Stony Brook U.: sustainable living?

"this bus used to run on vegetable oil", a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.

I'm looking forward to learning more about green initiatives on the Stony Brook University campus. Perhaps it is because I work in the bowels of the Health Sciences Center, but it takes a lot for information to filter down to me. The website is helpful but wish there was an event were I could get some of my questions answered - like whose roof garden was that I stumbled upon over the summer?

Memories of Edinburgh

Victoria Street, a photo by Lawrence OP on Flickr.

This image took me back fourteen years to my first days in Edinburgh. If I remember correctly, all of the new exchange students were delivered by bus to their various residences throughout the city. After getting settled at Rankin House, I took the few days before classes began to explore my local environment. The neighborhood around Edinburgh Castle was one of my favorite haunts. I enjoyed this view down Victoria Street several times a week, and even today I occasionally return to Edinburgh in my dreams.

Reconstruction of the Fables

1895 Columbia Bicycle Ad, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.

The times that are a'changin:
1. Resignation of Temple University President Ann Weaver Hart, moving to Utah to care for her ailing mother.
2. Resignation of Stony Brook Medical Center Chief Executive Dr. Steven Strongwater.
3. News of the official breakup of classic 80s college radio band R.E.M.
Via Flickr:
This is the original Columbia Bicycle advertisement that was adopted by the Athens, GA rock group R.E.M. in promotional materials for their Fables of the Reconstruction album and tour.

Coming to the street near you

The Child Eater, a photo by cartoongoddess on Flickr.

We are looking forward to quieter evenings now that the rambunctious youth of Port Jefferson Station are being redirected back to the life of the mind. We will see how long that lasts ;-)

Passaic River

Hurricane Irene Aftermath: Submerged Jitney Buses in Paterson, New Jersey, a photo by jag9889 on Flickr.

In the summer of 1991 I worked for a week with a Habitat for Humanity affliate in Paterson, New Jersey. I was struck by the ethnic diversity of this post-industrial city and by the awesome natural setting of the falls that gave birth America's first planned industrial development.

Unfortunately the Passaic River flows out of the most rugged mountains in the state, and in the case of Hurricane Irene can cause tremendous destruction to lives and property. Check out jag 9889 for more of the shocking evidence.

reflections over an early morning cup of jo

reflections over an early morning cup of jo, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Location: Bagels "N" a Hole Lot More
650 Patchogue Road, Port Jefferson Station, New York

This was our family's first major tropical storm. Carla, my wife, has been on service at the Stony Brook Medical Center all week. She came in early to help out with storm preparation.

And now that the storm has moved through we are dealing with some of the impacts of shifted activity patterns. Carla expects to see influx of patients to the hospital over the next week or so - folks who stayed away during the hurricane are now coming into Emergency with a wide variety of complaints and challenges.

Our neighborhood was largely spared - we live in Port Jefferson Station where the power went out early (5:00 am) but the few trees and limbs that went down were quickly removed. At this point it is anyone's guess how long it is going to take for LIPA to get a handle on things.

I went out to Bagels "N" A Hole Lot More in Port Jefferson Station for breakfast (excellent as always) and was treated to some pathetic stories of crossed lines of authority snarling response to downed wires in Stony Brook. Finally, this DOT employee had to turn to an emergency response team that had come up from Louisiana to take care of things. We of course could use more assistance of this sort, but communities upstate and in New England are facing much more dire circumstances.

Visitor from the Tropics

Hurricane Irene Viewed From Google Earth Weather Satellite (8-27-11), a photo by 54StorminWillyGJ54 on Flickr.

Last year Carla and I visited Jamaica's Southeast Coast over the U.S. Labor Day Weekend. We were lucky to make it down to celebrate out 10th anniversary in a country we have grown to love, since Air Jamaica canceled the flight we were originally booked on. Earl turned out to be a disappointment last year. Long Island Power Authority laid out millions of dollars stationing advance teams for cleanup, but the storm dissipated before reaching New York.

This year we have another visitor from the tropics. Carla and I will be on the ground - Carla working at Stony Brook University Medical Center and Mike acting as an amateur videographer. Follow the latest news on our flickr stream.
image note:
Category 1 Hurricane Irene off the East Coast as of Saturday, August 27, 2011 at around 3:15 p.m.

Image via Google Earth Weather Satellite.

Litter Free Philadelphia Campaign

Litter Free Philadelphia Campaign, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.

imagine these sidewals as the art of our hands
envision these blocks as our sacred land.
one man's trash scars another person's treasure
but one thoughtful action makes a community better
this is our Earth with its beautiful body
this is our city with its beautiful face

Via Flickr:
Thoughtful campaign to present a cleaner, litter free environment for visitors to Philadelphia. These shots were taken at the SEPTA trolley station near City Hall.

Reconnecting to place

view of a bridge, bridge with a view, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.

Working at Stony Brook University's Health Sciences Center is both a joy and a challenge. My office is a windowless bunker in the bowels of the complex, but only a few steps away one finds this wonderful expanse of roof terrace gardens. Unfortulately, few of hospital employees take responsibility for these exterior spaces. Their experience is more abstract - what we need to promote is an ethos of appreciation as well as a variety of practices of care. One small example that could be built upon is the small garden I discovered (visible from this same location if you were to rotate 180 degrees). I would love to know who started this garden and to what purpose its produce is directed.

Advertisement for Bluepoints Company, Inc.

"Especially popular in 1817", a photo by JFGryphon on Flickr.

Though originally named for Blue Point, Long Island, where this oyster is said to have been first found, "bluepoint oyster" is now used as a general term referring to any of many small Atlantic oysters from 2 to 4 inches long. They are considered the best for eating on the half shell.

Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/bluepoint-oyster#ixzz1UMQFVB2d

New Historical Marker for Setauket Village Green

New Historical Marker for Setauket Village Green, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.

If the cars speeding down Main Steet can slow down long enough, they will learn that the Setauket Village Green was site of first settlement in the Town of Brookhaven (April 15, 1655) and was involved in the Battle of Setauket (August 22, 1777). Setauket Presbyterian Church and Caroline Episcopal Church jointly own and maintain the green. Last October, the Historic Preservation Committee of Setauket Presbyterian Church held a very successful commemoration of the 350 years of worship in Setauket which in 1660 was the largest settlement in the Town of Brookhaven. One of the rebels to fight in the Battle of Setauket, Nathaniel Green, came back to the village after the war to find it in a sorry "state of wretchedness." He rallied local residents to rebuild the church, renovate the cemetery and recreate a sense of community amongst a people whose nerves had been frayed through years of military occupation and, for many, exile across the Long Island Sound in Connecticut. The church was razed by fire several times during Rev. Nathaniel Green's tenure. The current church structure was dedicated in 1812, so the Historic Preservation Committee is now planning to "rededicate" the church on its 200th birthday! Watch this photostream for updates.

I still have many of the photographs that were take at that church's 350 Celebration and have to decide how to make use of them. One idea is to create a video - much longer than the one that appeared on Three Village Patch yet building on the effortless way that it shares the storyline of the day.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ira Costell at today's meeting of the SPC Historic Preservation Committee. Mr. Costell filled us in in on the history of the Long Island North Shore Heritage Area [LINSHA] and the current initiative to commemorate George Washington's Culper Spy Ring with driving tour signs and audio description. This sounds like a wonderful idea, and I am wondering if there might not be ways for photographers with interest in historic landscapes and historic preservation to help out. Assuming that Session (comprised of SPC church elders) approves, we will soon see another historic marker on the green that connects to audio description of the role that the church and its members played to support the Revolutionary War effort.

Town Hall - Town of Highlands, New York

Town Hall - Town of Highlands, New York, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I returned to Highland Falls to contest the ticket I received during my fall visit shortly after taking these photographs: Palisades Parkway; Death Head.

Long Island Greenbelt Trail at State Route 111

Long Island Greenbelt Trail at State Route 111, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.

Via Flickr:

This photograph was taken during a hike led by Shari on the central portion of the Long Island Greenbelt Trail. The hike on Marsh 19, 2011 was sponsored by the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference, a group of volunteers across Long Island who enjoy outdoor activities and look after an extensive trail network.

This past month I have been enjoying many different opportunities to explore the island. As suggested by this post to Three Village Patch, activities organized by local hiking and biking clubs can, with a little bit of advance planning, become photowalks, where folks not only share their impressions during the event, but continue the conversation on social networking platforms like flickr, twitter or facebook. To learn more, join the Long Island Photowalk group on flickr - link - and join us for one of our monthly events!