🌱 Sunset Park Daily: The City Mourns Fallen Officer Jason Rivera

Happy Saturday, neighbors! Diane Witek here with everything going on today in town.

First, today's weather:

Snow, heavy early, 3-6". High: 22, low: 14.

Here are the top stories today in Sunset Park:

1. Early Friday morning as snow fell onto the streets, hundred of people filled St. Patrick's Cathedral and surrounding area outside the church to pay their respects to the fallen officer Jason Rivera. Rivera was a 22-year-old rookie who was gunned down in Harlem last week while responding to a domestic dispute. The deadly shootout that claimed Rivera's life in Harlem last Friday also claimed the lives of fellow officer Wilbert Mora and Lashawn McNeil, the accused gunman. Mayor Eric Adams spoke at Rivera's wake on Thursday and Governor Kathy Hochul ordered flags on state buildings would fly at half-staff until Feb. 2 to honor both officers. (Patch)
2. Brooklyn youth give $2.5 million in grants to a range of local nonprofit groups supporting Brooklyn’s young people. The grants prioritize the neighborhoods of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Bushwick, East New York, Coney Island, Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush and Sunset Park. (Brooklyn Reader)
3. Another rare bird enchants New York's avid birder community, and the internet, a bald eagle nicknamed "Rover" has been circling, diving and hunting around New York City's Central Park since last weekend. At one time, there were only 417 known nesting pairs of Bald Eagles, since toxic pesticides like DDT had been phased out, there are now over 300,000! Fly on Rover! (NBC News)
4. Stadium food is the usual hotdog and a beer, but not at The Barclays concession, they now serve Thai food! Am Thai Barclays, a concession from Chef Boonnum Thongngoen, has opened in the stadium's new food court, which features local restaurants. The stadium-style menu from the Barclays Center will also be offered on a limited basis at the original Am Thai Bistro, according to the chef. “Not everybody likes basketball, but I know they’re going to love this sandwich!” she said. (Patch)

From my notebook:

• Sunset Park BID: "#repost @historicgreenwood There are several employment opportunities and the beautiful and historic Greenwood cemetery. Check it out on their website. https://www.green-wood.com/employment/." (Instagram)
• Fifth Avenue Committee: "Tens of thousands of New Yorkers are at risk of losing their homes due to financial hardship from COVID-19, but being behind on housing payments doesn’t mean you will lose your home. Apply for the New York State Homeowner Assistance Fund." (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday off right! I'll see you soon.

— Diane Witek

About me: Impassioned Writer, Website Designer, Social Media Marketer and newly proclaimed Baker. Lover of nature and animals of all kinds.