Watch Wonderful Roosevelt Island Concert By Leonardo Suarez Paz’s PIAZZOLLA 100: Cuartetango & Bandoneon Celebrating Liberty And Promoting The Vote

A small group of lucky visitors to the Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park enjoyed a socially distanced concert last Thursday afternoon, October 8, by the Leonardo Suarez Paz’s PIAZZOLLA 100: Cuartetango string quartet & bandoneon:

The wonderful performance :

Celebrating LIBERTY - Promoting the VOTE

can now be enjoyed by you and many others on this video. (Click on the full screen icon at bottom right of video for best view). 

 

According to the group's web page:

The Four Freedoms Park Conservancy hosts a special preview of Leonardo Suarez Paz’s PIAZZOLLA 100 Festival whose mission it is to celebrate liberty and honor the invaluable contribution of immigrants to society, including our namesake’s, the Argentine born and New York raised composer who mentored Leonardo Suarez Paz.

The program will feature the double Latin GRAMMY-Award nominated Cuartetango string quartet and bandoneon. 

• Leonardo Suarez Paz, director, violin, vocals, 
• Hector Omar Falcon, violin 
• Ron Lawrence, viola 
• Danny Miller, cello and 
• Rodolfo Zanetti, bandoneon. 

We will celebrate the freedom of expression and perform in honor of Piazzolla’s violinist Fernando Suarez Paz, who passed away on September 12th, 2020 and whose fearless authenticity helped shape the sound of Nuevo Tango. In a time when the world needs justice and equality, there couldn’t have been a better way to reaffirm our belief in the essential human freedoms than celebrating it at the Four Freedoms Park with a Nuevo Tango concert, a genre born out of the search for liberty.

The park is tribute to the life and vision of Franklin D. Roosevelt, a son of New York and a beloved president who, with great courage in troubled times, expanded and preserved the democratic way of life. Conceived in the 1970’s and opened in 2012, the park’s design was the last major work of Louis Kahn, an immigrant to the US and one of the most celebrated architects of the twentieth century. A sculpture of FDR by Jo Davidson, who was amazed by Roosevelt’s “unshakable faith in man” graces the forecourt of the park and reminds us that “in Roosevelt’s tremendous relief program, the artist too was included.”

MORE ABOUT FDR 4 FREEDOMS PARK
 

VOTE - A SPECIAL CALL TO ACTION 

The concert will include a special call to action, reminding our live and online audience members to REGISTER and VOTE in the November election. Voter registration forms and stamps will be available on site at the park before, during and after the concert.

• REGISTER TO VOTE ​
• CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS

Clich here to enjoy more performances from the Leonardo Suarez Paz’s PIAZZOLLA 100 Festival including a Nuevo Tango Ballet at the FDR 4 Freedoms Park and concert at Good Shepherd Chapel. 

Roosevelt Island Main Street Theatre And Dance Alliance Expanding Childrens Programming And Space - Moving Into Main Street Retail Space Formerly Occupied By Music & Play Station

Hudson Related Shops On Main Street announced today that the Roosevelt Island Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MST&DA) is taking over the space formerly occupied by the Music & Play Station. 

 According to Shops on Main Street:

We are very excited to announce that Main Street Theater and Dance Alliance (MSTDA) will be expanding to Main Street! The MSTDA programs enrich the lives of so many Roosevelt islanders starting at age 0. We are big fans of everything they do and are happy that they will be moving into 507 Main Street and are officially part of Shops on Main. We will miss Music & Play Station and wish Bridget and Owen Johnston fulfilling and prosperous adventures as they move to the West Coast. 

MST&DA adds:

Hey Roosevelt Island!!! 

Kristi and Kimbirdlee of MSTDA have some exciting news!!! Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance is coming to Main Street!!! 

Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance has been an integral part of the cultural fabric of Roosevelt Island for almost 40 years. We are now thrilled to expand our programming to 507 Main St! 

Our classes for toddlers and students from age 5 and under will now take place where the Music and Play Station was. 

Our aim is to be the bridge to the young children and families who loved taking classes with Owen and Bridget Johnston by offering music, drama and dance for ages 5 and under. We will continue to offer the same high quality music, theatrical and dance training as well as performing opportunities to everyone in our diverse community as we always have. Roosevelt Islanders will also have the opportunity to take private music lessons in piano, voice, violin, guitar, acting and audition preparation. Our location at 548 Main Street within the Cultural Center and the Howe Theatre will continue to operate with classes for all ages, as well. 

Over the last 3 years, MSTDA has grown and this expansion is just what we and our families need! Please stop in to say hello at 507 Main St and be sure to check out our schedule for the Winter Semester (coming out soon!). www.mstda.org 

Some classes that will be offered: 

• PLAYMAKERS PRESCHOOL DRAMA 
•  SING-A-LONG w/ J-Fad the Rad Dad 
•  PRIVATE MUSIC INSTRUCTION 
• PRE-BALLET 
• LITTLE DANCERS 
• CAPOIERA 

The Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance strives to nourish creativity by providing high quality music, theatrical and dance training as well as performing opportunities to everyone in our diverse community. We believe that every person, child or adult, should have the opportunity to participate in the arts, regardless of cultural, socio-economic, ethnic background or age.

More info on MST&DA at their web site and  

Facebook Page.

Sponsored Post - Check Out Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket October 9 - October 15 Product Offerings, Specials & Sales Items - Online Shopping, Delivery Options, Digital Coupons, Nutritional Tips & Social Media Facebook And Instagram Too

 

The Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket 

invites you to check out their October 9 - October 15 Weekly Flyer for Product Offerings, Specials & Sales Items

  

Click here to visit the Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket web site for online shopping, delivery options, digital coupons, weekly flyer and more. 

 Follow Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket on Facebook

and Instagram too. 

Read more »

Roosevelt Island Transportation This Weekend, F & E Train Service To And From Manhattan - 20 Tram Passenger Social Distancing Limit Enforced, Ferry Accepting Commuter Debit Cards, Route Extended To UES And Citibike Too - Wear Your Masks To Travel Safely For You And Others

According to the MTA, there is Roosevelt Island F Train Service to and from Manhattan this weekend. Also, Roosevelt Island E Train service to and from Manhattan.

Just a reminder that masks are required when you travel with us.

If you don't have a mask, stop by a @NYCTSubway station booth or ask an @LIRR or @MetroNorth station ambassador for a free one.

Starting today, customers who refuse to wear a mask could receive a $50 fine. pic.twitter.com/phjVA9kv4z

— MTA. Wear a Mask. Stop the Spread. (@MTA) September 14, 2020

Ready to ditch your MetroCard and go contactless with OMNY, but don’t know how? This video is for you.

Just tap and go. pic.twitter.com/1hlr8vdKZT

— MTA. Wear a Mask. Stop the Spread. (@MTA) September 30, 2020

There is a Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin 20 passenger Covid-19 Social Distancing limit.

Read more »

Celebrate The Return Of Roosevelt Island Food Scrap Drop Off Site Compost Collection Program Saturday October 10 With iDig2Learn, Haki Collective & GRIN - Pick Up A Plant Therapy Kit For Your Household Too

Roosevelt Island resident and iDig2Learn Founder Christina Delfico reports: 

Saturday, October 10th - Back by popular demand - iDig2Learn Collaboration Provides Plant Therapy Kits for Roosevelt Islanders

To demonstrate how everything is connected, iDig2Learn is teaming up again with gardeners, GRIN and the newly-created Haki Compost Collective to celebrate the return of the Big Reuse Saturday Food Scrap Drop Off collection for compost program on Roosevelt Island. The goal is to celebrate that nature has no waste and to make the connection between the simple act of a resident dropping off their food scraps and creating value by allowing those scraps to break down into nutrient-rich compost for our soil. This important act not only removes heavy wet waste (food) from our buildings and our essential building worker's workload, but saves a resource that once processed into compost returns to our neighborhood projects like growing healthy edible greens in a Plant Therapy Kit. 

Caring for plants boosts our health and well-being. Edible plants support a healthy immune system. And during a pandemic our health and well-being are more important than ever. 

Safe in person pick up on the island will be this coming SAT., OCT 10th from 10am to 12:30pm but you must email iDig2Learn@gmail.com to secure one Plant Therapy Kit for your household. Supplies are limited please reserve one kit for your household while supplies last. 

Deadline to respond is Friday, the ninth of October by noon. 

Availability will be confirmed along with the pick-up location. 

The kit includes a planter, four fall season edible greens such as kale and lettuce, and a bag of vintage 2019 locally processed nutrient-rich compost to plant in and the joy of growing your own food in a sunny indoor windowsill. 

We all hope this kit will keep you and your loved ones healthy and also our neighborhood because repurposing food scraps is a smart way to create compost for house plants, tree pits and local beautification and landscaping projects. 

Thanks to local support over 100 households received indoor windowsill edible kitchen herb kits in May and June including an additional distribution to the Senior Center. 

Earlier this spring  iDig2Learn's Christina Delfico and GRIN's Anthony Longo shared some "Plant Therapy" with residents.

 

Email iDig2Learn@gmail.com to secure one Plant Therapy Kit for your household.

Latest Update On Roosevelt Island Riverwalk Park 340 Unit Affordable Housing Building - Developer Hudson Related Says First Residents Starting To Move In, Over 77 Thousand Total Lottery Applications, Interviews For First Set Aside Preference Starting Now, Followed By Community Board Set Aside Preference

The application deadline for 313 rental units in the brand new Roosevelt Island Riverwalk Park

Affordable housing building lottery, being developed by Hudson Related, was last July 6. Many current Roosevelt Island residents applied for the the lottery but so far have not received any futher information since submitting their applications.

I asked Hudson Related representative Jamar Adams:

Any update on the Riverwalk Park affordable housing building? 

Have you started interviews yet and if not, when will you start? 

About a dozen residents who put in applications have asked me when the interviews will start. 

When do you expect residents to start moving in? 

How many total applications did you receive? 

Any other news to report?

A Hudson Related spokesperson replied yesterday:

Riverwalk Park has started interviewing applicants in lottery log number order for the first set aside preference which is individuals and families that have indicated on their application they have a mobility, or visual hearing impairment.

We received 77,563 total applications. 

We have started moving in eligible applicants. 

We anticipate outreach to the first community board applicants by the end of this month

5% of the units are set aside for mobility impaired applicants and 2% for visually/hearing impaired applicants. 50% of the units are set aside for Community Board 8 applicants. 5% of the units are set aside for municipal employees.

As of July 1, 618 Riverwqlk Park lottery applications were from Roosevelt Island residents and 1300 from Community Board 8 including Roosevelt Island.

As previously reported:

.... There are a total of 340 residential units in the building, but the building will have 27 units set-aside for formerly homeless households. Those 27 units will not be available via the lottery process, because the City keeps a list of formerly homeless households that will be the only households eligible for initial lease-up of those units....

I believe the Riverwalk Park residents moving in now are the set aside for formerly homeless families.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Black Artists Through History Series Inspired By The Roosevelt Island March For Justice, Take The Drawing Challenge Says RIRA Youth Committee Chair - Lesson 5 On Jean-Michel Basquiat, Fought Racial And Economic Injustice With Artistic Passion

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Children, Youth & Education Committee Chair Adib Mansour developed a series of Black Artists Through History Lessons inspired by the June 3 Roosevelt Island March For Justice

• The first lesson was on sculptor Edmonia Lewis.
• The second lesson was on the painter Romare Howard Bearden.
• The third lesson was on the contemporary artist Kehinde Wiley
• The fouth lesson was on painter Ajamu Kojo. 
• The current lesson is on Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled (Boxer) 

According to Mr. Mansour:

In this lesson, the fifth in the Black Artists through History series, I feature Jean-Michel Basquiat 

If you haven’t heard of this fantastic artist, you’re in for a treat! Go ahead and explore more information and take the artistic challenge.

Print the B&W outline

color it in your style using different media, and email it to me at RIRAdib@earthlink.net. 

Mr Mansour adds:

Read more »

Help Wanted Close To Home, Part Time Administrative Assistant For Roosevelt Island Financial Services Business Needed - Also, Advice On Getting A Job During Covid 19 Pandemic

Are you looking for a job on Roosevelt Island and have Administrative Assistant experience? Financial services experience is a plus. 

If yes, there's a part time job waiting for you close to home right here on Roosevelt Island.

Call 212 644 8231 for more info.

Here's some advice on getting a job during the Covid 19 Pandemic.

Good Luck!

Peaceful And Serene Roosevelt Island Community Garden Interrupted Saturday Afternoon By Fight Between Two Members And Friends - NYPD Arrests One For Assault, Another For Menacing As A Hate Crime

The Roosevelt Island Garden Club Community Garden is almost always a very peaceful and serene spot.

View this post on Instagram

Roosevelt Island Community Garden is such a serene spot. Never know you’re so close to Manhattan. Click on link in bio to subscribe to Roosevelt Islander Daily Email Newsletter for latest information received in your Inbox 9pm each night.

A post shared by @ rooseveltislander on Oct 4, 2020 at 2:08pm PDT

But not last Saturday afternoon according to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department 24 hour blotter. Yesterday morning, I asked RIOC Public Safety Department Chief Kevin Brown:

The Psd incident report lists an assault at what appears to be the Garden Club. 10/03/20 – 1831 – 755 Main St – Assault – PSD/NYPD responded – NYPD Arrest. What happened? Anybody injured, weapons used. Do you have any more details?

Chief Brown replied: 

On Saturday October 3, at about 1640 hours PSD responded to a dispute at 755 Main Street. Two people were involved ... Vaugh... and ... Amad.... Both were arrested. Vaugh arrested and charged with menacing for brandishing a pocket knife and Amad arrested and charged with assault.  This was a dispute between two members of the garden club. (They are friends) They had a disagreement. One person pulled out a pocket knife and the other struck that male with a 2x4 piece of wood.

A NYPD spokesperson added that the complaint stated Vaugh was hit with a piece of wood by Amad and suffered pain and lacerations. Amad was charged with assault. Vaugh was charged with menacing as a hate crime for threatening Amad with a box cutter but no other specific information for including element of hate crime to the charge.

A Roosevelt Island Garden Club spokesperson replied to my inquiry about the incident:

On the afternoon of October 3rd, there was an incident outside the northwest gate of our garden involving two garden members who previously were friends. This incident ended in a physical altercation. Public Safety was called and an ambulance came for one person. The injured individual was discharged from the hospital later that same day. The Executive Board of the Roosevelt Island Garden Club is taking immediate action to vote on the membership status of the individuals involved.