2019 REVIEW
Not O-KKK: Borough
President Eric Adams put
his foot in it when he compared
a critic on social media
to the Ku Klux Klan. Twitter
user CorruptBrooklyn had
slammed the beep and local
Councilman Stephen Levin
for their weak stance on the
rampant placard parking
abuse in Downtown Brooklyn
on Aug. 27. Adams shot back,
likening his detractor to people
who “hid themselves with
white hoods,” and the internet
reacted swiftly to condemn
the Beep’s bone headed
move.
Bridging the gap: The
Kosciuszko Bridge’s decadesin
the-works second span
opened on Aug. 29. The cablestayed
bridge for the Brooklyn
bound side of the Brooklyn
Queens Expressway was
ready for a fresh stream of
COURIER LIFE,14 DEC. 27, 2019-JAN. 2, 2020
traffi c, more than two years
after the grand opening of its
Queens-bound side. The $873
million state project also included
a pedestrian and bike
path, and replaced the original
1939 built span, which was
dismantled after the fi rst section’s
completion in 2017.
Pond rescue: The NYPD
brought out the big guns to
rescue an allegedly “emotionally
disturbed” man
from Prospect Park’s shallow
lake. Scuba cops rappelled
into the water from a
helicopter to reach the lone
swimmer, who was cast away
in the manmade lake that
reaches a maximum depth of
about 7 feet. The huge police
presence brought a summers
day in Brooklyn’s Backyard
to a standstill as the man
was hauled ashore before being
rushed to Methodist Hospital
for a psychiatric evaluation.
Assembly corruption:
A staffer for Assemblyman
Felix Ortiz was arrested for
allegedly embezzling funds
from the Sunset Park pols
campaign in August, before a
jury found him guilty in September.
The staffer, Maruf
Alam, served Ortiz’s offi ce
in several different roles, including
chief of staff. According
to a federal complaint,
Alam fi led false disclosure
forms with the New York
State Board of Elections, and
cut several checks for himself
while serving as the campaigns
treasurer.
September
Pickleball: The paper
shed light on the athletic sensation
sweeping southern
Brooklyn — pickleball! The
senior friendly sport was introduced
to the area by Mill
Basin resident Bob Spieler,
who picked up the racket
sport while spending time
in Florida. Upon his return
to Brooklyn, Spieler claimed
he was surprised the snowbird
state’s sport of choice
hadn’t made it’s way to Kings
County, so he joined forces
with the Marine Park Active
Adults and Senior Center
to begin hosting pickleball
matches at Marine Park’s
paddleboard courts every
Continued from Page 12
Continued on Page 16
Fierce competition: Mel Shapiro, Jean Wilson, Donna Melli, and Michael
Chaiet broke a sweat playing pickleball last Friday, where Marine Park
residents gather for the weekly face-offs. Photo by Derrick Watterson
NYPD divers rescued the emotionally disturbed man from Prospect Park
Lake and took him to Methodist Hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
Photo by Paul Martinka
They count on you,
So count on us to
keep you going.
Medicare Advantage with
Prescription Drug Plans
$0 or Low Cost Plan Premiums
Health plan options for those with Medicare
and those with both Medicare and Medicaid
Call for eligibility and enrollment
agewellnewyork.com
718-696-0206
TTY/TDD 800-662-1220
AgeWell New York, LLC is a HMO plan with a Medicare and Medicaid contract. Enrollment in AgeWell New York, LLC depends on contract renewal. ATTENTION:
If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-866-237-3210 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-662-1220). Hours
are 7 days a week from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Note: From April 1 to September 30, we may use alternate technologies on Weekends and Federal holidays.
Assistance services for other languages are also available free of charge at the number above. AgeWell New York complies with applicable Federal civil
rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of races, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. AgeWell New York cumple con las leyes federales de
derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. AgeWell New York ��������������������
���������������������������������������������������������������������� H4922_Count4002_M Accepted 09082019
/agewellnewyork.com
