Roosevelt Island Disabled Association Hosts Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Yesterday At Senior Center - Over 70 Peoples Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner Served By Wonderful Volunteers

Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Wendy Hersh shares these photos and reports:

THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND DISABLED ASSOCIATION hosted their annual Thanksgiving event along with CBN Senior Center yesterday.

Fabulous turnout of over 70 people.

Thanks to all of the volunteers,

for the Senior Center for providing the space and hosting along with us...and all of the wonderful individuals that we serve....community working together which made it a very special day.

Get Your Tickets To Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance Holiday Show, A Christmas Carol The Musical - Performances December 13,14, 19 & 20

Roosevelt Island's Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MST&DA) reports on their upcoming Holiday Show - A Christmas Carol. According to MST&DA:

Next month give your holidays some extra shine and light by treating yourself and your family to a brilliant performance of “A Christmas Carol”

at the Howe Theater, home of Main Street Theater & Dance Alliance, the warm, beating heart of Roosevelt Island. Performed by a cast of seasoned child and adult actors, and directed by the impeccable eye and attention to detail of Jacqueline Lucid, with music direction by Justin Ramos and dynamic choreography by Kara Curtis, this timeless and heartfelt holiday classic is sure to instill the season with a special warmth and meaning. Click www.mstda.org for tickets.

In mid-December, MST&DA’s black box theater will come alive as veteran actors imbue this time worn tale with tenderness and whimsy as they tell the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. The miserly malcontent who mistreats his workers and shows no heart for humanity, wrestles with his demons on Christmas Eve as a cathartic dream takes him on a journey with the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Future. Through their guidance, Scrooge learns to open his heart and understand the true meaning of Christmas as a time of love, generosity, and joy. No matter which holiday you celebrate, this is a poignant and universal story that still resonates today.

Louis Ladehoff plays Scrooge,

Image By Irina Hage

Russ Cusick and Jeanne Castagnero play Mr. and Mrs. Cratchit. Seven year old Jack Fadner

plays Tiny Tim, while his mother, MST&DA Assistant Executive Director Kimbirdlee Fadner, plays the Ghost of Christmas Past. John Curtis plays the Ghost of Christmas Present, bringing sensational tap dancing to the role, and Brenna Stein plays the Ghost of Christmas Future. MST&DA Executive Director Kristi Towey will also be taking the stage for this exciting production. These triple threat actors will have you laughing out loud and then move you to tears. Get your tickets now. There will be 5 performances only.

Performances are:

• Dec 13
• Dec 14
• ​Dec 14
• Dec 19
• Dec 20

Ticket prices are:

• General Admission $20
• Seniors/Students $15 ​

More info here on MST&DA performance of A Christmas Carol here.

Roosevelt Island F Train Service To And From Manhattan This Weekend, Tram And Ferry Service Too And Watch Video Of MTA Rep Talking Roosevelt Island Subway Service

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

to and from Manhattan this weekend.

Both Roosevelt Island Tram cabins are operating and here's the NYC Ferry Roosevelt Island Astoria Route Winter Schedule. 

During June 13 Roosevelt Island Town Hall Meeting organized by Council Member Ben Kallos, MTA representative Markus Book spoke about Roosevelt Island F Train subway service. Watch the full MTA Roosevelt Island presentation below.

Happy Thanksgiving From Roosevelt Island - Tradition, Family, Food, Football, History And Alice's Restaurant

Happy Thanksgiving Day wishes to everyone out there in Roosevelt Island land and elsewhere. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Since Thanksgiving is a day all about about Tradition, here is my traditional Thanksgiving Day post started in 2007.

In addition to family, great food, the Macy's Parade, Miracle on 34th Street, March of the Wooden Soldiers and football, listening to Arlo Guthrie's rendition of Alice's Restaurant on WNEW-FM was, for me, a wonderful Thanksgiving tradition.

A former station DJ remembers Thanksgiving and Arlo Guthrie this way on the blog All Mixed Up Radio.

Every year a couple of days before Thanksgiving, it starts. It's slow at first, and then turns into a non-stop avalanche of phone calls. And no matter how many times a station runs promo announcements telling people exactly when it will be played, the calls still come.

"What time are you playing 'Alice's Restaurant?'"...

Yes, in the olden days people used to listen to music on the radio. Imagine that!

Here's a snippet of Alice's Restaurant with Arlo Guthrie and Johnny Cash



and the full song with scenes from the movie.

Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy shares a Thanksgiving  story from Roosevelt Island's past when it was known as Welfare Island and housed a penitentiary. Also, former blogger Roosevelt Island 360 tells us about the first Roosevelt Island Thanksgiving in 1975.

 Image From Roosevelt Island 360

Happy Thanksgiving Roosevelt Islanders!!!!!!!!

Are You Going To Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Tomorrow - Let's Hope High Winds Not A Problem So Thanksgiving Balloons Can Fly

Are you planning on going to tomorrow's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The balloons are being inflated in New York City for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! Now we just have to wait and see if the weather will let them fly.#ThanksgivingEve pic.twitter.com/ndwIdIhzva

— City of New York (@nycgov) November 27, 2019

Be aware that strong winds may keep the balloons from flying.

Are the @macys balloons going to fly during the Thanksgiving Day Parade tomorrow? Well, that’s still up in the air. 💨

But if you want to see the inflation, head up to 73rd street and Columbus till 8pm. Taking public transportation is strongly advised. pic.twitter.com/yiWkgqmscv

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) November 27, 2019

⚠️Weather Advisory: NYC may experience wind gusts up to 45 mph this evening, Wed., 11/27, through Thanksgiving & potentially into Fri., 11/29. DOB is reminding all builders/contractors/crane operators & property owners to secure construction sites, buildings & equipment.

— NYC Buildings (@NYC_Buildings) November 27, 2019

NYC is ready to kick off the holiday season!

Wind or no wind, tomorrow's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be a fun and safe time in Manhattan, so we do urge all New Yorkers and visitors to come out and enjoy this annual tradition! We’ll be out there too, keeping everyone safe. pic.twitter.com/HXkLIlqel1

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) November 27, 2019

Headed to the @Macys #ThanksgivingDayParade tomorrow? Know before you go and receive important event information and emergency alerts by texting THANKSGIVING to 692692. pic.twitter.com/sYAl6XfWGb

— NYC Emergency Management (@nycemergencymgt) November 27, 2019

Macy's And NYPD Will Make Down-To-The-Wire Decision On Fate Of Big Thanksgiving Parade Balloonshttps://t.co/4v4WXS5MbY pic.twitter.com/QrvharcrSG

— Gothamist (@Gothamist) November 27, 2019

If you're wondering why high winds might prevent the huge balloons from flying at this year's @Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, check out what happened to Barney in 1997.pic.twitter.com/SriTf1sKFk

— Mark Elliott (@markmobility) November 27, 2019

Take a listen to this NYC Emergency Management Dpartment Prep Talk podcast and learn about preparations for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Thanksgiving is around the corner & the latest #PrepTalkNYC highlights the #MacysParade preparations. Guests Christopher Bannon, senior director of event operations for @Macys, & Frank McCarton from @nycemergencymgt, give us the scoop: https://t.co/6UGl6jPrVK.

— NYC Emergency Management (@nycemergencymgt) November 20, 2019

Listen to "Prep Talk - Episode 42: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2019" on Spreaker.
Have a great Thanksgiving!

Annual Roosevelt Island Christmas Tree Emporium Starts This Saturday November 30 And Every Weekend Thru December 22 At Motorgate Plaza Sponsored By PS/IS 217 PTA

Starting Saturday November 30,  the Roosevelt Island Christmas Tree Emporium, sponsored by PS/IS 217 PTA,

will be back on weekends thru December 22 at the Motorgate Helix next to Gristedes.

You can purchase your Roosevelt Island Christmas Tree on these dates:

• Saturday November 30/Sunday December 1
• Saturday December 7/Sunday December 8
• Saturday December 14/Sunday December 15 
• Saturday December 21/Sunday December 22

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Incidents - Local Woman Punched In Face On F Train, Disruptive F Train Passenger Removed From Roosevelt Island Subway Station, Catfishing Scam And Where The Heck on Roosevelt Island Is Streetline?

Earlier today, reported on a Roosevelt Island resident victimized by a Catfishing Scam. More Roosevelt Island Public Safety news.

Last Thursday night, a Roosevelt Island resident was assaulted on a Queens bound F Train.

11/21/19 – 2141 – 400 main St – Assault – PSD/EMS/NYPD Responded. Transported to Hospital.

According to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Information Officer Terrence McCauley:

A female victim was punched in the face by an unknown male on the Queens bound F train. The victim got off the train and called 911. The victim stated that the male suspect stayed on the train, but got into another train car. No weapons were used.

The victim is a resident, but the assault did not happen on Roosevelt Island or in the Roosevelt Island subway station.

Last Sunday morning, a disruptive passenger was removed at the Roosevelt Island F train station by the NYPD.

Hello- NYPD was requested because of a disruptive passenger aboard the train. ^JTG

— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) November 24, 2019

Also on Sunday morning, Roosevelt Island residents received this advisory from RIOC:

Streetline will be closed due to police activity.

Which caused confusion since nobody had any idea what or where is Streetline.

RIOC Public Information Officer Terrence McCauley explained what happened.

At 7:30 AM, NYPD and FDNY responded to a report of someone drowning in the west side of the East River. NYPD and FDNY searches showed negative results

Apparently, Streetline is the west roadway that leads from the subway to Blackwell. It’s the rear of 415 Main Street. We learn something new every day on Roosevelt Island!

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse

One way to get around the disruption was to hitch a ride on a boat, maybe... pic.twitter.com/QGJsvaA704

— CherylE (@cateeoz) November 24, 2019

spotted NYPD Harbor Patrol searching East River by Queensbridge Park on Sunday morning.

Roosevelt Island Resident Victimized By Confidence Scheme From Catfish Scammer - Pretends To Be Love Interest,Then Uses Personal Information To Demand Cash

The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Incident Report listed:

11/23/19 – 2100 – 580 Main Street – Grand Larceny – PSD/NYPD responded – Condition corrected.

In response to my inquiry seeking more details, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Information Officer Terrence McCauley answered:

It was a confidence scheme involving an Island resident. We would not feel comfortable sharing more details than that out of concern for the alleged victim’s privacy.

I followed up asking:

Is it possible to give more details so that other possible victims may be aware and not be a victim of similar attempts?

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Chief Kevin Brown replied:

This scheme is one that involves “ catfishes “ a person or persons (perpetrators) pretends to be a love interest and retrieves personal information from the victim and then the perpetrators tells the victims they will share their information if they don’t pay cash usually through a wire transfer.

Here's more on Catfishing Scam



from NBC New York

Long Delayed Reopening Of Renovated Roosevelt Island Youth Center Building Delayed Once Again Due To 2 Separate Flooding Incidents Says RIOC - Parents Frustrated Youth Center Closed Since August 2018, Projected 6 Week Renovation Taking More Than A Year

Last October, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Susan Rosenthal reported that the Youth Center building at 506 Main Street,

closed for renovations since the summer of 2018, would re-open by the end of this month - November 2019.

But today, RIOC announced:

Due to two recent incidents causing water damage, the Roosevelt Island Youth Center at 504 Main Street will not open until Spring 2020. Youth Center activities will continue at Sportspark until Spring 2020.

The first bout of water damage was caused when the Center's sprinkler system was set off by a small fire in a trash container on Roosevelt Landing property. The second round of damage came from a flood caused by construction work at the new New York Public Library.

We know the Youth Center is an important part of the Roosevelt Island community. We are working with our contractor to repair the damage as soon as possible and we apologize for any inconvenience this delay will cause.

During the November 7 RIOC Public Safety Department Town Hall meeting, parents spoke about the role of the Youth Center in community life and expressed frustration that the Youth Center building has been closed since August 2018, despite being told that it would reopen in November 2018, as well as difficulties using the Sportspark facility as a temporary Youth Center location.



Here's a look inside the RIOC Youth Center

building

today.