Nov. 17, birthdays for Martin Scorsese, Danny DeVito, Lorne Michaels

Brooklyn Today

November 17, 2014 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Famed director Martin Scorsese celebrates his birthday today. AP photo

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Greetings, Brooklyn. Today is the 321st day of the year.

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ON THIS DAY in 1903, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle published an article titled “Police Guard Coaches with Non-Union Drivers.”

The article focused on an announcement that coaches would be protected during a union strike.

“Coaches are being driven about the Heights to-day under the protection of policemen,” the Eagle reported. “The men on the drivers’ seats look rather green at the business and can’t boast of a union card. The latter fact is where the trouble comes in.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include Gov. Terry Branstad (R-Iowa), who was born in 1946; “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” actor Danny DeVito, who was born in 1944; television personality Daisy Fuentes, who was born in 1966; singer Isaac Hanson, who was born in 1980; model and actress Lauren Hutton, who was born in 1944; U.S. Sen. James M. Inhofe, who was born in 1934; singer and songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, who was born in 1938; “Braveheart” actress Sophie Marceau, who was born in 1966; “Scarface” actress Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who was born in 1958; “Saturday Night Live” producer Lorne Michaels, who was born in 1944; model and actor RuPaul, who was born in 1960; Oscar Award-winning director for “The Departed” Martin Scorsese, who was born in 1942; Hall of Fame baseball player George Thomas Seaver, who was born in 1944; “Gossip Girl” actor Matthew Settle, who was born in 1969; U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who was born in 1961; and “Nip/Tuck” actor Dylan Walsh, who was born in 1963.

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NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS WEEK begins today in New York City. From Nov. 17 to 21, the week of festivities is centered around the announcement for the winners for the National Book Awards.

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NATIONAL UNFRIEND DAY is today. Inspired by talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, National Unfriend Day is the day on which Facebook users take inventory of their “friends” list and eliminate those they don’t consider to be friends.

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AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK begins today. This annually celebrated week, observed since 1921, spotlights the importance of providing every child in America with quality public education from Kindergarten to college.

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