BW01122020 - Page 6

6 BROOKLYN WEEKLY, JANUARY 12, 2020 �� COLD OPENING Driver slays woman in Canarsie hit-and-run �� BY JESSICA PARKS Police are hunting for the motorist behind a deadly hit-and-run that claimed the life of a 70-year-old woman in Canarsie on Friday. Surveillance video shows the driver turning their black Nissan Maxima onto Flatlands Avenue at around 1 pm, when the motorist slammed into Maria Lorente, who was crossing the street at E. 78th Street. The motorist drove off before authorities arrived on the scene and took Lorente to Brookdale Hospital in Brownsville, where doctors pronounced her dead, according to police. Mourners gathered at the home of Lorente’s family on Sunday, where Borough President Eric Adams �� This newspaper is not responsible for typographical errors in ads beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2020 by Brooklyn Courier Life LLC. The content of this newspaper is protected by Federal copyright law. This newspaper, its advertisements, articles, and photographs may not be reproduced, either in whole or part, without permission in writing from the publisher except brief portions for purposes of review or commentary consistent with the law. Postmaster, send address changes to Courier Life, One MetroTech Center North, Third Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201. �� pleaded for a witness. “I hope someone will pick up the phone and let us know what happened. The family is so traumatized,” said Borough President Eric Adams. “It is important we give the family support and help them to navigate the process of losing a loved one in a tragic way and an unimaginable pain, just blocks from their house.” Lorente — a Florida resident, who was visiting her family in Brooklyn for the holidays — was just steps from her son’s home at the time of her demise, according to her grieving child. “My mother was 70 years old, and she lived a good life, but she still had more years — she was a go getter and happy person,” said Jose Tapanes. Mourners gathered in Canarsie on Sunday after a 70-year-old woman was fatally struck by a car. Photo by Todd Maisel Brookynites celebrate new year with annual Polar Bear Plunge Thousands of Brooklynites took part in this year’s Polar Bear Plunge in Coney Island. Photos by Erica Price BY ROSE ADAMS It was a cold opening to the new decade! Thousands of teethchattering Brooklynites rang in the new decade by braving the frigid Coney Island waters for the Polar Bear Plunge — which has become an annual tradition for thrill-seeking revelers looking to kick off the new year, said one swimmer. “At this point, it’s kind of a New Year’s tradition to start the new year off by challenging yourself,” said Bay Ridgite Matt Huff, who uses the event each year as a reunion for him and about a dozen high school friends. Midday temperatures hovered above freezing as the wintertime beach-goers hit the shores, making the 116th installment of the dive slightly more tame than some colder years. The 43-degree water especially tame compared to 2018, when land conditions dropped to a bone-chilling 7-degrees, according to the president of the Polar Bear Club. “We had a sunny day and decent turnout,” said Dennis Thomas. Around 3,000 people descended on the beach for this year’s event, with many donning creative costumes, bringing food, and dancing to the DJ on the boardwalk. “The whole event was great,” said Bay Ridge resident John Lubrano, who jumped into the water dressed as Giants quarterback Eli Manning. “Tons of positivity.” To encourage swimmers to enter the water, rows of drummers played motivational music, according to Thomas. “It provides that last burst of energy before they get into the cold water,” he said. Many swimmers said that they liked participating in the plunge because the cold water gave them a refreshing start to the new year. “I wanted to start this year out with a bang,” said Rolden.