Bright Orange Shirts Walk For Bladder Cancer Awareness Today On Roosevelt Island

The NYC Walk For Bladder Cancer Awareness took place today on Roosevelt Island.

Roosevelt Island Bladder Cancer Walkers At West Pier Today

According to Walk For Bladder Cancer:

May is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, and the bladder cancer community will be joining together for the 2015 Walk for Bladder Cancer! BCAN supporters, survivors, family, friends and the medical community participate in events held throughout the country to increase bladder cancer research and raise funds for BCAN's education and research programs.

We invite you, your family and your friends to join us as we walk and make difference – one step at a time....

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverese reports:

#ItsMalloryHagan in the #CityofService for the Walk for Bladder Cancer featuring @shannythegranny! https://t.co/UvTJU8VxpF via @YouTube

— Mallory Hytes Hagan (@ItsMalloryHagan) May 2, 2015

I spoke with Ms. Hagan after the Bladder Cancer Walk.



More information on Bladder Cancer Awareness here.

No Roosevelt Island F Train Service From Manhattan This Weekend And Next - Also, TD Bank 5 Boro Bike Tour On Sunday, Expect Delays At Roosevelt Island Bridge/36th Avenue

According to the MTA:

F Jamaica-bound trains run via the M from 47-50 Sts to Roosevelt Av

Weekends, 9:45 PM Fri to 5 AM Mon, May 1 - 4 • May 8 - 11

F trains run express from Queens Plaza to Roosevelt Av.

No Jamaica-bound service at 57 St, Lexington Av/63 St, Roosevelt Island and 21 St-Queensbridge.

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) adds:

Please be advised that the MTA has issued a weekend service advisory for the F train, which may affect travel plans. The Tram will run on a rush hour schedule from 7:00 AM until 10:00 PM to accommodate any increase in traffic. Please plan your travel accordingly and visit mta.info/weekender or call 511 for more information.

For electronic updates on F Train service, sign up for MTA Alerts at mymtaalerts.com.

and:

Be advised there will be a TD Five Boro Bike Tour, Sunday, 5/3/15 from 8 AM- 1 PM. The event closes 21st Street between the Queensboro Bridge and Astoria Park as the northbound route, and closes Vernon Blvd. as the southbound route from Astoria Park down to the Pulaski Bridge. There will be police officers and volunteer ride marshals to assist in detouring auto traffic and to provide information. Auto traffic will be allowed to cross the Bike tour route so that people traveling East- West will not be blocked. Plan on crossing the tour route at these intersections:

1. Astoria Blvd. South

2. Astoria Blvd. (and Newtown Avenue)

3. Broadway & 21st St.

4. 36 Ave. (includes Roosevelt Island Bridge)

5. 14th St. & 27th Ave.

Access to Roosevelt Island will be maintained at all times. However, travelers should anticipate delays when crossing Vernon Blvd. during this time. Some transit bus detours will be in effect; further bus information will be posted at bus stops and is also available on http://www.mta.info.

Info on TD Bank 5 Boro Bike Tour here.

Roosevelt Island Daughter Wendy Hope Featured Photographer At Brooklyn Bomb Pop Up Art Show - She's Inspired By Mr. Softee Ice Cream Truck

Roosevelt Island resident Raye Schwartz reports that her daughter Wendy Hope is a featured artist in the Brooklyn Bomb Pop Art Show.

Raye Schwartz reports:

Wendy Hope is my daughter and grew up on Roosevelt Island (and went to PS 217)! The "Penn" is Sasha Penn who also grew up here!

According to Photo District News:

New York City advertising beauty, cosmetics and fashion photographer Wendy Hope presents a recent shot from her Pop-Up Group Art show entitled Brooklyn Bomb-Pop. The show is Saturday, May 2 at 760 Washington Ave. in Prospect Heights Brooklyn, just up the street from the Brooklyn Museum. "Inspired by the Mr. Softee ice-cream truck that seems to have taken up permanent residency below the window of my Brooklyn loft…I’ve made lemonade out of lemons," says Hope...

Check out more of Wendy Hope's photography at her web site.

Roosevelt Island United Football Club In Partnership With NY Red Bulls Major League Soccer Team - Team Logo Unveiled At Game Yesterday

Roosevelt Island United Football Club Logo

Palladino Academy's Rhonda Pringle reports:

Last night, Head Coach and Club Creator, John Palladino

Image Of John Palladino From Caiden Palladino

attended the NY Red Bulls game, to unveil the team's logo as a part of the Youth Training Partnerships.

Image  From Caiden Palladino

The club is forming on Roosevelt Island to give the community a competitive club option. The Partnership with the NY Red Bulls was established to bring credibility to our program, build our commitment to our youth, and allow the team members access to trainings with the coaches and players of the Red Bulls. We are very excited to begin this partnership.

Tryout dates for the Roosevelt Island United Football Club will be held:
May 16th from10am-12pm for Youth 10 and under
May 17th from 9am-12pm for Youth 11 and older
To register for the tryouts please visit this link and let us know which training your child would like to attend - http://www.rooseveltislandunitedfc.com/contact-us/

There is ongoing enrollment into the Palladino Academy, please visit our website to learn more - www.palladinoacademy.com

This summer the NY Red Bulls will host Summer Camps on the island. Below is information about them.

• Register on or before Friday, May 1, 2015 for EARLY REGISTRATION PRICING on New York Red Bulls Summer Camps. Don’t miss out on the early registration discounts on First KICK, Mini KICK, Team and Skills Camps!
• The New York Red Bulls have over 100 camps throughout the tri-state area, so you’re sure to find a camp near you!

In addition to expert coaching, along with fun and challenging activities, all players that attend a New York Red Bulls camp receive:

• New York Red Bulls Adidas t-shirt
• New York Red Bulls Adidas soccer ball
• Personalized Skills Challenge Scorecard
• Discounted tickets to a New York Red Bulls game at Red Bull Arena

For more information and to register for camp, click here.

PLEASE NOTE: Regional Development School (RDS) camps, Residential Camps and other select camp programs are excluded from these discounts.

Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Green Roof Wins $500 Hundred Thousand In NYC Participatory Budget Voting Announces NYC Council Member Ben Kallos

Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 Green Roof proposal

Image From PS/IS 217 You Tube Video

was a winner of the Manhattan NYC Council District 5 Participatory Budget Vote announced NYC Council Member Ben Kallos today. According to Mr. Kallos:

The results are in for participatory budgeting!

Thank you to over 2,000 of you who voted in participatory budgeting and decided on how to spend $1 million in our community. In the schools, parks, public housing, libraries, neighborhood centers and mobile locations across the district, as well as my office.

Over the course of 10 days, 2,140 of you turned out to vote a total for a total of 6,963 votes. I am pleased to announce the top vote getters for the $1,000,000 were green roofs for PS/IS 217 and PS 151. Both projects will cost more than the $500,000 that each won this year and may be back on the ballot next year or until they are fully funded.

There were many other worthy projects, and additional funding decisions will be made by July. Congratulations to the winners and all who participated! So you can learn more and better organize for next year, we are releasing vote totals and paper ballot results by project and poll site, and have profiles of the winners at PS 151 and PS/IS 217.

If you have thoughts on the participatory budgeting process or interest in becoming more involved next cycle, please sign up. We would like to hear from you, and are already looking forward to next year!

And:

PS/IS 217, a unique international school on Roosevelt Island serving pre-k through eighth grade, wanted additional outdoor space and an educational green roof for their 543 students. Roosevelt Island is a tight-knit and highly-engaged community, so they mobilized together.

The PS/IS 217 PTA, Girl Scouts troops 3001 and 3244, Roosevelt Island Garden Club, Roosevelt Island Parents' Network and Sharon Bermon from the NYPL Roosevelt Island Branch were just a few of the community members who came together to support the students.

Principal Mandana Beckman acknowledged the community efforts, saying " It truly does take a village and we have a great one here on Roosevelt Island.The Principal explained:

"Our PTA co-presidents used the 217 PTA website parent blog to deliver frequent messages about the project and the voting process. Flyers, memos, even bookmarks were printed as reminders and sources of information. The Main Street Wire and the Roosevelt Islander blog, featured several articles on the Green Roof and voting information. RI Residents Association (RIRA) discussed the process and the project in their regular news Wire column. Nearly every business, club, group or organization, participated in spreading the word about the project and the opportunity to vote. Flyers were also published and distributed on the Upper East Side and Midtown East to explain and support this project on New York’s other Island. RI’s Earth Day Celebration drew in a large voting crowd on one of the ballot days. City Council Member Ben Kallos and his teams came out to the Island to meet with the community to talk about the project and encourage voters to participate."

"217PTA was thrilled to have the opportunity to engage our parents and students in Council member Ben Kallos’ Participatory Budget process," said PTA co-presidents Olga Shchuchinov and Natalia Starkova.

"The green roof will serve as a great educational resource for the community." Ali Schwayri, President of the Roosevelt Island Garden Club, said, "We believe in the benefits of the Green Roof for our community, and I speak for secretary, Julia Ferguson, and the entire membership, when I say we all look forward to sharing our expertise and passion."

Eva Bosbach, the Founder of the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network, and Jeff Escobar, President of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association both also noted how excited they were to support the projects. Community member Sharon Bermon said, "Dozens of individuals and organizations worked together to increase awareness of the Participatory Balloting process and to convince people to take the time to vote."

Local girl scouts on the Island also poured their energy into the project. Their troop leaders, Janine Schaefer of troup 3244 and Aiesha Eleusizov, leader of troup 3001, said:

"Girl Scout Troops 3001 and 3244 dedicated countless hours at the subway, in front of the school, at our community's Earth Day event and simply walking down the street passing out bookmarks about the community projects, meeting with constituents at our local Expo, drawing pictures about the Green Roof, making and posting on social media a YouTube video to encourage voting, and simply spreading the word to encourage Roosevelt Island residents to exercise their right to vote for the Green Roof project at PS/IS 217...This has been an excellent opportunity for our youth to learn first hand the power of the vote, the community and working hard to achieve your dreams."

Council Member Kallos did multiple mobile sessions on Roosevelt Island, as he did at dozens of locations across the district.

Congratulations, PS/IS 217!

The PS/IS 217 Green Roof received the most votes with 845. Roosevelt Island's other Participatory Budget project, Study of Sight and Sound at the Public Library (seeking $35,000) received 741 votes for third place, not enough to be funded. Here are the vote totals.

Image From Ben Kallos

Roosevelt Island Brownie Girl Scout Troop 3001 likes the idea




 of a PS/IS 217 Green Roof

Scenes From April 25 Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival - Walking Tour, Japanese Koto Ensemble, Blues Band, & Taiko Drums, Samurai Swordmanship, Karate, Food Trucks & More

The Roosevelt Island Historical Association Cherry Blossom Walking Tour

#cherryblossoms on #rooseveltisland 🌸❤️ - see their upcoming events at #fourfreedomspark: http://t.co/PBYnioSkJc pic.twitter.com/lcYDvBd6Pv
— Stephanie Barnhart (@missstephanieb) April 25, 2015

and Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Cherry Blossom Festival took place last Saturday, April 25.

On our way to #RooseveltIsland #CherryBlossom Festival! Join us for an afternoon of Japanese culture #takethetram pic.twitter.com/Xg5DzDLwq0
— Four Freedoms Park (@4FreedomsPark) April 25, 2015

Here are some scenes.

Samurai swordsmanship



and Karate demonstrations.



Koto performance

Image of Koto Shamisen Ensemble From Janet Falk

with Masayo Ishigure and Koto Shamisen Ensemble.

Beautiful sights and sounds at the Park today... #rooseveltisland #cherryblossomfestival pic.twitter.com/mew4fc7IwH
— Four Freedoms Park (@4FreedomsPark) April 25, 2015

Japanese Blues Band Kayo Yoshioka and Neo Blues Maki.





Japanese Soh Daiko Taiko Drummers.

Spectacular end to the #rooseveltisland #cherryblossomfestival thanks to the amazing drummers from @sohdaiko pic.twitter.com/5SbvF9XJPX
— Four Freedoms Park (@4FreedomsPark) April 25, 2015

Food trucks from Dub Pies and Teriyaki Balls.

Delicious @dubpies and Teriyaki Balls @MimiandCoco_NY at Roosevelt Island Southpoint Park cherry blossom fest today pic.twitter.com/DFLMliXSzO

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) April 25, 2015

The Roosevelt Island Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) assisting at the event.

Thanks to our #NYC CERT volunteers helping out at the Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival today. pic.twitter.com/uRv5z8DKSu

— Joe Esposito (@JoeEspoNYC) April 25, 2015

The Cherry Blossom Festival was ably hosted by resident Jim Luce



and organized by RIRA"s Social Cultural and Educational Chair Lynn Strong- Shinozaki. Ms. Shinozaki tells us how the Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival got started



and thanks everyone who participated in the Festival.

#RooseveltIsland #CherryBlossomFestival so fortunate to work with such amazing and talented people #ThankYouAll

— Lynne Shinozaki (@LASHINOZAKI) April 30, 2015

Good job and thank you Ms. Shinozaki.

Celebrate Roosevelt Island Springtime With Ice Cream From Main Street Sweets

It's starting to feel more and more like spring here on Roosevelt Island. What better way to celebrate than with some ice cream from Main Street Sweets.

Cookie Monster Ice Cream from Main Street Sweets on Roosevelt Island....no #hashtags necessary 💜👍💚 https://t.co/Ol6OuOerkY
— Main Street Sweets (@MainStSweetsNYC) April 29, 2015

Cookie Monster Ice Cream from Main Street Sweets on Roosevelt Island....no #hashtags necessary 💜👍💚

A photo posted by mainstreetsweetsnyc (@mainstreetsweetsnyc) on Apr 29, 2015 at 3:13pm PDT

YUM!

Roosevelt Island Job Available - RIOC Seeking Attorney For General Counsel Position

Image From How I Save Money

Are you an attorney seeking a position located on Roosevelt Island. If yes, there may be a position for you as General Counsel to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC).

Yesterday, I asked RIOC President Charlene Indelicato:

I understand that Don Lewis is no longer the RIOC General Counsel.

Is that true?

If yes, what is the procedure for selecting a new RIOC General Counsel? Will the RIOC Board conduct an executive search process for the new position or will the Governor appoint the new RIOC General Counsel?

Any statement from RIOC on this matter?

Ms. Indelicato confirmed today only that Mr. Lewis is no longer the RIOC General Counsel.

If you would like to be RIOC's General Counsel, probably helps to have a friend in the Second Floor of the Governor's Office.

You're Invited To Roosevelt Island Women's Movie Group Showing Of Makers: Women Who Make America - Thursday April 30, Please RSVP

Image From Makers Video

From the Roosevelt Island Women's Movie Group:

Look back on the past 50 years of the women's movement in America with our next film
MAKERS: Women Who Make America, Thursday, April 30. 2015 at 7:00 pm in the Party Room at 425 Main Street.

MAKERS tells the remarkable story of the most sweeping social revolution in American history, as women have asserted their rights to a full and fair share of political power, economic opportunity, and personal autonomy in the last 50 years. It's a revolution that has unfolded in public and private, in courts and Congress, in the boardroom and the bedroom, changing not only what the world expects from women, but what women expect from themselves.

This is the third in a three-part PBS series. It is NOT the show currently broadcast on PBS. You can enjoy the movie even if you did not see the previous segments.

We had a lively discussion in January and November recalling feminist activities. Join us and bring a friend.

MAKERS: Women Who Make America

Suggested minimum donation is $8 to cover our room rental and movie purchase costs.

Please RSVP to riwomenmovie@gmail.com and plan to bring healthy snacks or drinks for six guests.

Roosevelt Island's NYPD 114 Precinct Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Kevin Maloney Leaves Post For Promotion To Firearms Suppression Unit

NYPD Deputy Inspector Kevin Maloney

NYPD 114 Deputy Inspector Kevin Maloney (Standing) and Roosevelt Island PSD Jack McManus (Sitting)

is no longer the Commanding Officer of the 114 Precinct in Queens which covers Roosevelt Island.

According to the Astoria Post:

The commanding officer of the 114th Precinct in Astoria has moved on after being in charge for just 18 months.

Deputy Inspector Kevin Maloney has been promoted to the Firearm Suppression Unit and is no longer with the precinct, according to Detective Edwin Negron of the 114 precinct.

Negron said that the firearm unit has only just been formed and that Maloney will be based out of the First Deputy Commissioners office....

Click here for the full article.

Deputy Inspector Maloney tweets:

Thank you to the members of the 114 Precinct and residents of this command who I've had the pleasure of working with! Stay safe and involved
— NYPD 114th Precinct (@NYPD114Pct) April 22, 2015

Here's Deputy Inspector Maloney on Roosevelt Island matters.

UPDATE 4/29: Captain Peter Fortune has been appointed new Commanding Officer of NYPD 114 Precinct.

Congratulations to Captain Peter Fortune, the newly appointed Commanding Officer of the 114 Precinct! Welcome to Astoria!!
— NYPD 114th Precinct (@NYPD114Pct) April 29, 2015

Roosevelt Island Women's Health Organization And Cornell Tech Offer Nutrition Seminar April 29 - Eat Your Way To A Healthier Life

The Roosevelt Island Women’s Health Organization (RIWHO) has joined with Cornell Tech, Weill Cornell Medical College and New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center to offer a series of health related seminars to the Roosevelt Island community (Men included). The second in the seminar series will be on the topic of nutrition.

RIWHO sends the following invitation for its April 29 Monthly Seminar:

The Roosevelt Island Women’s Health Organization Presents:

Eat Your Way to a Healthier Life Two Nutrition Experts will tell you how!

Wednesday, April, 29th

546 Main Street, 12th floor, 6:30 pm Refreshments Served - Men Welcome

Cosponsored by:

Cornell Tech And

The Weill Cornell Medical College Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC)

Roosevelt Island resident Luella Streitz will present: “An intuitive approach to nutrition”

Registered Dietician Evalina Irish-Spencer from The Weill Cornell Medical College CTSC (previously from Cornell University Cooperative Extension-NYC) will speak on general nutrition for balanced healthy eating, cultural diets, nutrition labels, how poor diet affects health and much more

The first RIWHO Cornell Tech health seminar was on back pain. Video of the presentation here.

Scenes From Roosevelt Island T Ball Opening Day - Play Ball

Image From Buboblog

Buboblogger shares scenes from last Saturday's Opening Day



for Roosevelt Island T Ball.

Roosevelt Island's Public Safety Department Chief Jack McManus is pictured above as one of the coaches.

Play ball.

First Look At New Documentary Inventing Cornell Tech: The Vision From Checkerboard Films - Also, Roosevelt Island Community Coalition Invites You To Quarterly Meeting Of Cornell Task Force Tonight 6 PM

Image From Inventing Cornell Tech Checkerboard Films

The development of Roosevelt Island's Cornell Tech is the subject of a documentary produced by Checkerboard Film Foundation. According to Checkerboard Films:

PREMIERING at our 36th Annual Spring Benefit:

Wednesday, MAY 6th, 2015

Ground has been broken on Roosevelt Island for New York City's newest academic campus - the sustainable, high tech home of Cornell Tech, a radical reconception of graduate level engineering study for the information age. Over the next three years, a stunning complex of architecture and landscape will emerge - a unique hub of high tech research and entrepreneurial activity.

Before every great piece of architecture, there is a unique journey, and since 2013, Checkerboard has been documenting the journey of Cornell Tech as it rises on Roosevelt Island. This film tells the story of how political visionaries, educational innovators, architectural designers and philanthropic benefactors have come together to create something that will have an incredible impact on New York City for decades to come.

Below is the trailer from Inventing Cornell Tech: The Vision


Inventing Cornell Tech: The Vision - Trailer from Checkerboard Film Foundation on Vimeo.

and more information on the film's premiere at the Checkerboard Film Foundation

36th anniversary celebration. Click here for tickets and donation information.

 Image Of Cornell Tech Construction Site April 24, 2015

Also, the Roosevelt Island Community Coalition (RICC) invites the public to an open meeting of the quarterly Cornell Tech Task Force tonight. According to this RICC received yesterday:

Dear RICC Members and Friends,

The board of directors of the Roosevelt Island Community Coalition thanks you for your attendance at our April 13th meeting, we enjoyed the lively discussion and hearing ongoing and new concerns relating to Cornell Tech's co-location corporate campus build that will continue intermittently over the next 25 years. The board continues to meet with politicians, RIOC, Cornell-Tech and others to amplify our quality of life concerns as a community.

In the spirit of including everyone in the conversation please do attend the quarterly Cornell Tech Task Force meeting. If your schedule allows it is important that you hear first hand the latest and also ask questions. Cornell Tech's new Chief Administrative Officer, Juliet Weissman will attend and make a few remarks.

If you have any additional concerns, please write us by 4 PM tomorrow 4/27 for tomorrow's meeting or any time as our conversation is ongoing, write to us at ricommunitycoalition@gmail.com

Sincerely,

Ellen Polivy & Judy Buck, Co-chairs

UPDATE 2:30 PM - Latest Roosevelt Island construction report from Cornell Tech:

April 17 - May 1 Look Ahead

Building E foundation removal is ongoing, working west to east and north to south.

Structural demolition is nearly complete on Building B with all elements demolished to the ground floor. There is a significant amount of sorting that needs to take place prior to starting foundation removals.

Heavy barging activity will take place the week of April 27th. In addition to construction and demolition debris, steel and assorted metals for recycling will be removed from site.

First Academic Building (FAB) excavation is ongoing and pile drilling has begun. Grouting of the piles will start early in the week of April 20th.

Excavation, rock chopping and line drilling operations are ongoing in the Central Utility Plant (CUP) footprint, as well as the vault area immediately to the south.

Excavation has also begun for a temporary power facility, which will provide critical power for the construction sites in summer 2015. This facility will be located within the Cornell Tech site along the west roadway, near the previous location of Building A.