37:19Saturday, June 24, 2017

The Main Street

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Briefly...

See Town Hall, page 12

See Ferry, page 11

NOTE: The next issue of The Main Street WIRE will be published July 29.

•RIOC’s 2017 Outdoor Summer Movie Series com-mences on Friday, June 23, with Back to the Future, screened on a giant screen at Firefighter’s Field. Bring blan-kets, lawn chairs, and friends to this free event. There will be food for purchase on site. The fun begins at 7pm; movie

starts at sunset. • A public forum, Under-

standing the Proposed New York Health Act, A Plan for a Universal Single-Payer Healthcare System in New York State, will be held Thursday, June 29, from 6:30-9:30pm at Church of the Holy Trinity, 316 E 88 St. Draesal Hall. Free.

• On June 20, Ulla and Gus-tav Kraitz, the artists who donated Blue Dragon at the entrance to Southpoint Park, will be awarded the gold medal, an honor bestowed by Swedish King Carl XVI Gus-taf of Sweden.

• The Carter Burden Net-work at the Roosevelt Island Senior Center has a new direc-tor of outreach & commu-nity engagement. Samantha Romero began on Wednesday.

• The Four Freedoms Park Conservancy is hosting the Family Fireworks Celebra-tion on July 4, in partnership with RIOC. Registration opens on Wednesday, June 28 at 1pm. Tickets are limited and registration is required; more details can be found at fdrfourfreedomspark.org/2017-events/7/4/fourth-of-july

As part of Roosevelt Island Day, Islanders were invited to garden at the Living Library. More photos on pages 8 and 9.

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See Retail, page 10

Bubble Tea Shop Coming by Kelly Turner

Tapioca lovers, get out your oversized straws.

On June 13, in its first public meeting of 2017, the Roosevelt Island Operating Cor-poration’s Real Estate Committee announced the signing of a new retail lease holder, and updated the status on several others.

The short version? New restaurants and cafés are coming – just not anytime soon.

Bubble TeaAlexandra Kaplan, Associate Project Man-

ager for Hudson Related, the firm charged with managing retail leases along Main Street, says the firm has signed a lease with a bubble tea café for 559 Main Street, the

spot formerly occupied by Coach Scot’s ice cream store.

“In less than a year [after Coach Scot’s store closing], we’ve been able to sign a new lease. So I think that’s really phenomenal,” said Ka-plan. In addition to offering bubble tea, a sweet

drink that contains chewy tapioca balls, the café will also offer desserts. No cooking will be done on the premises. “Bubble tea has quite a following,” Kaplan told committee members. “Kids love it. College students love it. It makes sense for the space.”

Work on the interior began this week. Kaplan says the new lease speaks to Hudson

For the latest on Trellis, see page 10

Construction Begins on RI Ferry Terminal

by Briana WarsingConstruction has started on

the Island’s new ferry termi-nal.

On Monday, crews began breaking up concrete and pre-paring the land at the oil dock on the east side of the Island under the Ed Koch 59th Street Bridge. The new Astoria ferry route, which will serve Roos-evelt Island, as well as Long Island City and Manhattan, is scheduled to begin service in August.

When completed, the ferry terminal will be the latest piece of a growing transpor-tation hub on Roosevelt Is-land, with subway, Tram, and ferry service all within a short walk of one another, giving commuters more options and hopefully easing some of the current congestion. However, with both Tram platforms about to undergo renovation,

Cornell Tech’s opening, and ongoing service disruptions and delays on the F line, of-ficials warn that things are likely to get worse before they get better.

NYC Ferry ServiceRoosevelt Island Operating

Corporation President Susan Rosenthal said that she expects the work on the land portion of the ferry dock construction to be completed in a few weeks.

The Astoria line is the third new line being launched as part of the NYC Ferry service. It will connect the growing residential and business com-munities of Western Queens; Roosevelt Island, including the new Cornell Tech campus; and residents and job centers in midtown east and the Finan-cial District.

Boats will leave from As-toria, come to our Island, and

Crime Rate, Transportation Headline Town Hall Meeting

Ben Kallos

The ferry landing will sit just north of the Queensboro bridge.

by Briana WarsingThursday evening’s Town

Hall Meeting was hosted by the Island’s elected represen-tatives, and was billed as an opportunity for Islanders to speak up and get answers. Is-landers did show up – Good Shepherd was packed – but they were surprisingly quiet.

Questions were written down, and passed to the front. They were primarily anony-mous. Council member Ben Kallos answered most of them, but called upon the appropri-ate representative when there

was someone better suited to answer the question.

Update on 911 SystemOfficer Nicholas Morales,

with the New York Police Department, gave an update on the Island’s new 911 sys-tem. “We haven’t run into any problems,” he told the crowd. The new system does a bet-ter job of making sure emer-gency responders can find us. There was a casualty last year because 911 did not arrive in time due to the confusion.

According to Morales, the 114th precinct, which includes

Work inside the former ice cream store began this week.

Roosevelt Island, has seen a 40% decrease in crimes this year, including in all seven major index crimes. “Last year

2 • The WIRE, June 24, 2017

“DYCD released a new RFP for Beacons in April 2017. The Office of Community Schools (OCS) worked with DYCD on the RFP with a focus on align-ing the model more closely to the Community Schools frame-work, encouraging stronger collaboration between schools and Beacon programs and de-veloping a more rigorous focus on student level results.”

The purpose of giving the principal and the SLT this added role in the process, according to DYCD, was to ensure that, before the bid-der’s application goes be-fore the DYCD, the principal of the host school, with the advice and guidance of her SLT, believes that, based on its answers to the interview questions, that bidder would be a good partner.

The principal’s instructions included the exact interview questions bidders were to be asked, including those asked of the Roosevelt Island Youth Program (RIYP). Farance is correct in that principals do not make final decisions; instead they serve as gatekeepers. The applicants they sign off

disregard for Black life. That PSD meeting was partially a platform

for the provincial infighting that has passed too long for discourse on the Island. But my takeaway was a surveillance program includ-ing facial recognition cameras already under

way. The initiation of this five-year program coincided with the Cornell Technion bid win in 2012. There are significant ethical and privacy issues with the NYPD facial-recognition cameras already installed in the

City, including the agency’s refusal to clarify their purpose to Georgetown privacy experts through the Freedom of Information Act, as reported in The Intercept in May (tinyurl.com/WIREintercept).

The look of our Island is changing. Cornell Tech has been erected on land that formerly held Goldwater Hospital. Together with Coler Hospital, they once formed the largest free long-term rehabilitative care facility in the country. I wrote before about the moral im-plications of a research center being built on land where disabled people have been evicted.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at the resurrection of the campy Reefer Madness-type posters displayed for the nascent Roosevelt Island War on Drugs [see page 4 for story].

There’s a lot of information for Roosevelt Island residents to process these days: the jux-taposition of million-dollar condos alongside the trap house-esque Youth Center, the rodent infestation, scan-dals at the Senior Center, the resil-ience of a transpor-tation infrastructure struggling with the current population, and Cornell Tech not yet arrived. How do we find the signal among the noise?

The documentary The 13th is available on Netflix, so I will avoid recounting how a constitutional loophole in the amendment to abolish slavery was appropriated to deci-mate the true target of the War on Drugs. At last winter’s Public Safety Department (PSD) Town Hall, I wanted to point out Rockefeller Law statistics to the angry petitioners, as if they would put down their pitchforks knowing how policing leads to Black and Brown bodies hanging like strange fruit from a poppy tree. However, it was abundantly clear that this was never about marijuana; it is about our community standing as a case study for the current national polarization, including the

The Editorial Page

Nice to Meet You!Neighbors, it was lovely to see so many of you

face to face last Saturday. For the first time ever, the Main Street WIRE had a booth on Roosevelt Island Day. It was a different experience for us. We are used to documenting and photographing the day’s events. Sitting down and waiting for people to come to us – that was new.

Our goal is always to hear from you more, whether by email, over the phone, or in person. It’s the only way we can endeavor to speak to or for our fellow Islanders.

We had so many people come up to us to say, “I read every issue of the WIRE.” Thank you! It was a heartening reminder that this Island of ours is filled with thoughtful, engaged residents who believe in offering ideas and opinions in respect-ful and responsible ways. We cannot promise to always get everything right, but we will continue to strive to give this community that we love so much the most accurate and relevant facts we can – not just those shouted loudest.

We asked Islanders who visited our booth to drop feedback or story suggestions into our “tip jar.” And we enjoyed reading what each of you had to say. Of course, we did find a few par-ticularly juicy comments hidden among the story ideas and questions. Our two favorites sum up what it’s like to run the WIRE. One read, “Why do you ladies rock so hard?” (Answer: Is there any other way?) The other one, by far our favorite, was simply, “You lie!” To paraphrase sports columnist Bill Simmons, yup, these are our readers!

In all seriousness, though, let’s stay in touch. Feel free to reach out to us for any reason. Let us know when we get it wrong, how we’re doing, what types of stories you’d like more of, and what Island mysteries you’d like us to solve.

-BW

Letters PolicyThe WIRE welcomes letters of inter-

est to the Roosevelt Island community. Recommended maximum length, 350 words; longer letters will be considered if their content, in the judgment of the editors, merits the required space. All letters are subject to acceptance and editing for length and clarity. Letters submitted anonymously will not be pub-lished. Requests for a Name Withheld signature will be considered, but the writer’s name and email must be pro-vided for verification. Submit to letters@mainstreetwire.com. Alternatives: Typed copy left at 40 River Road, addressed to Briana Warsing, The WIRE.

Published by The Main Street WIRE

©2017 The Main Street WIRE40 River Rd., NYC 10044Website MainStreetWIRE.comTM

Editor – Briana Warsing – briana@mainstreetwire.comManaging Editor – Kelly Turner – kelly@mainstreetwire.comPublisher – Dana Agmon – dana@mainstreetwire.comProduction Editor – Kelly TurnerChief Proofreader – Linda HeimerProofreaders – Lorraine Altman, Josie Chamla,

Vicki Feinmel, David Kolakoski, Helke TaegerReporters – Dana Agmon, Jim Baehler, Sara Maher,

Sara MetzidakisAdvertising – Ellen Levy – 917-587-3278 / msWIREads@gmail.comIsland History Consultant – Judy BerdyEditor-Publisher 1996-2016 – Dick Lutz Founding Publisher – Jack Resnick

News 646-741-4719Advertising 917-587-3278Circulation 212-935-7534Financial 646-741-4719letters@mainstreetwire.com

The Main Street WIRE

See Policing, page 14

See Letters, page 15

Island Observer

Khadijah Abdurahman

LettersTo the Editor:

I read Frank Farance’s re-buttal online to your story about the Beacon and the Roo-sevelt Island Youth Program getting shut out of the process. What a mess! Do you plan to print a correction? You owe all of us the facts.

Mary [Last name witheld]

Editor’s Note: Mr. Farance’s rebuttal, which was posted on the Roosevelt Islander blog, relied solely on the documen-tation provided to Beacon bid-ders, and what has been done in the past.

He did not include the doc-umentation, which was sent to all principals tasked with evaluating the Beacon appli-cation. As you might imagine, bidders receive different in-structions than the principals of host schools do. According to the Beacon Guidance Note for Principals from the Depart-ment of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), princi-pals were required to work with their School Leadership Team (SLT) and interview potential Beacon providers. They were empowered to sign, or not, as many School Partnership Agreements as they deemed worthy.

The Beacon Guidance Note for Principals explains that,

on go to the second round. The DYCD will make the final decision on the three remain-ing bidders.

Mary, I would also suggest you find out from both RIYP Executive Director Charlie De-Fino and Principal Beckman how their working relationship has been over the years and whether either has been sat-isfied with it. That may also clarify your perspective.

To the Editor:We recently rode the Tram

to the Island and stood next to a man wearing a Seattle base-ball cap. Seeing that my hus-band, too, wore a Seattle cap, the man asked my husband if he was from the Island. My husband replied, “My wife

Letters deadlinefor July 29 issue:

Tue., July 25, 5pm

Island’s War on Drugs Is Part of a Long History

The WIRE, June 24, 2017 • 3

People arrive at Toastmasters from all walks of life, with a common thread leading them there – they want to become better public speakers. Often we think of a public speaker as a lecturer or motivational profes-sional who draws crowds in by the hundreds. But public speak-ing takes place in everyday life situations. Many people are ner-vous to speak in front of a group. Although fear of heights takes the top spot for phobias, pub-lic speaking is the second most common phobia on earth. Toast-masters is here to take the fear out of speaking – or at least make it a much more en-joyable activity!

The Toast-masters pro-gram prepares people to speak confidently in job interviews, in front of co-workers during meetings, while delivering public talks and presentations, and is a great way for non-native speakers to be-come comfortable with their English. Along the way, many people pick up skills they didn’t even realize they would gain by joining

a club. The program works to not only build confident speakers, but leaders as well. It gets

participants comfortable with extemporaneous speech (spo-ken or done without prepara-tion). And since Toastmasters wouldn’t work without giving feedback to speakers, mem-bers all benefit from learning to give and receive effective feedback.

The Roosevelt Island Toast-masters Club has been help-ing local residents realize all

this and more since the 1990s. The club is con-veniently lo-cated between Manhattan and Queens, and its close proximity to the United Nations draws in participants from different nationalities, age groups, and skill levels. The club is built on the principles of

support, friendliness, encouragement, men-torship, and feedback. Although membership ranges from 15-25 people at any given time, the bi-weekly meetings are smaller and help

The WIRE publishes these columns, exclusively, as a service to thecommunity and does not control or censor their content.

See ComingUp, page 13

– This Weekend –Imagination Playground and Uni Project, Sat Jun 24-Sun

Jun 25 1-4pm, Four Freedoms Park. Free. Also Sep 16-17, Oct 14-15. fdrfourfreedomspark.org/2017-events/6/24/ip-and-uni-project

Opening reception, “Into the Classic” invitational exhibition of Liaoning Province Artists Association in China, Sat Jun 24 4-6pm, Gallery RIVAA. Exhibit thru Jul 1; gallery hours Wed/Fri 6-9pm, Sat/Sun 11am-5pm.

R&R Summer Concert Series, Sat Jun 24 7:30pm, Good Shepherd Center. Free. Also Jul 6, 21; Aug 21..

Registration open, MST&DA summer programs. Class schedule, pricing, registration: mstda.org

Senior Center survey open. Survey to provide feedback about the senior center and its activities and programming. Avail-able at Senior Center in both English and Spanish.

Diaper drive for low-income working parents in Manhattan, ongoing. Bring new, sealed boxes of diapers (sizes 3, 4, 5 or 6, but especially 4 & 5) to one of Borough President Gale Brewer’s offices (1 Centre St. 19th Fl. South or 431 W. 125th St. storefront) or order online: amzn.to/2gAzVo7

Roosevelt Island Day Nursery open enrollment continues 8:30am-3pm daily, until classes are filled, at 4 River Rd. Info: 212-593-0750.

Registration open for Island Kids Summer Camp. Camp runs July 10-Aug 25. Info and registration: islandkids.org or islandkidsri@gmail.com

– nexT Five Weeks –.“Frauds and Scams” presentation from NYPD 114th Precinct

Crime Prevention Unit, Mon Jun 26 2pm, Senior Center. Free.

Sign-ups for Fresh Food for Seniors open, Mon Jun 26-Tue Jun 27, Senior Center lobby. First pick-up is Wed Jul 5. $8/bag.

Artist meet-up, Wed Jun 28 10am-3pm, Four Freedoms Park. Bring your sketch pad and kick off the FFP Sketch-ing Contest with Richard Alomar of Urban Sketchers. Free. Also Fri Jul 7, 4-7pm; Sat Jul 15, 10am-3pm.

Reception for “People, Places, & Things” Wed Jun 28 5-7pm, Senior Center. Watercolors and books made by seniors will be on display with refreshments served. Free. (See ad, page 15.)

RESCHEDULED: Brain Health presentation and memory screenings from the Alzheimer’s Foundation, now Thu Jun 29 12:30-1:30pm, Senior Center. Free.

PoliTical acTion coming UPcurated by Linda Heimer

Urge Cuomo to be a Clean Energy Leader, Mon June 25, when he will be at the Plaza Hotel for a fundraiser. We will be outside calling on him to lead a transition to 100% clean and sustainable energy. Sponsoring orga-nizations: Food & Water Watch, NYPIRG, United for Action, New York Communities for Change, Sane En-ergy Project, Sierra Club New York City Group, Politics Reborn. Join us from 6-7pm at 768 Fifth Ave. at 59th St. Info: facebook.com/events/327510954346254

Impeachment March, NYC, Sat July 1, 11am-2pm, a peaceful demonstration to oppose the views of the Trump administration and to call for the impeachment of Donald J. Trump. Coordinated rallies in major U.S. cities. Meet at 65th St. & Broadway at 11am and march to Trump Tower at 61st St. and CPW. Info: facebook.com/events/663968730476074/ (To view grounds for impeach-ment: Impeachmentmarch.org)

“The most effective opponent of the Trump Presidency is Donald J. Trump.” – editorial in The Wall Street Journal

The Community Column

Ruby LyonRI Toastmasters Club4121.toastmastersclubs.org

Over the summer, while the RIRA Common Council takes its summer break, the Island Services Committee will continue to work on the major issues we’ve been dealing with for the last three to four months.

RatsThe serious trash/rats problem at PS 217

is now getting attention from the Dept. of Education, RIOC, PS/IS 217 staff, the PTA, and some key Roosevelt Island residents. Multi-faceted ac-tions are under way. Probably the most impor-tant action is to place traps filled with rat poison all over the af-fected site.

We think this is unsafe and probably not ef-fective over the long term.

Rossana Ceruzzi, our rodent expert, pro-posed an alternate solution. She has offered to install and maintain a cat pen at the site with help from her volunteers and some students. This is environmentally friendly and effective. She and her wildlife organization maintain four sites on Roosevelt Island, which have demonstrated that cat pens are very effective. The smell of cats keeps rats away.

We will try to get the people involved in the problem to consider the cats proposal.

FacilitiesAfter meeting with RIOC, we learned that

they are developing a plan to provide space

at one sports field daily on a rotating basis for “free play” for residents, especially our youth. Also, RIOC’s new Director of Parks and Rec-reation was directed to inspect the four sports fields and two dog runs, and develop a plan to bring the fields and dog runs, which are cur-rently in poor condition, up to an acceptable

condition. We will monitor the prog-ress on this issue and assist as nec-essary.

The major proj-ects to fix deficien-cies in Sportspark are completed and the facility is back in operation.

Our lead person on Sportspark, Su-sana del Campo Perea, has been in-specting the facility and is preparing a comprehensive re-

port on what still needs to be fixed. Working with the appropriate RIOC officials

and Sportspark’s staff, we hope to develop an action plan to bring the facility and programs up to an acceptable standard.

Tram ElevatorsWe will continue to press RIOC to expedite

the project to provide two new elevators for the Tram station. Our pessimistic estimate is that

See RIRA, page 6

TheRIRAColumn

Aaron HamburgerChair, RIRA Island Services

ashamburger33@gmail.com

See Toastmasters, page 4

Island resident, Susan Cameron, talking to a packed house about accent modification at the June 12 Toastmasters Club.

Piaskowski

4 • The WIRE, June 24, 2017

It’s finally here! Next month, Cornell Tech will begin to move its offices from the Google building in Chelsea to The Bloomberg Center on our new campus. We are so excited to of-ficially become your neighbor, and have many exciting updates for the community.

Community Space on CampusOver the last several years, we heard from many of you di-

rectly about the need for meeting and event space on the Island. Cornell Tech looks forward to welcoming the community to our campus.

We are pleased to be able to provide meeting space, free of charge one night a week, to Roosevelt Island non-profit groups for meetings, workshops, or other events. A classroom in The Bloomberg Center will be available every Thursday from 6:00-

9:00 p.m. for community use. It will be able to accommodate 50 people in a classroom setting, or 75 with the tables removed. Requests for the room will be submitted through an online form and must be received 30 days in advance of the event. The space will be made available starting mid-September on a first come, first served, basis.

In addition to the free space, groups can also rent space on the campus for events related to Cor-nell Tech’s mission and programs. As it gets closer to September, we will provide you with more infor-mation and the event-request link. And, of course, we hope you will take advantage of The Cafe in The Bloomberg Center and the ample public open space on our campus.

Job OpportunitiesWe continue to update job post-

ings at our dedicated website – tech.cornell.edu/jobs – where you can view Cornell Tech opportunities and access links to the positions available with our contrac-tors. Please be sure to check back often to explore new roles. We highly encourage Roosevelt Islanders to apply for jobs on the campus. In fact, two Islanders were recently hired to the security team! There are many opportunities – and you’ll enjoy a short commute!

Community Office Hours As you know, I have been spending a couple days every week

at Gallery RIVAA since September 2014. It has been a pleasure to get to know so many Islanders who stopped in to talk to me and learn about the campus! I loved to see people – especially so many children – walk down Main Street and stop in their tracks to look at our campus rendering in the window, then wander in to find out more and stay to view the beautiful artwork.

I have so many wonderful memories at the gallery, from meeting so many of you, to exhibit openings, jazz concerts, and more. In celebration of our groundbreaking two years ago, we brought in Cornell alumnus and artist Peter Gerakaris for a special exhibition, Tropicália, an immersive, mixed media, site-specific installation at the gallery. It brought a new audi-ence to the Island to see the gallery and explore the community.

I am so grateful to the Gallery RIVAA artist members, espe-cially Tad Sudol and Esther Piaskowski Cohen for their partner-ship over the last few years. My last day at the gallery will be June 30, but I’m not going away. In fact, starting mid-July, I will be on the Island every day as we move into our new offices in The Bloomberg Center. We will be busy with the move throughout July but, as always, I am accessible by email and phone during this time. And starting in August, I will resume community office hours at The Cafe on the ground floor of The Bloomberg Center.

To mark my first day in the gallery, back in 2014, I invited people to stop by for light refreshments and conversation. And so, it is only fitting to do the same on my last day in the gallery: I hope you will join me on Friday, June 30, between 10:00 a.m. and noon for coffee, cookies, and more conversation. There is never a shortage of topics for us to discuss and the cookies will be great, so I hope to see many of you there.

For more information, visit tech.cornell.edu and feel free to email me at jane.swanson@cornell.edu with any questions. See you on the Island!

Cornell TechColumn

Jane SwansonCommunity Liaison, Cornell Techsjs399@cornell.edu

RIRA Anti-Pot Campaign Gets off to a Rocky Start

by Briana WarsingIn response to community

complaints about the open use of marijuana on the Island, and in the wake of a January 12 assault by an off-Islander who was accused of smok-ing pot near a playground, the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) voted in February in favor of placing anti-pot signage around the Is-land. A couple of weeks ago, the signs finally went up.

Within days, they were van-dalized.

According to Erin Feely-Nahem, chair of RIRA’s Pub-lic Safety Committee (PSC), her group had already been brainstorming signage ideas for months when the January 12 incident happened. After a Public Safety forum was held to address the incident, the Committee’s plans changed. In February, Feely-Nahem told us that she believed that the Public Safety forum was instructive in determining where the community stands on the issue of pot smoking in public.

This week, however, she acknowledged that the signs did not have the intended ef-fect. “The final draft [of the signs] did not include the ed-ucational component, which was to ask for the cooperation of ‘smokers’ within the com-munity, in respecting the idea

of staying away from places children play. Without that ask, perhaps the message was too harsh, and provoked those we had hoped to obtain ‘buy-in’ from, in order to try and provide a smoke-free environ-ment around the areas where children play.”

As to the committee’s next steps, Feely-Nahem said, “We waited a long time for the specialized signs, and were surprised by the quantity [just three signs were ordered]. The choice of where they were placed was determined by the Chief [PSD’s Jack McManus], with a focus on the existing problematic areas. The mes-sage, due to the difficulties in

hanging them, was obstructed, which might have also encour-aged their vandalism. The PSC will meet and discuss how to proceed.”

Adib Mansour, RIRA rep-resentative for Island House and the designer of the sign, says the January 12 attack was not necessarily a reflection of the attitudes of Islanders. “Jack McManus let us know the individual [involved in the attack] was arrested, and he was an adult, 40 years old,” not one of the cohort Islanders were expressing concern about at the Public Forum, namely Island youth.

At least one of the vandal-ized signs has been removed.

Two signs posted near the Manhattan Park playground were vandalized almost immediately.

create a safe and fun environment to try out public speaking.

Throughout the year, Roosevelt Island Toastmasters hosts open houses to give the community a taste of what the club is all about. On Monday, June 12, the club hosted a night with Columbia University professor Susan Cameron at Gallery RIVAA. Susan is an actor, educator, author, accent coach, and the head of

voice and speech at Columbia. During the open house, which brought in over 40 attendees, Susan investigated the way human anatomy shapes speech. Her accent modification lecture was a big hit and great precursor to the Toast-masters meeting that followed. The night was just one example of the many lessons one can learn through Toastmasters.

Roosevelt Island Toastmasters welcomes any and all who are ready to confront their fear of public speaking or just want to improve their speech. Our meetings take place on the second and fourth Mondays of every month from 7:45 - 9:15 p.m. Anyone is welcome to drop in as a guest and see what the club is about – and, if it’s a hit, they are welcome to join for a nominal, bi-annual fee. We hope to see you there!

Ruby Lyon currently serves as the Roosevelt Island Toastmasters vice president of public relations and has been a part of the club for just over a year and a half. She works in mar-keting at Row New York, a non-profit bringing the sport of rowing to New Yorkers, regardless of background or ability.

To get in touch with Ruby or the club, visit 4121.toastmastersclubs.org.

Toastmasters, from page 3

Island resident and distinguished Toastmaster Anna Doumnova speaking to crowd.

The WIRE, June 24, 2017 • 5

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6 • The WIRE, June 24, 2017

-IslandAdventures Ocurated by Sara Maher

Those lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer are finally here! From street fairs to book shares, there’s an event to enjoy with every friend or family member.

Think DrinkThis Saturday, you can get your drink on – even

if you don’t “drink.” Hester Street Fair’s Iced Cof-fee Competition lets you show love to iced lattes and cheer for cold brew as you sip your way from booth to booth. If you are interested in something harder, head to the NYC Craft Beer Festival to enjoy unlimited samples of beers, spirits, meads, and ciders from 75 independent breweries.

• Cold Brew Throw Down: F downtown to East Broadway and walk to the northwest corner of Seward Park (corner of Hester and Essex Sts). Sat Jun 24, 11am-6pm. Free admission. Info: hester-streetfair.com

• Craft Beer Festival: F downtown to 14 St and walk northwest to the Metropolitan Pavilion (125 W 18th St). Sat Jun 24, 2pm or 7pm. $45-85; all tickets include unlimited 2oz tastings. Info and tickets: nyc-craftbeerfest.com

Room for FunIf you need to get the kids out on a sunny Satur-

day, take them to Bryant Park Kids. The Reading Room will have storytime, music, magic shows, and visits from literary characters like Clifford the Big Red Dog every Saturday through August 19. While you’re there, borrow a book or board game from the Room’s permanent lending library and plant yourselves on the lawn for an afternoon of free fun.

• F downtown to 42 St-Bryant Park and enter the park; Reading Room is located on the south side. Sat thru Aug 19, 12-1pm. Free. Info and schedule of events: nycgovparks.org/events/2017/06/24/bryant-park-kids

Shop ’til You DropPop Up New York collaborates with local inde-

pendent restaurateurs, designers, and musicians to create “one-of-a-kind” street fairs throughout the city. Each event features a different lineup of ven-dors, so if street fairs are your thing, get out your calendar; F-accessible events include Sunday’s Pop Up @ Smith St in Brooklyn, Midtown Munchies on August 18, and Pop Up @ Washington Square Park

on September 2.• Smith St: F downtown to Bergen St and walk east

to Smith St; festival runs on Smith St from Bergen St to Union St. Sun Jun 25, 10am-6pm.

• Midtown Munchies: F downtown to 42 St-Bryant Park and walk southeast to 40th St and Madison Av; festival runs on 40th St from Madison Av to Park Av. Fri Aug 18, 10am-6pm.

• Washington Sq Park: F downtown to W 4 St and walk northeast through Washington Square Park; festival runs in park from Macdougal St to Univer-sity Pl. Sat Sep 2, 10am-6pm. All free. Info and full schedule of events: popupnewyorkevents.com

Reggae Beach DayMost people go to the beach to relax to the sound

of waves gently rolling in, but if you prefer your sunbathing with a bit more sound, head to Coney Island during its Reggae Beach Party. Sand-dwellers who venture west of the amusement park will hear ska, dub, and dancehall beats from local legends (though I imagine you’ll be able to hear it just fine from anywhere on the beach). Time to rock out with your sunblock out.

• F downtown to Coney Island-Stillwell Av and walk south to the Boardwalk; festival is located east

on the Boardwalk at 20th St. Sun Jul 2, Aug 6, Sep 3; 3-7pm. Free and family-friendly. Info: facebook.com/groups/coneyislandreggae

Fish for AllStill trying to decide if the Great Outdoors are all

that great? Explore the wild world of fly fishing with free classes at Bryant Park Fly Fishing. Experts from outdoor gear retailer Orvis will guide you through casting and outfit-rigging, all without having to dip your toes — or your pole — into water of any kind. Equipment is provided. Participants who do catch the fish…ing bug, will leave with coupons for the required equipment.

• F downtown to 42 St-Bryant Park and walk east to Orvis (489 Fifth Av). Saturdays thru Jul 15, 10am-12pm. Free; registration required. Info and link to registration: www.orvis.com/newyorkcity

Scientifically AwesomeAre you the friend who is always pointing out the

physics flaws in superhero movies? The parent ea-gerly awaiting your kid’s annual science fair? Aging science superfans, you can come out from behind the safety goggles – you’re having your moment. First there was the Science Side of Tumblr, then a Bill Nye revival (for grown-ups!), and now a science club…for adults…at a bar. Secret Science Club is a monthly meeting that “features mind-bending lec-tures, volatile experiments, and chemical libations.” Who’s the cool co-worker now?

• F downtown to Smith-9 Sts and walk northeast to The Bell House (179 7th St). Meets monthly; next meeting Mon Jul 17, 8pm. Free; no registration required. Ages 21+. thebellhouseny.com/event/1499879

Speak Your MindUse your lunch hour to fill up on food – food for

thought, that is. Bryant Park Language Classes will teach you beginner Brazilian, Portuguese, Italian, and French in easy 45-minute increments. Classes are not cumulative, so drop in anytime you feel like getting your lingo on.

• F downtown to 42 St-Bryant Park and enter the park. Mondays thru Aug 28, 11:45am-12:30pm. Free; registration required and opens one week before each class. Registration: inlinguainBryantPark@inlingua.com

See Resnick, page 10

by Dana AgmonIsland internist Dr. Jack Resnick

has been a champion and advocate of in-home care for the past two decades. His quest began in 1998 after he lost a 48-year-old quadriplegic patient to a hospitalization gone wrong. Accord-ing to Resnick, if the patient’s uri-nary tract infection had been treated at home, the antibiotic-resistant bedsore that caused his death would have been prevented.

Convinced that in-home care extends both the longevity and the happiness of homebound chronic patients, Resnick started the Disabled Association Sup-port for the Homebound, known as DASH. Resnick says in-home services allow for patients to avoid unnecessary hospitalization, especially in institu-tions that have no expertise in their re-spective diseases, and saves on costly procedures.

It’s a vision that is gaining City-wide and national attention.

In 2011, as an appointed Innova-tion Center Fellow under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Dr. Resnick submitted a com-prehensive plan to roll out in-home care throughout New York City. The Independence at Home Demonstra-tion, passed at the same time as the Affordable Care Act under section 3024, requires participating practices to provide in-home primary care to chronically ill Medicare patients. Originally set up as a three-year dem-onstration project, the program was then extended for another two years through September 30, 2017.

And it’s already seen success. Ac-cording to the second-year analysis and results for the program, which were released by the CMS last sum-mer, not only did the program make

Island DASH Program Serves as National Model for Helping Homebound Patients

treatment more personal, allowing healthcare providers to spend more time with their patients and pro-vide more effective care, it saved an

the elevators may not be in operation until mid-2018.

RIRA Summer HiatusAs stated above, during the months

of June through August, the RIRA Common Council will be away on its summer hiatus. During RIRA’s time away, please take time to reach out to your building representative, voice concerns or goals you wish for him or her to undertake in the upcoming ses-sions, and to ask any and all questions you might have.

The success of the Common Council depends very much on each of you, as members of the community, to let the building representatives know what they can do to better serve you and the community.

And, if you are interested in taking a seat at the Common Council table in September, please do let your building representative know, or reach out to Jeff Escobar at president@riraonline. There may be spots still available for your building. Come, and be a leader to the community.

RIRA, from page 3

Dr. Jack Resnick

The WIRE, June 24, 2017 • 7

by Briana WarsingOn a podium, under a clear tent,

with blue sky above and a panoramic view of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens beyond, renowned journalist Tom Brokaw expressed admiration for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a man who fought to reassure a nation and promote freedom around the world, even as his own body left him trapped and dependent on others.

Brokaw was the guest of honor at Four Freedoms Park Conservancy’s fundraising event – the annual Sunset Garden Party, now in its fifth year. The theme of this year’s event was freedom of speech and expression, the first universal human right named in President Roosevelt’s pivotal 1941 State of the Union Address.

At the event, Brokaw was honored for his “incredible commitment and extraordinary leadership in the de-fense of free speech and expression.” It was a coming-home of sorts as Brokaw also served as the Master of Ceremonies at the park’s dedication ceremony in October 2012.

In his remarks, Brokaw character-ized Roosevelt as “a man in full, except for his paralyzed legs.”

“Most of America didn’t realize how severely disabled [FDR] was,” said Brokaw. “My parents were

astonished. Most of the midwest were astonished, and most people in the rest of the country were astonished when they finally realized that he was completely paralyzed from the waist down.” FDR was diagnosed with po-lio at the age of 39.

“My friend [former Washington Post Executive Editor] Ben Bradlee once saw him being loaded into a car in the South Street station in Boston,” recounted Brokaw. “He was shocked, he said, by [Roosevelt’s] inability to control his own body, that his head slammed back, and they had to push him into place.

“Think about that,” Brokaw said. “And think about the fact that we never saw him without a smile of reassurance on his face – the jaunty appearance, pinching his glasses, the cigar. We do not know for sure how that daily struggle, for such a vigorous man, af-fected his internal compass, but how could it not?

“When he shared with the world the Four Freedoms that he believed ought to be the American legacy to nations everywhere, not just on our shores, [it was because] he believed in making the world great – not just in some ar-tificial way of ‘making America great again.’ He was a man who embodied those freedoms. Speech and worship,

freedom from want and fear. But he was a man who was not free in his own limbs. A vigorous man in every other way, he led us out of the depression from a wheelchair, in private, and with the help of aides, in public.”

Brokaw’s message seemed espe-cially fitting at Four Freedoms Park, located a few hundred yards from where the Goldwater Hospital previ-ously stood as a refuge for people with disabilities seeking greater accessibil-ity and equality.

“His joie de vivre was contagious,” marveled Brokaw. “His courage was unparalleled. His use of language was like that of his friend Winston Churchill and, in its own way, a fight-ing force.”

The June 14 Sunset Garden Party was the first of a year-long series of events and programs at Four Freedoms Park dedicated to the first of FDR’s Four Freedoms: the freedom of speech and expression.

Ambassador William vanden Heu-vel, founder of the Franklin and El-eanor Roosevelt Institute and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park Conservancy, introduced Brokaw as “a chronicler of history, son of South Dakota, and a man of truth who under-stands that democracy compels truth, self-confidence, and decency; that’s the essence of Tom Brokaw.”

New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul also thanked the hon-oree for his work. “It’s been so reas-suring to all of us that we’ve had the voice of calm here for 50 years, Tom Brokaw,” she said. “As a young person watching the story of our nation during troubled times, in 1968 watching as-sassinations, and watching Watergate, having Tom [Brokaw] there as the face of our country and the face of legiti-mate news.”

Vanden Heuvel closed his remarks by recalling FDR’s famous admoni-tion that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. He told the crowd, “The world we live in is FDR’s world. This treasured park depends on you to fullfill its vision. We will not be afraid, we will be fearless.”

Pour Yourself an FDR

Guests at the June 14 Sunset Garden Party at Four Freedoms Park were treated to a specialty cocktail called “The FDR.” Here’s how to mix it at home:

1 oz Vodka1½ oz Fresh lemon juice ½ oz Basil simple syrup Splash of club soda Basil leaf to garnish

To make the basil simple syrup: • Combine 1 cup water, 1 cup

sugar, and 1 cup fresh basil leaves in a small saucepan.

• Bring to a boil, stirring contin-uously until sugar dissolves.

• Simmer for 1 minute and then remove from heat. Let sit for 30 minutes.

• Strain syrup to remove leaves and let cool.

Brokaw Honored at Four Freedoms Garden Party

Journalist Tom Brokaw was honored at the Four Freedom Conservancy’s annual Sunset

Garden Party.

Left: Emma Levine, Gina Pollara, and Stephen Martin. Below: (From left) Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr, Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul, Tom Brokaw, Ambassador William J. vanden Heuvel, and Barbara Shattuck Kohn.

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8 • The WIRE, June 24, 2017

Roosevelt Island Day

The WIRE, June 24, 2017 • 9

Roosevelt Island Day

photos sponsored byUrban American

10 • The WIRE, June 24, 2017

Related’s strategy for filling the Is-land’s empty storefronts more quickly. “I think one of the things that really made this transaction move quicker is it was a ready-to-go space.” She says the firm is working to make all of the spaces as ready as possible, including installing lighting in the right places, hooking up utilities, and bringing the spaces up to code...“So potential cli-ents can walk in and see the vision of what the space can become, instead of seeing a daunting amount of work. When a space is ready to move in, it gets a lot more attention.”

In 2011, RIOC selected the Hudson Companies and Related Companies to manage the 33 retail spaces – a total of 100,000 square feet of leasable space – on Main Street and stimulate retail development. They brought in new stores, including a Subway sandwich shop in October 2012, Main Street Sweets in November 2012, Whole-some Market in May 2013, and Island Wines & Spirits in October 2014.

Mexican Restaurant and CaféIn other dining news, the initial plan

that Onda, the new Mexican Restau-rant slated for 548 Main Street, would open sometime this summer was overly optimistic.

According to Kaplan, both Onda and a new café and juice bar planned for 503 Main Street, are only now wrapping up the design phase of construction and starting the filing process.

by Kelly TurnerAsk ten Islanders about the im-

pending fate of the former Trellis diner at the north end of Good Shep-herd Plaza, and you’re likely to get ten different answers.

“The question I get asked more than anything else is, ‘What is hap-pening with Trellis,’” says RIOC board member Margie Smith.

The diner, once a favorite haunt of Islanders looking for a place to lin-ger over a cup of coffee or to gather with neighbors, closed in September of 2014 to begin a renovation project that was supposed to take three to four months.

Now renamed NISI, the diner has been reimagined as a Greek restau-rant. And, to the casual observer, it looks nearly ready to open its doors. Vases of flowers sit perched on a couple of tables near the windows – exactly as they have for months.

“I know it’s very hard to hear the

What about Trellis/NISI?

Retail, from page 1

“The design is done. Now it just depends on how long it takes the De-partment of Buildings to approve the plans,” she told committee members. “It’s hard for me to estimate when they will open until they start work and we can see how that moves along. But it won’t be this summer.”

More to Come?Even with the new arrivals, there

are many vacant storefronts along the Main Street corridor – some have not had a tenant in years.

Kaplan says Hudson Related hopes to have more good news soon. The company is in negotiations with Owen and Bridget Johnson for a lease at 507 Main Street, where the Paul Calen-drillo gallery recently stood. The WIRE previously reported that the Music Together instructors plan to turn the space into a music classroom and play space for kids. (The gallery is currently looking for a new home on the Island.)

The empty space at 568 Main Street, another ready-to-go space (next to the Roosevelt Nails salon), which was briefly occupied by daycare center CDM Kids, has also been getting some interest, according to Kaplan.

Asked whether she’d seen interest or foot traffic picking up lately, Kaplan said not really, but that she hopes that Main Street retail will have more mo-mentum once the Cornell Tech campus opens this summer.

same thing over and over,” says Alex Kaplan, spokesperson for Hudson Related. “It’s the story of a very well-intentioned operator who has had every misfortune happen to him during this renovation process.”

Almost immediately after begin-ning renovations, the owners ran into trouble. One of the walls marked for demolition in the design plans ap-proved by the Department of Build-ings turned out to be a load-bearing wall. Kaplan says the latest setback has had to do with the restaurant’s plumbing and gas inspections.

“One inspector comes in and tells him it should be done this way, and the next person comes in and tells him something different. It’s just one thing of many,” says Kaplan.

Still, she’s optimistic that things are now on the right track. “We have no reason to believe he is not going to open. He will open. It will happen. He’s put a lot into this.”

average of $746 per beneficiary. Half of the participating practices were able to reduce costs while increasing care, allowing them to win monetary incentives.

In 2014, Resnick also testified in front of a congressional committee to support legislation that expands health innovation via telehealth (at-home di-rect video conferencing with physi-cians), and other technologies that can assist homebound patients with their care while not forcing them to leave the comfort of their homes.

However, despite its positive results, Resnick says that, with a new federal administration which appears set spe-cifically against universal healthcare, and more generally against the weak and poor in our society, it is hard to predict what will become of the Inde-pendence at Home program.

“[The program] is currently up and running in 15 spots around the country, with high-quality results in terms of lowering mortality and [increasing] patient satisfaction,” says Resnick. “But, even if successful, it will re-quire an act of Congress [to make the program permanent].” The bi-partisan legislation was introduced last sum-mer, before the current administration came into office.

Today, Resnick continues to fight for the program while still maintaining his own infrastructure for his patients on the Island and elsewhere. He says

he’s trying to approach the issue from new angles. “Much of Medicare is not administered by the government anymore but by insurance companies; and they are interested. So I intend to repackage it and push it again through the insurance companies… It is my best bet.”

Despite seeing insurance companies as more welcoming to the program, Resnick believes another way is to go through State governments, as op-posed to the federal government. Dr. Resnick acknowledges that he has his work cut out for him. He explains that even doctors are resistant to change and are not open to sign on to any new patient-care ways.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding healthcare these days, Resnick thinks it is logical for the Trump administra-tion to extend the program and make it permanent. “[The program] requires no federal funds and, as the legislation was written originally, it was intended for doctors and doctor groups… In the end, it lowers costs for institutions that are actually losing money on these patients almost every time they walk in the door.”

With convincing results for both pa-tients and providers, Resnick hopes the program will not meet the resistance and obstacles of political interests and games, but rather the seriousness of legislators who are supposed to serve the public and their constituents.

Resnick, from page 6

Longtime Island resident, Ann Grace O’Grady passed away Tuesday, June 20. She is survived by her son Joshua and daughter Claire, as well as twin grand-daughters. Ann was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

Ann Grace O’Grady1955-2017

A wake will be held Friday, June 23, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at Law-ton-Turso Funeral Home in Hobo-ken, NJ. Burial Mass will be held the next day, Saturday, June 24, at 9:00 a.m. at St. Francis Church, 300 Jefferson St., Hoboken, NJ.

The WIRE, June 24, 2017 • 11

455 Main Street7 days, 11am-11pm212-583-1688Free deliveryfor orders $15 and over.All major credit cards ac-

cepted ($15 minimum).

www.fujieast.com

CHINA 1KITCHEN

609 Main Street11am-11pm Sun-Thur11am-midnight Fri-Sat212-588-0663Free delivery $6 & over

Ferry, from page 1

from here go next to Long Island City – a trip that takes seven minutes, then E. 34th Street with a final stop at Wall Street/Pier 11. The total travel time between the Island and Wall Street is 31 minutes.

Mayor Bill De Blasio has heralded the NYC Ferry service as a “new era” for the city.

A one-way fare on the ferry costs just $2.75, which is the same as the subway (though your MetroCard is no good on the boats). Each new boat is fitted with a boutique news stand that sells coffee and booze, and is outfitted with Wi-Fi.

Residents in Astoria expressed ex-citement at the upcoming opening of the new ferry route. It can be difficult to get from Hallets Cove, the location of the Astoria ferry terminal, to Man-hattan. Although only 1,515 feet from Manhattan, residents say the walk to the subway alone is 20 minutes, and that’s before they even get on it.

Earlier this spring, Astoria House residents watched their terminal con-struction in disbelief. One resident, a grandmother who has lived in Astoria House her entire life, said she was thrilled there would finally be an easy link to Manhattan. A mother walk-ing with her 2-year-old said the ferry would be life-changing for her, as there’s no subway nearby and she feels very isolated living on the peninsula.

At a gathering near the landing to-wards the end of March, celebrating the groundbreaking of the Astoria landing, Community Board 1 Council Member Costa Constantinides said, “For the residents of public housing, who can look out their windows every day and have no connection to this water, and to be reconnected, to get to their work every day, it’s a watershed moment.”

Long Island City residents are also transportation-starved, as they rely solely on the 7 train.

The TramOstensibly, Islanders have more op-

tions, and more access, but lately it hasn’t felt that way to many. Increasing numbers are relying on a Tramway that is about to undergo platform construc-tion which will impact service, starting in July. At Wednesday’s RIOC Board meeting, President Rosenthal said her goal was to “inconvenience residents as little as possible,” but conceded that “it won’t be comfortable.” She

said she has no details to share on the work schedule but that she will com-municate them when she does.

In her President’s Report, Rosenthal advised Islanders to “go away for the month of July.”

But longtime Islanders are used to transportation aspirations, and trans-portation lapses. The Roosevelt Island Tram opened in 1976, 13 years before the subway. It wasn’t part of the origi-nal design for the Island when plans were made in the late 1960s. “The Tram was really an afterthought, be-cause we built Roosevelt Island with the understanding there would be a subway,” said former Urban Develop-ment Corporation President Ed Logue. “Finally, we realized we were not go-ing to have a subway by the time the Island was ready for people.”

“The opening of the Tram caused a dramatic increase in the number of people looking to move to the Island,” said Robert Litke, who served under Logue. “It absolutely allowed the Is-land to be marketed. It really made the place. It showed how farsighted and creative the City of New York could be.”

The SubwayThe F-train is part of a system, the

Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), that Governor Cuomo characterized as in a “state of crisis,” in a press release earlier this week.

Islanders have reported 50-minute wait times to board a subway dur-ing morning rush hour, and there have been frequent signal delays. There was a loss of power in mid-April causing extensive delays. In a recent article about the subway system, Vanity Fair.com notes that monthly subway delays have jumped from 28,000 to 70,000 in just five years. On an Island where you can’t just get out and walk, or hail a cab, that is a problem.

Funny story: when The New York Times reported in 1982 that the State was moving forward with the plan to build Manhattan Park, Islanders be-came very concerned about there being no subway. At the time, David Lustig, who was president of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association, told The Times, “If there’s no subway, you can’t put any more people on the Island. It’s as simple as that.” The Tram was already filled to capacity during rush hours.

Sound familiar?

The new NYC Ferry route will start at the newly built ferry landing in Astoria.

12 • The WIRE, June 24, 2017

4TH OF JULYROOSEVELT ISLAND

FAMILY FIREWORKS CELEBRATION

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 20175PM—10:30PM EDT

SOUTHPOINT PARK &FOUR FREEDOMS PARK

TICKET REQUIREDADVANCE TICKETING FOR ROOSEVELT ISLAND RESIDENTS

MONDAY, JUNE 26TH AT 12 PMPASSWORD: RIResident10044

Four tickets per household max. Individuals registering multiple times will be eliminated from the system and will not receive tickets.

Please visit our website at www.rioc.ny.gov

Food and Entertainment

100 Years with the Marine Corps Reserve

On June 16, the Marine Corps Band from New Orleans per-formed at Four Freedoms Park, concluding a year-long tour cel-ebrating the Marine Reserve’s centennial. Eduardo Jany (top center), the organizer of the event, took to the microphone to thank RIOC President Susan Rosenthal, and RIOC Board member Margie Smith for help-ing him organize the concert.

Congresswoman Carolyn Ma-loney (right) said she was happy to be on Roosevelt Island and not in D.C. and characterized the New Orleans Band as a “cel-ebrated orchestra and one of the most celebrated units in the entire military.” They did live up to her description.

we only had six shootings,” he said. “Six shootings is still too many, but we’re very proud.”

He said crime on the Island was also down, including burglaries and rob-beries. He credited Officers Matthes and Esposito with the 114th Precinct for much of that success. Matthes and Esposito are the Island’s Neighbor-hood Coordination Officers, which means they spend time familiarizing themselves with the community to bet-ter respond to neighborhood-specific crime and other conditions.

MarijuanaPublic Safety Chief Jack McManus

was asked by Sangeeta Joseph, co-co-ordinator of the Roosevelt Island Par-ents Network, about marijuana on the Island, specifically, what should parents do when they smell marijuana smoke, or see someone smoking. McManus ad-vised, “The first step you should take is to call Public Safety. We will come and investigate right away. In order for us to write a summons, we need to see them smoking the actual marijuana cigarette. We do make marijuana arrests every week.” He also said that the community are his, “eyes and ears,” and advised Islanders to report everything.

RatsCouncilmember Ben Kallos com-

mended Rick O’Connor from the Roo-sevelt Islander blog for giving him his first real view of the rats behind PS/IS

217. Since then, Kallos said he’s been in touch with RIOC about the issue and he thanked RIOC President Susan Rosenthal for “really trying to force the DOE [Department of Education], DSNY [Department of Sanitation New York] and others, to get together and solve this problem.” Kallos said he is grateful for the strong partnership be-tween his office and RIOC. “It is rare to have a leader who is so concerned with quality of life that they get the City to do the right thing,” he said of Rosenthal.

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s “rat expert,” Caroline Brag-don, encouraged Islanders to attend the rat academy her agency is hosting at Good Shepherd on June 29. She also affirmed that she believed the school was “on the right path.”

TransportationResponding to a complaint about

recent subway delays, Kallos said, “That’s one of the reasons we’ve been focused on the ferry service. The train is really unreliable.” Construction work on the Island’s ferry terminal began this week.

Another resident asked about the status of Citibike on the Island. Kal-los said, “Roosevelt Island’s zip code, 10044, has more requests for Citibike stations than anywhere in the City of New York. I am in daily negotiations with Citibike about this.” I guess we will stay tuned.

Town Hall, from page 1

The WIRE, June 24, 2017 • 13

NYC Rodent Academy (rat management) presented by the Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene, Thu Jun 29 5:30-7:30pm, Good Shepherd Center. Free; no RSVP required. Info: nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/rodent-academy.page

Movies at the Library, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004, R), Thu Jun 29 6pm. Free.

Summer Sunset Sundays, Sun Jul 2 9am-8:30pm, Four Free-doms Park. Park will stay open late Sundays in July. Also Sun Jul 9, 16, 23, 30. fdrfourfreedomspark.org/2017-events/7/2/summer-sunset-sundays

Fourth of July Family Fireworks Celebration, Tue Jul 4 5-10:30pm, Southpoint and Four Freedoms Parks. Free; registration required (limit four tickets per family). Info and registration (opens Jun 28): fdrfourfreedomspark.org/2017-events/7/4/fourth-of-july (See ad, page 12.)

Artist meet-up, Fri Jul 7 4-7pm, Four Freedoms Park. Bring your sketch pad and drop by. Free. Also Sat Jul 15, 10am-3pm.

RIOC’s Summer Movie Series presents Miracle, Fri Jul 7, Firefighters Field. Music and food vendors 7pm, show starts at sunset. Free. Rain date, Fri Jul 14.

Manhattanhenge, Wed Jul 12 6-9pm., Four Freedoms Park Witness sun setting in line with NYC grid while listening to.Latin Jazz. Registration required: fdrfourfreedomspark.org. (See ad, page 11.)

NASA Academy Rocket Science summer reading program presented by Mad Science, Wed Jul 13 1-3pm, Library. Build a rocket to take home. Ages 5+. Free; advance registration required at the library.

Artist meet-up, Sat Jul 15 10am-3pm, Four Freedoms Park. Bring your sketch pad and drop by. Free.

RIOC’s Summer Movie Series presents Finding Dory, Fri Jul 21, Firefighters Field. Music and food vendors 7pm, show starts at sunset. Free. Rain date, Fri Jul 28.

Flea Market Sat Jul 22 9am-3pm, sponsored by RISA. Tables are $25 with advanced registration required at riseniors@gmail.com. Also on Aug 12 and Sep 9.

RIOC’s Summer Movie Series presents Coming to America, Sat Jul 22, Firefighters Field. Music and food vendors 7pm, show starts at sunset. Free. Rain date, Sat Jul 29.

The Main Street WIRE – Sat Jul 29. Advertising deadlines: Display, Wed Jul 19; decision date for circulars/inserts, Tue

Jul 25; 6,000 copies due Thu Jul 27. Also: Aug 26; Sep 16, 30; Oct 14, 28; Nov 11; Dec 2, 16. News phone, 646-741-4719. Email press releases and feature-story suggestions to bri-

ana@mainstreetwire.com. Advertising (display & classified) 917-587-3278 or msWIREads@gmail.com.

– FUTUre Weeks – RIOC’s Summer Movie Series presents Rebel Without a

Cause, Fri Aug 4, Firefighters Field. Music and food vendors 7pm, show starts at sunset. Free. Rain date, Fri Aug 11.

RIOC’s Summer Movie Series presents Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Fri Aug 18, Firefighters Field. Mu-sic and food vendors 7pm, show starts at sunset. Free.Rain date, Fri Aug 25.

Imagination Playground and Uni Project, Sat Sep 16 -Sun Sep 17 1-4pm, Four Freedoms Park. Free. Also Oct 14-15. fdrfourfreedomspark.org/2017-events/6/24/ip-and-uni-project

Kite Flight for Peace, Sat Sep 23 11am-4pm, Four Freedoms Park. Design and fly a kite. Free. All ages. fdrfourfreedomspark.org/2017-events/9/23/kite-flight-for-peace

Do you want to list an event in The WIRE? Send the event name, date, time, location, age requirement, and cost to events@MainStreetWIRE.com

ComingUp, from page 3

by Kelly Turner and Briana WarsingOn June 10, a memorial for Virginia Granato,

beloved community activist, and co-founder of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA), was held at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd.

But, when the service was over, eight wheel-chair-bound attendees, who had come to honor their friend, found they were unable to leave; the single elevator servicing the chapel had stopped working. RIDA Vice President Nancy Brown said,

“The repairman had just left, he had just looked at the elevator,” said Brown. “By the time we called him to come back, he was on his way to another job.”

“What was really frustrating was all that was needed was for the elevator to be reset,” said Lynne Shinozaki. “The only person au-thorized to do that is the elevator maintenance man who took three hours to get to Roosevelt Island.”

From 2:15 to 5:30 p.m., the residents waited for help. “We all just said, ‘Uh oh, guess we will be here for a while.’ We were not worried, we thought they would fix it pretty quickly,” said Brown. “We all knew each other, we were all friends. It wasn’t bad at all.” She says they had help keeping their minds off the situation at hand.“We played games. Judy Berdy started talking about the Island and asked us to stump her. And of course she knows it all. There is no way we could stump her.”

Public Safety (PSD) was contacted, which in turn called the elevator maintenance company. 911 was called twice but, according to memo-rial attendee Judy Berdy, the NYPD did not consider the situation urgent. “Since no one was stuck in the elevator, we had to wait for the elevator repair person to arrive.”

In the meantime, neighbors brought over food and drinks and kept everyone informed.

“The real heroes were [Cornell Tech’s] Jane Swanson, Judy Berdy, and my husband [Mi-chael Shinozaki], who fed them and kept them calm and entertained,” says Lynne Shinozaki. RIOC Board member Michael Shinozaki chat-ted with everyone to pass the time and texted PSD Chief Jack McManus to keep him ap-prised of the situation until he could arrive on the scene.

“Jack McManus tried multiple solutions to

get the elevators working,” said Lynne Shino-zaki. Not only that, but according to Brown, he came from home. It was his day off.

Two EMS crews did eventually arrive, but refused to move anyone. According to Berdy, the consensus was that there was no safe ramp option available. “There is no easy way to build a ramp at a steep angle because it is too dangerous,” she said. Because many of the motorized wheelchairs weigh between 400 and 650 pounds with the passenger, there is no way to carry the rider and chair safely. Addition-ally, Brown has life support equipment on her chair, so there was no way to safely move her without her chair.

At 5:00 p.m., the elevator repair person arrived. Within 30 minutes the elevator was operating and everyone was able to leave. But many agree that it’s only a matter of time before another breakdown occurs.

At the June 13 Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Real Estate Committee meeting, RIOC engineering consultant Mike Russo de-scribed the chapel’s elevator as “fragile.” He says RIOC is already in the process of as-sessing all of the Island’s elevators for future upgrades.

“An RFP [request for proposals] is going out for experts to study every single elevator and to bring every single elevator up to current code,” he said. According to Russo, the Good Shepherd elevator is at the top of the list as a priority, along with the Motorgate elevators.

“We are trying to work with our maintenance company to see if we can get a few more months out of the current elevator with some smaller upgrades. But there is an overhaul that needs to happen to make it reliable.”

When RIOC Board member Margie Smith asked about whether there was any “Plan B” for getting wheelchair-bound people out of the building when this happened in the future, Russo said there is not. The chapel is a land-marked building and there are limitations on what changes can be made to the building’s structure. A ramp is not practical because of the chapel’s layout, according to Russo, and there are restrictions on how a vertical chair lift can be used in an emergency. “There are many buildings in the state – not just this city, but the state – that have only one elevator,” said Russo.

Broken Chapel Elevator Leaves Eight Wheelchair Users Trapped

For up-to-date info and continuing coverage, friend us on (@MainStreetWire),

follow us on (@MainStreetWIRE) or go to MainStreetWire.com.

Unable to use the elevator to Good Shepherd Chapel, residents in wheelchairs had to wait hours for a repair person to arrive

Judi

th B

erdy

14 • The WIRE, June 24, 2017

unClassified50¢ a word • 917-587-3278

Deadline for July 29 issue: Tuesday, July 25Please see page 13 for other advertising deadlines

BALLET CLUB FORMING – by ballet soloist, studio owner in Puerto Rico and Argentina. Noyes rhythm, Hungarian Folk Dance. Informal classes. 917-655-0028.

CAT SITTER – Longtime Roosevelt Island Cat Sitter will feed and lovingly care for your pet, making sure your cat is safe and happy at home. References available. 917-587-3278 or eglevy123@gmail.com.

CHEERFUL-CLASSICAL PIANO CLASSES with Irene/Tiger. Quick reading and playing. All Ages – flexible schedule & cost. 917-655-0028 – call or text.

ERRANDS – Organizing, special projects, personal assistance. You run your life, I’ll run your errands. Call Vicki Feinmel, 212-223-1108.

EXPERIENCED MATH TEACHER living on the Island offers math tutoring. 212-829-1406.

FRIENDLY GUITAR TEACHER with a master’s degree in music is looking for Island students. All ages, ability levels, and musical tastes welcome. Results guaranteed! Contact Andrew to learn more. 512-626-3072 / ascottbaird@gmail.com.

ISLAND SEAMSTRESS – 30 yrs experience. Free pickup & delivery. RooseveltIslandSeamstress@gmail.com or 646-449-8725.

MASTER PERSONAL TRAINER Offering private or semiprivate lessons. No fees for the gym. I can help you

lose fat, gain muscles, get in shape, improve your results in sport or just stay fit and healthy! First session and assessment are free. References available. Guaranteed Results: aleksfitness@gmail.com.

NOTARY – 212-317-0736 Tami.

NOTARY, CPA, TAX E-FILE, 212-644-0985, www.russellfieldscpa.biz.

NOTARY PUBLIC – 212-935-7534.

PROFESSIONAL LIFE COACH Now available on Roosevelt Island. We don’t just listen, we help change your life. Call us today for a free consultation. 917-284-7262.

SEEKING ROOM – Professional female seeks a room on Roosevelt Island for min 5 or 6 months starting July or August; clean, quiet and considerate, excellent references, please contact lk8315ru@yahoo.com

SEEKING SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS Roosevelt Island Day Nursery seeks nurturing & reliable substitute teachers. Must have RECENT experience working with young children, 3 months to 5 years. Background checks and references required. Some college preferred. Competitive pay. Send resume and cover letter to assistantdirector@ridn.org.

WRITING COACH – College instructor/Island resident offers tutoring at any level. www.cambridgewritingcoach.com.

WIRE unClassifieds do work. Call today: 917-587-3278.

Monday10:00 Stretch & Tone 12:30 Road Runners Balance

Tuesday 9:30 Forever Young Fitness10:30 RIOC Shopping Bus10:45 Road Runners Striders (Walking Club) 1:00 People, Places & Things Art Workshop 2:00 Reiki Sessions (by appointment)

Wednesday 9:30 Seated Yoga10:30 Stretch & Tone10:30 RIOC Shopping Bus 1:00 Art Workshop 1:00 Bridge 1:00 Computers 1:30 Scrabble

Thursday10:30 Feldenkrais Method12:30 Special Presentation (when announced) 2:00 Movie

Senior CenterA program of the Carter Burden Network

546 Main Street – 212-980-1888

Friday 9:30 Forever Young Fitness10:00 Computers 1:00 Art Workshop 1:00 Korean Social 2:00 Seated Yoga & Dance

Special EventsNYPD 114th Precinct Crime Preven-

tion Unit Presentation: Frauds & Scams – Mon June 28, 2pm.

People, Places, & Things Art Exhibit and Reception – Wed June 28, 5:30-7:30pm.

Alzheimer’s Foundation “Healthy Brain” Talk – Thur June 29, 12:30pm.

Field Trip: Museum of the City of New York – Fri June 30, 12-4pm.

Broadway Bingo – Thur July 6, 1pm.Emblem Health Crafting – Mon July

10, 1:30-3:30pm.Jewels with Judy – Mon July 17,

1:30-3:30pm. Music with Brian Taylor – Thur

July 20, 1:30pm.

Lunch served Mon-Fri at noon. $1.50 voluntary contribution.

Membership and programming are FREE. Anyone interested in attending a field trip must sign a waiver and release form with Samantha beforehand.

Thursdays 9:30 Building Strength* ($27, 8 weeks; thru Aug 10)

Fridays 6:00 Game Night

Special EventsComing Soon: Let’s Play Bridge;

Weight Watchers; Summer Yoga Classes; Jazz Music and Song So-cial Evening. Dates and times TBA.

Flea Markets – Saturdays, July 22, Aug 12, Sept 9; 9am-3pm. Advanced registration required.Vendors $25 per table.

2017 Annual Membership Drive – ongoing. 50+ population. Annual membership fee $15. Member dis-counts. Check our bulletin board in the Senior Center.

Mondays 5:15 Meditation (Free; non-members $5) 6:15 Tai Chi (Free; non-members $5)

Tuesdays10:30 Building Strength* ($27, 8 weeks; thru Aug 8)

Wednesdays11:15 Intro to Basic Stretch*

(Free; non-members $8; July 19-Aug 23)

6:00 Zumba Class(Free; non-members $8; July 19-Aug 23)

Roosevelt Island Seniors Association (RISA)546 Main Street – Info & registration: 917-951-4137

riseniorsa@gmail.com • www.riseniorsa.org

Note: annual RISA membership $15

* Class takes place in the 12th-floor Multipurpose Room. All other classes/special events take place in the Senior Center.

Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA)RSVP with Nancy Brown – 212-832-7385

Shopping TripsAqueduct Flea Market in Brooklyn – Sat June 24, 11am

500 vendors, lots of bargains

Trips can accommodate RIDA members only All trips leave from outside the Senior Center (546 Main).

It bears repeating. Many of the handi-capped people ejected from Gold-water were forced into a sleek East Harlem skilled nursing home despite their wish to live independently. In the infographic of community develop-ment, the omission of these disabled people, evicted for the promise of modernity, rises above the noise.

Mayor DeBlasio’s promise to close the troubled Rikers Island prison – echoing the decision of Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia before him to dismiss the administration of Roosevelt Island’s own Blackwell prison – is yet more noise.

In 1936, according to a June 2015 Politico article by Judith Berdy, presi-dent of the Roosevelt Island Histori-cal Society, “Rikers Island opened as a showplace of modern correctional facilities – a direct response to the glut of corruption and mismanagement that

had defined the era’s own version of a prison industrial complex.” The cor-ruption is embodied in an image from that era taken at Blackwell prison. “A photograph shows a German Shepherd named Screwhater, the mascot pet of the prison’s Irish gang, eating cooked steak off of a plate; downstairs, less fortunate prisoners ate the mush from the mess hall menu.”

At least during the 1930s, the vi-cious income inequality and injustice driving placement into the municipal asylum and Blackwell prison invoked essays by famous prisoners like Emma Goldman and Charles Dickens. Thank you to the liberal criticism of this cur-rent crusade to “Make Roosevelt Is-land Great Again.” However, it is time to meditate on the most vulnerable among us who have already been made to “Get Out”.

Policing, from page 2

The WIRE, June 24, 2017 • 15

520 Main Street – 212-832-2310

 

Michael Sherman is a participant in SU-CASA. SU-CASA is a collaboration among the New York City Council, the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Department for the Aging and the City's five local arts councils. This program is administered by Lower

Manhattan Cultural Council and supported by public funds from the New York City Council in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Department for the Aging. LMCC.net.

                                 

People, Places, & Things Exhibition

Wine & Cheese Reception

Wednesday June 28th, 5:00 – 7:00pm Roosevelt Island Senior Center, 546 Main Street

With Michael Sherman

 Artwork  -­‐  Watercolor  marks  made  by  the  Seniors.

Join us for an exhibition and reception of watercolors and books made by seniors that explore place and stories from one of New York's most unique zip codes, Roosevelt Island. The works were

developed during a 6-month residency with artist Michael Sherman.

was.” The visitor said that he had heard lots about Roosevelt Island and thought he’d visit.

He asked if we had a place to have a cup of coffee. We replied that we had had a coffee shop forever but it has been closed for the past two years and no one knows why. Some say the owner ran off with someone and do-nated all the money to Trump.

He said, “So no coffee and eggs then?” We said, “’Fraid not.”

As the Tram descended, he asked, “How about an ice cream cone?”

We are growing weary of walking by NISI and seeing it still closed! When can we expect it to open? The old Trel-lis was a vital part of our community. It was a place to meet, to have a leisurely cup of coffee, a nice lunch, and even an evening meal.

I find it strange that The WIRE has not reported on this delay in some time. The community has a right to know what is happening.

Jeanne Raichle and Roland Elliott

Editor’s Note: We too are anxiously awaiting NISI’s opening! As you will see in our story on page 10, Hudson Related insists that the restaurant is on track to open in the near future following unforeseen setbacks with the City inspections process. Fingers crossed!

To the Editor:I raised the issue of the Island’s fre-

quent troubles with F train service with RIOC President Susan Rosenthal in an effort to press the MTA to do some-thing for us. She met with high-level MTA officials to be told that there are no more delays on the F train than on any other trains. It appears there is some sort of a normalcy in the dys-function.

The RIRA Planning Committee has, therefore, decided to take up the issue and gather data on the number of F train delays and cancellations of stops at Roosevelt Island over the past year. We trust this will give us ammunition when we return to the issue. We are also considering a petition to enhance service on the F line.

You may be aware that Long Island Rail Road riders will benefit from a 25 percent reduced fare over the summer as a result of the service disruptions for construction and maintenance. That is something to think about. How much disruption is acceptable and how much could/should lead to some sort of com-pensation?

Fortunately, we will soon have addi-tional public means of transportation. I was assured by the RIOC president that the upcoming ferry service would be operational, as planned, by Sep-tember. The ferry landing should be completed by August. Council Mem-ber Ben Kallos is working on getting the budget for a few Citi Bike sta-tions on the Island. Hopefully these both should leave a little more space

and less of the unacceptable wait for parents with strollers and kids on the subway.

David LawsonRIRA Planning Committee

Chair

To the Editor:On Saturday, June 17, Roosevelt

Island turned out for a busy day of eating, planting, learning, and donating in many different ways.

This letter is a big, wet “Thank-You” kiss to all who signed up and came into the Senior Center Saturday, offering your lifesaving pints of blood, while also weathering the rainstorm. Bravo!

Our efforts paid off big-time with a total of 50 pints donated, resulting from approximately 90 donor cards completed over four Saturdays, and with 72 actual walk-ins!

That is a very, very good number indeed. The Island has many hurdles to clear before we get a viable donor: we have many elderly, a lot of world travelers, people on various medica-tions, and those who have conditions which prevent them from being al-lowed to donate – either temporar-ily or permanently. So, again, Bravo! Magnifico!

For our new neighbors, a little his-tory: this is the Roosevelt Island Blood Drive’s 16th year in existence. The first drive, started by then-RIRA President, Matthew Katz, was held in the deep winter of 2002, just after – and in response to – the 9/11 attacks. It was very cold. After that experience, we decided we’d rather stand outside for four Saturdays in the spring to hawk for donors, and so, the next year we tied our project to Roosevelt Island Day, serendipitous for all!

The blood drive became and re-mained a “good habit” for RIRA, and for the community. While serving on RIRA’s Common Council, I trained several past (and one current) RIRA members to serve as the project’s lead, but none were available this year. So, we made a small change: as a Roos-evelt Island Seniors Association board member, I organized the drive through RISA, and asked RIRA to serve as our partner. They agreed.

I want to recognize all of the vol-unteers from RIRA and RISA in this worthy four-weekend effort to get our residents, and even some off-Island visitors passing by, to sign up for the drive in advance at our table located at the Farmers Market:

From RIRA: Scott Piro, Laura Hussey, Melissa Wade, Aaron Ham-burger, and Shirley Coley. From RISA (general members and board mem-bers): Matthew Katz, Dick Lutz, Anna Doumnova and her husband James, Ellen Polivy, Barbara Parker, Nita Ad-vani, Lorraine Altman, Donna Chen-kin, and a very soggy Alan Siegel.

I also want to thank RISA board member Woody Deas and RISA mem-ber David Kolakoski for getting the table and chairs back to Westview in

spite of the deluge.Sherie Helstien

Secretary, RISA

To the Editor:It is great that we are getting a new

RIOC Board, but it has taken too long. The current RIOC Board has al-

ways looked out for themselves or been in foul play or asleep at the wheel; the Rivercross lease extension was such self-interest it should have been investigated. The Anthony Jones situation, where an African-American youth was almost beaten to death by Roosevelt Island Public Safety, hap-pened under this Board, and there was a lawsuit.

And discrimination lawsuits by

African-American Roosevelt Is-land employees happened under this Board. For example, one from Public Safety which was settled, one from the ex-chief counsel had judgments against this Board and the RIOC per-sonnel director, and another is going on now.

What are these lawsuits costing residents whose rent supports Roos-evelt Island? How are African-Amer-ican Roosevelt Island employees and residents supposed to feel? Everyone is hoping that we have better lead-ers coming to the Island and its em-ployees, and not more corruption and brutality and racism against African-Americans.

Jermaine Washington

Letters, from page 2

16 • The WIRE, June 24, 2017

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