Tony Vita Island Posters on Sale at Visitors Center

For all you residents and visitors alike that were blown away by Tony Vita's paintings that were made into the promo banners that are hanging up and down Roosevelt Island's Main Street you can now buy the posters at the Roosevelt Island Visitors Center kiosk by the island Tram station.

You can also contact Tony Vita directly at TonyVita@Earthlink.net. Tell him you got his address from the poster here at RI 360.

Do We Need FedEx and/or UPS Drop Off Boxes?

Fellow twitterer "getezra" tweeted this morning about his desire that FedEx and UPS install "drop off" boxes somewhere here on Roosevelt Island. Per their websites we each confirmed there are no such boxes hiding anywhere within Zip Code 10044 that we did not know about.

I spoke with FedEx this morning and the rep I spoke to indicated there are several factors that go into a decision to install a new "drop off" box which include (a) will the box bring in business? (b) is there enough volume in the zip code? (c) factors affecting the pick up time ? (driver routes etc) and among several others (d) would / does the requesting party have control ove the site wher the box would be installed and would they act as "owner" of the box in essence?

I indicated to the rep that several buildings on island have door stations that can receive packages and hold packages for pick up so those buildings are somewhat covered but that there several buildings whose residents do not have such an amenity that would benefit from a local drop off box.

What are your thoughts? Would you use a drop off box if one was installed? I am guessing RIOC would need to be the requesting party.

For safety reasons the box coud be installed say outside the reconstructed PSD offices or outside Trellis as that site is in direct view of PSD. I believe there are USPS boxes around the island which are just as safe so perhaps that is not an issue.

Again would you use such a box?

Has Anyone Ever Used the Bathrooms at Motorgate Garage?

As a parent of young children I continue an obsession over access to public bathrooms on Roosevelt Island. I was walking back to our apartment the other day when a mother with three school age kids stopped me by the Main Street bridge ramp asking me where the closest public bathroom was.

I pointed her to the bathrooms on the second level of Motorgate Garage but stated I was not even sure they were open. I also told facilities farther North and at Trellis in case they were not or if she found them not to her liking. Us parents are fussy that way. I will be honest I would rather my kids pee behind a tree as opposed to how some bathrooms get. Occassionally the bathrooms near the Octagon Soccer field and the Garden Club get that bad but are usually ok.

Recently there was a piece in the NY Times Complaints column about parents using trees and bushes as bathrooms for their kids and I agree that should be a last resort.

The addition of the new public bathrooms up by Lighthouse Park was great news. the provision of a port-a-john at Riverwalk Commons during Roosevelt Live has been a life saver. I noted another port-a-john by Firefighter's Field. Unsure if that is RIOC or Zog Sports sponsored. Luckily the Tram station bathrooms are close by.

As the post title states has nayone used the bathrooms in Motorgate? If they are actually closed that leaves the central part of Roosevelt Island without a true public restroom. Trellis gets used as such but that is not really fair to Trellis.

Resident Request: To Help a Neighbor

From: "Patrice Herlihy"

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:17:17 -0400

To: RooseveltIsland360@gmail.com

Subject: Help a neighbor

My name is Patrice Herlihy. I have lived on this Island for 25 years and have raised my 6 children here.

I am running a half marathon on Aug 16th.

I am doing this for our neighbors 11 year old daughter who is battling brain cancer. .

If you could help get the word our through your blog that would be awesome and very neighborly.

I am hoping that some of you who are able could sponsor me for this event, every little bit helps. The name of the foundation is, "Team Continuum". You can go and read about this foundation first and then type in my name by athletes name (Patrice Herlihy) and your donation will help me reach my goal.

For those who don't like to enter info on-line, you can send a check to them directly with my name on the comment line.The address is- Team Continuum 410 5th Ave- 4 Floor ny ny 10016.

Thanks in advance for anything you may do. If you are around on Aug 16th come cheer me on. Please pass this on to anyone who may want to help. This family is part of our community but this foundation helps all people suffering from cancer.

If you would like to read about the Reyes family and their great spirt, visit ValeriaReyes.com. You can also hit donate on that page scroll down the pictures of her and I, click on them and that too will bring you to my page at Team Continuum.

Thanks again, Patrice Herlihy

Are You Missing a Green Parrot?

Image Courtesy the Roosevelt Islander

Steve Shane, RIOC President, has notified each of the local Roosevelt Island bloggers and the Main Street WIRE that RIOC has found a GREEN parrot.

Is anybody missing a GREEN parrot?

------Original Message------
From: Steve Shane
To: Roosevelt Island 360
To: Roosevelt Islander
To: Dick Lutz / The Main Street WIRE

Sent: Jul 15, 2009 4:17 PM

Subject:
We are in possession of a green parrot found by itself outside. Please have its rightful owner call RIOC's office to claim it.

New Gift & Talented Program at PS 217 to Include Students from Manhattan & Queens

Updated 12:26pm

Great news for Roosevelt Island residents as the Gifted & Talented Program slated for PS 217 is a go and will open with 17 students this Fall.

Based on the news release issued today by Council Member Jessica Lappin's office the class appears to be available to both students from Manhattan District 2 and Queens District 30. A representative from Ms. Lappin's office has confirmed that spaces in the class were made available to qualifying D30 students if they weren't enough qualifying D2 students to fill the class and it appears the class will include both Manhattan and Queens addressed children.

It is unknown what the split will be between the initial students is at this time. I have inquired if any off island students are from other neighborhoods in Manhattan District 2 which PS 217 is formally part of. I am also curious as to the funding for this apparent joint district program.

The scuttlebutt was that most parents in Manhattan that heard of the new program at PS 217 scoffed at the idea of commutting to Roosevelt Island to send their kids to the program. If the school was at the Tram I am wondering if they would have considered it.

What's Behind East Side Officials Asking for Green Manhattan Tram Station Roof?

In a joint letter signed by virtually every East Side elected official the request was made to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation to incorporate into the design of the new Manhattan Tram station a green roof.

Why is this request coming now? Yes, RIOC is still in the design phase but it is interesting that the chorus has just started when the process discussing the new Tram and its stations has been going on for well over a year to two. If the overhaul had kept to its original schedule this question would be way late and impossible to even consider. My fellow blogger the Roosevelt Islander infers that it is because East Siders perhaps don't like the current design in some form.

For me I am all for "greening" our neighborhoods and construction practices but I say to these elected officials if you are going to push this at this time RIOC has a right to ask for the additional cash to make it happen. Let's see who is first to float a bill to increase the funding for the Tram overhaul for a green roof over another project they are currently backing.

I am in a cranky mood today so I apologize to each of the elected officials as the goal is admirable but I question why this project and why now and not earlier.

Subway Complaints? New Manager More Accessible than Current Superintendent?

According to published sources, the MTA as part of a reorganization is naming individual managers to each of the subways 36 subway lines including the F Train which services Roosevelt Island.

Will that mean we will have a better access to complain or congratulate a real human if we want that direct contact? This remains to be seen as I have never heard of anyone being able to contact Crythen Langhorne, the current superintendant for the Roosevelt Island station.

The RIVAA Post - The Holocaust Exhibition

In what is hoped to be a continuing "column" on this blog, I have invited the Roosevelt Island Visual Art Association to publish here regarding each current exhibition with the goal of increasing direct contact within our community and to enable further promotion of that exhibition.

The following post is written by Anca Pedvis, a current member of RIVAA, and an accomplished writer and poet. You can learn more about Ms. Pedvis HERE. My apologies to RIVAA for the delay in publishing this post:

"In what is going to be roughly a month from the Holocaust Memorial Museum shooting, On June 10, 2009, in Washington D.C., RIVAA gallery will host a show entitled, “Holocaust – Never Forget, Never Again” starting on July 11th.

In the show, artist Dana Baldwin Nauman will present 17 lead sculptures commemorating the horors that took place in Auschwitz on of many German camps death camps during Hitler’s reign of terror. The sculptures, each accompanied by a narrative poem by the artist, are humbly and lovingly dedicated to the life of his friend, and Auschwitz survivor, Sigmund Strochlitz (1916-2006).

Recommended by his friend, the Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, Mr. Strochlitz was a member of President Jimmy Carter’s Commission on the Holocaust. In this capacity he worked with Mr. Wiesel to create the National Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.

By strongly affirming his creative kind of remembering Dana Baldwin Nauman’s show seems to be endowed with a powerful message: that the grief and sorrow associated with the horrors of the death camps are not Jewish only – they are supremely and ultimately human, and as long as they belong to the realm of human consciousness, they will be partaken by anyone possessing this quality, be it in relationship to Auschwitz, Bosnia, or Rwanda."

Anca Pedvis

HOLOCAUST – NEVER FORGET, NEVER AGAIN

Gallery RIVAA, 527 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York City
July 11 to August 7, 2009 / Opening Reception Saturday, July 11, 2009
6:00 – 9:00 PM

Kellner Helps Assure Stability of New Bank

State Assembly Member Micah Kellner according to his website has confirmed that the planned entry of Amalgamated Bank will lead to a long turn relationship on Main Street by pushing for Roosevelt Island to be designated a Banking Development District which means $10 million of state money will anchor the new bank here

Read the whole story HERE. Congrats to Micah and to RIOC for ensuring that banking services are available to local residents and businesses.

According to a news release issued by Amalgamated, the current NYNB will stay open until July 17th. The new branch expects to open on July 20th and will be taking applications at the current NYNB branch with an Amalgamated representative for new accounts prior to that date.

Amalgamated certainly has a history with Roosevelt Island sponsoring or co-sponsoring past events on the island including the annual Halloween Gala for the kids at PS 217, the annual tree lighting at Blackwell House and its involvement at the recent Health Fairs. And you can't notice the basketball backboards at the courts adjacent to Capobianco Field.

Octagon's Homage to Amherst Sabrina Defaced

Local blogger "retro info!' from Populuxebooks has reported that the Sabrina statue which sits on the Octagon property facing the Western Channel of the East River and Manhattan has been defaced literaly and figuratively.

I forwarded the email sent to me by Retro Info onto Bruce Becker, the Octagon's developer and Amherst alumus extroadinaire for his comment and request as to what can be done to restore the beauty of this recasting of the original Sabrina statue which sat at Amherst.

Happy July Fourth ! No Fireworks But Plenty of Fun

This year Roosevelt Island will not play host a few thousand visitors looking to watch the fireworks from our shores. While the island may lose some hoopla there is still plenty of fun with a festival planned for today sponsored by Nonno's on the Riverwalk Commons lawn.

And always all our parks are open for everyone to enjoy.

Momma Stop Loses Baby Stop on Roosevelt Island

Momma Stop Sign was last seen on June 30th with Baby Stop along the side of the Tram turnaround on Roosevelt Island. As of this morning Baby Stop is missing. Baby Stop had been known to wander but had been at the Tram Turnaround with Mom for some time before today. If you have any information or see Baby Stop please let his or her Mommma know. She looks worried standing there as she is in the trees.

Note: Yes, this morning I can say I have lost my mind.

Latest Renderings of Manhattan Tram Station

The above two renderings for the new Manhattan Roosevelt Island Tram Station were just released moments ago. Pretty cool in color. Double click to enlarge.

Notice that except for the glass walls and the roof the station retains much of its curent design. I had thought at one point I had heard RIOC President Steve Shane they might change the position of the exiting stairs which here do not change.

Also the retractable roof look of an earlier design has vanished. The glass partitions on the balcony is a smart addition to prevent riders from dropping belongings into the tram wells or being fearful that their kids night fall through the gate. I believe this design feature was also slated for future Second Avenue Subway stations at least the concept.