Picture Of The Day: Late Afternoon On 3rd Place At Court Street

Lovely sky over 3rd Street.  

I just happened to be standing on Court Street and noticed the most perfect light. 

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A Little Late Night Excitement On Third Place

Reader Mike sent me the photos above of a car accident that happened on 3rd Place between Court and Clinton Streets last night. He writes:
A little excitement on 3rd Place tonight [Sunday]. About 11:30pm we heard a large crash outside our windows and looked down to find a car turned on it's side. 2 passengers and a dog came out in remarkably fine fashion, and the surrounding cars took minimal damage. Major cleanup action taking place with a very small work area for the NYPD and FDNY.
Good thing no one was hurt, but I wonder how the driver managed to flip his car to its side like this, except by going too fast.



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Raising Young'Uns in Carroll Gardens: Neighborhood Opossums Multiplying

(photo credit: Reader J.)

They may not be part of the Carroll Gardens stroller set, but opossums are raising their young alongside right here in the neighborhood.

A few months back, there were quite a few possum sightings in the neighborhood. In April 2009, Reader Rose sent me photos of one of these marsupials running around in her back yard near the Gowanus Canal. Then in September '09, came reports came from readers Sara B. and Kari who spotted two in one night. The first was seen running from 3rd Place at Henry Street, the second was hanging out on a stoop on First Place between Henry and Clinton Streets.

At the same time, Reader J. told me that his wife came across a critter under their fig tree in the back yard on Fourth Place. Last week, he wrote to tell me about yet another sighting, but this time, the guest in his back yard was a baby opossum.

He writes:

Last year I told you about my wife spotting an Opossum under our Fig Tree.
Well there must be more than one Opossum on Fourth Place because tonight we saw this little guy around 10pm. He must be about 6 to 8 inches long (not including tail).
Sometimes at night when the windows are open we'll hear our cats go crazy, pouncing at the screens - we always thought it was squirrels. But this little guy twice tried to to climb the screen and each time our cat pounced. We watched for about half hour as he hid amongst our patio furniture, waiting for the opportunity to come up to the window. The second encounter with the cat sent him off into the night.
I must say, this little guy is quite cute. Has anyone else potted opossums or their offspring in the neighborhood?


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Local Resident Wants To Nominate Court Street & 3rd Place For Light Or Traffic Camera

Intersection of 3rd Place and Court Street.
Cars moving right into the crosswalk before turning onto Court Street

As part of his constituent outreach, State Senator Squadron has invited local residents to point out dangerous traffic intersections to his office. Carroll Gardener and friend Bruce McD, is taking him at his word. He just sent off a letter to the senator, nominating the intersection of Court Street and 3rd Place as one worthy of a traffic light or camera.


Read Bruce's letter below:

An intersection I'd like to nominate for a light or a traffic camera: Court St. & 3rd Place

Dear Senator Squadron: Your latest newsletter asked for input on unsafe intersections, so I wanted to point out one in Carroll Gardens that I think is a tragedy waiting to happen.

On Court Street and 3rd Place, eastbound traffic on 3rd hits a stop sign at Court before continuing onto a dead end where the viaduct terminates the street. Nearly 100% of this traffic makes a right turn onto Court, but about 90% of said traffic blows right past the stop sign, into the crosswalk (without much regard for whether pedestrians are approaching--or even IN--the crosswalk), and then onto Court. I've nearly been clipped by inattentive drivers at that crosswalk numerous times, and I've seen children, pets, and adults all encounter near-misses with drivers barreling straight through.

Since traffic from 3rd is blinded to oncoming Court Street traffic, it is currently necessary for vehicles to enter the crosswalk in order to safely make the turn, but the vast majority of people do a "rolling stop" (an oxymoron, if ever there was one) rather than a full stop, and are only looking to their left at oncoming traffic, ignorant to potential sidewalk traffic entering the crosswalk from the right. Sometimes, while enjoying a drink at the Abilene sidewalk cafe on the corner, I count the number of cars coming to a full stop AT the stop sign: the number is ridiculously close to zero.

If a traffic light isn't an option, I strongly urge you to push for a traffic camera there to ticket these scofflaw drivers who endanger the foot traffic of our community. Maybe receiving a ticket or two will make them actually follow the traffic laws and come to a full stop before making their turn.

Thanks much for your time and consideration!

Cheers, Bruce McD

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