Good Morning, Brooklyn: Wednesday, July 21, 2021

July 21, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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COMMEMORATIVE 9/11 COINS TO BENEFIT VICTIMS’ FAMILIES: As the 20th Anniversary of September 11th, 2001 approaches, the FDNY Uniformed Firefighters Officers Association (UFOA) was set to unveil a one-of-a-kind commemorative “Challenge Coin” at a press conference Tuesday, July 20, with firefighters who were part of the rescue effort on 9/11. Sales of the coin will benefit the widows, children, and families of New York City firefighters who lost their lives while on active duty on September 11, 2001, as well as those who later died from WTC-related illness. The Challenge Coin depicts an image of the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the Shanksville, Pennsylvania field. These locations are draped in an American Flag on the coin, symbolizing patriotism and unity in the wake of that infamous day.

Among those dying in action were Brooklyn-born Fr. Mychal Judge, as he administered last rites; and the eight firefighters from Engine 205 Hook & Ladder 118: Captain Martin J. Egan, Lt. Robert Wallace, Lt. Robert Regan, Firefighter Vernon Cherry, FF Leon Smith, FF Joseph Agnello, FF Peter Vega and FF Scott Davidson.

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Bishops Nicholas DiMarzio (third from right) and Kevin Sweeney (at right) join Sean Conaboy’s proud family for a photo upon Mr. Conaboy’s receiving the recognition.
Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

DIOCESE PRESENTS MEDAL TO GOOD SAMARITAN: Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, this morning presented a medal on behalf of the diocese to honor Sean Conaboy for his recent selfless act of courage in defense of a woman on a subway platform. A parishioner of St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Sunset Park, Mr. Conaboy was on platform waiting for the train at the Union Square station on May 19, when he witnessed a woman standing near him being repeatedly being stabbed. Conaboy immediately sprang into action, tackling the knife-wielding assailant and halting the attack on the woman.

Joining Bishop DiMarzio was the Most Reverend Kevin Sweeney, Bishop of the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey, a previous pastor of St. Michael’s Church.

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NEW YOUTH JOBS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL BROOKLYN: As part of a series of gun prevention community meetings being held this month around the borough, Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced 506 new jobs being made available for at-risk youth in seven ZIP codes in north and central Brooklyn. The ZIP codes are: 11206 (including Bushwick, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and parts of Williamsburg); 11213 (eastern Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights) 11216 (western Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights) 11221 (spanning Bed-Stuy to Bushwick); 11222 (Greenpoint, parts of Williamsburg); 11233 (spanning Bed-Stuy to Brownsville and East New York); and 11238 (Prospect Heights).

The 506 jobs will include 254 summer jobs and 252 long-term jobs. The program already outlined also establishes summer programs and expanding community services for youth.

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AG JAMES’ LARGEST-EVER MONETARY SETTLEMENT: New York Attorney General Letitia James has brokered an agreement with McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health Inc., and Amerisource Bergen Drug Corporation — three of the nation’s largest drug distributors — that will deliver up to $1.1 billion to New York state to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic. Marking the largest monetary settlement that Attorney General James has ever negotiated, this agreement resolves claims she made for the three companies’ roles in helping to fuel the opioid epidemic and will remove the three distributors from New York’s ongoing opioid trial.

The majority of the $1.1 billion will be a guaranteed, base payment, with the remaining funds earmarked as incentive; meaning that the greater the level of participation from political subdivisions across New York state, the more funds that ultimately will be paid out for abatement to the state and to local communities over the course of the 18 total years.

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MARATHON THEATER: The Obie Award-winning Target Margin Theater, in its most ambitious work to date, will present “We Will Care for You,” a massive nine-hour theatrical event that concludes the Company’s four-year exploration of The One Thousand and One Nights. A key component of this durational performance project is educational: Target Margin Theater (now in its 30^th anniversary year) will collaborate with students from Sunset Park High School in the creation of a new devised work. Target Margin’s artists, actors, designers and directors will partner with high schoolers to devise their own take on oral storytelling traditions in Brooklyn today.

These showings are scheduled for September 24 and 25; October 23 and 24; November 20 and 21; and December 18 and 19, 2021. Special performances will also take place at Sunset Park High School on December 3 and 4, 2021, and then move to Target Margin’s The Doxsee theater, 232 52nd Street in Sunset Park, on December 10 and 11.

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AIRTRAIN APPROVED FOR LaGUARDIA: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday issued its approval on the environmental review for the proposed construction of the LaGuardia Airport (LGA) AirTrain. This final step, referred to as the Record of Decision, allows the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to proceed with its proposal to construct a rail system to provide a reliable transit option for air travelers and employees at LGA. The Port Authority will now be able to submit a future application for funding under the Passenger Facility Charge program.

Port Authority has planned the AirTrain to connect LGA to the New York City Transit Subway 7 Line and the Long Island Rail Road’s Port Washington Branch at Mets-Willets Point. There will also be passenger walkways connecting to the LGA Central Hall, a parking garage connector, public transportation and ground transportation facilities.

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GOV. CUOMO PRAISES AIRTRAIN DECISION: Governor Andrew Cuomo said of the FAA’S decision, “The new LaGuardia Airport—the first new airport in the United States in over 25 years and the front door to New York—deserves a reliable, efficient, and affordable transit connector worthy of its destination…This is the culmination of years of advocacy by this administration and a key moment in our efforts to rebuild New York’s infrastructure for the future. As we come out of the COVID crisis, our state and our country have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in a resilient, transformative, and interconnected future, and today’s announcement is a testament to our ‘all aboard’ commitment to seizing it, in partnership with the Biden administration and Secretary Buttigieg.”

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AUDITIONS FOR THE BROOKLYNETTES: The Brooklynettes Dance Team will hold open auditions for the 2021-22 NBA season beginning Sunday, Aug. 8, and, for the first time ever, will be held on the main court at Barclays Center. All dancers aged 18 or older are eligible to try out for 20-person squad, with auditions taking place over four days. The Brooklynettes, a cutting-edge athletic dance team whose professional credits include music videos, film, television, theater, commercials and advertorial work, perform at all Brooklyn Nets home games at Barclays Center during the NBA season and represent the team at events throughout the New York metropolitan area and internationally.

During this past season, the Brooklynettes were one of the few dance companies performing in person in front of fans in New York City. The team was recently featured in The New York Times and New York Post, among others.