A unique tree stree

From WPIX:

New York City is known for its interesting and diverse neighborhoods. A tree is the talk of E 70th Street in Bergen Beach, Brooklyn.

The homeowner says about 7 years ago he started attaching stuffed animals to the branches of a tree in his front yard. Since that time, neighbors and families have traveled to his house to add to the collection.

Some neighbors love the display and others seem to tolerate it. Eugene Fellner has lived on the street for more than 15 years. He bought the house and is a former city employee. Many of the neighbors on the street have also been there for a long time.

Fellner has recently removed some of the items and repositioned others. He estimates there are 1,033 toys on the tree (give or take a few bears).

Graffiti toy pulled from shelves

From the Forum:

In response to a letter written by Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D – Hamilton Beach) to Toys “R” Us urging the removal of Kidffiti brand graffiti stencils kits from toy store shelves, the national retailer informed the Assemblyman that it will stop selling the product at its nearly one thousand stores nationwide.

“With this announcement, we’ve sent a strong message to our children about the value of caring for the community and keeping it clean and graffiti-free,” said Assemblyman Goldfeder. “I’d like thank Toys “R” Us for being a responsible community partner and agreeing to no longer stock this distasteful product on store shelves.”

Last month, Assemblyman Goldfeder wrote to Toys “R” Us C.E.O. Antonio Urcelay to urge the children’s toy retail chain to stop selling the Kidffiti product. In his letter, the Assemblyman wrote that the product taught local children how to vandalize their neighborhood and encouraged more dangerous criminal behavior. The Assemblyman’s request came in response to concerns raised by local residents, civic leaders and law enforcement officials over alarming increases in graffiti and vandalism in the community.

In a letter to the Assemblyman dated October 14, 2014, Toys “R” Us Vice President for Corporate Communications Kathleen Waugh wrote that the company appreciated the Assemblyman’s efforts in maintaining clean neighborhoods in the community. She added that Toys “R” Us plans to clear their shelves of the product and that they will no longer sell it going forward.

Counterfeit Angry Birds toys seized

From DNA Info:

An alleged counterfeit-toy ring that supplied fake Angry Birds and Disney merchandise to stores around the city was broken up last week, according to the Queens District Attorney's office.

Ying Jiang, 38, Deqiang Luo, 49, and Haiwei Chen, 54, were charged with first-degree trademark counterfeiting, a crime that could net the trio up to 15 years in prison, the DA's office said.

According to the complaint, Epstein Drangel LLP, the intellectual property firm representing Angry Birds' creator Rovio Entertainment and Disney Enterprise, hired private investigator Richard Taute to go undercover at the warehouse of J & L Trading at 15-17 132 St., near 15th Avenue.

Taute met with the alleged counterfeiters on April 6 and said he wanted to make a purchase, according to the court documents.
He then allegedly bought knapsacks, watches, umbrellas, pencil cases, caps, toy cars and action figures emblazoned with Angry Birds, Disney and other logos and characters.

According to the law firm, the retail value of the products is estimated to be as much as $500,000.

Luo, of Whitestone and Chen, of Flushing, were released immediately, while Jiang, who is also from Whitestone, was held on $5,000 bail.

Hefty lefty wants to ban Happy Meal toys

From the Daily News:

A rotund city councilman who admits his eating habits are off the scales wants to make kids' fast food meals less happy and more healthy.

"I am an example," said Comrie, who refused to say how much he weighs but is thought to be over 300 pounds. "If you look at me. I enjoy fast food and unhealthy eating."

The Queens councilman on Wednesday will press the Fast Food Toy Ban Bill, which limit any meal that comes with a toy to under 500 calories.

That could mean some heavy changes for the big name chains.

Any restaurant caught hawking toys with crappy food would face fines ranging from $200 to $2,500 - the penalty increasing for repeat offenders.

City cracking down on toy guns

From the Daily News:

City officials are launching an ad campaign as part of a crackdown on illegal sales of realistic-looking toy guns.

Public service ads will be posted on buses and subways throughout the city featuring a red gun and a black one and will ask the question: Which is real and which is a toy?

In addition, fines for selling illegal toy guns will be sharply raised from $1,000 maximum per sale to $5,000 maximum for a first offense and up to $8,000 for repeat offenses.

A third conviction in two years could also padlock a store for up to five days.

City laws require toy guns to be painted bright red, yellow, blue or similar luminous colors, but criminals have taken to painting real guns in bright colors to disguise them, which is also a crime.

The red gun in the public service ad is the real one.

Officials said the black toy gun in the ad can be just as deadly if mistaken for a real gun in a confrontation with police, officials stressed.