Between the Bridges

BETWEEN THE BRIDGES IN BROAD CHANNEL

Weather or Not

The Atlantic Basin’s 2015 Hurricane Season came to a close this past Monday after generating a total of 11 named storms, 4 of which became hurricanes. Thankfully, none of these storms impacted our area here in Broad Channel.  Of course now is the time we all start to look forward to what the 2015-16 winter season will bring.  NOAA is predicting wetter-than-average conditions in the Southern Tier of the United States, from central and southern California, across Texas, to Florida, and up the East Coast to southern New England.  Above-average temperatures are favored across much of the West and the northern half of the contiguous United States.  NOAA’s seasonal outlook does not project where and when snowstorms may hit or provide total seasonal snowfall accumulations. Snow forecasts are dependent upon the strength and track of winter storms, which are generally not predictable more than a week in advance but we can all assume there will be at least 1 or 2 nor’easters that will ultimately visit our area.

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This week in higher education saw the “we need a safe space because everything-is-offensive” brand of campus activism strike a new low.  Students at the University of Minnesota recently voted down a proposed moment of silence for 9/11 victims due to concerns that Muslim students would be offended.  One self-described "Director of Diversity" student government representative explained “The passing of this resolution might make an unsafe space for students on campus as holding a moment of recognition over a tragedy committed by non-white perpetrators could increase racist and islamophobic attitudes which are already alive and well on campus.”  Of course I believe that college students have a right to be physically safe but they most certainly do not have a right to be protected and shielded from ideas, thoughts, or images that might make them feel uncomfortable or, heaven forbid, cause them to think for themselves. Unfortunately, I am also starting to believe that many of our institutions of higher learning appear to be churning out a generation of elitist young people who mistakenly deem their emotional well being to be paramount to that of our Constitution's First Amendment guarantee of free speech.   

A very special thank you to our friends Diane and Danny over on Walton Road who invited our family to share Thanksgiving dinner with them last week.  The holiday feast was absolutely memorable consisting of a pre-dinner cheese platter, courtesy of my lovely wife Grace, with over 8 different types of fromage surrounded by avocado, radishes and apple followed by a main course of a delicious turkey, a green bean salad with mushrooms and onions that was to die for, fried cauliflower, mashed potatoes, yams (or sweet potatoes, I never could tell the difference,,,if there is one) stuffing and a gravy Martha Stewart would be jealous of.  Dessert followed with pumpkin bread and a wide variety of home made pies (pumpkin, peach, cherry, and apple) courtesy of the BCVFD pie sale.  Diane also whipped up a strawberry gelatin pie with whipped cream that my daughter Vickie fell in love with.  The highlight of the meal for me was when Diane’s 38 year old parrot, “Bogie”, joined us all at the dinner table to enjoy his meal of mashed potatoes and yams! The only thing missing that would have made the day complete was my older daughter, Amy, who is living in Ohio and could not make it home to Broad Channel because of work.  The good news is that she will be coming later this month to spend Christmas with us and needless to say we are all looking forward to her visit!

Broad Channel – Why would anyone want to live anywhere else?