Category Archives: The Land We Share

The soil and good things that grow in it, like plants and trees. The bad things humans put into the soil, like toxic waste, or plain old garbage.

Again, We Celebrate the Earth!

Posted on April 22, 2013 by

It’s Earth Day–April 22, 2013.  The planet and its creatures continue to fascinate.  The past half year began by wowing millions with the wind, waves, and fires of Superstorm Sandy.  It’s continuing to impress on us the extremes of cruelty that can be caused by humans wielding not only assault … Continue reading →

Posted in Air, Planet Earth, The Built World, The Land We Share, U.S. Government, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Remember the Ouija Board?

Posted on January 29, 2013 by

Here’s undoubtedly THE biggest news since Superstorm Sandy hit on October 29, 2012: The first new FEMA flood maps in 25 years were issued yesterday. For a summary on the new maps and stunning photos, check out the Jan. 28, … Continue reading →

Posted in New York City Government, New York State Government, Planet Earth, The Built World, The Land We Share, U.S. Government, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Should We Stick Our Heads in the Sand?

Posted on December 28, 2012 by

We just lived through “the big one.” Hurricane Sandy was a more dangerous and destructive storm than 1962′s Hurricane Donna, and in terms of property damage, it far eclipsed the deadly 1938 Long Island Express, which catapulted a 30-foot-high wave … Continue reading →

Posted in New York City Government, Planet Earth, The Built World, The Land We Share, U.S. Government, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

We Demanded the Sand–but THIS is Ridiculous!

Posted on November 15, 2012 by

Rock Viv is back! I survived Hurricane Sandy, which struck the Northeast coast of the United States at about 9 p.m. on Monday, October 29.  I sent a panicked text message to a friend a few minutes later that said: … Continue reading →

Posted in Planet Earth, The Land We Share, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Celebrate Book Month by Rattling the Skeletons in Rockaway’s Closet!

Posted on September 28, 2012 by

The Rockaway Peninsula is a land of mystery.  Did you ever wonder why we have a yacht club without a dock, and a graffiti-covered concrete box perched on a deserted stretch of bay front beach? And why there is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Local Government-Rockaway Peninsula & Broad Channel, New York City Government, The Built World, The Land We Share, The World of Human Beings | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Starbucks Arrives on the Rock, In a Way

Posted on July 25, 2012 by

Somehow, they are getting to the peninsula—those ubiquitous Starbucks coffee cups.  The $6 Joe can’t be purchased locally, but we have become a “privileged” repository of the brand’s classy paper receptacles, and trash of various other kinds.  Everyone’s starting to … Continue reading →

Posted in Creatures of the Planet (Non-Human), piping plovers, The Land We Share | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Happy Earth Day, Jamaica Bay!

Posted on April 22, 2012 by

It’s more than just a body of water or a marsh ecosystem–Jamaica Bay is an integral part of the environment in the Rockaways.  No matter how you enter or leave the peninsula, or spend your days here, you see the … Continue reading →

Posted in New York City Government, The Land We Share, U.S. Government, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Finding Fannie Holland

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

I’ve received the good news that Images of America: Rockaway Beach will be published on June 4, 2012.  I’m planning two upcoming slide show events in Belle Harbor to preview some photos from the book, one which will feature coffee and pastry on a Sunday … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Religion and Philanthropy, The Arts and Entertainment, The Land We Share, The World of Human Beings | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

H2O, Gerrymandering and Socialists in Archie Bunker Land

Posted on September 10, 2011 by

I’ll never forget the words of the engineer who inspected the Belle Harbor home our family was about to buy, in the spring of 1994. “The number one enemy of your home is water,” he said.  Do everything you can … Continue reading →

Posted in Business and Economics, New York State Government, The Built World, The Land We Share, U.S. Government, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Paean to Irene

Posted on August 29, 2011 by

That Hurricane Irene was some bi-polar storm! Carefree teens tubing down the Saw Mill River Parkway on Sunday afternoon contrasted with kayakers in distress pulled from the Hudson River on Saturday night.  The mood of the city swung like a … Continue reading →

Posted in The Built World, The Land We Share, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment