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VOL. 1, NO.34 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

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Brown Out St. John’s Hospital Seeks New CEO

Page 25

Bolly

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Owner Says India Film Industry Will Use Far Rock Hotel Page 3

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

The Rockaway Times

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The Rockaway Times

Page 3

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

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Hotel Questionable Bollywood Eyes Far Rock

By Michael Leboff

Late last month many Rockaway residents and local politicians were left scratching their heads when word trickled down that a new nine-story hotel was being planned at Foam Place in Far Rockaway. Officials and residents alike were left to speculate as to just what exactly was the hotel developer’s real motive for building at this location.

Right away people began wondering if this would be another hotelturned-homeless-shelter in Rockaway.

At the Community Board meeting on Tuesday night, Richard Lobel, a lawyer at Sheldon Lobel PC gave a joint presentation along with Manish Savani, who is the project architect of the proposed building.

The property that the developer wants to use is in a C4 commercial district and is owned by Dayakar Dasireddy. The area is zoned as-of-right and therefore allowable as a site for a high-rise building, but the hotelier wants to put an entrance on an unmapped street and needs approval from the FDNY. The proposed hotel, which is being planned for Smith and Foam

Streets, would have upwards of 90 rooms and have six parking spots to be used primarily for guests. Guests would have access to shuttle service to JFK Airport and Manhattan.

The two presenters were tasked with representing the anonymous developer and tried to convince the crowd that their skepticism was unwarranted.

“The business reality of the situation is that [the potential owner] is taking construction loans bordering nine to ten million dollars,” claimed Lobel. “I understand that The Rockaways have been burned by hotels that have been turned into homeless shelters, but this is a gentleman who has no experience with homeless shelters and has experience with hotels.”

The hotel, which would soar over the low-rise buildings in the Mott Avenue commercial district, was met with opposition across the board. “[The potential owner] doesn’t want to be an outsider,” Lobel told the room. “He does not want to burn any bridges.”

“I do not support this at all,” City Council member Donovan Brooks said from the front of the room prior

to the presentation and again during the presentation.

Things took a turn when Lobel finally revealed the alleged rationale behind building a hotel at the run down shopping center. What came next seemed bizarre to many in the crowd. “Upon further discussion with [the potential owner] what I did determine is the following,” Lobel began. “He is originally from India and when he was in India was a producer of films in Bollywood.”

Bollywood is the sobriquet given to the Hindi language film industry based in Mumbai, India. It is one of the largest centers of film production in the world. “[The potential owner] is thus connected to the film industry in India and has discussed this with colleagues of his who want to shoot in this area and do not have local contacts,” Lobel said. “And because of his contacts in the industry there would be a large influx of the Bollywood film industry to this particular site.”

That’s right, Foam Place is apparently being tagged as the next big thing in Bollywood.

Following the startling revelation the room fell into a state of surprised chatter before Lobel called their attention back by admitting, “You can’t make this up. If I wanted to tell you a story it wouldn’t be this one.

I’m a Jewish kid from Long Island, it doesn’t work like this.”

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After the presentation concluded, members of Community Board 14 made it clear that they did not support the development. One by one they stood up and made it clear to Lobel and Savani that this hotel will not go up without a fight -- but the odds are stacked against them.

The Community Board’s report will now go before the Board of Standards and Appeals, which is an indeContinued on page 25

Page 4

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

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The Rockaway Times

This year’s 100th Precinct Community Council Chili Cook-off was anything but cold. The competition was as hot as the chili as 25 groups entered, making it the biggest cook-off in its five-year history.

On Saturday, February 7, more than 100 people attended the event at the Knights of Columbus, with forks ready to dig in. Four judges went to work to determine who has the best chili on the peninsula. Two officers and two civilians were chosen as chili tasters for this year’s chow-down. Among them were 100th Precinct officers Ayanna Hurrey and Danny Smyth and civilians Marissa Bernowitz and Ozzie Edwards. The judges sampled all 25 entries and worked together to determine a top three.

“That’s what you call police and community working together,” Officer Smyth said.

The judges named The Wharf Bar & Grill as this year’s winner, with a first-place trophy going to Chef Elio. Medals were awarded to the second and third place winners, which were Last Stop Gourmet Shop and Jameson’s, respectively.

“All of the chilis were unique.

Everyone comes with their own recipe, but there always has to be a winner and the judges made the decision that the Wharf’s was the best one. After tasting 25 chilis, that is quite the accomplishment,” 100th Precinct Community Council President Danny Ruscillo said.

He added that the judges were given lemon slices to cleanse their palates between tastings.

The other entrants were the 100th and 101st Precincts, the 23rd Transit District, Engine Companies 264 and 266, Bon Appetit, Connolly’s, Currans, the Knights of Columbus, Millennium Development, Pani-

nico, the Queens Borough President’s Office, The Rock Wine Bar, St. John’s Hospital, Sayra’s Wine Bar, Scott’s Computer Repair LLC., Stop and Shop, Thai Rock, Waldbaums, Walsh Properties, Whit’s End and YANA. Ruscillo says that some of the entrants provided toppings like sour cream and cheese and even side dishes. The 100th Precinct Community Council provided rice and soda, so guests could wash down their meals.

Since many of the chefs could not be in attendance, as they were busy at work at various restaurants, the Rockaway Youth Task Force volunteered their time to serve the guests at the event for the second year in a row. “They served all night long. Not only did they serve the chili, but they helped clean up at the end. They did a fantastic job,” Ruscillo said.

Organizer Ruscillo got a special surprise at this year’s event as Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder and Councilman Eric Ulrich presented him with a Proclamation.

Started in 2010 with only 16 entries, the chili cook-off continues to grow annually. The cookoff serves as a fundraiser for the 100th Precinct Community Council so it can continue its annual events, such as the annual Night Out Against Crime and some of the money goes toward holiday toy donations and police awards, which are given out monthly.

In previous years, the council has split the funds with the event with groups such as the St. Camillus Special Olympics and the Rockaway Youth Task Force, but the council is keeping the proceeds from this year’s event in order to replace Night Out Against Crime items, which were destroyed in Sandy. They raised $1,080 this year.

The Rockaway Times

Page 5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Protect your world Auto • Home • Life • Retirement

I’m cutting Brian Williams some slack. The NBC news anchor has apologized for saying he was on a helicopter that took on enemy fire in Iraq in 2003. It didn’t happen.

He’s been retelling it and embellishing it for years. If he hadn’t been caught, I’m sure he would have soon said he was the actual pilot, performed CPR on a passenger, while spraying the enemy with a machine gun, before safely landing the chopper. He would’ve told the story on air and then taken a swig from a whiskey flask.

But I’m cutting him slack.

Two years ago he was the guest at the Graybeards Dinner Dance and not only was he an absolute hoot but he was extraordinarily generous.

That’s 95 percent of the reason I’m cutting him slack. The other 5 percent is because misremembering is real. I guess I should put misremembering in quotes because most people think it’s a bunch of bull.

But do you and your siblings have any completely different memories of family events or what mom or dad said? Have you heard a friend tell some story that wasn’t even close to the truth?

As adults, my siblings and everyone’s kids went on vacation to the Outer Banks.

One night, one of my brothers and his wife went out to dinner and the rest of us stayed in. We all gathered in the great room and watched as a dry lightning storm lit up the night sky.

At some point I sneaked outside and threw myself against the big window, silhouetted by another burst of lightning. It was a perfect horror movie scene and when I went back inside, I had to either peel people off the ceiling or dodge objects being thrown at me for scaring the hell out of everyone. It was one of those all-time family events.

Well, the brother who was not even there – but obviously heard about it enough times – would, years later, start recalling it as if he was there. “Remember that time Kevin scared the hell out of us?” No one had

the heart to break it to him that he wasn’t there. Until recently. We were discussing memory and someone said. “I hate to say but you weren’t there.” If he’d been telling the story on the evening news he would’ve been branded a liar. But he wasn’t lying to us all those years. He was misremembering, albeit in an epic way.

There was a radio program, I think it was This American Life (I can’t swear either way, lest I be called a liar). A husband told the story of the time he and his wife were on Central Park South. Across the street, they see Jackie Onasis who gives the wife a tentative wave. The wife waves back tentatively. And then Jackie O starts waving enthusiastically and so the wife starts waving back enthusiastically herself. And this is all great until a taxi pulls up and Jackie O jumps in.

The famous woman had been waving for a cab not to the woman across the street. The husband remembered every detail and said Jackie O was dressed beautifully with a flowing scarf.

The radio host asked the wife if that’s how she remembered it. Exactly, she said. Except for one thing.

The husband was not there! He had somehow made himself part of this wonderful little story on Central Park West.

Both this guy and my brother would have passed lie detector tests.

They weren’t lying. But what they said wasn’t true.

There’s a reason eyewitness accounts are often wildly inaccurate.

You can’t believe what they’re saying about what they’ve seen.

The thing is, if Brian Williams knew he was lying he also knew he could be called on it at any time. So why lie?

Maybe it was very convenient for him to “misremember,” maybe his ego fed the lie and he figured he’d never be called on it. Yep, maybe.

All I know is, I would’ve sworn I had all A’s in grammar school and then I stumbled across my report cards in an old box. Now, I’m surprised they didn’t send me to janitor school.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

The Rockaway Times

BRIEFS Bright Idea:

Goldfeder Wants Solar Car Ports In Riis Park

By Michael Leboff

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder has suggested to U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Sally Jewel that the agency install solar panel car ports at Jacob Riis Park in order to reduce energy costs, promote renewable energies and improve visitors’ experiences at the park during hot summer months.

“The parking lot at Jacob Riis Park is one of the largest stretches of concrete in New York City and by installing solar panel car ports, we can generate renewable electricity that will help fund restoration efforts at Gateway. Additionally, it would provide relief from the heat for thousands of families visiting the park,” said Assemblyman Goldfeder. “This project would be a win-win for the park and the

community by generating muchneeded revenue, provide alternative energy and keep parked cars out of the hot sun.”

In effect, the solar panels would be creating indoor parking while producing energy that could be sold to a utility company. Goldfeder says the panels would pay for themselves within six years.

He also suggested that a publicprivate partnership might form to pay for the project because of its multi-layered value.

Goldfeder’s request comes as the National Park Service (NPS), which is overseen by DOI, is set to implement Superstorm Sandyrelated repairs and other upgrades to facilities at the Gateway National Recreation Area as part of its General Management Plan for Gateway.

Katz Taps Miller As New Deputy Beep

By Michael Leboff

Borough President Melinda Katz has pegged Melva Miller to become the next Deputy Borough President. Miller takes over for Leroy Comrie who began his term as a New York State Senator earlier this year.

“Economic development is a key priority of my agenda for Queens, and Melva’s multidimensional expertise to this end is second to none,” the BP stated in a release.

Miller, who has served as the Director of Economic Development

for the Queens Borough President’s Office since 2007, was the Founding Executive Director of the Sutphin Boulevard Business Improvement District.

“It’s an honor to be tapped by Borough President Katz to help her execute her vision for the World’s Borough,” Miller said. “I am grateful that Borough President Katz chose to promote from within and is allowing me the opportunity to continue building the economic viability of the Borough and expand to other service areas of the Borough.”

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The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

The Chili Cook Off run by the 100 Precinct Community Council is growing every year. It won’t be long before this draws tourists!

Competition was tough as more than 20 teams vied for the top prize. The most delicious dish was served up by The Wharf. Last Stop and Jameson’s earned second and third place, respectively. ***** So likely presidential candidate, Hilary Clinton, is said to be eying a young, hip spot for campaign headquarters. She doesn’t want to seem too corporate so she’s eyeing Brooklyn or Queens. ***** The 2017 Ferry start makes (or keeps) us very suspicious. We said it once, we’ll say it again – Rockaway service could start now while other places prepare (have docks built, parking spaces allotted, etc).

The mayor would be showing real commitment to this grand plan by starting it now. The ferry should

certainly be in place before “affordable housing” initiatives. ***** Need to know more about the Port Ambrose LNG (liquefied natural gas) controversy? Or why a group is trying to stop it? There will be a meeting Monday, February 23 at the YMCA on Beach 73rd from 6:30-9 p.m. ***** There was a shooting on Beach 117th Street last week. Dwayne Rawls, of 172 Beach 117th Street, is wanted for the shooting. ***** You knew this already, of course, but it’s worth repeating: Sunday is Phil Collins Day. And you also know there’s been a low-key Rockaway tradition the past couple of years celebrating the day. This year, festivities in honor of the world famous singer, take place on the beach. The Phil Collins Day website says: It’s that time of year again and it’s time to release

our sorrows. Join us at the jetty to bid farewell to all those things that make you feel like you can’t find your way. 90th Street and the Beach. Sunday, February 15th at 4:30 p.m. ***** The blogger, Rockawayist, always noting the newest things in Rockaway reports that Whitney Aycock, of Whit’s End pizza, has announced plans to open a new burgers-and-beer restaurant in Arverne in 2015. The still unnamed restaurant will be located in the Seaway Marina in the old Bent Rod café. ***** Homeowners: check your NYC Dept of Finance ‘Notice Of Property Value’ for January 2015. In many cases, we’re told, The City has increased market value beyond 6%, (the maximum they’re allowed to add), apparently by adding dollars for “alterations.” Alterations,

by NYC’s own definition, are not repairs made after Sandy, but actual alterations to the structure.

We urge local elected officials to get reps from Finance to hold local workshops or meetings about what these forms mean. ***** Scam alert: National Grid is reminding customers to be alert for imposters and scammers trying to gain access to account informa-

Page 7 tion and entry to National Grid customers’ homes and businesses.

The company has received reports from customers about door-todoor sales for home energy goods and services. In these instances the people claim to be working with the utility and local emergency responders to gain entry to a home by telling the customer they must inspect natural gas equipment, carbon monoxide detectors or other safety equipment for a fee. These door-to-door representatives are not from National Grid.

The company does not conduct sales door-to-door and National Grid does not offer a residential equipment inspection and maintenance service. Ask Questions/ Demand Proper ID. ***** It’s like a surfer saying you should have been here yesterday.

If you never read Andrew Sullivan’s blog, the Daily Dish, you won’t appreciate what will never be again.

He has shut down, retired, his online site and now there’s no place like it anywhere on Al Gore’s internet. ***** Big Happy Retirement to Susan Brady! (We wonder if that will mean more letters to the editor?) *****

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The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Now Not Later

Spicy Praise

Dear Editor: I would just like to thank and compliment Dan and Linda Ruscillo, as well as everyone involved with the 100 Precinct Community Council’s Annual Chili Cook Off. The chili entrees were fantastic, and every one of them was delicious (not a bad one in the bunch). I’m not sure how the judges could pick out the best chili, it was a tough choice. There were 26 gourmet chili entrees. There were trophies and raffles and a lot of fun.

I would also like to point out that the person who won the 100th Precinct Community Council’s raffle prize money immediately returned it as a donation. This speaks volumes about the Rockaway community and the type of people that live there!

Matt Whalen (DFD)

Stunned But Speed It Up

Dear Editor: I’m not a ‘big’ fan of the Mayor and was shocked, stunned, stupefied by the Mayor’s announcement, and that he not just heard Rockaway’s drumbeat, but that he and possibly even EDC actually listened to people like Joe Hartigan and so many others about the sense and sensibility of not just a Rockaway ferry, but a network of ferries serving our waterfront city.

Now, if only The Port Authority and the Mayor and our Tourism Council will extend Rockaway’s Ferry to JFK. That would be stunning.

The Parks Department is taking sixyears to build a boardwalk that Long Beach completed in one, and the Jersey Shore completed in two - so why should anybody be surprised that yesterday’s ferry announcement will take two years to implement (when it could be done - literally - overnight).

Would it be too much to ask Rockaway’s reps - Eric, Joe, Phil and Donovan - to intercede for faster impletion?

Peter Stubben

About Naming Storms

Dear Editor: In response to Rick Anthony’s email about naming winter storms, it goes beyond the Weather Channel’s desire to “hype winter storms.”

The real reason is on the last page of your homeowners’ insurance policy.

Somewhere on the last page it reads that if there is a named storm, and the wind is over 70 miles per hour, the policy deductible jumps to over $7,000. The normal deductible is usually about $1,000. Tell me that the Insurance Industry is NOT out of control. Our politicians allow this to go on?

Thomas Galvin

Beware Bait and Switch

Dear Editor: While not intending to be a wet blanket on the hopes for a Rockaway ferry, I’d advise you ferry fans to look closely at the bait our mayor is throwing out to us. After promising “affordable housing,” he goes into increased ferry service. A coincidence?

As we all know very well, we are short on good roads, emergency medical service, public transportation, etc.

Another large increase in population because of “affordable” (read low income) housing will not be offset by whatever added value a ferry would bring us. Please don’t get hooked into buying this “pig in a poke.”

Do you really trust Warren Wilhelm to act in our best interests?

Bob Israel

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Dear Editor: I am happy the Mayor finally realizes the need for the ferry, but we need it now and not 2017. Transportation problems are getting worse every day since the ferry is gone. My son’s commute to college takes much longer and there is always some sort of daily delay with the trains and buses.

My husband and I depended on the ferry to go to doctors’ appointments and we even started to enjoy the sights of NYC. I have heard from many senior citizens in our community that they loved travelling on the ferry because they could not travel on buses or trains and they were finally getting out.

I was on the ferry many many

times and each time I was on, the line was so long. What a great sight seeing passengers with their surfboards walking off the ferry and into Rockaway. It’s a great help to our businesses that have suffered so much after Hurricane Sandy. I am hoping that Mayor DeBlasio gives us back our ferry now and not 2017. Thank you to everyone who continues to fight to get our ferry back now.

JoJo Barca

Comprehensive Plan Needed

Dear Editor: I believe we need this fast ferry to continue now. I believe we need to extend public transportation to the ferry, the subways and our parks.

Continued on next page

CONTACT THE ELECTED Congressman Gregory Meeks

City Councilman Donovan Richards

67-12 Rockaway Beach Boulevard Arverne, NY 11692 Phone: (347) 230-4032

1931 Mott Avenue, Suite 410 Far Rockaway, NY 11691 718-471-7014

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder

Assemblywoman Michele Titus

214 Beach 96th Street Rockaway Beach, NY 11693 718-945-9550

1931 Mott Avenue Far Rockaway, NY 11691 718- 327-1845

City Councilman Eric Ulrich

Community Board 14

115-06 Beach Channel Drive Suite 103 Rockaway Park, NY 11694 718-738-1083

1931 Mott Ave Far Rockaway, NY 11691 718-471-7300

State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. 88-08 Rockaway Beach Blvd, Rm 311, Rockaway Beach, NY 11693, 718-318-0702

PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF evin Boyle REPORTER Bianca Fortis CONTRIBUTORS ules erdone • athy ouis SALES PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Fred Marino Kevin Boyle SALES CONTRIBUTORS Fred Marino • athleen alsie •ART Erika Farrell DIRECTOR Katie McFadden Erika Farrell REPORTERDESIGN AND LAYOUT DESIGN AND LAYOUT Michael Leboff Dragon y raphics C Richner Printing Services, LLC THE TIMES THE ROCKAWAY ROCKAWAY TIMES 114-04 BeachChannel Channel Drive, Drive, Rockaway 114 04 Beach RockawayPark, ark,NY 11694 11 94 Phone: 718-634-3030 •eEmail: hone • 718-634-3030 mail •news@rockawaytimes.com news@rockawaytimes.com T ROCKAWAY E ROC A ATIMES T MES publishesevery everyThursday.

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The Staten Island Ferry has 27 buses and 7 subways to support a free Ferry. I suggest we extend the Q 35 and the Q 52 to Far Rockaway, and extend the QM 16, Q 22, Q 53, Q 113 and Q 114 to the west side, stopping at or near our ferry landings, subway stations and our parks.

We should also repave and make smooth and level our roadways. Reuse the Rockaway Beach Rail Line, the New Queens Crosstown to Midtown Manhattan and eliminate the tolls on all our bridges.

We should also increase commercial and high density residential properties with public parking and bus stops near each Subway Station, our ferry landings and our parks.

This endeavor would be inclusive and unite Rockaway with Queens. It would increase faster transportation options, ridership, property values, tourism, recreation, employment and business. It would reduce travel times and expenses, pollution, traffic accidents and fatalities, congestion, emergency response times and reduce over parking.

Philip McManus

Time For A Rhyme

Dear Editor: Seussical the Musical Was really quite Fantuzzical Horton knew he heard the Who’s and tried to tell the kangaroos Cat in the Hat, didn’t play fair getting JoJo in trouble with the Mayor Thing 1 and Thing 2 were all the Buzz and who can forget Gertrude McFuzz Performances great, One and All Especially my friend, Lauren Endall Lisa Zoller

Ulterior Motives

Dear Editor: It seems the Mayor is tying a Rockaway ferry to the other less needed ferries to maximize political impact during his re-election campaign.

The ferry is better late than never... but when it comes time to vote, let’s remember who took it away and is keeping it way for two years.

I am concerned about the Mayor’s definition of “affordable” housing.

We need more housing like ABTS for people who are working their way up the ladder of home ownership, not another attempt to transfer an even greater share of society’s challenges to Rockaway.

Paul King

Get Started Now

Dear Editor: The Rockaways have needed a more direct route to Manhattan for a long, long time. I listened to an NPR program last week about a proposed ferry system to begin operation sometime in 2017, and I strongly hope that a temporary system for the Rockaways can be restarted well before that projected time. As one of the guests stated on the NPR program, NYC has an abundance of waterways that are grossly under-utilized. Let’s continue to keep vocal about our

need for efficient, time saving transportation to Manhattan.

Kathy March

Can’t Wait

Dear Editor: Great the Mayor is committing to 2017, for Rockaway and other locations around the city. But our needs are unique. We are limited to one train with a shuttle. We do not have the retail availability and work opportunities as the other locations. So for them it is not urgent.

For Rockaway it is essential to our economical resilience. We cannot wait for two summers to go by without the ferry. We are an exception and should be treated as such. The entire peninsula has to make this an issue now. Otherwise this mayor gets voted out and it starts over with another administration.

Sal Lopizzo

REGISTER NOW 2015 SUMMER CAMP 5 DAY PROGRAM 6 Weeks, 9am to 1pm

Jimmy Mullen Recognized!

Dear Editor: I attended the 13th annual Sean Lugano fundraiser last Friday evening and want to thank the organizers for recognizing fellow Graybeard Jimmy Mullen.

For the last eight years Jimmy has run a program he calls “Soldiers to Disney.”

The program works like this: Jimmy solicits people with timeshares in the Orlando area to donate their timeshare to be used by the family of a Wounded Warrior. He then holds an annual fundraiser to raise money to provide transportation, tickets to Disney and other expenses. Jimmy then reaches out to Wounded Warrior families through his contacts from Walter Reed to get a candidate.

I remember when he began the program. He said his goal was to send one or maybe two families a year on a Disney vacation. Well for those of you who don’t know Jimmy, he is an extremely dedicated and self motivated person and he gets results.

In fact, he surpassed his goal of two families a year and has remarkably sent 50 families to Disney in the last 8 years.

In true Jimmy Mullen fashion, he would not take the stage to get recognized, but rather had two of the families who participated in the “Soldiers to Disney” program go up and speak briefly to the audience.

With Jimmy standing to the side of the stage, these people spoke of their experience and how much it meant to them. It was very moving and I watched Jimmy crack a smile knowing he had accomplished what he set out to do, which is thank those who have sacrificed for our country.

I for one am proud to call Jimmy my friend and ask that when you see him in the neighborhood, give him the “Thanks” he deserves. If you have a timeshare you’d like to donate to his program, call 718-634-6812 and ask to get put on the contact list.

Steve Stathis

2 Old Year m a Progr or PM y AM a D 1/2 or ays m D l l u F 30 p - 3: m a 0 :3

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Continued from previous page

Page 9

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

0

The Rockaway Times

Page 10

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Boardwalk Gets Monopoly Money – FEMA To Grant $480 Mil AND It Will Be “Continuous” in 2016

By Kevin Boyle Who knew? The Parks Department certainly hasn’t done much to promote the news. Turns out, the boardwalk won’t be finished by 2017 but it will be continuous – from Beach 126th to Beach 9th – for the entire Summer of 2016 (summer after the upcoming one).

It won’t be brand new from end to end – that’s for the following year – but there will be one long boardwalk, a combination of mostly new and sections of old. So says a City official.

Many residents won’t care if it’s a little patchwork – they just want a boardwalk.

As for other news, the City was a little more tight-lipped. Nearly five months after it was unintentionally revealed that the City might be getting additional money for the boardwalk rebuild– a whopping $200 million more than what was planned for – a Letter of Understanding has been signed by FEMA and sent to the City and State. The Letter states that a total of $480

million has been granted to the boardwalk rebuild.

Specifically, the $480 million “includes $263 million to pay for new, resilient concrete decking and boardwalk items like benches, stairs, shower units and electrical infrastructure. Also included is a grant of nearly $199 million for mitigation which will pay to elevate the boardwalk, build a sand barrier and increase resiliency and more than $18 million towards direct administrative costs.”

We asked the Parks Department to comment on the additional money and if they would confirm that

all grant money would be spent on boardwalk related expenditures.

Parks declined to comment and directed us to try the NYC Office of Management and Budget which also initially declined to comment.

The City’s non-response was likely in part because they have yet to sign off on it, at least that’s what is suggested by Chuck Schumer’s office. Schumer had no such qualms about extolling the news. “It’s great news that FEMA has greenlighted this massive federal grant -- financed by the Sandy Relief bill that we all worked so hard to pass -- for repairs and resiliency

work to the Rockaway Boardwalk, and I look forward to the plan being finalized by the city and state, who are now reviewing this offer,” Schumer said. “Federal sign-off is a significant step towards funding an accessible, pedestrian-friendly, and storm-resistant boardwalk, as well as related resiliency efforts to protect the many families who live nearby from future storms.

We will make sure that nothing in this effort impacts other ongoing storm-mitigation measures to better protect the whole Rockaway Peninsula.”

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder seemed to take a shot at City Hall while rejoicing in the news. “After a long fight with the federal government and so much confusion from NYC, I’m proud that FEMA has agreed to provide Rockaway with the $480 million needed to fully fund our new, stronger and more resilient boardwalk. I’d like to thank Senator Chuck Schumer and Congressman Meeks for their Continued on page 22

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! Rockaway’s Only Office With Three Board Certified MD’s Practicing Complete Medical And Surgical Eye Care

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00295RT

Rockaway’s oldest established ophthalmology practice with the expertise, integrity and care you know and trust, now with: Expanded hours - the office is open 7 days a week, Saturday and Sunday appointments are now available, as well as early morning and later evening hours.

Expanded services - thorough medical eye exams performed by highly trained MD’s, cataracts, glaucoma, newly expanded retina, macular degeneration and diabetic in-office laser treatment, comprehensive children’s exams, accurate glasses prescriptions - and much more! In-office emergency care is available at all times.

We give you compassionate state-of-the-art eyecare at the highest quality available anywhere. We have nothing to sell except our expertise.

There is quick scheduling for routine office appointments and much shorter waiting times in the office.

We look forward to serving your complete eye care needs for many years to come!

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• JONATHAN S. ZWERLING, MD • Se Habla Español Call For Same Day Appointments We Now Accept Fidelis and VNS Insurance Plans!

The Rockaway Times

Page 11

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Chatting with Anthony Melchiorri, Hotel Impossible Host

By Katie McFadden

The Rockaway Times recently sat down with hotel expert, Anthony Melchiorri. As an active member of CROM and the host of the Travel Channel show Hotel Impossible, Melchiorri had a lot to say about his career, his favorite gym and even offered some advice to those who are considering opening a hotel on the peninsula.

Born and raised in Sheepshead Bay, Melchiorri joined the Air Force in 1986 and served as a protocol officer at Whitemen Air Force Base in Missouri until 1990. While there, he attended night classes at Park University, where he completed his business degree and he worked part time at Embassy Suites. His dream was to work at the Plaza Hotel in New York, which he achieved shortly after leaving the Air Force, starting as night manager and working his way up to director of front office operations.

Melchiorri went on to work at several legendary New York hotels, but his first big turnaround was the Algonquin. Upon being appointed general manager, Melchiorri closed the hotel for a month to perform a complete renovation and with the help of his team, turned it into a highly rated Michelin Guide Hotel. “I didn’t know

if I could make a career out of fixing hotels, but I liked it and I figured, the harder you work, the luckier you get.

When I did the turnaround job at the Algonquin, that was when I realized that this is what I was made to do,” Melchiorri said. After gaining experiences at various properties he launched his own hotel consulting firm, Argeo Hospitality.

Wanting to shed light on the complexity of the hotel business, Melchiorri reached out to the Travel Channel and proposed his idea for Hotel Impossible. “I felt that there was no one else on TV talking about hotels.

I wanted to bring the importance of the hotel business to light and highlight the incredibly talented people that work in the business,” Melchiorri said. “There’s probably no discipline, from engineering to design to cleaning service to marketing, that isn’t part of the hotel business. I just wanted to show people that it’s a very complicated environment and if you concentrate on the employees and guests, you can really do something special with it.”

The Travel Channel bought the idea and the first episode of Hotel Impossible premiered in April 2012. Now in its fifth season, and having aired 72 episodes, the show gives viewers an inside look at struggling hotels and

how Melchiorri works his magic on them. Melchiorri and a team of designers have just four days to point out problems with a hotel, give advice on how to fix it and do renovations, which is shown in an hourlong episode.

Melchiorri says everything about the show is real. “I get to do my job on TV. It’s me doing my job with cameras following me. It’s the real me. If I wasn’t passionate and if I didn’t have a great team around me, I wouldn’t be able to do this,” he said. For him, the most rewarding part of his job is a genuine thank you for his work.

“When people look me in the eye, either on camera or off, shake my hand and say thank you and it’s heartfelt, that is what means the most to me.”

When he’s not turning hotels around or spending time with his wife and three kids, Melchiorri spends his free time at CROM, the popular fitness center on Beach 92nd Street. For the past eight months, Melchiorri has taken his work ethic to the mats, with personal training sessions with CROM co-owner and champion Muay Thai fighter, Chris Romulo.

Melchiorri quickly fell in love with Continued on page 24

Bullochs of Belle Harbor WE OFFER RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SNOW REMOVAL

ly Support d u o s Pr

445 Beach 129 Street Belle Harbor, NY 11694

Phone 718-474-9500 Fax 718-945-7172

00 4 RT

The Men & Women of the NYPD

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

The Rockaway Times

We’re saving for an emergency.

What would you do with your refund?

You may be eligible for up to $10,000 from tax credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Call 311 or go to nyc.gov/taxprep for ways to file your taxes for FREE. Text “Refund” to 97779* and join #GotMyRefund conversations on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. *Message and data rates may apply. Check with your service provider.

00 0 RT

Page 12

The Rockaway Times

Page 13

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

CHRIST THE KING High School

An Independent Catholic High School Providing Quality Education Since 1962

Instilling Strong Catholic Values

WHY CHOOSE US?

Nationally Ranked Speech and Debate Team

CK Math Team

Nationally Recognized Advanced Placement Students

Currently in

First Place

in NY State

CK has consistently placed in the top three for the past five years.

School Chaplin, Father Frank Spacek (CK Alumnus, Class of ‘88)

CTKNY..org

Top City, State & National Athletes CK Relay Track Team

• Academic Scholarships - $1.96 million in scholarships will be offered to the incoming Class of 2019 • Guaranteed Fixed Tuition Program -Your tuition will be guaranteed not to increase during all 4 years • Catholic School Loyalty Tuition Program - Students from a Catholic Grammar School/Academy will receive $2000 over 4 years

Christ the King High School will provide morning bus service from Rockaway Peninsula with stops along Crossbay & Woodhaven Blvds. beginning September 2015

• Over 62 million dollars in college scholarships offered to our graduates over the past five years • Thousands of college credits earned by students while in attendance at Christ the King

Serphin R. Maltese, Chairman • Michael W. Michel, President • Peter J. Mannarino, Principal

68-02 Metropolitan Avenue • Middle Village, NY 11379

00

240 CK CAMPUS 718• 366•7400 EXT.

Page 14

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Governor Announces $40M for Resilient Community Centers communities are two on the peninsula, Rockaway East (Long Island border to Beach 74th) and Rockaway West (Beach 74th to Beach 149th Streets). The other communities are located in Lower Manhattan, Howard Beach, Staten Island and various parts of Brooklyn.

“In the immediate aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, we witnessed tremendous examples of neighbors helping neighbors,” Executive Director of GOSR, Jamie Rubin said.

“Through the NY Rising Community Center Program, we not only aim to formalize these communitybased networks of support, but also to demonstrate the positive change being initiated through our Community Reconstruction Program.

Time and time again, throughout the eight-month planning process, we heard that these centers were a priority for many storm-

impacted neighborhoods. Now, we are moving forward with making them a reality.”

In order to jumpstart the program, GOSR is accepting applications from existing facilities and community-based organizations, to be the site for a community recovery center. Applicants should be groups and facilities who already serve their neighborhoods on a regular basis and who would formally accept the responsibility of acting as a NY Rising Community Center.

The community centers are not meant to serve as evacuation shelters and will not take the place of municipal emergency management response. The centers are made to provide critical recovery and social services to disaster-affected communities.

The funding will go toward ret-

rofitting selected centers so that they can promote the ongoing recovery of impacted communities by reducing the susceptibility of the structures to damage from extreme weather, so that they can be accessible after emergencies.

The centers will be determined after GOSR reviews submissions.

Interested facility operators and community-based organizations can submit a Statement of Qualifications to NYRisingNOFA@stormrecovery.ny.gov by March 11, 2015.

Organizations and facilities will be selected based on the specific and unique needs of each community as seen in the NYRCR plans at http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/nyrcr/final-plans. The application can be found under NOFA for Facility Site Selection at http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/procurement-opportunities.

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NY Rising money is coming for community recovery centers. The Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR) announced on Tuesday, February 10, that $40 million will go toward the establishment of a network of resilient community-run, neighborhood-based community centers where residents can access ongoing services and gather and obtain information after a disaster.

GOSR will make on-site capital improvements to harden existing community facilities and fund community-based organizations to expand recovery services. These community centers are the result of plans from the NY Rising Community Reconstruction (NYRCR) Program. The community center program will be piloted at approximately 36 facilities in 10 communities around the City. Among the 10

The Rockaway Times

Page 15

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Inside Real Estate:

corcoran

Broad Channel

corcoran group real estate

NEWPORT STUNNER!

By Margaret Wagner

$1,100,000

Magnificent 3BR Mother/Daughter w/ heated pool, radiant heat, custom kitchen, gas fireplace. No detail was overlooked! Turn Key!

124-19 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

OPEN HOUSE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH • 12:30 - 2:00 OWN FOR LESS THAN RENTING! Monthly Mortgage Payment: *$1,793.00

*Interest rates are subject to change.

Units starting at $469,000

Brand New 2 & 3BR Duplex Condo Units with OCEAN VIEWS, PARKING & OUTDOOR SPACE! ONLY 3.5% DOWN NEEDED

Please visit www.corcoran.com to view photos & floor plans OFFERED EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH:

Patricia Neinast • Kelly Neinast • Kristin Neinast The Neinast Team of the Corcoran Group 347.564.6241 • 646.345.3431 • 917.309.4246 pan@corcoran.com — kkn@corcoran.com — kneinast@corcoran.com

Continued on page 26

JANET REDMOND HOGAN

Century 21 Amiable Realty Group II, Inc.

Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker

Margaret A. Wagner

917.559.8646 • janet@breezypointhouses.com breezypointhouses.com /janetredmondhogan

Associate Broker

BREEZY POINT ROCKAWAY POINT ROXBURY

(347) 236-2018 mwagnerrealtor@aol.com www.c21amiable2.com

Rockaway Park, three bedroom, two full bathroom beautiful home. 114 school district. Renovated approximately six years ago. New kitchens and baths! A must see!

Asking $575,000.

New Exclusive!! Breezy Point!!

3 bedroom. All new interiors! Adjacent to parking. $450,000

New exclusive! Rockaway Point!

Beautiful 3 bedroom all new interiors!

A must see! $440,000

Rockaway Park, 1 bedroom co-op apartment, Steps to beach.

Price lowered. Asking $140,000.

Breezy Point, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, gorgeous and modern home, $950,000

Rockaway Point, parking behind and two screened in porches!

Asking $360,000.

Breezy Point, loft home in the wedge 3/4 bedrooms Asking $449,000.

Rockaway Point, 4 Bedroom, Parking behind. Partial Bay View LOWER PRICE $570,000.

Rockaway Point, Oceanside, beautifully renovated!! 5br w/open view. Asking $849,000.

Member of the Long Island & Queens Multiple Listing Service Serving the Broad Channel Community for over 18 years!

BROAD CHANNEL ISLAND

WATERFRONT HOUSE FOR RENT 2 Bedrooms, Hardwood Floors, Washer & Dryer, Outside deck $1500.00 Tenant pays all utilities Must Have Excellent Credit BROAD CHANNEL ISLAND

Roxbury 3 bedrooms with basement, modern kitchen and baths. Beautiful bay views. Asking $595,000.

NEW EXCLUSIVE WATERFRONT LISTING 50 X 100 Lot, Brand New Living room, kitchen, bath, radiant heat, granite counter tops,3 bedrooms, 2 full baths Large outside deck, pool, garage. Great Sunset Views!

Rockaway Point. Two Bedroom. Close to bay and parking. $440,000.

Find out what your home is worth today!

Carolyn Redmond, Broker 718.474.6722

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!

Check out this Waterfront Beauty!

Completely Renovated Living room, Dining room, Kitchen and Bathroom 3 Bedrooms, Master with Balcony, Central Air, Trex Decking, storage shed & pool.

BROAD CHANNEL ISLAND

Roxbury, 2 bedrooms, bay view.

No water on first floor. Asking $360,000.

BROAD CHANNEL ISLAND 00 00RT

Rental season has started! We Have several customers looking for summer rentals. Please contact us today if you are interested in renting your home.

00729RT

tions were before Hurricane Sandy. I was able to help homeowners make decisions on whether to stay and rebuild, sell “as is” or invest some money to fix up the home and then sell it. A good realtor will answer all your questions honestly and to the best of their ability. The object is not just to get the customer to sell their home and make a commission, the object is to help a homeowner make the best decision with their investment. A customer will always remember the realtor they felt most comfortable with, and if I don’t get the listing that day, that person will remember to refer me to someone or list their home with me in the future.

I was anxiously awaiting the sale of

Commercial Building For Rent Great office space for architects, engineers, contractors. $3,500 per month

00 14RT

The morning after Hurricane Sandy, the first thing that came to my mind was, will my house still be standing?

Next thing that came to my mind was, will there still be a real estate market for houses in Broad Channel? My fear was the banks would walk away from the area, and if that happened we would be back to the old days in Broad Channel, when people held private mortgages.

As I walked to my house I could see it was standing, that was a good sign, it was completely destroyed but it was still there. We were a little more fortunate than some who lost their homes entirely to the hurricane.

As a lifelong resident, and the island realtor for almost 20 years, I was worried about our island community and it’s future. Would people stay and rebuild or would they put their houses on the market and move? I was happy to see that most of my neighbors would stay and rebuild. In the coming months, as we put our house back together, I received calls about the market. People were asking how much could they sell their home for? Should they sell it as a handyman or should they invest some money to rebuild it and then sell? The questions from customers for the next six months were completely different than the ques-

Page 16

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Laurice Keating Real Estate

Contact info: 718-945-9267 | Visit us on the web @ www.LauriceKeatingRealty.com Mary O'Leary Glen DiResto Laurice Keating

Lorraine Tom

Andrea Romeo

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

Anna Montella

Regina White

Lorraine Tom

HOMES FOR SALE Second block from the beach;around the corner from retail shopping and mass transit.This home has all new electric and heating system.Three bedrooms,LR, DR, EIK, one full bath and a large front porch.Priced to sell!

$1,900 Rockaway Park Beach Block Three bedroom two baths eat in kitchen large living and dining room plus terrace

Semi attached five bedroom colonial w/ 2.5 baths. Main level has an open floor plan.

Wood flooring throughout the main level and second story.

Third floor has new carpeting enclosed carport, secluded back yard, large front porch, new heating and electrical system move in condition.

$379,000

$305,000

HOMES FOR SALE

Beautiful Panoramic Bay Views!

3 bedrooms,3 baths, Den,EIK,living room with ledge stone wood burning fireplace, formal dinning room and a huge semi finished basement.

Price is negotiable.

3 bedroom 2.5 baths new EIK Very large finished basement new heating and electrical system Move in condition.

Price is negotiable.

$549,000

$850,000

Heart of Belle Harbor contemporary. This home has it all,five bedrooms,three full baths,state of the art EIK; FDR & LR w/WBFP, glass enclosed sun room,home office, large family room w/additional WBFP, craft and game room,laundry room, private driveway and beautiful park like grounds.

Second block from the beach;around the corner from retail shopping and mass transit.This home has all new electric and heating system.Three bedrooms,LR,DR,EIK,one full bath and a large front porch.

Priced to sell!

Post sandy Build your own dream house This home needs a family ready! Willing! And able!

To comlpete it’s renovation.Heating and electric have been replaced.

$305,000

$605,000

CO-OP / CONDOS 136 Beach 117th TWO BEDROOM CONDO WITH BALCONY AND ONE CAR PARKING TWO FULL BATH ROOMS MASTER BATH WITH JACUZZI. SPACIOUS LIVING ROOM AND DINNING ROOM, BAMBOO FLOORING,WASHER AND DRYER. THE OCEAN GRANDE HAS 24-HOUR SECURITY STATION,STATE OF THE ART GYM,BEAUTIFUL PARTY ROOM WITH A FIREPLACE AND BAR.

LOT FOR SALE 117-12 Ocean Promenade ROCKAWAY PARK OCEAN FRONT COOP VERY SPACIOUS ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT WITH BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF MANHATTAN SKY LINE AND JAMAICA BAY. LOW COMMON CHARGES AND MOVE IN CONDITION!

$189,000

$1,299,000

430 BEACH 130 STREET BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME IN THE HEART OF BELLE HARBOR. BEACH 130TH STREET 40X100 PROPERTY LOT PRICED TO SELL! $350,000

00703RT

$825,000

$450,000

BUILD YOUR DREAM BEACH HOUSE LOCATION: ONE OF NEPONSIT’S MOST DESIRABLE BLOCKS BUILDING SIZE: 25x37 PROPERTY SIZE: 42x100 THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Rockaway Times

Page 17

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

NEPONSIT REALTY inc P 718.945.2411

Licensed Real Estate Broker Geri Lipsman

www.neponsitrealty.com

Licensed Sales Agents Susan Lavin Kate Patterson Jamie Hogan since 1986

SELLER’S MARKET! BUYERS WAITING! LISTINGS NEEDED! HOUSES & CONDOS FOR SALE

COOPS FOR SALE

NEW LISTING – GREAT OPPORTUNITY

Adorable Bright and Sunny 2 Room / Studio Coop, with Hardwood Floors, High Ceillings, Pleanty of Closets, New Kitchen Appliances and Low Maintaince $474.00 Asking $129K Call Susan 347 260 3891

One Family Rockaway Beach 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, living room, dining room, hardwood floors throughout, back deck, full basement, semi attached.

O

Call Us!

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of

Integrity

APARTMENTS

$290K

Beach Block, Steps to Ocean One bedroom, one bath, hardwood floors, new kitchen, & appliances, many closets, living room combo, sliding doors to terrace, w/d room, roof deck, low common charges

ur Clients are always satisfied with our performance and the ability to get the job done!

ONE BEDROOM

Call Kate Patterson 917 680-8051

NEW EXCLUSIVE CONDO

Tradition

IVE

C

EX

HEART OF BELLE HARBOR

S LU

Adorable L shaped Studio unit, move in, Murphy Bed, hardwood floors, plently of closets, great outdoor space/terrace, low maintenance

Call Susan Lavin 347-260-3891 $144K

$258K

109th - Studio, Adorable Bunglow, pay all utilities. Must have Good Credit. Call Susan 347 260 3891 $1150 118th - Renovated, ss appliances, granite, 3 double closets, Ocean & Bay views.. $1400 121th - Living room, kitchen, combo, hardwood floors w/d, parking included, pay all util Call Susan 347 260 3891

$1300

Call Susan Lavin 347-260-3891

Belle Harbor Center Hall Ranch

NEW TO MAKET

Move right in this one bedroom coop unit. Large living room and dining area, galley kitchen, six closets, great views of Manhattan. Can make a

Corner property sits on 80 x 60, Brick & Stone, 3 bedrooms, plus extra room can be used as 4th bedroom. 2 Full baths, large living room, WBFP, EIK, dining room, basement unfinished, spectular water views and sunsets.

deal with furnishings.

$189K

$800’s

Belle Harbor Brick Colonial

OCEAN FRONT COOP

Move right in to this one bedroom unit,totally renovated to perfection, granite, stainless appliances, five closets. Exceptional value!

Let’s Make A Deal!

$825K

VIEW THE SUNSET

$179K

This home is Post Sandy and ready for the perfect couple to complete the process of a new home. Create your dream house.

Heating and electric have been replaced.

$599K

EX

E

SIV

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OCEAN GRANDE CONDO Extra Lg 2 BR & 1.5 bth, Bright & Airy, with Open Floor Plan with Large Terr, with Ocean & Bay Views.

New Appls., W/D, Indoor Deeded Parking Spot, Fitness Ctr, Concierge, Rooftop Deck. Pet Friendly Bldg.

Must see. Call Susan Lavin 347-260-3891

Asking $430K

t

In

Co

ac ntr

OCEANFRONT TERRACE COOP

Renovated one bedroom, new kitchen & bath. Owner ready.

$235K

$785K

HOWARD BEACH BEAUTY

One family, Aluminum siding, two bedrooms, one bath, updated EIK, large living room, new boiler and electric, back deck with storage Call Kate Patterson 917 680-8051

Asking $265K

125th new kitchen, & appliances, pay only electric $1300

$1500

140th - living room, work kitchen, utilities all included

$1300

141 totally renovated, living room, gorgeous bay views, pay electric $1500 th

TWO BEDROOMS

60 lst floor, no pets, EIK, pay all util. th

$1300 $1600

108 - brand new with new appliances. Bunglow like having your own little house. Pay all Utilies, Call Susan 347 260 3891 $1800 th

111th - pay all utilities. Good credit Call Susan 347 260 3891

$1450

117 2nd level, new appliances, terrace, parking, th

$1550

water views, all util included A BEACH HAVEN COOP

TURN KEY, one BR, new appliances, spacious, 5 closets, VERY LOW MAINT. IMMACULATE, AFFORDABLE AND COMFORTABLE. Great views, skyline and Sunsets.

$179K

LEGAL 2 FAMILY

50x100, Immaculate, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, newly renovated, eat-in kitchen, den, laundry room. Rental apartment, 2 bedroom, all new.

$1400

Call Susan 347 260 3891

124th - First floor unit, use of backyard, upgraded, storage, parking, pay G & E $1600

Arverne By The Sea - units available, mint, pay all utilities

$649K

SOLD

124th - LR/DR combo, terrace, pay elec

140th - 2nd level, furnished, includes all util.

Side hall, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2 car garage, c/a, attic space, deck and front porch.

BRICK TWO FAMILY GREAT VALUE! 2 bedroom over 2 bedroom, eat-in-kitchen, living room, hardwood flooring, large unfinished basement with access door to back, carport & extra parking space, side yard.

123 - Great boardwalk building, excellent condition, parking extra, pay G&E $1350-1500 th

118th - Totally renovated, high end, L shaped L/R + D/R, w/d, dishwasher, ground level, pay all util $1700 123rd Ocean views every room, completely renovated,

$1800

terrace, pay elec.

Call Susan 347 260 3891

124th - Oceanfront Coop w/ terrace. Need good credit.

Pay G&E. No parking $1800 124th use of backyard, W/D hook up, upgraded, storage,

BELLE HARBOR SPECTACULAR

Gorgeous kitchen & bathrooms, 2 large BRs, 1.5 bth, hdwd flrs, HUGE terr. Indoor Pkg. Common charges cover water, heat, garbage & snow removal, general upkeep /landscaping.

PRESENT ALL OFFERS!!

MOTIVATED SELLER! A must see. Call Susan Lavin 347-260-3891

$299K

front porch, pay G & E….

$1600-RENTED

127th BEACH BLOCK, hardwood floors, W/D room, terrace, pay all util..Call Susan 347 260 3891

$1800

136th BEACH BLOCK, large, w/d, terrace, pay all util., parking, $1650

THREE BEDROOMS

122nd BEACH BLOCK, RENOVATED, new kitchen, bath, $2000 w/d, hook up, parking, pay all util 00707 RT

Page 18

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

B R O O K LY N M E M B E R

Lic. Broker-Owner: Lisa Jackson Lic. Associate Brokers: Barbara Ferguson • Nia Casilla • Gail Opromalla Lic. RE Agents: Melissa Carrington • Ariana David • Colleen Brady

The Rockaprop Team

3 Year Member

417 Beach 129th St • (718) 634-3134 • Mon-Sat 10am-6pm

BELLE HARBOR  84' x 100'

Completely Renovated and Gorgeous!

ROCKAWAY PARK  60' x 99' Beach 116th Commercial

BELLE HARBOR  100' x 100' Proven To Be Hurricane Proof!

No expense was spared in this fabulous ALL BRICK OCEANFRONT Stop paying a hefty rent! Come check out this spacious 4,876 This OCEANFRONT home did not have one drop of water from Sandy, home. Over 5,000 sq. ft of sumptuous living space, 5BR, 5.5 baths, Gunite sq ft building located in a Rockaway's prime commercial HOT not one! Legal 2 ALL BRICK, 4BR, 3.5 baths, gorgeous kitchen, 12 car in-ground pool, steam shower, sauna and 2 car garage. $3,999,999 SPOT! Open floor plan with grand ceiling height. $1,399,000 parking and stunning ocean views from EVERY room. $2,800,000

Properties For Sale NEPONSIT

2nd Home From the Beach Live luxuriously in this immaculate Neponsit home with ocean views from almost EVERY room. 4+BR’S and 3.5 baths. 71’ x 100’ lot. $2,799,000

BELLE HARBOR

Completely Renovated GORGEOUS 5BR, 4 bath home with 4 covered porches! New kitchen, new roof, new siding, new windows and new fin bsmt! 100’ x 60’ lot. $1,195,000

BAYSWATER

UPPER BELLE HARBOR

BELLE HARBOR

A Beautiful Tree Lined St Beautiful 5 BR, 3 bath home on a spacious 100’ x 170’ property.

Move in condition with private parking and 2 car garage. $850,000 Legal 2 Family MOTHER DAUGHTER Immaculate legal 2 family on a 50’x100’ lot in Belle Harbor. 5BR, 3 bath home, large back deck. Plenty of parking! $785,000

BELLE HARBOR

Water Views Delight Gorgeous sunsets and the Manhattan Skyline is what you will be seeing from this 3BR, 2 bath home. Create your masterpiece with this blank slate. $649,000

ARVERNE  40’ x 100’

New To Market Charming Victorian on a beautiful corner lot.

This legal two family home is spacious and has 5 BR, HW floors, 3 bath, HUGE porch and 2 car garage. $399,000

BELLE HARBOR

Brand New To Market T AC 5BR Charming R T Rockaway home, high N throughout, HW COceilings R floors, WB fireplace and E two full baths. Wrap D around porch, outdoor UN shower. $645,000

BELLE HARBOR

Incredible 100’x75’ Corner All brick gorgeous new custom kitchen & baths, 2 fireplaces, sun room, 2 car garage and beautiful HW floors.

This home was built to last. $1,099,000

NEPONSIT

Sprawling Split Level Spacious 4 BR, 3 bath split level.

Gorgeous 60’x100’ corner property with patio, private parking and garage. $999,000

HOWARD BEACH

UPPER BELLE HARBOR

BELLE HARBOR

ARVERNE BY THE SEA

ROCKAWAY PARK

ARVERNE GEM

ARVERNE BY THE SEA

ROCKAWAY PARK

Beautiful Water Front Ranch Brick and field stone home has 3 spacious BR’s, 2.5 baths, WBFP, HW floors, EIK with SS appliances, office/den and private parking for 4 cars. $850,000 New To Market SPACIOUS LEGAL 2 Fam, 3 BR, 2 bath over 3 BR, 2 bath with 2 car garage and private drive. Gleaming HW floors, EIK with granite counters. $775,000

80’x100’ - Fully Upgraded Legal 3 Family Savvy home buyers, finally it is your chance to own a money maker!!!

Live free and clear from the profits from the 2 rentals on the grounds. $599,000

BROAD CHANNEL

Turn Key Home Fully renovated, 4 BR, 2.5 bath home. Open layout, granite counter top, private deck with Jamaica views and a decked yard with pool. $399,000

BELLE HARBOR

Move right in!

T AChome with Large 4RBR HW oors, large EIK N TflSub with fridge, O C home office,Zero LR and DR. R Decked yard, garage DE N and paved parking pad.

U $615,000

Spacious 50x100 Corner In-ground pool, paved patio, privacy fencing and 2 car garage. Plenty of room for all with 5BR, 3 Baths, open floor plan and huge basement with bath. $849,000 New To Market Mint condition home nestled in the “Breakers”.

Large3BR,2.5baths,ocean views, rooftop terrace and HUGEyard.1BRrentalunit for a guaranteed income. $749,000

Legal Two Family Move right in to this mint 3 BR, 2.5 bath semi attached home.

Private parking with garage and a cozy 1 bedroom rental. Call us today! $550,000

EDGEMERE

New To Market - Legal Two Move in ready 3BR’s, 2 bath, great outdoor space with stack stone and granite steps, private parking and a 1 BR rental. Motivated seller! $359,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

On The Water - Amazing Sunsets!

T CBuy! A Fabulous This TR semi-attached home N 3 BR’s, 2 COfeatures baths, HW floors, R HUGE decked yard on DE N an over-sized 26’x143’ U property. $449,000

All Brick and Fabulous Side Hall Colonial just a few hops, skips and a jumps to the ocean.

Immaculate 3BR’s, 2.5 baths, HW floors, Large EIK with sliders to a back deck. $825,000 Legal 2 Family Home Brick home on large corner lot! This 3BR 2 bath has EIK with granite counters, FDR, LR, 1 car garage, PS114 school district. $699,000 Legal 2 Family Semi-attached home with 3 cozy BR’s, 2 baths, LR/DR combo, HW floors and private terrace and family room. 2 BR rental apartment. $535,000

BROAD CHANNEL

Long Private Driveway!

Rare find, newly renovated 3 BR home with an open floor plan and PRIVATE DRIVEWAY! Beautiful kitchen, new deck and fenced in yard. $339,000

ARVERNE

Detached - 30’ x 100’ T AC has an This home R T updated N ce, 3 kitchen, BR, 1.5 COden/offi R bath, full bsmt, HW E floors, decked yard D and long pvt drive.

UN $289,000

BELLE HARBOR

Oceanfront Two Family!

The only oceanfront legal 2 family home for under a million!

Buy your own slice of beachfront with the Atlantic ocean in your front yard. $919,000

ARVERNE BY THE SEA

Legal 2 Family - Mint Condition Semi-attached home features 3BR’s, including master suite, fabulous ocean views & a rooftop terrace. 3 BR Rental. $799,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

Victorian Charmer Legal 3 family home has been renovated from top to bottom.

Truly a turn key home. Price reduced for immediate sale! $649,000

ROCKAWAY BEACH

Investment Opportunity!

Tremendous 2 family home, upper unit has 6 BR’s, 2.5 baths and rooftop patio. Lower unit has 2 BR, 1 bath/ Rent roll of $46,500 per year. $515,000

UPPER BELLE HARBOR Present All Offers! T AC tudor Solid R brick T home with 4 large N 3 baths, enclosed O BRs, C study room/ E R terrace, office, HW floors, D large bsmt with high UN ceilings.

$799,000

ROCKAWAY BEACH Huge Legal 2 Family T AC ComeT R and get it, two N duplex apartments COon a 71’x70 property R with a detached 2 car DE garage. Needs TLC. N U $249,000

With Honesty, Intregrity And Trust...Our Team Of Agents Gets The Job Done!

The Rockaway Times

Page 19

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

B R O O K LY N M E M B E R

Lic. Broker-Owner: Lisa Jackson Lic. Associate Brokers: Barbara Ferguson • Nia Casilla • Gail Opromalla Lic. RE Agents: Melissa Carrington • Ariana David • Colleen Brady

417 Beach 129th St • (718) 634-3134 • Mon-Sat 10am-6pm

The Rockaprop Team

t BRAND NEW EXCLUSIVE 1sWINGThe Reef at Arverne By The Sea

UPGRADES GALORE

Ocean Grande Condominium

O

SH

O

E FF

R

3 Year Member

C AC

E

E PT

DRASTICALLY REDUCED! Dynamite 2 and 3 BR Condo's

D

Rare and surprisingly large 3 BR, 2 bath ocean view end unit Price to sell! This 2BR, 2 bath unit has HW floors, granite kitchen Beautifully crafted, sun drenched and spacious, featuring skylights, HW condo, open floor plan, washer/dryer in unit and a private, deeded counters, SS appliances and a W/D in the apartment. Large living floors and sleek modern kitchens. Private terraces and a tremendous parking spot, all in a beautifully maintained building. $325,000 room leading to private terrace with ocean views! $445,000 rooftop deck for two premium 3rd floor units. Starting at $289,990

C o nd o s a nd C o -o p s ROCKAWAY PARK

Oceanfront Penthouse This 3 BR, 2 full bath is oozing with charm.

HW floors, granite counters, Juliette balcony, roof top deck and private parking. $519,000

BELLE HARBOR

114 School District Desirable 1 BR with large private terrace (5’x25’), beautiful counter-tops and common laundry area. Shared roof top deck with ocean views. $269,000

BELLE HARBOR

Brand New To Market T ACall new Fabulous R T 3N BR, 2 bath condo pvt parking.

COwith appliances, R SS E granite counters D and beautiful ocean UN views. $549,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

Oceanfront Co-Op D CHIC BEACH T E PAD WITH P FABULOUS VIEWS! C E OCEANSTYLED ACBEAUTIFULLY R with white oak floors, clean lines and modern FE F beach themed decor!

O $249,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

ROCKAWAY PARK

Modern Oceanfront Building Large 2BR, 2 bath with LR, dinette area, modern eat in kitchen,SS appliances, private ocean view terrace and private parking. $439,000

Belle Shores Condominium Beautiful condo by the sea, spacious 2BR, 2 full bath middle unit, private storage and private parking.

Call today for private showing! $425,000

UPPER BELLE HARBOR

BELLE HARBOR

Bay Views Galore!

Beautiful 2BR apartment with huge 32’ water view deck, perfect for summer cookouts and parties with your family and friends. Parking available $269,000

Why Bother Renting?

This apt features old world charm, arched doorways, high ceilings and hardwood floors throughout.

Gorgeous sunsets. $199,000

ROCKAWAY BEACH Oceanfront Condo T AC into this Move Rright T brand new modern 3 N 2 bath apartment COBR, R with HW floors, 2 E balconies, spectacular D ocean views and private UN

ROCKAWAY PARK

Oceanfront Apartment T C Awhile Get in you R T can, this 2BR, 2 bath N apartment COoceanfront has a private terrace R E with stunning ocean D views and private UN parking. $449,000

parking.$525,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

ROCKAWAY PARK

Why Are You Still Renting?T C ACome Large 1BR enjoy R Tbeach in this low the N condo COmaintenance with spacious rec R room and beautiful DE N grounds with BBQ U area. $199,000

Oceanfront Co-op T AC studio Gorgeous R converted to a 1BR, N T oceanfront COprivate R terrace, HW floors and modern kitchen.

DE N Priced to sell!

U $149,000

R e n ta l s • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

137th: 1BR, 1BA Beach Block w/Terrace and Parking (R.P) . . . . . . .

134th: 2BR, 1BA (B.F) . . . . . . . . . JUST . . . . RENTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

131st: 1BR, 1BA Beach Block W/Parking, Utilities Incl. (B.F). . . . . . .

129th: 2BR, 1BA Updated, HW floors, SS Appliances (N.C) . . . . . . .

127th: 1BR, 1BA Cozy 2nd Floor In The Heart Of Belle Harbor (M.C) .

125th: 1BR, 1BA (M.C) . . . . . . . . . JUST . . . . RENTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

125th: 2BR, 2BA Newly Renovated W/Porch & Parking (B.F) . . . . . .

125th: 3BR, 1BA Lovely Open & Airy With Parking! (M.C) . . . . . . . .

125th: 4BR, 2BA Spacious & Bright All Utilities Incl. (C.B) . . . . . . . .

125th: 3BR, 2BA Great Duplex Apt. w/Large Terrace (N.C) . . . . . . .

125th: 1BR, 1BA Large Apt. New Kitchen & Appliances (N.C) . . . . .

124th: 3BR, 2BA Newly Renovated w/Yard & Parking (C.B) . . . . . . .

123rd: 2BR, 1BA Oceanfront With New Kitchen/Bath (C.B) . . . . . . .

123rd: 3BR, 2BA Traditional Home for Rent w/Garage (M.C) . . . . . .

122nd: 2BR, 1BA Beach Block Spacious Unit w/Parking (C.B) . . . . .

ROCKAWAY PARK

Luxurious Beach Living!

Spacious 2BR 2 bath with granite counters, private terrace, jacuzzi and your very own private parking spot. Don’t let your dreams of ocean living slip away $389,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

Oceanfront Building Gorgeous views of the bay and city skyline can be seen from the living room. Pet friendly 1BR co-op in GREAT condition. Call us today. $199,000

ROCKAWAY BEACH Beach Block Condo T C Priced RtoAsell, 3 BR, T 2 N baths, balcony ocean views.

COwith R Spacious living room, E dining room area D with private parking!

UN $329,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

Oceanfront Co-Op E D views Dazzling Tocean P from window.

C E every C Fabulous sun drenched A 2 BR, 2 bath.

E R rooms, Fully upgraded.

F F Motivated Seller!

O $299,000

BELLE HARBOR

Location, Location, Location!

This adorable L-Shaped Studio is located in a great spot! Close to the beach and all stores! H/W Floors, Low maintenance! $129,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

Oceanfront Co-op SPECTACULAR OCEAN L D 2 BR end VIEWS!!!

O Sunit with terrace, S T HW floors, large U J master BR in a well maintained oceanfront building. $275,000

Land Fo r S al e Bayswater: 20 lots for sale - so many possibilities . . . . . . .

Belle Harbor: Prime 49'x100' oceanfront . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Belle Harbor: Prime 38’X102’ oceanfront . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Belle Harbor: 100'x100' Zoned Commercial/Residential . . .

Belle Harbor: 40'x100' second lot from the ocean . . . . . . .

Neponsit: Beach Block 60'x100', build your 3,000 sq ft home Belle Harbor: Two lots - 40'x100' & 60'x100' starting at . . . .

. $2,200,000 . $1,900,000 . $1,850,000 . $1,800,000 . $1,200,000 . . $999,000 . . $349,000

R entals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. $1,450 . $1,450 . $2,100 . $1,450 . $1,200 . $1,100 . $2,400 . $2,000 . $2,500 . $2,350 . $1,300 . $2,500 . $1,800 . $2,300 . $1,750

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

121st: 1BR, 1BA, close to all (B.F) . . JUST . . . . RENTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

120th: 3BR, 2BA Beach Block, HW Floors, Driveway (M.C) . . . . . . . .

120th: 3BR, 1.5BA Charming Apt. On A Fabulous Block (M.C) . . . . . .

119th: 2BR, 1BA Mint, Updated, Beautiful Bay & Skyline views (M.C) .

119th: 1BR, 1BA Newly Renovated With Great Views (C.B) . . . . . . . .

119th: 1BR, 1BA Close To Transportation & Shopping (N.C) . . . . . . .

118th: 2BR, 1BA Newly Renovated, SS Appliances, W/D (M.C) . . . . .

117th: 2BR, 1.5BA Completely New, Great Apartment (B.F) . . . . . . .

115th: 2BR, 1BA Beach Block, Spacious, Large Kitchen (N.C) . . . . . .

100th: 3BR, 2BA Hardwood Floors And Private Balcony (M.C) . . . . . .

92nd: 3BR, 2BA Updated & Only One Block To The Beach (B.F) . . . . .

88th: 3BR, 1BA Newly Renovated Bayside Apartment (N.C) . . . . . . .

84th: 2BR, 1BA Brand New Walk In, Great Location (B.F) . . . . . . . . .

79th: 2BR, 1BA, (N.C). . . . . . . . . . JUST . . . . RENTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

81st: 2BR, 1BA No Broker Fee! Impressively Priced, Nice Layout (N.C) .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. $1,200 . $2,200 . $2,100 . $1,500 . $1,425 . . $975 . $1,700 . $1,600 . $1,350 . $1,800 . $1,750 . $1,450 . $1,300 . $1,400 . $1,625

Highest rental & sales volume in Rockaway...Visit our office and see what we do that's different!

Page 20

Chamber Of Horrors?

Anyone who pays attention to local currents and their effects on the good people of the Rockaway peninsula and Broad Channel are keenly aware of the latest fight against a huge Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Port which is planned again to set up shop less than 26 miles off the Rockaway beach coast.

You are aware of the grassroots organizing back in 2009 when we pushed back against the big gas companies and LNG and won! You are aware of the latest effort led by the local elected officials Richards, Goldfeder, Ulrich and Addabbo to tell the US Coast Guard and Governor Cuomo to Veto Liberty Port Ambrose LNG. You are aware that Rockaway’s Queens Community Board 14 overwhelmingly voted against Liberty Port Ambrose LNG project. You are aware of the lo-

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

cal grassroots organizing taking place again for this latest go-around in the efforts in stopping such an irresponsible project from getting approval.

Amazingly everyone who cares about the coast and the people who live here seem to get it, except the Queens Chamber of Commerce.

I was shocked to see in the February 9th issue of the NY Daily news, an insert advertisement of the Queens Chamber of Commerce energy event.

In it was a full page ad by a “Proud Sponsor of Liberty Natural Gas, LLC.” Yes my friends, the same people putting a giant Liquefied Natural Gas plant off our coasts.

So as it seems the Queens Chamber of Commerce is stabbing the good people of the Rockaway peninsula and Broad Channel right in our heart by coming out in favor of such an ill-

advised idea so close to our homes and our lives. Not to mention the extremely negative environmental impacts the LNG Liberty Port Ambrose will do to our ocean and beaches, all in the name of profit!

What is curious about this choice by the Queens Commerce comes as the Chamber has created an Energy Committee--- so new that it does not even register on its own website. Even more stunning, neither does the new Energy Committee Chairman, Thomas J. Grech, whose name was nowhere to be found on the Chamber’s website as this contribution was written.

A simple Google search of Queens Chamber of Commerce Energy Chairman revealed that Mr. Grech is not even a resident of Queens or even New York City for that matter. His LinkedIn account revealed that he was managing director of JJT Energy Solutions, a NATURAL GAS Supplier, from 2011-2014.

It seems that the Queens Chamber of Commerce has some explaining to do!

As for explaining, there will be plenty of that. Come to a Stop Port Ambrose meeting on Monday February 23rd, 6:30 - 9pm at the Rockaway YMCA at Arverne by the Sea, 207 Beach 73rd Street. We will have an informative meeting and letter-writing event to let the residents know what is going on and how we can stop it.

1. LNG tankers and facilities pose serious security risks, vulnerable to

terrorism and hijacking in the country’s busiest port and near JFK airport.

2. LNG is a disaster for our climate: methane (natural gas) is 80 times WORSE for heat trapping than carbon dioxide. Climate change leads to rising sea levels which will be disastrous for coastal communities.

3. Liberty Natural Gas is a secretive corporation of nameless backers based in the Cayman Islands that refuses to disclose who they are and their financial investors 4. Port Ambrose will likely become an export facility. Once approved for import it can be flipped to export without further public input, worsening the industrialization of the marine environment and climate change.

5. LNG Port Ambrose will create only six (6) long-term jobs; a real green energy future including energy conservation and renewables will create thousands of high paying, permanent jobs.

6. New York’s coastal communities are still recovering from Hurricane Sandy. Very little has been done to help the area recuperate and siting a dangerous fossil fuel infrastructure project off the coast will instead continue to degrade the ocean floor and the ocean ecosystems.

Co-sponsors: Councilmember Donovan Richards, Assemblymember Phillip Goldfeder, Sane Energy Project; Catskill Mountainkeeper; Friends of Rockaway Beach and many more.

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This Week In History: Feb 12-18

Feb 12, 1929: Charles Lindbergh announces his engagement to Anne Morrow.

Feb 12, 1999: The U.S. Senate fails to pass two articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton.

Feb 13 1866: Jesse James holds up his first bank.

Feb 13, 1953: The Pope asks the United States to grant clemency to convicted spies Ethel and Julius Rosenberg.

Feb 16, 1965: Four persons are held in a plot to blow up the Statue of Liberty, Liberty Bell and the Washington Monument.

Feb 16, 1968: The First 9-1-1 Call. After experiments with national emergen-

Page 21

cy numbers in the United Kingdom in the 1930s and development of similar models in the U.S. in subsequent decades by phone companies, the first 9-1-1 emergency call was dialed on this day in 1968.

Feb 18, 1930: First Cow Milked in an Airplane. Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to fly in an airplane and the first to be milked while in flight on this day in 1930 at the International Air Exposition in St. Louis. This sky-high spectacle allowed scientists to see how animals were affected by flying.

Feb 18, 1885: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is published in New York.

!!!

!

BACK IN THE DAY The St. Francis Summer Classic has had many stars through the years.

This 1996 shot captures some local legends: PeeWee Woods, TJ Carroll, Danny Raphael, TJ McVeigh, Brian Boyle, Ryan McTiernan, and Jack Meade.

!!! " ! !

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

!

The Rockaway Times

Military Operations At The Point – 1918

By Emil R. Lucev Sr. & daughter, Katie Lucev

During World War 1, specific actions were commenced against German submarines and their supply vessels on the east coast of America. Fort Tilden and The Rockaway Naval Air Station next door did launch and towed eyes in the sky (planes & balloons) manned by observers with the ability to communicate enemy locations. Their battles caused enemy munitions to wash ashore and be reported.

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Page 22

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Facts You Probably Don’t Need

Goldfeder Doesn’t Want A ConEd Rate Hike

As for the facts below, we don’t verify. They might not be facts at all but the Internet says they are! ☛☛☛ ☛ The average American owns 7

☛ Women who post a photo on In-

pairs of blue jeans.

ternet dating sites receive twice as many email messages as women who don’t. The same study found that men who reported incomes higher than $250,000 received 156% more email than those with $50,000. ☛ Signs that a woman is not interested in her date include avoiding eye contact, faking a smile or not smiling, leaning away, answering in monosyllables, sagging her shoulders, looking at her watch, tapping her foot, or staring blankly. (We’re guessing this is not limited to dating). ☛ On Valentine’s Day, nearly 189 million stems of roses are sold in the U.S. Americans spend around $277 million on Valentine cards every year, second only to Christmas.

☛ Over a lifetime, an American

woman will spend $125,000 on clothes. 3,000 items—271 pairs of shoes, 185 dresses, and 145 bags. ☛ The skirt is the second oldest piece of clothing, outdated only by the loincloth. ☛ Mexican General Santa Anna had an elaborate state funeral for his amputated leg. ☛ In ancient Egypt, servants were smeared with honey in order to attract flies away from the pharaoh. ☛ Attila the Hun bled to death from a nosebleed on his wedding night.

(How’d he get it, is the question). ☛ During the reign of Elizabeth I, there was a tax put on men’s beards.

(Could start a rally: Do away with the tolls! Just charge hipsters).

In response to a request made by Con Edison to the New York State Public Service Commission to raise electrical rates for families in New York City, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder has urged Public Service Commission Secretary Kathleen Burgess to reject the utility company’s proposal.

“As a public utility, Con Edison has a responsibility to provide Queens families with the basic services they need,” Goldfeder said. “That’s why I’m calling on the Public Service Commission to reject this proposed rate hike and save our families from excessive utility costs.”

In a letter to the Commission, Goldfeder called on Secretary Burgess to reject Con Edison’s requested rate hike. Goldfeder explained that the proposal comes at a time when many homeowners in

southern Queens and Broad Channel are facing rising costs of living, increased cost for flood insurance and many are still recovering from the devastation caused by Sandy.

Last month, Con Edison submitted to the Commission a request for permission to raise customers’ rates. This came as a two-year rate hike freeze put in place by the Commission in 2013 was set to expire. In its letter to the Commission, Con Edison notes that they expect to see an increase of 7.2 percent to rates on a “delivery revenue basis.”

“With fuel costs continuing to drop, it makes no sense to raise utility rates now,” Goldfeder said.

“Our public utilities should not be in the business of increasing their bottom line at the expense of families struggling to make ends meet.”

Ulrich To Capitol Hill: Help Vets City Council Member Eric A. Ulrich has introduced a Resolution urging Congress to pass and the President to sign The Toxic Exposure Research Act. This legislation would recognize the health issues facing descendants of veterans who came in contact with toxic chemicals during service. Toxins such as Agent Orange and others have been shown to cause birth defects and other long-term conditions in the

Nancy J. Brady, R.N., Esq. Linda Faith Marshak, Esq. Alexander Sam Bader, Esq. Dierdre Maeve Baker, Esq.

children of these veterans.

Veterans from almost every era and conflict have suffered, and continue to suffer each day, from the health impact of toxic exposures,” said Councilman Eric Ulrich. “This legislation addresses this important issue and it will ensure that veterans and their dependents have access to the necessary treatment and benefits they deserve.”

Big Boardwalk $$ Coming

Estate Planning & Elderlaw Wills, Trusts, Probate Medicaid Planning, Medicaid Applications Guardianship, Real Estate Matters

Continued from previous page

tireless work to ensure our families in Rockaway get every dollar we need and deserve. I look forward to continuing our work with community leaders and my colleagues in government to get the boardwalk completed and our jetties and dunes installed.”

After Goldfeder’s jab we asked again for comment. Amy Spitalnick, of OMB said, “While the LOU has not been completely finalized yet, FEMA’s commitment marks an important step forward for the Rockaways and for a stronger, more resilient NYC.” Since The City wasn’t talking all that much there were no answers to questions triggered by the new

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money. Will the extra money slow down the boardwalk completion (all new “stuff” can be bought and installed meaning more time, more meetings, more not listening to the community)? Or might some money be used to speed up construction? Why is $199 million needed to raise the boardwalk when that money has already been allocated? What is $18 million in “administrative costs” covering?

And maybe the Number Question should be, will the City accept the money the way FEMA has earmarked it – or will it negotiate further and attempt to steer the money for other uses (e.g., affordable housing?).

We should know by 2017.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The Rockaway Times

Page 23

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

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Headaches – almost all of us get them from time to time but some people get them frequently. How then does your doctor know when to be concerned that a headache is a matter in need of medical investigation?

Migraine headaches are the most common headaches. Although diagnosing migraines can be difficult (it is estimated that up to 50 percent of migraine sufferers are undiagnosed) there is a mnemonic that is helpful.

POUND which stands for Pulsatile, One-day duration, Unilateral (one-sided), Nausea and vomiting and Disabling. If a person has a headache that meets four or five of these criteria the likelihood is very high that it is a migraine. Migraine headaches do not require brain imaging and studies have shown that when migraine sufferers undergo brain imaging (CT or MRI) the rate of abnormalities found is the same as the rate found in the general population – several studies have placed the rate of abnormalities found at 0.2 percent, lower than the rate found in the general population (0.8 percent).

Remember, as I previously stated, CT scans have a significant radiation exposure therefore an MRI (no radiation) is usually preferable if imaging is to be performed.

There are many red-flag symptoms that would heighten concern that a headache is more than a migraine and warrants investigation.

Among those red-flags are new onset after age 50, persistent neurological changes (like tingling, numbness, weakness or paralysis), sudden onset (most migraines start slowly and the patient may

get a warning sign, called an aura [often an odd smell or visual disturbance], that a headache is coming), progressive pain or positional nature (pain only occurs when the head is in a certain position).

Another common type of headache is a tension headache.

Caused by spasm of the scalp muscles, tension headaches may be linked to stress or eye strain. Typically a tension headache feels like one has on a hat that is too tight.

The pain covers the entire head on both sides and often focuses in the forehead or temple area. Typical tension headaches meet neither the POUND nor red-flag criteria.

Elevated blood pressure is rarely a cause of a headache although this is a common misconception.

If you suffer from headaches you should visit your doctor who will take a thorough history and perform an examination. Then you and your doctor will determine the best course of action. Do not ignore headaches or decide for yourself that your headache is not a matter for concern. Self-diagnosis can be dangerous.

The American Board of Internal Medicine has an online tool designed to aid patients and doctors in making diagnosis, testing and treatment decisions for many symptoms and diseases, not just headaches. Go to www.choosingwisely.org. Another resource for headaches is the American Headache Society at www.americanheadachesociety.org or www. achenet.org This column is published biweekly. Questions and comments may be sent to mail@rockawaytimes.com.

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The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Anthony Melchiorri, Hotel Impossible Host Continued from page 11

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considering the location when developing a hotel. “When trying to build a hotel outside of an area that people need to be in, you have to offer amenities, spas or entertainment. A hotel is not the reason people go on vacation. It’s a necessity, unless it’s a destination hotel. In Rockaway, you have to build a hotel to pay the bills for 12 months. You can’t get caught up in building a hotel just for the summer season. If someone is getting divorced and needs a place to stay, a hotel should be able to take care of their needs. The service, cleanliness and food and beverage options have to be impeccable for someone to make the drive from JFK Airport to come here in the winter.”

Melchiorri says that the first month of a hotel’s opening in Rockaway can make or break it. “You have one shot to make an impression. A hotel’s success is going to depend on how they open. If they open right, they’ll be successful,” Melchiorri said. He believes the owners of the proposed Rockaway Beach Hotel will be able to pull it off. “The people involved in that project are extraordinarily sharp and intelligent, so I know they’ll be successful.”

You can check out Hotel Impossible on the Travel Channel at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. Older episodes are also available on Netflix.

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the Rockaway Beach workout spot.

“It’s like going into a 5-star hotel and the second you walk up to the front desk, you feel welcome. The second I walked into that gym I felt like I knew Chris and Sarah for 100 years,” Melchiorri said of the owners. “It’s a real community, a real family.”

Melchiorri has been training in Muay Thai and cross fit with Chris.

“He’s a pleasant and friendly disciplinarian. Chris doesn’t play games, but he’s very caring and he knows what he’s doing. He’s an incredible trainer and Sarah is an incredible manager and trainer. They understand what hard work is all about,” Melchiorri said.

As Queens was recently named Lonely Planet’s top place to visit in 2015 and Rockaway seeing its own influx of newcomers, Melchiorri gave his thoughts on the popularity of the peninsula. “Rockaway is not pretentious. It’s becoming the hot location because it’s no frills. It’s the real deal.

It’s the real America,” he said.

With the news of a hotel possibly coming to Beach 109th Street, the Rockaway Times asked Melchiorri for some advice for the developers.

“It has to be built for the community. It has to be built for people who have family in town or just want to get out of the house. Build the rooms to make them comfortable for the community. I think the rooms have to be a little bigger than normal to really make it feel like a junior suite because people are going to use the rooms for a quick getaway,” Melchiorri said. “Don’t forget the businessmen that come though JFK Airport.

Don’t forget the summer crowd and the surfers who may want to spend a night. Make sure you have a really cool surfer locker room.”

Unfamiliar with the proposed hotel on Foam Place in Far Rockaway, Melchiorri wouldn’t address the developers, but he offered some advice about

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The Rockaway Times

Page 25

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Help Wanted:

Hospital Needs Boss St. John’s Seeks Brown’s Replacement

Continued from page 3

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Bollywood pendent board that was established to interpret the meaning or applicability of the Zoning Resolution, Building and Fire Codes, Multiple Dwelling Law, and Labor Law. This power includes the ability to vary in certain instances the provisions of these regulations.

“In my 26 years here, there have been a number of times we’ve voted against having a building go up,” said Jon Gaska, the District Manager of Community Board 14. “And the BSA happily voted [to approve the building].”

“In my experience it is very hard to stop [things like this],” Councilman Richards said. “We are going to have to have real conversations with [the investors] to make this a collaborative effort.”

Give the gift of beauty

Following the presentation, the members of Community Board 14 voted unanimously to oppose the hotel’s BSA application.

Prior to the hotel discussion, Councilman Richards gave an update on a few items of importance to The Rockaways. He said that there will be some major repaving on Mott Avenue and throughout Rockaway in the near future and acknowledged that the Parks Department botched the recent RFP process for the concessions on the beach. He urged that he wanted local businesses involved in the process.

He also said the beaches in his district might have different needs than those on the west end. In any case, he suggested vendors were a welcome idea.

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here over 100 years, and we plan to be here over 100 more.”

Though he was certain of the hospital’s long term presence he was less so about its image problem. “For whatever reason, people don’t think highly of this place, yet I will match the care that’s given here against any other hospital in the state of New York,” he said. And a better reputation was coming thanks to hospital partnerships, rebranding, and better communication with staff members who were unhappy.

St. John’s has hired the Health Care recruitment specialist, B.E. Smith, to conduct its CEO search. The basic requirements for the job include: A Master’s Degree; 10 years leadership experience in an acute care setting at the administrative level and union experience.

A timeline and other details were not available. A call and email to the St. John’s public relations office were not returned by press time. The Rockaway Times also contacted Dr. Abiola Familusi, ND of the Medical Executive Committee for comment but received no response as well.

St. John’s remains the only hospital on the Rockaway peninsula.

00

St. John’s Hospital has put out a Help Wanted sign for a new Chief Executive Officer. Current CEO Richard Brown, in the position since July, 2013 will be stepping down almost a year to the date that the hospital’s Medical Executive Committee called for his resignation in a letter to the Chairman of the Episcopal Health System, Bishop Lawrence Provenzano.

Last February, The Medical Committee said it had, “No faith” in Brown and the administration’s “ability to run an acute care teaching hospital…nor do we believe that they have the best interests of our patients and community at heart.”

Mr. Brown disputed the allegations in the letter and said, “The board met and endorsed me and the actions that I’ve taken.”

Brown survived that uprising and as recently as August, in an interview with The Rockaway Times, seemed to suggest the relationship was workable. “I’ve been married for 44 years.

My wife and I still have our differences, but we’re still married. That’s life.”

In that same interview, Brown didn’t sound like a man ready to move on. He acknowledged challenges but said of the future, “We’re going to be around for the long haul. We’ve been

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Inside Real Estate

Continued from page 15

ATTORNEY

the first home after Hurricane Sandy. It was a home that was in contract before the hurricane hit. Lucky for the seller, O ARE buyer and Broad Channel residents the ERE sale went through. We had our first recorded sale after the hurricane, and it helped keep the value of our homes.

Two convenient meeting It was important to hold the value belocations in Rockaway. cause so many young people had just purchased new homes. No one wanted C R CC DE TS S DF S F T THE J B J R ES to see a home once valued at $400,000 LAW OFFICES OF Free Consultation! plummet to $100,000 over night. Some Jonathan D. Mandell CALL 16-8833 www.lawjdm.net homeowners are still waiting for help from the Build It Back Program and as I walk past these empty homes, I wait ATTORNEY Handyman for the day that I will see curtains on the windows and flowers in the garden.

It has been a rough road but we are all coming back home and that shows that 25+ Years Experience in all Areas there is something very special about of Home Improvement & Repairs this island. I can count the number of Free Reasonable Accidents • Criminal • DWI’s Estimates sales since Sandy and shockingly there Rates are not that many. The Broad Channel Also Other Matters No job too big or too small! residents believed in their community Now Available: Power Washing and they loved their homes enough to Also Available for: Sub-Contracting & Real Estate Work rebuild them. Even residents, especially Rockaway, NY Fully Insured senior citizens, who did not have flood insurance policies stayed and rebuilt their homes.

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water did this house get?” Most buyers are aware of the damage Hurricane Sandy did to our homes. When I answer with four to five feet of water, they politely respond with, “and all the sheetrock and insulation has been replaced?”

The buyers today are getting more upgrades for their dollar than they would have before Sandy. Buyers are now getting brand new heating systems, electric, flooring, granite counter tops, appliances, cabinets, and bathroom fixtures.

Of course a big question on some buyers minds is, “do I have to raise this house?”

The answer is, “it is up to you.” Yes, you will still be able to get flood insurance for it even if you do not raise it. The rates will vary depending on the height of the home, its location and whether you have a basement or not. Most homeowners in Broad Channel have moved back into their homes without raising them. Some residents are building brand new homes, some are waiting for the Build it Back program and a handful have sold.

I once thought to myself, would I ever get tired of selling Broad Channel? That week I realized, with every new customer I meet, how much I enjoyed telling them about Broad Channel and all it has to offer. They get excited about having a boat, jetski or a kayak behind their home. They ask me about about fishing, crabbing or swimming in the bay. We talk about all the sports programs under the management of the Broad Channel Athletic Club.

I tell them about our school, churches, volunteer firehouse and all our other wonderful organizations. I enjoy telling them about the local yacht clubs where they can launch their boats in Jamaica Bay, jump in for a swim, and enjoy the extraordinary island sunsets. It’s not just a home you are buying it’s a lifestyle.

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Recipe courtesy of Claire Robinson, with a slight twist of my own.

■ 2 large fresh tuna steaks (about 1-1/2 pounds) ■ 2 lemons, thinly sliced, plus ½ lemon, zested and juiced, as needed ■ Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper ■ 1 cup fat free Greek yogurt ■ ½ cup halved red grapes ■ ¼ cup toasted and chopped walnuts Preheat oven 350 degrees.

■ Put a large sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet.

■ Arrange the lemon slices on the parchment, slightly overlapping, covering in an area just larger than the size of the tuna steaks.

■ Season the tuna well on both sides with salt and pepper and arrange them directly on the lemon slices.

■ Sprinkle the lemon zest evenly over the tuna.

■ Bring the 2 long sides of parchment together and fold down over

the tuna; fold the end of the parchment and tuck them under the fish like an envelope.

■ Roast in the oven until cooked through, about 30-40 minutes; the tuna should flake easily with a fork and is no longer pink in the center.

■ Open the parchment paper and let the tuna cook until it can be handled, then flake it with a fork.

■ Transfer to a serving bowl along with any cooking juices it has released.

■ Add the yogurt, grapes and walnuts and stir to combine.

■ Season with salt and pepper and freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste.

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The Rockaway Times

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Trafficking In Stupidity

Marshal Stephen W. Biegel 109 W. 38th Street, Suite 200 New York, NY 10018 Office: (212) MARSHAL (627-7425) Fax: (212) 398-2000 NYC@marshalbiegel.com www.NewYorkCityMarshal.com

Anyone besides me feel like going back to the dark ages? Horse and buggy, candle lighting, and an outhouse sound like a great time to me. Pre Internet, Pre DVD and Blue -Ray, Pre Kanye, Pre Car, and Pre TRAFFIC LIGHTS. YES, traffic lights, those annoying things we need to obey in order to keep pedestrians and drivers alike safe.

While traffic lights are a necessity, it seems as though the new lights recently installed on this peninsula were not given the proper vetting they were due.

I’m not an investigative journalist, but occasionally I am a betting man. If I were to dig deep, I would bet the house that I’d find a contract between NYC DOT and Welsbach Electric (installers) to put up a certain amount of streetlights in a certain amount of time. And the DOT has a “study” completed for each new light. Here’s my study for the two lights erected on 102nd street and Rockaway Beach Blvd.

In 30+years of my life, I have not witnessed one accident at these intersections. I’ve been living in this area of the Rock for the past fifteen years with a direct view of these corners and still have not seen one accident. I have however almost gotten into two accidents since the lights have been installed.

The fact is, there was a nice flow traffic here, there was nothing wrong with it. So why does Big Brother always need to come in and add their two cents. People that don’t live in this area that made these decisions, don’t have a

clue how bad this is going to effect us. These decisions support that school of thought that more and more is needed, while we are just fine with what we have. More internet, more lights, more cameras, more technology, more Kanye (you are no longer a friend of Beefchip if you want more Kanye). For those of you that think there should be traffic lights at this intersection, wait until summer and you will be singing a different tune.

Alice Friedman, please do not get me started with you. You might be the only person that thinks your proposal to close off 94th street is an astonishing idea. With the exception of a few bicyclists from Ohio that may think the idea is “quaint” or “chic” or whatever new word is cool to them at this point, in these parts your proposal falls of deaf ears. If your plan goes through, you will be cutting the throat of several businesses that rely on that block as a corridor for beach traffic. Not to mention the residents of the area and of the entire peninsula that rely on that block for parking, religious observance, and daily anonymous meetings. We are down to one lane on Shore Front, a traffic light on every other block, and looking to close more streets? I see the ad now, “Come to Rockaway Beach this summer, NYC’s premier parking lot destination.”

In the meantime you can find me searching for Marty Mcfly, I need to get scooped up on the way back to November 5th, 1955.

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Page 28

The Rockaway Times

Phil Collins Day

Dishing the

(At Least in Rockaway)

By Michael Leboff

DIRT A Room with a Bloom I can never predict the view out of my bedroom window. Some mornings I open the curtains and see a placid watery sheet. On other days, coupled with high winds, the bay seems angry tossing up white-capped waves. Lately, I have been standing mesmerized at floating ice moving slowly and building ice patches near the bay’s shore. It’s breathtaking and heartbreaking at the same time.

The season of winter holds its own many wonders and beauties: the magic of the first snowfall, crystal forming icicles and mom’s hot chocolate warming the heart along with frozen hands and noses. Nonetheless, as someone who loves the outdoors and plunging my hands into soft, warm dirt, I can’t help but feel like winter is a season of lifelessness.

While my bedroom view is the static gray-white cold and ice that is associated with winter, there is another room with a contradictory view. The kitchen is my favorite room. With the ongoing daily use of the stove and oven it is the warmest. It also smells the best with the many aromas of herbs and spices utilized in our cooking. My prized treasure, though, is what sits on the south facing kitchen windowsill.

A windowsill herbal and/or flower garden in winter is the next best thing to tending your outdoor garden or community garden plot. There are several herbs, plants and flowers you can grow during winter on a windowsill. I am, currently, growing and using sweet basil, broad leaf thyme and spring onions. In addition, I have a houseplant and a red amaryllis flower sprouting.

Along with the warm and fuzzy feeling I get when washing dishes admiring the splash of spring colors and the minty and sage-like aromas (wish it had that same affect on other members of my family), I benefit from the herbs’ various culinary and medicinal uses.

Basil Sweet Basil is the most commonly known and used. It is typically used in Italian dishes, such as pesto. It is also used in Asian cuisine, such as Thai and Vietnamese food. The leaves are broad and round giving off a bright spring green color and an almost minty aroma (basil is related to peppermint).

Along with pinching off some leaves for pasta and pizza sauces, adding to some meat and fish dishes gives an Asian style quality. Basil should not be cooked, but used fresh and raw added to the already cooked dish.

Research has shown that basil has antibacterial properties. This fact has encouraged me to throw in a good handful of chopped basil into uncooked foods, such as salads. The next time you make a salad vinaigrette put in some basil. Dried herbs are concentrated so they do not have the same nutritional or medicinal benefits as fresh herbs.

Spring Onions I have four spring onions – two with roots growing in water and two planted in small pots. All four continue to grow and provide flavoring and health benefits to our meals. They have purple bulbs, so the splash of color on gray winter days is refreshing. Spring onions are rich in fiber, potassium, copper, manganese and vitamins, such as B6, C and K. Broad Leaf Thyme Also known as Indian Borage,

among many other names, is used best fresh and raw. It has been described as the “unkillable herb.” A friend gave me a cutting as a gift. I had been familiar with the fresh thyme in supermarkets – thin twig-like stems with tiny leaves.

This plant, however, had a long thick stem and large succulent leaves with a velvety texture. I left its survival up to fate and didn’t even put it in dirt. It is indeed “unkillable.” It can be used chopped up finely in black beans, fish and meat dishes. I like sprinkling a pinch on my scrambled eggs and omelets. Like basil it has antibacterial and antifungal properties, so I add it to my salads either by just tossing it in with the greens or mixing it in vinaigrettes.

I came across many articles that claim it is a fast working cough remedy if you simply chew on a leaf or drink as a tea.

Don’t ever let anybody tell you that nothing goes on during the winter in Rockaway.

In what has to be one of the more off-beat events of the off-season, this Sunday, February 15th, is Phil Collins Day in Rockaway. A group of enthusiasts will celebrate by hosting a Viking funeral in honor of the former Genesis drummer.

Whether a boat will be lit aflame remains to be seen. The whole thing is a bit of a secret.

Not much is known about Phil Collins Day or its origins, but the group’s official website says, “Starting in the halls of high school, friends explored the complexity of love through the celebration of singer/songwriter Phil Collins.”

Collins is an English musician who rose to fame as the drummer and lead singer of the band Genesis, before a successful solo career.

This marks the ninth Phil Collins Day (some have been held in Brooklyn; a couple in Rockaway), but is the first time it will be celebrated with a ritualistic ship burning. Or at least that’s what is supposed to happen.

Other celebrations of the musician have included a parade, a drum circle, and an open mic night.

The Phil Collins Day Viking funeral will take place on Sunday at 4:30 PM at the beach on Beach 90th Street.

Surfers beware.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

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NBA And ESPN Don’t Forget Rockaway The Rockaway Game

By Michael Leboff

This weekend the NBA’s biggest stars will descend upon New York City for the league’s annual All-Star Weekend, which will be co-hosted by the Knicks and the Nets with the actual game itself being played at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

The weekend’s festivities will serve as a fitting tribute to New York.

New York City’s reputation as “The Basketball Mecca” may have taken a hit recently, but it certainly has the history to back it up.

This week ESPN released an interactive map showing basketball landmarks throughout the five boroughs. And while many basketball fans know that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar rose to stardom at Power Memorial in New York City or that Rucker Park is arguably the world’s most famous public basketball court, many don’t realize that Rockaway also has a rich basketball history.

In fact, back in the 1940’s a new style of ball emerged, it became known as “The Rockaway Game.” This brand of basketball, made famous on the blacktop at Beach 108th Street by brothers Dick and Al McGuire, relied on selflessness and hustle, rather than on individual performance.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

If one wanted to play his way onto the court at Beach 108 you had to play a pass-first game and forget about taking a long range jumpers -- the swirling ocean breeze made them nearly impossible to hit. It was said that this pass-first style of play would lead to a condition that became known as “Rockawayitis,” a chronic reluctance to shoot the ball.

The McGuire brothers both were able to take what they learned at Beach 108 and parlay it into terrific careers in the NBA. They are the only pair of brothers to both be elected into The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Dick and Al McGuire are not the only basketball stars to develop their game on this peninsula. Nancy “Lady Magic” Lieberman is one of the true pioneers of women’s basketball.

Lieberman starred for Far Rockaway High School in the 1970’s and was soon picked as one of the 12 best players in the country and played for the USA in several international competitions. After a career in the WNBA, Lieberman became the head coach of the Texas Legends of the NBA’s Development League, making her the first woman to ever coach a professional men’s basketball team.

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The Rockaway Times

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

The Rockaway Times

SOUTH NASSAU DELIVERS

A HEALTHY SERVING OF PATIENT SAFETY

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The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

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y p p Birth a H day!!

YMCA Reaches Milestone

By Michael Leboff

If you go to the website for The Rockaway YMCA at Arverne by the Sea, at the top of the page you will see their slogan, “We’re here for good.”

And if their first year of operation is any indication, The Rockaway ‘Y’ is making good on their pledge. There have been YMCAs in New York City for over 100 years, but the facility on Beach 73rd Street is the first ever Y in Rockaway. And on February 18th, the Rockaway ‘Y’ will officially turn One. Despite a successful first year, things didn’t get off to the smoothest of starts for the Y. “The opening date actually got pushed back a couple of times,” explained Membership Director Erik Raney. “There was a lot of pent up demand here because people had heard it was going to open before Hurricane Sandy.”

Force majeure may have caused a delay in opening the door, but once

all systems were go it was a clear success.

“We served about 23,000 unique people in our first year,” said Raney.

“We’re definitely the fastest growing [in New York City].”

Why has it been such a great success? Well as the old business adage goes, location, location, location.

The building is located right in the middle of the peninsula, on Beach 73rd Street, which makes it accessible to people from all over The Rockaways. Bringing together the community is a point of pride for Raney and his staff.

“It’s really cool to see people from both ends of the community come in. It was kind of the idea behind putting it in the middle of the peninsula,” Raney explained.

It also doesn’t hurt that the facilities at The Rockaway YMCA are nothing short of state-of-the-art. It features top of the line cardio machines, modern free weights and

strengthening machines, a spacious gymnasium, and a swimming pool.

“We are trying to change the perception of the YMCA,” Raney said.

“The common perception of the Y is an old building with a gym and a pool. When you walk in here, you can see everything.”

In addition to the equipment and facilities, The Rockaway Y has found success in its group exercise programs. Currently the gym offers upwards of 70 classes a week that cover all the bases, from Yoga to spin class to basketball there’s something for everyone and most classes are included in the membership package.

The Y has also turned into one of

Rockaway’s biggest employers. According to Raney 80% of the Y’s 125 member staff, including the facility’s Executive Director, Rick Hopkins, are from The Rockaway Peninsula.

Now that year one is in the books, Raney and his staff are already looking to take on whatever challenges present themselves in the years to come.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “The first year we just really didn’t know what to expect and the community responded in such a positive way, but there’s always room for growth.”

To learn more about The Rockaway YMCA, you can take a virtual tour by visiting their website

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

The Rockaway Times

Attention Local Residents!

YOU MAY NOT HAVE TO MAKE YOUR NEXT TWO CAR PAYMENTS,

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

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The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

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