Remember The Famous NYC Subway Pizza Rat That Went Viral In 2015? Now Meet The Roosevelt Island Pizza Eating Squirrel Seen Today

Do you remember the famous NYC Subway Pizza Rat that went viral in 2015?

Meet the guy behind New York's infamous pizza rat: https://t.co/uMFf7TXvt1 pic.twitter.com/ufTdi4hCmN

— VICE (@VICE) October 4, 2017

A Roosevelt Island Tipster shares this video taken today near Manhattan Park and reports:

Have you seen a Squirrel eat a pizza?

Now you have.

FDNY Rescues 2 Riders Stuck In Roosevelt Island F Train Subway Station Elevator This Morning

 A Tipster shares this photo

and reports that the FDNY rescued people stuck in the Roosevelt Island F Train subway station this morning. According to the Tipster:

People stuck at the elevator in the Train Station at 6:15 a.m. Fire workers came to open the doors. I saw at least 2 people inside the elevator car on the street level.

A FDNY spokesperson adds:

ROOSEVELT ISLAND & MAIN ST,MN

Call rec @ 0603 hrs.

Report of a stuck elevator

2 occupants stuck approx.. 20 minutes frm time call was received

Members accessed the occupants and removed them from the stuck elevate

No injuries

The MTA Elevator Status report page reports 

that both Roosevelt Island elevators are in good service.

The Roosevelt Island Business Alliance (TRIBA) 1st Annual Merit Awards Fundraising Gala October 23 Honoring Nancy Brown, Sonal Bhatia & Red Apple Group/Foodtown For Outstanding Community Achievement, Commitment And Impact - All Proceeds Will Go To Local Non Profits And TRIBA Community Projects

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).

According to 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.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

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. 

Current members of TRIBA are:

Contact Skip Hartman if you're interested in more info about TRIBA and the October 23 Merit Awards Gala.

You're Invited To Roosevelt Island: Art, Memory & Community Panel Discussion October 8 At RIVAA Gallery - Amanda Mathews, Gina Pollara & Susan Rosenthal Discuss The Beauty And Quality Of Roosevelt Island Built Environment With Chris Vail Moderating

 RIVAA Gallery invites you to a very interesting panel discussion on Tuesday October 8.

According to RIVAA Gallery:

Roosevelt Island: Art, Memory, and Community | Panel Discussion

Tuesday, October 8th @ 7 PM, RIVAA Gallery

Join us for a discussion in conjunction with the current photographic exhibition, Roosevelt Island: The Vision Revisited. RIVAA will bring together three distinguished panelists, who through their talent and remarkable efforts, have contributed to the beauty and quality of our built environment on Roosevelt Island.

- Amanda Matthews is a sculptor and creator of The Girl Puzzle, a tribute to groundbreaking investigative journalist Nellie Bly. Through her reporting, Nelly Bly changed how mental illness was treated in this country.

- Gina Pollara, Executive Director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park from 2006-2013, oversaw the construction of the memorial designed by architect Louis I. Kahn to commemorate the 32nd President of the United States.

- Susan Rosenthal, President and CEO of Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) from 2016-2020, conceived the idea of a monument to Nelly Bly.

- Chris Vail, exhibiting photographer of Roosevelt Island: The Vision Revisited will moderate.

I spoke with Mr Vail about the panel discussion during a recent interview for his current exhibit now showing at RIVAA Gallery.

Click on the beginning of the video for the full interview with Mr Vail.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by RIVAA Gallery (@rivaagallery)

Here's more info about Mr Vail's exhibition.

Residents Thank The Wengerd Family For 35 Years Of Dedicated Service Bringing The Saturday Farmers Market To Roosevelt Island

On a rainy afternoon last Saturday, September 30, a group of Roosevelt Island residents gathered under covering to thank and celebrate the Pennsylvania based Wengerd family for 35 years of bringing the Saturday Farmers Market to Roosevelt Island.

Roosevelt Island resident and Community Board 8 (CB 8) Roosevelt Island Committee Chair Paul Krikler organized the gathering and presented Israel Wengerd with a CB 8 resolution honoring the Wengerd Family Farmers Market service to the Roosevelt Island community. The resolution stating in part:

... WHEREAS; The Wengerd Farmers Market has provided an invaluable addition to life on Roosevelt Island over decades; and WHEREAS; The Wengerd Farmers Market crew always leaves the market site spotless at the end of the day;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Community Board 8 Manhattan relishes the opportunity to thank Israel Wengerd, his family, the cashiers and all the other staff for all the years of dedicated service to this community.

Mr Krikler was joined by Amanda Brown of the PS/IS 217 PTA. The PTA runs runs the Farmers Market. Ms Brown presented Mr Wengerd with a painting made by the school's students thanking him for the Farmers Market which provides funding for many of the PTA's programs. 

Here's what happened and

here's the full CB8 resolution.

See you tomorrow at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market.

Project Main Street 8th Annual Roosevelt Island Tim Sheehy Softball Classic To Support Individuals And Families Battling ALS Lou Gehrig's Disease Taking Place Sunday October 6 At Pony Field

The 8th annual Project Main Street Tim Sheehy Softball Classic fundraiser

to support individuals and families battling ALS Lou Gehrig's disease will take place Sunday October 6 at Roosevelt Island's Pony Field.

According to Project Main Street:

The 8th Annual Tim Sheehy Classic will be held at 9 am on Sunday, October 6th 2024 at Pony Field on Roosevelt Island.

Join us for a meaningful and fun day of softball as we come together to support a cause near and dear to us: raising funds for ALS patient care. The Tim Sheehy Classic is not just another fundraiser; it’s a tribute to the spirit of community, nostalgia, and hope.

This event holds a special place in our hearts as we gather not just to play, but to remember and make a difference. Whether you’re playing, fundraising, or cheering on a team, your presence and support are invaluable.

Click the link below to make a donation to your favorite player as they raise money towards their team’s fundraising goal:

Tim Sheehy Classic Leaderboard

See you on the field!

Between games at the 2021 Softball Classic, founding Project Main Street Board Member Michael Rosen welcomed everybody coming out to support Project Main Street and spoke about his Roosevelt Island friend Tim Sheehy. According to Mr Rosen:

I want to thank everybody for coming out to the Tim Sheehy Classic to benefit Project Main Street.

Project Main Street as most of you know is an ALS charity. We support people living with ALS.

We were founded by Tim Sheehy, a childhood friend of most of ours, a long time Roosevelt Island resident who cared about helping other people at a time when nobody would have felt bad if he was just thinking about himself.

But when Tim was diagnosed with ALS he was concerned with helping other people with ALS even after he was gone. He put together Project Main Street.

The connection to Roosevelt Island is obvious. Most of the founders and the people that have worked on Project Main Street are from Roosevelt Island. The name itself is dedicated to Roosevelt Island. This is a Roosevelt Island-born charity that has helped people since 2006 across the country.

Together this small volunteer organization that Tim Sheehy conceived in his mind has raised over 1.5 million dollars for people. So today we're talking about Project Main Street. We're talking about ALS.

We're also talking about Roosevelt Island because this is what makes this event so special to us. To come out here on the field that we used to play on when we were kids. To see all of our old friends together not just getting together but getting together to do something good for society is so meaningful to us and to have all the new friends that come here that are not from Roosevelt Island but have joined this family and become part of the Roosevelt Island Project Main Street family.

We thank you....

Here are some scenes from the 2021 Project Main Street Tim Sheehy Softball Classic game at Capobianco Field.

Chicago Cubs play by play announcer Jon "Boog" Sciambi grew up with Tim Sheehy on Roosevelt Island.

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A post shared by Jon Boog Sciambi (@jonboogsciambi)

Mr Sciambi talks about his friend Tim Sheehy and Project Main Street in this June 2021 interview.

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A post shared by Project Main Street (@projectmainst)

If you would like to make a donation or seek more information, please visit the Project Main Street website or Instagram page.

RIOC Will Slow Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin Speed And Decrease Hourly Trips Over East River To Reduce Heavy Cabin Swaying Incidents - A Recipe For Disaster, Reduce Tourist Traffic Instead Reply Residents

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) announced today:

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

The Roosevelt Island Tram is the preeminent transportation option for islanders traveling to and from Manhattan. We are proud to have such a unique mode of transportation serving our community and are always looking for ways to improve overall service, safety, and ride quality, particularly for our senior and disabled passengers.

Working in collaboration with our Tram operator, Leitner-POMA, we have decided to implement the following changes to the Tram schedule starting next Monday, October 7th. These changes are designed to create a smoother ride by moderately slowing the cabins, which in turn should reduce jostling and overall instances of heavy cabin swaying:

• Trams will run every 10.5 minutes during morning and evening rush hour, and every 21 minutes during non-rush hour.
• Rush hour service will be extended a half-hour later for mornings (7AM-10:30AM).
• Rush hour service will begin a half-hour earlier for afternoons/evenings (2:30PM-8PM).

By adding extra rush hour service, we hope to provide island travelers with an easier daily commute, particularly students who are returning to the island from school. These adjustments should also help preserve the Tram long-term by reducing stress on components.

We appreciate your continued support as we strive to enhance our Tram service. Your feedback is invaluable, so please feel free to reach out with any thoughts or questions about these changes to info@rioc.ny.gov.

Thank you,

RIOC Transportation

As reported last March 8:

... 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....

Apparently, six months later, the cause has still not been found.

What do Roosevelt Island residents think of the slower Tram speed ride over the East River and longer wait times for the Tram to depart in order to reduce the occasional swinging Tram cabin incidents?

Not surprisingly, residents are not happy and many think the Tram is no longer, as RIOC says, the:

... preeminent transportation option for islanders traveling to and from Manhattan....

Rather than RIOC:

... always looking for ways to improve overall service, safety, and ride quality, particularly for our senior and disabled passengers....

RIOC has instead allowed the Tram to primarily become an overcrowded sightseeing attraction for tourists.

Due to the overcrowding of the Tram with sightseeing tourists, Roosevelt Island older adults and disabled residents cannot access the Tram and many are afraid to ride it. It will be even worse now with the new schedule.

For instance, one long time resident responded to today's RIOC announcement with:

If you can’t dazzle us with brilliance & competence, baffle us with BS & no remedies for folks who are elderly, mobility- or sensory-impaired, and are actual residents who, especially in the mornings, need barrier-free, fully accessible transit from RI to Manhattan.

According to this resident:

Just saw notice that tram will now run more slowly, every 10.5 minutes for peak service (instead of 7.5) and every 21 for off-peak (instead of 15). Not sure how this is going to help with the overcrowding and long line problems. This is a recipe for disaster. Must make tram for resident and island worker commuters only. No tourists!

Another resident:

We’ve been residents riding the Tram since 1977. While we understand that wear and tear and maintenance are issues that need to be managed, the idea of having only 3 trips per hour in non rush hours instead of 4 is unrealistic given the current population and influx of visitors at all times. What might be workable is to give cabin operators discretion to run additional trips if they cannot fit everyone who is waiting. The waiting areas are already too small to handle the crowds and they become dangerous (and unhealthy) when people are jammed together for long periods. And ongoing long lines in bad weather without shelter is going to cause further problems for residents, particularly the elderly.

The NY State Department of Labor has been investigating the sudden Tram stoppage incidents.

According to a Tipster:

It’s from Department of Labor who have been consistently checking on the tram since earlier this year Unfortunately even *if* the mandated schedule change is baseless, I don’t think any amount of community protest will change the DOL’s mind they probably could not care less about any petition we do or anything else of the sort.

RIOC declined to comment if the Department of Labor mandated today's Tram changes.

More comments from Roosevelt Island residents on RIOC's announcement today to slow the speed of the Tram and increase Tram waiting time.

• I’m concerned that that this will lead to longer lines, which in my opinion is worse overall than the risk of swaying.  The longer lines will not dissuade tourists, so it’ll become even worse for residents. Furthermore, if there are any issues with the subway, the tram lines will become even worse than they already are.  Having a residents-only line would alleviate some of these issues 
• The kids start school pretty much all around the same time. I would assume there would not be many kids going to school at 10am. Decreasing the frequency will definitely increase the lines. 
• The tram was not designed for the heavy usage it’s now experiencing. Its current usage rate is asking for a disaster to happen. 
• Ultimately, RIOC needs to decide if they care about the quality of life and freedom of movement of Roosevelt island residents and if so, what they are willing to do about it 
• When RIOC said Sportspark would cost something like $300/month, they got a ton of backlash and lowered the prices substantially. Any hope of forcing a re-think on this tram change? 
• If nothing is done to assist residents and mitigate overcrowding, it’s going to be like the anti-tourist campaigns in Barcelona, Portugal, etc this summer 
• How about reducing tourist transit? 
• Resident priority boarding seems like the bare minimum but resident-only for the duration of reduced service would be sweet 
• Don’t yell at me when I suggest this, but what if we did something like they do for the ferry - charge single trips $4.00 - or more. But you could get a multiple trip pass and then it is $2.90.  Then, tourists would have to think if they wanted to bring 8 people over just to ride both ways 
• Honestly idk if that would be enough of a deterrent. Make it $15 and call it Roosevelt island congregation pricing 
• There is a whole new 430 building yet to open … 900 more residents yay 
• Yep. I have been saying all along that you cannot increase the number of residents without increasing transportation options and capacity accordingly. So there it is. 
• The only reason the Tram is are having such maintenance problems is probably coz they are overloaded. They should focus on that issue rather than changing the schedule and inconveniencing residents. This is so unacceptable to working residents and school kids. 
• I think a shuttle ferry, walking bridge, elevator to the 59th street bridge, etc. are all great ideas but the quickest and most easy to implement immediately is cutting down on tourist overcrowding and unnecessary trips. This is an island where people live and work, not just an amusement park. We’re not Randall’s island or governor’s island and right now it feels like that’s the priority and we’re an afterthought

RIOC had previously installed swing dampeners on the top of each Tram cabin 

as well as new fiber cable to improve wifi communications between the cabin and station but neither has eliminated the incidents of back and forth rocking.

Maybe we should bring back the Roosevelt Island Slingshot

 

which was tested at the Socrates Sculpture Park way back in 2008.

UPDATE 10/3 - Roosevelt Island Manhattan Tram station jam packed again this evening. 

A resident trying to come home tonight reports: 

Two residents on wheelchairs couldn’t get on because of all the tourists

Since these tourists think this is a ride or the running of the bulls and have no respect, at least PSD could tell them to let wheelchairs, seniors and people with young kids and strollers board first

I had to stop some tourists to let a wheelchair and a family with a stroller and kids board

They were complaining at me, but at that point I just didn’t care

Took me 30 minutes to board the tram since I stood on line

I was telling people inside “show some respect, this is not a tourist ride”. They kept complaining in German, but I just don’t care anymore.

Another tourist asked to go in front of us to take pics for the view. We didn’t move. It was a mom with a stroller they were asking

Tourists saying this is horrible. I hope they don’t take the tram anymore, it is crammed, they don’t get any views.

RIOC could not care less about residents even if they tried.

Chabad Of Roosevelt Island Invite You To Celebrate High Holidays Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur Services With Meaning And Melody Beginning October 2 - Shana Tovah, Have A Happy And Sweet New Year 5785

The Chabad Of Roosevelt Island invite you to Rosh Hashanah services Wednesday October 2 - Thursday October 5 and Yom Kippur services Friday October 11- Saturday October 12 at the Roosevelt Island Cultural Center Large Studio (548 Main Street).

Celebrate High Holidays 5785

Inspiring High Holiday Services with Meaning and Melody!

No Affiliation Necessary

Traditional and Inspirational Services

Warm and Friendly Atmosphere

Special Children's Program

For more info and to RSVP for Rosh Hashanah Dinner

E-mail: nechama@RIJewish.org

www.RIJewish.org

There is no charge for seats: Your donation is greatly appreciated. 

Advance registration is greatly appreciated.

Click here for more info on the Chabad Of Roosevelt Island High Holiday services.

Enjoy the new Rosh Hashanah song from NYC a capella vocal band 613.

Shana Tova, have a happy and sweet New Year - 5785.

Sponsored Post - Check Out The Roosevelt Island Café At Cornell Tech September 30 Weekly Menu For Breakfast, Lunch, Salad Bar, Coffee, Smoothies, Ice Cream, Wifi For Your Laptop & Much More - How Are We Doing? Send Your Feedback By Email Too

Check out the September 30 weekly menu at the Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Café.

We want to hear from you. 

Feel free to email us with any questions or concerns. Thank you for taking the time to let us know how we are doing. Any feedback can be emailed to thecafefbservices@tech.cornell.edu 

The Cornell Tech Café is a great spot on Roosevelt Island for breakfast, Daily Hot Lunch Meals, Specialty & Grab and Go Sandwiches, 

Make Your Own Salads, Flatbread and Neapolitan Pizza, Salads, Soup, Coffee, Smoothies, beer, wine, ice cream, Sushi Thursday and more.

Bring your laptop if you wish. 

The Cafe has very good wi-fi connection and very relaxing outdoor patio seating.

The Cafe is open Monday thru Friday 8am to 7 pm. Saturday and Sundays 11am to 5pm. 

More info at the Cornell Tech Café website and Instagram Page. 

See you soon at the Cornell Tech Café

Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation Invites Neighbors To Celebrate Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur High Holiday Services Beginning Tomorrow Night - Welcome The New Year 5785, L'Shana Tovah

According to the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation (RIJC):

ROOSEVELT ISLAND JEWISH CONGREGATION

Nina Lublin, President

Marna Sapsowitz, Guest Rabbi

L’SHANAH TOVAH !!

As we begin the New Year, 5785, the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation wishes you a healthy, happy and peaceful New Year.

We are the oldest, longest-serving community congregation on the island, with over 40 years of service to more than one generation of Islanders.

We are excited to welcome our Guest Rabbi, Marna Sapsowitz, from Olympia, WA, a very long-time friend of RIJC members Angela Santamaria & Howard Schwartz. Rabbi Sapsowitz will be joined by returning Cantor, Sandra Goodman. Long-time RIJC members Amber Levanon Seligson & Michal Melamed have been instrumental in assisting Rabbi S with the Order of Services, recruiting Torah readers and other key service participants and more.

All Services will be conducted in the Small Studio/RIJC Sanctuary or in the Howe Theatre, both located in the RI Cultural Center, 548 Main Street. Additional details, Special video & print directions & more information can be found at RIJC.org as well as our RIJC Zoom link.

OUR SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2nd

6:00 pm — First Night Services / Rosh Hashanah

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3rd

9:30 am — First Day Services / Rosh Hashanah

11:00 am — Children’s Service

2:00 pm (approx) — Tashlich at the Meditation Steps

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4th

9:30 am — Second Day Services / Rosh Hashanah

COMING SOON —

RIJC’s updated schedule for Yom Kippur, Friday October 11th & Saturday October 12.