Photographer Leibovitz at BookCourt

By Trudy Whitman

The celebrated photographer Annie Leibovitz is on a promotional tour for her new book, Annie Leibovitz Pilgrimage (Random House). And befitting her stature as a preeminent pictorial chronicler of the zeitgeist, the venues for readings and signings make a pretty impressive list—the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, Manhattan’s Pace Gallery, the International Center of Photography, the 92nd Street Y, and … BookCourt in Cobble Hill.

The publisher’s decision to book Leibovitz in our corner of the Big Apple reflects both the borough’s emergence as a crucible of creativity and BookCourt’s stature in the publishing industry.

Annie Leibovitz will visit BookCourt, 163 Court Street, on Wednesday, December 14, at 7 p.m. Pilgrimage, for which historian Doris Kearns Goodwin has written an introduction, represents a divergence for the famous photographer. Conceived during a turbulent time in her life — a very public financial freefall — these photos were not made on assignment. Rather, Leibovitz traveled to take photographs as part of a personal quest.

New Residential Building for Eagle Building Site Gets Mixed Reviews

The Brooklyn Eagle headquarters at 30 Henry St., Brooklyn Heights. Photo by Henrik Krogius.

By Linda Collins

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — The new building proposed for 30 Henry St. in Brooklyn Heights was approved by the Community Board (CB) 2 Land Use Committee at its meeting on Nov. 16.

It will likely be given full approval at the full board meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 14, according to Rob Perris, CB 2 district manager.

Perris said the committee vote was 9-3 in favor of recommending approval of the application to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, required because the property is within the Brooklyn Heights Historic District. That application calls for the removal of the existing one- and two-story building (currently home to the Brooklyn Eagle headquarters) and the construction of a new five-story residential building.

Millman Speaks Out Against Cobble Hill Charter School

Assemblywoman Joan Millman joined parents and education advocates to speak out against the Department of Education proposal to create a charter school in a building complex already housing three existing schools in Cobble Hill. She was joined by District 15 Community Education Council President Jim DeVor, City Councilman Steve Levin and others. Photo courtesy office of Assemblywoman Joan Millman.

By Mary Frost

COBBLE HILL — On Monday, Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman joined parents, education leaders and elected officials to speak out against the Department of Education’s proposal to create a charter school in a building complex that already houses three existing schools at 284 Baltic St. She was joined by District 15 Community Education Council President Jim DeVor, City Councilman Steve Levin and other student advocates.

Millman and former Deputy Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina – who has deep roots in District 15 – have both called for a public early childhood center instead of another elementary school.

Eva Moskowitz, CEO of Charter Success Network, caused a stir in Cobble Hill after announcing that her organization wanted to “co-locate” a charter school within the building in District 15. She had originally received approval for a charter school in Districts 13 and 14. Under her plan, the “Success Academy Cobble Hill” would move to the building, which already houses the Brooklyn School for Global Studies, the School for International Studies and a special education program.

‘Fix the BQE Ditch?’ You’re Out of Luck!

Remember those drawings of attractive proposals to redesign the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in the area of the Carroll Gardens “ditch?” Well, they’ve been put on hold indefinitely. The state Department of Transportation (DOT) sent out an e-mail Tuesday stating that it is terminating the environmental study of the BQE.

“In these financially difficult times,” reads the e-mail, “NYSDOT is making strategic choices to make the best use of our limited resources … The alternatives being explored in the environmental study far exceed the financial resources available to us now and for the foreseeable future.”

Olga Bloom — and Women’s Contributions to Brooklyn

By Dennis Holt

If one were fanciful enough and had a sense of the melodramatic and had been down around Bargemusic on Thanksgiving, one could have heard a violin playing somewhere. It would have been a joyful tune, played surely by Olga Bloom on her way to the Great Music Hall in the sky.

Olga’s passing was no surprise to people who knew her — her illness was known by friends — but her physical departure was as mournful as her physical arrival was joyful a long time ago.

Most people giggled at the thought of a floating music hall, but over time the giggling turned to applause and respect. And if there were a Brooklyn Hall of Fame, she would be there along with her winsome smile.

Fidelity National Title Leases Space on Montague Street

188 Montague St., Brooklyn Heights. Image courtesy of PropertyShark.com

Compiled by Linda Collins

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — The Treeline Companies, an owner and manager of several office properties in Downtown Brooklyn and throughout the metropolitan region, reported that Fidelity National Title Insurance Company has leased office space at 188 Montague St.

The lease is for 4,512 square-feet in the building, situated between Court and Clinton streets in Brooklyn Heights, according to Frances Schor, president of Treeline, who made the announcement.