THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHEAP GREEN LIVING

Even though I do not weigh in that much on this blog because, since moving to Philadelphia, and  have asked me to put a link to their blog which is below..Here I cite the first few paragraphs you will find there on their blog:
with my new work as a priest here in St. Peter the Apostle Parish and the National Shrine of St. John Neumann, I haven´t done much "serious birding" here in the CITY OF FRATERNAL LOVE. But the people who have a site on THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHEAP GREEN LIVING

While the planet we live on has suited human needs for thousands of years, Earth's bounty may not last forever. Based on research and observation, scientists and environmentalists have good reason to believe our planetary home is in trouble.

According to the United Nations, a whirlwind of issues, many of which are likely caused by man, threaten to harm our precious Earth in irreversible ways. From greenhouse gas emissions to air pollution, deforestation, and issues with water and waste, the human impact on our planet has become real. And if we don’t change, we face both unintended and potentially permanent consequences........

On their blog there are a number of very good suggestions on how to live in a way that shows respect for our most fragile environment here on earth.
IN THE NON-BIRDING LINKS BELOW IS ONE TO...

GUIDE TO CHEAP GREEN LIVING
https://www.couponchief.com/guides/guide_to_cheap_green_living

WHO IS THIS NEW LIBERTIES BIRDER

WHO IS THIS NEW LIBERTIES BIRDER?

It has been a long time since I did anything with this blog.  While I was in the Hudson Valley I did some serious birding.  But then my ministry to Hispanic and Latino people in that area absorbed most of my time. My main birding was along the railroad tracks and marsh areas near my home there. I saw so, so many Great Blue Herons.  And in the spring the Red Winged blackbirds truly loved those marsh areas as did many Baltimore Orioles,  Phoebes, Eastern  Pewee, Woodthrush, Hermit Thrush, as well as occasional Indigo Buntings, both Scarlet and Summer Tanagers..to name a few.

Here in the Philadelphia my first trip will be to the Heinz Wildlife Preserve which is near the Delaware River inland in an area called Tinicum.  (There also seems to be a small island in the Delaware River which is also a good birding area.

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/john_heinz/

There may not be anyone here in cyberworld paying attention to my blog.  But I do make this promise, that, besides continuing my work as a priest here at St. Peter the Apostle Parish which is also the National Shrine of St. John Neumann,

whose picture is here, as he worked and died in Philadelphia,  I will try hard to be..NOW..a New Liberties Birder

DID YOU KNOW OR WORK WITH RAPHELL SIMS LAKOWITZ

I am still looking and hoping that some of the undergrads from Queens College who graduated around 1968, and who had worked with RAPHELL SIMS LAKOWITZ at Creedmore Hospital in Glen Oaks, Queens, NY will contact me..Just so you might know something about RAPHELL I give here a LINK to an article written by her mother, Leonore Lakowitz, explaining the legacy of her daughter and the "history" behind this most beautiful Reflecting Pool and Sculture done by Brune Luchessi on RAPHELL.

LEONORE LAKOWITZ TELLS US ABOUT RAPHELL

FRIENDS OF RAPHELL SIMS LAKOWITZ

I have not been using my site actively for  Birding Information for a long while...Now I have a special concern to find out more about a most wonderful young psychologist, RAPHELL SIMS LAKOWITZ who, after contributing a wonderfu, new, compassionate approach to working with patients with mental and emotional sicknesses, died at the most young age of 29.  Raphell, as an undergraduate at Queens College had initiated a program at Creedmore Hospital to deal on a much more human and compassionate level with the patients. She actually encouraged another 60 or so undergrads at the time to accompany her.

I first found out about RAPHELL when, quite by chance, I visited Brookgreen Gardens, south of Myrtle Beach, FLA.  Brookgreen Gardens has many Reflecting Pools and wonderful sculptures in stone and bronze from many world famous and other artists. There I found this Reflecting Pool Sculpture of Raphell which her parents: Irving and Leonore Lakowitz, had commissioned by the artist Bruno Lucchesi. It is inspired by words written by Raphell to her boyfriend, Barry.

IN AS MUCH AS WE GIVE LIFE WILL WE RECEIVE LIFE...

IN AS MUCH AS WE GIVE STRENGTH WILL WE RECEIVE STRENGTH..

Reflecting Pool for Raphell Sims Lakowitz in Brookgreen Gardens, Myrtle Beach SC

SPECTACLE FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR

This was sent to me by my friend in Grand Prairie, Luisa Lee.  Luisa is Chinese, was raised in the Dominican Republic and was the coordinator for a Spanish Parish Mission we Redemptorists gave in that area a few years ago. Thank you, Luisa

A EUROPEAN STARLING "MURMURATION"

When I began this blog..THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER I had just finished 10 years in the South Bronx.  During those years my Thursdays were largely spent 1st walking from 149th St. in the South Bronx,  Immaculate Conception Parish where I lived, to 110th St and Central Park West.  There, at what is called the Harlem Meere, I entered the North Woods of Central Park to head down through the Park, heading toward Belvedere Castle and Turtle Pond where a lot of birders "hang out". My first encounter with European Starlings were precisely that!! That had been brought to Central Park, precisely to the area around Belvedere Castle where the Delacourte Theatre and the Shakespearian Garden are located.  "Someone" (I never found out who) thought that the Shakespearian Garden should have all the various birds that Shakespeare mentions in this play.  (The Starling was one of those birds that we did not "have yet" in the States).  So "that" or "those" "someone" brought us the European Starlings.  Now, as they are such hearty birds, they are one of the most numerous species in the USA.  Anyway you don't have to go out of your way to see a European Starling nor a House Sparrow in the USA...
Anyway, as you'll see in this film the "murmuration" is a humungous flock or flocks of Starlings deciding just where it is best to roost "or "rest" for the night. I's quite impressive. They seem to be a swarm of locusts.
ENJOY

THE OTHER LETTER

I got this from my friend Tom Reynolds who sends me lots of things to read. He got it from Mr. Ed Mechmann who works for the Archdiocese of New York. It is a truly wonderful commercial for done by IKEA that touches strongly on strongly on FAMILY VALUES. It was done in Spain.  (I can tell by the accent in Spanish). But the subtitles are quite clear.   Enjoy

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM ESOPUS/ULSTER PARK REDEMPTORISTS

This is a video that Gene, Tom and I did last week. It's just 5 mins,
and it shows a bit of what our mission and apostolate are here.
Most especially it shows our new ST. ALPHONSUS GROTTO OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS that we have built.
ENJOY

SOMETHING ON KATIE´S KROPS---ABOUT KATY STAGLIANO AND KATY CANNON

I am tending to be not the HUDSON RIVER BIRDER, because I don´t take much time to write about birds and nature.  (I may do this occasionally, though)...I think that now I just might call myself
THE HUDSON RIVER EMBEDDER because I love to embed interesting videos.  For instance the one below. It is about a 9 year old girl, Katy Stagliano, (now 12) , who, like another Katy Cannon (10 yrs. old)  began by growing a 250 pound cabbage she´d grown to a food bank. Then she went further and began to grow vegetables for food banks and kitchens. Like her friend, Katy Cannon she has encouraged other youth around the country to grow vegetables to help the hungry. Bless her ...and all like her!

WHY IS CREATION "GROANING"?

The 2nd reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Corinthians in this Sunday's Liturgy speaks of..."Creation "groaning" and being in labor like an expectant mother..The Sacred Heart Cathedral website that I use says this about it all:

"The impact of climate change falls heaviest on the world's poor. As Catholics, our faith demands prudent action. Our cars and power plants, more energy consumption and waste---we're leaving a bigger carbon footprint. Scientists tell us that means more climate change. Here and around the world, it is the poor who will be hit hardest. As faithful Catholics, we have a moral obligation to care for both Creation and the poor. Pope Benedict XVI insists, 'Before it is too late, it is necessary to make courageous decisions' to curb climate change.".... 

Let us be loving midwives to all of creation.

Here is the video about it all.  It's called: 

 WHO'S UNDER YOUR HYDROCARBON FOOTPRINT?

OUR LADY OF LOURDES--SHORT FILM

This a short film from Vimeo.  It is from the Awakening Channel which promotes films that are  well done and promote a truly deep devotion to life, love, sacrifice...and to the God that loves all that..ENJOY!

Our Lady Of Lourdes | Short Film from Peter Szewczyk on Vimeo.

SANDHILL CRANES IN UPSTATE NEW YORK

About a month ago there were, yes, just 2 Sandhill Cranes in our area.  Unfortunately I, as many others, did not get there in time.  So I, and the rest of you, will just have to be content with this video.

DAMNED-A VIMEO VIDEO ABOUT "BIG DREAMS"

THIS IS ABOUT,AS THE EXPLANATION SAYS.."AN OVER ZEALOUS BEAVER". The idea is that ...SOME DREAMS ARE TOO BIG TO REALIZE. I don't know if I truly agree with this explanation. To me, as THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER, this video speaks with dry humor about nature backfiring on us if we try to control it too much. Anyway, it's a cute video.

Damned from Richard Phelan on Vimeo.

A FRENCH FOLK SONG VIDEO

This is a beatiful French folk song about the process of making wool, and in this case, beautiful colorful socks for a young boy.  He grandmother does the work…It goes, The Wool from the sheep..we
shear it, card it, weave it wear it..
I am not at all sure of all the French words and the story.  But it "seems" that when the boy's grandmother is "gone".  Maybe she has died, the boy goes back over the whole process in which the
Wool from the sheep, with his grandmother's skill and work…became a most loved and prized possession…

Speaking of prized possessions I have not very much "prized" this blog. It was supposed to be about birds and birding.  And yes I do some birding.  I enjoy the many Juncos, Nuthatches, Song Sparrows, White Throated sparrows as well as the ever present winter Downy and Red Bellied Woodpeckers that are always here.
At any rate take this nice video and song as THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER'S

CHRISTMAS GIFT TO YOU

La Laine Des Moutons (2012) from Kapie Eipak on Vimeo.

A FILM "MORNING HAS BROKEN"...by BEN

I have not read THE BROTHERS KARASIMOV..yet!!!!.  But I always quote what Dorothy Day always quoted from Father Zosimo in it where he says,  THE WORLD WILL BE SAVED BY BEAUTY".  I believe this.  I experience it most every day when something lovely, marvelous, kind and lovely fills me with joy and hope.  This beautiful, untouched up film from VIMEO by BEN is one of those beautiful things that are saving the world.
Enjoy it!....IT'S JUST 2 AND A HALF MINUTES!!

Morning has broken.. from Ben on Vimeo.

SIN PAÍS...(a Spanish Language Film on Immigration Reform

I got this video from a friend, Ericka Castella who works with PathStones...and organization that works with farm workers...

VIDEO ON CHRISTIAN EVANGELICAL'S SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM

In this 27 minute interview there is a partipant from the SOJOURNERS magazine and website.  The interview shows how the Bible strongly emphasizes ..."openess and welcome to the stranger and the alien"...I think of the US Bishops theme years ago that interpreted the FEAST OF EPIPHANY (Three Kings of the Magi)...as welcoming ..."those who had come from afar...bearing gifts.." That is precisely what the vast majority of immigrants HAVE and STILL bring to the USA..their GIFTS: of faith, hardwork, family values, humility, joy and goodness.

JIM WALLIS'S VIDEO ON NEW BOOK...ON GOD'S SIDE

HERE IS AN EXCELLENT VIDEO FROM THE SOJOURNERS WEBSITE.  JIM WALLIS, WITH HIS NEW BOOK, ON GOD'S SIDE, ATTEMPTS TO CREATE A HOPEFILLED NATIONAL, MAYBE "INTERNATIONAL" DIALOGUE ON....THE COMMON GOOD.  HE QUOTES ABRAHAM LINCOLNS'  PHRASE..

WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS NOT

WHOSE SIDE GOD IN ON,

BUT THAT WE ALL BE ON GOD'S SIDE.

THE BEST EASTER GIFT

This is something like the videos I'd like to continue making. (Don't forget to view BRAZOS ABIERTOS IN HOLY WEEK which is my "last video". this is a true HAPPY EASTER VIDEO.
 

IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG A TIME SINCE I POSTED ANYTHING...BUT HERE IS SOMETHING OF WHICH I AM VERY, VERY PROUD.
THIS 7.5 min. video is about the Hispanic Family Ministry of the Roman Catholic Church in which Fr. Tom Travers, myself and a great team work..