VOA CONNECT
EPISODE #190
AIR DATE: 09 03 2021
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Remembering 9/11
((SOT))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
It was scary. Because at that point, nobody knew that it was terrorism. You know, everybody just thought it was an accident.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Listening to the Fields
((SOT))
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers Farm))
The farm talks to you and it, kind of, just tells you what it needs. Sometimes you don't think that you need to weed and then you walk out and there's just millions of weeds that need to be pulled.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Art in the Prairie
((SOT))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
WhenIfirstgothere,myartwasbasicallywalkingaround
theprairieandthestreams andfindingnaturalobjectsand
thenassemble themintosomeobjectthatspeaksoftheprairie.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) NYC SUBWAY TRAIN OPERATOR
((TRT: 05:58))
((VOA Russian))
((Topic Banner: 9/11 Reflections))
((Reporter: Anna Nelson))
((Camera: Vladimir Badikov))
((Editor: Natalia Latukhina))
((Map: New York City, New York))
((Main character: 1 male))
((Sub character: 1 female))
((NATS))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
I think I was kind of happier before. I was 40. It was fairly good. I was married, a father, four children. Believe it or not, I wanted to be a cop but that didn't work out. So,
I was a train operator for the city of New York. I was able to make a decent living. I did my job. I wasn't really crazy about it but it paid the bills.
My name is Joseph Irizarry. I was a train operator on the R Line on September 11, 2001.
((NATS))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
At 8:43 to 8:45 in the morning, I was at Cortlandt Street. There was an explosion that shook my train. I didn't know what it was. I didn't know if I got rear-ended by another train or if, you know, a bomb went off. I told my conductor to reopen the doors when we were at rest at a station. And I went towards the back of the train and there was two ladies running down the stairs and they informed me that a plane had just hit the first tower.
I told everybody just to stay on the train, so they got back onto the train.
There was debris coming down, dust coming down into the station. Was inhaling that.
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
It was scary. Because at that point, nobody knew that it was terrorism. You know, everybody just thought it was an accident.
((NATS))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
There were people running down the stairs to get on the train. I told my conductor to keep the doors open until he saw that everybody had gotten on the train safely.
Cortlandt Street was right across the street from the tower, 100 yards [90 m], maybe, not even.
Yeah, I was underneath when the first plane hit. I didn't panic at that point. My whole thing was just to get everybody out of there safely. Usually 10 seconds, 15 seconds, conductor opens the doors. As long as everybody's clear, the doors close down and we proceed.
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
This time, it was different.
At that point, I made sure that everybody that was running down the stairs was able to get on the train safely. And once everybody came down the stairs safely and we didn't see any more people coming down the stairs, I told my conductor to close down and we proceeded.
((NATS))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
If I remember correctly, it was probably a few hundred people on the train. I contacted my control center and informed them and they came back and verified it.
((Courtesy: WNYE-TV))
((NATS: Emergency Dispatch))
A plane hit the World Trade Center at Cortlandt Street here! We have smoke in the station down here!
The time is 8:47.
Im at Cortlandt Street. Im moving out!
The time is 8:47.
Im moving out, but theres smoke down here!
((Courtesy: WNYE-TV))
((Joseph Irizarry, 2001 Archival Footage))
You know, with the smoke coming down, I figured something was going on upstairs. And we got everybody on the train, closed down and we proceeded.
((Courtesy ends))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
The trains that were behind went back into Brooklyn.
Its tough.
((NATS))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
When I got to Continental Avenue, that's when I found out exactly what had happened, you know, as far as the tower falling. I went into the crew room and saw it on TV.
That's when I panicked, I think, knowing that I was underneath, that's when it all hit me. I remember going home, just breaking down and crying.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: New York Transit Museum))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
I believe the station was closed down for a while because of damage. There was a lot of destruction. They had to rebuild the station. There was a part that did collapse. It took a long time for them
((Courtesy ends))
((Courtesy: AP/Mark Lennihan))
to rebuild the station.
((Courtesy ends))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
The Transit Authority, like they got in touch with me with the lady that contacted the news.
((NATS))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
The one person that I did get to meet was Linda. She was sitting right behind my cab.
((Courtesy: WNYE-TV))
((Linda Desilvio, Train Passenger on 9/11/2001))
Actually, it took me a few days because of the shock of everything. And then when I started getting my composure back, because I did lose a lot of friends, then I decided I must call and do something to say, Thank you to somebody that could be, you know, slip through the cracks.
((Courtesy: WNYE-TV))
((NATS: Joseph Irizarry & Linda Desilvio, 2001 Archival Footage))
((Joseph Irizarry))
Im glad youre here.
((Linda Desilvio))
Good again to see you.
((Joseph Irizarry))
Thanks for finding me.
((Linda Desilvio))
The MTA [Metropolitan Transportation Authority] did.
((Joseph Irizarry, 2001 Archival Footage))
Its a good feeling, you know, to think somebody, you know, considers you a hero. I still say thats what we do every day down here. Thats our job, to keep our customers safe.
((Courtesy ends))
((NATS))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
I kept just trying to put it off and deal with it. I was taking off a lot of time sick because I did not want to be there. According to seniority, I picked different routes. Operating a train, I would break down and cry.
December 31st of 2011 is when I was allowed to retire. I have post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, asthma, rhinitis. No, it doesn't get any easier. No, not at all. I always think about everybody that died at that point. And why am I still here?
20 years, I mean, it seems like yesterday.
((NATS))
TEASE((VO/NAT))
Coming up
((Banner))
Building a Life Outdoors
((SOT))
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers Farm))
Yeah. We're out every day, rain or shine, all working together towards like a common goal. So, it's a lot of fun.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) WILFLOWERS BLOOMING
((TRT: 06:52))
((Topic Banner:Wildflowers))
((Reporter:Faiza ElMasry))
((Camera/Editor: Mike Burke))
((Map:??Leesburg, Virginia))
((Main characters: 1 female))
((Sub characters: 1 male))
((NATS: Kaitlin))
You think the plants like cinnamon? Yeah. I like cinnamon too.
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
The farm talks to you and it, kind of, just tells you what it needs.
Sometimes you don't think that you need to weed and then you walk out and there's just millions of weeds that need to be pulled.
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
My name is Kaitlin Armijo and I own Wild for Wildflowers. We are a boutique flower farm here in Leesburg, Virginia.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
Today it's beautiful out. We are getting our last round of hardy annuals in.
My husband and I were actually high school sweethearts and we moved out here from California.
((NATS))
((NATS: Kaitlin))
We bought the farm in 2014 and then it quickly escalated into how can we turn this into something else, something more than just a property for us?
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
And so in 2015 the idea was born and in 2016 we actually started.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
My husband Justin, he is a full-time firefighter but he is the muscle here on the farm.
((NATS))
((NATS/Kaitlin))
He also takes care of all of our equipment and tractor work that needs to be done. He can build or fix anything. So, we started this farm. We weren't handed a farm. We don't have the infrastructure. We don't have buildings. We didn't start with a tractor.
So, we've had to work up to all this. So, it's been amazing because anything that I've needed, he's built.
((NATS))
((Justin Armijo, Co-owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
When we bought it, we didn't have the flower business in mind until we decided to have children and we had our first kid. And she didn't want to be working in the kind of corporate world, if you want to call it that. We decided to come up with something that she could do at home to involve the kids.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
Mom, the jungle gym.
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
This is Nolan and he's three. You say hi, say hi.
And this is Paisley and she's five.
((NATS: Paisley))
Yeah.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
And we're expecting our third.
((NATS))
((Justin Armijo, Co-owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
When we first started, my only goal for her was that I was just happy if she was enjoying what she was doing, and the kids could do it with her. Even if we didn't make any money at the end of the year but we just broke even, I would be happy with that.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
You want to put them in? Find a row.
((Justin Armijo, Co-owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
As long as it was something that they enjoyed doing. So, she came up with flowers. The kind of idea of flowers bloomed. And we just started little and kept growing it as we went.
((NATS))
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
We were following up with the slow food and now it's the slow flower movement. About 80 percent of the flowers that are sold here in the US are actually imported from distant lands, like South America, where they can grow flowers year-round. But because of that, they are cut, you know, weeks, days to weeks before getting into customers hands. They're shipped out of water. They're shipped in cardboard and plastic, and they're dehydrated, and they're actually only able to be picked really closed. I call our business seed-to-sale. So, everything that we grow on the farm, I have started here from seed or bulb or corm, but it's all done here. We don't bring in any flowers we don't grow.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
Ready P? Want to strip the foliage?
Spring is definitely our main season. We grow about, I'd say, between three and four hundred different varieties of flowers here.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
Go put them in.
There's no pesticides, no herbicides, nothing.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
The harvest, I think, is their favorite time because we're outside and they get special little jobs. So, they strip the leaves and they take turns walking the flowers to the buckets.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
This is gomphrena, which is a pretty cool flower because it's multiuse. They're an everlasting flower. So, come wintertime, when we do dried flower wreaths as our winter income, they are great.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
This is a dahlia. We use them fresh only. They're not a flower that most people are familiar with because you can't get them imported. They're very delicate. They don't have the longest vase life. So, these are a flower that you can really only get locally.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
So, this is eucalyptus and it's another one that is an awesome foliage but it's multiuse because we can dry it and sell dried bundles of this. And it's actually not a perennial here but we can get it to overwinter, which is awesome because we get a much earlier harvest.
((NATS: Kaitlin and Paisley))
Its my favorite flower.
You love this? You want to hold it?
Its been going in my face.
Smell how good it smells.
Mmm.
Rub your finger on the leaf. It's the oil in there.
Mmm.
Doesnt it smell good?
((NATS: Kaitlin))
This will hold like three or four of them.
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
Chelsea is another flower farmer in the area and she owns Bees Wing Farm out in Bluemont, Virginia. And her and I are working on founding a flower collective or a flower co-op where we will sell wholesale flowers to local flower professionals and florists to support the wedding industry out here in Loudon County and the surrounding areas.
((NATS))
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
This is amaranth, birchleaf spirea, sea oats, lemon mint monarda or beebalm, zinnias, vitex, some celosia, nicotiana which is flowering tobacco. We have scabiosa, some more varieties of zinnias, apple mint here. It's a fun variety. It's got lots of texture.
((NATS))
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
Wild for Wildflowers is the name of the farm but it speaks more to the style of the flowers that we do. When I first named this business and started it, I thought I was going to be doing more wedding work. So, I was speaking to more whimsical, nature inspired type of arrangements, not so much the type of flowers that we grow.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
We are going to go deliver the flowers right now to Willowsford Farm in Aldie and we have a couple of different locations that have partnered with us to be pick-up locations for our own spring share.
((NATS: Kaitlin & a store salesman))
Hi guys. How are you?
Were good.
You want these in the cooler again?
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
It's an exhaustion that's fueled by a pure passion. So, even though I'm tired, I, you know, giving up is never a problem. And when I see the joy that these flowers bring our clients and our community, it's just, it's worth every ounce of effort.
((NATS: Kaitlin & Paisley))
Hang on, hang on P. You're going to cut right here, just that stem. Go ahead. Good job!
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
And then, of course, seeing how much my family enjoys doing this, you know. We get quality time out here together.
((NATS: Kaitlin & Kids))
Yeah.
We're out every day, rain or shine, all working together towards like a common goal. So, it's a lot of fun.
((NATS: Both kids))
I want to watch you go underneath.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up
((Banner))
Meaning in the Grass
((SOT))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
WhenIfirstgothere,myartwasbasicallywalkingaround
theprairieandthestreams andfindingnaturalobjectsand
thenassemble themintosomeobjectthatspeaksoftheprairie.
((MUSIC/NATS))
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG))THRIVING ARTIST COMMUNITY OF KANSAS
((Previously aired February 2021))
((TRT:08:11))
((Topic Banner:Kansas Art Community))
((Reporter/Camera:Deepak Dobhal))
((Map:Matfield Green, Kansas))
((Main characters:1 male))
((Sub Characters:2 male; 2 female))
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
FlintHillsareverymagical, almostmystical.
Peoplecomeandthey,allofasudden,feelconnectedtotheEarth. There arenotalotoftreesandthere arenotalotofstructures.Youreallyseeoutandfeellike
you'reontheglobe.
Imovedherefortheprairie.Thatwasmy love.
Iwantedtobeanartistintheprairie.
Andso,mywifeandIendedupinMatfieldGreen,Kansas. Thisisthecenterofthelargestremnantofprairieleftoverintheworld,probably.
I wasanarchitectinChicago.Imovedhere15yearsago.
WhenIfirstgothere,myartwasbasicallywalkingaround
theprairieandthestreams andfindingnaturalobjectsand
thenassemble themintosomeobjectthatspeaksoftheprairie.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
IdidthatforafewyearsandthenIalso,ourproperty,we
haveabout40acres[16 hectares] ofhistoricpropertybecauseofthe
railroad. Andso,wedevelopedtheideaof a Prairy ArtPathbecausewe're onthescenicbywayandonthescenicbyway,therearenotthatmany placestoreallystopandgetoutandwalk.
So,myworkbecamemoreandmorepartofthelandscape. Ratherthancollectingthings,Iwouldputthingsinthe
landscapeonthePrairyArtPath.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
We'reintheoldcattlepensthattherailroadbuiltin1924.
Justaroundtheyear2000,therewasabig prairiefireanditburnedthepens.
Butit'saveryinteresting,sortofhistoricandvisualplace.
So,aboutfiveyearsago,withafriend, artist,Jeroen van WestenfromtheNetherlands wasvisiting andwemade
these
balancedsticks.They'rejustheldonbygravity.They're
justasteelpostandametalplate.Showuswhatdirection
thewind isblowing.It'sfun.Sometimesabirdwilllightononeend
andputthestickoutofbalance.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
I may be one of the early artists that came andreally sort of said,Okay, this is where Im going to, my home base for art is here.
Andthen,therewasagreathappeningthattherewas
acouple
((Photo Courtesy:Ton Haak))
fromtheNetherlands. Andso,theyhadcomethrough
MatfieldGreenandbeenenchantedbythelandscapeand
decidedtostay.TheyweregreatpromotersandknewotherartistsfromEuropeandestablishedrelationshipswithlocalmuseumsinWichitaandKansasCityandManhattanand
startedamovement. Andso,tomeitwaslikerightoutofthesky.
HereI'mtryingto,youknow,beanartistandallofasuddenarethesegreatartpeoplethataremyneighborsthatare
realpromoters.Andso,itwasanexcitingtime.Butthey went,movedbacktoPortugalafterabout10years.Andso,
theyattractedpeople. Slowly,we'vecollectedartists.
((NATS:Bill McBrideand Matt Regier))
ThisisMattRegier.
Hi.
Printmakerandneighbor.
((Matt Regier, Printmaker))
So,these areacoupleresults,acoupleof older prints thatI just havehandy.Thisisa,justkindofa,sortof, bareprairielandscape.
((NATS:Bill McBrideand ElaineJones))
What are you doing?
We'reintroducingneighbors.ThisisElaineJones.
Pleasecomein.
((Bill McBride,Sculptor; Elaine Jones, Photographer))
She'swellknownforallthatshe'sdonearoundhere,
foundingthe TallgrassPrairiePreserveintheearly70sandshe'sa
photographer.
((NATS:Bill McBride))
I hope our, these neighbors are home.She is a great painter.
((NATS:Bill McBride with Kelly and his wife))
How you doing?
Hello, hello.Yes.
Good to see you.
Kelly,goodtoseeyou.Sure.
Hey,here'sthepainter and musician.
There'sabonfiretomorrownight.
Okay.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
Sincewehavearrived,theartscenehasslowlytakenhold.AndwiththeTallgrassArtistResidency,wehave10artistsasummer,whousuallyfallinlovewiththeplace.
((Photo Courtesy:Derek Hamm))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
ThentheyallcomebackforashowatTheBank.That
connectssomanyartiststothisplace.
((NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
ThisisTheBank,thelastremainingstorefrontintown.
Thereusedtobeawholerowofstorefronts.It was builtinthe 20s.So,forfiveorsixyears,it'sbeenthegalleryintown.
((Photo Courtesy:Derek Hamm))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
Ithadsomegreatshows.Buttheroofleakedandthere
wereafewproblemswiththebuilding. So,wedecidednottocontinueuntilwerenovated. Andwe're inthefundraisingmode.
So,it'sveryfunnytobefromthistinytownandbeinKansasCityandsomebodysays,Oh,you'refromMatfieldGreen.
That'san artcommunity.Andyouthinkwell,youknow,mayIguess
itis.You know, like we're,thenumbersaren'tbigbecausewe're sosmallbutit'sreal.It'sactuallyhappening.
((NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
We'reenjoyingabonfiretonight.This iscelebratingthesortofthe
endoftheseasonoftheTallgrassArtistResidency.Andso, someoftheartistswillbeback.Usually,wehaveabig
showbutinthistimeofCOVID,andourBank,ourgallery
spaceisunderrenovation. Andso,theshowisnotgoingtohappenuntilthespringor
sometimenextsummer.So,we'rejusthavinga
gettogether.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
Imovedherefortheprairie.Thewholesocialaspectof
beinginasmallplaceinaranching
communitywasnotwhatattractedme.It sortofsurprisedme. IthoughtI'maniceguyandpeoplewillacceptmeand
I'mjustgoingtodoit.Butthere'salotofmistrustor
misunderstandingofoutsiders.Andso,theysaythatyou'reanewcomer.Evenifyouwerehere
for50years,youdprobablystillbeseenasanewcomer.
So,that'sanaspectofbeinghere.Butbasically,it'sa
growing
arts communityanditcreepsvery slowly.Apersonhere,apersonthereandthenithas
blossomed.
We'reproudofit.It'sapreciousthing.
((MUSIC/NATS))
NEXT WEEK / GOOD BYE((VO/NAT))
In coming weeks..
((Banner))
Life in the Everglades
((SOT))
((Maurice Cullen, Owner, Everglades Airboat Expeditions))
Ive been around the everglades my entire life. My father used to drive airboats with a couple of his buddies back in the 60s, 70s, 80s. He used to take me bass fishing all the time. Go out there, spot alligators. Started running tours seven years ago. Started my business three years ago. Definitely a blessing to be out here. Its a very, very beautiful place at the end of the day, holds a special place in my heart.
A lot of people actually think the Florida Everglades is, you know, marsh, wetlands, which it is. But it is actually the worlds slowest moving river.
Even when Native Americans lived out here, it was also named The River of Grass because the sawgrass on the outside dominates the majority of the area, all the marsh. There are certain sloughs out here in the everglades that can be a little bit deeper than the prairies and the outside area and the water only moves about a 100 foot throughout the entire day.
CLOSING BUMPER ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN((ANIM))
SHOW ENDS
EPISODE #190
AIR DATE: 09 03 2021
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Remembering 9/11
((SOT))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
It was scary. Because at that point, nobody knew that it was terrorism. You know, everybody just thought it was an accident.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Listening to the Fields
((SOT))
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers Farm))
The farm talks to you and it, kind of, just tells you what it needs. Sometimes you don't think that you need to weed and then you walk out and there's just millions of weeds that need to be pulled.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Art in the Prairie
((SOT))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
WhenIfirstgothere,myartwasbasicallywalkingaround
theprairieandthestreams andfindingnaturalobjectsand
thenassemble themintosomeobjectthatspeaksoftheprairie.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) NYC SUBWAY TRAIN OPERATOR
((TRT: 05:58))
((VOA Russian))
((Topic Banner: 9/11 Reflections))
((Reporter: Anna Nelson))
((Camera: Vladimir Badikov))
((Editor: Natalia Latukhina))
((Map: New York City, New York))
((Main character: 1 male))
((Sub character: 1 female))
((NATS))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
I think I was kind of happier before. I was 40. It was fairly good. I was married, a father, four children. Believe it or not, I wanted to be a cop but that didn't work out. So,
I was a train operator for the city of New York. I was able to make a decent living. I did my job. I wasn't really crazy about it but it paid the bills.
My name is Joseph Irizarry. I was a train operator on the R Line on September 11, 2001.
((NATS))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
At 8:43 to 8:45 in the morning, I was at Cortlandt Street. There was an explosion that shook my train. I didn't know what it was. I didn't know if I got rear-ended by another train or if, you know, a bomb went off. I told my conductor to reopen the doors when we were at rest at a station. And I went towards the back of the train and there was two ladies running down the stairs and they informed me that a plane had just hit the first tower.
I told everybody just to stay on the train, so they got back onto the train.
There was debris coming down, dust coming down into the station. Was inhaling that.
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
It was scary. Because at that point, nobody knew that it was terrorism. You know, everybody just thought it was an accident.
((NATS))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
There were people running down the stairs to get on the train. I told my conductor to keep the doors open until he saw that everybody had gotten on the train safely.
Cortlandt Street was right across the street from the tower, 100 yards [90 m], maybe, not even.
Yeah, I was underneath when the first plane hit. I didn't panic at that point. My whole thing was just to get everybody out of there safely. Usually 10 seconds, 15 seconds, conductor opens the doors. As long as everybody's clear, the doors close down and we proceed.
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
This time, it was different.
At that point, I made sure that everybody that was running down the stairs was able to get on the train safely. And once everybody came down the stairs safely and we didn't see any more people coming down the stairs, I told my conductor to close down and we proceeded.
((NATS))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
If I remember correctly, it was probably a few hundred people on the train. I contacted my control center and informed them and they came back and verified it.
((Courtesy: WNYE-TV))
((NATS: Emergency Dispatch))
A plane hit the World Trade Center at Cortlandt Street here! We have smoke in the station down here!
The time is 8:47.
Im at Cortlandt Street. Im moving out!
The time is 8:47.
Im moving out, but theres smoke down here!
((Courtesy: WNYE-TV))
((Joseph Irizarry, 2001 Archival Footage))
You know, with the smoke coming down, I figured something was going on upstairs. And we got everybody on the train, closed down and we proceeded.
((Courtesy ends))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
The trains that were behind went back into Brooklyn.
Its tough.
((NATS))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
When I got to Continental Avenue, that's when I found out exactly what had happened, you know, as far as the tower falling. I went into the crew room and saw it on TV.
That's when I panicked, I think, knowing that I was underneath, that's when it all hit me. I remember going home, just breaking down and crying.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: New York Transit Museum))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
I believe the station was closed down for a while because of damage. There was a lot of destruction. They had to rebuild the station. There was a part that did collapse. It took a long time for them
((Courtesy ends))
((Courtesy: AP/Mark Lennihan))
to rebuild the station.
((Courtesy ends))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
The Transit Authority, like they got in touch with me with the lady that contacted the news.
((NATS))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
The one person that I did get to meet was Linda. She was sitting right behind my cab.
((Courtesy: WNYE-TV))
((Linda Desilvio, Train Passenger on 9/11/2001))
Actually, it took me a few days because of the shock of everything. And then when I started getting my composure back, because I did lose a lot of friends, then I decided I must call and do something to say, Thank you to somebody that could be, you know, slip through the cracks.
((Courtesy: WNYE-TV))
((NATS: Joseph Irizarry & Linda Desilvio, 2001 Archival Footage))
((Joseph Irizarry))
Im glad youre here.
((Linda Desilvio))
Good again to see you.
((Joseph Irizarry))
Thanks for finding me.
((Linda Desilvio))
The MTA [Metropolitan Transportation Authority] did.
((Joseph Irizarry, 2001 Archival Footage))
Its a good feeling, you know, to think somebody, you know, considers you a hero. I still say thats what we do every day down here. Thats our job, to keep our customers safe.
((Courtesy ends))
((NATS))
((Joseph Irizarry, NYC Train Operator on 9/11/2001))
I kept just trying to put it off and deal with it. I was taking off a lot of time sick because I did not want to be there. According to seniority, I picked different routes. Operating a train, I would break down and cry.
December 31st of 2011 is when I was allowed to retire. I have post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, asthma, rhinitis. No, it doesn't get any easier. No, not at all. I always think about everybody that died at that point. And why am I still here?
20 years, I mean, it seems like yesterday.
((NATS))
TEASE((VO/NAT))
Coming up
((Banner))
Building a Life Outdoors
((SOT))
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers Farm))
Yeah. We're out every day, rain or shine, all working together towards like a common goal. So, it's a lot of fun.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) WILFLOWERS BLOOMING
((TRT: 06:52))
((Topic Banner:Wildflowers))
((Reporter:Faiza ElMasry))
((Camera/Editor: Mike Burke))
((Map:??Leesburg, Virginia))
((Main characters: 1 female))
((Sub characters: 1 male))
((NATS: Kaitlin))
You think the plants like cinnamon? Yeah. I like cinnamon too.
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
The farm talks to you and it, kind of, just tells you what it needs.
Sometimes you don't think that you need to weed and then you walk out and there's just millions of weeds that need to be pulled.
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
My name is Kaitlin Armijo and I own Wild for Wildflowers. We are a boutique flower farm here in Leesburg, Virginia.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
Today it's beautiful out. We are getting our last round of hardy annuals in.
My husband and I were actually high school sweethearts and we moved out here from California.
((NATS))
((NATS: Kaitlin))
We bought the farm in 2014 and then it quickly escalated into how can we turn this into something else, something more than just a property for us?
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
And so in 2015 the idea was born and in 2016 we actually started.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
My husband Justin, he is a full-time firefighter but he is the muscle here on the farm.
((NATS))
((NATS/Kaitlin))
He also takes care of all of our equipment and tractor work that needs to be done. He can build or fix anything. So, we started this farm. We weren't handed a farm. We don't have the infrastructure. We don't have buildings. We didn't start with a tractor.
So, we've had to work up to all this. So, it's been amazing because anything that I've needed, he's built.
((NATS))
((Justin Armijo, Co-owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
When we bought it, we didn't have the flower business in mind until we decided to have children and we had our first kid. And she didn't want to be working in the kind of corporate world, if you want to call it that. We decided to come up with something that she could do at home to involve the kids.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
Mom, the jungle gym.
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
This is Nolan and he's three. You say hi, say hi.
And this is Paisley and she's five.
((NATS: Paisley))
Yeah.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
And we're expecting our third.
((NATS))
((Justin Armijo, Co-owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
When we first started, my only goal for her was that I was just happy if she was enjoying what she was doing, and the kids could do it with her. Even if we didn't make any money at the end of the year but we just broke even, I would be happy with that.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
You want to put them in? Find a row.
((Justin Armijo, Co-owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
As long as it was something that they enjoyed doing. So, she came up with flowers. The kind of idea of flowers bloomed. And we just started little and kept growing it as we went.
((NATS))
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
We were following up with the slow food and now it's the slow flower movement. About 80 percent of the flowers that are sold here in the US are actually imported from distant lands, like South America, where they can grow flowers year-round. But because of that, they are cut, you know, weeks, days to weeks before getting into customers hands. They're shipped out of water. They're shipped in cardboard and plastic, and they're dehydrated, and they're actually only able to be picked really closed. I call our business seed-to-sale. So, everything that we grow on the farm, I have started here from seed or bulb or corm, but it's all done here. We don't bring in any flowers we don't grow.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
Ready P? Want to strip the foliage?
Spring is definitely our main season. We grow about, I'd say, between three and four hundred different varieties of flowers here.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
Go put them in.
There's no pesticides, no herbicides, nothing.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
The harvest, I think, is their favorite time because we're outside and they get special little jobs. So, they strip the leaves and they take turns walking the flowers to the buckets.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
This is gomphrena, which is a pretty cool flower because it's multiuse. They're an everlasting flower. So, come wintertime, when we do dried flower wreaths as our winter income, they are great.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
This is a dahlia. We use them fresh only. They're not a flower that most people are familiar with because you can't get them imported. They're very delicate. They don't have the longest vase life. So, these are a flower that you can really only get locally.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
So, this is eucalyptus and it's another one that is an awesome foliage but it's multiuse because we can dry it and sell dried bundles of this. And it's actually not a perennial here but we can get it to overwinter, which is awesome because we get a much earlier harvest.
((NATS: Kaitlin and Paisley))
Its my favorite flower.
You love this? You want to hold it?
Its been going in my face.
Smell how good it smells.
Mmm.
Rub your finger on the leaf. It's the oil in there.
Mmm.
Doesnt it smell good?
((NATS: Kaitlin))
This will hold like three or four of them.
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
Chelsea is another flower farmer in the area and she owns Bees Wing Farm out in Bluemont, Virginia. And her and I are working on founding a flower collective or a flower co-op where we will sell wholesale flowers to local flower professionals and florists to support the wedding industry out here in Loudon County and the surrounding areas.
((NATS))
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
This is amaranth, birchleaf spirea, sea oats, lemon mint monarda or beebalm, zinnias, vitex, some celosia, nicotiana which is flowering tobacco. We have scabiosa, some more varieties of zinnias, apple mint here. It's a fun variety. It's got lots of texture.
((NATS))
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
Wild for Wildflowers is the name of the farm but it speaks more to the style of the flowers that we do. When I first named this business and started it, I thought I was going to be doing more wedding work. So, I was speaking to more whimsical, nature inspired type of arrangements, not so much the type of flowers that we grow.
((NATS: Kaitlin))
We are going to go deliver the flowers right now to Willowsford Farm in Aldie and we have a couple of different locations that have partnered with us to be pick-up locations for our own spring share.
((NATS: Kaitlin & a store salesman))
Hi guys. How are you?
Were good.
You want these in the cooler again?
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
It's an exhaustion that's fueled by a pure passion. So, even though I'm tired, I, you know, giving up is never a problem. And when I see the joy that these flowers bring our clients and our community, it's just, it's worth every ounce of effort.
((NATS: Kaitlin & Paisley))
Hang on, hang on P. You're going to cut right here, just that stem. Go ahead. Good job!
((Kaitlin Armijo, Owner, Wild for Wildflowers))
And then, of course, seeing how much my family enjoys doing this, you know. We get quality time out here together.
((NATS: Kaitlin & Kids))
Yeah.
We're out every day, rain or shine, all working together towards like a common goal. So, it's a lot of fun.
((NATS: Both kids))
I want to watch you go underneath.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up
((Banner))
Meaning in the Grass
((SOT))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
WhenIfirstgothere,myartwasbasicallywalkingaround
theprairieandthestreams andfindingnaturalobjectsand
thenassemble themintosomeobjectthatspeaksoftheprairie.
((MUSIC/NATS))
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG))THRIVING ARTIST COMMUNITY OF KANSAS
((Previously aired February 2021))
((TRT:08:11))
((Topic Banner:Kansas Art Community))
((Reporter/Camera:Deepak Dobhal))
((Map:Matfield Green, Kansas))
((Main characters:1 male))
((Sub Characters:2 male; 2 female))
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
FlintHillsareverymagical, almostmystical.
Peoplecomeandthey,allofasudden,feelconnectedtotheEarth. There arenotalotoftreesandthere arenotalotofstructures.Youreallyseeoutandfeellike
you'reontheglobe.
Imovedherefortheprairie.Thatwasmy love.
Iwantedtobeanartistintheprairie.
Andso,mywifeandIendedupinMatfieldGreen,Kansas. Thisisthecenterofthelargestremnantofprairieleftoverintheworld,probably.
I wasanarchitectinChicago.Imovedhere15yearsago.
WhenIfirstgothere,myartwasbasicallywalkingaround
theprairieandthestreams andfindingnaturalobjectsand
thenassemble themintosomeobjectthatspeaksoftheprairie.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
IdidthatforafewyearsandthenIalso,ourproperty,we
haveabout40acres[16 hectares] ofhistoricpropertybecauseofthe
railroad. Andso,wedevelopedtheideaof a Prairy ArtPathbecausewe're onthescenicbywayandonthescenicbyway,therearenotthatmany placestoreallystopandgetoutandwalk.
So,myworkbecamemoreandmorepartofthelandscape. Ratherthancollectingthings,Iwouldputthingsinthe
landscapeonthePrairyArtPath.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
We'reintheoldcattlepensthattherailroadbuiltin1924.
Justaroundtheyear2000,therewasabig prairiefireanditburnedthepens.
Butit'saveryinteresting,sortofhistoricandvisualplace.
So,aboutfiveyearsago,withafriend, artist,Jeroen van WestenfromtheNetherlands wasvisiting andwemade
these
balancedsticks.They'rejustheldonbygravity.They're
justasteelpostandametalplate.Showuswhatdirection
thewind isblowing.It'sfun.Sometimesabirdwilllightononeend
andputthestickoutofbalance.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
I may be one of the early artists that came andreally sort of said,Okay, this is where Im going to, my home base for art is here.
Andthen,therewasagreathappeningthattherewas
acouple
((Photo Courtesy:Ton Haak))
fromtheNetherlands. Andso,theyhadcomethrough
MatfieldGreenandbeenenchantedbythelandscapeand
decidedtostay.TheyweregreatpromotersandknewotherartistsfromEuropeandestablishedrelationshipswithlocalmuseumsinWichitaandKansasCityandManhattanand
startedamovement. Andso,tomeitwaslikerightoutofthesky.
HereI'mtryingto,youknow,beanartistandallofasuddenarethesegreatartpeoplethataremyneighborsthatare
realpromoters.Andso,itwasanexcitingtime.Butthey went,movedbacktoPortugalafterabout10years.Andso,
theyattractedpeople. Slowly,we'vecollectedartists.
((NATS:Bill McBrideand Matt Regier))
ThisisMattRegier.
Hi.
Printmakerandneighbor.
((Matt Regier, Printmaker))
So,these areacoupleresults,acoupleof older prints thatI just havehandy.Thisisa,justkindofa,sortof, bareprairielandscape.
((NATS:Bill McBrideand ElaineJones))
What are you doing?
We'reintroducingneighbors.ThisisElaineJones.
Pleasecomein.
((Bill McBride,Sculptor; Elaine Jones, Photographer))
She'swellknownforallthatshe'sdonearoundhere,
foundingthe TallgrassPrairiePreserveintheearly70sandshe'sa
photographer.
((NATS:Bill McBride))
I hope our, these neighbors are home.She is a great painter.
((NATS:Bill McBride with Kelly and his wife))
How you doing?
Hello, hello.Yes.
Good to see you.
Kelly,goodtoseeyou.Sure.
Hey,here'sthepainter and musician.
There'sabonfiretomorrownight.
Okay.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
Sincewehavearrived,theartscenehasslowlytakenhold.AndwiththeTallgrassArtistResidency,wehave10artistsasummer,whousuallyfallinlovewiththeplace.
((Photo Courtesy:Derek Hamm))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
ThentheyallcomebackforashowatTheBank.That
connectssomanyartiststothisplace.
((NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
ThisisTheBank,thelastremainingstorefrontintown.
Thereusedtobeawholerowofstorefronts.It was builtinthe 20s.So,forfiveorsixyears,it'sbeenthegalleryintown.
((Photo Courtesy:Derek Hamm))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
Ithadsomegreatshows.Buttheroofleakedandthere
wereafewproblemswiththebuilding. So,wedecidednottocontinueuntilwerenovated. Andwe're inthefundraisingmode.
So,it'sveryfunnytobefromthistinytownandbeinKansasCityandsomebodysays,Oh,you'refromMatfieldGreen.
That'san artcommunity.Andyouthinkwell,youknow,mayIguess
itis.You know, like we're,thenumbersaren'tbigbecausewe're sosmallbutit'sreal.It'sactuallyhappening.
((NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
We'reenjoyingabonfiretonight.This iscelebratingthesortofthe
endoftheseasonoftheTallgrassArtistResidency.Andso, someoftheartistswillbeback.Usually,wehaveabig
showbutinthistimeofCOVID,andourBank,ourgallery
spaceisunderrenovation. Andso,theshowisnotgoingtohappenuntilthespringor
sometimenextsummer.So,we'rejusthavinga
gettogether.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Bill McBride,Sculptor))
Imovedherefortheprairie.Thewholesocialaspectof
beinginasmallplaceinaranching
communitywasnotwhatattractedme.It sortofsurprisedme. IthoughtI'maniceguyandpeoplewillacceptmeand
I'mjustgoingtodoit.Butthere'salotofmistrustor
misunderstandingofoutsiders.Andso,theysaythatyou'reanewcomer.Evenifyouwerehere
for50years,youdprobablystillbeseenasanewcomer.
So,that'sanaspectofbeinghere.Butbasically,it'sa
growing
arts communityanditcreepsvery slowly.Apersonhere,apersonthereandthenithas
blossomed.
We'reproudofit.It'sapreciousthing.
((MUSIC/NATS))
NEXT WEEK / GOOD BYE((VO/NAT))
In coming weeks..
((Banner))
Life in the Everglades
((SOT))
((Maurice Cullen, Owner, Everglades Airboat Expeditions))
Ive been around the everglades my entire life. My father used to drive airboats with a couple of his buddies back in the 60s, 70s, 80s. He used to take me bass fishing all the time. Go out there, spot alligators. Started running tours seven years ago. Started my business three years ago. Definitely a blessing to be out here. Its a very, very beautiful place at the end of the day, holds a special place in my heart.
A lot of people actually think the Florida Everglades is, you know, marsh, wetlands, which it is. But it is actually the worlds slowest moving river.
Even when Native Americans lived out here, it was also named The River of Grass because the sawgrass on the outside dominates the majority of the area, all the marsh. There are certain sloughs out here in the everglades that can be a little bit deeper than the prairies and the outside area and the water only moves about a 100 foot throughout the entire day.
CLOSING BUMPER ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN((ANIM))
SHOW ENDS
