Rosie The Roosevelt Island Wild Turkey Joins Other Residents Morning Slog On Way For Their Tram Or Subway Commute To Work And A Roosevelt Island Cooper Hawk Is Watching You

Roosevelt Island social media reports on our wildlife neighbors.

Rosie The Roosevelt Island Turkey joining other residents on morning walk for their Tram or Subway commute https://t.co/OMAfaJbonG

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) March 27, 2025

Amy Namdar shares a photo of a Cooper Hawk resting on a Roosevelt Island balcony yesterday morning.

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It's probably best if Rosie and the Cooper Hawk never meet.

Heavy NYPD & FDNY Presence At Roosevelt Island Riverwalk Park Affordable Housing Building This Morning For Emotionally Disturbed Person Barricaded In Her Apartment - Residents Very Concerned About Longstanding Building Safety And Security Problems

There was a large NYPD and FDNY response this morning to an incident at the Roosevelt Island 460 Main Street Riverwalk Park affordable housing building including officers from the 114 precinct, the Emergency Services Unit (ESU), Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU) and the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department.

Tipsters reported a woman wielding a hammer or pipe barricaded herself in a 6th floor apartment and smoke was smelled in the hallway. After several hours the woman was taken away on a stretcher by FDNY. 

Riverwalk Park management sent an email notice to residents saying this was an isolated incident. 

According to many residents, this was not an isolated incident but only one example of many longstanding problem incidents at the building.

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Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Communications &  Community Affairs Director Bryant Daniels reports:

At 7:21AM, PSD responded to a report of an individual experiencing a mental health issue at 460 Main Street. Upon arrival, PSD requested assistance from the NYPD, who responded to the scene and corrected the situation. DCPI can provide additional information as needed.

As Chief Brown has consistently stated over the past two years, Roosevelt Island is not immune to the mental health crisis affecting our city. PSD will continue to work with the residents of 460 Main Street to support the building in providing compassionate care to those in need.

A NYPD spokesperson added:

An emotionally disturbed woman was taken to the hospital. There were no injuries reported.

Residents of Riverwalk Park spoke about their issues of concern during the March 11, 2025 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Community Engagement meeting with RIOC Public Safety Chief Kevin Brown. According to residents:

... three things that we are very concerned about still to this day is the safety, security and cleanliness of the building. We have a very very serious problem in this building...

and: 

... some of the biggest issues is the domestic violence in the building. and we've had several people who have been attacked, assaults. My understanding is that at least one of the two is still in the courts, this is 4 years later...

I asked Riverwalk Park management for:

... comment on this incident today and the longstanding safety and security problems described by residents?

Riverwalk Park Management asked for additional time to answer. I will update story with their response.

You Can Petition City Hall, NYC DOE And Win, Roosevelt Island Parents Obtain 15 Additional Early Childhood 3K Seats For Roosevelt Island Day Nursery - What's Next?

Last January, a group of Roosevelt Island parents began organizing and lobbying to increase the number of early childhood 3 K seats allocated to Roosevelt Island. Roosevelt Island parents Sunny & Tanya Singh explained the importance of increasing the number of Pre K seats located on Roosevelt Island. According to the Singh's:

We moved to Roosevelt Island in 2022 in hopes to settle in this beautiful lush green neighborhood and raise our future child here. While researching the best places in New York City to start a family, we strongly leaned towards Roosevelt Island with the abundance of child friendly spaces, activities, playgrounds, a large school, and daycare centers that we saw during our walks.

Unbeknownst to us, 3k facilities on the island could not accommodate more than 30 children in total. There are at least one hundred local little Roosevelt Islanders that need access to the 3k program. Yet, we are being forced to commute with the most vulnerable little toddlers miles away to find appropriate schooling options elsewhere. I wish we had known about the 3k seats shortage prior to settling on the island and becoming permanent residents here.

Most of the children in each age group know each other and it would be great to let our children play together and stay in the safe environment in their own neighborhood instead of dragging them to separate inaccessible 3k facilities off of the island....

Image Of Roosevelt Island 3K Parents And Students Leaving RIDN

Last February 5, I sent the following inquiry to the NYC Department of Education (DOE): 

According to Roosevelt Island parents and the Roosevelt Island Day Nursery (RIDN), there are dozens, if not more, of Roosevelt Island parents seeking 3 K program seats for their children located on Roosevelt Island and have been put on a waiting list.  I'm told approximately 100 children are on waiting list to attend a 3K program on Roosevelt Island. 

RIDN has been allocated one 3K class of 15 students and three classes for Pre K of 16 seats each. RIDN has requested that one of the Pre K seats be switched to a 3K seat so that there are 2 classes each of 3K and Pre K. Also, I understand that PS/IS 217 on Roosevelt Island is also allocated three Pre K classes and one 3K...

... Is it possible to switch one of the RIDN Pre K classes to 3 K in order to accomodate more Roosevelt Island children in the 3K program?...

A DOE spokesperson replied:

... Seat allocations for 3-K and Pre-K programs are determined based on multiple factors, including utilization trends, demand, and funding. We continue to assess capacity needs and look forward to exploring opportunities to engage with the community on updated needs....

I asked the DOE today:

I’m following up on the request by Roosevelt Island parents for an additional 3K class.

I’m told that the DOE has agreed to an additional 3 k class being allocated to the Roosevelt Island Day Nursery for the upcoming year.

Is that true?

Any statement from DOE on the matter?

DOE Associate Press Secretary Dominique Ellison answered:

We can confirm the additional 3K class allocation to the Roosevelt Island Day Nursery for the upcoming school year (SY25-26). This cost-neutral swap will adjust the current seat allocation from 15 3K seats and 48 pre-K seats to a balanced offering of 30 3K and 30 pre-K seats. Our primary concern is continuing high-quality education services, and this seat swap provides a consistent and uninterrupted learning environment for Roosevelt Island families.

Roosevelt Island parents described their efforts to bring more 3K and Pre K seats to Roosevelt Island during the March 3 Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island Committee meeting.

Great job by these parents demonstrating that people can organize, petition and improve our Roosevelt Island community.

What's next?

UPDATE 9:40 PM - Maybe not a win for everybody. Another Roosevelt Island parent raises this concern:

As a parent of a 2 year old, this is great news but unfortunately the island has lost an entire PreK class. So this is still a bit worrisome for families on the island who may now need to go off island for PreK and a new building opening - it’s too bad that the 3K could not have just been additional and not a swap.

You're Invited To Attend NYC Open Data Workshops At Cornell Tech Wednesday March 26 - Learn The Fundamentals Of Using NYC Open Data To Help Improve Delivery Of City Services

As part of Open Data Week 2025, Cornell Tech is hosting 2 workshops Wednesday March 26 on the subject. You're invited to attend the workshops to learn the fundamentals of using NYC Open Data. 

According to the NYC Open Data website:

Did you know there is free data about nearly every aspect of our city? Come learn how to use it with the NYC Open Data Ambassadors! Join us for an in-person workshop hosted at Cornell Tech where you’ll learn the fundamentals of using NYC Open Data. This event is part of an Open Data Week series hosted by Cornell Tech— learn more below.

You will gain an understanding of:

• What NYC Open Data is!
• How to find specific datasets
• How to filter a dataset
• How to visualize data in charts and graphs
• Tools and Applications of Open Data
• How to stay involved

Who should attend?

• Anyone! No experience is necessary.
• Roosevelt Island Community Members
• Educators & Students
• Librarians & Non-Profit Professionals
• Local Organizers & Decision-Makers
• City Planners and Mappers

The session will be taught by Hebah Emara, a member of NYC’s Open Data Ambassadors, a program that trains volunteers to share Open Data with their fellow New Yorkers. Joining us as a special guest and co-presenter will be NYC’s Chief Analytics Officer, Martha Norrick. The Ambassadors program is a collaboration between NYC Open Data and BetaNYC. To learn more, visit nyc.gov/discoveropendata.

This event is part of an Open Data Week series hosted by Cornell Tech on Wednesday, March 26 from 5-8pm. We’d love for you to join us for both sessions— though it is not required! We’ll kick off at 5:00 pm with a hands-on Discovering NYC Open Data class from the Open Data Ambassadors, where you’ll learn the fundamentals of NYC Open Data. Following that, at 6:30 pm, Cornell Tech researchers and experts will discuss their real-world applications of open data, during Open Data in Action: Driving Academic Research and Government Collaboration at Cornell Tech. Join us for a post-event happy hour next door at Anything at All!

Sign up here to attend.

Here's an intro to NYC Open Data

 

from BetaNYC.

You Don't Have To Be Jewish To Enjoy Klezmer Music And Yiddish Songs - You're Invited To Free Sunday Afternoon Concert March 23 At Roosevelt Island RIVAA Gallery

Come enjoy an afternoon of Klezmer music at the Roosevelt Island RIVAA Gallery Sunday, March 23.

According to the RIVAA Gallery:

Klezmer is back! The previously postponed Klezmer concert has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 23 at 3 PM.

You don’t have to be Jewish to love Klezmer music, but you do need to bring high spirits and a willingness to sing along to RIVAA’s first Klezmer concert 🎶

Make RIVAA Gallery your Sunday afternoon destination, and familiarize yourself with this lively music. See you on Sunday at RIVAA.

The band consists of long-time Island residents:

Mitch Elinson - Clarinet, Guitar, Vocals

Debra Drucker - Vocals

Martin Garrat - Keyboard

Farisha DeLorenzo - Guitar, Vocals

Entry is free of charge. Donations are welcome.

Time & Location

Mar 23, 2025, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM RIVAA Gallery, 527 Main St, Roosevelt Island

Here's a little bit of Klezmer music  

 from the Klezmatics.

Four Freedoms Park Conservancy Receives $150 Thousand Grant From NY State Parks For Presenting Temporary Social Justice Public Art Initiatives At The Roosevelt Island Park

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NY Parks) announced March 19:

...22 not-for-profit groups across the state will receive $1.7 million in grants to support the stewardship of state parks, trails, historic sites, and other public lands through the Park and Trail Partnership Grants program. The grants support public private partnerships for maintenance and beautification projects as well as educational programming and special events.

The Park and Trail Partnership Grants program is funded through the state Environmental Protection Fund. Grants are administered in partnership with the not-for-profit advocacy group Parks & Trails New York and the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.

This tenth round of awards will be matched by more than $500,000 in private funds, exceeding the 10% recipients are required to raise. With record-breaking visitation to state parks and historic sites, these public-private partnerships are invaluable to the increasingly popular public lands and the staff who oversee them.

The Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park was one of the groups receiving a grant.

According to NY Parks, Four Freedoms Park Conservancy received:

... ($150,000) for a juried public art commission program that invites artists to create site-specific works that establish a dialogue between the artist's practice, Louis Kahn's architecture, the ideals of the Four Freedoms, and visitors to FDR Four Freedoms State Park.

The Park and Trail Partnership Grant program, administered by @PTNY has awarded $1.7 million to 22 not-for-profit Friends groups across the state! Learn about the projects coming to your community through this program. https://t.co/zRoVDhYN0L pic.twitter.com/rR2wduaYgy

— NY State Parks (@NYstateparks) March 21, 2025

Four Freedoms Park Conservancy Chief Executive Office Howard Axel adds: 

Four Freedoms Park Conservancy is honored to receive a $150,000 matching grant from the Environmental Protection Fund’s Park and Trail Partnership Grants program, recently announced by the Governor. This support will help us launch and sustain a more formalized annual temporary public art initiative at FDR Four Freedoms State Park.

In recent years, we’ve collaborated with artists including Setsuko Winchester, whose Yellow Bowl Project reflected on the fragility of civil liberties; Shaun Leonardo, whose Between Four Freedoms explored the gap between ideals and lived realities; and Mata Ruda, whose large-scale installation addressed themes of immigration and belonging. Each project has invited visitors to reflect on the Four Freedoms President Roosevelt articulated in 1941: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

This grant enables us to build a more articulated and inclusive process for selecting and presenting future works, supporting artists who work at the intersection of social justice and public art to reinforce the Park’s role as a platform for civic dialogue and artistic expression.

Howard Axel, CEO , Four Freedoms Park Conservancy

Here's a reminder of the Yellow Bowl Project installation at Four Freedoms Park 

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and my 2019 interview at Four Freedoms Park with the artist Setsuko Winchester.

Also, more on the Shaun Leonardo Between Four Freedoms

"Between Four Freedoms" is up for 10 more days! Head to FDR Four Freedoms Park to experience the interactive exhibit! pic.twitter.com/v9GOmDx6Cy

— Four Freedoms Park Conservancy (@4FreedomsPark) November 5, 2021

and Mata Ruda's This Land Is Our Land exhibition.

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More info available at the 

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Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park website.

You're Invited To Music By Living African American Composers Performed By Roosevelt Island Concerts Friday, March 21 At Good Shepherd - Music By Wynton Marsalis, Curtis Stewart & Margaret Evan Bonds

According to Roosevelt Island Concerts:

To our beloved Roosevelt Island Concerts supporters,

We are delighted to invite you to our concert tomorrow, Music by Living African American Composers, on Friday, March 21, at 7:30pm, at Good Shepherd Center, 543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NY. This is the first concert in our series Underrepresented Voices, which is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

This concert will feature Wynton Marsalis’ String Quartet, At the Octoroon Balls (1995) which explores American Creole contradictions and compromises— cultural, social, and political— exemplified by life in New Orleans. Along with moments from this work, we will play Curtis Stewart’s The Gilded Cage, a quintet for piano and strings that has its roots in jazz, written in 2023. Stewart describes this piece as “a reflection and meditation on the histories of my family and community.” Here’s a link to Stewart's composition Ye, Who Seek the Truth

The program will also include a solo piano piece Troubled Water (1967), by Margaret Evan Bonds, based on the spiritual “Wade in the Water.” Bonds was the first African American to solo with a major American orchestra and was a lifelong friend and collaborator of poet Langston Hughes. The performers include Yi-heng Yang on piano, Salley Koo and Ralph Allen on violins, Lisa Matricardi on viola, and Iris Jortner on cello.

Suggested donation is $25, $10 for seniors and students.

And as a reminder, our fundraising campaign to match the $20,000 NEA grant for RI Concerts’ 2025 series Underrepresented Voices has begun. DONATE TODAY. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Thank you for joining us in keeping music alive and well in NYC and Roosevelt Island!

Warmly, Yi-heng, Iris, Ralph, Benjamin, and Marc

Your Roosevelt Island Concerts team

Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation Celebrates Purim With Worship Service, Holiday Fun Performing "Will The Shusan Island Chiefs Win The Super Bowl" Purimschpiel Play, Singing, Dancing And Delicious Hamantaschen Fruit Pastry

Janet Falk reports on the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation (RIJC) Purim celebration last Thursday evening. According to Ms. Falk:

Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation Presented Will the Shushan Island Chiefs Win the Super Bowl?

Purim, a joyous and comedic holiday celebration, filled with fun and parody based on the Biblical story of Esther, was celebrated by the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation (RIJC) on Thursday night, March 13, with more than 50 people participating in a full evening of activities for all ages.

The evening began with a pizza and salad dinner, organized by Nina Lublin, Michal Melamed, Amber Seligson Levanon, Laurie Stull and Annica Stull-Lane. Cantor Sarah Myerson led the worship service. It included the reading of the megillah or traditional scroll, which recounts the story of the holiday, marking the survival of the Jewish people at a time of a threatened massacre. She was assisted by multiple readers in Hebrew, English, Spanish and Hungarian: Keren Bachi, Susan Berks-Seligson, Ben Fhala, Dvir Koenigstein, Gad Levanon, Anna Levenstein, Michal Melamed, Laura Palermo, Charlie Schwartz, Eden Shaveet and Uri Shusterman.

The reading was interrupted by children and adults wielding graggers to blot out the recitation of Haman, the name of the man who purportedly attempted to destroy the Jews. Led by Cantor Myerson playing the ukelele, the congregation joined in singing songs in Hebrew, English, Yiddish and Ladino about the holiday.

The evening included a Purimschpiel, or play based on this narrative. Written by Mickey Rindler and directed by Janet Falk, Will the Shushan Island Chiefs Win the Super Bowl? drew inspiration from contemporary themes of professional football, Artificial Intelligence and Taylor Swift. It also wove aspects of the current political scene and references to Roosevelt Island.

The cast featured Janet Falk, Michal Melamed, Mickey Rindler, Charlie Schwartz and Annica Stull-Lane as well as children of the RIJC Hebrew School and community.

The audience joined in singing new lyrics to songs by Taylor Swift, I Knew You Were Trouble and Shake It Off. The Purimschpiel's broad humor and political-themed puns, plus references to Roosevelt Island affairs, drew laughter, groans and cheers from the audience, who applauded enthusiastically.

The evening concluded with refreshments and delicious Hamantaschen , a triangular holiday fruit pastry treat, donated by the Levanon-Seligson family, which has become an annual tradition.

Mishloach Manot holiday gifts were prepared and donated by RIJC friends and neighbors.

For more information about the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation, which is the oldest, active egalitarian congregation on the Island, please visit www.rijc.org or email RIJC President Nina Lublin at ninalublin1@gmail.com. The next Shabbat worship service is Friday, March 28 at the Cultural Center, 548 Main Street.

Researchers At Cornell Tech People Aware Computing Lab Recruiting Roosevelt Island Participants For The Calming Moments Study Using iPhone + Apple Watch For Personalized And Unobtrusive Anxiety Intervention

Yiran Zhao is a PHD Researcher at the Cornell Tech People Aware Computing Lab which:

... develops mobile sensing systems for capturing, learning, and interpreting people's context, activities and social networks. We are building applications that improve people's well-being and quality of life.

The People Aware Computing Lab is seeking volunteers for their Calming Moments Study:

... to understand how well does the subtle vibration on the wrist can help with anxiety in-the-moment.

The study will be one-week long. During the week, participants will wear a heart rate monitor throughout the day. The anxiety intervention will be delivered at random times throughout the day. After the intervention and at the end of each day, participants will fill in a short questionnaire....

According to Yiran Zhao:

Do you experience anxiety? The researchers at Cornell University are looking for participants to try out a novel, personalized, and unobtrusive anxiety intervention. This intervention detects when you might experience anxiety and delivers a subtle vibration to calm you down.

We are looking for people who:

• Live in the United States and are fluent in English
• Between 18-65 years old
• Have internet access
• Use iPhone + Apple Watch

Participants will use the intervention application for a week. Participants will also wear a heart rate monitoring band that will be provided by the researcher.

 Participants can be compensated up to $175.

If you have any questions, please contact the research team at yiran.zhao@info.cornell.edu.

We are recruiting now until the beginning of April. If you are interested, please use this link for more information and sign up.  

Click here to learn more about the Cornell Tech Calming Moments Study and for the sign up form.

You're Invited To Coler Hospital Open Doors Reality Poets Wheeling And Healing 2 Book Release Party Thursday March 20 At RIVAA Gallery - Also, Watch Video From Last Week's Roosevelt Island Open Doors Nursing Home Lives Matter Vigil

Our Roosevelt Island neighbors at the Coler Rehab & Nursing Facility, the Open Doors Reality Poets are:

... an artist collective of current and former residents of a long-term care facility on Roosevelt Island in NYC. Guided by the Reality Poets’ lived experience and vision, our work focuses on disability justice, community building and gun violence prevention...

According to Open Door Associate Director Alex Eshelman:

Good afternoon OPEN DOORS Family,

I hope you all had a great weekend. Thank you to everyone who came to our Nursing Home Lives Matter Vigil last week. Anyone who was unable to make it can view the recording here on our YouTube channel.

It’s important for us to come together and celebrate life despite all that we’ve lost, so thanks for being with us.

Another event, join us this Thursday March 20th, 6pm EST at the RIVAA Gallery on Roosevelt Island for the Wheeling and Healing 2: Holding the Mic in the Middle of the Storm book release party. 

It’s been a year and a half since we started work on this project, and we are extremely proud to finally present it to you all. Get your copy of the book, see live poetry, and remember– it’s a party, so come ready to have a good time! We look forward to seeing you all, have a good evening.

RIVAA Gallery (527 Main Street) adds:

OPEN DOORS’ long awaited poetry anthology is here! Wheeling and Healing 2: Holding the Mic in the Middle of the Storm includes writing from friends and allies near and far.

Hosted by renowned slam poet Steven Willis, we bring to you a night of poetry sharing featuring many of the talented poets who contributed to this anthology. Join us for a special book release party on Thursday, March 20th at 6 PM at RIVAA Gallery. All are welcome!

Roosevelt Landings Main Street Facade Work, Update On Roadways Status And Discussion Of Upcoming Roosevelt Island Projects On Agenda For March 17 RIOC Real Estate Development Advisory Committee Meeting - Local Officials and Media Informed But No Prior Notice To The Public

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Development Advisory Committee (REDAC) will meet Monday March 17. Among the items on the Agenda is a discussion of the upcoming facade work for the Roosevelt Landing building complex facing Main Street and how that work will impact pedestrian and traffic.

Here's the Agenda attached to an email sent to local officials and local media on March 13, 2025.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. at the RIOC’s Operations Office, 680 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York 10044.

AGENDA:

1. L&M Presentation: Facade and Atrium Work Along Main Street;

2. Update on Roadways’ Status;

3. Discussion of Upcoming Projects; and

4. Any Other Committee Business That May Be Brought Before the Committee.

As of Sunday March 16, there is no community notice announcement of the REDAC meeting 

on RIOC"s website.

UPDATE 3/17 - RIOC sent out a public notice today about 10 AM.

Celebrate March 17 St Patrick's Day All Weekend At Roosevelt Island's Granny Annie's, Nisi Kitchen And Panorama Room Rooftop Cocktail Bar - Enjoy The Food, Music & Drink

You can celebrate St Patrick's Day all weekend long and enjoy the holiday drink, food and music while staying local on Roosevelt Island.

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The Reuben Egg Rolls at Nisi Kitchen look pretty good to me.

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Enjoy a a St Patrick Day cocktail and the view from the Panorama Room at the Graduate Hotel too.

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Here's a brief history of St Patrick's Day

and a reminder from the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem of a time when:

We Want No Irish Here.

Enjoy The Irish Rover from The Dubliners and The Pogues.

and some Dropkick Murphy's.

You can stream the Dropkick Murphy's St Patrick's Day concert from Boston too.