🌱 BK Catholic Schools Say No To Masks + DOE Updates Quarantine

Happy Thursday, neighbors! Let's get this day started. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening today in town.

First, today's weather:

Sun mixing with clouds; cold. High: 31 Low: 26.

Here are the top three stories today in Brooklyn Heights-DUMBO:

1. Catholic schools in Brooklyn will be going mask-optional, if a lawsuit against Governor Hochul's school mask mandate proves successful. The Diocese of Brooklyn made the announcement on Tuesday night after an appeals court judge temporarily reinstated the mandate after it had been stricken down on Monday. (Brooklyn Paper)

2. The Department of Education announced a shorter quarantine period for k-12 students that test positive for COVID-19. Starting Monday students can return to school six days after testing positive – without showing a negative test, cutting in half the previous ten day quarantine. (Gothamist)

3. The MTA held its 17th "Mask Force" event on Tuesday at Barclay's Center. Since the last event in December, reports are that mask-wearing in the subways is up to over 90 percent. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

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Today in Brooklyn Heights-DUMBO:

• Open hours at Brooklyn Bridge Park environmental education center (3 p.m.)

• Candlelight New Year’s concert: "Best Pop Hits of the Decade" at St. Ann & Trinity Church (6:30 p.m. + 9 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Cadman Park Conservancy has adorable videos of kids dancing from their last dance video. (Instagram)

• CVS, preschool, dessert shop and coffee shop: here's a round up of new retail in DUMBO.(Facebook)

• The Rite Aid at Joralemon and Clinton is closing Feb 10, according to a neighbor. (Brooklyn Heights Blog)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you tomorrow morning for another update.

— Dashiell Allen

This article originally appeared on the Brooklyn Heights-DUMBO Patch