Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) President Judy Berdy reports:
THE RAINS HAVE COME!!!
WE CAN NOW PLANT OUR DAFFODIL BULBS AT THE KIOSK
JOIN US SATURDAY MORNING, NOV. 23rd
9 a.m. to 12 noon
AT THE RIHS Visitors Center Kiosk
Let's beautify our Tram Plaza for this coming Spring with Daffodils.
The newly opened Roosevelt Island Advanced Dentistry, formerly known as Dental Love, is offering pediatric and full family dental services to the Roosevelt Island community. Dr Lizeth Correa describes the services provided by Roosevelt Island Advanced Dentistry and takes us on a tour of their brand new state of the art office and exam rooms.
According to Dr. Correa:Meet the Roosevelt Island Advanced Dentistry Pediatric team.Hello, I'm one of the pediatric dentists here at Roosevelt Island Advanced Dentistry, formerly known as Dental Love. We are located on 501 Main Street at the Rivercross building right across the street from the Blackwell House.We are happy to offer Pediatric and Family Dentistry Services here. We have three Pediatric Dental Specialists in the office for you including myself. We also have three General and Cosmetic Dentists and we are happy to announce that we have a Prothodontist as well who is here for all of your implant and surgical needs. We understand that here on Roosevelt Island there is a big International Community. We have different dentists and staff here that speak in Spanish, Mandarin, Tamil, Tagalog, Polish and Romanian for our patients comfort.We are here Monday through Saturday. Please feel free to stop by, give us a call or visit our website and make an appointment.We look forward to see your smiles
More info available at the Roosevelt Island Advanced Dentistry website or call 212-752-8722
Asthma: Mild to Major - Myths, Medications & ManagementWeill Cornell Medicine, Cornell Tech and the Good Life on Roosevelt Island Association Present:
Asthma: Mild to Major - Myths, Medications & Management
While asthma onset often begins in childhood, it can begin at any age, affecting approximately 1 in 13 people. According to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America, in 2022, Black females were more than three times as likely to die from asthma than White males. There is no cure for asthma, but it can be managed.
Join Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell Tech & the Good Life on Roosevelt Island Association for a virtual session, exploring asthma - from minor cases to life-threatening attacks - including its risk factors and symptoms, as well as treatment options. This session also seeks to address commons myths and misconceptions about asthma.
This event is FREE and open to the public
We hope you will join us virtually!
Thursday, November 21 || 5:00 - 6:00 PM Presented by:
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine Weill Cornell Medicine
Register Online HERE ... Zoom information provided following registration.
For assistance via email, please email: communityaffairs@med.cornell.edu or Jane.Swanson@cornell.edu
Ellen Polivy reports:
Howard Polivy ( assisted by me) will be teaching a one hour Tai Chi foundations workshop this Friday at Rolls and Bowls Restaurant from 5:30 -6:30 pm.
Participants will learn movement skills they can practice every day going through their day life: proper body alignment, muscle isolation,Tai Chi poring, Tai Chi walking. He will end with “Cloud Hands” a famous powerful and meditative move practiced in all forms of Tai Chi Chuan.Howard has been a Tai Chi player for over 45 years. He currently teaches a Tai Chi class Wednesdays at 5:30 pm at the Senior Center open to the community.
The mental and physical benefits of Tai Chi span cultures and generations. Here’s how to get started. https://t.co/EFTFDN2Izy pic.twitter.com/4HzcojoI16
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 20, 2023
The Carter Burden Network Roosevelt Island Older Adult Center is hosting a community Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway Monday 25
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SPONSORED BY GRUBHUB AND SPREADING LOVE IN PARTNERSHIP WTITH DISTRICT 5 COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN PRESENTSThanksgiving Turkey GiveawayAvailable for the Roosevelt Island Community this holiday season.Monday November 25Pick up: RI Older Adult 100 Center - 546 Main St.11:00am - 1:00pm100 Turkeys to be Given Away for residents of Roosevelt IslandFirst come, first served until they’re gone! Bring your own bags and carts.
Also, the Roosevelt Island Cafe @Cornell Tech annual pre Thanksgiving lunch menu
of Turkey with all the Fixings and Pumpkin Pie is tomorrrow, Wednesday November 20.
The Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) invites you to a very interesting talk about the beginnings of Roosevelt Island as a residential community.
The Roosevelt Island Historical Society Presents: Redeveloping Roosevelt Island
NORTHTOWN 50 YEARS LATERTHE ONGOING QUEST OF HISTORIC PRESERVATIONOn April 25th, 1975, the first resident of Roosevelt Island moved into Eastwood. That was almost 50 years ago now. By 1978, a population of 5,500 had arrived to call Northtown home.Constructed based on the principles of Philip Johnson and John Burgee's visionary 1969 master plan, Roosevelt Island was an experiment in American urban planning. Despite its positive reception, the plan fell short and Phase 1, known as Northtown, was the only original portion completed. 2,100 units beckoned families back to the city offering the comforts of small-town living, right in the middle of New York City. Today, Northtown represents one of the most diverse zip codes in all of New York City.
Join us for a presentation hosted by The Roosevelt Island Historical Society, led by Hunter College graduate student Dylan Brown. Brown will explore the history and intricacies of Northtown and raise the question of whether Northtown should now be preserved an an historic example of American urban planning. Come join the open conversation about the future of preservation on Roosevelt Island.
NOVEMBER 19TH, 6:30PM @ THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND NYPL BRANCH, LOCATED @ 504 MAIN ST.
Last March 19, RIHS hosted Mr Brown at the Roosevelt Island Public Library for a fascinating presentation about the development of Roosevelt Island.
Here's video of the presentation
and the accompanying
slideshow.
The Tapestry is warm and will teach you about Roosevelt Island History.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department (PSD) is hosting a community engagement meeting Tuesday November 19.
According to the RIOC PSD:
Dear Roosevelt Island Community:
This is a reminder that our next PSD Community Engagement Meeting is next Tuesday, November 19th at 6pm inside the Chapel of the Good Shepherd.
As usual, we will be discussing matters of public safety that are important to the island, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Thank you.
If you think the Roosevelt Island Tram long lines stretching down Second avenue
and crowded platform full
of sightseeing tourists
is a Public Safety hazard,
come to the PSD Community Engagement Meeting and tell PSD Chief Kevin Brown and Deputy Chief Anthony Amoroso what you think.
Starting November 7, 2024, 1520 people have signed the online petition
(plus an additional 95 paper signatures) seeking priority boarding for residents and workers who use the Roosevelt Island Tram as essential transportation before crowds of sightseeing tourists riding the tram.
Click here to sign the Petition.
Here's video of the September 17, 2024
RIOC PSD Community Engagement meeting.
Roosevelt Island Mediterranean Eatery owner Alon Kruvi tells us he is temporarily closing the restaurant for a week starting Tuesday, November 12 to prepare the kitchen for a new seasonal menu.
According to Mr Kruvi:
We are going to shut down for a week. We're going to update our kitchen to accommodate a seasonal menu that will come out the week after the next with Rotisserie Chicken, Fried Chicken, Special Sauces, Braized Lamb, Falafel is going to stay, New Toppings, Pita is going to stay but the we are going to focus on marinated, properly cooked, Rotisserie and Fried Chicken.
Sunday Bagels are definitely staying. This Sunday there will be bagels, the following Sunday there will be bagels with all the toppings.
Mediterranean Eatery will reopen with the new menu the week of November 18.
Sunday bagels
will be open tomorrow November 17.
CBS News New York reported on November 2:
A vigil was held Saturday night for a Westchester County mother and her two sons who police say were shot by the woman's boyfriend earlier this week.Fifteen-year-old Michael Raimondi was killed late Monday night when police say Fernando Jimenez shot him, his mother and his younger brother at their Somers home.
Jimenez, 40, was arrested hours later. Police say he was hiding out in a real estate office about 10 miles from the crime scene
Christina Raimondi and Matthew Raimondi remain hospitalized....
Christina Raimondi is the daughter, Michael and Matthew Raimondi the grandsons of longtime Roosevelt Island Tram Operations Manager Armando Cordova.
 |
| Mr Cordova Shown On Right At May 2016 Tram 40th Anniversary Celebration |
A GoFundMe page was created to help the Raimondi family:
Dear friends, family, and compassionate strangers,We’re reaching out during a moment of profound heartbreak on behalf of Christina and her two beloved sons, Matthew and Michael. Recently, this family endured a devastating domestic violence incident. Michael, a cherished 15-year-old son and brother, tragically lost his life, and now Christina and Matthew are both in critical condition. As Christina fights for her life, she faces the unimaginable reality of having to bury her child. Their road to recovery will be long, arduous, and filled with immense challenges....
Click here for more info at the GoFundMe page.
Affordable Art Show @ RIVAA Gallery
Call for Artists
December 7th - 8th and 14th - 15th, 2024
RIVAA Gallery is holding an affordable art sale. Artworks and art related crafts such as ceramics, pottery, textile art or jewelery will be for sale at affordable prices.
The cost for a table will be $20 per day.
There is a 15% commission on sales.
If you're interested in participating for one or more days, use the link below and complete the application by Friday, November 22nd. You can find additional details on the form.
Come to the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market This Saturdayat Good Shepherd Plaza for HEALTHY and DELICIOUS TASTING LOCAL HOMEGROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
According to Farmers Market vendor Israel Wengerd of Wengerd Farms:
Local Homegrown Applesare high quality this yearand we haveover 10 varieties.We still have localhomegrown tomatoesamong many other healthy and delicious fruits and vegetables and much, much more.The Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers Market at Good Shepherd Plaza is open early morning to mid afternoon on Saturdays in good weather and bad.
Support your Local Farmers, Eat Healthy!
The Wengerd Family has been serving the Roosevelt Island community at the Saturday Farmers Market for over 35 years.
See you Saturday at Good Shepherd Plaza for the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market
The Farmers Market will move to it's Roosevelt Island Motorgate Plaza winter home on Saturday November 30.
A Tipster spotted a Nuro self driving car parked on Roosevelt Island’s Main Street yesterday.
First one of these I’ve seen. It looked like the safety driver was walking back to it. He had stopped at Starbucks.
The Nuro Driver's AI-first tech in action: one continuous drive through Mountain View's diverse scenarios.
— Nuro (@nuro) November 4, 2024
Watch our system handle pedestrians, road changes & complex intersections—showcasing why we're ready for OEM & mobility partners.
Autonomy for all. All roads, all rides.… pic.twitter.com/k7IflhuHpa
Cornell Tech Professor Wendy Ju is studying human interaction with automation and self driving cars. During an October 10, 2019 Cornell Tech Faculty Roosevelt Island Community Conversation, Professor Ju described her research to a group of very interested residents. I asked her whether Roosevelt Island could be a location for self driving car experimentation. Professor Ju replied:
I don't know if the Nuro self driving car spotted on Roosevelt Island yesterday was part of any test drive experiment or if the Safety Driver just stopped by for a Starbucks coffee.
The Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island Community Conversation series resumes Monday evening November 18 with Runway Startup Postdoc Kendra Batchelder discussing:
Making Breast Cancer Screening More Effective
at the Roosevelt Island NY Public Library.
According to Cornell Tech:
Please join us for a Community Conversation with Cornell Tech Runway Postdoc Kendra Batchelder: Making Breast Cancer Screening More Effective.This event is being held in collaboration with the Roosevelt Island Library.
What: Cornell Tech Community Conversation
When: Monday, November 18th at 6:30 pm
Where: Roosevelt Island Library, 504 Main Street (in-person only)
Here's more info on Kendra Batchelder, CEO and Co-founder of Waved Medical
and the Cornell Tech Runway Start Up Postdoc program.
The Cornell Tech Instagram page reports today:
In partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Cornell Tech hosted tech leaders, startup founders, and investors for a networking breakfast and conversation at Civic Hall in Manhattan this morning. Panelists discussed the current state of the city’s tech economy and the economic impact of Cornell Tech’s campus, startups, and alumni on New York City’s vibrant and growing tech ecosystem....
... By 2030, Cornell Tech is projected to generate $1.5 billion in economic impact per year and 7,000 jobs for NYC annually. The student body has grown to 700 students and Cornell Tech now has 2,300 alumni. The campus has launched 115 startups – 32% of which have been founded by women, above the city and national average. Of these startups, 94% have remained based in NYC, employing over 790 people. The new economic impact report can be accessed here...
Click here for previous Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island Community Conversations.
In less than a week, more than 1 thousand people have signed this Petition
to gawk at the view or a photo op to be shared on social media.
According to the petition:
The Roosevelt Island Tram has ceased to be available to residents and workers as a reliable method of transportation. We, the residents and workers, demand priority boarding of the tram.
A combination of factors has led to a massive increase in the use of the tram by tourists, particularly since the tram has recently appeared in a number of “Top 10 things to do in NYC” lists and videos.
The platforms are crowded and lines often form outside the platform. What used to be only certain limited times of day and certain times of year is virtually now a constant.
Residents and workers now struggle to get on to the tram, often starting in the morning till late into the night.
Many people have given up on the tram while others struggle through the chaos
This is particularly onerous for our neighbors who may be elderly or unable to walk / stand easily. The island is home to a lot of elderly folks and folks with limited mobility.
The same is also true for families with young children.
Comments describing reasons people signed the petition include:
Here's what some other cities have done to protect their residents use of essential services from crowds of tourists.
VIDEO: Work has begun in a small Japanese town to erect a barrier blocking views of the country's most famous sight, Mount Fuji after locals complained of bad behavior by photo-hungry tourists pic.twitter.com/TQoc0HCTOk
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) May 3, 2024
Barcelona bus route removed from Google Maps after complaints over tourists
— Cities Today (@Cities_Today) April 19, 2024
👉 https://t.co/KbtSH8FGpb#urbanmobility #publictransport #transit #liveability pic.twitter.com/QhAJ9KSi6K
As previously reported in response to RIOC's legal opinon:
... nobody that I’m aware of is asking for a reduction in the Tram fare for residents. That would do nothing to alleviate the long lines and overcrowding. It’s a straw man argument.
Second, the statute cited by RIOC relies on an “undue or unreasonable preference or advantage” standard.
Proponents of a separate line for residents/workers would argue that the Tram is an essential mode of transportation that has limited capacity. The overcrowding by tourists causing long lines and waiting times exacerbated by the current F train service disruption has a substantial negative effect on the quality of life for residents and workers including elderly, disabled, parents with strollers, students going to school etc.
It is entirely “reasonable” for RIOC to permit preferential boarding on the limited capacity Tram for residents who need the tram to pursue their daily activities over tourists who are using the Tram as a sightseeing amusement attraction.
Also, several residents have reported that at one time the Tram did give priority to Roosevelt Island residents over tourists. Here's an excerpt from May 29, 1976 NY Times article that proves it.
Resident preference for the Tram was already done. Why not again?...
Click here to sign the Petition.
UPDATE 11/13 - Roosevelt Island Daily shares this photo of a February 1980 article from an early Roosevelt Island newspaper, The View, showing that Roosevelt Island residents had priority boarding on the Tram for about 4 years from the time operations began in 1976 until 1980. According to publisher David Stone:
While researching an article on the making of Nighthawks in March 1980, I found this article in the Island View newspaper, which came before the WIRE. It documents when Islanders lost thier priority passes for the Tram.
The 1980 legal opinion also does not appear to address the “reasonableness” issue of Roosevelt Island resident Tram boarding preference.
The Roosevelt Island Daily article asks if taking away the Roosevelt Island Tram boarding preference for residents in 1980 was in retribution against residents for protesting against the filming of Nighthawks movie on the Tram.
