Do you have your own Coney Island news or gossip? Post it on our bulletin board!

December 9, 2000

• INFORMATION ON JOINING THE NEW YEAR'S DAY SWIM WITH THE POLAR BEAR CLUB: On January 1, 2001 all people are invited to watch or swim with the Coney Island Polar Bear Club for their annual cold water dip in the Atlantic first done in 1903. People gather beginning 12:00 Noon on the Beach and Boardwalk at the foot of Stillwell Avenue. The swim itself takes place at 1:00 PM sharp and those who take the plunge earn a certificate suitable for framing.
  

• There was a large crane at ASTROLAND today and it was used to disassemble the Electric Go-Karts ride that has been there since the mid-1960's.
  

• Apologies to all for not posting news during the high season...you know how it gets sometimes!
• Several new businesses opened in Coney Island this summer. These new operations include GAME WORLD, a new arcade behind Nathan's Famous hotdog stand; RACK-EM-UP, a pool hall located on the second floor of the new building at Surf and West 12th Street; POPEYES CHICKEN & BISCUITS, a fast food joint in the old Henderson's Building next to Taco Bell/Pizza Hut(which has added CARVEL ICE CREAM to their food court); and NICK'S GREASY SPOON in the old Hermann Popper Brewery building where Carvel used to be (the third floor loft seems to have been rented for a recording studio and the Russian Art Gallery has moved down to the 2nd floor. As the real estate market begins to heat up in Coney Island there are several pieces of property suddenly on the market. Both MATRESSLAND (newbuilding) and CONEY ISLAND FURNITURE on the north side of Surf Avenue are for rent or for sale. The Lambros Restaurant and adjacent water game building on the south side of Surf next to Jones Walk are also suddenlyavailable. There are for rent signs in the window of the former Kansas Fried Chicken outlet in the Shore Theater Building across the street from Nathan's and the old bank building at Surf and West 12th remains for sale.
• Weather was a major factor this past summer. Although the summer started off strong with a huge Mermaid Parade at the end of June (the 60th PolicePrecinct estimated the crowd at 750,000) July and August were cold and wet on the weekends and attendance was way down not only at Coney Island but atmost outdoor beach resorts throughout the northeast. Coney Island seems to have recovered from all the bad press last year (when someone died on the Super Himalaya ride) but the cold and wet weather made it two bad seasons in a row and businesses are hurting for money to pay their rent and their bills. As a result the rides in Coney Island will be opened later than ever this year with Astroland, the Cyclone, Deno's Wonderwheel Park, the Eldorado Bumping Disco, Stillwell Avenue, West 12th Street and even Sideshows by the Seashore open every Saturday and Sunday through October 15th.
• Jerry Mandito, longtime operator and manager of the world famous CYCLONEROLLER COASTER suffered a heart attack earlier this summer season. However he seems to be recovering fine and we expect him back at the coaster next summer. Best of health to Jerry!
• The JUMBO JET (one of our favorites) was closed by inspectors for part of this summer but as of September the ride is back open for business and "faster than ever"!
• The only major new ride attraction at Coney Island this summer was the BUMPING BOATS at Stillwell Avenue and the Bowery. Lots of fun!
• Major Giuliani came to Coney Island on Tuesday, August 22nd for a ground breaking ceremony for the new baseball stadium. The development is already half built and looks terrific! It is already 9 million dollars over budget but that seems okay with the Mayor who is willing to fund overtime so as to keep construction on schedule for a June 2001 opening. Although we applaud all the effort on behalf of the stadium, which is good for Coney Island, no one seems to know if the money (in the budget) for theParachute Jump includes lighting it up at night or not. How could they not know? The city also seems to want to push demolition of the adjacent Thunderbolt Rollercoaster...don't they get it yet (that the "new" Coney Island works when if packages itself as a "historic" amusement park? Save the Thunderbolt!
• THE DAILY NEWS reports that "one of two Staten Island brothers paralyzed after diving off a Coney Island pier made legal history this week when he was awarded $19 million - the largest personal injury verdict ever by a higher court in the state" according to staff writer Mike Claffey. The two brothers both broke spines eight years ago when they both dived off the Steeplechase fishing pier. The second brother dove after seeing his brother in trouble in the water. Their lawsuit changed the city for negligence for not placing "No Diving" signs on the pier...which are posted these days, of course.
• Deputy Mayor Bob Harding was recently in Coney Island for a meeting of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce at Gargiulo's Restaurant on September 13th. Harding stated that the city continues to earmark $30 million for the Sportsplex project in Coney Island. He advocated "revamped" plans more modest in nature and urged the community to get behind the city instead of "creating grandiose plans and schemes for the future and debating them for ten or fifteen years...the city's financial commitment to this has not wavered...the next step is to do something about it... "

• If you missed that great documentary "Coney Island: America's Dreamland" on the Discovery Channel the first scheduled repeat date is Tuesday, June 20, 2000 at 8:00 PM (Eastern and Pacific) and again at 11:00 PM (Eastern and Pacific) as part of the Discovery Channel's 'On the Inside' series.

• Coney Island: America's Dreamland, a new Documentary will air on May 7th @ 8PM & Midnight on the Discovery Channel.
• MSNBC also doing a story on Coney Island, will air on May 25th @ 8PM & 11PM.

• $561,959 will go toward a $1.2 million wetlands improvement at Dreier-Offerman Park, located on the north shore of Coney Island Creek, to restore a spawning habitat for horseshoe crabs.

• IT'S OFFICIAL: THE CITY COUNCIL HAS PASSED A $91 MILLION REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR CONEY ISLAND INCLUDING THE MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM! According to today's NEW YORK TIMES 9Page B6) the deal includes the $31 million stadium Boardwalk improvements, playgrounds, bathhouses, retail shops on Surf Avenue and volleyball courts. According to TIMES reporter Julian E. Barnes:"The administration and the City Council also agreed to create a local development corporation to plan sports, recreation and entertainment programs in Coney Island and surrounding neighborhoods. Council officials said that the group would be given the $30 million that the city had earmarked for the amateur arena, commonly called Sportsplex". The New York Mets will operate a Class A minor league team in Coney Island and hope to open the stadium in June 2001. Consturction could begin as early as next month. The plan includes funds for stabilization and upkeep of the Parachute Jump, however the landmark ride will not be put back into operation, sorry.

• Today was scheduled to be the official opening day of rides at ASTROLAND and throughout the amusements at Coney Island...however, there was a freak April snowstorm today and nothing opening up at all! We can report on a few new changes for the 2000 season: (A) Popeye's Chicken will replace Kennedy Fried Chicken in the old Henderson Building at Surf Avenue and Stillwell Avenue. (B) The Love Machine 2000 (a Himalaya Ride) has relocated from Surf and West 12th to Bowery and Stillwell Avenue.(C) Nick's GREASY SPOON RESTAURANT will open for business on Monday, April 24th in the storefront formerly used as Carvel Ice Cream.

• Rubin Jacobs, proprietor of Ruby's Bar (aka Olde Tyme Bar on the Boardwalk) passed away today after a five year battle in and out of the hospital with dialysis, gangrene, etc. Ruby was often referred to as "the jewel of Coney Island" being one of the nicest and friendliest people in the history of our beach. Born and raised in Coney Island, Ruby was also the proprietor of several bathouses and once ran a camera repair business in Manhattan. He was a favorite interviewee for reporters and liked to speak of his love for the people of Coney Island as "the elixir of life". Ruby was featured in a documentary film called "SVITZ" which appears from time to time on PBS and/or channel 13 in New York. Last but not least, he was also a good friend and frequent contributor to Coney Island, USA. You will be missed by many, Ruby Jacobs, R.I.P.

• According to the NY Post...."X-files" star David Duchovny isn't the only talented member of his family. Duchovny's dad, Amram Ducovny (no"H"), is publishing his first novel "Coney", scheduled to be released in September by Overlook/Penguin, is a coming-of-age tale set in 1939 Coney Island. It follows the life of Harry Catzker, a 15-year-old Jewish youth with self-absorbed parents who hangs out with carnival freaks while contemplating life.
• The Friends of the Boardwalk, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is sponsoring a community Blood Drive at Coney Island Hospital on April 6, 2000, between the hours of 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Other sponsors of this initiative include Keyspan, the Coney Island Hospital, the Lincoln High School Key Club and Community Board 13, as well as several local merchants who will provide food, tee-shirts and souvenirs of the day. For more info contact Wildstar6@hotmail.com

March 3 , 2000

Sad to report two deaths this week in the neighborhood:
• Our Carpenter and Game Worker known as Domingo, passed away from Lung Cancer at the Veteran's Hospital in Bay Ridge. Domingo was Carpenter of Creep Show at the Freak Show, others will remember him from the Water Balloon Game at Stillwell and The Bowery.
• Jimmy Teseriero of Burgess Real Estate on Surf Avenue, sympathy should be extend to his son Charles at the business that goes back generations in Coney Island.
• On Wednesday, March 1, the city planning commission voted in favor of Mayor Giuliani's plan for the minor league ball park, the entire City Council will vote later this month.

March 1 , 2000

• The DAILY NEWS (2/28/00) reports movement on Sportsplex Minor league Ballpark. According to reporter Bob Liff, Mayor Giuliani seems to have the momentum over Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden. Liff reports:
  • City Planning Commsission is expected to okay 6,500 seat ballpark redesigned to move the parking lot away from Surf Ave, adding space for retail stores. The redesign "promises whimsical lines and carnival-like lights and colors".
  • NYC Council Speaker Peter Vallone "has signalled he will not let the Council block approval despite Sportsplex sentiment from Brooklyn members".
  • Brooklyn Sports Foundation Chairman Peter Kiernan has been "forced out" after eight years. Former Brooklyn Union Gas exec Tom DeMartino is the new chairman. Liff writes: "He will try to work out a plan under which a new group (a Local Development Corporation rather than the Brooklyn Sports Foundation) would be formed to develop both the Sportsplex and an adjacent commercial-entertainment complex west of the ballpark".
  • Regarding the above mention of property west of Steeplechase that would have to refer to the parking lot of the Abe Stark Skating Rink or else the former Washington Baths site which happens to be owned by Horace Bullard. Stay tuned!
    
• The CONEY ISLAND LIBRARY on Mermaid Ave near West 19th Street is soon to be refurbished at a cost of $786,000. Renovations will include a new elevator, restrooms, lighting, heating and air conditioning. Library services will temporarily relocate to trailers across the street at Our Lady of Solace Church during reconstruction. For more info call 382-5924.

February 17, 2000

• NYPD has released crime statistics for 1999 & Coney Island's 60th Precinct (which protects Coney Island, Brighton Beach & Seagate) had the best results in South Brooklyn. The 60th had the largest decrease in homicides with only 6 reported in 1999, ten fewer than the year before. The precinct also had the fewest burglaries in South Brooklyn with 419 break-ins down from 481 in 1998.

• NYC Comptroller Alan Hevesi recently released an audit of lifeguards employed by the Department of Parks & Recreation. His audit found three Coney Island lifeguards playing frisbee while on duty.
• Location scouts have recently been eyeing our neighborhood for upcoming shoots. The first was scouting for a possible AC/DC rock video for their first album of new music in five years. Another scout is seeking photo locations for a new Billy Bragg CD sequel to his MERMAID AVENUE album of Woody Guthrie songs. Speaking of Coney Island's own composer Woody Guthrie, check out the Guthrie exhibit at the Museum of The City of NY.
• TOPS Appliance Store on Cropsey Avenue has closed after less than one year in business. The entire TOPS chain has filed for bankruptcy.
• The SUPER HIMALAYA (1999's deathride) on Stillwell Avenue and Bowery has finally been dismantled for good.
• The NYC Environmental Control Board has violated the new MATTRESSLAND building on Surf Avenue so as to force the removal of six flea market containers formerely home to the camera dealer, retail porno videos and Russian Mike's tools and weapons store. Summertime flea market shoppers will recall Mike as the guy with Lenin tattooed on his chest.
• Lots of construction and demolition recently inside PIZZA HUT/TACO BELL including the breaking down of the wall seperating the franchise "food court" from KENNEDY FRIED CHICKEN. No reliable info yet on what exactly will result from the changes.
• The Great Fredini and Combustible Kiva will appear in an upcoming episode of the new television show: RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! (March 15th at 8pm) Fred and Kiva are former performers at SIDESHOWS BY THE SEASHORE famed for their real "Wedding of the Freaks".
• Best wishes to Al O'Hagan of the CONEY ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE who recently underwent bypass surgery at St. Vincent's Hospital. Get well soon, Al we need you and the luck of the Irish back at your office.

• The latest info on the Minor Baseball Stadium (20 million dollars, 7500 seats) and Sportsplex (72 million dollars) is a calender of votes by politicians. The City Planning Commission votes March 1. What ever they vote, it all ends up at the NYC Council. First votes come at its Zoning and Franchises subcommittee chaired by Walter McCaffrie of Queens. Next vote is at The Land Use Committee, chaired by June Eisland of the Bronx. The final vote will be at the full NYC Council most likely following the lead of Speaker Peter Vallone.

• Elmer Ramsey the ticket collector at the CYCLONE Roller Coaster passed away. R.I.P
• There was a huge turnout for the annual New Year's Day POLAR BEAR CLUB swim in the icy Atlantic Ocean on 1/1/00. Maybe the turnout had something to do with the millennium opportunity... more likely the turnout was due to 50 degree weather. Did those swimmers really earn their certificates???
• The ISLANDER, our local greasy spoon diner within the Stillwell Avenue subway station was padlocked on 12/29/99 by NY State for nonpayment of taxes. The padlocks came off and eggs were served again on 1/2/00. Glad Nick paid and reopened. It's getting harder to eat in Coney Island off-season when you take into account recent closures of Taco Bell/Pizza Hut, Carvel, Russo Deli (our favorite) and Subway sandwiches.
• The dueling SPORTSPLEX vs. MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL proposals for STEEPLECHASE PARK will probably end up before the NY City Council for vote in February (?) 2000. Both Community Board #13 and Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden have opposed Mayor Giuliani's baseball-only plan. Will Peter Vallone be the great compromiser and combine the two projects? Stay tuned.
• Although the CONEY ISLAND CIRCUS SIDESHOW quaked with fear at Y2K paranoia and accepted no New Year's Eve bookings some solo cast members appeared at prominent holiday gigs. Todd Robbins was the MC at Brooklyn's big celebration and Frank Hartman and Tyler Fleet worked First Night in Providence, RI.