What's News, Breaking: Monday, November 27, 2023

IN MEMORIAM: MONSIGNOR JOHN DELENDICK, 74, SUCCUMBS TO 9/11-RELATED CANCER

BOROUGHWIDE — A FIRE DEPARTMENT CHAPLAIN WHO SERVED BROOKLYN PRIESTS AND MINISTERED to people on 9/11 died on Thanksgiving of cancer from causes related to the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Fire Department Commissioner Laura Kavanagh announced on Friday, Nov. 24. Monsignor John Delendick, who at one point was pastor of St. Agnes Church in Carroll Gardens and several other Brooklyn parishes, began serving as a Chaplain with the FDNY in 1996, a ministry in which he offered his presence at funerals and consoled and guided FDNY families of through the grieving process. Following the death of his fellow FDNY chaplain, Fr. Mychal Judge, on 9/11, Delendick dedicated the next several months to bringing families to the World Trade Center Site, officiating at memorial and funeral services, checking in with fellow members involved in the rescue mission and working with support groups in the region. Pope John Paul II named him a monsignor in March 2003.

In December 2001, Monsignor Delendick traveled on the Spirit of America: From Ground Zero to Ground Zero humanitarian airlift to thank the members of the Armed Forces fighting terrorism.

Monsignor John Delendick who died on Thanksgiving of cancer from causes related to the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Photo: Fire Department, City of New York — Monsignor John Delendick
Photo: Fire Department, City of New York

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SENATOR SCHUMER MAKES BROADWAY DEBUT CAMEO AS A PRODUCER IN ‘GUTENBERG!’

NEW YORK’S BROADWAY — U.S. SENATOR AND BROOKLYN NATIVE CHUCK SCHUMER MADE HIS BROADWAY DEBUT ON TUESDAY NIGHT IN THE FINAL SCENE OF “GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL!” in the role of “producer,” reported New York Jewish Week via JTA, in a story published in the Times of Israel on Nov. 24. The 2023 Broadway version of “Gutenberg,” playing at the James Earl Jones Theatre on W. 48th St., focuses on two young playwrights and actors trying to sell their Broadway musical about Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press, acting out the play until someone agrees to underwrite it. The “producer” is typically a celebrity appearing as a cameo. “I’m a Broadway producer, and I hold in my hands a Broadway contract. You’ve got your show,” New York’s senior senator was quoted saying as he embraced the actors and then danced off stage. Sen. Schumer posted the video of his much-applauded Nov. 22 cameo on his Instagram.

Stars Ethan Slater and Idina Menzel. Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, and Victor Garber have also recently appeared in a cameo as “producer.”

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DEC: BROWNFIELD CLEANUP WORK COMPLETED FOR ATLANTIC AVENUE SITE

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — ACTIONS TO REMEDY CONTAMINATION ON A BLOCK OF ATLANTIC AVENUE BETWEEN BED-STUY AND CROWN HEIGHTS have been completed as part of New York state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program the Department of Environmental Conservation reported on Friday, Nov. 24. The DEC provided oversight on the Atlantic Brooklyn Project site (1045-1065 Atlantic Ave.) with the applicant 1065 Atlantic Avenue, LLC performing the cleanup activities. Several steps have been or will shortly be completed to achieve the remedial action objectives, including closure and removal of five previously unknown underground storage tanks from the site, excavation and off-site disposal of 36,000 tons of contaminated soil exceeding the Restricted-Residential Soil Cleanup objectives, excavation of a hot-spot area impacted with trichloroethylene exceeding the Protection of Groundwater parameters, and the installation of a sub-slab depressurization system beneath the new building to protect the occupants of the proposed new building.

The site has housed an automotive inspection and repair shop and a restaurant supply store. Project documents can be accessed at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Brower Park branch and at the Community Board 3 office at 1360 Fulton St.

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NEW LAW REQUIRES YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS TO ESTABLISH CARDIAC EMERGENCY PLANS

STATEWIDE — A NEW LAW THAT GOV. KATHY HOCHUL SIGNED ON FRIDAY, NOV. 24, WILL REQUIRE camps and youth sports programs to establish automated external defibrillator (AED) implementation plans and to have, on duty, at least one person trained in the proper use of the AED at camps, games and practices. The state legislature agreed to changes that will require those camps and youth sports programs with five or more participating teams to establish an AED implementation plan that details how AEDs will be made available or reasonably accessible. AED implementation plans will also explain the steps taken to ensure that, when practicable, at least one employee, volunteer, coach, umpire or other qualified adult is present who has successfully completed a training course in the operation of an AED. Sudden cardiac death, attributed to faulty electrical signaling in the heart and the irregular heart rhythm that contributes to the emergency, is called ventricular fibrillation.

Sudden cardiac arrest is considered the leading cause of death in young athletes, with about 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 80,000 young athletes dying, according to a Mayo Clinic report published earlier this year.

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BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, observed nationally on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, supports local merchants, and in central Brooklyn, the Bed-Stuy Gateway Business Improvement District hosted its signature Winter Wonderland event. Wells Fargo presented this festive outdoor shop small holiday experience, giving local merchants an opportunity to increase foot traffic while offering crafters, creatives and small business owners a viable platform to showcase and sell their goods and services. The day began at 10 a.m. with the Festive Decking of the Winter Wonderland Village. Attractions included performances by the Brooklyn United Marching Band, the Brooklyn Ballet (with scenes from The Nutcracker) and the Festive Bed Stuy Trolley around Business Corridor.

Guests at the 2 p.m. ribbon cutting included House Democratic Leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-08), Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Randy Peers.

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CONEY ISLAND BUSINESS PARTNERS TEAM UP FOR COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING MEAL

CONEY ISLAND — MORE THAN A THOUSAND THANKSGIVING MEALS WERE SERVED, at a community Thanksgiving event held on Wednesday, Nov. 22. Local organizations and businesses —the Alliance for Coney Island, Luna Park in Coney Island, and Gargiulo’s Restaurant — hosted the annual tradition that the Coney Island Gospel Assembly established decades ago. Volunteers served the traditional meals of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, and various desserts, including pies, cookies, and fresh fruit, from 2 – 6 p.m. The Coney Island Gospel Assembly singers performed at the meal, which concluded with a Thanksgiving prayer.

Making the event possible were generous donations from local businesses and supporters, including Councilmember Ari Kagan (R-47/outgoing), the Amazin’ Mets Foundation, A&J Produce, the Brooklyn Cyclones, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, Driscoll Foods, Gargiulo’s Restaurant, iStar, Kings Highway Bakery, Luna Park in Coney Island, Nathan’s Famous and the Rotary Club of Verrazano.

Volunteering from an early age: These youths enjoyed distributing the desserts at Coney Island Gospel Assembly Thanksgiving. Photo credit: Alliance for Coney Island — Volunteering from an early age: These youths enjoyed distributing the desserts.
Photo credit: Alliance for Coney Island

Serving the side dishes to the Thanksgiving meal at Coney Island Gospel Assembly Thanksgiving. Photo credit: Alliance for Coney Island — Serving the side dishes to the Thanksgiving meal.
Photo credit: Alliance for Coney Island

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MTA STARTS REPLACING SIGNAL SYSTEMS ON THE CROSSTOWN G SUBWAY LINE

BROOKLYN AND QUEENS —THE G SUBWAY LINE, the only line that traverses Brooklyn and Queens without going into Manhattan, will undergo planned service changes, starting this Monday, November 27, through December 22 (for this particular stretch). G train service is suspended Mondays to Fridays, 9:45 p.m. to 5 a.m., when the MTA begins work on signal modernization. The existing signal system will be replaced with Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) to improve safety, reliability, capacity, and efficiency of service. During this time, free shuttle buses will replace G service between Bedford-Nostrand Avenues and Court Square in Queens.

The G train, also known as the Crosstown G line, does not run through Manhattan, unlike its sister on the IND line — the F train. The only others serving Brooklyn and Queens alone are the Franklin Avenue shuttle, which runs to the Prospect Park station, and the Rockaway Park Shuttle.

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TRUFRESH CUT-CANTALOUPE BLEND RECALLED AMID SALMONELLA THREAT

NATIONWIDE—FRESH-CUT FRUIT FROM CF DALLAS IS BEING RECALLED DUE TO A THREAT OF SALMONELLA, the US Food and Drug Administration announced on November 22 and again on Friday, November 24. Whereas a previous recall alert for whole cantaloupe has since expired, the FDA’s new recall alert is for Seasonal Blend, Melon Trio and more. Sofia Produce, doing business as Trufresh, initiated a recall of the cantaloupe blends that were being sold in clear square or round plastic containers, with Best by date ranging from November 7-10. The FDA is concerned that consumers who purchased this product may have frozen and could potentially still consume the tainted fruit.

As of November 22, no illnesses have been reported that are related to CF Dallas fresh-cut products.