Roosevelt Island Residents Express Concern Over Dead Squirrels Found Near Westview And Good Shepherd Community Center

For the last several days, I have been receiving reports from concerned residents of dead squirrels being found on Roosevelt Island near Westview and the Good Shepherd Community Center:

There is something suspicious going on with island squirrels being found dead (poisoned) by Westview building.. Please let me know if there is someone in RIOC or PSD who would shed a light on poison being used on island grounds... next time it could be someone dog or even a child.

Another Roosevelt Island resident shares this report and pictures:

For the last month and a half someone announced a genocide on our island squirrels.

Me and my husband discovered 8 bodies. One of them is still lying
 

in the corner schoolyard next to Westview.

Someone ... hates these animals.

The rat poison is being distributed freely, and especially in Westview backyard

and around the church, looks like a children's toy or candy - it is bright pink tube or a box, that can end up in a child poisoning.

We need to warn all people to be vigilant and report dead squirrels and suspicious bright pink objects on the ground.

I tried to save one yesterday, but it died at the hospitals doors.

We found the pink tube and a dying squirrel in the Westview backyard. I rushed to save the squirrel but that forced me to drop the pink tube through the hole in the manhole. I was afraid to put it in my pocket or leave it there for another squirrel. Here is a picture of it through the manhole hole. It's a pink little thing on the left bottom.

Squirrels on our island are the last original inhabitants that we have left. We have to protect them!

I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato:

I have been told that there have been several incidents of dead squirrels found recently in the area of Westview. There are suspicions of poison.

Do you have any information on this?

Ms. Indelicato responded that RIOC is looking into the matter and:

We are now setting traps for the rats rather than poison

Ms. Indelicato also urged residents to inform RIOC if they see any more dead squirrels or have any information regarding the incidents.

With the increased construction in Southtown and the Goldwater Hospital demolition/Cornell campus coming soon, rats are going to become a greater problem on Roosevelt Island so a way must be found to safely address the issue of pest control.

Roosevelt Island Sportspark Swim Classes For Toddlers As Well As Kids 3 years And Over

Image of Roosevelt Island Sportspark Toddler Swim Program

Roosevelt Island Parents' Network coordinator Eva Bosbach reports that the swim classes for children at Sportspark provided by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp  (RIOC) are now also available on a drop-in basis (no registration needed), and include new classes for children of age 3 years and up. According to Ms. Bosbach:

Children 6 to 36 months:

For an amazing $5 per class per family, join us for fun in the (warm!) water, including basic swim skills, songs, floating, splashing, games and more. Classes are offered every Wednesday at 10.30 and 11am and every Sunday at 11 and 11.30am and run until Dec 18th/22nd. Please bring a swim diaper and a bathing suit for your child and a swim cap for yourself as well as a lock for the locker. Classes are taught by Ryan Sherrill.

To access the pool with a stroller, it is best to go around the Tram station on the Queens side, make a right under the bridge and another right, to get between the basketball court and the swimming pool building. The door will be on your left. If you are coming from further up on the island, you can take the south bound red bus and let the driver know after the Tram stop that you would like to get off at the next stop, Sportspark's swimming pool. You will be right at the door.

You can register and pre-pay for the rest of the classes to secure your spot, or just join on a drop-in basis. The classes are not full and not restricted to RI residents, so feel free to bring friends and forward this information.

Children 3 years and up:

Discounted learn to swim classes for children ages 3 years and up are offered by the swim and aqua aerobics instructor from Sportspark, Ryan Sherrill, on Saturday afternoons 3-4pm. The cost is $15 for drop-in or $100 for a 10-week course. Ryan also offers semi private and one-on-one classes as well as swimming lessons for people of all ages (learn to swim or improve your skills). For questions or to register, call or e-mail Ryan at 917.261.7761 or ryansherrill84@gmail.com .

Thank you RIOC. 

New Roosevelt Island Shaped Main Street Benches In Place - What Do You Think?

Did you notice

the new

Roosevelt Island shaped Main Street

benches?

What do you think?

NYPD Emergency Service Officers And Dogs Performing Roosevelt Island Tram Rescue Drills Today

 Image of 2012 NYPD ESU and Police Dog  Tram Rescue Drill From The Daily You Tube Video

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Please be advised that NYPD personnel will be conducting practice drills on the Roosevelt Island Tramway from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM tomorrow, 11/20. There will be no impact to Tram service during these drills. Expect to see emergency personnel in the area.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

NYPD News tweeted this picture of today's Tram Rescue Drill.

ESU officers & K9s training today on Roosevelt Island Tram, some 225' above the ground.http://t.co/e0DjPwtMwR pic.twitter.com/9ljs3diAeP
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) November 20, 2013

Here's video of previous NYPD Tram Rescue Drill.



More on NYPD and FDNY Tram Rescue drills from previous posts.

Remarkable Video Of River In The Basement Tells Story Of Hurricane Sandy's Flooding Of NYC Public Hospitals Including Roosevelt Island's Coler Hospital

Image of Patients Evacuated From Coler Hospital By Judy Berdy

The NYC Health & Hospitals Corp (HHC) provides a close up view of Hurricane Sandy's flooding of its facilities in this video titled The River In The Basement.

Despite the unprecedented scope of Superstorm Sandy, HHC staff members stayed on the job before, during, and after the storm to care for New Yorkers in need.

Here's an excerpt from the video showing how Roosevelt Island's Coler Hospital

 Image Of Hurricane Sandy Coler Flooding From The River In The Basement Video

was damaged by Hurricane Sandy's East River flooding.



Watch the entire video here.



More on Hurricane Sandy Coler Hospital conditions and its partial evacuation at previous post.

Roosevelt Island Women's Health Organization Thanksgiving Meeting Wednesday November 20

The Roosevelt Island Women's Health Organization (RIWHO) sends the following invitation to women 18 years and older for their November 20 Thanksgiving Monthly Seminar. The meeting will take place 6:30 PM tomorrow at 546 Main Street Community Room on the 12th floor.

Superheroes On The Roosevelt Island Tram - Who Were Those Masked Batpeople?

A trip on the Roosevelt Island Tram got a bit strange last week as Batman and Bat Girl

Image From Adib Mansour

with entourage took a ride and then began break dancing.



Just another ride on the Roosevelt Island Tram.

Super Fast Crossing Of East River To Manhattan On Roosevelt Island Tram

Whew, that was fast.

Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Principal Beckman and Cornell NYC Tech VP Dove Featured At Community Board 8 Education Meeting November 19 - PS/IS 217 Received B Grade From DOE, Also, Middle School Math Teacher Job Available At Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217

Double Parked Cars Waiting To Pick Up Students at Roosevelt Island 217

As previously reported, Cornell NYC Tech has agreed to:

..."Adopt" the local school on Roosevelt Island, PS/IS 217, by providing programming such as teacher training and support, after school programming, tech events, career day options, and hardware and software programming development....

and:

... Responding to my question as to what Cornell adopting PS/IS 217 means, Ms. Dove said:

the Roosevelt Island school ... is where our focus is going to be ... in perpetuity...

Tomorrow night, we may learn more about Cornell NYC Tech's plan for Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 during Community Board 8's (CB 8) Youth & Education (Y&E) Committee meeting. The CB 8 Y&E meeting will feature PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman and Cornell NYC Tech Vice President Cathy Dove as well as  a question and answer session.

Image From Community Board 8

Here's video of CB 8 Y&E meeting last June with Ms. Beckman and Ms. Dove speaking about Cornell NYC Tech involvement with PS/IS 217 and link to the 2012 -13 NYC Department of Education Progress Report for the school which received an overall grade of B.

Image From DOE

More on Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 from their web portal.

There is a job available as the sole middle school Math Teacher at Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217. According to Craigslist:

PS/IS 217, a PreK -- Grade 8, NYCDOE public school located on Roosevelt Island is seeking a Middle School Math Teacher for a permanent position. Our Middle School Math Teacher is the sole mathematics teacher for the middle school; responsible for planning for and teaching grades 6, 7 and 8. All candidates must be a NYS Certified Mathematics teacher for grades 5-9 or 7-12....

Click here for more information and how to apply for the position.

High School Math teacher Dan Meyer gave this interesting TED Talk presentation



describing how to makeover the math curriculum

Sunday News Shows In 90 Seconds From Politico - Pelosi, Gillibrand, Woodward On Obamacare, Wisconsin Governor Walker On Republican Presidential Primary Politics

If you are interested in a quick summary of the Sunday News talks shows, Politico has it in 90 seconds.