MILESTONES: December 22 birthdays for Jordin Sparks, Ralph Fiennes, Meghan Trainor
NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Pretty Woman” star Hector Elizondo, who was born in 1936; former N.Y. Mets pitcher Jerry Koosman, who was born in 1942; Baseball Hall of Famer Steve Carlton, who was born in 1944; journalist Diane Sawyer, who was born in 1945; former L.A. Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey, who was born in 1948; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), who was born in 1948; Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Guy, who was born in 1949; former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lonnie Smith, who was born in 1955; “Schindler’s List” star Ralph Fiennes, who was born in 1962; U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who was born in 1970; “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks, who was born in 1989; and “All About That Bass” singer Meghan Trainor, who was born in 1993.
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CENTER STAGE: Giacomo Puccini was born on this day in 1858. The native of Tuscany composed the beloved operas “La Boheme” (1896), “Tosca” (1900), “Madama Butterly” (1904) and “Turandot” (1924). He died in Belgium in 1924.
Brooklyn Boro
View MoreNew York City’s most populous borough, Brooklyn, is home to nearly 2.6 million residents. If Brooklyn were an independent city it would be the fourth largest city in the United States. While Brooklyn has become the epitome of ‘cool and hip’ in recent years, for those that were born here, raised families here and improved communities over the years, Brooklyn has never been ‘uncool’.