Saturday, February 21, 2015

More NYC Freezepocalypse - Perfect Picture Of East River Ice Below Tram And Passing Roosevelt Island Today

From the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse:

The ice keeps coming.



More East River Freezepocalypse ice passing Roosevelt Island from post earlier this week.

UPDATE 2/23:

Friday, February 20, 2015

So Cold At Roosevelt Island F Train Subway Station That Ice Stalictites Formed On Ceiling

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse reports:

Here's more on NYC subway stalictites.

More Good News - Roosevelt Island F Train Service To And From Manhattan This Weekend Says MTA

According to the MTA Weekender, there will be Roosevelt Island F train service


to and from Manhattan this weekend.

Enjoy.

Roosevelt Island Women's Health Organization Seminar February 25 On Overcoming Depression, How To Start Feeling Better Today Presentation By Psychologist David LLoyd Marcus - Men Invited Too

The Roosevelt Island Women's Health Organization (RIWHO) sends the following invitation for its February 25 Monthly Seminar:

DEPRESSED

Due to lost of a love one, loneliness, finances, weather

“ How to start feeling better today”

The ROOSEVELT ISLAND WOMEN’S HEALTH ORG. invites you to experience relief through a presentation by DR. DAVID LLOYD MARCUS, noted psychologist

When: Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Where: 546 Main St. 12th floor
Time: 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:15, come early as seating is limited and seminars are free.

Light refreshments served, MEN INVITED
Image From RIWHO

Here's a TED Talk by Andrew Solomon on depression:
The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality, and it was vitality that seemed to seep away from me in that moment." In a talk equal parts eloquent and devastating, writer Andrew Solomon takes you to the darkest corners of his mind during the years he battled depression. That led him to an eye-opening journey across the world to interview others with depression — only to discover that, to his surprise, the more he talked, the more people wanted to tell their own stories.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park Launches New Educational Web Site Telling History Of President Franklin D. Roosevelt - Take Aerial Ride Over FDR Park Too

The Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park



launched a new educational web site exploring the history of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.



According to this Press Release from the FDR Four Freedoms Park Conservancy:

In celebration of Presidents Day, Four Freedoms Park Conservancy (the “Conservancy”) announced today the launch of fdr4freedoms.org, a free educational resource chronicling the life and times of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Compatible with high school and college curricula, the resource complements the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedom Park’s extensive educational and public programming.

Equivalent to more than 400 pages of written text, fdr4freedoms.org constitutes a comprehensive monograph on President Roosevelt’s life and his influence on the most critical events of the 20th century – the Great Depression and World War II. Its features include:
  • Fifty-two downloadable chapters, each exploring a specific topic related to President Roosevelt ranging from his pivotal New Deal to the historic 1939 Marian Anderson concert to the establishment of the United Nations;
  • More than 800 primary sources, including archival photographs, newspaper clippings, and audio and video footage;
  • Short biographies of 80 key historical figures; and
  • A collection of five-minute originally produced documentaries.
Through its in-depth analysis of national and global events and the availability of primary source materials, fdr4freedoms.org is designed to help teachers and students supplement current curricula and further address Common Core State Standards.

Ambassador William vanden Heuvel, Founder and Chair Emeritus of the Conservancy and of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, said, “Our hope was to make Four Freedoms Park a pioneer example of the use of outdoor public space for major educational purposes. The website does that,” said vanden Heuvel. “It provides a superb history of the Roosevelt era for the thousands who come to the Park each month and it makes this history equally available to the vast online audience interested in the era of the greatest President of the 20th century. The website is an achievement of great significance in the field of education.”

The scholarly advisory board, including Doris Kearns Goodwin, Geoffrey Ward, and Douglas Brinkley, helped oversee the website’s content, which was written by Dr. Allida Black, David Woolner, Katharine Greider, Greg Robinson and Ambassador William vanden Heuvel among other acclaimed Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt historians and scholars.

In addition to being accessible online, the material has been pre-loaded onto 10 Conservancy iPads at the Park, which are available to visitors free of charge so that they can explore the memorial and its historical significance in tandem.

fdr4freedoms.org was made possible by the generous support of its lead donor, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and other donors. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation, one of the world’s leading international philanthropic organizations, is also a major donor to Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park.

“The digital content goes a long way towards connecting the younger generations with FDR’s monumental legacy, and provides many additional opportunities to further enhance it,” said Andreas Dracopoulos, Co-President of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation’s Board of Directors.

About the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park is the first memorial dedicated to President Roosevelt in his home state of New York. Located on a triangular four-acre plot at the southern tip of Roosevelt Island in the East River, the Park, designed by Louis I. Kahn, includes walkways lined with trees, waterfront promenades, and a portrait bust of President Roosevelt created by artist Jo Davidson. Carved in the ‘Room,’ the Four Freedoms described in Roosevelt’s historic January 6, 1941 State of the Union address: freedom of speech and expression; freedom of worship; freedom from want; and freedom from fear. First announced in 1973 by Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Mayor John Lindsay, and other visionary urban planners, the monument’s design was the last work of the late Louis I. Kahn, an iconic architect of the 20th century. Dedicated on October 17, 2012, the Park is operated in partnership with New York State by the Four Freedoms Park Conservancy. For more information on FDR Four Freedoms State Park, please visit: www.fdrfourfreedomspark.org.

About the Stavros Niarchos Foundation


The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (http://www.SNF.org) is one of the world’s leading international philanthropic organizations, making grants in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare. The Foundation funds organizations and projects that exhibit strong leadership and sound management and are expected to achieve a broad, lasting and positive social impact. The Foundation also seeks actively to support projects that facilitate the formation of public-private partnerships as effective means for serving public welfare.

From 1996 until today, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation has approved grant commitments of $1.57 billion / €1.20 billion, through 2,816 grants to nonprofit organizations in 110 nations around the world.
Click here to view the fdr4freedom educational web site.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Amazon Prime Now One Hour Delivery Service To Manhattan Does Not Consider Roosevelt Island's 10044 Zip Code Part Of Manhattan

Another case of Roosevelt Island being jurisdictionally part of Manhattan but not considered so by the rest of the world. Amazon Prime Now started it's one hour delivery service for Manhattan but not to Roosevelt Island's 10044 Manhattan zip code.

According to the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse:

No 1 hour deliveries for us.

Dark History Of Roosevelt Island, One Of The Most Haunted Places In NYC Says Filmmaker - Home To Sick, Disabled And Forgotten Of New York City

Brooklyn filmmaker Lindsay McAleavy reports on the dark and haunted history of Roosevelt Island when it was the 19th century home to a prison, several hospitals and a lunatic hospital for the sick, disabled, abandoned and forgotten of New York City.


Ms McAleavy recounts tales by author Charles Dickens (visiting in 1842) and journalist Nelly Bly (1887 10 Days In A Madhouse Investigative Report) of their horrific visits to Roosevelt Island, then named Blackwell's Island.

Ms McAleavy returns to present day Roosevelt Island adding that many current residents, their pets and visitors encounter inexplicable incidents and paranormal activity, perhaps a remnant from the past.

Here's Ms. McAleavy Roosevelt Island short film.


Island from Lindsay McAleavy on Vimeo.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Roosevelt Island Jobs Available At Duane Reade Store - Inquire Within - Substitute PS 217 Kindergarten Teacher Position Available Too


Are you looking for a job on Roosevelt Island? The Roosevelt Island Duane Reade store at 425 Main Street is hiring.


According to the signage at the front door and cash register


inquire within.

Also, Craigslist reports:
PS/IS 217, a NYCDOE District 2, Pre-K though Grade 8 school located on Roosevelt Island (between Manhattan and Queens) is seeking a maternity leave substitute teacher from mid-February through the end of the school year for a kindergarten class....
Click here for more info on the PS/IS 217 substitute teacher position. Be advised that the job was posted January 23.

Good luck.

Hawk Orders Roosevelt Island Rat For Lunch Yesterday - No Delivery Necessary, Picks Up And Soars Away

From the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse:

In warmer weather last year, the hawk lunched on a rat


at Roosevelt Island's East River Pier.

Monday, February 16, 2015

NYC Freezepocalypse - East River Ice Floes Passing By Roosevelt Island Today

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse reports:

The ice floes


could be seen passing Roosevelt Island today

Image From Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy

More East River Freezepocalypse today


Icy East River from Gothamist on Vimeo.

and from 1852.
UPDATE 2/20 - More East River Ice Floes passing Roosevelt Island today.
Image From Judith McGee

Roosevelt Island Manhattan Tram Station Elevators Remain Out Of Service - RIOC To Provide Roosevelt Island Red Bus Shuttle To And From Manhattan Tuesday, February 17 From 7 AM - 8:30 PM

The Roosevelt Island Manhattan Tram Station elevators have been out of service since Friday morning February 13.


A Roosevelt Island resident known as Rislander comments:
The red bus must be available automatically and immediately any and all times the tram elevators are out of service. We should not have to round up people to contact RIOC to get the red bus going. This weekend, with the 63rd Street/Lexington Avenue station elevator out as well, there was no way elderly, parents with strollers, or the disabled could get on and off this rock. Further, when the elevator and lift are out, RIOC must post people on the Manhattan side who are able to assist people who need help on those stairs. If the tram employees or PSD's contract won't allow it, then get other help....
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) provided Red Bus Shuttle service to and from Manhattan


on Friday evening from 4 to 8 PM but not during the President's Day weekend including today.

RIOC announced earlier today that they will provide Roosevelt Island Red Bus Shuttle service to and from Manhattan tomorrow.

According to RIOC:
Notification issued 2/16/2015 at 2:00 PM. Due to an elevator service outage at the Manhattan Tram Station, the RIOC Red Bus will provide special shuttle service to and from Manhattan for those with limited mobility.

From Roosevelt Island to Manhattan: The shuttle will depart from the Roosevelt Island Tram Station at 7:00 AM on February 17, 2015 every thirty minutes. The last shuttle will depart at 8:00 PM

From Manhattan to Roosevelt Island: The shuttle will depart from the southwest corner of 58th Street and 2nd Avenue every thirty minutes beginning at 7:30 AM ON February 17, 2015 The last shuttle will depart at 8:30 PM.

Signs will be posted at shuttle bus stop locations and Tram employees will direct passengers to the shuttle bus stops if necessary.
At least one parent with a stroller managed to make her way to the Manhattan Tram platform without the elevators yesterday afternoon.

Parent With Stroller At Manhattan Platform Entering Tram On Sunday Afternoon

More on RIOC's plan for new Manhattan Tram Station elevators at previous post.

UPDATE 2/17 at 8:15 PM - Earlier today I asked RIOC President Charlene Indelicato:
There appears to be some confusion regarding the Red Bus Manhattan Shuttle route and stops.

Some residents are reporting today that the Shuttle was not stopping at the Tram Station and other problems.

Any update from RIOC on the Red Bus Shuttle Route, Stops, whether it will continue tomorrow and status of the Tram Elevator repairs.

Also, any statistics on the number of people using the Red Bus Shuttle today.
Ms. Indelicato replied the Red Bus Shuttle:
will continue until one of the elevators are fixed. I don't have answers to the other questions yet
UPDATE 10:15 PM - According to RIOC:
Notification issued 2/17/2015 10:00 PM tram elevators are not running]

ROOSEVELT ISLAND TO MANHATTAN:

The first trip to Manhattan will be at 7:00 AM tomorrow, February 18, 2015 and will run every hour with the last Manhattan bound trip leaving at 8:00 PM. The Manhattan bound bus will leave from the Roosevelt Island Tram Plaza and will make the following additional stops: 546 Main Street; 580 Main Street; Across from I.S. 217.

MANHATTAN TO ROOSEVELT ISLAND:

The first trip from Manhattan, leaving from the S/W corner of 58th Street and 2nd Avenue, will be at 7:30 AM and will run every hour thereafter with the last Roosevelt Island bound trip leaving Manhattan at 8:30 PM. Once on Roosevelt Island, the shuttle will make the following stops: I.S. 217; 579 Main Street (M&D Deli); Good Shepherd Plaza; Riverwalk Bar&Grill; Roosevelt Island Tram Plaza.

To reiterate, the Shuttle Service will continue until one of the elevators at the Manhattan Tram Plaza is back in service. If you have any questions, please call the Public Safety Department at 212-832-4545. Thank you for your patience.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Very Cool Aerial View 10 Thousand Feet Above Roosevelt Island, Queens, Upper East Side & East River