Cats rule the internet, so I thought I’d speak up on behalf of my peeps at PortSide.
I’m lolling here on a Tankerman’s cabin bunk, thinking about 2019 and hoping you’ll donate
via
credit card
or
Venmo
to make 2020 as interesting to watch. Enough with the birds-eye view already, here's my cat's-eye year in review:
January 8, we all walked around Atlantic Basin and presented a vision for a “
maritime gateway to Red Hook
” to the NYC EDC. Did you hear that a possum was caught in a live trap during that event? The fool fell for marshmallows.
That plan will finally get PortSide operating inside the Pier 11 shed and putting educational stuff all around this place. I’m in the target shed space all the time; a whole lot of nothing goes on in there; time for my peeps to bring it to life!
Also in January, kids from PS 676 came aboard for their 1st academic program. Love those kids; they learned the “tuna tuna” song that Carolina sings to tell me its mealtime. By June, we inspired them to become
Brooklyn’s 1st maritime
elementary school.
We started a purrrfect new artist residency program. They use the Captain’s cabin, so I get in there often to nap on my favorite bunk.
Hurricane Sandy freaked me out so I’m glad my crew keep educating neighbors about floods. We installed a
Sandy High Water Mark
sign at the gate. That’s a FEMA program my crew suggested when they were getting an
award at the White House
. Huzzah!
Lots of people came to celebrate the 81st birthday of my floating home, NYC’s favorite tanker, the
MARY A. WHALEN
. I hung out under the trucks and watched. Thank goodness our virtual museum
Red Hook WaterStories
attracts thousands without crowding the ship.
One thing really drove me off the boat, so much restoration!
I don’t like welding, grinding, sanding and smelly paint! So much of that this year with District Council 9’s training program and work by PortSide crew and volunteers. Upside? My MARY is getting spiffy! Did you hear a vintage engine is
being donated
? I never go in the engine room.
Many people (and thankfully not too many dogs) visited the ship this year for events, tours, TankerTime, and meetings… I saw lots of new board members and advisors and overheard interesting ideas and partnerships proposed. 2020 looks exciting!
Please support our purrrrpose with an end-of-year
donation
.
Many meows to all of who donated this year!
