No Manhattan Bound F Train Service From Roosevelt Island This Weekend - Or Next Weekend

F Train Arriving At Roosevelt Island Subway Station

Received the following advisory from the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

The MTA has advised there will be:

No Manhattan Bound F-Trains

11:30pm Friday to 5:00am Monday

October 12th-15th & October 19th-22nd

Tram and Red Bus Service will run until 5:00 AM during these service disruptions.

For more information please visit www.mta.info or call 511

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

No F Train To Manhattan From Roosevelt Island This Weekend Flyer

More subway service disruption information available from the MTA's Weekender.

Roosevelt Island Activities For Babies, Toddlers, Young Children And Their Parents At Island Kids

Logo From Island Kids

Are you a Roosevelt Island Parent looking for activities for your young children? If so, consider our local Island Kids. The Fall Semester has started but these programs are still available for you and your children. From Island Kids:

TUMBLING FOR TODDLERS: 18 months-3 years
For children ages 18 months-4 years to assist the development of coordination, agility and strength through the use of various games and activity play. Activities include somersaults, balance beam and throwing and catching skills.

RYAN’S ISLAND MUSIC JAM: Mixed Ages
Come sing and jam along with Ryan! All of your child's favorite songs with a splash of rock and roll. Focusing on basic rhythm, melodic development, and early phonetic and motor skills. Instruments, puppets, sing alongs, dance alongs, and a good time for everybody at Ryan's Island Jam!

BABY GROUP: newborn through 14 months
Developed for mothers and babies newborn-14 months. Share ideas and information in a safe environment where mothers and/or fathers have a support system and where babies can interact with their peers and have supervised play time with Mom!

LET'S LOOK AT OUR FAVORITE BOOK : 18 mo-3 years
Young artists will read a different children’s book each session and then complete a related art activity. Books and activities include Leonardo the Terrible Monster collages, A Big Bug Surprise insect sculptures, Alexander and the No Good, Very Bad Day printmaking and much more.

ART SAFARI : 3-5 years
Young artists will explore the wild kingdom through animal-inspired art activities. Possible projects include paper mache dinosaur eggs, caterpillar accordion books, shoe rubbing fish creation and much more.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON LINE AT WWW.ISLANDKIDS.ORG

PAYMENT AVAILABLE THROUGH PAYPAL

Please e-mail islandkidsri@gmail.com with any questions

Island Kids is located at 536 Main Street in the courtyard behind 510 and 540 Main Street under the ramp

More on Island Kids from previous post.

Former President Bill Clinton Coming To Roosevelt Island For Dedication Of Kahn/FDR Four Freedoms Park Memorial On Wednesday October 17 At Southpoint Park

You Tube Video of Bill Clinton On The Real Mitt Romney (10/9)

Former President Bill Clinton will be among the guests visiting Roosevelt Island for the October 17 dedication of the Kahn/FDR Memorial.

Would you like to join Mr. Clinton at the Dedication Ceremony. If so, click here for a chance to win seats for yourself and a friend to the dedication Ceremony.

Image From FDR Four Freedoms Park

As previously reported, the dedication ceremony may be delayed due to a lawsuit brought by one of the Kahn/FDR Memorial donors (Reed Rubin) over the placement of an inscription engraving.

If you are attending the dedication or visiting Southpoint Park in the near future take a few moment to learn about the FDR Hope Memorial

which will be located a few feet to the north of the Kahn/FDR Memorial

and depicts President Roosevelt in a wheelchair greeting a young girl wearing crutches.

Image of FDR Hope Memorial Rehearsal Mock Up At Southpoint Park

More information on the FDR Hope Memorial available at their web site and previous posts.

UPDATE 10/15 - Another Kahn/FDR Memorial donor is suing the project sponsors over the failure to engrave an inscription as contractually agreed and wants the October 17 dedication ceremony delayed unless the donor is properly recognized. According the the NY Daily News:

... a philanthropist who donated nearly $11 million to a park honoring President Franklin D. Roosevelt says he’s getting a raw deal.

Alphawood Foundation chairman Fred Eychaner charges developers at the FDR Four Freedoms Park reneged on their promise of a prominent public display acknowledging his generosity....

Click here for the entire NY Daily News article.

Click here (and follow instructions) for the court filings in this case - Alphawood Foundation v Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park LLC, 9 Index (653564-2012)

UPDATE 10/16 3:45 PM -  A spokesperson for Alphawood Foundation Chicago said:

We are pleased to have resolved this matter and look forward to the dedication of this wonderful monument to a great President.

More to come.

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Blotter For August 2012

Below is the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) August 2012 Monthly Public Safety Blotter. Incidents include:

•  8/24/2012 688 Main St Three dogs were observed inside vehicle with windows down and unattended.  No information available on parked vehicle.  Upon Officer's return vehicle left the scene.
• 8/12/2012 910 Main St Large group observed at location for a gathering.  Party advised the area was closing and group dispersed in an order fashion.  All in order
• 8/15/2012 F/O 591 Main St Male was distributing unauthorized flyers at location.  Male left the area without incident.
• 8/19/2012 R/O 576 Main St Report of possible gun shots fired at location.  NYPD on scene and searched the area with negative results.  
• 8/17/2012 465 Main St Van observed park at location for a two day period of time unlawfully. 
  Summonses were issued.  Upon further investigation vehicle was listed as being stolen.  Update - 8/18/12 - Owner arrived on scene and recovered vehicle.
• 8/16/2012 686 Main St ARREST  Three male subjects observed inside of old tram cabin at location.  Summonses were issued and subjects were released.
• 8/19/2012 Opp 750 Main St ARREST  Male subject observed exposing himself.  Subject was placed into custody and transported to PSD Office.  While in custody subject consumed 10 bags of marijuana.  EMS on scene and transported subject to hospital.  Subject was released and transported to 114 Precinct for arrest processing.
• GRAND LARCENY 8/30/2012 686 Main St NYPD on scene for report of money stolen from safe. 
• 8/23/2012 625 Main St Several male subjects observed beating male victim leaving him bleeding and incoherent.  NYPD and EMS notified and on scene. 

Click here for full report from RIOC.

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Statistics for 2012 through August are here.

Raul Ibanez - The Yankeeeeeees Winnnnn!!!!!!!

Sunday Jazz Salon At Gallery RIVAA - Art & The Impressionists Perform Sonny Rollins Oleo

Gallery RIVAA holds a Sunday Jazz Salon the first Sunday of every month. Here's a small sample from last Sunday of Art and the Impressionist's version of Sonny Rollins Oleo.



The next Gallery RIVAA First Sunday Jazz Salon is on November 4.

Brazilian Street Artist Bel Borba Creates Face Of Roosevelt Island With Duct Tape And Dances With Debra Winger At Blackwell Park

Did you notice this face staring back at you as you were riding the Roosevelt Island Tram near the Roosevelt Island station recently

Image From Vimeo Video

and wonder what it was?

As reported several weeks ago, the Pied Piper of Brazilian Street Artists, Bel Borba, visited Roosevelt Island and went to work creating Tram Man

Image From BuboBlog

Roosevelt Island Face and other examples of street art.

Here's how he did it



and Debra Winger helps out Bel Borba with a dance at Roosevelt Island's Blackwell Park.



One Roosevelt Island resident asks a question regarding clean up of temporary art installations:

What is the polite time factor a temporary art installation should remain in position and who is responsible for cleaning it up??

Recent artistic installations have appeared on Roosevelt Island constructed mostly of black and white tapes. One installation near the tram and West Rd, weathering for the last two week will become a hazard to travelers on handicapped chairs, bicycles and vehicles if caught in their wheels. Another installation surrounds west side mooring cleats once proud docking equipment for vessels,

now wrapped in sticky tapes, withering in the rain.

Roosevelt Island's traditional method of handling other temporary artistic events around the island; as Good Shepherd events, Dance and Theater performances, and South Park Movies for example, are early morning setups, dusk cleanups.

RIVAA who invited the tape bandit maybe can answer this conundrum?

More on Bel Borba here.

Volunteer Event Planner Needed For Roosevelt Island Historical Society

Image From RIHS Of Jane's Tour Gathering At Visitors Center Kiosk

Received this message from the Roosevelt Island Historical Society:

Experienced volunteer event planner to plan small community fundraising events for RI Historical Society.

Please reply with 1 page resume to rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.

Search For New Roosevelt Island Operating Corp President To Begin, RIOC Governance Committee Meeting Tomorrow To Discuss Procedures For Executive Job Search - Battery Park City Looking For New President Too

Image From The Northerner

As reported last week:

... the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors selected current General Counsel Donald Lewis to be the Interim Acting RIOC President succeeding Leslie Torres who resigned for still unknown reasons....

and:

RIOC Board announced that the Governance Committee will meet next week to develop procedures to conduct an executive search for a new President.

According to RIOC, the Governance Committee will meet tomorrow to discuss conducting an executive search for a new President:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Governance Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. at the RIOC administrative office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

AGENDA

1. Discussion of RFP for Executive Search Firm;
2. Any Other Committee Business That May be Brought Before the Committee.

The RIOC Board has the independent statutory authority to hire and fire the RIOC President. In the past, the NY State Governor made it known to the RIOC Board who should be appointed as RIOC President and the RIOC Board acquiesced. With the decision to use an executive search firm to seek out job candidates for the current position, it appears as though the RIOC Board is seeking to exercise its proper authority over the Corporation. We shall see how this plays out going forward. (An audio web cast of the meeting will be available within a few days.)

At the same time that RIOC is seeking a new President, so is the Battery Park City Authority, which is a NY State Public Benefit Corporation similar to RIOC and whose President also recently resigned. The Broadsheet Daily reports on the search for a new Battery Park City Authority President:

For the first time in almost 20 years, the presidency of the Battery Park City Authority is vacant, without a clear successor waiting to take the helm at the agency that manages neighborhood. This may represent both a challenge and an opportunity: The Authority's new chairman, Dennis Mehiel, will have to function as a de facto CEO until the new president is appointed. But the community also may be able, for the first time, to influence the selection process that will determine who exercises day-to-day management over the neighborhood in years to come....

and asks Battery Park City residents to describe the ideal candidate for the position. Among the responses from community leaders are:

... I think the Battery Park City Authority president should be someone familiar with the downtown community, ideally a resident or a former resident. Such a person would understand what a terrific neighborhood this is, but would also understand the challenges that face us...

and:

... the new CEO should obviously have proven experience in running an organization, and a background in real estate would be helpful. But this person should not be a caretaker or just manage a finance group that collects rent. The right candidate must have the vision, skills and leadership to run a 'green,' sustainable living neighborhood that is made up of homes, small businesses and large corporations....

and:

... somebody with a strong operations background -- this is absolutely necessary -- but also strong administrative and financial experience. The bottom line is that we need somebody who is open and transparent and committed to community, because the Authority works closely with the community on whole panoply of issues....

The Broadsheet Daily also reports that there have been only 3 Presidents of the Battery Park City Authority since the mid 1990's. RIOC has now had 3 Presidents since 2010.

Click here for the entire Broadsheet Daily article.

Any thoughts on the ideal candidate for RIOC President?

UPDATE 10/12 - RIOC Governance Committee decided to issue a RFP seeking an Executive Search firm to find candidates for a new President. Here's a web cast of the meeting.

Second Avenue 57th Street Whole Foods Becoming Local Neighborhood Supermarket For Roosevelt Island, They Deliver Here Too - Gristedes To Start Renovation Soon, Will Move Gloomy Entrance To Brighter Main Street

You Tube Video Of Whole Foods 57th Street Store Opening

The Whole Foods at Second Avenue and 57th Street, just a couple of minutes from the Roosevelt Island Tram Station, has been open since August 23. Have you been there yet? Every time I go there, I see several Roosevelt Islanders and we marvel at how great the store is with wonderful products, reasonable prices and so very clean.

Whole Foods also delivers to Roosevelt Island

Image of Whole Foods Delivery Van On Roosevelt Island

tweeting:

@rooseveltisland we do deliver to Roosevelt Island from our E57th Street location. It is a $10.95 charge with a 6-hour window. Thanks!
— Whole Foods NYC (@wholefoodsnyc) September 7, 2012

What about our local Roosevelt Island Gristedes Supermarket?

A representative of Main Street Master Leaseholder Hudson Related informed me recently that Gristedes will soon be undergoing their promised and long awaited complete store renovation. Included in the renovation will be moving the gloomy and depressing store entrance from beneath the Motorgate Ramp

to the light and brightness of Main Street next to the Post Office.

Interestingly, the suggestion to move the Gristedes entrance came from Roosevelt Island resident Deborah Beck during March 12 Town Hall Meeting with Gristedes owner John Catsimatidis:

... I thought a great idea was suggested by resident Deborah Beck who recommended that the new store design include moving the store entrance from the dark tunnel like side entrance to better lit Main Street directly across from Manhattan Park....

More on the Gristedes Town Hall Meeting from previous post.

Roosevelt Island Jobs Available - PS/IS 217 Beacon Program Director and Zog Floor Hockey Referee

Image From How I Save Money

Craigslist shows 2 new Roosevelt Island job listings available. A September 28 listing for a PS/IS 217 Beacon Program Director:

... to lead after-school in great community, have ability to maintain paperwork needed to comply with contract and have ability to access needs, design and then implement programs addressing those needs. Must have work ethic and a love for the delivery of services. 

Click here for more information.

Also, an October 1 job listing for a Floor Hockey Referee with Zog Sports:

... ZogSports, a charity-focused, social sports league for young professionals in NYC, is looking for part-time referees for our Co-ed Floor Hockey League. Review our website at www.zogsports.com for more information on our company.

Floor Hockey referees will work Sunday nights starting at 5:30pm and ending at 10:30pm on Roosevelt Island....

 Click here for more information

Good Luck.

Roosevelt Island Kahn FDR Memorial October 17 Dedication May Be Delayed By Donor Reed Rubin Lawsuit Over Engraving Spot

Aerial Image From Curbed

The NY Daily News is reporting that the October 17 dedication of the FDR Four Freedom Park (also known as the Kahn Memorial Boondoggle) located at the southern tip of Roosevelt Island may be delayed due to a dispute with a donor. According to the NY Daily News:

The upcoming dedication of a new park monument to Franklin Delano Roosevelt has hit a snag — thanks to a last-minute decision by organizers not to engrave the name of one donor in a prominent spot.

Businessman Reed Rubin has gone to Manhattan Supreme Court asking the court to order FDR Four Freedoms Park sponsors to install the engraving immediately, or delay the Oct. 17 dedication ceremony....

and:

... The sponsors were bowing to heavy pressure from relatives of the park's designer, the late architect Louis Kahn, who feel the engraving will mar the beauty of the site.

"All of the major donors could argue contractual obligations regarding naming; only the Rubins have chosen to enforce their contract, which everyone acknowledges will defile Kahn's great work," vanden Heuvel wrote in an email, which is included in court papers....

Click here for the entire NY Daily News article.

Last June, I took a tour of the site while it was still under construction. Here's what it looked like then.





and this video from Architectural Record shows the so-called FDR Four Freedoms Park is really intended to be a memorial to the architect Louis Kahn rather than President Franklin D Roosevelt.

Captain James T Kirk, The Joker and George Costanza sum up the frustration of many at what has been built at the southern tip of Roosevelt Island.

You Tube Video of Ode To Khan

Meanwhile, the FDR Hope Memorial sculpture, also to be located at Southpoint Park (just north of the Kahn Boondoggle), depicting President Roosevelt sitting in a wheelchair greeting a young girl in crutches is moving forward.

UPDATE 3:45 PM - Click here (and follow instructions) for the court filings in this case - Reed Foundation Inc v Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park LLC, (Index # 653482-2012)

UPDATE 5:40 PM - FDR Four Freedoms Park Conservancy Press Spokesperson adds:

We are disappointed that litigation was filed. Discussions with the Reed Foundation are continuing, and we are confident a resolution will be reached.

UPDATE 10/13 - Another Kahn/FDR Memorial donor is suing the project sponsors over the failure to engrave an inscription as contractually agreed and wants the October 17 dedication ceremony delayed unless the donor is properly recognized. According the the NY Daily News:

... a philanthropist who donated nearly $11 million to a park honoring President Franklin D. Roosevelt says he’s getting a raw deal.

Alphawood Foundation chairman Fred Eychaner charges developers at the FDR Four Freedoms Park reneged on their promise of a prominent public display acknowledging his generosity....

Click here for the entire NY Daily News article.

Click here (and follow instructions) for the court filings in this case - Alphawood Foundation v Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park LLC, 9 Index (653564-2012)

UPDATE 10/16 3:45 PM -  A spokesperson for Alphawood Foundation Chicago said:

We are pleased to have resolved this matter and look forward to the dedication of this wonderful monument to a great President.

More to come.

Roosevelt Island Business Networking Group Meeting Tuesday Morning 7:30 AM Riverwalk Bar & Grill - Local Entrepreneurs Meet, Share Stories and Potential Opportunities

You Tube Video of May 8 RIBN Meeting Intro

The Roosevelt Island Business Networking Group (RIBN) returns from its summer hiatus holding their next meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, October 9 7:30 AM. at the Riverwalk Bar & Grill (425 Main Street). According to RIBN:

The Roosevelt Island Business Networking Group continues to grow The next bi- monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 9, at 7:30 am will be held at the Riverwalk Bar & Grill.

Please contact Dottie Jeffries at djeffries2@nyc.rr.com to be one of three members to give a presentation. Members are welcome to bring Island friends and neighbors who are also small business owners and solo practitioners and expand the networking group.

Members are encouraged to meet one-on-one with others in the group and consider what they have to offer and what they might need from a colleague. The Roosevelt Island Business Networking Group on LinkedIn has about 50 members.

More information on the Roosevelt Island Business Networking Group at Linked In and previous presentations from RIBN members at this posts.

Scenes From Yesterday's Roosevelt Island Fall For Arts Festival, Nice Day For Families and Kids Of All Ages - Who Knew? We Did

Nice day yesterday at Roosevelt Island Fall For Arts Festival held at Southpoint Park. Take a walk with me.



Here are some more scenes,

Art being made.

Food from Julie"s Unique Cuisine

and Dippin Dots Ice Cream.

A Pumpkin Patch,

Scarecrow,

Balloon making clown

a Horn Playing Giant,

crafts from Gallery RIVAA

music,



and New York City Council candidate for the 5th District (which includes Roosevelt Island) Benjamin Kallos (on right) speaking with constituents including Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Jim Bates (on left).

There was also a very low flying helicopter skimming the top of trees just over Goldwater Hospital and circling the East River for much of the afternoon.

 A visitor to Roosevelt Island Fall For Arts yesterday tweeted:

South point Park, Roosevelt Island. Who knew? twitter.com/rafat/status/2…
— Rafat Ali (@rafat) October 6, 2012

I replied:

@rafat we knew
— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) October 7, 2012

Nice job Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)

First Sunday Jazz Salon At Roosevelt Island's Gallery RIVAA Tonight 5-7 PM - Come Dance, Listen To Music, Admire The Art, Hang Out With Old and New Friends

Image From Gallery RIVAA

Gallery RIVAA will be hosting its monthly First Sunday Jazz Salon later today from 5-7 PM.

 Image Of Gallery RIVAA Sunday Jazz Salon

Stop on by, dance, enjoy the music and art as well as new and old friends.
 
Here's a sample of the performances from previous Gallery RIVAA Sunday Jazz Salons