Friday, September 2, 2016

National Weather Service Issues NYC Tropical Storm Watch For Hermine - Be Prepared On Roosevelt Island



According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
The National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the New York City area until 1:00 AM on Saturday, September 3rd, 2016. A Tropical Storm Watch indicates that conditions are favorable for a Tropical Storm to form. A Tropical Storm has not yet developed or been reported in this area.

Tropical Storms can bring heavy rain and damaging winds, which can cause flying debris, turn unsecured objects into projectiles, and cause power outages. Therefore, please ensure all items that may be stored outdoors, specifically on terraces and patios, including patio furniture, are secured.

To prepare for power outages, charge cell phone batteries, gather supplies (bottled water, flashlights etc.) and turn refrigerators and freezers to a colder setting.

If you are affected by an outage, turn off all appliances and keep refrigerator/freezer doors closed to prevent food spoilage. Do not use generators indoors. If traveling, stay clear of downed power lines.

If anyone using Life Sustaining Equipment (LSE) needs immediate assistance or in the event of an emergency, please contact the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department at 212-832-4545 / 212-832-4546 or dial 911.

As conditions change frequently, for real-time weather information, please visit the National Weather Service.

Roosevelt Island Outdoor Movie Showing The Goonies At Firefighters Field Tonight

Roosevelt Island F Train Service To And From Manhattan This Labor DayWeekend - 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 21 St-Queensbridge and 2 Av
UPDATE 3 pm - E Train will not be running to Roosevelt Island this weekend.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Multiple Roosevelt Island Construction Projects Displacing Rats From Their Shelters - RIOC Will Escalate Efforts To Exterminate Vermin And Garbage Removal

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) acknowledged what residents have long known, Roosevelt Island rat sightings


are on the rise.


According to the (RIOC):
RIOC has learned that there have been increased sightings of vermin on Roosevelt Island due to our multiple ongoing construction projects.

While these projects are crucial to the development, maintenance, and modernization of our island, there is also the unfortunate danger of increased rodent activity, as they are displaced from their shelters. With this fully in mind, we are escalating all efforts on the island pertaining to extermination and garbage removal.

RIOC employs exterminators to service all indoor and outdoor RIOC facilities on a monthly basis and their next scheduled visit is this coming Tuesday, September 6th. The frequency of visits are subject to modification and we will investigate additional services for this current situation.

Also, notifications have been sent to all Roosevelt Island building managers to step up their efforts as well. We hope the community will assist us by making sure to dispose of all waste in proper receptacles and being proactive in keeping our island clean.

Victoria's Secret Model Roosevelt Island Airbnb Apartment Listing At Roosevelt Landings Was A Ripoff Says Lawyer And Is Suing - Model Says Roosevelt Island Apartment Is Not A Dump

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse reports:

According to Gothamist:
An associate at a corporate law firm is suing Airbnb and his supermodel host because the one-bedroom apartment he booked on Roosevelt Island—for $3,000 a month—didn't meet his expectations. Christian Pugaczewski spent one night in the apartment where he'd planned to spend the entire summer, dissatisfied with the building's empty cinder-block hallways that smelled like marijuana, holes inside the apartment, and a roach trap, among other concerns.

"There were holes in the floor," he told us Wednesday. "The stool legs were strategically placed in the holes. There were layers of grime built up on the window sills and the air conditioning units. There was a roach trap there too, so I assumed there was an infestation...."
 Image Of Roosevelt Landings

Click here for the full Gothamist article.

And from the NY Post:
... Airbnb didn’t publish the address, but based on the description, Pugaczewski believed the unit was located in the luxury Riverwalk condominium.

When he received the 540 Main St. address just before his move-in date he learned that the apartment was actually at the nearby Eastwood complex, a rundown development recently converted from federally-subsidized housing....
Click here for the full NY Post article.

The NY Daily News adds:
It is NOT a dump!

That’s what a Victoria’s Secret model insisted Wednesday about her Roosevelt Island apartment that was the subject of a new lawsuit by an unhappy Airbnb customer.

However, the model, Lyndsey Scott, said she “acknowledges” the complaints of attorney Christian Pugaczewski and is “working closely with Airbnb to ensure that this is settled in a fair and just manner.”....
Click here for the full NY Daily News article.

Here are some current Roosevelt Island Airbnb listings.

More on Airbnb operating in NYC.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Update On Roosevelt Island $8 Bags of Fresh Food For Seniors Program - Ordering Changes Due To Labor Day

Wendy Hersh reports on behalf of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association and the Carter Burden Center about the Roosevelt Island Fresh Food For Seniors Program


sponsored by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. According to Ms. Hersh:
Due to Labor Day ordering dates have changed for next week.

Wednesday 8/31, between 1 PM and 5 PM, all who paid for the Senior Fresh Food shopping bags will be able to pick them up at the senior center.


If you wish to participate in our next delivery date of 9/14, we will taking orders today. Otherwise a table will be set up in the senior center on Tuesday 9/6 and Wednesday 9/7 from 11 am to 1 pm in order for you to place your orders. All bags are $8.

Unfortunately we don't know what fruits and vegetables are in the bags ahead of time. Thanks again for your support. We only have (5) more deliveries before the end of the program for this year.

If we don't see you we would like to wish you a Happy Labor Day.
More info on the Roosevelt Island Fresh Food For Seniors Program at this previous post.

Also, check out the Roosevelt Island Seniors Facebook Page.

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Board Of Directors Audit Committee Meeting Today For Presentation Of 2017-18 Budget - Open To The Public

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors Audit Committee is meeting later today. According to RIOC:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Audit Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at 5:00 P.M. at the RIOC Administrative Office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

Agenda:

1. Presentation of the Proposed Budget FY 2017-18.

2. Authorization to Enter into Contract with EFPR Group, CPAS, PLLC for Independent Auditing Services.

3. 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.
An audio web cast of the meeting will be available soon thereafter.

Assistant Director Of Facilities Management Job Available At Cornell Tech's NYC Roosevelt Island Campus - Apply Now

Are you looking for a job on Roosevelt Island?


 If yes, and you have Facilities Management experience, Cornell Tech may have a job for you on its new Roosevelt Island campus



to open for the start of the Fall 2017 semester.

Cornell Tech is seeking an Assistant Director of Facilities Management for it Roosevelt Island campus. According to Cornell Tech:
Cornell Tech, a new model for graduate education, is committed to developing pioneering leaders and technologies for the digital age. But even in a digital world, location matters. Cornell Tech’s current campus – up and running in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood – benefits from its New York City location. When our future Roosevelt Island home opens in 2017 that synergy with the city will only grow. Further information about the Cornell Tech campus is available at www.tech.cornell.edu.

Working closely with Campus Security, Dining, Faculty and Students, the Facilities Department at Cornell Tech is committed to creating and sustaining a world class higher education institution. It is not very often an opportunity presents itself to help build a campus from the ground up, however the facilities department is currently laying the foundation for Cornell Tech’s state of the art campus on Roosevelt Island. Come and join us as we help shape the future of Cornell Tech.
Click here for more information about the Cornell Tech Assistant Director Of Facilities Management position and to apply.

Roosevelt Island's Cornell Tech has more jobs listed here.

Good luck!!!

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island Campus Construction Worker Injured In Fall From Scaffolding Today - Taken To Hospital For Assesement

A Roosevelt Island tipster reports this morning:

Bunch of fire trucks and ambulances


at Cornell site.
I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department Director Jack McManus what happened today at the Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island campus construction site. Chief McManus replied:
A construction worker fell 12-15 feet from a scaffold. He was conscious, alert, and taken to Elmhurst General for assessment.
Take a look at a live web cam of the Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech campus construction.

Roosevelt Island Parents' Network Back To School Crafts For Kids Saturday September 3 - Please RSVP By September 1

Roosevelt Island Parents' Network Coordinator Eva Bosbach reports:

Dear RI parents,

We hope you are all heaving a lovely summer! You are invited to another event in the free "Crafts with Kids" series by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network.

Join us for "Back to School Craft" on Saturday, September 3rd, 10:00-11:00 am. We will confirm the venue upon your RSVP.


It is back to school time and all our kids are super excited to be back in school. It is the first time for many of our little ones and their moms and dads. This month craft is all fun and learning. The kids get to create their own school bus and take it home! We will have bus shapes, squares and circles cut outs, as well as scissors and crayons ready.

Toddlers can use our pre-cut bus shapes, older children can cut out the bus by themselves and decide on the length and exact shape of it. Children can add their own faces and their friends' faces as well. They can add the name of their school and decorate the bus if they wish. Let's make our school bus colorful and fun! Let's help our little ones have a smooth and safe ride to school :).

Neha will be leading our Back to school craft, designed and generously sponsored with supplies by Natalia. Thank you Neha and Natalia! Another thank you goes to Cecilia for hosting us.

Please RSVP to eva.bosbach@gmail.com by Thursday, September 1st.

If you have craft event ideas you would like us to include in the "Crafts with Kids" series, or if you have other ideas for activities of the RI Parents' Network or would like to get involved, please get in touch with me.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

Cecilia, Natalia, Neha and Eva

"Crafts with Kids" is a free workshop series for children organized by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network. The monthly events 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".
Contact RIPN for more information.

Monday, August 29, 2016

Photos From Early History Of Roosevelt Island - You're Invited To RIHS Opening Reception For Exhibition Of Reverend Oliver Chapin Collection Wednesday August 31 At Octagon Gallery

The Roosevelt Island Historical Society reports:

The Roosevelt Island Historical Society Invites You to a Reception for the Exhibit

The Chapin Collection:
Photographs Assembled by Reverend Oliver Chapin at Octagon Gallery, 888 Main Street Wednesday, August 31, 2016, 6 pm - 8 pm

The exhibit, currently open, continues through September 1, 2016.

Reverend Oliver Chapin lived and worked on Roosevelt Island from 1964 until his death in 1999. He was the Protestant Chaplain at Coler Hospital until 1997 and the full-time Protestant Episcopal Vicar of the Church of the Good Shepherd until 1999. During that time, Reverend Chapin amassed an extensive array of maps, books, photographs, and manuscripts about the island. As Roosevelt Island's first historian, he lead tours and gave lectures about island history. His collection forms the basis of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society's archives.


Metropolitan Hospital. The hospital occupied the facility vacated by the city asylum from 1894-1955. (Roosevelt Island Historical Society Archives)

Now, the RIHS is delighted to present a selection of Reverend Chapin's photographs. Most of the pictures in the collection depict Roosevelt (formerly Welfare) Island from the early years of the 20th century through the 1950s. The display includes images of the Roosevelt Island chapels and a photo of Mae West, who spent several days at the workhouse on Welfare Island.

The exhibit opened on August 6 and will continue at the Octagon gallery through Thursday, September 1. Please join the Roosevelt Island Historical Society for a reception on Wednesday, August 31 from 6 pm to 8 pm.

The reception and show are FREE and open to the public.

DIRECTIONS: Take the Tram at 59th Street and Second Avenue or the F train to Roosevelt Island. After leaving either the tram or the subway station, take the Roosevelt Island red bus north to the last stop. Walk a few steps to the Octagon.

The Roosevelt Island Historical Society thanks Bozzuto Management and RIVAA for the use of the Octagon Gallery.