Roosevelt Island Little League Baseball Registration Still Open For Upcoming 10 Game Season Beginning In April - Volunteer Coaches Needed Too

Roosevelt Island Little League Baseball season is about to begin.

According to the Child Center NYC Roosevelt Island Beacon 217 Little League program:

Good afternoon Roosevelt Island Families,

We are excited to announce that we are still accepting spots for Little League! As of right now, registration is open for T-Ball and Majors divisions. To ensure your child’s spot, please submit all the required documents as soon as possible.

Important Reminders:

• If your child is already enrolled in the Beacon after-school program, you don’t need to submit a new application. Simply email the required documents and complete the survey.
• Registration is in high demand this year, so don’t wait—sign up as soon as possible!

Contact Us:

For questions or concerns, email us at beacon217@childcenterny.org .You’ll receive a confirmation email from the Beacon admin team regarding your child’s acceptance into the Little League program.

We’re looking forward to another exciting, safe, and competitive baseball season. Let’s play ball!

Age Groups:

The league will include two divisions:

• T-Ball (5–6 years)
• Majors (11–15 years)

Note: Beginner 7-year-olds may be placed in T-Ball.

Season Highlights:

The season kicks off with a 10-game schedule beginning on April 5th, with games on Saturdays and 1–2 weeknights. Special events include:

• All-Star Game
• Team Picture Day
• Playoffs & Championship Game
• All-Girls Game to conclude the season

We are committed to recruiting dedicated parents, young professionals, and community leaders as coaches to ensure a meaningful and enriching experience for all players.

Please note: All league event dates are subject to change.

Registration Steps:

1. To register your child, please complete the following steps:
2. Fill out the online registration form at Discover DYCD.
3. Email an updated medical form to beacon217@childcenterny.org.
4. Complete the mandatory survey

Thank you, and we look forward to another exciting Little League season!

Roosevelt Island Little League Commissioner Arya Shirazi adds:

We'll likely have around 175 kids participating... games will be played on Saturday's thru June on Capobianco Field. Here's the League site.

Last year, the Roosevelt Island Little League was selected as the Outstanding Baseball League by the SNY Play Ball organization 

and awarded a grant of $5 Thousand for field maintenance equipment and baseball equipment for the players.  

Commissioner Arya Shirazi accepted the ceremonial check and said:

Here's some play by play from former Coach Danny during the 2023 Roosevelt Island Little League season.

The Roosevelt Island Little League at Capobianco Field is a little bit of heaven on our Roosevelt Island Field Of Dreams.

Play Ball.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kaja Meade (@rooseveltislandrealestate)

The Child Center Of NY At PS/IS 217 After School Reporters Launch Local Roosevelt Island Merchant Interview Series - Meet Roosevelt Pups Pet Store Owner Nema

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Children, Youth & Education Ad Hoc Committee Chair Adib Mansour reports: 

RIRA’s Children, Youth & Education Committee’s mission is to connect the youth of the island with its community while holding us all accountable for the betterment of our environment. I am proud to announce a new initiative that introduces the youth to our vendors, learn about their past, their aspirations, whilst acknowledges and appreciates their dedication to the island’s residents.

The main reason for the project is for the students to understand the intricacies of how each of the businesses are conducted, then contribute echo friendly suggestions that help our community. The students will go beyond knowing what each store sells, what to eat at our restaurants or to looking through the window at the cute dogs. Through this project the students will learn how to be a reporter, interview our vendors, and help fight global warming on a local level. 

The project starts with interviewing Nema, the owner of Roosevelt Pups. The interviewers are 4th graders at the Child Center of New York after-school program located at PS/IS 217. They are: Sadie, Esther, Phuk Anh, Avy, and Aivan. 

The students walked around, payed attention to the diverse animal products sold at Roosevelt Pups and of course, had the chance to pet some puppies. 

Interview of Nema, Owner of ROOSEVELT PUPS 

Sadie: Hello Nema. Thank you for taking the time to show us around Roosevelt Pups and answering some of our questions to help us understand your business. We are very happy that you decided to have a puppy place on Roosevelt Island.

Here are some of the questions we are curious about:

Phuc Anh: Did you always like animals, and did you have any when you were growing up?

Nema: Honestly, not really and yes, I had a rabbit.

Esther: Where did you grow up?

Nema: Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago

Avy: What did you study and does it relate to your business at RI Pups?

Nema: I did study Accounting and yes it does relate because I got to figure my budgets, figure out payroll and expenses. So definitely it relates. Do you know what I mean? As an accountant I'd take this business and figure out how much I need to spend on buying and selling the merchandise, I have to figure out how much do I charge for dogs to be here. I also did Principle of Business which is like being an entrepreneur. That's my goal in life being a business person maybe I can establish more stores, have more growth, maybe I'd have another Roosevelt Pups or Manhattan Pups, maybe in Florida, who knows?

Aivan: Are you enjoying Roosevelt Pups and is the business doing well?

Nema: I love Roosevelt Pups I love dealing with the dogs. I think the dogs feel the same way about me. I am caring compassionate with the animals.

Business' been pretty okay, though it could be better.

Aivan: Follow up question, what would make your business better?

Nema: I think the foot traffic it's low; Roosevelt Island is a small island, different from Manhattan. Foot traffic means more clientele. Maybe more marketing to have more clients coming.

Sadie: What made you open Roosevelt Pups on our Island? Do you live on the island?

Nema: I do not live on the island, I live in Queens. What made me open it here? It's my business partner -his name is Ibrahim- he's the owner of Pup Culture. He is the one who spoke to me about this and that's how I ended here. He knows Roosevelt Island and he is an entrepreneur.

Phuc Anh: Pup Culture's website lists all the locations in New York City but does not mention Roosevelt Island... how come?

Nema: Yeah, you're right. As you now know, we are not Pup Culture anymore we are Roosevelt Pups so if you go on our website you'll see Roosevelt Pups. Again, there's only one Roosevelt Pups. You can find us on Instagram @rooseveltpupsnyc. 

 Avy: On your website, you have a quote “Rated Top Dog Daycare and Voted Best Groomer in New York City”. Would you please tell us why and how does it apply to the store on Roosevelt Island.

Nema: Sure! You know why? We take good care of the dogs here. We are like the best daycare!

What do we do here I don't think a lot of dog daycares in the city do this and I don't think they have the space. On Roosevelt Island it is so beautiful to walk the dogs by the water at least two or three times a day. I don't think they can do that in the city. We offer an excellent groomer. After you clients bring the dogs for grooming, they're always happy! I don't think I ever had a client who was not happy with the grooming job so she's really really great. What ever they want done, she can do it. She is excellent!

Aivan: What services do you offer?

Nema: We offer boarding, daycare , and grooming. By boarding we mean overnight boarding - like if you go away on a vacation you can leave the dog with us we take care of your dog, we feed the dogs; if they're on medication we give them their meds, and they sleep here.

Sadie: Besides these Services you also sell products; can you tell us what is your process to choose what you carry in the store and what are your top sellers?

Nema: So we carry one brand Stella & Chewy which I think honestly, from what I see and that I know of, no dogs refuses this brand; they just love it! Stella & Chewy have something they call Dinner Patties, and it also comes in treats as well as frozen -frozen dinner patties. They are our number one seller and honestly I'll tell you no dog refuses this. We have different flavors: pork, beef, chicken, turkey, and lamb.

Esther: Do you use plastic bags for people to carry their products out of the store?

Nema: Honestly I have paper bags; I do have some plastic bags that I had and sometimes clients will just ask me for one, and I'll be honest but I do give them. But I do have paper bags.

Avy: What would you do if one of the dogs ran out?

Nema: I had that incident twice. If a dog ran out, you never run behind the dog; if you run behind the dog, the dog will keep running. We have like a treat and we just sit and call the dog and the dog comes back. Once I had a dog that got off a leash and the dog ran straight to the building where he lived.

Aivan: I know that they put a microchip in the dog's ears and you can use your phone and see where the dog went.

Nema: I can tell you how it works. The microchip goes between the two shoulder blades and then it has to be registered because if it is not registered it won't work. If someone finds the dog and they take him to the vet or a shelter and they scan the dog that got a microchip that is not registered then they would not get the necessary information.

Aivan: What happens if dogs start fighting?

Nema: That's why we always have someone in the run with the dogs. You always pull away one dog from another. I really never had any fight, maybe a little you know but no fight because I will not take an aggressive dog. I always check their temperament first before they go in with other dogs.

Esther: What is your favorite part of Roosevelt Island?

Nema: I love the whole island; oh my God I just love it. I love walking by the waters, it's relaxing. Sitting sometimes right here is so relaxing!

Adib: Do you take the tram?

Nema: No, I don't like that. I'm scared of it.

Fujia: Do you have a favorite restaurant here?

Nema: I wish we had a Roti Shop. Everyone tells me “put a Roti Shop here”. I live in Richmond Hill and there are many Roti restaurants.

Sadie: Why did you change the name from Pup Culture to RI Pups?

Nema: So my business partner from Pup Culture - who is no longer with them- and I think Roosevelt Pups was a perfect name because of the island and the logo has the tram. I think it was just perfect.

Phuc Anh: Do you only carry dogs’ supplies?

Nema: No I also carry cat supplies, and sometimes fish.

Phuc Anh: In what ways do you fight against global warming?

Nema: one, by stop using the plastic bags, definitely.

You Tube video of interview here.

Stay tuned for our next interview with a local Roosevelt Island merchant.

Roosevelt Island Youth Read Essays They Wrote Of Thanks And Appreciation To Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Officers In Front Of Their Families, PSD Chief Brown And Deputy Chief Amoroso

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Children, Youth & Education Chair Adib Mansour hosted a May 12, 2022 event featuring PS/IS 217 Child Center of NY students reading essays they wrote expressing personal appreciation and thanks for the work of Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department Officers.

Adib Mansour reports:

As the Chair of RIRA’s CYE Committee, I always thrive to get the youth of the island engaged in their community and open their minds to the endless possibilities for a bright future.

It has been my privilege to coach the students of the Child Center of NY a fun and educational program we call: Soccer for Success. They are 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders that attend the after school program. We’ve been learning soccer but at the beginning of each game we would spend 10 to 15 minutes learning about different subjects ranging from identifying healthy habits, learning how to read food labels, global warming solutions, as well as discussing what makes the Roosevelt Island Community so special. 

Recently we’ve been discussing Public Safety and the work they do for our community in an effort to bridge the gap between the youth and PSD. Some of the students volunteered to write essays describing what they love about our beautiful island, and appreciating the role of Public Safety, otherwise known as Peace Officers. The students were touched to hear that 2 officers passed away during the pandemic and I told them countless stories of the late Chief McManus’ involvement in coaching soccer with me in an outreach to the Roosevelt Island youth.

Quite honestly, while I say that I have been teaching these students, I have to admit that I myself have been learning so much more from them. I noticed a common theme in their essays which was the importance of Public Safety's role as Peace Officers. My goal in doing this work has always been to continually create opportunities where kids connect with PSD officers in a positive joyous way as well as with the Seniors. I believe this will make our community stronger. The students worked very hard on developing their essays and practiced numerous hours on their speech deliveries.

The Children, Youth & Education Committee, along with the Child Center of NY hosted an event last Thursday May 12th in the evening to read their essays in front of their families and to PSD represented at the event by Chief Brown, Deputy Director Amoroso and Sergeant Yulisa Santana At the event we all offered our thanks for the hard work of the PSD during the pandemic. We also thanked late Detective Wayne Jones and late Officer Corey Fisher for their sacrifices.  

Orion Ding was the first student to read his essay:

Hello, my name is Orion. 

I will be 9 years old in August. 

Even though I don’t live on Roosevelt Island, I spend most of my days on the island because I go to PS 217. What I like about Roosevelt Island is that the river gives you the feeling of peace and it calms you down when you’re sad. 

I have made a lot of friends on Roosevelt Island. I like that the island is very safe because the Peace Officers are everywhere to keep us safe. Basically what I like about Roosevelt Island is even though the teachers are strict I do like that because that would make us learn a lot. 

A few weeks ago, Public Safety’s Deputy Director came to introduce himself. I learned from him that one of his sons plays baseball and he is very good at it. I appreciate that he keeps us safe even though it takes him two hours to come to work in the morning and two hours to go home. This tells me that he really likes his job and he must love to work here. 

I honor Chief McManus because he was a very kind man. 

I was sad to hear the news that two officers passed away during the pandemic and I really thank them for their sacrifice to keep us safe. 

I will remember this for the rest of my life.

Watch Orion read his essay followed by Deputy Chief Amoroso. Both are priceless.

Here's video of the full event beginning with Mr Mansour, followed by PSD Chief Kevin Brown

and then all of the students reading their essays.

 

Here are all of the essays.

 

Very nice event. Wonderful job by the kids, Chief Brown, Deputy Chief Amoroso and Adib Mansour.

NYC Council Fiscal Year 2023 Discretionary Funding Applications For Non Profit Community Organizations Now Open Says Roosevelt Island & Upper East Side Council Member Julie Menin - See What Roosevelt Island Groups Got NYC Council Fiscal Year 2022 Discretionary Funding

Roosevelt Island and Upper East Side NYC Council Member Julie Menin tweets:

The City Council’s application for discretionary funding is now live! Eligible not-for-profit community-based organizations can apply for funding until Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Applications can be submitted at https://t.co/F470PIJx0g pic.twitter.com/aCB2ES761S

— Julie Menin (@JulieMenin) January 4, 2022

Below are Roosevelt Island non profits that received fiscal year 2022 NYC discretionary funding from former Council Member Ben Kallos.

Clich here for more info and to apply.

Child Center Of NY Roosevelt Island Beacon Program At PS/IS 217 Offering Virtual Classroom Programs And Social Media Engagement During Coronavirus Closing

The Child Center of New York Roosevelt Island Beacon at PS/IS 217 is offering virtual classroom programs for Kindergarten thru High School students.

Read more »

Child Center Of New York Roosevelt Island Beacon Program At PS/IS 217 Hosting Upcoming Community Health Fair Featuring Wellness And Nutrition Resources - Looking For Volunteers To Help

The Child Center Of NY Roosevelt Island Beacon Program at PS/IS 217 is hosting an upcoming  Health Fair and is seeking community partners to participate:

Roosevelt Island Beacon would love for you to be a part of our Annual Health Fair on April 17th! We are looking for community partners to volunteer their time during our health fair, in connecting our families to wellness services and introduce them to healthier food choices.

We're reaching out to your program/organization to host a table that will feature one or more of the following: free samples, menus, posters, and other health/nutrition based resources that you offer.

Please respond to confirm your attendance by Friday, March 13th. If you are unable to attend we welcome you to refer another possible partner as an alternate.

Thank you in advance for your support and we look forward to partnering in the near future!

Roosevelt Island Student Environmental Heroes Giving Away Free Reusable Bags Wednesday February 26 At Local Foodtown Supermarket - NYC Plastic Bag Ban Starts March 1

The New York City Plastic Bag ban begins Sunday March 1.

Plastic bags are banned starting March 1!@NYCSanitation is giving away reusable bags all week, pick one up and help save our planet: https://t.co/zYXbKezxmj pic.twitter.com/Jb7Yb4NDnv

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) February 22, 2020

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Children, Youth & Education Ad Hoc Committee Chair Adib Mansour reports:

As you may already know, plastic bags will be banned in New York City as of March 1st. RIRA’s Children, Youth & Education Committee has been teaching the youth at the Child Center of NY about sound environmental practices. They have become Roosevelt Island’s:

“Environmental Heroes.”

 Come join our youth at the new FoodTown and receive a free reusable bag, donated by the generosity of:

Borough President Gale Brewer, Council Member Ben Kallos, RIOC President Susan Rosenthal.

Wednesday, Feb. 26 - 3:30 PM at Roosevelt Island FoodTown

NYC CBS New York reports on the NYC Plastic Bag ban including views from both supporters and opponents of the plastic bag ban



Roosevelt Island Foodtown supermarket owner Nick D'Agostino

Read more »

Child Center Of NY Welcomed As New Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Beacon After School Provider With Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Yesterday In Schoolyard

The Child Center of New York was welcomed as the new Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Beacon After School Program provider with a ribbon cutting ceremony in the schoolyard yesterday afternoon.

Celebrating the Child Center of NY PS/IS 217 Roosevelt Island Beacon After School ribbon cutting ceremony on its first day of providing services was NYC Council Member Ben Kallos, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Susan Rosenthal, Child Center of NY VP of Youth Development Nicholas Ferreira,  PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman, PS/IS 217 PTA President Erin Olavesen and PS/IS 217 students.





Following the Ribbon Cutting, students asked for and received their own piece of the ribbon as a souvenir.



According to this Press Release from Roosevelt Island NYC Council Member Ben Kallos:

Residents, elected officials, school and program administrators gathered yesterday September 18 at PS/IS 217 to welcome Child Center of NY to Roosevelt Island as the Beacon after-school program provider. In April of 2017, the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) issued a request for proposal (RFP) for providers to offer Beacon after-school programming at the Roosevelt Island school to a growing population of school-aged children on the Island. By mid-summer, DYCD had selected a winner, Child Center of NY. Today the doors to the new Beacon after-school program were opened by Council Member Ben Kallos, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and other community leaders including Mandana Beckman Principal at PS/IS 217 where the programming will be held.

The Child Center of NY is based in Queens New York and has been a children’s care provider since 1953. Each year its services reach more than 26,000 children and families across New York City.

The programs and services offered by Child Center of NY are:

• Early Childhood Education
• Behavioral Health
• Health Homes & Family Integrated Care
• Prevention and Family Support
• Youth Development

Beacon Youth Programs that will be serviced by Child Center of NY on Roosevelt Island are:

• Academic Enhancement: Activities designed to help with school, including tutoring, homework help, reading clubs, and financial literacy
• Life Skills: Activities designed to increase personal responsibility, self-esteem, and confidence.
• Career Awareness/School to Work Transition: Activities designed to educate young people on career opportunities and assist with the transition to work or higher education
• Civic Engagement/Community Building: Activities designed to strengthen leadership skills, community awareness, and civic responsibility.
• Recreation/Health & Fitness: Activities designed to promote healthy lifestyles such as cooking programs and organized sports.
• Culture/Art: Activities designed to provide students with opportunities to express themselves through music, dance, photography, and drama.

Read more »

Last Day Of Roosevelt Island Youth Program Beacon Summer Day Camp And Affiliation With PS/IS 217 - RIYP Executive Director Says School Principal Reckless And Reprehensible In Disregard Of Roosevelt Island Community

Today was the last day of the Roosevelt Island Youth Program (RIYP) Beacon Summer Day Camp. This afternoon, campers played basketball outside the Youth Center building

and the RIYP issued this statement today:

Last Beacon Day

Today at 6PM the Roosevelt Island Youth Program Inc. ended an era: the program will no longer be affiliated with Public School 217 after 40 years of collaboration.

Beacon programs were designed to establish services for youth and adults in schools in low- income communities. This Agency with the help of then NYC Council Member Gifford Miller and NYC Deputy Mayor Ninfa Segarra secured the Beacon funding for the Island after 5 tough years of negotiating with the Mayor's office and the Department of Youth & Community Development.

After 22 years of RIYP operating the Beacon at PS/IS 217, the school principal Mandana Beckman decided with her handpicked off-island PTA members to prevent the Youth Program from even applying for the funding to operate the Roosevelt Island Beacon program, ensuring the awarding of the grant to an off-island entity.

The RIYP Executive Director Charles DeFino has called Mrs. Beckman's actions "reckless and reprehensible, exhibiting a total disregard for the community.  This action is typical Beckman. The community has dealt with her incompetence for over a decade, but we will continue our commitment to the youth and families of Roosevelt Island”.

The new RIYP after-school program information will be introduced to our island families next week.

As previously reported, the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development named the Queens based Child Center of New York as the new operator of Roosevelt Island Beacon After School Program at PS/IS 217.

UPDATE 8/19 - Frank Farance shares these photos from the last day of 2017 RIYP Beacon Summer Camp.

Read more »

NYC DYCD Selects Child Center Of New York As Winning Operator Of Roosevelt Island Beacon After School Program Request For Proposals At PS/IS 217 - Community Invited To Meet Child Center Of NY 6 PM Tonight At School

The NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) selected Queens based Child Center of New York (CCNY) as the winning operator of the Roosevelt Island Beacon After School Program Request For Proposals at PS/IS 217 replacing the current long time operator Roosevelt Island Youth Program.

Yesterday, I asked CCNY Chief Executive Officer Traci Donnelly:

I understand that the Child Center of New York has been named as the new operator of the Roosevelt Island Beacon After School Program.

Please let me know if you have any comment or statement to make to the Roosevelt Island community about your plans for the Roosevelt Island Beacon After School program.

Ms. Donnelly replied:

Since 1953, The Child Center of NY has worked to provide multicultural, multilingual, and whole child services to 26,000 New York City kids and their families annually. We are consistently called upon to expand our services, and we consistently respond in the positive, so that we can, as we aim, "strengthen children and families with skills, opportunities, and emotional support so that they can build healthy, successful lives."

We are truly honored to have been selected for the Beacon RFP on Roosevelt Island. We will endeavor to continue to prove ourselves worthy of the confidence placed in us by our communities, the City and State, and, most importantly, the children and families of Roosevelt Island.

The Child Center of New York invites interested Roosevelt Island community members to a meeting tonight, August 9, 6 PM, at PS/IS 217 auditorium to learn more about their plans and programs for the Roosevelt Island Beacon After School Program.

Here's information about the Child Center of New York programs & services, other locations and more available at their web site.