There's No Place Like Holm. An Account of My Danish Travels, by Keith J. Klein

#bestplacetobetoday #lpblogcomp #lpblogentry

A crisp autumn journey was taken to a remote Danish island. Bornholm, an island just over twice the size of Martha’s Vineyard, bobs in the Baltic Sea and is part of Denmark. Geographically closer to Sweden and former political ties to Germany add mystique as a unique destination. Bornholm is also an off-the-beaten-path, premier biking destination. I hopped a flight from JFK to Copenhagen, then traveled by rail to the closest port, Sweden. The trip to Bornholm was made by high-speed ferry from the town of Ystad. The crossing of the Baltic from Sweden’s medieval village to the port town of Ronne in Bornholm took over two hours. 

After the distant view of Swedish cathedral spires faded, I saw nothing for an hour as the sun melted into the sea.  I knew that anyone who made the sacrifice of this journey would be rewarded, but did not realize the special greeting I was about to receive.

Upon twilight arrival at port, people on the boat were chatting anxiously.  When I asked the person next to me, a young girl with blue eyes and blonde hair, “what’s going on?” she responded, “there’s a problem”. I continued to pry and inquired to an older man with a cane and ascot. “It is the power source from Sweden. It’s been cut again”, he said. This seasoned resident of the island explained the consequences: No electricity or light on the entire island and things would move at a slower pace. I had read that Bornholm was the quintessential escape from the fast paced life of continental cities but that was with electricity. How could it get slower? I was about to find out.  After arriving at the islands port, I was greeted by the pitch dark city of Ronne, and overcome with an old-world feeling. I imagined what it would be like to live in a medieval village. Then I realized I did not have to imagine. This was it. 

The residents of the island responded to the dearth of power with candles to illuminate homes and shops. By candlelight I deciphered a map to find a guesthouse and place for grub.  After a public bus ride, the restaurant I found in the town square of the seaside village of Svaneke was called Bryghus. They improvised with an array of tea-lights on a hand written menu of wood fire-cooked entrees. My choice, the rack of lamb hit the spot and the on-premises brewed beer soothed the soul. Upon exiting I was saluted by a pitch-black sky filled with stars, some shooting. Walking to my accommodations, I heard the waves of the Baltic loudly lapping the shore. I went to bed knowing the daylight of next morning would reveal beautiful terrain and a memorable landscape.  

Up the road from the guesthouse was a small, friendly bike shop. No computers, no files, no paper, no credit cards. The shopkeeper did not speak English and zero Danish is spoken by yours truly, so we both resorted to what little German we knew. After paying I left the shop when she responded, “Schlussel, Schlussel”. I gladly accepted the key and lock. 

By the light of the sun, Bornholm was an idyllic island fringed with gorgeous sand beaches, scenic rocky cliffs and dotted with tiny time-steeped preserved villages serving regional cuisine in a relaxing environment. Behind the sand dunes were rolling hills of open green fields that went on for miles and gave way to a great forest in the center of the island where deer roam. The rural cycling routes were all well marked and logging 35-40 kilometers a day seemed easy given well endowed aesthetic surroundings.



I biked from the village of Svaneke to Gudhjem (pictured)

Bornholm is both a natural and national treasure. In addition to cyclists and beach goers, ornithologists and nature lovers flock to the island for the diversity of birds, flora and fauna. Since much of the island has remained in a natural state more so than the rest of Denmark, the realm of geological features covers a broad spectrum found across Scandinavia in under 100 square kilometres.

The country’s namesake pastry is a must and available at bakeries all over the island. Breakfast Danish are so delicious here, they make for the perfect snack to throw in the backpack and turn a mere bike trip into a sweet cycling odyssey. There’s no doubt this is the #bestplacetobetoday and there’s no place like Bornholm.

Red Hook is Ready, by Keith J. Klein

September 14, 2014 10:26 pm  Views: 163

On October 29^th 2012, Superstorm Sandy decimated the neighborhood, with over 6,000 residents losing power for 3 weeks. There was catastrophic flooding everywhere. The financial destruction caused by Sandy has only been surpassed on a per capita basis by that of Hurricane Katrina. While the forces of Mother Nature can’t be controlled, it does not mean people shouldn’t plan for future weather or other disasters.

IKEA sponsored the utilities and coordination site (Photo by Keith J. Klein)

Environmentalism teaches us to think globally and act locally, bringing individuals together to protect habitats. While often the term of acting locally is aimed at protecting eco-systems and preventing climate change, other grass-roots efforts focus on knitting together communities to come up with a disaster action plan.

In the first hours and days after Hurricane Sandy, the community of Red Hook did come together organically and managed a first response. Everything from medical triage to food distribution was organized by anyone willing and able, until official government response and recovery arrived. The Readiness Plan is based on the experience of community members who were present in Red Hook during and after Superstorm Sandy. In addition to a hurricane emergency, the plan is designed for a wide range of events including winter blizzards, heat waves, power outages, large fires and earthquakes, among others.

Ready Red Hook is the community emergency readiness plan for the 72 hours before and after a major disaster. It takes what was done after Sandy and both formalizes and adds to it. The plan includes a detailed pamphlet which was developed by the community specifically for Red Hook. The purpose is to provide residents a single guide in preparation for the immediate recovery period of future emergencies in the critical time when local or federal government aid has not yet been deployed. This readiness plan is mostly an effort sponsored by the Red Hook Coalition.

On Saturday, September 13, 2014, the Coalition organized a practice event called Ready Red Hook Day. Four stations were designated as gathering areas for people to gather in a disaster event. To guide community members along to the various sites, a “passport” was stamped for each location visited: Food & Shelter, Communications, Health & Medical/Community Response and Utilities/Coordination. A shuttle bus helped people go from one location to another – although many participants simply walked.

Councilman Carlos Menchaca, was at one of the sites the day of the event. While at the Utilities and Coordination site at Ikea, The Councilman stated, “The 72 hours before and after are the most critical moments,”Regarding Red Hook as the geographically isolated but small, friendly area, he said, “This huggable community needs to have a plan.” Although, there was a safety net in place when Sandy struck, Menchaca mentioned “We can do better, and that’s what this day is about”.

Food & Shelter

Food and water will be distributed at the Visitation Church on Richards Street as will coordination for placement of individuals who are unable to return home or need assistance getting to their loved ones. I had the opportunity to speak with Sapni Advani, Coordinator of the Red Hook Coalition, who was assisting at the church. When I posed the question, “Shouldn’t all residents evacuate due to being a Flood Zone 1,”she responded, “due to high density development, it’s not always possible,” hence preparations such as the Food & Shelter station at Visitation Church and all other services are a necessity. In fact, evacuation is voluntary, and prior to Sandy, many chose to stay at home. One reason was that hype that preceeded the not-so-dangerous Hurricane Irene the year before. Another is that nobody really enjoys going to a city shelter. The city did provide for transportation to shelters but many buses left Red Hook nearly empty.

Communications

How and where to get information after a disaster is critical. Assuming there is no electricity or television, The Hub will act as strategically located public data system that will collect and display information based on community needs. The Hub will provide different kinds of information in digital and analog formats and the content will be reviewed by the Red Hook Initiative. At their headquarters on 767 Hicks Street, Tony Schloss was overseeing activities and explaining the plan to community members. Simply put, The Hub is a program that will spread information online and on traditional poster boards. As Director of Communication Initiatives, Schloss is collaborating with other agencies to develop a Wi-Fi network for Red Hook should conventional cable networks not be operable after a disaster. The Red Hook Initiative also pointed out that all communications with be offered in English and Spanish as well as Chinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) where available.  If one has access to Twitter, they should follow or tweet the hashtag #ReadyRedHook to post relevant information.

Health, Medical & Community Response

At the Miccio Center on West 9^th St. were the Health & Medical and Community Response team. This is where triage and the collecting and disseminating of medical supplies would happen. Volunteers from Good Shepherd  distributed search and rescue forms. The “Neighbors Checking Neighbors” program enables anyone who would like to be checked up in the event of a disaster to register their name and address along with any medical issues. Forms will be entered into a database so during the critical time after a storm individuals will be checked on. Forms are available in English and Spanish.

Utilities and Coordination

IKEA serves as the base for all utilities support in the event of a service interruption. This includes help supplying or restoring electricity, water, gas, heating oil and telephone. Whereas the communication site at 767 Hicks will help supply up-to-date information, at IKEA there will be experts who can help identify where services are interrupted and coordinate with service providers to make repairs. Managing Partner of Emergency Management Methodology (EMMP), Noel Kepler, commented “IKEA has agreed to let us use this as headquarters” and while still under development, “Red Hook has developed its own stockpile” referring to items that will be distributed should disaster strike. IKEA will offer charging stations, generators, flash lights, blankets and Meals Ready to Eat (MRE’s). EMMP has been working on the entire disaster plan for the past year.

After Party at PS 15

The after party featured a culmination of the day’s events, complete with a fun BBQ and visit by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez.  Some of the agencies had additional tabling and further information for the emergency readiness plan. There was even a raffle for those that completed their passport showing proof that all sites were visited. Ready Red Hook is part of a Long Term Community Recovery (LTCR) plan, a work-in-progress and collaborative effort of many volunteers, politicians, companies and non-profit agencies. It was at PS 15, where the Community Emergency Readiness Plan pamphlet draft was handed out. Red Hook Coalition Administrative Assistant, Nahisha McCoy-Freeman mentioned, “We need everyone’s feedback” and asked people to email any follow-ups that can improve the readiness plan and pamphlet to redhookcoalition@gmail.com.

Reflecting on if Red Hook is ready, Congresswoman Velazquez stressed that, “We now have the tools” to make this work and “I’m proud that Red Hook is the first community to develop a recovery and readiness plan.” Councilman Menchaca added, “Now we have a plan and this is a testament to the people of Red Hook”.

One must remember that sites visited on the Ready Red Hook Day were not just places for information on September 13^th, but these will be the actual locations where residents would go in the 72 hours leading up to and after any disaster.

Everyone is encouraged to visit readyredhook.org for further info.

Disaster and Hurricane Preparedness Tips

Be Ready

Some important things to know whether you are in Red Hook or any other part of NYC during a potential disaster include:

Be Informed & Know Your Zone

1. Should the disaster be a hurricane, residents should know which hurricane evacuation zone they live in, as there are different instructions to follow for each zone. Zones range from 1-6 with Red Hook being Zone 1, the most prone to flooding and the first to have mandatory evacuation.

Keep a “Go-Bag Ready”

• Important things to have ready to go include:

1. Copies of important documents in a waterproof container
2. Extra sets of house/car keys
3. Copies of credit/ATM cards and extra cash
4. Bottled water and non-perishable food
5. Flashlight
6. First aid-kit and a supply of all medications

Assemble an Emergency Supply Kit

• An emergency supply kit is different from a “Go-bag”. These are the things you will need if you are not ordered to evacuate and stay home. They include:

1. Larger quantities of food and water (One gallon of water per day per person)
2. Extra batteries for devices like flash lights
3. AM/FM radio

Know Where to Go if ordered to evacuate

• Have a plan on where you are going such as another family members home on higher ground or friends that live in a different evacuation zone should the event be a hurricane.
• Bring your go-bag!

Pets

• If you cannot care for your pet during an emergency, ask friends or relatives living in another area, otherwise pets are accepted at most city evacuation centers. Bring supplies for your pet including leashes, a carrier and food.

In Dynamic Neighborhood, Conservancy’s Mission Remains Unchanged, by Keith J. Klein

July 22, 2014 10:26 pm  Views: 184

Gowanus means many things to the community. For most it is a neighborhood, to others a polluted canal, but to the Gowanus Canal Conservancy (GCC), it represents more. To the GCC, Gowanus is a watershed. A watershed, also known as a drainage basin is an area where water from rain and melting snow or ice converge to a single point at a lower elevation then join another body of water, such as a river, bay or ocean.

Flowers at salt lot (Photo by Keith J. Klein)

The neighborhoods that are within the watershed include not just Gowanus, but Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Park Slope and Red Hook. The GCC is a community-based non-profit organization that serves as an environmental steward for the area with the mission of creating green spaces and parks along the shores, cleaning up the canal and improving the water, soil and air quality within the watershed area.

The Gowanus neighborhood has undergone controversial changes recently, most notable being large- scale building and proposed re-zoning laws which govern development. There are a myriad of groups, organizations and agencies advocating for various causes. According to GCC board member Ben  Jones, “Gowanus is a dynamic neighborhood and there are lots of groups that are a part of the dialogue,  including the Gowanus Preservation Society”. Mr. Jones also mentions the “Conservancy’s role is to  help build consensus around key initiatives and priorities that will make the canal and its environs clean,  vibrant and resilient”.  

The three biggest forces the GCC battle are pollutants from nearby industrial sites and combined sewer overflow and surface run-off from heavy rains. Initiatives and projects the conservancy organize on a regular basis combat such forces.  One such example is the planting of trees and native flora to retain storm water run-off.

Working with an amazing pool of talent, Executive Director Hans Hesselein has taken the conservancy to the next level. Hesselein started his tenure with the conservancy as a volunteer, then quickly rose through the ranks from Director of Special Projects to become the Executive Director. Recently, on July 16^th on the banks of the canal at popular watering hole, Lavender Lake, Hesselein received an honor from Councilmember Brad Lander, recognizing his efforts as well as those of the conservancy.

How it all gets done

While the GCC has a list of corporate and local sponsors and receives help from elected officials such as Councilman Lander, the brunt of the work is accomplished by staff, board members, volunteers and interns.

Volunteer and member events hosted at the “Salt Lot” on 2^nd Ave provide a hub for cutting edge and traditional ecological improvement tactics. It’s not just how and what the conservancy does that’s impressive, but the massive scale. The Composting Gowanus project is an example.

Salt Lot Compost Windrows (Photo by Keith J. Klein)

Composting Gowanus

Some of the conservancy’s most frequent and best known activities include the monthly compost windrow build and various clean & green events.

Windrow composting is common on large farms and based on organizing materials in long rows. As this method is suited to producing large volumes of compost, it’s much different than bin composting in local community gardens. On a regular basis, volunteers and staff turn the windrow to improve breathability and oxygen content, mix in or remove moisture, and redistribute cooler and hotter portions of the pile. Other factors given attention include the ratio of carbon and nitrogen rich materials. The temperature of the windrows must be measured and logged regularly to determine the optimum time to turn them for quicker compost production.

Composting Gowanus has been an on-going project of great scale. While a community garden may compost food scraps for a 2-3 block radius into a bin, the GCC collects monthly, on average of 5 tons of “green” nitrogen based food scraps. These are combined with “brown” carbon based compostable items such as leaves, twigs, bark, etc. until the ideal carbon to nitrogen ratio is reached.

The finished product is used in re-invigorating areas along the canal to form a nutrient rich soil. Trees, shrubs and re-introduced native vegetation planted in the soil plays a role in absorbing surface run-off, acting as a barrier preventing pollution from entering the waterway. Additional compost is also distributed in other areas including community gardens.

Whole Foods esplanade (Photo by Keith J. Klein) 

Clean & Greens and Tree Mapping

In addition to composting, monthly Clean & Greens are a great opportunity for first time and experienced volunteers to make a difference in the community and meet their neighbors. Anyone can join in to help with weeding, building vertical planters and even watch canoes paddle into the canal to strategically place floating gardens. Each summer the GCC also partners with the Gowanus Alliance helping to keep Ennis Playground looking great, providing a safe haven for residents to enjoy and a place for children to play. At the conclusion of some work days there is a gathering and BBQ for all participants to reward everyone’s hard work.

Tree-Mapping, yet another initiative on plate of the GCC consists of logging tree species, sizes and health. Last summer, an inventory over 1,000 trees within a 2-blocks of the canal was recorded.

Other community programs include the Urban Ecology Lecture Series, K-12 Public School Education and Canal Walking Tours. During tours participants visit historical sites, discuss sustainability, conservation projects, and local urban plants and wildlife.

The Next Phase

In 2010 the canal was granted Superfund status meaning the federal government has designated the Gowanus Canal contaminated with hazardous substances as well harmful pollutants or contaminants. The GCC goes one step further recognizing it’s not just the canal that’s the issue but all ecological processes within the watershed.  The GCC will continue to work with with the superfund Community Advisory Group (CAG) as well as other key partners.

It was recently announced that after 5 years of service, Executive Director, Hans Hesselein will be stepping down at the end of July to pursue a career in landscape architecture.However, one person or organization cannot hold the responsibility of re-vitalizing a sustainable and healthy watershed on their own. Only when there is true collaboration with elected officials, an open dialogue with groups and agencies such as the DEP, Build It Green NYC, The Superfund CAG, The Gowanus Alliance and the Gowanus Preservation Society, can a consensus and plan-of-action be implemented.  Regarding the future of the GCC and the neighborhoods served, board member Ben Jones commented, “We want to make sure there’s not only a holistic plan for cleaning the canal, but also a long term plan for keeping it clean and healthy for generations to come”. Jones also points out that “The future is very bright. We have an amazing and growing group of volunteers who are the engine behind our work, making a visible, direct impact on the health, beauty and resilience of the watershed”.

Upcoming events include the Compost Windrow Build and Clean & Green on Sunday, August 17th, 11am-3pm. Those wishing to volunteer or to become a member should contact info@gowanuscanalconservancy.org or refer to their website for more information.

Click here for more information: Gowanus Canal Conservancy