Where To Mulch Your Roosevelt Island Christmas Tree? Closest Location In Long Island City And Astoria This Weekend

A Roosevelt Island resident asked:

Do you know if there will be any mulching of Xmas trees on the island?

I asked the Roosevelt Island Garden Club (RIGC) and Big Reuse if the Saturday Farmers Market Compost Booth is accepting Christmas Trees for recycling. Big Reuse replied:

I'm sorry to say, we cannot accept Christmas trees at our drop-off site on Roosevelt Island. This is because we have neither the capacity to haul potentially A LOT of trees nor do we have a wood chipper and the ability to process them.

This link is from the NYC Parks Department website and maps all of the locations where trees can be disposed of. However, the closest site to Roosevelt Island residents is very near to our processing site, underneath the Queensboro Bridge, at the corner of Queens Plaza South and 10th St.

The LIC Post reports:

... The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy has partnered with the Parks Department to participate in MulchFest, an annual event for recycling Christmas trees into mulch. The event will take place Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hunters Point South Park near Center Boulevard and Borden Avenue....

and:

... Other Queens MulchFest locations include Astoria Park at 19th Street and Hoyt Avenue...

The RIGC has more info on Christmas tree mulching.

 Image Of Roosevelt Island Big Reuse Compost Booth - Big Reuse Ryan Olds On Left

Also RIGC's Julia Ferguson reports:

We have just received metrics from Ryan Olds on the first six weeks of Organics Recycling with BIG Reuse/NYC Compost on Roosevelt Island. Ryan will be staffing again this Saturday. We encourage all to come out and meet him and bring lots of kitchen scraps from healthy eating in this brand new year.

Here are our metrics from the first 6 weeks...

11/28/15
220 lbs organics

12/5/15
215 lbs organics

12/12/15
175 lbs organics

12/19/15
235 lbs organics

12/26/15
135 lbs organics

1/2/16
340 lbs organics

That puts us at a total of 280 drop-offs, 494 interactions, and 1320 lbs of organics collected! Very exciting!

More on the Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers Market Big ReUse Composting Booth at this previous post.

Roosevelt Island F Train Service To And From Manhattan This Weekend Says MTA - That's Six Weekends In A Row

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

to and from Manhattan this weekend.

That's six weekends in a row without Roosevelt Island F Train service interruptions.

UPDATE 8 PM - Also:

E Trains run via the F in both directions between W 4 St and 21 St-Queensbridge Weekend, 11:45 PM Fri to 5 AM Mon, Jan 8 - 11

RIRA And Roosevelt Island Brownie Girl Scouts Poster Campaign To Promote Good Citizenship And Community Pride

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Social, Cultural & Educational Committee Chair Lynn Strong-Shinozaki reports:

The Social Cultural and Education Committee of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association is working with local groups to promote good citizenship. The multi-media campaign is designed to raise awareness of the impact residents have on each others' lives, whether by design or through inadvertent actions.

Most residents are loyal members of our community and praise life in our small town. The campaign will highlight actions individuals can take to make the island a warmer place for everyone.

The campaign began with posters drawn by members of Brownie Girl Scout Troop 3001, a group of second and third grade girls. Together, the girls brainstormed a list of ways to complete the sentence "On Roosevelt Island we" with a verb that suggested a positive action and a picture that illustrates the thought.

The girls identified many ways that we can be good citizens to make our community a warmer and better place.

Troop Leader Aiesha Eleusizov said that one action that really resonated with the girls was cleaning up after their pets. One girl immediately piped up, "I once stepped in it in my bare feet!" Which of course, elicited a loud chorus of "EEEEW" from the rest of the troop.

This is an issue which personally impacts everyone's ability to enjoy the wonderful outdoor activities available on Roosevelt Island, especially the children who spend a lot of time playing in the grass.

Several of the Scouts drew pictures of children playing with and cleaning up after their dogs with the sentence, "On Roosevelt Island we pick up the poop!" to help remind everyone on the island to be a responsible pet owner.

@TruesdellClass We R doing neighborhood campaign children draw pictures ON ROOSEVELT ISLAND WE.... pic.twitter.com/4mu59rFz3V

— Lynne Shinozaki (@LASHINOZAKI) December 9, 2015

The "On Roosevelt Island we" posters will emphasize positive actions, like saying hello to neighbors

and helping elderly residents. They will be printed in a larger format for placement on the kiosks and the red bus. Some will be scanned and displayed on the monitors in the tram cabin. RIOC is supporting the reproduction of the posters.

The campaign is scheduled to run for the year ahead, with posters from Girl Scout Troops 3244 & 3245 with Troop leader Janine Schaefer in the next series.

Other child-oriented groups to be invited to participate are students of PS/IS 217, Roosevelt Island Day Nursery, Island Kids, Roosevelt Island Parents Network, Church of Good Shepherd, Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation, Hope Church, Roosevelt Island Marlins and the Child/Legacy High Schools.

UPDATE 6:15 PM - Ms. Shinozaki adds:

We were unable to list every group we intend to reach out to but we look forward to having the opportunity to present first the work of all Island Children and then we hope to reach out to everyone who would like to participate.

Up Close And Personal View Of Roosevelt Island NYC Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Member Assisting Bronx CERT In Fire Disaster Simulation - Do You Know How To Properly Use A Fire Extinguisher?

Roosevelt Island NYC Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member Frank Farance participated in a December 28, 2015 disaster simulation drill at Hostos College in the Bronx. Mr. Farance shares these photos and reports on the Bronx CERT Drill.

Bronx (New York City) Disaster Simulation for newly graduating CERT members. Consistent in drills over the years: MANY ADULTS DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Use of a Fire Extinguisher is something people should really learn. And liquid flammables become even more dangerous when they are spread via improper use of an extinguisher.

If you have a grease fire in your kitchen and don't know how to put it out quickly (i.e., 1-2 seconds) with that 2.5 pound kitchen extinguisher, you are going to be out of propellant by the time you've figured out how to use the thing ... and you might have made the fire worse!

The first photo is a random victim who is wandering about, 

suffering from psychological shock: us existing CERT members were playing victims with different injuries and different roles - to make it harder for the graduating team.

The next four photos show what happens when you use a fire extinguisher improperly on liquid fires. The Responder is not aiming at the base of the flames (rightmost of three fires), but INTO the flames, which causes the liquid to spread,

and then they finally put it out.

But while they are putting it out, another Responder is making the same mistake in the middle fire, which results in a huge fireball.

COMPARE these photos to the first photo of the random person in a daze, look how small these fires are then, and now look how big they can get when the flammable liquids are spread around.

The next two photos show how to properly put out the fire, and it is extinguished in 1-2 seconds.

The next four photos should be obvious: if you're extinguishing a fire, pay attention to what's behind the fire:

that would be ME, I had dry-chem all over me.

Next photo is the randomly walking person receiving "psychological first aid" from a Responder,

i.e., hoping to stabilize them enough to get them out of the danger zone. To the left is an "electrified car", which has a body under it (see dummy's legs) and the car crashed into a utility pole with power lines on the car.

Although there isn't actual electricity in the car, if the Responder touches the car, the Simulation Controller pulls the person out of the "game" and they disappear ... hoping some other Responder will notice the missing person (this happens if your Buddy System breaks down). Then every time someone touches the car, they get pulled out of the "game", until someone in the response team finally figures out: Oh, The Car Is Electrified, Stay Away!

That night, my role was: I was a 47-Year Old Male burn victim with first and second degree burns on my face -- and I was trying to distract the emergency Responders (the people who are being tested in this simulation) from their actual jobs so they could come take care of me ... pretty much as it would happen in a real emergency.

Last two photos: the dummy next to me,

who was thrown from the car that hit the utility pole (he is triaged as a Black Tag, which means he's dead), and the group photo of the "victims team":

we had 9 "victims" distracting and faking and doing everything possible to make it difficult for the emergency response team.

A very good drill, everyone learned a lot!

The New York City Office of Emergency Management has more information on CERT Teams at their web site including how to become a member.

This video shows December 2013 Roosevelt Island CERT Team emergency



disaster training. Also, prior posts about Roosevelt Island CERT Team Tram Evacuation Drill and Traffic Control Training.

Observer Says Roosevelt Island Is A Strange Little Utopian Society, Like A Huge Retro-Futuristic Boat Stuck In East River

According to the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse:

@stevorighthere It's like a huge retro-futuristic boat that got stuck in the East River. pic.twitter.com/m5bdUIrmvt

— steve goldberg (@stevorighthere) January 5, 2016

He could be right.

Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park Celebrating 75th Anniversary Of 1941 FDR Four Freedoms Speech Today

The Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park tweets:

Follow along tomorrow as we tweet like it's 1941 in honor of the 75 anniversary of FDR's Four Freedoms speech! pic.twitter.com/AAf4CNV2bc

— Four Freedoms Park (@4FreedomsPark) January 5, 2016

FDR's four freedoms: freedom of speech & expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want & freedom from fear...everywhere in the world

— Four Freedoms Park (@4FreedomsPark) January 6, 2016

It's the 75th anniv of FDR's #FourFreedoms speech & we're tweeting like it's 1941! Before we start watch it here: https://t.co/0MyI7XXWA8

— Four Freedoms Park (@4FreedomsPark) January 6, 2016

More on FDR's Four Freedoms speech at the Four Freedoms Park web site.

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) January 2016 Common Council Meeting Tonight, Seeking Increase For RIOC Public Purpose Funds - You're Invited To Attend And Raise Issues Of Concern

 Image Of September 2015 RIRA Common Council Meeting

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will meet this evening, January 6, at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).

As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.

Here's the Agenda.

If at all possible, please arrive a half-hour early to help set up tables and chairs

Date: Wednesday, January 6th, 2016

Time & Place: 8:00 pm, Church of Good Shepard, Basement

1. Public Session (please sign-in to be placed on the Public Session Speaking List)

2. Roll Call of Common Council Members

3. Adoption of Agenda

4. Approval of Minutes
a. November 4, 2015 Common Council Session
b. December 2, 2015 Common Council Session

5. President’s Report

6. Committee Reports
a. Island Services Committee Report
b. SC&E Committee Report

7. Old Business

8. New Business
a. Resolution to Increase RIOC’s Public Purpose Funds
Movant: Aaron Hamburger, as Southtown Reprsentative

You're invited to come to tonight's RIRA meeting and learn what's happening on Roosevelt Island. 

Job Available At Roosevelt Island Historical Society Visitors Center Kiosk - Must Have Personality, Great Merchandiser, Enjoy Dealing With People And Knowledge Of Roosevelt Island

Image From How I Save Money

 Are you looking for a job on Roosevelt Island?

If yes, there may be a job for you at the Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) Visitors Center Kiosk.

  Image of RIHS Visitors Kiosk By Richard Bachman From Friend Of The UES Historic District

 According to RIHS President Judy Berdy:

Great merchandiser, salesperson with knowledge of Roosevelt Island needed for island business.

Must have personality, be organized, creativity and enjoy dealing withe persons. Send 1 page resume to jbird134@gmail.com

Trying to find someone great to work in kiosk.

More on the RIHS and Visitors Center Kiosk Merchandise at this previous post.

Front Seat Go Pro Video View Of Motorcycle Zooming Down Roosevelt Island's Main Street - 5 Minutes From Williamsburg To Roosevelt Island

Take a virtual motorcycle ride from Williamsburg through Greenpoint and Long Island City on way to Roosevelt Island.

You arrive at the Roosevelt Island Bridge about the 4 minute 10 second mark. The ride down the Helix is a doozy.


First GoPro Test in NYC from Alexandre Pauzies on Vimeo.

Roosevelt Island NY State Senator Jose Serrano Holding Roosevelt Island Health Care And Patient Rights Info Forum At Seniors Center 3 PM January 6

Roosevelt Island's NY State Senator Jose Serrano reports:

The New York StateWide Senior Action Council will be joining us to share information about healthcare and patient rights as well as dual eligibility for medicare and medicaid. Special thanks to the NYSSAC for partnering with us this month during our constituent hours and bringing their health services to the senior citizens of the Roosevelt Island Community.

Senator Serrano's office will be holding Roosevelt Island Constituent Office Hours on:

• Wednesday January 6 and 20th from 3- 6 PM at the Roosevelt Island Seniors Center (546 Main Street) and
• Wednesday January 13 and 27 from 3-6 PM at the Roosevelt Island New York Public Library Branch (524 Main Street.

More information on the New York StateWide Senior Action Council at their web site.

Is It Trash Or Treasure - Get The Answer From Urban Archaeologist Joan Geismar's Free Lecture Tuesday January 12 At Roosevelt Island Public Library Branch - Sponsored By Roosevelt Island Historical Society And Amalgamated Bank

The Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) and Amalgamated Bank invite you to their first 2016 Free Lecture at the Roosevelt Island NY Public Library Branch. According to RIHS:

Map of New York City, New York Department of Health, 1874, Library Of Congress

The Roosevelt Island Historical Society and
Amalgamated Bank
Present a Free Lecture

Is it Trash or is it Treasure?

by Urban Archaeologist Joan H. Geismar, Ph.D.
New York Public Library Branch on Roosevelt Island
Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and even garbage can be beautiful. To the municipality, garbage is a constant headache. To the city’s residents, it is a disagreeable nuisance. Joan H. Geismar, Ph.D., will explain how garbage is a treasure trove of information to the urban archaeologist in a lecture at the New York Public Library Branch on Roosevelt Island, on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.

As an example, an urban archaeological site—the 175 Water Street block in lower Manhattan—invites the question: Is it Trash or is it Treasure? Literally created from 18th-century detritus, and then the repository of 18th- and 19th-century trash, the block’s debris included a merchant ship that was sunk to structure the garbage-laden landfill. The derelict hulk was the site’s most extraordinary example of urban trash, as well as its most spectacular artifact.

Learn about the ship and the more than 350,000 less-sensational artifacts recovered from the site, as well as the research prompted by the finds in Dr. Geismar's lecture, sponsored by the Roosevelt Island Historical Society, and supported by Amalgamated Bank.

The event is FREE and open to the public. It is the first in a series of spring lectures sponsored by the Roosevelt Island Historical Society. Save the dates below for the remaining lectures in the series:

2/9/16 Jon Crispin: The Suitcases from Willard Hospital
3/8/16 Liz McEnaney: S.S. Columbia Project
4/12/16 Jane Brickman: Women in Health

The Roosevelt Island NY Public Library branch is at 524 Main Street.

Here's more on NYC Urban Archaeology beneath the city streets





and information on Urban Archaeologist Joan Geismar is available at her web site.

I wonder what would be found beneath Roosevelt Island?

Wes & Jennifer's Roosevelt Island Tram Wedding Adventure - No Kissing Before The I Do's

Here's an update on the December 22 Roosevelt Island Tram Wedding of Jennifer & Wes Hansen. The happy couple share this video of the Tram Wedding Ceremony vows,


jenny + wes wedding vows on the Roosevelt Island Tram from Stylish and Hip Weddings on Vimeo.

photos of the Tram Wedding,

Image From Jennifer MacFarlane of Stylish and Hip Weddings

signing the marriage license at the Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) Visitors Center Kiosk

Image From Jennifer MacFarlane of Stylish and Hip Weddings

and their first married stroll

Image From Jennifer MacFarlane of Stylish and Hip Weddings

right here on Roosevelt Island.

Congrats!

More on Wes and Jennifer's Roosevelt Island Tram Wedding from previous post and DNA Info.

UPDATE 4:PM - Jennifer Hansen adds:

We chose to get married on the tram because it was something unique, and very special to us. Wes' family used to live there in the 80s. When I first started coming to NYC I fell in love with Roosevelt Island. We both think Roosevelt Island is a very charming and unique place, and we wanted to say our vows over the East river.

The RIHS Visitors Center Kiosk will forever be in our hearts!!!

The officiant for our wedding was Matt Levy.

SPONSORED POST - Check Out Roosevelt Island Gristedes Supermarket Product Specials & Sales Thru January 14 - 10% Seniors Discounts Tuesdays & Wednesdays And Sign Up For Bonus Savings Card Too

 Roosevelt Island Gristedes Supermarket invites you to check out their:

• Grocery Specials, 
• Meat, 
• Deli, 
• Bakery, 
• Dairy, 
• Frozen, 
• Organic, 
• Gourmet & 
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable 

Department Offerings for January 1 - January 14.

Gristedes representative Bob Capano invites Roosevelt Island residents to check out their various product departments for all of your shopping needs.



Also, don't forget the 10% Roosevelt Island Seniors Discount on Tuesday and Wednesday and Sign Up For Gristedes Bonus Cards online or in person at the store.

More Gristedes Supermarket information available at their web site and Twitter feed.

Happy New Year from Gristedes! pic.twitter.com/pYxFNRo6qY

— Gristedes (@Gristedes) January 1, 2016

You're Invited To January 14 New York Public Library Community Conversation About New Roosevelt Island Branch - Share Your Ideas For Programs And Services At New Roosevelt Island NYPL Branch

As reported last November 11:

...The new Roosevelt Island NYPL Public Library Branch opening date has been moved up from early 2018 to the fall of 2017. The new library will have about the same number of circulating books, 26 new computers available for the public, expanded community and meeting space for children and adults (with looping technology for the hearing impaired), stroller storage area and an outdoor reading area....

Rendering Of New Roosevelt Island Public Library Entrance Coming In 2017

Roosevelt Island New York Public Library (NYPL) Branch Manager Nicole Nelson invites you to a January 14 community conversation about the new NYPL Roosevelt Island branch coming to the first floor at 504 Main Street. According to Ms. Nelson:

The New York Public Library: Building for You

Please join The New York Public Library for a Community Conversation about the new Roosevelt Island Library
Thursday, January 14, 2016 | 6-8 PM
Good Shepherd Community Center
543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island

The New York Public Library is planning for a new home for the Roosevelt Island Library. We would like to hear your thoughts and ideas on the programs and services for the new library.

Learn more or share your feedback: nypl.org/capitalprojects | newrooseveltisland@nypl.org

Thank you

Happy New Years

Image From NYPL

Last November 9, Smith-Miller + Hawkinson Architects and representatives from the NY Public Library presented their latest plans for the new 5,200 square foot NYPL Roosevelt Island branch

 Front Entrance And Aerial View Of New Roosevelt Island Library From Smith-Miller+Hawkinson

to a joint meeting of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate and Operations Advisory Committee (audio web cast of meeting here).

Full video of the November 9 presentation and additional plans for the new NYPL Roosevelt Island branch available at this previous post.

Also, video of the December 2014 NYPL Roosevelt Island Town Hall Meeting is here.