A report from a smoky metropolis
NEW YORK—The extreme wildfires recently raging across the nation have sent unwanted visitors south in the form of dense clouds of smoke. That smoke drove New York City, the city that never sleeps, to the top of the charts—recording the worst air quality in the world and led the New York Post to publish the headline ‘Blame Canada’ last week. The Expositor reached out to ‘Manhattan Manitoulin’ author Bonnie Kogos who lives in the Manhattan borough of New York to find out what things are like on the ground.
“Last week, Tuesday, when the skies above New York City started turning orange, I was out in the late afternoon enjoying my usual two to three- to four-mile walk,” said Ms. Kogos. “Every newscast, from doctors, the police and reporters stated, ‘Go home. Close your windows. This is serious.’”
Ms. Kogos said she “went immediately home and stayed in entirely the next day and at dusk, I watched the skies above me in midtown Manhattan turn orange. So scary—TV reports of people with breathing problems reporting to hospitals; warnings to be sure to protect your eyes and your nose and your throat. There were even reports of supposed slivers of firy material hovering over our region.”
The ever-gregarious Ms. Kogos, who spent many years as a travel agent crisscrossing the globe, began getting emails and calls from friends around the world who had heard the news.
“My friend Elizabeth from Halifax emailed me that they were also dealing with this, and my friend from Hong Kong emailed to ask how we were faring,” she said, “also, my friend from Edinburgh and another pal from Australia sent messages of concern—this is now a worldwide concern that NYC had never had such a threatening issue. Photos of the orange sky over the Statue of Liberty and other frightening visions from famous NYC venues. I called my pals on Manitoulin to let them know I am, mostly, okay.”
Ms. Kogos reported that the smoke has caused serious disruptions in the city. “In NYC, professional baseball games were cancelled and the horses due to run the big race this past Saturday were not allowed to run the track. There is dangerous weather everywhere, and we all feel sense of dread—‘what could be next’ was in our minds.”
Ms. Kogos heard that over 400 fires were burning in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec. “My Manhattan/Manitoulin heart so heavy with all of this bad news,” she said. “Thankfully, on Thursday morning, I looked out to see blue skies and sun! Joy! Because I was booked to attend a Caribbean Tourism Press Conference and I was eager to go. The big decision was, ‘should I leave the house?’ Added to my dress were two masks over my face and I walked out into the chilly NY morning—all seemed normal again. So grateful.”
It was a sense of relief that was shared by many she met when she arrived. “I could see the relief in the people I walked by as well,” said Ms. Kogos. “The day went well, with officials from 26 Caribbean countries in attendance and all of us feeling, thank goodness, normal again.”
“Always, my heart and deep wishes to my Canadian friends and provinces,” she said. “That headline does not reflect how I, my friends and I believe most Americans feel.”
“My belief is that Americans are filled with respect and compassion for Canadians,” she said. “You are our cherished neighbours. We do not bash our dear neighbours! We sympathize, care and pray for the strength and effort of your firefighters, and everyone.”
Ms. Kogos said that her Island friends should look to see her at this year’s Jabbawong Storytelling Festival at the Park Centre in Kagawong.
“I look forward to seeing you all, stay safe and stay healthy, see you soon,” she said.
