The 2019 Roosevelt Island Halloween Parade March on Main Street took place today from Capobianco Field to Sportspark.
According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) almost one thousand marchers participated in today's parade, based upon the number of wrist bands distributed.
Here's the Halloween Parade as seen from sidewalk next to Nisi Restaurant. (Click the full screen icon at bottom right of video for a better viewing)
People had a good time but several mentioned being disappointed that there was no music, marching band or spooky vehicle leading the Halloween Parade this year as done in past parades.
Some of the costumed Roosevelt Island Halloween Parade marchers.
The Parade marched south on Main Street to the Sportspark for an indoors Halloween Extravaganza and a shout out from Captain America a/k/a NYC Council Member Ben Kallos.
Some more pictures from Roosevelt Island Sportspark Halloween Extravaganza.
The existing Roosevelt Island Southtown Dog run will soon be removed for the construction of Hudson Related's Riverwalk Building 9. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) plans a new replacement dog run to be located in Blackwell Park and opening before the current one is removed this winter.
The original location for the Blackwell Park Dog Run was a spot adjacent to Rivewalk 480 Main Street close to the East Waterfront Promenade. However, RIOC announced during its October 17 Board Meeting plans for a new Blackwell Park Dog Run location next to Roosevelt Landings 510 Main Street, a bit further north and again close to the East River Waterfront Promenade in the area surrounding the current sandbox
During the October 17 RIOC Board Meeting Public Session, former resident and always Roosevelt Island Dog Advocate Scott Piro, together with other Roosevelt Island dog owners and caregivers,
requested that the new Blackwell Park Dog Run be named for his dog Petey. According to Mr. Piro:
... I'd like to introduce you Petey, He is a 10 year old Lab mix. He's also an immigrant, he was rescued from a Tel Aviv kill shelter and immigrated to New York when he was five. He was an Island resident in 2015 until earlier this year. We are requesting that the new Dog Run be named after him - Petey's Dog Run.
The reason why is because I did more community service for the dog population on the island than anyone else I think ever. Now, I didn't do it alone. Mary Cuneen, Steve Noone, Fernando Vargas and there were other people at RIOC who helped me and I had a lot of help in the community some people who are here right now...
Following Mr. Piro's presentation, Roosevelt Island parent Rachel Dowling spoke expressing opposition to the Blackwell Park Dog Run location for safety reasons being so close to areas where children play.
According to an October 18 statement from Ms Dowling:
Once again the community is being blindsided by dog park construction plan that has not been vetted with Roosevelt Island Residents.
After an outcry from local parents about a half-baked plan to place the dog run on a slice of Blackwell Park that abuts the sprinklers and the small children’s playground, Hudson-Related and RIOC has agreed to locate the new dog run closer to the site of where it currently sits.
But somewhere along the line Hudson-Related reneged on that agreement and convinced RIOC to give up some of their land in the northeast corner of Blackwell Park, squeezing a dog park plan in an already congested area abutting the big kids playground, the basketball courts, and the pending bike path.
Last night the RIOC board voted unanimously to push this plan through without any bid from contractors, stating that a vote when they next convene in early December would be too late to complete the work in time for the closure of the current Southtown dog park for the construction of another building.
This is an obvious move to strong arm the community into a plan we don’t agree with or feel comfortable with.
We are concerned about the obvious safety issues posed by a dog park at the children’s playground. Active children and dogs don’t always mix. As an example, my ten year old son had a terrifying experience last month at Riverwalk Commons when a dog got off his least and aggressively went after my son. While we were able to distract the dog before he could bite my son, my son was deeply traumatized by this experience. These are not events that we as a community should be inviting. Children have a right to play without fear.
Furthermore, the current plan essentially pens in the whole north end of the park, from the north basketball court to the children’s playground, cutting it off from the promenade, the trees, and the view of the water. It would create a drastic change to a space that is used by many members of the community.
We demand that RIOC suspend this plan and come up with something better. An interim dog park could easily replace the current park while plans are vetted and finalized in a way that takes the needs of the whole community to heart.
A petition drive has been started to oppose a Dog Run in Blackwell Park:
To be delivered to Susan Rosenthal , President of RIOC
We are concerned community members worried about the location for the new dog run next to the basketball courts and the big kids playground (and soon the bike path) at Blackwell Park. We are concerned about safety as well as the loss of open space. We feel that since so much space is being lost due to HR construction the dog park should be placed down there, where it won’t impede the passive enjoyment of the park, kids at play, and where it also is more likely to be maintained.
Roosevelt Island Mom and Dog owner Patty Fallone replied to Ms Dowling during the RIOC Board Public Session:
... I think the dog run can co-exist close to the playground as long as it is done properly.
In response to the Blackwell Park Dog Run opposition, Mr Piro writes:
I scouted the entire southern residential section of the Island in 2017 – and identified a dozen potential locations for a new dog run from which RIOC could choose. More than 50 members of the Island’s most active dog owners voted upon these selections and chose the triangular patch adjacent to 480 Main Street.
The dog community is happy with the current location and design of ‘Petey’s Dog Run,’ but some of us did feel the original spot was superior. Chief among its advantages are that it is flat, shaded and isolated. It’s inaccurate to describe it as ‘abutting’ the small children’s playground, as a recent WIRE story did. There is a paved path dividing the two spots – and at least 10 feet separate the two plots.
Planners of urban parks across the city see no hazards in placing dog runs and children’s playgrounds adjacent one another, as evidenced by existing multi-use parks in Carl Schurz Park (UES) and Riverside Park (UWS). St. Nicholas Park near Harlem positioned the dog run adjacent the barbeque area, and Cooper Park in Brooklyn places dog runs next to multiple sports fields.
There is nothing inherently unsafe about locating a dog run next to a children’s play area. The counterargument may be loud, but it is not rational.
and Roosevelt Island resident Sabrina Hermosilla adds:
I’ve been on the Island since 2006 and am a proud responsible human and animal parent.
As with all experiments in multiculturalism, Roosevelt Island residents often finds ourselves tasked with balancing the various and different needs of many different and equally important groups.
What brought my husband and I to this haven over 13 years ago was this desire to co-exist, this belief that we are better together, and that our unique needs and differences is what makes life here rich and rewarding. Over the past 13 years we have been fortunate to host all of our 11 nieces and nephews and have loved how welcoming this island is to children and families from all walks of life. No place is perfect, but we always felt safe playing with these children outside and showing to them how beautiful diversity can be.
Nine years ago we decided to add a dog to our family and the island truly came alive for us. We had already been on the Island for almost four years, but when we brought Tallula into our lives we met neighbors, people stopped (and stop) us on the street to see her, and we were able to volunteer at the hospital so Tallula could bring her joy to those who needed it most.
What surprised us the most was that while some people have a fear of dogs (which we obviously would avoid) the large majority of people, every age, every language, every social or economic status, were drawn to and loved to get some Tallula love. Having a dog not only helped us join our community and know neighbors (we still meet people who know Tallula whom we have never met!) but I truly believe offered a community good, she makes people smile.
Two years ago we were blessed with a human child of our own. Watching him grow up in a household with animals and learn to respect, show compassion, and responsibility, is truly one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Animals and children have co-existed in harmony since our earliest times on this Earth, and offer such a rich opportunity for joint growth and enrichment.
Recently, I have been saddened to hear that a small, but vocal, group is using the long-overdue relocation of a dog park to stoke fears of disease, contagion, and violence between dogs and children. There are irresponsible dog parents / guardians who do not pick up their dog’s waste, true. Just as there are irresponsible human parents / guardians who do not manage their children sufficiently, allow them to litter food, plastic, balloons, etc.
However, we on this Island do not make policy, the few times RIOC allows us to have a say, we do not make policy from a position of fear or of the small minority of offenders. No, instead, I hope, we come together as a community that understands there are unique needs, that most children and dogs are well behaved and well cared for, and that both human and dog children deserve space on this ever-growing Island. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of examples of dog parks and children’s parks being co-located, please, Roosevelt Island, let us not fall into the bitter, divisive discourse of these times, but instead find our shared community, and allow the dog park relocation to continue as planned.
I asked RIOC:
... Is RIOC reconsidering placing the dog run in Blackwell Park?
A RIOC Spokesperson replied October 23:
The safety of our residents and park users is always our main objective. We believe the planned improvements for the entire park is a thoughtful, safe design for all user groups and will address the concerns about the location of the dog park voiced at the Board meeting and in the referenced petition.
As indicated in our presentation during the Board meeting, this project is being bid for construction in two phases. The dog park is included in the first phase of work. The second phase includes improvements of the basketball courts, play areas and paths. The second phase is in design now and will be issued for contractor pricing next Spring.
The design for the entire park incorporates industry best practices for dog runs. The dog park is completely fenced and has a series of two self-closing gates to enter. The first gate allows dog users to enter the vestibule with their leased dog. The second gate allows users to enter the pen for either large or small dogs and take the dog off leash upon entering the pen. The pen will be well shaded and is located at the perimeter of the park. There is dense planting outside the fence to provide a visual barrier between dogs and other park users.
All of these elements combined provide a safe experience for children using the park, large dog owners, small dog owners and residents enjoying a walk along the promenade. We realize that design, like art, is subject to personal taste but we try to put forth solutions that appeal to most.
In response to concerns voiced at the Board meeting, we’ve taken another look at the plan and decided to eliminate the vestibule entrance from the park. A revised plan with a single point of access to the vestibule from the promenade will be provided to the contractors. We feel once all of the planned improvements are complete, all of the user groups will be able to safely coexist in Blackwell Park.
RIOC Assistant VP Of Capital Planning & Projects Jonna Carmona-Graf reported to the RIOC Board of Directors and RIOC President Susan Rosenthal during the October 17 Board meeting on plans for the Blackwell Park (Part 1)
Are all of you Roosevelt Island Ghosts, Ghouls and costumed creatures ready for one of the Best Roosevelt Island events of the year?
This Saturday, October 26, is the annual Roosevelt Island Family Halloween Parade & Extravaganza. According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)
The Halloween Parade and Extravaganza will be held this Saturday, October 26th! Parade participants will gather at 11:00 AM at Capobianco Field (across from 595 Main St) and proceed down Main Street to Sportspark for the Extravaganza.
No Parking on Sections of Main Street
In front of or opposite 501 to 645 Main St from Friday, 10/25/19 at 11:00 PM through Saturday, 10/26/19 at 1:00 PM
At the rear of 405 to 475 Main St from Friday, 10/25/19 at 11:00 PM through Saturday, 10/26/19 at 1:00 PM
In front of or opposite 250 to 281 Main St from Friday, 10/25/19 at 11:00 PM through Saturday, 10/26/19 at 6:00 PM
Traffic Changes on Main Street
Traffic will be stopped from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, between Capobianco Field on Main Street and West Road, for the parade.
Parade Information
11:00 AM - Parade organizes at Capobianco Field. (Wristbands will be given out to all participants in the park).
11:30 AM - Parade kick-off, led by PSD. The Parade will head south on Main Street, passing the business district, proceeding to the Blackwell turnaround. Once at Blackwell, the parade will continue south on West Road, passing the subway, ending at Sportspark.
12:00 PM - Enter Sportspark. Attendees wishing to park strollers will be directed to a designated area outside the building.
12:00 PM to 3:00 PM- If you can’t make the Halloween parade, feel free to join us at Sportspark for the Extravaganza!
For more information on the Halloween Extravaganza, see the poster below.
The preparations for this year's Roosevelt Island Halloween Parade got off to a rocky start after rumors were circulated that the Parade was being cancelled. Fortunately that turned out not to be true.
But, RIOC moved the Extravaganza portion of the celebration inside to the Sportspark Facility and initially changed the parade route which would have bypassed Main Street's WIRE buildings corridor.
After a community outcry and with the urging of RIOC Director David Kraut, the Halloween Parade was restored to it's traditional Main Street Route though marching south from Capobianco Field to Sportspark instead of past years going north from Blackwell House to Capobianco Field.
During the October 17 RIOC Board of Directors meeting, RIOC President Susan Rosenthal acknowledged making a mistake in changing the traditional Roosevelt Island Family Halloween Parade route away from the Main Street WIRE Buildings corridor. According to Ms Rosenthal;
I screwed up. We're human and we heard the interest of the community in wanting to continue the tradition of the parade marching down the business section of Main Street so we are going to do that.
Good job by RIOC listening to the Roosevelt Island community and making the correction.
Have a great time at the Roosevelt Island Halloween Parade & Extravaganza!!!
Image Chief Brown and Deputy Chief Amoroso at 10/22 RIRA Public Safety Committee Meeting
Chief Brown reported that Roosevelt Island continues to be the safest community in NYC with 15 Index crimes reported to date this year, compared to 24 last year (January thru September 2019). Violence is almost non-existent said Chief Brown.
Of the 15 crimes, 10 were assaults, 3 grand larcenies, 1 burglary and 1 robbery.
Of the 10 assaults, 6 involved incidents of domestic violence. According to Chief Brown these incidents:
... are at high end of the community - doctors and professional people....
Here's report from Chief Brown on Roosevelt Island crime incidents to the RIRA Public Safety Committee last evening.
Chief Brown also reported that he will continue the community policing policies successfully implemented by recently retired Roosevelt Island Public Safety Chief Jack McManus. Unfortunately, Chief Brown told the Public Safety Committee that Chief McManus is currently in the hospital and asked to keep him in our thoughts and prayers.
Also, Chief Brown introduced newly hired Deputy Chief Anthony Amoruso to the Public Safety Committee. Deputy Chief Amoruso, recently retired from the NYPD, described his experience and background to the committee members and noted how much he and his wife love Roosevelt Island.
On October 22, 2019, PSD Chief Kevin Brown formally introduced Deputy Chief Anthony Amoroso to the Public Safety Committee of the Roosevelt Island Resident’s Association (RIRA).
Members of the committee wanted to know more about Deputy Chief Amoroso’s background in community policing. It is a practice that started on Roosevelt Island under former PSD Chief McManus and has been continued since Chief Brown took over for him earlier this year.
Deputy Chief Amoroso told the committee, “I have a lot of experience with community policing. At the beginning of my law enforcement career, one of my first assignments was with the Housing Police, Service Area #4 in Lower Manhattan. I was a Directed Patrol Officer, which meant it was my duty to conduct community policing in the Lillian Wald housing projects. I worked every day in the same housing development with the same residents for three years. That experience taught me how effective community policing can be.”
When asked if he was still committed to the idea of community policing in his new role on Roosevelt Island, Deputy Chief Amoroso assured the committee that he supported it one-hundred percent. “It was one of the first questions Chief Brown had asked me when he interviewed me for this job. He made sure I understood that community policing is not only important to him, but it’s important to the people of Roosevelt Island. In fact, it’s one of the many reasons why I wanted to work here.”
Roosevelt Island is not immune from the NYC Homeless crisis nor do we have any solution to this difficult issue of balancing individual rights and personal privacy with protecting the health and welfare of the community.
For example, yesterday a Roosevelt Island parent reported:
Yesterday as I was walking across the lawn by the subway, the homeless man who sits by Starbucks opened his pants and started peeing right in front of me on one of the trees (by the former sports bar). When I confronted him about it, and asked why he doesn’t use the bathroom at Starbucks, he cursed and yelled back, and told me to call the cops. I called Public Safety, filed a report, and followed him until the officers arrived (he went back to Starbucks, where all of his luggage was). Later that afternoon he wasn’t there, but his luggage was still standing by one of the tables.
I understand Starbucks is allowing him to stay there. I also understand that the shelter system is screwed up. But, This is not only disgusting behavior, it is also a health and hygiene issue. And as a mother of two little kids, I don’t want them to be exposed to this.
Is there anything we can do?
The Parent added the response from thr Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department was:
... that they’ve spoken to the man about urinating in proper places (that’s after I called them to talk to him). And since they did not see it themselves, there’s not much more they can do at the moment. But they will ‘keep an eye’ on this guy now that they know what he looks like and where he usually hangs out. That’s it.
The homeless issue was discussed during last evening's Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Safety Committee (PSC) meeting with RIOC Public Safety (PSD) Chief Kevin Brown and Deputy Chief Anthony Amoroso
According to RIRA PSC Chair Erin Feely-Nahem:
... the community has to understand is that there is only so much they can do because they do have rights if they're not doing anything. Yes, if he was urinating and a Public Safety Officer saw it, the Public Safety Officer can give a summons....
I asked Chief Brown what PSD can and cannot do about the homeless issue.
Chief Brown said:
... If we don't observe the violation, we can't give a summons. If they're acting out in their behavior we will address it....
I followed up asking if there was any way to get them help, Chief Brown replied:
... We can call the homeless outreach unit and have other people respond...
But work did not start until May of 2018 and then was soon halted after discovering the soil was not structurally sound for the foundation originally designed for the project.
Long delayed Roosevelt Island Tram elevator project to soon resume construction pic.twitter.com/I8Se25Iqcp
After changing the foundation design and obtaining new approvals from the NYC Departments of Transportation and Buildings as well as the MTA, RIOC reported during the October 15 Operations Advisory Committee meeting, that work on the 2 new Roosevelt Island Tram Elevators will begin by the end of this month, replacing the existing cramped and often broken elevator.
Here's RIOC Project Manager Prince Shah updating the RIOC Board on the Tram Elevator project.
According to Mr Shah, the the cost of the project has increased to approximately $7 million and should be completed by December 2020. Mr. Shah added that the foundation design changes will not effect anything seen above ground.
Below is the Roosevelt Island Tram Station elevator plan presented to April 12, 2016 meeting of CB 8's Roosevelt Island Committee by GC Eng & Associates. According to the presentation. the new Roosevelt Island Tram Station will have:
For the last 35 years, The Roosevelt Island Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MST&DA) has offered high quality live theater performances and classes to the Roosevelt Island Community. This Saturday, October 26, MST&DA is honoring the husband and wife team of Nancy and Worth Howe for their efforts in building the theater and contributions to the local performing arts community.
According to MST&DA
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation is naming the Cultural Center theatre The Howe Theatre in honor of Nancy and Worth Howe. Nancy and Worth were part of the design and planning committee appointed by RIOC in 1990 to oversee the construction of what is now The Cultural Center at 548 Main Street. They were instrumental in helping physically to build the theatre. They are being honored in a plaque unveiling ceremony on October 26th from 3:30-4:30pm at the Cultural Center, 548 Main Street.
“Renaming the theatre in honor of Nancy and Worth Howe is a fitting tribute to two people who expanded the role of Main Street Theatre and Dance Alliance and influenced creativity in our community,” said Susan Rosenthal, President and CEO of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC). “We at RIOC are honored to continue to support MSTDA.”
The Howe's served as directors for Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance from 1983-2005. Diana Brill, the founder of MST&DA, brought Nancy and Worth to Roosevelt Island to develop MST&DA into what it is now. They served on the executive staff of MST&DA from 1984-2005. "Nancy and Worth have a long history on Roosevelt Island and have impacted so many lives here over the years they were at MST&DA. Their contributions to Roosevelt Island performing arts are immeasurable and we are thrilled to honor them and their service to the community," says Kristi Towey, Executive Director of MST&DA.
The Howe's now live in Los Angeles, where they continue to work as professional actors. They are returning for this special event, along with many alumni and former MST&DA performers. As she prepared to leave MST&DA in April 2005, The Wire asked Nancy how she would like to be remembered. "I really cared about doing the very best, getting the very best out of the children, doing the very best shows for the adults and the kids, making them rise to the occasion, making them work as hard as they could to do the best job they could, and respect me and know that I respect them and love them at the same time."
Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) physicians actively educate their communities beyond standard appointment times. Wellness seminars, as well as presentations in collaboration with community-based organizations, create forums for attendees to learn about particular health topics, ask questions and engage in a communicative dialogue with our physicians. The WCM Division of Government & Community Affairs organizes these critically important opportunities to educate and expose common questions, misconceptions or concerns....
Watch the video below to learn more about Weill Cornell Medicine's public outreach programs
including the Health & Wellness Seminars and STEM Education.
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.
