After Sandy

Long Beach, NY  November 2012 photo by Lauryn McDermott

The clean up efforts in the metropolitan New York/New Jersey area continue, but for many, recovering from Hurricane Sandy will take months, if not years. Life at Bouler Pfluger Architecture has also changed in the aftermath of the storm.  To help people rebuild after the devastation of many coastline communities on Long Island, the firm has teamed up with Sims Steel to form the South Shore Lift Project, in order to raise many damaged homes off of their foundations and onto ones that meet new FEMA flood elevation guidelines. Hopefully the process of rebuilding will be swift as many homes are currently open to the elements, often without heat or power. 

Happy 4th!

Photo by Jackson Bouler

After debating whether or not to make this a wordless entry, other than the photo credit, I chose instead to say something.  My grandfather, Giuseppe Ferretti came to America from Italy in 1911. With little formal education, he worked by day as a barber for 63 years, but at night, he invented musical instruments, sculpted stainless steel, and of course, raised a family.  Although he never truly reached his full potential, his labors led the way for three successful children, and now many grandchildren and great-grandchildren who have opportunities he couldn't have even imagined.

Wasn't this exactly what the founding fathers intended when they talked about a country where people had the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?  For those who came before me, whose dedication and sacrifice ensured these freedoms, I thank them, and hope that my work as an educator will pass the torch to the next generation.

Native Planting at Seatuck

 Jackson helps lay out the plants before digging some impressive holes.

 Tags are used to help educate the public about best plants to use on Long Island.

 Landscape designer Sue Avery shows Liv how to space the plants.

 Meanwhile, a local Boy Scout troop was rebuilding coup for the quail restoration project.

Quail getting ready to move into their new home.

Bouler Architecture is proud to support the native planting project at Seatuck, a nature preserve and education center in Islip, NY. Running along the Great South Bay, the preserve features a landscape that is a diverse mix of wetlands and woodlands, and is now developing a native planting scheme that will not only add beauty to the property, it will teach the public about what we should be planting in our Long Island yards. Jackson has been very interested in plants ever since he received a gardening book for attracting birds, so Olivia and I joined him by getting our hands dirty and planting some ferns, viburnum, mountain laurel, and blueberries under the direction of Seatuck's Chairperson of Landscaping, Sue Avery. Sue Avery, a biologist and landscape designer, has been working with fellow members of Seatuck and Long Island Native Plant Initiative to create a garden scheme that will enhance the landscape while restoring habitat.  LINPI has been traveling to untouched areas across Long Island and harvesting plant seeds to cultivate new plants before the species is lost forever. The value of native plants is to not only preserve the species, however, but they work better in our climate, thriving without human intervention.  They also help combat invasive plants.  From bamboo to mustard garlic, invasive species choke out native plants and tamper with our ecosystem.  Unfortunately, in the process they often choke out plants that provide food or habitat for wildlife.  Seatuck's quail restoration project is another effort to restore the balance of our habitat.  Having lost open space, their numbers in the wild have been depleted.  Coupled with the desire to curtail the tick population, Seatuck began raising quail a few years ago, and the results have been phenomenal.  As we rode our bikes home from our morning at Seatuck, I reflected on how lucky we are to be a stone's throw from such a beautiful spot.

Road Kill

Don't you think all of our streets could use this reminder?

Champions of Change: White House Panel

As the Obama administration looks to its domestic policy goals, the reality of financial woes and a political stalemate leads it to take a different tact. The White House has organized a series of panel discussions with those they have cited as 'Champions of Change', people who have performed Herculean tasks starting at the grassroots level. On Tuesday, June 7th, Olivia was asked to participate in the New Orleans Panel, joined by 11 others creating social change in unique ways. The round table, held at a convention for volunteer efforts, was led by Melody Barnes and Marta Unquilla, who are involved with the service initiatives of the Obama Administration. According to James, it was incredible to listen to individuals talk about what they are accomplishing, mostly on a shoestring budget. Here's a list of a few of the participants, many of whom were women:

- Liz McCartney, who is rebuilding the 9th ward in NOLA.
- Lan Diep, who is connecting with Vietnamese fisherman for the BP oil spill claims.
- Brenda Krause Eheart, Ph.D. who is building an interesting community housing model in Chicago (retired individuals who pay less rent in exchange for working in the community day care).
- Ivye Allen, Ph.D., who is president of Foundation of the Mid-South, whose mission is economic development in the mid-south.
- Dianna Daley, Director of Centro Compesino, education programs for south Florida.

Other programs included schools in the 9th ward, Muslim community collaborative, Alabama disaster relief, Hispanic community collaboratives. Each panelist was able to connect his or her initiative with the greater good of our nation.
Olivia was the sole participant whose initiative was about the environment and, as the only child, was singled out by Melody Barnes as part of the nation's future. Olivia had the opportunity to address the round table where she discussed her fundraiser, the partnership with Audubon, and putting the 'eco' back in the economy.
Not only did the participants connect with each other, their stories will be shared on the White House web site. Also in attendace at the conference were corporations looking to expand their outreach programs by collaborating with not-for-profits-- a corporate trend that I can truly support.

Use Art to Turn the World Inside Out

What an incredible way to use photography to transform the relationship between buildings, art and humanity. Posting striking closeups of people on buildings, French graffitti artist JR sparks conversation and reflection in a bold manner. In one example, he juxtaposes images of Palestinian and Israelis who do the same job. In doing so, he reveals the universality of their life expereince despite the political barriers between them. It's worth taking the time to watch the full video since it forces us to consider our own two hands and what changes we can make through art.

Arbor Day

While I was listening to a college radio station this morning, the host was chatting about the contrast between big business and the environmental movement. "The oil industry has money, but the environmental movement has the collective." He went on to assert that the collaborative nature of the environmental movement, sharing members and resources, allows for many leaders who vie for progress not power. The power of the environmental movement comes from everyday people making choices in their everyday actions-- and in this way, the collective can affect change. For example, my students recently implemented a water bottle recycling program at our high school, capturing 1.3 tons of plastic in March alone. Needless to say, the actions of individuals, positive or negative, have a combined result.
With Arbor Day upon us, it seems like an appropriate time to encourage the collective response of planting trees. Instead of a national day of consumption-- cards, flowers, candy, toys-- let's honor a day dedicated to improving our natural habitiat. The collective act of planting trees has great political power too. Wangari Maathai started the Green Belt movement in Kenya one tree at a time-- the end result was massive in terms of the environment and the empowerment it provided.
And why not plant trees? We need to counteract those lost annually to overdevelopment and to storms in order to provide a healthy environment to animals and people alike. Consider adding a tree to your yard this spring, or simply protecting the ones you have. Or instead of giving out a rubber bracelet for a fundraiser, or a tchotke as a wedding favor, consider sharing saplings. Those trees might just add up to a forest.

Small Actions, Big Impact

Olivia (center) with NY Islanders and fellow Hometown Heroes

A year ago, I attened The Ethnic Pen, Bay Shore High School's annual writing conference and heard about Wangari Maathai's Green Belt project. I was amazed at how one woman's tree planting campaign changed the Kenyan landscape and the course of history. Four days later, the oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico exploded, and little did I know, my daughter's subsequent action of donating bird illustrations to raise funds for recovery efforts would have a ripple effect in our own community and beyond.
At this year's Ethnic Pen, filmmaker Jennifer Arnold described the power of one woman's seemingly small actions and their ripple effect in her recent documentary, A Small Act. Hilde Back, a Swedish survivor of the Holocaust, chose to sponsor the education of a young, rural Kenyan student, Chris Mburu, sending off small amounts of money to cover his primary schooling. Mburu went on to graduate from Harvard, evenually becoming a Human Rights Lawyer for the United Nations. After Mburu decided to find the stranger who changed his life, he started a scholarship program of his own, naming it after his former benefactor. This exceptional story's ripple effect continues thanks to Arnold's film, which in itself, fought the odds to be made.
After the conference, I took Olivia and Jackson to the Hometown Heroes reception with the NY Islanders. Olivia, who had been made a Hometown Hero in January for her Gulf fundraiser, was surrounded by other Long Islanders who also took action when they were called upon.
It was a rewarding day, a reminder that each one of us has the opportunity to make a difference in small and big ways.
If you are in the Huntington area tomorrow, please drop by The Book Revue at 3 pm for Olivia's book signing.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Artist Louise Millmann

Last week marked the 100th anniversary of one of the worst industrial accidents in US history: The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. The fire, exacerbated by cramped working conditions and locked fire exits, led to the death of 146 workers who leapt to their deaths to escape the flames. Most who died were young women, recent immigrants to our country searching for the American Dream. It took this type of tragedy for factory reform. Alfred E. Smith became a champion for workplace safety and regulation and unions were formed.

To honor the event, there was a rally last Friday on the Lower East Side in NYC. Artist Louise Millmann, dressed in period clothing, walked in the parade, stunning the onlookers who believed they had seen a ghost. Millmann described the experience as quite emotional, a poignant reminder of the sensless loss of life and the continuted need for safe workplaces everywhere.

Dear Governor Cuomo

Dear Governor,
I voted for you, but I didn't vote for this. I know teachers have become the new villians in the fiscal crisis all around the country, but I thought you were better than that. Why did I allow myself to think that you would see public education as an essential ingredient in fostering the American Dream? Or that you would value programs that keep kids off the streets and engaged in school?
Perhaps you didn't realize the toll this would take on local school districts, many of which already face tough choices between offering AP Courses or world languages, computers or sports. Long Island prides itself on its schools and has the highest rate of high school graduates who go on to secondary education. We send a greater percentage of tax revenue to Albany, but get back less. Our reward? An 11% cut in state aid coupled with a tax cap that will cripple school districts. Schools in low wealth areas who rely more heavily on state aid, will cut more programs, and that student who may have found his way out of poverty, inspired by an art class or a science club, will never have that chance. He will never know what opportunities he will have missed. Now multiply that by the many children your policy will impact, and you can see why so many people turned out at last night's rally at Hofstra University. Concerned parents, grandparents, educators, and community members showed up to say that our children deserve better. Investing in our future will yield better results. If you need dollars and cents to justify your budget, think about this. For every year of education a child receives, for every enriching experience, she will in turn get a better job and become a more productive (and taxpaying) member of society.
I know you are going to tell me that we all need to 'tighten the belt', but this type of class warfare, balancing budgets on the most vulnerable members of society, is dangerous business. As it stands, we Long Islanders have local control over our districts. Your proposal of a tax cap, without mandate relief denies us this right. School boards, superintendents, the community-- don't they have a say in setting their own budgets?
Sincerely,
Nadine Bouler

From Ecuador

This in from Musicworks founder Jesse Neuman who is in Ecuador right now.
Hey all
Just wanted to drop a line and let you know that all is well here at the equator. Some hilights:
12 hours of travel (how do you say "flight delayed" in Spanish?
13 hours of sleep the following night (human again)
basically I'm living alone in the 75% finished palace amidst the Pachacama property (all of the houses in Ecuador are 75% finished and 100% of them will not be finished. However, I'm enjoying the bare bulbs, mattress on the floor, and 6 rooms of non-furnitured echo for my trumpet playing)
gave some private lessons in my kitchen to Clarita, Maria Jose, and Fernando. It's so great to see how much they have improved since last year.
my trombone class wound up improvising to a shuffled ipod, including: The Neptunes, Duke Ellington, Broken Social Scene, and Lucinda Williams. well done
my long lost student Julian has returned from Colombia!
$1.60 lunches including soup, chicken, rice, and drink. yum.
gave Lassie, the ancient german shepherd a bath (too many flies). she did not enjoy it.
felt great to donate books, instruments, funds, etc. There is such a need here...

Japan: Our Prayers

As yet another natural disaster rips apart a different region of the globe, it gives us pause to reflect on our fragile existance. Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic ash, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, blizzards-- the past year is evidence that few are left unscathed by Nature's wrath. Add on man-made disasters-- radiation leaks, oil spills, water contamination-- and it becomes clear that our ecology needs to be a top priority if we are to survive. Our prayers this morning are with the Japanese people. May we all find ways to help them recover.

Teachers: Under Attack

About a month ago, we were 'nation builders' but this week, we are under attack. With cuts in state aid to rising health care costs, it was hard for teachers not to fear the worst for their profession and for their students. But with the attacks on collective bargaining and seniority, it feels more like an attack on the middle class. I often call teaching a stepping stone career. Like many of my colleagues, I am the first in my family to have the chance to go to college and saw a stable, public service career educating others as part of my civic duty. Now public servants are villified. Though we only make up a small portion of the work force, we are now cast as the culprits in causing budget shortfalls. It made me terribly sad when a talented colleague of mine said she wouldn't advise people to go into the teaching profession these days. It made me sad on two levels. First, it was a sign to me how much these attacks were affecting those of us who have devoted our lives to this career, and it made me wonder about the loss of talented teachers in the future. I could go through the laundry list of things I've done as a teacher throughout my sixteen year career-- but I won't. Instead, I'll simply say that there have been times when I've had the chance to direct a young person's life in ways that are tangilble and intangible. Teaching's bottom line isn't like other industries, where the product can be quantified on spreadsheets. There isn't a 4th Q earnings report. Every year I try to help a hundred students move from point A to point B in their lives, made all the more challenging because each one of them has a different point A.
To my colleagues across the country, we stand together as nation-builders, whether we are recognized as such or not.

(Re)Recycling

Jericho High School had established a water bottle recycling program several years ago; however the program was discontinued in September. Unfortunately our recycling bins weren't distinct enough from our garbage cans, causing too many food scraps to make their way into the bins. Although more and more students are using reusable stainless bottles, many are still reliant on plastic water bottles. Here is a pic of discarded water bottles on stage after middle school graduation.

With 52,000 water bottles sold annually through our school cafeteria, not to mention the scores of bottles brought in via backpacks, the Senior Experience class made restarting the recycling program our number one priority. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of several clubs, the input of East Coast Recycling and the Eco Action Network, and the support of our district's administration, it looks as if we'll make our March 4th deadline, just in time for a pep rally kick-off event. The students are planning a multimedia campaign to educate our student population on both the need for and the method of proper recycling. While some students were shooting a video, others reused the backs of Bouler Architecture blueprints to make 'coming soon' signs. Their enthusiasm for getting this eco-friendly project off the ground was contagious. As I walked out of the room with Tim, a student who plans to become a chef, he looked out at the snow-filled courtyard and asked if he could turn part of it into an organic garden with a compost. Absolutely!

State of the Union

Image from the NY Times
Last night James and I sat down to hear President Obama's 2011 State of the Union address. Picking up where he left off in Tucson, the President continued his push for bipartisan civility in an age where we need to move this country forward, instead of gridlocking progress in an 'us vs. them' mentality. Like any seasoned teacher with classroom management skills, I thought the seating arrangement truly influenced the tone, becoming less of a football stadium and more of a civilized chamber of governance. I even liked the reach across the abyss to John Boehner.

And boy didn't those of us who teach at Jericho High School buzz about the President's 'shout-out' to us as nation-builders, because those of us at my job, do see it that way. Not all agreed with his 'race-the-top' strategy, but we came to consensus against No Child Left Behind.

There were great poetics in Obama's writing style. It was balanced. I reflected on the analogous relationship of Sputnik to our "winning the future." Upon reflection, I consider it apropos. We currently sit on the precipice of the future and cannot be bogged down wasting energy fighting each other without at least an attempt to reach consensus.

Throughout the speech, the President made statements so thoughtfully worded that James and I often wondered aloud, "How could you object to that?!" Now it's no secret that I am a hearty supporter of President Obama, but I was pleased today when a social studies teacher who plans on teaching the speech tomorrow, told me, "I'm a Republican, but I like the guy." And as he prepared his 'Project Citizen' unit, he also appreciated the support for teachers.

One part of the night was more personal. When James and I were in DC with the family this summer, we spoke with our representatives in Washington about the Gulf oil spill. It was great to see our alternative energy allies having the ear of the President. Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY), a longtime champion of environmental issues, had such forward-thinking, sensible, and money-saving ideas, that we were excited to see him walking with Obama on the way out, with Energy Chairman Waxman (D-CA) symbolically leading the way. Congressman Engle (D-NY), a bull dog in questioning BP chairman, was shaking hands along the aisle. These are the folks who can implement these goals. We also met with Climate Change Czar and former Audubon Board Chair Carol Browner. When I heard this week that Browner was stepping down, I was disappointed since she had great perspective on the whole situation: the oil industry's unpaid taxes, lax regulation, and campaign contributions, while green technologies were moving forward in China. She knew what was at stake. I hoped her departure wasn't a sign we had given up getting this country off oil.

Our gasps were audible as the President hit the oil issue squarely out of the park. By subsidizing the oil industry, we are enslaving ourselves in the past, destroying our environment, and creating a national security issue. Funnel that very same money into green technology--sensible, right? European governments have been leading the way on this for years. Let's learn from their model. Of course I'd like to see a return to the moritorium on off-shore drilling, but I guess I can't have everything. . . yet.

Ultimately we were moved by the citizens in the gallery. The heroes, the dreamers, the believers. With Egypt's streets ablaze with revolution, last night I went to bed proud we were "for the people and by the people."

One=Many

With today's commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr, it proves the power of one person's ability to lead many. Leadership requires vision and with it, comes a responsibility to lead by example. MLK's leadership is of an epic stature, as our nation continues to strive to follow his example of civility and righteousness.
Although the individual has great power, it is the actions of the collective which can literally move mountains. In 1977, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Kenyan political activist Dr. Wangari Maathai wanted to combat the effects of deforestation and soil erosion by organizing a tree planting campaign. Her Green Belt program not only made a change in the Kenyan landscape, it also changed how Kenyan women felt about themselves. In organzing tree planting, Maathai encouraged Kenyans not only to invest in their country, but gave them a sense of empowerment, which grew along with the 40 million trees planted across Africa.
Days like today remind us to not only take leadership roles when necessary, but to consider who we follow with great care.

Bird Badge

Olivia and I helped out Jackson's Cub Scout troop 370 earn their birding merit badge tonight. After a round table discussion about helping out the birds in our backyards, the boys looked through field guides and painted bird houses. Consulting Seatuck's latest issue of Field Notes, we then made bird feeders with a used soda bottle, a wooden spoon, and string, taking home their oiled sunflower seeds to fill them. Hopefully the evening gave encouragement to a group of future birders.

Musicworks: Fundraising Event

Musicworks founder and jazz trumpet player Jesse Neuman is preparing for a third trip to teach music to underprivileged children in Latin America. To raise money for the event, Olivia and Jackson will be joining him on stage for a jazz concert at The Living Room in NYC on January 22nd, at 4:00 pm. It's a very child-friendly event, with audience participation for everyone.

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday for many reasons. It's universal, transcending ethnicity and religion. It's altruistic, giving more than receiving. It's also a reminder to take stock of the blessings one has. With this in mind, Olivia donated two drawings for auction to two different fundraisers. Project Angel Food is a California-based program whose mission is to nourish the body and spirit of men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Volunteers and staff cook and delivering more than 13,000 free and nutritious meals every week to people in need. The other organization, Family Service League, is closer to home on Long Island. Their upcoming fundraiser will help fund programs for individuals, families and communities in crisis, challenged by homelessness, unemployment or mental illness. Family Service League (FSL) is there for those who might otherwise "fall through the cracks," mobilizing resources, and design programs to meet their needs. How thankful the Bouler family is to have the opportunity to help support these important organizations. Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

ASPCA Awards: NYC

James, Nadine, Olivia and Jackson with Tommy Monahan's parents and sister

Tommy Monahan's grandparents with Olivia

Today at the ASPCA's Annual Humane Awards Luncheon, Olivia received the Tommy P. Monahan Award for Kid of the Year. The honor of this award was made even greater when we had the chance to meet Tommy's family. Tommy Monahan was a 9 year old Staten Island boy who loved nature as much as Olivia. Tragically, Tommy died in 2007, trying to save his dog from a house fire. Our family was moved to tears when we heard about Tommy's love of animals, how he encouraged a woodpecker to live in his backyard, and his desire to donate money to the ASPCA. Tommy's grandmother has written a book about her grandson, and Tommy's uncle, a retired firefighter who served the NYFD for 21 years, told me that every time he sees the woodpecker in the yard, he feels Tommy's presence. I know every time we look at the award Olivia received today, we will feel his presence in our lives as well.