BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Like the fibers in his neon vest George Barrett is tightly woven into the fabric of his Greenpoint neighborhood.

Barrett - at 80 years old - has spent most of his life there. And for the last 20 years he’s woken up every morning at 5 a.m. to head to the corner of Meserole Avenue and Eckford Street to help children, their parents and pets cross the street safely.

"It makes me feel good. And just to say hello to all the people, and they say hello to me. I probably annoy a couple of people who want to sleep in the morning but that's part of the city life," Barrett said.

It all started after his wife passed away. The retired truck driver was looking for ways to keep busy.

Meserole connects a busy McGuinness Boulevard to a bustling Manhattan Avenue - with two schools nearby. 

While paid crossing guards keep a lookout on blocks closer to the schools - there was no one at this corner.

Barrett felt someone was desperately needed so he decided to do it himself, as a volunteer.

"You see the way these people drive. They don't stop for the stop sign, and they speed over here like crazy," Barrett said.

Rain or shine, Barrett is out every morning - and again in the afternoon when kids are let out of school.

He says he rarely takes a day off.

With his friendly smile and bright green getup, Barrett is hard to miss and someone neighbors have grown to love over the years.

"He's just such a great guy - I knew the day I moved in, I could see how special George was. And I knew I was lucky to have him as a neighbor," said Sheryl Yvette, a Greenpoint resident.

"Everybody loves him. The kids, the neighbors, like you see - everybody crosses, talks to him, gives him hugs, it's so nice," said Jan Puck, a local business owner.

Barrett never had any kids of his own - but says those he serves have become like family and the reason he's on that corner every day.

"It's my little kingdom. These are all my princes and princesses. As long as I can do it, I'll be here. Why relax? I can relax when I'm sleeping," Barrett said.

So, for making Greenpoint families feel safe and this big city feel like a small town, George Barrett is our New Yorker of the Week.