Greenpoint Gazette 051117 web by Nat

& BUSHWICK

Since 1974

GREENPOINT | WILLIAMSBURG

VOLUME 44 | NUMBER 18

MAY 11, 2017

Two Sections

(718) 422-7400

25¢

Brooklyn’s Best: Design, Art & Architecture Cross-Section of Borough’s Creative Forces At Greenpoint’s Brooklyn Expo Center

Last weekend at the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce once again presented the BKLYN DESIGNS show, a showcase for the best of the borough’s creative community, including furniture, lighting, tableware, art, textiles and jewelry. Among those seen in this photo are Andrew Hoan, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce (second from right) and Denise Arbesu, board chair of the Chamber (fourth from right). See pages 4 and 5. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce

Environmental Groups to Sue EPA Over Unsafe Waters in NYC By Scott Enman

Greenpoint Gazette

Something smells fishy, and it’s more than just the pungent fumes coming from the Gowanus Canal. A group of nine New York City and regional environmental organizations announced on April 27 that they are pursuing legal action against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for allegedly failing to protect the health of people who swim, boat and fish in the city’s waterways and beyond. The groups formally filed a “notice of intent to sue” on April 27 for the EPA failing to enforce the Clean Water Act. The 1972 Clean Water Act is the principal federal law governing water pollution. It regulates the discharge of pollutants into the country’s waterways. The act made water quality a federal responsibility rather than Relix Magazine, a well‐known music publication, hosted its first‐ever Live Music Conference at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg on May 10. the onus falling on state and Seen here is the Keynote Panel. The moderator is David Fricke (Rolling Stone) and the speakers are Peter Shapiro (Brooklyn Bowl, DayGlo local governments.

Ventures) and Ron Delsener (legendary NYC promoter, center). See page 7.

Brooklyn Eagle photo by Andrew Palmer Smith

See page 3

/ Williamsburg / Bushwick

Thursday, May 11, April 20176, 2016 Wednesday,

Construction Site Owner Indicted After Ignored Warnings Lead to Death of Teenage Worker Williamsburg Resident Faces Up to 15 Years in Prison Eric Gonzalez announced at a press conference on Wednesday. “Fernando Vanegaz should The owner of a Bedford- be alive today,” Gonzalez said. Stuyvesant construction com- “Construction site deaths such pany faces up to 15 years in as his are becoming all too comprison after he was indicted on mon as builders ignore safety manslaughter and other charges protocols and hire untrained Michael Weiss, 47, of Williamsburg, stemming from an incident in workers to maximize profits. Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn DA’s Oﬃce which a collapsed wall killed a “Even worse, we allege, is teenage worker and injured two that in this case the builder went even after the Department of others, Acting District Attorney ahead with this illicit excavation Buildings [DOB] explicitly prohibited it,” Gonzalez continued. “I vow to continue investigating and prosecuting these unscrupulous builders whose practices endanger their workers and anyone near their sites.” Progress Meeting A Announced for Michael Weiss, a 47-yearPe etroleum Remediiation Site old who lives in Williamsburg, Tu uesday y, May 23, 2017 at 6:330 - 8:30 PM is the owner of RSBY NY P..S. 110 Monitor School Aud ditorium Builders Inc. and Park Ave 124 Monitor St, Brooklyn, NY N 11222 Builders Inc., both of which are (Presentation and Q&A at 77:30 PM) located in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Weiss was arraigned WednesThe New Yo ork State Departtment of Environmental day before Justice Danny Conser vation (NYSDEC) an nnounces a progress Chun in Kings County meeting to provide an upda ate on the ongoing cleanup Supreme Court. efforts at the For o mer Parag gon Oil Company site and The 14-count indictment inthe Apollo Street Creek Pa arrcels sites, which are a part cluded charges of manslaughter, of the Greenpoint Petroleum m Remediation Project. criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment. NYSDEC staff will hold an a availability session at Weiss was held on bail of 6:30 pm to answer project-related questions and $250,000 bond or $100,000 comments, and a brief presentation and Q & A session cash and has to return to court will take place from 7:30 - 8:30 pm. on Aug. 9, 2017. He could spend up to 15 years in prison if Meeting attendees will be a able to: convicted of the top charge. The • Speak one- on- one with th he project’s technical team • Ask questions about the te echnical status of the project co-defendant in the case could face up to one year in jail if he is • Learn about upcoming a activities convicted on lesser charges. • Comment on ongoing and future efffforts According to the indictment, Questions are encouraged tthroughout the meeting. on Sept. 3, 2015, Weiss’ emTime will also be set aside a at the end of the meeting to ployees were working at the construction site located at 656 answer any remaining quesstions. Myrtle Ave. in Bed-Stuy. Weiss Fo or project-related que estions, please contact had ordered several employees Zachary Russo, NYSDE EC at 518-402-9813 or visit to excavate the rear of the lot in www.nysdecgrreenpoint.com an area that was not permitted By Rob Abruzzese Greenpoint Gazette

by the approved DOB plans and without the knowledge of other professionals involved in the project. The indictment alleges that Weiss ignored multiple requests from his employees and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, to shore up the underpinning of the excavation and adjacent walls and insisted the workers continue in unsafe conditions. At around 11:30 a.m., the wall of the adjacent building collapsed and killed Vanegaz, who was just 18 years old. “We have seen the tragic results on construction sites too many times when contractors ignore repeated warnings of danger and put the lives of workers at risk,” said Mark G. Peters, commissioner of the NYC Department of Investigation. “In this case, the warnings were clear, but the defendant disregarded them at a deadly cost.” Vanegaz suffered severe head trauma, lacerations to his head, broken legs and cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other employees were hurt during the collapse. One worker needed multiple surgeries and still cannot walk properly after he suffered a fractured lumbar vertebra, a fractured hip and injury to his spine. Another employee fractured his lumbar vertebra, nose, skull, orbital area, ribs and facial bone. He also had his face and scalp crushed and continues to suffer from constant back pain even after surgery. The acting DA said that Weiss began working on the site in June 2015 after being hired by the building’s owner to replace a one-story building with

a five-story one. Weiss did not have the appropriate licenses with the DOB to apply for the permits to perform the work. He hired seven workers with little to no training and without OSHA safety certifications to do the demolition. The indictment alleges that several workers complained to Weiss about the excavation conditions and the lack of more experienced workers repeatedly, going back to July 2015. By September 2015, excavation in the rear of the lot was more than six feet below the foundation of the adjacent building. On Sept. 2, 2015, workers allegedly asked Weiss for lum-

ber to shore up the wall and were denied. On Sept. 3, 2015, a worker, concerned about a crack in the wall, again asked for lumber to shore up the wall and said it was in danger of collapse. Weiss allegedly told workers that they were working too slowly just prior to the wall collapse. Weiss also allegedly failed to maintain workers’ compensation insurance coverage, and applied for coverage a mere hours after the collapse. Investigators also alleged that he failed to report $75,000 worth of income from the job and hit Weiss with tax fraud charges as a result.

Greenpoint Gazette (USPS PP 406)

J.D. Hasty, Publisher jdh@ebrooklynmedia.com

Legal Advertising: Gina Ong gina@ebrooklynmedia.com

Display Advertising: Katrina Ramus kat@ebrooklynmedia.com Telephone: 718-643-9099 Greenpoint Gazette & Advertiser (USPS pending permit # 406) is published weekly except first week of January, first week of July, last week of August, last week of December by EBrooklyn Media, 16 Court Street, 30th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11241. Subscription rate: $25/year. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, New York. POSTMASTER: send address changes to the Greenpoint Gazette, 16 Court Street, 30th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11241. Founded in 1974 by Ralph Carrano & Adelle Haines

NEW BUSINESS FORMATIONS 11202

COOKIES FOR A CAUSE LLC

COOKIES FOR A CAUSE LLC. Art. of Org. ﬁled with Secy of State of NY(SSNY) on 3/27/17. NY ofﬁce location: Kings Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. Mail process against the LLC served upon him/her to Cookies For A Cause Llc, P.o. Box 22518 Brooklyn, NY, 11202. Any Lawful Purpose. #149631

11204

MOMENTUM REAL ESTATE GROUP LLC Notice of formation of MOMENTUM REAL ESTATE GROUP LLC. Arts of Org ﬁled with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/26/17. Ofﬁce location: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: 6420 16th Ave., Bklyn, NY 11204. Purpose: any lawful act. #149986

DANILA MEDNIKOV PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

DANILA MEDNIKOV PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC. Art. of Org. ﬁled with Sec of State of NY(SSNY) on 3/27/17. Ofﬁce location: Kings Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her to Danila Mednikov Photography, LLC, 209 Ave P Apt F11 Brooklyn, NY, 11204. Any Lawful Purpose. #149584

11217

11220

3714 LIC DEVELOPMENT LLC

Notice of formation of limited liability company (LLC). Name: 3714 LIC DEVELOPMENT LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 2/16/2017. NY office location: Kings County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The post office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her is Bentley Shang Zhao, 4918 3rd Ave Brooklyn, NY, 11220. Purpose/character of LLC: Any Lawful Purpose. #149969

MOORE FAMILY LLC

MOORE FAMILY LLC, Arts. of Org. ﬁled with the SSNY on 03/15/2017. Ofﬁce loc: Kings County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 20 Sterling Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose. #149595

11228

STUFFED ICE CREAM, LLC

11232

8TH AVENUE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT LLC

8th Avenue Construction Management LLC Arts of Org ﬁled with NY Sec of State (SSNY) on 3/31/17. Ofﬁce: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 4205 8th Ave, Brooklyn,

11249

14221

Notice of formation of JASON WATT PICTURES, LLC. Arts of Org ﬁled with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/3/17. NY ofﬁce location: Kings Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. Mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her to Jason Watt, 110 Broadway, #206 Brooklyn, NY, 11249. Any Lawful Purpose.

WOLFGANG LLC. Art of Org ﬁled with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/25/17. NY ofﬁce location: Kings Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process against the LLC to Legalinc Corporate Services Inc., 1967 Wehrle Drive, Suite 1, #08 Buffalo, NY, 14221. Any Lawful Purpose.

JASON WATT PICTURES, LLC

WOLFGANG LLC

#149501

#149919

NY 11232. General Purposes. #149617

11234

GAMFAL LLC

NAME CHANGE

Notice of Formation of GAMFAL LLC. Arts. of Org. ﬁled with

STUFFED ICE CREAM, LLC. Arts of Org ﬁled with Sec of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/18/17. NY ofﬁce location: Kings Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to C/O United States Corporation Agents, Inc.,7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202 Brooklyn, NY, 11228. Any Lawful Purpose.

Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on

#149784

#149603

04/10/17. Ofﬁce location: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: the Company, 2071 Flatbush Ave., Ste. 22, Brooklyn, NY 11234. Purpose: any lawful activities.

NAME CHANGE WEINSTOCK NOTICE is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Kings County on the 25th day of April, 2017, bearing the Index Number NC-000548-17/KI, a copy of which may be examined at the Ofﬁce of the Clerk located at Civil Court, Kings County, 141 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, grants me (us) the right to: assume the name of (First) RICKY (Last) WEINSTOCK. My present name is (First) BLIMA (Middle) RIVKA (Last) WEINSTOCK AKA BLIMA RIVKA BRULL . My present address is 1217 448TH STREET, Brooklyn, NY 11219. My place of birth is MANHATTAN, NY. My date of birth is February 12, 1998. #150086

Wednesday, March / Williamsburg / Bushwick

Thursday, May 11, 2017 Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Environmental Groups to Sue EPA Over Unsafe Waters in NYC continued from p. 1

The community and environmental organizations must wait 60 days before filing actual litigation documents with a court. “Our first and largest concern here is that the EPA’s inaction allows New York state and New York City to use ‘unscientific’ and ‘indefensible water quality standards to pretend the public is protected when in fact they are not,” Riverkeeper Staff Attorney Sean Dixon told the Greenpoint Gazette. “Remedying and modernizing the rules of the game is vital — to our communities that fish, swim and boat in these waterways, as well as the environment.” Riverkeeper is a membersupported watchdog organization that calls itself “New York’s clean water advocate” and whose mission, according to its website, is “to protect the environmental, recreational and commercial integrity of the Hudson River and its tributaries.” The lawsuit specifically concerns standards that the state proposed for waters designated as “Class SD” and “Class I.” The waterways in Brooklyn listed in the report include the East River, Coney Island Creek, Upper New York Bay, Lower New York Bay, Gowanus Canal, Newtown Creek, Erie Basin and

Sheepshead Bay. To see a full list of the waterways, go to dec.ny.gov/ regulations/99693.html. The organizations initiating legal action against EPA are Riverkeeper, Natural Resources Defense Council, Save the Sound (the bi-state initiative of Connecticut Fund for the Environment), Waterkeeper Alliance, NY/NJ Baykeeper, NYC Water Trail Association, Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers, Bronx Center for Environmental Quality and the Newtown Creek Alliance. A press release sent from the organizations states that New York currently uses outdated water quality standards that fail to protect New Yorkers and that the waters are contaminated numerous times a year with untreated sewage from combined sewage overflow (CSO). When it rains, New York City’s sewer systems are flooded with storm water and raw sewage is subsequently sent into more than 400 locations along the coasts of the five boroughs. The Gowanus Canal is notorious for its CSO. That sewage, according to the press release, can lead to intestinal illnesses, rashes and other infections. The groups will request that a federal court order EPA to adopt modern standards that protect New Yorkers’ health,

A map of the New York City waterways listed in the “notice of intent to sue.” The yellow line in the Hudson River represents the Chrissy Remein / Riverkeeper Data Source: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, 2015 fact that only the New York side of the river is a “Class I” waterway. unless the state promptly does so on its own. “EPA, the city and the state have all failed New Yorkers,” said Larry Levine, a senior attorney with the Natural Re-

Barges holding scrap metal line the edges of Newtown Creek.

sources Defense Council’s water program. “The Clean Water Act was created to protect our right to water that won’t make us sick when we drink or play in it.

“But it doesn’t do anyone any good if the EPA isn’t overseeing and enforcing those rules. More than 8 million New Yorkers are relying on the EPA to protect them.”

Chief of Public Outreach for EPA Region 2 Dave Kluesner told the Gazette that “the EPA does not comment on pending lawsuits.”

Brooklyn Eagle ﬁle photo by Cody Brooks

422

/ Williamsburg / Bushwick

Thursday, May 11, 201730, Wednesday, March Wednesday, March 16, 2016 2016

Brooklyn’s Best: Design, Art & Architecture Cross-Section of Borough’s Creative Forces at Greenpoint’s Brooklyn Expo Center Last weekend at the red hot Brooklyn Expo Center, 72 Noble St. in Greenpoint, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce once again presented its signature annual celebration of the best of the borough’s creative community. Founded and managed by BCC, and co-produced with Novita Communications, the event continues to serve as a showcase for emerging designers and established brands producing and selling a range of design

designed and meticulously crafted by the most creative people on the planet ... Brooklynites,” said Andrew Hoan, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. “We’re proud to feature artists and designers who help people reimagine the way they live and work.” Brooklyn is worldrenowned for its community of talented woodworkers, which can be seen in native

Seen here are Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Andrew Hoan.

Among those seen here are Assemblymember Joe Lentol (third from left), State Sen. Roxanne Persaud (fourth from left) and Chamber President and CEO Andrew Hoan (fourth Photos courtesy of Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce from right). objects including furniture, lighting, tableware, art, textiles and jewelry. Many of these artisans have received Brooklyn-Made Certification. In addition, interactive installations, design service providers, pop-up shops, live demos, workshops, panel discussions, local vendors and kid-friendly programming made the show a must-attend event for trade professionals and design lovers of all ages. “Brooklyn is a vibrant community of makers. Whether they’re creating a luxury piece or one for practical use, the products from BKLYN DESIGNS’ exhibitors are thoughtfully

New Yorkers such as Mark Jupiter, a fourth-generation woodworker, as well as recent arrivals like Christopher White who studied woodworking in Bordeaux and the Basque Country. The show also attracted people with an entrepreneurial spirit, evident in the many trained architects and designers who have crossed over into product design such as Roberto Gil of Casa Kids and Hannah Getachew of Bolé Road Textiles, as well as design and architecture firms launching new product lines such as OT/TRA, Think Fabricate and MK Workshop. continued on p. 5

Seen at right is Toni Yuille‐Williams of Con Edison.

Wednesday, March / Williamsburg / Bushwick

Thursday, May 11, 2017

B’klyn’s Best: Design, Art & Architecture continued from p. 4

Collaboration and social good are two other defining characteristics of the borough that seem to manifest themselves in this year’s exhibitor pool from Market Goods, who works closely with artisans in Bangladesh, to Refoundry, who trains formerly incarcerated people to repurpose discarded materials into unique furnishings. Reflecting the borough’s reputation for community and collaboration, many of the exhibitors are family-owned brands including Maria Castelli, a leather goods brand run by a mother-daughter team of architects, and JMP, a woodshop specializing in stairs and rails, run by a father-son team of woodworkers. The popular BKLYN BUYS marketplace returned for a third year. It featured designers and makers specializing in jewelry, ceramics, and other items for sale. A few highlights included nylon jewelry from Michal Lando, porcelain vases from WrenLab Ceramics, and Keap, whose candle sales support the distribution of solar lamps to communities in need. In addition to design products and services, a wide range of pop-ups, lounges and installations made attendees never want to leave.

Photos courtesy of Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce

622

/ Williamsburg / Bushwick

Thursday, May 11, 2017 Wednesday, March 30, Wednesday, March 16, 2016 2016

PUBLISHED: 48 times per year. SUBSCRIPTION RATE: $25 per year YOUR INFORMATION:

RECIPIENTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INFORMATION:

Name ____________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________

City, State, Zip _____________________________________________

Telephone ________________________________________________

E-mail ____________________________________________________

Start my gi subscrip on on: _______________________________

Message to the Recipient: __________________________________

__________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

[ ] Check enclosed (Payable to EBrooklyn Media) I authorize EBrooklyn Media to charge my Credit Card [ ] Amex [ ] Visa [ ] Mastercard Credit Card # ___________________________________________ Exp. Date _________________ Security Code ____________

To start subscrip on immediately, call Alice at 718-643-9099, X 107, E-mail alice@brooklyneagle.com or Fax 718-643-9485 16 Court Street | 30th Floor | Brooklyn | NY 11241

Wednesday, March / Williamsburg / Bushwick

Thursday, May 11, 2017

A New Kind of Music Conference Is Born at Brooklyn Bowl

Justin Bolognino, founder and CEO of META.

Brooklyn Eagle photos by Andrew Palmer Smith

The Talent Buying Panel — Moderator: Kirk Peterson (Dayglo Ventures). Speakers: Michael Dorf (City Winery), John Moore (The Bowery Presents), Jim Glancy (The Bowery Presents), Don Strasburg (AEG Presents) and Ben Baruch (11E1even Group).

By Andrew Palmer Smith

Special to Greenpoint Gazette

Relix Magazine, a 43-year-old music publication born in a Grateful Dead concert parking lot, hosted its first-ever Live Music Conference at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg on May 10. Featuring a full-day’s schedule of panel discussions and presentations capped with a very special keynote presentation, the conference’s topics included agenting, technology, management, ticketing, publicity, activism and festivals. The sold-out conference also offered all attendees breakfast, lunch and a ticket to the evening’s concert with The Meat Puppets. Those caught without a ticket or otherwise could pay to livestream the conference online through Nugs.net. One of the first panelists, John Moore of Bowery Presents, a concert promotion and venue management organization, when asked directly about the success of his new venue Brooklyn Steel, said, “The honeymoon has been great, but I think it will be a couple of years before we can really determine how successful it is.” The elephant in the room, however, seemed to be the fact that mega-corporation Anschutz Entertainment Group recently bought Bowery Presents … Does this move continue the monopolization of the live music scene (in NYC) or is it an equalizer against the beast that is global entertainment company Live Nation? Perhaps that also is to be determined, to use Moore’s words. Other key players of the music industry at the Live Music Conference included Dan Berkowitz, founder and CEO of CID Entertainment, who has spent the last decade building unique experiences for concert-goers both in the U.S. and abroad. “In its peak form,” Berkowitz says of a festival experience, “it’s a cultural happening.” If there’s one thing that most participating panelists and presenters at the conference agreed upon, it was that there is indeed an increase in the number of festivals across the country. New York City now claims three major music festivals, which industry experts say the NYC market can support. Andy Bernstein, executive director of HeadCount, a non-partisan organization that works with musicians to promote participation in democracy, showcased a statistic stating that last year, 60 million concert tickets were bought and sold in North America, which, with a plus $1 program surcharge program like his company promotes, would be “enough to fund multiple revolutions.”

The Festivals Panel — Moderator: Dean Budnick (Relix Media Group). Speakers: Dave Frey (Lockn’ Festival & Silent Partner Management), Jay Sweet (Newport Folk Festival), Dan Berkowitz (CID), Janine Small (Janine Small, PLLC) and Robin McNicol (Superﬂy). Furthermore, Josh Brown of SongKick, an independent artist-ticketing and concert discovery platform, said that in 2000, the top 100 touring acts accounted for 90 percent of ticket revenue, while in 2016, the top 100 touring acts accounted for only 40 percent of ticket revenue. A publicist panel didn’t add much insight into the industry, except for a few choice quotes, namely from Jonathan Azu of Red Light Management, who said of an artist’s album promotional cycle: “The album is the Super Bowl, but there’s still a regular season.” And he added: “What management does is help artists see who is in the mirror.” Building on that, many of the varied panelists spoke about relationships and the value in trusting one another. One agreed-upon piece of advice for talent, agents and management alike was don’t worry about where you are on the festival poster; worry about your set time.

Panelists also discussed radius clauses in regard to festivals, like, for example, The Firefly Festival, whose radius clause “knocks out six markets,” and warned emerging artists to carefully consider their options when booking at a festival that would prohibit them from playing within a certain time and space radius. The panel on management featured a roster of extremely experienced managers, including Patrick Jordan, Stef Scamardo, Vince Iwinski, Mike Luba and Mike Martinovich, whose combined rosters include Phish, Ween, Gov’t Mule, Umphrey’s McGee, String Cheese Incident and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, to name just a few. When asked about what’s next, regarding leading Umphrey’s McGee into their 20th year, Iwinski said, “It’s just going to get weirder. If the fans get bored, if the band gets bored, well, then we’ll all end up selling insurance.”

It was the keynote presentation of the Relix Live Music Conference that stole the show. Joining the iconic rock writer David Fricke and Brooklyn Bowl impresario Peter Shapiro was none other than the great NYC promoter Ron Delsener. Delsener booked David Bowie’s debut concert at Carnegie Hall on the Ziggy Stardust Tour in 1972. He booked Bob Dylan when he went electric at Forest Hills Stadium. He booked The Beatles at Forest Hills, too, in 1964. The list goes on. And there he was on stage, sharing war stories and bragging rights over a bottle of scotch. Lamenting the difficulties of the promotion business, Delsener said, “It’s like the movie theaters: The promoter only makes money on the popcorn. Ninety-five percent of the door goes to the band.” Delsener delved into his earlier days on the road with the Ford Motor Company, hosting events and competitions on college campuses in the 1950s: The campus fraternity that could fit the most guys into the car would win the car! Fricke could barely get a word in as Delsener and Shapiro continued to playfully chide and jab at each other while putting a significant dent in a shared bottle of scotch. Everytime Brooklyn Bowl came up, Delsener quickly cut Shapiro off, saying, “This isn’t an ad for your bowling alley.” Then once quickly added, “But I have a bowling ball in the truck, because why not?” Having started in the late 1950s and early 1960s, championing the No Nukes movement and hosting massive free concerts in Central Park, Delsener said he misses the activist element, arguing that nowadays “everyone is too busy emailing each other. But now activism is more important than ever with this madman in office.”

The Agenting Panel — Moderator: Lucas Sacks (Brooklyn Bowl). Speakers: Seth Seigle (William Morris Endeavor Management), Lee Anderson (Paradigm), Joshua Knight (Monterey International, INC), Jordan Wolowitz (Founders Entertainment) and Kyle Wilensky (CAA).

822

Thursday, May 11, 201730, Wednesday, March Wednesday, March 16, 2016 2016

/ Williamsburg / Bushwick

BROOKLYN EAGLE Tony Award Winner Lena Hall, Plus Icons Of Brooklyn’s New Century Highlight St. Ann’s Warehouse SEE PAGE 5

Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

Volume 17, No. 37

Two Sections

THURSDAY, MAY 11 2017

$1.00

2 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, May 11, 2017

From Salem to Gowanus: The Odyssey of Hannah Tinti By Peter Stamelman Special to Brooklyn Eagle

It is refreshingly unusual to meet a writer whose work you greatly admire and to discover that the writer is warm, engaging, smart as a whip and as open as ... well ... a book. Hannah Tinti (who is a proud Gowanus resident) is the author of the 2004 short story collection “Animal Crackers,” the 2008 novel “The Good Thief” and, just published this month, “The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley,” which is an unqualified triumph. If you have room for only one book in your beach bag this summer, “Hawley” is it. The book is both a coming-of-age story and a thrilling tale of revenge and renewal. Think “The Road to Perdition” meets “Paper Moon,” with “Treasure Island” and “Great Expectations” thrown in for good measure. Compelling does not begin to describe its relentless pacing and narrative drive. Tinti is supremely confident, consistently fearless and prodigiously gifted — a trifecta that immediately vaults her to the pole position among American writers. Recently, Tinti and I met at the Greenlight Bookstore on Fulton Street, where later in the evening she would be bartending at an event celebrating Independent Bookstore Day. We talked about “Hawley,” some of her favorite themes, her childhood in Salem, Massachusetts and why she lives in Brooklyn. Below are edited excerpts from our conversation. Brooklyn Eagle: I’m curious: Is the fact that you grew up in Salem at all responsible for your fascination with crimes, mysterious, malevolent characters and good versus evil? Hannah Tinti: You know, I do think growing up in Salem was an influence. As a kid, I liked to tell scary stories. And Salem is fertile territory for a writer. Two things happened that emphasized Salem’s connection to the witch trials and ghosts and goblins: First, the coal plant closed; then, Parker Brothers combined with Milton Bradley and moved out to western Massachusetts. So, after that, the mayor and City Council put more energy into promoting Salem’s notorious past and attracting tourists, [and] now it is like Halloween 365 days a year there. Eagle: Before we move on to the book, let me ask some Brooklyn-centric questions: What made you decide to live in Brooklyn, what are some of your favorite Brooklyn-based activities and are you part of the famous Brooklyn “literary mafia”? HT: [Laughing] Is it a mafia? I mean, I do have writer friends in Brooklyn, but also lots of other friends with more normal occupations. That said, I am very involved in the Brooklyn and the entire New York City literary community, principally because of One Story magazine [Note: Tinti is the executive editor of the short story monthly, which is based in and published out of the Old American Can Factory on Third Street.] So, regarding your “mafia” question, I suppose the answer is “yes,” though I’ve always felt a bit like an outsider. I was a shy kid and I get along best with other people who also feel like they don’t fit in. As for as activities, the thing I do the most is walking. I have a dog, so I’m out on the street three to four times day. My favorite walks are in Prospect Park and through Red Hook and along the piers. Eagle: On to the book: “The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley” feels like it’s set in a sort of timeless setting — not the distant past but not quite the present either. Was that deliberate? HT: Yes. For example, as I moved forward with the writing, I realized that I didn’t want any digital devices in there because I felt like they would ruin everything. I didn’t want to deal with texting, laptops. Also, the whole scene in the boat at the end [spoiler alert] wouldn’t work because Loo could have just held up her cellphone and known exactly where she was. So, I fudged some things and didn’t really spell out the time period in which the Courtesy of Random House story is set. Eagle: That’s a good segue to my next question: What is it about you and watches? [Timepieces figure significantly in “Hawley.”] HT: [Laughing] I think watches are fascinating and time is a fascinating thing. For example, I love certain novels that play with time. I’m very interested in time as a device. If you remember at the beginning of the novel, there’s Frederick Nunn with all his clocks. I’m like Frederick Nunn — I always like to know what time it is even though I don’t actually wear a watch. Instead, I have this weird, internal clock and it’s usually pretty accurate. But I do love looking at catalogs of intricate, one-of-akind watches that were made for wealthy barons of industry and that took years to assemble. Eagle: Is that what gave you the idea of Ed King [the book’s principal villain] and his bloody quest for the holy grail of watches? HT: Exactly. The idea that a watch could be worth $10 million. And these barons would compete with each other to see who could have the most intricate watch made for them. The

analogy with today, I guess, would be who can build the tallest skyscraper. Eagle: Hawley’s partner in crime, Jove: Is his name meant to make the reader think of Jupiter, the god of the sky and thunder? HT: Yes, because the 12 bullets are connected to Hercules’ 12 labors. So, for example, Mabel Ridge is a stand-in for Hera, who is always trying to thwart Hercules at every turn, and Jove is a stand-in father figure for Hawley, since Hawley’s father died when he was so young. Eagle: What accounts for your uncanny ability to write about adolescence [Loo, the heroine of “Hawley,” is 12 when the novel begins and Ren, the principal character in “The Good Thief,” is even younger at 9 years old] so convincingly? Are you still very in touch with your adolescent self? HT: Yes, I think I am. Growing up, I was quiet and shy and when you are quiet and shy, you spend a lot of time observing things. So I have a lot of strong memories of my childhood. But, also, the fun thing about writing a coming-of-age story is that kids are figuring things out for the first time. I think readers love these kinds of books because it reminds them of their own discoveries. Eagle: Speaking of discoveries — when Loo discovers her father’s violent and murderous past, her reaction is at first judgmental, but then — and I believe this one of the elements that makes the novel so satisfying — it becomes one of acceptance. HT: I think there’s this nature-versus-nurture dynamic. I mean, Loo has inherited certain violent tendencies. I do think a capacity for violence can be passed on. And Hawley recognizes this trait in his daughter, but he’s also trying to show her another way of living. So, as best he can, he’s trying to show her normalcy, even though Hawley himself has not had a normal life. But remember, Loo has also inherited things from Lily [Loo’s mother.] But her mother’s already dead when the novel begins, so Loo is trying to figure out how to live in the world with her violent tendencies, yet still hold on to her mother’s compassion. You know, I think our parents are both heroes and strangers to us, all at the same time. Eagle: I agree. There are some lines in chapter six that have haunted me ever since I read them. Hawley and Lily are living in Alaska and she’s now pregnant. “She took his hand and put it on her swollen stomach. Recently, the baby had started to move. Whenever Hawley felt the fluttering deep inside his wife, it made him want to get into his car and drive.” Those lines haunt me because that’s precisely how I felt when I first learned I’d be a father. And male friends have told me the same thing. How did you know? HT: [Laughing] That’s the ambivalence all you guys feel, right? About the commitment of being a father. A lot of my friends who are fathers — after reading the book — have pulled me aside, secretively, and said the same thing: How did you know? I mean, all of these guys are good fathers, but they didn’t have the immediate physical connections to the child the way the mother did. For guys, I think that connection comes later. Eagle: Very true. You also scared me and made me feel guilty when you write about how, when Lily first tells Hawley she’s pregnant, all Hawley thinks about is his scrambled eggs getting cold. How did you get inside my head? HT: [Laughing] But isn’t that true?! Doesn’t that happen?! And believe me, it’s not just a “guy thing.” Eagle: Another male-centric question: How did you become so familiar with guns, rifles, pistols, ordnance? Lots of research? HT: I did do a lot of research. I had never shot a gun before I started this book. Eagle: That’s remarkable because the first time Loo fires her father’s bolt-action Model 5 Remington is incredibly well-written. It reminded me of that great scene in “Shane” when Joey asks Shane to fire his pistol and the sound is like an explosion. HT: Thanks. The first time I fired a gun was at the West Side

Rifle Range in Manhattan. I signed up to learn how to shoot a .22 caliber rifle. That was my first time, but then one of my good friends Helen Ellis, who has a cousin who belongs to a gun club, arranged for me to go to the club and shoot everything: pistols, rifles, you name it. I was madly taking notes the whole time. I learned about the physicality of the different calibers and the difference between shooting a shotgun as opposed to shooting a sniper rifle. Plus, I have some relatives who are in the military, so I talked with them. Then I also have a good friend who, when his father passed away, inherited a gun shop. So, he factchecked all my gun references. Eagle: You know you were so lucky that The New York Times got Pete Hamill to review the book [Note: Hamill loved it.] In his review, he has a funny line to the effect that you must have joined the NRA to learn so much about guns. HT: [Laughing] Yes, I know. I have to say that I was so honored to have Pete Hamill review the book, and the fact that he liked it was the icing on the cake. Eagle: How were you able to make your descriptions of the gunshot wounds so precise, vivid, visceral? There are many passages that made me wince. Did you talk to a lot of trauma surgeons? HT: YouTube! I did a lot of research on YouTube. I did also read descriptions in medical journals from people who had been shot. But more than the technical details, I felt that each time he’s shot, there’s a life lesson: That just as he’s trying to make his way through the world, something else pulls him down, but he keeps getting up. Eagle: OK, we figured out the watch thing — now what about the whales? HT: The whales kind of came in accidentally… Eagle: You didn’t know from the beginning there’d be two whales? HT: No, the whales just kind of materialized — and actually, there are more than two whales, because there’s the whale’s heart that Loo crawls into at the museum and the stone whale where the kids party (which really exists, by the way.) Eagle: The whale’s heart — there’s one at the American Museum of Natural History. HT: Yup, I went there and saw it. And even though it’s for little kids, I said, “I’m crawling in there,” and I did. It was amazing and it was essential in helping me write the scene with Loo. Eagle: Were you worried readers would find your adding the whales a bit hubristic? Like “Here she goes, she’s giving us ‘Moby Dick?’” HT: Yes. Actually, I was very nervous about that because I thought, “You’re not a good enough writer to do that.” But the only way I can get those kind of demons out of my head when I’m writing is to pretend, “Hey, no one’s ever going to read this anyway.” I like to go against the grain. But I will tell you that in one of my early drafts I did take out the whales because I thought it might feel cheesy. But then I thought, “I’m going to go for it.” And also, I wanted to make the whales fearsome, like the whales 18th-century whalers encountered. For those early whalers, these really were monsters from the deep. Not like a whale-watching expedition today, where everyone’s going “Oh, look, a baby whale, how cute.” They’re huge creatures! And we are like gnats to them. Also, I was worried about the [politically incorrect] aspect of his shooting at the whale. I thought “Oh, God, everyone’s going to come after me.” And I even thought the same thing about all the guns. In fact, some of the comments on Amazon cited all the guns and the violence. And I understand. Eagle: But, you know, this politically correct bunk and the “trigger warnings” is getting tiresome — I mean, c’mon, it’s an American novel and as H. Rap Brown famously said, “Violence is as American as apple pie.” Anyway, to move along: [spoiler alert] Is Ed King really dead at the novel’s conclusion? I kind of felt maybe you left some doubt there because you are contemplating a sequel. HT: No, I’m not thinking about doing a sequel. That’s not what I’m working on next. Although ... who knows, maybe in the future… One thing is for certain about the future: Whatever tale Tinti does give us next is sure to be riveting and spellbinding. “The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley” is published by The Dial Press, an imprint of Random House. For more information about the book and the author, go to randomhousebooks.com.

INSET: Author Hannah Tinti

Photo by Dani Shapiro

Thursday, May 11, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 3

‘Hidden Waters of New York’ Explores B’klyn, From Newtown Creek to Coney By Raanan Geberer

Courtesy of Countryman Press

Brooklyn Eagle

The major waterways of New York City, New York Harbor and the Hudson River are known throughout the world. But the city is home to many lesser-known lakes, streams, bays, ponds and tributaries. Sergey Kadinsky, a staffer for the city Parks Department and an adjunct professor of history at Touro College, pays tribute to them all in his book “Hidden Waters of New York City” (The Countryman Press, division of W.W. Norton & Co.). Many of the waterways he mentions are in Brooklyn, and the borough merits an entire section in his book. Many of the bodies of water he writes about are pleasant indeed: Sheepshead Bay, the lake in Prospect Park, the ponds in Green-Wood Cemetery, some of the inlets off Jamaica Bay. However, the two bodies of water that lead off the Brooklyn section are among the most polluted on the East Coast and probably in the nation: the Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek. They’re so toxic that both have been designated as Superfund sites. Kadinsky does an admirable job of describing both. Not only does he describe the pollution and current efforts to lessen it, he takes us into their history. For example, did you know that before the growth of industry, the Gowanus was once a pristine tidal inlet that was known for its oysters? Kadinsky also details the bridges that traverse both bodies of water, such as the circa-1889 Carroll Street Bridge over the Gowanus, the oldest retractable bridge in the U.S. When a boat comes through the canal, the bridge slides back over tracks onto dry land until the vessel is safely through. For Newtown Creek, he lists not only the bridges that cross it today, but also those that have been removed, such as the “Penny Bridge” that gave its name to a now-defunct Long Island Rail Road state. Sheepshead Bay, on the other hand, is a fishing-boat hub and tourist area. Its piers date to the 1930s, when Emmons Avenue was widened. For years, the central attraction of the community was Lundy’s seafood restaurant; although the restaurant is now closed, its landmark building is still there. If you’re ever in the area, you can also check out the Russian immigrants fishing for herring from the Ocean Avenue foot bridge. As Kadinsky reminds us, Sheepshead Bay originally ran into Coney Island Creek, making Coney Island a true island. In 1937, to facilitate the construction of the Belt Parkway, the section of Coney Island Creek between the bay and Shell Road was filled in. Part of the surviving portion of the creek is filled with the sunken hulls of small boats. The star of these is the wreck of the famed “yellow submarine” constructed by Brooklyn resident Jerry Bianco. As Kadinsky tells it, Bianco launched the sub, which he called the Quester, in 1970. He hoped to find the wreck of the ocean liner Andrea Doria, which sank in 1956 after a collision with another ship. However, because there wasn’t enough ballast to keep it on an even keel, Bianco’s submarine “keeled to the side and settled on the shallow bottom of the creek.” Also covered in “Hidden

Sylvan Lake in Green-Wood Cemetery

Eagle photo by Raanan Geberer

Waters of New York City” are the various lakes, ponds and brooks inside the city’s parks and cemeteries. Some of these are truly hidden; others, like Prospect Park’s lake, are not. Everyone who is reading this article has probably seen Prospect Park Lake. Kadinsky goes into great detail, describing the various subsidiary ponds, the bridges over the lake, the boathouse and the original source of the water. A short distance from Prospect Park is Green-Wood Cemetery, and its ponds were built into the original design of the park to create a rural atmosphere. While Green-Wood is no longer as heavy a tourist destination as it was in the mid-19th century before the creation of public parks, it is still a pleasant place to visit, and the ponds contribute to its pleasant aura. Finally, the book explores the various inlets, creeks and basins in southeast Brooklyn that may be unfamiliar to those who don’t live in the area: Gerritsen Inlet, Mill Basin, Paerdegat Basin and more. If you’ve driven past neighborhoods where the back yards of the houses face the water and have docks and boats attached to them, here’s the place to find out about them. “Hidden Waters of New York City” is well-written and easy to understand, and it’s a must for anyone who wants to find out more about nature and history in the big city.

Brooklyn-based Supermodel, Activist Ashley Graham to Host Book Signing Brooklyn Eagle On Wednesday, May 17, supermodel body activist, and now author Ashley Graham will host a book signing at The Bookmark Shoppe in Bay Ridge. One of the most outspoken voices gracing the cover of magazines today encourages women to be their most confident selves, recognize their personal beauty and reach for their highest dreams in this wise, warm and inspiring memoir. Graham has been modeling professionally since the age of 13. Discovered at a shopping mall in Nebraska, she has graced the covers of top magazines, including Cosmopolitan and British Vogue, and she was the first size 14 model to appear on the front of the popular Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. The face of brands such as H&M Studio, she is also a judge for the latest season of “America’s Next Top Model.” Graham is leading a new generation of women breaking ground and demolishing stereotypes, transforming ideals about body image and what is fashionable and beautiful. A woman who proves that when it comes to beauty, size is just a 4 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, May 11, 2017

number, she is the voice for the body positivity movement today and a role model for all women — no matter their individual body type, shape or weight. In this collection of insightful, provocative essays illustrated with a dozen photos, Graham shares her perspective on how ideas around body image are evolving — and how we still have work to do. She also focuses on the fun and stress of a career in the fashion world, her life before modeling; and her path to accepting her size without limiting her dreams — defying rigid industry standards and naysayers who told her it couldn’t be done. As she talks about her successes and setbacks, Graham offers support for every woman coming to terms with who she is, to bolster self-confidence and motivation to be her strongest, healthiest and most beautiful self. Though a Nebraska native, Graham now calls Brooklyn home.

INSET: Ashley Graham

Photo by Cass Bird

Sergey Kadinsky, author of “Hidden Waters of New York City” Photo courtesy of Countryman Press

Tony Winner Lena Hall, Plus Icons of Brooklyn’s New Century Highlight St. Ann’s Warehouse Brooklyn Eagle

Sarah Ruhl’s “How to Transcend a Happy Marriage” at Lincoln Center Theater. She recently portrayed both roles of Hedwig and Yitzhak in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” in Los Angeles (LA Drama Critics Circle nomination) and San Francisco, and toured the U.S. and Canada as part of Josh Groban’s “Stages” tour. She also starred as Nicola in Tony Award-winning musical “Kinky Boots,” and has appeared on HBO’s “Girls” and Amazon Prime’s “Good Girls Revolt,” among other TV shows and films. Her solo album “Sin & Salvation: Live at the Carlyle” is available on iTunes. Michael “Buzzy” O’Keeffe set out to build a restaurant on the East River waterfront that would combine three of his avocations: building, food and being by the water. In 1977, after 12 years of lengthy negotiations with New York City, he succeeded with his outstanding barge restaurant, The River Café, the first establishment to make DUMBO a destination. From the beginning, O’Keeffe has insisted that The River Café sources only the finest ingredients available, setting the bar for culinary excellence on the East Coast and far beyond. The Brooklyn landmark celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Steve Hindy began brewing beer in his Park Slope home after leaving his post as a Middle East Correspondent for the Associated Press. After founding Brooklyn Brewery in 1987, Hindy eschewed traditional marketing and instead donated beer to arts, music and community organizations throughout the city. As a result, Williamsburg flourished around him, and today Brooklyn Brewery thrives, spreading the beer and the brand all over the world as a beacon of Brooklyn’s renaissance. St. Ann’s Warehouse plays a vital role on the global cultural landscape as an American artistic home for international companies of distinction, American avant-garde masters and talented emerging artists ready to work on a grand scale. St. Ann’s signature flexible, open space allows artists to stretch, both literally and imaginatively, enabling them to approach work with unfettered creativity, knowing that the theater can be adapted in multiple configurations to suit their needs. In the heart of Brooklyn Bridge Park, St. Ann’s Warehouse has designed an award-winning, spectacular waterfront theater that opened in October 2015. The new theater offers St. Ann’s signature versatility and grandeur on an amplified scale while respecting the walls of the original 1860’s Tobacco Warehouse. In addition to the flexible Steinberg Theater, the building complex includes a second space, a studio, for St. Ann’s Puppet Lab, smaller-scale events and

Chairman Joe Steinberg (center), with board members Adam Max (left) and David Walentas. Photos courtesy of St. Ann’s Warehouse

Honoree Steve Hindy, Brooklyn Brewery founder AP Photo community uses, and The Max Family Garden, designed by landscape architects Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates and open to Brooklyn Bridge Park visitors during park hours. Susan Feldman founded Arts at St. Ann’s (now St. Ann’s Warehouse) in 1980 as part of the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s campaign to save the National Historic Landmark Church of St. Ann and the Holy Trinity on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. For 21 years, St. Ann’s presented a decidedly eclectic array of concert and theatrical performances in the church sanctuary. From Fall 2001 through the 2014-15 season, the organization activated found warehouses in DUMBO with the world’s most imaginative theater- and music-makers, help-

ABOVE: Honoree Michael (Buzzy) O'Keeffe, founder of the River Café. INSET: Susan Feldman, founder of St. Ann’s Warehouse ing to make the burgeoning neighborhood a destination for New Yorkers and tourists alike. After 12 years (2001-2012) at 38 Water St., St. Ann’s transformed a second raw space at 29 Jay St., turning it into an interim home for three years (2012-2015) while the organization adapted the then-roofless Tobacco Warehouse in Brooklyn Bridge Park into the new St. Ann’s Warehouse. The new St. Ann’s Warehouse retains the best of its past homes: the sense of sacred space from the organization’s original home in the church, and the vastness and endless capacity for reconfiguration artists have harnessed in St. Ann’s temporary warehouses in DUMBO. For more information, visit stannswarehouse.org.

Tony award winner Lena Hall will highlight St. Ann’s Warehouse’s 2017 Gala.

Eagle file photo by Lore Croghan

Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

On the first Monday in June, St. Ann’s Warehouse will bring together, within its historic walls, some of the most iconic and transformative forces of Brooklyn in the new century. The modern, cutting-edge theatre, built within the preserved walls of a 19th-century tobacco warehouse, and sitting within a stone’s toss of the Brooklyn Bridge, will stage its 2017 Gala at 45 Water St. Two world-famous icons associated with Brooklyn — Michael (Buzzy) O’Keeffe, founder of the River Café, and Steve Hindy, founder of Brooklyn Brewery, will be honored as pioneers whose vision, perseverance and dedication to excellence created internationally hailed brands tied to Brooklyn. A special concert created for the occasion by Lena Hall, Tony awardwinner and Grammy nominee, will be the highlight entertainment of the evening. The evening will also pay unofficial homage to St. Ann’s Warehouse founder Susan Feldman. She has produced cuttingedge theatre arts in settings that, since 1980, have enhanced performance spaces and paved the way for significant historic preservation. The permanent home of St. Ann’s Warehouse Theatre is within the walls of a preserved 19th-century tobacco warehouse that sits adjacent to the Brooklyn Bridge Tower. St. Ann’s Warehouse might not have had a permanent home without the work of Brooklyn’s unofficial “First Couple” of the new century, Joe and Diane Steinberg. Together the Steinbergs have empowered more positive changes in arts, science and social services than any other private individuals — often behind the scenes. Joe Steinberg, chairman of St. Ann’s Warehouse, and Adam Max, the new chairman of the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), have continued the long-standing devotion to Brooklyn arts institutions that outgoing BAM chairman Alan Fishman and his wife Judy, fostered for many decades. The gala on June 5 will begin at 6:15 p.m. with cocktails on the waterfront and in the Max Family Garden, followed at 7:45 p.m. with the concert and a family-style dinner in the Joseph S. and Diane H. Steinberg Theater. Hall’s performance will celebrate the power of art in turbulent times, with music by Janis Joplin, Radiohead, Talking Heads and more. The concert is a singular opportunity to experience the rare combination of grit and beauty that characterizes Hall’s singing. A Tony Award-winner for her critically acclaimed performance as Yitzhak in the hit 2014 Broadway revival of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” Hall is currently starring, to rave reviews, in

St. Ann’s Warehouse at 45 Water St. Thursday, May 11, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 5

Our World In Pictures MEXICO — Family Mourns: Family members stand around the coffin of 6-year-old Victor Serrano Ruiz, who died in a fireworks explosion, as they say their last respects inside their two-room cinderblock home in San Isidro on Wednesday. An errant firecracker landed on a cache of fireworks and touched off a powerful explosion Tuesday at a home in Puebla, killing 11 children and AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell three adults. GERMANY — Sun Sets: A stork stands in its nest during sunset in Biebesheim on AP Photo/Michael Probst Wednesday.

6 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, May 11, 2017

Our World In Pictures IRAN — President Runs for Re-election: Iranian worker Kianoush Mahmoudzadeh prepares electoral posters of President Hassan Rouhani for the May 19 presidential election campaign in a printing house in Tehran on Wednesday. Rouhani, whose moderate administration struck the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, is campaigning for another four-year term as Iran’s top elected official. He faces five opponents, chief among them is hard-liner Ebrahim Raisi, a close ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah AP Photo/Vahid Salemi Ali Khamenei. IRAQ — Residents Flee Fighting: A man pushes two children in a wheelchair as they flee heavy fighting between Islamic State militants and Iraqi special forces in Mosul on Wednesday. AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo

Thursday, May 11, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 7

Don’t Look Down! NYPD Unit Works at Dizzying Heights On Top of Brooklyn Bridge

AP Photos/Julie Jacobson

NYPD Detective Slawek Dziubek turns to check on fellow Emergency Services Unit officers during a training exercise climb up the south cable of the Brooklyn Bridge. By Colleen Long The Associated Press

Police Sgt. John Flynn didn’t even flinch as he started his descent from the top of the Brooklyn Bridge, briskly walking down a narrow suspension cable with only a safety harness between him and a possible 27-story fall to the glinting East River below. “It becomes like second nature to you,” he said of the dizzying height. “Three stories is no different from 30 stories.” Being part of the Manhattan skyline was just another day at the office for Flynn and other members of an elite unit that specializes in dangerous, often high-rise rescues. Training exercises like a recent climb up the iconic bridge are designed to get team members thinking beyond the risk to their own lives so they can help save someone else’s. Successful rescues over the years have included window washers dangling 17 stories up the side of a skyscraper, distraught people threatening suicide on the Manhattan Bridge and a young thrill-seeker who used suction cups to climb the glass walls of Trump Tower. They’ve even saved a paraglider who crashed into the torch of the Statue of Liberty. “You’re working from the minute you get the call,” said Flynn, a rope rescue instructor. “You’re thinking about how to best approach the climb, and how to approach the person even before you meet them, how to help them.” NYPD’s 400-officer Emergency Services Unit is among the most highly trained in the nation in both rescues and law enforcement, and it’s one of the most coveted assignments at the 35,000-member department. Candidates must have at least five years on patrol and make it through an eight-month training program followed by rigorous testing. They go on to work as SWAT teams, jump out of helicopters, rappel down skyscrapers and dive into waters in scuba gear. “The officers are handling multiple different jobs all in the same tour,” said Deputy Chief Vincent Giordano, the commanding officer of the unit. “They’re prepared for anything, and they train for anything.” 8 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, May 11, 2017

New York has the second-most skyscrapers in the world, just behind Hong Kong, with about 325 buildings taller than 500 feet. While the Fire Department also is trained to handle highrise rescues, the NYPD unit is brought in on cases in which people are resisting help, suicidal or otherwise mentally unstable. Most of the officers on the bridge drill had climbed taller

But they don’t save all of those who are intent on taking their own lives, and those cases haunt members of the unit. “You’re just doing your best to try to save someone,” said Detective Jose Otero. Others resist help because they are trying to make a point. That was the case last August, when Detective Chris Williams, a 14year member of the unit, was about to end his shift for the day and got a call that a protester was using suction cups and ropes to climb from the fifth floor to the 21st floor of Trump Tower. Climber Stephen Rogata said he just wanted to talk to thenGOP nominee Donald Trump, and refused any help or efforts to get him to surrender for his own good. “I explained to him that Trump was not at home,” Williams said. “It’s going to rain, and you don’t want to be on the side of this glass building in the rain.” While Williams talked, police took out a window above Rogata and officers set up a rigging system. But Rogata refused to clip into the safety line. Williams decided it was time to take matters into his own hands. “That’s when I grabbed him by his arms and did a long drag and pulled him inside the window,” he said. The scene played out on national television, but the officers are used to an audience. During the bridge drill, crowds below gathered to watch, and 911 calls poured in. A local television helicopter circled as officers, accompanied by three journalists from The Associated Press, climbed the sloping suspension cable to the top of the southern stone tower. Detective Williams dangled on the side of a vertical ladder at the very top, helping others ascend. “It’s all about trusting the equipment, and your partner,” he said. “And yeah, I guess, yourself.”

structures and gone up the bridge under more stressful circumstances. Flynn, for instance, helped talk a jumper down from the top in 2013. The man stood at the very edge, and it took hours to get him down. “It’s very hard,” Flynn said. “You’ve just convinced this person they should live, and then you’ve got to get them down.”

INSET: Emergency Services Unit Officer Quinn secures his safety line as other members of the unit finish ascending the south support cable for the Brooklyn Bridge during a training exercise.

Muslim, Law Enforcement Communities Come Together to Host Career Day More Than 600 Children Attended Council of Peoples Organization’s Event By John Alexander Brooklyn Eagle

Children ages 13 and up were invited to a career day on Saturday that was sponsored by the Council of Peoples Organization (COPO), formerly known as the Council of Pakistan Organization. The event aimed to teach the children about federal, state and city agency career opportunities and was held at Kingsborough Community College. The attendees, more than 600 children, were given the opportunity to meet with members of the New York State Police force, NYPD, the Department of Correction, the Department of Justice, the Nassau County Police Department and the FBI. They were offered demonstrations in fingerprinting, crime scene investigation techniques and foot printing, among other law enforcement skills. The children were given the chance to personally interact with a variety of civil servants who offered them advice, encouragement and the chance to learn about exciting new career opportunities. According to its website, COPO was formed in the aftermath of 9/11. Several business owners in Central Brooklyn responded to the backlash faced by South Asians, particularly Muslims, in the neighborhood. COPO opened its doors on Feb. 1, 2002 to help remedy the situation faced by the affected communities. It was also a way to help build stronger relations between Muslim and non-Muslim community groups by establishing connections between the communities and various government agencies, the website states. COPO is supported by dozens of organizations and elected officials, including U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Reps. Yvette Clark and Gerald Nadler and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

Kids learn about evidence collection at a crime scene.

FBI Agent Alice shows the children how to collect fingerprints at a crime scene.

Eagle photos by Arthur De Gaeta

Police Sgt. Douglas of the NYC School Safety Division hands out coloring books to the kids.

Children attending COPO Youth Career Day proudly stand in front of the American flag. Thursday, May 11, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 9

Holocaust survivor and Brooklyn resident Bronia Brandman (second from right) walks through the front gate of the Auschwitz death camp with Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich, Holocaust survivor Giselle Cycowicz, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces National Vice President Robert Cohen and Maj. Gen. Meir Klifi-Amis (left to right). It was the first time Brandman, 86, had seen Auschwitz since her liberation nearly 72 years ago. Photo by Shahar Azran

Borough Park Resident, Holocaust Survivor Makes Emotional Return to Auschwitz By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Eagle

In an emotional journey that served as her ultimate triumph over the Nazis, an elderly Borough Park resident who survived the horrors of the Holocaust paid a return visit to the infamous Auschwitz death camp — this time as a free woman. It was the first time Bronia Brandman, 86, had seen Auschwitz since her liberation nearly 72 years ago. For her return trip, Brandman was accompanied by a delegation comprised of officers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as well as members of the group 40 Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF). “I came to Auschwitz in 1943 as a child of 12. My parents and four siblings were consigned to the gas chambers. The daily bestiality and dehumanization was beyond words, and the world’s silence was deafening,” Brandman said in a statement. “I never wished to return to that place of our degradation and annihilation, but to return in the presence of our noblest, the bravest of the brave — our IDF soldiers, allows my spirit to soar with pride and hope.” Her journey back to Auschwitz was part of a 10-day trip to

10 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, May 11, 2017

Poland and Israel sponsored by FIDF. Israeli soldiers and FIDF supporters accompanied a group of Holocaust survivors across Poland and Israel. The trip began on April 24 and ended May 3. “This mission was one of the last opportunities for these survivors to return to Auschwitz and tell of its horrors,” said FIDF National Vice President Robert Cohen. “It was a rollercoaster emotional experience for everyone involved. We passed through the gates of hell, ignoring the false promise that ‘work sets you free,’ where countless Jews suffered from unimaginable cold, hunger and despair. We were surrounded by those who survived within the camps’ walls and also by those who make sure they are not forgotten — the brave soldiers who protect their legacy: the state of Israel and the Jewish diaspora around the world.” Brandman, who was born in Jaworzno, Poland, watched in horror as two of her sisters were sent to the gas chambers. Her entire family, with the exception of her older brother and a cousin, died at the hands of the Nazis. After immigrating to the U.S., Brandman had vowed never to return to Poland. But she decided to come to Auschwitz as part

of the FIDF’s “From Holocaust to Independence” delegation. While in Poland, the delegation attended a reception and heard from IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot. In a touching moment during the reception, Miri Amir, an Israeli Holocaust survivor, was reunited with Miroslawa Gruszczynska, the woman whose family hid her from the Nazis in Poland during World War II. The delegation traced the Jewish community’s steps from the Warsaw Ghetto to Buczyna Forest, where the Nazis executed more than 800 children. The group then visited the site of Auschwitz. The delegation also flew to Israel, where they met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin, visited IDF bases, commemorated Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and celebrated Israel’s Independence Day. “This historic delegation traced the modern history of the Jewish people through the eyes of Holocaust survivors and IDF officers,” said Maj. Gen. Meir Klifi-Amir, national director and CEO of the FIDF. “It told the story of our near extinction in Europe, the creation of a Jewish homeland and the new generation of Jewish defenders of the Jewish people who safeguard our legacy today. By marching together into the dreadful Auschwitz-Birkenau camps with IDF soldiers and the survivors who somehow endured that torture, we sent a powerful message to the world that we remember and that the Holocaust cannot and will not ever happen again.”

INSET: Bronia Brandman chats with Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat (left) and Maj. Gen. Meir Klifi-Amir at the Western Wall.

Riverkeeper’s Sixth Annual Sweep Brings Spit & Polish to Hudson River & Tributaries Brooklyn-based Volunteers Join Forces with Newtown Creek Alliance & NY State’s ‘I Love My Park’ Day By Andy Katz Special to Brooklyn Eagle

Riverkeeper’s sixth annual sweep brought volunteers in to clean 90 sites along the Hudson River Valley on May 6, from Albany to Brooklyn Bridge Park. One Brooklyn location, East River State Park, received twice the love because Riverkeeper’s sweep coincided with New York state’s “I Love My Park” day, another annual event that brings volunteers into state parks to clean, help build amenities and generally get the parks in top-notch shape for the coming season. Riverkeeper is a member-supported watchdog organization that calls itself “New York’s clean water advocate” and whose mission, according to its website, is “to protect the environmental, recreational and commercial integrity of the Hudson River and its tributaries.” “We had a great turn out,” Riverkeeper Coordinator for East River State Park, Michal Karwat said. “I was honestly surprised — there were maybe 20 or more people here just for East River Park.” By early afternoon, most of the volunteers were already gone, but the narrow sandy berm and rocky shoreline that line both East River State Park and the adjacent, city-run, Bushwick Inlet Park, were pristine and already taken over by park visitors, drawn in large numbers by Saturday’s Smorgasburg, which takes place alongside East River State Park, on 90

Kent St., every Saturday from April to October, and on Sundays in Prospect Park. Given that the parks receive fewer visitors in the colder months preceding May, volunteers reported finding more industrial effluvia from the factories and construction sites upriver than litter along the banks. Brooklyn resident Josh Jupiter displayed the intact frame from a worksite scaffold he had pulled from the water. Going beyond merely tidying up a shoreline park, Riverkeeper and Newtown Creek Alliance members gathered at the site of what was once the Brooklyn end of the Meeker Street Bridge — or “Penny Bridge” as it became popularly known because the first toll to cross was one penny — to reclaim the trash and rubble-strewn landing as a park for nearby industrial workers to spend a few quiet moments alongside Newtown Creek. “It’s a tough spot to reach,” Newtown Creek Alliance volunteer Lisa Bloodgood concedes. Indeed, the onetime landing sits tucked behind a corrugated metal shed at the end of Meeker Avenue, boxed landward by industrial parking lots, and a stained concrete retaining well overlooking the creek. Paving stones are scattered amid the dark rich soil, and a massive iron framework emerges partway from the ground, enmeshed with the roots of a venerable elm tree. Continued on page 12

AmeriCorps workers Sue Naina (left) and Susette Taveras examine a table top for splinters.

ABOVE: A Wowfulls ice cream and waffles customer receives a signature cone at Smorgasburg. INSET: AmeriCorps worker Mohammed Naimah Samiha puts the finishing touches on a park bench. Eagle photos by Andy Katz

Smorgasburg is held every Saturday from April to October along the sound flank of East River State Park.

Thursday, May 11, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 11

Riverkeeper’s Sixth Annual Sweep Brings Spit & Polish to Hudson River & Tributaries

Amina Stanton of Newtown Creek Alliance handles paving stones.

Sarah Lilley and Damian Lawyer discuss their progress in Penny Bridge Park.

Continued from page 11 “We saw some workers on their lunch breaks,” Bloodgood went on, “and we asked them would they like to come here on their breaks if there were places to sit and eat. They told us they would.” “Penny Bridge Park,” as the volunteers working there have tentatively named it, is the humblest of potential recreation spaces — maybe 1,000 square feet almost completely hidden from the landward approaches, with basic amenities — but a first-class view of Newtown Creek. “There are so few actual approaches to the bank here on the Brooklyn side,” Newtown Creek Alliance Project Manager Willis Elkins pointed out. By early summer, when volunteers expect the new mini-park to be complete, it will join the Newtown Creek Nature Walk and North Brooklyn Boat Club’s Living Dock as the only public access points to the south bank of Newtown Creek. Riverkeeper began in 1966 when fishermen along the Hudson River, alarmed by deterioration of water quality from Albany to New York City, gathered to form the Hudson River Fisherman’s Association to patrol for environmental polluters and urge stricter environmental legislation. Today, Riverkeeper continues to work on behalf of the Hudson River and all of its tributaries. The organization recently celebrated New York state’s decision to close the Indian Head Nuclear Reactor set on the lower Hudson River below West Point well ahead of its scheduled shut down on 2022.

AT RIGHT: Riverkeeper volunteer Josh Jupiter gets help in sweeping the river’s edge at East River State Park.

AmeriCorps workers gather around the final picnic bench to sign their names on the underside. 12 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, May 11, 2017

Eagle photos by Andy Katz

A Special Section of BROOKLYN EAGLE Publications

May 11-17, 2017

By the Sea, By the Sea, Sights to See in Coney

BESIDES THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE, THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED SIGHTS IN our borough can be found in Coney Island: The Instagram-worthy boardwalk, beach and amusement rides like the Wonder Wheel (photo above). And landmarked Childs Restaurant (photo at right), which is part of Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, is starting to look photogenic as its renovation proceeds. See pages 7-9INB. INBrooklyn photos by Lore Croghan

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

HIGHLIGHTS FROM

ee o

MYBROOKLYNCALENDAR.COM Calendar Events May 11-17 Arts DUMBO Open Studios Artists across the waterfront neighborhood will welcome the public into their studios and workspaces. Studios range from artists who have worked in DUMBO for decades to those participating in artists residency programs, including the SharpeWalentas Studio Program, Triangle Arts Association and Smack Mellon. Artists in the community include Mary Mattingly, Chitra Ganesh, Jerry Kearns, Peter Drake, Tom Fruin, Sharon Butler, and Jeanine Oleson, among many more. When: Saturday and Sunday, May 13-14 Where: DUMBO/Various Locations Do What I Want: The Experimental World of Arthur Russell Twenty-five years after Arthur Russell’s death, BAM Visual Art, Russell’s estate and Tom Lee (Russell’s partner) present a selection of materials belonging to the late composer, cellist and electronic music pioneer. This first-ever public exhibition features more than 150 pieces of original ephemera and reproductions, including a selection of Russell’s own notes, scores, photos, test pressings, show fliers and album covers alongside never-beforeheard recordings from the artist’s personal working tapes. When: Daily, through May 14 Where: Fort Greene/BAM Peter Jay Sharp Building (30 Lafayette Ave.) American Reclamation A solo exhibition of photographs by Stephen Mallon. When: Wednesday through Sunday, through May 14, 1-6 p.m. Where:Wiliamsburg/Front Room Gallery (147 Roebling St.) Francesco Simeti: Swell Francesco Simeti presents “Swell,” a theatrical installation that explores human impact on the environment. When: Thursday through Saturday, through May 27, 2-6 p.m. Where: Park Slope/Open Source Gallery (306 17th St.) Triad: Yevgueniya Baras, Mike Cloud and Zachary Wollard “Triad” brings together the work of Yevgueniya Baras, Mike Cloud and Zachary Wollard, all 2015-16 residents of the SharpeWalentas Studio Program. In the painting practices of each, notions of iconography, history, language and material coalesce in startlingly personal ways, offering a refreshing take on discourses surrounding contemporary painting, community and inner worlds. When: Thursday through Saturday, through May 28, 1-6 p.m. Where: Fort Greene/Five Myles (558 St. Johns Place)

“American Reclamation” will be on exhibit through May 14 at Front Room Gallery. Image courtesy of the artist and Front Room Gallery The Battle Days/Alex Sewell The exploration and representation of cultural identities, the attachment to childhood totems and the use of semiotics are at the core of some of Sewell’s recent works, exhibited in the PlusSpace. When: Thursday through Sunday, through May 29, 1-6 p.m. Where: Crown Heights/Five Myles (558 St Johns Place) Sounds Unseen Between December 2015 and May 2016, Sarah Hickson photographed “The Calais Sessions,” a live music project among musicians living in the UK, the “Jungle” camp in Calais and La Grande Synthe in Dunkirk. For the refugees she met, “The Calais Sessions” provided a welcome opportunity to tell their stories, to play and share the music from their homelands, or to pick up an instrument and join with other musicians. “Sounds Unseen” chronicles the evolution of this remarkable collaboration and celebrates a vital human connection forged through the common voice of music. When: Tuesday through Sunday, through May 28; Tuesday through Friday, 1-6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Where: DUMBO/St. Ann’s Warehouse (29 Jay St.) 27 Years in the Alps A series of new paintings by Peter Gergely in a solo exhibition. The landscapes of “27 Years in the Alps” are the result of 27 years of a love affair with the Alps of northern Italy. When: Thursday through Saturday, through June 2, 6-8:30 p.m. Where: Sunset Park/Tabla Rosa Gallery (224 48th St.) Sights in the City During the summer of 1980, under the direction of his photographer father, Jamel Shabazz armed himself with a Canon AE1 SLR camera and began to photograph the landscape of his native New York City. Composed of color and black-and-white photographs taken between 1980 and 2016, many of which have never been published, “Sights in the City” is the testament of Shabazz’s visual journey. When: Tuesday through Saturday, through June 17, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Where: DUMBO/United Photo Industries Gallery (111 Front St.)

2INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of May 11-17, 2017

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! Come Celebrate this Mother's Day SUNDAY, MAY 14TH With us here at Nanatori!

Week of May 11-17, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 3INB

ay the th Be

ith ou

Star Wars ay’ at Ro o’s Ta os

Here’s a look at some of the unique Star Wars-themed artwork that filled the walls of Rocco’s Tacos, 339 Adams St., on “Star Wars Day,” May 4. INBrooklyn photos

INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of May 11-17, 2017

GREAT PHOTOS FROM AROUND THE CITY — AND AROUND THE WORLD — APPEAR EVERY BUSINESS DAY IN THE BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE.

OUR WORLD IN PHOTOS: ATHINA VASILAKIS AND HER DAUGHTER GEORGIA JOKE WITH ONE another as they blend the baklava filling in preparation for the recent Mediterranean Festival in Beaumont, Texas. They and other members of St. Michael’s Antiochian Orthodox Church made trays of Greek baklava for the ninth annual event, which continues to draw large crowds seeking out the sights, smells, tastes and experiences of Mediterranean culture and cuisine. In addition to food, traditional dance and music is offered each year, tours of the church are available throughout the day, and there are children’s activities. Photo by Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise via AP

Week of May 11-17, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • INB

--- CROSSWORD ---

(See answers on page 14.)

HOW TO PLAY: Fill in the grid so that every row, every colmn, and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once. Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: You must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column, or 3x3 box.

See answers on page 14. 6INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of May 11-17, 2017

Landmarked Childs Restaurant Is Looking Good

This is Childs Restaurant, which is part of Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk.

INBrooklyn photo by Lore Croghan

It’s Part of Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk By Lore Croghan INBrooklyn

This landmark on the Coney Island boardwalk is starting to look good. Renovators have made great strides on the restoration of Childs Restaurant, which was constructed in 1923. The forbidding face of Neptune, god of the sea, peers down from the terra-cotta ornamentation on the stucco façade of the Spanish Colonial Revival-style building. The once-glamorous seaside restaurant at 3052 W. 21st St., which was designed by architects Dennison & Hirons, is being restored because it’s an integral piece of a new concert venue that made its debut last summer. Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, as the new entertainment complex is called, also has an open-air component with a roof and 5,000 seats. Go to brooklyneagle.com to see a new photograph of it. The open-air amphitheater roof looks like a gigantic white tent. According to Birdair, the Buffalo-based company that built the roof, it consists of a PVC membrane exterior and a PVC

membrane liner with two acoustical curtains supported by structural steel arches. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a water-resistant, fire-resistant plastic. The venue’s stage is inside the Childs Restaurant building. The stage is visible to the outdoor audience thanks to 50-foot-tall doors on the side of the building. This year’s upcoming concert season, which is scheduled to start on June 16, will include performances by Motown greats the Temptations, the Four Tops, Mary Wilson of the Supremes and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, country star Toby Keith and rock innovators Echo & the Bunnymen and Violent Femmes. Live Nation is the amphitheater operator. The city-owned property is leased by a joint venture of real-estate developer iStar and nonprofit Coney Island USA. By the way, the Childs Restaurant amphitheater project also includes a one-acre playground, picnic area and grassy hill called Seaside Park. Its design was led by landscape architecture firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.

We’re Waiting for the Makeover Of Coney Island’s Shore Theater

A Tax Lien on the Surf Avenue Property Was Recently Paid By Lore Croghan INBrooklyn

Coney Island’s summer season will soon begin. And the Shore Theater is still sitting there, empty and desolate-looking. When will the long-vacant — if you don’t count the presence of homeless squatters a few years ago — Roaring Twenties movie palace finally get a makeover? The neo-Renaissance Revival-style commercial property that was once the pride of Coney Island has belonged to Pyotr Yadgarov since December 2015.

That’s when his real-estate firm Pye Properties purchased 1301 Surf Ave. for $14 million through Shore Tower Group LLC with Pyotr Yadgarov as member, city Finance Department records show. There is one piece of promising news to report about the iconic seven-story theater and office building. In March, a tax lien on it dating back to 2002 was paid and discharged, Finance Department records indicate. Otherwise, things are quiet at the golden-brick, stone and terra-cotta building on the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues. Continued on page 8INB

Week of May 11-17, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 7INB

Coney Island Sights Everybody Loves to Photograph Beach, boardwalk and Wonder Wheel — three popular photo subjects in one image.

By Lore Croghan INBrooklyn

People love to photograph Coney Island icons — especially the Wonder Wheel. INBrooklyn photos by Lore Croghan

In the spring, the temperature in Brooklyn goes up and down like Coney Island’s landmarked Cyclone roller coaster. And the other day, it went waaay up, like the seats on Coney

Island’s landmarked Parachute Jump when it was still a functioning ride. The 85-degree weather gave everybody a sneak peek of summer at the People’s Playground, which is one of the Atlantic Ocean beachfront neighborhood’s nicknames. Continued on page 9INB

We’re Waiting for the Makeover of Coney Island’s Shore Theater

Continued from page 7INB We reached out to Yadgarov with a query about what steps he has taken to get the Shore Theater’s restoration and adaptive reuse underway. He hasn’t answered. A posting on his company Pye Properties’ website suggests his current plans for 1301 Surf Ave.

“The vision is to make the Shore Theater the future cultural epicenter of Coney Island via music, theater and live events,” it says. Plus, there’s a rendering of the building showing a marquee over its front door with the words “Shore Hotel” spelled out in red letters. It’s the same drawing that surfaced last summer on brokerage firm Commercial Acquisitions Realty’s website. At that time, a broker at that firm told Eye on Real Estate he was marketing 3,500 square feet of first-floor retail space with an asking rent of $75 per square foot at the building. We couldn’t find the Shore Theater listed on Commercial Acquisitions Realty’s site when we looked for it the other day.

Mermaids Are Dancing on the Ceiling The Shore Theater was designated as an individual city landmark in 2010, so any exterior alterations planned by Pye Properties must be approved by the city Landmarks Preservation Commission. As is the case with most landmark designations, the property’s exterior is protected from demolition but not its interior. It will be up to Yadgarov to decide whether to preserve eye-popping decorative details inside the historic movie theater. The auditorium has a dome that’s 150 feet in diameter.

There’s a mezzanine where mermaids are dancing on the ceiling — decorative plaster mermaids set in sea-green diamonds. See brooklyneagle.com for photos Coney Island historian Charles Denson took of the movie theater’s interiors in 2006. The building was designed by preeminent theater-architecture firm Reilly & Hall and built in 1925. It originally belonged to Chanin Construction Co. Loew’s operated the movie theater for much of its five-decade run. It was designed for movies and live performances — and notables including Al Jolson and Jerry Lewis appeared on its stage. Near the end of its days as a movie theater, it was a porn palace. The building’s previous owner, Horace Bullard, purchased it in 1979. By that time, the movie theater was closed. The late real-estate investor amassed a portfolio of Coney Island properties — including the Thunderbolt roller coaster, which the Giuliani Administration illegally tore it down in 2000. Bullard, who wanted to turn the Shore Theater into a hotel and casino, died in 2013. His daughter Jasmine Bullard was president of his company Kansas Fried Chicken Inc. in 2015 when it sold the Shore Theater to Yadgarov.

The Shore Theater, on this prominent Coney Island corner, is in need of a fix-up.

INBrooklyn photo by Lore Croghan

8INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of May 11-17, 2017

When you are ready to move out of NYC, or a vacation home close to NYC, here are 10 Top Reasons you should talk to me: 7) Home of Pleasantville Country Club, which boasts a 9-hole, double-tee course, complete with locker rooms. Afterward, relax and dine at Unique Affairs Restaurant, catering to all tastes, overlooking the built-in pool and 3,000-sq-ft. condos (Look for Another Reason Next Week!)

Coney Island’s beach is a hot spot for selfies on a summer-like day. That’s the Cyclone roller coaster in the background. Continued from page 8INB At every turn, there were people taking pictures of iconic rides like the landmarked Wonder Wheel and Boardwalk businesses like Nathan’s. They snapped selfies on the beach, where folks wore swimsuits though red “No swimming” flags were flying. They photographed the shoreline while standing on crowded Steeplechase Pier. Here are a few of our pix from that fine, freakishly warm day. See brooklyneagle.com for more. Pleasantville: New community of townhomes. Featuring 3 bed/3bth. Well designed kitchen with large center island opening up to breakfast area and family room. Well appointed master suite. 2300 sq ft and up starting under $800,000.

Steeplechase Pier is packed with people fishing and taking photographs. That’s the Parachute Jump in the background. INBrooklyn photos by Lore Croghan

GET YOUR LISTING SEEN BY THOUSANDS OF LOCAL EYES!

The wet sand works like a mirror, reflecting the beach walkers on Coney Island.

PLACE YOUR AD TODAY AND BE PART OF EYE ON REAL ESTATE EACH & EVERY WEEK!

Week of May 11-17, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 9INB

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

HIGHLIGHTS FROM

MYBROOKLYNCALENDAR.COM Continued from page 2INB Rites of Spring Art, music, prose. When: Saturdays and Sundays, through June 18, 1-6 p.m. Where: Red Hook/BWAC (499 Van Brunt St.)

the creation of enigmatic artworks that bring the forgotten past into the foreground and reanimate minor artifacts of history into transformative assemblages. When: Thursday through Saturday, through June 18, 12-5 p.m. Where: Clinton Hill/Tillou Fine Art (59 Cambridge Place)

Kajahl: Obscure Origins This exhibition presents a focused survey of Kajahl’s portraits, which combine iconography from African, Asian, European and Pre-Columbian traditions. The fusion of these symbols results in

S.B. Walker: Walden Walker’s photographs illustrate the way this once pristine landscape is now viewed and used. Using a large format camera, Walker captures both the grandeur and the cotidian 100 years after Thoreau. When: Tuesday through Saturday, through June 23, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Where: DUMBO/Janet Borden, Inc (91 Water St.) Multilocational See multilocational artworks by Natalia Nakazawa and Cecile Chong. Multilocational is defined as “of, pertaining to, or being present in more than one location.” It subtly plays on the words multicultural or multinational, or “of mixed ancestry or residence.” When: Fridays, through June 25, 3-6 p.m. Where: Park Slope/Old Stone House (336 Third St.) Georgia O’Keeffe: Living Modern This exhibit takes a new look at how the renowned modernist artist proclaimed her progressive, independent lifestyle through a self-crafted public persona, including her clothing and the way she posed for the camera. The exhibition expands our understanding of O’Keeffe by focusing on her wardrobe, shown for the first time alongside key paintings and photographs. It confirms and explores her determination to be in charge of how the world understood her identity and artistic values. When: Wednesday through Sunday, through July 23, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Thursdays, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.) Where: Prospect Heights/Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway) Forged Worlds This outdoor photography exhibition showcases work by seven artists whose photographic practices revolve around the physical construction of fictional landscapes. Installed on a fence beneath the Manhattan Bridge, this photo installation invites viewers to take a closer look and perhaps allow themselves to be carried away — if even for a moment — in thoughts and lands so strange, yet so familiar, so close to home. When: Daily, through July 31, 2017 Where: DUMBO/Manhattan Bridge (Adams Street, Plymouth Street and Anchorage Place) Truman Capote’s Brooklyn: The Lost Photographs of David Attie In the spring of 1958, a young photographer named David Attie was led through the streets of Brooklyn Heights and to the Brooklyn waterfront by an unexpected guide: 33-year-old Truman Capote. The images Attie took that day were to illustrate Capote’s essay for Holiday magazine about his life in Brooklyn. Decades later, these largely unseen photographs are being exhibited for the first time. When: Wednesday through Sunday, through July 31, 12-5 p.m.

Where: Brooklyn Heights/Brooklyn Historical Society (128 Pierrepont St.) Next Stop: Second Avenue Subway Tracing nearly 100 years of history, the New York Transit Museum’s newest exhibit explores how the Second Avenue line fits into New York’s past, present and future transportation landscapes. When: Tuesday through Sunday, through Sept. 3, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday hours, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.) Where: Downtown Brooklyn/New York Transit Museum (Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street) Infinite Blue The works of art in “Infinite Blue” feature blue in all its variety — a fascinating strand of visual poetry running from ancient times to the present day. In cultures dating back thousands of years, blue — the color of the skies — has often been associated with the spiritual, but also signifies power, status and beauty. The spiritual and material aspects of blue combine to tell us stories about global history, cultural values, technological innovation and international commerce. When: Wednesday through Sunday, through Nov. 5, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Thursdays, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Where: Prospect Heights/Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway)

Books & Readings Friends of Brooklyn Heights Annual Benefit The 23rd Annual Benefit for the Friends of Brooklyn Heights Library, honoring Linda Fairstein, a New York Times bestselling author and former prosecutor. She will be discussing “Killer Look,” the latest book in her bestselling “Alexandra Cooper” series of crime novels. When: Monday, May 15, 7 p.m. Where: Brooklyn Heights/Brooklyn Heights Library (109 Remsen St.) Book Launch: Melodie Winawer, “The Scribe of Siena” Melodie Winawer will discuss her debut novel. The book follows a time-traveling neurosurgeon from the 21st century who discovers love and a plot to destroy Siena in medieval Italy. When: Wednesday, May 17, 7 p.m. Where: DUMBO/Power House Arena (28 Adams St.)

Educational Hot Glass, Cold Beer Guests for “Hot Glass, Cold Beer” will receive a unique handmade drinking glass, which will overflow with free beverages while they watch our talented team show off their glass manipulation skills. Demonstrations in glassblowing, neon-bending and flame-working. Continued on page 11INB

10INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of May 11-17, 2017

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

HIGHLIGHTS FROM

Image courtesy of Brooklyn Glass

MYBROOKLYNCALENDAR.COM

“Hot Glass, Cold Beer” will take place at Brooklyn Glass on Saturday, May 13. Continued from page 10INB When: Saturday, May 13, 7-11 p.m. Where: Gowanus/Brooklyn Glass (142 13th St.) Nothing About Us, Without Us: The Road to Self-Advocacy Becoming a self-advocate is a lifelong process. Hear from self-advocates from a variety of backgrounds, including mental health, developmental and physical disabilities, foster care and more. Learn what it means to be a self-advocate, how people become self-advocates and how you can support them. Panel discussions will be followed by small group breakouts with light refreshments. When: Monday, May 15, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Where: Grand Army Plaza/Central Library (10 Grand Army Plaza) NYTM Train Operators Workshop Drop by the computer lab to take control of a New York City subway car and operate it over virtual miles of track, using some incredibly realistic software. Limited capacity. When: Saturday and Sunday, May 13-14, 3:304:30 p.m. Where: Brooklyn Heights/New York Transit Museum (99 Schermerhorn St.) Gowanus’ Triple Bypass: Change Through Art, Design and the Environment Once an artery of commerce and industry, the Gowanus neighborhood has become emblematic of change and the forces impacting the Brooklyn experience: grassroots arts, environmental remediation and real estate speculation. Join us for a fast-paced discussion with experts playing pivotal roles in these arenas, including Abby Subak, Jared della Valle, Owen Foote, David Briggs and Philip Silva, and look at how shifting flows of creativity and capital are redefining this historic artery. Moderated by Joseph Alexiou, author of Gowanus: Brooklyn’s Curious Canal When: Wednesday, May 17, 6:30-8 p.m. Where: Brooklyn Heights/Brooklyn Historical Society (128 Pierrepont St.)

Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park/99 Plymouth St. Show & Tell: Mothers, Mementos & Memories Celebrate your mother at “Mothers, Mementos and Memories,” a free Mother’s Day-themed “Show & Tell” event in support of StoryCorps. Like childhood “show and tell” days, you are invited to bring an object that reminds you of your mother, mother-figure, grandmother or aunt, like a photo, piece of jewelry, card, letter, teacup, apron, rolling pin, or a recipe. When: Sunday, May 14, 3-5 p.m. Where: Park Slope/Old Stone House (336 Third St.) Ed Center Open Hours The Ed Center is open for free, drop-in hours four afternoons each week. Get to know Brooklyn Bridge Park with the 250-gallon aquarium filled with critters from the East River, a 10-foot scale model of Brooklyn Bridge Park, crafts, a reading corner, and much more. When: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park/Environmental Education Center Family Bowl Bring the whole family and get your bowl on. When: Saturday and Sunday, May 13-14 Where: Williamsburg/Brooklyn Bowl (61 Wythe Ave.)

Family Fun Paint the Owls Children ages 3-10 years old are invited to paint the metal cut-out owls along the gate of the children’s playground. When: Saturday, May 13, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Where: Bay Ridge/Owl’s Head Park (67th Street and Colonial Road) Kids Drawing andPoetry Workshop Kids can join artist Jesse Chun at 99 Plymouth St. for a workshop on drawing, poetry and combining the two. When: Saturday, May 13, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Brooklyn Historical Society presents “Gowanus' Triple Bypass: Change Through Art, Design, and the Environment” on Wednesday, May 17. Among the speakers will be David Briggs (above), principal of Loci Architecture and executive director of Gowanus by Design. Image courtesy of Loci Architecture

Week of May 11-17, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 11INB

12INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of May 11-17, 2017

BROOKLYN’S BEST GUIDE TO GOODS & SERVICES ARTS BROOKLYN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS brooklyncenter.com 718-951-4500 2017 Season In Full Swing

COMPUTER/ IT SOLUTIONS MSI NET, INC.

www.msiny.com 718-921-6136 Protecting your investment for over 25 years

FURNITURE H&A UPHOLSTERY

146 Montague St., 2nd Fl Brooklyn, NY 11201 718-855-9664 Master Craftsmen

FINANCIAL SERVICES FINANCING - Fix & Flips, SFH 14 Units, Hard/Bridge loans, Stated income - NO Doc Loans, Up to 90% Cost, 100% Rehab, Purchase- Refinance, MultiUnit, Mixed-Use, Commercial; 888-565-9477.

HEALTH IF YOU USED THE BLOOD THINNER XARELTO and suffered internal bleeding, hemorrhaging, required hospitalization or a loved one died while taking Xarelto between 2011 and the present time, you may be entitled to compensation. Call Attorney Charles H. Johnson 1800-535-5727.

HELP WANTED AIRLINE CAREERS Start Here – Get trained as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call AIM for free information 866296-7094. Get the hands-on skills you need to get ahead. Get to TCI College. 13 flexible degree programs! Hurry! Registration ends May 26! Visit tcicollege.edu.

LEGAL SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

DRANOW LAW OFFICES & APPELLATE PRINTING 516-286-2980 www.dranowlaw.com 114 Old Country Rd, Ste 308, Mineola, NY

JP&R ADVERTISING AGENCY

www.jpandr.com, 212-267-6698 We are Legal Notice Experts

JOSHUA ANNENBERG

212-962-6289, www.annenberglaw.com APPELLATE COUNSEL

SPRING SPECIALS on Windows • Gutters/Leaders Siding

SILBERSTEIN, AWAD & MIKLOS, P.C. 877-ASK4SAM www.ask4sam.com Excellence is powerful lawyering

RANDY BOTWINICK

www.randy-botwinick.com Personal Injury Lawyer

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE KILL BED BUGS! Harris Bed Bug Killers/KIT Complete Treatment System. Available: Hardware Stores. The Home Depot, homedepot.com. Try Harris Guaranteed Roach Killers Too!

REAL ESTATE Land Bargains SCHENECTADY COUNTY: 29.1 acres, woods/ views $72,000; 14.7 acres, views $41,000; 2.9 acres, views $24,000. Owner Financing www.helderbergrealty.com, (518) 861-6541 or (518) 2566344.

VENDORS HAND-CRAFTED ONLY for Nassau County’s LARGEST family fair 31st yr, Attendance 120,000 +, 150-200 hand-crafted vendors display 9/16 & 9/17. (516) 809-5892 BellmoreCrafts@yahoo.com

RESERVED For Any Business Looking to Increase Its Customer Base Through Our Innovative SOCIAL MEDIA, WEBSITE and PRINT Advertising Platform ... Interested in Expanding Your Business? Find Out How We Can Help!

Call 718-422-7400

Join Our Statewide Classified Network In New York Metropolitan Region: 62 Community Newspapers — 2,326,165 Readers

Week of May 11-17, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 13INB

BROOKLYN’S BEST GUIDE TO GOODS & SERVICES JOB OPPORTUNITY

JOB OPPORTUNITY

LEGAL SERVICES

LANDSCAPING

We Can Expand Your Reach to New Customers EXPONENTIALLY Using Images and Social Media Along With Our Popular Websites and Blogs CALL US TODAY: 718-422-7400

 SUDOKU ANSWERS Continued from page 6

CROSSWORD ANSWERS Continued from page 6

1 INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of May 11-17, 2017

BROOKLYN’S BEST GUIDE TO GOODS & SERVICES LESSONS/SCHOOLS

PETS FOR SALE

JOB ALERT WANTED: Tall, athletic person to wear huge bird costume at public events. (Don’t worry, no one will recognize you.) Actors welcome, flexible schedule, $20/hour.

Send your info to: applicants@brooklyneagle.com

Photographers & iPhone Users:

WANTED

Send me photos of large delivery trucks getting stuck where they should not be. Blocking traffic to unload, or blocked by illegally parked cars. $20 Starbucks gift card if we use your photo.

Send image to: samhowe@brooklyneagle.com

AIRLINE CAREERS

Start Here – Get trained as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call AIM for free information: 866-296-7094.

Get the hands-on skills you need to get ahead. Get to TCI College. 13 flexible degree programs! Hurry! Registration ends May 26! Visit tcicollege.edu.

READY FOR WORK TELL THE WORLD: Writers, bloggers, designers, photographers to tell your story once, or share news of your products and ideas on an ongoing basis. Let us know what you need. If we can help, we'll make a proposal customized to your needs.

Contact info @greatbridgeassociates.com

LITERATURE

TO ADVERTISE, CALL TODAY: 718-422-7400. Week of May 11-17, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 15INB

16INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of May 11-17, 2017