Greenpoint Gazette_20191213

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& BUSHWICK

Since 1974

GREENPOINT | WILLIAMSBURG

VOLUME 47 | NUMBER 47

December 12, 2019

(718) 422-7400

25¢

North Brooklyn Holiday Toy Drive launches with action heroes doing spectacular stunts By Charlie Innis Greenpoint Gazette

The North Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce partnered with STREB on Sunday, Dec. 8, to launch the eighth annual Big Brooklyn Holiday Toy Drive, celebrating with an action-packed stunt performance at the Streb Lab for Action Mechanics (SLAM) in Williamsburg. Clad in blue and red, skin-tight spandex, eight gymnasts sprung, twirled, corkscrewed and nosedived off trampolines, suspended beams and colossal metal structures, executing aerial stunts to an array of popular songs. The performance drew gasps and cheers from small children and parents, who recorded and snapped photos of the display of bravura. “The event was successful not just because we raised money and collected toys for the Big Brooklyn Holiday Toy Drive, but also because it brought people, families, together for a truly enjoyable experience during this, the holiday season,” said Paul Samulski, president of the North Brooklyn Chamber, in an email. The North Brooklyn Chamber has a history with STREB that dates back several years, and the performance artist and STREB founder, Elizabeth Streb, has always supported the chamber’s work, Samulski said. The day’s event started off with a group of gymnasts, known as “action heroes” at STREB, who balanced on a 20-foot-tall semicircle structure, tipping back and forth, and belly-flopping onto landing mats. One stunt involved two action heroes, tethered together by rope, who dashed around, collided with and dragged each other across the space. Another stunt involved the action heroes dodging a rotating metal beam while lying supine on the mat, narrowly avoiding concussions. The action heroes saved the most exhilarating stunt for last. All eight of the gymnasts synchronized as they launched themselves off a trampoline, flipping and flying in the air like birds.

Action heroes banged around in boxes as captivated audience members watched.

Greenpoint Gazette photo by Charlie Innis

continued on page 3

Socialist comedian seeks to unseat 26-year congressmember Courtesy of Rep. Maloney’s office

Lauren Ashcraft is ‘here to break the system.’ Lauren Ashcraft, 30, right, is challenging U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, left, in the Democratic primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District. SEE PAGE 4. Photo by Daniel Lehrhaupt

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