• Four Islanders have been appointed to Community Board 8. Patrick Stewart and Dierdre Breslin are repeats with appointments through April, 2008. Nneka Pope is also a repeat (April 2009). Ellen Polivy (April 2009), who also serves on the Residents Association Common Council, is a new appointee. She has a commentary on page 2 of this issue.

• Jim Luce’s father has died. Jim is the founder of Roosevelt Island-based Orphans International, and Bonnie Goodman of that organization is now raising funds for The Stanford Leonard Luce Home for Orphans in French-speaking Togo, West Africa. Contributions may be sent to Bonnie Goodman, 531 Main Street #1020, NYC10044, or made by credit card with a call to the OI office at 212-755-7285.

• Verdant Power’s Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) project is getting a good deal of play in the local media these days, including a good story Thursday morning by WNYC’s Beth Fertig, available on the station’s website at wnyc.org. The WIRE has reported extensively on the innovative plan to harness East River tides, and reports are available on Website NYC10044 at nyc10044.com. Verdant is in the process of installing its initial six-pack of turbines in the east channel next to Motorgate. (Photo, page 13.)

• The press is also giving some attention to residents’ campaign for direct walking access to the Queensboro Bridge via a stairway and elevator, the subject of a recent exchange of letters between City Councilmember Jessica Lappin and the City Department of Transportation (see the March 24 issue of The WIRE, also available on Website NYC10044).

• Mark Marcucilli, a former Assistant Director of Housing Management for DHCR, got a year in federal prison for schemes involving attempts to secure Mitchell-Lama housing for himself and friends, and to steal funds intended for 9/11 victims.