The girls of Troop 2657 have started a petition to preserve Brooklyn’s first Carnegie branch. Talks are under way to possibly sell and demolish this Pacific Street landmark. Built in 1903, this historic branch is at risk for being sold and turned into a modernized skyscraper (possibly with a library inside). This would be done instead of shelling out the $11 million that is needed to repair the current facility.

Troop 2657 meets there every week and these pint sized activists have some very passionate opinions.

1. “Me and the Girl Scouts are looking to save the library and make it a landmark. That way no one can ever knock it down,” says eight year old Jordan Candelario.
2. “I love it – it’s a great place with a gigantic meeting room. I’ll be very upset if they tore down the library,” says Nini Kauffman-O’Hehir.
3. “Office space does not help make the world a better place. Libraries and Girl Scouts does.”

The petition will be hand delivered to Comptroller John Lui at a City Hall Rally. Brooklyn newspapers will surely report the decision. Stay tuned.

Literally, a mikvah translates as a “pool” and is Jewish ritual bathhouse and is an absolutely integral part of the religion. The rabbi explains, “it’s a major component of the Jewish community, one that Jewish law requires for married women.” The center is spa-like in its appearance and is designed to give observant Jews a safe and private place to engage in the ritual process of purification and cleansing. The baths on the first floor will be designated for men, while those on the lower level are for women. Appointments are necessary for use.

While local Brooklyn residents worry about parking related concerns, most are thrilled and Brooklyn newspapers are gladly calling this a victory.

And, now, Sunset Park’s Little Fuzhou is being gifted with a serious upgrade directly from China. In a truly beautiful piece of Brooklyn news, Beijing’s Chaoyang Districct is donating a special arch to Little Fuzhou. This structure will be dubbed the “Friendship Archway” and is largely a result of Paul Mak’s efforts with the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association. The arch will span Eighth Avenue between 64^th and 65^th streets. The proposed design will have nine roofs and four pillars, the design that is used in imperial Beijing structures. The exact details are still being worked out between City Hall and Assemblyman Peter Abbate.

During his final state of the borough address on Thursday, Borough President Markowitz had the following to say: “Beautifying our streets doesn’t mean just adding more green.”  Brooklyn newspapers are predicting a significant increase in foot traffic to Sunset Park and residents of the area are excited about the addition to their neighborhood.

Sure, the Barclays Center has brought hoards of visitors to the Atlantic Terminal area on game and event nights. But, most of these folks are not sticking around to do business with the local boutiques and eateries. Bars and night life establishments are, quite possibly, the only establishments in the area that have seen a significant increase in revenue since Barclays got going.

Brooklyn newspapers have spoken to businesses like the Flatbush Avenue suit shop owned by A.B Fulani. They all say the same thing. “The Barclays Center has been no good to me. People come here to get drunk for a few hours. They don’t come to buy a shirt and tie.” To add insult to injury, many tenants have been forced to move because rent is rising at an unbelievable rate and parking on game nights is almost impossible.

Overall, the Flatbush area business owners have not hailed this as a lucrative piece of local Brooklyn news.

The MTA’s assistant director of Government and Community Relations, Andrew Inglesby, assured members of the Community Board 6 that the station will resume full service no later than the week of April 22^nd. According to Inglesby, “It’s painted, it’s restricted and nothing is falling down.” With a price tag of nearly $41 million, residents are expecting a fully renovated and completely functional station at the end of next month.

Additionally, the 4^th Avenue station is also under construction and will be opening again sometime in May. Inglesby promised Brooklyn newspapers that these renovations will include opening up the overpass with windows and the outcome with be spectacular. Local residents are holding their breath in anticipation.

But, all is still not well in the area. Coney Island still needs help after Sandy.

Johanna Zaki of the Alliance For Coney Island wants to remind everyone that “this community was definitely hit hard by Sandy, and it’s not only the amusements and concessions that Coney Island is so well-known for, but there’s a residential community of about 50,000 people that live here that were all affected by Sandy.”

Locals are begging people not to take the fact that the rides are back up and running as an indication that all is well in the area. Coney Island residents know there is still a lot of reconstruction ahead, and they want Brooklyn newspapers to know it as well. Enjoy the rides, but keep the locals in your hearts and minds as well!

In an effort to raise money for financially struggling families with cancer stricken children, up to 22 eligible hunks will strut their stuff at the Dyker Beach Catering Hall on 86^th Street in Brooklyn. For single Brooklyn women of all ages, this might be the best piece of local Brooklyn news this spring!

Not sure you want to brave the droves of love hungry women flocking to event? Let Rocco Steo change your mind.

At 88 years young, Rocco insists that “it’s the dancing” that gets the ladies. “They love my dancing.” Furthermore, “I’m a gentleman and I’m a very good dresser.” To prove his point, Rocco cites that last year he was one of the top earners in the event. After driving every woman in the room wild for a few minutes, the bidding was stopped at $95 and a single 53-year old lucky lady got to let this “Bachelor” take her out for a night on the town. Lasting love? He’s not saying, but he IS back!

Proceeds of the event will go to the Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation, a group formed after a young Dyker Heights boy lost his battle with bone cancer and leukemia in 2007. The boy’s mother, Camille Orrichio-Loccisano, hopes to raise $10,000.

Tickets go for $75 a piece and cover cocktails, dinner and a dance with the bachelor.

Lisa Bloodgood is Brooklyn’s environmental policy advisor and constituent liaison for Councilman Steve Levin and had this to say: “Greenpoint is seriously lacking in open space, so this would make a great addition. They (the Department of Housing Preservation and Devlopemnt, who own the lot) still have claim on the lot if they want to do development there in the future,” but have agreed to turn it over to volunteers on a temporary basis.

Plants are not the only things that are soon to be thriving in the plot. Volunteers plan to reach out to artists and carpenters in the neighborhoods and ask them to make benches and paint mural. The goal is for this to be a space where collaboration produces beauty. Unlike other, more traditional, community gardens, participants share in the maintenance of the entire site instead of being assigned their own plots to tend. This makes it even more of a local Brooklyn news treasure.

Stay tuned for more info!

It all started when Brabham was one of six aspiring filmmakers chosen to deliver the Oscar statuettes to presenters on Sunday, in front of one billion jealous viewers.

Brabham wore a stunning floor length Alberto Makali gown and describes the experience as being “so surreal.” “I could see all the faces in the audience – Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Denzel Washington and George Clooney. I could see my idol, Steven Spielberg. It was hard to breathe.” Understandably so.

Brooklyn newspapers scooped up Brabham for interviews and she reveled in the attention. The theater major, who currently attends SUNY Potsdam was simply excited to be living out a dream. One surprise of the evening? “Little Oscar is way heavier than he looks!”

The Academy Awards producers usually hire models to carry the coveted Oscar statuette s. This is the first time they have been persuaded to turn the honor over to aspiring filmmakers. In a quote that will make all of Brooklyn’s hear t swell, Brabham said that she just “hopes I made Bed-Stuy proud.”

You sure did.

This, however, was not the case after Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind dressed as a black basketball player at the Purim party in his home. Hikind hired a professional makeup artist to come to his home and transform him into a black man, complete with an afro. He then wore an orange sports jersey and called his basketball player outfit complete.

The night did not go as planned. A mere few hours later, Hikind was issuing an apology that was strange, to say the least. In the latest piece of local Brooklyn news, his apology is now be called offensive to gays. After explaining that he had no intention of offending anyone, he then went on to say that perhaps next year he will dress as a “gay person.”

Out came critics from every corner. Brooklyn newspapers had a field day with commentary. And, we hope, Hikind has learned his lesson and will think before he acts next time.