An early springtime image, April 19th, 2020, in Southpoint Park, Roosevelt Island, New York City. The coronavirus pandemic was building, but we remained in the dark.

Spring came anyway, and new life arrived along with it. Here, a gosling gets careful instructions from Mom — or Dad.

This image is a little poignant because, with all the construction radically altering the park, one safe nesting areas may be gone forever.

Oh, and by the way…

Flatbread pizzas, fresh from the café at Cornell Tech.

• 
  Five-Alarm Flushing House Fire Leaves Elderly Woman Dead and 19 Responders Injured
  A five-alarm Flushing house fire left one elderly woman dead and injured 19 responders. Details on casualties, response efforts, and local impact.
• 
  Far Rockaway House Fire and Shooting Leaves Two Dead
  A Far Rockaway house fire and shooting left two dead and shocked the community as police and firefighters responded to the tragic scene. Read how the events unfolded and what comes next.
• 
  Chain-Snatching Spree in Queens Prompts Precinct Coordination and Simple Safety Steps
  A chain-snatching spree in Queens has sparked coordinated police action and renewed conversations about neighborhood safety. Learn what steps you can take.
• 
  140 Rentals Proposed for Mixed-Use Building at 50-01 Queens Boulevard
  A 13-story mixed-use development is planned for 50-01 Queens Boulevard in Woodside, featuring ground-floor retail and 140 rental units, with a portion reserved as affordable housing. Learn about the proposal, affordable housing details, and the next steps for this evolving Queens neighborhood.
• 
  Sgt. Angel Rampersad’s legacy and Ozone Park’s vigil
  Sgt. Angel Rampersad’s legacy touches Ozone Park, Queens, and Roosevelt Island as neighbors reflect after the Ozone Park vigil. Community honors and conversations continue amid grief.

Before the Door Closed

In one meeting, RIOC showed that procedure could be used to bless a contested appointment, and then used again to keep a resident-safety resolution from reaching the floor.

Eleanor Rivers May 29, 2026

The May 14 RIOC board meeting began with public concern over the steam plant and ended with two votes that revealed more than any report could. Some meetings announce themselves by what is said. This one announced itself by what the room permitted to move and what it stopped before it could breathe.

Continue reading →