Sponsored Post - Island House Welcomes The Alyssa Brody Team & Compass To Roosevelt Island, Best Wishes For A Happy Holiday

Island House Welcomes The Alyssa Brody Team & Compass To Roosevelt Island

Best Wishes For a Happy Holiday

Check Out Local Roosevelt Island Merchants For Your Christmas Holiday Gifts This Year

Are you still looking for some last minute Christmas Holiday Gifts? Check out some of our local Roosevelt Island merchants.

The Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) Visitors Center Kiosk has Featured Books for Adults and Kids,

Totebags, puzzles, Tram Magnets

and a variety of other merchandise.

The RIHS Visitors Center Kiosk:

is open til 8 tonight and 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Saturday is probably the last day to purchase one of the remaining 17 Christmas Trees for sale at the Motorgate Rotunda.

Gift cards always make a great gift. Consider gift cards or items from our local merchants, Nisi Restaurant, Bubble Cool Cafe, Starbucks, Fuji East, The Nail Salon, Duane Reade, Gristedes, Wholesome Factory, China One, We Are One Boutique and Piccolo Trattoria (Not sure if they all offer gift cards though).

Or an item from the Farmers Market vendors. Gallery Rivaa has some great T-shirts for sale



as does a local resident, Gage Hunt, who is selling these Roosevelt Island T-shirts

online here.

There's no F Train service from Manhattan this weekend so save yourself a trip and buy your Christmas Holiday gifts locally here on Roosevelt Island.

Sponsored Post - Seasons Greeting And Thank You From Gallery RIVAA To The Roosevelt Island Community - Please Consider Supporting Gallery RIVAA In End Of Year Fundraiser To Help Welcome More Creativity To Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island's Gallery RIVAA wishes our community HAPPY HOLIDAYS:

Happy Holidays From RIVAA!"

Thanks for ALL your support this past year. RIVAA's art exhibits, jazz salons, poetry slams & more could not have been done without your generosity. Please consider contributing to our end-of-the year fundraiser to help us welcome even more creativity to Roosevelt Island in 2019. It's easy--just go to this site  and follow the instructions to donate by credit card. ANY amount will truly help......

Once again, Gallery RIVAA thanks you & is grateful for ALL your support!

You can also help the Gallery by purchasing a RIVAA T-shirt for yourself or as a gift at the Farmers Market tomorrow, December 22.



Please click here to contribute to the Gallery RIVAA Holiday Fundraiser campaign.

Roosevelt Island Transportation This Weekend - No Roosevelt Island F Train Service From Manhattan, Both Tram Cabins At Full Capacity, NYC Ferry Winter RI Service Schedule & 57th Street F Train Station Open

No Roosevelt Island F Train service  from Manhattan this weekend.

According to the MTA:

TRACK MAINTENANCE 11:45 PM Fri, Dec 21 to 5 AM Mon, Dec 24 Jamaica-bound F trains are rerouted via the E after 47-50 Sts in Manhattan to Roosevelt Av in Queens

No Jamaica-bound F service at 57 St, Lexington Av/63 St, Roosevelt Island and 21 St-Queensbridge.

Travel Alternatives

... To Roosevelt Island and 21 St-Queensbridge, take the F to Roosevelt Av and transfer to a Coney Island-bound F.

From these stations, take a Coney Island-bound F to 47-50 Sts and transfer to a Jamaica-bound F.

Also:

SERVICE RESTORED Effective Wednesday, Dec 19 Service restored at 57 St

Both Tram Cabins operating at full capacity.

There is Roosevelt Island ferry service on the Astoria Route. Here's the Winter Schedule for Roosevelt Island ferry service.

Sponsored Post - Check Out Roosevelt Island Gristedes December 28 To January 3 Product Offerings, Specials & Sales Items - Free Delivery With $75 Or More Order

The Roosevelt Island Gristedes Supermarket

invites you to check out their December 28 - January 3 Product Offerings, Specials & Sales items.

Grab & Go Prepared Items too.

Don't forget the 10% Roosevelt Island Seniors Discount on Tuesday and Sign Up for the Gristedes Diamond Loyalty Rewards Program.

More Gristedes Supermarket information available at their web site, Facebook Page and Twitter feed

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Chief McManus Taking Time Off For Health Related Reason Says RIOC - Best Wishes For A Speedy Return

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Information Officer Alonza Robertson reports:

RIOC Public Safety Department Chief Jack McManus is taking time off, beginning this week, to deal with health-related issues.

In the interim, Deputy Chief Kevin Brown will assume McManus’ responsibilities and RIOC asks the community and RIOC staff to work with him accordingly.

Chief McManus, pictured below, (second from right with RIOC President Susan Rosenthal and PSD Officers)

and seen in this video from Roosevelt Island Tree Lighting Ceremony



is very well regarded by the community for his professionalism and open door policy for residents as well as his involvement with youth sports.

Best wishes for a speedy return to Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Chief McManus.

Roosevelt Island Christmas Tree Emporium Sale Update - 17 High Quality Christmas Trees Available For Sale This Saturday At Motorgate Rotunda On First Come, First Serve Basis

This Saturday, December 22, may be the last chance to buy a Christmas Tree at the Roosevelt Island Motorgate Rotunda.

As reported earlier this week:

The PS/IS 217 PTA sponsors the Roosevelt Island Christmas Tree Emporium at the Motorgate Rotunda.

I asked the 217 PTA:

A resident tried to buy a Christmas Tree today but the vendor was not there under the Motorgate...

... Does the PTA know if the vendor will be back and why were they not there today?

A 217 PTA representative replied that they were told the following by the Christmas Tree vendor yesterday:

We sold out of tress yesterday and will be working on getting some more for next week.
As discussed, there is a run on trees this season and we took all that we could get ( please see links)
I believe that we will have for at least next Sat.

We will do everything we can in order to serve the community...I promise...

Here's a Roosevelt Island Christmas Tree Emporium sale update received yesterday from a PS/IS 217 PTA representative:

Please note that Finkel & Son managed to get 17 high quality Christmas Trees. They will be selling them on Saturday 12/22 starting at 9 am, next to the Motorgate garage. They will sell on a first come first serve basis. They will probably be sold out and closed on Sunday 12/23.

Sponsored Post - Happy Holidays From Cornell Tech - Modified Hours For Cafe And Parliament December 17 -21 & January 2-13 - Closed December 22 - January 1

Happy Holidays From Cornell Tech

The Cafe and Parliament will have modified hours beginning December 17 and will be closed December 22nd - January 1.

December 17-21, 2018 & January 2-13, 2019 - Both locations will feature a simplified menu including grab & go, salads, sous, sandwiches and quiche.

Parliament 8am - 5pm M-F/ closed weekends
The Cafe 11:30am - 2pm M-F/ closed weekends

You're Invited To Celebrate Career Of NYPL Roosevelt Island Adult Librarian Justin Van Poelvoorde Who Passed Away Last Month, Remember His Contribution To Our RI Community At Night Of Movies And Memories Thursday December 27

As previously reported, long time New York Public Library Roosevelt Island branch Adult Librarian Justin Van Poelvoorde passed away last month.

To celebrate Justin Van Poelvoorde, the NYPL Roosevelt Island branch library is hosting:

A Night of Movies and Memories Thursday,

December 27, 6 PM

Dear Roosevelt Island community:

Please join us at the Roosevelt Island library to celebrate the career of our esteemed Adult Librarian, Justin Van Poelvoorde, and remember his contribution to the Roosevelt Island Community.

No Registration Required All Ages

Hybrid Monster Lampposts Appear On Roosevelt Island Says Resident, Abomination On Main Street Says Another - They're Wireless Cell Antennas To Increase Roosevelt Island Verizon & T Mobile Wi-fi Connectivity

Some sort of hybrid monster lamppost has appeared on the #RooseveltIsland promenade😳 (@ Roosevelt Island Promenade in New York, NY) https://t.co/ry2savi5Fz pic.twitter.com/8UYGoHUqXo

— NamelyNorm (@NamelyNorm) December 19, 2018

Well, it's not really a hybrid monster lamppost but rather one of 22 wireless cell antennas placed upon Roosevelt Island lampposts to provide increased Roosevelt Island Wi-fi connectivity by Crown Castle International.

As reported last October 30:

... WIRELESS SMALL CELL ANTENNAS

Wireless device connectivity on Roosevelt Island is about to be vastly improved, and less congested, during the next few weeks.

Crown Castle International Corp., the nation’s largest provider of shared communications infrastructure, will be installing 22 unique small cell locations on the Island covering from north to south. The antennas and fiber-optic cable-based networking will provide coverage and capacity for up to four data/phone service carriers including Verizon

Small cells are important wireless infrastructure that increase capacity and connectivity for mobile devices. They are small, low-powered antennas that can be installed on light and utility poles, street signs, and even on rooftops. Crown Castle, under a 10-year licensing agreement, will be building and maintaining this fiber ring around Roosevelt Island to supply various locations with better connectivity.

As the Roosevelt Island community continues to grow, more residents, businesses, students and visitors are relying on wireless devices to connect to the Internet and communicate (more than 50 percent of all U.S. households rely only on wireless phones; and some 80 percent of all 911 calls are made from wireless devices). When too many people try to use their mobile devices, the network can become overloaded: calls drop or don’t connect.

Small cells, like the ones being installed around the Island, can and will relieve this wireless congestion....

Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) President Judy Berdy spotted this "hybrid monster lamppost" yesterday at Good Shepherd Plaza and does not like it.

The abomination on Main Street.

Today, this object appeared at the Chapel Plaza.

This is another example of RIOC's disregard for the cityscape, appearance, and necessity of an obtrusive object. Along with the "RI" letters at the Tram Plaza we now have the WI-FI tower smack dab in front of the Chapel Plaza. The Chapel is a landmark structure, but unfortunately the Plaza is not, which means inappropriate objects can be placed there.

I attended RIOC meetings where the installation was discussed and never saw a rendering by Crown Castle the contractor that was anywhere as obtrusive as this wifi tower

The RIOC staff hides the truth from the community and insults our cityscape with obtrusive installations.

The RIOC Grinch has stolen our Chapel Plaza from us, again.

According to this excerpt from Castle Crown's November 2017 presentation to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors:

Pole attachments in the public right of way proposed in 23 unique locations (some of the pole attachments will be colocations):
     • 22 for T-Mobile
     • 21 for Verizon
     • 20 attachments are colocations with both Verizon and T-Mobile

All locations will feed back to a Hub location via fiber optic cable which will be located off of the Island for both Verizon and T-Mobile

1. License will enable Crown Castle to access the public right of way poles on Roosevelt Island
2. License is for a 10-year term with 3 – successive terms of 5-years.
3. Compensation for use of the poles to RIOC from Crown is $3,390.48 per location with an annual CPI adjustment.
4. Crown Castle is responsible for its own electrical utility charges.
5. Crown Castle will be building and maintaining a fiber ring around Roosevelt Island to supply the locations with connectivity.

Crown Castle will provide RIOC 4 strands of Dark Fiber along planned deployment route....

I asked RIOC today:

Are the new lampposts with WiFi connections the same design as renderings approved by RIOC?...

RIOC Public Information Officer Alonza Robertson replied:

Crown had worked with the Real Estate Committee prior to bringing the presentation to the full board at the December 2017 meeting.

The actual lampposts’ height and light fixtures’ height were adjusted at the behest of members of the committee; from 25 feet to 22 feet; and from 20 feet to 14.

The small boxes attached to the light poles, and the cell tower that encompass the light fixtures are the same.

The equipment attached to the wood telephone poles is larger than the renderings that were presented in November.

We have scheduled a meeting tomorrow with the company to discuss that.

Below is the presentation made by Crown Castle to the RIOC Board.

Crown Castle Roosevelt Island

SPONSORED POST - Roosevelt Island Urgent Care Medical Facility, Just Walk In At 520 Main Street 7 Days A Week For Your Medical Needs - Still Time To Get Your Flu Shot

According to Roosevelt Island Urgent Care (RIUC):

Our Roosevelt Island facility is  located at 520 Main Street. Our Office hours are Monday to Thursday 9AM - 5PM, Friday 9 AM - 4 PM, Saturday and Sunday 10AM- 3 PM. Phone # 646-977-7974.

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
• Childrens play area
• And much more!

Take a tour of the Roosevelt Island Urgent Care facilities



and learn about the services offered at Roosevelt Island Urgent Care.

More info about Roosevelt Island Urgent Care

at their web site and Twitter Page.

At Kamin Health we will take care of your urgent medical needs and also help you find a good local primary care doctor. #JustWalkIn. By @sam_baker https://t.co/Qn4YGlAnLa via @axios H/T @LinkedIn

— KāMIN HEALTH (@kaminhealth) October 9, 2018

NY Times Article Profiles Cornell Tech, Says Made LIC Appealing To Amazon HQ2, Created Over 50 New Tech Start Ups And Mixed Reaction From Roosevelt Island Residents

This Graduate School Helped Make New York Appealing to Amazon - profile of ⁦@cornell_tech⁩ on Roosevelt Island https://t.co/2GlrgBFxCf

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) December 17, 2018

The New York Times profiled Roosevelt Island's Cornell Tech in this December 17 article highlighting the Graduate Tech School's role in attracting Amazon HQ 2 to nearby Long Island City

Nearly 7 years to the day after @MikeBloomberg announced @cornell_tech was coming to Roosevelt Island, the many at @NYCEDC and elsewhere who made it a reality couldn’t have envisioned a better headline: https://t.co/SWaSJisDjK

— Benjamin M. Branham (@benbranham) December 18, 2018

and creating over 50 new start up tech companies including Kipit



Revercare

Cornell Tech startup ReverCare connects family caregivers to care coaches who help them craft a personalized, long-term care plan. https://t.co/1zXlLvc9V8 pic.twitter.com/cplcY1PqIn

— Cornell Tech (@cornell_tech) November 20, 2018

Full Plate

Cornell Tech startup Full Plate serves low-income communities by combining affordability and convenience to create access to fully-prepared, nutritious meals. pic.twitter.com/wxP2lSgyPu

— Cornell Tech (@cornell_tech) November 6, 2018

and Nanit.

The only smart baby monitor that delivers personalized insights to help your baby’s dreams come true. #getnanit pic.twitter.com/5S9a47OhBv

— Nanit (@getnanit) August 14, 2018

The opinions of two Roosevelt Island residents about Cornell Tech are quoted in the article too. One critical:

... Some Roosevelt Island residents have also complained about the continuing campus construction, while others said Cornell Tech had not paid enough to support local neighborhood services, such as street cleaning and landscaping.

“They’re a very prestigious institution that is free-riding off the backs of a working population to function in an environment that they really are not adequately paying for,” said Joyce Short, a writer and longtime resident....

and the other positive:

... The school’s technology lessons have spilled over to the neighborhood. Cornell Tech has supported computer science instruction at the public elementary and middle school. Its students have taught classes at a senior center on protecting against online fraud and created a web page featuring open spaces on the island for the gardening club.

Jay Jacobson, 82, a retired lawyer who lives on Roosevelt Island, recently worked with Cornell Tech students to address a daily problem for older people: how to carry a shopping bag when holding onto a walker? They came up with a 3-D-printed hinge to attach to a walker.

“I’m so glad I’m part of their community,” he said. “It’s just a delight to have them.”...

Click here for the full NY Times article

Sponsored Post - Season's Greetings From Hudson Related, Wishing Everyone On Roosevelt Island A Happy And Healthy 2019

Season's Greetings From Hudson Related, Wishing Everyone On Roosevelt Island A Happy And Healthy 2019.

Shops On Main appreciates your patronage.

Roosevelt Island Holiday Food & Clothing Giveaway For Your Neighbors In Need - Please Help, Donations Can Be Dropped Off This Week At Senior Center

 Roosevelt Island Disabled Association President Wendy Hersh reports:

The RI Disabled Association along with the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) & the Carter Burden Senior Center will be sponsoring a food and clothing giveaway for those IN NEED!

Friday December 21st at Roosevelt Island Senior Center 546 Main Street 6pm-9pm

Donation of cans, jars and packaged food are welcome. They can be dropped off at the Senior Center on Wednesday and Friday all day or Thursday after 1pm. If you need a pickup, please email Wendy Hersh at whersh@nyc.rr.com

Ms Hersh adds:

Since Pay It Forward was not able to give food boxes to the needy this year due to unforeseen circumstances, I felt as President of RI Disabled Association that we needed to step up to do something since there are so many in need in our community.

It’s just our part of helping those in need. Of course not to the extent of what we did with Pay It Forward, but it’s something.

Sponsored Post - Roosevelt Landings Sending Best Wishes To All For The New Year

Roosevelt Landings Sending Best Wishes To All For The New Year.

For Rental Information, Please Call 201-553-9800

Urban American

Roosevelt Island Christmas Trees Sold Out On Saturday, None Available Yesterday Reports Resident, Vendor Says Will Be Back Next Saturday With More Christmas Trees

A Roosevelt Island resident reported yesterday:


Another resident reported:

I went to Motorgate Gristedes today December 16th, because I saw that they're supposed to be selling Christmas trees from 9 a.m. To 3 p.m. I don't see anything. It's supposed to be selling these Christmas trees through December 23rd through next weekend....

... I went down there twice and there's absolutely no one there. I doubt it's the weather. It's not snowing or a blizzard. It's just rain, so I don't know what's going on. There should be some information or a note left for people so they don't waste their time.

The PS/IS 217 PTA sponsors the Roosevelt Island Christmas Tree Emporium at the Motorgate Rotunda.

I asked the 217 PTA:

A resident tried to buy a Christmas Tree today but the vendor was not there under the Motorgate...

... Does the PTA know if the vendor will be back and why were they not there today?

A 217 PTA representative replied that they were told the following by the Christmas Tree vendor yesterday:

We sold out of tress yesterday and will be working on getting some more for next week.
As discussed, there is a run on trees this season and we took all that we could get ( please see links)
I believe that we will have for at least next Sat.

We will do everything we can in order to serve the community...I promise

http://www.fox5ny.com/news/nationwide-2018-christmas-tree-shortage-expected

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/11/29/christmas-tree-shortage-might-cost-you/2136836002/

I told them they should’ve notify us!!! 

As an alternative, there are Christmas Tree Vendors on Second Avenue not far from Tram - I think 64th street.