Monday, July 19, 2021 – A DAY OF EVENTS AND LONG AWAITED ART IS REVEALED ARTWORK

By admin

FROM THE ARCHIVES


MONDAY, JULY 19,  2021

THE 

419th EDITION

THE FDR HOPE

MEMORIAL

IS REVEALED

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NEW TREES TO BLOOM ON THE ISLAND

***

TIME FOR A NEW NAME

Yesterday, July 17th, 2021 was the day to finally reveal and dedicate the FDR HOPE MEMORIAL.

Located on the west side of Soutpoint Park, just midway between the park entrance and the FDR Four Freedoms Park, this special memorial is located in a cul-de-sac.

Located gracefully on gently sloping hill the area has the trees and lawn above to the east and the area looks out over the East River.

The cul-de-sac is framed by the serpentine stone wall that gives the area dimension and reminds of that  this wall was part of the City Hospital construction and made from Fordham Gneiss stone quarried on the island.

Today, after the ceremonies were over and the area was cleared, we watched our first visitors discover the Memorial

CLARA BARTON PHOTOS

I observed that people were tempted to come into the Memorial and slowly read the historical texts as them strolled in.

There is a grooved area to the left as you walk or us an assisted devise to find your way. It is made so a visually impaired person can be guided to the sculptures.   

There is a slight barrier in the front of the sculptures and a grooved area so a person can safely feel the sculptors.

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The little girl will be the recipient of many handshakes and high-5’s

I am sure that this is one of thousands of kids that will climb up on FDR’s knee..

The sculpture looks out over the East River and the City beyond

ON THIS IMPORTANT DAY, DOZENS OF NEW TREES ARE PLANTED ON THE PROMENADES

(COURTESY OF AN ANONYMOUS DONOR AND MATERIAL FOR THE ARTS)

Two of the thirteen  Kwansan cherry trees that were planted yesterday between the lower west promenade and the entry to Southpoint Park

One of the eighteen trees planted between the firehouse and the road to the Octagon.  This area has had few trees and was in need of many more blooms.

OPINION

Yesterday , as we celebrated the work of “Uncle” Jim Bates,Nancy Brown,  the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association , the wonderful sculpture of Meredith Bergmann, Marc Diamond and all the persons who brought this day to fruition, I had a feeling RIDA needs a new name.

Our organization (RIDA) is not “disabled”.  The volunteers and members are fully able and I suggest we change the name to

THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND ENABLED ASSOCIATION.

IN MEMORIUM

This week we learned of the passing of neighbors, past and present.

Mel Rosen husband of Maureen and father of Brenda and Michael passed away at his home in Astoria.

Dick FitzPatrick, husband of Verna and father of two, grandfather of five.

Dr. Daniela S. Gerhard, daughter of Eva Gerhard and long time islander passed away in June. She was a well known researcher and worked at the NIH in Bethesda.

Our heartfelt sympathies to  our friends and neighbors.

MONDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY

SEND YOUR RESPONSE TO:
ROOSEVELTISLANDHISTORY@GMAIL.COM

WEEKEND PHOTO

ONE OF THE DECORATED PICNIC TABLES
AT GOOD SHEPHERD PLAZA.
JAY JACOBSON, GLORIA HERMAN, NINA LUBLIN, ALEXIS VILLEFANE AND NINA LUBLIN
GOT IT RIGHT!!

Text by Judith Berdy
Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS
Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website
Edited by Deborah Dorff
All image are copyrighted (c)

JUDITH BERDY

FUNDING PROVIDED BY ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE GRANTS CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE BEN KALLOS DISCRETIONARY FUNDING THRU DYCD

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rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com