Good morning. Today is the 53rd day of the year. It is the birth anniversary (1732) of George Washington, first president of the United States. Washington was the commander in chief of the Continental, or American, forces during the American Revolution.  He later presided over the Constitutional Convention and, as president, opposed U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts. Washington also became an opponent of slavery late in life and provided in his will that his slaves be freed upon his death.

 

Well-known people who were born today include golfer Amy Alcott, singer James Blunt and Hall of Fame basketball player Julius “Dr. J” Erving.

 

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Tonight at 6:30 p.m., the Youth/Human Services/Education Committee of Community Board 6 will hold its monthly meeting at Red Hook Initiative, 767 Hicks St.

 

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Brooklyn Grange, a commercial rooftop farming company, will expand its operations this spring to the roof of Building 3 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, according to PRWeb. The project will be jointly funded by the Department of Environmental Protection, Brooklyn Grange and the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation. The new farm will grow tomatoes, herbs, peppers, kale, eggplant, beans, cucumbers and more. Brooklyn Grange currently has a working rooftop farm in Long Island City, Queens.

 

According to the Daily News, a regular customer at the Midwood kosher food store Pomegranate was recently arrested for stealing expensive cheeses, then selling them to smaller grocery stores. Steven Schwartz, who was arrested on Feb. 9, allegedly had been shopping daily — and stealing daily — for three years. A Pomegranate employee told news media that Schwartz would fill a plastic crate with cheeses, then conceal it with a second crate holding two gallons of milk, which he would pay for.

 

Pardon Me for Asking says there may have been more to the recent closing of Sweet Melissa, the well-known bakery at 276 Court St., than owner Melissa Murphy’s farewell message revealed. Murphy said she would continue her business out of her other bakery in Park Slope so she could shift her focus back to baking and developing new recipes. However, Pardon Me for Asking reproduced a photo of a notice from the Kings County Marshal’s Office taped to the Court Street storefront saying the marshal’s office — which usually takes such steps when a merchant has defaulted on rent payments — has taken possession of the store.