Friday, January 7, 2022

Gorgeous Photo Of First 2022 Roosevelt Island Snow And Watch Kids Having Fun Sledding On Cornell Tech Slopes Today

Today was not a big snowstorm but it was enough for a beautiful picture of the colorfully lighted Roosevelt Island Christmas Holiday Tree on the freshly snow covered Rivercross Lawn

and NYC East River waterfront skyline in the early morning before the day began taken by resident Kaja Meade.

And the snow was enough for a fun filled day for a few lucky kids sledding

on the slopes of Cornell Tech.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 7:57:00 PM 0 comments

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Resident Asks How To Dispose Of Roosevelt Island Christmas Trees - Bring To Haki Food Drop Off Site Tomorrow For Transport To Queens Mulchfest And Join Petition With RI Garden Club For Local Sustainable Tree Chipping Next Year

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse asked today: I asked the Haki Food Scrap Collective Drop Off Site volunteers:
Is there no place on Roosevelt island to dispose of Christmas trees

Roosevelt Island Garden Club and Haki volunteer Julia Ferguson replied: 

To properly dispose of Christmas trees from Roosevelt Island, the only way to do that is to take the trees off island and to drop them at the Parks Department location with Mulchfest NYC Parks. One site that is very close is the Queensbridge Park on Vernon Blvd (just before arriving at the Qboro bridge) anytime during park hours through January 9th when they will be chipped for mulch. Astoria Park is also hosting two chipping days this coming weekend on both Saturday and Sunday January 8th and January 9th. 

In the past two years, volunteers from RIGC and Haki helped to take about 30-40 RI trees to Mulchfest, but we were unable to make any big effort this year in 2022. That being said, RIGC/Haki volunteers can transport RI trees to Vernon tomorrow only Saturday January 8th for anyone who wants to bring their tree clean of any trimmings to the Haki Food Scrap Drop Off between 9 and 2 tomorrow. One car will make trips off Island with any trees brought to Haki tomorrow. 

Any Roosevelt Islanders interested in requesting that RIOC make a shift to more sustainable chipping of trees or to a link with NYC Parks Mulchfest in 2023 can email rigardencluboutreach@gmail.com. Now is the time to begin to petition and plan for years ahead 2023 and beyond. We can join together and write a letter about this positive change for 2023.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 5:01:00 PM 0 comments

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Roosevelt Island Farmers Market Returns To Motorgate Plaza Saturday January 8 After 2 Week Hiatus, Big Reuse Roosevelt Island Food Scrap Drop Off Site Returns With Haki Compost Volunteers Too - Bring Your Christmas Trees To Haki Tomorrow For Transport To Queens Mulchfest

The Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers Market at Motorgate Plaza under the Helix 

returns tomorrow, January 8, after a two week hiatus for Christmas and New Year's Day.

The Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers Market is open early morning to mid afternoon in good weather and bad 

offering a wide variety of healthy and delicious tasting fruits, vegetables and much more.   

Also, the Roosevelt Island Big Reuse Food Scrap drop off site with Haki Compost Collective volunteers 

returns to Saturdays at the Motorgate Plaza next to the Farmers Market tomorrow.

According to Haki Compost:

Our Big Reuse Food Scrap Drop-Off program has collected 60,000 pounds of scraps in 2021 that has been diverted from landfills and processed into compost to amend neighborhood soils, and over 215,000 pounds since the program started in November 2015. 

 In the last collection holiday weekend of 2021 alone, we collected 599 pounds from 99 residents serving approximately 50% of our participants. Woot woot! And, we're back on Saturdays from 9 AM - 2 PM! 

What's more, throughout January 2022, residents can drop their used pens and markers for proper disposal during Haki Compost hours in a collection partnership with TerraCycle and iDig2Learn (no pencils, please).

Also, To properly dispose of Christmas trees from Roosevelt Island, the only way to do that is to take the trees off island and to drop them at the Parks Department location with Mulchfest NYC Parks. One site that is very close is the Queensbridge Park on Vernon Blvd (just before arriving at the Qboro bridge) anytime during park hours through January 9th when they will be chipped for mulch. Astoria Park is also hosting two chipping days this coming weekend on both Saturday and Sunday January 8th and January 9th.  

In the past two years, volunteers from RIGC and Haki helped to take about 30-40 RI trees to Mulchfest, but we were unable to make any big effort this year in 2022. That being said, RIGC/Haki volunteers can transport RI trees to Vernon tomorrow only Saturday January 8th for anyone who wants to bring their tree clean of any trimmings to the Haki Food Scrap Drop Off between 9 and 2 tomorrow. One car will make trips off Island with any trees brought to Haki tomorrow.  

Any Roosevelt Islanders interested in requesting that RIOC make a shift to more sustainable chipping of trees or to a link with NYC Parks Mulchfest in 2023 can email rigardencluboutreach@gmail.com. Now is the time to begin to petition and plan for years ahead 2023 and beyond. We can join together and write a letter about this positive change for 2023.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 4:26:00 PM 0 comments

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Thursday, January 6, 2022

Military Osprey Aircraft Flying Low And Loud Over Roosevelt Island And NYC Today, It Was So Low It Shook Windows Says Resident - What Was That About?

A Roosevelt Island resident asked:
Did anyone else hear that LOW LOUD ASS helicopter above The Landings about half an hour ago? It was so low it shook the windows.
Here's more on the Osprey
UPDATE 1/7:

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 8:01:00 PM 0 comments

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NYC Council Fiscal Year 2023 Discretionary Funding Applications For Non Profit Community Organizations Now Open Says Roosevelt Island & Upper East Side Council Member Julie Menin - See What Roosevelt Island Groups Got NYC Council Fiscal Year 2022 Discretionary Funding

Roosevelt Island and Upper East Side NYC Council Member Julie Menin tweets:

Below are Roosevelt Island non profits that received fiscal year 2022 NYC discretionary funding from former Council Member Ben Kallos.





Clich here for more info and to apply.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 5:28:00 PM 0 comments

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Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Thank You To Former NYC Council Member Ben Kallos And His Staff For Service To Roosevelt Island During The Last 8 Years - Look What's Been Accomplished

Thank you to former NYC Council Member Ben Kallos who served Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side for the past 8 years and would have been re-elected had he not been term limited from running again.

Here's a summary of 8 years service by Mr Kallos for NYC Council District 5 which includes Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side.

During his final official visit to Roosevelt Island at the December 10 opening of The Girl Puzzle monument honoring journalist Nelly Bly, Mr Kallos remarked:
I am proud to represent Roosevelt Island. There is nothing like Roosevelt Island anywhere else in New York City let alone the planet...

 

 Here's Mr Kallos at the November 29, 2021 opening of the Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Green Roof,

June 30 Roosevelt Island Covid Pop Up Test site,

installation of Roosevelt Island Citibike docks


and start of Roosevelt Island NYC Ferry Service (August 29, 2017).
 

Also, thanks to the staff working with Mr Kallos for their efforts on behalf of the Roosevelt Island community.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 7:06:00 PM 0 comments

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Tuesday, January 4, 2022

NYC Council Member Julie Menin Distributing Free Covid Adult And Child K95 Masks And Hand Sanitizers Wednesday January 5 At Good Shepherd Plaza, But No Community Covid Take Home Tests Which NY State Sending Only To Schools

Roosevelt Island and Upper East Side NYC District 5 Council Member Julie Menin announced today:

With the rising cases of Covid-19 and the spread of the Omicron variant in New York City, Council Member Julie Menin procured 2,100 adult KN95 masks, 400 Child masks and 96 8-oz hand sanitizers bottles from NYC Test & Trace Corps to distribute to local community organizations on Wednesday, January 5th and Thursday, January 6th in New York City Council District 5.

As of Tuesday, New York State hospitalizations had risen above 10,000 for the first time since May 2020. In the past week, nearly 34 percent of all tests came back positive for New York City residents.  

The schedule for distribution is as follows:

  • January 5th at 2:00 pm - 79th Street and York Avenue with the East 86th Street Association
  • January 5th at 4:30 pm - Good Shepherd Plaza (543 Main St, Roosevelt Island)
  • January 6th at 2:00 pm - Holmes Towers with Holmes Towers Tenants Association (1st Avenue between 92nd and 93rd)
  • January 6th at 3:15 pm - Isaac Houses with Stanley Isaacs Resident Association (93rd St and 1st Avenue)
  • January 6th at 5:00 pm- Lexington Houses with Lexington Houses Tenants Association (Lexington Avenue and 99th Street)

“As we continue to battle Covid-19, our office has partnered with NYC Test & Trace Corps to ensure New Yorkers have ready access to the testing, protective equipment, and cleaning supplies needed to stay safe and protected,” said Council Member Julie Menin. 

Staff from Council Member Julie Menin’s office along with members of community-based organizations will be present at each location for distribution to the general public.

I asked Ms Menin's office:

Any info on distribution of home COVID tests? 

That’s what is needed most.

 A spokesperson for Ms Menin replied:

We are advocating for take-home test kits to be distributed in our community, but the state has paused the distribution program. Read this form for more info. Essentially, the state is allocating the test kits for the schools.

More info on Roosevelt Island Covid statistics here.

UPDATE 1/5/22:

UPDATE 1/6 : 


By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 8:28:00 PM 0 comments

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Happy Birthday To Nina Claremont Celebrating 100 Years Of Age Today - A Roosevelt Island Pioneering Resident, British World War 2 Radar Operator, Adventurous Pilot, Successful Caterer, Mom & Loves A Party

Happy Birthday and Best Wishes to long time Roosevelt Island resident Nina Claremont who is celebrating her 100th birthday today.  

According to Nina's family:

CELEBRATING NINA @ 100 

Nina, a pioneer Roosevelt Island resident is turning 100 today January 4. 

She discovered Roosevelt Island entirely by accident and in spring of 1976 decided to make it her home, despite the fact that back then the tram, supermarket and other island necessities were not yet available. Her initial intent was to stay for no more than 2 or 3 years and here she is 45 plus years later – one of our Island’s oldest long-standing residents. 

Nina was born and grew up in London. She attended London School of Economics and was evacuated to Cambridge University at the beginning of WWII where she met her future husband whom she married in 1947. She joined the WAAF (Womens Auxillary Air Force) during WWII 

where she served as a radar operator near Dover and Beachy Head on the southern coast of England. She talks of being shot at by enemy planes while sitting on the cliffs overlooking the English channel and has many other interesting war stories and life experiences she enjoys sharing with visitors over a nice “cup of tea”. Its during the war years she developed a love for aviation and flying that’s never left her. 

Nina, her husband and young son moved to the US in 1952, living first in Florida, then Colorado (where her husband served in the US army as part of the requirement for citizenship), and then New York; finally settling in Long Island where she raised her two children and pursued her interest in flying.

She obtained her pilots license in 1966 and acquired her first plane – a 4-seater Cherokee Arrow – in 1968, which marked the beginning of a long period as an Aviatrix. Her adventures carried her all over the US. She flew across country several times and through the Grand Canyon and frequently to Florida, the Bahamas and even Haiti. She won a competition to sell aircraft equipment for a small distributor in the early 70s and at that time was the company’s only flying saleswoman pilot. 
She flew several times in the Powder Puff Derby – an all-women cross-country air-race – always enjoying the experience. She was also deeply involved in the aviation community becoming a long-standing member of various aviation organizations including: the 99’s, the International Organization of Women Licensed Pilots; the AOPA, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; and The Wings Club, a distinguished organization that included in its ranks many distinguished aviators and outstanding leaders in the private and commercial aviation community, many of whom Nina was privileged enough to know. Her good pilot friend Linda took her on many an adventurous trip flying their planes side by side. 

In addition to flying, Nina was always passionate about food and turned that passion into a successful private catering business and even for a short period owned and operated a small French restaurant on Shelter Island – Café des Aviatrix. Unfortunately, the restaurant was open only for one season; Nina found it to be an exciting experience but realized she was happier as a private chef. Her passion and talent for cooking attracted a diverse clientele including such known celebrities as Al Pacino, Robert Klein, Diane Sawyer, and Ted Koppel. 

During this time she never stopped flying and even used her plane to support her catering business. Robert Klein was known to be a passenger from time to time and she even served as a private pilot for several years for her son, a successful writer, who owned his own 6-seat Bonanza. She also worked as a social worker at the Roosevelt Island Senior Center in the early 80s and up until the beginning of the pandemic was a frequent visitor who loved to help maintain the Center’s garden. 

This sprightly woman has always had a joy for life. One of the reasons she has stayed in the New York City area is for the diverse and exciting life experiences it offered: the restaurants, theater and people. She has always loved to socialize and entertain and you still find her ready to get up and dance as soon as she hears her favorite 1940’s swing music. Her eyes still light up whenever she hears the words “Lets have a party”. 

Please join us all in wishing our friend and neighbor Nina Claremont

a very Happy 100th Birthday.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 5:29:00 PM 0 comments

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Monday, January 3, 2022

How Long Did It Take To Get Your Covid 19 Test Results From The Roosevelt Island Mobil Test Van At Good Shepherd Plaza Week Of Dec 20 To 24? Most Recent Roosevelt Island Covid Testing Positivity Rate At 27%, 7 People Hospitalized

As reported Friday December 24:

The NYC Health & Hospitals contractor DocGo Mobile Covid Test and Vaccination Unit Van arrived for a Roosevelt Island week long stay at Good Shepherd Plaza last Monday.

The mobil Covid 19 Test van was on Roosevelt Island from December 20-24 with long 3-4 hour wait times in very cold weather.

On December 31, Roosevelt Island resident Annemarie Van Roessel reported:

Thank you for all your work to document the news on Roosevelt Island. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned in your coverage about the testing van that was at Good Shepherd Plaza last week was the delay in getting results. 

My daughter and I waited in line for 4 hrs and 24 minutes (I was keeping a stopwatch on my phone) on Dec 22nd and we are both still waiting for results today, Dec 31st. My results are still “pending”, but there’s nothing at all noted for my daughter, which suggests her test samples were totally lost (this was at the point when their printer was broken and they were hand-writing our information on labels to affix to the test swab bags.) 

Of course any results are beyond useless at this point, but I just found the whole thing to be an enormous fiasco. I have emailed the testing company twice over the last 9 days to ask when our results would be reported, but they just send an auto-reply FAQ and close my tickets. 

Is this company getting paid for tests that were never completed? That seems like a big scam to me. And maybe there are others like us who waited for hours in the cold for absolutely nothing? I’m thinking of reporting to RIOC and Ms. Seawright about my very disappointing experience.

I replied:

I have been working on a story about the test results and getting comments from residents on Roosevelt Islander Instagram page.

Among the Roosevelt Islander Instagram comments about the December 20-24 Mobil Unit Covid 19 test results were: 

  • My fiancée got hers on Monday and waited 2 hours, got results 48hrs after, 
  • I got tested on Thursday 12/23 afternoon, received my results on Sunday morning 12/26, 
  • 90 minutes wait time on 12/24, swabbed about 2:30pm. Rcvd results around 3am 12/27. 
  • Got ours back after 50 hours,
  • I never got my result. I was told my sample got damaged in the transit. It was such a waste of my 3.5 hours.  
  • We never received our results. Waiting 3 hrs on Wednesday of last week 12-22!!! Are you kidding?,
  • Got my results in 3 days
  •  I stood in line for 3 hours and still haven’t gotten my results. It’s been 1 week. 
  • Three days for me. Four for my husband.I got swabbed on 12/22 at exactly noon. It is 12/29 and I haven’t received any results yet, neither there’s a phone or email to contact the provider.
    👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 NYC health services at is best
  •  STILL waiting on mine and took my test on 12/22   
  • After 4 hours waiting in the line, we didn’t receive our result yet… we got tested on 12/22…….
  • No results. No response. No nothing. That three hours in the cold was sure worth my time.
  • Tested 12/22, no results.   

According to NYC Health Department, the Roosevelt Island 10044 Zip Code Covid 19 hospitalization data during most recent 28 day period of November 23 - December 20 shows 7 people hospitalized for a rate of 60 per 100 Thousand people. Will show the next 28 day period Roosevelt Island Hospitalization data when it becomes available.

There have been no Roosevelt Island Covid 19 deaths during this 28 day period. 

According to NYC Health Department, the most recent 7 Day Covid Testing Data from December 25 - 31 for Roosevelt Island (Zip Code 10044 ) shows 560 people tested and 152 Positive Cases for a rate of 27.14%.

The 7 Day Covid Testing Data from December 22 - 28 for Roosevelt Island (Zip Code 10044 ) shows 775 people tested and 159 Positive Cases for a rate of 20.52%.
The 7 Day Covid Testing Data from December 21 - 27 for Roosevelt Island (Zip Code 10044 ) shows 994 people tested and 182 Positive Cases for a rate of 18.31%.
 
The 7 Day Covid Testing Data from December 19 - 25 for Roosevelt Island (Zip Code 10044 ) shows 1159 people tested and 201 Positive Cases for a rate of 17.34%.


The 7 Day Covid Testing Data from December 18 - 24 for Roosevelt Island (Zip Code 10044 ) shows 1030 people tested and 145 Positive Cases for a rate of 14.08%.


 As previously reported the:

... 7 Day Covid Testing Data from December 13 - 19 for Roosevelt Island (Zip Code 10044 ) shows 980 people tested and 79 Positive Cases for a rate of 8.06%....

... 7 Day Covid Testing Data from December 11 - 17, on Roosevelt Island (Zip Code 10044 ) shows 835 people tested and 51 Positive Case for a rate of 6.11%

 7 Day Covid Testing Data from December 10 - 16, on Roosevelt Island (Zip Code 10044 ) shows 778 people tested and 36 Positive Case for a rate of 4.63% 

7 Day Covid Testing Data from December 7 - 13 for Roosevelt Island (Zip Code 10044 ) - 813 people were tested and 33 Positive Case for a rate of 4.06%.  

7 Day Covid Testing Data from December 6 - 12, when the Covid Mobile Test Van was here on Roosevelt Island (Zip Code 10044 ), 973 people were tested resulting in 30 Positive Case for a rate of 3.08%. 

7 Day Covid Testing Data from November 24 - November 30  for Roosevelt Island Zip Code 10044 shows 578 people tested and 15 Positive Case for a rate of 2.6%...

 

UPDATE 9:45 PM:

Instagram comments included: 

  • Got a message that my sample was destroyed. No thanks for the 3.5 hours I waited out in the cold. Very disappointed by this service. 
  • I got the same thing today and got tested the same morning (12/22). It’s probably because their printer wasn’t working that day and they had to manually write everything down. 
  • Tested 12/22. Got results today. TNP. So, no results! An utter waste of three hours. Cold hours.

UPDATE 10:40 PM - Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy adds:

TWO FRIENDS OF MINE WENT TO BELLEVUE THIS WEEKEND. BOTH HAD RESULTS WITHIN 28 HOURS. THEY COMPLEMENTED THE EXCELLENT SERVICE AND BEING IN AN INDOOR SPACE THAT IS LARGE AND WELL VENTILATED. ALL VACCINES AND BOOSTERS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE THERE FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN. 

I am distressed to hear that neighbors have not received results from PCR tests taken at the mobile unit days ago. My test at Bellevue e-mailed me results in 24 hours. Please use our municipal system that is here to serve every person, no questions asked.

TWO RELIABLE, FREE AND PERMANENT TESTING SITES ARE OUR MUNICPAL HOSPITALS. BELLEVUE HAS LARGE AND WELL ORGANIZED INDOOR WAITING AREAS FOR VACCINATONS, BOOSTERS AND TESTING.

THIS IS A MUCH BETTER IDEA THAT FREEZING ON A LONG LINE FOR POP-UP TESTING.
TAKE THE NYC FERRY AND BELLEVUE IS A QUICK WALK ON FIRST AVENUE OR METROPOLITAN IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE 96 STREET Q TRAIN(YOU CAN TAKE NYC FERRY TO 90 STREET DOCK FOR A WALK UP TO MET)

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue 462 First Avenue New York, New York 10016 212-562-5555 

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan 1901 First Avenue New York, New York 10029

COVID-19 Testing and Antibody Testing Offered Here Monday – Friday Sunday, Walk Ins: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 4:08:00 PM 0 comments

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