Saturday, January 25, 2020

Cold And Rainy Day Does Not Stop Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts From Raising Awareness And Funds For Australia To Stop The Bushfires - We're Trying To Help People And Animals Whose Houses Are Burning Down Says One RI Girl Scout

As reported earlier this week, Roosevelt Island Girl Scout Troop 3233:

... will be having a Fundraiser this Saturday January25th, to support the reconstruction efforts for the Australia Bushfire Crisis.

The crisis is unprecedented and the situation is very alarming. RI is a place where a lot of us come from different countries, and our Girl Scouts have the opportunity to make this World a better place and to help out.

Our troop has an opportunity to send the money directly to the Girl Guides of Australia Bushfire Crisis fund as we have an Australian family in our troop.
The cold and rain today did not stop these Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts


Friday, January 24, 2020

RIOC Selects Chashama As Roosevelt Island Artist In Residence To Provide Free Studio Space For Selected Visual Artists - Watch For Upcoming ChaShaMa Special Events, Dance Studio, New Camerata Opera Youth Workshops & More

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) announced last October that the non-profit Chashama group



will fill the newly created role of Roosevelt Island Artist-in-Residence.

Image From Chashama


Roosevelt Island Gallery RIVAA Hosting New Year 2020 Celebration Friday January 24, Bring Your Good Humor And Wear A Hat

Gallery RIVAA (527 Main Street) invites you to a New Year2020 Celebration later today, Friday, January 24 starting at 7 PM.  You are encouraged to bring your good humor and wear a Hat.

Here We Go Again, No Roosevelt Island F Train Service From Manhattan This Weekend

Here we go again.


Thursday, January 23, 2020

You're Invited To Roosevelt Island Renew, Reuse And Rewear Eileen Fischer Women's Clothing Giveway At Carter Burden RI Senior Center Saturday January 25 - Also Check Out RIDA Picture Painting Sale At Same Time, Same Place

The Roosevelt Island Zero Waste movement continues.

The Carter Burden Roosevelt Island Senior Center (546 Main Street) is hosting a Renew, Reuse and Rewear Clothing Giveaway of Eileen Fisher women's clothing - over 700 pieces of Tops and Bottoms (limit is 4 pieces per person) - on Saturday January 25. According to the Senior Center:

Saturday, January 25, 2020 10:00—1:00 p.m.

SAVE MONEY & SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT!

Join us for the Eileen Fisher clothing giveaway..

RENEW, REUSE and REWEAR women clothing by Eileen Fisher. Size X-small to 3X


Jobs Available For Elementary & Middle School Teachers At Voice Charter School In Long Island City, Only A Few Blocks From The Roosevelt Island Bridge

Are you a teacher interested in working very close to Roosevelt Island? If yes, there are several job opportunities available  for elementary and middle school teachers, as well as classroom assistants, at the Voice Charter School located in Long Island City just a few blocks from the Roosevelt Island Bridge.




Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Roosevelt Island Seniors Association Hosting Open Mic Jazz Night Saturday January 25 - A Fundraising Benefit For Sierra Club To Plant 1000 Trees In NYC Parks

The Roosevelt Island Seniors Association (RISA) invites you to an Open Mic Jazz Night on Saturday January 25. According to RISA:

Open Mic Jazz Night is a fundraiser for L18 Infinity's Environmental Legacy Project. All proceeds will go to the Sierra Club Foundation to plant 1,000 trees to combat climate change.

Saturday January 25, 6-9 PM.

Roosevelt Island Seniors Association 546 Main Street, Roosevelt Island NY 10044.

Light refreshments will be served. Tickets are $25.

Email for more information.
RISA Secretary/Community Outreach Andrea Jackson adds:
LI-8 Infinity is a team of 28 intergenerational students from the Altru Learning Center. They have selected and partnered with The Sierra Club to fulfill Sierra Clubs need to plant 1000 trees in April with the NYC Parks. Dept. LI 8 means Legacy Infinity Project #8 - The Sierra Club. The Goal is to leave a legacy of assisting in Environmental Sustainability to combat Climate change.

Roosevelt Island Girl Scout Troop Raising Funds To Support Reconstruction Efforts For The Australian Bushfire Crisis Saturday January 25th At Farmers Market - Help Our Local Girl Scouts Make The World A Better Place

Roosevelt Island Girl Scout Troop Leader 3233 Suzy del Campo Perea reports:

The youngest of the Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts will be having a Fundraiser this Saturday January25th, to support the reconstruction efforts for the Australia Bushfire Crisis.

The crisis is unprecedented and the situation is very alarming. RI is a place where a lot of us come from different countries, and our Girl Scouts have the opportunity to make this World a better place and to help out.

Our troop has an opportunity to send the money directly to the Girl Guides of Australia Bushfire Crisis fund as we have an Australian family in our troop.


Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Roosevelt Island NYC Census 2020 Info Session Wednesday, January 22 At Carter Burden Senior Center - Learn Why Census Is Important, What To Expect And Employment Opportunities

The Carter Burden Roosevelt Island Senior Center is hosting a 2020 Census Info Session tomorrow.

Carter Burden Network Roosevelt Island Senior Center

Count Us In

2020 Census Info Session

Learn why the census is important, what to expect in 2020, and about the employment opportunities available.

546 Main Street, New York, NY 10044

Wednesday, January 22, 2020 12:30-1:30p.m.

According to NYC Census 2020
The 2020 Census is around the corner — and it will shape New York City’s future for years to come.

Once every ten years, the United States Census takes a count of every person in the United States. The taking of the census is mandated by the United States Constitution and has occurred every 10 years since 1790.

But the census is so much more than just a count. Census information is used to determine New York City’s fair share of $650 billion in federal funds for public education, public housing, infrastructure, and more — as well as the number of seats we have in Congress.

Because so much is at stake, it's critical that New Yorkers stand up and be counted in the 2020 Census.

In the 2010 Census, the city’s self-response rate was less than 62%, compared to the national average of 76%.

We need every New Yorker to get involved to ensure that their community is counted next year.

The Roosevelt Island 2010 Census Self Response Rate was 71.3%, higher than the 61.9% average for NYC but lower than the national of 75.8%

Image From NYC Census 2020

More info



on how to get involved in NYC Census 2020 here.

Roosevelt Island Resident & Pioneering Retired NYPD Detective Mary Fitzgerald Celebrates Her 97 Birthday - Watch Video Of Mary Fitzgerald Honored As 2018 Woman Of Distinction By NY State Senator Jose Serrano

Roosevelt Island resident Mary Fitzgerald, a pioneering member of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), celebrated her 97 birthday last Friday, January 17. According to this 2018 NY Daily News article reporting on the retired Detective's 95 birthday:

Before heading off to work, Mary Fitzgerald typically checked her oversized handbag: Keys. Makeup. A .38-caliber revolver....

... "I thought it would be an interesting job," the razor-sharp Fitzgerald told the Daily News about joining the force in December 1952. "It certainly proved to be."

In the era of stay-at-home TV moms like June Cleaver, Fitzgerald broke down barriers on the pickpocket squad and then in the Intelligence Division....
NY State Senator Jose Serrano

and members of the NYPD including the 19th precinct.

wished her a happy 97th birthday.

Retired Detective Fitzgerald was honored on June 27, 2018 by Senator Serrano with the 2018 Woman of Distinction Award. Ms  Fitzgerald is shown below at the 2018 Woman of Distinction Award Ceremony with Senator Serrano, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Susan Rosenthal and NYPD Ceremonial Unit officers


and family and friends.


As reported June 26, 2018:
Roosevelt Island NY State Senator Jose Serrano will honor Roosevelt Island resident Mary Fitzgerald as a 2018 Woman Of Distinction. According to Senator Serrano's office:
On Wednesday, June 27th (tomorrow) Senator José M. Serrano (D-Manhattan/Bronx) will be recognizing pioneer NYPD Detective Mary Eileen Fitzgerald as the 2018 Woman of Distinction for the 29th Senate District.

A Bronx native, Ms. Fitzgerald had an illustrious career in the NYPD spanning several decades from 1952-1983. During her time in the NYPD, Fitzgerald protected several of the 20th century’s most iconic women— from Israel’s Prime Minister Golda Meir and Queen Sophia of Spain to First Ladies Jackie Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson and Nancy Reagan. She spent 31 years serving the residents of New York City in the NYPD before retiring in 1983 at the age of sixty.

"Women like Mary paved the way for the more than 6,000 female NYPD officers active today," said Senator Serrano. "Her incredible story, spanning three decades of serving the people of our city, is an important part of New York history and I am proud to honor her as this year's Woman of Distinction.”

The Woman of Distinction award highlights outstanding women living and working in New York State whose contributions have greatly enriched the quality of life in their communities and beyond.
Here's the 2018 Woman Of Distinction Award ceremony honoring Roosevelt Island resident and retired detective Mary Fitzgerald beginning with:
Part 1-  presentation of colors and singing of the National Anthem, RIOC President Rosenthal describing Mary Fitzgerald as an inspiration for other women,



Part 2 - Senator Serrano praising Ms Fitzgerald for her pioneering service and



Part 3 - Mary Fitzgerald thanking everyone for their presence at the Ceremony as well as expressing appreciation to all the current NYPD police woman (approximately 6 thousand) for their service.

Here's more info on Woman in the NYPD.

Happy Belated 97th Birthday to Roosevelt Island resident and pioneering retired Detective Mary Fitzgerald.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day Today, Take A Moment To Remember And Honor His Legacy


The third Monday in January has been designated as a Federal holiday in honor of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who was born January 15, 1929 and was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

Dr. King is remembered and honored for many things including his 1963 "Letter from a Birmingham Jail".

An excerpt:
... A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a result of being denied the right to vote, had no part in enacting or devising the law. Who can say that the legislature of Alabama which set up that state's segregation laws was democratically elected? Throughout Alabama all sorts of devious methods are used to prevent Negroes from becoming registered voters, and there are some counties in which, even though Negroes constitute a majority of the population, not a single Negro is registered. Can any law enacted under such circumstances be considered democratically structured?

Sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust in it's application. For instance, I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade. But such an ordinance becomes unjust when it is used to maintain segregation and to deny citizens the First-Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest....
The full text of Letter From A Birmingham Jail is here and a short excerpt of audio below.



Here's an excerpt of Dr. King's last speech on the night before his assasination - I've Been To The Mountain Top.



Politcio has an excellent article on the last years of Dr. King's life.
... Almost 50 years after his death, we remember MLK as the transcendent figure who helped lift the South out of Jim Crow. We also remember him as almost preternaturally calm in the face of great pressure and danger. He was indeed all of these things. But the passage of time has obscured his dimensionality. In the last years of his life, King expanded his vision beyond the former Confederacy and took on a broader struggle to dismantle America’s jigsaw edifice of racial and economic discrimination—a struggle that took him deep into northern states and cities, where onetime allies became bitter enemies. He did so even as he strained to keep a fractious civil rights movement unified, and in the face of unremitting sabotage from federal authorities.

He was a young man, still in his 30s—foisted onto the national stage with actors many years or decades his senior, suspect in the eyes of both younger and older civil rights leaders—and the burdens of leadership took their toll on him....
Take a moment today to remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the good work he accomplished to make our country a better place.

More on Dr. King from History.com