Did you know..............

there is another "Heart" Island in NY?  I didn't.  Through my research about my "Hart" Island, I found there exists another, of course, not to be confused.....................Heart Island, on which stands the famously known tourist attraction Boldt Castle, is "one of the 1,793 islands found in the Saint Lawrence River which forms part of the U.S.- Canada border".   Blah, blah, blah.  It was abandoned by its extremely rich owner, George Charles Boldt, shortly after the death of his beloved wife (1904), for whom he had built the castle in the first place.  Until 1977, when it was "gifted" to the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, it had lain barren and left to rot like so many other fabulous historical landmarks - can we all say Hart Island?  Fortunately for this beautiful "home", it was lovingly restored, although many rooms were left "unfinished" to give the full effect of how it looked before restoration began.  Point?  Why can't Hart Island have a new owner, a caregiver that would do just that - give care - and see the beauty, potential and historical value and begin to do something about it?  Why does the Department of Corrections even continue to have control?  They aren't really doing anything with Hart Island except giving low level inmates of Ryker's Island the task of burying and disinterring bodies that no one, other than family and friends, care about.   Don't get me wrong, the inmates perform a very important task, and they can still continue to do so til the end of time or they run out of inmates - whichever occurs first - but the New York City Department of Corrections should not have jurisdiction over something so important when they're not doing what they can to turn Hart Island into the place it is - hallowed ground and final resting place for so many...........including my brother!  Seriously, why can't these inmates be put to better and more use - start fixing some buildings, planting more flowers, building some monuments, adding some prayer/meditation benches, add some fountains?  And why the hell isn't something being done to allow family, friends, or just your general public who may be interested in visiting, easier access?  I'm just askin'.  And, how come more people aren't asking the same questions?