This is old news in the sense that it happened at the beginning of the weekend, but it only merited a few lines in the crime blotter of the Post and we’ve been seeing a lot of emails on the local email lists asking what happened at the Douglass Pool in Gowanus. Here’s an email from the Park Slope Parents asking about it:

I took my kids to the pool at Douglas and 3rd today and it was closed because a man was fatally shot. I’ve been watching and reading for news all day and haven’t heard anything. Does anyone know what happened? What time? Was it an employee? Were kids there at the time?I’d love to have one last swim with them before school starts but I’d like to know what happened first.

Here’s an answer from the Post Police Blotter outlining the late night incident that involved an employee:

A night watchman who confronted a gunman at a city-run swimming pool in Carroll Gardens was shot dead, police said yesterday. Damien Bowles, 34, of Brownsville, was working at the Thomas Greene Playground late Thursday when he was shot. Police believe Bowles may have gotten into an altercation with the gunman at a nearby convenience store shortly before the shooting.

So that’s the sad story.

The Bergen Street sinkhole is still there and the city is still is going to be looking into it either before or after it opens wide and eats something. Here’s an update from the Boerum Hill Group:

Your information is inaccurate. They have not determined it is a defective sewer line and have not threatened to turn off my water. That happened to me several years ago when I had my line replaced at great expense. They have made an appt to put a TV camera through my line to see if there are only issues. They have not determined that the sinkhole is related to my plumbing. If their high tech inspection determines it is related to any of my plumbing, of course, I will get it repaired immediately. However, since I had the main line replaced in he past, I have a feelling it is unrelated. I offered to stay home today so they could resolve this quickly but they made an appt for next Wednesday. I chided them for waqiting so long to respond to the sinkhole.

Stay tuned.

Here are a few vids posted to the YouTube of the Sonic Youth show at McCarren Pool, which was also the last big concert at the pool.

[Photo courtesy of mugsniffer/GL Flickr Pool]

This Labor Day Street Couch Classic comes from Guernsey Street in Greenpoint. Enjoy.

We always enjoy a Brooklyn Missed Connection that involves some some form of personal injury or near personal injury. For instance, this one from Summer Screen at McCarren Pool:

i kicked you in the head last night (by accident) at summerscreen – w4w – 19 (Greenpoint)

you are easily one of the most beautiful girls i’ve ever seen i could hardly keep my eyes off of the back of your head while it was light out. but really, i’m sorry for kicking your head. i wanted to say sorry, but i felt like if i opened my mouth i’d say a whole lot more than sorry.

We assume it was during the final screening of the season, of Rushmore, last week.

[Photo courtesy of Deborah Matlack Photography]

These were the last Friday night fireworks of the season as captured on camera by GL Contributor Deborah Matlack from the fishing pier in Coney. We assume the fireworks will be back next season, but it’s unclear right now what shape Coney will be in if the Coney Island Development Corp. and the city don’t flex some muscle and take some steps to ensure that attractions (hint: Astroland) remain open while the rezoning process continues.

Here’s a fun and very short time lapse shot on the Brooklyn Bridge Walkway and just posted to the YouTube.

[Photo courtesy of lornagrl/GL Flickr Pool]

This photo comes to us via GL Flickr Pool contributor lornagrl and showcases some of the fine fruits available at the markets in Brighton Beach.

Succumbing to pressure from those who said the NYC Waterfalls were killing trees and causing other problems, the hours have been cut in half, from 100 a week to 50. The Brooklyn Heights Association had been calling for the falls to be shut off entirely. As of September 8, the new hours of operation (get a pencil ready) are Tuesday, and Thursday through Sunday from 12:30PM to 9PM. Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30PM-9PM. The NYC Parks Department has cut the hours of operation of the NYC Waterfalls art installation in half. The falls are slate to be turned off for good on October 13.

Outside the Brooklyn Weather Observatory we have the makings of the magnificent kind of day that makes us sad Summer is coming to an end. The forecast says it will be warm, with a high of 87, and brilliant sunshine. Tonight will be clear with a low of 67.–Accuweather

This item blends three items of interest: public school, community boards and, well, cockroaches. It comes from an email posted to the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association list and concerns the auditorium at PS 32 in Carroll Gardens, which is often the site of Community Board 6 and other neighborhood meetings. Here’s what it says in the original all caps style:

WHOEVER ATTENDED THE MEETING AT PS 32’S- WATCH FOR THE COLD WEATHER- IF YOU GO AGAIN- WATCH YOU DO NOT BRING HOME – ROACHES- YES- AT THE BACK ACROSS THE AISLE- ROACHES WERE WALKING – MIKE SAW THEM- HE WARNED A WOMAN- WHO WAS SITTING- SHE SCREECHED- DO NOT PUT HANDBAGS, DUFFELS,ETC- ON THE FLOOR – INVASION OF ROACHES

With school starting on Tuesday, perhaps the school custodial staff wants to get the exterminators to pay a visit.

This is the first time we’ve eve had a Missed Connection from Spumoni Gardens, the pizza place and Italian Restaurant on 86th Street in Bensonhurst, and as such is very exciting:

Hottie at Spumoni garden 12:00 noon / Black mercedes / married? – m4w – 42 (Spumoni Garden Brooklyn)

I must say you are the cats meow. Not many women impress me but after seeing you look so natural (no makeup) in shorts and with your baseball cap on, reminded of a few girls I dated in the past. You had 2 boy’s with you and assumed you were married even thou I didnt notice a ring. I respected that and just observed. I truly hope the guy youre with appreciates what he has. You have the look baby! I could watch you all day and not touch…Heres the question, are you Italian & do you have any sister’s? Ciao

Lust with a slice of Sicilian at Spumoni Gardens!

The 8th Annual Coney Island Film Festival is almost upon us and the films that will be shown have been announced. The Fest takes place from September 26-28 at Sideshows by the Seashore and at the Coney Island Museum. The list of films has been posted here and there will be more info at the festival’s website.

We had the first part of the Unconventionally Yours convention episodes with Brooklyn resident (and GL friend Trace Crutchfield) yesterday morning. Here’s the second one, about Minneapolis, where the GOP will gather. Happy viewing.

[Photo courtesy of vaduzuvunt/GL Flickr Pool]

This is a Brooklyn morning glory captured at an undisclosed location by frequent GL Flickr Pool contributor Vaduzuvunt.

We came across this specimen on Franklin Street in Greenpoint where it waited behind bars for its eventual disposal. There was also something written on it about trouble, but we don’t think it had anything to do with bedbugs.

[Photo courtesy of mikebny/GL Flickr Pool]

This is beautiful Union Street in Gowanus and the view toward Park Slope. The image comes from mikebny through our GL Flickr Pool. Do consider jumping in an joining if you haven’t.

Outside the Brooklyn Weather Observatory, it’s shaping up to be a nice one on this Labor Day Weekend Sunday. The forecast says it will be “less humid and pleasant with a full day of sunshine.” The high will be 85. Tonight will be clear with a low of 64.–Accuweather

Yesterday our friends at Brownstoner ran a post about people busted for drinking on their own stoop in the Slope after Barack Obama’s acceptance speech on Thursday night. The boozers got a $25 ticket for their post-Obama Stoop Party. That emails said, in party:

My husband was IMing and having a beer last night on our stoop after Biden’s speech…NYPD roll up in a patrol car and busted him for an open container violation for 25 bucks…he was very polite and told the NYPD he was appreciative of their presence, but asked asked about the public/private space concept, and he explained that if I was behind a fence or gate I would be ok. Since we don’t have a gate, the set-back from the sidewalk didn’t matter.

They are not the only Slopers in the nabe, in turns out, to have been ticketed for getting liquored up on their own property, even behind a gate. Here’s the newest installment of StoopGate from Park Slope Parents:

My husband and two neighbors were imbibing on the steps of one of the neighbor’s brownstone BEHIND HIS CLOSED GATE when cops pulled up and fined the three of them for drinking beers in public. This was in the evening when it was dark. It was also, coincidentally, the day after alternate parking had been suspended and the end of the month. All three men were required to attend a “quality of life” class (alongside bicycle deliverers who had used the sidewalk and other such miscreants), one neighbor contested the matter and in the end none were required to pay the fine. P.S. The beer, I believe, was Fin du Monde.

Were they ticketed for the extra high alcohol content in the brew as well?

This week’s pet is from the wonderful Sean Casey Animal Rescue shelter in Kensington. They do wonderful work and have an abundance of great animals that need loving homes:

If your heart doesn’t melt when you look at Teddy’s picture, well, we don’t know what to say. Teddy is a Labrador/German Sheppard mix and cute as they come. Here is more info about him from his Petfinder page:

Teddy is a 1 1/2 year old Labrador Retriever/German Shepherd…he is neutered, dewormed, treated with Revolution to prevent fleas, ticks, ear mites and heartworm and is up to date with vaccinations. His adoption fee is $75.00 and he’ll get one free exam at our vet’s office, one free month of pet health insurance and a microchip. Teddy is wary around strangers, but warms up quickly. If you’d like to meet Teddy please email us at nyanimalrescue@yahoo.com for an adoption application. Our organization offers 24PetWatch microchips, which include free registration into the 24PetWatch pet recovery service. For more information visit www.24petwatch.com or call 1-866-597-2424. This pet also comes with 30 days of pre-paid pet health insurance. For more information please visit www.sheltercare.com or call 1-866-375-PETS.

Teddy’s Petfinder ID is 4702996. Sean Casey Animal Rescue is located at 155 East 3rd Street in Kensington. Their number is 718.436.5163. They’re cool and they care. Check them out.

This gas mask stencil comes to us from N. 8 Street in Williamsburg and does manage to make a bit of a statement.

Earlier, we had our own vid showing the waterboarding attraction at Coney Island that almost instantly drew a lot of attention. Here is a report from Al Jazeera that really consists mostly of its creator speaking. We found this originally on Kinetic Carnival.

[Photo courtesy of vaduzuvunt/GL Flickr Pool]

In terms of both composition and content, this pic of a sofa that comes along with a dirty rug, in Red Hook works perfectly. It was captured on Coffey Street off Van Brunt. It rocks.

This vid is a little off-topic for us in that it doesn’t deal with Brooklyn, but it does feature a Brooklyn resident, our friend Trace Crutchfield, who can be a very funny man. Check out Unconventionally Yours in Denver. If you can’t veer a bit off the beaten path on Labor Day Weekend, when can you do it?