Wednesday's parting shot

Saifee for the holidays on the SE corner of First Avenue and Seventh Street...

Wednesday's parting shot

Photo by Rainer Turim 

Hanging around at Saifee Hardware on Seventh Street and First Avenue...

Wednesday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

'Tis the seasons at Saifee Hardware on Seventh Street and First Avenue...

Deal of the day

Photos by Steven 

In case you are celebrating Christmas later this year... or want to celebrate it all over again... there are good deals on trees at Saifee Hardware on First Avenue and Seventh Street... where these are free...

Saifee for the holidays

Our annual photo from the SE corner of First Avenue and Seventh Street ... home of Saifee Hardware, and now with the Christmas light up...

In case you give a hoot!

As a follow-up to our post the other day about the artificial saw-whet owl sitting on the walk sign outside Saifee Hardware on First Avenue and Seventh Street... a reader points out a variety of faux owls available at the hardware store... 

City honors Saifee Hardware manager Francisco Puebla for role in nabbing alleged subway shooter

Francisco "Frank" Puebla, the longtime manager at Saifee Hardware & Garden on First Avenue and Seventh Street, was one of five people honored by the city on Wednesday for their role in helping catch the alleged Sunset Park subway shooter. 

As Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said during the ceremony at the Police Department HQ: "Each of these individuals exemplifies the determination and courage that makes us all proud to be New Yorkers. Their actions remind us every day, in every corner of our city, we are surrounded by heroes." 

The five will split a $50,000 reward. (This piece from the Times has more on this ceremony.) 

As previously reported, Frank James reportedly shot 10 people on a subway train in Sunset Park on April 12. In total, 29 people were wounded in the aftermath on the train and platform. U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said James was charged with one count of violating a law prohibiting terrorist and other violent attacks against mass transit systems. James could face up to life in prison if convicted.

Police arrested James on April 13 on the NE corner of First Avenue and St. Mark's Place... aided by the actions of Puebla and the other tipsters, Mohamad Cheikh, Zack Tahhan and Jack Griffin. (The fifth tipster asked to remain anonymous.)

You can read our previous posts for more background. 

• Suspect in Sunset Park subway shooting arrested in the East Village (April 13) 

• Videos: Witnesses describe spotting alleged subway shooter Frank James before his arrest in the East Village (April 13) 

• 5 people are splitting the $50,000 Crime Stoppers reward for Frank James tip (April 16) 

Image via @saifeehardware

[Updated] Report of a trash fire outside Saifee Hardware

The FDNY responded to a trash fire on the sidewalk on the Seventh Street side of Saifee Hardware at First Avenue just before 8 p.m. ... firefighters were quickly on the scene and extinguished the blaze... no word on the cause at the moment. 

Thank you to Susan Schiffman for the photo...

Updated:

Around the same time a short distance away... there was a report of a dumpster fire on Avenue A at Fifth Street ... thanks to @quinnfoconnor for this photo...

Reader report: Car slams into Saifee Hardware

Wow. Close call on the southeast corner of First Avenue and East Seventh Street just after 4.

Per @wlodarczyk: Watched this happen from across the street. No bystanders hit, amazingly.

Here's another photo via Bill the Libertarian Anarchist...



... and a few more shots via EVG reader Dillon Krug showing the emergency response...





So far, there haven't been any reports of injuries...

Updated 5:05 p.m.
This is Bill the Libertarian Anarchist's report of the collision:

"At 4 pm a car traveling north on 1st Ave. (supposedly at a high rate of speed) rammed into a van (not pictured) then spun over and hit the front of the flower-hardware store on the southeast corner of 7th St. and 1st Ave ... Just before I took [the above photo], the paramedics placed the driver (then on a stretcher) into an ambulance. He was mumbling incoherently."

Updated 5:49
This photo via EVG Facebook friend Michael Hirsch shows passersby attending to the driver (in the tank top) ...



Updated 6:41

NBC New York reports that "one person was taken to Bellevue Hospital in serious but stable condition" ... no mention if this was the driver or a pedestrian...

Updated 10

The Post reports that the BMW, which was heading north up First Avenue, "crashed into a parked van and then careened into" the store.

Saifee executive manager Mike Taheraly said that the plants out front "took most of the impact," and that the accident destroyed some $15,000 in merchandise.

As for the driver: "Witnesses claimed the BMW was speeding, but authorities said there was no criminality in the smash-up."

Saifee Hardware isn't accepting any Irene-related returns or exchanges

A reader unhappily notes that Saifee Hardware on First Avenue at Seventh Street won't take back any Irene-related supplies — not even for store credit.

If you can make out the sign...

All emergency items purchased on Thursday, Friday & Saturday including:

Flashlights
Batteries
Candles
Tapes
Tarps
Strings/Twines

FINAL SALE
No exchanges and no returns

So I may hold off before trying to return the eggs and Fruity Pebbles to Key.