Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin Stuck Above East River For Over 30 Minutes This Afternoon Due To Brake Problems

@NY1 this Roosevelt Island tram has been stuck for 30 mins pic.twitter.com/MLAdQzGOyN

— William Wallace (@Sti11matic) February 2, 2019

Roosevelt Island residents coming out of the F Train subway station this afternoon looked up towards the Queensboro Bridge and saw the Tram inching very,very,slowly across the East River

Roosevelt Island Tram stuck above East River this afternoon for about 30 minutes due to brake problems before safely bringing riders to RI station. @RIOCny pic.twitter.com/VK0UXBcsgt

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) February 2, 2019

before safely docking at the Roosevelt Island Tram Station.

pic.twitter.com/4puhfGWiCX

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) February 2, 2019

According to a passenger getting off the Tram at the Roosevelt Island Tram Station, the South Cabin was stuck over East River for about 40 minutes due to brake problems.

When the Tram docked, the doors would not open. The door had to be physically pried open and a bench inserted to keep the door from closing. Passengers had to climb over bench to exit the Tram.

I've asked the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) for more info on what happened and will update when info received.

UPDATE 5;35 PM:

RIOC Tram is suspended in both directions. Consider alternate routes and allow for additional travel time. Multilingual & ASL Link: https://t.co/6zoLomBDy9.

— NYCEM - Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) February 2, 2019

UPDATE 6:30 PM

Following a prior service disruption, RIOC Tram service has resumed in both directions. Expect residual delays. https://t.co/z8HSJdAdRs. https://t.co/CDXyIneHSt

— NYCEM - Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) February 2, 2019

UPDATE 2/4 - RIOC Public Safety Deputy Director Kevin Brown adds:

On Saturday, February 2nd at around 3:45 PM The south tram cabin experienced a mechanical issue after leaving Roosevelt Island at the midway point of the trip and had to return to the Roosevelt Island station. As a result of the mechanical issues, the tram moved at a reduced speed, taking approximately 30 minutes to return back to Roosevelt island. Passengers onboard were informed of the mechanical issue. Once the tram reached the Roosevelt island station they were transferred to the north tram cabin. The south tram cabin was taken out of service to address the mechanical issue.

The South Tram Cabin is back in service.

RIRA President Joins Riders Alliance Fix The Subway Campaign - Says Roosevelt Island Residents Have Hard Time Getting To Work In Morning Due To F Train Subway Overcrowding, Need Solutions And Funding

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) President Lynn Strong-Shinozaki joins the Riders Alliance campaign seeking increased funding for NYC subways. According to Ms Strong-Shinozaki:

... Roosevelt Islanders are having a really hard time getting to work in the morning because of crowding.We need some solutions, we need some funding...

Hi Assemblywoman Seawright (@SeawrightForNY)❗️

Can Roosevelt Islanders like Lynn count on you to pass a full funding plan in the next state budget to #FixTheSubway — starting with congestion pricing? pic.twitter.com/OWaAslz11j

— 🚇 Riders Alliance (@RidersNY) January 28, 2019

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse concurs:

If you don't catch the approx.7:40 am, you're screwed because everything after that is full!

— Steve Day (@sjdayny1) January 24, 2019

@MTA Passengers at the Roosevelt Island station have not been able to board Manhattan-bound F trains for about seven or eight trains now. Been waiting for 45 minutes to board

— Sharon Kim (@sharonsooyeon) January 24, 2019

This has been this way for years.
The MTA has done nothing measurable to change this. Maybe shifting the M line to run to Roosevelt Island along with the existing F line might work. Something has to be done.

— Steve Day (@sjdayny1) January 24, 2019

More on the Riders Alliance movement to Fix The Subway.

Add your name → https://t.co/tpvRFJConQ

— 🚇 Riders Alliance (@RidersNY) January 31, 2019

Gorgeous Aerial View Of Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park - It's Very Cold But Come Visit Anyway And Have Hot Chocolate At Cornell Tech Cafe

The Roosevelt Island FDR 4 Freedoms Park tweets:

We know it’s cold out, but come visit anyway afterwards stop by @cornell_tech cafe they have the best #hotchocolate pic.twitter.com/RSC3UFalXG

— Four Freedoms Park (@4FreedomsPark) January 28, 2019

Park is open:

... daily, 9am to 5pm; closed Tuesdays. The Park is closed on December 25.

October 1 - March 31, 9am-5pm
April 1 - September 30, 9am-7pm

Four Freedoms Park may close early for private or member-only events.

The Cornell Tech Cafe is open:

Monday through Friday

Cafe Open 8am – 5pm

Parliament Open 8pm – 7pm

Saturday and Sunday

Cafe Open 11am – 5pm

Parliament Open 11am – 5pm

Roosevelt Island Transportation This Weekend - Good News, First Time This Year Roosevelt Island F Train Service To And From Manhattan This Weekend

Good News - first time this year there will be Roosevelt Island F Train service to and from Manhattan this weekend.

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



As previously reported, due to the Tram Overhaul project starting second week of February with only one Tram Cabin operating:

... RIOC officials received assurances that there will be no disruptions to the subway’s F Train line that services Roosevelt Island, including weekends through April 19.

Additional service will be provided via the E Train line, weeknights March 18 – March 22 and March 25 – March 29; and all four weekends March 23 – April 25.....

 Both Tram Cabins operating at full capacity this weekend.

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 February 8 To February 14 Product Offerings, Specials & Sales Items - Free Delivery With $75 Or More Order, Super Bowl Party Platters Too

The Roosevelt Island Gristedes Supermarket

invites you to check out their February 8 - February 14 Product Offerings, Specials & Sales items.

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

Sign Up For Roosevelt Island Library And Youth Center Chess Tournament, Get To The King - Monthly Chess Movie Night At Library Too

The Roosevelt Island NY Public Library branch tweets:

Calling all Bobby Fischers! Come test your skills against the Roosevelt Island chess community! Stop by the library to register and hear more details. pic.twitter.com/XN8kA4H5KW

— RooseveltIslandLib (@LibRoosevelt) January 10, 2019

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) adds:

The Roosevelt Island Library and Youth Center Chess Tournament is soliciting players for the Island’s first-ever rated competition February 22.

Up to 30 players will compete in three different levels: beginner, intermediate and rated players according to their chess level. The competition will be a double elimination tournament with each game lasting no more than 25 minutes maximum.

All players will receive a medal for participating and the top three players at each level will receive trophies.

All players must be at least six-years-old to participate.

Register for free in person at the Roosevelt Island Library, 524 Main Street, or call 212.308.6243.

“We are so thrilled that our children will have the opportunity to participate in one of the world’s most classic games,” said Erica Spencer-EL, director of RIOC Youth Center where a regular chess program was initiated at Sportspark last fall. “Chess helps children improve their IQs, concentration, memory and problem-solving skills.”

The Roosevelt Island NY Public Library will also be hosting a series of Chess Movies including:

• Searching For Bobby Fisher,
• Pawn Sacrifice and
• Queen of Katwe.

Like chess? Like movies? How about coming to the library and doing both? Come watch chess movies at the library! pic.twitter.com/62pjiMVmDN

— RooseveltIslandLib (@LibRoosevelt) January 5, 2019

The Roosevelt Island Kids Chess Club meets 4-5:30 PM tomorrow, Thursday, January 31 at the Roosevelt Island NY Public Library.

And Chess Grandmaster Gary Kasporav answers common questions about chess.

On A Freezing NIght This Week, NYC Volunteers Participate In Hope Homeless Count - Roosevelt Island Resident Navigates For Team Counting In Central Park

Last Monday, many New Yorkers volunteered to count the number of homeless people living on our streets.  According to NYC Government web site:

... Every January, thousands of volunteers across the five boroughs participate in the annual Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE). That night, the volunteers canvass streets, parks, and other public spaces to identify individuals living unsheltered.

HOPE is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is a requisite for receiving funding under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. With approximately 1,500 survey areas covered, and the independent addition of decoys as a quality control measure, HOPE remains one of the most comprehensive efforts nationwide to help effectively project service needs and allocate resources for individuals who are experiencing chronic street homelessness...

On Monday, the @NYCDHS, along with thousands of volunteers, will count the number of people living in the streets for the #HOPE2019 count. Here's a look at last winter's count: pic.twitter.com/4qmq7T9XdN

— Poverty in America (@chasingthedream) January 27, 2019

Among the NYC volunteers was Roosevelt Island resident Frank Farance (pictured at left rear).



Mr Farance shared these photos and reports:

HOPE 2019: NYC's annual search/count of the homeless

This year, our team's assignment was Central Park: inside the park from 96 Street and north to 110 Street. The temperature on the ground was 19 F, the ground was hard and frozen, and icicles oozed out of rocks.



It was Code Blue, which means we need to wake up anyone we discover to make sure they are alive (and offer immediate shelter assistance), it's too dangerous to be sleeping outside.

The map shows the areas we cover: six sections of the park

where we might find homeless people. My CERT experience in Search and Rescue came in handy, as I was the navigator for the team.



There are about 2000 volunteers doing this City-wide, our section (Upper East Side and Central Park) started at Hunter College (Lex & 68 St), where about 100 of us got training 10 PM to midnight,

 

stocked up on snacks and water, and then headed out to survey 12:15 AM to 4:00 AM, and return the surveys and get a free T-shirt (really nice). I got home around 5 AM.

We had an escort from NYC Parks Department staff who were very helpful in their knowledge and expertise, especially walking around Central Park at night. Our Search Team 18 of seven people, covered many trails, roads, and benches. At times, we broke into two squads of 3 and 4 people, which allowed us to do the survey quicker, yet safely.

The park looks very very different at night and in winter with trees minus their leaves, and it can be disorienting when following trails that twist and turn - Which Way Is North?



Unlike daytime and summer time where one has the luxury of time, visibility, and warmth, that's not the case for us.

I snapped a couple photos of the Reservoir, which has a spectacular view looking south at Midtown Manhattan.



I've done thus survey for several years, I am happy I do this, it is a worthwhile effort, and I encourage others to volunteer, too.

From Roosevelt Island NYC Council Member Ben Kallos

Talking to @HenryRosoff from @PIX11News about tonight #HOPE2019 with @NYCDHS. We are counting our City's homeless population in person borough by borough street by street to get a more accurate idea of where resources are needed. pic.twitter.com/ek1wRUfbbp

— Ben Kallos (@BenKallos) January 29, 2019

and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer

Volunteers will spend all night canvassing the city to count the number of New Yorkers sleeping on the streets and direct them to shelter.

Thanks to everyone contributing to #HOPE2019 tonight—your efforts will bring us closer to ending homelessness in NYC. pic.twitter.com/TL1oxhn4Xh

— Gale A. Brewer (@galeabrewer) January 29, 2019

Channel 11 Pix News has more on the Hope Homeless Count.



According to the 2018 homeless count

Image From Hope 2019

there were a total estimate of 3,675 unsheltered individuals on January 22nd, 2018 (-6% from 3,892 in 2017).

SPONSORED POST - Get Your Tickets To William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream With A Jersey Shore Twist Presented By Roosevelt Island Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance Teen Theatre This Weekend Feb 1-3

The Roosevelt Island Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance  (MST&DA) Teen Theatre is presenting William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream this coming weekend - Friday February 1 - Sunday, February 3.

Of course, the MST&DA Teen performers are putting their own unique twist to the play. According to MST&DA:

The Teen Theatre at Main Street Theatre and Dance Alliance Presents: William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Directed by Joan Marie.

About this production:

What happens when you take a classic Shakespearean comedy and drop it in today's dramatically saturated world of reality T.V.?

What IF Shakespeare's most famous comedy took place on the Jersey Shore?

Will there be mermaids?!

For the answers to these questions come see A MIDSUMMER NIGHT's DREAM at MST&DA Feb1st-Feb 3rd!

You DO NOT want to miss this contemporary spin on one of Shakespeare's most loved comedies!

Tickets available here:

When:

February 1st 2019- 8pm

February 2nd 2019- 8pm

February 3rd 2019- 6pm

Recommended for ages 8+

General Admission $20

Seniors/Students $15 ​

Tickets will be held at the Box Office, which opens 60 min. before each performance.

Where:

Main Street Theatre and Dance Alliance on Roosevelt Island, NYC (548 Main Street)

Creative team:
Director: Joan Marie
AD/SM: Chana Meltzer
Costume Design: Joanna Pisano
Lighting Design: Andrew Trent
Fight Choreography: Pablo Vasquez
Composer: Jon Cook
Scenic Design: Dan Nistor
Poster design: Ana McCasland

Click here for more info and to buy tickets for the MST&DA Teen Theatre performance of William Shakespear's A Midsummer's Night Dream.

Here's how you get to MST&DA at 548 Main Street.

Roosevelt Island Next Door Neighbor Amazon Long Island City HQ2 Hiring Begins This Spring With 700 Jobs - Only A 5 Minute East River Ferry Ride Away

As previously reported, the new Amazon Long Island City HQ 2 will be located a short 5 minute East River Ferry ride from Roosevelt Island

The #AmazonHQ2 Long Island City location is directly across East River from Roosevelt Island in Anable Basin. Going to need more service from @NYCferry pic.twitter.com/ouwPA6Acu9

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) November 13, 2018

bringing at least 25,000 jobs to LIC over time starting with about 700 jobs this spring. 50% will be tech and 50% non tech jobs and Amazon says they are looking to hire locally, which I hope also includes Roosevelt Island.

With @amazon's arrival in Queens, we're working to make NYC's tech community more inclusive by creating opportunities for adults from diverse backgrounds to get high-paying tech jobs and start the companies of the future (via @MorningEdition) https://t.co/umCuKzhX55

— Pursuit (@joinpursuit) January 22, 2019

Amazon's VP of People Operations Ardine Williams tells Channel 5 Fox News how you might get a job at Amazon's LIC HQ 2.

Amazon HQ2 is coming to LIC and that means thousands of new jobs, but who is eligible and how do you get hired? https://t.co/hjgc1FpJp8

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) January 29, 2019

Click here for a list of current Amazon jobs available in NYC. Long Island City HQ jobs not listed yet.

Resident Dog Owner Collaborates With RIOC To Find Solution For Roosevelt Island Dog Run Disgusting Muddy Mess

The temporary Roosevelt Island Southtown Dog Run becomes a muddy mess for days after it rains. Last Saturday, after Friday's rain,  Roosevelt Island dog owner and advocate Scott Piro found the South Dog Run to be:

...  so disgusting. Look how disgusting this dog has gotten. Look at his underneath. He was clean when we got here.... I hate it here. Look at my feet, they're disgusting. People have to go home in their apartments after this...

Mr Piro suggested possible ways to fix the muddy South Dog Run in this video.



and shows us the aftermath cleaning up the dog.

View this post on Instagram

I walked client Titus yesterday. But the new south dog run on #rooseveltisland is such an unusable mud pit that Titus became filthy. . Luckily his building has a “pet spa” where I could wash and dry him. . The whole thing took 90 minutes instead of the expected 1/2 hour. Hardly worth the $20 I earned. . I feel bad for the people in Southtown, for whom this is their primary dog run. In the north, I had a dry run to use. These people have this mud pit.

A post shared by ScottyP (@scottpiro) on Jan 27, 2019 at 6:55pm PST

In response to my inquiry about the muddy South Dog Run, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Parks and Recreation Director Mary Cuneen replied:

Our maintenance team will install wood plank edgings along the west perimeter of the dog run. Also, they will dig a small trench in front of the wood where they will tamp down gravel. This will create a route for the water to run around the dog run instead of through it. Although it will not solve the mud problem in its entirety, it will alleviate much of the run off from the slope above.

I followed up:

Do you know when the new permanent South Dog run will be available for use?

Ms Cuneen answered:

I do not have that information at this time.

Mr. Piro said about the new South Dog Run:

Steve Noone told us before he left that “Petey’s Dog Run” would be ready by October 2019.

and added about Ms Cunneen:

Cunneen has been a responsive and helpful partner for the island’s dog community. She has advocated for additional budget to make upgrades to the northern dog run, which are expected in the next few months. She has also followed through on feedback to lengthen fencing in the new south run, eliminating gaps between fence and ground that were escape hazards for smaller dogs. She is also following through on promises made by Steve Noone to erect a shade structure for the southern run before summer, so the animals can be comfortable.

Take a much deserved congrats Scott Piro for getting action and a possible solution to the muddy Southtown Dog Run.

View this post on Instagram

Tooting own horn. The wheels of government turn slowly — except when ScottyP takes the case❗️ . Shot a video of unusable mud pit of a dog run, sent it to my frequent collaborator at @riocny, the Parks & Rec director, then sent the video and gave an interview to local blog. . Blog contacted RIOC President, then heard back from Parks & Rec — they brainstormed an engineering idea with maintenance crew to reroute water runoff around the dogpark. . In one day, I accomplished something❗️

A post shared by ScottyP (@scottpiro) on Jan 28, 2019 at 2:47pm PST

SPONSORED POST - Roosevelt Island Urgent Care Medical Facility, Just Walk In At 520 Main Street 7 Days A Week For Your Medical Needs - Make Sure You're Immune From Measles And Still Time To Get Your Flu Shot

A simple blood draw can tell you if you're still immune from the Measles. Make sure to keep yourself protected! #measles #titers #immune #kaminhealth #urgentcare pic.twitter.com/6o2D6buiH8

— KāMIN HEALTH (@kaminhealth) December 27, 2018

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

and still time to get a flu shot.

Very important to get your #flu shot. All of our locations are fully stocked and can get you in and out in minutes. https://t.co/mjfsHltzhC

— KāMIN HEALTH (@kaminhealth) January 16, 2019

You're Invited To Join The Roosevelt Island Pokemon Go Community Group - Travel Between Real And Virtual World Exploring Roosevelt Island And Meeting New Friends

Roosevelt Island Pokemon Go member Ben invites you to join the Roosevelt Island Pokemon Go Group:

I’m a current resident on RI and have been for the last 2 years. Within that time I’ve come to really appreciate the landscape of this island. But most importantly I’ve come to really love the people and culture on the island. With that being said, I’m a huge Pokémon Go player and with the help of a few friends

have created a Roosevelt Island Pokémon Go group of almost 60+ members. Ages run from 4 - 60+ years of age believe it or not!

In an attempt to continue our growth I was wondering if there was anyway our group can be featured or mentioned in a post one of these days. It would be awesome to get the word out about our group.

Pokémon go has been an amazing tool to get people out of their comfort zone and explore this beautiful Island.

Thanks for your time!

Are you new to the Pokemon Go community? Here's an explanation from Pokemon Go website:

Travel between the real world and the virtual world of Pokémon with Pokémon GO for iPhone and Android devices. With Pokémon GO, you'll discover Pokémon in a whole new world—your own! Pokémon GO gives you the chance to explore real locations and search far and wide for Pokémon. More and more Pokémon continue to appear around the globe, including rare and powerful Legendary Pokémon.

As you move around the places where you live and visit, your smartphone can vibrate to let you know when you're near a Pokémon. Once you've encountered a Pokémon, take aim on your smartphone's touch screen and throw a Poké Ball to catch it—but be careful, or it might run away! ...

Here's a video showing Roosevelt Island Pokemon Go Hunting



and Roosevelt Island Pokemon Go community day meetup tweet

First community day meetup for the Roosevelt Island crew here in NYC! Complete with Pokémon plates and napkins! 😂 pic.twitter.com/e70bC29heg

— John Thrasher (@jthrasher) June 17, 2018

Join the Roosevelt Island Pokemon Go Group here.

Happy Hunting and Exploring.