Last year, a new hero joined the cause in protecting and defending Long Island Sound. Captain Living Sound is kind enough to occasionally drop by The Maritime Aquarium to share his passion for the Sound and his ideas for how we all can help it. He’ll be on hand this Saturday, Oct. 27 to welcome Marvel Comics super-heroes Spider-Man, Captain America and Iron Man for their special live shows for kids called “Operation Green.”
Here’s a brief Q&A with Captain Living Sound:
Aquarium: Are you a superhero with super powers?
Capt.: I have no super powers, other than my super powers of passionate persuasion and my uncanny ability to sense where the Sound is being stressed. I will also say I’m faster than a bluefish in water, and I do make a super seafood puttanesca.
Why the mask?
If you knew my true identity, I would be just another guy trying to educate people about Long Island Sound. As Captain Living Sound, I can call a lot more attention to my cause.
Your outfit certainly is noticeable. What’s your main message to kids?
I want them to be Sound stewards. I give them autographed cards if they pledge to not litter – actually, not just to not litter but to pick up trash they see. And I ask them to clean up after their dog, and to ask their parents to use less lawn fertilizer and to wash their car at commercial car washes.
Teaching them we all have to do our part.
Exactly. Long Island Sound is downstream of everything. So what each of us does when we’re at home eventually affects the Sound and all the animals that your members and other visitors see at The Maritime Aquarium.
What inspired you to take on this mission?
I loved coming to the Aquarium as a child, and then volunteered there in my teens. Later, I came to study with Dr. LivingSound, the Aquarium educator who visits area schools with a traveling science program. I chose my name as a tribute to him.
(Times for the Marvel Comics super-heroes' live performances this Saturday are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Get tickets at www.maritimeaquarium.org or by calling (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206.)
