November Issue of Blackwell’s Almanac
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Nov
6
Oct
18
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek” New Lecture Series
Mitch Waxman, artist, Newtown Creek historian, and Steering Committee member of the Working Harbor Committee, started the Newtown Pentacle website in 2009 to document his adventures along the Creek. He regularly offers walking, bus, and boat tours of the Newtown Creek Watershed.
Waxman will discuss the history of Newtown Creek and his on-going work in a lecture presented by the Roosevelt Island Historical Society at the New York Public Library Branch on Roosevelt Island, on Thursday, November 14, 2019 at 6:30p.m.
The event is FREE and open to the public. It is the first in the Society’s annual series of Fall lectures, which is supported by Amalgamated Bank, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation’s Public Purpose Fund and New York City Council Member Ben Kallos, with funding from the New York CityDepartment of Youth and Community Development.
DIRECTIONS: Take the Tram at 59th Street and Second Avenue or the F train to Roosevelt Island. Take the red bus (no charge) or walk eight minutes north to 524 Main Street.
Sep
11
Barren Island – Thursday, September 12th
| B A R R E N I S L A N D T H U R S D A Y S E P T E M B E R 1 2 | 6 : 3 0 P. M. R I N Y P L B R A N C H ________________ S P E A K E R : C a r o l Z o r e f f From the mid-19th century until the 1930s, there was a factory island in Jamaica Bay where large animals were rendered into glue and fertilizer. Carol Zoref discusses her book about the immigrant families who worked in the factory and lived their entire lives on Barren Island, in a world that no longer exists. The lecture is FREE and open to the public. It is the fourth and final in Society’s annual series of spring lectures, which is supported by funds provided by Amalgamated Bank, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation’s I Public Purpose Fund and New York City Council Member Ben Kallos, with funding from the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development. |
— Mark your calendar for the next round of public lecture events hosted by the RIHS on: February 13th, January 9th, December 12th, and November 14th. Stay tuned for more information about each program. —
Jul
31
Jun
7
May
10
June 13, Presentation “The Woman in the Iron Coffin”
Roosevelt Island Historical Society Presents
“The Woman in the Iron Coffin”
Scott Warnasch has been a forensic anthropologist/archaeologist for the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, director of the Human Remains Recovery excavations at the World Trade Center site, consultant to the NYPD and FBI on crime scene search and recovery operations, and has recently opened his own consulting business. He will discuss several forensic search and recovery excavation projects, including the mysterious woman in the iron coffin.
Thursday, June 13
6:30 p.m.
Roosevelt Island Branch Library
524 Main Street
Apr
30
Apr
19
May 9th NYPL Presentation “Revisiting Hart Island”
M A Y 9 T H N Y P L L E C T U R E
S P E A K E R :
M e l i n d a H u n t
Over the last few years, Melinda and the Hart Island Project have brought the plight of Hart Island’s deteriorating condition to the public and opened the conversation to make the Island a public park.
Thursday, May 9
6:30 p.m.
Roosevelt Island Branch Library
524 Main Street
Apr
5
Cherry Blossom Tour
Cherry Blossom Tour
Saturday, April 20th, 2019
11:00 a.m.
Meet at RIHS Visitor Center Kiosk
Tram Plaza
Roosevelt Island
Suggested Donation:
$15 – Adults, $10 – Seniors
No Reservations Required
rihs.us
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com
Apr
1
Ursula Beau-Seigneur
Our friend and neighbor Ursula Beau-Seigneur passed away March 27th, 2019. Ursula was active in the RIHS for many years. She was a writer and editor of our book “Images of America-Roosevelt Island” in 2003 and the author of the text for our maps of the Island. Quietly, Ursula was a perfectionist and great contributor to our efforts. She was our treasurer and important contributor to our programs and efforts. She would gladly sit at our table at community events and discuss the Society with visitors. Ursula worked for over 25 years at Goldwater Memorial Hospital as the Librarian in the Patient’s Library. She ran writing, poetry, arts Below and many programs for the residents there. Her knowledge of the patrons of the library was great and she went out of her way to accommodate their wishes. As Goldwater closed she transferred to the Coler campus. She reactivated a dormant library into a warm welcoming place for reading, watching videos, using the assistance devices. She retired many years after she needed to. Ursula and I would share dinners and talks of her life, family and many adventures. The last few years she enjoyed the art classes at the Carter Burden Senior Center and showed us her talents in painting. The attached photo is one of her with the painting she completed in the class. Ursula is survived by her brother Dennis Kehoe and family, in California. A memorial service will be scheduled after Easter.
