Central Park

The Daily Plant : Thursday, November 16, 2000

SOCCER DADS TRAP IT, PEP SCORES THE GOAL

SOCCER DADS TRAP IT, PEP SCORES THE GOAL

Eight soccer dads, six PEP officers and one powerful Nextel proved a formidable team last Sunday in the arrest of a perpetrator on the soccer fields of Central Park. At 10:45 a.m. little leaguers were warming up on the North Meadow. Moments later, they reported the attempted theft of a backpack to Manhattan Borough Commissioner Adrian (A-Train) Benepe who arrived for his son's game. The perpetrator bicycled away and, before the eyes of the parents, attempted to steal another backpack one field over. Commissioner Benepe radioed Central Communications and rushed after the perpetrator with several other dads. Within a minute, A-Train reports, six PEP officers arrived at the scene and Christopher Fugate arrested the man. Also present were PEP officers Anthony Prastaro, Tawana Archer, Janet Miranda, Lieutenant Henry Perez, and Sargent Benne Mccants. The soccer dads kindly took the time to report the crime at the police station. Their accommodation and the technological fast break made for a powerful one-two.

ALWAYS FAITHFUL

The US Marine Corps honored Rich (Ricardo) Murphy, Queens Chief of Operations Wednesday, November 8 for his consistent effort to foster smooth relations between the Queens community and the police force. His efforts affirm the Marine code of ethics, to integrate the values of the Marine Corps into daily life.

Over 2000 current and retired Marines assembled at 1 Police Plaza to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the Marine Corps and to designate several awards. Ricardo was proud to be the only recipient from an agency other than the NYPD to receive an award.

MARINE PARK HALLOWEEN WALK GARNERS PRAISE

Carmine Carro, President of the Marine Park Civic Association recently reported to Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern that this year's Annual Halloween Walk in Marine Park was a stunning success. On a beautiful, warm Saturday, residents of the Marine Park Community and other Brooklyn neighborhoods explored Marine Park's haunted marshes. The young and old enjoyed sweet treats and a puppet show that concluded their seasonal adventure.

In particular, Carro's letter commended Laurence (Checker) Major, Dorothy Siminski, Robert (Neptune) Lucia and Patrick (Bucky) Epstein and their staffs, describing them as "the key component to the continued success of the Halloween Walk." Thanks to them and all who make the haunted walk a success worthy of public notice.

CALLING ALL ARTISTS

This winter season, from December 13 to January 6, the Arsenal Gallery will exhibit wreaths created by artists like yourselves. The theme is "a celebration of life" and wreaths can be constructed out of any material of your choosing. Please submit proposals in the form of a sketch to Adrian (Sassafras) Sas, Public Art Coordinator by Friday, November 17. Adrian can be reached at (212) 360-8163. Please send your proposals through inter-office mail to Adrian at Arts and Antiquities, the Arsenal, Room 23.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Thursday, November 19, 1987)

CENTRAL PARK'S GLADE ARCH GETS COMPLETE RESTORATION

Central Park's Glade Arch, located near East 76th Street is currently undergoing complete rehabilitation by an in-house restoration crew at a cost of $175,000. The work will arrest a potentially dangerous deterioration problem and preserve an important component of the park's pedestrian pathway system. The roadway over the bridge, which is closed to vehicular traffic, is severely cracked and broken and its drains are clogged. These problems have contributed to extensive water leakage through the bridge ceiling. Salts and moisture have also caused 60% of the 4,000 tunnel bricks to break up and chip. These will be replaced with new hand-made bricks currently being fabricated in Virginia to match the originals in size and color. In addition, the bridge deck will be restored by removing the old asphalt, pouring a new concrete water proof membrane and then resurfacing the deck with asphalt paving. At the same time, new drains will be installed and existing ones cleaned.

QUOTATIONS FOR THE DAY

"In our world of big names, curiously, our true heroes tend to be anonymous. In this life of illusion and quasi-illusion, the person of solid virtues who can be admired for something more substantial than his well-knownness often proves to be the unsung hero; the teacher, the nurse, the mother, the honest cop, the hard worker at lonely, underpaid, unglamorous, unpublicized jobs."

Daniel J. Boorstein (B. 1914)

"I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom."

Bob Dylan (b. 1941)

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center