Dec. 9, birthdays for Kirsten Gillibrand, Kirk Douglas, Judi Dench

Brooklyn Today

December 9, 2015 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand celebrates her birthday today. Eagle photo by Rob Abruzzese

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Greetings, Brooklyn. Today is the 343rd day of the year.

ON THIS DAY IN 1919, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle published an article titled “Strike Paralyzes Harbor Traffic; Ferries Tied Up.”

The article focused on an extreme harbor strike among the boroughs, which delayed the mail and threatened a food crisis.

“The greatest harbor strike in the history of the city went into effect as scheduled at 6 o’clock this morning when 15,000 harbor men left their jobs, tying up virtually all the ferries, steam lighters, tow boats, coal barges, grain boats, steam holsters and other craft,” the Eagle reported.

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include singer and songwriter Joan Armatrading, who was born in 1950; actress Reiko Aylesworth, who was born in 1972; Emmy Award-winning actor Beau Bridges, who was born in 1941; Hall of Fame football player Dick Butkus, who was born in 1942; Oscar Award-winning actress Judi Dench, who was born in 1934; TV personality Kara DioGuardi, who was born in 1970; actor Kirk Douglas, who was born in 1916; actor Simon Helberg, who was born in 1980; U.S. Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, who was born in 1966; actor David Anthony Higgins, who was born in 1961; actress Felicity Huffman, who was born in 1962; golfer Tom Kite Jr., who was born in 1949; actor Joe Lando, who was born in 1961; actor John Malkovich, who was born in 1953; Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney, who was born in 1995; actress Dina Merrill, who was born in New York City in 1925; actor Jesse Metcalfe, who was born in 1978; actor Michael Nouri, who was born in 1945; singer and actor Donny Osmond, who was born in 1957; and actor Dick Van Patten, who was born in 1928.

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JOHN MILTON was born on this day in 1608. An English poet, historian, civil servant and defender of freedom of the press, Milton is considered one of the greatest poets of the English language. Author of “Paradise Lost” and “Paradise Regained,” he died from gout in November of 1674 in London. “No man who knows aught,” he wrote, “can be so stupid to deny that all men naturally were born free.”

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