wsimpson - Bklyner

Bensonhurst Man Is Japan’s First American Elected Official

Anthony Bianchi. (Source: homereporternews.com)It can be difficult to get elected to a political position in this country, sure. Well, if it seems a daunting task, you can always hop-skip-and-jump to the other side of the globe and get elected to the city council of a small Japanese municipality.

comedy

Sheepshead Bay Math Teacher On Quest To Finish Hollywood Film

The tragic death of a screenwriting mentor is driving a Sheepshead Bay High School teacher to do everything he can to finish a stalled movie project that he has poured his soul into. The New York Daily News is reporting [http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/math-teacher-seeks-hollywood-ending-article-1.1533193] that Keith

credit cards

Treyger Worried That Identity Thieves May Strike Local Muni-Meters

Source: SheepsheadBites.comCity Councilman-elect Mark Treyger expressed concern that muni-meters could be the target of identity thieves bent on stealing money from unsuspecting motorists. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle is reporting [http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/are-identity-thieves-tampering-muni-meters-2013-11-27-150000] that Treyger wants the Department of Transportation (DOT) to install additional security around muni-meters

Coney Island MTA Workers Get Recognition For Sandy Heroics

While it is difficult to find those silver linings in events as destructive as Superstorm Sandy, stories of bravery and heroism have surfaced, centering on people saving lives in the face of horrendous circumstances. The New York Daily News is reporting [http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/mta-group-saved-family-running-hometown-heroes-article-1.1532309] that

7518 13th ave

Tour Of Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Primed To Dazzle

84th Street and 12th Avenue (Photo by Frank P.)In Dyker Heights, Christmas is a time of family gathering, gift giving, peace, love and besting your neighbor by trying to outshine their elaborate decorations with your own blinding display. This year, Chamber of Commerce President Carlo Scissura is hoping the

catherine seavitt nordenson

CUNY To Develop Strategies To Prevent Flooding At Jamaica Bay

The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Source: Howard N2GOT / FlickrThe Rockefeller Foundation bestowed a $250,000 grant to the City College of New York (CUNY) to figure out a way to stem the disastrous consequences of major flooding in Jamaica Bay, according to a CUNY release [http://www1.cuny.edu/mu/

bill guarinello

Community Boards Want De Blasio To Crack Down On Curb Cutting

Source: jetheriot via FlickrCommunity Boards that cover Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Gravesend want action on illegal curb cutting and are hoping that Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio steps up enforcement on the issue. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle is reporting that Community Board 11 Chairman Bill Guarinello is hopeful that

ben smilowitz

Red Cross Playing Bait And Switch With Sandy Aid?

American National Red Cross building (Source: Wikipedia)The Red Cross, like many prominent charity organizations, promised aid and relief to scores of victims following the events of Superstorm Sandy. Aljazeera America is reporting [http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/america-tonight/america-tonight-blog/2013/11/7/red-cross-s-brokenpromiseinsandyreliefleft1000homesemptyhanded.html] that the organization has

building code

City Council Passes New Building Codes For Storm Resiliency

Superstorm Sandy as seen from outer space. (Source: nasa.gov)The New York City Council passed new building code laws last week in an effort to make structures more resilient should another natural catastrophe like Superstorm Sandy strike again. The New York Times laid out the details of the new

Grimm Wants More Federal Dollars For Build It Back Program

Source: Brian Hedden via Bay Ridge OdysseyRepublican Congressman Michael Grimm is asking the federal government to earmark $600 million for the Build it Back program, the housing recovery project designed to help Superstorm Sandy victims, and take control over Sandy funds out of the hands of of local authorities, reports

disabled registry

State Lawmakers Pushing For Bills To Register Disabled Should Disaster Strike

State Senator Diane Savino (Source: Thomas Good via Wikimedia Commons)A pair of New York State politicians are trying to make it easier for emergency personal to rescue disabled residents should another disaster like Superstorm Sandy strike in again the future. SI Live is reporting [http://www.silive.com/news/

3152 brighton 6th st

Tatiana’s Owner Loses Tax Battle

Source: Google MapsThe owner of the popular Brighton Beach-based Tatiana’s Restaurant (3152 Brighton 6th Street) lost a tax battle due to a ruling that will cost her hundreds of thousands of dollars. Forbes is reporting [http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterjreilly/2013/11/15/tatianas-status-as-brighton-beach-icon-hurts-owner-in-tax-appeal/] that the New York

1767 bath ave

Bensonhurst’s Barter Ink Is Trading Tattoos For Items Or Services

Source: Barterink.comOf all the objects we own in life, none are as permanent as our own behinds (although, I suppose, advances in cosmetic surgery are changing that). Using that logic, it makes perfect sense to trade an autographed Mickey Mantle baseball for a picture of Mickey Mantle’s face

erik olsen

Flashback: Stirring 1964 Image Of Verrazano Bridge Rescue

Source: extrabox via FlickrSadly, too often we write about [/index.php?s=suicides] the latest suicide or suicide attempt committed on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. Earlier this week, we told you about the latest incident [/video-police-pull-suicidal-man-from-verrazano-bridges-outer-cables-in-heroic-rescue/] involving a 39-year-old man who was heroically rescued after attempting a leap from the iconic

2601 ocean parkway

Coney Island Hospital Included In List Of Most Affordable NY Hospitals

Source: Gregory MaizousConey Island Hospital (2601 Ocean Parkway) made it to the top 10 list of most affordable hospitals in New York State, and is ranked number one in the five boroughs. According to a report [http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/health/2013/11/04/most-least-affordable-hospitals-new-york/] by Nerd Wallet, Coney

black and white

Coney Island, Home To A Billion Great Pictures

Source: Stephen SalmieriI’m convinced that everything great that ever happened in the universe happened somewhere in Coney Island. The proof is in the seemingly never ending [http://www.bensonhurstbean.com/2013/10/coney-island-in-the-1970s-history-and-pictures/] supply of incredible photographs [http://www.bensonhurstbean.com/2013/10/coney-island-beatniks/] and movies [http://www.bensonhurstbean.

Coney Island, Home To A Billion Great Pictures

Source: Stephen SalmieriI’m convinced that everything great that ever happened in the universe happened somewhere in Coney Island. The proof is in the seemingly never ending [/coney-island-in-the-1970s-history-and-pictures/] supply of incredible photographs [/coney-island-beatniks/] and movies [/blast-from-the-past-a-subway-ride-to-coney-island-in-1987/] taken at Coney Island over the decades that come across our desks. The latest

7702 new utrecht ave

New York Giants Reward Bensonhurst Preschoolers For Support

Source: WikipediaThe New York Football Giants were off to a historically lousy start this season, beginning their 2013-2014 campaign with six straight losses. Recently, things have looked up for the Eli Manning-led Giants as they have squeaked out three victories, stirring talk of an improbable run to the playoffs. According

Chinatown

Bensonhurst A Walker’s Paradise, Says New Rating System

Source: lindejesus via FlickrThe best neighborhoods are marked by their easy access to shopping, food, parks and transit options, requiring nothing more from people other than their feet to reach them. According to an analysis [http://www.walkscore.com/NY/New_York/Bensonhurst] by Walk Score, Bensonhurst garnered a high

2800 ocean parkway

Tomorrow: New York Rising Meeting For Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Manhattan Beach

Abraham Lincoln High School. Source: Google MapsNew York Rising, the state initiative to put long-term storm resiliency planning in the hands of communities, is gathering tomorrow to unveil drafts of their plan for Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Manhattan Beach and Sea Gate. Members of these communities are invited to attend

Big Plans For To Unite Coney Island Wetlands With Bath Beach’s Calvert Vaux Park

Future plans for Coney Island Creek. (Source: nycedc.com)As Mayor Michael Bloomberg exits the stage, he is hoping a big part of his legacy will include the successful follow through on a $20 billion “resiliency” plan that would seek to protect the city’s coastlines from rising sea levels

americans with disability act

Judge Rules That The City Has No Adequate Plan For Evacuating Vulnerable If Disaster Strikes

Lady Justice, atop the Fontaine de la Justice in Cudrefin, Switzerland. Source: WikimediaA federal judge has come down hard on the outgoing Bloomberg administration, ruling that the city has inadequate plans for helping the disabled evacuate should a major disaster like Superstorm Sandy strike the city again. WNYC is reporting

67 brighton first lane

Brighton Beach’s Bright N’ Green Energy Efficient Condos Hit The Market

If you happen to be in a contest that measures who is the city’s greatest yuppie, plopping down $795,000 on a freshly completed Bright N’ Green condo unit (67 Brighton First Lane) might score you some huge points in your quest. Well, except for the fact that you’

english as a second language

Local Libraries Launch Google Tablet Lending Program, Hitting Southern Brooklyn First

A new Nexus 7 tablet. (Source: Wikipedia)It’s rare whenever Southern Brooklyn get a cool new tech or cultural addition ahead of, like, anywhere else in the city, but the Brooklyn Public Library and Google are looking to reward us for our suffering from Sandy. Google, a company which

Local Libraries Launch Google Tablet Lending Program, Hitting Southern Brooklyn First

A new Nexus 7 tablet. (Source: Wikipedia)It’s rare whenever Southern Brooklyn get a cool new tech or cultural addition ahead of, like, anywhere else in the city, but the Brooklyn Public Library and Google are looking to reward us for our suffering from Sandy. Google, a company which