Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers Market Temporarily Relocating To Winter Home Under The Motorgate Helix Starting Tomorrow, November 30 - Bring Your Food Scraps To The Roosevelt Island Haki Compost Collective At Motorgate Too

The Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers Market is relocating from Good Shepherd Plaza to their temporary winter home under the Motorgate Helix starting this Saturday, November 30.

According to Farmers Market vendor Israel Wengerd of Wengerd Farms:

The move is necessary to be out of the inclement winter weather.

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 Haki Compost Collective 

volunteers add:

Greetings Haki Compost Collective volunteers, friends and droppers,

Your participation creates compost that not only amends our island soil with nutrients but soil with compost retains moisture very well aiding land in times of drought.

Recently we heard Lenape Center leaders present a school curriculum about their history which is being created in partnership with Columbia Teachers College for NYC. During their presentation at the Brooklyn Public Library, they taught words, including Haki - Mother Earth. We are grateful they helped name our Haki compost collective.

Since the re-start on October 5th over 500 drops have been accepted collecting nearly two tons of food scraps! We also welcomed four new volunteers - Etay, Gael, Nick and Volker. And we look forward to growing numbers when the farmers market moves to join us at the Helix / Motorgate area on Saturday, November 30th.

Please spread the word that the green bin program (in partnership with Big Reuse and RIOC) collects food scraps for compost.

We also welcome volunteers of all ages and abilities to be a part of the collective and welcome students who wish for community service, please write to us at hakicompost@gmail.com.

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See you tomorrow at the Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers Market.

Happy Thanksgiving From Roosevelt Island, Tradition, Family, Food, Football, Local History And Alice's Restaurant - Roosevelt Island Pilgrims First Thanksgiving Too

Happy Thanksgiving Day wishes to everyone out there in Roosevelt Island land and elsewhere. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! 

Since Thanksgiving is a day all about about Tradition, here is my traditional Thanksgiving Day post started in 2007:

In addition to family, great food, the Macy's Parade, Miracle on 34th Street, March of the Wooden Soldiers and football, listening to Arlo Guthrie's rendition of Alice's Restaurant on WNEW-FM was, for me, a wonderful Thanksgiving tradition.

A former station DJ remembers Thanksgiving and Arlo Guthrie this way on the blog All Mixed Up Radio.

Every year a couple of days before Thanksgiving, it starts. It's slow at first, and then turns into a non-stop avalanche of phone calls. And no matter how many times a station runs promo announcements telling people exactly when it will be played, the calls still come.

"What time are you playing 'Alice's Restaurant?'"...

Yes, in the olden days people used to listen to music on the radio. Imagine that!...

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Here's how Alice's Restaurant became a Thanksgiving tradition:

 

 and the full song with scenes from the movie.

Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy shares a Thanksgiving story from Roosevelt Island's past when it was known as Welfare Island and housed a penitentiary. 

Also, former blogger Roosevelt Island 360 tells us about the first Roosevelt Island Thanksgiving in 1975 as reported by the NY Times.

According to the 1975 NY Times article:

One of the nation's newest settlements, a small community of pioneers, is about to celebrate its first Thanksgiving Day on its rockbound island home in the East River.

The situation on Roosevelt Island, which separates midtown Manhattan from Queens, is not quite the same as the one that faced the first New England homeowners centuries ago. The 170 rent‐paying families, the first in the ambitious planned development being built on the island, have not been undergoing hardships. Maybe inconveniences here and there, but not questions of life and death.

Heat comes up (with or without banging the radiator to alert the super, New Yorkstyle). There is light and shelter and the natives are rather nonexistent.

Last night, the new islanders fed one another at an ethnic buffet representing the many diverse strains of humanity they stem from. Tonight there will be an ecumenical service at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, the church built in 1889 and now put to work as a community center. Tomorrow will be a family day, when people may talk turkey around their tables.

Click here for the full NY Times article on the Roosevelt Island Pilgrims first Thanksgiving.

Here are some scenes from today's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

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and

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from the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ROOSEVELT ISLAND!

Rosie The Roosevelt Island Wild Turkey Featured On ABC TV News Report - Some Concerned Rosie Will Not Be Able To Find Food And Water This Winter, Don't Worry Says Local Wildlife Expert

A few days before Thanksgiving, ABC news profiled Rosie the Roosevelt Island Turkey, a/k/a Astoria, A Roosevelt Island Tipster reported last Thursday:

At 4:00 this morning the final feature on Good Morning America First Look was a great piece on our Turkey & our Island.

Downside — which, unfortunately might result in even more Overcrowding Tram tourism ...

The Manhattan Bird Alert and Hanabi have been chronicling the exploits of Rosie and are concerned that the Turkey will not be able to find food and water on its own as the weather gets colder this winter.

According to the Manhattan Bird Alert: 

 It's time to encourage Rosie's friends to feed her! We think that she is running out of insects to eat and there is little or no tree fruit or seeds for her.

Wild Turkeys in nature can rely on nearby streams and water bodies to get them through dry spells, but Roosevelt Island has none, and the East River is a saltwater estuary.

— Manhattan Bird Alert (@BirdCentralPark) November 25, 2024

I asked Roosevelt Island resident Rossana Ceruzzi, a NY State and Federal licensed Animal Rehabilitator and President of the Wildlife Freedom Foundation about people feeding Rosie for the winter. Ms. Ceruzzi answered:

It's a wild bird. Turkeys have over 5,000 feathers that provide excellent insulation. They can store fat in the spring, summer and fall by eating fruits, nuts, berries, plants and seeds. Wild Turkeys can survive and thrive eating natural foods and do not need food from people.

Snow storms? Turkey stay in trees during severe storms. Winter is for all wildlife.

Rosie looks well fed.

“I am not a pigeon”#birdcpp pic.twitter.com/CvNpr3hPWg

— Hanabi (@Hanabi_NYC) November 26, 2024

November 27,
Astoria the Roosevelt Island Turkey.

“I need to go on a diet”#birdcpp pic.twitter.com/sw1h3EEzD0

— Hanabi (@Hanabi_NYC) November 27, 2024

Here's more on the continuing adventures of Rosie, the Roosevelt Island Turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sponsored Post - Ignite Your Child's Tennis Passion - Sign Up For The Fall Junior Tennis Program At The Roosevelt Racquet Club Led By Top Notch Experienced Coaches Teaching At Every Level, Come Visit Us Today

JOIN THE FUN:

Fall Junior Tennis

awaits at the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club

Ignite Your Child’s Tennis Passion

Enroll in Junior Programs Today!

SIGN UP

At Advantage Tennis Clubs, we pride ourselves on having guided children along a proven pathway to success for nearly five decades. Beginning with red balls for our youngest players (age 4), we gradually progress according to their skills and size.

Our program is led by top-notch coaches with experience teaching at every level. Whether they’re just starting or aiming for the pro circuit, we provide the tools to help them reach their full potential on the court.

Being in the right class is key to having a successful tennis experience! To ensure this, we offer free 15-minute on-court evaluations and virtual consultations for new players. Come visit us today!

Please contact us for more info.

play@advantagetennisclubs.com or  718.239.7917

And join The Club!

Members of the Advantage Junior Development Program receive full Roosevelt Island Racquet Club membership benefits for the period they are enrolled in the Junior Program. This means member prices on court rentals and private lessons with two-week in-advance reservation privileges.

Meet Magnus Gunnarsson, the Director of the Advantage Junior Development Tennis Program at the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club :

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Curious about what kids love most in our Junior Program?

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For more info, please email play@advantagetennisclubs.com or call 718.239.7917

Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Restoration Receives Preservation League Of NYS 2024 Excellence In Historic Preservation Award - Watch Video Taking Us Inside, Up The Stairs And To The Top Of Roosevelt Island Lighthouse

Watch this fascinating video from the NY Preservation League showing the renovation of the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse and follow along as architect Thomas Fenniman takes us inside, up the stairs and to the top of the Lighthouse

The Preservation League of NYS You Tube channel reports:

The Preservation League of NYS is thrilled to recognize the restoration of the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse with a 2024 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award.

A comprehensive restoration led by the team at Thomas A. Fenniman, Architect has ensured that this James Renwick Jr.-designed beacon will continue shining for many more years to come. The project included restoring brick, stone, windows, and doors. Site improvements at the Lighthouse include installation of a new metal spiral staircase, new electrical and LED accent lighting, resetting and installation of new and salvaged stone pavers and curb stones, and the installation of new recessed ground lighting and controls. The project was completed by the construction team of The LIRO Group and ICC Commonwealth.

Now in its 40th year, the League's annual Excellence Awards program allows us to shine a light on the people who are using historic preservation to make all our lives better —through exemplary restoration projects, indispensable publications, individual action, and organizational distinction.

More info about the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse project can be found at https://www.preservenys.org/blog/exce...

According to November 21 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) press release:

On Friday, November 15th, the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Restoration Project was honored at the New York Preservation League’s 2024 Awards Ceremony as one of the League’s “Excellence in Historic Preservation” award winners. Accepting the award on behalf of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) were Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dhruvika Patel Amin, 

Ms Amin Standing In Middle Of Picture

along with architect Thomas Fenniman and his team, who designed and led the restoration project.

“We are humbled that the Lighthouse Restoration Project has been recognized by the New York Preservation League as one of their 2024 ‘Excellence in Historic Preservation’ award winners. On behalf of RIOC, we’d like to thank Tom Fenniman and his outstanding team for their expertise, as well as LIRO Group and ICC Commonwealth, the construction team that completed the work. The Lighthouse is a significant piece of island history, and this restoration will ensure it can continue to be enjoyed by residents and the public for many years to come,” said Dhruvika Patel Amin, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for RIOC.

The Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Restoration Project included extensive work to restore the brick, stone, windows, and doors of the lighthouse, originally built in 1872. As noted by the Preservation League in their review of the project’s award submission, the restoration also included the installation of a new metal spiral staircase, new electrical and LED accent lighting, resetting and installation of new and salvaged stone pavers and curbstones, and the installation of new recessed ground lighting and control systems.

The $3.1 million restoration project was also recognized by the Friends of the Upper East Side Historic District with their 2023 Rehabilitation Award, and The New York Landmarks Conservancy, which awarded the project its Lucy G. Moses Preservation Project Award.

Here's more on the

Image From Preservation League Of NYS

Roosevelt Island Lighthouse restoration from Preservation League Of NYS

Image From Linda Doyle

and from a May 18, 2022 post.

The Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS)

Image From RIHS President Judy Berdy

has more here. on the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse.

Sponsored Post - The Roosevelt Island Cafe @Cornell Tech Closed For Thanksgiving Weekend Thursday To Sunday, Will Return On Monday December 2, Best Wishes For A Happy Thanksgiving

For this week, the Cafe @Cornell Tech will only be open Monday and Tuesday. 

The menu today is a Taco bowl for tomorrow TBD. 

The Cafe will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday from Wednesday 11/27 to Sunday, Dec. 1st and will return on Monday, Dec. 2nd.

Best Wishes For A Happy Thanksgiving to the Roosevelt Island community.

Popular Santa's Sled And Reindeer Christmas Holiday Decoraton Returns To Roosevelt Island Good Shepherd Plaza This Year After 2 Year Abscence - RIOC's 5th Annual Holiday Toy Drive In Support Of Roosevelt Island Youth Begins Tomorrow Through December 16

It’s a little bit early but good to see that the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) brought back the popular Santa’s sled and Reindeer Holiday/Christmas decoration

to Good Shepherd plaza this year after being absent the past 2 years. 

Have you been good this year?

RIOC reports that the annual Holiday Toy Drive starts tomorrow. According to RIOC:

Join us in spreading joy and cheer in support of our Roosevelt Island Youth!Participate in the 5th Annual Holiday Toy Drive by donating brand new children’s toys or games for all ages. Drop-off locations are the Youth Center, the Food Pantry, Roosevelt Island Library, Foodtown, and PSD from November 25th to December 16th. Make a child's holiday season special! For more information, email RIYouthCenter@rioc.ny.gov.

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