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Oct. 16, birthdays for John Mayer, Tim Robbins, Suzanne Somers

Brooklyn Today

October 16, 2014 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Musician John Mayer celebrates his birthday today.
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Good morning, Brooklyn.  Today is the 289th day of the year. 

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ON THIS DAY in 1908, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle published an article titled “Queensboro Bridge Not Up to Contract.” The article focused on officials learning that, although the bridge was deemed safe, its carrying capacity would hold six tracks instead of the planned eight. 
“The Queensboro Bridge, it was learned this morning, does not come up to the contract specifications, nor will it be able to carry the traffic for which it was designed,” the Eagle reported.  “Designed for eight lines of transportation, it is not likely that more than six lines will ever be operated…”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include Olympic swimmer Melissa Louise Belote, who was born in 1956; “Northern Exposure” actor Barry Corbin, who was born in 1940; Gov. Jack Dalrymple (D-N.D.), who was born in 1948; former baseball player Juan Gonzalez, who was born in 1969; “Dog Years” author Gunter Grass, who was born in 1927; hockey player Paul Kariya, who was born in 1974; five-time Tony Award-winner Angela Lansbury, who was born in 1925; “Life Goes On” actress Kellie Martin, who was born in 1975; singer John Mayer, who was born in 1977; Oscar Award-winning actor for “Mystic River” Tim Robbins, who was born in 1958; “Three’s Company” actress Suzanne Somers, who was born in 1946; The Grateful Dead musician Bob Weir, who was born in 1947; and writer and producer David Zucker, who was born in 1947. 

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OSCAR WILDE was born on this day in 1854.  Wilde was a poet and playwright.  At the height of his career he was imprisoned for two years on a morals offense, leading him to write “A Ballad of Reading Gaol.” “We are all in the gutter,” he wrote in “The Importance of Being Earnest,” “but some of us are looking at the stars.”  He died in 1900. 

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THE FIRST U.S. BIRTH CONTROL clinic opened on this day in Brooklyn in 1916.  Margaret Sanger, Fania Mindell and Ethel Burne opened the clinic at 46 Amboy St.

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TODAY IS DICTIONARY DAY.  In honor of Noah Webster’s birthday, Dictionary Day is celebrated to encourage every person to own at least one dictionary — and to use it regularly. 

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HOLIDAY IN REALITY POETRY BLAST, curated by Pat Smith, will take place at 8 p.m. today at the Old Stone House in Park Slope (336 3rd St.).  The event is presented by Brooklyn Reading Works and also features Edwin Torres, Morgan Parker and Julia Guez.  The $10 cost at the door includes beer, wine and snacks. 

THE JAMAICAN AMBASSADOR of the U.S., Stephen Vasciannie, will deliver a lecture from 12 to 1 p.m. today at Brooklyn College’s Cold Room. 

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.                       


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