Gallery RIVAA is pleased to invite you to yet another exciting session of First Sunday Jazz Salon this Sunday, July 10th at 4:00 pm at Gallery RIVAA. Please join us and enjoy the evening with some really nice jazz music.
The long time operator of the Roosevelt Island Senior Center was replaced this week by the NYC DFTA. Starting July 1, the Carter Burden Center For The Aging will operate the contract to provide Roosevelt Island Senior Services. No reason has been announced for replacing the Roosevelt Island Senior Center.
The Carter Burden Center for the Aging (CBCA)will be the new agency running the Roosevelt Island Senior Center, They are dedicated to promoting the well-being of New Yorkers, aged sixty and over, through a full spectrum of services, advocacy and volunteer programs. Their organizational mission is to promote the safety and dignity of seniors and enriching the lives of those they serve.
CBCA Executive Director Bill Dionne attended the Roosevelt Island Senior Center July 4 Celebration Party. Mr. Dionne spoke to the approximately 75 seniors attending and said:
... I can't get over the level of volunteerism that takes place here.
But, it is important to realize that the Department has empowered us to have the sponsorship of this program legally.
We are very excited to work hand and hand to build as well as we can going forward.
Its also very important to realize with the Carter Burden Center, as with all of our Centers throughout the City, all of our programs are free of charge. You need to be a member of the Carter Burden Center. Everything that we do is free of charge. That is what the Older Americans Act requires and we stay very true to that mission.
We are so excited to be here....
Here's Mr. Dionne speaking:
Some Roosevelt Island Seniors have expressed concerns regarding the Carter Burden Center taking over management of the Senior Center.
Joan Markey expressed some of those concerns:
Carter Burden Center took over the Senior Center last Friday, July 1. It cut the pay of all the instructors to $30 a class. The instructors had been paid $40. Carter Burden is also refusing to pay the cost of art supplies for art classes as in the past.
The Seniors are worried that the lower fees will cause popular instructors to quit. About 50 Seniors signed letter below asking the DFTA Commissioner and elected officials to choose a different sponsor for the Roosevelt Island Senior Center or to make sure CBCA enhances existing Senior programs.
I am receiving emails from Roosevelt Island Seniors concerned that programs are being reduced and that instructors are leaving because they are receiving smaller fees for their classes now that the Carter Burden Center has taken over.
Is it true that instructors will receive smaller fees for their classes and programs are being reduced?
and about the use of the Roosevelt Island Senior Center as a Cooling Center during the very hot weather.
Mr. Dionne replied:
We are still in the process of discovery with all programming at the center. We have invited all the instructors to stay and in an effort to not reduce service we need to have feedback regarding which instructors will stay and which will need to be replaced. Our concern is to offer as many classes as possible and we must maximize the use of our DFTA consultant budget.
Cooling Center operation: we are continuing to work with building management to ensure seniors’ access to a convenient cooling center. The senior Center will remain open this evening, Thursday July 7th until 8pm and tomorrow, Friday , July 8th , it will have extended hours from 8am until 7pm to comply with the National Weather Service’s heat advisory.
A meeting is being held today with CBCA, Roosevelt Island Seniors Association (RISA) and Urban American, the landlord for the Senior Center in Roosevelt Landings. According to a meeting participant:
There is a meeting scheduled today.
Primary reason: to smooth the waters of duties, responsibilities and programs regarding Carter Burden and RISA.
The meeting was organized by Doryne Isley, the Urban American Project Manager, representing the buildings landlord. She will be chairing the meeting.
I asked Urban American for a statement on the subject and received a no comment at this time reply.
Ms. Green thanked Senator Serrano for the award and congratulated Ms. Parker on being RISA President. Ms Green also asked for a stop to the bad rumors about the Senior Center and said RISA will be working with CBCA to make a relationship.
For an interesting profile of Carter Burden Center for the Aging Executive Director Bill Dionne read this June 15, NY Press article
William Dionne has watched the Carter Burden Center for the Aging flourish in the 25 years he’s been its executive director. “It’s been ever growing. When I started there was just one location. We now have nine different locations,” he said of the philanthropic organization that provides services for New Yorkers 60 and older.
When he began there in 1991, the center was assisting 1,500 seniors. It now helps 5,000 with 3,500 volunteers and a staff of 85. Dionne says his work at CBCA keeps him enthusiastic and quite busy, since the landscape for elderly residents is constantly changing. “The issues that we’re facing in aging today are very different than the ones we were looking at 25 years ago. And the gaps in service and need just keep growing,” he explained.
As for initiatives that have launched since his tenure began, one has been the building of a facility on East 99th Street to house 1,700 people after the decommissioning of the Coler-Goldwater Hospital on Roosevelt Island. Another worthwhile project they’ve instituted is an art gallery in Chelsea where reemerging senior artists can exhibit their work....
UPDATE 7:45 PM - Following meeting today, CBCA's Bill Dionne adds:
We are pleased to announce that the Carter Burden Center for the Aging, the NYC Department for the Aging, Roosevelt Island Senior Association, and Doryne Isley, Portfolio Manager for Urban American, have agreed to continue our positive cooperative efforts on behalf of Roosevelt Island’s seniors. We look forward to having you join us on this journey.
As a part of our commitment to support critical services for my constituents on Roosevelt Island, I have allocated $5,000 to The Carter Burden Center for the Aging. These funds will be used towards Roosevelt Island Senior Center recreational programs and classes that promote wellness, socialization, and education. Roosevelt Islanders can continue to count on my support to enhance the quality of life in our community
According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
Join us where everything seems possible and nothing is what it seems!
This Saturday, July 9th, we will be screening the film Labyrinth at Firefighter’s Field. Movie night fun begins at 7 PM. There will be music, trivia, prizes and a journey through Jim Henson's world of fantasy and adventure! You are welcome to bring blankets and lawn chairs. There will be food on-site, available for purchase.
In the event of rain, Labyrinth will be rescheduled for Saturday, July 16th.
Schedule of screenings this summer:
Saturday, July 9th- Labyrinth
Friday, July 22nd- Inside Out
Friday, August 5th- Across the Universe
Saturday, August 6th- The Goonies
Friday, August 19th- Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
This free event is sponsored by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.
Please be advised that the outdoor movie scheduled for this Saturday, July 9th at Firefighters' Field has been cancelled due to the forecast of thunderstorms throughout the day and evening. The movie has been rescheduled for next Saturday, July 16th. We hope to see you then!
The Main Street Theater & Dance Alliance hosted several evenings of Roosevelt Island Stand Up and Family Friendly Improv Comedy shows at the Cultural Center starting last April through June.
After three amazing months of improv and stand up shows, Roosevelt Island's Only Comedy show will be going on a brief summer hiatus for the months of July & August. The hiatus will allow for some much needed renovations in the Roosevelt Island Cultural Center and is also in recognition that we all should be spending more time outside.
We will be spending the summer revamping the shows, building line ups curated specially for Roosevelt Island, and preparing the improv classes that will begin in the fall. We've had an amazing three months so far and we can't wait to come back this fall. We hope to spend this summer building even closer ties to the community and raising awareness about the shows themselves.
Should the renovations end on time, the first show in the fall will be family friendly improv on September 9th at 7pm followed by stand up comedy on September 23rd at 9pm."
Looking forward to the return of Roosevelt Island's Only Comedy Show.
Travel between the real world and the virtual world of Pokémon with Pokémon GO for iPhone and Android devices. With Pokémon GO, you’ll discover Pokémon in a whole new world—your own! Pokémon GO is built on Niantic’s Real World Gaming Platform and will use real locations to encourage players to search far and wide in the real world to discover Pokémon. Pokémon GO allows you to find and catch more than a hundred species of Pokémon as you explore your surroundings.
The Pokémon video game series has used real-world locations such as the Hokkaido and Kanto regions of Japan, New York, and Paris as inspiration for the fantasy settings in which its games take place. In Pokémon GO, the real world will be the setting!
Get on your feet and step outside to find and catch wild Pokémon. Explore cities and towns around where you live and even around the globe to capture as many Pokémon as you can. As you move around, your smartphone will vibrate to let you know you're near a Pokémon. Once you've encountered a Pokémon, take aim on your smartphone's touch screen and throw a Poké Ball to catch it. Be careful when you try to catch it, or it might run away! Also look for PokéStops located at interesting places, such as public art installations, historical markers, and monuments, where you can collect more Poké Balls and other items....
With Cornell Tech campus opening next summer, we may see Roosevelt Island pop up more in future mobile phone apps.
Calling all Roosevelt Islanders who care about the environment! We want to connect people and support greening initiatives of all kinds on Roosevelt Island. We are gardeners and Girl Scout leaders, restaurant managers and bloggers, producers and teachers, and more. We are an informal group of people working on varied kinds of service for Roosevelt Island and our environment.
Come work with us as we make our beautiful neighborhood even more "green!" We are currently looking for people for two specific projects. Students interested in community service are welcome. Long term or short term commitments welcome.
Every week, a group of us are already saving almost 10 5-gallon buckets
of used Starbucks coffee grounds from the landfill and hoping to add Main Street Sweets coffee to the program as well. Coffee raises the temperature
of the composting, breaking organic materials down faster
to create nutrient-rich compost for trees and plants
right here on Roosevelt Island! It also reduces methane gas by keeping the coffee out of the landfill. We could use more help getting the Starbucks Grounds for the Garden to the compost area and would be glad to share with other garden sites or composters as well.
We could use your help to spread the word to get more people to collect food scraps, help set-up and take-down the compost table/bins, or give the staff a lunch/bathroom break. Through this program Roosevelt Islanders have already diverted more than 6 tons of food scraps from landfill in the past 7 months.
Grounds for the Garden is a corporate program that Starbucks began in 1995. We are fortunate that Ryan, manager of our Roosevelt Island Starbucks, and Anthony, RIGC Compost Chair, got together and formed a plan along with Julia, a member, and Aiesha, a new associate. After donating food grade buckets and covering them with our logos, we began making regular pick ups at Starbucks .... The coffee grounds go into our RIGC compost piles and provide nitrogen rich ph balanced ingredients that are working like magic!
Starbucks manager Ryan is seen below handing over buckets of coffee grounds to Anthony for composting.
Starbucks serves freshly-brewed coffee to millions of customers each day. But many may not know they can also pick up a free bag of used coffee grounds to enrich their gardens and compost.
Starbucks started its Grounds for Your Garden program in 1995, which is offered on a first-come, first-served basis in participating stores where local codes permit. Even the packaging has been reused – baristas scoop spent coffee grounds into the empty bags originally used to ship espresso beans to stores....
A photo posted by Chauncey Dandridge (@houseofdandridge) on
More scenes from the Roosevelt Island July 4 Fireworks celebration at Southpoint and FDR Four Freedoms Park.
It began with ticket holders showing their tickets,
exchanging them for wristbands
and going through security
while others waited at Firefighters Field hoping to get Standby Tickets.
At Southpoint Park, a few people stopped to listen to Shiner and the Kyle Lacy Band on their way towards the main fireworks viewing area at FDR Four Freedoms Park. The band's music was played on the speakers in FDR Four Freedoms Park.
There were supposed to be several food trucks at Southpoint Park but only one showed up
causing some unhappiness for hungry fireworks watchers.
According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
Please be advised that both Southpoint Park and Four Freedoms Park will close at 12 PM on Monday, July 4, 2016 to begin preparations for the 4th of July Fireworks Celebration. The parks will re-open at 5 PM with entry only for individuals who show valid tickets to the event. Thank you.
And:
FOURTH OF JULY FAMILY FIREWORKS CELEBRATION
MONDAY, JULY 4, 2016 5PM—10:30PM EDT
SOUTHPOINT PARK & FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT FOUR FREEDOMS PARK
As part of the event, enjoy live music from Shiner and The Kyle Lacy Band, who will rock out on the Southpoint Park lawn from 5:30 – 9:15 PM!
Glow sticks will be on sale to brighten the party atmosphere and attendees can get festive designs by our face painters! Food, including Neapolitan Express Pizza, Main Street Sweets, and Great Performances, will also be available for purchase inside Southpoint Park. Fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9:25 PM!
Except, RIOC announced that single standby tickets are available.
STANDBY TICKETS
FOURTH OF JULY FAMILY FIREWORKS CELEBRATION
MONDAY, JULY 4, 2016 5PM—10:30PM EDT
SOUTHPOINT PARK & FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT FOUR FREEDOMS PARK
Due to the overwhelming demand, a limited number of standby tickets will be available at Firefighter’s Field on Monday, July 4th between 6-8:30 PM. Standby tickets will be given out on a first come, first served basis until capacity has been reached. Standby tickets will be one per person. Attendees must be present to receive standby wristband. YOU MUST CHECK IN FOR A STANDBY WRISTBAND AT FIREFIGHTER’S FIELD TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR STANDBY TICKETS.
Visitors to Lighthouse, Southpoint and Four Freedoms Parks are advised that the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department (PSD) will be conducting security spot checks of containers, backpacks and oversized bags that are brought into the parks on Monday, July 4, 2016. Visitors are reminded that alcoholic drinks, outside grills, illegal drugs, and other illegal items are strictly prohibited within the parks.
As a reminder, fireworks are not permitted in New York State, including on Roosevelt Island, at any time. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
And:
Please be advised that on Monday July 4, 2016, visitor parking at the Motorgate Garage will be limited to ensure adequate parking for residents and patrons with a monthly permit. Residents without a monthly access card should be prepared to show proof of residency when approaching the 36th Avenue bridge. It is recommended that residents who need to park in Motorgate arrive no later than 5 pm to secure admittance.
As a reminder, fireworks are not permitted in New York State, including on Roosevelt Island, at any time.
Have a happy and safe July 4 celebration.
UPDATE 5 PM - Ticket holders line next to Visitors Center Kiosk
and Stand By ticket line next to Firefighters Field
started to form shortly after 4 PM today.
UPDATE 11:PM - Heavy rain began about 8 PM and many, including me, left before the fireworks started.
If you stayed and have pictures or video of the fireworks, please send over and share.
According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
Please be advised that both Southpoint Park and Four Freedoms Park will close at 12 PM on Monday, July 4, 2016 to begin preparations for the 4th of July Fireworks Celebration. The parks will re-open at 5 PM with entry only for individuals who show valid tickets to the event. Thank you.
And:
FOURTH OF JULY FAMILY FIREWORKS CELEBRATION
MONDAY, JULY 4, 2016 5PM—10:30PM EDT
SOUTHPOINT PARK & FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT FOUR FREEDOMS PARK
As part of the event, enjoy live music from Shiner and The Kyle Lacy Band, who will rock out on the Southpoint Park lawn from 5:30 – 9:15 PM!
Glow sticks will be on sale to brighten the party atmosphere and attendees can get festive designs by our face painters! Food, including Neapolitan Express Pizza, Main Street Sweets, and Great Performances, will also be available for purchase inside Southpoint Park. Fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9:25 PM!
Except, RIOC announced that single standby tickets are available.
STANDBY TICKETS
FOURTH OF JULY FAMILY FIREWORKS CELEBRATION
MONDAY, JULY 4, 2016 5PM—10:30PM EDT
SOUTHPOINT PARK & FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT FOUR FREEDOMS PARK
Due to the overwhelming demand, a limited number of standby tickets will be available at Firefighter’s Field on Monday, July 4th between 6-8:30 PM. Standby tickets will be given out on a first come, first served basis until capacity has been reached. Standby tickets will be one per person. Attendees must be present to receive standby wristband. YOU MUST CHECK IN FOR A STANDBY WRISTBAND AT FIREFIGHTER’S FIELD TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR STANDBY TICKETS.
Visitors to Lighthouse, Southpoint and Four Freedoms Parks are advised that the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department (PSD) will be conducting security spot checks of containers, backpacks and oversized bags that are brought into the parks on Monday, July 4, 2016. Visitors are reminded that alcoholic drinks, outside grills, illegal drugs, and other illegal items are strictly prohibited within the parks.
As a reminder, fireworks are not permitted in New York State, including on Roosevelt Island, at any time. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
And:
Please be advised that on Monday July 4, 2016, visitor parking at the Motorgate Garage will be limited to ensure adequate parking for residents and patrons with a monthly permit. Residents without a monthly access card should be prepared to show proof of residency when approaching the 36th Avenue bridge. It is recommended that residents who need to park in Motorgate arrive no later than 5 pm to secure admittance.
As a reminder, fireworks are not permitted in New York State, including on Roosevelt Island, at any time.
Have a happy and safe July 4 celebration.
UPDATE 5 PM - Ticket holders line next to Visitors Center Kiosk
and Stand By ticket line next to Firefighters Field
started to form shortly after 4 PM today.
UPDATE 11:PM - Heavy rain began about 8 PM and many, including me, left before the fireworks started.
If you stayed and have pictures or video of the fireworks, please send over and share.
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
