Report From Acting RIOC President Don Lewis - Roosevelt Island Spring Activities, Main Street Retail Signage, Heightened Tram Security And Visit From The French

 Image Of Acting RIOC President Don Lewis From RIOC

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Acting President Don Lewis sends the following report to Roosevelt Island residents.

Spring Is Here

Any doubt that Spring has arrived on Roosevelt Island was erased last Saturday, when thousands of Island residents and visitors gathered for the Roosevelt Island Residents Association’s 3rd Annual Cherry Blossom Festival. This year’s event was an overwhelming success and attracted the largest crowds yet, spurred by nice weather and increased awareness that this tremendous celebration is not to be missed. Attendees of the festival sampled traditional Japanese food and drink, basked in the beauty of the Island’s cherry blossom trees, listened to world-class Japanese music performances, and generously made charitable contributions.

For more Spring fun on the Island, you’re encouraged to participate in iDig2Learn’s “Love Your Block, Love Your Earth” event on Saturday, April 20, beginning at 10:00 am and continuing throughout the afternoon. To learn more about this Earth Day celebration, which will include flower planting at the plaza in front of Gristedes and Motorgate, please contact iDig2Learn@gmail.com.

New Main Street Signage

Hudson Related Realty LLC (HRR) has commenced its retail makeover of the arcade, storefronts and signage on Main Street. Based on its mock-up at 568 Main Street, the company is introducing renovations throughout Main Street with modifications at the three other WIRE buildings. The project will include putting a new wood slat ceiling in the arcade areas, new lighting, new signage, refinishing the columns, and refinished storefronts. Retailers will have new custom made signage with their own logos and graphics, as you may have already noticed with the Subway deli and Main Street Sweets. HRR also plans to install new benches and possibly digital touch screen information kiosks, with the majority of the work scheduled to finish later this year.

French Delegation Visits Tram

The Roosevelt Island Tramway continues to be a world-renowned model for inexpensive, efficient and environmentally friendly urban public transportation. Last Friday, RIOC hosted a French delegation of four distinguished guests from the Grenoble-Isère Economic Development Agency, for a long-anticipated tour of our innovative Tram. The group, led by the Mayor of the town of Bourgoin-Jallieu, was extremely impressed by the Tram operation and by the rest of our beautiful Island, which they also toured.

Boston Marathon Bombings – Tram Security

I am deeply saddened by the tragic events that took place earlier this week at the Boston Marathon. It is truly a shame that such evil exists, but we must remember that there were a lot more individuals doing whatever they could to help the victims, than those creating the victims.

Unfortunately, these types of events create heightened security concerns and, as a result, we have taken steps to heighten Tram security. The RIOC Public Safety Department has assigned plain-clothes officers to perform patrols of both platforms of the Tram. PSD will provide periodic uniform presence as well. In addition, PSD will continue to be in contact with New York City Office of Emergency Management to communicate concerning security.

Everyone be safe.

Mr. Lewis is continuing as Acting RIOC President until Charlene Indelicato takes over the permanent position of RIOC President in mid May.