Costa Rica: The Video

Good Morning, Irene

I am fortunate to have spent the morning only cleaning the yard of debris from the storm. Many of my friends were not so lucky. Pamela called, on the road with coolers full of food, reporting that the North Fork of Long Island looked like a war zone. Erika, stranded at her house on a mountain in Vermont, texted that all the roads had washed away. Michelle posted pics of 9W in Coxsackie, now underwater. Hurricane Irene's path of destruction was far reaching.
I'd get on my soapbox right about now, but it blew away with the high winds. Instead I'll simply say that climate change is something to take seriously. As the oceans increase in temperature and more ice become water, those once-in-a-lifetime storms may become more regular events. One only needs to look to Hurricane Katrina to see our hand in altering the environment, whose impact was worse due to the loss of wetlands on the Gulf Coast. Perhaps we Americans should consider that before we dismantle important governmental agencies which regulate and protect our natural habitat. What's that expression about an ounce of prevention? Or is it cutting off our nose to spite our face?

Going Modern in Sayville, NY

Sayville, New York is a quaint seaside community known for its Victorian captain homes and thriving downtown, so when Bouler Architecture was approached to turn a modest cape into a larger, modern home with solar panels, it was an exciting proposition. With Lesco Construction, the project has been moving forward smoothly, and now Sayville can add modern homes to its list of highlights.

WLIR and APB: A Reunion

Fortunately there was a break in Bouler action, allowing me the time to go to tonight's WLIR/APB reunion event at My Father's Place. Former radio station WLIR was perhaps Long Island's best contribution to music history (eat that, Billy Joel). Bringing punk rock and new wave to New York's airwaves, it was a 1980's mainstay for the disenfranchised, angst ridden teen that I was. One of its best musical finds was Scottish band APB, a punk/funk band from Aberdeenshire, Scotland who developed a substantial fan base in the Tri-State area. Though you may not know any of their songs, you'll recognize their sound, now appropriated by bands like The Killers and Franz Ferdinand. In listening to their music again, I'm impressed with how much it holds together-- a modern fusion that was definitely before its time-- not unlike WLIR itself.

Lessons from Costa Rica

Must everything come down to dollars and cents? In a super-capitalistic society, I suppose we could reduce everything, even preserving the environment, into a commodity. With the crash of US economic markets and looming governmental budget cuts setting the stage for the dismantling of environmental regulation, it was heartening to see the New York Times article today about the cost effectiveness of maintaining biodiversity and other natural resources. Holding up Costa Rica as a model, a country known for its investment in national parks, the article cites their Payment for Environmental Services program, where land owners are paid to maintain native forest instead of cutting. In curtailing deforestation, Costa Rica serves as a model for the rest of the world and is the reason for their thriving eco-tourism. Having just returned from Four Seasons Resort in Costa Rica and visiting the Palo Verde rainforest, I can say that preserving the environment can be financially beneficial. The concept reminded me of a conversation our family had with Congressman Steve Israel in March. He spoke of securing money for restoring the Long Island Sound, helping to make commercial fishing a profitable profession again, only to see funding disappear. Some would say the program was big government waste, but others might see it as serving two purposes-- both economically and environmentally. With our current Congressional gridlock, perhaps we should take a look at Costa Rica's forward-thinking environmental plans and adopt them as our own.

Vote for an Eco-Friendly Fashion Trend

I have long been a fan of fashion. And long before my growing interest in cutting my carbon footprint, I have been known to troll the shelves of second hand stores, so it was with great interest that I checked out Forevermore's mission to make the fashion industry more eco-friendly. Eliza Starbuck, the designer of the dress in The Uniform Project, is on to another project, one which attempts to 'green' the fashion industry. From made-to-order clothes, more efficient use of fabrics, and less polluting manufacturing, Starbuck's message is one that could help the fashion industry move to a more sustainable future.

Bring on the Butterflies!

Our garden this year has been neglected more than usual; however out of concern for our polinating friends, Jackson decided to add some plants to help out the bees and the butterflies. With a little help from his dad, he was able to add a butterfly bush to the meditation garden, and for the birds, a blueberry bush and cherry tree. It was with interest then that I stumbled upon master gardener Eileen's blog, Milkweed Gardens. A gardener for the Orange County Extension Office in Florida, Eileen enjoys butterfly gardening with her children and encourages parents to turn their backyards into a hands-on, butterfly biology lesson. Hm, creating a lifelong gardening lesson and enriching the environment at the same time? Sounds like a good addition to the meditation garden.

Young Voices on Climate Change

Olivia and Jackson will be interviewed by author, illustrator, and flmmaker Lynne Cherry about their conservation efforts. On the heels of their exciting trip to Costa Rica where they were able to meet with schoolchildren in Guanacaste, the kids are looking forward to connecting with other children who feel equally passionate about the environment. Cherry, the author of many children's books including The Great Kapok Tree, has been an environmentalist since she was a child. It seems fitting then, for her to be the one to champion the environmental concerns and solutions from this generation of children around the world.

ABAD Idea Makes the NYT

The latest installment of the A Book About Death is in Bay Shore, NY and features the work of 150 artists, including Louise Millmann, James Bouler and me. Recently reviewed in the New York Times, the exhibition centers around the broad concept of 'ties that bind' which provides plenty of room for interpretation. Hats off to the ABADer LuAnn Palazzo who curated the show.

Four Seasons Resort in Costa Rica

The relationship between a building and its site can be complicated. Not only is functionality an issue, a building should capitalize on its setting. Four Seasons Resort in Costa Rica took its location on Peninsula Papagayo into account in its modern design when it was built seven years ago. A series of buildings nestled in the trees, the variety of natural textures and curving rooflines were intended to mimic the organic world around it. Coupled with its open and airy floor plan, the resort's spaces flow from lobby to lounge to landscape with ease.