BENSONHURST'S PREMIER NEWS BLOG

Image courtesy of NYSenate.gov

State Senator Marty Golden’s most recent gun bill has received early support from Mayor Bloomberg, as the issue takes center stage in the campaign to keep his seat.

Golden plans to stiffen penalties against people who plant “community guns” – weapons hidden in locations for use by gang members and other criminals.

“Today you have a person or a gang that will have one gun that all its members use and know where it is,” said Golden. “Gun sharing is the latest tactic used to get illegal firearms in the hands of criminals and this necessary legislation will hold accountable not just those people who commit the crimes, but those make the illegal guns available.”

The bill would bring felony charges against anyone who shares a gun that is later used in a violent crime. Prosecutors have difficulty bringing charges in such cases because they must prove the person knew the shared gun was going to be used for a crime.

Senate Republicans plan to support the bill when the Legislature begins session in January.

Democrats have been pushing their own gun-control bills, while State Senate Candidate Andrew Gounardes recently issued a press release criticizing Golden’s “complete failure to pass common sense gun laws.”

Gounardes points out that a 2010 bill on microstamping failed to come to a vote after Golden left the Senate room to take a phone call. Microstamping is a process which imprints bullet casings with the make, model, and serial number of the gun from which they were fired.

Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg have been pushing politicians, including both presidential campaigns, to address the issue of gun violence.

In March, Senator Golden sponsored two bills that were passed by the Senate. One bill increased the penalties for criminals who display a gun during a crime and the other bill lengthened the jail sentence for criminal sale or possession of a weapon at a residence of a child or in the presence of a child.

Bowl for free this Saturday, August 11 in celebration of the first annual National Bowling Day. Bowling centers across the country, including local spots Maple Lanes and Shell Lanes, are participating with free game coupons.

To access a coupon for a free game, stop by GoBowling.com or “Like” GoBowling’s Facebook page. Then, print the coupon out and bring it with you to redeem the game. Remember, it is limited to one free game per person, so no gutter balls!

Maple Lanes, located at 1570 60th Street, is open from 9 a.m. till midnight every Saturday.

Get your Fred Flinstone bowling stance, your “Big Lewboski” references and get ready to X (that’s a strike for the uninitiated). Oh and if you go, make sure to tell them that the Bean sent you.

Source: Greg McMullin/Flickr

On My Block Films (OMBF) is inviting New Yorkers to use their filmmaking talents while getting to know their neighbors better.

New Yorkers from all boroughs are invited to participate in the inaugural Neighborhood Filmmaking Challenge, which aims to promote stronger communities through the process of filmmaking.

Participants must shoot a one- to five-minute narrative or documentary film that takes place on their street, either inside or outside. The entire cast and crew must be made up of real neighbors.

From August through October 31, films can be uploaded to the OMB website and the public will be able to vote on a film by liking it on Vimeo. The 30 films with the most Vimeo likes will proceed to be judged by an official panel during the first week of November. Awards will be presented to the Best Narrative Film, Best Documentary Film, and Best In Show.

OMBF was created earlier this year to bring New Yorkers closer together and showcase the diversity and unique identities of people in the city. The organization is hoping to put together a number of films about each borough and in the process bring together neighbors who might otherwise be strangers.

To sign up for the challenge or for additional information, please contact Mary Crosse at mary@onmyblockfilms.com or visit onmyblockfilms.com.

And remember, if you make a film, let us know so we can encourage fellow readers to vote for you!

Bensonhurst native Marco Manfre makes his literary debut with “The Outcast Prophet of Bensonhurst,” a coming-of-age novel about a boy growing up in Bensonhurst in the 1950s through 1971.

The book follows Anacleto, a shy, reclusive personality with an eccentric family. His family ties and personality make Anacleto an outcast in his neighborhood. Throughout the story, Anacleto struggles with family problems, religious beliefs, free speech, and the war in Vietnam, all while painting a vivid picture of Bensonhurst in a past era.

“I think the book really captures the true essence of Bensonhurst at the time,” Manfre told Bensonhurst Bean. “One part describes how we used to play street games, especially stickball, in the street with what we called a ‘spaldeen.’ It was a pink rubber ball that was a imitation of a Spalding ball. We used to go to the movies every weekend for 26 cents. The theater showed a double feature, plus a newsreel and cartoons. These middle aged women called matrons would walk up and down the aisle looking for bad kids. Everyone’s family knew each other and watched out for each other. There were candy stores everywhere, and the pharmacies had malted machines. I would be 11 or 12 years old taking the train to the city with my friends. Growing up I never wished to live anywhere else. I don’t think the book would have been the same had I lived somewhere else.”

After graduating high school, Manfre’s mother gave him two choices: Join the Army or go to college. The ultimatum, he says, was given to his friends by their mothers as well.

Manfre chose to attend Brooklyn College, which, minus books and a registration fee, was free for students. In the story, Anacleto’s older brothers chose to join the Army and came back emotionally scarred after fighting in the Vietnam War.

The book gives readers a feeling for the anti-war sentiment that was spreading at the time, which Manfre said is very similar to the general public’s feelings towards the recent campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. The book takes place in  past decades, but the issues the characters deal with are topics that are relevant today, especially religion, racism, drug abuse and growing up.

According to Manfre, the biggest change in the neighborhood since that time is the demographics. While the Bensonhurst of today is home to immigrants from various parts of the world including Asia, Central America and Eastern Europe, the area at the time was almost strictly Italian and Jewish.

Aside from the shifting demographics, the heart of Bensonhurst, and Brooklyn as a whole, remains the same.

It is “a city of walkers,” as Manfre puts it. To Manfre, it is a place where you can step outside of your house and immediately see interesting people and unique places. There is always someone to talk to in New York and always something to do.

Though the characters in the story face challenges that most people deal with, the setting of the book could only be Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

Source: Jeff Belmonte via Wikimedia Commons

A couple at the Bensonhurst Center for Rehabilitation and Health Care at 1740 84th Street are showing the world you’re never too old to find love.

70-year-old Richard Nygaard tied the knot with his girlfriend Frances Buttel on Tuesday in front of family and friends. Neither has been married before, and both said they could not be happier, according to NY1.

“God had me wait 70 years for her and she waited a long time for me. I won’t say how many years. 21-plus, we’ll say,” said Nygaard.

The couple met at the nursing home and started out as friends before deciding to get married in January.

“I feel that you have to start out as friends. And that’s how Richard and I started. As friends. And it doesn’t hurt that he had blue eyes, either,” gushed the happy bride.

Source: eagle102.net via Wikimedia Commons

Legislation sponsored by Senator Martin Golden was signed into law today to help returning war veterans find employment.

The law, signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, expands the employment section on the Division of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) website. The website will now include links to state and federal governmental programs that will assist veterans in finding employment, as well as resources from the federal and state labor departments.

“Military veterans are highly trained, often in specialized skills that are in great demand in the public and private sectors,” Cuomo said. “It is essential that our returning service men and women have access to the many resources available on the state and federal level to help veterans find jobs in the civilian workforce.”

This legislation builds on other Cuomo-backed efforts to help military veterans find work. In November 2011, he launched the “Experience Counts” campaign. This is a statewide initiative that recognizes life skills gained while in the service as specialized training. For example, if a veteran applying for commercial driving licensing has military experience operating a similar vehicle, the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles will wave a road test.

“Our government must support these men and women as best as possible, for these soldiers have made sure that we remain a safe and free nation,” said Golden.

Source: L. Frank Cabrera via Wikimedia Commons

Bensonhurst brawler Paulie Malignaggi will make his Barclays Center debut on October 20th, reports ESPN.

The “Brooklyn Pride” event will not have Malignaggi headline against Amir Khan as was expected. Instead, the Brooklyn native will fight 22 year-old Mexican Pablo Cano (25-1-1 with 19 KO’s).

Cano is not as well-known as some of the boxers who were speculated to fight, but Malignaggi says he has plans for a much bigger fight in the near future.

“There is a long-term plan. My fans should stay patient, there is a very big fight coming, but it’s hush hush for now,” said Malignaggi.

His promotion team has reportedly been in talks with Zab Judah, another big-name Brooklyn native. There are also rumors that British superstar Ricky Hatton may come out of retirement to fight either Malignaggi or Khan.

For now, Malignaggi says he must take his opponent seriously.

“He’s a very good body puncher, he’ll try to take my legs away,” he said.

The WBA Welterweight Champion also said he expects a lively audience in downtown Brooklyn. He hopes his own home fans will cheer him on, but also expects a large Central American following for Cano and headliner Erik Morales.

Former champion Morales will take on Danny Garcia for the main event on October 20th, which looks to be an exciting debut for boxing at the Barclays Center.

Source: THOR via Wikimedia Commons

The Brooklyn Blue Storm, Bensonhurst’s own Little League champions, are headed to Georgia for a tournament with their pockets full thanks to generous donations from the community.

The squad needed $5,000 to rent vans to drive down south after advancing to the American Amateur Baseball Congress World Series last Saturday.

The team came up short on donations and asked the Daily News for help. After publishing their story, locals donated $3,300.

Then, Bay Ridge Toyota cut them a check for $5,000.

“If it’s in my power to help these kids get to Georgia then we’re going to help them. It’s an honor to do something like this. They are all great kids,” said dealership manager Michael Ianelli, who coaches his own Little League team in New Jersey.

The generosity didn’t stop there. Other donors added another $14,500, bringing the total to over $25,000.

Instead of driving 18-hours, the team decided to fly the players to Georgia and use any extra money for equipment and team jackets. A sports store from Washington Heights even donated new uniforms, but the team will stick with their lucky jerseys for the tournament.

“They want to thank everybody from the bottom of their little blue hearts,” said coach Danny Corona, 27. “Make way for us at the airport on Sunday. We’ll have the trophy in hand.”

Source: Stougard via Wikimedia Commons

Maimonides Medical Center has added a section to their website with information teaching New Yorkers how to keep cool during a heat wave.

The city is in the midst of its hottest 12-month period since the Civil War, according to the Wall Street Journal. The summer began with heat indexes pushing 100-degrees and the heat continued last week as Tuesday’s temperatures reached 96-degrees. Last summer’s heat caused the deaths of 31 people throughout the city.

“The body has ways of keeping itself cool, by letting heat escape through the skin, and by perspiring,” says Dr. John Marshall, Chair of Emergency Medicine at Maimonides. “If the body does not cool properly or does not cool enough, the victim may suffer a heat-related illness. Anyone can be susceptible although the very young and very old are at greater risk. Heat-related illnesses can become serious or even deadly if unattended.”

The extensive guide covers everything from heat rash to sunburn. It features details, causes, solutions, treatments and prevention. The guide is worth checking out considering the scorching summer we’ve had.

Here are a few useful tips that may not be so obvious:

• Avoid the use of powders, creams, and ointments as they tend to block pores and keep skin warmer.

• Infants, children, and the elderly are especially susceptible to dehydration because of higher turnover of electrolytes. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, especially when it is very hot.

• Alcohol and caffeine interfere with the body’s ability to control its internal temperature and make you more susceptible to dehydration.

• Most doctors recommend using sunscreen with an SPF level of 30 or greater.

• Sunburn can be relieved by placing wet rags over the burn or with ibuprofen.

So make sure you keep cool in the weeks to come as temperatures are set to rise once again.

Mark Murphy called out his opponent in the race for the 11th Congressional District, Republican incumbent Michael Grimm, demanding he “come clean” about fundraising issues which are currently being investigated by the FBI.

It was recently revealed that a Brooklyn federal grand jury subpoenaed several of Grimm’s campaign workers to investigate allegedly illegal contributions to his 2010 congressional campaign, bringing the FBI investigation first reported by the New York Times back into the spotlight.

“More and more of his activities are generating serious concern from law enforcement officials and community leaders. Voters recognize that Grimm cannot serve his own constituents and address their needs so long as a dark cloud of federal scrutiny covers everything he does.” Murphy said. “Will you, as an ex-FBI agent demand accountability of your staff and demand that they be open and forthright with the FBI, and will you do the same?”

Grimm issued a response calling the allegations a “desperate and false character attack”:

As a former FBI Special Agent and a Marine Corps combat veteran, I have spent most of my adult life serving this country and standing up for the rule of law. Anyone who knows me and my values understands that these allegations are false, malicious, and have no basis whatsoever in truth.

Unlike those who have repeatedly and unlawfully leaked details of the investigation, I will not comment on grand jury proceedings out of respect for the process. We have stated consistently for six months now that we contacted the Justice Department and other appropriate agencies immediately after the New York Times irresponsibly raised these anonymous, false allegations in January. Importantly, the OCE – the only agency to have completed its review – voted unanimously and on a bipartisan basis to recommend dismissing these false allegations.

A spokesperson for Murphy responded later that night, insisting that voters demand to know the truth behind the allegations against Grimm.

Video courtesy of Politicker.