Roosevelt Island Coler Residents And Supporters Demand Nursing Home Lives Matter At Protest Rally Today Opposing Covid 19 Patients Moving Into Building - Manhattan Borough President Brewer Told Tonight That HHC Will Not Move Covid Patients To Coler

.@NYCHealthSystem’s Coler Nursing Home residents on Roosevelt Island are the 500 most vulnerable NYers in our city. I’m calling on @NYCMayor @DrKatzNYCHH to halt new transfers of COVID patients to this facility, esp. as 14 staff & 2 residents have already tested positive. pic.twitter.com/12tqcd4obm

— Gale A. Brewer (@galeabrewer) December 19, 2020

This afternoon, Roosevelt Island residents joined with Roosevelt Island Coler Rehab & Skilled Nursing Facility residents and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer for a Nursing Home Lives Matter protest rally to oppose any plans by the NYC Health & Hospitals Corp (NYC HHC) placing Covid-19 patients in the Coler building. As reported earlier this week, Coler residents worried that:

... Coler Rehabilitation & Nursing Care Center is making contingency plans to re-open the emergency Covid hospital inside Coler. Coler is not a hospital—it is home to over 500 vulnerable residents with disabilities who are at high risk of serious illness and death from Covid...

Roosevelt Island resident Nicole Izsak described the demands being made by Nursing Home Lives Matter followed by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer lending her support.

Nursing Home Lives Matter organizer, Open Doors Poet and Coler resident Vincent Pierce reports on the aims of the group. Mr Pierce spoke from behind a Coler fence 

that he is not allowed to exit with the aid of Open Doors Dexter Ciprian repeating his statement with a loudspeaker.

 The NYC HHC sent this email to Fox 5 News today:

NYC Health + Hospitals has no plans to open the Roosevelt Island Medical Center to respond to the current increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations. NYC Health + Hospitals’ priority remains the safety of its patients, residents, and staff for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the help of our heroic frontline providers, we will manage any increase in patients with our continuing commitment to ensure that all infection control measures are followed for the safety of all under our care.

In a statement this evening after the rally, Ms Brewer reported: 

It seems as though they will not be transferring new patients to the Coler facility, but the community leaders, residents and my fellow elected officials and I will remain vigilant and watchful. I am grateful to Dr. Katz for this news.

Here's December 14 letter sent by Manhattan Borough President Brewer to  Mayor deBlasio and HHC President Dr Mitchell Katz

and Dr Katz's December 18 reply.

This is an ongoing story. Stay tuned for more.

Sponsored Post - Seasons Greetings From The Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association - Gallery RIVAA Thanks You For Your Support All Year Long

Seasons Greetings From The Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association

RIVAA thanks the Roosevelt Island community for your support and wishes you prosperity in the New Year. 

RIVAA shares this video from 2018 of past exhibits.

More information about Gallery RIVAA available at their web site and Instagram page.

Sponsored Post -Wengerd Family Farmers Market Wishes A Blessed Christmas Season And A Wonderful 2021 New Year To Roosevelt Island Community - Open Tomorrow, But Closing December 26 And January 2, Will Be Back January 9

The Wengerd Family,

operators of the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market, wish you a Blessed Christmas season and a wonderful 2021 New Year.

The Roosevelt Island Farmers Market at Motorgate Plaza under the Helix is open early morning to mid afternoon on Saturdays in good weather and bad offering a wide variety of healthy and delicious tasting fruits, vegetables and much more.

The Roosevelt Island Farmers Market is open tomorrow, Saturday December 19, but will not be open the following two Saturdays, December 26 and January 2.

Roosevelt Island Farmers Market operator Israel Wengerd explains:

We are planning a family trip to Kenya during the Christmas and New Years Holidays to be with our son John who is there with our church drilling wells for people who live out in the villages. (2 year term). 

We will be open this Saturday and back Saturday January 9 at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market.

Eat Fresh, Eat Local and Eat Healthy at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market

Sponsored Post - Check Out Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket December 18 - December 24 Holiday Items, Product Offerings, Specials & Sales Items - Nutritional Baking Tips, Online Shopping, Delivery Options, Digital Coupons & Social Media Facebook Too

 

The Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket 

invites you to check out their December 18 - Dcember 24 Weekly Flyer  for Product Offerings, Specials and 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.

Roosevelt Island Transportation This Weekend - Subway, Tram, Ferry & Citibike - Local TV Newscasters Remind Us To Keep Our Social Distance And Wear Face Covering On Public Transportation

There is no Roosevelt Island F Train service to Manhattan this weekend. The MTA reports:

Dec 18–21, Fri 9:45 PM to Mon 1 AM  

F No Brooklyn-bound service at 21 St-Queensbridge, Roosevelt Island, Lexington Av/63 St and 57 S

Brooklyn-bound F trains run via the E from Roosevelt Av to 5 Av/53 St. 

Trains resume regular service at 47-50 Sts.

This just in...

We’ve teamed up with some of our favorite local TV News personalities to remind you to wear a mask when you travel with us.

Thank you @MKramerTV, @JaniceHuff4ny, Chuck Scarborough, @BillRitter7, @marysolcastro and so many others for joining us. pic.twitter.com/dub0CCMJoe

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

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

While we continue to follow social distancing and align our operations with New York Forward guidance, we also continue to incrementally increase the number of passengers permitted on the Tram. Tram capacity will increase on Sunday, November 1st, from 20 to 35 passengers per cabin, and we will continue to assess and gradually increase in phases. 

We understand the need for this mode of transportation, however, the health and safety of our riders and operators are our priority. We appreciate your cooperation.

Here's the NYC Ferry Roosevelt Island Astoria Route Schedule which now extends to East 90th street on the Upper East Side. 

Also, Roosevelt Island Citbike docking stations.

Sponsored Post - Seasons Greetings From Roosevelt Island's Manhattan Park - Oversized 1 To 3 Bedroom Luxury Apartments Featuring River & City Views Set In The Green Space & Tranquility Of Roosevelt Island

Seasons Greetings From Roosevelt Island's Manhattan Park

Roosevelt Island's Manhattan Park - Overversized 1-3 Bedroom Luxury Apartments Featuring River & City Views Set In The Green Space & Tranquility Of Roosevelt Island.

From $2500. Offering 2 Months Free

More info at Manhattan Park website and Instagram.

A Roosevelt Island Winter Wonderland Today On Cornell Tech Campus Snow Topped Hills - Show Off Your Roosevelt Island Snowman Building Skills To Win Nisi Kitchen Gift Certificates

What a great idea from the folks at Roosevelt Island's Nisi Kitchen - a Snowman building contest and the 3 best snowman builders win a Nisi Gift Certificate.

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A post shared by Nisi Kitchen (@nisikitchen)

This could be a winner.

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A post shared by Explore New York (@nomadnewyorker)

 The Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech campus hills are a winter wonderland today after last night's snow.

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A post shared by @rooseveltislander

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A post shared by @rooseveltislander

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A post shared by Explore New York (@nomadnewyorker)

Good job by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) and building owners, for the most part, clearing the streets and sidewalks of snow although there were some areas by the Rivercross Lawn, Good Shepherd Plaza and Tennis Bubble that needed more work.

UPDATE 12/18 - We could have some winners here of the Nisi Kitchen Snowman building contest.

Ever met a snowman ⛄️ who loves to sunbathe? Met a few today on Roosevelt Island. #NYC #snowday pic.twitter.com/WVi3neFOrx

— Najwa Fathimath (@NajwaFathimath) December 18, 2020

Jacob Marley, Scrooge, Charles Dickens & Nellie Bly Come To Life On Roosevelt Island Stage In New Musical, The Ghosts All Around Us - Watch Montage Of Wonderful Performances by Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance From Last Weekend's Show

Last weekend, the Roosevelt Island Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MST&DA) live streamed performances of their new musical, The Ghosts All Around Us, from Good Shepherd Chapel. According to MST&DA:

Did you know that Charles Dickens visited Roosevelt Island the year before he wrote A CHRISTMAS CAROL? What do you get when you bring together Charles Dickens, the New York City Lunatic Asylum, Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley, Nellie Bly, a single mother and her children grappling with today’s challenges, and a modern day Scrooge? You get The Ghosts All Around Us, a brand new musical by Jonathan Fadner and starring a diverse and multi-generational cast of Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance actors.

Enjoy this montage of wonderful performances by the MST&DA of The Ghosts All Around Us.

Click on full screen icon at bottom right of video for better viewing.

Credit to: 

• Director: Steven Eng 
• Musical Director: Justin Ramos 
• Assistant Director: Jonathan Fadner 
• Stage Manager: Zackry Childers 
• Featuring: Madison Abdul, 
• Jeanne Castagnaro, 
• Russ Cusick, 
• Gina Enock, 
• Kimbirdlee Fadner, 
• Jaqueline Lucid, 
• Jed Resnick, 
• Ty Scanlan, 
• Brenna Stein, 
• Jonathan Stein, 
• Julian Stein and
• the talented MSTDA Kids Cast! 

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Office of Ben Kallos

                                                                                         Image From MST&DA

MST&DA performed The Ghosts All Around Us at Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Ben Kallos'Virtual Holiday Party yesterday too.

An amazing performance of “The Ghosts All Around Us” by @MSTDA_RI.

Thank you to Kimbirdlee Fadner & family for joining us tonight! pic.twitter.com/WYM5PPlSc1

— Ben Kallos, NYC Council Member (@BenKallos) December 16, 2020

Roosevelt Island Resident Hosting Zoom Q&A With Manhattan District Attorney Candidate Dan Quart Thursday December 17 - Watch Manhattan DA Candidate's Forum On Racial Justice Too

Roosevelt Island resident Ellen Polivy reports:

Please join me at a Virtual Meet and Greet for Dan Quart who is running for Manhattan DA to bring “real progressive change”.  

I know Dan for a long time. We served on the community board together. Over a year ago, I invited some friends to my living room to hear Dan speak about his ideas on reforming criminal justice in New York City. He is challenging the damaging approach of Cyrus Vance . At that time Dan Quart was the only declared candidate for Manhattan DA. His thoughtful ideas impressed me as having the potential to change the trajectory of generations of families.

Turns out, many of his ideas from his meeting were echoed this summer in the demands of the Black Lives Matter protesters and in the recent Keynote speech from PNHP by Dr. Rhea Boyd about policing, racism and COVID. When you have a spare 40 minutes, watch her powerful call for action. It will break your heart and hopefully move you to vote for a Progressive to be the next Manhattan DA.

I invited Dan Quart back on zoom to talk to a potentially larger audience who now don't have to cram into my living room.

There are now 8 or 9 candidates running for this office. We can only make an informed decision by learning about each candidate. This is a start. Please listen to Dan and ask him tough questions.

No charge to attend. No obligation. just come, listen and ask questions. This is not a fund raiser.

According to the Gotham Gazette, there are: 

 ... nine candidates running in the 2021 Democratic primary for Manhattan District Attorney. Incumbent Cy Vance has not declared whether or not he plans to run for reelection, but he has not been actively fundraising for another run and has not appeared at any of the early forums...

The Manhattan District Attorney candidates include:

• civil rights attorney Tahanie Aboushi; 
• former Principal Deputy State Attorney General Alvin Bragg; 
• former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Liz Crotty; 
• former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Diana Florence; 
• former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Lucy Lang; 
• decarceration activist and civil rights attorney Janos Marton; 
• public defender Eliza Orlins; 
• Assemblymember Dan Quart; and 
• Tali Farhadian Weinstein, the former general counsel to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

Click here for more information from the Gotham Gazette on the Manhattan District Attorney's race. Also, watch this October 13WNYC, Gothamist and the CUNY School of Law Manhattan District Attorney candidates forum as they discuss and debate their visions for racial justice.

Roosevelt Island Coler Residents Demand Nursing Home Lives Matter - Organizing Virtual And Live Protest Saturday December 19 To Stop NYC From Moving Covid 19 Patients Into Their Coler Nursing Facility Home

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A post shared by Open Doors NYC (@opendoorsnyc)

The Open Doors Reality Poets at Roosevelt Island Coler Nursing Facility report:

Coler Rehabilitation & Nursing Care Center is making contingency plans to re-open the emergency Covid hospital inside Coler. Coler is not a hospital—it is home to over 500 vulnerable residents with disabilities who are at high risk of serious illness and death from Covid.

Saturday December 19th at 2pm, Nursing Home Lives Matter (NHLM)—Coler residents and concerned neighbors will gather to present a letter of objection to the reopening of the Covid hospital within Coler and hear testimonials from inside the nursing home. This event will be simultaneously staged inside 

Coler’s courtyard. Outside allies will be separated from residents by a fence that has kept them/us locked inside the home for over 270 days. Please wear a mask and maintain social distance.  

Read more »

Sponsored Post - Roosevelt Landings Wishing You A Joyous Holiday Season And Happy New Year

Roosevelt Landing Wishing You A Joyous Holiday Season And A Happy New Year

From the team at C+C Apartment Management and L+M Development Partners

Watch Wonderful Nuevo Tango Jazz Fusion Concert And Modern Dance Ballet Performed Last Saturday At Good Shepherd Chapel Sanctuary By Roosevelt Island Based Leonardo Suarez Paz/Piazzolla 100 - Celebrates Liberty And Contributions Made By Immigrants And Women To Society

Last Saturday evening December 12, the Roosevelt Island Good Shepherd Chapel Sanctuary was the venue for a live streaming performance by locally based Leonardo Suarez Paz/Piazzolla 100.

According to the group:

...El Nuevo Tango is an interdisciplinary show infused with jazz, rock and modern dance - a tango show for the new century. Mentored by Astor Piazzolla and Horacio Ferrer who revolutionized tango, artistic director, Leonardo Suarez Paz leads a tango-jazz fusion orchestra with tango dance and the nuevo tango ballet in a concert which celebrates liberty and the invaluable contribution of immigrants and women to society, while challenging artistic and cultural constructs of our genre....

... The Chapel of the Good Shepherd, Roosevelt Island, NYC under strict Covid-19 protocols. This concert is made possible in part by the RIOC Public Purpose Fund Dance/NYC Coronavirus Dance Relief Fund and your charitable contributions made at www.piazzolla100.com...

You can now watch the wonderful performance here.

Click the full screen icon at bottom right of video for better viewing.

 More info about the Roosevelt Island based  Leonardo Suarez Paz/Piazzolla 100 at their web site and this prior post.

Kiwi Is Missing From The Roosevelt Island Octagon Cat Sanctuary - Wildlife Freedom Foundation Offering $250 Reward For His Safe Return

Kiwi is missing from the Roosevelt Island Cat Sanctuary next to the Octagon Building. The Wildlife Freedom Foundation is seeking your help and offering a $250 reward for Kiwi's safe return.

Kiwi is a friendly black cat with green eyes. He greets everyone by the Cat Sanctuary where he lives. Kiwi was last seen Friday December 11.

If you have any information about Kiwi please contact Wildlife Freedom Foundation.

Sponsored Post - NY State Senator Jose Serrano Wishes Roosevelt Island Community Safe And Happy Holidays - We're Here To Assist You Says Senator Serrano

Wishing The Roosevelt Island Community Safe and Happy Holidays From NY State Senator Jose Serrano.

We're here to assist you!

212-828-5829

serrano@nysenate.gov

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