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks with the Sixers in 2019-20. He was originally supposed to go to St. John’s University in Queens, but was declared ineligible, and ended up not playing college ball.

Affordable housing lottery for Bushwick building

An affordable housing lottery is open for 605 Hart St., an eight-story mixed-use development in Bushwick. The building, designed by Rise Architecture, is slated to have 54 units. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 17 units for residents whose income ranges from $46,149 to $159,640. Amenities include bike storage lockers, a laundry room, a community center, a media room, a rooftop terrace, a recreation room, a virtual doorman and security cameras, according to New York YIMBY.

Perry wants to probe prosecutors

A new bill in Albany, introduced by Assemblymember Nick Perry (D-East Flatbush-Canarsie), would give New Yorkers a venue to file complaints against prosecutors, and would make its misconduct findings and investigative proceedings public. As it stands now, state courts can sanction prosecutors privately, without disclosing complaint proceedings to the public. DA’s offices often retain prosecutors who have had major violations, according to Gothamist. The District Attorney’s Association of the State of New York declined to comment on the bill.

Clarke, Tannousis praise AG James

U.S. Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Garden, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Brownsville, Sheepshead Bay) and Assemblymember Michael Tannousis (R- Bay Ridge, Staten Island) recently expressed shock at the state’s response regarding nursing home deaths from COVID-19. Attorney General Letitia James’ reports found that the State Department of Health’s (DOH) may have undercounted COVID nursing home deaths by as much as 50 percent. “By disregarding laws designed to protect public health — to cut costs and gain profit — those responsible for managing these non-compliant facilities are complicit. My office supports every measure to ensure justice is served,” they said.

Ampry-Samuel bill passes Council

Councilmember Alicka Ampry-Samuel (D-Brownsville) recently saw her bill, 1994-A, mandating specific steps for the city’s voter education campaign regarding ranked choice voting (RCV), pass the Council. The measure would require the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) to take a number of concrete steps to familiarize voters with RCV. The bill would require the 26 participating voter registration agencies to post and distribute the educational materials provided by CFB. It would also mandate that the Civic Engagement Commission include RCV education as part of its poll site language interpreter training.

Will Columbus stay or go?

On Thursday at 6 p.m, the Parks and Recreation Committee of the Youth, Education and Cultural Affairs Committee of Community Board 2 will co-host a second joint discussion about the statue of Christopher Columbus located in Columbus Park in front of the Kings County Courthouse. The meeting is a follow-up to the Dec. 7 joint meeting on the same topic, in which the committees voted 11-5 in favor of recommending the removal of the statue. This time, two Italian-American organizations will speak on why they believe the statue should be preserved in its current space.

Condo building planned for Greenpoint

A new condo building is planned for a narrow parking area lot at 151 Freeman St. in Greenpoint. The building is expected to be four stories tall and have a red-brick design with floor-to-ceiling windows. It is being developed by LTNG and is designed by Pliskin Architecture, according to New York YIMBY.

Cops seek Williamsburg slasher

Police are seeking an assailant who sliced a 52-year-old-man’s hand during an argument outside a supermarket in Williamsburg on Jan. 10. They released a photo of the man wanted in the attack which happened in front of the Food Bazaar at 21 Manhattan Ave. The suspect and victim were arguing, then the perp pulled out a sharp object and slashed the victim on his left hand. Video shows the suspect as a Black man, about 5-foot-9, weighing about 170 pounds, and wearing a green overcoat, a brown hat and brown boots.

Restaurant Week extended

NYC Restaurant Week To Go is being extended through Feb. 28 due to its success so even more New Yorkers can enjoy a lunch and/or dinner entrée and at least one side dish for a bargain price of $20.21. Diners can search restaurants at nycgo.com/restaurantweek, where they will be redirected to the restaurant’s preferred takeout or delivery options. “Due to the high consumer demand for NYC Restaurant Week To Go, we have decided to extend the program for an additional four weeks so that even more restaurants citywide can feed New Yorkers hungry for good food and eager to support their neighborhood eateries,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company.

Two new leases at Brooklyn Navy Yard

The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp. recently announced two large technology and manufacturing leases at its recently rebuilt Building 127. Dedalus Design and Production, a Brooklyn-based manufacturer of custom scenery and furniture for theaters, museums and retail stores, has finalized the property’s largest lease agreement amounting to 35,000 square feet on the ground floor. Smart Design, a Manhattan-based consulting firm, will occupy 21,000 square feet of the building’s top floor. “The city’s most creative firms like Smart Design and Daedalus continue to choose the Navy Yard for its community of innovative companies, proximity to their workforce, and work environments like Building 127 that simply can’t be replicated anywhere else in the city,” said Johanna Greenbaum, chief development officer at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation.

Former gang member runs for BP

Shanduke McPhatter, former Bloods gang member and anti-violence activist, is now running f0r the Democratic nomination for Brooklyn borough president. McPhatter runs the nonprofit organization Gangstas Making Astronomical Community Changes, and says his platform focuses on a safe borough. One source told the Daily News that McPhatter’s $282,000 annual salary, as opposed to the usual $79,000 salary paid to “violence interrupters,” has raised eyebrows in many quarters.

More than one toke over the line

A 57-year-old man from Brooklyn has been charged with growing large quantities of marijuana at a farm on Burlington County, N.J. The plants were discovered by a tax assessor after the owner, Weiming Liu, sought a tax break, police said. Liu was charged with first-degree manufacturing marijuana in a quantity of 25 pounds or more and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. More than 500 mature marijuana plants were discovered on the farm, according to the Burlington (N.J.) Voice. Liu leased the land from its owner, who was unaware of the illegal activity.

Car collides with bus in Brownsville

At least three people were injured after a vehicle apparently ran a red light and collided into an MTA bus in Brooklyn. The crash happened just before 3:30 Sunday morning at the intersection of Linden Boulevard and Rockaway Avenue in Brownsville. The crash sent the bus onto the sidewalk. Three people who were in the car were injured, and all were taken to Brookdale Medical Center. The bus driver was treated for minor injuries at the scene, according to ABC 7.

Compiled by Raanan Geberer.