311 – Emperor Galerius legally recognizes Christians in the Roman Empire 1492 – Columbus is given royal commission to equip his fleet 1789 – George Washington inaugurated as first president of US 1803 – US doubles in size through Louisiana Purchase ($15 million) 1808 – First practical typewriter finished by Italian Pellegrini Turri 1859 – […]
Archives for April 2018
EYES TO THE SKY April 30 – May 13, 2018
The Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF) is a magnet for amateur astronomers, professionals and those simply curious about astronomy and space exploration. Over Earth Day weekend, which included worldwide Astronomy Day, April 21, I was one of thousands who streamed along the paths to NEAF venues on the Rockland Community College campus, an hour northwest […]
Arterial Concerns
Tomorrow (Tuesday, May 1) evening, the Battery Park City Committee of Community Board 1 (CB1) will host a review and update about plans for improving pedestrian safety and traffic flow on South End Avenue. Because these plans have under development for several years, and some versions of the proposed design have been controversial, community leaders […]
April 25
1449 – Anti-pope Felix V resigns 1507 – Geographer Martin Waldseemuller first used name America 1684 – Patent granted for thimble 1792 – Guillotine first used in France, executes highwayman Nicolas J Pelletier 1850 – Paul Julius Reuter, use 40 pigeons to carry stock market prices 1859 – Ground broken for Suez Canal 1861 – […]
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
The board of the Gateway Plaza Tenants Association (GPTA) has been almost entirely reconstituted since residents stood for election last October, with a new slate of community leaders and activists taking the helm. The Association’s new president is Karlene Wiese, who is backed up by first vice president Rosalie Joseph and second vice president Honey […]
April 24
1184 BC – The Greeks enter Troy using the Trojan Horse 1066 – Halley’s Comet sparks English monk to predict country will be destroyed 1800 – Library of Congress established with $5,000 allocation In 1800, as part of an act of Congress providing for the removal of the new national government from Philadelphia to Washington, […]
Battery Park City Wayfinding Signage Survey
The Battery Park City Authorityis in the process of developing new wayfinding signage, intended to guide motorists, bicyclists, transit users, and pedestrians along and through streets (in concert and coordination with existing New York City street signage), sidewalks, public spaces, and transition points across Battery Park City’s 92-acres. This process will result in the […]
9/11 Advocacy That Makes All the Difference
Turley, Hansen & Rosasco, LLP is a law firm that focuses exclusively on representing Downtown residents and workers impacted by exposure to toxins in the air after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. As they seek financial compensation and medical care for their clients, the firm is emerging as one of the leading advocates […]
April 23
1597 – William Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor is first performed, with Queen Elizabeth I of England in attendance. 1635 – Oldest US public institution, Boston Latin School founded 1838 – English steamship “Great Western” crossing Atlantic docks in NYC 1861 – Robert E. Lee named commander of Virginia Confederate forces 1900 – First […]
Where Landmarks Are Plentiful, But Development Enroaches
One of the more obvious ways in which Lower Manhattan is being radically transformed before the eyes of people who live here is the proliferation of new buildings. A less apparent, but still significant, driver of the ongoing local metamorphosis is the rate at which older buildings — in some cases, historic — are being […]