Saturday, September 22, 2018

Roosevelt Island Hope Church Hosting Back To School Carnival Sunday September 23 At Good Shepherd Plaza - You're Invited

Roosevelt Island Hope Church is hosting a Back To School Carnival and all members of the Roosevelt Island community are invited to attend.

According to Roosevelt Island Hope Church Pastor Dan Sadlier:
Parents and Guardians,

Last year we were able to host a carnival on the Island called Family Fest. This year we want to do much of the same as we celebrate the new school year here on the island.

Join us for carnival games, face painting, a dunk tank, water balloon wars, cotton candy, food prizes and so much more! In addition this round we are raising awareness and support for Roosevelt Island's "Child School".

There will be many free activities for parents and children, with additional games and more at a low cost. CLICK HERE. There will also be additional activity tickets sold on the day of the event. We look forward to celebrating the Back To School season with you.

Please let us know you are coming ON FACEBOOK.

When: Sunday September 23rd immediately following our 11:30AM service

What: Back to School Carnival - carnival games, water balloon fight, face painting, cotton candy, popcorn, FREE FOOD, dunk tank and raffles - in support of after school programming at "The Child School and Legacy High School"

Who: Hope Church is hosting the event

Where: Good Shepherd Plaza (543 Main Street)

Tickets: There will be plenty of FREE events but we will be selling games and snacks tickets to help raise funds for the Child’s School.
UPDATE 8:30 PM:

Friday, September 21, 2018

Sponsored Post - Register Now For Roosevelt Island's Main Street Theater & Dance Alliance Fall 2018 Theatre, Dance & Fitness Classes - Programs Available For Adults, Teens & Children

Are you interested in taking a theater, dance or fitness class on Roosevelt Island for yourself, spouse, friend or child? If your answer is yes, make sure to hurry up and get registered for the Fall 2018 Roosevelt Island Main Street Theater & Dance Alliance (MST&DA) season.

MST&DA invites you to register for their 2018 Fall Classes in:

Classes are available for all ages (children, teens and adults) and scholarships are available too.


Below is MST&DA 2018 Fall Tentative Schedule of Classes.


Here's how you get to the MST&DA.



More info on MST&DA available at their web site, email address and phone 212 371-4449.

Roosevelt Island Transportation This Weekend - F Train Service To And From Manhattan, F Rerouted In Manhattan,1 And A Half Tram Cabins Operating And NYC Ferry New Fall RI Service Schedule

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



to and from Manhattan this weekend. 

But:

... TRACK REPLACEMENT | 9:30 PM Fri, Sep 21 to 5 AM Mon, Sep 24 F Service is rerouted in Manhattan and Brooklyn

No F service at 57 St, 47-50 Sts, 42 St-Bryant Pk, 23 St, 14 St, W 4 St, B'way-Lafayette St, 2 Av, Delancey St/Essex St, East Broadway, and York St.

F Service runs between Jamaica-179 St and Lexington Av-63 St, and via the Q express to/from Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr... 
Also:
STATION ENHANCEMENTS | Until December 2018 57 St F Station is closed
Both Roosevelt Island Tram Cabins are in operation but the North Cabin is working at half capacity because of a malfunctioning gear box that is waiting for replacement.
There is Roosevelt Island ferry service on the Astoria Route. Here's the new Fall Schedule for Roosevelt Island ferry service.

UPDATE 12 PM - The Tram cabins are both running at full capacity.

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Sponsored Post -You're Invited To Build And Fly Your Own Kite In Honor Of International Peace Day & UN General Assembly At Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park Saturday, September 22

The Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park (FDR Park) invites you to Build and Fly A Kite to honor International Peace Day


and the UN General Assembly on Saturday September 22.
According to the FDR Park:
Build and Fly Kites at Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park

Free Event, All Ages Welcome

On Saturday, September 22, visitors are invited to build and fly kites at Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park in celebration of International Peace Day.

On this weekend, Four Freedoms Park Conservancy educators will lead free, drop-in kite-making workshops for visitors of all ages. Acclaimed kiteflier Archie Stewart of the American Kitefliers Association will provide interactive kite-flying demonstrations from 12pm – 4pm on Saturday.

Roosevelt Island Public Library will host storytime sessions at 12pm, 1pm, and 2pm, as well as giveaways and arts and crafts activities.

In partnership with Operation Gratitude, visitors will be invited to share their messages of gratitude with Deployed Troops, Veterans, New Recruits & First Responders at our special letter writing station: Letters of Gratitude.

Registration is recommended

Kite-making supplies will be provided.


All ages welcome.
Here are some scenes from the 2017 Roosevelt Island Kite Flying For Peace at FDR Four Freedoms Park



Click full screen icon at bottom right of screen for better view.

You can register here. It's recommended.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

CB 8's Roosevelt Island Committee Hosting Suicide Prevention Forum Thursday September 20 At Main Street Theatre

September is Suicide Prevention Month.

Community Board 8's (CB 8) Roosevelt Island Committee is hosting a Suicide Prevention Forum tomorrow evening.


Please note that the Forum will be held Thursday September 20 at the Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (548 Main Street), not at the location referenced in flyer above.

According to CB 8's Roosevelt Island Committee
Roosevelt Island Committee
Thursday, September 20, 2018 - 6:30PM
Main Street Theater & Dance
548 Main Street,
Roosevelt Island, NY

Joint Meeting with Health, Seniors, & Social Services and Veteran’s Committees

Suicide Prevention Forum

Featured Speakers:
  • Brett A. Scudder, President/Chairman/Founder SISFI
  • Representative from NAMI
  • Representative from Columbia Presbyterian
  • Representative from American Foundation For Suicide Prevention
Lynne Strong-Shinozaki, Chair Roosevelt Island Committee
Alexandra Harrington Barker, David Liston, and Barbara Rudder, Co-Chairs Health, Seniors, & Social Services Committee
Christopher Deluzio and David Menegon, Co-Chairs Veterans Committee
NYC Health has more info on suicide prevention.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Annual 2 Week Intermittent Roosevelt Island Bridge Traffic Closings For UN General Assembly Session Starts Today - RI Residents Worried Coast Guard Puts Community At Increased Risk For Emergency Vehicle Response Delays In Favor Of Recreational Boaters

It's that time of year again for Roosevelt Island.

Image Of United Nations From Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park

Mid September is the the opening of the United Nations General Assembly Session and 2018 is no different than previous years in terms of its impact on Roosevelt Island residents. The opening of the UN General Assembly means the diversion of all East River boat traffic to the Roosevelt Island East Channel Queens side for security precautions due to our proximity to the United Nations resulting in the intermittent closings of the Roosevelt Island Bridge.

 Roosevelt Island Bridge Raised To Let Sailboat Pass During 2010 UN Week Causing Ambulance To Wait

According to the NYC Department of Transportation:
While the United Nations General Assembly is in session, from Tuesday, September 18, through Sunday, September 30, the U.S. Coast Guard will close the West Channel of the East River, which is the main navigational channel, and divert all marine traffic to the East Channel, between Roosevelt Island and Queens. The NYC Department of Transportation will close the Roosevelt Island Bridge, as needed, for up to 15 minutes at a time between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to permit marine traffic to pass.

During these closures, the bridge will be closed to all vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic. A variable message sign will be installed to inform the public. Emergency service providers have been informed of the special operational schedule.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) adds:
During the UN General Assembly Sept. 18-30, expect more bridge opening activity as all East River water traffic is redirected through the Roosevelt Island Bridge. Please be advised that each opening will take no longer than eight to 10 minutes to complete. 
Every year at this time, the increased Roosevelt Island Bridge traffic closings raises the risk to the health and safety of Roosevelt Island residents who may need emergency services such as FDNY, NYPD and ambulances. As Roosevelt Island resident Raye Schwartz wrote last year:
Somebody needs to let the Coast Guard and Dept. of Homeland Security know that at the least they should limit access to pleasure boats during this period, so that we are not put in danger for fire and ambulances to get through while the bridge is inaccessible - sometimes for ½ hr. at a time while sailboats and pleasure boats go up and down the river....
In response to these annual public safety concerns a RIOC spokesperson replied last year:
... Due to the rerouting of recreational boat traffic to the East Channel of the East River during the UN General Assembly, the NYC Department of Transportation Division of Bridges will be required to raise the Roosevelt Island Bridge to allow the passing of these recreational boats during this event. According to the DOT Division of bridges, each opening should take anywhere from 8-12 minutes to complete.

For the past year, Public Safety Chief McManus and RIOC President & CEO Susan Rosenthal have been meeting with and lobbying, various City, State, and Federal entities to prohibit recreational boat traffic during this two week period.

In spite of our efforts and others who helped, including Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who pled our case to the Commandant of the US Coast Guard, recreational boat traffic is still being redirected to the East Channel. We will continue our efforts to have this protocol changed.

During the last year, RIOC has been working with the NYC Office of Emergency Management and key representatives from FDNY, NYPD, NYC DOT Division of Bridges, NYC DEP, Health and Hospitals Corporation and Con Ed, to explore alternative emergency response options concerning the bridge during both the UN General Assembly and other situations where the bridge may get stuck or fail for any reason. By pre-staging emergency response vehicles and equipment, we are better prepared to respond to medical emergencies on Roosevelt Island. Furthermore, Con Ed has already pre-staged emergency gas and electric equipment on the Island in the event a gas or electric emergency were to take place and Con Ed trucks were unable to reach the Island due to a bridge malfunction.

During the UN General Assembly, and under the newly created Interagency Roosevelt Island Bridge Lift Protocol, the aforementioned City Agencies are responsible for the following:

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Organize pre-event interagency conference call with Public Safety Agencies

FDNY
Pre-Stage one Engine Company, one Ladder Company, and one BLS (Basic Life Support) Ambulance on Roosevelt Island. Alert Battalion 45 and Battalion 49 companies of Bridge Lifts.

NYPD
Assign resources as appropriate on Roosevelt Island

NYC DOT
Stage bridge oiler crew near bridge structure
Stage bridge electric crew near bridge structure

NYCDEP
Pre-staged water maintenance equipment available at an on-island DEP Facility

Consolidated Edison
Emergency gas and electric equipment pre-staged on Roosevelt Island Gas and electric emergency personnel will deploy to Roosevelt Island via Tramway or Subway as necessary

Health and Hospitals Corporation
Standard resource deployment

RIOC and its Public Safety Department thank all of these agencies for working together to develop these first steps toward a stronger emergency plan.
A new year and recreational boats are still allowed to put the health and safety of Roosevelt Island residents at risk during UN General Assembly Week.

What will it take for the Coast Guard to prohibit recreational boaters from going under the Roosevelt Island Bridge - someone's death or serious injury due to a delay in emergency response?

RIOC Hosting Roosevelt Island Emergency Preparedness Town Hall Meeting Thursday September 20 With NYC Emergency Management Dep't, NYPD & PSD- You're Invited To Attend, Learn And Ask Questions

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) is hosting and Emergency Preparedness Town Hall meeting Thursday September 20. with NYC Department of Emergency Management, NYPD and RIOC Public Safety Department attending.According to RIOC:

Emergency Management Plan Forum set for Sept. 20

WHO: The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation’s Public Safety Department

WHAT: Will host an open community forum to present the Island’s Emergency Management Plan

WHEN: Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 6 p.m.

WHERE: Chapel of the Good Shepherd, 543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, N.Y.

WHY: The forum is to inform residents of the basic emergency plan that outlines responsibilities and procedures that will be implemented – to protect life and property - in the event of a natural or man-made disaster on Roosevelt Island.

Roosevelt Island Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member Frank Farance has some tips for Hurricane Preparedness.



NYC Emergency Management Department wants you to Know Your Hurricane Zone.



Most of Roosevelt Island

 Image From NYC OEM

including all of the residential buildings and Cornell Tech campus, are located in Zone 3. Coler Hospital, Lighthouse and FDR Four Freedoms Park are located in Zone 2.

More info on Know Your Hurricane Zone at this prior post.

Video of 2016 Roosevelt Island Emergency Preparedness Town Hall Meeting here.