Good News Round-Up: Doggy Daycare, Bar Owner Honored and More

Sometimes, with all the breaking news taking place, the good news stories get passed over.

So here's a round-up of some of the great things that have happened in Prospect Heights so far in 2013:

Bar Sepia Owner Honored

In March, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes honored Delissa Reynolds, owner of Bar Sepia, as one of Brooklyn's Extraordinary Women.

"These women are role models because of their selflessness, dedication and compassion. ... They make Brooklyn a better place to live," he said in the announcement.

Reynolds, an actress, was honored by Hynes for organizing clothing and fund drives for victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Haiti earthquake, the BP Gulf Coast Oil Spill, and families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims as well as her work with Community Board 8, the American Cancer Society, Justice Works Community, which advocates for women ex-prisoners, and other groups.

New Bathrooms at Dean Street Playground

In May, Dean Street Playground got shiny new bathrooms.

Cigar Bar Comes to Washington

In March, a cigar lounge opened on Washington Avenue between Pacific and Dean streets. Called Blew Smoke, the lounge offers cigar smokers a chance to converge and enjoy cigars comfortably, something that can't be done in most places now that smoking is no longer allowed in bars. For that reason, it's BYOB. Cigars can be purchased there.

New Mural for Washington Avenue

Also in May group of graffiti artists converged on the corner of Washington Avenue and St. John's Place to paint a mural on the plywood fence around the empty lot that came to be after the apartment building in the spot was destroyed in a fire.

Williamsburg Pet Shop Opens Branch on Washington

In early June, a branch of Kiki's Pet Spa opened on Washington Avenue between Lincoln and St. John's places (sadly, in the storefront formerly occupied by the now-shuttered Heart of Brooklyn). The spa, which also has a store in Fort Greene, offers dog and cat grooming, doggy daycare, dog-walking, cat-sitting, and boarding. It also sells pet food and accessories.