Gorgeous Aerial Photo Of Roosevelt Island East River Sunset - We Live Here

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse reports:

Questa è Roosevelt Island. Così sospesa tra Queens e Manhattan. Nel cuore dell'East River. pic.twitter.com/Ly94obcspj

— angelo bruno (@angelobruno19) March 4, 2017

Google Translates:

This is Roosevelt Island. So suspended between Queens and Manhattan. In the heart of the East River.

UPDATE 3/6:

Roosevelt Island captured by killianmoore from the 🚁 #rooseveltisland #nyc #sunset #island… https://t.co/aVXDKL1LM9

— WingsAir Helicopters (@WingsAirHeli) March 5, 2017

Marvel's The Punisher Filming On Roosevelt Island Today

A film crew

was setting up today on

Roosevelt Island's Main Street

and the West Promenade Pier.

OLV reports that the new Netflix Series in the Marvel Universe, The Punisher is filming today on Roosevelt Island:

TV Series: The Punisher
Stars: Jon Bernthal
Location:Main St, Roosevelt Island

According to Netflix:

After the murder of his family, Frank Castle is both haunted and hunted. In the criminal underworld, he'll become known as The Punisher.

The Punisher is back. Locked and loaded.https://t.co/nGKCa2taEV

— Netflix US (@netflix) April 29, 2016

You're Invited To Gallery RIVAA Vernissage XVI Exhibit Opening Reception Saturday March 4 - Celebrating 16 Years Of Roosevelt Island Art, Music, Poetry, Dance & More

Roosevelt Island's Gallery RIVAA is celebrating 16 years of community service. According to Gallery RIVAA:

Vernissage XVI
RIVAA Anniversary Exhibition by RIVAA member artists and guests
Saturday, March 4, 2017 to Sunday, April 9, 2017
Opening Reception: Saturday, March 4, 2017 from 6-9 PM

The Roosevelt Island Visual Art Assoc.is a non-profit organization comprised of an internationally diverse group of artists. RIVAA opened the first gallery on Roosevelt Island in March 2002 and is dedicated to elevating the quality of life in the community through art, music, poetry, dance, events and workshops.

Gallery Hours:
Wednesdays and Fridays 6 – 9pm
Saturdays and Sundays 11am – 5pm

Also:

Special Presentation Featuring Historic Photographs of Global Leaders by Griff Davis.

Photo by Griff Davis of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall defending Ada Lois Sipuel vs University of Oklahoma Law School.

And:

The Octagon Gallery
Date: March 4 - April 9, 2017
Title: Solo Exhibition by RIVAA member "Piotr Olszewski Photographer"
Opening reception: Saturday, March 11, 6-9pm

Hours:
9am - 9pm daily

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

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

to and from Manhattan this weekend. Normal F Train service in Manhattan and Queens too.

Roosevelt Island Historical Society Spring Events - Interesting Lectures, Subway Tour, Cherry Blossom Walk, Coler Hospital Community Advisory Board Brunch & More

Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) President Judy Berdy spoke at the March 1 Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Session. Ms. Berdy invited the RIRA Common Council Members and all Roosevelt Island residents to upcoming RIHS events including:

• Thursday, March 2 North Brother Island lecture at the Roosevelt Island Library
• Friday, March 3 Coler Hospital Community Advisory Board Legislative Brunch
• Sunday March 19 2nd Avenue Subway Tour
• Saturday April 22 Annual Cherry Blossom Walk (UPDATE 3/17 - Cherry Blossom Walk is Sunday April 30

The RIHS adds:

Reminder:
The Roosevelt Island Historical Society
Invites You to the
First of Four Free Lectures

North Brother Island: The Last Unknown Place in New York City

by Christopher Payne, Photographer

North Brother Island. Photo credit: Christopher Payne.

New York Public Library Branch on Roosevelt Island
Thursday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m.

Travel to a place frozen in time: North Brother Island, which few have heard of, sits in the East River, between The Bronx and Rikers Island. Christopher Payne, photographer, will explore the colorful past, present and future of this island, where today nature is reclaiming the abandoned buildings, in a lecture at the New York Public Library branch on Roosevelt Island, on Thursday, March 2, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.

North Brother Island once was the site of Riverside Hospital, a quarantine hospital originally situated on Blackwell’s Island, and later housed veterans' residences and a juvenile drug treatment center. Today, the island is a wildlife sanctuary. Payne was granted permission by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to photograph and document the island, which is closed to the public.

This lecture is the first in a series of four free programs sponsored by the Roosevelt Island Historical Society. Future programs include:

-On Thursday, April 6, RIHS President Judith Berdy will discuss the role that Roosevelt Island's Metropolitan Hospital played in World War I. This historic institution was one of a number of American hospitals that sent doctors, nurses and other staff members to run field hospitals in Europe during the Great War.

-On Thursday, May 4, photographer Charles Giraudet, who photographed Goldwater Hospital before that facility was demolished, will share his impressions and photographs of Queens' Triboro Hospital, now scheduled to be closed.

-On Thursday, June 15, Tom Campanella, historian-in-residence at the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and associate professor and director of undergraduate studies in Cornell’s Department of City and Regional Planning, will discuss the environment. This program takes place at Cornell's new Architecture and Planning (AAP) facility in lower Manhattan. Details to come.

These events are FREE and open to the public. All programs begin at 6:30 p.m. The 3/2, 4/6 and 5/4 programs take place in the Roosevelt Island branch of the New York Public Library. RIHS will provide details about the 6/15 program in a future announcement.

DIRECTIONS to the Roosevelt Island NYPL branch: Take the Tram at 59th Street and Second Avenue or the F train to Roosevelt Island. Take the red bus (no charge) or walk eight minutes north to 524 Main Street.

You can get more information and join the Roosevelt Island Historical Society at their web site or walk into their Visitors Center Kiosk 

 Image From RIHS

next to the Tram Station.

UPDATE 3/17 - RIHS Cherry Blossom Walk is Sunday April 30.

Roosevelt Island Youth Program Beacon Summer Camp Jobs Available - If You're 14-24 Years Of Age, Apply For Jobs Now

According to the Roosevelt Island Youth Program/Beacon:

Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) at the ROOSEVELT ISLAND YOUTH PROGRAM / BEACON:

If you're 14-24 years old, and you have an interest in a work opportunity with the Roosevelt Island Youth Program Beacon Summer Camp, please choose of the following options to apply:

• Apply online by going to: https://application.nycsyep.com/

Select Queens

If you are 14-15 years old:
- Choose Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee as your provider, or use PIN# WPA254799

If you are 16-24 years old:
- Choose Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee as your provider, or use PIN#WPA704312

If you have any questions or need additional information, do not hesitate to call us at (212) 527-2505

More info on NYC Summer Youth Employment here.

Here's a report from April 2016 about the NYC Summer Employment Program.



Good luck.

Referendum On RIOC Directors Performance, Southpoint Park Wildlife Protection, Cornell Integration, Removing Roosevelt Island Activist As Secretary And More On Agenda For March 1 RIRA Meeting - Come Learn What's Going On

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will hold it's monthly meeting this evening, March 1, at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).

 Image Of November 30, 2016 RIRA Common Council Meeting

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.

Among the items on tonight's RIRA Agenda are:

• Cornell Integration Task Force,
• Committee Reports, 
• Resolution To Protect Southpoint Park Wildlife,
• Resolution To Hold Referendum On RIOC Directors Performance and
• Requirements For Position Of RIRA Secretary (Another attempt to remove activist and current RIRA Secretary Frank Farance from RIRA)

Below is the Agenda for tonight's RIRA Meeting.

AGENDA

If at all possible, please arrive 15 mins early to help set up tables and chairs

Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2017

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. President’s Call to Seat Todd Caplan as Treasurer

3. Roll Call of Common Council Members

4. Adoption of Agenda

5. Approval of Minutes

a. February 1, 2017 Common Council Meeting Minutes

6. Treasurer Pro Tempore Report

7. President’s Report & Business

a. President’s Call for Ad Hoc Committee Chair, Cornell Integration Task Force

8. Committee Reports & Business

a. Children Youth & Education Ad Hoc Committee Report

b. Planning Committee Report & Resolution

i. Resolution for the Protection of Ecological and Wildlife Balance and Limited Alteration to SouthPoint Park (Movant: David Lawson, Planning Committee Chair)

c. Island Services Committee Report

d. SC&E Committee & Subcommittee Reports

i. Hands Only CPR Subcommittee Report

ii. Pay-It-Forward Subcommittee Report

e. Public Safety Committee Report

f. Constitution & Bylaws Committee Report

9. Old Business

10. New Business

a. Resolution to Hold Referendum on Each RIOC Director and the Performance of Their Role on the RIOC Board (Movant: Joyce Short, Government Relations Committee Chair)

Come to tonight's RIRA meeting and learn what is going on.

UPDATE 3/2 - Resolution on RIOC Directors performance was not voted on but may be on the RIRA April Agenda.

Removing RIRA Secretary was not voted upon either. RIRA will see if anyone else wants the position before acting on removing current Secretary.

RIRA Youth & Education Committee Celebrate Roosevelt Island Black History Month At Senior Center - Music, Dance, Poetry, Personal HIstory & Community On Display

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Child, Youth & Education Ad Hoc Committee Co-Chair Adib Mansour reports:

Children, Youth & Education Committee Celebrates Black History Month:

As part of our commitment to the youth and their community, the Children, Youth & Education Committee hosted a celebration of Black History Month at the Senior Center on Monday February 20th in collaboration with the Carter Burden Center, The Disabled Association, the Public Safety Department, and Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC).

Over 65 seniors and their families and friends attended to the event which started with a welcoming speech by Public Safety Deputy Director Kevin Brown who elaborated on his personal understanding of Black History. Deputy Director Brown talked about growing up under the guidance of his grandmother, who taught him to keep his head up and overcome any and all obstacles with steadfastness. He confessed his pride in his children and their successful education, always instilling progress upon them, following a life-long view on life through the teachings of his grandmother.



I spoke about the Children, Youth & Education committee’s vision and goals to promote leadership with the youth of the island and getting them involved with our community.



Lauren Burrows and Jeff Jones entranced the audience with their angelic voices singing “Lift Every Voice And Sing”.



I introduced one of the two leadership program’s stars, Anyah Lamb who read her own personal prose that embodies the meaning of Black History Month to her.



Anyah ended her speech with moving words that commemorate the writings of Maya Angelou, which was a perfect segue introducing Tia Young, who beautifully read Angelou’s “Inauguration Poem” .



Anyah and Tia have both been active in the community through RIRA’s Children, Youth and Education Committee for the last year. No strangers to the Senior Center, they offered an eloquent and animated dance that takes roots in African traditional moves combined with energetic modern interpretations.



After the dance, Mary Coleman

elaborated on the positive role strong African American disabled women imposed on our history, then introduced one of our communities’ own powerful role models, Dolores Green and presented her beautiful flowers.

Miss Green asked me to read a tribute to Martin Luther King who taught us to stand together for equality in this land. Wendy Hersh culminated the first part of the event with an appreciation of Dolores’ positive impact on our community through her 16 years as president of the Senior Center Association and through her diligence in insuring the Seniors always received the care and service they deserve. Mary and Wendy presented Dolores with a special plaque and a framed certificate in honor of her service. Soon after, everyone sang Dolores Happy Birthday as it was her special day.



Before lunch break, the Roosevelt Island Girls Scout of America

read about the consequential importance the African American female “computers” who secured the safe travel and orbit of John Glenn: Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Juliette Coleman.

After a succulent lunch, the crowd was introduced to Roy Eaton who concluded the 4 hours event with a recitation of his life struggles as the first successful African American man in Advertising. He recounts his perseverance and overcoming all the segregation-imposed obstacles to become a well known celebrity in the field.



Many thanks to Lynne Shinozaki for her tireless hard work behind the scene to insure a quality event for the seniors of our island. Also a big thank you to Lisa Fernandez (Director of the Senior Center / Carter Burden), and Hallie Shapiro (Outreach Director of the Senior Center / Carter Burden).

RIRA’s Children, Youth & Education committee is planning numerous leadership programs and community involvement projects. If you, your child, or your family would like to participate in these programs and projects, please feel free to contact committee’s co-chairs Anne Heskel (aheskel@gmail.com) or me (RIRAdib@earthlink.net - or call (646) 283-4973).

Mr. Mansour adds:

The recently formed RIRA Children, Youth & Education Committee was delighted to honor the seniors of our island. As part of our Youth Community Service program, a group of 7 young PS/IS 217 4th graders packed “Goodie Bags”

with products donated by gratifying vendors from Roosevelt Island, including: Gristedes, Bread & Butter Deli, and Wholesome Factory, as well as succulent breads by Pain d’Avignon, owned by island residents and distributed at the Plaza Hotel. Gordana Jelic, member of the CY&E committee coordinated the event with the help of the 7 4th graders (Lola, Mila, Milicia, Strahinja, Tadija, Louise, and Nicholas).

The gift bags were donated to the Seniors at the Carter Burden Center to about 50 seniors.

New Roosevelt Island Cafe Opening This Summer At Cornell Tech Bloomberg Center - Starr Catering Group Will Feature Healthy & Delicious Food, Grain Bowls, Soups, Salads & Sandwiches

Cornell Tech reports that the Starr Catering Group will operate a cafe in the Bloomberg Center Academic building at their Roosevelt Island campus.

According to a Cornell Tech Spokesperson:

A café that will be open to the public is planned for the Bloomberg Center,

Image From Cornell Tech

the first academic building on campus. Cornell Tech has selected Starr Catering Group to operate the café, called Tech Cafe.

Starr believes in “good food that’s good for you.” They will be offering a variety of healthy and delicious food, including breakfast, grain bowls made to order, salads, soups, and sandwiches. The hours of operation will be 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

This is a sample menu that gives you a sense of what the offerings will be at the cafe, but is not a final menu.

Images From Cornell Tech Construction & Community Task Force 1/31/17 meeting

To learn more about Starr Catering Group

Images From Cornell Tech Construction & Community Task Force 1/31/17 meeting

please visit here.

The Bridge At Cornell Tech building

 Image From Tech. Cornell

will include a food and beverage operator as well.

This summer will hopefully see two additional restaurants/cafes opening on Roosevelt Island. As previously reported a Mexican restaurant and Cafe/Juice/Wine/Beer Bar will open this summer too.

Maybe even Trellis/Nisi will finally open this summer.

Why Is The Roosevelt Island Red Bus NextBus GPS Tracking System Not Working? Waiting For Necessary Equipment Upgrade Says Octagon Building Management

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is about the Roosevelt Island Red Bus

NextBus GPS tracking system. Residents ask why is it not working

Image From NextBus

and when will the service return.

Octagon Building General Manager Andrea Heon provides the answer:

The Octagon paid and renewed our contract with NextBus towards the end of December in order to continue to provide our residents with the NextBus tracking service as it has in the past.

We understand that this is also a benefit for all residents of Roosevelt Island as well. Unfortunately, it came to our attention after we renewed, that all of the current tracking equipment under our contract is no longer compatible with the network available on Roosevelt Island.

NextBus has sent us an additional contract to upgrade all of the equipment in order for it to function properly. We have communicated to NextBus that we are reviewing the necessary steps to replace these items as quickly as possible.

As the equipment incompatibility issue was unforeseen, it has taken a little longer to review the new scopes and the contract for the new equipment than it did for us to simply continue on with the renewal of the contract. I hope this background will assist in understanding our intentions. We are very sorry for the inconvenience this issue has caused the residents of Roosevelt Island, and are hopeful to have the upgrades taken care of very soon to resume providing this service for Roosevelt Island.

Roosevelt Island NextBus service began in 2009.

SPONSORED POST - Roosevelt Island Day Nursery NYC Universal Pre Kindergarten Application Deadline March 3

The Roosevelt Island Day Nursery (RIDN) reports:

RIDN NYC Universal Pre Kindergarten (UPK) Application deadline March 3.

Still haven’t applied to #preKforAll? You now have until Friday, March 3 to complete your application: https://t.co/uca7K4CQyZ pic.twitter.com/6pxLgLlb9s

— NYC Public Schools (@NYCSchools) February 27, 2017

RIDN Offers FREE inspired and exciting progressive approaches to learning for young children in all areas of development – from early literacy and math to the arts.

Supportive and nurturing teaching by teams of experienced educators in our small non-profit setting.

Weekly schedules include project-based learning, outside time, music enrichment classes, free healthy snacks and lunches, and much more!

Last day to apply for FREE full day UPK classes has been extended to Friday, March 3! All children with 2013 birthdays are eligible to apply.

Apply online here.

Visit RIDN to learn more about our programs.

Mardi Gras Celebration February 28 At Roosevelt Island Senior Center Carter Burden Program - Dancing, DJ, Refreshments & Fun!!!! - Get In The Mood With Professor Longhair

Roosevelt Island Senior Center Carter Burden Program Outreach Director Hallie Shapiro reports:

Come on over for the Mardi Gras Celebration on Tuesday, 2/28 from 3-6.

 DJ Willy, refreshments, dancing and fun! In collaboration with Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA).

To get in the Mardi Gras mood, take a listen to Professor Longhair - Go To The



Mardi Gras.

Wow - Gorgeous Photo Of Roosevelt Island Tram In Snowstorm Over Second Avenue Entering Manhattan Station

Taken by Photograper Noel Calingasan

Roosevelt Island Tram on Second Avenue by @nyclovesnyc [HD https://t.co/1OBfxOLrFy] pic.twitter.com/alKKuJEwJt

— NewYorkCityFeelings (@nycfeelings) February 26, 2017

Wow!!!!!