Thursday, March 14, 2024

Watch Video Of March 12 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Community Engagement Meeting With Residents Discussing Variety Of Local Issues - Domestic Violence, Mental Health, Shoplifting, Cherry Blossom Crowd Control, Bathrooms, Missing Packages & More

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department (PSD) hosted a March 12 community engagement meeting at the Good Shepherd Community Center.

RIOC PSD Chief Kevin Brown, Deputy Chief Anthony Amoroso, Deputy General Counsel/Interim Leadership Team member Gerrald Ellis, Communications Director Bryant Daniels and about a dozen Roosevelt Island residents attended the almost hour long meeting.

Among the issues discussed were:

  • Overall low level of crime on Roosevelt Island but there are incidents of domestic violence and mental health issues,
  • Issuance of parking summons and towing,
  • Crowd control during Cherry Blossom Season and on the Roosevelt Island Tram,
  • Shoplifting at Duane Reade,
  • Missing packages at Roosevelt Landings
  • Keeping communications open between PSD and the community,
  • Lack of bathrooms,
  • and more.

Here's full video of the March 12 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Community Engagement Meeting.

Spring Is In The Air, Come Out And Enjoy Friday Night Jazz Tomorrow At Roosevelt Island's Nisi Restaurant - It's Your Own Local Jazz Hang Out - Try The Smashburger Too

Roosevelt Island's Nisi Kitchen invites you to enjoy Friday night Jazz this Friday evening and every other Friday.

Roosevelt Island resident and Jazz Guitarist In Perpetual Learning Susheel Kurien adds: 

Friday night is Jazz Night at Nisi starting at 7 PM.

Come on out and enjoy. Spring is in the air. 

Jazz at NISI Kitchen.. Roosevelt Island...your own local jazz hang.

Featuring

  • Michele Smith - Flute and vocals
  • Max Baranov - Keyboard
  • Mauricio Suarez-Gonzalez - Drums

Thanks for you support and keeping the music alive.. bring a friend and enjoy the evening! 

And remember... Make jazz, not war.

Alla Kremeznaya shares this video from the February 2 Jazz show at Nisi.

Enjoy the Jazz and try the Nisi Smashburger.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Coler Hospital Parking Lot Flood Mitigation Berm, Presentation by Roosevelt Island Business Alliance, Update On Hudson Related Main Street Retail Agreement & Motorgate Parking Fees On Agenda For March 14 RIOC Real Estate Committee Meeting

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Development Advisory Committee is meeting tomorrow, March 14. According to the meeting Agenda:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Good Shepherd Community Center, 543 Main St, Roosevelt Island, New York 10044.

AGENDA:

1. Presentation by The NYC Health + Hospitals Corporation (HHC) on the Coler Berm Project.

2. Presentation by Brian Weisberg, Vice President of The Roosevelt Island Business Association (TRIBA).

3. Update by Ryan Archer, Senior Property Manager of Lisa Management, on Commercial Spaces per the Master Sublease Agreement with Hudson Related Retail LLC.

4. Discussion of the Motorgate Fees.

5. Working Advisory Groups on Emergent Issues:

  • a. Tramway and Cherry Blossom Festival,
  • b. Main Street Revitalization, and
  • c. Roadway Redevelopment.

6. Any Other Committee Business that May be Brought Before the Committee

The idea of a Coler Berm in the area of the Coler Hospital parking lot facing the Queens side of the East River 


was first proposed by the NYC Health & Hospitals Corp and the Mayor's Office of Resiliency to RIOC in 2015 as a flood mitigation plan to protect Coler Hospital.

Here's the November 9, 2015 presentation by Joseph Musso of NYC Mayor's Office of Resiliency to RIOC describing a proposed plan to protect Coler Hospital from flooding by raising the ground elevation


and renderings of some possible design options for the area.


Also an October 13, 2015 discussion of the issue by the RIOC Operations Advisory Committee.

As reported April 15, 2016:

... In response to a question from RIOC Director Margie Smith, Ms. Rosenthal replied that there was no new information about plans for Coler Hospital Flood Mitigation Plan berm that was presented last November....

Ms Rosenthal was the RIOC President at that time.

There has been no movement on this subject until now. 

RIOC's controls the parking lot land and it's approval is necessary for any proposed new development.

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Due To Popular Demand And Sold Out Performances, Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance Presentation Of Witness For The Prosecution Extended To Next Weekend March 15, 16 & 17 - Get Your Tickets Now To Find Out Guilty Or Not Guilty

Due to popular demand and sold out shows this past weekend, the Roosevelt Island Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MST&DA) Adult Workshop has added additional performances of Witness For The Prosecution by Agatha Christie for next weekend, March 15, 16 and 17.

According to MST&DA: 

SELLING OUT FAST!

NOW EXTENDED DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND

GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?!? 

Here's what the MSTDA'S Witness For The Prosecution preview audience had to say at intermission!!! 

Come see for yourself.

Tickets are on sale now and going fast.

MST&DA's Witness For The Prosecution Director Mark Waite adds:

Agatha Christie’s work is as popular now as it was when it was first published and with good reason. Great story-telling, fabulous characters and sparkling dialogue that is a joy not only to read but also to listen to and to direct. Witness for the Prosecution is regarded as one of Agatha Christie’s finest pieces of work and was adapted into a movie in 1957...

Click here to get your tickets for the MST&DA presentation of Witness For The Prosecution.

There's MST&DA Witness For The Prosecution merchandise too.

Monday, March 11, 2024

Miyawaki Method Sugi Pocket Healing Forest Coming To NYC At Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park - Sign Up Right Now To Volunteer And Help With The Saturday April 6 Planting

Roosevelt Island resident and iDig2Learn Founder Christina Delfico reports:

BIG NEWS:

Saturday APRIL 6th iDig2Learn teams up with SUGi & the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) to plant a Pocket Forest on Roosevelt Island!

We are thrilled to be creating the first Pocket Forest in NYC using the Miyawaki Method of tight-knit planting of young trees close together proven to boost faster growth. Our partner SUGi is a globally recognized expert and will be leading the way and Roosevelt Island will be their 200th forest, a milestone for them too! 

 

You are invited to witness this historic event and we hope this forest will be the first of many.

The opening ceremony is at 10:30 AM at Southpoint Park and all are welcome - no need to sign up to attend the festivities.

THE EVENT IS 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM (last session planting is at 2 PM, various community organizations will be on hand until 2:30).

From 11 am to 2:00 pm the planting happens and we are thrilled to be creating the first Pocket Forest in NYC using the Miyawaki Method. 

All are invited to witness this historic event and we hope this forest will be the first of many in NYC and beyond.

IMPORTANT:

IF you wish to volunteer and actually plant a plant please sign up in the half hour time slot that works for you using this jotform.

No need to sign up to attend, witness and support.

Read more about it in today’s article by Cara Buckley in NY Times!

And visit the SUGI website for more - see the posting here in iDig2Learn news.

We are also looking for 20 adult plant captains to be on hand for one hour in the afternoon/early evening either Thursday 4/4 or Friday 4/5 to learn about the planting and then shepherd folks during the April 6th planting event. Please email CAPTAIN to iDig2Learn@gmail.com and let us know if Thursday or Friday or both days could work as we select one day for the training best for most.

The Miyawaki Method of tight-knit planting shows the deep rooted connection between young trees which grow better and stronger when closer together. Planting a SUGi pocket forest on Roosevelt Island mirrors the community coming closer together and spotlights all of our relatedness. Good healthy soil feeds trees and flowers. Brings butterflies and birds. It supports and gives joy to humans too. We can’t wait to celebrate these connections for years to come.

Best wishes and see you outside soon.

The Roosevelt Island Miyawaki Pocket Forest Project will be located adjacent to the Strecker Lab 

in Southpoint Park. 

Here's Ms Delfico describing the project during the February 15, 2024 RIOC Real Estate Development Advisory Committee meeting. 


Here's more on the Magic Of Miyawaki Forest,

iDig2Learn and the Sugi Project.

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Canadian Geese Exploring Middle Of Roosevelt Island, Strolling Main Street And Munching And Pooping On Rivercross Lawn - Some Residents Find It Disgusting, Others Defend Geese And Say Let Them Be

Canadian Geese are usually seen in the south of Roosevelt Island. Recently the Geese have been exploring the middle of Roosevelt Island strolling along Main Street. Also, munching and pooping on the Rivercross Lawn.

According to one resident not happy with the roving geese on the Rivercross Lawn:  
They’ve been there for a few weeks. I literally have no idea why they migrated there… We need to get some scarecrows or something because they’re just disgusting. And there’s literally their feces all over. As the weather is warming up Meditation Steps lawn is literally covered in goose crap. It’s going to be unusable. Even more ironic is you’re not supposed to let your dog use the bathroom on it.

On Saturday, a Roosevelt Islander Instagram post video showed the roaming geese on the Rivercross Lawn and the resident's quote. Comments included:

  • Hopefully you’re not going to make them get rid of the geese now because they poop 🙄 feels like you ruin the island more than anyone with your drama filled headlines
  • Agreed. Rather than sensationalized headlines and negative stories how about using this medium for positive rather than so much complaining.
  • RIOC has destroyed their Southtown habitat, so they have to go somewhere. They're part of RI as much as the lighthouse or Blackwell House. Let them be!
  • They should be left alone, development of the south end of the island has taken away much of their natural habitat.
  • They are poopetrators but I love them so much
  • Drama filled headlines? The headline says “Today By Rivercross Lawn”. It’s a statement of fact, no drama.
  • Thanks for the statement of fact. The Rivercross lawn is meant for children to play, teachers to bring little ones to sit in a circle and the public to spread their blankets and relax. Hence it’s not a dog run. But the geese do make a mess.

Hey, don't blame the messenger.

Saturday, March 9, 2024

You're Invited To Sunday Afternoon Double Header At Roosevelt Island RIVAA Gallery Tomorrow - An Afternoon Of Baroque Chamber Music And Free Improvisation Followed By International Illustration Exhibition & Art Fair Opening Reception

According to the Roosevelt Island RIVAA Gallery

Double Header at RIVAA Gallery

Sunday, March 10th

3:00 PM Chamber Music & Improvisation

4:30 PM Silent Planet Opening Reception

RIVAA Gallery presents a new chamber music series, the only one of its kind offered to audiences in New York City with a specific focus on Baroque, Classical and Romantic chamber repertoire played on 18th and 19th century period instruments. The series is directed by Roosevelt Island resident Yiheng Yang, faculty at The Juilliard School of Music and leading historical keyboard player. Yang’s vision is for world-class music-making and creative collaboration between top historical performance artists, bringing the best of classical music to the Island.

The next concert “Baroque Chamber Music and Free Improvisation,” is on Sunday, March 10th at 3pm. It features sonatas and trios by JS Bach and Handel, interspersed with improvisations by flugelhorn and cornetto player Matt Lambiase, in dialogue with Dongmyung Ahn, Baroque violin, Max Zeugner, bass, and Yiheng Yang, harpsichord. Entry is complimentary, and the suggested donation is $25, $10 for students and seniors, to support the performing artists and RIVAA so we can continue to bring you these events and programs.

Stay for the opening reception of "Silent Planet”, an International Illustration Exhibition and Art Fair, which is on display from March 8 - 14. On Sunday, March 10th, the opening reception will begin at 4:30pm immediately following the concert.

Located at 527 Main Street on Roosevelt Island, RIVAA Gallery features art by local, national and international artists bringing diverse and exciting exhibitions to the community and greater New York City area.

SUPPORT RIRA


Enjoy a few minutes from the January 7 RIVAA Gallery Sunday Afternoon of Chamber Music.


More info on RIVAA Gallery at their website and Instagram Page.

Friday, March 8, 2024

Roosevelt Island Tram Swing Dampeners Installed To Reduce Cabin Rocking Back And Forth After Sudden Stop - It Appears To Be Working, Watch Video From RIOC Meeting Describing How Tram Cabin Swing Dampener Works

In order to reduce the back and forth swinging of the Roosevelt Island Tram cabins after a sudden stop,  the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) announced February 26 that Poma, operator of the Tram: 

... installed the new swing dampeners on both the North and South Cabins. You can see the new blue dampeners on the outside of both ends of the cabin (pictured below)....
Image From RIOC

The Tram swing dampeners appear to be working. A Roosevelt Island Tram Rider Tipster shared this video and reported this morning:

Took the Tram at 8:10 this morning. Barely off the platform, it dipped and started swinging. It lasted approximately 1 minute before ascent resumed "normally". I started filming halfway through. The Tram Operator was quite good, asked people not to panic and give it a minute.

During the March 7 RIOC Real Estate Development Advisory Committee meeting, RIOC Acting Chief Operating Officer Mary Cunneen and interim co-leader of the leadership team Gerrald Ellis described how the Tram cabin swing dampener works.

RIOC has stated that a disruption in the wi-fi communications system between the Tram Cabin and station is the cause of the sudden Tram stoppage resulting in the cabin swinging back and forth. The cause of the communications disruption has been under investigation for several months but has not yet been found.

Here's some examples of the swinging Roosevelt Island Tram.

November 2023 

October 2023

September 2023. 

and from April 2019.

During the November 14, 2023 RIOC Board of Directors meeting, POMA's Roosevelt Island Tram Head Of Operations Armando Cordova addressed safety concerns caused by the Tram's sudden stops and swinging back and forth.