Oct. 8, birthdays for Matt Damon, Bruno Mars, Sigourney Weaver

Brooklyn Today

October 8, 2014 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Actor Matt Damon celebrates his birthday today.

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Good morning, Brooklyn. Today is the 281st day of the year.

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ON THIS DAY in 1909, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle published an article titled “Accused Wife Sees Plot: Charges Desertion, and Love Note is Shown.” The article focused on “marital woes” that unfolded in court at the time that included infidelity and threats.
“Harry Bartow, an electrician, 23… was arraigned before Magistrate O’Reilly in the Manhattan Avenue court this morning on a charge of abandonment made by his wife, Anna, 25,” the Eagle reported.

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include New York City-born gossip columnist Rona Barrett, who was born in 1936; New York City-born comedian and actor Chevy Chase, who was born in 1943; designer Clodagh, who was born in 1937; “The Departed” actor Matt Damon, who was born in 1970; race car driver Bill Elliott, who was born in 1955; “Saturday Night Live” comedian and actor Darrell Hammond, who was born in 1960; “Crocodile Dundee” actor and writer Paul Hogan, who was born in 1939; civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, who was born in 1941; singer Bruno Mars, who was born in 1985; professional wrestler Michael “The Miz” Mizanin, who was born in 1980; “Real People” television personality Sarah Purcell, who was born in 1948; New York City-born artist and writer Faith Ringgold, who was born in 1930; author of the “Goosebumps” series R.L. Stine, who was born in 1943; “Shake It Up!” actress Bella Thorne, who was born in 1997; and New York City-born “Ghostbusters” actress Sigourney Weaver, who was born in 1949.

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THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE took place on this day in 1871. The fire destroyed 17,450 buildings and leveled three and a half miles. About 98,000 people were homeless and 250 people died. According to legend, the fire started when Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern on DeKoven Street.

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TODAY IS NATIONAL PIEROGI DAY. This holiday commemorates the day in 1952 when pierogies were first delivered to a grocery store in Shenandoah, Pa.

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OPEN AIR SALON, a free tour led by architect Dana Lockett, will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. tonight at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Granite Terrace.

AUTHOR JUSTIN TAYLOR will be at WORD Bookstore’s Brooklyn location today at 7 p.m. with fellow writers Brian Morton and David Ryan for a reading. Taylor’s “Flings” and Morton’s “Florence Gordon” will be featured at the event. A book signing and audience Q&A is additionally included.

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