You're Invited To Roosevelt Island Pride Month Safe Space Art Exhibit Opening Reception Celebration At RIVAA Gallery Saturday June 1 And RIOC Pride Flag Raising Ceremony Monday June 3

The Roosevelt Island RIVAA Gallery invites you to the Saturday June 1 Safe Space Art Exhibit opening reception.

According to RIVAA Gallery:

You're invited to the Safe Space Art Exhibit: Celebrating Our LGBTQ+ Community at RIVAA Gallery from May 30 to June 16. Join us for the group art show and for a series of special events honoring diversity, creativity, and the vibrant spirit of our LGBTQ+ community.

Explore a vibrant collection of artworks that celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, their stories, and their journey. From powerful portraits to stunning abstracts, every piece is a testament to love, acceptance, and pride.

Events:

Opening Reception: Saturday, June 1, 5:00 - 8:00 PM at RIVAA Gallery

Classical Music Concert: Sunday, June 2, 3:00 - 4:30 PM at RIVAA Gallery

RIOC Pride Flag Raising: Monday, June 3, 11:00 AM at the traffic circle in front of Blackwell House

Dance Performance + Poetry: Sunday, June 9, 3:00 - 4:30 PM at RIVAA Gallery

Closing Reception: Sunday, June 16, 5:00 - 8:00 PM at RIVAA Gallery

Location: RIVAA Gallery, 527 Main St, Roosevelt Island, NY

We look forward to celebrating with you!

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) adds:

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

To mark Pride Month, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation will once again host its second annual Pride Flag Raising Ceremony this coming Monday, June 3rd at 11AM in front of Blackwell House (500 Main Street). The RIOC leadership team will be joined by members of the Roosevelt Island LGBTQIA+ community to raise the Pride flag in celebration of island inclusivity, tolerance and love.

This special event is free and open to all members of the community.

We hope to see you there!

-RIOC Communications

Here's how Pride Month was celebrated last year at RIVAA Gallery

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and at the RIOC Pride Flag Ceremony.

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Thom Heyer reported about last year's Roosevelt Island Pride Flag raising:

Sometimes it's the unscripted moments that are the most unexpected and the most meaningful! That's what it was like on Friday 6/16/23 when RIOC had its PRIDE flag raising and Proclamation of June as PRIDE Month on Roosevelt Island.

The usual niceties and honors were generously bestowed by RIOC President Shelton Haynes. Penny Gold and I were even invited to say a few words because of our efforts in creating an upcoming PRIDE exhibit at RIVAA this year.

It seems we had unintentionally become the LGBTQ+ Reps on Roosevelt Island! And then the REAL moment happened...

RIOC Public Safety Department (PSD) Inspector Suarez came up to the podium to say a few words. She has been an officer at PSD for 30 years and is now among their highest ranking officers. She told us that when she first started at PSD, there were two other gay women there besides herself. All three acknowledged one another, but remained somewhat distanced from one another, lest the merest "taint" of being Gay be whispered around work. She remained closeted at work for ten years.

Then one day her boss took her aside privately and said that she should feel free to live her life openly because "he had her back".

As she told her story, tears filled her eyes and there wasn't a dry eye in the crowd! Inspector Suarez is married to a wonderful wife of 22 years. She is a mother and a grandmother..... She was also that unexpected gift to our LGBTQ+ community and the entire Roosevelt Island community that day! Here's to you, Inspector Suarez--CHEERS!

Eileen Fisher Free Renew, Reuse And Rewear Women's Clothing Giveaway At Roosevelt Island Carter Burden Older Adult Center Saturday June 1 - Over 75 Thousand Eileen Fischer Garments Were Donated To Non Profits And Given Away Last Year

The Carter Burden Network Roosevelt Island Older Adult Center (546 Main Street) is hosting their semi-annual Renew, Reuse and Rewear Clothing Giveaway of Eileen Fisher women's clothing on Saturday June 1. According to the Carter Burden Network Roosevelt Island Older Adult Center:

Join us for the semi-annual Eileen Fisher clothing giveaway and have a chance to get your favorite clothing item for free.

Here's more on the Eileen Fischer Renew Program. In 2023, over 75 thousand Eileen Fischer garments were donated to non profit organizations to be given away.

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Sponsored Post - Summer 2024 Is Almost Here, Your Kids Will Shine At Advantage Day Camps, Perfect For All Ages At The Roosevelt Island Racquet Club - Enroll Today For A Summer Fun Of Tennis, Robotics, STEAM Programs, Chess, Sports, Swimming, Nature & More

SUMMER 2024 is almost here! 

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The Fire Is Still Burning, An Evening Of Songs And Stories By Matt Katz Friday May 31 At Roosevelt Island's Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance - Get Your Tickets Now To Benefit MST&DA Scholarship Fund

The Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MST&DA) is presenting:

The Fire Is Still Burning: An Evening Of Songs And Stories 

by Roosevelt Island resident Matt Katz on Friday May 31 at the Howe Theatre (548 Main Street)

According to MST&DA:

Matt loves a good song: folk, rock, blues, you name it. Some are by poets, like Paul Simon or Cat Stevens, who know how to make a point or paint an image. Some are by satirists, like Tom Lehrer, who know how to skewer the self-important. And some are just there for the beauty of it. All the songs tell a story and Matt will be with us to deliver that story. Come join Matt for an evening of music, stories, and celebration.

Special guest appearance by Sherie Helstien.

The Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance has offered music, theatre and dance training along with performance opportunities for all ages for over 35 years in the Roosevelt Island community. Our Mission - MSTDA nourishes creativity by providing high quality music, theatrical and dance training as well as performing opportunities to everyone in our diverse community. We offer every person, child or adult, the opportunity to participate in the arts without discrimination due to race, color, national origin, sex including gender and orientation, cultural background, socio-economic status, age, ability, or disability. With a robust scholarship program no one is turned away for financial reasons.

Tickets are $10, children $5 (benefitting the MSTDA Scholarship Fund). 

Click here

to purchase tickets.

An Act Of Kindness At Roosevelt Island Subway Platform Saves An Anniversary Theatre Celebration For Local Couple - Appreciative Resident Says Thank You To Irene

Good people are all around us and Roosevelt Island resident Stephen Quandt wishes to say thank you for one resident's act of kindness. According to Mr Quandt:

On our recent anniversary (May 18) my husband Thom and I were on our way to Merrily We Roll Along. We were sitting on a subway bench waiting for the F train and I had taken my glasses off to read something on my phone.

As the train pulled in I realized my glasses had disappeared!! Total panic as I search my pockets, under the bench, and Thom, holding the subway door yelling "You have them somewhere GET ON THE TRAIN!" We get on, I get off, I get back on, doors close and then as the train starts pulling out a woman ON THE PLATFORM is holding them for me to see. 30 Minutes to curtain. Thom says she will turn them into the booth and says I should watch the show without glasses! Instead I get off at the next stop, blind, wait 10 minutes for a train, arriving back at our starting point, 15 (?) minutes to curtain. I went to the other side of the track, and walked to the bench. Maybe she left them for me. Nothing. I start walking to the station booth to see if she turned them in, resigned to missing the start of the show, maybe even Act 1, and that's if I even find them.

Then I see a blurry woman walking towards me. She's holding my glasses. I said to her, "Oh my God, you waited for me." And she smiled and nodded. I explained what the evening was all about, asked her name (Irene), gave her a business card and asked her to text me. Then she left. She was clearly an island resident.

After another agonizing wait (5+ minutes to curtain) I got on the next train. An eternity later I walked into the theater, 5 minutes after curtain time and sat down (aisle seats) next to my dear, loving husband of 11 years married, 31 together while the overture was finishing up. I haven't heard from Irene. Irene, I hope you’re reading this. THANK YOU!

ps- The show was great!

Let's celebrate Good People with Great Big Sea.

On Memorial Day, We Honor Men And Woman Of US Military Who Died Protecting Our Freedoms And Serving Our Country - Taps From West Point, Wreath Laying At Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier, Observance At Arlington National Ceremony And History Of Memorial Day

Please take some time today on Memorial Day to honor the men and women of the United States Military who died while serving our country as well as their families.

According to History.com:

Memorial Day, which falls on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while serving in the American military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, at least, it marks the beginning of summer...

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves...

Since America's founding, our service members have laid down their lives for an idea unlike any other: the idea of the United States.

Today, as generations of heroes lie in eternal peace, we live by the light of liberty they kept burning.

May God bless them, always. pic.twitter.com/A3d4fnVaTG

— President Biden (@POTUS) May 27, 2024

President Biden joins the Memorial Day wreath laying ceremony today at the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier

and the observance at Arlington National Cemetary.

Memorial Day was observed in NYC today too.

We commemorate the Upper East Siders, Yorkville residents, and Roosevelt Islanders who have lost their lives defending our country. #memorialday pic.twitter.com/mUsFtpHb0n

— Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright (@SeawrightForNY) May 27, 2024

Sponsored Post - Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Café Closed Monday May 27 For Memorial Day, Check Out The Weekly Menu For Hot Korean Chicken Specialty Sandwich Of The Week, Breakfast, Lunch, Salad Bar, Coffee, Smoothies, Wifi For Your Laptop & Much More - How Are We Doing? Send Your Feedback By Email Too

The Cafè at Cornell Tech is closed Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day and will reopen Tuesday May 28.

Check out the May 28 weekly menu at the Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Café.

We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us with any questions or concerns. Thank you for taking the time to let us know how we are doing. Any feedback can be emailed to thecafe-fbservices@tech.cornell.edu

The Cornell Tech Café is a great spot on Roosevelt Island   

for breakfast, Daily Hot Lunch Meals,  

Specialty & Grab and Go Sandwiches, Make Your Own Salads, Flatbread and Neapolitan Pizza, Salads, Soup, Coffee, Smoothies,

 beer, wine,

Sushi Thursday

and more.

Bring your laptop if you wish. The Cafe has very good wi-fi connection  

and very relaxing outdoor patios.

The Cafe is open Monday (except Memorial Day) thru Friday 8am to 7 pm. Saturday and Sundays 11am to 5pm.

More info at the Cornell Tech Café website and Instagram Page.

See you soon at the Cornell Tech Café.

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine Says With Congestion Pricing Coming Soon It's Time For NYC To Implement Residential Parking Permits - RIOC Says Residential Parking Permits "On Our Radar" And Will Be "Discussing Issue In Future"

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine is calling for New York City to implement residential parking permits.

Other cities have solved this problem long ago. It's time for NYC to implement residential parking permits.https://t.co/KKcGMz2tLq

— Office of Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine (@MBPMarkLevine) May 17, 2024

According to Borough President Levine's May 17, 2024 NY Daily News article:

... Neighborhoods like Inwood, Washington Heights, and Harlem face unique parking challenges. Their proximity to major bridges and highways makes them prime targets for commuters seeking free parking. They dump their cars on the street for free, jumping on the subway for destinations in the Manhattan core. 

As a result, residents who own cars often compete for spots with drivers from out-of-state neighboring areas, leading to frustration and inequity. This frustration is not just an inconvenience; it disrupts daily life, increasing tension among local residents who need access to convenient parking near their homes. 

The upcoming implementation of congestion pricing could exacerbate this issue. As drivers seek to avoid the congestion fee by parking outside the designated zone south of 60th St., some neighborhoods could become even more saturated with out-of-state vehicles. This could further strain communities already saturated with congestion, making it harder for residents to find parking and access their homes conveniently....

... why hasn’t this program been implemented yet in New York City? Like so much else, this is a case in which we can’t make local policy without permission from the state government.

Albany has shown again and again that they don’t have a problem with residential parking permits. After all, they have authorized them in cities and towns all over the state — from Buffalo to Albany to New Rochelle. But New York City has, so far, not even been given the option. It’s time for this to change.

State authorization would only be the beginning of the process for us. The City Council would then have to pass legislation to establish a program, setting out the rules, pricing, and mechanism for enforcement....

Click here for the full article.

Last Monday, May 21, I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Communcations Director Bryant Daniels:

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine has called for a residential parking permit for residents of Manhattan neighborhoods.

What is the view of RIOC about implementing a residential parking permit for Roosevelt Island.

Does RIOC have the authority to implement a residential parking permit system?

Can this be discussed at tomorrow's REDAC meeting?

RIOC Deputy General Counsel and interim leadership team member Gerrald Ellis replied:

I think it’s safe to say that we anticipate that we will be discussing this issue in future committee meetings and community advisory groups.

RIOC Board Director Ben Fhala added:

... While we are not yet ready with news on this particular topic, it has been on our radar for the last few months and is currently under review by the team....

During the June 13, 2023 RIOC Public Safety Department (PSD) Community Engagement meeting, residents discussed Roosevelt Island parking problems with PSD Chief Kevin Brown.  

According to a resident speaking at the meeting:

... parking is getting worse and worse every week on Roosevelt Island. Every spot on every street is taken... 

and once Manhattan congestion pricing is implemented, Roosevelt Island parking will be even a greater problem than it is now.

Among the ideas discussed were limiting street parking spots to holders of permit stickers issued by RIOC.

Here's the discussion.

and a March 5, 2024 WNYC radio report on NYC residential parking permit issue.

Passion To Create A Happier World For Cats And The Humans Who Love Them Sparked Idea For First Children's Book By Author And Roosevelt Island Resident Stephen Quandt - Follow The Adventures Of Happy Comes Home

Roosevelt Island resident Stephen Quandt works as a nationally recognized, certified feline training and behavior specialist, based in New York City with his company Stephen Quandt Feline Behavior Associates. 

Mr Quandt is now a recently published children's book author of Happy Comes Home.

According to Mr Quandt:

I started working with cats and clients in 2002, and in time began working for the ASPCA. I now work at one of the largest open admission shelters in the country, the Animal Care Centers of NYC. My passion is to create a happier world for cats and the humans who love them, and this passion sparked an idea for my first children’s book; Happy Comes Home. My husband Thom illustrated the book and we wrote it as a way of connecting with people, children and their families who either want to get a cat, or maybe have a cat who has some behavior challenges, or just love a great feel-good story about a cat!

Photo Credit Linda Becker

The premise is we have a family: mom, dad and their child Avery who all want a cat (Avery very much wants a cat!) and they go to a shelter and find a sweet looking cat whom they name ‘Happy’. They adopt Happy and bring this wonderful cat home imagining all the great things Happy would do, like stretch out on the sofa purring, sleep at the foot of Avery’s bed, and eat yummy food while the family ate their dinner. But when they got Happy home, it was a “cat-tastrophy!” Happy scratched up the sofa, stole the family’s dinner and woke the parents up in the wee hours of the night. The parents wanted to return Happy but Happy was Avery's best friend, so something had to be done.

The family did some online research and found a certified ‘Catsultant’ named Mr. Top Cat who coincidentally resembles a feline version of myself. Mr. Top Cat appears at the door to help set things right. And what follows are a series of easy to take in teachable moments that help guide the family and Happy so that everyone can be the happiest versions of themselves. Mind you, Happy has always been a super happy cat, just a cat without manners!

Thus begins the adventures of a cat, a child, and a family trying to find the happiness so many of us seek with our feline friends. Would Happy be allowed to stay? Would Happy settle down? The answers lie in the bond between Happy and Avery, and the common sense behavior tools that Mr. Top Cat brings to the family using his deep understanding of the nature of cats.

You can purchase Happy Comes Home at Amazon.

Learn more about Mr Quandt at his website.

Also, Mr Quandt shares his experiences Helping The Dogs Of Chernobyl at this prior post.

Watch Video Of Last Night's Roosevelt Island Public Safety Community Engagement Meeting With Residents Discussing Variety Of Local Issues - NYPD Narcotics Search Warrant/Arrest/ Main Street Traffic Safety, Sidewalk Marijuana Smoking, Unleashed Dogs On Ballfields, Duane Reade Shoplifting & More

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department (PSD) hosted a Community engagement meeting last evening, May 21. RIOC PSD Chief Kevin Brown and Communications Department Director Bryant Daniels spoke with and answered questions from about a dozen Roosevelt Island residents at the Good Shepherd Community Center.

Chief Brown emphasized the low level of crime on Roosevelt Island but acknowledged there are instances of domestic violence and incidents related to mental illness. 

Among the issues discussed were:

• Petit larcenies (shoplifting) at Duane Reade have decreased from 46 at this time last year to eight this year. Chief Brown attributes the decrease to having a PSD officer stationed  in Southtown near the Duane Reade,
• Main Street traffic safety - cars, motorcycles, bicycles, delivery drivers, (average 800 parking summons a month and 20-25 moving summons)
• NYPD Narcotics Officer executed a Search Warrant and arrested a juvenile at 460 Main Street,
• Dogs running unleased on ballfields chasing children and adults,
• PSD giving tickets and towing cars from private building driveways,
• Decrease in quality of life caused by outdoor marijuana smoking and loitering in front of Roosevelt Landings. Chief Brown replied that it is legal to smoke marijuana outdoors and there is nothing PSD can do about it. 
• Deputy Chief Anthony Amoroso met with local girl scout troop to learn personal safety skills.

Here's the full video of the May 21 RIOC PSD Community Engagement meeting.

Turn on the subtitiles/closed captions if you're having trouble hearing what is being said.

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