Next issuein 4 weeks:Sat., July 25

Vol. 29, No. 20

29th Year as Roosevelt Island’s Independent Community Newspaper

TM

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Briefly...• MetroCard fares increase to

$2.25 on Sunday (June 28).• Governor David Paterson has

nominated Margie Smith, whowon a community nomination inApril’s special election, to theRIOC Board. While her name hasbeen sent to the Senate for confir-mation, there’s currently no mean-ingful activity in that body – a re-sult of an even split betweenDemocrats and Republicans thatleaves the majority position in dis-pute.

by Bill RaifordSix eager hands wave for attention; six-year-old bodies lean forward.

Anouchka Bloom’s 22 first graders are writing a book.Writing a book? First graders? Yes. In a New York City public

school, Roosevelt Island’s PS 217.Ms. Bloom’s writing workshop is a series of mini-lessons. This week,

each student is writing a non-fiction book on an animal of his or herchoice. Students sit on a rug as she reads from a large book with lots ofillustrations. Today, it’s frogs. What do frogs eat? Where do frogs live?How do frogs move? What do they look like? The children have lots ofanswers, which Ms. Bloom writes on a large flip chart for all to see.

After about 20 minutes, she asks the students to go to their tables andselect a book on the animal they want to write about. First, before theyopen the books, they write what they already know about their animal.Then, they read their books and add additional features of the animal.These first mini-lessons of gathering ideas are followed by others: plan-

ning the story, drafting, revising,editing, and, finally, publishing.Each book is six sheets of regularschool paper taped together. Thereis a title page with an illustration andthen five pages of illustrated text. It’sa book!

The students go through thesestages with little fuss, in a work-manlike manner. Students maymove around the classroom, evenget a drink of water, as they wish.

Sometimes it gets a bit noisy. Ms. Bloom claps once. Virtually everychild, without any other prompt, stops and claps. She claps twice. Twomore claps. Somehow, this works. Maybe it’s the calm temperamentof the teacher. Maybe it’s having everything organized: books, writngmaterials, sheets of paper with questions spelled out. Maybe it’s be-cause each student is responsible for keeping all of his/her materialsorganized. It could also be that this whole writing process seems natu-ral. Writing a book is something that every student does. And there isa reward – a publishing party.

An earlier workshop began, “We are going to write a letter. Write toanyone you wish: your mother, grandmother, friend, classmate.” Afterthe mini-lessons and the letters were completed, the students were asked tobring a stamped envelope to class, along with the address of the person towhom they had written. The next day, after the letters were addressed andplaced carefully inside their envelopes, everyone marched to the nearbypost office. Letters went to friends and families, and some students,including those who sent letters to Scotland and Fiji, received replies.

This calm, imaginative, organized, and engaged teacher and her stu-dents remind me of the old Paris Review interviews with writers likeHemingway and Faulkner: “How do you write?” “Every morning I getup and write for three hours.”

Learning About Animals, Grade 1Kids Also Learn About Writing

Anouchka Bloomwith a few of herstudents.

School’s Out as of yesterday at PS/IS 217, but not before these firstgraders produced books about animals.

Last Saturday’s downpours gave Kurt Wittman the moment he neededto capture this shot of tramway towers and the Queensboro Bridge.

Orphans International (OI), theisland-based charity that createsand maintains living-and-learningenvironments for orphans in sev-eral countries, is running a sunsetharbor cruise and other fundraisingactivities this summer.

The organization has a newproject opening in the DominicanRepublic this month.

To support that operation and itsothers, OI’s Bring Change to Or-phans campaign will run anotherweek, ending July 31. OI internshave been signing up supporters atthe subway station on the island.Before it’s over, OI hopes contribu-tors will fill any plastic beveragebottle with change and take it toNonno’s Foccaceria in RiverwalkPlaza, to receive a reward – a ticketin a weekly raffle drawing. Thecoin donations will support OI’sorphans-care projects in Haiti, SriLanka, Tanzania, and Indonesia, aswell as the Dominican Republic.

The Manhattan harbor cruise,at $10 a person, is scheduled for

7:30-10:00 Thursday night (board-ing 6:30-7:30), July 9, and will fea-ture a deejay, Latin dancing,rafflers, live performances, andviews of the harbor. It’s also a 50thbirthday celebration for OI founderJim Luce, a resident. The cruise,leaving from Pier 40 at West Hous-ton Street, is open to those 21 andolder. Only 300 tickets are avail-able; advance purchase is required.

To mark its 10th anniversary,OI will hold a private event Satur-day, July 25, in the rooftop partyroom at 455 Main Street. Spon-sored by former OI board presidentDon Hoskins and his wife, Carol,the party will honor OI child spon-sors, and include reports about allthe OI projects.

Further information is availableonline at oiww.org or by e-mail toLinda@oiww.org.

Orphans Int’l Marks First Decade

Bill Raiford as class aide

FDR Four Freedoms Park Gets aFull Go-Ahead from RIOC Directors,With Promise to Show FDR Disabled

The RIOC Board committedfully to the development of theFranklin D. Roosevelt Four Free-doms Park in its meeting Thursdaymorning, but not before receivinga firm oral guarantee from Ambas-sador William vanden Heuvel thatFDR’s disability will be a clearlyvisible component of the park.

Vanden Heuvel, who chairs thecorporation now officially desig-nated as developer of the park, of-fered to dedicate a Paul Newmanbequest of $100,000 to that pur-pose, after Jim Bates of theRoosevelt Island Disabled Asso-ciation (RIDA) asked for some tan-gible form of assurance.

In a meeting last week, the Ex-ecutive Director of the park corpo-

ration, Gina Pollara, offeredfundraising assistance to RIDA as itseeks to put its stamp on the project– claiming the 32nd U.S. presidentas a role model for the disabled.RIDA wants to make some part ofthe park an inspiration to those whoare disabled, as well as an educa-tional experience for all who visit thepark.

The former ambassador, whoserved under FDR, repeated someof the sentiments he had expressedin a letter published in the June 13issue of The WIRE. “We’re on thesame side,” he said Thursdaymorning. “The issue of howFranklin Roosevelt should beknown to his fellow Americans andto the world has never been a prob- lem for us. We regard his disabil-

ity as one of the extraordinary fac-ets of his character that enabledhim to be a great president... Hav-ing already been recognized at age39 as someone with an extraordi-nary political career ahead of him,to be stricket by infantile paralysis,and never to be able to walk aloneor stand alone without assistance,and never to be discouraged or givein to despair, never to have a senseof self-pity, and then nine years laterto be elected president of the UnitedStates – a nation paralyzed by un-precedented crisis – and to lead thatnation with the same self-confi-dence that he had restored to him-self... is something that we wantevery American to remember.”

Board member Jonathan Kalkin,who had been present at the FDRgroup’s earlier meeting withRIDA, asked Bates to presentRIDA’s views. Bates said he wasencouraged by what the ambassa-dor said, “but I will be more en-couraged by what I see. I have notbeen given anything or know ofanything that will describe or de-pict FDR as a disabled person.”

But, said Bates, “Last week, wehad a handshake... RIDA has neverbeen against the project, ever. Ourposition has always been that some-thing in addition should be put, otherthan the bust.” (A bust is the onlyrepresentation of FDR that architectLouis Kahn included in his design.)We would like to see a prominentsculpture of FDR in a wheelchair oron crutches.”

Tram Closure for UpdateDelayed to March, 2010

At Thursday morning’s meeting of the RIOC Board, RIOC PresidentSteve Shane announced an additional delay in the tram renovation project,probably to March 1, 2010. Shane said the delay was prudent for rea-sons of weather and because the city is reluctant to issue street-closurepermits for the holiday season. Assuming that the tram shutdown forthe project remains a six-month window, the additional delay will avoidboth cold weather and holiday seasons.

See FDR Park, page 10

Sculpture at FDR Memorialin Washington

– This Weekend –The Queensboro Bridge at 100 show at Gallery RIVAA, Fri Jun 26,

6-9pm and Sat-Sun, Jun 27-28, 11am-5pm; co-sponsored by RIVAAand the Historical Society.

AngelFood ordering starts today (Sat Jun 27) and runs thru Mon Jul13 for orders to be delivered Sat Jul 25. Menu at angelfoodministries.com.Call 212-731-2547 or e-mail jbates5@nyc.rr.com for ordering information.

Painkillers, a WordTreeProduction & TheatreRow production of a play by Neda Radulovic, di-rected by island resident Sanja Bestic, today (SatJun 27), 3pm and 8pm, and tomorrow, 3pm, LionTheater, 410 W 42nd St (9th/10th). Tickets & infowww.worldtreeproduction.com.

Roosevelt L!ve event, Steve Bernstein’s Baby Loves Jazz (recastchildren’s music), today (Sat Jun 27), 4pm, Riverwalk Commons (be-tween 425 and 455 Main St). Free.

Summer Movie, Transformers, at Firefighters Field, SunJun 28, 8:45pm, following pre-sunset entertainment. Free,sponsored by RIOC. (This was originally a rain date.)

– Continuing Events –The Queensboro Bridge Trolley, photos by Sid Kaplan, thru Jul 4,

daily 2-7pm, Tramway Kiosk (on theisland).

New York Junior Tennis Leaguespring program for kids 8-18 years,every day, 3-6pm, Octagon courts.Pee-wees (5-7 years), Wed 3:30-4:30pm, provided by RIOC andCouncilmember Jessica Lappin.

Open Swim Hours, Sat 12-3pm &4-7pm, Mon-Fri 6-11am, Tue & Thu6-9pm, Sportspark. Adults $5, chil-dren $3, seniors & infants free.

Light jazz at Trellis, Thu-Sat, 6-10pm, through the summer – Thu rain(indoors) or shine (outdoors); Fri-Satoutdoors only, weather permitting.

Day Nursery Registration continues. Information: 212-593-0750.Knitting for Adults, Tue noon, Library.

Letters PLetters PLetters PLetters PLetters PolicolicolicolicolicyyyyyThe WIRE welcomes letters of local interest to the community, and to/from officials. Re-

quests for Name Withheld publication will be considered, but the writer ’s name, address, andphone number must be provided for verification and for our records; letters submitted anony-mously will not be published.

Submit letters by e-mail to Letters@MainStreetWIRE.com or on a disk left at the desk at 531Main Street, addressed to The WIRE. If you e-mail, expect a confirming response and, if you don’treceive one, resend and call 212-826-9056 to alert us that it’s been sent. Alternatives: Typedcopy left at 531 Main Street; allow extra time for typesetting. Clearly handwritten letters will beconsidered, if brief. We are not able to take telephone dictation of letters. All letters subject toacceptance and editing for length and clarity. Recommended maximum length, 350 words;longer letters will be considered if their content merits the required space.

2 • The Main Street WIRE, Sat., June 27, 2009

LettersLettersLettersLettersLettersTo the Editor:

I have been a resident ofRoosevelt Island only since 2006,but I am a lifelong New Yorker andgrew up in Queens. I think thisisland is a real treasure, and thegeographic aspects are only a smallpart of it. The most important ele-ment is really the people who liveand work here, and I think it is un-fortunate when we get to a placewhere we have situations like whattranspired at Capobianco Field (TheWIRE, June 13).

A couple of brief observations:• I have met Officer Payne on

multiple occasions in the past (hehelped jumpstart my car once), andhe has never been anything butcourteous, professional, and help-ful. I do believe that if every lawenforcement officer in the landconducted themselves as he does,we would not have even a fractionof the community relations issuesthat exist.

• In almost every interaction Ihave had with Public Safety, I havefound them to be highly competent,helpful, and well-versed in the law.I feel that many of the complaintsdirected at them are by people ac-customed to having their own way,and their run of this island, and theychafe at an authority that gets intheir way.

• How we conduct ourselveswith those who serve and protectus (Public Safety) and those whocome to visit us reflects upon us,and will ultimately impact how wetreat each other. We’re just at thestart of the summer. Fields will getmore crowded, and trains will runlater and be more crowded. Butlet’s remember that everyone whocomes here – whether keeping ussafe, serving us a slice of pizza ora roll of sushi, or just coming for awalk or a ballgame – deserves tobe treated with respect as a neigh-bor or guest.

Dan Chen

To the Editor:I am pleased to have been fea-

tured in the article about re-invent-ing one’s working life. Thanks toGundula Schmidt-Graute.

Some readers may want to availthemselves of our services. There-fore, they need to know that mycompany is The Best Home Ser-vices at 212-758-0845, and atwww.thebesthomeservices.com.

Mary Cavanaugh

To the Editor:This is to express the apprecia-

tion of everyone at Island Cats forthe kindness extended last week-end by Dr. Grimm and Dr. Resnickto one of our members. From an-other country and without a NewYork doctor, she experienced asudden, potentially serious medi-cal problem. Though it was out-side of office hours, both re-sponded unhesitatingly to our calls.Dr. Resnick was in Washingtonlobbying for senior health care. Dr.Grimm spent quality time with us,examining, advising, and reassur-ing, though her day had been long.Heartfelt thanks to both for theirgenerosity and for being such animportant part of what makesRoosevelt Island special.

Jennifer Dunning

To the Editor:First, I have to say that I am a

big fan of our Public Safety De-partment, and firmly believe thatthey are at the core of our lowestcrime rate in the entire city. How-ever, the root of these aggressive,violent confrontations needs to beidentified and rooted out.

One day in the first two weeksof June, I witnessed two black menin front of Starbucks, apparentlybeing arrested by Public Safety.The scene was disturbing, and myeffort to forget it has not erased theviolence that I and many otherswitnessed.

A loud crack drew my attention,and I saw a skateboard fly acrossthe pavement. A very large officerthrew the entire weight of his bodyon top of one of the men, and theyboth crashed to the concrete. An-other officer assisted as the ‘de-tainee’ screamed, “Ow, my arm!My arm!”

The other ‘detainee’ was re-strained on each side as he jumpedup and down, screaming “F***you!” while trying to twist to theother man who was screaming inpain.

I was appalled and almoststopped to take pictures. I tried toconvince myself that the level ofbrutality was called for. Now, inlight of what was basically aphoto-snapping 10-minute loi-terer at the ball park being ar-rested, I have to ask, “Why werethose two detained?” I don’tknow who they are or what thecircumstances were. I do knowthat Public Safety appeared to useexcessive force and brutality indetaining them.

Personally witnessing any typeof violence is mentally damagingto everyone, and especially to chil-dren. We as a community must getthis under control. It is scaring andscarring everyone involved.

April Ward

To RIOC President Steve Shaneand PSD Director Keith Guerra:

On June 17, walking home fromGristedes at 4:30, I was about toenter the crosswalk under thebridge ramp when a huge blackSUV roared down the ramp,though the stop sign at high speed.I yelled, “Stop! Stop! Stop!” Thedriver finally did stop, but well pastthe sign. She shrugged her shoul-ders to say Sorry. I was shaken. Iyelled that she should take theearbuds out and start using hereyes. A witnesss thought the driverhad been on her cell phone. Had Ibeen inattentive or had a child beencrossing, the result could have beenhorrific.

Earlier in the year, my husbandand I were nearly sideswiped by adriver oblivious of the yield signin front of our building. The Pub-lic Safety Officer, in conversationwith someone else, admitted hewasn’t watching. This has happenedseveral other times. Many neighborshave reported similar incidents.

Months ago, at a RIOC Boardmeeting, I asked RIOC and PublicSafety to start placing officers atthe various stop and yield signs. Ifofficers were patrolling on thestreet, watching traffic and hand-ing out summonses, drivers wouldpay closer attention. It seems thatnone of the 42 Public Safety offic-ers see what is happening at thesesigns. As you (Steve) have pointedout, they are posted at signs onlywhen schools let out, and only atspecific crosswalks. That’s nottraffic control.

Steve, when I spoke to you at theTown Meeting on June 17, I wasstill so angry about that near-missthat I put this request directly toyou. You had the chutzpah to askif I’d gotten a license plate num-ber! I wasn’t aware that I had beendeputized. There is no guaranteethat having officers at the signs willstop negligent drivers at other lo-cations, but the deterrent is put inplace when drivers don’t knowwhere they’ll meet up with an of-ficer issuing summonses.

A neighbor told me about herchild nearly being hit by a car witha Public Safety officer standingthere facing the street. When sheasked if he was going to do some-thing about it, he turned around andwalked away.

What are we paying these guysfor?

Signs will not make us safe ifdrivers can ignore them. PublicSafety can change these dangeroushabits, but it will take a ticket blitz.

When a really bad accident fi-nally does occur, and it will, I don’twant RIOC or PSD to be able tosay you didn’t know there was aproblem. I urge residents to reportevery traffic incident to you and toThe WIRE, to ensure that a reliablerecord exists.

Sherie Helstien

To the Editor:President Obama has proposed

a public health insurance programthat will provide needed competi-tion and expand services. At longlast, we will join other nations thatprovide health care for all – but onlyif we urge Congress to pass legisla-tion that includes a public option.

It’s easy to e-mail your support.Just Google your legislator’s nameand click on the website.

Mary Camper-Titsingh

Organizations –The July 25 WIRE will bethe last until August 29.If you have events in thatfive-week period, pleasesend the listings toeditor@MainStreetWIRE.comby July 20. Advertisingdeadlines: July 15 forJuly 25 issue; August 19for August 29 issue.

To the Editor:This Saturday, the kids of Roosevelt Island are celebrating their Little

League season with the final two games. I invite all the residents andfriends of the island to attend these two games and honor the kids for theirpassion and love for baseball, as well as their undisputed friendships.

It is an occasion to truly understand the emotions that stem from thechildren, as well as their parents, friends, and neighbors. They are theroots of this community. I am confident that, once on the field, you willimmerse yourself in an atmosphere of sportsmanship that binds our com-munity closer. It is a place where everyone leaves stress, politics, andworldly pressures behind.

The Red and Blue teams will play for first and second place; Greenand Purple will play for third and fourth. As in any baseball game, therewill be a lot of cheers and encouragement, some fleeting disappoint-ments, and celebrations... a demonstration of the Youth Center’s suc-cessful programs, the volunteer coaches’ commitment, and the generalcelebration of youth on this island.

This invitation is to everyone – children, parents, friends, neighbors,visitors, employees, and RIOC board members. It is a good place tomend hard feelings and foster a start of island bonding.

Adib Mansour

More listings, next page

To the Editor:“Build it and they will come.” Apparently, this only applies to the off-

Island corporate-sponsored softball leagues that have been allowed totake over Capobianco Field during the island’s Little League season.To my recollection, the fields were always meant to be for the commu-nity, and part of tenants’ rent pays for unfettered use of the living spacessuch as the parks, playgrounds, and fields.

Tony Capobianco, in whose memory the field is named, not onlyfounded the island’s Little League, but also was instrumental in raisingthe funds to maintain the teams and keep the field in playable condition.It was completely rebuilt about 20 years ago by Little League volun-teers, including a complete resodding of the infield, installation of adrainage system, and lowering of the steep drop-off that ran across theoutfield. Purchase of the dirt and clay necessary for the base paths wasfinanced totally by the Little League.

Since Capobianco Field was intended for use by the community, inparticular the Little League, RIOC must ensure that, during the shortannual Little League season, it is dedicated to the exclusive use of theLittle League for practice and play.

Robert CrespoFormer Little League Board Member,

Coach, and Field Manager

Letters deadline for July 25 issue: Tuesday, June 21

Editor & Publisher – Dick LutzReporters – Jim Baehler, Mary Camper-Titsingh, Jennifer Dunning

Chief Photographer – Paul KatzChief Proofreader – Linda Heimer

Proofreader – Ashton BarfieldAdvertising Sales – Ellen Levy

Circulation Managers – Sherie Helstien, Matthew Katz, Teri SheridanCirculation Assistants – Jim Bates, Brandon Cruz

Human Resources – David BauerLegal Counsel – A. Ross Wollen

Website NYC10044 facilities – Frank FaranceFounding Publisher – Jack Resnick

News 212-826-9056Urgent news 917-617-0449

Advertising 917-587-3278 or212-751-8214

Circulation 212-935-7534e-mail editor@MainStreetWIRE.comWebsite NYC10044 – nyc10044.com

Published by The Main Street WIRETM

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Julianna Apollus, Judi Arond, Bubu Arya, Aaron Barth, Jennifer Barth, Steve Bessenoff,Paco Bozzano-Barnes, William Buckley, Bob Cagle, Carol Chen, Mark Chipman, Malcolm Cohen,Lunita De Manuel, John Dougherty, Wanita Elliot, Arlise Ellis, Elizabeth Erickson, Gloria Gonsalves,Matthew Gonsalves, Tiffany Gonsalves, Angela Grant, Margie Harris, Teresa Hasing, Steve Heller,Darrell Henry, Roberta Hershey, Todd Jagerson, Mickey Karpeles-Bauer, Mary Jo Knight,Michael Kolba, Clinton Narine, Kira Narine, Sandra Narine, Essie Owens, Florence Paau, Joan Pape,Richie Ramdeen, Ronnie Rigos, Ron Schuppert, Raye Schwartz, Beryl Seaforth, Stephanie Smith,Nina Wintringham; students of Legacy High School; and members of the Beacon Island Kids Project.

Senior CenterMonday

9:30, Hawaiian Hula10:30, English as 2nd Language11:00, Tai Chi12:30, “Oldies” Movies6:00, Yoga

Tuesday9:30, Get Stronger Bones10:30, Blood Pressure10:20, Shoppers’ Bus11:00, Arabic2:00, Bingo2:00, Paint & Sculpt7:30, Games (RISA)

Wednesday9:30, Yoga10:30, Computers10:20, Shoppers’ Bus10:30, Spanish7:00, Pokeno (RISA)

Thursday9:30, Get Stronger Bones10:30, Creative Arts11:00, Arabic12:30, Movie

The Main Street WIRE, Sat., June 27, 2009 • 3

Frank Farance, PresidentRoosevelt Island Residents Associatione-mail: rira-president@rira-council.org

Crafts for Children (ages 4-12), Tue 3:30pm, Library.Poetry Hour (adults), last Tue of month, 6pm, Library.Picture Book Hour (age 4 and under), Wed 11am, Library.Book Bingo (ages 5-12), Thu 4:00pm, Library.

– Coming Week & Next Weekend –Living Library program starts (and runs Mon-Wed-Fri through Au-

gust 31), Mon Jun 29, 2-5:30pm, schoolyard at PS/IS 217 and gardensat both north and south campuses of Coler-Goldwater. Info:alivinglibrary.org. Limit of 25 students/day unless accompanied by an adult.Wear hat, bring water, wear sunscreen.

R&R Concert: The Alice Smith School SeniorChoir of Kuala Lumpur, Malay-sia, Fri Jul 3, 8pm, Good Shep-herd Center. Free; contributionswelcome. (Ad, page 6.)

– Future Weeks –Health Workshop for Seniors, Tue Jul 7, 3-5pm, Good Shepherd

Community Center, sponsored by Sen. Jose Serrano and the RooseveltIsland Seniors Association, and presented by the NewYork-Presbyte-rian Ambulatory Care Network.

Preserving Ellis Island, Tue Jul 7, 6:30pm, Library, 524 Main St.,with Judith McAlpin, President, Save Ellis Island. Fourth in a seriespresented by the Roosevelt Island Historical Society. Free.

Roosevelt L!ve event, New Orleans in New York with BrotherJoscephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra, Sat Jul 11, 4pm,Riverwalk Commons (between 425 and 455 Main St). Free.

Town Meeting on Public Safety, Wed Jul 15, 8:00pm, Good Shep-herd Community Center.

Book Discussion – The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, Thu Jul 16, 6:30pm,New York Public Library Roosevelt Island branch. Books available atthe branch here.

Roosevelt L!ve event, with Dance L!ve Brazil with Nation Beat, SatJul 18, 4pm, Riverwalk Commons (between 425 and 455 Main St). Free.

Summer Movie, 50 First Dates, at Firefighters Field,Sun Jul 19, 8:45pm, following pre-sunset entertainment.Free, sponsored by RIOC. (Rain date Sat Jul 25.) Ad,page 7.

The Main Street WIRE – Next issue in 4 weeks, onSat Jul 25. Advertising Deadlines: Ads in the paper, Wed Jul 15;decision date on circulars/inserts, Tue Jul 21; they are due Thu Jul 23.Additional issues in 2009: Aug 29, Sep 12 (starts The WIRE’s 30thyear), Sep 26; Oct 10, 24; Nov 7, 21; Dec 12 (holiday issue). 2010:First issue Jan 16; thereafter, every two weeks. News phone,212-826-9056; urgent matters, 917-617-0449. Advertising, display andclassified: 917-587-3278.

Roosevelt L!ve event, Jones Street Station with Diane Birch, Sat Jul25 (American music), 4pm, Riverwalk Commons (between 425 and 455Main St). Free.

Bearded Bards Folksing, SatJul 25, 5pm, Library. IslandersHowie Leifer, Chris Fuller, Mat-thew Katz. Free.

Island pianistRoy Eaton plays at Bryant Park, Mon Jul 27 thru FriJul 31, 12:15-1:45 (except Thu, 2:15-3:45pm), 6th Av. at42nd St, Manhattan.

Summer Movie, Kung Fu Panda, atFirefighters Field, Mon Jul 27, 8:45pm, following pre-sunset entertainment. Free, sponsored by RIOC. (Raindate Sat Aug 1.) Ad, page 7.

Jazzmobile with Lily White, Thu Jul 30,7pm, Good Shepherd Plaza. Host: Urban Ameri-can.

Open-Mike Performance by Islander Irene Clark, FriJul 31, 6:30pm, Nola Studios, 250 W 54th St., Manhattan.

Roosevelt L!ve event, The Flanks (underground countrymusic) with Hawke & Owl (alternative bluegrass/rock/

Americana), Sat Aug 1, 4pm, Riverwalk Commons (between 425 and455 Main St). Free.

Roosevelt L!ve event, Wakey! Wakey! (music), SatAug 8, 4pm, Riverwalk Commons (between 425 and455 Main St). Free.

Summer Movie, Forrest Gump, at FirefightersField, Sat Aug 8, 8:05pm, following pre-sunset en-tertainment. Free, sponsored by RIOC. (Rain date

Sat Aug 15.) Ad, page 7.Roosevelt L!ve event, Dance L!ve / Hip Hop, Sat Aug 15, 4pm,

Riverwalk Commons (between 425 and 455 Main St). Free.Summer Movie, Hairspray, at Firefighters Field,

Mon Aug 17, 8:05pm, following pre-sunset entertain-ment. Free, sponsored by RIOC. (Rain date Sat Aug22.) Ad, page 7.

Book Discussion – Seven Guitars by August Wil-son, Thu Aug 20, 6:30pm, New York Public Library Roosevelt Islandbranch. Books available at the branch here.

Roosevelt L!ve event, Chicha Libre (Latin/Peruvian music), Sat Aug22, 4pm, Riverwalk Commons (between 425 and 455 Main St). Free.

Roosevelt L!ve event, Generate Records Jazz Fest (experimental mu-sic), Sat Aug 29, 4pm, Riverwalk Commons (between 425 and 455 MainSt). Free.

Roosevelt L!ve event, Ethan Lipton Orchestra (jazz/folk/country/blues), Sat Sep 5, 4pm, Riverwalk Com-mons (between 425 and 455 Main St).Free.

Residents Association Common Coun-cil meeting, Wed Sep 9, 8pm, Good Shep-herd Community Center (lower level);meetings are open to all, and begin with anopportunity for residents to address theCouncil.

from previous page

There is no charge to listIsland events here. E-maillisting information toeditor@MainStreetWIRE.com orleave it at the lobby desk at531 Main Street, addressedto The WIRE. Include aphone number for possiblefollow-up.

Friday9:30, Yoga10:30, French1:00, Bridge1:30, Korean Games7:00, Games (RISA)

Saturday7:30, Bingo (RISA)

Special EventsHealth Workshop, Tue Jul 7, 3-

5pm, Good Shepherd Commu-nity Center (see ComingUp)

Food Stamp Lecture, Fri Jul 10,11am.Home-delivered meals 212-744-5022, ext. 1203

1. RIOC-RIRA collaboration on Blackwell Park.At the June 17 RIRA town hall meeting, RosinaAbramson, RIOC Vice President of Planning and In-ter-Governmental Affairs, led an interactive discus-sion on RIOC’s intention to remodel the park. RIOCis seeking the community’s input on developing amaster plan (not a blueprint). Abramson’s first stepis to identify the stakeholders. RIRA’s committeechairs will convenemeetings over thesummer. Residentsare welcome toparticipate in thediscussions. Meet-ing announce-ments will beposted on kiosks.

2. Progress inRIOC-RIRA collaboration on red bus schedule.Following the improvement of segment #2 (late morn-ing, 9:55 to noon), RIOC is now experimenting withsegment #1, the morning rush. Segment #1 is morecomplex because three routes operate simultaneously(Octagon Local, Octagon Express, and FirehouseLocal), and Main Street traffic is more congested. Ac-cording to Fernando Martinez, RIOC Vice Presidentof Operations, they are testing a single synchroniza-tion point at Octagon (rather than both Octagon andthe tram), which means that service is likely to beregular at the southbound stops during the morningrush. There are still some quirks, so we are tryingvariations. The current versions will need refinementonce school resumes in September. Meanwhile, it’snice to see steady progress in improving the red busschedule.

3. Assemblymember Micah Kellner providesfunding for red bus signs. Mr. Kellner has allocated$10,000 to RIRA for bus arrival displays that willindicate the number of minutes until the next bus.RIOC will install the signs.

4. RIRA Public Safety Committee. Erin Feely-Nahem, elected committee chair by the RIRA Com-mon Council, will lead RIRA’s investigation into theMay 30 baseball field incident, and report back toRIRA and the community. She would greatly appre-ciate hearing from anyone who witnessed events atthe field. She’s at 917-939-1178 or, by e-mail, atefeelynahem@aol.com. Confidentiality will be honored.

5. RIRA town hall meeting on Public Safety.RIRA will hold a town hall meeting on July 15 from8-9:30 p.m. for community input on Public Safety.The agenda will be posted on kiosks prior to the meet-ing. Public Safetywill participate inthe meeting, andhas been asked togive a presentationon how adults andchildren should in-teract with officers.

6. RIRA townhall meetings asuccess. For thepast six months, inadvance of RIOCboard meetings,RIRA has heldmonthly town hallmeetings (separatefrom RIRA’smonthly CommonCouncil meetings)that enabled resi-dents to participatein community discussion of items on the board agendaand other topics. RIOC has helped by encouraging par-ticipation of their officers, directors, and staff. The eventshave been moderated, informed, and civil, and they havestarted and ended on time. The experiment is a success,and the meetings will be a regular occurrence.

TheRIOCColumn

Steve Shane, PresidentRoosevelt Island Operating Corporation

e-mail: SShane@RIOC.com

See RIOC Column, page 10

June 24, 20091. Board of Directors: Meeting was held at 9:30

a.m. on Thursday the 25th. As it was the last sched-uled meeting of the board before the traditional sum-mer hiatus, an extensive agenda, reported on else-where in The WIRE, was considered, including a num-ber of required compliance reporting items, projects,the action required by environmental law on the FDRproject, and projectapproval for phase 1in accordance with theconditional designa-tion agreement.

2. Southpoint:(A) Renwick

Ruin: Stabilizationwork is complete, andthe entrances to thebuilding are beinggated to secure the interior and prevent trespassing.

(B) Green Rooms/Wild Gardens: The contrac-tor is completing phase 1 rough grading, paths, andstone walls. An RFP for phase 2 will be issued tocomplete the park, including finish grading, capping,utilities, fencing, and planting.

(C) FDR Memorial: Assuming board approval,RIOC has been in consultation with the state’s Divi-sion of the Budget and Parks Department and the cityto work out funding mechanics for the $4 million stateappropriation, the matching $4 million from the city,and at least $8 million from the Franklin and EleanorRoosevelt Institute, as necessary for phase 1.

3. Tram Overhaul: Finalization is expected atthis month’s progress meeting. Architectural workfor the two stations proceeds, with concept drawingsposted. [See page 1 for a schedule change.]

4. Projects: Work is ongoing on many projects,and others are being completed. Our engineering de-partment is very busy! With the weather finally clear-ing, striping of Main Street is under way. The ther-moplastic application should last much longer and bemore visible.

5. Bank: Amalgamated Bank’s takeover shouldbe approved at the board meeting, and the new op-eration will commence in July. Meanwhile, Amal-gamated has been staffing a desk in NBNY to facili-tate transfer of accounts.

6. Southtown Buildings 5 and 6 are moving to-ward completion. Landscaping is nearly complete,tram turnaround fountain under construction.

7. Bicycles: Thebike racks at thesubway station andtram were clearedof derelict bikes, socommuter bikespace is againavailable in theracks. Anyoneneeding to park hisbike overnightshould registerwith Public Safety.Anyone’s bike re-moved by PublicSafety may be re-claimed by going toPublic Safety andmaking an identifi-cation within a weekof its removal.

8. Red Bus: The joint experiment with RIRA inmorning scheduling is ongoing through the first weekof July, to gauge the effect of school buses on MainStreet when the summer session starts. The OctagonLocal buses are scheduled to leave The Octagon south-bound at 8:55, 9:25, 9:55, 10:15, 10:35, and 10:55.Firehouse Local buses will depart the comfort stationsouthbound at 9:10 and 9:40. Buses arriving at thetram before 10 will run continuously. A bus will meetthe 10:00 a.m. tram, and each tram thereafter, beforeheading north. A 45-minute loop is built in to ac-count for unpredictable events along the way. As the

TheRIRAColumn

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Roosevelt Island Living at Its Finest...and you can own it now!Magnificent Penthouse at 455 Main Street PH1D, 3 br, 2.5 baths. Grand terrace has panoramic views of the city skyline. Graceful layout with well-proportioned rooms and breathtaking views from every one. Two and one-half marble baths, custom cook’s kitchen, washer/dryer in the apartment. Thelarge terrace is one of only five in the building. It’s Riverwalk Landings – a full-service condo with a children’s playroom, rooftop party room with deck, andhealth club. Tax abatement in place until 2025, with no property tax until 2021. Separate storage bin available.

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8 • The Main Street WIRE, Sat., June 27, 2009

Roosevelt Island kids are gettinga head start on becoming the cy-borg wranglers of the future. Adozen took a course in Lego robot-ics under the sponsorship of theisland’s Youth Program and theafter-school program of the city’sDepartment of Youth and Commu-nity Development.

The kids in the Raptors teamranged in age from 7 to 12. Theircoaches and mentors, Frank Faranceand Mike Acevedo, were recruitedby Youth Center Director CharlieDeFino. During the two-monthcourse, the participants learned howto build a robot, program it, and sendit on missions. Two weeks ago, theycompeted in the first Lego Leaguecity-wide tournament.

In the program, the Raptors teambuilt a robot that could guide itselfusing programs that the team cre-ated and refined over many ses-sions, experimenting and learningteamwork, programming, estimat-ing, some math, and some physics.

by David StoneOne day in 1961, Reginald

Simmons picked up his telephone,and Salvador Dalí introduced him-self. When I talked with Mr.Simmons in his Roosevelt Land-ing apartment, he laughed when Isuggested that it must’ve taken himaback, getting a direct call from thethen world-famous and famouslynotorious surrealist.

“I had a pretty big ego myself.”A friend had been modeling for

Dalí. When Dalí told her hewanted to “paint Othello,”Simmons’ friend responded, “Iknow him!” Thus started a friend-ship that lasted until Dalí’s deathin 1989.

“We did many things together,”Simmons mused. Their first meet-ing took place, he related, at a partyDalí threw in his behalf and atwhich he and the artist toasted theirfriendship. While he never got topose as Othello, he points proudlyat the Battle of Tetuan where he ap-pears on horseback and wearing aturban, a member of the MoroccanArmy taking on the Spanish Armyin Africa in 1860. “You can see,I’m about to have a horse run overme,” Simmons jokes.

Now, after 40-some years, thislongtime Roosevelt Island residentis trying to bring to completionwhat he considers a visionary filmabout Dalí. A collection of

storyboards restricts passage in hisapartment, and additional materialstored elsewhere has created an is-sue – he is dependent on the gen-erosity of others for storage.

Dalí, Simmons says, approvedthe project, assuring him that hesaw the story as he did – as he saysdid Gordon Parks, the great Ameri-can photographer and filmmaker,before his death in 2006. Whenand if his film gets made, it will be– appropriately – surrealist. Theoverriding theme will be Dalí’s in-terest in the varying diasporas ofcultures, including Jewish andEastern European, but more spe-cifically those that emanated fromAfrica.

“I want to bring Dalí to Harlemby way of Roosevelt Island,” jokesSimmons. Although the painternever visited here, Simmons feelshe can ignite cultural interests lo-cally. “Dalí,” he explains, “was asocio-cultural icon” who detestedbigotry.

The storyboards Simmonsopened in front of me tell some ofthe story he hopes to see filmed.“Dalí said he saw himself in hismother’s womb,” and Simmonshas created an image that he wishesto show descending from the zo-diac. He playfully suggested thathe and I could go together to aplanetarium and look for a good fit.

“Dali said that Gala (his wife)represented all the beautifulwomen in the world to him.”Simmons envisions a scene inwhich the images of many beauti-ful woman appear on the waves ina dance sequence.

The film, a sort of creative docu-mentary, would take the viewerinside Dalí’s brain by way of hisretina. Simmons argues that theartist imagined his pictures asthough projected against the backof his mind. The viewer would getthe artist’s view as he saw it him-self.

These days, pondering the pro-duction demands for financing,storage, cameras, and crew,Simmons notes insightfully that“Dalí doesn’t need me. I needhim,” a reference that will resonatewith anyone who has tried to cre-ate a work of art. In a large sense,the larger-than-life Dalí succeeded

in making the subject himself, butfor most, it’s someone or some-thing else, a passion or a mission.

If good fortune prevails,Simmons will bring his passion forDalí to the big screen, taking thesurrealist to Harlem by way of ournarrow strip of land in the middleof the East River.

Resident Looks to Honor an Old Friend – Somebody Named Dalí

There May Be a Robot in Your Future,But These Kids Already Have Theirs

TheRaptors’LegoBot

by Janet FalkThe president of Save Ellis Is-

land, Inc., will describe the historyof America’s immigrant receptioncenter Tuesday, July 7, in a presen-tation. Judith McAlpin will presentPreserving New York City’s Small-est Islands: Ellis Island, at 6:30p.m. at the library. It’s free and thelast in a series of four mounted bythe Historical Society.

People who have visited EllisIsland are acquainted with theFerry Terminal Building, whichhas been restored and is open tothe public. It was the departurepoint for immigrants who hadpassed all the legal and physicalexaminations and were deemed“free to land” in New York. Otherbuildings on the island include theBaggage and Dormitory Buildingand the Ellis Island Hospitals.

“Ellis Island had extensive hos-pital facilities, with two generalhospitals housing doctors’ offices,operating rooms, fluoroscopy (pre-decessor to x-rays) rooms, conta-gious disease wards, three infectiousdisease pavilions, a pharmacy/labbuilding, and other operational ar-eas,” says Ms. McAlpin. “Those im-migrants who were detained for ad-ditional health screening and/ortreatment of illness or injury wouldstay for a period of several hoursto as much as two years, althoughthe majority were hospitalized fora relatively short time.”

The Baggage and Dormitorybuilding housed the immigrants (and

families) who were awaiting appealdecisions, deportation, a familymember’s discharge from the hos-pital, pick-up by family members orfriends, or other processing.

According to Ms. McAlpin, EllisIsland operated like a small city.Some staff lived on the island.Most commuted by boat. In addi-tion, some immigrant aid societiesand other groups sent workers toeducate or entertain the newcom-ers who remained on the island.These were most often lessons inthe English language.

One More Island, Ellis, inSurvey Series at Library

A hospital on Ellis Island

In the best-of-four competition,they were recognized for using twoinnovative strategies. One strategywas intending to score zero pointson the first half to gather knowl-edge of the competition table sothat more points could be scoredin the secondhalf. Anotherstrategy was apit-crew ap-proach inchanging the ro-bot betweenrounds of com-petition, using afield crew tomeasure perfor-mance, a pro-gramming crew

to conduct trial and error, and a con-struction crew to do the building.

DeFino hopes to kick off a year-long program in September, col-laborating with PS/IS 217, withAcevedo and Farance continuingas coaches.

Welcome Maximus WilliamSmith, born to Jacqueline andSteven Smith, brother to two-year-old Ella Smith.

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unClassifieds50¢ a word • 212-751-8214Deadline for July 25 issue: Tuesday, July 21

Deadline for August 29 issue: Tuesday, August 25

FRENCH TUTORING by expertteacher, individual or group. Call212-355-3848.PIANO LESSONS with Irene/“PuRRple Tiger” – All ages.917-655-0028.AVON AGENTS WANTED – Workfrom home. Call 888-269-2616 orwww.phoneavon.com. thru 10/1

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TUTORING – English professoravailable. Essays / Test preparation /Grammar / Analysis. 646-319-3873.CLEANING SERVICE – Residentialand professional. Proprietor of 17years is RI resident. Bonded &insured. Same personnel each visit.Call 212-688-6712.NOTARY PUBLIC – Roosevelt IslandDay Nursery, 4 River Road, 8 a.m. to 3p.m. school days. 212-593-0750.EXPERT PIANO REPAIRS & TUNING– Prompt service. 212-935-7510.Beeper 917-483-1020.MAIN STREET THEATRE ANDDANCE ALLIANCE – Ongoing registra-tion for dance and theatre classes. 212-371-4449. Unique or period clothing &furniture gladly accepted.MATH TUTORING by lady living on theIsland. Any level. Call 212-829-1406.

AVON Representative – RooseveltIsland. www.youravon.com/joannacuevasLICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST /Certified Reflexologist – Island resi-dent Diana Brill. Gift certificatesavailable. 212-759-9042.NOTARY PUBLIC – 212-935-7534.HIGH SCHOOL Community servicecredit on Roosevelt Island with Or-phans International, after school &Saturday mornings. Stop by the officeat 559 Main Street.VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – Volunteerwith the Icla da Silva Foundation andhelp save lives. 212-593-0474.CAT SITTER – VACATION IN PEACE– Will feed and play with your cat,water your plants, pick up your mail,etc. 917-587-3278.EXPERIENCED PAINTER/CON-TRACTOR – Excellent Island refer-ences, fully insured. Free estimate.212-751-8214.The WIRE runs on volunteer power!We may need help with distribution inyour building (call 212-935-7534), orjoin us for our Friday-morning stuffingsession (212-826-9056), or try yourhand at reporting (917-617-0449).Other help is needed, too. Whatwould you like to do?MOVING? Use WIRE classifieds tosell the stuff you’d rather not move.Reach every apartment on RooseveltIsland and turn your discards intodollars. 212-751-8214.

10 • The Main Street WIRE, Sat., June 27, 2009

• During rush hours, F trains will run less frequently and slower, resulting indelays of up to 10 minutes, through August 31, due to track work.• The mornings of Tuesday, June 30 through Thursday, July 2, there will beno service from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island from 12:01 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.(Queensbound trains will run on the V line.) Tram operations are expectedto be normal.

The Island on the WebCompiled by Rick O’Conor

rooseveltislander.blogspot.comRoosevelt Islander – Stabbing at Island Subway Platform – tinyurl.com/m4ef5uRoosevelt Island 360 – Main Street Traffic Signs – tinyurl.com/nc754jEater – Sports Bar Coming to Roosevelt Island – tinyurl.com/mjws5xColumbia University – Transportation Study – tinyurl.com/mwvwopRoosevelt Island Listings – Online Classified Marketplace – tinyurl.com/nxxssbRIOC – New Tram Station Design – tinyurl.com/m7b3mpRIOC – Webcast: 6/16 RIOC Operations Meeting on Southpoint – tinyurl.com/mff36vRIOC – Webcast: 6/17 RIOC Audit Committee Meeting – tinyurl.com/mff36vRIOC – Webcast: 6/25 RIOC Board of Directors Meeting – tinyurl.com/mff36vDHCR – Green Gardens (Phase 1) Groundbreaking at Southpoint – tinyurl.com/kww3w3New Yorker – Short Story Calls Island a Permanent Non Sequitur – tinyurl.com/qzemosImprov Everywhere – Video of Roosevelt Island MP3 Experiment – tinyurl.com/mwhalcRoosevelt Island Dogs – Answers From Vet – tinyurl.com/metul6Art Net – Tom Hoving Won’t Fly Plane over East River Corridor – tinyurl.com/nqm3ggDaily News – Grucci Fireworks at Southpoint Park– tinyurl.com/nu7ny6Adventures of Officer Pepe – Visits Roosevelt Island – tinyurl.com/npvc2tYou Tube – Crowded Subway Escalators for Improv Everywhere – tinyurl.com/l3bdxaYou Tube – Roosevelt Island Red Bus Ride – tinyurl.com/me6er7Easy Tiger Comedy – Resident Makes Comedy Videos – tinyurl.com/nkdmgs

RIOC Column from page 3data are reviewed, we have expanded the ex-periment into the next earlier rush hour. Weare going to meet with the MTA’s bus sched-uling department to access their expertise.

9. Public Safety: While the unfortunateevents of May 30 on the ballfield are nowreceding into history, I would like to makeclear that the matter has been thoroughly in-vestigated and vetted internally. To answerconcerns about RIOC’s possible prejudicelooking into its own actions, we have invitedan independent member of the community,the former head of RIRA’s public safetycommittee, to conduct an outside review ofthe matter. Unfortunately, RIRA has de-clined this offer, suggesting that his back-ground in law enforcement (which meanshe’s familiar with arrest procedures) resultsin potential prejudice. RIRA prefers insteadto have an inquiry undertaken by the presenthead of its public safety committee, who hasno law enforcement experience and recentlyhad a dispute with Public Safety involvinga member of her family. RIOC has respect-fully declined such a review.

10. Bridge Closures: The NYC Depart-ment of Transportation has notified us thatthe reconstruction work will require com-plete closure of the bridge to vehicular andpedestrian traffic for four nights, being themornings of July 7 through July 10, 12:30a.m. to 5:30 a.m. As was previously done,Emergency Medical Services, police, andfire responders will be present on the island,with additional manpower at the Queens endof the bridge. The tram and red bus will runthroughout the night. If it rains, additionalnights will be required. Hope for no emer-gencies and no rain.

11. Traffic Enforcement: Some resi-dents have expressed dismay at violators ofspeed limits, yield-to-pedestrian signs incrosswalks, stop signs, and other vehicularcontrols. While no significant incidents haveoccurred, congested Main Street with eld-erly, handicapped, children, and a generallybusy scene is a potentially hazardous situa-tion. Obstructed views do not help. PublicSafety does what it can, but our thin blueline cannot be everywhere at all times.

RIOC has asked the security detail at the twohospitals to remind their employees that theyshare Main Street with island residents. Toooften, at shift change or when otherwise oc-cupied, cars seem so anxious to depart theisland that the law is often observed morein the breach. Since most Public Safety of-ficers are on foot, chasing violators is noteasy. Stationing an officer at every cross-walk is not possible within the limitationsof three shifts, duties other than traffic en-forcement, and budget priorities. Pleasenote that the newer officers, who have notyet attained Special Patrolman Status fromthe NYPD Police Commissioner, cannotissue summonses even when they observeinfractions. That being said, in 2007 PSDofficers wrote approximately 746 movingviolation summonses, and in 2008 thatnumber increased to 890. In the first fivemonths of 2009, PSD wrote 280, with thesummer months still ahead when numberstypically go up. Approximately 25% ofthe summonses were written for disobey-ing the stop and yield signs. The other

75% were written for U-turns, school busyield, driving on the sidewalk, unsafepassing, and driving while on a cell phone.Statistics of summonses issued indicate atrend to higher enforcement, or is it onlybecause of greater flouting of the law? Inany event, Public Safety will continue itsefforts. If a violator may be identified bylicense plate and that information is con-veyed to Public Safety, warnings can begiven to the owner, and awareness shouldbe heightened.

12. Summer movies: Rain has shuffledthe schedule, but Firefighters Field shoulddry out for Sunday evening the 28th. SeeComingUp and our ad in this week’s WIREfor the rest of the summer schedule.

13. Motorgate: As part of our ongoingaudit efforts, we ask people to respond tothe questionnaire in The WIRE as to yourparking charges and issues, if any. Pleasehelp us to verify that the appropriate record-keeping is being done. Any questions,please call our CFO, Steve Chironis, at212-832-4540 ext. 350.

In last week’s meeting, Kalkin had pointedout to members of RIDA that the park hadreceived promises of financial support fromdevotees of Louis Kahn. (The park wasKahn’s last design.) “There are constraintswe should recognize,” Kalkin said, encour-aging RIDA to think in terms of some rec-

ognition of FDR’sdisability else-where inSouthpoint Park –that is, outside thelower 4.5 acresset aside for theFour Freedomsmemorial. RIDAleaders seemedready to acceptthat approach,with Pollara’spromise of help in

raising the funds required.On Thursday, RIOC Board member David

Kraut asked Bates, “What would you require inorder to shake the ambassador’s hand today?”

“I’d have to see something... a writtencommitment,” Bates said. Kraut later sug-gested that the minutes of the board meet-ing could reflect some understanding be-tween the park developer and the disabledcommunity. He asked vanden Heuvel, “Howfar are you willing to go?”

That elicited vanden Heuvel’s promise ofthe Paul Newman $100,000. “We’re pre-pared to have the minutes or the resolutionreflect that the Roosevelt Institute regards itas essential for the Four Freedoms projectto have the president’s disability displayedin such a way that it tells the story of what itmeant in terms of his life and in terms ofour country’s history.” He said the institute“is prepared to give that assurance – that,working with RIDA, we will have the di-mension of President Roosevelt’s disabilityreflected in ways so that future generationswill be inspired by that story.”

Design QuestionRivercross resident Marc Diamond, an

architect, wrote to RIOC Board memberspointing out a discrepancy he had discov-ered between present-day plans for the parkand Louis Kahn’s original design that, hesaid, clearly included a second piece ofsculpture inside the “room” at the tip of theisland that will celebrate Roosevelt’s FourFreedoms. In his letter, Diamond pointedout that this second sculpture could be theopportunity to show Roosevelt on crutchesor in a wheelchair.

Pollara, herself an architect, said, “At thefinal design stage, the sculpture within the

FDR Park from page 1room was eliminated.” She said the statuewas to be a “muse – an abstract seated fig-ure of a woman,” but it was removed in 1975construction documents. Vanden Heuvelsaid he would refer Diamond’s letter to thearchitects now responsible for executing theKahn design.

Diamond citeshistorical evi-dence that thesecond sculpturewas part of thelast version Kahnpassed upon be-fore his death,and says thatdocuments indi-cate that the sec-ond sculpture wasremoved afterKahn died, whenarchitectural drawings were made. It remainsan open question whether the original plan fora “muse” would be accepted by Kahn’s suc-cessor architects, and whether a representationof FDR as disabled could take its place.

FundingOne concern often raised by opponents of

the Kahn design has been the question ofwhether the park’s advocates can raise thefunds necessary to complete the park. Theyhave expressed a fear that construction mightbe aborted after the memorial “room” iscomplete, or that there might be lengthy de-lays before the full park can be completed.Present estimates put the total required atmore than $44 million. (At one point, de-velopment of the park was conditioned uponraising all the funds necessary for its comple-tion, but both funding and construction havenow been set up in three phases. The parkdevelopers have said that fundraising willbe much easier with a project under way.)

In addition, the developers have promisedto raise an endowment to support the stateparks department’s maintenance costs.While a budget remains to be developed, thepresident of the project said on Thursday thata working number of $1 million is the cur-rent projection of what will be needed forsuch an endowment.

On Thursday, RIOC director PatrickStewart raised the question of funding again,asking for more detail on what funds areavailable. He also started to offer an amend-ment to the resolution asking for a delay untilfinal details are known about what is to beincluded in the unroofed “room.” He wastold that such an amendment could not betaken and, when the final vote was taken mo-ments later, his vote was the only “no.”

Jim BatesWilliam vanden Heuvel

Katherine Teets Grimm, M.D., FAAPBoard Certified Pediatrician and Pediatric Allergist

Alyssa Harrison Siegel, M.D., FAAPBoard Certified Pediatrician

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Periodontist: Dr. Selma Kaplan, DMDDr. Selma Kaplan received her DMD from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Kaplan received her post-doctoral degree inperiodontics from Columbia University. Presently, she is clinical instructor at Columbia University Periodontic Department.

Endodontist: Dr. Maria Pruss, DDSDr. Maria Pruss received her DDS from Nova Southeastern University School of Dental Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.She went on to complete a hospital-based residency program at New York Presbyterian Hospital. In 2007, Dr. Pruss receivedher post-doctoral degree in endodontics from Nova Southeastern University. She dedicates her time to Friends Without aBorder, including volunteer missions to Angkor Hospital for Children in Cambodia, as well as volunteer missions to Israel andSpain. She is a member of the American Association of Endodontics, American Dental Association, and New York StateDental Association.

Orthodontist: Dr. George Pliakas, DDSDr. George Pliakas received his DDS degree and certification of orthodontics from Columbia University School of DentalMedicine. He is proficient in Spanish and fluent in Greek. As a native of New York, Dr. Pliakas attended Bronx High Schoolof Science and he received his B.S. degree from Harvard University.

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The Main Street WIRE, Sat., June 27, 2009 • 11

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Church of theGood Shepherd

Sponsored by the Episcopal Church,We are a Community Congregation

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Prayer Group: Mon. & Thurs. 7:30 AMLew Johnson, Vicar. 917-843-3338

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