The Friends of the Brooklyn Heights Branch Library held a Trustees Meeting on Tuesday night addressing the impending sale of the building. As previously reported, it was  announced on January 15 several BPL branches would be impacted as the system shifts to digital media and services. The current Brooklyn Heights’ Cadman Plaza branch will be closing and be “temporarily relocated.”  

The Brooklyn Eagle was on at the hearing and live tweeted highlights. (The “star” of the evening was apparently Josh Nachowitz—pictured here—the library’s VP for Government and Community Relations.)

Brooklyn Heights Library Hearing 1/29/13

Storified by Brooklyn Bugle· Tue, Jan 29 2013 17:59:52

Photo via Brooklyn Daily

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/54669

Brooklyn Heights is a hotbed of squash–not the kind you eat, but the kind you play. As this Eagle article notes, the Heights Casino “might well be called the squash center of the universe.” Despite the sport’s international popularity, it is as yet not recognized for the Olympics. To boost its chances of being added to the 2020 Games, a “flash mob” will assemble on the Promenade at the Montague Street entrance Monday at 5:30 p.m. More details after the jump.

This week 17 of the top 20 professional women’s squash players in the world are in Brooklyn Heights for a major tournament on their tour calendar. They hail from 14 countries and have traveled from as far away as Malaysia and Australia. In addition to their amazing on court performances they have organized an event on the Promenade in support of the sport’s bid to join the Olympics in 2012. Please come out and join them by showing off Brooklyn’s hospitality and global spirit. They will be hosting similar events in iconic locations across the globe.

As the official “Back the Bid” colors are red and white, participants are asked to please wear red or white shirts.

Image: Heartless Doll.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/48474

Ever wondered how the notion of building a park along the Brooklyn Heights waterfront came to pass? Henrik Korgius, Editor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and BHB hero, offers details of its will to launch, beginning in 1988.

He writes, “Brooklyn Bridge Park is a very different place since the first ‘American Landscape’ plan in the form of a Harbor Park, sponsored by the Brooklyn Heights Association and designed by Terry Schnadelbach, was presented in 1988. Protracted struggle with the Port Authority, which wanted to replace the piers that closed in 1983 with housing along the stretch below the Promenade, lasted beyond 1992, (when) then Borough President Howard Golden pushed a separate Brooklyn Harbor plan calling for food stalls and other concessions on a mainly paved area.”

Read the full piece here. Interesting goodies.

(Photo: Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/46190

In the Sunday New York Times Metropolitan section, Kevin Baker remembers his friend of many years, Dennis Holt, who died last month. Baker paints a colorful portrait of Holt as “a classic New York eccentric” who once chased an intruder from his Boerum Hill townhouse while brandishing a Civil War era dress sword.

Baker also discloses that, as a student government leader at the University of Alabama in 1956, Holt faced down thugs who rioted when an African American woman, Autherine Lucy, attempted to enroll there. He later sponsored a resolution “that mob violence be denounced at the University of Alabama and that means be found to protect the future personal safety of the students, white or Negro — and the faculty and the reputation of the university.” He was also a national collegiate debating champion. Who knew?

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43894

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle sign, a fixture at the newspaper’s former HQ at 30 Henry Street was taken down this morning by workers.  A six story residential building is slated to be built at that location. Instagram photo via bmacmedia

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42656

With summer just around the corner, this is the ideal time to reserve your summer space here in Brooklyn Heights. And have I got a deal for you: 204 Columbia Heights, The Berkshire. Overlooking the Harbor. “Why put up with country inconveniences when you can find all the comforts and coolest of sea breezes at home? Unobstructed view of entire bay, elevator, electric light, telephone, one minute from Wall St. Ferry, 5 minutes from Bridge or Fulton Ferry, second & fourth floor suites, single & double rooms, including superior board & attendance.” The price: $7 and up: per week.

Of course, you would have to transport yourself back 110 years, as per an advert in today’s Brooklyn Eagle… from June 13, 1903. In addition, the Berkshire of the early 20th Century unfortunately no longer exists. The current six-story 204 Columbia Heights (pictured above & below) was built in 1925, which today, as a coop, maintains 16 units. Looks like it’s too late, after all. Sigh…

(Advert: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 13, 1902/Photos: Chuck Taylor)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42256

Dennis Holt, a longtime columnist and staff writer for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and sister publication Brooklyn Heights Press, died at age 83 77 Thursday after complications from a fall in his home on May 14. He had suffered broken ribs and a blow to the head, made worse by a blood thinner he had been prescribed.

After serving many years as press advisor to a number of elected officials, including former Rep. Stephen Solarz, Holt was one of the founding editors of the Brooklyn Phoenix newspaper in 1972. In the mid-1990s, when the Brooklyn Daily Eagle was revived and merged with the existing Brooklyn Daily Bulletin, he became a senior editor and columnist. He was an active contributor to the Eagle family until his fall, writing the “Brooklyn Broadside” column and other features.

Born in Kansas, Holt moved to Boerum Hill with his wife 40 years ago and raised his family there. Holt has been called a Brooklyn treasure—like Junior’s cheesecake—and the Dean of Brooklyn reporters.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz released the following statement this morning:

I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of longtime Boerum Hill resident Dennis Holt, a veteran columnist and writer who really set the gold standard for journalism among Brooklyn reporters. In addition to his informative reporting for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and other publications during his storied career, Dennis had a keen political insight that he developed as a press advisor to elected officials such as Brooklyn Congressman Stephen Solarz, also of blessed memory. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dennis’ work and he always gave me and this office a fair shake—he was the antithesis of today’s ‘gotcha’ style of ‘journalism.’ On behalf of Dennis’ loyal readers and all Brooklynites, I extend my condolences and prayers to his wife, Susan, and children, Debbie and Matthew, as we mourn the passing of a true Brooklyn legend.

Read more in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle here.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/41902