I received these reports last evening from Roosevelt Island residents:
Saw a couple parts of the sidewalk closed off on Main Street. Blood and glass all over. Was told a crime was committed. First seen was south of the Subway and second scene was outside the temporary library. PSD didn’t say much except there was a crime. Any word?
And:
They have yellow tape outside the library and there's a red liquid/fluid.
Do you know anything?
In response to my inquiry, a NYPD spokesperson reported today:
On Friday, October 27, 2017 at approximately 1845 hours, police responded to a 911 call of a male assaulted in the vicinity of 505 Main Street within the confines of the 114 Precinct.
Upon arrival, police were informed that a 19-year-old male victim was walking in the vicinity of 505 Main Street when an unidentified individual approached and slashed the victim on his left arm. The unidentified individual attempted to remove a chain from the victim’s neck.
The individual then fled in an unknown direction without any property. The victim was transported to an area hospital via EMS in stable condition. There are no arrests and the investigation is ongoing.
... On July 1 the Library signed a lease for a property on the ground floor at 504 Main Street, which will be the site of a new Roosevelt Island branch. The new library will be more than double the size of the current library – which is only a short distance away at 524 Main Street – and is expected to be completed in 2017....
... The New York Public Library has already initiated the Roosevelt Island Library project with the New York City Department of Design & Construction (DDC), which begin working on architect selection, which, along with the contract development and registration process, will take approximately five months or so. Current projected schedule is to start design 12/2013 or 1/2014, start construction some time in 2015, and open the new branch in 2017, and the current budget is approximately $4.5 million....
In response to an inquiry from Roosevelt Island resident Matt Katz, NY Public Library Manager Carlos Chavez reports:
I am writing in response to your concern about the opening of the new Roosevelt Island Library at 504 Main Street. Thank you for your dedicated involvement with the planning of our new branch.
Construction is set to start September 2018 and conclude October 2019. The new Branch is opening early 2020. We appreciate your patience and support during this endeavor. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance in the future and I look forward to meeting you soon.
Yesterday, I asked Mr. Chavez:
Do you know why the Roosevelt Island new NY Public Library branch construction schedule is delayed?
We, the New York Public Library, are also asking the DDC why the project has been delayed. We have yet to receive an answer.
What has been communicated to us is that the DDC is working with our local elected officials to hold a public community meeting to address the delay, as well as the construction and opening dates I communicated to Matthew.
Due to ongoing construction of the Roosevelt Island Tram Plaza platform, the MTA Metro Card vending machines will not be accessible from Thursday, October 26th, 2017 through Saturday, January 6th, 2018.
Please use the MTA Metro Card vending machines located on the Manhattan Tram Plaza or at the Roosevelt Island Subway station located at 400 Main St.
Bespoke My Heart is a party/event planning, supplies, and rental boutique now serving Roosevelt Island since July 2017!
Always planning a party in her head way ahead of time, Natalia DiPalma decided to put her skills to good use and venture on a party/event planning business. After months of brainstorming what’s needed in our community, she, and her husband Eric, founded Bespoke my Heart, LLC with a mission to bring new services, products, and the best innovative party and event experiences to our community at an affordable price . . . AND without the need to leave Roosevelt Island!
Serving Children and Families:
...
With all the changes and advances in child development and play, their goal is to bring a new movement in kids’ party planning/hosting: Imagination Play and STEM parties
“We believe kids parties should be fun, unique, enjoyable events that promote safe and constructive/educational play for children ranging from infant to 10 years of age.” - Natalia DiPalma
Bespoke My Heart offers mobile, unique and interactive parties catered to everyone’s needs: packages range from DIY solutions (“Party-in-a-box”) to an all-included service (“Oh My Heart”) where you don't have to do a thing . . . except show up - of course!
All of their packages include entertainment, decorations and party rooms on the Island! They can customize everything including:
Invitations ● Favors ● Paper Goods ● Tables ● Backdrops ● Balloons ● Food, Cakes, Deserts ● and more!
Bespoke My Heart parties are never one-dimensional and the experiences are all equally amazing. There are many options to choose from and each new party is unlike any other one created. Their mobile play areas are fit for indoor and outdoor spaces, and include:
Shop 'Till You Drop! At the Marketplace ● Build and Fix at the Construction Site ● S'mores & More at the Campsite ● Be a Star on the Stage ● Sensory Table ● Prince & Princess ● Dress Up ●Unicorns and Rainbows ● Nail Salon ● Tattoos and Face-painting ● and much more!
...
Their “STEM Parties” take core educational concepts from the classroom and apply them to a party atmosphere. The results are amazing! Children have a blast and parents enjoy a more well-behaved and engaged gathering of beautiful young minds. Children can enjoy:
Little Picasso Paint Studio ● Art Station ● Play-Doh® Station ● Little Bakers ● Build a Robot ● Mad Scientists ● Dinosaur Dig ● and more!
...
Serving Adults and Businesses:
The fun doesn’t end with Kids Parties. Bespoke My Heart has been building up accounts with the Residential Buildings on the Island to bring fun and creative monthly events to our fellow residents. Look forward to one of their Karaoke Night events coming to a building community room near you in the next few months!
Showers, anniversaries or any party/event can also utilize the services of Bespoke My Heart to bring an added special touch, or even to coordinate the entire event from finding a space, to decorations, favors, catering, rentals and more!
BMH has also been instrumental in working with our new Cornell Tech neighbors, ensuring the opening events have everything they need to be successful.
Bespoke my Heart’s promise is to bring the best party service and affordability without having to leave our wonderful island.
At Bespoke My Heart we put the parts in parties. And our hearts, too!
They still have a few weekends available for outdoor parties!
Join Hope Roosevelt Island this Sunday, October 29th for a shortened Sunday celebration and Fall Fest After Party.
Get ready for pumpkins, donuts, cider, face painting, pie eating contests, and photo booth, along with carnival games where you and friends can win some great prizes.
Win a trip to the Poconos and one of the many gift baskets. Join us for free food, live music, and karaoke. All are welcome.
On Friday, October 20, 60 Cornell Tech and 75 Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 middle school students participated in the 4th annual Let's Code RI computer science learning project.
During the October 24 Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Community Task Force meeting held at the PS/IS 217 auditorium, Ms Levitt described last Friday's Let's Code RI which had the PS/IS 217 middle school students editing news reports with help from their Cornell Tech student mentors.
Check out previous Cornell Tech and Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Let's Code RI projects at these previous posts.
Following the Let's Code RI presentation, Ms Levitt moderated a panel discussion of Cornell Tech’s Teacher in Residence Program and computer science education at PS/IS 217 with the school Principal, Teachers, PTA President and the Teacher in Residence.
Will have video of this panel presentation soon as well.
Due to ongoing construction of the Roosevelt Island Tram Plaza platform, the MTA Metro Card vending machines will not be accessible from Thursday, October 26th, 2017 through Saturday, January 6th, 2018.
Please use the MTA Metro Card vending machines located on the Manhattan Tram Plaza or at the Roosevelt Island Subway station located at 400 Main St.
Happy Halloween! Join us, this Saturday, October 28th from 12 PM until 3 PM, for Roosevelt Island's annual Halloween Parade & Extravaganza, taking place beginning at Blackwell House (500 Main St.) and concluding at Capobianco Field. Join in the fun with FREE Halloween festivities, including performances from the Marching Cobras of NY, game booths, mechanical rides, balloon typhoon, spin art, cotton candy, popcorn, music, and more! We hope to see you there.
This event is sponsored by Urban American, the Roosevelt Island Youth Program, and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. Contributors: Rivercross, Westview, Island House, The Octagon, Cornell, and NYC Ferry.
... there will be prizes for Most Original, Scariest & Funniest Costume. Special Award for Best Trick in Show. Samples, Raffles, Trick or Treating ... and Door Prizes For All Dogs.
Keeping you #healthy and making life easy is what we do best. Just walk into any Kāmin Health location and get your #flu shot taken care of! pic.twitter.com/ZgRktR4dAQ
The medical needs of this 2 mile long historic island on the East River is a perfect landscape for our services.
RIUC is the first health care facility on the Island. Currently local residents must travel to either Manhattan or Astoria, for treatment—a trip that requires the use of a tram, subway, bus or car. Our facility in essence created a full-service medical center for a growing population of 15,000. RIUC is here to serve your needs.
These needs will increase in the near future with the addition of new multi-family developments and the new Cornell NYC Tech campus, which is under construction and due to open this year. The University is relying on our center to tend to the medical needs of the students and faculty. Roosevelt Island Urgent Care is also well positioned to provide services to the many construction workers who are on the Island during the next few years.
Other amenities include:
Hot and cold complimentary beverage center
Charging station
Flat screen TV in waiting room as well as every exam room
Great news for the new week: we now accept Humana and Health First along with Medicaid, and most other insurances! #MondayMoodpic.twitter.com/NNk2ffPTGj
Please be advised that the Capobianco Basketball Court resurfacing project will commence on Monday, October 23rd, with contractors working daily from 7 AM to 4 PM. The project will conclude on Friday, October 27th. Protective fencing will be installed around the perimeter of the site for safety purposes. The court will re-open for play on Monday, October 30th.
The Blackwell Park Basketball Court
is open.
As previously reported, RIOC will also replace the flooring at Al Lewis and Blackwell Park playgrounds.
The Government & Community Affairs Team at NewYork-Presbyterian and the Office of External Affairs at Weill Cornell Medicine invite you to our Fall 2017 Health & Wellness Seminar series. The series will feature expert physicians speaking to community members about pressing issues pertaining to healthy living and healthy aging while offering the opportunity to ask questions directly to the physicians and experts.
October 24
You Are One of A Million:
Precision Medicine and the Future of Healthcare M. Elizabeth Ross, MD, PhD
Kelly Williams, MBA, BSN, RN
If you require a disability-related accommodation, or for weather-related cancellations, please call 212-821-0888 and leave a message.
All seminars are FREE and open to the public. Seating is available for 250 people on a first-come, first-served basis.
Time - 6:30–8 pm
Place - All seminars held at:
Uris Auditorium
Meyer Research and Education Building Weill Cornell Medicine
1300 York Avenue (at 69th St.)
The October 24 seminar is the last in the Fall 2017 Health & Wellness seminars.
Side decks are available for for the Fall 2017 series and include the attached slides for the October 3rd (Comprehensive Care For Your Mind & Body) and October 10th (Steps You Can Take To Improve Your Spine Health) presentations.
Come join the Cornell Tech Community Task Force meeting on Tuesday, October 24 at 6:00 pm at PS/IS 217, 645 Main Street, which includes a panel discussion of Cornell Tech’s Teacher in Residence Program and computer science education at PS/IS 217.
Quarterly Cornell Tech Community & Construction Task Force
Tuesday, October 24th
645 Main Street at 6PM / PS 217 Auditorium
Public Welcome / Open Meeting
Cornell Tech corporate co-location campus is open. Construction will be extended two additional years to complete the hotel and executive conference center building. RICC urges you to attend the Cornell Tech quarterly construction and community task force membership meeting tomorrow Tuesday, October 24th.
Please attend, voice concerns and stay engaged.
RICC's goal has been vigilance: making certain that Cornell fulfills its written and spoken promises, advocating for our community and sustaining communication with RIOC and stakeholders. In exchange for the 12.5 acres of land to build the Cornell Tech corporate campus on Roosevelt Island they made promises to the city and the community - your concerns matter.
RICC Board members (and RICC members!) continue to engage our elected officials, participate in tours of the corporate campus, and attend town halls to keep island concerns top of mind. We urge you to participate in quarterly Cornell Community and Construction Task Force Meetings.
Reminder, if you have concerns about Cornell Tech please contact community liaison Jane Swanson at Jane.Swanson@cornell.edu or (646) 220 1505 for immediate action. Jane Swanson's weekly community hours are Tuesday's 3-4 PM and Wednesday's 10-11 am at The Cafe on Cornell Tech's campus and she is available by appointment as needed.
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.
