14 years ago today, the Roosevelt Island Tram got stuck over the East River stranding 69 people for over 7 hours.
April 18, 2006: Roosevelt Island Tram suffers mechanical problems, trapping 69 people in two tram cars in the air for seven hours š” Learn more: https://t.co/ncHfcBtqf5pic.twitter.com/bBvdsWTiAH
A four-minute trip on the Roosevelt Island Tramway yesterday turned into a harrowing ordeal that lasted hours as a series of power failures left about 70 people suspended hundreds of feet in the air, forcing a daring late-night rescue...
Yesterday, Mother Jones profiled a Roosevelt Island single mom trying to balance taking care of her children, work and a new podcast in the age of the Coronavirus pandemic.
5 Kids, 5 Virtual Schools: One New York City Mom’s “Totally Impossible” Coronavirus Life – Mother Jones
J. Khadijah Abdurahman, a single parent living on Roosevelt Island in New York City, works full-time as an independent researcher focusing on race and surveillance technologies. In 2011, Abdurahman started fostering her four nieces and nephews. Eventually she adopted all of them, and they joined her biological son, who was born in 2008. Her three sons and two daughters range in age from 5 to 13. Each attends a different school, and they all have disabilities....
@Uber_Support hey there :) Would it be possible to add Roosevelt Island in NYC to the map of Uber Eats? We are 2 min extra drive from the closet available delivery spot in Queens and are already covered by Uber drives just not food deliveries. #SelfDistancing#needpizzapic.twitter.com/HGtrTWolZC
I miss our local pizzeria and local sushi restaurant! Both closed their doors down due to Covid-19. Limited options via @Seamless and @DoorDash to Roosevelt Island and @UberEats doesn’t deliver here at allš¤·š¼♀️
@UberEats I live in Roosevelt Island in New York City; long time this place is out of UberEats territory, could you potentially include us? It’s very hard for us the islanders to go Queens or Manhattan now....
— ćµćć＠4th year in New York (@FALkoromo) March 30, 2020
According to Executive Order 202.7, as of 8 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2020 any individual who can medically tolerate a face-covering must cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth when a) in a public place and b) unable to observe proper social distancing guidelines. This includes all forms of public transportation, including the Tram.
The health and safety of our riders and crew is always our number one priority, and even more so during this pandemic. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, anyone who can stay home, should stay home.
However, for those essential workers who rely on us for transportation, please:
So, you want to be a local star, or maybe just have a little bit of fun staying home on a Roosevelt Island Friday night during the Coronavirus Pandemic shutdown?
Roosevelt Island resident Kaja Meade reports:
New Week! New Talent Show! Join us as a performer or audience! This regularly scheduled show is open to all Roosevelt Island residents to preform OR watch. The show begins at 7pm Fridays on Zoom. Meeting ID: 634 771 949
We know that Roosevelt Island's Got Talent! We hope that you will consider joining in this week. We are looking for a number of talents from people of all ages – be as creative as you can! The purpose is to HAVE FUN, and connect with each other as an island community. Professional quality talent is NOT necessary. Ideas include: Singing, Dancing, Cooking, Pet tricks, Origami, Knitting Tutorial and Showcase, Hair Techniques (like French Braid), Makeup Tips, Cooking, Baking, Karate, Rhythmic gymnastics, Magic tricks, Juggling, Dog Tricks, Crafting, Impressions, Comedy, Windowsill Gardening, and more!
Reminder: if you would like to WATCH the show, please join here Zoom Meeting
... Roosevelt Islanders remain very worried for friends, family, neighbors living and working at Coler Rehab and Nursing Care Center. We are continuing efforts to get detailed oversight to provide the safest medical practices available and get supplies to Coler staff and residents.
Friends of Coler is coordinating with Assembly Member Seawright’s office to donate supplies early next week to Coler. Gloves, masks, sanitizer, disinfectant wipes are all welcome at this time, especially N95 masks. Please email friendsofcoler@gmail.com to give supplies to Coler.
Friends of Coler has connected Seawright’s office with Cornell Tech’s MakerLAB and they are making 50 face shields to be finished over the weekend and donated to Coler....
There was police activity and FDNY emergency response team in front of Coler and the Octagon around 7 am today. I was woken up to more sirens than usual all at once and saw the following scenes....
It seems like they may have pulled a body from the river, but the police truck blocked the view. What I do know is that two NYPD officers jumped into the water to what look like them assisting the two men on the NYPD patrol boat.”
Roosevelt Island resident Dr. Grace Farris writes in the NY Times today about sending her children away to Connecticut while treating Coronavirus patients
"It’s been four weeks since I’ve seen my kids, and I’m starting to miss them." @gracefarris, a doctor on the frontlines fighting coronavirus in New York, writes about what the past month has been like away from her children: https://t.co/g3JG8eB96C
Are you looking for fun and creative activities to keep yourself, children and family busy during the Coronavirus Roosevelt Island Stay At Home time? And learn something useful too? Then, check out the Virtual Cooking classes being offered by Allergic To Salad.
Many PS/IS 217 students have been in our Allergic to Salad culinary classrooms during after-school and I wanted to let people know we continue to offer classes in an interactive live virtual format. They are our same awesome life skills/technique building classes. Kids 5+ years can complete the classes solo.
This week's 5-10 year olds are making "cook later" (with an adult) homemade pasta and red sauce. Next week middle and high schoolers are making homemade Pierogis. Classes are vegetarian, and offer a lot of equipment and ingredient substitutions, so are simple to personalize and work around any allergy.
Available for ages PreK thru High School (plus a free family and adult classes coming in May). Classes are low cost and due to some generous donations we some scholarship funds available.
A Roosevelt Island hero passed away yesterday. It is with profound sadness that I have to report that former Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department (PSD) Chief and NYPD Assistant Chief Jack McManus died yesterday after a long battle with 9/11 World Trade Center related cancer.
According to RIOC President Susan Rosenthal:
Jack McManus Has Passed Away
The following is a statement from Susan G. Rosenthal, President and CEO of Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation about the passing of Jack McManus:
"I was saddened to learn this morning of Jack’s passing during the night. For over two years, he fought cancer resulting from his extraordinary service as head of operations during the 9/11 aftermath.
Over the past 5 years, I got to know the man. He loved Roosevelt Island and was committed to his job as Chief as much as he was committed to every position he ever held. I spoke to him last on Easter Sunday. When I told him about officer Fischer’s passing, his immediate response was to call the PSD officers closest to Fischer to ease their pain. That’s just who he was.
At some point, he knew he wasn’t going to beat this cancer, but he continued with whatever treatment was available no matter how debilitating so he could live. He loved life and especially his family.
Those on Roosevelt Island know how much he cared about our community. He spent endless hours talking to residents about their concerns or complaints. He brought peace, cooperation and respect to the relationship between PSD and our residents.
I’m so pleased that we honored him at the community’s retirement party and we named Octagon Field for him so that he was able to experience being celebrated by us while he was alive."
Chief McManus’s implementation of community policing is credited for not only making Roosevelt Island one of the safest neighborhoods in New York City, but for improving the department’s relationship with the community. Please join the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, its Public Safety Officers and Jack’s family in mourning the loss of this exemplary public servant.
... we are having the 19th Precinct’s Commanding Officer Inspector Kathleen Walsh and Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation’s Public Safety Department’s Chief Kevin Brown to discuss public safety.
The meeting will be hosted on zoom with an option to join by telephone for those who may not have computer access. You can join on your computer using the URL: https://zoom.us/j/131837787 OR call 646-558-8656 and enter Meeting ID: 131 837 787 followed by #, then press # to enter the call. The joining URL and number remain the same week to week for each town hall.
The NYPD 19th precinct includes the Roosevelt Island Manhattan Tram station.
Up, up, and away...
Our NYPD Recruits got some air time on the @Rooseveltisland Tramš — experiencing a one-of-a-kind & unique view, high above the Upper East Side, where they will soon be patrolling. pic.twitter.com/zVJV6gSK7W
— NYPD 19th Precinct (Stay home. Stop the spread.) (@NYPD19Pct) February 22, 2020
As previously reported, last Tuesday Ms Seawright hosted a Zoom Virtual Town Hall on issues facing senior citizens and homebound elderly during the Coronavirus Pandemic - watch video here.
Around this time of year, I usually make one of my 1 or 2 annual trips with family to Katz's Deli for a Pastrami Sandwich, Matzo Ball Soup and either a Potato Pancake or Cheese Blintz. But not this year, since I can't make a case that taking the F Train down to the Lower East Side for a Pastrami Sandwich is an emergency - although Katz's is known for serving "Jewish Penicillin".
So, the next best option is to watch this James & Karla Murray video of Katz's Deli still open for take out and serving the Front line workers of NYC.
Check out this piece from @NBCNews on our initiative to keep our neighbors nourished with some ‘Jewish Penicillin’ https://t.co/Z7QS78xLvt
Link in bio!
Help us feed the Front Line Workers of New York! You can buy lunch or dinner for the tireless front line working to keep New York City safe and healthy. To order go to https://t.co/ZUQkeBtvLk
Check out @NYCMayor de Blasio & @DOEChancellor Carranza’s letter to families announcing that @NYCschools buildings will not reopen for instruction this school year. Students will continue with Remote Learning for the rest of the 2019-20 school year: https://t.co/L6zMxSc69v
What additional educational options are available for Roosevelt Island students and their families until the schools re-open. One option is a program developed by Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Children, Youth & Education Committee Chair Adib Mansour. According to Mr Mansour:
I believe the students on the island as well as their parents /caretakers, are searching for activities to share with their children at home.
My idea is to provide parents / caretakers and the youth of this beautiful island educational outlets with fun activities. These consist of easy to learn facts, easy for the youth to learn on their own or with the help of the families / caretakers.
Corona-dispatch from Roosevelt Island, NYC:
Nature,oblivious to virus, is singing out 4 joy here, w/the brightest display of cherry blossoms n d city. (Better,no ‘Cherry Blossom Festival’this yr.,so pesky gawkers from elsewhere are staying home in droves.) pic.twitter.com/9ZGWr9FveK
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.
