Rockaway Times 12-29-22

KEITH “BUGSY” GOLDBERG

Photo by Kim Green

Friday, December 23 was a day of excitement in Rockaway that culminated in a high-speed chase, a hit and run and three suspects apprehended.

According to police sources, a red vehicle was stolen within the confines of the 63rd Precinct in Brooklyn on Friday afternoon. Police chased the vehicle over the Marine Parkway Bridge and into Rockaway.

Allegedly heading in the wrong direction, the drivers of the red vehicle slammed head-on into a dark grey SUV near Beach 130th and Cronston Avenue. Three suspects in the vehicle took off running. Police continued to patrol the neighborhood, searching backyards and homes for the suspects. All three suspects were caught, including at least one on Beach 130th Street.

The victim in the grey SUV, a

woman, was conscious and expected to be okay.

The Rockaway Times reached out to the NYPD’s press office for further information about this incident on Tuesday, December 27, in which they responded that they had no reports on file regarding the incident and to follow up.

Tossing Away the Christmas Tree

Christmas has come and gone, and you might be wondering, what do I do with the Christmas tree? If you have a real tree that you need to get rid of, the city offers options.

Starting Friday, January 6, the Department of Sanitation will be picking up trees and wreaths left on the curb to be composted. The trees are chipped, mixed with leaves, and recycled into rich compost for NYC’s parks, institutions, and community gardens. Be sure to remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and plastic bags from your tree; trees that still have these items attached will be collected as garbage. Do not bag your tree. Trees will be collected from curbs for composting through January 14. If you discard your tree after this date, it will be collected as regular garbage.

Another option is to partici-

pate in the Parks Department’s MulchFest, in which trees are chipped and participants can take home a bag of mulch to use in personal gardens. It will take place on Saturday, January 7 and Sunday, January 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at nearly 80 locations across the city. Unfortunately, the closest chipping sites are Marine Park (East 33rd and Avenue U) and Forest Park on Myrtle Avenue in Glendale. There are also designated drop-off sites where trees will be picked up for MulchFest and used for mulch. The only local drop-off location is Beach 94th Street and Shore Front Parkway. You can drop off your tree there until January 8.

For more information on Christmas tree collection and recycling or MulchFest, visit www. nyc.gov/dsny, www.nyc.gov/ parks or call 311.

Contact The Elected

Congressman Gregory Meeks 67-12 Rockaway Beach Boulevard Arverne, NY 11692

Phone: (347) 230-4032

Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato 9516 Rockaway Beach Blvd Rockaway Beach, NY 11693 Email: amatos@nyassembly.gov 718-945-9550

City Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers 1931 Mott Avenue, Suite 410 Far Rockaway, NY 11691 • 718-471-7014

City Councilwoman Joann Ariola 114-12 Beach Channel Drive, suite #1 Rockaway Park, NY 11694 Email: joannariola32@gmail.com 718-318-6411

State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. 88-08 Rockaway Beach Blvd Room 311 Rockaway Beach, NY 11693 Email: addabbo@nysenate.gov 718-318-0702

State Senator James Sanders Jr. 1931 Mott Avenue – Suite 305 Far Rockaway, NY 11691 Email: sanders@nysenate.gov 718-327-7017

Assemblyman Khaleel Anderson 19-31 Mott Avenue, Suite 301 Far Rockaway, NY 11691 Email: Andersonk@nyassembly.gov 718-327-1845

Kevin Boyle PUBLISHER

Katie

McFadden MANAGING EDITOR

Mary Ellen Olsen MANAGER

Monica Clifford DIRECTOR

Fred Marino SALES

The Rockaway Times 114-04 Beach Channel Drive Rockaway Park, NY 11694

Phone: 718-634-3030

www.rockawaytimes.com Email: news@rockawaytimes.com, mail@rockawaytimes.com

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The Nightmare Before Christmas

By Katie McFadden

‘Twas the nightmare before Christmas, when locals awoke, looking outside their windows at what seemed like a joke. They quickly arose from their snuggly beds, as visions of Hurricane Sandy danced in their heads.

On the morning of Friday, December 23, residents from Broad Channel to Rockaway didn’t wake up to an early White Christmas, but instead a very, very wet one when floodwaters inundated roads and basements.

Like Hurricane Sandy ten years earlier, Thursday into Friday’s storm was met with the perfect ingredients for a disaster. The New Moon on Friday set the stage for extra high tides. As high tide was rising before 8 a.m. on Friday, it brought an abnormally high tide of 6.52 feet. Combined with heavy rains and winds reaching up to 35 miles per hour on Friday, it created the perfect conditions to wreak havoc on areas around Jamaica Bay. “Tides were extremely high that morning and the cause of the coastal flooding in those low-lying areas,” a spokesperson for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection said.

Parts of Broad Channel and Rockaway can see minor flooding at times, but the destructive flooding seen Friday was something that hadn’t been seen since Hurricane Sandy. Nor’easters have come and gone since then but haven’t had such effects. With little warning, many residents were left shocked to find roads turned into rivers and basements and first floors turn into swimming pools on Friday morning, as many were commuting to school, work and to get last-minute holiday shopping done.

As floodwaters rose in various areas, The Rockaway Times was inundated with photos and videos from residents across Rockaway and Broad Channel, showing the impacts of the storm. As early as 6:30 a.m., floodwaters started to rise from the bay and up through catch basins on the streets, creating hazardous conditions as

commuters were on their way to work and school. Water pooled in main throughways like Beach Channel Drive, around Beach 116th through the Beach 120s and Newport Avenue, the Beach 50s and Rockaway Beach Boulevard, around the bayside of Arverne, heavily on Beach 84th Street, parts of Far Rockaway and even homes in Neponsit and Belle Harbor had water-filled basements.

Broad Channel, which is no stranger to flooding, had water down side streets and Cross Bay Boulevard. Showing the extent of it, Broad Channel resident Sean Tubridy had shared a video of his foyer, which had tiny bait fish swimming across the floor. It was a moment of humor found in a frustrating circumstance.

For others, the situation became scary. And in those moments, heroes emerged. On Beach 72nd Street, a neighbor named Jo Lynn Joyce sent us a video showing a neighbor pulling a young woman out of what looked like a basement apartment, as a refrigerator was floating nearby. The man picked up the young woman and walked her over to a nearby staircase so she could retreat to higher ground. Shortly afterwards, Jo Lynn sent other videos showing NYPD officers stepping up to help, with one officer traversing through floodwater to knock on doors and make sure neighbors were okay, and another who was carrying children from a nearby apartment to a flatbed truck to be taken somewhere safe.

Meanwhile, FDNY was also in action. Rockaway Times freelancer Theresa Racine sent us video

of firefighters battling through flooded streets to put out a car fire that had erupted near the Rockaway Freeway and Beach 55th Street. Meanwhile, school buses had started picking up kids for the school day before the major flooding started, and later stalled on flooded streets. FDNY responded to one such situation on Nameoke Avenue and Chandler Street by holding on to a rescue boat while kids in the bus escaped into the boat.

day. But the hours and days after had some spending their Christmas weekend picking up the pieces with sump pumps and heaters hard at work to dry out soaked homes and businesses, and removing soaked debris, including Christmas presents that were stored in basements. By Friday afternoon, the American Red Cross was in town and had set up a relief and resource center at Goldie Maple Academy on Beach 56th Street to assist anyone who was impacted by the flooding.

Teachers who were expecting a normal pre-winter vacation school day also turned into heroes on Friday. Local resident Annie White and DOE employee Christine Mahoney-Schneider sent images and photos of staff from P.S. 114 and P.S. 256 who trekked through the floodwaters, some barefoot, to make it into their schools which had waves of water hitting the door as cars passed by. As White said, “Principal Mrs. Welsome rolled up her pants, trekked into the deep puddles and was carrying kids off the bus to the sidewalk on her back” at P.S. 114. Meanwhile, across the street, after P.S. 256 staff made it into their building, Schneider emptied several cups of water from her rain boots.

It was just a few instances of heroism displayed throughout the

On December 24, Governor Kathy Hochul came to Rockaway to survey some of the damage and speak to locals who were impacted by the storm and met with local elected officials such as Rep. Gregory Meeks, Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers, Senator James Sanders, Assemblyman Khaleel Anderson and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, to discuss ways to address the recent flooding.

“I just completed a very chilly tour of part of Far Rockway to assess the damage that was occurring here as a result of flooding. Upwards of three feet of water rushed through the streets, damaged some of the homes,” Hochul said during an afternoon press conference on Saturday. “We're going to meet with FEMA. In addition to having a statewide Emergency Declaration, I'll be asking the federal government for a Declaration of Emergency that'll allow us to seek reimbursements for the extraordinary expenses of all the overtime.”

2022 Person of the Year: Keith ‘Bugsy’ Goldberg

By Katie McFadden

Time Magazine has their person of the year. Since 2021, The Rockaway Times has ours. In a community where so many people go above and beyond to make Rockaway a little better, the choice was not easy. But we decided to go with someone who could’ve been named ‘Person of the Year’ for at least three decades for all that he's done for the community. And this year was no different, especially with this person taking the time out to acknowledge some other pretty special people and making sure they’re never forgotten. Over the past year (and beyond), Keith “Bugsy” Goldberg has proven to be beyond deserving of the title as The Rockaway Times’ 2022 Person of the Year.

Most may know Goldberg for his work with CYO sports. After all, he seems to live, breathe and even work CYO as Director of CYO for the Diocese of Brooklyn. But even when he’s not getting paid, Bugsy finds ways to go above and beyond to keep Rockaway’s youth, and adults, as busy as he is.

Outside of CYO, Goldberg has been helping to organize the St. Francis de Sales Summer Classic for the last 38 years. It all stemmed back to his CYO coaching days in the ‘80s and taking over as SFDS CYO Director, when Flip Mullen had the idea of starting a summer league. Mullen got Bugsy on board and he's been the lifeblood of the summer tradition ever since. “That happened 38 years ago, and I still do it. It’s a wonderful thing and such an important thing for the community to have something to look forward to in the summer. I organize it with the help of a whole bunch of people but to be the person directing how things happen each year, it is enjoyable,” he said.

Goldberg calls his “ability to organize things and get people working together,” a God-given gift, and lucky for Rockaway, where he’s lived his whole life, Goldberg is more than generous in sharing his gift with the community.

In addition to getting all the teams together and making sure the Summer Classic is a smooth

sailing ship each summer, Goldberg himself, is a team player. In response to 9/11, a group of guys in the 35 and older league in the Summer Classic wanted to do something beyond dribble and shoot, so in 2001, they formed a nonprofit and put it to good use, doing anything and everything for the community. Since its inception, Goldberg has been a Graybeard. “It’s the quintessential Rockaway organization. It’s in my blood. The Graybeards have just done so much good and focus primarily on serving the people here in Rockaway. I wish I had more time so I could do even more with them,” Goldberg said.

In a recent example of his work in conjunction with the Graybeards, when musician Gerald Bair wanted to bring back his Christmas Toy Drive show, he reached out to Goldberg for help, who turned to the Graybeards and connected Bair with an organization known as Little Angels, which distributed the collected toys from the recent event at Rogers, to kids in need. But Goldberg has a habit of going above and beyond with the organization. Along with Joe Featherston, Goldberg has helped organize one of the group’s main fundraisers— the Family Fun Run. This summer, Goldberg helped organize the 19th annual event.

And in addition to the Summer Classic and the Family Fun Run, Goldberg has picked up a few more activities along the way, despite going through his own troubles. In 2015, Goldberg was diag-

nosed with Stage III colon cancer. He underwent six months of chemo treatments and thankfully, since the end of 2015, Goldberg has been cancer free. But even treatments didn’t stop him from showing up at the schoolyard to keep the Summer Classic going, and coming up with other things to do, or rather, resurrecting things he had tried previously.

As a music lover and DJ, and even a former member of the band, The Grayriders for 20 years, Bugsy wanted to share his love of music with his hometown. He was always the guy that had organized bus trips to concerts with his friends and family, but in 1985, he wanted to bring that music closer to home. He launched an effort to bring some bigger name acts right to Rockaway. It didn’t last too long but after beating cancer, Goldberg wanted to take a shot at it again. In 2017, he launched the Bugalou Music Series, bringing artists like Max Weinberg of the E Street Band and others to local stages. Unfortunately, Covid put a wrench in those plans and Goldberg says he may be winding it down, but he still has plenty of other activities to keep him busy, like 3 on 3 by the Sea.

When his dear family friend Clare Droesch died in 2018 after a long battle with breast cancer, Goldberg kept her legacy going. While battling cancer, local basketball star, Droesch had started the “3 on 3 by the Sea,” an annual late summer basketball tournament to raise money for breast cancer awareness and to help Droesch with expensive medical bills. And even though Droesch died, the legacy she started continues thanks to family and friends with Goldberg at the helm, continuing to organize the annual event, now for the “Clare Droesch Scholarship Fund.”

As Goldberg explained, “I’ve known the Droesch family for 50 years. I had worked at the Belle Harbor Tavern when it was owned by them and when I got married, we moved four houses away from them. Clare was like a niece to me.

“When she started the 3 on 3 with my nephew, Brian Bagley, I was just giving them assistance. When Clare passed, her family wanted the event to continue and asked that I take on a leadership role. It was very hard to say no,” he said. Since 2018, Goldberg has kept the 3 on 3, and the spirit of Clare, alive through basketball. But that wasn’t all.

When city council approved the street co-naming of Beach 134th and Cronston Avenue for Clare, the Droesch family approached the man they knew could sum her up best, for help. When the street co-naming was held on June 4 this year, Goldberg hosted the ceremony. “Her family felt I could express what Clare was about to the people that were going to be there and give a sense of what was special about her,” Goldberg said. “So I tried to let what was going through my mind and in my heart come out of my mouth.”

But it wouldn’t be the last way Goldberg commemorated his late friend this year, and Clare wouldn’t be the only one. In 2022, Goldberg has made it a priority to keep Rockaway’s legends and heroes’ names alive. Like many in Rockaway, Goldberg was devastated to hear of the sudden passing of 31-year-old Firefighter Timmy Klein, who died fighting a fire in Brooklyn on April 24. So much so, that on the day of Klein’s funeral, Bugsy decided to postpone the Bugalou concert that was scheduled for that night, out of respect, and to mourn in his own rite. Goldberg had known Klein since he was a kid, playing for CYO and in Summer Classics, including the Men’s Open League for the last decade. So Goldberg felt it was only right to keep Klein’s memory going and honor him by renaming that very league for the late firefighter. On June 14, Goldberg opened the Men’s Open League season by announcing it would be called “The Timothy Klein Open League,” and revealing new jerseys with Timmy’s signature “TK” emblazoned on the arms.

“He had been such a key part of

HAPPY NEW YEAR! May 2023 be better than 2022! Which we hope was better than 2021. Which we know was better than 2020. And may you have resolve in your resolutions. *****

Congratulations to Keith Bugsy Goldberg on being named The Rockaway Times Person of the Year. We started this tradition last year when Liz Hanna was crowned for all her efforts helping businesses and the community. This year’s Person of the Year could have been named in any year because year after year he’s a one-man dynamo who makes

us tired just thinking about all the things he gets done. Rockaway is a much better place because Bugsy lives here. *****

For those who partake, enjoy the New Year’s Day polar plunge whichever beach is your preference. The original Rockaway plunge at Beach 145th is still going strong but a lot of groups do their own from one end of the beach to the other. The weather and high temperatures ahead look downright balmy. Over the next few days, we’ll see temps in the low 50s. Last week was single-digit brutal.

*****

And speaking of last week, many of us woke up to find our streets flooded. Unfortunately, it was worse in Arverne, Edgemere and Broad Channel where some houses were flooded as well. We extend our sympathies to those families who had to deal with this, especially during the holidays. Governor Hochul visited some of the flooded areas and pledged to seek federal help. *****

As usual, though, some people found humor in it all. Sean Tubridy posted a video of a hallway in his house with flood water and – get this – fish! Small killies or spearing swam across his submerged floor trying to find a way out. Sean posted the video complete with soundtrack. Nothing like seeing fish in the foyer as It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas plays in the background!

That video and others got a lot of play on social media and were picked up by established media outlets. One of the stranger things of the flooding was the appearance of big chunks of whale that showed

up on Beach 116th Street and on Rockaway Beach Boulevard around Beach 118th. The whale remains, cut neatly as squares and rectangles because of the recent necropsy performed on a sperm whale a couple weeks back, made quite the splash. The Drudge Report, Newsweek, and the Daily Mail in the UK were among those citing Katie McFadden and The Rockaway Times for the “only in Rockaway” photos. *****

In a wacky day of floods, fish, and whale chunks, three men driving a stolen car the wrong way on Cronston Avenue, crashed into a car around Beach 130th and then fled on foot but were soon arrested. Floods on some streets, cops in backyards looking for suspects. Just another day in the neighborhood. *****

Out with the old, in with the new. Happy trails to Kevin Boyle who’s stepping down as publisher and hearty congratulations to Sean McVeigh, Jeanne and Jay Ferriola, and Tom and Pat McVeigh as they take the reins on the good ship Rockaway Times.

Happy & Healthy New Year

2022 PERSON OF THE YEAR: KEITH ‘BUGSY’ GOLDBERG

the league as a player and captain and the league really had a bond with him for his personality, and I felt what he had done in his life needed to be remembered, so for years to come, teams will remember Tim when they play in the league,” Goldberg said.

And after naming the Men’s Open League for someone for the first time ever, Goldberg felt it was only right to do the same for the Women’s League. On June 27, between games, Goldberg announced that the Women’s Open League would from then on be known as “The Clare Droesch Women’s Open League,” with each jersey showing Clare’s name. “With renaming the Men’s League for Tim, it felt appropriate to name the Women’s League. It made no sense doing one without the other, so we dedicated both teams,” Goldberg said.

For his efforts this year to recognize those who have done so much for their community by me-

morializing them in Rockaway’s history, it’s about time Keith “Bugsy” Goldberg gets some recognition of his own, not only for this year, but for his consistent work with the Summer Classic, The Graybeards, the Family Fun Run, Bugalou Music and beyond. But at the end of the day, Bugsy, who humbly tried to reject the honor, says everything he does is for the place he loves and the people who call it home. “It’s very rewarding to provide things for the community that everyone enjoys. It helps build our sense of community and it’s a large part of why everyone feels so strongly about where we live. There’s lots of things going on, and I’m happy to be a part of some of them, and they’re things that people embrace and feel is important to their life in Rockaway,” he said. “I love this place. I love the people and my thought is always, when God gives you a talent, you do your best to share those talents to the benefit of everyone.”

And fortunately for Rockaway, Bugsy’s in it for the long run. “I’ll do it as long as I can,” he said.

Tweets From the 100th Precinct

The 100th Precinct is consistently sending out reminders and tips for the community. Make sure to follow @NYPD100PCT on Twitter for instant updates, but in the meantime, here are a few recent ones.

-Thieves are targeting catalytic converters hoping to cash in on the precious metals inside them. Suggestions: Etch your VIN # or License plate onto the catalytic converter; park in well-lit areas; and install an anti-theft device.

-If you are a victim of domestic violence, it is normal to feel scared, helpless and vulnerable.

REMEMBER, you are not alone. Have questions? Need help? Call: NYC DV Hotline: 1-800-621HOPE (4673; Precinct Domestic Violence: 1-718-318-4250

- Kindly make sure you don’t allow a thief to remove your vehicle

while warming it up unattended. Always keep doors locked. Never leave keys in the ignition. Never leave vehicle unattended.

- Scammers are always finding new ways to steal your money — especially during the holiday season. Government agencies will never call, text, or email you asking for payment or personal information. If you think you've been the victim of a scam, call 646-610SCAM.

-If you're out celebrating the holiday season, DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE. Designate a driver, take public transportation, use a ride-sharing app or take a cab.

- Registration for the Police Exam is OPEN NOW! For more information or to chat with a recruiter from @nypdrecruit, please visit http://NYPDRECRUIT.COM, or call 212-RECRUIT.

DECEMBER 29

Chris Boyle was born. James Hassett was born. Max Power was born.

1851 - The first Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) opened in Boston.

DECEMBER 30

Pat McVeigh was born. Boom! Katie French was born. Monica Reilly was born.

1940 - California's first freeway opened.

1993 - Israel and the Vatican signed an agreement of mutual recognition to put an end to Jewish-Christian hostilities.

DECEMBER 31

Kathy Louis was born.

1938 - The first breath test for drivers, "drunkometer," was introduced in Indianapolis.

1946 - President Truman officially proclaimed the end of hostilities in World War II.

JANUARY 1

Vivian Carter was born.

Lily Corcoran was born. George Johnson was born.

1863 - Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

1959 - Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries took over Cuba and toppled Fulgen-

cio

JANUARY 2

Carolyn Butler was born. Lisa Gillespie was born.

1935 - The Bruno R. Hauptmann trial began for the kidnap and murder of the Lindbergh baby.

1994 - Rudolph Giuliani is inaugurated as New York City's mayor.

JANUARY 3

Kathleen Byrne was born. Janet Racy was born.

1870 - Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge began.

1959 - Alaska became the 49th state in the United States.

1962 - Pope John XXIII excommunicated Fidel Castro.

JANUARY 4

Katie McFadden was born.

Tom Greene was born.

Flip Mullen was born. Jen Linehan was born. Robert Donohoe was born.

1965 - President Johnson outlined his "Great Society" in his State of the Union address.

1999 - Former wrestler Jesse Ventura was sworn in as Minnesota's governor.

IN LOVING MEMORY

EDWARD F. KALISAK

100th Pct & BSA Team Up to Make Spirits Bright

Even on Christmas Day, the NYPD reports to duty and for the 100th Precinct Community Affairs Officers, their duty was to serve up some Christmas cheer to their neighbors. On Christmas Day, December 25, the 100th Precinct teamed up with the Black Surfing Association (BSA) to make some spirits bright.

Earlier this month, the 100th Precinct confiscated a U-Haul van that someone had been using to steal holiday packages from Howard Beach to Arverne. On Sunday, the 100th Precinct and the Black Surfing Association, with Lou Harris making a special appearance as Santa, returned some of those stolen packages back to their rightful owners.

But their Christmas cheer didn’t stop there. The officers and BSA also gave out more than 150 additional toys to kids around the

community, for free, spreading Christmas magic throughout the Precinct.

Photo from the 100th Precinct.

Batista's regime.

Rockaway Steps Up for the Almeda Club

By Katie McFadden

After floodwaters inundated parts of the peninsula on Friday, December 23, some local business owners spent the morning mopping up puddles and opened later than expected. Other businesses in more low-lying areas turned into swimming pools. When Graham Hill, one of the partners at The Almeda Club, got to his shop, he found surfboards floating inside and water up to the seats of the barber chairs, as nearly three feet of water had inundated the business.

“I woke up to a slew of calls from neighbors at 7:30 a.m. and I called one neighbor back who said, ‘Yo, your shop…the entire block is under water,’” Hill said. The neighbor wasn’t exaggerating. Hill drove from his home in Rockaway Park to Beach 72nd Street and ran into a major obstacle. “It was so deep, the water was stomach high. I had to turn off of 72nd and park a few blocks down and walk back through the water,” Hill said.

By the time he got to his shop and unlocked the door, what he saw wasn’t surprising. “Everything in the shop was floating. I’m not gonna lie, it was a beautiful sight. It was something we had spoken about happening and it was just this surreal and beautiful moment,” he said. “It felt like, well, this is just stuff, and everyone is okay.”

With that in mind, instead of worrying about the shop, Hill put his thoughts on the people in the apartment building above. “The most severe realization was that the boiler was flooded. It was dropping like 10 degrees an hour and we knew a deep freeze was coming and it’s Christmas weekend. There’s 14 people that live in this building. I don’t live there, I can go home to my warm apartment but that wasn’t the reality for my neighbors,” Hill said.

So they got to work, making sure their neighbors, without heat and hot water, would be taken care of as the chill set in. “We entirely made the mission of the day to help get

those people who live upstairs to a safe environment. We started calling hotels and explained the situation and had a friend come over and try to fix the boiler. He couldn’t do anything until the water was going down, so we got our neighbors into a hotel in Far Rockaway for a few days,” he said.

After that successful mission, Hill and his business partner Joseph Falcone turned their focus back to the shop, but thanks to some forward thinking, there weren’t many structural issues to worry about. When Hill and Falcone were building out The Almeda Club in 2020, transforming it from an old grocery store into their surf club/ barbershop/ retail space, they had water on the mind. “We don’t have flood insurance. The premium is just ridiculous, and we figured since we’re all handy by trade—I’m a contractor and Joe is a handy guy—that if we got flooded, we’ll cut our losses and rebuild,” Hill said. So when building out the shop, knowing it wasn’t far from marshland and Jamaica Bay, they made it as resilient as possible. “When we renovated, we poured cement around the perimeter of the entire building and we kept the electric lifted, with the conduits 36 inches off the ground,” he said.

That forward thinking saved most aspects of the shop when the floodwaters came in on Friday, leaving Hill, Falcone and their

friend Brent Gentile, who has been a big help, with minimal work to get the space reopened. “If we push, we can probably open by next week,” Hill said.

But there is some work to be done. As the bathroom in the space had drywall, as well as a closet, they will have to be remodeled. But other than that, The Almeda Club’s biggest loss were items. “We lost $25,000 worth of stuff. I lost all my contracting tools that I had been using to work on a project. We lost all the barber tools—some of those buzzers are a few hundred a piece. We had Dyson Air Wands that are $500 each. We lost the furniture, an entire couch, carpets, speakers. Where we really screwed up was by not elevating everything before the storm,” Hill said.

Without flood insurance, Hill and Falcone realized they’d be paying to replace everything out of pocket. But they didn’t want to go the typical GoFundMe route to bounce back. “We had to go into solution mode, and we were very deliberate about not wanting a GoFundMe. If there were hospital bills, then that would be appropriate, but we felt because of the nature of what we lost, we felt a sale was just the thing to do,” Hill said. The Almeda Club, which produces clothing, was readying to drop their winter merch in February, but since the items were already in stock and stored at another location, Hill and Falcone decided to put the merch up on their website early and utilize the sale as a fundraiser to help them bounce back. “We did this because it’s a way for us to still call on our community to ask for help, but it gives them something back,” Hill said.

The sale for their “Flood Relief Winter Capsule” merch, which launched on December 26, was met with tremendous response. “We’ve just about sold out,” Hill said. “There’s been an overwhelmingly positive response from people.” However, that response doesn’t come as a surprise. “We grew up out here and are familiar with how this neighborhood operates and Rockaway has had my

back since I was born. We weren’t surprised when people came out for us,” Hill said, adding that giving back to others is in the nature of The Almeda Club’s business, which offers free tutoring for local kids every Thursday, and for several months, had hosted a community fridge.

With only limited items still available and no plans to restock on the winter collection, Hill says other ways that people can support them is by utilizing the business when they’re back open. “Once we reopen, book a haircut or when we get our sauna figured out, consider booking one of those,” Hill suggested.

As for when that will be, Hill says, soon. “Part of our business is a member’s club for surfers to rent lockers and use a changing room, a coffee machine and desk for remote work. That aspect, we’ll have up running next week. The barber shop will take a full month so we’re aiming for the first week of February to reopen that part, and the e-commerce website will remain open,” Hill said.

Overall, Hill says he’s grateful for the support from Rockaway. “We so appreciate the generosity of the community in which we operate,” he said. “There’s nowhere else in the world we could’ve navigated through something like this so together, so quickly.”

The Almeda Club is located at 69-62 Almeda Avenue. For online merch and more info, see: www. thealmedaclub.com

By Katie McFadden

Was it a nor’easter that came through last Friday or Whalenado?

After the floodwaters receded late Friday morning on December 23, there were some surprising souvenirs left behind. Whale meat in the street. Yes, you read that right.

Station Liquors on Beach 116th Street had an early, smelly Christmas gift left at their front door on Friday as a large rectangular slab of something was laying outside. Some speculated it was construction material, possibly insulation foam. But closer inspection of the item led to another conclusion. Upon seeing the heavy, bloody, cold slab, a firefighter on the block called it. “That’s whale,” the passerby said. The Rockaway Times went to investigate and confirm. After checking out the piece on Beach 116th Street and leaving the scene, turning on to Rockaway Beach Boulevard, another surprise—there was more. A thicker chunk was laying in the middle of the Boulevard near Beach 117th Street. And later in the afternoon, readers sent us photos of yet another piece, at the entrance to the BP gas station on Beach Channel Drive and 115th Street.

In one of those “Only in Rockaway” incidents, a big question remained…how?

It is believed the whale pieces were parts of the young female sperm whale that had washed up and then died on Beach 74th Street ten days earlier on Tuesday, December 13. On Wednesday, December 14, the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) had responded to the scene where their biologists performed a necropsy on site to determine a cause of death for the whale. During the process, the biologists made careful, clean cuts of the whale blubber

Whale, Th is is Awkward

to access the internal organs.

According to NYC Parks, the remains of the whale were not buried until Thursday, December 22. “We believe this may be material from the deceased whale,” an NYC Parks spokesperson said when asked about the street meat. How, exactly, it wound up on the street two miles away, remains somewhat of a mystery. "We do not know how this material migrated to the street, as we did not observe debris indicative of sand erosion / flooding in the immediate vicinity (sand, seaweed, drift twigs, etc.),” NYC Parks said.

The New York State Department of Conservation said proper protocols were taken when disposing the whale on site, so the pieces couldn’t have fallen off a vehicle.

“The whale carcass was buried onsite at the beach last week by the Sanitation Department (DSNY) following proper protocols for disposal of remains in situation like this. Remains were not taken to the landfill,” a NYSDEC spokesperson said.

But there is a possibility that Mother Nature delivered the whale blubber. “During the necropsy performed by AMSEAS, parts of blubber, skin, and entrails were cut off and left on the beach,” NYSDEC said. “Some of these parts were scattered as a result of two weather systems which caused high surf, gale force winds, and flooding events. Additional scattering potentially occurred by the storm events and force of the storm waters.”

The street meat has since been removed. As for the whale, how it died is still a mystery. “Initial necropsy results were inconclusive for cause of death,” NYSDEC said. Further results could take a few weeks.

by Katie McFadden.

Photos

Here’s a rundown of some stories to happen in each issue of The Rockaway Times this year.

January 6

An apartment fire broke out in Dayton Tower’s 102-00 Shore Front Parkway.

The Rockaway Theatre Company was gearing up for its first show back in two years—"Legally Blonde Jr.”

Surfside residents were readying for a battle with ALMA after reports were released showing the company was considering building more residential buildings on the site.

January 13

Local musicians held a fundraiser at RBQ for the families impacted by the Dayton fire.

Artist micca was getting ready to perform PINE, a performance on the beach featuring Christmas trees.

January 20

A 2022 RECAP

Rockway ferry landing.

Uri Kaufman asked Community Board 14 for permission to rezone the long-unutilized courthouse as a place to rent business space.

February 3

Hours after the vigil for the two officers that were killed, an off-duty officer from Far Rockaway was shot in the shoulder on Beach 62nd Street

The Far Rockaway Teen Library opened for the first time since March 2020.

After the Army Corps set up their staging area on Beach 116th Street, residents and business owners made a plea for them to relocate.

February 10

Broad Channel held a Back the Blue rally in response to police shootings.

Officials demanded action after residents of NYCHA development Carleton Manor went without hot water for four months.

Pawlacio Pets, a new grooming and doggie daycare center opened on Rockaway Beach Blvd.

February 17

The RT launched the 2022 photo contest.

Editor Katie McFadden was honored among the deputy grand marshals at a Gala for the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Patrick’s Day Parade was back.

The Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department installed its new officers.

As war broke out in Ukraine, things got scary for the RT graphic design assistants abroad.

Beloved longtime barber Mr. Rocco died.

March 10

It was announced that the Sand Bar was going to be demolished for an 8-story building.

New gym Orangetheory opened on Beach 116th.

Rockaway Beach Volleyball League reached an agreement with NPS to continue that summer.

March 17

Rockaway was standing up for Ukraine by collecting emergency supplies.

Overdevelopment was a hot button issue at the Belle Harbor Property Owners meeting.

A groundbreaking was held for the new P.S. 47 in Broad Channel.

March 24

Longtime funeral directors Vincenzo Davi and Robert Potter took over the business at O’Connor Funeral Home.

The window smasher at the ferry landing was back for round two.

March 31

Rocco Pisani and Julia O’Sullivan teamed up to raise money for Team Sister Strong for LLS.

The Randolph Holder School for Social Justice in Far Rockaway teamed up with other District 27 schools to raise money for families affected by the massive apartment building fire in the Bronx.

January 27

Rockaway held a vigil after Police Officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora were killed in Harlem.

A vandal was running rampant, breaking car windows by the

10-Year-Old Davina Afokoba was killed when a car hit her in Far Rockaway.

February 24

Firefighter Jesse Gerhard of Far Rockaway’s Ladder 134, died after battling a blaze on February 15.

A proposal was revealed for a 9-story building at the site of the long-abandoned Chai Home.

Joann Ariola was sworn in as District 32’s councilwoman.

Kids from SFDS were collecting cans to raise money for charity.

March 3

Parade weekend was upon us! After a hiatus due to Covid, the St.

The RT began a four-part series on Big Dan Tubridy.

TMLA Senior Fiona Mullen was named a two-time All League Female athlete.

M.S. 183 Huskies were named the NYC Middle School Basketball League’s Queens Varsity Champs.

April 7

St. John’s officially opened the Margaret O. Carpenter Women’s Health Center at the Beach 105th location.

The MTA released a draft bus plan that would impact Rockaway’s bus routes.

April 14

Rockaway Beach Dance Com-

pany was burglarized overnight.

The Academy of Medical Technology at the Far Rockaway Educational Complex cut the ribbon on a successful hydroponic classroom farm project.

April 21

Four months after the apartment fire, resident of 102-00 Shore Front still weren’t back home.

April 28

Rockaway mourned as local firefighter Timmy Klein died while fighting a fire in Brooklyn.

The adventure course park on Beach 101st and Shore Front opened.

May 5

Thousands gathered around St. Francis for the funeral of Firefighter Timmy Klein.

For the eighth year, the Rockaway Times won awards from the New York Press Association.

NYC Parks was seeking proposals for the Beach 17th concession.

Jeff and Kerryann officially retired after selling Connolly’s. The Mikes, Reinhardt and Koloyan, of Locals, bought it.

May 12

The RT Photo Contest was narrowed down to a Top 30.

Rumors swirled that NYC Parks would be closing the beach from Beach 90th to Beach 116th through July due to Army Corps construction.

A 2022 RECAP

Continued from Page 15

May 19

NPS Announced Riis Beach Collective would be taking over the main concessions in Riis.

Locals held a rally as it was announced that many areas would have red flags for the beach season due to construction.

Dana Humphrey held the first annual doggie parade.

Baya Bar, a new acai bowl and smoothie spot opened on Beach 116th.

May 26

Tap That, a new self-pour bar, opened on Rockaway Beach Blvd.

Kristine Caruso, a young woman who had SCA2, died ahead of her 30th birthday. Rob Romas, a former DSNY employee, and online personality “Rockaway Archie” died.

June 2

After undergoing a renovation, Memorial Circle was rededicated on its 75th anniversary for Memorial Day.

The 9th Annual Rockaway Irish Festival was back.

June 9

A street renaming was held on Beach 134th for the late basketball star Clare Droesch, Rockstock and Barrels was back for its Sweet 16.

June 16

Two teens drowned in Jamaica Bay near the Joseph P. Addabbo bridge.

Dr. Yash Kirtane retired after 40 years in medicine.

Good Dog BBQ opened in Riis Park among the new concessions.

June 23

Two youths drowned in separate incidents on the beach.

Firefighter Casey Skudin of Rockaway’s Ladder 137 was killed in a freak accident while on vacation.

Terri Carta took over as executive director of JBRPC.

Local music teacher Tyron “Twiz” Williams was a quarterfinalist for a GRAMMY.

June 30

The SFDS Summer Classic Women’s Open League was renamed for Clare Droesch.

A vigil was held at the Beach 116th firehouse for Firefighter Casey Skudin.

The Broad Channel Park reopened after undergoing renovations.

July 7

A mission began to restore the Anabas Boat Club to its former glory.

An officer working for the 100th Precinct saved a choking child on the beach.

Moon Lot opened on Beach 96th Street.

Kiss Me Kate debuted on the RTC stage.

David Norment was appointed as superintendent of District 27’s schools.

July 14

A big volleyball tournament was held in memory of FF Timmy Klein.

A local man was assaulted by a group of unruly dirt bike and ATV riders that came through town.

The Cristin Mullen run was a big success.

July 21

Olympic gold medalist Misty Hyman at the same age.

The RT shared the story of Lifeguard Brian Gillen’s efforts to make 91-year-old Carol Rappaport’s beach day.

Fred Herron was named principal of Fontbonne Hall.

August 4

The community mourned Detective Brendan McVeigh after the NYPD officer took his own life.

Two young men, including a teen, were killed in acts of gun violence.

The Best Dressed Man in Rockaway, Owen Loof, published his first book.

The RT Photo Contest was narrowed down to a top 10.

Far Rockaway Community Church of the Nazarene held a ribbon cutting for its new facility.

August 11

The RT was gearing up to host the annual Sandcastle Contest.

A big fundraiser on behalf of FF Timmy Klein drew big crowds to the BHYC.

The federal government was offering a reward for information regarding the destruction of Oystercatcher and plover nests and eggs.

Tommy’s Pizza reopened with new owners in Broad Channel.

Mayor Adams was in town for a ribbon cutting for affordable housing complex “Beach 21st”

August 18

Mike Dier took top prize in the RT photo contest.

coming to the RTC stage.

Local artist and veteran Norman Lunde died.

September 8

Rockaway was getting ready to commemorate the 21st anniversary of 9/11.

The RT shared the story of Jonathan Ortega Narvaez and his BluePath autism service dog, Milo.

September 15

Poseidon Parade was coming that weekend.

The Fight for Firefighters Foundation did a ramp build for Jack Bender in memory of Timmy Klein.

September 22

At Poseidon’s Parade, lifeguards were given awards for going above and beyond this summer.

The Richie Allen Surf Classic was a big success.

After her mom died of cancer in her freshman year, New Visions student Yolanda Omoworare graduated as valedictorian and got into Sophie Davis.

Beach 116th business owners had a meeting with Councilwoman Joann Ariola to discuss ways to improve the block.

September 29

Beach replenishment began downtown.

Peninsula Library was celebrating 50 years.

Far Rockaway High School alumni were getting ready for a 125th anniversary reunion.

Rockaway was facing its own shark week as beaches were closed due to shark sightings.

Local firefighter Ryan Warnock was injured on the job during a car accident rescue in Midtown.

Councilwoman Ariola and city agencies organized a sting operation to stop the ATVS and dirt bikers from wreaking havoc.

The City announced that the one-way ferry fare would be going up to $4 in September.

July 28

Local swimmer Tess Howley broke a record previously set by

NYC Lifeguards brought back the LG Olympics, which was dominated by Beach 117.

August 25

Carnival returned to Far Rock. The 3 on 3 by the Sea was back. Two musicians from Ireland, Two Degrees, were taking the peninsula by storm.

Jamaican cuisine hotspot CC Jerk Box suffered a devastating fire.

September 1

A Far Rockaway man was killed in a sidewalk hit and run on Beach 20th.

“Honeymoon in Vegas” was

Mayor Adams announced funding for a $35M investment in a park where QueensLink advocates were hoping for a train.

The Ryan Rudden Hockey tournament was a big success.

October 6

After Hurricane Ian hit Florida, Valhalla Medics went south to bring aide.

Friends were gearing up to host a big fundraiser for Brian Hanna.

October 13

Beach 129th businesses were getting ready to host Freedom Fest.

A 2022 RECAP

Continued from Page 18

QueensLink advocates held a rally for the rail line.

October 20

ber Lew Simon on the one year anniversary of his death.

November 23

The Little North Pole was gearing up to light up early for the holiday season.

The New York Dippers Club was drawing attention with daily dips into the chilly Atlantic.

The Anabas Boat Club reached membership capacity and was heading in the right direction.

December 1

A 15-year-old Channel View student was killed on the A train.

Brooklyn Bazaar signed the lease on the Riis Bathhouse with plans for hotel rooms, a pool and more.

FRHS held a big 125th anniversary weekend reunion.

October 27

Rockaway remembered Hurricane Sandy 10 years later.

Spencer Sutera put in hard work to bring Manor of Screams to life for Halloween.

November 3

Election Day was coming.

The Army Corps held an event to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Sandy.

“A Few Good Men” was about to hit the RTC stage.

November 10

Rockaway was commemorating Veterans Day.

In an election surprise, Tom Sullivan was leading Stacey Pheffer Amto by 246 votes when the count stopped on election night.

Pizza on the Point opened in Breezy.

The RT shared the story of 102-year-old veteran James Cavanagh for Veterans Day.

November 17

Rockaway was preparing for the Turkey Trot in honor of Jimmy O’Neill.

The Flight 587 crash was remembered on the 21st anniversary.

Proceeds from the Cristin Mullen run helped support St. Rose CYO.

Rockaway held a vigil to remem-

The Best Dressed Man in Rockaway started dishing out proceeds from his book to charities.

Family threw Tony Sabatino a 95th birthday celebration at his favorite pub, Rogers.

The Rose Den, a new cocktail bar, opened on Beach 116th Street.

The Jimmy O’Neill Turkey Trot was a huge success.

Stockings for a Cause launched with a mission to help U.S. Navy vet Teddy Tan.

December 8

The long-neglected Sand Bar building was officially demolished.

The Nassau County Bridge Authority announced the Atlantic Beach Bridge toll would increase to $4 next year.

The race for Assembly District 32 was still undecided and getting messy.

A Broad Channel man was charged with animal cruelty for neglecting 45 dogs and puppies.

December 15

Surfers teamed up to try to rescue a sperm whale, but the whale later died.

Holiday events from lightings to Santa runs were abound.

December 22

A groundbreaking was held for a long-awaited middle school in Arverne by the Sea.

Rockaway celebrated Hanukkah with menorah lightings.

Nurture U owner Samantha Cintron shared her story of working as a masseuse for Mariah Carey on her Christmas tour.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2022

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021 The Rockaway

To advertise in THE ROCKAWAY TIMES call 718-634-3030 · ads@RockawayTimes.com

To advertise in THE ROCKAWAY TIMES call 718-634-3030 · ads@RockawayTimes.com

INCONTRACT

SUMMER EFFECTS

By Robin Shapiro

THANK YOU

The summer season has mixed effects on the Rockaway real estate market. On the one hand, we are a beachfront community and the draw of the summer activities does bring people here for: beaches, swimming, cycling, running, surfing, organized teams for kids and adults (although the pandemic may crimp some of these this year; thankfully the “end” is in sight). On the other hand, some sellers are reluctant to sell during the summer because they enjoy the aforementioned activities and don’t want to give them up so fast!

We at Robin Shapiro Realty would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to our friends and clients for helping to make 2022 a successful year despite difficult circumstances. It has been our great pleasure working with you throughout the year. Whether you were buying, selling, renting, or even just looking, we appreciate that you picked Robin Shapiro Realty as your real estate brokerage. Please continue to consider Robin Shapiro Realty as your real estate SOURCE for reliable, honest real estate information. We are looking forward to a wonderful 2023 and we wish a Happy and Healthy New Year to all! With love, Robin.

It can be harder to sell real estate during the summer due to vacations by buyers and sellers alike. Summer activities can also occupy people instead of allowing them to focus on the home sale process.

The spring season has been generally good for our real estate market. There has been action across the board in all price categories with an emphasis on the range below $1 million (approx). Prices have firmed up within the framework of recent comparable sales and in some cases are creeping higher. Inventory levels remain very low. Call me, Love, Robin. 718-490-9463

Spacious Newly Renovated ground floor corner apt. Two bedrooms, one and a half baths,large living room, formal dining room. Outdoor terrace, one car parking. Beautiful views of the Bay and City skyline.

Dear Editor:

I have lived on or just off of Beach Channel Drive (BCD) for over 65 years. With the exception of hurricanes Donna and Sandy, I have rarely seen significant tidal flooding on that road until the early morning of Friday, December 23. To someone not familiar with Rockaway or its history, the cause of this flooding might seem obvious –climate change and rising sea levels. Those who profess to be -

lieve in these climate theories tend to be liberal and Democratic. In other words, exactly the people who are currently in charge of New York City, Rockaway included.

Several years ago, I answered a knock at my door, only to meet the chief engineer of the upcoming reconstruction of BCD. She informed me that the City’s plan for the road was to level out the bumps by lowering the grade by 10 inches.

I told her that Rockaway, as a barrier island (or peninsula), needs higher roads, not lower ones, and that lowering the grade would cause flooding. Nevertheless, that is what the City did, which required them to rip out and replace half of the new driveway I had just had rebuilt. They also undermined my picket fence and lawn, forcing me to install vertical 2 x 12 boards to keep the lawn and fence from winding up on the new sidewalk. Now, about a year after the project

finished, the first nor’easter we encountered caused serious flooding of BCD with the FDNY having to rescue stranded motorists. I am still waiting for someone from the City to explain how they approved lowering the grade in Rockaway while simultaneously planning to spend billions for tidal gates and walls to protect Manhattan from “rising sea levels”.

Peter Galvin

Happy Trails

Dear Editor (Kevin Boyle): Congratulations, Well done, and Godspeed! From a former city boy and lover of the Rockaways where I have my most fond memories of life in NY, I have appreciated The Rockaway Times. It is from the way you and your columnists have always seemed to catch the true character of the peninsula, with a no BS, but at the same time respectful reporting and

commentary of Rockaway life and issues. I have broken my rule about no letters to the Editor twice now, both here. That is a compliment to you.

Perhaps it is the DNA of being products of the Archdiocese and especially the parish and high school sports we participated in, likely even together unknowingly on occasion. The initiative to take this publication from creation through its development, and to keep a reader interested every week from a thousand miles away is noteworthy - at least to me and now hopefully to you and the Lazer. Please accept my thanks and respect for your fine creation and my appreciation for the values that you have always managed to reinforce in your works.

Great job and enjoy the next adventures. And by the way, I wasn't a fan of The Big Bang Theory either.

May the wind be always at your back ...

John Auer

Belle Harbor Chai Celebrates Chanukah

Last week Monday, December 19, on the second night of Chanukah, local Jewish families from the Rockaway area gathered at the Belle Harbor Chai Center (BHCC) to celebrate Chanukah.

"Chanukah is a time to unite together as a people and spread the light" explained Rabbi Levi Osdoba, director of the BHCC. "The core essence of every Jew is the

soul, which is a literal part of G-d. When we focus on that, we unite with all of our Jewish family and our differences fade away."

The Chanukah celebration was a family event with crafts for the children, a yo-yo show by John Higby, delicious Chanukah donuts and latkes, a grand dreidel count raffle, and so much more. It was an honor having New York

City Councilwoman Joann Ariola join in the celebration. The event ended with the annual outdoor lighting of the menorah, by Chaim Pollack and his children, which then broke into a dance with the Dreidel Mascots.

The BHCC has been providing educational, social, and community activities for local Jewish families for over 20 years. The organ-

ization is spearheaded by Rabbi Levi Osdoba and his wife Lea. The Chai Center provides adult classes, Bar Mitzvah lessons, teen programs, holiday events and so much more.

The Chai Center, located at 14006 Rockaway Beach Blvd. is open to all. For more information visit belleharborchai.com or email info@belleharborchai.com.

There Used to Be a Schoolyard

LESSONS & MEMORIES OF OLD P.S. 44 (PART 2)

By Jean Caligiuri McKenna

“Rockefeller had money like we never saw, but he never had the fun we had in ‘44”.

Privately etched into the treasured pages of my 8th grade autograph book by my chum, “Dolly” Annette Diresto, I have always thought this inscription worthy of its own plaque adorning the corner of Beach 94th Street & Rockaway Beach Boulevard, where Public School 44 once stood. Although the nondescript library that currently marks this spot bears no special traces, its subtlety belies its hallowed ground beneath, harboring the timeless reverie of a perfect school day. Whenever leaving the front porch with my chums every school morning during the 1940s to walk along Shore Front Parkway, there would always be an assuring air leading us towards the majestic safe harbor we referred to with deference as “Forty-Four.” During these blossoming years, the school became the vibrant social cornerstone of our universe, and no place more so symbolized this for us than its own backyard! Located in an enclave in the school’s rear, safely tucked within the surrounding neighborhood homes, P.S. 44’s schoolyard was a playground of inherent youth, as well as the scene for many a festive school gala from Columbus Day music marches to May Day Maypole dances. To neighbors, it was a lively jumbled assembly of boys and girls in Buster Browns, bobby sox & saddle shoes, gleefully romping about daily. To us, it was a town square rialto, where important matters of jumping rope and eating ice cream sandwiches took priority over books and blackboards. Because the cafeteria always had a funny smell, many of us would choose to spend our lunch recesses in this idyllic outdoor retreat. Relishing the ocean breeze from a block away, we’d frolic and fraternize in a melting

pot of ethnicities with names like Jeannie Vega, Emma Dennis, Joan Wenke, Virginia Winkelmann, Helen Frain, Angelo Uberti, and Eddie Gallagher.

Safeguarded in the majesty of our school’s shadow, we’d forge lasting friendships with a simple formula of youth, fun, and laughter, whiling away the time without care until Mrs. Smith’s halting whistle would corral our revelry at hour’s end.

As we grew older, many a day, we would leave the school grounds, (with permission), grazing the boulevard mom-and-pop grocery to buy a “pickle-for-a-nickel” from its wooden pickle barrel. The off-campus excursions gave us opportunity to exercise our independence, and to see any teachers outside of the school on ‘our time’ seemed like an oddity. When we spotted our science teacher, Mr. Sullivan, eating lunch in Hymie’s Luncheonette one day, we expressed our bewilderment by curiously huddling all over each other in the eateries’ doorway just to catch a glimpse. An hour later,

in science class, he wryly expressed his dismay, to no one in particular, admonishing “some in the class” for intrusion of his privacy. Along with adding the word “gaping” to our vocabulary, we more importantly learned that day that teachers actually eat!

When revealed that our 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Hemley, lived in affluent Belle Harbor, my yearbook pal, Dolly, and I, decided to see how “well-todo” she was. For 50 cents, we rented bikes from the bicycle repair shop across the street next to the firehouse, adventuring three miles to marvel at the beautiful homes of the wealthy. To us, we were in another world! We rode past Mrs. Hemley’s modest house, which surprisingly, did not measure up to the bigger homes. Upon returning to class, we decided she wasn’t rich, which was ‘Ok’ with us!

Mrs. Smith’s authoritative whistle carried even more clout when we found her husband to be a detective nicknamed “Smitty”, whom we would sometimes see around the stationhouse during recess, clad in no-nonsense gangbusters fedora and black overcoat. (A sure reminder to return on time)!

Though these venturesome lunchtime outings personified the joie de vivre of our P.S. 44 salad days, it was within the classrooms where the fabric of our years was finely woven! In contrast to the pomp and decorum of the auditorium assemblies, the classroom was the intimate parlor where we could gather like bosom siblings after family dinners. Entwined with laughter & learning, these scholastic havens housed a treasure-trove setting of youthful pleasantries, placing fun and ban-

ter on equal par with good manners and penmanship! Devotedly supplying these daily essentials, our teachers seemed to take a doting pride in nurturing this zeal and spirit by crafting for us fruitful labors out of mundane tasks. Within this nourishing academia, washing blackboards and watering windowsill plants became as edifying as spelling and sewing, while rewarded titles of “Hall Monitor” and “Lieutenant of the Month”, heartened our responsibility and self-esteem. By allowing us to express our creative voices in the school’s newspaper, “The Pilgrim,” we were able to share its goings-on with our best society column impressions, contributing poesies, riddles, good tidings and wit to our touted “House of Fun & Happiness”.

This daily atmosphere of camaraderie and participation painted joyous hours and a fondness for our dear school, shaping our character, talents, and potential in a wellspring of fulfillment and discovery, where nary a moment ever felt like a chore.

As in all families, we too would occasionally take our lumps (and pinches) for chewing gum or dawdling, but under our fair tutors, redemption was always plentiful in supply at day’s end!

In an era when your school was no less than your second home, P.S. 44 staunchly embodied all the virtue and felicity of a childhood household. With bountiful trust, affection, good friendships & kind teachers, its riches lay within a moral compass filled with sunny promise, reflective of the time we lived and in which it stood.

No two cents of Rockefeller’s ever bought an afternoon’s delight in the 1940s, when my chums and I would idly depart the corner of Beach 94th Street for Greenberg’s candy store, free from want, savoring the fruits of perfect school days that in many ways epitomized all that was good with the world!

Junior Ranger Guided Hike

On Friday, December 30 at 2 p.m., head to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge for a guided walk around one of the trails and learn what it takes to become a Jr. Ranger! Children will use their different senses as we explore all that the refuge has to offer. Program followed by an official Jr. Ranger "swear-in" ceremony.

Creating Jamaica Bay

On Saturday, December 31 at 12 p.m., head to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge to join a ranger and explore how the utilization of Jamaica Bay has affected the life within our great estuary. This is an all-weather walk, so please dress for the conditions. Space will be limited, so register by calling 718-318-4340.

New Year’s Day Beach Walk

On Sunday, January 1 at 11 a.m., meet at the Little Church in Fort Tilden’s Beach 169th entrance to join Jamaica Bay Guardian Don Riepe for a brisk walk along the beach and hawk watch atop Battery Harris. Bring snacks and water.

Polar Bear Plunge

On Sunday, January 1, Rockaway rings in the New Year with an invigorating dip into the Atlantic. The New York Dippers Club will be dipping on Beach 67th Street at 9 a.m. The rest of the plunges typically take place at 12 noon, with the biggest being on Beach 145th. Beach 127th and Beach 119th usually draw a big group. The Rockaway Hotel is hosting a dip on Beach 108th at noon with a post-plunge party at 2 p.m.

Jamaica Bay Junior Ranger Hike

On Sunday, January 1 at 2:30 p.m., head to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge with the kids to join for a guided walk around one of the trails and learn what it takes to become a Jr. Ranger! Children will use their different senses as we explore all that the refuge has to offer. Program followed by an official Jr. Ranger “swear-in” ceremony. This is an all-weather walk, so please dress for the conditions. Space will be limited, so register by calling (718) 318-4340.

Community Board 14

On Tuesday, January 10 at 7:15 p.m., head to the Knights of Columbus for the monthly CB14 meeting. For public speaking, sign up before the meeting starts.

Morning Moves at RISE

On Mondays at 11 a.m., head to the RISE Center (58-03 Rockaway Beach Blvd) to join Ann Fosteris’ Fitness to You class. Masks required inside RISE.

Chair Yoga at Rise

On Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., head to the RISE Center (58-03 Rockaway Beach Blvd). for a free chair yoga class with Certified yoga instructor Ruth Graves. All are welcome! From beginners to seasoned practitioners. Masks required inside RISE.

Free Winter Classes

The Peninsula Adult Learning Center, Queens Library (92-25 Rockaway Beach Blvd.) begins its winter semester classes on Jan. 9. GED (High School Equivalency), YALP (Young Adult Literacy Program 16-24), ESOL(English for Speakers of Other Languages), Citizenship, Adult Basic Education. Register Now – Contact Peninsulalearning@gmail.com Or 718-945-7058

Got events? Send an email to katie@rockawaytimes.com with details for consideration to be listed.

LEGAL NOTICES

Notice of Formation of 21-61 46TH STREET REALTY, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/20/22. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Efstathios Giannoutsos, 1919 Lee Allen Ln., Wilton, CT 06897. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 42-41 155th Street LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/26/22. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 29 West Main St, Oyster Bay, NY 11771. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of Crypto Assets LLC. Articles of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State (DOS) on 20210510. Office location: Queens County, DOS is designated as agent upon whom process may be served. DOS shall mail service of process to Registered Agents Inc. at 90 State St. STE 700 Office 40AAlbany NY 12207. Registered Agents Inc. is designated as agent for SOP at 90 State St. STE 700 Office Albany NY 12207. Company is organized for any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of TRIPLE R&Z MANAGEMENT LLC, a limited liability company. Art of Org. filed with the Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/01/2022. Office located in QUEENS. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to c/o TRIPLE R&Z MANAGEMENT LLC. 1547 208TH ST BAYSIDE NY 11360. Purpose: any lawful activity.

MORNING STAR OF NY, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 11/23/22. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 119- 41 26 th Ave., Flushing, NY 11354, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Miani 247-1 LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/17/2022. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 204-08 Jamaica Ave., Hollis, NY 11423. General Purpose

F&N 92 Enterprises LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/3/2022. Cty:Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 101-35 94th St., Ozone Park, NY 11416. General Purpose

87-36 LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/15/2022. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 87-36 126 St., Jamaica, NY 11418. General Purpose

ETSEA, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/21/2022. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Registered Agent Solutions, Inc., 99 ashington Ave., Ste. 1008, Albany, NY 12260. General Purpose

Notice of Formation of PUNCHIENELLA LLC, Articles of Organization Filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/11/2022 Office location: Queens, NY. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to PUNCHIENELLA LLC, 9610 57th Ave, Apt. 4M, Corona, NY 11368. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of ANIKSPRINT LLC., Articles of Organization Filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/4/2022. Office location: Queens, NY. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to ANIKSPRINT LLC. 432 Beach 44th Street, Floor 1, Far Rockaway, NY 11691. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of vis ta vie picnics LLC, Articles of Organization Filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/14/22. Office location: Queens, NY. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to vis ta vie picnics LLC, 208-10 Cross Island Pkwy, #222, Bayside, NY 11360. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

To advertise in The Rockaway Times call 718-634-3030 · ads@RockawayTimes.com

No.:

The

CITATION

PICHIARELLO A/K/A MARIE PICHIARELLO, deceased, or their estates, if any there be, whose names, places of residence and post office addresses are unknown to the petitioner and cannot with due diligence be ascertained A copy of this citation and the accounting, as well as all amendments to it, if any, shall be served on the Guardian Ad Litem, Christine Wallace, Esq. Being the persons interested as creditors, legatees, distributees or otherwise in the Estate of MARIECHEN PICHIARELLO A/K/A MARIE PICHIARELLO, deceased, who at the time of death was a resident of 353 Beach 48th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691, in the County of Queens, State of New York. SEND GREETING: Upon the petition of LOIS M. ROSENBLATT, Public Administrator of Queens County, who maintains her office at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, Queens County, New York 11435, as Administrator of the Estate of MARIECHEN PICHIARELLO A/K/A MARIE PICHIARELLO, deceased, you and each of you are hereby cited to show cause before the Surrogate at the Surrogate’s Court of the County of Queens, to be held at the Queens General Courthouse, 6th Floor, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, City and State of New York, on the 19th day of January, 2023 at 9:30 o’clock in the forenoon, why the Account of Proceedings of the Public Administrator of Queens County, as Administrator of the Estate of said deceased, a copy of which is attached, should not be judicially settled, and why the Surrogate should not fix and allow a reasonable amount of compensation to GERARD J. SWEENEY, ESQ., for legal services rendered to petitioner herein in the amount of $23,295.28 and that the Court fix the fair and reasonable additional fee for any services to be rendered by GERARD J. SWEENEY, ESQ., hereafter in connection with proceedings on kinship, claims etc., prior to entry of a final Decree on this accounting in the amount of 6% of assets or income collected after the date of the within accounting; and why the Surrogate should not fix and allow an amount equal to one percent on said Schedules of the total assets on Schedules A, A1, and A2 plus any additional monies received subsequent to the date of this account, as the fair and reasonable amount payable to the Office of the Public Administrator for the expenses of said office pursuant to S.C.P.A. §1106(3); and why the petitioner should not be authorized to retain the sum of $35,000.00 to satisfy the contingent and possible claim of Gil Perez, Esq. and Ed Chesnik, Esq., for a period of 6 months from the date of the decree to be settled hereon; and why, upon service on the petitioner of an Order from the New York Supreme Court fixing the legal fees and commissions of Gil Perez, Esq. and Ed Chesnik, Esq. for services rendered to the decedent, petitioner should not be further authorized to pay Gil Perez, Esq. and Ed Chesnik, Esq., said amount not to exceed $35,000.00; and why if Gil Perez, Esq. and Ed Chesnik, Esq.. should fail to obtain an order form the New York Supreme Court fixing the legal fee and commissions for services rendered to the decedent within six months from the Notice of Entry of the Decree to be settled hereon, the amount retained by the petitioner shall be distributed as set forth in the petition; and why the claim from the NYC Human Resources Administration in the amount of $870,635.84 should not be paid to the extent of the net distributable estate. Dated, Attested and Sealed 17th day of November, 2022 HON. PETER J. KELLY Surrogate, Queens County Janet Edwards Tucker Chief Clerk GERARD J. SWEENEY, ESQ. (718) 459-9000 1981 Marcus Avenue, Suite 200 Lake Success, New York 11042

NOTICE: THIS CITATION IS SERVED UPON YOU AS REQUIRED BY LAW. YOU ARE NOT RE-QUIRED TO APPEAR; HOWEVER, IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR IT WILL BE ASSUMED YOU DO NOT OBJECT TO THE RELIEF REQUESTED. YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY APPEAR FOR YOU, AND YOU OR YOUR ATTORNEY MAY REQUEST A COPY OF THE FULL ACCOUNT FROM THE PETITIONER OR PETITIONER’S ATTORNEY Accounting Citation

File

2020-188/A CITATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BY THE GRACE OF GOD, FREE AND INDEPENDENT To: Roolf Ihnen, Johanne Tjaden, Elfriede Daro, Karin Deckers, Folkert Heeren Stroman Ihnen, Marianne Veit Cornelius, Attorney General of the State of New York

unknown distributees, legatees, devisees, heirs at law and assignees of MARIECHEN



Facts You Probably D on’t Need JETTY ICE

The first New Year’s Eve ball drop took place in 1907. The first ball was made of iron and wood, weighed 700 pounds, and had 100 light bulbs.

Today’s New Year’s ball now has 32,000 LED lights and weighs in at a whopping 11,875 pounds.

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An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

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Pepsi originally contained the enzyme called pepsin, which serves to digest proteins found in ingested food, thus the name.

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The only time the annual ball drop wasn’t held was 1942 and 1943 due to the wartime “dimout” of lights in New York City. Crowds still gathered and had a minute of silence at midnight, followed by chimes ringing out from sound trucks in Times Square.



There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

• Over 1,000,000 Euros are thrown into the Trevi fountain in Rome, Italy every year. The money is used to subsidize a supermarket for the needy.



A duel containing three people is called a “truel.”



The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.

Facts by Sean McVeigh, factologist.

Space didn’t allow us to run our Local Color pages this week, but we had enough room for this great shot by Dan Cantarino. There were plenty of flood pictures (and pieces of whale) but we almost forgot there was ice thanks to the frigid weather. Baby, it was cold outside.

Spotted: Photographer Now A Subject

Crock Pot Honey Rosemary Pork Chops

By Sharon Feldman

Ingredients:

2 pounds bone-in pork chops

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 tablespoon minced garlic ¼ cup honey

(I used a little more)

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary 1 teaspoon dried or fresh thyme

chops, sprinkle the rosemary and thyme.

Cook and cover on high for 3 hours. Serve and enjoy!

Ken Lavery is usually on the other side of the camera as he is a regular contributor to our Local Color page. This time Ken might be delivering his best shot yet! He’s rocking a seasonal red Rockaway Times t-shirt in his office at Villa Veritas which is closing after 50 years. Ken has worked at the Villa for over 34 years, helping people recover from addiction. You look great, Ken!

Directions: Season both sides of the pork chops with salt and pepper. Place in 6 quart crockpot. Spread the garlic evenly on top of the pork chops Drizzle honey over the pork

By Peter Galvin, MD

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Despite the fact that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been around for a while, its current prevalence in the USA is not well established. Based upon data from population surveys, it can be estimated that the prevalence of at least mild OSA (defined as mild drops in oxygen levels at night) and daytime sleepiness among adults aged 30 to 70 is 14% for men and 5% for women. Moderate to severe OSA, which has more severe oxygenation problems at night, is estimated at 13% for men and 6% for women. Recently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

(USPSTF) took another look at whether screening for OSA should be performed in the general population. When they last examined this issue in 2017, the USPSTF concluded that there was insufficient evidence to determine the risks vs. benefits of screening the general population, and therefore they did not have enough evidence to make a recommendation, either for or against widespread screening. This time around, the USPSTF reached the same conclusion.

OSA is a condition where breathing during sleep is abnormal. Peo-

ple with OSA may stop breathing (apnea) for short periods during sleep or have decreased airflow during sleep due to a temporary blockage in the airway. Risk factors include male sex, obesity, older age, and certain anatomical features like a large tongue or adenoids. Common symptoms include loud snoring, choking or gasping while sleeping, and daytime sleepiness. Sometimes people have had the symptoms so long they don’t recognize them as being abnormal. The primary treatment for OSA is the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. An alternative therapy is a mouthpiece that pushes the lower jaw forward while sleeping. Weight loss can also help those who are overweight or obese. Screening usually involves the use of a questionnaire to ask about weight, BMI, neck size, snoring, tiredness, blood pressure, and observed apnea. Patients with a positive screen are referred to a specialist for a sleep study. A sleep study, also known as a polysomnogram, is done at a sleep lab. The patient stays there overnight, and the study combines several measure-

ments including EEG, electro-oculogram (monitors eye movement to determine REM sleep), airflow monitor, chin electromyogram, oxygen saturation, respiratory effort, and EKG. The patient is advised not to take any sleep-altering medications, including alcohol. If the sleep study is positive, treatment can begin.

Untreated OSA has been linked with many side effects which worsen with age. Among these are cardiovascular disease events (heart attacks and strokes), type II diabetes, and atrial fibrillation, not to mention motor vehicle accidents caused by drivers falling asleep.

Untreated severe OSA is linked to increased all-cause mortality. Currently, OSA testing referrals from primary care offices remain low. Primary care practitioners need to increase the number of patients they screen for OSA and increase referrals for sleep studies so we can finally begin to get ahead of this deadly but often hidden disease.

Please direct questions and comments to editor@rockawaytimes. com

Doctors

Sadhana Gupta, MD Zoya Koroleva, DO Stanislav Kaminyar, DO Alla Buzinover, DO

By Kami-Leigh Agard

How to ring in 2023? Sloppy, sober, laid-back or buck-wild? Rockaway Good Times has got you covered. Plan your New Year’s crawl with our guide below.

LIVE MUSIC

FRIDAY, December 30 6 p.m.

It’s the eve of New Year’s Day Eve! Ignite your holiday weekend celebrations with the Rock-A-Wades at Knights of Columbus.

333 Beach 90th Street

FRIDAY, December 30

7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Get your honky-tonk swagger on with Roadkill Outlaws at Bar Marseille.

190 Beach 69th Street

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30

8 p.m. to Midnight Crossfade is back at RBQ, playing hits you used to tape from the radio.

97-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd

SATURDAY, December 31 7 p.m.

Wine up for NYE at Sayra’s Wine Bar— featuring live DJ, $25 per bottle Prosecco and more adult bevies, plus bites.

97-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd

SATURDAY, December 31 8 p.m.

Looking to ring in 2023 at a local spot with no pricey cover? Thai Rock offers gorgeous bay views, Thai food, bevies, plus—live music by Mike "Piano Man" Tedesco! Admission is free!

375 Beach 92nd Street

SATURDAY, December 31

8 p.m. to Midnight 2023 will be the best year yet! So, boogey down to new beginnings with DJ Shane at RBQ.

97-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd

SUNDAY, January 1 All Day

It’s Red Day at The Wharf! Put on your red best and enjoy drink specials and live music.

416 Beach 116th Street

SUNDAY, January 1 11 a.m. / 3 p.m.

Starting at 3 p.m.—party like it’s 1999 at Bungie’s annual New Year’s Day party with DJ Teddy, plus juicy pop-up by Side

ROCKAWAY GOOD TIMES

Alleys Smash Burger. Brunch starts at 11 a.m.

377 Beach 92nd Street

SUNDAY, January 1 2 p.m.

Rock in 2023 with Bobby Butthead at Pico.

419 Beach 129th Street

SUNDAY, January 1 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Add some “shyne,” to your new year celebrations with Solshyne at RBQ. 97-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd

SUNDAY, January 1 3 p.m.

Cheers to a new year! So, start it right with the Rock-A-Wades at Harbor Light! 129-18 Newport Ave

SUNDAY, January 1 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Start juicing your new year with Meddle Juice’s medley of original folk and blues music, plus American standards at Tap That. 111-04 Rockaway Beach Blvd

SUNDAY, January 1 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

It’s another day, but boundless possibilities for 2023! Welcome them in with Mike and Miley at Rogers! 203 Beach 116th Street

SUNDAY, January 1 6:30 p.m.

Add to your 2023 first-day memories at Thai Rock with award-winning blues man, Kerry Kearney, and special guests. 375 Beach 92nd Street

SPECIAL NEW YEAR MENTIONS

KENNEDY’S NYE

SATURDAY, December 31 5 p.m. / 7:40 p.m.

With picturesque city line views, food and drinks—NYE at Kennedy’s will be unforgettable. From 5 p.m to 7 p.m., early seating is $90 per person for a threecourse meal. Starting at 7:40 p.m., enjoy a four-course meal with champagne toast, hats and noisemakers, plus live music with Jojo at $150 per person. For reservations, call (718) 945-0202.

406 Bayside, Breezy Point

CELEBRATE NYE AT BAR MARSEILLE’S

SATURDAY, December 31 5 p.m. until late

Bar Marseille adds some glamour to your New Year’s festivities with unforgettable menu additions, an optional drink package (includes spirits, wine, beer and a midnight Prosecco toast), and DJ Nick G firing it up from 9 p.m. For reservations and more info, visit: https://www.barmarseille.com/newyears-eve/ 190 Beach 69th Street

RING IN THE NEW YEAR AT THE ROCKAWAY HOTEL’s ROOFTOP

SATURDAY, December 31 8 p.m. to Midnight Forget Times Square! Watch the ball drop from The Rockaway Hotel’s rooftop—while dancing to live music with DJ Johnny A, and indulging in exquisite bites, cocktails and a champagne toast. Tickets are $100. For tickets and more info, visit: https://www.therockawayhotel.com/happenings 108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive

BREW YOUR 2023 CELEBRATIONS AT THE BREWERY

SATURDAY, December 31 8 p.m. Sing, “Auld Lang Syne,” and ring in new beginnings at Rockaway Brewing Co. with beer and tunes from Naked NY. Tickets $75/person and include fourhour open bar, champagne toast, snack trays from Breaker RBNY and party accessories for all your selfie needs. For info about reserving a table and more, message @rbcobeach on Instagram, or email: events@rockawaybrewco.com 415 Beach 72nd Street

BELLE HARBOR YACHT CLUB

SUNDAY, January 1 3 p.m.

Wear your yacht whites at the BHYC’s New Year White Party! Rockaway’s #1 party band, Wine With Sue, rocks the stage from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., then from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., DJ Drews jams oldschool eight-tracks. $10 cover. For hungry party animals, Mr. Sandwich Food truck is on deck. Plus, try your new year luck with raffles and 50/50s. 533 Beach 126th Street

THE SUGAR BOWL’S SWEET LINEUP

FRIDAY, December 30 2 p.m. DJ with Beach Party Productions.

SATURDAY, December 31 4 p.m to 9 p.m.

Bar open with $4 bottles and tap, plus—live music at 4:30 p.m. with Chris Decker.

SUNDAY, January 1 3 p.m.

First at 3 p.m., live music by Hell or High Water, next at 8 p.m.—DJ from Beach Party Productions.

15 Bedford Ave, Breezy Point

ROCKAWAY TIKI FRIDAY, December 30 7 p.m.

Mike Power’s Birthday Roast.

SATURDAY, December 31 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

NYE celebration with DJ Hector the Selector spinning all vinyl. Plus, drinks, shots and a champagne toast when the clock strikes 12!

SUNDAY, January 1 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

NYD two-for-one brunch drinks with an entree. Plus, DJ spinning tropical tunes, and Sunday football!

67-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd

POLAR PLUNGE!

With the weather projected to be in the mild 50s, dive into 2023 with a polar plunge!

SUNDAY, January 1 9 a.m.

Stamp 2023 with the New York Dippers Club on Beach 67th. 12 p.m.

Get pampered at The Rockaway Hotel’s annual polar plunge on Beach 108th Street. Prior to the plunge, indulge in bagels and bubbly, then after—warmup at the hotel’s outdoor saunas and heated pool. Tickets are $40 for adults/ $10 for individuals under 21 years old. Post-plunge party with DJ Paddy Tubz. Twenty-five percent of ticket proceeds donated to Rising Tide Effect, a nonprofit that provides free swim lessons and water safety education for Rockaway’s youth. For tickets and more info, visit: https://www.therockawayhotel.com/ happenings

108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive 12 p.m.

Join locals for an informal plunge. Groups gather at Beach 119th, 127th and 145th. Got info on local live music, arts and more? Email: editor@rockawaytimes. com

To advertise in THE ROCKAWAY TIMES call 718-634-3030 · ads@RockawayTimes.com

A

BACK: RT FRONT PAGES OF 2022

AEW & WWE Updates

Wishing all of our readers a safe and Happy New Years! Let's get into some wrestling news!

Reports are coming into the office about All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and their possible start of holding House Shows throughout the United States in 2023. Now, an actual touring schedule is unknown at this time. But sources say that former WWE and WCW Star Jeff Jarrett, who is now the Director of Business Development for AEW, is currently working on a live touring schedule which may start off, as a limited schedule to see how fan attendance goes. We will keep you

updated.

Staying with AEW, just recently their owner Tony Khan, appeared on the Fightful's Grapsody Podcast, to address a lingering issue within AEW and that was underutilized talent. Tony went on to say that, "Due to limited TV time, you're never going to keep everyone happy. You have people that are going to be a focus week to week." Now, with that being said, I do feel they do a major injustice to the talent on the roster, when they have such a large talent roster to start with. Maybe, thin out the current roster to be able to focus on

providing individual talent with storylines and TV time. Just my opinion!

So, a couple of weeks ago, we discussed a possible match between World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Universal Champion Roman Reigns and The Rock, at next year's WrestleMania 39 Live Event. But rumors are floating around that Cody Rhodes could be possibly chosen to go against Roman Reigns. Now, these are rumors that are currently being reported, but who do you think should face off against Roman Reigns at next year's WrestleMania?

The Question of the Week comes from David M. in Jamaica, Queens and he asked, "What are your thoughts about the whole Mandy Rose situation?" David, I have to say this. For fans who do not know about the situation, Mandy Rose was released on December 14, when the company found out about the type of content she was posting to one of her social media pages. Now, if the WWE wants to have exclu-

sive control on the use of their talent, then all WWE Superstars should be paid a decent amount, to compensate for anything they may lose out on, while being employed with the WWE. Some talents are not compensated well, and seek other avenues to make extra income. Thank you for your question.

If you have any questions or comments, please send them to eavil183@yahoo.com, have a safe and enjoyable New Years!

All Major Insurance Companies Accepted