A firefighter cools down near the location of a four alarm fire on East 85th Street July 11, New York City. (Daniel Barry/Getty Images)Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano announced an initiative to heighten awareness about the benefits of becoming a firefighter, with the aim of attracting a diverse set of individuals. Benefits highlighted include competitive pay rates, a flexible schedule, and up to four weeks of vacation annually. The advertisements boast that “the best job in the world has the best benefits in the world,” alongside pictures of smiling current firefighters. More than $1 million will be spent on the campaign, with word being spread through print ads in more then 60 community and ethnic newspaper. There is a Sept. 15 deadline for registering for the new firefighter exam in January 2012.
Coney Island Boardwalk to be Reinvented
People gather on opening day of the new Luna Park amusement area at Coney Island on the first day of the Memorial Day weekend May 29, 2010 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. It opens today on the former grounds of the famed Astroland amusement area. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)Coney Island began a major redesign last year when Central Amusement International (CAI) opened Luna Park. As the amusement park has opened new sections, it wishes to remake the surrounding area into a cleaner, more family-friendly atmosphere geared toward year-round service to visitors. Out of all the stores on the boardwalk, only two were chosen to remain after a submission of nine-year renewed business plans, Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, and Lola Star, a novelty and souvenir store. At the end of the season, the reinvention will commence, helping update the boardwalk area.
Future of Stories Meet-Up
A discussion featuring Trei Brundrett of SB Nation and Gideon Lichfield of the Economist will explore the changing world of news organizations in relation to the Internet with a focus on a new story format that is adapted to the rapidly paced and contextual intricacies of the Internet. The event will be held on July 20 at New Work City, a co-working space and community center for independents on Broadway in Lower Manhattan. Brundrett will share about how SB Nation, a sports site, redesigned its news into continuing connected articles as opposed to the traditional format that may be better suited to print. Lichfield will talk about what the basic unit of news might evolve into, inserting his view that a story is from a bygone age that needs to be replaced with a new container for news that combines real-time reporting, appropriate organization, and accurate context.
