February 25th - February 29th, 2008

South Ferry Subway Station Delay Reported

February 26- The MTA announced a delay in the renovation of the South Ferry subway station. A report in Metro said the work won’t be complete until December of 2008; the original completion date was August of 2008. No explanation was provided for the delay.

15th Anniversary of 1993 Bombing Remembered

February 27 – Tuesday marked the 15^th anniversary of the first terrorist bombing at the WTC- the 1993 explosion which killed 6 people and injured hundreds. More than 120 people gathered for a memorial mass on Tuesday at St. Peters Roman Catholic Church on Barclay Street and at exactly 12:18 pm, when the explosion occurred they observed a moment of silence at the Trade Center site. Anthony E. Shorris, Executive Director of the Port Authority said, “If there’s ever a statement of the triumph over our loss, it would be in building.”

The Small Firm Assistance Program Taking Applications

February 29- Approximately 200 businesses in Lower Manhattan, who have been adversely affected by construction, could be getting some financial help from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) and the City. The Small Firm Assistance Program will pay street or basement level retail businesses $2.50 per square foot per month affected by construction with a cap of $25,000. LMDC is taking applications until April 30, 2011 or until the $5 million dollar program runs out, according to the Downtown Express. Officials say checks could go out in about 60 days. The application and full eligibility requirements are on the LMDC’s website, renewnyc.com

Navy honors September 11th Victims

February 29 – This weekend, the Navy will christen the New York, the warship named in honor of the victims of the September 11^th terrorist attacks. According to the New York Sun, the ceremony will take place in New Orleans. 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the WTC site was used to build the ship. The warship’s first captain is a New Yorker: Commander F. Curtis Jones of Binghamton. The ship is 684 feet long and has a crew of more than 360. It will join the Atlantic fleet.