Best Wishes For A Happy And Health New Year From Roosevelt Island - Goodbye 2010, Welcome 2011

Best Wishes to all for a Happy And Healthy New Year in 2011.

You Tube Video of Bottle Band Auld Lang Syne Performance

There's no better way to party out the past year then with a traditional last song from Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes together with Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band .

We're havin' a party
Everybody's swinging
Dancing to the music
On the radio
So listen, Mr. DJ
Keep those records playing
'Cause I'm having such a good time
Dancing with my baby

You Tube Video of Southside Johnny and Bruce Springsteen Having a Party in 1978 - Lyrics are by Sam Cooke.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

If you would like some help with any New Year's Resolutions, try out The New Year's Resolution Generator.

Roosevelt Island Youth Program Open For Kids During Blizzard - Neither Snow, Nor Rain Etc. Keeps the RIYP From Serving Roosevelt Island Youth

 Image Of Roosevelt Island Blizzard From Olya Turcihin

Despite the blizzard earlier this week, the Roosevelt Island Youth Program was up and running serving the kids of Roosevelt Island. From the Roosevelt Island Youth Program:

Snow Can’t Stop Youth Program

On Sunday night December 26th, 2010 New York City was hit with a major blizzard keeping many businesses closed on a major shopping day, trains stalled, airports closed, even our postal system ground to a halt. While the City tried to dig us out and uncertainty was all around us, one thing remained consistent, the Roosevelt Island Youth Program was open for business at our New York City funded Beacon Program at PS/IS 217. We served breakfast at 8AM with lunch and a mid-day snack to over 60 youth until 6PM that day. With the United States Postal Service failing to deliver on their long standing motto we think after 30 years of not closing due to weather, blackouts or any other major event we can proudly state that the Roosevelt Island Youth Program guaranteed that “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds".

 Image Of Roosevelt Island Youth Program Serving Kids During Blizzard From RIYP

Are You Freezing In Your Roosevelt Island Manhattan Park Apartment? Here's How To Make Sure Your Heaters Work Properly

 Image of Manhattan Park In Winter

With the onset of winter and cold weather comes the perennial issue of keeping your Roosevelt Island apartment warm. A new resident of Manhattan Park is freezing in his apartment and asks the Manhattan Park Google Group (you must be a resident to join thought there are groups for other buildings as well) this:

Hey all,

I've got what I'm told are the older heaters at my place. This is my first winter at the 40 building. I can generally feel warm air blowing, but I can literally leave them running over night at the "warm" setting and the place is still frigid.

Shouldn't it be legal to have actual temperature settings on these things?

A Manhattan Park Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Delegate replies:

It is my understanding that all of the heaters are old heaters. BUT - if your heater isn't working, just call the doorman and tell them that you need to have a work order to have your heater calibrated. We need a maintenance guy to do this every year for some reason, but then the heater works fine. The nob should click when you turn it, otherwise, I've found that it isn't working right.

Hope this helps.

Another Manhattan Park resident advised that the heating/air conditioning repairman is very good and fixes everything. Give it a try and I hope you stay warm.

Day After 2010 Christmas Blizzard Clean Up Goes Very Well For Roosevelt Island - Not So Good For New York City Outer Borough Side Streets

Image of Plowed Roosevelt Island Main Street From Olya Turcihin

Looks like the outer boroughs of New York City have had a much more difficult time cleaning up from the Day After 2010 Christmas Blizzard than has Roosevelt Island.

Image Of Plowed Roosevelt Island Main Street From Olya Turcihin

According to Jane, a reader of post on how Roosevelt Island handled the Blizzard:

I've been to Manhattan and Queens in the aftermath of this storm. In a city where apparently large stretches of Queens Blvd are characterized as a "side street" (a.k.a. in desperate need of a plow on Tuesday AM) and the snowbanks at main crosswalks in Manhattan are 2-3 ft high, I'm very grateful to have started my trek at RI. Really impressed with how safe and clear the streets and sidewalks have been. I know it took a lot of people working really hard in tough conditions to make that happen. Thank you all!

Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy also commented:

After trekking to the subway in Manhattan, I was glad to be in the

land of civilized snow removal. At 11a.m. Monday, the MTA had cleaned all the snow from around the RI Subway station. That was a first and most appreciated. This afternoon everything was passable and it was great to be home where snow is still fun. Hope the kids have fun making snowmen in the parks!

Thanks to all our bousing staffs,

RIOC an everyone who does the real work!!

More Roosevelt Island images of the blizzard from Ms Turcihin below.

UPDATE 11:55 PM - Take a look at these reports showing how neighborhoods such as Ditmas Park and Sheepshead Bay are still waiting for the blizzard clean up of snow to reach them as well as this video of the blizzard's aftermath in Ditmas Park:

You Tube Video from Brenda From Flatbush

Red Tail Hawk Returns To Roosevelt Island Looking For Breakfast- New York City Blizzard No Roadblock

 Image From Judy Berdy

Eagle eyed Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy reports:

Our island hawk returned to my neighbors terrace at Rivercross this morning about 8:30 a.m. He stayed (or she) for about 20 minutes.

He did not cooperate by moving to better light and showing off his tail. He seemed to be happy perched on the 17th floor terrace facing east.

He left to fly off for a good breakfast of Squirrel.

Image From Judy Berdy

Previous Roosevelt Island Hawk posts here and more pictures from recent spotting by Ms. Berdy here.

UPDATE 12/29 - The Hawk returned later yesterday afternoon. Must have found a good breakfast on Roosevelt Island.

 Image from Bobbie Slonevsky

New Roosevelt Island Red Bus Route To Start In Middle Of January, Red Bus Predictable Schedule Experiment During Non-Rush Hours To Be Tried Soon & Ambient Overhead Heating For Tram Stations

The current Red Bus stop at the Roosevelt Island Tram Station on the north side of the East/West Road will soon be moved to the South Side of the Street and a new Red Bus Route established.

During a meeting with members of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Island Services Committee last Wednesday, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Vice President Fernando Martinez confirmed that RIOC will implement the new Red Bus Route and Red Bus Tram Station Stop previously previously proposed by RIOC and reported in this earlier post. The new route is described below.

...Here's the Roosevelt Island Tram Station Plaza East/West Cross Street from above.

The proposed plan is that the Red Bus, instead of turning right as it currently does to drop off riders on the north side of the East/West Road (pictured at top), will go around the turnaround heading left

and drop off/pick up riders on the Tram Station Side of the street

in the spot where the Tram workers now park their cars near the construction trailers.

The Red Bus will then make a right on East Channel Road (facing Queens) heading towards Sportspark,

make another right at the South Side of Sportspark to the West Channel Road (facing Manhattan) and head north to resume it's route on Main Street towards the subway station. Before it gets to the Subway Station, the Red Bus will also stop next to the Visitors Center Kiosk.

This new route and bus stop will be implemented sometime during the middle of January 2011. Below is the new Red Bus Route. Click on the image to enlarge.

Mr. Martinez also agreed to a non-rush hour Red Bus route schedule experiment suggested by RIRA Planning Committee Chairperson Frank Farance. Starting at the Octagon, the Red Bus will operate under a fixed schedule, leaving every 20 minutes beginning on the hour and arrive at the Tram Station approximately 20 minutes later. For example, a Red Bus will leave the Octagon at 11 AM, 11:20 and 11:40 AM and arrive at the Tram Station on or before 11:20 AM, 11:40 AM and 12 PM respectively. The goal of this schedule is to have a predictable and consistent bus schedule during non-rush hour operations. This new experimental Red Bus schedule will be implemented within the next week or two and continue for about 3 or 4 weeks for evaluation. The Rush hour Red Bus Schedule will remain the same, operating under a continuous loop up and down the Island.

As to the discomfort experienced by some Tram riders due to standing outside at the stations in the cold weather, Mr. Martinez acknowledged that the tent

at the Roosevelt Island Tram Station was inadequate and that an overhead ambient heating system will be installed soon at both Tram Stations on a temporary basis this winter.

How Is Roosevelt Island Handling The 2010 Day After Christmas New York City Blizzard- Looks Like A Winter Wonderland - Tram Information Unavailable From RIOC Hot Line But Red Bus Operating

You Tube Video Of Mayor Bloomberg Discussing 12/26/10 Blizzard

How is Roosevelt Island handling the Day After 2010 Christmas blizzard? I have heard reports of thunder and lighting accompanying the Roosevelt Island snowstorm but am out of town right now so don't know how everyone is coping back home.

Roosevelt Island resident Jason Eng took this picture of the Riverwalk Lawn facing the East River and NYC skyline.

Image From Jason Eng

Sure makes Roosevelt Island look like a winter wonderland.

At 10 PM I called RIOC's Roosevelt Island Tram Hotline phone number (212-832-4555) to find out if it was operating during the blizzard. I received a pre-recorded message advising that today, November 30, the Tram will have it's grand opening celebration. Not very helpful to have out of date information on the Tram Hotline phone number.

However, I received better service from RIOC's Red Bus Hotline phone number (212-832-4558). A live person answered the phone after only a couple of rings and advised that the Red Bus was operating but on a much slower schedule due to the weather.

UPDATE 12/27 10:35 AM - Just received the following advisory from RIOC:

Due to the snow storm, the RIOC Main office will be closed today.  The RIOC Facilities and Grounds crews are working to clear the street and sidewalks.  The Tram will operate today on a 15 minute schedule.  The RIOC Red Bus will operate with limited service.

For information on the F train or Q102, please refer to the MTA website:  http://mta.info/

UPDATE 9 PM - Roosevelt Island Public Safety Director Keith Guerra adds:

What a crazy day. Well, as you could see from the Advisories, the RIOC Staff has been hard at work, clearing streets and sidewalks. Tram service has been ongoing. Our PSD Officers and Supervisors (including the Captain) have been working double shifts to cover for those who live further out and could not make it in. In addition to covering their normal posts, they are also covering the Tram and the Ramp. Hopefully, the storm is behind us for good, and with some warmer weather, we can get back to some normalcy.

The only advice I can give is if people don't have to go out, they should remain in the comforts of their homes. If they need to venture out, please be careful.

Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy sends in these sights from the Day After Christmas 2010 Blizzard on Roosevelt Island.

Here's the 2010 Day After Christmas Blizzard represented in time lapse photography - 20 hours in 40 seconds.


December 2010 Blizzard Timelapse from Michael Black on Vimeo.

Roosevelt Island Christmas Carols Performed At The Good Shepherd Church - They're Pretty Good!

You Tube Video Of Roosevelt Island Christmas Carol from lulumero

More Roosevelt Island Christmas Carols from the Good Shepherd Church here and here.