Brooklyn's Death on the Boardwalk

On Thursday of last week a tragedy occurred in Coney Island.  At 5.30 pm on the east end of the boardwalk a dispute broke out and a 19 year old young man pulled out a gun and started shooting.  The boardwalk was very crowded and panic immediately dispensed.   Most people there had never heard a gun shot before but instinctively knew exactly what was happening.   "There was no where to escape" said one person caught in the crossfire.   The shooters, now believed to be two people, escaped into the crowd leaving 5 people shot and a 16 year old girl dead.

Tysha Jones was dead.  The high school senior from Harlem was shot in the midsection and did not survive. “She was just an innocent bystander,” said Tysha’s mother Cynthia Jones. “She didn’t have anything to do with nothing.” Tysha’s mother says she reluctantly let her daughter, the youngest of three children, go to the beach to beat the heat. It’s a decision she now regrets.

“You’re never expecting nothing to ever happen at no beach. Somebody pulling out guns with kids and everybody out there having fun, I never thought that,” said Cynthia.

Tysha wanted to go to medical school and become a nutritionist. Her life suddenly ended and a community paralyzed. 

I was upstate when this happened and did not read the news that evening.   After church on Friday morning, I decided to ride my bike to the end of the boardwalk.   At the beginning of Brighton, I was stopped by police who had taped the entire boardwalk off.   Litter from all the garbage cans were spread over the boardwalk as police were sifting through looking for clues as to who did this.  There were many people standing around talking about this violent tragedy.

This scene pales in comparison to the scene in Harlem where a mother is forced to deal with the consequences of the death of her youngest child.   There is no doubt that everyone fears the moment that they might have to deal with the death of a child.  A violent death makes it so much worse.   There is no rewinding the clock, there are no good byes, there are the images of the moment of the impact of a bullet into your child's chest that slowly drains their life away.  You see her lying on a cold wooden boardwalk with people surrounding her as she slips into eternity.   You are not there and you cannot hold your child.  The pain of the endless thoughts overwhelms your soul.   Maybe somehow you are to blame and you rehearse the "what ifs" that might have been.  A memorial outside your house gives others a chance to grieve.  There is some comfort as people stop by to remember and share your pain.

 

On the boardwalk a police tower is set in place to prove to the citizens that somehow law enforcement is in control.  It is very much after the fact.  The tower amplifies the crime that most people want to ignore.  People's comments on the news boards point to the lack of safety at the beaches and the fear that now is set in place.  "No where is safe" writes one commentator.  The police presence is upped with more cars and bicycle police.  As you walk on the boardwalk your eyes are looking for blood stains.  You wonder what has happened to our society.  How does a dispute at the beach end in such tragedy?  Arrests have been made and justice will prevail.  Life in Brooklyn moves forward deeply affected by a senseless death.

Coney Island Boardwalk Dies

As some of you might have read this week, Coney Island Boardwalk died this week. On November 1st all the boardwalk food establishments received two Fed Ex packages containing duplicate letters informing them that the current tenants had 14 days to vacate the properties. This included Gregory and Pauls (50 year veteran), Rubies Bar (50 year veteran), The Gyro Corner (20 year veteran) Cha Cha's Bar (25 year veteran) and of course Kris Greg's Grill House (Since 1993).

Early Monday morning Steve (owner of the Grill House) and I were going to a meeting and received the news. I was driving when his wife called him and told him that after 17 years he nolonger had a business. His whole body began to quiver and shake and with tears told me that this was his entire life. Steve had established his business in 1993 with the help of a relative. The property to which he built The Grillhouse on was a sandy area of Coney Boardwalk with burnt out cars and trash. For 17 year he continued to make improvements to the business and facility. He weathered many rainy seasons and in the end was able to maintain a reasonable lifestyle. He employed, during the busy season, nearly 30 very hard to employee people from the Coney Island area. On a busy day he provided food to thousands of customers. His business reflected the Coney Island Entrepreneurial spirit that made Coney Island into an amazing place to visit. Each of the people displaced by Central Amusements, the front for Bloomberg and NYC Economic Development Corporation, were evicted so that urban development might take place. Up until this time no one would make investments here because of the risk of making money.

Who takes over Coney Island? Central Amusements (an Italian owned and financed company) was given a 10 year lease of city owned property for $100K plus a small percentage of profit per year (that is for 6.9 acres). In addition, all the infrastructure was built out at the expense of NYC. This included electric, power infrastructure and all paving to the specs of Central Amusements. All they had to do was drop their rides into place. As an added benefit they can use this park as a sales tool. (Picture - Gordon of Polar Bears and Steve Owner of the Grill House)

Under the direction of the Bloomberg team they were also given the responsibility of reshaping the look and feel of the boardwalk. They (in good faith) gave the current vendors a chance to bid on the properties and businesses. However prior to the bids and behind closed doors a French company was hired to organize and implement the boardwalk. For this company it was all or nothing. Either they were given the entire boardwalk to work over or they would not entertain taking the project. The bids of the current vendors meant nothing and were solicited as a public relations stunt for critics of the project.

Critics have said that Bloomberg should not be spending over 100 million on this project with so many people suffering with unemployment and MTA fair increases. They have sharply criticized him for offering this project to a foreign company and then again evicting American small businessmen and hiring a French company to manage the boardwalk properties. As they evict the small successful business men who hired local workers, they will be replaced with corporate franchise businesses.

One franchise that won a spot on the boardwalk was Nathans Hot Dogs. As you might be aware, their first store is on Surf Avenue, down the block from the Grill House. To date the competitive nature of the hot dog business kept prices to $2.50 and $3.00 a hot dog. This summer Luna Park had a fixed price of $4 for a Nathans hot dog. Now all the competition will be gone and Nathans can charge $4 or more for a hot dog. This pricing scheme will make it impossible for about 85% of the people visiting the beach to afford food there.

All of this is to say that one of the most quintessential American places where the entrepreneurial spirit reigned has been taken over by foreign companies and corporations with little or no interest in the local community. If one wants to figure out why our country is in deep trouble, look no further than the shores of Coney Island.

In retaliation the owners met in a private place and retained a high powered lawyer to protest their eviction on such short and harsh notice. In the end they will be evicted, whether this year or within the next few years. Steve may be entitled to a cash sum for his building. He is looking into starting a new place across from Nathans on Surf Avenue.

A fairer way to have done this would be to have torn down the deteriorating buildings and built new structures and allow the current vendors back with reasonable rents. Greed and big corporate business can never see that, nor can the Government that was elected to serve us.

Brooklyn Summer 2010

This year the summer months started off with a heat wave. Memorial day found nearly one million people visiting Coney Island. Kris Greg's Grill House was swarmed with customers, non-stop for nearly 12 hours. Soon after came the Mermaid Parade which drew another million people to the beach. This crowd was mostly Manhattan people who love any opportunity to be wild for a day. They also drink premium beer and tip!

Luna Park is now open and has been packed each weekend. Word has it that some of the rides are really fun and well worth the price.

This past weekend was the 4th of July weekend. On Sunday the 4th there was another million or so people visiting Coney Island. The weather was well into the 90's for all three days with a refreshing breeze coming off the beach. This year at the Grill House things seem different. Prices are higher with a hot dog costing $4. Also, there were fewer people spending money this year. Generally there are very long lines with a million people, but this year people brought food from home or went without. I think the reason is that people are poorer and just don't have the money to splurge. People on the boards were also very edgy. There were several fights that broke out during the day yesterday. There was the attempted robbery of the tip jar which was thwarted by the guards that hover around the Grill House in beach clothes. Also, the Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest brought excitement when the former champ jumped on the stage and was finally arrested. (Some believe it was staged to gather more publicity for the event). On many occasions single mom's would come to the window trying to buy something for their children and not have enough money to even buy drinks.

Has America turned a corner economically? Coney Island seemed to suggest that we are not the same nation as we once were. In church this morning the reading from the OT was about men choosing who they want as king, or as leaders, or how they want to do their business in complete disregard for God. God is patient. Yet, His supreme plan will be accomplished. Because so many people are distant from the Church, it is really hard for them to see a way out.

The people coming to my counter seemed weary. Many spoke of troubled times. Many have lost faith in our leaders ability to represent goodness and justice. It seemed to be a general feeling on the Boards this year.

Let's put things in perspective... Last week Tuesday a group of us went to the beach to swim. We went to Riis Park where the waves are larger than at Coney Beach. We had a great time swimming and then barbequed hot dogs and hamburgers. We were just finished eating when a police car raced past us on the boardwalk. It was nearly 7pm and the life guards had long since left. Then several other emergency cars raced by. When we walked up on the boardwalk, it became apparent that someone was in trouble. Within a minute or so helicopters arrived releasing divers into the water. 5 minutes turned to 15, then to 25 and then it was certain that someone had lost their life. While you were watching this event unfold, you could not help but wonder how this tragedy would affect their family. Without knowing who had died all sorts of images came to one's mind. As the sun set the search was called off until the next day. When the search resumed the next day we learned that a 14 year old boy had drowned. Scott McLeish of Flatlands had perished at the hands of the powerful rip tide. His dad and other family members waited by the sea the next day in hopes that their son might still be alive. There was no body found. Two days later his lifeless body washed up on the shore. Their worst fears became a reality and their lives would be forever changed.

What is important? Does anyone need to be told what is important? Our world distracts us from what is important. We know our family and friends are to be valued, but we let life place them in second or third place. If because of the economy we have to live a simpler life style, count it as a blessing if causes us to be closer to the ones God has given us to love and serve. Everyone will soon die, but how many of us ever get a chance to live and enjoy life.

Brooklyn Lifestyles

Double Click on Picture to view detail

The other day on my way home from Coney Island I passed the home of a very simple man. I stopped and went back and took this picture. It says a lot about the necessities of life. Things we need to live… 1. Patriotism (All the Flags) 2. Celebration and Heritage (Happy Saint Pat's Day) 3. Be prepared with a backup plan (2 Umbrellas) 4. Keep warm (Blanket in Bag). 5. Something to cook food with (Utensils in the bag) 6. Something to bring in light when darkness surrounds (Lantern in cart) 7. A place to rest. (Marble Wall) 8. Appreciation of others (Blue and white flag in back). 9. The ability to move in a moments notice. 10. Love and appreciation for the things God’s has made (beautiful flowers)

Things not included:

A big house with multiple heating and air conditioning units
A bathroom with shower
A laundry room with big front loading washer and dryer
A 52” TV and $200 a month cable bill
Cars for everyone in the family
A computer and video game console with high speed internet
Netflix
A big lawn that needs to be mowed
The IRS guy pounding at the door
Cell phone
A stressful job
And the list goes on…

Love & Loneliness.

As my dear homeless friend once told me “loneliness is the hardest part of being homeless”. Having people who love and care for you is an important part of life. Somewhere between homelessness and the extravagant American lifestyle is a place where love can find its place undistracted. Often we feel that we need to provide stuff to make our family happy. I think this is an easy out to avoid having to really love and serve our family and friends.

This week My Godson and his family decided to go for a bike ride. They had such a good time. Like his dad, little Eric loves to ride his bike and does it very well for a 4 year old. It cost little more than time to make this happen. There was so much love floating around this ride.

All of this is not to promote being homeless as a desired lifestyle, but to suggest that in a world that promotes excessive materialism to buy happiness, we should examine what is really important in life and make loving and serving those around us more important than providing more stuff to make us happy.

Fatal fire strikes Bensonhurst

It is frigid today in Brooklyn with partly cloudy skies. When I went to walk the dog, my neighbor told me that there had been a fire in the neighborhood that started at 5am, killing 3 people. The fire was a few block from my home underneath the elevated train. This is the news release…

Three Dead, Three Injured in Bensonhurst Blaze

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Three people are dead, and several others were injured, including a 2-month-old infant, in a three-alarm fire in Brooklyn.
The early morning blaze happened at 2033 86th Street in the Bensonhurst section of the borough.
The fire engulfed the three-story building on a busy commercial strip, consuming a ground floor restaurant and apartments on the upper floors.
The infant suffered a head injury and was listed in extremely serious condition, officials said. It was reported the infant was thrown from a second story window.
The stairwell of the building collapsed trapping the victims, according to officials. Firefighters found two of the bodies on the third floor, the third was found on the second floor.
Thirteen firefighters were also injured in the blaze. It was not known what floor the fire started on...

Update: In total 5 people were killed and 17 injured. The fire started at the foot of the outside door which blocked the way of any trying to escape. FDNY is calling the fire very suspect.

When I went for milk the site of the fire was before me. FDNY officials were still on the block and onlookers were across the street. On the street the story was a little different. The parents on the second floor dropped 2 children to safety. One child fell on their head causing the trauma. We can easily identify with the parent who was desperately trying to save their children realizing that they might die in the fire. I think our imaginations fill in all the blanks. The family was said to be a Latin American family. There was a group of Latin Men gathered across the street being held back by the yellow police ribbon. They were very quite and huddled together to ward off the chilling wind. Lights were still flashing from the fire trucks and the fire men were putting away the equipment. Reporters from all the major stations were on the scene trying to get a story of interest. With the smell of smoke in your face, the eerie reality of death hung in the air. When you looked at the building you imagined agonizing faces trying to escape the fire with no avail.

Death seems to surround us all. There is a nursing home out on Coney Island called Sea Crest. As nursing homes go it is clean and nice. Evelyn Moen, my godson’s grandmother was placed there in December. She turned 87 in December and was placed there after she suffered brain seizures. This was to be for a period of rehabilitation. As time went on it is becoming a final resting place. Because it is so close to my home, I am able to visit her frequently. We talk about old times and pray. Our prayer time is what she looks forward to. She is very content in her current situation, rarely complaining about anything. She has applied and has been accepted at the Norwegian Christian Home. Her son has not been doing well since his brother’s death and does not have the energy or the desire to facilitate her making the transfer. She is helpless as are we all since her son has power of attorney. Many people at this home are not as lucky as Evelyn. Most never get visits and are placed in a small room to sit and sleep away most of their days.

One man at the home would always talk to me. He is in his early 50’s. His name is William. William lived in East New York for most of his life. For nearly 30 years he worked at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City. His job was to scrape up the gum that people would toss on the floors. He told me that the building was large and with the amount of chewers passing through the building everyday, cleaning up the gum was a full time job. Several years back William suffered a stroke. He has been in several homes since that time, claiming Sea Crest to be one of the best home.

William sits by the front door greeting people as they come and go. He says that it helps to pass the day. He also lets me know who has come to visit Evelyn. For that I buy him Hot Chocolate. William looks forward to being able to go home sometime in April. He is walking little by little.

It would seem that the events such as a fatal fire and the final days in a nursing home point to the fragile element to life. It is fragile and brief. Death constantly snaps at us. One of the great discussions that I have with Evelyn is about her going to be with God in Heaven. She passionately looks forward to that moment. However she says over and over that until that time God has things her to do.

Several weeks ago I was early to catch the bus with Eric. I went into the park and sat to be quiet. A young man in his 20’s sat on the bench next to mine. He set up a little drum and was practicing a rhythm pattern. The beat was simple and uncluttered with any other instruments. Listening I was reminded how the beat goes on. Life itself moves forward. Over and over again we are reminded to seize the moments that pass by quickly. My mother gave me a picture one time and on it read, “Only one life will soon be past, Only what is done for Christ will Last” Let us determine ourselves to be servants of Christ, loving and encouraging those whom we come into contact with.

Polar Bear Swim, Coney Island 2010 New Years Day

Happy New Year from Coney Island. Today is the famous Polar Bear Club swim. This is the day when everyone who wanted to take a dip in the freezing waters gets a chance. Now the theory is that the colder the day, the warmer the water feels. The weather leading up to today made this year very uncertain. December 21st was a snow day in NY with rain in the late afternoon. Snow was predicted for New Years Day. When I got up in the morning it was overcast and about 42 degrees. Around 9am I went to church. It was a simple service but very refreshing. Right after church, around 10.30 I headed to the boardwalk (2 blocks) and it was already becoming crowded. Generally there are a few thousand people who show up for the Polar Bear swim. It is all based on the weather. By 11.30am the weather was perfect, the temperature held at 45 degrees with the sun peaking out.

This was going to be a big day. I started working at the Grill House. Today my job was to fill all coffee orders. By the time I got behind the counter the crowds were increasing. The fire department had fortified the beaches with emergency equipment and had erected a heating shelter for people who froze themselves. We were so busy serving people up until 12.45 when the event starts. At that point people move to the beach area. I take a break and head out there to photograph the event. This year there were so many people it was hard to even reach the beach. The media was there with cameras and reporters gathering the latest information from the old timers who had 20 or more years of this under their belts. At precisely 1pm, the swimmers began their approach into the water. Hundreds upon Hundreds of them jumped into the water. The energy generated by the crowds cheering helped most to forget that they were jumping into a freezing body of water. People of all ages and ethnic groups enjoyed this event. As soon as most got half way in and felt the freezing water against their bare skin, they turned around and ran out. Screaming was heard across the beach. There were so many swimmers that they had to go into the water in waves. There is nothing like this event. For some of the swimmers this was a family event. There were a lot of dads with their sons and daughters. It was fun watching the fathers give their sons final instructions. I am sure these kids will never forget this meaningful event. As fast as the people were in the water they exited. By 3pm the beach and boardwalk were back to a normal quiet state with the sun beginning to set on a new year. At that point my work at the Gill House was over. I smelt like burnt sausage and greasy fries. My dear friend Steve who owns the Grill House gave me a hug goodbye and off I went.

I am not much of a football fan, so this little event really makes for a wonderful New Years Day. During the church service I was able to reflect on what I wanted to accomplish in this New Year. There is an enormous amount of encouragement that needs to be done this year. Lots of people are struggling and thirst for the Love of God that is given through His people. I am looking forward to the journey in this next year. God always has managed to surprise me with his creative management of my life.

May God bless your new year and give you many opportunities to serve His interests. Happy New Year from Brooklyn, USA

Out takes - Double Click on any picture to view in large scale...

Brooklyn Christmas

Remember to click on pictures to enlarge them!

Well, we got lucky, a big snow storm. How fun. Brooklyn is transformed during a snow storm. When I woke up on Sunday, getting to church was a mile walk away. It was about 8am and there was still a cold wind pressing against my face. I decided to walk in the street facing traffic. This made the walk a little easier. With nearly a foot on the ground, walking on the sidewalk was difficult. As I walked, I watched for the B82 which would drop me right in front of the church. The problem was whether I should risk waiting or walk to the next stop. I continued walking just in case the bus did not show up. After walking half way to the church the bus came. The driver let me off in a show drift next to the church. The church was shoveled out but very few people showed up for the early service. After church I headed to the boardwalk. Upon approaching the Grill House I saw a bunch of people gathered at the end of Stillwell. It turns out that a charity had set up a tables for poor people to come and get gifts for their children. It was still snowing and very windy. People were waiting in line in hopes of getting something for their children.

The boardwalk was mostly covered with snow. Very few people had been on the boardwalk so it was still very pristine. I walked up and down the boardwalk taking pictures. It was so beautiful. The waves from the ocean were still large and the wind was blowing the water all over the place. The fishing peer was completely covered with snow. They put up fences to stop the drifting sand, but this did not do much for the snow.

As the day progressed my godson and his family decided to go light looking around our neighborhood. The decorations were amazing. The snow added to the beauty of the decorations.

We are now headed towards Christmas day.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas.

Barre.

Walk by Ocean in Coney Island

Today is Sunday, October 4th. It is a bright, sunny, beautiful day. After Church this morning I went to the boardwalk to exercise, which is to take a nice walk for about 3 miles. When I reached the end I decided to walk along the waters edge on the return trip. The ocean was gentle and had a salty smell. As I walked I could feel the cold water surrounding my feet and then recede. My feet were pleasantly surprised each time the water returned in a refreshing movement. The beautiful weather brought out many people.

As I walked the fog began to close in because of the temperature differences. As the fog gathered density I began to feel very alone as I walked.

Today is the day to recognized St Francis of Assisi. He was a man who saw the creation of God as an amazing blessing for which he could only give himself back to God in response. Here is his famous prayer.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

On the 25th of September at the back door of Queensboro Correctional Facility, my friend Keith was released after serving 14 years behind bars. As he got into the car he cried. Getting him settled has been a daunting task. First he needed a cell phone. He looked at mine and had no clue what to do with it. There were no buttons only a screen. I laughed at how much our world had changed. He had never seen Walmart, Costco, BJ’s or Target and it was a shock to see and deal with all the technology. He saved his pay for 3 years and came out with $1400 to start his life anew. We decided that my home was not a good place for him to stay since I already had Valentyn and Harlow. I began 3 months prior to his release looking for apartments. As the day neared I had a couple of good leads. During the first day, all of those leads fell through. So we went back to an Irish lady who I had come across who at first was very interested in housing Keith but later said no. When she saw him she welcomed him with open arms. She had a bed in her basement where he could park until he found better living space. This week after looking at several rooms, he found one that was close to his family and did not cost much. We moved him in yesterday. God gave us furniture. Valentyn’s mom moved and left a bedroom set and lots of other stuff for Valentyn. So I took her furniture from her room and gave it to Keith. While we were moving that, he spotted a brand new couch on the sidewalk with a sign on it saying “Free”. He has prospects for employment and will need to work soon to cover his rent. It is very hard to be released from prison.

Thursday while I was taking a walk as Keith was at the DMV to get an ID card, I went by the Grill House. As I got there one of the workers pulled me aside and told me that one of our good friends, Gary, had died. Gary was nearing 40. He had been laid off from a good job and for nearly 2 years had been unable to find work. He was discovered by his wife after he failed to pick up their nine year old for school. She frantically called one of his friends to ask him how she was going to tell her daughter. Steve the owner of the Grill House was really shaken up by this as they are the same age.

To his honor, Gary was a quiet and reserved man who appeared on the boardwalk each morning with a cup of coffee and several cans of cat food. Over the two years he began to take care of the Boardwalk Cats and kittens. They would wait at the same spot every day for Gary. Often Gary would bring his daughter with him to the boardwalk. Unlike other social gatherings like the office or on the train or other places where you are up against or with people, on the boardwalk there is a deep sense of community where people afford themselves lots of time to talk and integrate. Gary was deeply integrated into the lives of many people on the boardwalk. His daily presence will be deeply missed. Each year around this time people disappear for the winter months. In the late spring when people begin to convene again, there is always a sobering feeling that some never made it through the winter.

God reminds us early and often to enjoy those around us. Tomorrow things may change.

Be Blessed, Barre.

Brooklyn's Summer End

The summer is over… Wow was that fast. At the end of every summer for three weeks until Labor Day we have the 18th Avenue Feast. Unlike many street fairs where the vendors are on tour all summer, this fair has mostly local vendors, serving their finest dishes. Since this is the heart of the Italian neighborhood, the food is amazing. One of the first people I encountered was the man who hand dipped chocolate creations and candy apples right in front of you. Your mouth watered as he stirred the chocolate in a huge vat. When we arrived it was still day time but within minutes the sun set. As soon it became, dark crowds of people appeared. I really wanted a sausage and pepper sandwich. On every block there were vendors selling these. We finally found a local vendor who made the most amazing sandwich. Although it cost a fortune, it was so fresh and sweet. After that Little Eric decided he wanted to go down a huge slide. Only catch was he did not want to go alone. So he got his dad to climb the narrow stairs and sit on a patch of material and down the slide they went, three times. Then it was time to win a live fish. (without a bowl or food) After this I managed to find a Spanish guy who was cooking steak on this huge kettle fire. The steaks were huge and he flipped them like pancakes. Before we left some two hours later, I had to have some zeppoli. Now zeppoli have to be hot and fresh straight out of the pot. They were great.

In the midst of this fair was the Shrine that was the now hidden motive for this feast. For years the church was the center of the community and it was a joyous church celebration (and money maker) that was clearly the point of the feast. It has been rumored that the wise guys collected great sums of money from the store owners (about 10% of the gross yearly income) to give to the church. That practice has faded and now each vendor pays around $2000 for a slot in the fair. This neighborhood has changed and there is a large Asian population which was also felt at this fair. The Mexicans also showed up with their sweet corn pancakes.

Earlier this week I stopped by the gardener’s house that was mentioned some time ago. He is a year older and his garden is as beautiful as ever. However, this year he was very tired and found it difficult getting around except with the use of a cane.

Coney Island is now standing ready to reinvent itself. How long or how that will happen is unknown. All the rain and hurricanes made business slow this summer. The City closed the beaches for nearly a week while storms passed by. None the less, people still appeared on the boardwalk. One person caught my eye. He would frequent Coney Island during the summer months and loved to dress for the occasion. With his colorful dog and bird he sat enjoying the remaining hours of sunlight. Donna Summer was in concert here last week and she blew people away singing all the songs she had become famous for. So that is the news from Brooklyn.

Have a wonderful Labor Day.