Friday, April 8, 2016

SPONSORED POST - Check Out Roosevelt Island Gristedes Supermarket Product Specials & Sales For April 8 To April 21 - 10% Seniors Discounts Tuesdays & Wednesdays And Sign Up For Bonus Savings Card Too


Roosevelt Island Gristedes Supermarket invites you to check out their:
  • Groceries, 
  • Organic & Gourmet, 
  • Snacks
  • Meat, 
  • Fresh Produce, 
  • Deli &;
  • Fresh Bakery
Department Offerings for April 8 - April 21  (pages 1-4) Perishable Items April 8 -14 (pages 5-6).
Gristedes representative Bob Capano invites Roosevelt Island residents to check out their various product departments for all of your shopping needs.



Also, don't forget the 10% Roosevelt Island Seniors Discount on Tuesday and Wednesday and Sign Up For Gristedes Bonus Cards online or in person at the store.

More Gristedes Supermarket information available at their web site and Twitter feed.

Two Food Truck Serving Roosevelt Island Today - Neapolitan Express Pizza & Wings N Things, Give Them A Try

Two Food Trucks are serving Roosevelt Island today. Wings N Things joined Neapolitan Express parked near the F subway station across from the Starbucks in Southtown this afternoon.


Neapolitan Express Food Truck has been serving excellent pizza

 Image From Neapolitan Express

and sandwiches almost every day on Roosevelt Island since February and intends to stay..

Here's the Neapolitan Express Food Truck menu.


Wings N Things Food Truck has been on Roosevelt Island in the past and will be here for the rest of today and back on Monday. Depending on business, they will return often.

Here's the Wings N Things menu.


With warmer weather coming soon (hopefully), looking forward to a variety of more food trucks coming to Roosevelt Island.

Double Dating With A Pair Of Canadian Geese At The Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse reports:


Have fun together.

Good News, Roosevelt Island F Train Service To And From Manhattan This Weekend - Signal Problems At Roosevelt Island Caused F Trains Delays Earlier Today But Cleared Up

According to the MTA Weekender, there will be Roosevelt Island F train service


to and from Manhattan this weekend.

Earlier today there were F Train delays due to signal problems at Roosevelt Island which have been cleared up.

Gallery RIVAA & RIOC Celebrate Roosevelt Island Motorgate Garage Gallery Display Of Fall For Arts Festival Murals - Also, You're Invited To Gallery RIVAA Opening Reception For Visions Of Gaia Exhibition Saturday April 9

Roosevelt Island's Gallery RIVAA will be hosting an opening reception Saturday evening June 9 for an exhibition titled Visions Of Gaia. You're invited. According to Gallery RIVAA:


VISIONS OF GAIA
Artists' depictions and metaphors of the ecological world

Artists:
Anne Doris-Eisner, Oi Fortin, Frieda Howling, Greta Lood,
Lisie Orjuela, John Arabolos, Phillip Falcone, John Favret,
William Kent, Gus Moran, Mark Previtt.

Gallery RIVAA
527 Main Street, Roosevelt Island
New York City, NY 10044

Artists' Reception: Saturday, April 9, 5 to 8 PM

Curated by Johnes Ruta - AzothGallery.com

For more information.
Last Saturday, April 2, Gallery RIVAA and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) celebrated the display of new murals from the 2015 Fall For Arts Festival at the Motorgate Gallery.

Image Of Artist Carol Tanjutco in Front Of Her Fall For Arts Mural At Motorgate Gallery

RIOC Community Relations Specialist Erica Spencer-El together with Gallery RIVAA's Tad Sudol welcomed visitors to the Motorgate Gallery and described how the Motorgate Gallery began. Mr Sudol said:
I think this is the only garage in entire New York who has displays of such big art work...

... It reminds me a little bit of National Gallery in Washington...


Mural artist Jeff Lee described his mural representing a Roosevelt Island:
... haunted by the good things in our past. The amount of care that the nurses and doctors and staff on this Island have given people over the years...
Image of Artist Jeff Lee In Front Of His Mural At Motorgate Gallery

and Julia Ferguson spoke about the mural created by her teenage daughter for the Garden Club.



Tad Sudol hoped for future Motorgate Gallery projects including displaying the old Tram Wheels currently stored nearby and eventual use of the old Tram Cabins as well.



Take a walk thru the Motorgate Gallery from Roosevelt Island Bridge entrance to the Atrium.



RIOC has more pictures at it's Facebook Page.

Monday Fun Fact!Did you know 16 new murals have been added to the Motorgate Garage? Check out pictures from Saturday's 2016 Motorgate Gallery Opening!
Posted by Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation of the State of New York on Monday, April 4, 2016

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Report From RIRA President Jeff Escobar - Roosevelt Island Tram Station Elevators Presentation, Southpoint Park Stakeholders Open Spaces Meeting & RIRA Elections Committee

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) President Jeff Escobar reports about:

  • Upcoming Roosevelt Island Operating Corp presentation to Community Board 8 about new Roosevelt Island Tram Elevators
  • Formation of RIRA Common Council committees for November 2016 elections & 
  • April 28 Southpoint Park Stakeholders meeting.

RIRA Island Services Committee Reports Pessimistically On Roosevelt Island Tram Station Elevators, Sportspark & Southtown Commercial Trash Problem - Also, Update On New Public Library, Enhanced Seniors Center Services & Playground Inspections

Below is Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Island Services Committee (ISC)


report to the RIRA Common Council: 
RIRA – ISLAND SERVICES COMMITTEE (ISC)

REPORT TO COMMON COUNCIL MEETING – 4/6/16

ISC met 3/30/16.

Tram Elevators – The design of the new elevators is only 60% finished. Soil testing at the site is completed and an elevator construction consultant is on board. RIOC has not issued a new estimated date for operation of the elevators. ISC’s realistic new estimate is that the elevators will not be in operation until fall, 2017. We hope this is wrong and we will be surprised if the elevators come on‐line earlier.

Sportspark – Only a few minor repairs and changes have been made since our 1/26/16 meeting with Sportspark’s staff. We are awaiting the completion of the new roof project (expected in July, 2016) and the start of a number of major projects to further improve the facility.

There are continuing complaints about the quality of several classes. We are trying to help Sportspark recruit new teachers who should be able to improve the Sportspark programs.

Commercial Trash in Southtown – Last month the daily condition of the trash yard substantially deteriorated. We are working with Related’s new manager for commercial property to bring the yard back to meeting Dept. of Sanitation regulations. Just last week, there has been evidence of improvements. ISC will continue to monitor the situation until the yard routinely meets standards.

New Public Library – The library project remains on schedule for an opening sometime in late 2017 to early 2018.

Enhanced Services/Programs at Senior Center – We are not ready to meet with Senior Center officers as we are still developing information.

Community Use of Good Shepherd & Cultural Center – ISC has begun a fact‐ finding study of the conditions for community use of both Good Shepherd and the Cultural Center. We will check with all organizations that use these facilities to see if their needs are being met, review all RIOC regulations and policies governing use of the facilities, and determine what rental rates apply.

Respectfully Submitted,

Aaron Hamburger, ISC Chair
Mr. Hamburger and RIRA ISC member Suzy del Campo Perea provided an oral update of the ISC Report regarding the Tram Station Elevators, Southtown Commercial Garbage area, Sportspark improvements and playground inspections.



As reported earlier this week, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) will be presenting plans for the new Roosevelt Island Manhattan Tram Station elevators at an April 12 Community Board 8 Meeting. All residents are encouraged to attend the meeting.

Roosevelt Island Tram Service Suspended Tonight From 10 PM To 6 AM Tomorrow Morning For Maintenance - RIOC To Provide Red Bus Shuttle Service To And From Manhattan During Shutdown

 Image From Duc Le

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
Due to maintenance on the Tram, Tram service will be suspended from 10:00 PM Thursday, April 7, 2016, until 6:00 AM Friday, April 8, 2016. Consider alternate travel plans. Thank you for your patience during this necessary work.
Image Of Red Bus Shuttle Crossing Queensboro Bridge September 2015
and:
Due to an early tram shutdown on Thursday, April 7th, 2016 at 10:00PM until Friday, April 8th 2016 at 2:30AM, the RIOC Red Bus will provide shuttle service to and from Manhattan.

Schedule information is as follows:

ROOSEVELT ISLAND TO MANHATTAN: Departs hourly from the Roosevelt Island Tram Plaza at the Visitor's Kiosk beginning at 10:00PM. Additional stops are located at 546 Main St. (opposite Good Shepherd Plaza) and 580 Main Street (opposite 591 Plaza).

MANHATTAN TO ROOSEVELT ISLAND: Departs hourly from the southwest corner of 58th Street and 2nd Avenue beginning at 10:30PM. Additional stops are located at 645 Main St. (P.S./I.S. 217), 579 Main St. (M&D Deli), 543 Main St. (Good Shepherd Plaza), 425 Main St. (Riverwalk Bar & Grill), and the Roosevelt Island Tram Plaza. The last trip from Manhattan will be 2:30AM.

The Tram will resume normal service on Friday, April 8th, 2016 at 6:00AM.

If you have any questions, please call the Public Safety Department at 212-832-4545.

Thank you for your patience.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

ABC News Live Ride On The Roosevelt Island Tram - Says Tram Is A Thing For Visitors To Do During Spring Break

ABC News' correspondent Charli James takes a ride on the Roosevelt Island Tram from Manhattan and back. It's her first time riding the Tram after living in NYC for 10 years. She even takes a few steps on Roosevelt Island.

Apparently, a ride on the Tram is a thing for NYC visitors to do during Spring Break. (Click full screen icon for better view).



The Tram has been awfully crowded with tourists recently.

UPDATE 4/7 - From the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse:

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) April 2016 Common Council Meeting Tonight - You're Invited To Attend And Raise Issues Of Concern

Image Of September 2015 RIRA Common Council Meeting

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will meet this evening, April 6, at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).

As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.

Here's the Agenda.
You're invited to come to tonight's RIRA meeting and learn what's happening on Roosevelt Island. 

SPONSORED POST- You're Invited To Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance Family Friendly IMPROV COMEDY NIGHT Friday April 8

Roosevelt Island Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MST&DA) is hosting a Family Friendly Night Of Improv Comedy this Friday April 8.


According to the MST&DA:
This Friday, April 8th, MST&DA welcomes some of the cities top improvisers for an hour of hilarious, fast paced, family friendly improv comedy.

Featuring alumni of the National Comedy Theater, UCB, The Magnet Theater, The People's Improv Theater, The Second City and more, these hilarious performers will spin an hour of original comedy out of thin air every single month!

Team members:
In addition to these five core performers, the team will welcome 1-2 guest improvisers to Roosevelt Island each month.

Appropriate for ages 5+. Doors open at 6:30, show begins at 7:00pm.

Tickets available online or at the door. Seats are limited so we recommend you purchase your tickets ahead of time.
Ticket Prices are:
  • $10 for Roosevelt Island residents and MST&DA students (adult);
  • $5 for children and teens;
  • $25 for the whole family (3 or more members);
  • $15 for non-residents.
You can purchase tickets for the MST&DA April 8 Comedy Improv show here.

Tickets are also available for MST&DA Stand Up Comedy Night on April 22.

The MST&DA is located in the Roosevelt Island Cultural Center at 548 Main Street.

RIOC To Present Plans For new Roosevelt Island Manhattan Tram Station Elevators To Community Board 8 On Tuesday April 12

The frequently broken and out of service Roosevelt Island Manhattan Tram Station elevators may soon be


just a bad memory for Roosevelt Island residents. As Acting Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Susan Rosenthal reported on March 31:
... in a few weeks we will be presenting to the Community Board the plans for new Tram Station elevators....
We now have a date. According to Community Board 8, RIOC will present it's plans for the Manhattan Tram Station Elevator Modernization Project and installation of ADA Compliant Elevator at 60th Street & 2nd Avenue in Tramway Plaza on Tuesday April 12.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Many Spring Migratory Birds Stunned, Injured Or Killed Each Year Colliding With Roosevelt Island Buildings - You Can Help Prevent By Making Your Windows Visible To Birds Says Wildlife Freedom Foundation President

Roosevelt Island resident Rossana Ceruzzi is the founder and President of the Wildlife Freedom Foundation Inc. (WFF):

...a non profit organization (501(c)(3) formed for the purpose of protecting and conserving wildlife and caring for stray animal populations in NYC.
Ms. Ceruzzi reports:

SPRING MIGRATION IS HERE (March 15TH --- Early June)

Each migration season, twice a year, nearly one-third of the bird species found in the United States, from 30 Warblers species to raptors, die by colliding with building. Roosevelt Island is not immune from this problem.

Every year on Roosevelt Island, dozens and dozens of birds are either stunned, seriously injured or killed by these collisions.

MAKE YOUR WINDOWS VISIBLE TO BIRDS!!

Glass windows are the greatest threat to migratory birds.

It is vital that we do what we can to minimize/eliminate these dangers whenever possible. Birds collide with every size of glass window, door and lobby. Reflective glass windows present deceptive images of trees, water etc. that a bird may fly towards.

PLEASE DRAW BLINDS AND CURTAINS. IT SAVES LIVES.

MOVE INDOOR PLANTS AWAY from windows and clear glass lobbies. (This will not work if there are strong reflections of the landscape in the window.) REMEMBER — leave no uncovered area of glass that is larger than the palm of your hand. Birds will try to fly through any space larger than this!

Use easy DECALS, TAPE, MARKERS, or whatever other type of markings on the windows. You can also hang wind chimes, CDs or other decorative items inside/outside the windows. You can use strips of paper garlands, ribbons and anything that makes your window glass visible to the birds.

If you don’t have any of the above items, use a simple BAR SOAP to draw streaks (after spring migration, you just wash it out.)

Most of the smaller birds species migrate at night, using the moon, the stars and natural landmarks to navigate.

They are dangerously attracted to the lights left on in office and/or apartment buildings. Please TURN OFF unnecessary interior lights during spring migration season.

Important - SHOULD YOU SEE A BABY BIRD ON THE GROUND, DO NOT PICK IT UP!

Stand back 20 feet and if possible monitor it without approaching to see if parents are feeding it. In general, parents are aware that the baby has fallen, and they are taking care of it. If parents do not appear in one hour, gently place the baby bird in a box with air holes and immediately contact WFF at: 1-855-WFF-NYNY (933-6969) or email us at: wffny.info@gmail.com.

We are deeply grateful for any Donation you can make to help our efforts.

Thank you.
The National Geographic shows efforts to stop migrating birds from crashing into building windows.



Last October, Ms Ceruzzi nursed back to health an injured Kestrel Bird and released it back into the wild.



Check out more about the Wildlife Freedom Foundation at its website.

No Free Wafles & Dinges Food Truck Breakfast For Roosevelt Island Octagon Building Residents Without A Permit Says RIOC - Public Safety Shuts Down Wafle Food Truck, Hungry Residents On Line Not Happy

Last Wednesday, March 30, the new Octagon building management (Bozzuto)

 Image Of Octagon NYC

offered residents free breakfast in front of the building from a Wafles & Dinges Food Truck.


Unfortunately, the Wafles & Dinges Food Truck serving free breakfast to the Octagon residents got shut down by the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department for not having a food truck permit.

An Octagon resident reported on March 30:
This morning the Octagon sponsored a Waffles & Dinges food truck event giving residents a free breakfast from 8:00am - 10:00am in front of the building. Nice Right ?

As we residents were lined up patiently awaiting our complimentary breakfast, Public safety roles up and starts barking about permits etc. and telling the Dinges truck he needs to shut it down and move on - even after explanation that this was a private event catered by the building management and that no money was being collected, there was still continued insistence that the serving halt...

Management trying to talk the officer down off the ledge... then it appeared as though the matter would resolve and they began continuing to serve - as I got to my next in line, it was determined the copy of the permit shown to the officer was dated 2015. He then insisted the truck be closed up and pull out......sorry folks.

THIS is what Public Safety is concerning themselves with?? A catered event held on private property... drinking and pot smoking around children and graffiti on the waterfront are less of a concern than a waffle truck in front of the Octagon ??? !!! It was almost 9:30 when it was shut down and the event was scheduled to close at 10:00am anyway.

This was truly a Barney Fife moment here in Mayberry.

What happened to the days when the cops would have rolled up gotten a free waffle and moved on to more important threats to the community?

Where is the common sense of looking the other way as there were no significant traffic obstructions, health or safety violations - simply some people getting a free treat in front of a building they live in and a pay a premium to reside.

This was beyond the pale of common sense, decency and good community relations.

I thought someone with a voice should be made aware of this demonstration of utter ridiculousness.
and:
... it was just a bunch of people cued up along side the waffle truck. No brawl or anything just a bunch of dumbfounded people pissed off for waiting a half hour or so and not getting their free breakfast.
I asked Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Director McManus about the Octagon Wafles & Dinges Food Truck Incident. After looking into the matter, PSD Director McManus said that a Food Truck permit was required for the Octagon Wafles & Dinges free breakfast even if it was a private event on private property.

Director McManus reported that after the Food Truck incident, he and Acting RIOC President Susan Rosenthal went to meet with the new Octagon building management and spoke about improving communications between the building management and RIOC.

According to Dirctor McManus, the meeting went very well with Octagon Management and in the future there will be better communications between them. Octagon Management acknowledged they should have told RIOC about the Food Truck before it arrived.

Free Lifeguard Training First Aid/ CPR/ AED Classes For 11 - 18 Year Olds From Roosevelt Island Youth Program Starting April 8 - Roosevelt Island Lifeguard Job Placements After Qualification


The Roosevelt Island Youth Program (RIYP) reports:
The Roosevelt Island Youth Program will be training youth ages 11 to 18 years of age in First Aid, CPR and AED classes beginning this Friday, April 8th at 6 pm at the Roosevelt Island Youth Center at 506 Main Street. After being qualified in CPR/First Aid/AED eligible youth will be trained and certified as Lifeguards and be placed in positions as lifeguards on the island.
Click here to register for RIYP Lifeguard Training Classes.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Roosevelt Island Cherry Trees Are Blossoming And They Are Gorgeous - See For Yourself

The Twitterverse loves Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossoms:

A photo posted by ScottyP (@scottpiro) on

A photo posted by Tavie P (@taviep) on


I took a walk along the Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom West Promenade last Saturday afternoon with the Manhattan Skyline/East River Waterfront on one side and Cornell Tech Campus construction site on the other side. Follow along.



Click the full screen icon for a better view.

Here's some


more pictures


of the Roosevelt Island


Cherry Blossoms


taken this


past


weekend.


The 8th annual Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) Cherry Blossom Walk will take place Saturday April 23.

Contact the RIHS to make reservations for the Cherry Blossom Walk.

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Heavy Black Smoke Billowing From Long Island City Queens 4 Alarm Fire Seen From Roosevelt Island This Afternoon

Heavy black smoke billowing from a fire in nearby Long Island City Queens could be seen this afternoon across the East River from Roosevelt Island. The Twitterverse reports: