Category Archives: The World of Human Beings

We don’t know why we’re here. Let’s make the best of it.

Should We Stick Our Heads in the Sand?

Posted on December 28, 2012 by rockviv

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

Are You Better Off Than You Were in 1974?

Posted on October 26, 2012 by rockviv

Things have changed a lot in the past eight years. In October, 2004, I stood in front of my class of sixth graders at Channel View School for Research to teach a lesson on the skill of persuasive speaking–the literacy … Continue reading →

Posted in Business and Economics, Creatures of the Planet (Non-Human), New York City Government, Planet Earth, Water and waterways | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Posted on September 28, 2012 by rockviv

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 , , , | 2 Comments

Thanks to Aunt Abby Ryder

Posted on August 29, 2012 by rockviv

The summer media campaign for my book, Images of America: Rockaway Beach, closes on a high note, thanks to Aunt Abby’s historic bayfront clam chowder house.  Today’s New York Times Dining Section features an article and photo spread, “Where Pirates Can Dock … Continue reading →

Posted in Business and Economics, Jamaica Bay, The Arts and Entertainment, Water and waterways | 4 Comments

“We Used to Vacation” and Other Lost Summer Rituals

Posted on July 3, 2012 by rockviv

I headed into the kitchen for my morning coffee, and flicked on the radio.  A song recorded by The Cold War Kids was on, called We Used to Vacation. A great lost summer ritual. In the past week, I’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in Business and Economics, The Arts and Entertainment, The World of Human Beings | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Avoid the Lines, Buy Images of America: Rockaway Beach, Early!

Posted on June 1, 2012 by rockviv

So you’d like to be one of the first to own a signed copy of Images of America: Rockaway Beach, my new book published on June 4 by Arcadia.   The kickoff event was at Ciro’s Pastry Shop, 415 Beach 129 Street … Continue reading →

Posted in The Arts and Entertainment, The World of Human Beings | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Inspired at the Laundromat

Posted on March 8, 2012 by rockviv

There they go again!  The unsung elves of our cherished local Rockaway Artists’Alliance have toiled to create inspiring public art in some of the most unexpected places.  Discovering this kind of public art adds to the offbeat joy of living … Continue reading →

Posted in Business and Economics, The Arts and Entertainment, The Built World, The World of Human Beings | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

In Praise of WFUV

Posted on February 16, 2012 by rockviv

One of my favorite cause buttons carries a simple message:  “The best things in life aren’t things.”  A fixture of my life these days is non-commercial radio and television, where I now get much of my news, entertainment and creative … Continue reading →

Posted in Meet Your Fellow Man, The Arts and Entertainment, The World of Human Beings | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Finding Fannie Holland

Posted on January 25, 2012 by rockviv

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 , , , , | 13 Comments

Inspired by “The Search for Harmony Bay”

Posted on January 17, 2012 by rockviv

I submitted the final content for my upcoming book to Arcadia Publishing on the second day of 2012, and it was quite a relief!  Time to post an entry on Oy Vey Rockaway.  The outstanding visual artists of Rockaway never … Continue reading →

Posted in The Arts and Entertainment, The World of Human Beings | Tagged , , | 2 Comments