This Week...Marlins "Learn to Swim" Registration

Starting September 15 registration begins for the "Learn to Swim Program" through the Roosevelt Island Marlins for anyone between 4 years and 14 years old. Contact RIMarlinsSwim@Yahoo.com or call the number listed on the flyer.

Next Weekend Begins Local Hispanic Heritage Month Events

Next weekend starts a month of several special events recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month across Roosevelt Island. The events are sponsored in part by RIVAA and RIOC.

Tram as Magic School Bus...School Starts Today

In addition to being a vital part of Roosevelt Island's transportation infrastructure the Tram resumed its role as school bus to many students that commute off the island to numerous public and private schools.

Dept Evironmental Protection Called in to Repair Tram Plaza Bathrooms?

Picture Courtesy the Roosevelt Islander
UPDATE:

As per a Twitter post after this post was published. The DEP work affected the water main servicing the bathroomsd and did not directly involve the bathrooms.

Original Post:

Apparently the bathrooms on the Roosevelt Island side of the Tram were worse than any of us knew as the DEP has been called in per the below advisory. I have submitted an inquiry into RIOC as to why the repairs are being done by DEP as opposed to regular plumbers or maintenance personnel. Interesting. Did we have a toxic spill or something? Stand by.


-----Original Message-----

From: RIOC Advisories

Sent: Friday, August 28, 2009 2:34 PM

To: RIOC Advisories

Subject: Tram Plaza Bathrooms

Please be advised on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 the bathrooms on the Roosevelt Island side of the Tram will be out of service from 9:00 P.M. until 1:00 A.M. due to repairs by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

Please visit us on the web at http://www.rioc.com/

Campaign Stop for Judge Leslie Crocker Snyder, Candidate for Manhattan DA

The democratic primary this coming September 15th has two very important races including Manhattan District Attorney and City Comptroller. This morning former Judge Leslie Crocker Snyder greeted commuters outside the Roosevelt Island subway station alongside New York State Assembly Member Micah Kellner (D - 65) who is endorsing the former judge and who strongly supports her candidacy.

Judge Snyder is one of three candidates to replace long time DA Robert Morgenthau and whoever wins the primary has a strong chance of keeping that non-partisan position in Democratic hands. Judge Snyder's opponents in the pprimary include Cy Vance and Richard Aborn. Morgenthau has publicly endorsed Cy Vance. A profile of Judge Snyder's career can be found on the New York Times here.

Micah Kellner has been a strong presence on this Island and has proven he fights for and watches out for Roosevelt Island as does City Council Member Jessica Lappin (D - 5). A representative of Ms. Lappin's office confirmed that she "hasn't formally taken a position on the DA race."

What’s Your Favorite Roosevelt Island Location?

The Daily News is running an on-line section titled "You Love New York” where they are asking all New Yorkers to name their favorite NYC location. There is only posting so far regarding Roosevelt Island. I submitted a post regarding Southpoint Park which has not yet been published.

My question / request for everyone here is:

“What is Your Favorite Roosevelt Island Location and Why?”

Let us know and be sure to explain fully why it is your favorite locations.

Photo from Last Nights Free Outdoor Movie Night

I came by the Free showing of Hairspray directly from a late night at work with about 30 minutes left in the movie. Well attended and the crowd was having a ball during each musical number. the kids were all dancing and the sound system worked great.

Kudos to Erica and everyone at RIOC for another successful movie night here on Roosevelt Island.

Riverwalk Bar & Grill Opens TODAY

The Riverwalk Bar & Grill opens today per their new website which is worth checking out itself.

According to the Feed Blog on Time Out New York:

Co-owners and brothers Jonathan and Salvatore Hoo hope to fill a void in Roosevelt Island’s dining scene with this casual bar and eatery. Alfonse Dicioccio—who owns nearby Nonno’s Focacceria—is also involved, but you won’t find much pizza here: The staunchly all-American menu sticks to burgers, hefty salads and fried finger food. 425 Main St between Road 5 and West Rd (646-833-7050)

I am expecting like many island residents that this new entry to the few available establishments on the island to be warmly and enthusiastically received.

Will the bar regulars at Trellis migrate to this new watering hole? We shall see. Will a younger crowd claim the Bar & Grill as their own? Will families flock to it? Will this new bar entice Zog Sports teams to stay a bit on island after their games? Is that a plus or minus to residents?

All in all we all hope it succeeds as it will add choices and push competition all to improve the local fare which can only benefit everyone.

8/20 - PSD / Youth Center Basketball Event

-----Original Message-----
From: Keith Guerra
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:40:51
To: RooseveltIsland360@gmail.com;rooseveltislander@gmail.com
Subject: Please post on your Blog

As part of our Community Outreach Initiative, the Public Safety Department has teamed up with the Youth Center and will be hosting a Community Basketball Game on Thursday, August 20th. The game will take place behind the Youth Center at the Blackwell Basketball Court and feature a team from the Public Safety Department playing with a team from the Youth Center.

The game should kick off about 6:30PM. The members of the Youth Center and their parents will be treated to Pizza and Refreshments after the game.

Keith Guerra, Director
Roosevelt Island
Department of Public Safety
552 Main Street
Roosevelt Island, NY 10044
(212) 832-4540 Ext. 306
(212) 832-0469 Fax
http://www.rioc.ny.gov/

New Satellite Image of Roosevelt Island (Aug 10th)

Very very cool NEW (as of August 10, 2009) satellite image of Roosevelt Island from GeoEye but the image unfortunately cuts off Southpointn park and Lighthouse park but detail is amazing.

Link here for FULL image.

NYC Population Map: Day vs Night

Via twitter comes to us the above image of the day vs. night population of New York City. It appears the representation of Roosevelt Island appears accurate to show decreases at night at the hospitals and increases at the residential centers.

Double click to enlarge the above image. Pretty cool.

Renewed Concerns re Choppers over Roosevelt Island?

Chopper View from Tour Site

The collision this past weekend over the Hudson River between a small plane and helicopter may or may not result in any changes to how air traffic is controlled or regulated along the Hudson or East Rivers.

As I have stated before Roosevelt Island residents have a vested interest in such regulations as there are always helicopters passing right over our buildings as opposed to traffic being regulated to pass only over the water on either side of the island.

As a result of the October 2006 Cory Lidle plane crash, federal officials "banned all aircraft except seaplanes and helicopters from the East River corridor without specific permission from air traffic controllers." which certainly helped to mitigate fears of another such incident as the Lidle crash but the helicopters continue to pass over head with few additional restrictions.

Island residents with deeper histories on the island will also recall the 1997 chopper that crashed moments after taking off from the heliport that used to sit just North of the Queensboro Bridge. I don't recall now how prominently that crash contributed to the eventual shutdown of that heliport but it had to eb factor. [It's most recent incarnation was as the Roundabout Dog Run which we all see daily from the Tram looking North on the Manhattan side of the QB Bridge.]

Should residents use the Hudson River tragedy to refocus our concerns regarding the safety of the skies above Roosevelt Island? How can we not.

Free Concerts ! Free Movies ! Oh My !

Big weekend for free events on Roosevelt Island. Roosevelt Live's free concert series continues on Riverwalk Commons at 4pm followed by the RIOC sponsored free movies at Southpoint Park on both Saturday and Sunday nights at 8pm. Very very cool.

Architect Charles Gwathmey Dies....

Updated 8/5 at 9:05 a.m.for last paragraph

The noted architect Charles Gwathmey of Gwathmey, Siegel & Associates, died on Monday.

According to the NY Times, among the buildings he is attached to is "the 1,000-unit Northgate apartment complex on Roosevelt Island".

At 1000 units I am assuming the NYT is referring to Eastwood now Roosevelt Landings. Although my understanding is that Eastwood was designed by Sert, Jackson & Associates which I confirmed with Judy Berdy, President of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society.

Update: Judy provided yesterday evening the added detail that according to resources she has access to, Gwathmey connection to the island stopped at providing plans for Manhattan Park, which were never used due initially to lack of funds, and when the building complex was built the plans were again not used.

Local Soul Storage Business On Roosevelt Island

If you were not aware already there is a medically related business on Roosevelt Island that offers you the ability to have your soul removed.

This "business" is profiled in the new Paul Giamatti movie "Cold Souls". According to the movie the business is located on the island but never says exactly where. From the mock website set up for "The Soul Storage Company LLC" it is here but where is the question. Filming tool place on the Tram and in the Octagon building.

The above graphic I created for fun from the mock website. It does not represent an endorsement of the movie by me or of my website by them. And was put to gether purely for fun. I wonder if their local filming fee the producers paid RIOC entitles them to use the Tram image on their website?

I was especially amused at the storage options. Perhaps the difference in rates between the new NYC rate 8.875% sales tax is enough to push folks to store in NJ at 7.00% sales tax rate.

Free Outdoor Movies RETURN to Southpoint Park this Weekend

No matter the reason seeing movies at Roosevelt Island's SouthPoint Park is a treat not to be missed. Two chances this weekend.

Forest Gump - 8:05 pm pn Saturday Night
Kung Fu Panda - 8:05 pm on Sunday Night

------Original Message------

From: Erica Wilder
To: Roosevelt Island 360
Sent: Aug 3, 2009 5:36 PM
Subject: Re: Outdoor Movies at Southpoint Park this weekend

Forrest Gump was moved due to its duration and the live band performance prior to the movie. Kung Fu Panda was moved because all other available rain dates for the movie vendor were already booked by a league on Firefighters Field. Southpoint was the only available option. As you may already know, we had to cancel Kung Fu Panda a second time due to thunderstorms.

-----Original Message-----

To: Wilder, Erica
Sent: 8/3/2009 5:07:23 PM
Subject: Re: Outdoor Movies at Southpoint Park this weekend

Why the switch back to Southpoint?

Thanks Eric

-----Original Message-----

From: "Erica Wilder" <EWilder@rioc.com>
Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:55:54
To: rooseveltisland360@gmail.com
Subject: Outdoor Movies at Southpoint Park this weekend

Hi Eric,

This weekend, we will be showing movies back to back at Southpoint Park on Saturday and Sunday. Take a look at the flyer for more details. There will be a "Special Red Bus" available for pick up in front of the Chapel near 543 Main Street at 7pm. The bus will be designated for folks who can not make the trip down to the park by foot or for those who would just like to get closer to the gates. After the completion of the movie, transportation will be available outside the main gates of the park. Hope to see you there!

If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact me.

Thanks.

Erica

Erica Wilder
Community Relations Specialist
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
591 Main Street
Roosevelt Island, NY 10044
Ewilder@rioc.com
http://www.rioc.ny.gov/

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