Tip of the Week: Listen to "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" - Image from Librivox

Halloween is only three days away. As such, I wanted to share with all of my readers one of my favorite personal Halloween traditions.

One of the many things that I love during this time of year is listen to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. It's a classic Halloween story about the quiet Dutch community of Sleepy Hollow, which lay in the Adirondack mountains on the western shore of the mighty Hudson River in America’s colonial period. The solitude of the woods was breathtaking, and not even a schoolmaster was immune from the eerie miasma which everyone knew permeated the dense forest.

Written in 1820, Washington Irving’s The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow has become a classic of American literature and, in my mind, almost synonymous with Halloween. This story has been retold in many different ways, but I believe there is something special about listening to the original as it is read by a talented orator.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is available to download for free on LibriVox.com. I invite everyone to download it and listen to a Halloween classic.

Listening to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is your Tip of the Week.

Abbate named head of FBI in Detroit

Earlier this afternoon, outgoing Director Robert S. Mueller, III announced the appointment Paul M. Abbate to be special agent in charge of the Detroit Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Abbate most recently served as special agent in charge of the Counterterrorism Division in the Washington Field Office, where he oversaw the Joint Terrorism Task Force and all FBI counterterrorism personnel, investigations, and operations in the National Capital Region.

Abbate began his career as a special agent in March of 1996. Upon completion of training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, he was assigned to the New York Field Office, where he worked in the Criminal Division and white-collar crime program. During his tenure in New York, he was also a member of the SWAT team.

In December of 2003, Abbate transferred to FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he served as supervisory special agent in the Iraq Unit within the Counterterrorism Division. Abbate provided program management for counterterrorism and counterintelligence investigations and oversaw FBI counterterrorism operations and personnel deployments in Iraq.

In October of 2005, Abbate deployed to Iraq, where he served as the senior FBI liaison officer to the U.S. Department of Defense and led a group of specialized FBI personnel conducting counterterrorism investigations and operations in theater.

From February of 2006 to December of 2009, Abbate served as supervisory special agent on the Newark Division Joint Terrorism Task Force. He had responsibility for all international terrorism matters within the territories of Essex, Monmouth, and Ocean County, New Jersey.

In September of 2007, Abbate was temporarily detailed to the Directorate of Intelligence at FBI Headquarters, where he provided support in the implementation of several national-level, intelligence-related initiatives.

In February of 2008, Abbate deployed to Afghanistan and served as the FBI deputy on-scene commander, leading FBI counterterrorism operations and personnel in theater.

In December of 2009, Abbate returned to the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters, serving as assistant section chief in the International Terrorism Operations Section I, where he provided national-level oversight for all international terrorism investigations within the United States. During this assignment, he was member of a team that received the 2010 Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service.

In July of 2010, Abbate reported to the Los Angeles Field Office and served as an assistant special agent in charge for counterterrorism matters, overseeing the primary branch of the Los Angeles Joint Terrorism Task Force.

In August of 2011, Abbate was named section chief of the International Terrorism Operations Section II in the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters. In that position, Abbate provided national-level program management and oversight of all FBI international terrorism investigations and extraterritorial operations outside of the United States.

Job opening at Garden Ridge

The home decor superstore, Garden Ridge (5901 Mercury Dr. in Dearborn), is currently hiring. They have openings for managers as well as supervisors and associates.

Interested applicants are invited to apply either on their website or by visiting the store and asking for the manager on duty.

Detroit police officer dies from injuries

Officer Patrick Hill of the Detroit Police Department died yesterday as a result of injuries that he received in the line of duty in April of this year. He was injured during a shoot out on the east side of the city.

WDIV-TV has more on this breaking news story above.

The family of this fallen officer will be in my thoughts and prayers today.

Update on the stolen and stripped SUV

Stripped Dodge Durrango - Photo by Frank Nemecek

I reported last week about a severely stripped, and presumably stolen, Dodge Durrango that was found in the Warrendale neighborhood of Detroit. This vehicle was located on Kirkwood Street in between Rosemont and Penrod Streets. 

The vehicle was stripped of is engine as well as all of its doors and windows. In fact, pretty much anything else a thief could sell as parts was removed from the vehicle.

The rope that was tied to the front of its chassis would indicate that this vehicle was towed to that location. That tow-rope was then cut once they got it to its destination. All of this presumably would have been done by who ever stole it and stripped it of its parts.

Street in Warrendale - Photo by Frank Nemecek

I pleased to follow up with this story and say that this vehicle is no longer at that location as the photo at right clearly shows. I reported it on Monday. By the following Wednesday afternoon, it was already gone. One would presume that it was the Detroit Police Department who impounded and remove it before it could become a source of further blight in the neighborhood.

I'm happy that this problem has been solved.

Saul Green to discuss ceasefire initiative with WACO

Saul Green - Press Photo

Former U.S. Attorney, and former Deputy Mayor of Detroit, Saul Green will address the Warren Avenue Community Organization on Thursday, October 24 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. His subject will be the Ceasefire Initiative of the Detroit Police Department. This is an effort that brings together law enforcement, social service agencies, and the community to impress upon young offenders the price that they will pay for criminal activity, the alternative paths that are open to them, and the negative effects their behavior has on their own communities.

This WACO meeting will happen inside the NFL/YET Boys and Girls Club (16500 Tireman Ave.). It, like all of their other membership meetings, is open to the public.

WACO represents that portion of the Warrendale neighborhood that is east of the Southfield Freeway.