You're Invited To Roosevelt Island Korean Cultural Festival Saturday August 10 At PS/IS 217 Auditorium - Korean Traditional Music, Dance, Tae-Kwon-Do Demo, K-Pop & Calligraphy Exhibition

The Korean Association of Roosevelt Island invites you to a  Korean Cultural Festival Saturday, August 10 at PS/IS 217 Auditorium (645 Main Street)

Roosevelt Island Transportation - Good News Again, This Weekend F Trains To And From Manhattan, E Train Too, Both Tram Cabins Working And Ferry Service, That's 16 In A Row - Watch Video Of MTA Rep Talking Roosevelt Island Subway Service

Good news, for the 16th week in a row, Roosevelt Island residents will have weekend F Trains

running to and from Manhattan, both Tram Cabins operating and East River Astoria Route Ferry service.

According to the MTA, Roosevelt Island E Train service too:

SIGNAL MODERNIZATION Aug 9 - 12, 11:45 PM Fri to 5 AM Mon E Trains run via the F in both directions between W 4 St, Manhattan and 21 St-Queensbridge F station, Queens

Here's the NYC Ferry 2019 Ferry Summer Schedule. 

More good news. During June 13 Roosevelt Island Town Hall Meeting organized by Council Member Ben Kallos, MTA representative Markus Book reported that there are no planned Roosevelt Island F Train weekend disruptions until August 16 weekend.

Watch the full MTA Roosevelt Island presentation below.

A Night Of Stargazing, Astronomy & Astrophotograpy Returns To Roosevelt Island At The Cornell Tech Campus - You're Invited To A Close Up View Of The Moon, Stars And Maybe A Surprise Or Two, Depending On Weather And Clear Skies

A night of Stargazing, Astronomy and Astrophotography returns to Roosevelt Island at the Cornell Tech campus on either this coming Saturday, Monday or Tuesday depending on the weather and clear skies.

According to the NYPL Roosevelt Island Public Library branch:

B.Y.O.Blanket! Stargazing, Astronomy, & Astrophotography

Open to the public -- families encouraged!

ONE AUGUST NIGHT

Saturday August 10th OR Monday August 12th OR Tuesday August 13th

on Cornell Tech's Roosevelt Island campus

Roosevelt Island has clear views of the night sky. Join us for a fun outdoor evening on Cornell Tech's Roosevelt Island campus as we use high-powered telescopes to view + learn about the Sun, our Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and other sights of our universe. Weather dependent. Look up and if the skies are clear, we'll be out on the first night!

Exact night confirmed on Twitter and Instagram follow:

@RooseveltIslandLib @obastronomy @iDig2Learn @cornell_tech

This program is presented in partnership with OBAstronomy, iDig2Learn, and Cornell Tech. 

Check out scenes from iDig2Learn and OB Astronomy's

Huge thanks to Chris @OBAstronomy 4 giving Roosevelt Island the moon, jupiter & its four visible moons & even 2 Int’l Space Station (ISS) flyovers! Smiles everywhere as neighbors came out to play. Moon photo taken by Laura Dutilloy #OptOutside pic.twitter.com/5DV5U219Ca

— iDig2Learn (@iDig2Learn) May 19, 2019

May 18 night of Roosevelt Island Riverwalk Commons Stargazing

Moonwatch,

  Image From Arsha Antony

sighting of planet Jupiter rising and the International Space Station passing by.

More pics of the May 18 Roosevelt Island Stargazing here.

See you at the Roosevelt Island Stargazing either this Saturday, Monday or Tuesday - it will be fun and educational.

UPDATE 8/10 - The Stargazing took place last night - Saturday. Stay tuned for pictures.

No Stargazing Monday or Tuesday.

A Few Good Woman & Men Needed To Volunteer As Leaders For Roosevelt Island Girl Scout Daisy Troop - Are You Able And Willing To Step Up And Help?

Roosevelt Island is fortunate to have several well run Girl Scout troops for a variety of ages including the:

• Daisies K & 1st grade
• Brownies 2nd & 3rd grade
• Juniors 4th & 5th grade
• Cadettes 6th to 8th grade
• Seniors 9th & 10th grade
• Ambassadors 11th & 12th grade

The Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts participate in a variety of activities, learning leadership skills and community building projects including, robotics, gardening, working with Seniors, caring for animals,  first aid, running a small business nutrition, dancing and much more

Volunteers are needed to work with the Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts.

Roosevelt Island Girl Scout Troop Leader Suzy del Campo Perea reports:

ROOSEVELT ISLAND GIRLS starting Kindergarten this September are looking for 2 adults to lead the Daisy GIRL SCOUT TROOP

Qualifications needed:

* sense of humor

* open to receive love from Kindergarten girls

* ready to learn from the girls

* lots of imagination to understand the crafts, projects and drawings

* singing even if totally flat and/or out of tune

* loves to laugh and not shy to be silly

* Sept to June commitment

* plans are already written, you just have to lead the girls

* giving back to the girls

* occasional weekend visit to some place cool, fun and educational

* the position is Unisex, DADS are welcome

So far, there’s no Girl Scout troop for the youngest girls of RI. So if you have a daughter entering Kindergarten and/or you want to Step Up and be a Girl Scout Leader for this group, please reach out.

Even with full time jobs and all the craziness of running your household, it’s possible to do it. And you can lean on the Leaders of the other Girl Scout Troops.

Please reach out to us.

Some Girl Scout moms in this group: Aiesha Yitza Elizabeth Kristin Susy Janine and Fay Christian.

Please contact Susy del Campo Perea if you are interested in becoming a Roosevelt Island Girl Scout Leader.

Here's more info on Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts past activities.

What's Going On With 3 Month Long Delayed Roosevelt Island F Train Subway Station Escalator Fix - RI Residents, MTA & NYC Council Member Ben Kallos Take To Twitter To Find Out There Will Be More Delay

Reported June 27, that

... the Roosevelt Island escalator from the street to mezzanine platform is scheduled to be fixed by July 13....

But the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse finds that the escalator will not be fixed for another month - August 31.

At least another month for @Mta Roosevelt Island f train station escalator to get repaired. @NYCTSubway why another delay. @SenatorSerrano @Rebecca76AD @BenKallos https://t.co/QGeaZbrw7d

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) August 1, 2019

Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Ben Kallos seeks answers for the delay.

Hi Councilmember, it looks like we kept this escalator open as a staircase while we completed work on other escalators at this station, to help with passenger flow. Looking to get more details now. ^MW

— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) August 1, 2019

I don’t think that’s accurate. The escalator was boarded up with sign saying it would be fixed by July 31. It had been scheduled to be fixed earlier than July 31 but was delayed to the July 31 date and now August 31. pic.twitter.com/o2aUXHr0lT

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) August 1, 2019

The MTA tweets Roosevelt Island escalator is getting new steps and chains and will be more reliable.

We have taken the entire escalator apart (see: 👇) to replace the steps and step chains, and we want to make sure that any other component that needs repair is repaired. While it's taking a bit longer, it will result in a more reliable escalator in the long term. (2/2) ^MW pic.twitter.com/NLTBa1GKny

— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) August 2, 2019

You're welcome. ^TS

— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) August 4, 2019

But the escalator has been out of service since last May and its a hardship for many elderly, disabled and others to climb so many stairs.

During a prolonged shut down like this, please make sure the other escalator is working. Having both out of service & folks esp the elderly to climb the steps is inhumane. Also see the line at 10:23pm on a weekday to get on to the only working escalator. You need to do better 2/2

— Vik Patra (@vikpatra) August 6, 2019

The MTA replies:

Hey, Vic. Our mechanics work very hard to ensure things run as smoothly as possible throughout our system. As we continue to implement our Fast Forward plan and improve our accessibility, some escalators repairs require parts that must be ordered to properly fix. 1/2 ^PRN

— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) August 6, 2019

While it may seem as easy as just reversing the escalator in the opposite directions, this would actually damage them and create further issues. We appreciate your feedback and images sent. 2/2 ^PRN

— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) August 6, 2019

Former resident and RI 360 blogger adds:

I created this diagram years ago as it identified each escalator by its official designation. Nowadays that allows residents to tweet the number directly to 311 and MTA to report outages.

— Eric (@Eric11714) August 1, 2019

You're Invited To Roosevelt Island National Night Out Tuesday August 6 At Good Shepherd Plaza - Join Your Neighbors And Public Safety Department To Help Build Stronger & Safer Community

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) invites you to come join your neighbors and Public Safety Department in National Night Out

According to RIOC:

National Night Out - Tuesday August 6th 5:30PM - 8:00PM at Good Shepherd Plaza, 543 Main Street

Join the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department (PSD) and your neighbors to help build a stronger, safer community.

Music, Refreshments, Giveaways & More

The NYPD adds:

Join the NYPD and city officials at more than 70 locations citywide on National Night Out Against Crime, Tuesday, August 6th, 2019.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships to help make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. It seeks to strengthen the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement, fostering a true sense of community....

Resident Asks RIOC To Paint Long Neglected Roosevelt Island Main Street Crosswalks To Improve Pedestrian Safety - RIOC Says We Hear You Loud And Clear, Will Begin Crosswalk Repairs Today

A long time Roosevelt Island resident shares this message sent last Thursday to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Presient Susan Rosenthal:

Cannot believe RIOC or NYS or whomever still hasn't gotten the Crosswalk by the Chapel or the other Crosswalks between 625 & 501 Main Street painted, nor the double-yellow stripe down the middle of Main Street restored either.

Pedestrians crossing at the Chapel / 540 Breezeway continue to be at extremely high risk for getting hit by all types of vehicles -- from regular or motorized bikes to cars to trucks to busses -- even with a slight increase in PSD presence at certain times of the day.

Last Saturday even with pedestrians of all ages & abilities right in the Crosswalk, drivers could hardly come to a full stop to let folks cross, especially between 10 am & 1pm. The PSD was called an asked to send a PSO over, which they did for a while.

Thank you in advance addressing this of as soon as possible.

On Friday, a RIOC spokesperson announced:

Crosswalk Repairs Take Place Monday, August 5th

The community spoke and we heard you loud and clear!

As part of RIOC’s ongoing commitment to the safety of our residents, RIOC contractors will be repainting the Main Street crosswalks from the Blackwell House turn-around to 40 River Road on Monday, August 5th. This work will take place during daylight hours. Traffic control measures will be implemented throughout the day so work can take place.

Please note that lane re-striping is also a priority, but will take place in the near future.

Another resident asks:

Are they going to make sure there are not any conflicting stop/yield signs?

— Scott Holleman (@scott_holleman) August 5, 2019

More reactions from Roosevelt Island residents:

• " why? people just cross wherever they want anyway."
• " We need more speed bumps."
• " Bikes and cars barely stop!"

You're Invited To Roosevelt Island Census 2020 Job Opportunity Evening Workshop Monday August 5

Are you interested in learning about job opportunities with Census 2020?



Roosevelt Island Seniors Association (RISA) President Barbara Parker reports:

Reminder!

Census 2020 Job Opportunity Workshop Evening Session

Mondays August 5th - 5:00pm - 8;00pm

546 Community Center

You Can Bring Your Own Tablet or Lap Top To Process Your Application

Confirm Your Attendance So That We Know How Many Participants Will Be Attending

Confirm if you are bringing your own tablet or lap top or if you will need to be supplied with one to process your application

Contact us by Sunday, August 4th

• Donna Chenkin - donnareilly1616@gmail.com
• Andrea Jackson - ajacksonnyc@aol.com
• and reseniorsa@gmail.com

More info on Census 2020 job opportunities here.