SPONSORED POST - Check Out Roosevelt Island Gristedes Supermarket Customer Appreciation Days Special Sales, Product Tastings, Summer Raffle Prizes June 17 -30 - Also Bonus Card, Seniors Discount & Free Delivery Too

Roosevelt Island's Gristedes Supermarket is hosting Customer Appreciation Days from June 17 - June 30 with Special Sales, Product Tastings and a Raffle for Summer Prizes.

Among the Gristedes Deli Department Vendor Products tastings are:

• Sabraa Hummus
• Cabot Cheddar Cheeses
• Sartori Italian Cheeses
• Olive Branch Olives
• Boars Head
• Coco Lite Rice Cakes
• Ruggero Cookies
• Italian Style Taralli
• Calandra Baked Goods
• Alouette Spreadables

and from the Grocery Department too:

• BarkTHINS
• Bai
• Snyders
• Stella Breakfast treats
• Belvita
• Vitamin Water
• Utz snack
• Goya Maria Cookies, & Coconut Water

Fill out the Raffle Ticket at the Roosevelt Island Gristedes Supermarket

and you could win a summer

Beach Chair, Umbrella or Cooler.

Also, Roosevelt Island Gristedes Supermarket invites you to check out their:

• Groceries, 
• Organic & Gourmet, 
• Snacks
• Meat, 
• Fresh Produce, 
• Deli &;
• Fresh Bakery

Department Offerings for June 17 - June 30 (Pages 1-4)  and Perishable Items June 17 - 23 (Pages 5-6)

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, Facebook Page and Twitter feed.

Good News, Roosevelt Island F Train Service To And From Manhattan This Weekend - Roosevelt Island E Train Service Too

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

to and from Manhattan this weekend.

Also:

E Trains run via the F in both directions between W 4 St and 21 St-Queensbridge

Weekends, 11:45 PM Fri to 5 AM Mon, Jun 17 - 20 • Jun 24 - 27

New Roosevelt Island Resident Asks For Clean Up Of Graffiti On Walls And Otterness East River Sculpture, Shoreline Rock Garbage & Weeds In Northern Section Of Island

New Roosevelt Island resident Greg Morales shares these pictures and reports:

I just moved to RI about a month ago and was really impressed with the quality of landscape maintenance around my building (Island House) and the buildings to the south. This past weekend I went for a walk on the northern end

and was kind of taken aback by how crumby it looked. I know if this was a City park, I could call 311 or the park manager for the council district but who do I call here? And especially about garbage in the rocks of the shoreline?

Does anyone do cleanup days of the shoreline?

Are there no rules about graffiti removal?

 Inspections to see that weeds

are growing under the promenade benches?

I was particularly upset by the graffiti

on the Tom Otterness sculpture - less upset that it had been graffitied (that happens) but that it wasn't removed immediately and I'm sure others would be too if they knew. Must say the garbage on the rocks was the worst though,

 just kept thinking about all of the plastic in the oceans.

Roosevelt Island Marlins Swim Team End Of Year Celebration Party & BBQ At Octagon Park

The Roosevelt Island Marlins Swim Team 

 Image From Roosevelt Island Marlins Facebook Page

share scenes from their end of season celebration.


More information on the Roosevelt Island Marlins Swim Team available at their web site.

Gather Round My Country Folk For Common Man Musicals At Roosevelt Island Main Street Theater & Dance Alliance Friday June 17 Thru Monday June 20 - Buy Tickets And Encourage More Theater For Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island's Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MST&DA) is hosting a collection of new one act Common Man Musicals Friday June 17 - Monday June 20 at the Roosevelt Island Cultural Center (548 Main Street).

According to Kimbirdlee Fadner:

Gather Round, My Country Folk!

Image From Common Man Musicals

Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance is in cahoots with Common Man Musicals to initiate an ongoing project with the intention of gathering the community together in a positive, educational and inspiring atmosphere of live music and theater.

Image From Common Man Musicals

Jonathan Fadner and I created Common Man Musicals to produce new works of musical theatre that are relevant, relatable and affordable. Common Man Musicals launches this June with four original short musicals, presented Friday, June 17 through Monday, June 20 at 7:00pm at the Main Street Theatre &Dance Alliance on Roosevelt Island.

Each evening begins at 6:30pm with a party in the lobby before the eighty-minute presentation.

The line-up:

Droning On (Book and lyrics by Emily Roller, music by Jonathan Fadner)

An enraged mother seeks justice after her very special but otherwise ordinary son is shot down by a drone.

How Love Feels (Book and lyrics by Marella Martin Koch, music by Jonathan Fadner)

The man on the moon falls in love with Helen… who is engaged to Stan.

Make Your Mark (Book by Marella Martin Koch, lyrics by John Blaylock, music by Jonathan Fadner)

Why would a straight-A student obsessed with following the rules draw a penis on the board and then just leave? Felicia's friends are asking themselves the same question.

Silver Water Avenue Book Club (Book and lyrics by Sarah Fiete, music by Jonathan Fadner)

"Future on Fire", the latest book in a popular dystopian series, has just come out - and the Silver Water Ave Book Club could NOT be more excited. But when Impogene brings her brother Tristan to a meeting, the book club must face a villain of their own.

MST&DA Executive Director Kristi Towey adds:

Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance is thrilled to host Common Man Musicals at the Howe Theatre in the Roosevelt Island Cultural Center. When our youth music director Jonathan Fadner proposed this collaboration, we were excited at the opportunity to bring in original, new works to be performed in our community. We can't wait to see this talented young group take the stage!"

Tickets are $15 and $10 for students. Doors open at 6 PM, show starts at 7 PM.

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Hosting more theater productions is a great idea for MST&DA. Consider buying a ticket or two to encourage more live theater productions for Roosevelt Island.

Come Dance Around And Enjoy The Roosevelt Island Blue Dragon At Southpoint Park Saturday June 18 - Refreshments, Music And Crafts Too

As previously reported, the Roosevelt Island Blue Dragon Sculpture at Southpoint Park was donated by Swedish artists Ulla and Gustav Kraitz.

The Blue Dragon is unveiled at Southpoint Park! #rooseveltisland pic.twitter.com/IiOB0qWkaq

— RIOC NYS (@RIOCny) April 26, 2016

During the April 26, 2016 Blue Dragon unveiling ceremony at Southpoint Park, sculptor Gustave Kraitz said through a translator:

... This is a sculpture that asks to be touched and is an invitation to all children to please come up and touch it....

Upon hearing that the sculpture was meant to be touched, the Roosevelt Island kids rushed forward to meet their new Blue Dragon....

The Roosevelt Island kids at the unveiling like the Blue Dragon.



So, come dance around and enjoy the Roosevelt Island Blue Dragon at Southpoint Park Saturday June 18 from 1 - 3 PM. There will be music, refreshments and crafts too.

More on the Blue Dragon sculpture at this previous post.

2016 Macy's July 4 Fireworks Viewing From Roosevelt Island's FDR Four Freedoms And Southpoint Park - Online Ticket Registration Monday June 27, Residents Can Register 2 Hours Early -UPDATE 6/16 Residents Can Register June 26

 Image From RIOC

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) reports:

FOURTH OF JULY FAMILY FIREWORKS CELEBRATION

MONDAY, JULY 4, 2016 5PM—10:30PM EDT

SOUTHPOINT PARK & FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT FOUR FREEDOMS PARK

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Pre-registration for Fourth of July tickets is being made available to all Roosevelt Island residents. Registration will begin for island residents at 5 PM on Monday, June 27th. General registration will follow later that evening, at 7 PM.

There is a maximum of four (4) tickets per person. Children under four years old do not need a ticket. There will be no tickets available offline. Tickets will not be available at the event.

To register for tickets and for full event guidelines and rules, please visit our website at http://rioc.ny.gov/pdf/JULY4TH2016.pdf

Additional notifications will be sent to the community later today. Thank you.

More information on Roosevelt Island July 4 Fireworks available at this previous post.

UPDATE 6/16 - From RIOC:

Pre-registration for Fourth of July tickets is being made available to all Roosevelt Island residents. Registration will begin for island residents at 5 PM on Sunday, June 26th. General registration will follow on Monday, June 27th, at 5 PM.

There is a maximum of four (4) tickets per person. Children under four years old do not need a ticket. There will be no tickets available offline. Tickets will not be available at the event.

To register for tickets and for full event guidelines and rules, please visit our website at http://rioc.ny.gov/pdf/JULY4TH2016.pdf

Further notifications will be sent as the event date approaches. Thank you.

Rat Killing Roosevelt Island Homeless Cat Keeps Messy House - Local Wildlife Volunteers Clean Area Up After Receiving Resident Complaint

A Roosevelt Island resident shares this photo yesterday showing inside an open space

at bottom of Hudson Related construction shed next to the Southtown Commercial Garbage lot

Image of Construction Shed (left), Garbage Lot (right) and NYPD K9 Training Area (center)

and reports:

You don't think this is contributing to the rat problem? There are pounds of cat food feeding more rats than any 1 bad week of garbage.

The Commercial Garbage Lot received complaints and press coverage about overflowing garbage during the Memorial Day weekend.

I asked the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Island Services Committee (ISC):

Does anybody know what this mess in picture is?

... It looks like a feast for the rats.

RIRA ISC Committee member and Founder of the World Wildlife Freedom Foundation Rossana Ceruzzi explained:

It used to be a feeding space for a cat that got messed up with the missing door I guess.

Just checked and yes it looks bad. I will ask a volunteer to help clean up. The cat will stay though.

The cat takes care of business there by killing rats.

Yesterday, you could see the hole in the construction shed.

Today, the hole was boarded up.

More info on the Roosevelt Island homeless cats

 Image From World Wildlife Freedom Foundation

 available from the World Wildlife Freedom Foundation web site.

Home Grown Roosevelt Island Players Competing In The Zum Schneider FC '03 Soccer Derby For Gotham Soccer League Division 1 Title At Octagon Field Thursday Night June 16 - Come Out And Watch The Exciting Action

Roosevelt Island resident and Soccer Player Andrew Giacalone reports:

The 2016 Zum Schneider FC '03 Roosevelt Island Derby is Here!

Two of Roosevelt Island's winningest soccer teams will meet in a head-to-head clash on Roosevelt Island this week as they battle it out for the Gotham Soccer League Division 1 title in what will be the Island's first-ever soccer derby.

The two teams - Zum Schneider Blau and Zum Schneider Gelb - are satellite squads of the larger Zum Schneider FC '03 - a club whose spiritual home is at the Zum Schneider beer hall in the East Village but which has found numerous enthusiastic players and supporters among Roosevelt Island soccer aficionados.

Led by Roosevelt Island resident Robert Manukyan, Zum Schneider Blau is fresh off a successful season in the semi-professional Cosmopolitan Soccer League winning both promotion to the League's First Division and the League Cup - a historic double for any Roosevelt Island soccer team. I manage the Gelb Team which recently competed in its fourth Gotham Soccer League final.

This is a unique event for Roosevelt Island. I've lived on Roosevelt Island since 1989 and won a State Cup with the Roosevelt Island Strikers, but never has the Island produced so much home-grown talent and never would I have thought that two Island teams would be playing against each other in a competitive New York league.

Mr. Manukyan, who played his college soccer at Vassar, also praised the Island's development of talented players and voiced hope that the club would receive greater support and more enthusiasm from Island residents and businesses. To this day, only the Roosevelt Island Cleaners have offered any material support, washing, drying and folding the teams' home and away kits week in and week out.

“We obviously want to build a local and loyal fan-base and develop a soccer architecture here on the island under the Zum Schneider brand for generations to come,” confirmed Mr. Manukyan. "As a result, we're also actively recruiting and would love to welcome more Roosevelt Islanders into Zum Schneider FC '03 to play in one of our many teams."

The 2016 Zum Schneider FC '03 Roosevelt Island Derby kicks off at 9:00 PM on Thursday, June 16 at the Octagon Field.

Come out and watch some high-level soccer, follow us on Facebook and join the Zum Schneider Roosevelt Island Football Club family!

Make Dad A Mustache And Tie At Roosevelt Island Parents' Network Fathers Day Crafts With Kids Saturday June 18 - RSVP By June 16

Roosevelt Island Parents' Network Coordinator Eva Bosbach reports:

We would like to invite you to another event in the free "Crafts with Kids" series by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network.

Join us for "Father's Day Craft" this Saturday, June 18, 10-11 AM on Roosevelt Island. We will confirm the venue upon your RSVP. The event may be held outside if the weather is nice.
For this Father's Day we will give Dads a mustache card! With how "in trend" mustaches are right now, this card is super easy for children to make and, though it is simple, it is also adorable! Children can select a favorite mustache shape and glue it onto a card; the children can also write a special message for their Dads.

In addition, ties are a classic gift for dads so the children will make a "necktie keychain" for their Dads. It is something unique and can also be put to good use! The children will be able to personalize it by painting the necktie as they like.

Natalia will be leading our Father's Day Crafts and is generously sponsoring the supplies. Thank you Natalia! Another thank you goes to Cecilia for hosting us.

Please RSVP to eva.bosbach@gmail.com by Thursday, June 16. Location upon RSVP.

We are looking forward to seeing you! :)

Natalia, Neha and Eva

"Crafts with Kids" is a free workshop series for children organized by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network. The monthly events run since September 2014 and included "Tram art and necklaces", "Matisse for Kids", "Valentine's Craft", "Black History Month Craft", "Spring Craft", "St. Patrick's Craft", "Earth Day Craft", "Easter Craft", "Mothers Day Craft", "Fathers Day Craft", "Summer craft - a lady bug", a "Back to school craft", a "Halloween craft", a "Lantern making workshop", a "Thanksgiving Craft", a "Holiday Craft" and the "On Roosevelt Island We... Craft".

Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech June 2016 Community Town Hall Update - Campus Construction, Sportspark, 911 Emergency Service & Education Partnership With PS/IS 217

Cornell Tech hosted a Roosevelt Island Community Update Town Hall Meeting last night at the Manhattan Park Theater Club.

Among the presentations included a review of the plan for the new campus and the construction progress to date by Cornell Tech Director Of Capital Planning Andrew Winters. Mr. Winters emphasized the intent of the campus design is to be open, attractive and accessible to the community. The campus will open in the summer of 2017.

Here's what Mr. Winters had to say.



Mr. Winters also answered questions from the residents attending on a wide range of topics including Sportspark (despite rumors to the contrary, Cornell Tech has no interest in taking over management operations of Sportspark)



and problems with the 911 emergency service to Roosevelt Island (Cornell Tech is happy to help on improving the 911 emergency response for Roosevelt Island).



Also, Cornell Tech Director of K-12 Education Diane Levitt described the past and future partnership with Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217.



Will post the full video of Town Hall with additional presentations and more questions and answers as an update within the next couple of days, if not sooner.

Tugboats Maneuver One Thousand Ton Barge Mounted Crane On East River Today For Rockefeller University FDR Drive River Campus Construction Across From Roosevelt Island

We all know Cornell Tech is currently building it's new campus on Roosevelt Island. In fact, there is a Cornell Tech Community Update Town Hall Meeting 6:30 tonight at the Manhattan Park Theater Club. You're invited to come to learn about the project and ask questions.

But did you know that Rockefeller University is also adding 2 acres to its existing 14 acre Manhattan East Side campus by extending over the FDR Drive right across the East River from Roosevelt Island? Have you heard the construction noise at night?

Earlier today, tugboats maneuvered a one thousand ton barge mounted crane next to the Rockefeller University East River construction site across from Roosevelt Island.

Rockefeller University Barge Mounted Crane Being Maneuvered Into Place Today

According to the Rockefeller University Stavros Niarchos Foundation–David Rockefeller River Campus construction update web site:

Superstructure “module” installation begins night of June 14

Beginning in the evening of June 14, prefabricated structural modules that have been built at a construction yard in Keasbey, New Jersey, will begin arriving by barge and will be hoisted into place by a 1000-ton barge-mounted crane – the largest such crane on the East Coast.

There are 19 modules weighing up to 1.5 million pounds each, to be installed throughout June and July. Each lift will take place between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., with the exact timing depending on a number of factors including the tidal flow of the East River. For safety reasons, the FDR Drive will be closed in both directions, between 61st and 96th Streets, during lift operations, and the East River Esplanade will be closed to pedestrian traffic between 63rd and 71st Streets...

And:

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation–David Rockefeller River Campus initiative will add two acres and several buildings to the existing 14-acre campus of The Rockefeller University by extending the campus over the FDR Drive. The Niarchos Foundation–Rockefeller River Campus project will include new buildings with state-of-the-art laboratories, a dining commons, an academic center, and a conference center. As part of the project, the University will also repair the seawall along the East River and improve and beautify the public esplanade adjacent to the campus for the benefit of the greater New York City community.

More on the Rockefeller University Stavros Niarchos Foundation–David Rockefeller River Campus from this video



and campus web site.

Roosevelt Island Tram Service Suspended Tonight 10 PM Until 6 AM Tomorrow For Necessary Maintenance Work Says RIOC - 40 Thousand Pound Hydraulic Cylinder Being Replaced

.@Bluejean3Walton Fun! Did you take the @RooseveltIsland tram? It's one of our favorite ways to catch great views! pic.twitter.com/mcPz6n3isd

— NYC Explorers (@NYCExplorers) June 3, 2016

No Roosevelt Island Tram later tonight.

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Due to maintenance, Tram service will be suspended from 10:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2016 until 6:00 AM, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Consider alternate travel plans. Thank you for your patience during this necessary work.

UPDATE 2 PM - I asked RIOC Acting President Susan Rosnethal:

A reader asked why the Tram service was being suspended for maintenance overnight on June 14 - 15 as described in RIOC Advisory...

If the dual Tram Cabin system can operate independent of each other, can't one operate while the other is having maintenance performed?

Ms Rosenthal replied:

It is being shut down for public safety reasons....

... A crane will be used to replace a 40,000 pound hydraulic cylinder and HEAVY parts will be lifted overhead at the Manhattan station. Additionally, rigging equipment will be mobilized in the passenger access area. So, even though only one cabin is effected, it just isn’t safe to be there! In order to minimize the impact on our passenger service, we will be working during the night and resuming normal service in the morning.

Summer Camp Counselor Jobs Available At Roosevelt Island Youth Program - Apply Now

 Image From How I Save Money

Roosevelt Island Youth Program Executive Director Charlie Defino reports:

Staff Positions Available

The Roosevelt Island Youth Program is seeking counselors to work for its Summer Camp beginning July 7th, and ending August 19th, 2016. Staff must be at least 18 years of age and committed to working with children and be able to work Monday thru Friday, 8:45AM till 6PM. Please send your resume to RIBeacon@gmail.com or call Aikaterini Efthymiadou at 212-935-3645.

Roosevelt Island Ferry Dock, Resiliency Plan, Southpoint Park Open Space, Bicycle Ramp, Cultural Center Repairs & More On June 14 RIOC Board Real Estate Meeting Agenda

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Development Advisory Committee meets Tuesday June 14. According to RIOC

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. at the RIOC Administrative Office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

Agenda:

Discussion of Four Freedoms Park Facilities.

Discussion of City’s Resiliency Plan.

Update on Southpoint Open Space Community Plan Progress.

Discussion of Bicycle Ramp.

Update on Ferry Dock.

Discussion of Cultural Center Repairs.

Any Other Committee Business That May be Brought Before the Committee.

***

The Open Meetings Law of the State of New York requires that all public bodies conduct meetings, convened for the purpose of officially conducting public business, in a manner open to attendance by the general public to observe and listen.

A web cast will be available soon thereafter.