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.

Got Activism? Clearwater Festival 2011 Breaks Records

Posted on June 22, 2011 by rockviv

They say that rot is rampant in the social fabric, and all the heroes have died. A decade ago, columnist Russell Baker commented aptly that the few American heroes left in sports, politics and business all “came down with terminal … Continue reading →

Posted in Meet Your Fellow Man, New York State Government, Philosophy, Religion and Philanthropy, Planet Earth, The Arts and Entertainment, The Land We Share, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lilacs and Forgotten Homesites

Posted on May 16, 2011 by rockviv

Sadly, the lilac season is coming to a close. In her 1959 book, Plants That Changed the World, author Bertha S. Dodge cited the lilac as an example of plants that serve as place markers for people.  She noted that … Continue reading →

Posted in The Land We Share, The World of Human Beings | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Greening of Rockaway Beach

Posted on May 9, 2011 by rockviv

The first really warm and sunny weekend of the year brought folks of all ages out for some great activities in Rockaway Beach on Saturday, May 7. It started at 8 a.m., with a “topsoil fest” at the Beach 91 … Continue reading →

Posted in Creatures of the Planet (Non-Human), The Land We Share, The World of Human Beings | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

A House of Cards Faces Into the Winds of Jamaica Bay

Posted on April 12, 2011 by rockviv

Our elected officials are waiting.  They are watching.  I firmly believe they are looking to hear and see us at all of these meetings.  Some just don’t seem to care, but it behooves us to express our opinions to those who do. The Jamaica … Continue reading →

Posted in Business and Economics, New York City Government, New York State Government, Planet Earth, The Built World, The Land We Share, U.S. Government, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Shifting Sands and Strong Foundations

Posted on April 4, 2011 by rockviv

Sometimes, I close my eyes and try to imagine what Rockaway must have been like in 1858.  When there were less than a dozen homes on the peninsula, and land was valued only for the salt hay it produced.  If … Continue reading →

Posted in Business and Economics, New York City Government, The Built World, The Land We Share, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sinners and Saints–Your Choice This Week!

Posted on March 14, 2011 by rockviv

In case you’re not a fan of beer drinking, here’s a novel way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day—by reading a great book about the history of Ireland. “How The Irish Saved Civilization,” the first title in Thomas Cahill’s “Hinges of … Continue reading →

Posted in Business and Economics, Local Government-Rockaway Peninsula & Broad Channel, New York City Government, New York State Government, Philosophy, Religion and Philanthropy, The Arts and Entertainment, The Built World, The Land We Share, U.S. Government, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I Love MY Gateway!

Posted on February 14, 2011 by rockviv

Happy Valentine’s Day to my friends, neighbors and family!  These days, non-committed relationships are all the rage, and the terminology we use in our social interactions seems to be focused on mutual fulfillment, supporting one another, and every euphemism in the book as an alternative to … Continue reading →

Posted in Creatures of the Planet (Non-Human), The Land We Share, U.S. Government, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Oy Vey, JFK!

Posted on January 27, 2011 by rockviv

As I write, the regional planning honchos are joining together at a conference in Lower Manhattan to debate the future of our local airports–to be specific, JFK…and Jamaica Bay.  A foot of snow may have delayed the breakfast portion of … Continue reading →

Posted in Air, Business and Economics, Creatures of the Planet (Non-Human), New York City Government, New York State Government, Planet Earth, The Built World, The Land We Share, U.S. Government, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

“Bus Hill” IS Our Mount Snow!

Posted on January 14, 2011 by rockviv

Ok, so we don’t have the long, rolling hills of Prospect Park, and Fort Tilden is no Yellowstone.  But we do have Bus Hill, Rockaway’s version of a slope for ski-boarding and sledding. Wrapped inside the ramps of the Gil … Continue reading →

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The Vandalia Dunes Are Gone–Is Four Sparrow Marsh the Next to Go?

Posted on January 14, 2011 by rockviv

Frankly, I’m shocked about the new stores being proposed for just north of the Flatbush Avenue exit of the Belt Parkway, near Toys R’ Us.  However, members of Community Board 18 in Brooklyn have “warmed” to the idea, according to Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal.  I’m sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Business and Economics, Creatures of the Planet (Non-Human), New York City Government, The Land We Share, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment