August 4, birthdays for Barack Obama, Jeff Gordon, Roger Clemens

Brooklyn Today

August 4, 2016 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

President Obama celebrates his birthday today. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Share this:

Greetings, Brooklyn. Today is the 217th day of the year.

ON THIS DAY IN 1926, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle published an article titled “Showers Bring Relief After 4 Die from Heat.”

The article focused on a storm that centered on Borough Hall and drenched the areas around it while leaving other sections of Brooklyn dry during a massive heatwave.

“Showers this afternoon brought relief to the sweltering city and broke the second wave of intense heat within a month,” the Eagle reported. “Northwest winds earlier throughout the day kept the temperature lower than yesterday, although seven heat prostrations were reported.”

****

NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include comedian and actor RICHARD BELZER, who was born in 1944; former baseball player ROGER CLEMENS, who was born in 1962; racecar driver JEFF GORDON, who was born in 1971; actor DANIEL DAE KIM, who was born in 1968; actress MEGHAN MARKLE, who was born in 1981; 44th President of the U.S. BARACK OBAMA, who was born in 1961; actor, voice artist and director KRISTOFFER TABORI, who was born in 1952; and Oscar Award-winning actor, director and screenwriter BILLY BOB THORNTON, who was born in 1955.

****

LOUIS ARMSTRONG was born on this day in 1900. The trumpet player and jazz musician extraordinaire was also known as Satchmo. He appeared in many films and his popular singles included “What a Wonderful World” and “Hello, Dolly.” When asked to define jazz, Armstrong reportedly replied, “Man, if you gotta ask, you’ll never know.” Armstrong died in New York City in 1971.

****

QUEEN ELIZABETH, the Queen Mother, was born on this day in 1900. A beloved member of the English royal family, the Queen “Mum” saw England through some of its most trying times in the 20th century. She married the then Duke of York in 1923, and when her husband was unexpectedly crowned King George VI in 1936, she became his strong and guiding support. She won the undying gratitude of her subjects when she refused to move the royal family to safety of the countryside during the German bombing of London in WWII. She died in 2002.

****

PERCY BYSSHE Shelley was born on this day in 1792. The poet was one of the leading English Romantic poets and embodiment of a free spirit. Shelley’s important works include “Ozymandias” and “Ode to the West Wind,” among others. He died in 1822.

****

SINGLE WORKING Women’s Day is celebrated on this day to honor the many single working women who do it all. For more information, visit swwan.org.

****

ART IN DUMBO’S First Thursday Gallery Walk will take place tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information on exhibitions, projects and galleries, please visit artindumbo.com.

****

LIVE AT THE ARCHWAY, a concert and performance series in DUMBO, will host Tanya Rynd, co-owner of local restaurant and music venue Superfine, along with her group Madame T and the Starlights tonight at 6 p.m. beneath the Manhattan Bridge Archway across from the Pearl Street Triangle. For more information, visit dumbo.is.

****

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

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”— President Barack Obama, who was born on this day in 1961.