A Funny Roosevelt Island Christmas Moment - Resident Spots The Red Bus Driving By On Pennsylvania Highway, What's Going On?

Roosevelt Island resident Amanda Talmadge Sadlier reported on Christmas Day:

Happy Holidays.

Funny Christmas moment: Just saw a Roosevelt Island Red Bus 50 miles East of the Ohio border heading East on I-80.

Any ideas!?! Lol. Our whole car saw it!

 I replied:

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family too. It may be one of the new Red Buses on order that is scheduled to be delivered in January. Maybe out for a test ride? Did you get a photo by any chance?

Ms Sadlier answered:

Lol. That's what we were wondering. No photo because we were driving the other way...I wonder where they are ordered from??? Because it was so far away and surprised that a test run would be happening on Christmas morning, especially in this part of the country that would almost all be celebrating!

Anyway, thought it was funny and worth sharing!

We can drive it back if they'd like to get it there a few days early!

I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Communications Director Bryant Daniels about the Red Bus spotted on a highway in Ohio.

According to Mr Daniels:

Man, you got eyes everywhere. What they saw were the new buses on the way to the Island from Minnesota, where they were manufactured. Christmas came early and we actually took delivery of them over the Holiday.

We still need to do some work before they hit the road but they are now on the Island.

They still need to be inspected, registered and test driven. I believe we still need to add the GPS tracking.

Here's one of the two new Roosevelt Island Red Buses

home at the RIOC Bus Depot.

RIOC Acting Chief Operating Officer Mary Cunneen provided an update on Red Bus operations during the December 11 RIOC Operations Advisory Committee meeting.

Here's video of Ms Cunneen's presentation.

Mr Daniels reported during this evening's Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island committee meeting that one of the two new Red Buses will be put in service later this week.

Resolution Supporting Priority Roosevelt Island Tram Boarding For Residents/Workers And Roosevelt Island Business Alliance Update On Agenda For Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island Committee Virtual Meeting January 6 - Get Your Stickers Supporting Tram Priority Boarding

You're invited to attend the the Monday January 6 Manhattan Community Board 8 (CB 8) Roosevelt Island Committee meeting via Zoom starting at 6:30 PM.

Here's the full Agenda for tomorrow's CB 8 Roosevelt Island committee meeting.

According to CB 8 Roosevelt Island Committee Chair Paul Krikler:

Please join us for the next CB8RI meeting this coming Monday (1/6) at 630pm on Zoom. In addition to our usual updates (RIOC, Library and Community) we will be joined by Skip Hartman to tell us about The Roosevelt Island Business Alliance (TRBA).

We will also be discussing a resolution regarding priority boarding of the tram (see link to resolution). Resolutions are discussed at Committee first and then taken to the Full Board (Jan 15)

Come and voice your support.

Here is the proposed resolution.

2411 people have signed the Trampled By Tourists, Priority Boarding for Residents and Workers on the Roosevelt Island Tram petition.

Stickers have been created to show support for Roosevelt Island residents and workers Tram Boarding priority.

Supporters are encouraged to:

Stick them around the Tram Station to raise awareness and remind tourists to prioritize locals.

The Stickers are available at Island Discount store (563 Main Street) until tomorrow evening. 

Here's a July 2023 interview with three of the founding Directors of the The Roosevelt Island Business Alliance, Skip Hartman of the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, David Kramer of the Hudson Companies and Frank (Turtle) Raffaele of The Sanctuary. 

Current members of TRIBA are:

Contact Skip Hartman if you're interested in more info about TRIBA.

Click here to attend tomorrow's CB 8 Roosevelt Island committee meeting via zoom.

The Further Adventures Of Rosie,The Roosevelt Island Wild Turkey - Watch Her Sprint To Achieve Takeoff Velocity Flying Up To Her Nightly Roosevelt Island Roosting Tree

The Manhattan Bird Alert and Hanabi have been chronicling the exploits of Rosie the wild turkey since her arrival last May on Roosevelt Island where she has made her home and has become our well liked neighbor.

Yesterday, the Manhattan Bird Alert showed us Rosie flying up to her nightly  Roosevelt Island roosting tree.

Some unusual footage: after a demanding day of Wild Turkey business, Astoria sprints to achieve takeoff velocity and flies up to her nightly roosting tree on Roosevelt Island. 🦃 ❤️ 💤 pic.twitter.com/6iFQfZlcOf

— Manhattan Bird Alert (@BirdCentralPark) January 3, 2025

Rosie was strolling Main Street this afternoon waiting for the RIVAA Gallery to open.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Roosevelt (@rooseveltislander)

At other times, Rosie has been spotted hanging out at the Roosevelt Island Starbucks.

Astoria the Wild Turkey remains a keen observer of goings-on at the local Starbucks from the vantage point of her favorite tree. 🦃 ❤️ ☕ pic.twitter.com/FiFWZusuBf

— Manhattan Bird Alert (@BirdCentralPark) December 31, 2024

Here's more on the adventures of Rosie, the Roosevelt Island wild turkey.

UPDATE 1/4 - Janet Falk adds:

Rosie thinking about what to order at Nisi 12/28/24

Rosie returned to Nisi today 

Rosie strolling Roosevelt Island Main Street on a cold Saturday afternoon and checking our local NISI diner. https://t.co/uTT6T5ic9c pic.twitter.com/TbbGRZgHxZ

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) January 4, 2025

and was checking out the nearby Island House condos.

Great Work For Our Community Being Done By Roosevelt Island Non Profit Organizations - Take A Look Back At 2024 Accomplishments By Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance, iDig2Learn And Haki Compost Collective, Plans For 2025 Too

Roosevelt Island is fortunate to have many local non profit organizations run by residents offering a wide variety of services and programs for our community. Take a look back at what several of them have accomplished in 2024 and plans for 2025.

The Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Main Street Theatre & Dance (@mstda_ri)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Main Street Theatre & Dance (@mstda_ri)

iDig2Learn.  

Haki Compost Collective.

Greetings from Haki,

WOW! In just 13 Saturdays we collected 7,093 pounds of veggie and fruit scraps for the Big Reuse compost program. 2025 kicks off this Saturday, January 4th and yes, the Haki volunteers will be on hand to collect your food scraps in the green bins from 9 am to 2 pm at Motorgate Plaza.

Volunteers welcome!

Please write to find out how you can be part of the Haki Compost Collective - Hakicompost@gmail.com

Corinna & Christina (Volunteers for Haki)

Thank you for all the great work you do for Roosevelt Island!!!!