Good Morning, Brooklyn: Thursday, February 17, 2022

February 17, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT CHAPLAINS: Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Annunciation Parish in Williamsburg, has been named a chaplain for the New York City Fire Department, and was sworn in Monday with the title of Deputy Fire Chief, along with seven other new chaplains from other faith traditions. Ordained in 1995, Msgr. Gigantiello has served as parochial vicar at several parishes around Brooklyn and is the director of the Office of Parish Giving and vicar for development for the Diocese of Brooklyn. He also serves as a chaplain to the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission and the NYC Transit & Corrections Officers.

Before discerning his call to the priesthood, Msgr. Gigantiello had earned a business degree and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. He has hosted a series that blended cooking with ethnically-diverse parishes around the diocese.

Msgr. Gigantiello being sworn in, with his sister, Toniann Martello, holding the Bible.
Photo courtesy of Diocese of Brooklyn

FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro, Toniann Martello, Msgr. Gigantiello, Anthony Gigantiello (Msgr. Gigantiello’s brother).
Photo courtesy of Diocese of Brooklyn

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FIRE DEPT. COMMISSIONER RETIRED: The above-reported swearing-in ceremony for chaplains is one of the closing duties for past Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro, who officially retired yesterday, Feb. 16: FDNY Fire Officers Association President Lt. James McCarthy released a statement regarding this occasion: “Commissioner Daniel Nigro has dedicated his life to the Fire Department of New York and this city’s eight million residents. A stalwart for Firefighters and Fire Officers in this department and across the country, Commissioner Nigro is one of only seven in history to hold every rank available in the Department. His leadership was on display in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, where, as Chief of Department, he helped the FDNY recover from the loss of 343 of its members, and lead the recovery efforts.”

McCarthy added, “As a second generation FDNY Firefighter and with over five decades of service in the FDNY, his institutional knowledge and leadership has been an asset to New York City.”

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HIGH SCHOOL APPLICATION PERIOD EXTENDED: The high school application deadline for students entering high school in fall 2022 is extended to Friday, March 11, Schools Chancellor David C. Banks announced yesterday, in response to feedback from families and school communities, who wanted more time to explore high school program options, build an application, and apply online at MySchools.nyc. For this year, high schools that academically screen will continue to do so using students’ highest grades in four courses — English, math, social studies, and science –– across final course grades from seventh grade and marking-period grades from eighth grade.

This year, due to the absence of reliable or current state exam results, state test scores will not be used.

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BLACK BUSINESS LEADERS BEING HONORED: Brooklyn Chamber and Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) will celebrate Black History Month by honoring the outstanding achievements and contributions of Black leaders in this community, during a program live-streamed from Weeksville Heritage Center. The honorees include: Keith L. Forest, principal of Urban ID Media, receiving the Small Business Leader Award; State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud, receiving the Public Servant Leader Award; Freda L. Thomas, CEO of Freda Thomas Consulting, who will receive the Samuel L. Dunston Award for Business Excellence; and Shelley V. Worrell Founder + Cultural Entrepreneur for I AM CARIBBEING, who will receive the Community Leader Award.

Program co-sponsors include Con Edison, National Grid, Investors Bank and Clover FiServ.

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LEGAL COUNSEL SESSION FOR ENTREPRENEURS: A virtual legal clinic for micro-entrepreneurs is being offered through a partnership with The Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) and the Brooklyn Library’s Business & Career Services Center. Entrepreneurs will have an opportunity during this session, on Thursday, March 10 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., to receive free legal advice during a 45-minute consultation with a volunteer attorney on matters relating to business entity formation and governance.

Registration is required; for more information contact NELP via phone at (212) 382-6633 or [email protected].

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NY’S CHIEF JUDGE GIVES STATE OF JUDICIARY ADDRESS: Appearing virtually from the Court of Appeals, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore today presented her sixth annual State of Our Judiciary, addressing the pandemic-related challenges still facing the Court System, the significant progress achieved over the past year by courts statewide, and the work ahead in eliminating barriers to equal justice and ensuring a fair, inclusive workplace.

Responding to a report on disparity in seeking justice, Judge DiFiore pointed out that “the current trial court structure forces vulnerable New Yorkers to pursue their related legal issues before different judges in multiple courts, which she said leads to “more court appearances … more lost workdays, more childcare and transportation expenses, more stress and frustration, and, certainly, less trust and confidence in our courts and the justice system.”

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ARMY ANNOUNCES CIVILIAN JOBS: The U.S. Army Materiel Command, the largest employer in the Army, will provide on-the-spot hiring opportunities during the 2022 Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA) Award virtual STEM event, this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18-19 from 10 a.m. -4 p.m., according to announcement conveyed through Brooklyn Community Board 16. Civilian job opportunities are being offered in a variety of fields, including engineering, IT, contracting and many more! Visit the following link for more information and to upload your resume for review prior to the event https://tinyurl.com/y4l5zvml

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CONSUMER ALERT: New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued a consumer alert with safety recommendations to protect New Yorkers from malicious Apple AirTag users. She has received reports from individuals finding unknown AirTags — small tracking devices intended to act as a key finder to help people locate their personal items — attached to their cars, and in their purses, coat pockets, and other personal property, without the proper owners’ knowledge or permission. Others have reportedly received alerts on their phones that their location information is being shared, even when the targets do not find an AirTag or another connected accessory.

Attorney General James recommends consumers take the following steps to protect themselves and their belongings: listen for unfamiliar beeping, watch for “Item Detected Near You” notifications on iPhones; and update your Apple device’s operating system, as new safety measures are being implemented.

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NEW JNR.BALLERS SERIES FOR KIDS: The Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty have announced a new collaboration with Xbox for the remainder of the 2021-22 NBA season and the beginning of the 2022 WNBA season, to release “Jnr.Ballers,” a digital series hosted by 10-year-old sports journalist and New York-native, Pepper Persley. Six boys and girls from The NYPD Community Center in Brooklyn’s East New York neighborhood have been selected to participate in programs designed to create actionable paths to achieve their individual dreams.

The episodes will be released on Twitter and featured on @brooklynnets during the remainder of the current NBA season and on @nyliberty during the 2022 WNBA season.

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IPS NEWS: BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS PASS LAW TO HONOR LONGTIME ASSEMBLYMEMBER: Legislation to rename the Greenpoint post office in Brooklyn after former State Assemblymember Joseph Lentol has passed in the Senate, after having passed in the House of Representatives last October, U.S. Rep Carolyn B. Maloney (D-12), Chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced yesterday. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk for his signature.

Joseph Lentol represented Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Fort Greene, and parts of Clinton Hill in the New York State Assembly for nearly 50 years. Rep. Maloney, who has worked with Lentol on several issues, expressed delight “that both the House and Senate have passed the bill to rename the Greenpoint Post Office as the Joseph R. Lentol Post Office – so that we can truly honor Joe’s contributions to Brooklyn in a way that will live for as long as the impact he has had on this community.”