A wonderful evening with fascinating conversation was had by attendees during a panel discussion at the Roosevelt Island RIVAA Gallery last Tuesday October 8. The subject was Art, Memory and Community of Roosevelt Island public memorials.
It was a remarkable evening at Rivaa Gallery at Chris Vail’s Solo Photography Exhibition “Roosevelt Island: The Vision Revisited” yesterday with a Panel discussion hosted by him with special guests who greatly contributed to Roosevelt Island, Gina Pollara- Managing Architect Four Freedoms Park, Susan Rosenthal- Former Roosevelt Island CEO and Amanda Matthews- Sculptor, The Girl Puzzle who gave us insight into their connection and vision, to the Island, their involvement, their stories and what they built. A special thanks to Margie Smith for organizing the event.
Mr Vail began the panel discussion with this question:
... Each of you have very different qualities, talents that you
bring to this work. I'm really curious. All of you are involved in
the development and building of public memorials and I would love to
hear you tell us what you think the value is, or talk about the values, of public
memorials to a community, our community, and Society in general...
On 10/17, RIOC & RIRA will celebrate "National Shakeout Day" by
co-hosting a special earthquake preparedness seminar at Good Shepherd Chapel
from 6-7PM. RIRA President Frank Farance & local Boy Scouts will be
presenting on how to prepare and respond to earthquakes on the island.
pic.twitter.com/8Jl0PFraYf
— Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (@RIOCny)
October 15, 2024
According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
Dear Roosevelt Island Community:
On Thursday, October 17th RIOC and the Roosevelt Island Residents
Association (RIRA) will celebrate "National Shakeout Day" by co-hosting a
special earthquake preparedness seminar at Good Shepherd Chapel from 6pm to
7pm. RIRA President Frank Farance and local Boy Scouts will be presenting on
how to prepare and respond to earthquakes on the island.
Said Mr. Farance, "Do you remember our two earthquakes earlier this year? On
Thursday October 17 at 6-7 PM, Roosevelt Island will participate in
'National Shakeout Day 2024' at Good Shepherd Chapel. You'll learn about
preparing for and responding to an earthquake, whether here in New York or
In California. We will recap the two 2024 earthquakes here, and have
opportunities to drill and practice. Although it's a low probability, we'll
also cover Tsunami Awareness, which is a kind of earthquake.
"If you have a mobility difficulties, or have a friend or family member, or
are standing next to someone with mobility difficulties, you can learn
important tips to help keep you and others safe, so please attend. All
participants will receive a certificate of participation.
"This is a family event, so bring the children after school."
We hope to see you next Thursday for this special event!
The Roosevelt Island Jupioca Juice Bar Cafe closed earlier this month.
Jupioca opened at the Riverwalk Commons in May 2019 serving delicious tasting
and healthy fruit and vegetable smoothies, bubble teas and Acai Bowls. Also,
the Thai Rolled Ice Cream was very good and fun to watch being made.
I’ve got my Mango Banana Smoothie at Roosevelt Island Jupioca. It’s very
good. pic.twitter.com/57NvfkRoBu
— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland)
May 10, 2019
Making Thai Rolled Ice Cream at Roosevelt Island Jupioca Cafe juice bar Yum.
https://t.co/GwNmKorAnY
— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland)
May 27, 2019
Among the comments today about the Jupioca closing on Roosevelt Island
Instagram page post:
So sad! I went the other day and was heartbroken when I saw the place empty.
NOOOOO I go all the time 😠I was just there like last week??
Thats devastating. Their smoothies were so good. Better than the deli's
Any idea what business will take over the spot?
Anyone knows about that toys store next to the Chinese takeout place? Is it
open ?
Their melon iced tea was the best!!! We loved their açaà bowls as well. Sad 😢
I asked a Related Companies retail representative:
I’m following up on email below regarding the closing of the Roosevelt Island Jupioca juice/smoothie bar.
Can you confirm that they are permanently closed?
Do you know if their other stores closed or is it just the Roosevelt Island store?
Today, on Indigenous Peoples' Day, we celebrate the rich cultures, histories,
and contributions of Indigenous communities. In April 2024, iDig2Learn, RIOC,
SUGi, and the Lenape Center united to plant NYC’s first Miyawaki Method Pocket
Forest on Roosevelt Island. Named "Tekenink atà m" (Let us go to the forest) by
the Lenape Center, the forest symbolizes the regenerative power of
collaboration and respect for our land.
So grateful for our partnership. And wouldn’t ya know that the first tree
planted by Curtis Zunigha #lenapecenter and Marylee Smunitee Jones @smunitee
of the Yakima Nation - an Eastern White Pine - is thriving as we celebrate six
months of the 1st #miyawakiforest in NYC thanks to @sugiproject and many, many
local partners.
Here are the remarks by Curtis Zunigha from the
Lenape Center of the
Lenape peoples and Marylee Smunitee Jones from the
Yakama Nation during the
planting of the first White Pine tree at the Roosevelt Island Healing Pocket
Forest
and their remarks prior to the plantings.
Today is also Columbus Day celebrating Italian Heritage with the annual NYC 5th Avenue Parade.
Indigenous Peoples' Day was celebrated on NYC Randall's Island too.
Three years after President Biden became the first U.S. president to formally commemorate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, more than a dozen states recognize some version of the holiday in lieu of Columbus Day. Here’s the history behind it. https://t.co/UfxUkMtNRG
The Roosevelt Island Business Alliance
(TRIBA), was formed in 2023 to represent the local business community and make a
positive impact for the entire Roosevelt Island Community (for disclosure
purposes, I am a member and helped to form TRIBA).
Welcome to the TRIBA Merit Awards! Join us for a night of celebration and
recognition on October 23, 2024 at The Sanctuary Roosevelt Island. Get ready
to honor outstanding individuals in our community who have made a significant
impact: Sonal Bhatia, Nancy Brown, and Red Apple Group/Foodtown. Dress to
impress and be prepared for an unforgettable evening filled with music, food,
and inspiring stories. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to come together and
show appreciation for those who go above and beyond.
Sonal Bhatia: A longtime resident of Roosevelt Island, Sonal Bhatia is
currently Senior Vice President, Head of Medical Affairs, Specialty Care at
Pfizer. Dr. Bhatia is passionate about finding solutions for patients on a
large scale in partnership with innovative science and new technology to
ensure access to new medicines for patients.
Dr. Bhatia is actively involved with non-profit organizations focused on
reducing healthcare disparities, access to cardiovascular health, healthy
living and being a catalyst for change in women’s health. She currently
serves on the Board of Directors for the American Heart Association (AHA)
and is on the Executive Leadership Board for AHA Go Red for Women.
Nancy Brown: Nancy Brown’s work on behalf of the disabled in New York City
is legendary. Disabled herself since the age of 7, now 83, she is a longtime
Island resident who remains active in her motorized chair with a ventilator.
She has successfully advocated for public policies that educated and
addressed the challenges faced by disabled persons.
She championed the FDR Hope Memorial, helping to raise funds for the
Southpoint Park statue of President Roosevelt sitting in his wheelchair with
another disabled young person. She has been the forever Vice President of
the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association that provides trips, other social
activities, and a food pantry that serve the disabled, the poor, and the
elderly.
Red Apple Group/ Foodtown
John Catsimatidis, Jr. President/Red Apple Group
Joe Parisi President/Foodtown
Foodtown Supermarkets, converted from a Gristedes Supermarkets store on
February 7, 2020, has been a vital part of the Roosevelt Island community
since 1976. Over the years, the store has undergone multiple renovations to
serve the community better, continually improving its offerings and
facilities.
Foodtown at Roosevelt Island provides approximately 100 jobs, playing a key
role in the local economy. Foodtown remains dedicated to providing quality
groceries and essential services, supporting the island’s residents for
nearly five decades.
All proceeds will go to Roosevelt Island non profit organizations and
TRIBA's special projects that contribute to the vitality and quality of life
on the Island.
Here's a July 2023 interview with three of the founding Directors of the The
Roosevelt Island Business Alliance, Skip Hartman of the
Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, David Kramer of the
Hudson Companies
and Frank (Turtle) Raffaele of
The Sanctuary.
Community Board 8
(CB 8) Roosevelt Island Committee
Chair Paul Krikler hosted a very informative Zoom meeting discussion on Monday
October 7 with Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Communications Department Director Bryant Daniels. Among the topics discussed
were:
Slowing down the Tram cabin speed and decreasing number of hourly trips to
reduce swinging Tram Problem,
Red Bus Service shortage,
Reports of animals being exposed to toxins and
Upcoming October 26 Hallowen Parade.
There was also a very interesting presentation by representatives of
Rise Light & Power about the redevelopment plan for transitioning their Long Island City
Ravenwood Power Plant from fossil fuels to
renewable energy transmission.
Hi Haki Compost Collective family, droppers and supporters,
We had a picture perfect day last Saturday October 5th to kick off the first
Saturday back serving the Roosevelt Island community after a ten month
hiatus.
Nearly 70 neighbors dropped off their organics to our green bins and we
collected 454 pounds of food scraps that will be processed into compost with
the return of longtime compost partners Big Reuse. In spring compost will
return to our urban soils including island landscape, tree pits, gardens and
even house plants.
We wish to thank the
Lenape Center for
giving us the name Haki and all the neighbors who stopped by to express the
joy of our return. It feels good to have a healthy option and divert
valuable material from going to landfill.
We will be at the Motorgate Plaza every Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm year
round. Please stop by to find out more. Haki Compost Collective volunteers
will be on hand to answer questions, tell you more about volunteer
opportunities and of course collect your food scraps.
Please spread the word and share these flyers and tips on what to drop-off
with your neighbors.
And Save the Date for the 10/20 Compost Carnival at Battery Park.
See you at the green bins soon,
Corinna & Christina (Haki Compost Collective volunteers)
... New York City Department of Sanitation is also launching a new composting
initiative citywide, and Roosevelt Island buildings will be included in the
program. DSNY will be delivering composting bins to each building, and
residents will be able to discard food scraps and food-soiled paper in those
bins, which will then be transported to a larger composting container in the
AVAC yard. DSNY will then collect the food scraps weekly and transport them to
a composting facility in Staten Island. Please reach out to your building
management for more information on when your building will be receiving its
collection bin. To learn more, please visit the DSNY Composting
site.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Sanitation
(DSNY) Commissioner Jessica Tisch today announced the completion of the
roll-out of automatic, guaranteed, free, simple, weekly collection of
compostable material to every New Yorker across the five boroughs. When
trucks left DSNY garages serving the Bronx, Staten Island, and Manhattan
just after 5:00 AM today, they were making good on a promise that the past
administration had made for over a decade. That promise was long derided as
impossible, but Mayor Adams committed to making it a reality in his 2023
State of the City address. This program, which began in Queens in the fall
of 2022 and expanded to Brooklyn in the fall of 2023, is now permanent and
offered citywide — something achieved with a focus on sustainability,
cleanliness, equity, and efficiency.
“It’s simple: when food scraps end up in black bags on the street, they
become rat food or methane emissions. said Mayor Adams. “Starting today,
curbside composting is free and pain-free on every block and in every
borough — something prior administrations have tried, but we got it done.
I’m grateful to Commissioner Tisch and the dedicated sanitation workers who
work day-in, day-out to make this program possible and keep our streets
clean for New Yorkers.”....
Trucks are rolling out in the Bronx (and Manhattan & Staten Island)!
Starting this week, ALL residents now have access to the nation's
largest and easiest curbside compost program. Collect your food & yard
waste, put it in a bin, and set it out on your recycling day.
pic.twitter.com/iw5sxDSDDU
DSNY
Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the new
CurbsideComposting program
during a September 25, 2024 roundtable presentation to the NYC Ethnic &
Community media.
I asked Commissioner Tisch:
... do you have any metrics on how program has worked so far in the boroughs
and will the program be working on Roosevelt Island?
Commissioner Tisch answered:
Yes. So let me start with the Roosevelt Island question and then we'll turn
to numbers.
Absolutely the program will work on Roosevelt Island and on Roosevelt Island
it will be slightly different than the way the rest of the City Works. The
compost on Roosevelt Island will be handled the exact same way that
recycling is handled on Roosevelt Island so again it will be set out on your
recycling day. It is then taken to a centralized location where we then come
and collect....
I also asked:
On Roosevelt Island I think we have three or four of the composting bins. I've
been trying to get statistics on the use of those bins on either a weekly or
monthly basis but haven't been able to do that yet. Is that possible?
and:
Are there metrics on compliance rates by Property Owners.
Commissioner Tisch answered:
... Yes we can get that information to you absolutely. You're asking for the
one specifically on Roosevelt Island, Yes we can get that to you....
... In terms of data ... last year to give you a sense, we diverted 260
million pounds of organic material...
In regard to compliance rates by property owners, Commissioner Tisch said:
... not yet and the reason why not yet is because we have not yet begun
our enforcement of organic waste separation. As I mentioned earlier that
will begin in the spring of 2025 and the idea there is as I mentioned before
we want to give all New Yorkers, all 8.3 million New Yorkers, an opportunity
to develop the muscle memory to learn how they're going to start separating
their food and yard waste before we start any meaningful enforcement and
once enforcement starts then we will have more data around compliance and or
lack of compliance....
Here's video of the full NYC Curbside Composting roundtable.
Shortly afterwards, a DSNY spokesperson reported:
You had asked about the use of Smart Composting Bins on Roosevelt Island.
From the start of 2024 through the end of September, the bin at River Road
was opened 4,199 times, the bin at West Road was opened 1,194 times, and the
bin by the tram was opened 4,208 times.
I followed up:
Do you have info on the amount by weight collected in each bin too?
The DSNY spokesperson replied:
We do not weigh the contents of each bin each time we empty it. Also, many
of our Smart Composting Bins are collected on the same trucks that pick up
compostable material from schools, so we do not have weight data specific to
the Smart Composting Bins.
I asked:
Do you keep any metrics on the smart bins other than number of openings?
If you do, what are they for the Roosevelt Island bins?
DSNY spokesperson replied:
The number of opens is our primary metric for measuring smart bin use.
More info on the
DSNY Curbside Compost Program and Haki Comost Collective Roosevelt Island Saturday Food Scrap Drop Off
collection site.
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
