April 16, birthdays for Luol Deng, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Akon

Brooklyn Today

April 16, 2015 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Miami Heat star Luol Deng celebrates his birthday today. AP photo

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ON THIS DAY in 1914, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle published an article titled “Woods to Drive Out Brooklyn ‘Crooks.’” The article focused on the commissioner at the time stressing that he and his team were preparing for an “invasion” that would drive out the criminals.

“Police Commissioner Arthur Woods admitted today that he fully realized the gravity of the police situation in Brooklyn, where burglars have been operating persistently and successfully,” the Eagle reported.

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include Hall of Fame basketball player KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, who was born in 1947; singer AKON, who was born in 1973; “Tender Mercies” actress ELLEN BARKIN, who was born in 1955; Pope Emeritus BENEDICT XVI, who was born in 1927; “Two and a Half Men” actor JON CRYER, who was born in 1965; basketball player LUOL DENG, who was born in 1985; “Witness” actor LUKAS HAAS, who was born in 1976; comedian and actor MARTIN LAWRENCE, who was born in 1965; former soccer player FREDDIE LJUNGBERG, who was born in 1977; “Crime Story” actor JAY O. SANDERS, who was born in 1953; and singer BOBBY VINTON, who was born in 1935.

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CHARLIE CHAPLIN was born on this day in 1889. Chaplin was an actor, comedian, director, producer, screenwriter and composer. He suffered through extreme poverty as a child, but escaped the workhouses as a touring music hall dancer and comic. Chaplin was knighted in 1975 and died in 1977.

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PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR Junot Diaz will speak at St. Francis College tonight at 7 p.m. in Brooklyn Heights. Diaz will speak as part of the Walt Whitman Writers Series. The event is free and open to the public.

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