It's Christmas Eve, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - On The Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin Sled? Time For Christmas Eve Songs From Darlene Love, The Pogues, Springsteen & Ted Lasso

Reports are coming in of Santa Claus sightings from all around the world. You can even follow Santa moment by moment as he travels around the world with the aid of Norad's Santa Tracker.

Santa will arrive on Roosevelt Island in a few hours. When he does, it may be on his specially designed, Reindeer powered, Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin sled.

 Roosevelt Island Tram Reindeer Cards from Marty Atkins

Yesterday afternoon, Santa Claus stopped in to the Roosevelt Island Starbucks for a rest and to fix some problems with his sled.

It's time for some great Christmas Eve songs. 

The Pogues Fairytale Of New York,

Darlene Love Christmas Baby Please Come Home,

Bruce Springsteen Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

and from Ted Lasso, Carol of the Bells.

Here's more about the NORAD Santa Tracker.  

Merry Christmas

Roosevelt Island.

Long Time RIOC Board Director Michael Shinozaki Resigns, Tram OMNY Payment System Delayed Again, Pickleball, Child Care, Blackwell Park Redesign And Roadway Paving Project Among Roosevelt Island Topics Addressed In RIOC President's Report At December 22 Board Meeting

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Shelton Haynes was ill yesterday and was not able to attend the December 23 RIOC Board Of Directors meeting last night. In his place, RIOC General Counsel Gretchen Robinson read the RIOC President's Community Report to the Board and those in attendance.

Among the topics discussed were: 

• Long Time RIOC Board Director Michael Shinozaki resigned - no reason given,
  
• MTA OMNY Payment system installation on Roosevelt Island Tram delayed again until at least 2nd quarter of 2023,
• RIOC expects to have a School Age Child Care (SACC) License by next month,
• NY Community Trust will continue to manage the Public Purpose Fund grants and will have an announcement after the Holidays,
• Pickleball Court will be coming this spring to the outdoor Sportspark area currently used as a basketball court
• Sportspark still waiting for inspection approvals,
• Blackwell Park Design Project and Roadway Paving projects will be seeking community input in next few months.
  

RIOC Board of Directors Meeting | Recap pic.twitter.com/zNQGJMpEZ2

— Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (@RIOCny) December 23, 2022

Here's the RIOC President's Report read by Ms Robinson.

Full video of the December 23 Board of Directors meeting will eventually be available at the RIOC website.

Come Together To Celebrate Jewish Pride, Enjoy Hot Latkes, Hot Drinks, Dreidels & More At Chabad Of Roosvelt Island Family Public Menorah Lighting Saturday December 24 At Rivercross Lawn - Some Good Chanukkah Song Videos Too

The Chabad of Roosevelt Island invite you to the Annual Family Public Menorah Lighting 

for the 7th Chanukah Light on December 24 at 6:30 PM:

Come together to celebrate Jewish pride!

Enjoy hot latkes, hot drinks, music, dreidels and other treats.

For more information contact nechama@RIjewish.org

Enjoy this West Side Chanukkah Story from Six13,

 

the Shlomones Rocky Hora Chanukah song

and the Dreidel song with a Texas swing twist.

Happy Roosevelt Island Chanukkah!

Sponsored Post - Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance Wishes The Roosevelt Island Community Joy, Peace And Love For The Holidays And A Happy New Year Filled With Singing, Dancing And Merriment

Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance wishes the Roosevelt Island community joy, peace and love for the holidays, and a happy New Year filled with singing, dancing and merriment. 

Start the new year with MSTDA classes and shows for all!!! 

MST&DA website.

Instagram.

Facebook.

Sponsored Post - Happy Holidays From Graduate Roosevelt Island Hotel, Celebrate With Us

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM GRADUATE ROOSEVELT ISLAND HOTEL, CELEBRATE WITH US.

Sponsored Post - Wengerd Family Farmers Market Wishes A Blessed Christmas Season And A Wonderful New Year To Roosevelt Island Community - Closed Saturday December 24 & 31 For The Holidays, Will Reopen Saturday January 7 And Look Forward To Seeing You In 2023

The Wengerd Family,

operators of the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market, wish you a Blessed Christmas season and a wonderful 2023 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 Wengerd Family Farmers Market is closed this Saturday December 24 and the following Saturday December 31.  

They will be back Saturday January 8 and look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

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

Please enjoy the Christmas Carols from the Sugar Hill Mennonite Mission Choir 

 

who performed at the Farmers Market last Saturday.

Sponsored Post - Happy Holidays From The Wildlife Freedom Foundation - Your Support Helps Us Save Lives, Care For Sick And Injured Roosevelt Island Wildlife And Find Loving Families For Homeless And Abandoned Cats

Happy Holidays From The Wildlife Freedom Foundation.

At Wildlife Freedom Foundation, our commitment has been to do everything we are capable of to rescue, protect, rehabilitate, and place into loving homes many abandoned pets and provide permanent shelter for the cats that aren't adopted. Many of our animals are saved from kill shelters, found on the road, or inside dumpsters. 

With YOUR help, we rescued/spayed/neutered/rehabilitated/nurtured back to health, cared for so many animals in these past years. With your help, we will continue our work of rescuing and caring for abused and neglected animals and continue to care and rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife.

THANK YOU on behalf of all animals who will have a second chance and whose lives will be forever changed by your generous Tax-deductible donation. We couldn’t do it without you! 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wildlife Freedom Foundation (@wfffoundation)

 Learn more about the Wildlife Freedom Foundation 

at our web page

and Instagram Page.

Happy Holidays Roosevel Island and Best Wishes for the New Year.!

Approval Of Upcoming RIOC 2023-24 Fiscal Year Budget On Agenda For In Person December 22 Board Of Directors Meeting - You're Invited To Attend And Sign Up To Ask Your Questions About Roosevelt Island Issues

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors will meet in person tomorrow, December 22 at 5:30 PM in the the Cultural Center (548 Main Street).

You're invited to attend,  ask questions and share concerns about Roosevelt Island during the opening Public Session before the start of the meeting. Sign up to speak here.

Among the items on the Meeting Agenda is approval of the proposed RIOC Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24 which projects revenue of $34,280,000 and capital improvements in the amount of $6.8 million.

Below is the Agenda for the meeting. 

Click on the links below for Board Materials on Agenda items.

1. NB-1 Budget FY2023-24
2. NB-2 Board meetings schedule 2023
3. NB-3 Ral-Bar_On-Call Electrical Services_Contract
4. NB-4 NYCT_PPF_Amendm Ratification
5. Financial Statement for November 2022
6. PSD Report Oct Nov 2022
   

You can watch the Board meeting here.

There's A Big Storm Coming Our Way - You're Invited To RIRA Roosevelt Island Community Emergency Committee Zoom Talk On Winter Storm Preparedness Thursday December 22

Right on time for the first day of Winter...quite a storm coming our way. .@nycemergencymgt is preparing - please take some time to do so as well! https://t.co/YF8gm6nHVj

— Christina L. Farrell (@calfarrell) December 21, 2022

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Community Emergency Committee Chair Frank Farance reports: 

The RIRA CEC has a monthly Zoom presentation on emergency preparedness, each month is different, it's tailored to the season and circumstance, and it's for Roosevelt Islanders, so ask your Roosevelt Island specific questions.

This month's presentation, December 22 at 8-9 PM, was already scheduled for Winter Storm Preparedness. With the winter storm forecast for the end of this week, Thursday's presentation will have live analysis and discussion on the upcoming storm, so you'll be able to apply your knowledge right away.

Frank Farance is a National Weather Service (NWS) Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) Ambassador (we communicate weather knowledge to the public). He is an active member of the American Red Cross of Greater New York (ARC-GNY), and is Disaster Action Team (DAT) Supervisor. DAT responds 24/7/365 to disasters, such as home fires, which occur 8-12 times a day in NYC. He has served 15 years as a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) member for Roosevelt Island and NYC. He is a graduate of FEMA's National Emergency Management Advanced Academy (NEMAA). He teaches FEMA STEP (Student Tools for Emergency Planning) to K-12.

The monthly presentations are typically the 4th Thursday of the month at 8-9 PM so the WHOLE FAMILY can participate. The link for the monthly presentations are:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/91230498521?pwd=Q05STWZGUk1iUm9Iai9YajFmbnI2dz09

Meeting ID: 912 3049 8521 Passcode: 591680 One tap mobile +19292056099,,91230498521#,,,,*591680# US (New York) +16469313860,,91230498521#,,,,*591680# US (New York)

Here is the current forecast for Thursday:

Severe weather heading our way just in time for holiday travel... 🧵 pic.twitter.com/OSgWSCxvVa

— NYC Emergency Management (@nycemergencymgt) December 21, 2022

Shop Local For Your Holiday Gifts At The Roosevelt Island Historical Society Visitors Center Kiosk, Books, Gifts, Cards, Puzzles, Toys & Much More - Open Noon To 5 PM Every Day Until Christmas

SHOP LOCAL FOR YOUR HOLIDAY GIFTS

AT THE Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) VISITORS CENTER KIOSK

GREAT STOCKING STUFFERS FOR THE FAMILY!!!

CHECK OUT SOME OF THE HOLIDAY MERCHANDISE AND HELP SUPPORT RIHS

Sponsored Post - Happy Holidays From Roosevelt Island Riverwalk Place Condominium Residents, Owners, Staff & Management And Best Wishes For The New Year - Enjoy Holiday Music Cheer From Building Resident Jazz Musician Too

Happy Holidays From Roosevelt Island Riverwalk Place Condominium Residents, Owners, Staff & Management And Best Wishes For The New Year

Roosevelt Island Riverwalk Place resident and very talented jazz musician Ben Rosenblum with his friend Jasper Dutz provided some holiday music cheer in the building lobby last Sunday.

Enjoy.

Happy Holidays to all in the Roosevelt Island community.

Sponsored Post - Westview Co-op Wishing The Roosevelt Island Community Happy Holidays And Joyful New Year! Offers Opportunity To Purchase On NYC Waterfront

Westview Wishing The Roosevelt Island Community Happy Holidays And Joyful New Year!
 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Westview (@westviewnyc)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Westview (@westviewnyc)

More info about the Westview building here.

Sponsored Post - Happy Holidays From Cornell Tech, Wishing All Our Neighbors On Roosevelt Island A Joyous Holiday Season And A Healthy, Safe And Prosperous New Year - Cafe Closed December 23 To January 2

Happy Holidays From Cornell Tech. 

Wishing all our neighbors on Roosevelt Island a joyous holiday season and a healthy, safe and prosperous New Year! 

The Cafe And Parliament Holiday Hours:

December 19-22 Open 8am -5pm

December 23 To January 2 CLOSED

January 3-20: Open 8am - 5 pm, closed Sat & Sun

January 21-22: Open 11am - 5 pm

During the revised hour period we will have food made to order available until 2pm and all other items will be available until 4 pm.

Roosevelt Island Concerts Bonus Pop Up Free Family Friendly Holiday Violin Concert In Collaboration With MST&DA Tuesday December 20 - A Few Special Holiday Surprises To Celebrate The Season Together Too

Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MST&DA) Executive Director Kristi Towey reports: 

MST&DA is partnering with Roosevelt Island Concerts to host violinists Claudia Schaer  

 and Funda Cizmecioglu 

 at the theatre tomorrow night at 7pm for a special family friendly holiday music concert for free.

MST&DA is located at 548 Main Street. 

More info on Roosevelt Island Concerts available at their website. 

UPDATE 12/20 - SORRY - THE CONCERT FOR TONIGHT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. WILL REPORT WHEN NEW DATE ANNOUNCED.

One Of A Kind View High Above The Roosevelt Island Tram And NYC East River Waterfront Seen From Penthouse Of New, 847 Foot Tall, Sutton Tower Condo - Watch The Video

Photographer Noel Y. Calingasan shares this awesome, rarely seen aerial view looking down on the Roosevelt Island Tram passing over the East River from a penthouse at the 847 foot tall Sutton Tower Condo on East 58th Street.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Noel Y. Calingasan • NYC (@nyclovesnyc)

The views of Roosevelt Island and the NYC East River Waterfront skyline are stunning. Watch the video.

 

Here's more on the photographer:

How does a research scientist become one of the most popular New York City photographers on Instagram? 

 Noel Y. Calingasan, Neuroscience researcher, came to New York City from the Philippines in 2001. He got himself a camera to start documenting his experiences in New York City so he could share his photographs with family and friends back home. When he started uploading his photos to a photography blog, a friend suggested he create an Instagram account to share his photos with New Yorkers and other photographers, and his following took off!...

Sunrise view over Queens, Roosevelt Island and the East River pic.twitter.com/Ow4btHeGyg

— Noel Y. Calingasan • NYC (@nyclovesnyc) December 19, 2022

Sponsored Post - The Roosevelt Island Visual Art Association Wishes You Happy Holidays And A Happy New Year - Thank You For Your Year Round Support Of RIVAA

Happy Holidays From The Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association (RIVAA) - Thank You For Your Support All Year Long. 

Gallery RIVAA, located at 527 Main Street,

is conducting a Go Fund Me campaign to raise money for needed improvements to its space. According to Gallery RIVAA:

Our gallery is in dire need of restoration. In particular, we need to replace our defunct HVAC system, retrofit the electrical system, renovate our restroom, and build an area for a modest retail space.

Optimistically, we will then be able to heat our gallery in winter, cool it in summer, properly light our members’ artwork, and offer ongoing exhibits and community events throughout the year.

The Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association (RIVVA) opened its doors as a non-profit organization in 2002. The Association comprises an internationally diverse group of artists and art lovers whose mission is to render Roosevelt Island, New York City’s “Island of Art.” Supported by public and private donations, RIVVA is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life on our island by providing a venue for art, music, dance, and spoken word events.

We are hoping to raise $150,000 through this Go Fund Me appeal.

RIVVA appeals to you to contribute what you can so that we may continue this critical work to serve our ever-growing community.

Click here for more info on the Gallery RIVAA Go Fund me campaign and the RIVAA Gallery Instagram Page.

Happy Chanukah From Roosevelt Island - Join The Chabad Of Roosevelt Island For Family Public Menorah Lighting Saturday December 24 At Rivercross Lawn - Pass The Latkes Please & Chanukah Songs From The Maccabeats And Adam Sandler Too

Tonight is the first of eight Chanukah nights and the Roosevelt Island Menorah on the Rivercross Lawn

is now lit.

The Chabad of Roosevelt Island invite you to the Annual Family Public Menorah Lighting for the 7th Chanukah Light on December 24 at 6:30 PM.

Come together to celebrate Jewish pride!

Enjoy hot latkes, hot drinks, music, dreidels and other  ttreats.

For more information contact nechama@RIjewish.org

Mayor Eric Adams wishes NYC a Happy Chanukah

and here's a history of the Chanukah holiday.

Enjoy some Chanukah music from the Maccabeats

and Adam Sandler.

Have a great Chanukah and thinking of you all pic.twitter.com/WysxQpMZmA

— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) December 18, 2022

Happy Chanukah Roosevelt Island.

UPDATE 10:25 PM - Elton Johnukah from Six13 is pretty good too.